GF is here to stay!

I'm at about the 2 month or so mark since I've been doing my best to cut out gluten.  I'm feeling great and I've found it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be.  That's always a plus!  The thing that is the hardest, and probably always will be, is the baking part.  I'm trying new things and trying to turn to other treats to give me my "fix" but it will never be totally the same.  Some of the things that have become a part of my "normal" diet are things like rice cakes, lots more greens, veggies and fruits (which I needed more of anyways!) and chocolate. 
I've turned rice cakes into my "sandwich bread."  I'll put tuna salad, peanut butter and jelly or, just last night, sloppy Joe.  I've even used them to make S'mores!  That is one of my guilty pleasures for desserts...  I put a layer of peanut butter, then sprinkle on chocolate chips, then top with marshmallows and stick it in the toaster oven until the marshmallows turn golden...  Oh. So. Good.  Not the most healthy, but wonderful.  :)

My tuna salad "sandwich"

When it comes to vegetables, I don't think I've ever eaten or liked them as much as I do now.  I'm constantly roasting, steaming, blending or chopping them.  Spaghetti squash has become normal around here for pasta night and I make smoothies all the time for breakfast or lunch.  Smoothies are a great way to get in some extra greens and I really enjoy them too.  

Spaghetti squash "pasta"

 

I know I mention her all the time, but Kristen at Change of Pace has given me tons of inspiration and new recipes and ideas to try.  I love her Salt and Vinegar Cabbage and Massaged Kale.  She does a lot of meal prepping of food to get her through the week and that has really helped me too.  Not only with staying GF, but not looking in the fridge and wanting nothing but junk.  I've been slowly doing this more and more.  For me I really struggle with lunchtime and this is the key I think for me stay healthy and on the right track. 

Roasted sweet potatoes to heat up for lunch.

 

I've always liked chocolate, I mean, who doesn't?  When I get that sweet tooth craving it's nice to have something to grab and eat that satisfies my craving and I don't have to worry about it hurting me later.  For Easter I made a tray of different ones and they were great.  I made mini peanut butter cups, mini Dulce de Leche cups and Chocolate Truffles.  It was my first time making truffles and they were so simple and really good. 

My chocolate tray from Easter.

Easy Chocolate Truffles
(From Martha Stewart)
Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom (I didn't have cardamom so I used a cinnamon stick instead)
• Five strips 1-inch-wide orange peel, pith removed
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup sifted cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup finely chopped assorted nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, and pistachios

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, whisk together cream and cardamom. Add orange peel; bring just to a boil. Remove from heat; let stand 15 minutes. Line a baking pan with parchment; set it and another pan aside.
2. Return cream mixture to heat; bring to a boil. Place chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Remove cream mixture from heat. Pour through a sieve set over chocolate; discard solids. Stir until melted and smooth.
3. Pour chocolate mixture onto the unlined baking pan, and spread in an even layer with an offset spatula. Transfer baking pan to freezer; chill chocolate until hardened but malleable, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Using a tablespoon, scrape enough chocolate from pan to form a roughly shaped 1-inch ball, being careful not to press too hard against baking pan. Repeat. Transfer balls to the parchment-lined pan; chill truffles in the refrigerator 10 minutes.
5. Place the confectioners' sugar, the cocoa powder, and the chopped nuts in three separate bowls. Roll the truffles in desired coatings

So, with that all being said.  What are some of your favorite GF eats?  What are things that are now a permanent fixture in your diet and on your grocery list?  What foods have taken the place of your favorites?  Give me your ideas and thoughts.  Anyone cut out corn or dairy too?  What adjustments did you make for that?