Thursday, May 25, 2017

Reasons To Smile

I've been a bit blue the last few days which is why I took those days off. I was planning on getting back on the blog train today anyway, but a few things happened yesterday to help that plan. When I was at the library last week I requested a book that they had to get from a different library, and I got an Email yesterday morning that it was in. So, on my way home I stopped to pick it up. It came all the way from Las Vegas!
I read about this book on a blog awhile ago. It's a blog that I don't read on the regular, I can't even recall the blog to be honest, but she was showing and reviewing some books she had recently read and this book called my name. It's a true story of how a woman did everything in her power to be as self destructive as she could. Although that isn't me anymore, it used to be me and I'm still dealing with a lot of repercussions from living that way. I can't wait to dive in.
I came home to a package sitting in front of my door. I wasn't expecting anything, so it was quite the surprise. Blake, who I'm sure some of you have seen in the comment section of this and other blogs surprised me with this book! Gluten free and vegan!!! I am so excited, I can't thank you enough Blake, and what a perfect day to get such a nice surprise! It definitely lifted my spirits! This is also the first cookbook that I own in this apartment. I had a little collection in Seattle but sadly I lost them. I already have my eye on a few recipes. There is a recipe for onion and olive Focaccia that is screaming my name. There are so many great recipes, even a recipe for gluten free puff pastry!! I definitely need to get a loaf pan because there is a recipe for sandwich bread that I need. I miss sandwiches so, so much! There's even a recipe for vegan butter which I can't wait to try. I don't buy Earth Balance anymore because I'm doing my best to avoid palm oil, and Miyoko's vegan butter is pretty pricey so I can't wait to churn my own palm oil free vegan butter!


On my way home from the library, I stopped at Smith's for cat food and found a few WooHoo sales! Tempeh for $1.49, Treeline cheese for $4.00, and these Annie's strawberry gummies were on sale for $2.00 a box, and the boxes each had a dollar off coupon! Pretty sweet. They're really good too. Nice strawberry taste, not artificial tasting and great texture.
Sorry about the shadowy horrible kitchen lighting, but this was on my ginger tea bag yesterday and it just seemed so perfect and timely.
Here's Joan having the best nap ever. She has the couch cushions just the way she wants. Out of everyone she really loves her pillows and cushions!
Thanks again Blake, I really can't wait to make some amazing gluten free breads!!






20 comments:

  1. Just a quick tip - next time your at Big Lots, check out the baking tins. They're not the highest quality, but I get all my cookie sheets and loaf pans at those cheapo stores like Christmas Tree Shops, Ocean State Job Lot and Big Lots. You can probably score a loaf pan for under $4.00.

    Also - do you still have the Pure & Beautiful cookbook I sent you last year??? I have a copy of that one and it's one of my favorites. I return to it again and again.

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    1. I'm going to check a thrift store for some more kitchen stuff. If I can't find what I need there, I'll check Big Lots for sure.
      Unfortunately that book got left behind in Seattle. I'm sorry.

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    2. No - you must be confused. If you check your October 30 blog post, you'll see a photo of the cookbook I sent (which was in the box with the Ninja and the other stuff). I sent it to you in SLC. Maybe you chucked it by accident? Oh well, it's a great book. If you see it at the library - definitely check it out. Glad you like the GF baking book!

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    3. You're so right. For some reason I remembered it from Seattle. Yes, that is in my kitchen. With all that's gone on, I actually forgot you sen that. I need to pull it out and go through it, thanks for reminding me! Now I own two vegan cookbooks!!!

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  2. That's such a great gift. The author Erin McKenna is one of my baking Heroes. I use her Babycakes books all the time but I haven't got the bread book. I have a really good gf brownie recipe I will have to send you.

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    1. There are so many delicious looking recipes I can't wait to try.
      I'd love a gf brownie recipe. I've been dragging my heels getting into gf baking, but it's time that I at least try!

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  3. Yay for Treeline cheese sales! Our Kroger runs these on sale all the time, so I won't even buy it at full price anymore. Just wait for the sales! Also, good score on the tempeh. And how awesome of Blake to send that book!!!

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    1. I would never pay full price for Treeline either. It seems like every few weeks Smith's has them on sale, so I just always keep my eye out.
      I can't wait to make all the gf bread!

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  4. I have only sampled a tiny bit of Treeline once and it was so good. I really want to try it again.
    That is a very lovely gift!

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    1. Treeline cheese is seriously so good. If it weren't so expensive I would have it all the time!
      It really was!

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  5. I'm so glad that some small pleasures have helped you smile a bit more. What a sweet gift!! I can't wait to see what you make out of it :) I also agree with Blake about checking out Big Lots for tins and also check it out for inexpensive gluten free flour! I got a bag of Bob's Red Mill Oat flour for $2!!!

    I'm going to have to see if my library has that book! I'd like to read that next :) I'm hoping to have a reading day on Sunday. I need a day to just relax and be mellow and that sound perfect.

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    1. There are so many things to try in this book. I'm pretty excited.I'm going to check out a thrift store, and then Big Lots if I can't find what I need. That's a really great deal for oat flour!!
      I've started reading the book, and it has me hooked all ready. She's brutally honest and I love it. Her name is Cat Marnell. I hope you can find it!

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  6. Nice sales! I wish I could get on sale tempeh! XD I did recently find some nice kombucha on sale- not as cheap as what you've gotten but under $2 for a local brand.

    I hope to hear what you think of the book. I've always been too lazy to make special requests for books with my library.

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    1. Any kombucha under two dollars is quite a deal! I haven't found any amazing sales on booch recently, but I sure have been looking!
      I just started reading it, and I am hooked. It is so, so good! She is brutally honest about her addictions and I love it.

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  7. What a pleasant surprise for you to get something in the mail. That can sure raise the spirits. Big Lots does have some great buys too. This week has been a hard week for me. In addition to some tragic deaths in our family, I also had to quit my job. It seems that I just couldn't do things to satisfy some of the other employees. I have never had this problem before in my working career. It was disappointing that this didn't work out. The work was hard in many ways and so I felt I needed to say goodbye before I hurt myself more than a few bruises. I feel bad for letting some people down, but someone will be there to fill my spot, probably better than I could ever do. Looking for the sunshine today. Have a good weekend.

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    1. Wow, it sounds like you've had a really terrible week. I'm so sorry to hear all of that. If you were hurting yourself at your job than it sounds like you made the right decision, and it just wasn't a good fit for you.
      Thinking of you and sending hugs.
      I hope you find the sun!

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  8. Thanks for your reply- a bit of affirmation helps along the way too. It's a bit brighter day today also. Thanks for the thoughts and hugs. Keep up your blogging- you're a good writer. Your kitty pics cheer me also.

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    1. Doesn't the sun always somehow make things a little bit better? I hope things continue to get brighter for you.
      My kittie pictures always cheer me up too!
      And thank you!

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  9. Great food, fortune, and finds!

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