GlutenFreeHolly

Happy Saturday ..& a great Sangria

On June 20, 2015

In Gluten free, Home organization, Uncategorized

I always have a hard time deciding… Red or white sangria… They are both so yummy… Red reminds me of spiced oranges and cloves and white of summertime on the water….ahhhh.

So, I got up this morning and cleaned my house… Like the kind of cleaning when you get the funky stuff from around the faucets … Scrub the showers until your arms burn… The kind of clean where you wish you hadn’t added another bathroom…

And then, aside from making incredible chilaquiles with egg for brunch and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch (my kids don’t understand brunch… They just think it’s breakfast with a tardy slip), I painted some horrible looking doors…

Isn’t it amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do… Honestly, so often I feel like I’m doing that for my life… Not covering up the grime, the scars, the imperfections…. But relishing them… Remembering when I redid my daughters room and scratched the door… Enjoying the wrinkles, the scars… The momentos… But then doing a deep clean to wash away the bad and start fresh… But with the knowledge and experience from before.

Well… The doors look great… As does the house.. And to celebrate, I made a glass of sangria and headed to the pool… To relax and take in the sound of the parrots, the jumping fish, my crazy dogs and appreciate.

Anyway… THE SANGRIA!!!

1/2 bottle red Zinfandel.. I used Cline

1/2 bottle rose

1 cup margarita mix

1 cup crushed ice

I cup organic mixed berries

Mix, pour… Relax

Appreciate what you have… Little or a lot … For you Dads… happy Father’s Day. You truly have something to appreciate.

❤️

Mexican Lasagna- super easy deconstructed gluten free & vegetarian quinoa enchiladas!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On June 16, 2015

In Gluten free

In a hurry? Need a fast, easy, healthy dinner? I love to make enchiladas, but honestly, when I’m in a hurry, trying to roll tortillas without them breaking and cracking etc can be time consuming, hand burning and sometimes frustrating… One day, in a hurry, I tossed the tortillas in the pan, lasagna style…. Yep! Mexican Lasagna! It’s possible that the chefs of Mexico may not like this name… If not, I’m sorry… Mostly…

So, I made some rice and beans and then get started on the filling…

What you need & instructions!

In large pan, add

Oil- 1 T

1 onion chopped

1 tsp chopped garlic

1 potato chopped

Salt, pepper, red pepper & Italian seasoning to your taste

Cook on medium high until the potato is tender about 7 mins. Add:

4 small sweet peppers

1/2 butternut squash chopped & peeled

Cook several mins, then add

2 cups veggie bullion

1 cup quinoa

Stir and cover, simmer for 15-20 mins, now for the easy!

Preheat oven to 350

Layer corn tortillas in pan,cover with 1/3 of topping, sprinkle with cheese, repeat x 2!

Cover with extra cheese, sliced green onion & cilantro

Cover with salsa verde (1 jar or 2 cups)

Cover with tin foil & Cook 20 mins or until cheese melted!

You’re amazing! Have a great night!❤️

Chilaquiles! Brunch, Dinner, Lunch… This is a quick easy & super delicious glutenfree dish that you and your kids will love!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On June 15, 2015

In Gluten free, Gluten Free Dining

There has been a lot in the news about food waste. Truly tragic with the high food cost, hunger and malnutrition. Chilaquiles is a dish designed to use leftovers! Leftover or aging corn tortillas, a variety of veggies… I looked through my fridge and I have 2 older half bags of corn tortillas, zip lock bags of half white and red onions, half a bag of sweet peppers….yep! I know what I can use these for! The only thing I needed to buy was tomatillos!

For chilaquiles, you just need salsa verde and tortilla chips. Both are best for this recipe when made fresh.

Step 1- Salsa Verde

12 tomatillos, husked & rinsed

1 jalapeño

3-5 small sweet peppers

1/2-1 onion

You can also add in tomatoes if you have some in their last days

Add all the above to boiling water

Boil 10 minutes

this is a great, tasty, fresh way to get in lots of veggies

Drain quickly and with still a little water, add to blender with

1 tsp salt

1 1/2c cilantro

Blend until smooth

Step 2- sauce for Chilaquiles

In sauce pan, melt 1T butter ( or olive oil), add:

1/2 cup chopped onion( I used red)

Pour in 1/2 of salsa verde (put remaining half in bowl and place On table for extra sauce!)

Stir occasionally, allow to thicken

Step 3- chips

Chop tortillas into strips or wedges

I used all my leftovers (around 20 small corn tortillas)

mission corn tortillas! yum!

Fry lightly, drain and place in casserole

go ahead… eat a few. warm fresh crispy chips are the BEST

Step 4- Assemble!

Toss with salsa verde gently, top with cheese ( I used queso blanco)

Serve!

Have a great day!!

❤️

Room Decor! You can take the boy out of Texas… But you can’t take the Texas out of the boy.

By GlutenFreeHolly

On June 13, 2015

In Home organization

My youngest turns 7 this summer and she asked for a room “makeover” for her birthday. Well, that room is such an over furnished, Barbie over populated mess that I’m having a hard time getting started!

Step 1… Get the excess furniture out of there! I have an IKEA futon that is awesome for sitting and reading and sleepovers that used to be in the playroom before I split the girls to give each their own room.

So, I decided to rearrange the furniture in my 14 year old son’s room and out the futon in there, transforming his room into a teen hangout. Yes… I got completely distracted and redid his room…My son was born in Houston and then we lived in Dallas for 2 years after that… Despite moving to Florida at age 4, he defines himself as a Texan… Which of course I think is funny and cool all at the same time…

Once I moved the furniture around (3 times to get it right) and iced my back, I realized that it was missing something… A feature wall with a flag of Texas.

Oh… And since this started with my daughter, I had bought chalkboard paint (and dry erase paint too!!! Fun fun fun!!) and decided to make a door sign to replace the “pirates of the Caribbean” that has been there so long!

The door!

I repainted the door a glossy white, and then taped out a rectangle with painters tape and also a star. I placed them on the door and leveled them and then applied a light coat of white base to prevent bleeding.

Next, I applied the chalkboard paint, 2 layers 4 hours apart.

I peeled off the tape but thought…”BORING”, so I ran out to Michael’s and got a 6$ frame… As rustic looking as I could find.

boring… and messy…

I painted the frame with the flag

cool…

and VIOLA! lOVE THIS!!

The Room!

I taped off the areas and painted away!

I ran out to Bed Bath & Beyond and got a star!

Ya! FINIS!

Happy Saturday!

I’m off to the surgery residents graduation with just a little paint on me…

Summertime Slumber party…. With homemade pizza and gluten free rice balls!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On June 10, 2015

In Uncategorized

Worknight for me… Not for them. So, we have a play date & sleepover going on here. That’s cool. I’m tired… They appear to have had Red Bull during their camp refreshments… And they have decided to watch Jumanji, because that’s not too scary. Are you kidding me? I’m in the kitchen cooking and I’m creeped out! But I’ll be fine. One thing I know how to do is feed hungry kids… And I am surrounded by them. One 14 year old bottomless pit boy, 2 – 10 year old girls and 2 – 6 year old girls.. They are starting to circle… Darting in like sharks on shark week… Trying to grab a cookie… Or a croissant… Even an apple or a banana… One of the 6 year olds just licked a croissant so I couldn’t put it back… The childbeasts are starting to get restless… But, I’ve got this!
First!

Homemade Pizza!
This is not gluten free… Although it can be! If you need the recipe, message me or check out past blogs.

This is a well loved meal by playdate attendees and doesn’t dissapoint! slumber party … pizza party.. happy party.

Next… I’ve been dying to try gluten free rice balls! So, here it goes!!
By the way… 4 of these disappeared before even being fried… Yep.. That good….well and the sharkchildren… They are clearly ravenous. Its 640 pm.. The clock is ticking…. Anyway, I hope you ran, or swam or did orange theory today😊
Cook 1 cup of white arborio rice or sushi rice in your usual fashion but with a dash more water and a veggie bullion cube and 1 tsp olive oil – while that cooks…
Mix:
2 eggs
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tsp parsley (I used dried)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
Put in the fridge to cool until the rice is done.
Mix the egg mixture with the rice… Stir like crazy or you will have egg chunks and this is Italian…. Go! Use those forearms!
go! go! go! stir fast so you end up with rice balls not chinese fried rice!

Ok. Put that in the freezer until cool!
Now! Make rice into balls and then roll in gluten free bread crumbs. Fry until golden in oil on medium high. Drain on paper towels.

Drain on paper towels and serve with marinara sauce! Now you are household hero!
Enjoy!!! I ate 7…

They were so delicious.. So cheesy… So crispy… So GONE!
Make it a great night!❤️

Quinoa Dinner Bowl- Fresh, Light, Easy & Delicious

By GlutenFreeHolly

On June 2, 2015

In Gluten free

Dinnertime! Fresh summertime quinoa bowl with light provincial flavors. This takes 30 mins.

Let’s go!

Quinoa Base

1 1/2 cup quinoa

3 cups dilute veggie broth (chicken if you prefer)

2 t thyme

1 T olive oil

2 tsp garlic

Heat oil in pan, add garlic to season pan and then add everything else. Simmer, covered until done (15-20 mins)

doesnt get easier than this…. except maybe the eat24 app on my phone…

Topping

In large sauce pan add:

2T olive oil

3tsp chopped garlic

Add 1 large leek sliced

1 fennel bulb sliced

1 cup sliced carrot

Lemon zest

Dash red pepper flakes

Cook until tender over medium heat

Add 2 T cooking sherry

1 c veggie broth

Juice from 1 Lemon

Fresh thyme – 3t

2 cans garbanzo beans drained & rinsed

Salt & pepper

Heat through

Mix in 1c coarsley chopped spinach leaves

THIS even looks healthy! yum!

Serve quinoa topped with scoop of topping, fresh lemon & pine nuts

step 1… drop some quinoa in bowl…& be happy

step 2- add the veggies! …& be happier!

addsome fresh thyme, pine nuts & some lemon & enjoy!

Make it a great night!❤️

Mango Ice Cream… That’s how to end a weekend in paradise

By GlutenFreeHolly

On May 31, 2015

In Gluten free

We had a busy weekend, but after the mango smoothies and peeling, dicing and freezing mangos… One of my daughters had a playdate… And they asked to make mango ice cream!

One… It’s fun to work in the kitchen with kids… Two… What a great way to end the weekend!

Mango Ice Cream

3/4 cup mango

1/2 cup sugar… Blend until smooth and then place in freezer

Whisk 2 eggs until light and fluffy

Add 3/4 cup sugar a little at a time

Add 1 1/2 c whole milk

Add 1 1/2 c heavy cream

Whisk in Mango purée

Pour into ice cream maker & Voilà… Summer in the tropics!

the picture belies the deliciousness of mango ice cream made with your BFF

Have a great Monday! (You can do it!)

❤️

Mango Smoothie Madness

By GlutenFreeHolly

On May 31, 2015

In Gluten Free Dining

Summertime in Miami is marked by these sticky sweet smell of mangos. They are everywhere… Front yards, back yards, sold on the street corners and in huge crates at publix 2 for $1.

I have beautiful tree in my front yard and it’s loaded with fruit… And the yard is covered… And the cars… And the sidewalks and driveway.

Today I gathered them up and gloved up for the prep! And while at it, I made the family mango smoothie. Mango is super healthy and rich with fiber, vitamins and nutrients.

mangos, mangos everywhere

Mango Smoothie (makes 4)

2 cups milk

1/2 cup orange juice

1 T agave syrup

3 cups ice

1T chia seeds

2 cups mangos

Blend until smooth

blend it up!

drink up! healthy & delicious!

Have a great day!

❤️

Pinch Me…. You’re not dreaming! Coral Gables

By GlutenFreeHolly

On May 30, 2015

In Gluten Free Dining

We decided on a new place tonight…Gastrobar “pinch me”. Basically, quiet, great atmosphere, super attentive (but not at all annoying) service, great food and no tummy ache! Its located in a very quiet area of Coral Gables off Palermo.

Happy hour 4-7, unfortunately we had reservations at 8, but happy hour menu looked respectable! There is a beautiful patio area with outdoor lighting and citronella candles… But this is Miami… So, we opted for the mosquito free inside seating area.

We started with Sangria- me red, date white… Both yummy!

someone is checking out the sangria goodness!

Next we got the provoleta… Ok… All I can say is YUM.

Admittedly, there was a sudden look of panic when I said “I can’t eat gluten… Really”. But this was followed by detailed knowledge of the menu and suggestions on what I could eat. Of course, I had already checked out the menu and knew what I wanted… Either a delicious sounding beet salad or the “española” plate of cheese, meats (generously donated to my date), olives, figs, almonds and more! My date had pasta with pear and ricotta cheese… It looked wonderful… And I chose the española! Delicious.

For dessert, I had an espresso…mans my date had the crepes with dulce de Leche, which were exquisite.

So thats it!

Check it out!❤️

Friday = Fiesta! Yes! Of course, Gluten Free (& Vegetarian)

By GlutenFreeHolly

On May 29, 2015

In Uncategorized

4 more days of school. But who is counting anyway? Well, I have 3 who have switched to counting the minutes… Summer is so close, they can taste it. The pool pump broke over Memorial Day weekend and the pool is so green that I’m thinking a pet pod of tadpoles could be fun… BRING IT ON! Bring on the sun, the hurricane scares, the daily thunderstorms, the neighborhood crocodile (not kidding… Check out my Instagram account for a photo) and bring on those relaxing evenings without homework, no strict bedtimes of 8 pm…. Outside dinners… by the (hopefully clear blue) pool, under the starry Florida sky…. warm breezes, eating in our bathing suits, MAGIC…. BRING IT… We are ready!

In the spirit of celebration, I decided on a dinner of guacamole, chips, black bean sopes and quesadillas with handmade tortillas. All this in under 1 hour… With some goofing off while cooking (the only way to go).

Hungry yet?

Let’s go!

Guacamole (see prior posts for recipe)

Chips (tostitos are certified GF)

Handmade Tortillas & Sopes

4 cups Maseca corn flour

1 tsp salt

2 2/3 cup warm water

Mix well for 2 mins ( with your hands…. Its Friday… Sink those fingers in and de-stress) roll into balls and let sit. Divide into 2 sets of about 20 balls.