Gluten-Free Black Forest Bacon Wrapped Steaks with Honey Dried Fruit Glaze

...because everything is better with bacon,
especially juicy top sirloin steaks. The end :).

Gluten-Free Strawberry Pie

I'm willing to take the heat of summer... only because it means that sweet and juicy berries are finally in season!

This time of year I even love grocery shopping a little bit more. The blast of cold air that hits me as I walk through the sliding doors is definitely a welcome relief on a hot day. Still, it doesn't quite compare to being greeted by... a beautiful assortment of colorful berries, particularly strawberries!

Spotting a sale sign right by those berries really makes my day-ay! Lately it seems strawberries are on sale everywhere and I love it! Just call me Strawberry Shortcake. (Who had a Strawberry Shortcake doll that actually smelled like strawberries and isn't afraid to admit it?! Me! I did!)

No, this isn't a post about strawberry shortcakes (but I think I'm craving one, now that I mention it :). This is a post about PIE. This one's a little different from the last pie recipe I posted, though. This gluten-free pie crust is completely nut-free! Though I loooove almond meal, I decided it was time to make a basic go-to pie crust recipe, no nuts allowed! But I've been talking about strawberries in this post. Don't worry, haven't forgotten about them. This is a gluten-free strawberry pie recipe, after all :).

So what are you going to do with all those deliciously plumb red berries you bought this weekend? No, you're not sticking 'em in the freezer! You'll be making this strawberry pie! The crust doesn't even taste gluten-free. I promise! It tastes like a cross between a cookie and... an actual pie crust (because it is! ;). Ok, so I know that isn't a true lattice top on my pie... but it still tastes good and that's what counts the most, right ;)?!

Enjoy!

Gluten Free Pizza!!!!!! Yes, it's edible :).

Are you a thin or thick crust pizza fan?

I like both, but it really depends on my mood :P. I do have to say that I usually go for a medium crust. You know what else? Even though I find myself craving pizza quite a bit, I've never wanted to try that crust-free pizza we're seeing commercials for again; it's naked to me, missing something very essential. I love the crust, it's the best kind of bread... and I looove bread :). But the crust does have to taste good, not dry or bland, and especially not yeasty! Yuck.

I was not very impressed with this gluten-free pizza crust recipe that I tried awhile ago, it was too yeasty and tough. But this here gluten-free pizza recipe (recipe @ the end of the post) will yield a yummy, non-yeasty medium sized pizza with a medium/thick crust. No more crumbly, funky tasting gluten-free pizza dough! :)

Guess what else is cool about this recipe?!

You can make it with baking powder and baking soda if you don't want to wait for the yeast to work its magic!

I know there are days when I'm on the verge of passing out but still really want a slice of pizza! You know what I'm talking about! And let's face it... there isn't a gluten-free pizza delivery service! So what do we do? Use 1 tsp baking powder and 1 tsp baking soda instead of yeast. And I'm not just saying that, I promise! I've made foccacia bread following this same recipe, I just replaced the yeast with baking powder/soda :). The leavener combo worked and I didn't pass out from hunger; everything was ready in under half an hour! Yes, Martha, that is a very good thing indeed.

Just a sidenote: I always feel a little weird saying something like, "Oh yeah! I made this and it's gooood". I'm not a professional chef, I'm just a cook who is still learning. I screw up all the time and my kitchen looks like a disaster zone when I'm baking, seriously (I'll post pics soon!).

I just wanted to mention this because I think it's nice to be candid. That said, I did enjoy the pizza. I'm happy with it, but I'm not obsessed with my 'skillz' (which are honestly lacking) or my cooking/baking, K? In fact, usually I like eating what other people make (like mom/grandma/hubby... when he cooks ;) more than I like munching on my own food :P. I've never felt judged by anyone, nor have I ever received mean comments... But I have wanted to say this on Flour Arrangements for awhile now, and I thought it'd be fun to randomly squeeze it into today's post :).

This gluten-free pizza recipe is my entry to the What Can I Eat That's Gluten Free blog carnival hosted by Linda at The Gluten-Free Homemaker :)! There just aren't enough gluten-free blogging events out there, if you all know of any others, let me know!

Gluten Free Orange Apricot Yellow Cake with Orange Cream Frosting

What are you doing reading this blog post?! It's the 4th of July! Go out and celebrate, make this cake. Oh wait, I guess you wouldn't have found this really moist, sweet and addicting cake recipe if you hadn't checked out today's post ;). Have a good one!