Taco Chicken Soup

This is one of those recipes that everyone wants a copy of after you make it and no one can believe how easy it is.

* 1 envelope taco seasoning
* 32 oz V8 juice
* 16 oz salsa
* 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 can corn, rinsed
* 2-3 chicken breasts, sliced/cubed

Combine all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low 4-6 hours. Serve with corn chips.

O.M.G cupcakes

I have been in a delirious state of chocolate cravings the past week. Being gluten and dairy free has made fulfilling those cravings even harder. I was enjoying Udi's chocolate muffins, but 4 muffins for $6 is a little too much for my bank account when I get in a chocolate fix, such as this one.
I decided to invest my $6 a little more wisely. I picked up a Betty Crocker gf cake mix and set out to make it dairy free.
A banana and 18 mins later.... O M G....Chocolate Banana Cupcakes.

* 1 banana (preferable one that is starting to brown)
* 1 Tbsp oil
* Betty crocker GF chocolate cake mix
* 1 cup water
* 3 eggs
OPTIONAL:
* 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

Smash banana and mix with remaining ingredients. Grease muffin tin or use liners. Fill 2/3 of the way full and bake 18-23 mins. ENJOY! Its only 3pm and I've already eaten 3....

Happy 27th Birthday....to me!!

Chocolate Cake from Flying Apron's Cookbook (gluten free and vegan).


Betty Crocker Chocolate Cupcakes (made gf/df) with df icing.
(Substitute butter with a banana and 1 Tbsp of oil)

Wholegrain blueberry muffins

I saw this recipe at Hope for Healing and 40 minutes later was enjoying them hot out of the oven.

They are gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free and they rank right at the top of my favorite muffins list! I made a few changes because of a lack of certain ingredients.


* 1 cup oat flour
* 1/2 cup GF oats
* 1/2 cup rice flour
* 1/2 cup sorghum (I used 2 T teff flour and the remaining amount was sorghum)
* 2 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp xanthan gum
* 1/2 cup agave nectar
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup oil
* 3/4 cup coconut milk
* 2 cups frozen blueberries
* zest of one lemon
Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then add in all the wet ingredients and mix well until everything is combined. Then fold in the blueberries. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until your muffins are golden brown. Make sure to let these cool and settle just a bit before eating because then they will be less crumbly.

Udi's......at last

While in the middle of no where, NC on vacation this summer, I found Udi's in the freezer section of a local grocery store. I have been looking up, down, and sideways for this bread for close to a year now. I have heard rave reviews, and after all the build up, the bread still lived up to its name. It was soft and delicious. No toasting necessary, I couldn't believe it! When I returned home, my local Whole Foods, had begun to carry the bread as well. YAY! Its about $5 a loaf, which is way cheaper than the $10 I was paying for a local gf/df loaf and I couldn't be happier with the product.
Today, while shopping, I came across their Chocolate Muffins and had to give it a try. Since going dairy free, I have been missing chocolate and these sure did hit the spot. For $6 for 4, it is not something I will buy often, but will definitely splurge on occassionally. They had a great texture and taste. Another great product by Udi's. Even though they are "Muffins", these are much more of a cupcake, minus the frosting (in other words, dessert).

I also, just recently heard that Jason's Deli is rolling out a gluten free menu, featuring....you guessed it...Udi's bread. Call your local Jason's deli for availability.

Interested in Udi's? Don't take my word for it. See what others in the gf community have to say...
* Triumph Dining
* Gluten Free Optimist
* Gluten Free Works
* Happily GF Free
* A Life of Sugar and Spice
* The Savvy Celiac
* Glad to be GF
* Mom Cooks GF

Eating Out GF in Jacksonville, FL

I recently went to Mellow Mushroom to test their new gluten free pizza. I was amazed by the selection of gf toppings. I ordered mine with pepperoni, onions, peppers, and black olives. The pizza came in a medium ($12.50) and was a beautiful sight. The flavor was good, although I still prefer my homemade version with Whole Foods pizza crust. My gluten eating husband wasn't so impressed, but then again, he gets to eat Moonriver Pizza and nothing is as good as that. The downside was when the bill came. I knew going in that each topping was an additional $1.65 (kind of steep) but for some reason they charged $3.30 for the peppers and black olives, making my pizza one very expensive dish. They said they had to charge extra for certain things to be gf, but green bell peppers and olives?!?
Overall, the food was good, but for the price not somewhere I would go very often. However, it is nice to add another restaurant to the GF list.

NEW GF Options
* Mellow Mushroom (@ Tinseltown) now has gluten free pizza!! Check your local Mellow Mushroom for availability.
* Jason's Deli (now uses Udi's bread-call for availibility
* European Street- call ahead, but they do carry Cookie Momster's bread for sandwiches

The Usual Suspects
Bonefish- gluten free menu available
Chick-fil-a look online for their gf menu
Chili's- look online for their gf menu
Chipolte- everything but the flour tortilla
Maggiano's- no gf menu, but their chef will come to your table and help you place a safe order-I had such an amazing experience
Outback- gluten free menu available
PF Changs- gluten free menu available
Tommy's Pizza- gluten free pizza

Black bean brownies

* 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
* 3 eggs
* 1/4 cup coconut oil
* 1/4 cup cocoa
* 2 tsp vanilla
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips
* 1/4 cup chopped pecans
* 1/4 cup shredded coconut

Place first 6 ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 pan and bake 30 mins at 350 degrees.

These are best served cold. They also store well in the freezer, if you are like me, and trying to avoid eating an entire batch in one sitting :)

Black Beans and Rice

Modified from Daisy Cooks

* 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
* 2 cups chicken/vegetable broth
* 3/4 cup sofrito
* 3/4 cup salsa
* 3 Tbsp pimento stuffed olives
* 1 jalapeno pepper, diced

Cook everything in a pan until heated through. I allowed it to simmer for awhile to cook out some of the liquid. Use immersion blender to blend a small portion of the beans and serve over white rice.

Optional: I puree a bag of spinach with a small amount of soup. It doesn't change the flavor and everyone *secretly* gets a serving of greens.

Red beans and rice

* 1/2 large onion, chopped
* 1 red bell pepper, chopped
* 2 stalks celery, chopped
* 3 cloves garlic minced
* 1 can kidney beans, drained
* 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
* 1 package Aidell's Cajun Sausage, sliced
Optional:
* crushed red pepper flakes (for added heat)
* top with sliced green onions

Saute onion, pepper, celery, and garlic in olive oil. When soft add kidney beans, tomatoes, and sausage. Cook until heated through. Serve with white rice

Mango Salsa

Mango
Red onion
Cucumber
Cilantro
Lime Juice

Chop and combine. Great served with fresh fish.

Interested in testing free GF products

Check out Gluten Free Taste of Home. They are currently running a giveaway for Annie's Homegrown goodies.

Beef and Lemongrass Soup

* 1 package of rice noodles
* 4 cups beef broth
* 1 stalk lemongrass
* 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1 large carrot, grated
* 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
* 1 tbsp fish sauce
* 1/2 tsp srirachi
* 1/2lb beef, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
* 1/2 cup cilantro
* 2 limes, quartered

In a medium pot, boil rice noodles according to package and divide among 4 bowls. In the same pot combine broth, lemongrass, and garlic and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the carrot, onion, fish sauce, and srirachi. Return to a boil, add the beef and cook until done. Divide the soup among 4 bowls and garnish with cilantro and lime wedges.

Summer Rolls

Taste of home magazine

* 3/4 cup boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips

* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup light coconut milk
* 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
* 3 Tbsp GF Tamari
* 1 green onion, sliced
* 1 Tbsp minced ginger root
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 tsp lime juice
----Fillers------
* water chesnuts, sliced and chopped
* 1 cup fresh sugar snaps, chopped
* 1/2 cup shredded carrots
* 2 oz rice noodles (cook according to package)
* 12 rice wrappers (8in)
* 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage

In a large skillet, combine first 9 ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until chicken is cooked. Set aside. Cut fillers for the wraps and set aside.
Soak a spring roll wrapper in warm water until soft (about 15 seconds) and lay flat on a plate. Fill the wrapper with chicken, noodles, and veggies. Fold both ends over filling and roll up tightly. Serve with remaining peanut sauce and srirachi for heat :)

I made this for my mom and grandma. They both left with the leftover ingredients and a copy of the recipe to make at home. I'd say it was a hit!

Spicy Green Beans

* 1 lb greens beans, trimmed
* 2 Tbsp gf soy sauce
* 1 tsp honey
* 1 tsp chili paste
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* red chili flakes, optional

Steam green beans for 3-4 minutes. Combine liquids and garlic to make a sauce. Place lightly steamed green beans in a pan with a small amount of oil and spicy sauce. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle with chili flakes if additional heat is desired.

Dairy Free

Our pediatrician informed us that she thinks our 2 month old nursing baby may have a dairy allergy, which means Mama and baby are going dairy free. Everyone was in shock by how I would survive without dairy since I've already had to give up gluten, but I have to admit we've eaten healthier, more flavorful meals this week than we have in awhile. Change inspires creativity. In the past few days we have had:

* House fried rice with spicy green beans
* Sauteed Italian chicken and veggies
* Salmon with mango salsa, cilantro rice, and lime broccoli

We even had dessert.
* Cookie MOMsters GFCF Chocolate Chip Cookies with Coconut Milk Chocolate ice cream

Recipes to follow

Pretzels

I went to Whole Foods to buy Glutino pretzels and when I got there they were on sale. YAY! However, I then spotted Snyder's of Hanover pretzels and in the mix was a gluten free bag. I decided to give it a try. Not only was it cheaper, but OH MY! They taste like real gluten filled pretzels.When I got to the counter, the cashier even made a comment about how he accidentally bought the gluten free ones and him and his wife couldn't tell the difference. Enough said.

8 ounce bag only $2.99

Chicken, several ways

Chicken breasts were on sale $1.59 a lb, so I decided to load up. Once I got home, I figured it'd be in my best interest to freeze some for after baby gets here and we're feeling too lazy to cook.
* 2 pieces, seasoned with onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salsa to use for fajitas tonight
* 2 pieces, seasoned with worcestershire (walmart bread is naturally gf), salt, and pepper-frozen
* 2 pieces, plain, frozen
* 2 pieces, stuffed italian style (recipe below)Stuffed Italian Chicken
* 2 chicken breast, flattened/butterflied
* 2 slices of salami
* sauteed onions, bell peppers, and spinach
* shredded mozzarella
* crumbled goat's cheese
* seasoning: onion powder, garlic salt, hot pepper flakes, ground pepper
* 1 can of diced tomatoes

Flatten chicken or butterfly. In the center load each piece with salami, sauteed veggies, cheeses, and seasonings. Roll up chicken and secure with toothpicks. At this point, the chicken can either be rolled in saran wrap and frozen for later or cooked right away.
When ready to cook, place chicken in a small baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and top with a can of diced tomatoes. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.
Serve with a salad, roasted potatoes, pasta, or veggies of your choice.

Cinnamon Rolls

I was so excited to see Cinnamon Rolls on my trip to Cookie MOMsters. While I have a good recipe for gluten free cinnamon rolls, 99% of the time, I am too lazy to make them. That is why out of the 200 times I've craved them in the last couple of years, I have only ever made them twice.

Once I got home, I started to regret my decision to splurge $10 on 6 rolls, knowing that I'd built them up too much in my head. I was going to wait for breakfast today, but finally gave in and had one for dessert last night. Let me tell you, they were DELICIOUS and when I had them again this morning for breakfast....just as delicious. I usually add pecans and raisins to mine, which this one was missing, but the cinnamon cakey flavor was perfect. I thought the mock cream cheese icing would be a let down, as this pregnancy as turned me into a dairy fiend, but I was pleased all the way around.
This is something I would buy again. It's nice to have cinnamon rolls, in the freezer, ready to eat when I want them. Thank you Cookie MOMsters for another enjoyable, GFCF treat!

Fruit Smoothie
* banana, frozen
* strawberries
* pineapple, chopped
* half orange
* Stonyfield Vanilla yogurt
* Tbsp coconut flakes
Toss all ingredients in blender. Blend. Enjoy!

Magic bars

Thank you Gluten Free Easily!

I made some small modifications and these were such a great treat!

3/4 cups rolled gluten free oats
1/4 cup butter, melted

2 Tbsp peanut butter
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk (7oz)
1 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 8 x8 baking dish.

In small bowl, combine oats, peanut butter, butter; mix well. Press mixture into bottom of baking dish. The results may not seem like a crust at all, but it will come together once you cook it.

Layer remaining ingredients in order: chocolate chips, coconut, almonds, and evenly pour condensed milk over top.

Bake for 25 minutes.

I want Chicken Wings

I have been craving chicken wings since I got pregnant. I have been searching for gluten free wings, but its been an endless search.
Today, at the grocery store, I found Al Fresco Buffalo Style Chicken Sausage and not only were they gluten free, but they were also the same price as the generic brands and they had a $1 off coupon. They were not as spicy as I had hoped for, but they had a nice mild buffalo flavor.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
* whole foods gf sandwich bread, toasted
* chicken sausage, pan fried
* lettuce
* tomato, thinly sliced
* ranch
* additional hot sauce