Virtually Homemade

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

2015-10-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

My fall recipes continue with these awesome pumpkin snickerdoodles. We finally have cool rainy weather in Southern California so it was time to whip out a can of pumpkin puree. I love these pumpkin snickerdoodles because they are thick and soft and have a beautiful yet subtle orange hue that make them pretty as heck!

Chicken and Wild Rice Salad

2015-09-30T11:15:00.003-07:00

October is right around the corner (like tomorrow) and I thought it would be fun to repost this chicken and wild rice salad. Whole grains, wild rice and nuts make it a perfect hearty salad for fall. My daughter actually requested this salad for her lunches this week, so I took the opportunity to brush up the recipe and take a few new pictures. The first post was called Santa Rosa Salad, however I thought it would be better to simply the name with this update.

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Gluten Free Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

2015-09-22T12:23:00.002-07:00

It's officially apple season! The plethora of apples stacked high at the farmer's market this weekend were amazing. I couldn't help grabbing some Granny Smiths to make these somewhat addicting gluten free salted caramel apple pie bars. With their bright green skin and crisp flesh, these juicy apples are perfect for this recipe.

3 Ingredient Guacamole

2015-09-03T10:35:00.002-07:00

Living in SoCal, it seems we have an endless supply of avocados year round. They are also incredibly affordable. California produces 90 percent of fresh avocados consumed in the United States. I'm not sure why we are not called the avocado state! Avocado is kind of like bacon - it makes everything better. However, I like it best in a simple guacamole.

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Gluten Free Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Glaze

2015-09-01T12:38:00.001-07:00

Clearly I am a muffin enthusiast! I have almost 20 recipes for muffins on my blog and have perfected a gluten free muffin that is fluffy, moist and heavenly. You would never know it's gluten free. I always start with gluten free oat flour and build from there. The rice flours don't always sit well in my tummy, and oat flour has a beautiful light texture.

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Chocolate Swirl Toasted Sunflower Seed Butter

2015-08-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd make my own nut butters. I'm just not the type. Seriously, you can just pick up a really good and healthy cashew butter at Trader Joe's. So easy. However, I've come to realize that making nut and seed butters is not only fun but kind of addicting. Watching the transformation from crunchy whole nuts to a creamy smooth spread is pretty cool. Plus, all the possible flavor profiles!

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Mixed Summer Fruit Baked Oatmeal

2015-08-13T08:01:00.002-07:00

Hello strangers! It has been way too long! What a crazy and hectic summer it has been with my poor blog being very neglected. I had two huge freelance projects, a son preparing for his first year in college, a daughter involved with two competitive sports and a husband who works in Palm Springs and commutes to San Diego once a week. Sheesh!

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Easy Asian Slaw with Roasted Chicken

2015-06-09T16:49:00.002-07:00

We are definitely a slaw family. It is super easy to make, delicious and versatile. One of my most popular recipes on Virtually Homemade is this Easy Sweet and Spicy Slaw that I made at about this exact time last year.

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Gluten Free Fried Chicken

2015-06-04T16:21:00.002-07:00

You have to admit that a juicy piece of crispy golden brown fried chicken is an an indulgence you must make from time to time. I mean, it's just so darn tasty. Although not healthy, if you keep your indulgences to a minimum, I say who cares!

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Gluten Free Blueberry Crumble Bars

2015-05-27T12:11:00.001-07:00

Warning - these blueberry crumble bars are dangerous! I have now officially eaten these bars three meals in a row; my dessert after lunch, my dessert after dinner and for breakfast this morning. These warm crumbly bars with whole grains and warm bubbling summer blueberries are irresistible. And they are truly suited for any time of day.

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Strawberry Swirl Pina Coladas

2015-05-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

There is no better way to kick off summer than with a frosty Pina Colada. Adding some sweet and juicy Driscoll's strawberries turns it into a taste explosion of summer right in your mouth. Memorial Day weekend, although technically not summer, is the kick off to warm weather, days at the beach and backyard barbecues. You definitely need a cool and sweet cocktail to help celebrate this festive weekend.

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Green Pea Hummus

2015-04-28T15:47:00.003-07:00

Nothing says Spring like bright green sweet peas. It is almost May and weather in San Diego is amazing. It's the perfect time for this lightened up Green Pea Hummus. The possibilities are endless. Sweet green peas join forces with a splash of lemon, a hint of garlic, a drizzle of tahini and a pinch of cumin, to make this light and creamy dip. Or even better, you could spread it on a sandwich. Basically you can dip, dunk or spread it.

Spinach and Bacon Salad

2015-04-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's fun to just cook the basics. Like any other food blogger, I enjoy letting the creative juices flow, adding twists and turns to my dish making it unique and exotic. However, sometimes simple classic flavor combinations are enough.

Therefore with this elegant Spinach and Bacon Salad, that is a rendition of a Craig Claiborne creation in the New York Times Cookbook (originally published in 1966), I give you the option of just sticking with the basics or jazzing it up with a bit of feta cheese and cherry tomatoes.

Gluten Free Blueberry Pancake Muffins

2015-03-30T10:58:00.001-07:00

Yes! Another muffin recipe. I just can't help myself. I am a muffin girl. They are definitely my number one pick for breakfast. Their cakey goodness is just so sweetly satisfying. However, these gluten free muffins are special. They are actually a cross between a blueberry pancake and a muffin. Since pancakes and muffins are a no no for us gluten free people, this creation is extra special.

Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Green Tahini Sauce

2015-03-16T15:03:00.002-07:00

I know it's been a tough winter for most of you, but at this moment I am sitting in my San Diego living room with every window open and a very warm Santa Anna breeze wafting through. It's about 80° outside, down about 5 from yesterday. So yes I've been grilling and since Spring is only 3 days away, I hope most of you will be too - very soon.

Gluten Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

2015-03-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

I woke up last Sunday morning craving something sweet, chocolatey, light, fluffy yet full of texture. On my gluten free diet I will get these attacks of just wanting something really "gluteny", especially in the morning. The great thing is, if you're willing to put in a little work, you can create an amazing muffin that doesn't need gluten at all.

Frozen Raspberry Mint Margarita

2015-02-20T20:05:00.000-08:00

This raspberry mint margarita is the perfect celebration of National Margarita Day! Yes this Sunday, February 22^nd is #NationalMargaritaDay and Casa Noble asked me to create a perfect cocktail using their Crystal Tequila. Crystal is a well-balanced, smooth tequila with flavors of raw and buttery sweet cooked agave, mango, and a hint of citrus for the perfect finish.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Coconut

2015-02-08T09:05:00.001-08:00

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, there is no simpler or more beautiful dessert to represent this day of love than the chocolate covered strawberry. I truly view it as one of the most perfect desserts. A ripe, sweet ruby strawberry covered in a thick shell of rich, creamy semi-sweet chocolate – yup faultless!

Strawberry Orange Smoothie

2015-01-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

Since we are now in the thick of winter and flu season, it’s a good idea to fortify ourselves with some serious vitamin C. This strawberry orange smoothie is packed with amazing flavor and vitamin C – it may get you through to spring without a sniffle.

Winter is peak time for citrus in California. The tangerine tree in my backyard is dripping with sweet juicy fruit. We can hardly keep up and I have found juicing them is an incredible way to use them up before they start dropping off the tree.

Tamale Pie

2015-01-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love tamales. They are flavorful, easy to eat, satisfying and most importantly gluten free. I hadn’t experienced really good tamales until moving to San Diego. At our local farmer’s market there is an amazing tamale stand that serves variations in beef, chicken or pork with a side of tortilla chips and salsa, all for about $2. They serve them in those fun red and white paper boats and all you need to do is grab a fork, peel off the husk and dig in - perfection.

5 Easy SEO Tips for Blogger

2015-01-05T10:01:00.001-08:00

A quick disclaimer - this is for new bloggers who have started using the blogger platform and very much geared towards food bloggers. If you are an old pro you probably know a lot of this info. Most of my information comes from Google support, so feel free to go right to the source ( Google Support SEO ).

I have additional tidbits that may help as well, if you have time for a quick and informative read, peruse this post. As well, please leave comments on other secrets and tips to help bloggers make the most out of this platform.

(image - http://www.technewonline.com/2014/01/top-search-engine-optimization-tips-for-blogger.html)

Gingerbread Raspberry White Chocolate Bars {Gluten Free}

2014-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

I thought I’d squeeze in this last festive dessert before heading out of town for the holidays. To be honest with you I had planned for it to be a Christmas breakfast recipe, but I think the stick of butter and white chocolate chips elevated it to a darn good dessert instead.

Green Beans with Brown Butter and Toasted Almonds

2014-12-17T06:56:00.000-08:00

A holiday meal is not complete without green beans. I love them, and no matter how they are prepared, they just seem to make the meal complete. On Thanksgiving I prepared these green beans with brown butter and toasted almonds. They are super easy to make and the simple nutty flavors turn green beans into a perfect holiday side dish.

Lemon Pepper Chicken with Arugula

2014-12-05T02:30:00.000-08:00

I was graciously asked to share a recipe for the very special occasion of celebrating a baby shower for Alyssa of Everyday Maven. Everyday Maven is a wonderful blog filled with healthy, clean recipes that are easy to prepare and family friendly. I feel fortunate to be included in this amazing group of bloggers and am so excited to share a recipe for this simple, gluten free dinner.

Soft Sugar Cookies {Gluten Free}

2014-12-02T13:28:00.001-08:00

My first batch of holiday cookies!! Since I have become 100% gluten free, I have forayed into GF baking a bit. I have never been much of a baker to begin with. I created a muffin here and there and a birthday cupcake now and again, but keeping my kitchen stocked with home baked goods has never been my thing.