What to Eat/Do in Winter

What do you do when you wake up and the world looks like this?

And only a day before it was like this. A high in the mid 40's, hand grazing (even though my son looks like he's on a mission here... just ready to ride I guess,) and taking a little ride.
I wish I had the courage to ride in the snow.
Maybe someday.

Well the answer is, you make this. And eat it. I found this recipe here and then proceeded to take some liberties. I don't know about ya'll, but I have a hard time following recipes. Maybe that's why mine doesn't look like the photo. But let me tell you, it didn't hurt the runnin' any! That was good soup.
The recipe calls for all the traditional "Italian Soup" ingredients. I added some spinach. (She did too.) It also called for some parsley. I've yet to actually add parsley to any recipe that calls for parsley. Instead I added a pinch of basil from last summer's garden. And the jewel in the crown?

We do gluten free round these parts!
This is a new gf pasta that I had yet to try. It was really tasty and the texture was excellent.
My oh my, how gluten free pastas have improved since we first found out my son has Celiac disease, 11 years ago.
The soup was very yummy, served with some garlic toasts made from gluten free baguette. It made unexpected snow just a tad bit more bearable.

Another GREAT gluten free experience.

Many of you know that we eat gluten free around here. My son was diagnosed with Celiac disease at the age of 2. That was 10 years ago and my how things have improved for him! I too eat gluten free because I have had digestive issues for years. My doctors have always said IBS, but I always wondered... it is genetic, it probably came from my Mammaw (who past away before people even knew what Celiac is,) and IBS treatments didn't work for me. So, a year ago I went gluten free too and have felt awesome since. It would have been quite a leap had we not already been doing "mostly" gluten free for all of us already, (of course my son has been 100 percent since diagnosis... he must.) So we are so thrilled when we find restaurants and stores that are willing to cater to those on a gluten free diet. Having said that, we have some kudos, for a really positive experience, to pass along.

Oh my! A little too close-up there honey.

On a recent trip to Washington D.C. we visited a downtown pizzeria,

"Pet's NewHaven Style APizza"

It was right off a Metro stop, very easy to find, and oh my the food was good. They offer almost all the topping options on a gluten free crust. They also have pasta dishes that can be made with gluten free pasta and I even had some gluten free pumpkin cheesecake... so good! The manager came out to talk with us, and make sure that we were enjoying our meal. We, of course, told him how thrilled we were to have such YUMMY gluten free options. He told us what he had heard from other customers, "there is a growing demand for quality gluten free food and people are coming... often... to request it." If you get a chance... and your cruising D.C. you should visit Pete's. http://petesapizza.com/index.htmlsho

and tell the kindly folk that the Dutchess says, "howdy and a hearty thanks again."