The Gluten Free Inside Scoop
A life update - Jump to Recipe Button Not Found
A life update - Jump to Recipe Button Not Found
If you follow me on social media, you may have seen that I started painting my kitchen on Monday (yes, that Monday - Memorial Day - which already feels like months ago).
I’ve been living in the same apartment for almost nine years. I actually rented this place sight unseen (well, a friend checked it out for me) when I moved back to Chicago in November 2016. The photos made it look perfect - whoever edited those images, please teach me your secrets! But oh boy, was I in for a surprise when I arrived.
The walls were painted in what I can only describe as 50 shades of white and yellow, everything was dirty as can be, and it wasn’t the kind of place I would have chosen - f it weren’t for two very specific things: they allowed two large dogs, and I had a parking spot.
Anyway, I decided to make it work and figured I’d eventually start looking for a new place to live. BUT, life happened, time got away from me, and now—nine years later—I have zero desire to even think about moving to a different apartment (it’s the packing part, really).
Thankfully, my landlord gave me the go-ahead to paint the apartment and spruce things up a bit.
I started with the bedrooms, which were pretty “easy” compared to the challenge that is my kitchen. Four doors, a closet door, two giant windows, and - because the building was built in 1888 (yes, 1888!) - there isn’t a single straight wall in sight. Now throw in an unskilled painter who’s also a perfectionist, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster.
It took me five days to finish painting. Five days! Not including the two, I spent a few months ago fixing all the window sills and door trims. And as someone who spends a lot of time in their kitchen, you can only imagine the state of those walls. All I’m gonna say is: it took two coats of primer, even on the ceiling, just to get a workable surface.
(Remember - I started with rough walls nine years ago, and living here with two dogs for nearly a decade hasn’t exactly helped.)
But the walls are painted, and I think I got most of the random paint splatter off the floors and cabinets. Of course, now that I’m moving everything back into the kitchen, I’ve launched myself into a series of random side projects like “repainting the kitchen table” and “should I replace the industrial metal shelf that holds all my kitchen stuff with something nicer??”
I have the attention span of the squirrel that’s been raiding my bird feeder all week.
Hopefully - fingers crossed - by Tuesday, I’ll actually be back in the kitchen working on recipes instead of, say, trying to track down a stainless steel backsplash that fits behind my stove. (Naturally, mine doesn’t fit the standard 30x24” they sell on Amazon. And no, I do not own a stainless steel cutting machine—j/k.)
Am I currently considering driving to IKEA on a Sunday to pick up a kitchen workbench to replace my wire shelving? Yes. Yes, I am.
Thank you for everyone who provided moral support this week via Instagram DMs and thank you for still visiting my website even though I haven’t posted anything new all week (I doubt anyone wants to see my Instant Pot Rice Bowls or my Airfryer Scones)
Here are a few random snaps from this week.
What to bake this week
Oh right! I do have a website so I should probably tell you something about a few recipes ;)
Gluten Free Skillet Cornbread: Gluten Free Skillet Cornbread is a classic comfort food that everyone loves. With its golden, crispy crust and soft inside, it’s the perfect side dish for many meals. You can serve it with chili, barbecue, or a hearty stew to add a tasty, homey touch to any table. If you can not be trusted with a whole skillet of cornbread, there is always my Small Batch Gluten Free Dairy Free Cornbread Recipe.
Gluten Free Sandwich Bread: I don’t talk enough about my Sandwich Bread. I even wrote an entire substack about it with a lot of tips and tricks (You can find that here:
Gluten Free Sunflower Seed Bread: If you are looking a little bit more of a heartier bread, I really recommend this one. It features a soft and chewy crumb while being sturdy enough to slice perfectly for sandwiches. Perfect for sandwiches, toasting, or enjoying with your favorite spreads.
Gluten Free Chocolate Banana Muffins: Got overripe bananas? Turn them into a delicious batch of Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Muffins with this easy, one-bowl recipe! This simple, small-batch treat is perfect for a quick breakfast or snack. Even better, these muffins freeze beautifully, making them a convenient grab-and-go option whenever you're craving something sweet yet healthy.
Happy Sunday and Happy Baking!
Daniela
Recipes mentioned in this week’s Sunday Scoop
PS: THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to everyone who took the time to leave comments and reviews on my website recently. Reviews and sharing links to recipes to Pinterest or your favorite Facebook or Reddit group helps food bloggers like me a lot this time of the year.
Before you leave - Thank you for being here, opening my newsletter, and clicking on those links I share. Every click helps and allows me to keep on sharing my gluten free recipes (for free). If you would like to support me by buying me a “pound of butter”, I have set up this website at “Buy Me a Coffee”. All money is being used to buy ingredients and keep recipe development going. Thank you so much for being here and your continuous support.