Gluten-free Gourmand

I have to confess something.  I have been meaning to write this review for a long time and I'm only doing it today because I wanted to eat a cookie.  My camera was handy so I thought I'd take a few shots of the cookies before I indulged.  Boy, do I feel industrious today! I'll be doing reviews of Pamela's Ginger Cookies and Peanut Butter Cookies in due course - probably on a day when I feel like eating a ginger cookie or a peanut butter cookie. I really like the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies that Pamela's Products makes.  They are soft, not crunchy - I like that.  The chocolate chunks are big and of a nice-quality chocolate for a packaged cookie.  In fact, I would say that these are better than most packaged cookies you can buy in the store, wheat or no wheat.  The only criticism I have is that they are a little inconsistent from package to package.  The most recent box of cookies I bought was a little drier than usual.  Usuall...

Craving fresh-baked gluten-free pastries in Portland?  Check out Petunia's Pies and Pastries , a local Portland bakery that specializes in gluten-free, vegan, and delicious treats. I had seen this bakery at the market a few times.   I didn't get a chance to try anything out until last Sunday when I caught them at the King market.  Almost everything in the display case is gluten-free.  I really enjoyed the Lime Coconut Square I tried.  The gluten-free crust was tender and light, and the coconut lime filling had just the right amount of tartness.  I enjoyed photographing it almost as much as eating it.  All of Petunia's pastries are beautifully decorated and displayed.  I'm sure to go again to indulge in a cookie, cupcake, or tart. Getting gluten-free goods from a new vendor is always a little nerve-racking for people who are very sensitive to gluten.  When asked about the degree to which her baked goods are gluten-free, Petunia's owner L...

Springtime is the season for Lamb.  It's tender and flavorful now, and because it's the right time of year you can sometimes find a bargain.  I got this lamb shoulder on sale for $4.49/lb at Whole Foods (it's usually at least $6.50).  I picked up the asparagus at the Portland Farmer's Market.  I wouldn't call it a bargain at $3/bunch, but there was plenty of asparagus in there and it was just how I like it: the stalks were thin and very fresh.  I only used about half the bunch for this dish.  The whole meal cost me about $4. I cook some variation of this meat-and-vegetable meal on a regular basis.  It takes about 10 minutes to cook, but if you have more time you might consider taking the lamb out of the fridge ahead of time to bring it up to room temperature before cooking.   This makes it easier to cook it medium-rare without getting a rare-rare spot around the bone.   Ingredients: Lamb shoulder steak Olive oil Salt Pepper Sag...

I haven't posted in a while, and I'd like to share with everyone my exciting reason why.  I moved!  I now have, among other things, a much nicer kitchen.  I have plenty of ideas for new posts and recipes coming up, so stay tuned!