G-Free Cornbread and Mother's Day

As you know, I'm allergic to gluten. I don't really mind it too much. Except, I do miss eating those foods with that pesky gluten.
Obviously this allergy keeps me from eating a lot of stuff. Because, well, it's in everything.

It really hadn't occurred to me to make my own breads etc... that is, until my sweet friend McKenna emailed me with some tips and tricks. Another resource, which I greatly appreciate, is Karina Allrich the Gluten-Free Goddess.
These gals helped me learn the ropes of a g-free life, giving me hope for eating good food again.  I never could have imagined the vastness of such a gluten-free world.

Well, I got pretty excited yesterday. Thinking, "Maybe I can eat breads, pastas, and deserts again!"
Can you tell that g-free products are an entirely new notion for me? I don't know why it hadn't occurred  to me before.

I made a little list of all the products which I needed to buy and drove to Foods for Living. After a lengthy search throughout the store finding all my special ingredients, I checked out and drove home. I was thrilled to try some of these new ingredients.
However, I might have been a little too excited -- I got tapioca granules instead of tapioca flour. Yeah, oops, my bad.
Of course, that probably did not surprise you in the slightest, if you know me. I am hopeless when it comes to following cooking directions/recipes. How hard can it really be? Don't answer that.

I was not to be thus deterred (and my spirits were not to be so easily crushed).
I found a wonderful g-free cornbread recipe on http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/.

Cornbread is one of my favorites. I loved going to Cracker Barrel and getting a warm cornbread muffin with honey. Homemade cornbread is delicious... especially fresh out of the pan. What about those amazing cornbread muffin things from Boston Market? And don't even get me started on Down Home with the Neelys. That show has quickly become a favorite with Sophia and me. I love the Neelys!
But honestly, watching their show has got a little depressing for me. My mouth literally waters - I can't stand it. It's especially hard since they use a lot of flour and wheat (and... gluten) in their recipes.

Anyway, when I got home from the store, I mixed all the new ingredients together and made my first ever gluten-free cornbread [from scratch]!
Shoot! I was so excited - it's not even funny.

I pulled it out of the oven and my happiness was all-consuming. It smelled delicious; aromatic and absolutely heavenly.
When I took a bite, the flavor was amazing. Out of this world.
It was flippin fantastic for something without gluten! I'm telling you, I was as happy as a clam with my pan of gluten-free (a.k.a guilt-free) cornbread. Too bad the hard little tapioca balls made the texture a little weird... I'll do better next time. I promise.

To kick off Mother's Day this year, my mom and I had a little movie night. Last night, we finished Emma (My personal favorite. And, let me just add that Mr. Knightly is pretty darn fabulous) and watched Persuasion. I'm sure Persuasion would have been a good movie... if I could have followed it at all. I guess now I'll have to go read the book. Oh, brother.

While watching the movies, we enjoyed tea and cornbread (and hearty laughter). I drizzled honey on my slice. Yum-o-licious.
Also, I had kind of a creepy thought. In around ten years I'll probably be celebrating Mother's Day in a very different way. And that right there is too much for me to handle.

Happy Mother's Day! I love you, mom.


Thanks again, McKenna and Karina. ♥