Read about my favorite new appliances, new kitchen gadgets and new cookware from the show in upcoming posts. 

Outside of being a web designer, I dearly love being in the kitchen. Part of that is the tools and gadgets that I get to use in the kitchen, so every year, I go to the big industry event, The International Home & Housewares Show to check out what cool things my kitchen needs this year.

It’s pretty much a kid in a candy store situation.

I mean, last year I met Stephanie Izard, Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss) and Fabio Viviani. This year it was Chris Cosentino, Jean Layton (ok, she was in town for ICPA, but it counts) and Curtis Stone.

If I didn’t spend all day walking around the trade show, I wouldn’t have run in to my favorite clients (they make seriously awesome air purifiers) from my day job. Or had Mammacakes tell a Curtis Stone and his demo audience that I didn’t use to know how to cook. (It’s true. I hated cooking in high school, but I’ve always loved baking).

I got to see new product announcements, and had the joy of the most random pre-show product to try. (Seriously, why would a food blogger write about a personal travel bidet?)

But really, who would have thought to make spherical ice cubes? Or mix & match soda makers? Or knives with a more natural grip? Or Muffin Tops?

I’m not going to lie, I am still giddy about cooking with Curtis Stone, but the other finds are pretty darn awesome too.

Big trends this year were color – booth after booth was full of products injecting color into boring kitchen gadgets, technology – everything from computerized everything to all in one cookers and better product engineering.

This year is going to be a good one in the kitchen. Stay tuned for my best in show picks!

Relish is a compendium of things to enjoy greatly and that add a little flavor to your gluten-free life. And it’s even better with a pinch of love.

I finished something pretty epic on February 28th – I wrote my 100th blog post in a 100 day series on my other blog. (You can read all 100 here) That means that since that project started I have written very nearly 130 posts in 100 days. It was part of the Chronic Positivity Project, the blog I write about living a positive life despite my diagnosis with a rare and incurable neurological condition.

Let’s Eat.

I’m seriously done with winter. As much as I love hearty comfort food, I am dreaming of fresh berries and basil added to everything. But for now, let’s enjoy some seriously delicious winter food.

I have a theory that food is better in miniature, and Sarah from Sarah Bakes Gluten-Free Treats reinforces that theory with her Gluten-Free Mini Lemon Pancakes (01). As food bloggers “irishify” all things delicious in honor of St. Paddy’s day, Jane at The Heritage Cook gets it right with these Gluten-Free Bailey’s Souffle Tarts (02). For those of us still clinging to our resolutions, this fantastic Quinoa Risotto (03) from Kitchen Confidante might just cure us of the winter blues. And if all else fails you, there might be no better dessert than rice pudding, and this coconut milk mango variation (04) is different and nostalgic in all the right ways.

Presents? Heck yes.

Cookbooks, lipgloss, easy lunches and summer camp, no gluten allowed. An eclectic mix for sure, but each one is sure to please.

I bought myself a present, Ottolenghi (01). I have all the cookbooks by this duo and am smitten with their food. Andrea and Jay at Red Apple have done it again – I am convinced that I need this new hi-def lipgloss in Hot Pants (02) (and I am hoping I can hold out til they come to visit Chicago so I can try it out first). I usually eschew eating packaged foods as often as possible, but this Gluten-Free Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese (03) was crazy, crazy good. And perfect for my insane schedule. If you have little ones who want to go to camp, Rudi’s has some scholarships (04) for a few lucky kids to go to a camp for a week where there is no terrible, horrible gluten for miles.

In like a lion out like a lamb?

I am rolling into March on a high from completing my 100 posts challenge, but am more excited that there are things like Paczki Day, St. Paddy’s Day and hopefully a thaw headed my way…

Relish is a compendium of things to enjoy greatly and that add a little flavor to your gluten-free life. This year was filled with good friends, good times and good eats. And a little too much snow.

I’m reeling a bit. I signed up for a whole slew of nerve blocks (they get all jabby with some needles, an xray, your spine and aesthetics) to try to fix my bum nerves. I started making over my diet (slowly). I just watched a friend lose her son. I am kicking ass and taking names at work (at least, I like to think so.)

I haven’t had the heart to bake a single cupcake, brownie or macaron yet this year. I am hoping I can snap out of this funk soon, because I am seriously craving some chocolate, butter and sugar.

Let’s Eat.

The internet, dear friends, is so filled with delicious treats, that there is no way that I can possibly try them all, but I did find a few things from my blogger friends that I would love to make very, very soon.

Seriously, black pepper gluten-free scones and grapefruit curd (01)? Boulder Locavore is seriously making me drool. And then there are these Indian spiced potato skins (02) from Smith Bites. Can you say yum? This cake. Oh, this cake. It is a marble cake (03) from Irvin at Eat the Love who just announced that he will be writing his first cookbook! (Make it gluten-free with your favorite GF AP Blend). And to be just a wee bit healthy, here is a dandelion green and citrus salad (04) from a thought for food looks as divine as it does healthy.

The non-edibles

I might have a cookbook problem. Ok, there is no might about it (but can I blame it on my mother?). A couple of new cookbooks and a few other things that tickled my fancy this month.

First, Gluten Free on a Shoestring Bakes Bread (02). I lover her first two books, plus, a recipe for Chicago style pizza? We’ll see about that…(but I sure hope it is good!). I was surprised by how much I liked the NomNom Paleo cookbook. I am not a huge fan of the paleo craze, but this book is excellent. Creative recipes, no crazy diet talk, just good food. I’m sold.

These days, I am getting bored shooting on white dishes all the time. These plates from Williams-Sonoma (03) and this baking dish (04) from Anthropologie will cheer up any kitchen.

What’s up in February?

Hopefully some sweet treats for your loved ones and more healthy recipes. And Rare Disease Day. I am asking all my family, friends and supporters to wear orange on February 28th.

Oh man, I love a good cupcake. And pie. And layercake. And anything confit (cooked slowly in oil). Oh, and fried things. Sure, I like veggies, but they are best when they have some sort of dip.

And that my friends, is my problem. Ok that, and, going out to eat 1-2 times a day because of my crazy commute.

Remember when I tried to go vegan & gluten-free in the fall because I was so unhappy with my body? Well, the good news is that it did force me to start thinking more about my food. The bad news? It wasn’t a sustainable way for me to live. I take a lot of medications and need to pay particular attention to balancing what I am eating. Above all else, I get hangry. Hangry Mary Fran is not a nice Mary Fran.

I don’t know who the girl in that green dress is. I thought she disappeared years ago. It is time for some changes. And while it might already be a couple days in to the new year, the best time to start is always right now.

So, I have a plan of sorts.

It goes something like this: Get moving. Eat less junk. Eat more veggies. Drink less empty calories. Check in.

Healthy & Strong

I have a FitBit Force on its way, although it has been delayed do to all this lovely winter we are having. I am hoping that the little badges and alerts help keep me on target and that it helps me be honest with myself about how much activity I am completing. I also am going to be checking my weight regularly to make sure that I am headed the right direction. This model even updates my FitBit account for me. (Do you use a FitBit? You can be my workout buddy…)

I have been away from the gym for nearly a year, first because of the SCS surgery and then because I was just too embarrassed that I can maybe do 10 minutes at a time do to the CRPS and just how out of shape I am. This month, that changes. and I am going to start going to the gym regularly. But, because none of the classes are around when I can get there, I am going to need a little extra help.

That’s where the Barre3 app ($4.99 in the app store) comes in. Inspired by Erica at Celiac and the Beast‘s posts about PureBarre on Instagram, I looked into barre workouts. For me, they are ideal because of their low impact. Unfortunately there isn’t a place all that close (and, I don’t have an extra $250/mo to spend on it). After some googling, I found the app and it is perfect. There are a bunch of 10 minute videos that require no or minimal equipment. Perfect for someone with a crazy schedule and even crazier nerves.

Food Bits

I joined WeightWatchers. Again. At least this time my sister is doing it too – so I won’t be alone in trying to eat healthy. I was thinking about using MyFitnessPal or LoseIt! because of their integrations with the FitBit, and I don’t want to double track, but for the first month, I will, just to see if I like the new program at WW. If I don’t, I’ll switch to one of the others.

Who’s excited to fit in to that bridesmaids dress they had to buy 2 sizes too small for a June wedding because the bride picked a discontinued dress (that was on clearance for $200) the week before Christmas and the company wasn’t going to get any more of your size in? This girl.

Yes, this is a new, regular column on FrannyCakes.

Wednesday Weigh-Ins are going to be posts about progress and getting stronger, but mostly they are going to be about the food. A delicious, healthy recipe each week. (But don’t worry, my friends will still have birthdays, so there will most definitely still be amazing gluten-free cupcakes and an unabashed love of butter and sugar here.)

Relish is a compendium of things to enjoy greatly and that add a little flavor to your gluten-free life. This year was filled with good friends, good times and good eats. But no geese. 

I thought the December Relish was a great way to sum up all the awesome that happened in 2013. Because there was one whole heck of a lot of it.

There were a couple of awesome trips and chances to be g-free and awesome this year.

I travelled to San Francisco, Austin, Chicago (we can call that travel because I stayed in a hotel, right?), Las Vegas and Dallas to spread the GF love.

Jet setting to San Francisco!

Some of my GFFs and a glass of wine.

We went to the French Laundry

We drank wine

and ate fancy pants gluten-free food with more Michelin stars than I can count.

We ate at the freaking French Laundry. It was pretty much amazeballs.

Then, in June, for my birthday present to myself, I trecked to BlogHer Food in Austin where I met some of my favorite bloggers including Sabrina from The Tomato Tart and Irvin from Eat the Love and made new too many new friends to count.

First thing I did? Found a cousin…

and had a cocktail.

I think Austin is the capital of photobooths that make you look awesome.

If you don’t make dopey faces like me…

I met Irvin!

And went to Stubbs, of course.

I saw Sabrina again!

And snapped this one of her being such a photographer.

And I brought snacks for the flight.

I even managed not to die at BlogHer in Chicago where I hung with Erica and Rebecca.

I hung out with SodaStream

Made cool figurines at Wilton

And learned some cool new piping techniques

Found the coolest booth at the conference.

Got some knowledge

Dragged Erica to Little Goat for gluten-free pancakes.

Drank a Malort cocktail at OON

Wine? Free? Yes please.

Then there was the GFAF Expo in Dallas for the launch of the Celiac and the Beast book and filming an epic video for Taste Guru.

Real Celiac Housewives of Dallas. It’s a thing.

Margarita by Rick Bayless in the airport.

My friends are silly.

And I spoke at the Food Allergy Blogger Conference in Las Vegas this year. I’d say I got around a little bit. It was a great year to be gluten-free (and me).

I was a speaker!

And Erica was being awesome.

I didn’t win big.

The best darn GFree grub on FrannyCakes this year.

I knocked the first item off of my culinary bucket list, made brioche that was almost as good as what I got at the French Laundry and came up with a few weeknight staples (in addition to my cupcake addiction).

I made everything from this lovely Honey Lavender Ice Cream (01) to a fabulous Gluten-Free Brioche (02). As a birthday request from my friend Andi, I even was talked into making Gluten-Free Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes (03), and I loved them.

These Gluten-free Petits Fours Fleurs (04) were a huge hit and I still dream about them. I posted a favorite recipe of mine,  Gluten-free Mujaddara (o5). I conquered my fear this year and made some Gluten-free Vanilla Bean Macarons (06).

I celebrated a potential trip to visit a friend in India with Gluten-free sweet potato korma (07). I took a second stab at macarons with Mammacakes’ home made strawberry jam and made Gluten-free Strawberry Macarons (08). A crowning achievement of the year were these Gluten-free Peanut butter-filled Double Chocolate Cupcakes (09).

I tried to get healthy and made Gluten-Free Gingered Almond Apricot Chia Pudding (10). I got crafty and showed you How to make edible roses (11). I took a culinary risk by swapping out the farro with sorghum in this Gluten-free Kisir with Sorghum (12).

I think it was quite the culinary year.

My favorite GF Finds of 2013

Everything from the perfect shades of lipstick, to books from some of my besties, box of the month clubs and cool prints made my lists this year. These are my favorites.

It goes without saying that Cupcake Wars dominator and gluten-free pastry chef Kyra Bussanich’s book, Sweet Cravings (01) tops my list. It is pretty much perfect. Just as awesome? The Celiac and the Beast book (02) by Erica Dermer, and it isn’t just because I am mentioned in it. I put them in alphabetical order by last name so I didn’t have to pick favorites.

If you love good food, the new box of the month club from G-Free Foodie (03) is pretty much awesomeness delivered. Go order yourself a box. I won Christmas by giving out a couple of these delightful tea towels (04) from gluten-free blogger & designer Beth from Tasty Yummies.

I might be obsessed with the apricot chai TruBars from Bakery on Main. I blame Whitney who mans all their booths at expos for this obsession. And it goes without saying that my new favorite lipstick is from Red Apple Lipstick. Barcelona (06) is the best color I have bought in a while.

Thanks for being here this year!

Besides the food, I shared a month of posts all about my health, talked about taking my body back and even launched a new blog where I talked about scars and show you mine (and I won’t ask you to show me yours). I want to thank you for every comment, message and tweet. They mean the world to me. Here’s to another amazing year!

Oh, you wanted to see that video?

Relish is a compendium of things to enjoy greatly and that add a little flavor to your gluten-free life. You know, the holidays are all about the stuffing. Both with the turkey and stuffing your days with joy.

I know, this is a week late. I have been crazy busy. I launched a new website! You can now buy my poster designs from my other blog (and eventually there will be some neat FrannyCakes items there).

November was busy with a trip to the Food Allergy Blogger Conference in Las Vegas, a pair of Friendsgiving celebrations and Thanksgiving. December promises to be equally as busy. I am 19 days into a 100 day countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 over on the Chronic Positivity Project.

I also might have gotten some mighty nice new shoes. November was pretty awesome. It doesn’t take too much to make me happy 🙂

Some grub.

You can find these delicious gluten-free mini pumpkin cinnamon rolls (01) from Sarah Bakes Gluten-Free Treats. They are perfect for holiday breakfasts.  Irvin at Eat the Love remade a holiday meal staple, the green bean casserole (02) to be home made and gluten-free. This lovely fudge christmas tree scene (03) is easy to make and gluten-free. And you know I love macarons. These are present-shaped and gingerbread flavored macarons (04).

Little treasures.

I might have ordered these tea towels (01) from gluten-free blogger/design genius Beth at Tasty-Yummies for myself and someone as a gift this year. I also made it possible to order this quote poster (02) from Gfree Foodie KC. This tshirt is a perfect reminder for all you holiday bakers to keep calm and bake on.   If you are a bit of a foodie, I would suggest popping over to the GFree Foodie Kickstarter (04) to help her get some more specialized boxes added to her line up.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…

It is time to bust out my recipe for my favorite Christmas cookies, do some shopping and get some homemade gifts made. I can’t believe there are less than 20 days til Christmas!

I have loved doughnuts my whole life. When I was a kid, my dad always got us doughnuts for the first day of school. Summer swim team got doughnuts at Friday morning practices when we won a meet. Winter swimming meant Saturday morning doughnuts. Even Sunday mornings could mean a douughnut.

I had a few go-to favorites. Chocolate long-johns, Boston Cream, Chocolate snowballs. And their loss was a big one for me. I can make a mean cupcake. But doughnuts are different. They require hot oil if you want to go about making them the traditional way. And while I love gluten-free baked doughnuts, they just don’t have the same effect as perfectly fried yeast dough. (There have been a few times that I put in the effort for gluten-free doughnuts of the fried variety, but they are quite labor intensive).

And then I found Do-Rite Donuts. (I am a little late to the party). They are one of the donut shops that has gained an almost cult following, and one day not too long ago, I hopped off the ‘L’ in the morning and decided to check it out.

I bought a dozen gluten-filled donuts for my coworkers and then ordered one each of that day’s gluten-free flavors. Before I could even ask for the woman working to change her gloves, she had them off. With a fresh pair of gloves, she grabbed tissue out of a separate box and reached into the gluten-free case. I was a wee bit speechless.

They also use a separate fryer and prep for gluten-free doughnuts.

The best part?

The doughnuts were damn delicious. Yeasty, not too heavy. Crispy outside and a soft, lush dough. And then there are the flavors. Every day they have a gluten-free doughnut with Valharona chocolate glaze and a specialty flavor. Now I understand how doughnuts have a cult following. They make a lemon doughnut that is pretty much perfect. The maple bacon, however, blows the rest of them out of the water.

These doughnuts are so good, that I brought my friend Kyra (you know, the pastry chef who won Cupcake Wars three times with gluten-free cupcakes) there early on a Sunday morning. We practically bought them out of all the gluten-free doughnuts in the case – when someone behind us in line asked if they had more in the back and there weren’t any, we left a couple behind so their Sunday voyage from the suburbs wasn’t in vain. (To be honest, we really didn’t want to share.)

The verdict?

Gluten-free doughnuts are a luxury that many of us don’t often get. Making them at home can be a lot of effort and buying them usually results in baked (which are delicious, they just aren’t the same) treats. I hadn’t had a doughnut that was made by someone else since my diagnosis 8 years ago and it was totally worth the wait. Next time you can find some time in downtown Chicago, you need to make getting a doughnut a priority. (And go early, when the doughnuts are gone, they’re gone for the day.)

Do-Rite Donuts
50 W. Randolph Street.
Chicago, IL
312-488-2483

Time has just been rushing by. 2013 is 5/6 over. That’s kind of crazy. And October is over. The prettiest month of the year. And this October was pretty darn great. There was a wedding where two of my best friends married each other. There was a trip to Dallas to see some of my favoritest ladies ever.

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. – LM Montgomery

I fail at being a vegan.

I tried to do it. I really gave it the old college try. But I could not do a 100% plant-based diet. I made it 3 weeks, sort of. I cheated with pork at Little Goat and a specially ordered gluten-free filet at a dear friend’s wedding.

On to good things.

In the gluten-free world, there was something amazing that I really hope you know about – Erica, from Celiac and the Beast, released her first book. She funded the printing through a kickstarter campaign, and I finally got to hold and see the book. It is dang good. It is laugh out loud funny and brutally honest. I included a picture of the piechart she made at the Dallas GFAF Expo. Go buy your copy now! You can get it from her, for your Kindle, Nook or in iBooks or you can order it from Amazon.

It was lovely seeing all your faces in Dallas (Plano) last weekend where I was with Erica for her book launch, and I can’t wait to see more of you this weekend in Las Vegas for the Food Allergy Blogger Conference. Which is pretty much going to rock.

Oh, and our friends at Taste Guru are making a video. It is going to be pretty bad ass.

Now, let’s talk food.

We all know I love to eat. This month I found some pretty tasty things to try. And while I love pumpkin, it was nice to see such variety this month.

Joy the Baker made a Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Hash (01), which, means she might have made the most epic breakfast ever. (I might love brussels sprouts…and anything that is a “hash”). My dear friend Amy, who I got to see this past weekend, made Skinny Orange Spiced Pumpkin Butter (02). I think it is a perfect use for one of the pumpkins I haven’t cooked yet. It might be from the summer, but this Tokyo Fried Chicken (03) from Gluten-Free Girl is something that I think fits the comfort food requirement for late fall. And this Caramel Apple Popcorn (04) from Irvin at Eat the Love might just be genius.

Get yourself a little something, you deserve it.

It is almost time to do all your holiday shopping, so before you start shopping for everyone else, get yourself a little something. Particularly one of these books I mention…

Seriously, one of my besties wrote the most amazing book about living gluten-free. With just enough fart jokes. (01) My new favorite lipstick is Barcelona from Red Apple Lipstick’s fall collection (02). My favorite summer scarf is from Fashion Able, and I really think this one might be making it’s way to me soon (03)…And did I mention one of my best friends wrote a book? (04)

Let’s do November.

All I know is that it involves Las Vegas, a blue wig and Thanksgiving.

Just like a Pinot Noir.

September was just about as bonkers as it could have been, but there were no conferences, no travel (at least for me). It was a roller coaster with walks to the lake front, birthdays with friends, a visit from one of my favorite gluten-free ladies, boy drama and the loss of an aunt.

The best parts were the moments where Chicago was just being Chicago. Like the Pinot Noir tasting at Little Goat where we spent an hour learning about the wines and having a great time with the sommolier.

It was the perfect way for summer to end.

That healthy thing.

Yep. At just over a week in to YU30, I am doing OK at this dairy & meat-free thing. I discovered that chia seeds + almond milk make pudding, and I have to say, it makes a mighty nice breakfast. I actually think the not eating meat part is the hardest – I am still seriously craving some bacon.

Yum.

I found some new blogs that I am absolutely in love with this month, apparently being a gluten-free designer is a thing – I think we need to form a club.

Designer/Blogger #1, Meg from Beard and Bonnet. Her food is always beautifully styled and photographed, and it generally makes me hungry. This month, after cutting out dairy and meat, I found myself with a serious pumpkin spice latte craving and she delivered Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Syrup to make vegan PSLs.

Designer/Blogger #2, Beth from Tasty Yummies. I found her blog after going to a design conference in Ohio where her husband was the Emcee/host and then listening to his podcast. Yeah, a long story. But she has lovely photos and a great variety of gluten-free & healthy treats, like this Pumpkin Chai Smoothie (02). Let’s call that winning at breakfast.

Designer/Blogger #3, Sabrina from The Tomato Tart. Ok, she isn’t new to me, but I had to include her (again) because she made this incredible Texas Style Chili (03). It is on my list for one of the first meals I am having when meat is back on the table next month.

And, not a designer, but Jane from the Heritage Cook made these incredible Fully Loaded Green Chili Potato Skins just in time for football season.

Purdy.

My dear friend Kyra wrote a beautiful cookbook (01), you should read my review, then buy it. If you haven’t seen the new collection (02) from Red Apple Lipstick, go check it out and then sign up for their presale. I am kind of obsessed with the new H&M Home line, and I am definitely in need of this apron (03). When I go back to having my own kitchen, I am ordering myself one of these prints that says “People who love to eat are always the best people” (04) from Beth at Tasty-Yummies.

Let’s take a trip

I have a couple of gluten-free events coming up – The Gluten & Allergen Free Expo in Dallas October 26 & 27. I will be there with Erica from Celiac & the Beast promoting her new book (which is now available for pre-order)  and wearing her cool tshirts. I will also be at the Food Allergy Blogger Conference in Las Vegas the following weekend talking about HTML, CSS and some design advice for your blog. There are still tickets available if you haven’t registered yet.

Also, you might have seen me tweet about a trip to India in March – I am going to see my best friend get married, but if you have any tips or advice about traveling to India while gluten-free (or what to get as a wedding gift for someone you once spent 2 hours trying to teach how to make plain pasta), I would love your advice!