GreenSunflower Cooks

Grilled Goat's Milk Cheddar Cheese

Grilled Cheese with Goat's Milk Cheddar
Originally uploaded by greensunflower.

I found some goat's milk white cheddar at my local crunchy grocery (where I also buy my granola:).  And after finding a bread machine that doesn't make disgusting bread, I thought I would attempt a grilled cheese.

So I sliced the freshly baked bread very thin.  Thinly sliced some ambrosia (gala or Fuji would work too) apples and spread them over the top and topped it with a small amount of the grated goat's milk cheddar and a ton of fresh ground pepper.  I broiled it for a few minutes until golden brown and the bread was crispy. 

It tasted pretty good.  The sweetness of the apples, the salty of the cheese, and the spicy of the pepper, all on some not too gross gluten free bread (which I would toast before topping next time).  I haven't had a grilled cheese in well over a year... so yay!  And if you have the occasion to try a goat's milk cheddar or Gouda... do it!

Pamela's Pancakes

Pamela's Pancakes
Originally uploaded by greensunflower.

Karina almost exclusively uses Pamela's Ultimate Baking Mix, to make all of her beautiful creations.  I had to try it.  I could only find it at Amazon for a pack of 6, but at $26, I thought that was a deal for gluten free flour.

I have made both pancakes (as seen above) and Gluten Free Bay's Lemon Ricotta Cake.  Both were absolutely delicious. And after my experience with Arrowhead Mill's baking mix, I was skeptical.

I wholeheartedly recommend this mix.

Arrowhead Mills All Purpose Baking Mix

Arrowhead mills
Originally uploaded by greensunflower.

Over at Gluten Free Goddess, Karina uses Pamela's Baking Mix for many recipes. I haven't ever found that in a store (Amazon has it though), so I bought this one at BB.  It is brown rice based.  I made blueberry pancakes with it. The pancakes tasted okay.  The texture however, was quite another deal.  They were like cardboard.  Babe, who usually eats anything, refused them.  The blueberries tastes great and the vanilla bean whipped cream tasted even better, but the pancake part was horrible, dry, and tough. 

I would not recommend this baking mix.   

Did You Know This?

Vitamin Water
Originally uploaded by greensunflower.

I like Vitamin Water.  They taste good, are made with natural sugar, and have vitamins.  But did you know they make one with caffeine (click on pic to see it), albeit, not a ton (less than a shot of espresso, in fact)? That just kind of makes me giddy.

Walnut Oil

Walnut Oil
Originally uploaded by greensunflower.

I have been hearing recently of walnut oil, from many sources.  Most people say to use it in a vinaigrette, but I haven't made a salad in a while.  I have been using it to flavor roasted veggie and such. 

My theory in cooking is to layer flavors.  A little extra flavor in each step of the cooking process will make a delightfully complex (but not too complex) flavor in your dish. Walnut oil does just that.

Try using it in any cooking which does not require high high heat and could use a little bit of extra flavor.

Coffeemate

Coffeemate
Originally uploaded by greensunflower.

For some reason I do not like half and half in my coffee.  I mean I will drink it, but would rather something else. I also like a little sweet, but just plain sugar kind of sucks.  So I am always hitting up the flavored Coffemate. 

Seeing that I am crazy for holidays, I decided to try a holiday one. Eggnog flavor was sold out, so I got the Peppermint Mocha, since I love the Starbucks peppermint mocha. 

It is sooooooooooooooooooooo good.  It is still white and that might throw you off, but the mocha and peppermint flavors are definitely there.  This is definitely a do-try.

Nectar Of The Gods?

I have been hearing about this Pom tea for a while.  People hail it as the nectar of the gods.  Touting its antioxidant qualities. Saying it is so wonderful, once you taste it, you will not mind spending $2.50 for a glass of the stuff.

It is good.  But too expensive.  I feel I could mix cran-raspberry juice with some iced tea and take a vitamin and it would have the same effect.

Pom Tea
Originally uploaded by greensunflower.

I don't know that I would buy it again unless it were $1.50 or less.