We're having a party!

We're having a party on New Year's Eve at our *tiny* apartment. I'm taking inspiration from one of my favorite designers/ bloggers Princess Lasertron. She recently threw a popcorn party, a really simple thing that you can make grown up and gluten free. Popcorn a super duper whole grain (and naturally gluten free) we are also having pistachios and cookies and gluten free pretzels, I making some soft and buying some hard. plus all the toppings for popcorn. I use the recipe from 1000 Gluten Free Recipes for the soft pretzels.
What are you doing for New Years Eve?

A Little Homesick

I a little homesick right now so that's what brought on tonight's dinner. Eric and I weren't able to make it to St. Louis for Christmas and I was feeling a little down about it. My solution was to make a casserole that my mom made a lot when I was growing up and then really never when I was home after finding out about my celiac. I took me a while to figure out how to convert it to being gf and isn't as cheap as it is when it is all gluteny. It is still pretty budget friendly especially if you make your own cream of mushroom soup.

Wasetti
1 lb hamburger (2 lbs if omitting sausage)
1 lb of pork sausage (I used Italian)
1 bell pepper any color chopped
1 small onion chopped
1 clove of garlic chopped
1 can tomato sauce
1 small (teeny tiny) can of tomato paste
1 cup cream of mushroom soup or 1 can (I'm sneaky and will thaw a bit and pour it into a can to measure)
1/2 bag of Heartland's fusli noodles or more just till it looks like enough
cheddar cheese shredded
salt, pepper, and chili powder to taste
Preheat oven to 350 F. Brown the hamburger, sausage, peppers, onions, and garlic together, drain. Meanwhile cook the pasta. Combine in casserole dish or dutch oven. Pour soup, tomato sauce and paste  over and mix together. Cover with cheese and bake at 350 until cheese is gold and bubbly.

Eric liked it, and so did I. I put hot sauce on mine and he put taco sauce on his. Apparently even with a measurement that says to taste I still am off a bit. I made a salad to go with it, not what my mom normally makes but it was still good.
Oh before you ask I have tried nearly every gf cream of mushroom soup recipe out there and all are good. Now you could be super lazy or really rushed and used the canned stuff (make sure it's gf!) but it won't be as cheap.

Mint Cookies

I told Eric a couple of weeks ago that he needed to tell me what Christmas cookies he wanted. He wanted to be difficult he said he wanted peppermint sugar cookies shaped like snowflakes with blue and white snowflakes. Well I did my best and all I could find was a basic sugar cookie recipe that I added crushed up candy canes. Then not two days ago a friend emailed me a mint cookie recipe that is gluten free without even trying! I made them yesterday.
1/4 cup light corn syrup (I used Karo white syrup)
1 tsp gluten free peppermint extract
1/4 cup butter softened
4 3/4 cups powdered sugar (one pound box)
food coloring (optional)
Mix the syrup, butter, and peppermint together in a bowl. Slowly add the sugar till it's mixed well and then add food coloring if you want to till you get the color you want.
Roll into balls and place onto wax paper and flatten out. Refrigerate for a few hours and then let stand at room temperature for several days. Then keep in an airtight container in the fridge.

I made these yesterday. The taste is amazing however I can't get them to set up. They are really doughy. I think I may put them back in the fridge to see if that helps.

Awesomesauce Sesame Street!

Yes I did type awesomesauce. :)
Hey there! I have really exciting news for families with little kids that are eating on a budget! Sesame street has started a program to encourage healthy eating. They are introducing some new Muppets, and they are introducing a kit to go with this endeavor. Also it encourages families to try new healthy foods. So if you have that *SUPER* picky preschooler this sounds perfect.
 Find out More!