Being that I work from home now, breakfast is a big highlight for me and I always look to vary up my routine. Spotting a beautiful recipe for a PB&J Grain Free Breakfast cake on Immaeatthat blog, I thought it sounded relatively simple and would make for an exciting weekday breakfast. Given that it's gluten free, Dan was all about it, as I incorporated Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 baking flour that totally did the trick. Actually, I have to say that I've used this flour on numerous occasions lately, especially when making waffles and everything always comes out great. You virtually can't tell the difference.
Instead of using mashed blackberries as the bed for the peanut butter, I substituted with frozen blueberries that I warmed up. Then came the creamy warmed peanut butter on top that sealed the deal on this already moist cake. Just a few small pieces filled us up for several hours, and I'd recommend sharing one portion with 1-2 people at least!
PB&J Grain Free Breakfast Cake - recipe courtesy of Immaeatthat Blog.
My recent gluten free diet has actually opened up my world to new, delicious eats, and even though I have to be more careful about what I consume, it's a lot of fun discovering places around Astoria that help cater to my special diet. Here are a few of my faves, so if you're also a gluten free individual, here's where you can get your fix:
Astor Bake Shop - Just take a look at these beautiful cupcakes - it's hard to believe they're gluten free. Chef George has created these with special care, as they're made up of flourless chocolate cake and a super dark chocolate frosting on top. I love how elegant and luxurious they look! 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria. 718.606.8439
Ovelia - My gluten free eating friends love to frequent Ovelia, and now so much more so because they've added lots of gluten free items onto their menu. Some of the GF highlights include spicy kafteri spread (feta with spicy peppers), creamy skordalia, their signature loukaniko sausage and so much more. Check out the full dinner menu here. 34-01 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.721.7217
The Strand Smokehouse - Dan and I had an awesome time at this meat lovers' paradise today, and I got pretty full without even thinking about about a morsel of bread. The spicy chorizo sausage, the homemade beef jerky and the maple glazed pork belly were among my favorites. The brisket was pretty solid as well, and don't miss dressing it with their signature BBQ sauce. 25-27 Broadway, Astoria. 718.440.3231
Parrot Coffee Market - I popped into this specialty market on Ditmars yesterday and found plenty of Gluten Free options. In the mood for a nice breakfast today, I invested in a package of Bob's Red Mill pancake mix, which totally did the trick. Dressing it up with bananas, which I placed into the batter, as well as on top of the pancakes, it was a big hit with hubby. 31-12 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.545.7920
