Zutkes

I love zucchini - it's so easy to prepare and it takes on flavors pretty easily. Plus it's healthy, so I use it in a lot of recipes. I got a little adventurous one evening and made up a recipe for Zucchini Pancakes, and they ended up being a huge hit. In fact, there was a time when we were having them multiple times a day, several times a week. No joke. My boyfriend has even asked me to make them for parties a few times. I call them Zutkes, he calls them Zucchini Pancakes - you can call them whatever makes you happy. They're delicious with a little sour cream, also with a little salsa and also delicious by themselves. Ingredients: 1/4 cup Almond Flour 2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese (grated) 2 eggs 4-5 zucchini, grated 1 shallot Salt & pepper to taste Directions: Grate the zucchini into a strainer, place in the sink and press down to squeeze out as much extra liquid as possible. Add in remaining ingredients and blend (I use my hands). Coat a pan with either cooking spray or Olive Oil and heat on med-high heat. Form little patties out of the zucchini mixture and drop on heated pan. Let it sit a few minutes on one side before lightly pressing down with a spatula, then flipping over. We like ours a little crispy, but you can mix it up however you like.

Coffee with a side of breakfast

Eating out with Celiac Disease is usually a game of Russian Roulette, especially with lots of bars and restaurants jumping on the Gluten Free bandwagon without really understanding all that it entails. Unfortunately, when you don't live alone it becomes hard to avoid going out from time to time so my boyfriend and I have developed a method to keep us eating out while minimizing the risk of me getting sick. We say 'highly allergic' and they listen. I know, I know - it isn't a food allergy - but typically people don't understand what you're talking about when you say 'I have Celiac Disease' and we all know the pain and damage that results from a gluten reaction, so it's inaccurate information that I don't mind delivering if it will protect my poor intestines and tummy. I always open by first apologizing in advance for all of the questions I will be asking, then politely tell them that I'm highly allergic to wheat and gluten. At this point my boyfriend usually chimes in with "HIGHLY allergic" to give what I'm saying some extra weight. I've found that people are far more receptive when I open with this explanation, but that doesn't ever make me less nervous when trying a new place. Any time we eat someplace new I won't fully relax until a few hours have gone by with no hint of a gluten reaction. But one thing that always puts me at ease is when the server jumps in and asks if I have Celiac Disease. The very fact that he/she knows what Celiac Disease is makes me feel so much better because it tells me they understand that I can get sick and they're taking my food issues seriously. Such was my first experience with Caprice Kitchen (Ballard). Caprice Kitchen is easy to miss at first - it's a small place on a stretch of road decorated with small shops, bakeries, and a yoga studio. There isn't a ton of seating but I have never encountered a wait there. They use locally sourced ingredients, and their small menu remains pretty much the same year round with only the ingredients changing based on what is in season. The first time I visited Caprice Kitchen I went through my usual schpiel and the waitress jumped in and asked me if I have Celiac Disease. I said yes, and she pleasantly explained that they would do their best to accomodate my food issues but that as someone with Celiac Disease I should be warned that the kitchen is not a gluten free environment. *gulp* I thanked her for the warning and ordered the Bacon Skillet and a cup of coffee. I just have to say right now - I would go back to Caprice Kitchen every day for the coffee alone. Even if I had left there and ended up in a world of hurt from a horrible case of gluten, I would have crawled right back the very next morning to enjoy another cup of the coffee. But I didn't get glutened. In fact, my breakfast was delicious, my coffee was incredible, and a few hours later I was experiencing no stomach problems. The Bacon Skillet combines a little bit of everything - seasonal veggies, eggs, cheese, potatoes and bacon. It's a perfect combination of flavors and the perfect size. We have made Caprice Kitchen one of our go-to spots and everyone we've brought there has loved it. And I have yet to get sick. I know I've been lucky not to get sick at a restaurant that isn't gluten free, but I appreciate each and every Bacon Skillet I have been able to enjoy there. And if the day comes when I DO get accidentally glutened, I'll still go back for the coffee while I wait to get up the nerve to give their Bacon Skillet the benefit of the doubt again. Overall, I highly recommend Caprice Kitchen. No wait, great atmosphere, great food, great service and GREAT coffee.