I was away this weekend at the West Edition of the Gluten Free Culinary Summit in Denver.  I was away for two nights and about 3 days by myself checking out something that I have so much passion for.  AND I went by my self…  you moms know what that means!   I got to be in the bathroom alone. Ha!  And the pillows?  All mine!  All kidding aside, I had a wonderful time.  Going to the summit was a birthday present to me this year (thanks Tim Sr. and Mom!) and was it a gift!  Suzanne Bowland, the amazing woman behind GF Culinary Productions, thinks of every detail making it such a fun, warm, welcoming event.  It’s a celebration of the richness and abundance of the gluten free lifestyle, never focused on deprivation.  I love the joy and passion that I have been a part of these past two years.  I will be posting pictures and descriptions of the fun I had over the weekend as the week goes on.  There is so much to cover!  For a few of my impressions of last’s year’s summit, you can look here, here and here.

The Fourth Annual Gluten-Free Culinary Summit

I did have a great time while I was gone, but you know what I missed?  These guys:

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I’ve gotta catch up on my snuggles with the cuties this week.  I got a start on that this morning when I went to the apple orchard with the 1st grade class.  I love field trips!

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Head over to Laura’s for Menu Plan Monday where she’s celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving.  The Gluten Free Menu Swap is being hosted this week by Gluten Free Goodness.  She has picked veggie meals as this weeks theme.  I am glad to see the theme as I have quite a bit that needs to be harvested from the garden.  I harvested 3 kinds of potatoes last week (blue, red and a yellow).  With the help of a few sweet potatoes from the market and spinach and kale from the garden I plan on making Twice Baked Spinach Garlic Stuffed Potatoes.  I will most likely make a double batch and freeze the extra in individual portions for lunches for myself and my husband or snacks for my big kids.

**EDIT!!** Oops!  With all the craziness I made a big boo-boo!  This week’s Gluten Free Menu Swap is being hosted by Asparagus Thin and she has picked super foods as the theme.  Yikes!  I am going to go have a nap and start over…  ;o)

Come back on Friday for Gluten Free-zer Friday.  I will have the gluten and dairy free altered Breakfast and Lunches from Once a Month Mom‘s October Menu.  Once a Month Mom with be holding a Tweet-Up on October 10th that sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

Monday: 1st grade apple orchard field trip/Girl Scout Leader meeting/Boy Scouts

Mediterranean Chicken over rice, salad

Tuesday: Mom volunteer in school library/piano lessons/bake the potatoes for tomorrow

(We need a portable dinner.)  Baked Picnic Chicken Bites, Apple-Cabbage Slaw (this is not a mayo based slaw) and Pumpkin Cookies

Wednesday:  dance/youth group/mom drama practice

Twice Baked Spinach Garlic Stuffed Potatoes with a roasted veggie salad

Thursday: Boy Scout Jamboree meeting

Garden veg stir-fry over quinoa with home made kimchi (the protein will be determined by what is on sale this week)

Friday: Mom help with 1st grade math games

Fish Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw (yes, I have lots of cabbage right now!), guacamole, and Roasted Butternut squash (drizzled with jalapeno-cinnamon honey)

Sometime during the week I am sure I will be baking something delicious (or 2 or 3 things!)  from the Gluten Free Culinary Summit.  This weekend something yummy will be made for lunches and dinners from the Summit and from the cookbooks I bought.  So many choices, I have to narrow it down.  What a good problem to have!