More Than I Expected.

Gluten-free living can be expensive.  I have been gluten-free again (NOT by choice) for about 2 months.  My days of cheap or free food thanks to couponing are over, sadly.  Back to a cleaner, healthier diet and less money in the bank account at the end of the month.  Oh well.  There are definitely deals to be had by the allergen-free eater however.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we have a little secret called Bob's Red Mill.  This resturant/store is somewhat of a state treasure for foodies in Oregon.  Right up there with VooDoo Donuts.  :)  Though its only an hour-ish drive for us, I had never actually been up to Bob's Red Mill and soaked in all it's glory first hand.  So when a friend of ours offered to pick up a few things for me while he was up there, I was pretty excited.  Mind you, a small 2 lb. bag of gluten-free oats will run you $7.00 in the grocery store here in town.  Buying direct would save some money.  My friend assumed I wanted the "big" bags of oats and gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.  (He assumed right).  However, my idea of "big" and Bob's Red Mill's idea of "big" are vastly different.  I chuckle now just picturing my friend dropping the bags off at our house.  Each 25 lb bag stacked and nestled tediously on each shoulder.  We now are the proud owners of 100 lbs of gluten-free baking supplies!  Our family of 4 (with me being the ONLY one who has to eat g-free), who is currently also in the process of down-sizing, now has four gigantic bags in our laundry room.  I'm hoping to get to it all before the mice, cockroaches, spiders, skunks, racoons, and ladybugs do!  (Gotta love country living).  Last night's first dip into the supply was to make gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip coconut cookies.  They were delicious, and it was impossible to tell they are gluten- and dairy-free.  The entire family is adjusting to gluten-free living well.  :)  Now only 99.5 more lbs to go.  Lol.  So much for that New Year's Resolution to lose 10 lbs by May...