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Gluten-free Cinnamon Rolls (with Dairy-free options)
After making the (huge) move from New York to California earlier this year, I knew that the holidays would be an especially hard time of year for missing my family. When the first signs of the season hit, I was instantly an emotional wreck (crying in the decorations aisle at Target, at the tree lighting ceremony at Disneyland… you get the gist.) Since we wouldn’t be making the trip back home this first year, I quickly realized how important it would be to bring my family’s holiday traditions to our new home.
Every Christmas morning for as long as I can remember, my mom would form a batch of her homemade cinnamon rolls into the shape of a Christmas tree. Some years, she would get creative and decorate the tree with sprinkles or color the icing green, but no matter what, they were always in the shape of a tree. The sweet rolls served as a final gift to enjoy together after every other present from under the tree had been opened. It’s the little things like this – 34 years of the same Christmas traditions – that I’m going to especially miss this year.
Since being gluten-free for almost a decade, my Mom and I have attempted GF versions, but it’s been tough to get the recipe exactly right. But even if I didn’t have any to eat, it was enough just to see everyone enjoying them around the table. Read the rest of this entry »
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It’s The Most Wonderful Time…
Happy December everyone! I guess that title should really say – “It’s The Most Busy Time….”
Well as you may have guessed, the shortage of posts on here this week is due to the craziness of my life right now, once again. We are getting all geared up for the holidays both at home and with the business. I am a total holiday junkie, I love it all! I get insanely excited about the music and listen to it as much as possible, I wake up to it, I drive to and from yoga with it on the radio and I listen to it sporadically throughout my work day, at my desk! I cannot wait to really get into the thick of my gift shopping and we got the tree up this past Saturday after driving out to the country to cut it down. Last night I even took a break from all the work and I sewed some colorful felt bunting for our tree.
Honestly, if I had my choice, I would take the entire month of December off, not because I don’t enjoy my work, but more so I can just take it all in and savor every moment of the holiday magic. If I could, I would just go to yoga every morning and make Christmas gifts for everyone all afternoon listening to music and watching old Christmas movies and in the evening I would sit around in the dark with just the lights from the tree sparkling, drinking some delicious nog probably with a little rum in it, if I am being honest!
Speaking of nog, is anyone else as obsessed with So Delicious’ Coconut Milk Nog as I am? I cannot get over how amazing it is and I rarely get excited about things like this. Seriously, if you can find it, buy it and try it. It is only 90 calories per 1/2 cup and it is just as thick and delicious as the dairy version. I swear no one paid me to say this, I am just honestly obsessed with it. I wonder if I can make my own?
Anyhow, unfortunately for me, the month of December cannot all be Christmas songs, nog and crafting – our month is full of events, travel, lots of end of the year client work and tons and tons of shipping. SHIPPING!!! We just shipped off a huge order of our posters that we had with Urban Outfitters that was taking up every inch of our lives (yay – those will be in stores soon), plus 100 posters to Andrew Bird for his show in Minneapolis and we are shipping web orders from our site and etsy daily! I am certainly not complaining, I love it all and I am insanely grateful, but I am having to stay up late each night just so I can take in as much of the holiday spirit as I can, before it’s gone.
We are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning for Chicago for the Renegade Craft Holiday Sale, it runs Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 6pm. If you are in the Chicago area, you should come check it out, it’s an amazing event filled with hundred of vendors, all selling their handmade goods. It’s a wonderful way to support small independent businesses while buying unique holiday gifts. I get a ton of my own Christmas shopping done there with the other vendors, there is so much amazing stuff. The Hero booth is #65 on the first floor in gym #2. We will have a ton of posters and prints, greeting cards, pillows and more. Come see us!
Hopefully after we get home on Monday from Chicago, I will have a bit more time for cooking and baking. This week we were living off of our Thanksgiving turkey, I made an incredible gluten-free turkey pot pie and a creamy turkey, brown rice and sage soup. Sadly I will not be posting about either of these, as I did very little measuring so I have no clue how I would even write up the recipe and I made no time for photos. I guess I will just have to make them both again so I can share with you. Honestly though, the pot pie was so amazing I am definitely going to be making a vegetarian version with lots of yummy vegetables very soon, so keep an eye out for that. And also be on the lookout for some holiday cookie recipes when I get home and hopefully some other stuff, too. Hope everyone is enjoying the start of the holiday season and happy December to you all! See ya next week 🙂
