Time for the Peppermint Twist

As you know, I love pumpkins. However, pumpkin season is winding down and peppermint season is picking up. I have already had numerous candy canes this month.

Oh and for the record, the mint chocolate soy milk tastes amazing! It's tastes like a liquidy thin mint cookie. That sounds disgusting, but it's not. As for a gluten-free kid, whenever anything tastes somewhat reminiscent of those cookies, I am happy.
10 days until Christmas and 2 days until I am welcomed home with candy canes and pumpkin fudge. Until then, I shall avoid revising papers for school by doing the peppermint twist.

Thankful for the Waves of Wildwood

 Oh internet thank you for this.

 My favorite surf shop in the whole world Ocean Outfitters has been posting updates on FB like this:

There is still plenty of surf out there. Its been a good November. Water is ranging from 52 - 55 Degrees. Bootie and glove time and we have plenty of that and suits in stock. Come see us.

Black Friday Sale coming soon!

Why oh why are they tempting me? They know my weaknesses. Namely Wildwood and the waves (also a good name for a doo wop band). If I was the true adventurer that I claim to be (well at least I claim this to myself), I would load up the woody early Friday morning, drive three hours, rent a board and suit,  and surf the entire day.

Will that happen? Probably not. Most likely I will be eating a Turkey sandwich and watching Elf. 

I have been thinking about how thankful I am for surfing. Special thanks to the place where I first caught a wave... Wildwood Crest and the surfers at Ocean Outfitters who introduced me to the greatest sport around. 

In the three years since I've learned to surf, I've surfed California, New Jersey, and Maryland. Hopefully next year I can say I am thankful for surfing the shores of Ireland.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

DJ Sassafras 

 PS. For whatever reason, Blogger is putting random lines under everything.

Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie

Every year around this time this song by Jay & the Techniques gets stuck in my head. It's likely to find me dancing to my 45 record of the song in the kitchen while wearing my pumpkin pie dress next Thursday.

Pumpkin Season is A Swinging

  

It's dairy free, gluten-free, and PUMPKIN FLAVORED! This is seriously the best thing I have ever drank. Now I understand some have a fear that it is soy milk and therefore it will not taste as awesome as real milk. WRONG! Oh, so so very wrong. It is good by itself, in hot chocolate, or coffee. Try it now! 

Note: The Silk Nog and new Mint Chocolate flavors are out. I haven't try the latter, but the nog is nifty. 

My favorite squash has not let me down this fall. I made gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, which have been a hit in my apartment, school functions, and the occasional pumpkin fest (at which I ate a pumpkin vegan burger) I also attempted for the first time ever gluten-free pumpkin cupcakes. I used the GF Betty Crocker mixes for all the treats mentioned. The mixes are ace. Life is so much easier now and by life I mean making baked goods.

In the past, my mother and I made gluten-free crusts for pies. We are taking the easy way out and just making the custard this year. And really let's face it, that is the best part.

My pumpkin pie colored dress has been worn this year and this marks my official start of the Thanksgiving season. 

Love,

DJ Sassafras 

PS. Next mission in pumpkin bakings....conquering a gluten-free/vegan version of this Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Bars!

An Answer to the Landlocked Surfer's Prayers

 Looks like another surf spot has been added to my ever growing list.

City Dwellings Here and There- New York

So from time to time over the next month or two or more
(that sounded pretty vague) I am going to be spotlighting some of my favorite cities/places. OR places I really wish I could go to. Not really a comprehensive view of everything in that city, but just some awesome things it has to offer.

Why New York first? Why not? 

I haven't been there since February, and I really need some gluten-free/vegan red velvet cupcakes from Babycakes NYC.

AND.......my favorite band of all time Smoosh now lives there and is playing a show on Tuesday. I really wish that I could go! So close, yet so far. If only I had money and time and no school...... Yes, then lots of things in life would be different.


I like off beat and off the beaten path places. Even though this is pretty much right next to MoMA, I think it gets overlooked. The American Folk Art Museum  is sweet! The exhibit on quilts was incredible. Yes, I know that might make me sound old, but these quilts had amazing kaleidoscope designs.

Maybe the reason I love this city is the fact that I can eat pizza, ice cream, or doughnuts and not get sick because they are totally free of my food allergens! Slice has the best gluten-free vegan pizza. Get it with garlic and you will have no regrets!

There is so much more I could say about New York, but I shall save it for another day.

If you happen to find yourself randomly in NYC on Tuesday, head to the Mercury Lounge to see Smoosh perform! Listen to a tune of theirs in the meantime.

Pumpkin Season Commences

The only thing better than gluten-free donuts is gluten-free pumpkin spice donuts.

 

 

 

 

Found out via my favorite blog on all things gluten-free Gluten Free Philly that Kinninnick has gluten-free pumpkin spice donuts (or doughnuts if you spell things the original way.)

Seriously anything pumpkin flavored I love. I wait for the days when that strange yet wonderful orange squash starts appearing everywhere. Finally, it is "pumpkin season."

The Kinninnick doughnuts (I like to change things up) are available until the end of November. You can check them out by clicking on this link: Donuts, doughnuts, donuts!

I must pose a question to all gluten-free and non-gluten free readers. What is the best place to get pumpkin flavored items? If you know any places in Philly, shout them out!

Love,
DJ Sassafra

Summer moves to another part of the land

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just follow the summer around the world?  The movie Endless Summer is my dream played out on the screen. Spend my days riding waves and just going with the summer season as it travels the Earth.

Today is the last completely full day of summer. Autumn begins tomorrow the 22nd at 11:09pm. So I guess this is goodbye to the summers of my youth. I will be an old person next year (though I probably will still act much like an excited kid when June 21st rolls around).

I think I am ready for this new season, but at the same time I cannot let go of these lazy, hazy, crazy days.

Love,
DJ Sassafras

Best Coast on the East Coast

I am so so super happy I got to see Best Coast perform on Tuesday night at the First Unitarian Church. It was insanely hot (guess they brought the LA weather with them) and gross in the basement, but it was awesome. How does the live sound compare with the recorded? Really both are equally up to par. The show was full of energy and summery sounds. The music could not be more perfect for me, a little surfer girl who longs to be on the other side of the country. Seriously if you have not listened to Best Coast, sit down and watch this video. Then go here myspace.com/bestcoast . Take a few minutes and soon you'll be hooked.

She Be Surfin'

A surf shop just for girls and it's on the east coast!? I had no idea this place existed. Well, I mean I had heard of Surf Diva in La Jolla, CA and Costa Rica. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw She Be Surfin' in Avalon, New Jersey.


On a little trip up the New Jersey coast about a month ago, I stumbled upon this surf shop. They have a wide selection of clothing from brands like Roxy, Billabong, and Rip Curl. Also, they have a lot of awesome shirts with their logo. This is a pretty cool orange one

They also offer surf lessons for girls taught by girls. Pretty cool.

Speaking of all girls related things..... Girls Rock Philly 2010 was a success and a ton of fun! Probably the smoothest year yet. Look for a post next week with the details. Until then, check out the site at girlsrockphilly.org

Love,
DJ Sassafras

Attia's Girls Rock Philly

Check out this awesome video my friend/bandmate Attia made! Girls Rock Philly 2010 is starting on Monday.The showcase is next Saturday the 15th at the Trocadero. 1pm the rocking begins!

Follow the liveblog all week at http://girlsrockphilly.tumblr.com/

Love,
DJ Sassafras

Gluten Free Banana Bread Pudding (the easy way)

This recipe is gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, lactose-free, casein-free, peanut free, tree nut free, egg free, and soy free.

I just made this up the other day because there were some beyond ripe bananas in my kitchen. I had no canola oil to make a banana muffin. So I thought "well, I'll wing it and see what happens." It's actually quite good and pretty easy to make. It also is free of allergens. I mean you could add walnuts or peanuts if you are not allergic and want to add some crunch. This is really just a base. Add other ingredients that you think would rock.

This recipe makes about 2 ½ cups of pudding.

Ingredients

3 very ripe bananas

2 slices of gluten-free sandwich bread*

1 TB of sugar, truvia, splenda, or agave nectar

1-2 TB of ground cinnamon

* My favorite brand for gluten-free and dairy free bread is Kinnikinnick but any kind will do.

In a small bowl, mash the bananas very well with a masher or fork. Add sugar and cinnamon. Using a spoon, mix ingredients well.

Put slices of gluten-free bread in microwave for 10-15 seconds. Cut the bread into small pieces (you can use your hands to do this). Stir the bread into the mix. And…it’s done!

Happy Surfday America

Yes, yes....summer has officially began. And where have I been? Out in the waves---- the heat waves and the ocean waves (I prefer the latter for sure). I've managed to go surfing three times alrighty, which is significant given my landlockedness.

So in case you are both landlocked and under a rock, this past Sunday was July 4th aka America's birthday. It is pretty awesome being in Philly because it's really where the country began. A thought just came in my head that I never appreciate all the city has to offer. I mean we've got some awesome historical stuff going on. I need to play tourist soon.

I was lucky enough to head down to the shore last weekend. What is there to do at the beach but surf? Of course, I rented a board. It is my first time going surfing on July 4th. I've affectionately renamed this holiday America's Surfday.

Yeah the waves were not the best, I fell so many times, and I was tired and bruised in the end. Does this stop me from going back out there again? Noooo!!!!!! Every time there is a new lesson to learn. A seasoned surfer (he's been surfing for 30 years! whaaat!?) told me something I won't forget. He said, "The best thing you can do is watch others. See how he catches the wave and look at that other guy. Both have different styles. Take bits and pieces of styles and make it your own. There is no one way to surf."

I feel that statement is relevant for a lot of different aspects of life. There is no one way to do things in life. Learn from others but make your own life. Figure out your own style.

Love,
DJ Sassafras

Dear Ocean, Move Closer

Oh the pain and suffering of being a landlocked surfer. Pictures of the oceans just sit there mocking you. "Haha, you can't surf me today!" I seriously feel like every element of nature is laughing at me. The sky is gorgeous, it is a heat wave, the water temperature is rising, and I'm sitting on a sofa. Must I be miles and miles away from the beach?

The goal of hitting the road and moving out to California is not possible....yet. Do not worry, one day I will be out there with the other surfing boys and girls shooting the pier at Huntington Beach.

For now I must suffer and settle with gluten-free cupcake parties (post on this to follow), outdoor concerts, frolicking, horse-back riding, and dancing. Yes, yes, the landlocked surfer has a tough life. Winkity wink wink.

Speaking of outdoor concerts, check out Attia Taylor at Clark Park today in Philly around 2ish. She's the bees knees!

Love,
DJ Sassafras

Babycakes NYC....west coast style

What can I say about Babycakes NYC? That it's the best gluten-free/vegan/soy-free/casein-free/ pretty-much-everything-free bakery. So what's in those baked goods? Love of course!

Babycakes won over my heart last year when I was in NYC. Well, okay I'll admit it...I pretty much was in love with this bakery even before I went. The double chocolate chip mint cookie sandwiches! EAT THEM! This past January the bakery opened a location in L.A. Well, I had to go out to California right? I mean what else would this surfer girl do?

Alrighty, here comes the pivotal question. EAST VS. WEST! Babycakes in NYC vs. Babycakes in L.A.!
Oh, blerg. They're both awesome. Pros of NYC is that it's close by Philly folk. The pros of L.A. is it's in sunny California, there's way more room and tables inside, and there's even outdoor seating.

I got my Babycakes cookbook signed by the lovely ladies in L.A. Now, I need to get back to NY to get the right side of the book signed.

Which is better? Really you have to choose for yourself! Guess you're gonna have to do some traveling.

Love,
DJ Sassafras

The Endless Summer Begins

"We're loading up our woody
With our boards inside
And headin out singing our song"

-"Surfing Surfari" by the Beach Boys

Adventure! Adventure! I have so many goals, but basically they are all about having an adventure. Why have regrets? It's only one life.

I'm gonna load up the woody (a car) and head out wherever life takes me.

What will I write about?
Surfing, Sights, and Sounds of the world.

And.......posts on lady rockers, Philly musicians, Girls Rock Philly (I see a Philly theme developing) gluten-free college life, and any fleeing thought that floats through my mind.

Love,
DJ Sassafras

PS. Send me your suggestions of Philly things to write about (particularly music events going on). Or Lady Rockers to write about!