Happy Spring! Life has been happily busy. Since I last chatted with you, I have become an Affiliate of The National Foundation For Celiac Awareness, have opened a gluten free bakery (Amy's Gluten Free Bakery), getting the house ready for a summer of entertaining, preparing for hay season, creating new recipes, and have been busy filming episodes of Dinner at 8 on LOOK TV.

This is the most recent episode of Dinner at 8, get ready to fire up the grill! We also take you on a trip to one of my favorite hidden gems, The J.K Adams Kitchen Store. If you would like to go for a scenic drive, to a story book town, to a fabulous shop, I highly recommend J.K. Adams!

Enjoy the recipes! I promise I will post again soon! I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely spring weather with your friends and family, perhaps even over a deliciously grilled meal.

Warmest Regards & Happy Cooking,

Amy

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Say No to the Gluten Free Grinch!

Featured Recipe: Merry Berries

I hope you are enjoying this Holiday season! With all of the hustle and bustle I wanted to share with you easy delicious recipes, decorating tips, how to stay healthy while on the move and much more! Click Here to read my Holiday Newsletter. If you would like to receive new recipes and the Spring Newsletter be sure to join our mailing list.

 
This video below is my Christmas and Holiday Special from Dinner at 8 on LOOK TV. This episode is full of delicious meals, fun cocktails and a super simple yet elegant dessert perfect for the Holidays! Helpful tip: When the video starts to play make sure to rewind to the beginning.

For more recipes and episodes, be sure to tune into LOOK TV Channel 508 for Saratoga County, Channel 8 for Warren & Washington County.

Amy's Holiday Recipes:

 Merry Berries:

2 cups of fresh blackberries, gently rinsed

1 cup of fresh raspberries

2 cups of fresh strawberries, rinsed with stems removed

1/4 cup of premium real maple syrup

1/4 cup of Cointreau Liquor

1/4 cup of good rum

Cut strawberries into bite size pieces. Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Using a rubber or silicone baking spatula, gently fold all ingredients together.

Serve this simply super dessert in a glass layered between whip cream or serve layered with whip cream between your favorite gluten free crispy cookies!



Maple Whip Cream

Maple Whip Cream:

2 pints of premium heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoons of good vanilla extract

1/4 cup of real maple syrup

Add heavy cream to a large bowl. Beat on high for 3-5 minutes or until the cream starts to become light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract. While continuing to beat the cream, slowly pour in maple syrup. When the whip cream is fluffy, you are ready to enjoy this true dessert delight! Enjoy!

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Cheers to a Brilliant New Year!

Would you like to own an entire book of easy delicious recipes that all just so happen to be gluten free?

Simply click on the book!

                             Makes a great Christmas gift too!



A Happily Gluten Free Halloween!

Halloween can be a deliciously fun holiday! The video above is the first ever Halloween Special from LOOK TV 8 that just so happens to be gluten free! Enjoy the recipes! The pasta I used for the Pumpkin Ziti in a pumpkin is Le Venienza Pasta. Simply Delicious!

Tune into WNYT News Channel 13 Albany tomorrow morning at 8am for the Morning Today show to watch just how frightfully feasty Halloween Can be Gluten Free! Dan Bazile, Tim Drawbridge and I will be cooking up a scarily good time!

The cooking segment and recipes from the show will be posted on the WNYT website http://www.wnyt.com/, after the show.

Popular Restaurant 1st to become NFCA GREAT Certified!

Michael Moynihan holding O'toole's
new gluten free menu!

O'toole's Restaurant in Queensbury NY is first in the area to complete the NFCA GREAT Training Course and Certification! What does this mean for you? If you and/or someone you love lives a gluten free lifestyle you now have a new place to enjoy a meal out on the town!

Congratulations to Michael Moynihan and O'toole's Restaurant for taking a proactive approach to serve their gluten free customers. What makes O'toole's different so far than just any other restaurant offering a gluten free menu in the area? They have taken your allergy and needs seriously by completing the NFCA GREAT Program and completed the Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs Regional Celiac Support Groups Restaurant Approval Program.

Michael Moynihan, Manager of O'toole's in Queensbury, is proud to offer an extensive gluten free menu prepared in a gluten free designated area in the restaurant's kitchen. They even offer a seperate deep fryer and toaster! Yes it appears that you can safely enjoy piping hot french fries again! As I can speak from my experiences there the burgers are juicey and delicious served on toasted Saratoga Gluten Free Goods Rolls. Another one of my favorite treats are their loaded potoato skins served up hot and with gluten free Cabot Sour Cream!

When you visit O'toole's please ask the hostess for a gluten free menu and as always  please also inform your waitress that you are dining gluten free.

As always I value your opinion! I would love to hear your feedback on O'toole's Restaurant!

O'toole's is located at 118 Quaker Road, Queensbury, New York 12804.
To make a reservation call: (518)-793-3389

Cooking Show Goes Gluten Free!

Last night was a monumental evening for gluten free lovers! We in the tri-county area of upstate NY are opening up the doors of the first gluten free cooking show. Join me, Amy Rota-Poulin, in the kitchen for "Dinner At 8!" Everything I make is based on my premise that "great meals become great memories!" I am very excited to invite you into the kitchen to create delicious, easy and impressive meals your whole family will love!  My fun twist on the show is that everything I personally make will be gluten free and/or will have a gluten free option. I look forward to cooking with you!

You are invited to Dinner At 8 with Amy
Date & Time: Sat. 10/8 @11:30 an Sun. 10/9 @ 7pm

Place: LOOK TV on Your TV
Warren & Washington County tune into Channel 8 Saratoga County Time Warner Cable tune into Channel 508

Warmest Regards & Happy Cooking,



Amy

Comming Soon.....

 It has certainly been a beautiful summer! There are great new gluten free opportunities that I want to share with you and will do so very soon.

In the mean time I am going to share with you one of my most favorite Japanese restaurants, DUO. DUO is located in downtown Saratoga Springs on South Broadway. When you make your reservation and when you order please tell your waiter/waitress that you must eat gluten free and or say "gluten allergy."

Look at this elegant, healthy, deliciously gluten free food! They also have a wonderful bar.

I am off to our hay field, after all the horses need to eat too! Have a great day!

A Month In Review

The bright beautiful sunny days of summer are here already. Time to open the pool, make sun tea, and fire up the grill.

Life has been a bit busy for me as I am sure it has been for you. During the last month my Mother had her knee replaced. It was a tough surgery and I have been spending much of my time helping her to recover.

Dan, Tim and I also cooked up a storm on News Channel 13 WNYT (NBC Albany). Here is the link to the cooking segment and easy gluten free recipes for entertaining: http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S2111750.shtml?cat=10127

Pierre also had a family event this past month. It was absolutely lovely to meet his Aunt Lise and cousin Andre from California.

My best friend in the whole wide world is coming back from her tour in Djibouti Africa. While Liz has been away serving our country for the past year, Sara her beloved golden retriever has been our guest.

Have you ever heard the saying, "you have to make hay while the sun shines?" Well it is true and we are doing that too. I have been in the gorgeous hay field bailing hay with my Dad and Pierre. My favorite part of "haying" is packing a little something to eat, like: Sweet Bell Pepper Gazpacho, Iced Sun Tea, and perhaps a Roasted Veggie & Goat Cheese Tart.

I am off to the hayfield.....You have to make hay while the sun shines! (and a picnic "to go" too.) I will be in  touch again soon, take care and remember to keep turning your culinary challenges into delicious opportunities!

Amy's Recipe of the Day: Farm Fresh Gazpacho Soup
Amy Rota Poulin All Rights Reserved 2011
2 pounds of vine ripened tomatoes, stems removed
2 cloves of fresh garlic
1 shallot
1 red bell pepper, seeded and stem removed
1 large cucumber, peeled
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon of real maple syrup or honey
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 small zucchini, diced
5-8 basil leaves, finely chopped

Cut tomatoes (stems removed), garlic cloves (peeled), shallot (peeled), red bell pepper (seeded & stem removed), and cucumber (peeled) into large chunks. This makes them easier to blend. Place all ingredients except for the diced zucchini and basil into a blender and blend until smooth.

Add diced zucchini and chopped basil leaves. Stir to combine. Serve this healthy and refreshing soup straight from the blender or chilled.

This recipe and many more can be found in my cookbook, Cooking Gluten Free With Amy available at the Northshire Bookstore and online!