Never Living Without » Brenda

Sugar Free and Gluten Free Chocolate Snack

Brenda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:38:38 +0000

Like I said in my last post, I have cut sugar out of my diet. Fully supported by my ND! There is an awesome site that I love:http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com and she just happens to have some super chocolately recipes that don’t have any sugar in them. This one for Lara Bars is my newest chocolate obsession. My daughter with the super sweet tooth says it isn’t sweet enough but after 3 days of no sugar I think it tastes awesome and plenty sweet enough! Next time I am going to add some chunky almond butter. Yummers!!!

1 cup walnuts
1 1/3 cups pitted dates
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3-4 T cocoa powder (I use raw cocoa powder)
optional: a pinch of salt

Blend all the ingredients, using a food processor. Form into balls. It might help to put dough in a plastic bag and close the bag, then shape into a ball.

Some substitutions/additions that would be super yummy:

1 tbl almond butter
mint extract instead of vanilla
almonds instead of walnuts
1 tsp instant coffee to create a mocha flavor

Best Chocolate Frosting in the World!

My favorite oatmeal!

Brenda — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:52:44 +0000

My newest obsession is my morning oatmeal. Yesterday was my 2nd day of cutting out sugar from my diet so I needed a substitution for my usual oats. This is the recipe I came up with:

1/2 cups GF old fashioned oats(cooked)
2 tbl of almond butter
1 banana sliced

Mix it all together if you like it chunky or throw it in you blender (food processor) if textures bother you and you need smooth oatmeal. This was so filling
! Usually around 10am my stomach is starting to growl. I actually didn’t even think of other food until 11:30am.

Easy and Fast Gluten Free Jambalaya

Brenda — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:06:22 +0000

Easy and Fast Gluten Free Jambalaya

My daughter just made this recipe for the first time and it was awesome! On Mondays I stay after school so my students can get some extra classroom time and I usually don’t get home until after 5pm. I am usually wiped from squeezing around 100 students into 4 hours in one afternoon. My daughters are great cooks so I take advantage of them being able to help out. Toni is thinking about going to school for Culinary Arts and if she keeps it up she will be an amazing chef. Here is her recipe:

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cups chicken meat (white or dark), diced
1 package of gluten free smoked sausage, sliced
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons Cajun
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 large onion, diced
1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup diced celery
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups GF chicken broth (if using brown rice) or 2 1/2 cups chicken broth (if using white rice)
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 cups uncooked white or brown rice
3 bay leaves
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Preparation

Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: 20 min | Servings: 6
1. Add cayenne pepper, Creole seasoning and onion powder to chicken and sausage. Saute over medium heat until browned.

2. Add onion, pepper, celery and garlic and cook until vegetables are just tender. Add stock, tomatoes, rice, bay leaves, Worcestershire and bring to a boil.

3. Turn heat to low, cover pot with lid, and cook for 20 minutes (if using white rice) or 45-50 minutes (if using brown rice). Check near the end of cooking time and if the mixture seems dry, add more broth or water.

photo credit: cookipediachef

Gluten Free Creamy Wild Rice Soup

Brenda — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:15:23 +0000

Creamy Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 large onion, chopped

4 carrots, diced

1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms sliced

3 stalks of celery, sliced

1/2 cup Pamela’s pancake mix

6-8 cups vegetable stock

2 cups dry wild rice – cooked according to package directions

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon dry mustard

3/4 teaspoon white pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups rice milk or milk

1/2 cup chopped parsley

Preparation:

In a large saucepan, melt butter.
Add onions and cook for about 5 minutes or until tender.
Add carrots, mushrooms, and celery; cook for 2 minutes.
Stir in flour, then add vegetable stock, stirring for 5 minutes on high heat
Stir in the wild rice and spices
Reduce heat and stir in milk; cook until thoroughly heated.
Add parsley and serve.

Gorton’s Grilled Fish-Gluten Free

Brenda — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:28:31 +0000

I just found out that Gorton’s grilled fish are gluten free. Yummy and easy to prepare. The all natural fillets plus the grilled salmon are all gluten free. This would make a super simple meal in minutes or for those who are watching their calories, this would be an ideal protein for a meal. We continue to get quality gluten free items everyday in our grocery stores so keep your eyes peeled.

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Cheapest place to buy Gluten Free Betty Crocker Cake Mix

Brenda — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:12:12 +0000

Cheapest place to buy Gluten Free Betty Crocker Cake Mix-Locally

Last night I was shopping at Econo Foods and needed to replenish my back up cake mix supply. I grabbed a box of Betty Crocker’s Devil’s Food and one of Hodgson Mill’s Yellow Cake Mix. You might think this is odd but when I made marble cake for my daughter’s 3rd birthday I discovered something. Hodgson Mill’s yellow cake is extremely heavy and dense but when mixed right next to the chocolate mix Betty Crocker makes they both turn out lighter and moist. I am a bargain shopper and Hodgson Mill’s happens to be cheaper but I was quite disappointed in how dry the cake was. So now I can kinda have the best of both worlds. Hodgson Mill’s happens to be $4.09 and Betty Crocker is $4.19 at Econo Foods.

Now when I went to get dog food today at Walmart I needed some Lemishine for my dishwasher and decided to check out their price for GF Betty Crocker cake mix. I was surprised when it was $4.38! So here is another plug for Econo Foods and their Gluten Free efforts. Not only are they constantly expanding their selection but they are actually cheaper than Walmart! YEAH!!!!

Gluten Free Fries at Burger King!

Brenda — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:36:31 +0000

Gluten Free Fries at Burger King

I am super excited to announce that our local BK is now carrying gluten free french fries. The switch was made about a month ago, I am told. I called to confirm that they are no longer deep fried with their onion rings and chicken sandwiches. I was told that they have 2 friers dedicated for only french fries and the other 2 are for anything but french fries. So even though we don’t eat fast food too often, it is nice to know that we can swing through Burger King and the kids can enjoy their fries without feeling sick afterwards. That goes for this fry loving momma also!

photo credit: Håkan Dahlström

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Gluten Free Cookie Exchange

Brenda — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:33:38 +0000

I am so bummed that I won’t be able to make the cookie exchange in Iron River tonight. I am excited to finally have a local Gluten Free group but I wish they weren’t 45 minutes away from my house. Tonight they are planning a cookie exchange and I am at home with my feisty 2 year old while my older two girls are cheering. Go Norway!! I have 7 different kinds of goodies just waiting to be snacked on. Maybe next month’s meeting will fit into my schedule. Have fun ladies and gentlemen who are able to make it tonight.

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Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free Eggnog

Brenda — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:41:19 +0000

Dairy Free, Egg Free and Gluten Free Eggnog

After falling in love with the Silk Eggnog a friend of mine suggested I just try to make my own. I researched all the regular recipes that included eggs but I’m just not crazy about using 6-8 egg yokes in a drink. I would rather drink a few glasses of this without all the extra fat and cholesterol. Plus my husband’s heart will be thanking me. Like always make sure to check all of your ingredients assuring they are gluten free.

2 cups of vanilla soy milk
2 cups plain coconut milk*
2 Tbl of Agave Nectar
2 Tbl Brown Rice Syrup
1 Tbl pure vanilla extract
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp turmeric
pinch of cloves-optional but I love cloves

Pour the milks into a pitcher and add the remaining ingredients. Use a whisk to mix the spices thouroughly. Chill until ready to drink. Enjoy!!

*this is a personal preference. You can use all coconut milk(which I love but have a daughter who does not) Any dairy free milk can be substituted.

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Gluten Free Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies

Brenda — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:27:53 +0000

Slice and Bake sugar cookies

This will make 4 logs that can be frozen, sliced and then tossed on a cookie sheet for baking when ever you want.

2 cups butter, softened

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon extract or almond

6 cups gf flour

1 tsp baking soda

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla and extract until light and fluffy. In separate bowl combine flours and baking soda. Whisk them together thoroughly. Gradually stir flour mixture into egg mixture until blended. Divide into 4 equal pieces and shape into 4 logs using wax paper or plastic wrap. Wrap air tight and place in an air tight plastic container in your freezer.

To bake 1 roll of dough:

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease baking sheets or use silicon baking mat on cookie sheet(my preference). Cut frozen dough 1/4″ thick. Place slices on baking sheet about 1/2″ apart. Bake 8-10 minutes or more if you like them crispy. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on wire rack.

*If you bake them less and keep them soft they are perfect for ice cream sandwiches.