The Gluten Free Mom

Bountiful Baskets week 3

2012-02-09T17:44:00.001-08:00

I am really loving the awesome produce that Bountiful Baskets is supplying us each week. Check out this weeks baskets!

Chili

2012-01-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

This chili was a big hit tonight! Jason was really excited because it had good flavor and he couldn't taste the stuff that was good for him! LOL! It was a quick,easy chili recipe that you could cook either in the crock pot or on the stove top. I chose the stove top tonight because I had to go shopping today for ingredients. But to put in the crockpot you would just brown the meat, then throw all the other ingredients in and let it simmer for the day on low heat.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 15 ounce can light red kidney beans, undrained
1 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans, undrained
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 - 3 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Sour Cream
Fritos

Directions:
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven cook and stir ground beef, green peppers, onions, and garlic until meat is brown and onion is tender; drain off fat. Stir in tomato sauce, kidney beans, tomatoes, chili powder, salt, basil, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Top each serving with shredded cheese and a spoonful of sour cream. You can also serve it with Fritos corn chips. My family prefers the Fritos Scoops because they like to scoop their chili with them.

Bountiful and Plenty...

2012-01-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

Today my friend Lori and I went to pick up our first (of many, I hope) basket full of fruits and veggies from Bountiful Baskets. www.bountifulbaskets.org Check it out! They have drop offs in tons of states and locations! Only $15 per basket. Today's basket was a bag of potatoes, a bag of spanish onions, 2 heads of green leaf lettuce (my favorite), kale, an english cucumber, mangos, bananas, a whole pineapple, celery, 2 bunches of broccoli, apples, oranges, and kiwi. My kids went nuts! Tommy broke into the fruits and Alexis started planning variations of smoothies for the week. I, of course, started searching the web for some great gluten free recipes that use some of these products. Most of the stuff this week my kids may get to before I can use them in a recipe though. And while waiting in line for our baskets, Lori and I chatted with those around us. A suggestion was made to put kale in the smoothies because you can't taste it. So don't tell Alexis or Tommy this but they are getting hidden kale in their smoothies this week! Sounds like a great way to get some good antioxidents in them! I can't wait to see next week's basket!

Oatmeal with Fruit and Nuts

2012-01-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 5 mins

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups water

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt (optional)

1 1/3 cups regular gluten free rolled oats

½ cup chopped apple or pear (1 small)

¼ cup snipped pitted dates

2 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted

1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

Milk, warmed (optional

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan combine the water, cinnamon, and salt (if desired). Bring to boiling; stir in oats. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand until oatmeal reaches desired consistency.

2. Divide oatmeal mixture among four serving bowls. Top with apple, dates, almonds, and brown sugar. If desired, serve with warm milk.

I made this for breakfast this morning. Alexis liked it. I omitted the dates though because I didn't have any. Alexis likes a stronger brown sugar taste so I added a bit more sugar. I used apples this time and she said it tasted like apple cinnamon oatmeal. We'll try the pears next time.

Cheddar Rice

2011-10-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Makes 8 to 10 servings

INGREDIENTS:
    2 cups uncooked brown rice
    3 Tbsp. butter
    1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
    1 tsp. salt
    5 cups water
    2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
    1/2 tsp. pepper
    Additional sliced green onions

DIRECTIONS:

     1. Combine rice, butter, green onion, and salt in slow cooker.

     2. Bring water to boil in a saucepan and pour over rice mixture.

     3. Cover and cook on high 2 to 3 hours or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. (I found 3 hours was slightly too long, rice got slightly mushy)

     4. Stir in cheese 5 minutes before serving

     5. Garnish with pepper and additional green onions, if desired.

Basil Chicken over Pasta

2011-10-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:
1 (8 ounce) package gluten free noodles (angel hair, spaghetti, penne)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
2 cups boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cooked and cubed)
  1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
                                                         1/2 teaspoon salt
                                                         1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
                                                         1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

DIRECTIONS:
   1. Cook Pasta according to package directions to make it al dente. Drain and set aside

   2. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, saute the onions and garlic.   Stir in the tomatoes, chicken, basil, salt and lemon juice. Reduce heat to medium and cover skillet. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot and tomatoes are soft.

   3. Spoon over hot cooked pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese!

(For those of you that like a spicy dish....substitute the lemon juice for 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce)

2011-10-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

So it's been ahwhile since I've posted a recipe. That's because I broke my ankle this summer and haven't been able to be up and cooking! But I'm baaacckkk! You can look forward to lots of yummy new recipes coming your way because Alexis and I went scouting on the internet for new recipes that we could make gluten free. Enjoy and happy cooking!

Gluten Free Pancakes

2011-08-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Um....yeah...what can I say about these pancakes. They were a learning experience to cook! LOL! I had to learn to stiffly beat egg whites. All I can say, is I was not very successful at beating those eggs! So I gave up trying to make them form neat, little white peaks and just used them in the batter the way they were! I would advise learning how to beat egg whites stiff if you want to make these pancakes.   They turned out very well in flavor but they didn't plump up the way a pancake should.   STUPID EGG WHITES!

Ingredients

     * 1 and 1/3 cups Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour
     * 1 tsp baking powder
     * 1/2 tsp sea salt
     * 1/2 tsp baking soda
     * 1 Tb Honey
     * 1/2 tsp vanilla
     * 2 Tb vegetable oil
     * 3/4 cup + 2 Tb water (warm)
     * 2 egg whites, stiffly beaten (set aside)

Directions
1. In a bowl combine the first 4 ingredients (flour through baking soda)

2. In another bowl combine honey, vanilla, vegetable oil, and warm water.   Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients; then gently fold in the egg whites.

3. Ladle pancake batter onto a preheated and oiled grill. Flip pancakes over when they begin to puff and become lightly browned on the edges. Serve with syurp or your favorite fruit!

Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese

2011-08-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

This is Alexis' favorite dish so far that we've made. We even made it for our good friends who are gluten free and they liked it too! You can try out different varations of cheese mixtures as well. Alexis likes the 4 cheese blend (Kraft Naturals) and Jason likes the sharp cheddar (Kraft Naturals). Alexis likes to also sprinkle some gluten free bread crumbs on the top after it gets done baking to give it a bit of crunchy. This is a great dish that you can play with and make your own...(if anyone feels they have improved it...let us know! we'd love to try another version too).

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked Gluten Free (Brown Rice Pasta) elbow macaroni (7 ounces)

1/4 cup gluten free butter

1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

1/4 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worchestershire sauce

2 cups milk

2 cups gluten free shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cook macaroni as directed on package.

3. While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, ground mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheese until melted.

4. Drain Macaroni. Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased

2-quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Whew...life's busy

2011-07-14T23:26:00.000-07:00

Well...life's been extremely busy! Last night Alexis and I made Gluten Free Mac and Cheese! It turned out AWESOME!!! I have made it before and thought that I had posted it on this blog! But tonight I realized I hadn't posted the recipe yet. So I guess we will have to make it again in the next few days so we can take pics of ingredients and the finished product and get it posted up here! :)

Gluten Free Lasagne

2011-06-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1/2 pound ground pork

1 can whole tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

2 tsp. garlic salt

1 1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves

1 tsp. basil leaves

2 cups ricotta cheese

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 pkgs. Shredded natural mozzarella cheese

12 ounces gluten free lasagna noodles

Directions:

Brown the meat! Drain the fat!

Add tomatoes, break up with fork. Stir in tomato paste, garlic salt, oregano leaves, and basil leaves. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, simmer uncovered 20 minutes or until mixture is consistency of spaghetti sauce.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together ricotta cheese and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Set aside 1 cup of the meat sauce and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. In ungreased baking pan (13x9 inches) alternate layers of 1/3 each noodles, sauce, cheese, and ricotta cheese mixture.

Spread reserved meat sauce over top, sprinkle with 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella cheese across lasagna.

Bake uncovered 45 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes. Cut into 3-inch squares.

Makes 8 servings

Google Ad Sense

2011-03-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

I have to say...I think google ad sense is a hoax. You sign up, put the ads on your blog, and tell your friends to start clicking. Well, my friends, you clicked! And I was up to almost $50 for the month and I got an e-mail yesterday saying that the disabled my account for inactivity and that I can't use it anymore and that I wouldn't be getting paid. They are refunding the money not paid to me yet (I haven't received my first check yet) to the companies that paid for the ads. Hmm....kind of hoaky isn't it? I think they did this because they didn't want to pay me! And they did it to one of my friends as well. Has anyone else had this happen? I'm extremely dissappointed!

A New Favorite!

2011-03-24T08:46:00.001-07:00

New gluten free cereal at Costco! Yummy!
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Garlic Chicken

2011-03-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

The newest recipe! This one was really yummy! The chicken stayed moist, the flavor was delicious, and Jason didn't even feel the need to dip it in ranch! (Which is a big deal) Great recipe for a quick, healthy dinner!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ready in: 40 minutes
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS:

    3 tablespoons gluten free butter
    4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
    1 cup gluten free flour
    2 teaspoons garlic powder
    1 teaspoon gluten free seasoning salt
    1 teaspoon onion power


DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix together in a ziploc bag, flour, garlic powder, seasoning salt, and onion powder. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. While butter is melting, coat chicken with mixture by dropping chicken into bag and shaking. Put coated pieces of chicken into skillet.

2. Saute about 10 - 15 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.

Gluten Free Tuna Noodle Casserole

2011-03-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

Alexis and Jason have been begging me to create a gluten free version of one of Jason's favorite dishes. My reaction of course is "ewwwweee" as I am not a fan of tuna! But it turned out well (so they told me) and they can't wait for me to make it again!

Create your own digital recipe page

A Friends of Gevalia Offer Awaits You

2011-03-19T13:11:00.001-07:00

"We love our coffee maker! Plus free gifts if you order one!"

Join us for our special Friends of Gevalia offer and enjoy a premium coffee kit including a stainless steel coffeemaker, scoop and a pound of Gevalia coffee-Just $14.95 (a $100 value!) Gevalia’s guarantee-you’ll love your coffee or it’s free!

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Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free "Baked" Onion Rings

2011-03-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

If you’re craving gluten-free, dairy-free onion rings but hate the extra calories and fat, try this low-cal, low-fat option, created by Jules E. Dowler Shepard. Baked in the oven, they taste like fried.

INGREDIENTS
1 medium onion, sliced into thin rings
⅓ cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend of choice
¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
¼ teaspoon sea salt
Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.
2. Combine ⅓ cup flour blend, xanthan gum and salt in a large bowl. Add onion slices, tossing until onions are evenly coated. Pour out into prepared baking sheet, separating onion rings.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown, tossing one or two times. Remove from rings from oven and enjoy.

SERVES 4

Recipe by Jules E. Dowler Shepard, author of Free For All Cooking (Da Capo Life Long). To purchase this book, click here.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Fried Onion Rings

2011-03-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

Do you miss fried onion rings? Made with a gluten-free beer batter, these rings are crispy outside and tender inside, just like you remember. Indulge!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup gluten-free flour blend of choice* (without

xanthan gum), more for sprinkling

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup gluten-free beer

1 medium onion

Oil of choice, for frying

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place 1 cup flour blend and salt and pepper in a bowl and combine. Stir in 1 cup beer until ingredients are well blended. If batter is too thin, add an additional tablespoon flour. If too thick, add an additional tablespoon beer.
2. Peel onion and cut off the ends. Slice onion into ¼-inch to ½-inch thick slices. Break apart the rings and sprinkle them with flour blend.
3. Pour oil into a frying pan, just deep enough to cover rings. Heat oil to medium-high until a drop of beer batter sizzles when placed in pan.
4. Dip floured onion rings into beer batter and fry in oil on medium heat until golden brown. Add more oil if needed between rings. (Wait for oil to get sizzling hot before frying.)
5. Place fried rings on paper towels to drain. Keep onion rings warm until all are fried.

*TIP For best results, use a flour blend of equal parts garbanzo flour and fava bean flour.

* recipe taken from Living Without website

A recommendation from the gluten free daughter!!!

2011-03-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

Alexis would like to recommend the Mixed Grill Dinner on the gluten free menu at The Olive Garden Restaurant!

We went to The Olive Garden at the Southcenter Mall the other day. Alexis was excited to learn that they had a gluten free menu! She decided on this delicious dinner of Steak and Chicken kabobs with grilled veggies (peppers, onions, squash, and zucchini) that was marinated in olive oil and some herbs. They served it with steamed broccoli (her fav) and their infamous green salad. It was a HUGE dinner! She brought half home and ate it for lunch the next day!

I want to say that the service was AWESOME! When the food was brought out, they brought her the non-gluten free version of this dish (which is served with potatoes and a glaze on the meat). When I brought it to the waiters attention, he immediately took the plate away and brought her a new one that was gluten free. Then the manager came over and apologized (we weren't mad) and gave us her dinner FREE!!!! Which was really nice because her dinner was $17.95! Of course I didn't realize that until the check came because conveniently the company doesn't put their prices on the gluten free menu.

Overall, it was a delicious dinner (I tried a few bites) that was totally gluten free and enjoyable. We both would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is gluten free.

QUINOA PUDDING

2011-02-28T00:32:00.000-08:00

Alexis spent the night at her good friend Alicia's house this weekend after selling Girl Scout cookies for 2 hours in the freezing cold so I had nothing on hand in the car to send with her to eat. Alicia's wonderful mom, Dawn, decided to try some gluten free cooking for Alexis so that I wouldn't have to bring her any food. She made this pudding recipe which apparently Alexis and her friend Alicia liked. It's healthy and yummy so even gluten eating kiddos can eat it!

Quinoa Pudding
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup quinoa
2 cups milk (you can use regular, low-fat or soy)
2 ripe bananas
2 T. sugar
Salt, to taste
1/2 T. butter
1/2 t. vanilla

Rinse the quinoa well; put in a saucepan with the water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until quinoa is tender, about 15 min.
Combine the milk, bananas, sugar and pinch of salt (or to taste) in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Pour into the pan with the quinoa and place over med. heat. Cook and stir until thick and creamy, about 5 to 10 min. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla and serve, warm.

Note: You can sprinkle the top of the pudding with a bit of grated nutmeg, or cinnamon, or brown sugar, if desired.

I haven't made this yet at home but wanted Alexis wanted me to share it anyways because it was good! Thanks again to Dawn for making Alexis' stay at her house so wonderful!

Katz Assorted Gluten Free Sample Pack, Gluten Free Bread Sample

2011-02-28T00:17:00.000-08:00

Katz Assorted Gluten Free Sample Pack, Gluten Free Bread Sample

Check out this website for a sample pack of their gluten free stuff! All you have to do is pay the shipping costs! I am ordering one for Alexis this week.

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

2011-02-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Ready in: 8 hours 10 minutes

Servings: 10

Ingredients:

1 (5 pound) pork roast (butt, shoulder, loin)

14 ounces beef broth (or 1 can)

1/4 cup brewed decaf coffee

splash of liquid smoke

salt and pepper to taste

Gluten Free BBQ Sauce (I used Organic Valley brand)

1 package Gluten Free Buns (I used Schar Classic White Rolls)

Directions:

1. Cut roast in 3 sections. Rub each section with salt and pepper. Place in the slow cooker. Pour broth, coffee, and liquid smoke over the meat.

2. Turn the slow cooker to low and cover. Cook for 8 hours, or until the rost is fork tender.

3. Carefully remove the roast to a glass baking dish. Pull the meat apart with 2 forks. Add BBQ sauce to the meat. Spoon meat unto Rolls. ENJOY!

This was so yummy! I've made pulled pork before but adding the liquid smoke made ALL the difference! My hubby doesn't like BBQ sauce so he took some meat before I added the sauce and made his own sandwich with melted cheese on it. The meat alone was so delicious! This will defintely be one reciepe that we will eat again! And it's so easy to make it Gluten Free!

2011-02-23T09:40:00.001-08:00

Well...the meat and the ingredients are in the crock pot slowly cooking away! I won't post the receipe until tonight after we know how it turned out! So until then....

2011-02-22T22:51:00.000-08:00

Whew...it's been awhile since I've posted. We've been so busy that we've had a lot of easy quick meals like spaghetti, baked potatoes, and other things that everyone else already knows about. But I joined a new website tonight that is packed with reciepes that I can change and alter to make them gluten free or just to satisfy our tastebuds. Tomorrow nights dinner is a yummy popular receipe that I am going to turn into a gluten free version. Stay tuned for tomorrow nights Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork....

Shopping Day!!!

2011-02-02T23:57:00.000-08:00

Today was a fun filled day of gluten free/dairy free (and a few treats for Jason and I) shopping at Trader Joe's and Great Harvest Bread Company. One thing I have to say...I love that my family's favorite "treats" come from Trader Joe's. When I got home tonight my husband had already noticed that I went shopping earlier in the day and went through all the cupboards, the fridge, and the freezer to see what I bought. I got informed that when he found the Orange Chicken in the freezer and the peanut butter filled pretzels in the snack cupboard that it "made his whole day"! How can you not love that? And of course, my son was so excited over the Cuties (dairy free ice cream sandwiches) he discovered in the freezer. And Alexis....she loves it the most when I visit Trader Joe's because I always come home with her nuts. She loves almonds, walnuts, and cashews! I mix them together in a sandwich baggy for her to snack on and she is completely content! Plus I went and got a few loaves of her FAVORITE bread! Great Harvest Bread Co. in University Place makes a delicious gluten free Brown Rice/Buckwheat bread. It's probably the best gluten free bread I have ever tried! She can't wait for tomorrow night's dinner because I promised I would make BLT's for dinner using her bread. She cracks me up! Tonight at dance she was so excited over her dinner I packed for her. Her friend was giving her some very odd looks as Alexis was nearly giddy over her dinner. Little shouts of mmmm...a sandwich, yummy carrots and sugar snap peas, ooohhh oranges, and string cheese too? Then she found her baggy of nuts.....

Happy family = Happy Mom!