Category Archives: Appetizers

It’s that time of the year – time to gather around friends and family and watch football! Superbowl is one of those events that draw football fanatics and non-football watchers alike. After all, it’s a big party that often includes booze and delicious-but-unhealthy snacks, and it’s an opportunity for people to get together and have fun.

But what if you are following a gluten-free or other allergen-free diet? Or are simply trying to eat healthier? What do you do to combat the beer, pizza, wings, and chips-and-dip-fest that occurs at a Superbowl party? Bring your own healthier, wholesome, nutritious snack, that’s what! This dip is creamy and slightly spicy, but packs a good amount of vitamins from the butternut squash, and healthy fats from cashews, tahini, and olive oil. It’s also addictive – I love it paired with gluten-free crackers, but it really works well with raw veggies, such as celery sticks.

This is like an indulgent party dip, but in fact, it’s full of whole, healing foods, and for that reason, I’m sharing this recipe also as part of Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten-Free this month, hosted by Maggie of She Let Them Eat Cake. The theme this month is Foods That Heal.

While I’m a huge fan of vegetables in all forms (I do green smoothies and love them), I realize not everyone shares the same enthusiasm. However, veggies are an integral part of healing your body – something many of us on a gluten-free diet are working to do. When the opportunity comes along to eat something healing and nourishing that feels like party food, well, that’s a win-win for everyone, as even those that usually shy away from veggies can be enticed to indulge!

Of course, this isn’t a Superbowl party-only treat. I have been enjoying it in my lunch lately. I even shared it on Instagram the other day.

See that orange in the background? Yep – it was an orange-y food kind of day.

Anyway, this dip is easy to throw together in advance, and will store in the fridge for a few days (tastes great cold), so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t find a reason to make it. It’s like a sweet-and-spicy orange hummus. Only better.

Creamy Chipotle Butternut Dip (Gluten-free, Vegan)

1 ½ c cooked butternut squash

½ c raw cashews

¼ c tahini

2 garlic cloves

1 lime, juiced

2 T olive oil

1 T maple syrup

½ t cinnamon

½ t chipotle chile powder

¼ t ground cumin

½ t salt

Roast butternut squash – either cut in half and scoop out seeds, and roast cut-side-down in an oven at 375 degrees until soft (about 45 minutes), or do like I do – poke holes in the squash with a knife, place on a plate, and microwave until soft, about 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool, and then cut in half and scoop out seeds.

Place cashews and tahini in food processor and puree until smooth. Scoop out cooked butternut squash and add it, the garlic, lime juice, olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, chipotle chile powder, and salt. Puree until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Serve with gluten-free crackers, chips, or raw vegetable crudités.

Looking for more gluten-free Superbowl recipes? Check out this forum discussion at Udi’s Gluten-Free Living Community, or these recipes:

Texas Chili

(Dairy-Free) Nacho Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos

Adzuki Bean Spread

Deviled Eggs

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Spicy Roasted Cashews

Quinoa Pizza Crust

This post is linked to Allergy-Free Wednesdays at Tessa the Domestic Diva.

posted on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Budget-Friendly,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Kid-Friendly,Quick and Easy,Side Dishes,Vegetables,Vegetarian 41 Comments

Adopt a Gluten-Free Blogger is being hosted by Kalinda at Wheat Free Meat Free. This month, I adopted the creator of this wonderful event – Seamaiden over at Book of Yum! Sea has been blogging for a lot longer than most of us (she is one of the pioneers in gluten-free blogging). I love that her recipes are decidedly different than what I would create, which I love. These recipes are often very globally-inspired, with lots of Japanese influence. Since I know little about Japanese cuisine beyond sushi, tempura, and otsu, I am intrigued and inspired by the flavors of the recipes at Book of Yum. Even more, the majority of her recipes are full of nutritious ingredients, making it easy for me to incorporate a dish or two into my dinner plans without compromising my goal to eat healthfully (most days, at least).

I opted to make two dishes – Asparagus with Walnut Dressing (pictured above), and Zucchini Crust Pizza. Both were full of veggie goodness, and were more than achievable on a weeknight.

First, the asparagus dish. I love asparagus. I love to eat the spears raw in salads, lightly steamed or blanched, or tossed in a little bit of lemon zest. Most days, I keep it simple – it’s easy to steam some asparagus, and since I love the taste, I want its vegetable-ness to shine through. However, this walnut dressing, made of little more than walnuts and tamari, doesn’t cover up the wonderful flavor of the asparagus. Instead, it compliments it.  It was perfect for not only the asparagus, but I even used a bit on a garden salad, and it was tasty on some salmon I’d also prepared that night for dinner as well. I could imagine finding lots of uses for a sauce such as this!

The zucchini crust pizza was also lovely. I did modify the recipe to make it dairy-free (using Daiya cheese), and I opted for coconut flour instead of rice flour (I was out). I only used about 2/3 of the amount of flour called for in the recipe as a result, because coconut flour is very absorbent. Otherwise, I kept the crust as true to the recipe as possible. I topped it with some mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, pepperoni and sausage. (and more Daiya) It was delicious, and I loved that instead of a bunch of empty calories, as most pizza tends to be, it was relatively nutrient-dense, and full of flavor. So much so, in fact, I had to force myself to stop eating it. I easily polished off half of the crust. Whoops. Guess that’s a sign of a successful dish!

There were more recipes I wanted to try, but there are only so many hours in the day! I have bookmarked her Vegan Detox Mint-Avocado Virgin Mojito and her Injera to try at one point in the (hopefully not-so-distant) future. I encourage you to check out her recipes – I’m sure there is more than just one or two to tempt your tastebuds!

posted on Friday, December 2nd, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Vegetables,Vegetarian 5 Comments

Today over at Daily Bites, we are sharing our favorite holiday entrees and side dishes in our continuation of A Gluten-Free Holiday. As always, there is a giveaway involved (Hallie will be giving away a copy of her new book, The Pure Kitchen) so be sure to head over there and check it out!

Our family has their fair share of holiday favorites. I’ve already shared the need for stuffing and gravy (as welcome at Christmas as it is at Thanksgiving, if there’s a turkey involved), broccoli cheese rice casserole, and tamales. But I’ve already blabbed about those favorites with you time and time again. I asked my husband to help me brainstorm on holiday dishes. He suggested gumbo (which has a cult following in our family this time of year), but the traditional recipe is a direct replica of Emeril Lagasse’s, so it wasn’t quite what I had in mind. So then I thought – why not create a new favorite?

But what? When I think of holiday food, many times, I can’t get desserts out of my head. (We’ll share desserts as part of A Gluten-Free Holiday too, on December 15, at She Let Them Eat Cake, but that’s another time, another day, another recipe.) I had to brainstorm. Savory. Side Dish. Holiday. Think! Think! What are foods eaten in fall and winter? Umm…root vegetables? Sweet Potatoes? I love sweet potatoes, but they’re not very special. How can I make sweet potatoes special? Hmm, I have some leftover pie crust dough in the fridge… And suddenly, the waters parted. I knew just what I would make, and this simple-but-special, savory, delicious pie was born.

What I love about this dish is that unlike so many other holiday foods, it’s not overly heavy or rich. In fact, paired with a nice side salad, it could easily be a welcome brunch for guests that stay at your home during the holiday season. (Or even just a good pre-holiday-shopping meal!) Truthfully, it’s not all that fussy. No more so than making a typical pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, truthfully, and if you wanted to go crustless, you could simply bake the filling in a greased pie dish (or heck, even individually-sized ramekins) and serve it that way. But if you have a bit of time to make a pie crust, go for it. In my mind, it elevates this pie to holiday status. It also provides a bit of contrasting texture. And the flavors? With a creamy, slightly sweet custard, touched with rosemary and smoked paprika, how could you go wrong?

Savory Sweet Potato Pie

1 recipe gluten-free pie crust (or your favorite gluten-free pie crust recipe -  I haven’t tried this with a nut-based crust, but I bet it would work well.)

5 egg yolks

2 c cooked sweet potato puree (if using fresh sweet potatoes, simply prick with a fork, microwave until soft, scoop out flesh, and puree in food processor)

1 c coconut milk

1 t fresh rosemary, chopped

1 t kosher salt

1/2 t fresh ground black pepper

1/4 t smoked paprika

1/8 t nutmeg

1 T maple syrup

1 T sweet white rice flour (or your favorite gluten-free flour)

1 egg whisked with 1 T water for egg wash

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out pie crust in between two sheets of parchment paper; transfer to 9-inch pie plate. Place egg yolks in the bowl of a food processor; process for about 30 seconds. Add sweet potatoes, coconut milk, rosemary, salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg, maple syrup, and rice flour and puree until smooth. Pour into pie crust. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pie comes out clean. (Note: you may want to use a pie shield or cover the edges of the crust with foil during the baking process to prevent excess browning.) Cool for 15-20 minutes. Serve.

Do you have a favorite holiday entree or side dish to share? Link it up over at Daily Bites!

Interested in some gluten-free edible gift ideas for the holidays? Check out my post and all of the links shared there! Want even more ideas or to chat a bit more about this topic? Over at the Udi’s Gluten-Free Community, we’ve shared some edible gift ideas!

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posted on Thursday, December 1st, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Baked goods,Budget-Friendly,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Main Dishes,Vegetarian 6 Comments

gluten, dairy, and egg-free fried green tomatoes

Sea at Book of Yum is our most gracious hostess for Adopt a Gluten-Free Blogger again this month. I immediately knew I wanted to adopt Lexie’s Kitchen. Why? Well, other than the fact that Alexa is a super-cool mom dedicated to healing her son through a diet, she also is an innovative genius in the kitchen.

Example A: she made nacho cheese-stuffed jalapenos without dairy. Yep. I actually made these prior to adopting Alexa, and I didn’t take a photo, unfortunately. The nacho cheese was the best dairy-free cheese I’ve had to date. I MUST make it again. And the jalapeno poppers? Spicy (I must have had some HOT peppers), but amazing. If you make them, don’t skip the bacon. It definitely takes those little bites of fire to a whole ‘nuther level.

If that doesn’t convince you, how about example B: the fried green tomatoes pictured above. These were perfectly timed, as I saw a bunch of green tomatoes at the farmer’s market. Until making Alexa’s recipe, I had not attempted to fry green tomatoes since I went gluten-free, and never without cornmeal. Trust me, you don’t miss the cornmeal in these babies. They’re crispy on the outside, and pleasantly juicy within.

But just those two appetizers weren’t enough, in my opinion. In keeping with the seasons, I opted to try a version of her sausage and seasonal vegetable stuffed squash. I found large pattypan squash at the farmers market, so I opted to use them rather than delicata squash. Unfortunately, I had to make a few more unplanned changes to my stuffing mixture – I went to use the rest of some italian sausage I had in the refrigerator, and it was bad. Into the garbage it went, and I opted instead to make my stuffing vegan. I bumped up the spices a bit to compensate.

These babies were flavorful just the same. Soon, however, I’ll have to grab some delicata squash and some fresh sausage and try Alexa’s version again.

I didn’t get a chance to make these st(raw)berry cheesecakes, but they’re also on my “to do” list. Because who doesn’t love mini healthy cheesecakes?

Her blog is helpful for other areas of life as well. For example, she teaches you how to make a natural deoderant that works (something I must try one day!). How cool is that?

A big thank you to Sea at Book of Yum for hosting Adopt a Gluten-Free Blogger again this month. As always, I love spending time getting to know my fellow gluten-free bloggers a little more. In this case, reading and trying out recipes from Lexie’s Kitchen definitely showed me that there are so many delicious treats that can be made, even on a gluten and dairy-free diet!

posted on Thursday, October 6th, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Budget-Friendly,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Main Dishes,Side Dishes,Vegetables,Vegetarian 8 Comments

There are days, and sometimes weeks, when innovation in the kitchen eludes me. I try to prepare a meal plan every week (When they’re more organized, you see them posted here on the blog. This week was not one of those “more organized” weeks. There’s still a plan, but it’s rather basic.), but sometimes, I can’t think much beyond the same staples that reappear week after week – salad with grilled chicken, or meat+sweet potato+veggie. While I love the simplicity of those meals (I can do those on auto-pilot, which is wonderful after a long day at work), I don’t experience that joy in the kitchen that comes from freeing myself from the norm and really getting creative with ingredients. So last week, when I was working on the menu once again, I paused.

Must come up with something different.

Then I glanced at the grocery store ads, and saw that shrimp was on sale. Love shrimp. It’s fast, lean, and so tasty – perfect for a weeknight meal. But what to do with it?

We love lettuce wraps here in the Tasty Eats At Home household. Often I make a gluten-free version of these lettuce wraps (using gluten-free soy sauce and simply omitting the oyster sauce), and I use not only ground pork, but sometimes I’ll use ground turkey, chicken, beef, or even game meats, like ground antelope, to change things up a bit. But last week, I thought I should look at our lettuce wraps with fresh eyes. With shrimp, they would be something new. I also thought a summer-y, almost tropical flair would be a perfect change of pace. Hence, these wraps were born.

These wraps are light and bright, topped with a fresh slaw of jicama, carrots, and cabbage, but the hint of chipotle is enough to give the flavors balance, interest, and substance. Both my husband and I truly loved the coconut flakes, though. They really added that unique tropical flavor without being overwhelming. (It doesn’t hurt that we both love coconut – I’m a coconut fiend!) Surprisingly, with the slaw, shrimp, and lettuce stored in separate containers, these wraps were even pretty tasty for lunch the following day. These are definitely a new item to include in the regular menu rotation!

Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Jicama Slaw

 1 T coconut oil

1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

 2 T chopped green onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 t chipotle chile powder

salt and pepper to taste

Romaine lettuce leaves, separated

2 T toasted unsweetened coconut flakes

Jicama slaw (recipe below)

 Heat oil in a large skillet to medium-high heat. In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with green onion, garlic, chipotle chile powder, salt, and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, add shrimp to pan and spread out in a single layer. Allow to brown for a minute or two, then stir to flip shrimp to the other side to finish browning, 3-4 minutes more, depending on the size of your shrimp. Shrimp will be cooked through when it turns pink. This happens fairly quickly, so don’t go too far! Remove from heat.

Fill lettuce leaves with shrimp, then top with a bit of coconut and jicama slaw. (This is also fun when you serve each component separately at the table, and allow your diners to build their own lettuce wraps.) Serves 3-4.

Jicama Slaw

2 c very thinly sliced red cabbage

1 1/2 c shredded jicama (I just used the shredder on my food processor)

3 carrots, peeled and shredded (I just used the shredder on my food processor)

2 T chopped green onion

2 T chopped fresh parsley (cilantro would also be good here)

Juice of 1 lime

Juice of 1 orange

1 t chipotle chile powder

1 t honey

salt to taste

Add cabbage, jicama, carrots, green onion, and parsley in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together lime and orange juices, chipotle chile powder, honey, and a bit of salt. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss until everything is well-coated. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Can be made an hour or two in advance – chill until ready.

This post is linked to Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays at Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free.

posted on Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Main Dishes,Salads 7 Comments

A while back, Skyhorse Publishing contacted me about a book to review. The publicist told me that a great majority of the recipes in the book were naturally gluten-free, but were also approachable to any guest at the dinner table. Her recommendation and the title of the book drew me in. The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen – Glorious Meals Pure and Simple, by Levana Kirschenbaum. The majority of my cooking is 100% whole foods, so this sounded like a perfect addition to my cookbook collection (which currently has outgrown all available bookshelf space, and is now occupying some pantry shelf space, as well as space above my kitchen cabinets, and there are more without a home right now. I may have a problem…). I readily agreed to review the book, and asked for some additional copies to share with you all in a giveaway. Of course, they agreed!  

This book was just as was described to me. There are countless delicious, mouth-watering, healthy recipes made from real, whole food ingredients in this book. Homemade harissa? Curried apple kale soup? Moroccan turkey patties in lemon sauce? Just hearing those recipes makes me hungry. I currently have about a dozen recipes bookmarked in this book to make. But late one evening, when I was on my own for dinner, I decided to whip up a super-easy recipe for sardine salad.

Sardines, you ask? Aren’t those the gross little canned whole fishes? Okay, before you click away, hear me out. To many, sardines are a bit off-putting. I understand that. But they sure pack a nutritional punch. For people like me who can’t consume dairy, there aren’t many calcium-rich foods out there. But sardines are an exception. They pack nearly half of the daily requirement of calcium, thanks to those tiny edible bones. They’re also a great source of protein and omega-3s. For the price (a can of sardines costs about a dollar), they are one of those “must-have” budget foods in your pantry. If you’re skeptical about the taste, this salad is a great way to start. The tahini, lemon, and greens cut the “pungent” flavor of the fish, and when you’re mixing the ingredients together, you won’t see the skin and bones of the sardines. If you try it, you just might find these little fishes to be to your liking. While I’ve long adored sardines (particularly in another salad recipe I found over at City|Life|Eats), this recipe further established my love for them. It definitely was the perfect light meal.

Sardine Salad, from The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen, reprinted with permission

2 cans sardines, skin and bones on, oil and all

1/4 c tahini (sesame paste)

4 scallions, sliced very thin

Juice of 2 lemons, or a little more to taste

Ground pepper to taste

Splash of bottled hot sauce

4 cups very finely chopped romaine, watercress, or sprouts, or a combination (I used spinach)

Mash the sardines with their oil and the tahini with a fork in a bowl. Add the scallions, lemon juice, pepper, and hot sauce and combine thoroughly. Fold in the greens and mix. Makes 8 servings. (of course, I ate more than 1 serving as a main meal…)

And now, the giveaway. I am giving away two copies of The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen by Levana Kirschenbaum, courtesy of Skyhorse Publishing. To enter, leave me a comment.

To gain additional entries, post about this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook, and come back and leave me a comment telling me you did so.

The giveaway will end Sunday, July 31, 2011.

Good luck!

posted on Sunday, July 24th, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Budget-Friendly,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Main Dishes,Quick and Easy,Salads,Seafood 21 Comments

Adopt A Gluten-Free Blogger is being hosted this month by Wendy of Celiacs In The House. I love Adopt A Gluten-Free Blogger – while I love reading and trying to keep up with all of my favorite gluten-free blogs, reading, gawking, and sometimes drooling, I almost never seem to find time to actually make the recipes I salivate over. This event gives me an opportunity to slow down and actually try a recipe. Thing is, I rarely find it easy to decide which recipe to make. This is definitely the case when it comes to my adoptee this month – Ricki of Diet, Dessert, and Dogs.

Ricki is definitely a powerhouse in the kitchen. Her blog has hundreds of delicious, Anti-Candida Diet (ACD) friendly recipes, and she has published 4 books. I own them all. I love her latest – Good Morning! Breakfasts without Gluten, Sugar, Eggs, or Dairy. Her innovative ways of creating sweet, delicious, healthy recipes using healthy ingredients really gets me to think outside the box. I imagine that going through the healing process of the Anti-Candida Diet forces one to do just that, especially when cravings for waffles, cakes, or fudge strike. Ricki amazes with her ability to satisfy those cravings.

Lately I’ve been in need of good, healthy snacks to pack for lunch, so I made Ricki’s adzuki bean spread. Wow, is it delicious! I am a sucker for bean spreads/dips in any case, but this was unique. It had a lovely umami punch from the miso, and a bit of a bite from the green onions. The creaminess of the beans (I love adzuki beans – they’re one of my favorites, and have appeared here before.) brought everything together. A bit of this stuff, spread on some Mary’s Gone Crackers and enjoyed along a quickly packed lunch of carrot sticks and celery was the perfect easy-to-make lunch. I’m definitely making this again – perhaps even as a quick dip for a party.

Next on my list of recipes to make from Ricki? Her “swiss cheese“. This really has me intrigued. Homemade vegan cheese cubes? I am seeing a salad very soon in my future, topped with these little treats!

posted on Monday, July 11th, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Budget-Friendly,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Quick and Easy,Side Dishes,Vegetarian 9 Comments

Where have the menu plans gone? You might be asking. They haven’t been posted on my blog for a few weeks now. Well, long story short, I was on vacation for 2 weeks. While I had vague ideas of what I planned on cooking, I was in the midst of testing so many recipes for my upcoming book, and our schedule was so lax, that I didn’t have an actual “plan.” (In fact, there were evenings where, after hours of cooking and testing recipes, my husband asked what was for dinner, and my only plan was something like “There are brownies, a cake, crackers, bread, some tomato jam, and I’m working on a meatloaf. Would you like any of that?”  I had tons of food around, but often, there wasn’t a cohesive meal in sight.) Last week, I was still in post-vacation recovery mode, and a lot of the meals were last-minute compilations of what we needed to use up. Finally, this week, we’re back into the swing of things.

One of the recipes I was testing during my time off was a recipe I debuted last year, albeit in a slightly different form, as an appetizer for a crowd of guests (gluten and dairy eaters) that were visiting. Originally it was called an “appetizer square”, and was made with zucchini and crumbled pork sausage, rather than summer squash and chicken. It obviously went over well, as the pieces were gobbled down fairly quickly. When I came across it again, I remembered the abundance of squash in the refrigerator, and decided to make a different version. It turned out to be even better than the first, in my opinion.

What’s lovely about a recipe like this is that it’s versatile. Zucchini or summer squash can be used – and this time of year, most of us have more of both of these veggies than we’d like, so it’s a great way to use it up! Any leftover cooked meat can be used – or even beana (I could imagine black beans tasting scrumptious here!). Spice it how you’d like. Serve it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as an appetizer. The sky is the limit here.

Summer Squash Chicken Frittata (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

½ c olive oil, divided

½ c diced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t minced fresh sage

½ lb diced cooked chicken

½ t ground cumin

1 t herbs de Provence

1 t chile powder

4 whole eggs

½ c almond flour

¼ c coconut flour

1 T baking powder

3 c grated summer squash or zucchini

½ c Daiya cheese (or other non-dairy cheese)

1 T nutritional yeast flakes

½ t salt

¼ t ground black pepper

Heat a skillet to medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onions to skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, sage, and chicken and sauté for another minute. Remove and allow to cool while you prepare the rest of the dish.

Grease a 13X9 baking dish and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until blended, and add the rest of the oil and whisk. Add in the flours, baking powder, onion-garlic-chicken mix, grated squash and remaining ingredients. Spread into prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until browned on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool for 5 minutes and cut into squares. Makes 16 appetizer servings.

And now, for the menu for this week!

Monday

Breakfast: Healthy chocolate zucchini muffin, scrambled egg whites with spinach and tomato

Lunch: Roasted turkey breast, leftover veggies from Sunday dinner (grilled asparagus, green beans)

Dinner: Chicken with mole sauce, steamed brown rice, steamed broccoli

Tuesday

Breakfast: Smoothie with strawberries, spinach, protein powder, almond milk and chia seeds, scrambled egg whites with Daiya cheese

Lunch: Roasted turkey breast with baby carrots and steamed spinach, unless there are leftovers from dinner

Dinner: Garden salad, Meatballs

Wednesday

Breakfast: Healthy chocolate zucchini muffin, scrambled egg whites with spinach and tomatoes

Lunch: Garden salad with roasted turkey breast or tuna

Dinner: Brined pork chops, roasted sweet potatoes, steamed cauliflower and spinach

Thursday

Breakfast: Smoothie with acai berry, protein powder, banana, spinach, and chia seeds, scrambled egg whites

Lunch: Tuna, shredded carrots, and spinach in a brown rice tortilla wrap

Dinner: Grilled salmon, okra and tomatoes, grilled potatoes

Friday

Breakfast: Healthy chocolate zucchini muffin, scrambled egg whites with spinach and tomatoes

Lunch: Creamy tomato tofu soup, gluten-free crackers

Dinner: Fried brown rice with shrimp, green beans

Snacks this week will include fresh peaches, black bean dip on brown rice cakes, and apples with peanut or almond butter. I also have Tanka bars on hand if I need a bit of protein.

Want more great menu ideas? Check out Celiacs In The House and the Gluten-Free Menu Swap!

This post is linked to Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays at Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free.

posted on Monday, June 27th, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,breakfast,Budget-Friendly,Chicken, Turkey, and other Poultry,Dairy-Free,Eggs,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Main Dishes,Meal Plans,Quick and Easy,Vegetables 6 Comments

Salads are an area where I tend to have a “kitchen sink” mentality. The more vegetables, the better – I tend to throw in anything and everything that looks fresh and tastes good. More than one type of greens? Check. Radishes? Check. Tomatoes? Check. Cucumbers? Why not? Sometimes, even squash, olives, pumpkin seeds, picked peppers, and pickled okra all show up in the salad. And with some source of protein, such as grilled chicken, steak, or beans, these are good salads for meals (I’m enjoying such a version today for lunch, in fact), but they’re not really composed. There’s something to be said for a lovely salad that is restrained and highlights just a few fresh ingredients.

That’s precisely what this salad does. It’s not fancy, and it takes practically no time. Just some fresh cucumber, chopped fresh herbs, a bit of vinegar and salt, and what arises is a refreshing, light accompaniment to a meal. I loved how bright it was (we enjoyed this alongside a creamy pasta dish with sausage, which was heavy), and it didn’t hurt that it was a very low-calorie way to add some interest. I definitely need to remind myself how enjoyable a salad like this can be, especially as the temperatures start rising in the next few months!

Cucumber Herb Salad

5-6 Kirby cucumbers or 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced

1 T chopped fresh mint leaves

1 t chopped fresh tarragon

1 T rice wine vinegar

Pinch or two of salt

Toss the cucumber slices with the herbs, vinegar, and salt. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Serves 3-4 as a side dish.

posted on Thursday, May 19th, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Budget-Friendly,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Quick and Easy,Salads,Side Dishes,Vegetables,Vegetarian 8 Comments

This pizza crust recipe has changed my life. No more frozen pizza crusts. No more “going without” pizza. No more complicated recipes, complete with yeast and rise times and multiple gluten-free flours. As long as I remember to soak my quinoa ahead of time, I can have fresh pizza crust in a manner of minutes. And not “so-so” pizza. Good pizza. Chewy and slightly crispy on the edges, but soft in the center. It reminds me of a good New York style crust. Which, you can assume by my opening sentence in this post, is a good thing indeed.

I can’t take credit for the idea or the recipe, however. That credit goes to Charity Dasenbrock of For Life Personal Chef. She posted this recipe. Iris of The Daily Dietribe mentioned it a while back, and that’s where it caught my eye. It is supposed to be akin to socca, a chickpea flatbread that is also simple to make. (There’s a recipe in Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free by Amy Green – I happen to be giving away four copies of her book here – hurry! The giveaway ends April 23.) I’ve discovered I have a lot of trouble digesting chickpeas, so I have never had the opportunity to enjoy socca. This crust recipe, however, gave me hope. It was so easy, I just had to try it.

So the following morning, I soaked what quinoa I had left in the house (which turned out to be about a cup).  I came home, drained and rinsed it, and threw it in the blender along with a bit of water, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. I blended, and heated up my cast iron skillet in the oven with a bit of oil. When the oven came to temperature, I poured my batter, spread it out, put it back in the oven, and hoped for the best.

In a little over 10 minutes, I checked it. It was ready to flip, and was a lovely color of brown and crisp on the bottom. It flipped easily. I baked it for about 10 more minutes, and then placed some toppings on top and baked for another 5. The house filled with the aroma of pizza parlor. When it was ready, I was so ready to cut and sink my teeth into that slice. When I did, I just about swooned. Another bite, and another, and I’m suddenly blabbing and carrying on to my husband about how absolutely wonderful this pizza was. I declared that we would now have pizza every week. That’s probably not going to happen in actuality, but I did make more the following week. It was just as delicious as the first time. And the leftovers? They make a pretty great breakfast.

Another bonus about this pizza crust, versus so many other gluten-free recipes, is that it is 100% whole grain. No starches, no gums. It’s vegan, and it’s allergy-friendly. You can top it with whatever you like. You could even leave it plain and enjoy it as a delicious flatbread, perfect for tearing and dipping into curries, soups, or hummus. The possibilities are endless. But whatever you do, make it.

Quinoa Pizza Crust, adapted from For Life Personal Chef

1 c quinoa plus enough water to cover for soaking

1/4 c grapeseed oil or olive oil

about 1/2 c filtered water

1/2 t kosher salt

1/2 t garlic powder

1/2 t Italian seasoning

Place the quinoa in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover the quinoa. Let it sit for about 8 hours to soak (I do this in the morning before I head to work, and then it’s ready when I get home).

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Use a large, 12-inch cast iron skillet, and brush with oil. Place in oven to preheat.

Drain the quinoa, rinse thoroughly, and place the quinoa in a blender. Add most of the water and the seasonings and blend. Add more water as needed, until the batter resembles a thick pancake-style batter.

Once the oven is heated to temperature, pour the batter into the skillet and quickly spread it out evenly across the bottom. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the underside is well-browned and starting to crisp. Use a large spatula and carefully flip the crust. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove from oven, and top with desired toppings. (In the picture above, I used a homemade tomato-based pizza sauce, a bit of nacho cheese sauce from Go Dairy Free, sauteed crimini mushrooms, onions, a bit of organic pork sausage, and radish greens.) As with any pizza, be careful not to overload on toppings or the crust will get a bit soggy. Return to oven for 5-7 minutes, or until the crust is well-browned on the bottom and crisp. Remove from the skillet and transfer to a cutting board or plate. Slice and serve!

Makes one pizza – 2-4 servings, depending on how hungry your crowd is and whether a salad or other dish is served with the pizza.

This post is linked to Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays.

posted on Thursday, April 21st, 2011 by altawrites Posted in Appetizers,Dairy-Free,Gluten-Free,Healthy Meals,Kid-Friendly,Main Dishes,Quick and Easy,Vegetarian 64 Comments