Healthy snack.

Did you know LUNA Protein Bars are gluten free? (I didn't.) The bars come in five flavors (we sampled Chocolate Peanut Butter and Cookie Dough), and they have a whopping 12 grams of protein, are high in calcium and folic acid and less than 200 calories!

I'm smitten with Smitten Kitchen's gluten free recipes.

In case you haven't already checked it out, I thought I'd pass along Smitten Kitchen's Gluten-Free Archive.

How to make fresh mozzarella cheese

I just came across this amazing little mozzarella-making video which also features a combination of classical music and gangsta rap song "This Is Why I'm Hot" by MIMS.

(Via Luxirare)

One gluten free zucchini ricotta cheesecake please.

This recipe from 101 Cookbooks sounds too good.

Spring recipe

I just came across this easy recipe for Spring Greens with Oranges...

Whisk the grated zest and juice of 1 orange, 1 teaspoon honey and 1/2 cup olive oil in a bowl. Add 12 cups watercress and/or arugula, 3 sliced oranges, 2/3 cup toasted walnuts and 1/4 cup finely sliced fennel and toss.

A gluten free recipe and a photo of Johnny Depp.

Random I know. But it's all I have for today.

Click here for the Curried Sweet Potatoes With Apples recipe.

(Photo via Ffffound!)

Weekly links

This is a photo of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at the Academy Awards in 1956! Will you be watching the Oscars tomorrow night? (If I'm feeling adventurous, I may go to catch a glimpse of red carpet activity--perks of living in L.A.) Hope you're having a fabulous weekend. The links...

make a bed out of pipes at Instructables via Curbly

make gluten free zucchini ricotta cheesecake at 101 Cookbooks

make a tin can star curtain at Sol y Sombra via Curbly

make a rope necklace at ...love Maegan

make a tied tissue box cover at Curbly

make a string tree wall mural at Re-Nest

prep your bathroom for company at Apartment Therapy

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links

Do you recall my lack of inspiration to blog? Truth be told, it's due in part to lack of time. I've been so busy lately looking for (dare I say?) a real job. In addition, I've also got husband, three kids and running a little online shop. Since I am a little out of practice, do any of you have tips for job hunting? To my readers in Los Angeles, what would your suggestions be for a part-time gig in a (preferably) creative environment? Please shoot me an email (Jackie AT VanillaSpoons DOT COM) with any detailed info/leads/contacts. Muchas gracias. Warm weekend wishes, and here are your links...

knock out a farmhouse table for $50 at Knock-Off Wood via Curbly

make a gluten free lemony sweet and sour tender veggie salad at Food Network

make Australian stylist Tim Neve's driftwood lamp at Tim Neve via Apartment Therapy

deck out an old record cabinet at Apartment Therapy

make a clock out of junk mail at Apartment Therapy

learn how to embroider a French knot at Kootoyoo via WhipUp (A video tute.)

make a cold weather picnic pack at Design Sponge

(Photo via weheartit via Ffffound!)

Cut your own caramels.

Last week while browsing Etsy I discovered Have It Sweet, a shop which sells artisan caramels, nougats and marshmallows. First of all, their photography of food is some of the best I've ever seen (although as I am checking the site right now for link, I notice many of the product pics are no longer there due to selling out for Valentine's Day, I guess). Second, they claim that 90% of their products are gluten free.

Weekly links

Depending on how you look at it, these links are either really late or really early...

give your chairs a makeover with chalkboard paint at Pretty Ditty via WhipUp

make two gluten free meals from one hunk of pork at Sorry, I Can't Eat That

add some flair to your Valentine's Day dinner candles at Curbly

discover 12 new uses for aluminum foil at Curbly

learn how to dry out (and hopefully save) wet electronics at Unplggd

make a Valentine's Day nightie out of a pillowcase at Craftzine (This one's a video tute.)

make a coffee can lamp at ReadyMade via Apartment Therapy

**BONUS**

make this cute little blow-a-kiss flipbook at Color Me Katie via Craftzine

...and have a wonderful week!

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links (Late Edition)

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! Links...

learn how to use Craigslist to find the perfect apartment at Apartment Therapy

make gluten free and vegan Three Sisters Posole at Gluten A Go Go

make cherry blossom garlands from disposable tablecloths at Creative Jewish Mom via Craftzine

make a flowery pom-pom pendant lamp at Craftynest via Curbly

use old jigsaw puzzle pieces to create a heart pin or recycle crayon pieces into swirly, usable Valentines at Family Fun (Twenty-three more Valentine's Day crafts here.)

create your own rub-on letters at Can't Stop Making Things via Craftzine

learn 4 new indoor ways to grow a little green at Apartment Therapy

(Photo via People)

Moist and delicious gluten free chocolate cupcakes covered in chocolate-coffee ganache. Sounds like an OK recipe.

I was looking for a chocolate dessert recipe (yeah, Valentine's Day) and found this one from Gluten-Free Girl at The Daily Green. Sources say these cupcakes are even better than those at the famous Magnolia Bakery in New York.

Weekly links

It's still January...one more New Year greeting won't hurt. (Couldn't resist the tamale balls.) What's on your agenda this weekend? Perhaps you'll try one or more of these...

make chalkboard hangers at Craftzine via WhipUp

make gluten free peanut butter and jelly chocolate sandwich cookies at Grandma's Gluten-Free Baking N Cooking

make junk look good at Apartment Therapy

discover tips for camouflaging thermostats, radiators and air conditioners at Apartment Therapy

make olive penguins at Serious Eats and Cut Out + Keep via Curbly

build a kitchen banquette with storage at 5 Minute Videos via Curbly

learn how to keep technology quiet at night at Unplggd

(Photography by Keith Davis Young)

Weekly links

Have a wonderful weekend! Here are your links...

make a stylish superhero headband at Curly Pops via WhipUp

make gluten free butternut polenta lasagna at Gluten Free Gidget

discover 5 places to use a rubber stamp in the bedroom at Apartment Therapy

make a very simple loop window shade at Two Straight Lines via Curbly

make a "Team Conan" t-shirt at Vickie Howell via Craftzine

learn how to keep your neighbors sane during renovations at Apartment Therapy

learn how to stencil with freezer paper at How About Orange via Not Martha

**BONUS GLUTEN FREE RECIPE
make chestnut flour crepes with ricotta and honey at Martha

(Photo via Ffffound!)

Weekly links

Last night my husband and I watched Up in the Air starring George Clooney. Both of us really liked it. A little trivia about the movie: With the exception of the famous actors, every person we see fired in the film is not an actor but a real life recently laid off person. The filmmakers put out ads in St. Louis and Detroit posing as a documentary crew looking to document the effect of the recession. When people showed up, they were instructed to treat the camera like the person who fired them and respond as they did or use the opportunity to say what they wished they had. What do you think of that?

This weekend we're planning to visit Babycakes' new digs in L.A.--I can't wait for my son to have this bakery experience alas! Here's to a delicious weekend, and here are your links...

though New Year's has passed, you still can learn 20 ways to pump up your next party at Delish via Curbly

make gluten free orange fennel salad at Food Network via Cupcakes and Cashmere

make a vintage-inspired 70's style string lampshade at Instructables via Craftzine

make a modern statement ring at The Swell Life via Curbly

make a chocolate iPhone using the iPhone packaging at Craftzine

discover 5 new uses for old t-shirts at Apartment Therapy

dust and dust mite proof your bedroom at Apartment Therapy (Beware of photo as you click through.)

(Photo via weheartit)

Glamour on gluten (or...Gluten on Glamour)

Gluten: Friend or foe? Some of you may be interested in reading yesterday's post on Vitamin G, Glamour's daily health and fitness blog.

Babycakes opens in Los Angeles!

I just found out that New York-based Babycakes opened this weekend in the Pacific Electric Lofts at 6th and Main in downtown Los Angeles. Though we never made it to their East Coast headquarters, Babycakes L.A., here we come!

I love seeing "gluten free" written all over the display window...

No writing. Just yum.
(Photos via Style Section L.A. and Quarry Girl)

Weekly links

Tonight we have plans to see Nine which opens in Los Angeles and New York today. Believe it or not, I saw the original Broadway musical in 1982! (Watch the whole YouTube video when you get a chance.) Have a wonderful weekend! Here are your links...

make star lights out of manila envelopes at B.Light Design via Curbly via Dudecraft

make chocolate chai sherbet and curried lamb-and-lentil stew at MyRecipes (Both gluten free of course.)

make mini LP record gift tags at Dudecraft via WhipUp

make chalk cloth gift tags at Oilcloth Addict and Little Birdie Secrets via Apartment Therapy

make a printed burlap chair at Design Sponge

make your dishwasher run better at The Kitchn

take steps to relieve holiday stress at San Gabriel Valley Tribune

(Photo via ObsessionMIA)

Racing to fill orders...

at Vanilla Spoons.
(Photos via Copenhagen Cycle Chic)

Holiday gift baskets at Vanilla Spoons

There's one way to take the stress out of your holiday shopping: Order a gluten free gift basket from Vanilla Spoons. If there's someone on your list who has gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy, you can feel confident in choosing one of our gourmet gift baskets which have movie-themed names like Close Encounters of the Sweet Kind and Mix and The City. (Cheeky, I know.)

(Photo via Google Images)