Restaurant Review: Yogio Food Cart

Yogio is a food cart located in NE Alberta in the “Holy Trinity”, right next to another gluten-free cart called The Dog House PDX (here’s my review of The Dog House PDX in May 2011). Both carts are run by the same folks They have a fantastic selection of dishes that are sure to please everybody. […]

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Coffee Brewing Methods, Part 3

Here’s a completely different coffee brewing method, the Toddy Coffee Maker. It’s a cold brew method that brews coffee overnight in your refrigerator. It makes enough to fill the glass decanter (shown above) with a coffee concentrate that you can keep in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The Toddy works for iced coffee, […]

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Bisquick Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix

Betty Crocker, a major food brand, has joined in on the gluten-free market. Bisquick Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix is here. Lucky for us! With the familiar name of Bisquick on the box, I had to try it. Besides, I had to find something to satisfy that occasional pancake craving. Rice flour is the main […]

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Walnut Red Pepper Dip

This is one of my favorite recipes. It’s super simple, quick to make, and has just a few ingredients. This dip makes a great snack with chips, crackers, or vegetables. It’s also my go-to recipe when I need to bring something to share for a party. This dip works with many special dietary needs; it’s […]

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Gluten-Filled Nostalgia

Last week I experienced a day that I truly craved a food from the past that I can no longer eat on my gluten-free diet. A pita sandwich. I was walking around downtown Portland past lunchtime and I was hungry. I had just bought chicken and rice from one of my favorite food carts downtown, […]

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Basil and Tomato Chicken

Going with the fresh basil theme from last week’s pesto recipe, here’s another option for using fresh basil: in a marinade for chicken breasts. This Italian inspired marinade is wonderful for summer with the bright flavors of fresh tomato, basil, and balsamic vinegar. It’s super fast to prepare and needs only a few ingredients. Be sure […]

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Cruise In Country Diner

Ever been to Cruise In Country Diner? You’re in for a real treat. Cruise In is a great little diner in Hillsboro, Oregon. Music and memorabilia from the 50’s and 60’s fill the place, even their menu evokes the style with classic car names in the titles of every dish. You can dine inside, or […]

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Spinach Basil Pesto

This was my first attempt at homemade pesto, and I must say it won’t be the last. I have a basil plant that needed some serious harvesting, so the time to try making pesto had arrived. I was incredibly pleased with this recipe! It has a bright, fresh flavor. I was curious about how it […]

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Gluten Free Pasta

I have been asked what my favorite gluten-free pasta is. I don’t eat pasta very often, but when I do, it’s gotta be the good stuff…and that’s Tinkyada Rice Pasta. Tinkyada rice pasta is by far the best texture of any gluten-free pasta that I have ever tried. It’s just like eating regular pasta; people […]

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Infused Water Recipes, Part 1

I don’t know about you, but I really don’t care for the taste of water. It’s my ongoing battle; drinking the daily amount of water I need while trying to ignore the taste. This infusion pitcher from Crate & Barrel has become my new best friend in helping me drink enough water. I prepare the […]

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Coffee Brewing Methods, Part 2

Last week I reviewed the Aeropress coffee maker in Coffee Brewing Methods, Part 1. Now it’s on to Part 2! Another coffee brewing method I liked was the Chemex coffeemaker. This method also yielded a smooth cup of coffee; not quite as smooth as the Aeropress, but darn close. Chemex is not quite as fast […]

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The Dog House PDX

I love tater tots. They’re comfort food, they’re fun to eat, and they make you feel like a kid again when you eat them. When I went gluten-free, I thought tater tots were just one of the many foods of my past that I had to give up since they’re made with flour. Well, things […]

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Versatile Sausages and Peppers with Marinara Sauce

You’re probably wondering why I have a slow cooker recipe in the month of May. The slow cooker is for the winter, isn’t it??? Truth is, I use my slow cooker as long as I can before the weather gets too hot. Besides, not all slow cooker recipes have to cook all day long and […]

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The Dragonfly Coffee House in Portland, OR

The Dragonfly Coffee House is located in the Alphabet District on the corner of NW Thurman & 24th. It’s a terrific NW Portland neighborhood spot. It’s a small but comfortable place with vintage couches, tables, and chairs. There’s a cozy, friendly vibe here from the moment you walk in the door. I’ve been there several […]

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Coffee Brewing Methods, Part 1

I love coffee. I love the taste of coffee; I’m one of those rare people who drink it black. I enjoy the ritual of making coffee; I look forward to it every morning. I especially enjoy having the time to kick back, relax, and slowly sip that perfect cup. A few months ago, my electric […]

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Restaurant Review: Earth Oven Pizza

Earth Oven Pizza is relatively new to downtown Hillsboro; they’ve only been around since the Fall of 2010. I’m glad they came. It’s a fantastic thing to have a great pizza place so close to home! Earth Oven has a real feeling of home and familiarity from the moment you walk in the door. There’s a […]

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Cranberry-Pumpkin Nut Muffins

This is a great breakfast muffin since it’s not too sweet and it’s nice and hearty. The recipe is super easy and quick. I’m a “lazy baker” so any baking recipe that is not very labor intensive is always best in my book. I found this recipe in two places: originally posted on Caveman Food […]

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Eggplant Caponata

Ever wonder what to do with eggplant? This is a pretty simple recipe that I pull out every so often. It’s a slightly spicy and sweet dish that you can use to top anything: chicken, fish, rice pasta, or vegetables. It also freezes well, so it’s handy to make a batch and freeze part of […]

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Restaurant Review: Solstice Wood Fire Cafe in Bingen, WA

I took advantage of the beautiful sunny Saturday we had a few weeks ago and went to Hood River for the day. Just across the Washington border, I was lucky enough to find the Solstice Wood Fire Cafe in Bingen, WA. Solstice uses a wood fire oven to bake their gourmet pizzas. Their blackboard wall […]

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Restaurant Review: Grilled Cheese Grill in Portland

Did you know that April is National Grilled Cheese Month? I figured I’d better take part in the celebration before the month was out with a visit to the Grilled Cheese Grill food cart in Portland. It’s a great thing to be able to enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich even though you have to stay […]

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Easy 5-Ingredient Chicken Recipe: Citrus Chicken!

This is a perfect recipe for those times when you just don’t feel like putting in a lot of time in the kitchen. There’s only a few minutes of prep time involved; just be sure to allow for 90 minutes of baking time. The chicken comes out nice and moist, with a wonderful sweet citrus […]

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Thursdays are BEST at Great Harvest Bread Co. in Hillsboro

I look forward to when Thursday rolls around every week. Why? Because every Thursday at Great Harvest Bread Co in Hillsboro I can get a fresh baked loaf of gluten-free bread, chocolate chip cookies, and brownies. Or even a sandwich made on gluten-free bread. For that one day, the whole world seems to open up […]

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Butternut Squash “Lasagna”

Who doesn’t love lasagna? For those who have to stay gluten-free, it usually means using a gluten-free lasagna noodle to replace the regular noodles in a standard lasagna recipe. Cool thing about this recipe is that you don’t need noodles of any kind. I like that it’s naturally gluten-free; plus, it eliminates a trip to […]

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Review: Food Front Cooperative Grocery NW

Food Front Cooperative Grocery has two locations in Portland: NW and Hillsdale. The location I’m writing about is the Northwest location. It’s a small neighborhood market with many treasures tucked inside. Their focus is high quality foods and merchandise from local, organic, and sustainable producers. They’ve got a great selection of gluten-free products, in their own […]

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Pumpkin Nut Muffins

Beware, these muffins are highly addictive. They’re like crack around our place. It’s hard to stop at just one, but you can do it with some strong willpower. These muffins sure satisfy a sweet tooth, and they have that nice cake-like texture that is missing from so many gluten-free baked goods. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, […]

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Restaurant Review: Deschutes Brewery

I went to Deschutes Brewery for the first time. I kept hearing so many good things about it, I just had to try it out. First off, I was impressed with the separate gluten-free menu that was offered, and the number of choices! Burgers with gluten-free buns, appetizers, chicken wings, salads, even gluten-free breadsticks. It […]

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