Bob's Red Mill

FH and I had TONS of weddings to attend this year (we have 9 -- and we aren't done yet).  One was in Portland, Oregon.  I found this to be the perfect excuse to go early and spend some time at Bob's Red Mill who happens to have their factory just outside of Portland. 

me in front of the mill

Bob's has the products to use if you are gluten-free.  They are the brand that carry all the needed flours to bake gluten-free.  They also have their own packaged mixes, but most contain garbanzo bean flour which I am allergic to...  But that doesn't mean I can't buy their other flours!

I had been told that you should go to Bob's to buy in bulk.  So away we went....

At first, I had sensory overload and spent about 10 minutes just wandering the factory store.  I finally got it together and hit up the bulk bins.  I can't even tell you how inexpensive it was.  Example:  You'd pay about $6-7 for one bag of brownie mix if you bought it in the store.  We got at least 5 bags worth of brownie mix in the bulk area for about $2.  AMAZING!

When we checked out, I felt like I was on the Extreme Couponing Show, although I didn't even need any coupons.  We easily got at least 75% off typical prices of the different flours.  I was so giddy, I called all my gluten-free buddies to share the good news!  If you live anywhere near Bob's and you are gluten-free -- I highly recommend going to shop!

Now, I just need another excuse to go back....

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things....

It has been a while.  Sorry about that.  I was on vacation, teaching summer school (preschool!) and finally started my new year at school.  Luckily we are not on strike, like another district I know.  We ratified our contract the day before school.

It has been a hectic start to the school year.  New students that have caused numerous headaches already, switching from 4 class periods per day to 6 (quite the adjustment!) and I am also training for my first (and last) marathon!!

While training for this marathon (Nike Womens Marathon), I have been HUNGRY!  And there isn't much to eat with all of my allergies.  At least not the things that all the real runner people say to eat.  So I have been finding new things that are working to keep me hydrated, full, and running!

Before all the allergies, I drank chocolate milk after a hard workout.  Doesn't work anymore.  Now I drink Chocolate Coconut Milk!  Although it is difficult to find.  I have drive a ways to a Whole Foods to get my fix -- and I make sure to stock up.  It is the perfect after run drink! 

One of my newest favorite protein is Sunbutter -- especially the No-Stir kind.

I never liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches growing up -- but now I am obsessed with sunbutter sandwiches!  Sunbutter and jelly, sunbutter and honey!  Yummy!

The hardest thing has been finding granola bars that are safe to eat.  You can find gluten free, but it has nuts and/or soy, you can find nut free but it has soy and gluten.  UGH!  I finally find just ONE that I can eat and it really isn't that bad tasting.  NuGo Nutrition Bars make one kid that works for me: the chocolate version!

I also have been having a hard time finding safe (and good) things to eat while running.  Not only can I not eat all the allergen stuff, I also can't have caffeine which happens to be in a lot of energy items for running.  I have found a few items to eat while running that I could recommend: Clif Shot Gel Chocolate, Clif Shot Bloks -- my favorite is strawberry, and Hammer Gel -- my favorite is Montana Huckleberry!

My marathon is three weeks away so pretty soon I will carbo-loading.  How do you carbo-load without gluten?!  We will find out -- stay tuned!  And I promise to update with a few recipes I have baked over the summer..... And I just got a Cooking Light Best Baked Goods special edition.  Can't wait to adapt some recipes!