Fun, Fresh Ideas to Manage Work, Home, and a Gluten Free Diet!

Tag: Gluten free Page 7 of 8

Hey! You wanna piece of ….. My yummy gluten free coffee cakes? You & your family are going to enjoy these!

When I was first diagnosed with celiac, it was late October a few years back, and one of the first things that crossed my mind was my families tradition of Christmas morning Irish Sour Cream Coffee Cake. Well NO PROB here! It took a few tries, but now I make a gluten free version with great texture, taste and consistency… Such that you can serve this to anyone and they will not know its gluten free! Plus, you can change around the toppings depending on who you are cooking for! Another favorite of mine is pumpkin coffee cake. Today I’m making pumpkin loaf modified from the Pamela’s pancake mix recipe www.pamelasproducts.com . Pumpkin bread is great, because it’s delicious and its a great way to get some extra vitamins and nutrition into your body and those of you kids.



well worn recipe card!

Gluten free Irish Sour Cream Coffee Cake 

Cream 1/2 c butter

              1 cup sugar

Add and mix well 2 eggs 

               1 t vanilla

                2 T Apple cider vinegar

                 1c sour cream

Mix dry ingredients together and then add to wet

                   2 cups Pamela’s pancake mix/ gluten free flour

                   1/2 t salt

                    1t baking powder

Topping: traditionally cinnamon, sugar & nuts…today I added semi sweet chocolate chips too!

Place half the batter in round pan, top with half the topping, repeat with second layer

Bake at 350 for 45 mins.  Enjoy!

place in batter, top with toppings, repeat



yes! looking good!



anybody want a piece of that?



Next up…

Pumpkin Loaf 

Mix 4 T melted butter

        2 eggs

        2 T Apple cider vinegar 

        1/2 c sugar

         1t vanilla extract

          1 can pumpkin purée/pack

Add dry ingredients mixed together 

           1 3/4 c Pamela’s pancake mix/ gluten free flour

            1 t baking powder

             Dash salt

             1 t each cinnamon, ginger and 1/2 t nutmeg

Top with raw sugar and walnut or pecans to taste. Bake at 350 for 50 mins



place all batter in greased pan



your family is going to love it! and youre going to love all the vitamins from pumpkin



put out your Sunday Best



        make it a great day! ❤️

Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Shrimp & Grits. Fast, Gluten Free & Just Plain Good

Shrimp & grits… It’s so fast…you can have dinner done in 10-15 minutes. After all of the yard work today, I’m plumb tuckered out and just want a delicious meal that I can eat while I enjoy my new view! 

What you need: 

Shrimp- 6-8 per person

Tomatoes, cherry or other small tomatoes

Olive oil

Seasoning- garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning

Grits

Cheese – I use Parmesan and shredded Italian blend

Tomatoes-

Mix with olive oil, sea salt, fresh ground pepper & Italian seasoning (fresh rosemary would be great…I just used a standard dry blend), red pepper flakes. Bake for 10 min 350 degrees

ready for the oven! looking good!



Grits- quantity for 3 adults… Multiply as needed

Bring 1c milk and 1 c water to a boil

Whisk in 1t salt & 1/2c grits

Reduce heat and whisk until thickened. 

Add 1/2 c shredded cheese and 1/4 c Parmesan

Serve with Parmesan sprinkled on top

whisk the grits in a little at a time to prevent clumping



Shrimp 

heat 2T olive oil with 1t garlic and 2t red pepper flakes

Add shrimp, cook on med high 3 mins per side



dont stir the shrimp…let them get a liitle browned



Serve and Enjoy! Gluten free and sooooooooo easy!



deliciousness !




Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Dreaming of an Outdoor Oasis…..

its it such a pleasure to have an outdoor space to relax in! It doesn’t have to be big. A small balcony, a large backyard, or even an urban yard with a zero lot line can all be converted into a nice space for relaxing, dining or entertaining! I started today with some pretty lofty goals, and I finished the day with exactly what I wanted… My Coral Gables Oasis….and an upgraded balcony at my boyfriends apartment to boot! 

We started out at IKEA, Friday night… Where we got a patio set for the apartment and some lighting (solar powered!) www.ikea.com, then we dropped by Home Depot for some drought hardy, sun tolerant flowers….watering plants is definitely not my strong suit, and I have a plant graveyard to prove it!

Mission #1 – apartment oasis

We headed to downtown early, before Ultra traffic became a problem and set up the Grunnet IKEA patio set. With such a great view, it was really a shame not to have an outdoor space to sit and enjoy it! This set was not the easiest IKEA set that I’ve put together, but the table is sturdy and the seats very comfy, and for the price of $269 for the table & 4 chairs, it’s a great deal, too!

this is a NOasis



what a view! this needs high table seating to allow dining & relaxation without compromising the view



imagine coffee here every day? Definitely OASIS

Mission #1 accomplished! We head back home for some more hard work! 

Break! I’m HUNGRY!

First, a yummy omlet! I made this with left over black beans from taco night, and cheddar cheese! Gluten free and SO DELICIOUS! 

lunch break! black bean & cheddar omlet



Mission #2 – backyard lighting & color!

I started out last year with the IKEA Äpplarö outdoor set. storage benches ($70) with wall panels ($35) really created an relaxing seating area with adequate storage, but today, I want to add some lighting and color! I started out with trimming of all the hibiscus ($ = i buned that omlet) that were peeking out above the fence line. Once done, we installed LED solar powered pendants and lighting chains (Solvinden ($5-9.99) with Solarvet ($12.99 for 24 LED lights). I also found some beautiful indoor/outdoor solar powered stars by “threshold” at Target ($11). These were both super easy to install, and really worth it. I used small clear cable ties (like in 50 shades of my-yard-is-about-to-be-awesome!!!) to secure the light chains.  My patio looks so good….and these lights with the wood panels could really turn even a zero lot line yard with  a view of a cement wall into a peaceful garden! 

We added some drought resistant flowers to an IKEA socker ($39.99) plant stand, and used electrical tape wrapped just below each pot bracket to improve performance & reduce slippage. Socker flower boxes were filled and hung over fence ($14.99)…  Final result… The oasis I was dreaming of! Happy 🙂



before… overgrown & old, drooping light chains



hibiscus trimmed and bulbs being assembled for the light chains!



handpainted wall by my daughters & I, IKEA seating, flower boxes and lighting done!



solar powered LED stars from Target & IKEA solared powered pendants



oasis day & night! even my dog loves it!



avocado tree with pendants and stars lighting the evening sky….peaceful

welcome home….

Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Shula’s … Pretty nice date night

wednesday night… Still no kids… Hair already done... I’m going to skip the run and have a nice date night! We park in South Miami and begin perusing menus and decide upon Shula’s…. Where, suprisingly, we have yet to try!!  Www.shulas347gables.com

they should not have given me a pen

The ambience is quiet… Steakhousey (yes, that IS a word), and almost romantic. We get a booth (getting closer 🙂 )and check out the menu! Drinks are good… I have a glass of wine and my date has dragonberry mojito! (Yum)   

 

The chef answers quickly and informatively regarding gluten free items ( so far, no pain, so all good here!) and we order… Now I should mention, we are not 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 dessert type people… I just can’t fit all that in!! However, a couple of sneaky PEEPS fit after dinner anyway! So.. We ( means  I) order truffle fries, spinach salad with grilled chicken-hold-the-chicken (yes… I can see it in the waiters eyes, but he casually says “see! There are so many things for a gluten free vegetarian!”), my date gets bbq shrimp and for dessert… Thank goodness! There is  always gluten free creme brûlée! (No pic of the Creme brûlée because I ate it too fast) All in all, thumbs up… Understanding staff, educated chef, multiple menus choices & good drinks (see… I saved the best for last!). Have an awesome night!

mountain of truffle fries

spinach salad with grilled chicken… without the chicken

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

This, I’m making again…maybe tomorrow! Caprese sandwich with pesto spread!

I was recently at Deli Lane in South Miami. They do have a gluten free item of the day, and they have great omlets & salads, which are served all day…… Anyway, I digress…. While there I saw a Caprese sandwich on the menu and since then I’ve been dreaming of the perfect Caprese Sandwich! Gluten Free, of course. The recipe works for the gluten eaters, as well….but with the French bread by Udi’s (www.udisglutenfree.com), you’re not going to know the difference! 

So, here’s what you need:

5 minutes to Yum

French bread (I use Udi’s)

Organic tomatos 1-2

Mozzarella

Balsamic glaze

Pesto: in processor combine-  

pesto…need to sneak in some veggies? add spinach!

Fresh Basil- handful

Pine nuts 1/4c

Olive oil 1/4 c

Chopped garlic 1t

1t Salt, pepper to taste, red pepper flakes 1t

Slice and toast the bread at 400 for 8 minutes.  Liberally, smear on the pesto- top & bottom. Slice the mozzarella & tomato, layer onto sandwich. Top with balsamic glaze and a little basil. I served with Ore-Ida crowns (www.oreida.com).

maybe ill just eat this…the ends were uneven…whats a girl to do?



this bread is the bomb! yumilicious!

Phew! Done! Beautiful, delicious and satisfying! So colorful, they would make a great party platter! One thing is for sure…..I’m making these again! I hope you give it a try & enjoy! Make it a great night!



Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

What’s it like to live in Paradise?

My kids are out of town, I was on call for a sleepless, Miami weekend, and now….? I’m hanging out in my favorite place…my back patio. I still can’t face the pool…. It’s more an aqua now than florid green…and the sun is setting so the color isn’t as clear to me, thankfully. I’m making progress, anyway. The frogs are starting to sing, the wind is blowing through the umbrella trees, and the peacock across the canal (who keeps running from my camera) is quieting down.   Rice and beans are on the stove and I have a few minutes before I need to get back to the kitchen. What’s it like to live in paradise?…..well…..just that…paradise. You just have to remember to get out there and recognize it and take it in…..ah…….. The wine helps (this glass is Josh. www.joshcellars.com)



Tonight I’m making shrimp tacos and black beans as the veggie alternative. My son is very allergic to shellfish, so this week may well have a couple of shrimp dishes, as my boyfriend loves shrimp. The thought of stabbing my son with the epi-pen is just not appealing….and moderately alarming….imagine. Or don’t… I need to go back outside and regain my Zen.

Rice is rice… You got this, right? 

Black beans: see prior recipe, but for the adult version add 1/2 chopped jalapeño and 1t red pepper flakes

Shrimp

Heat 1t butter, 

1 t chopped garlic, 

2T cilantro, finely chopped

2T chipotle sauce, ( SanMarcos is what I’m using)

Cook on med-high 3 mins without stirring to allow a little browning, turn and cook 3 mins

Serve on warm tortillas, with rice, beans, cheese & more salsa

Enjoy!



Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Groovy Enviornment& Gluten Free Pizza… Mellow Mushroom, South Miami

I’ve been watching the “coming soon” sign for weeks, and finally, it’s open! The Mellow Mushroom in South Miami. www.mellowmushroom.com. Dark tinted windows belie the bright, colorful, modern-psychedelic decor. Widescreen TV’s line the full service bar and the center aisle, so sports fans won’t miss a minute of March Madness. 

cool lights, tiled features add to the vibe



elephant greets you at the door



The menu reads like a reassuring gluten free dream….they are educated in cross contamination, use a separate area, special screen, change gloves and aprons….sounds good to me! 



gluten free menu with vegan options



I order the “Veg Out” gluten free pizza and a lemonade (on-call) and my date ordered half of a steak and cheese hoagie and a Fiery jalapeño pineapple margarita (yummmm….jealous). The pizza was good and made perfectly to order. The crust, which is vegan, was crunchy and evenly cooked. My able-to-eat-gluten date ate half of my pizza and also thought it was good! Of course, he enjoyed the margarita! 



YES!!!



Pretty good! Reasonably priced! Great decor! And….fabulous for a dinner out with or without the kids! Best news, no pain! Enjoy and get out there for some gluten free dining!

Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Fiesta! And your family will celebrate with food like this!

Tonight marks the beginning of spring break for my 3 kids, and tomorrow they go on vacation with their Dad for a week, so I wanted to celebrate their well-deserved break with a nice dinner! I asked them if they wanted to go out (please?), but they voted for …..tacos! There are so many Mexican gluten free dishes to choose from… But this is my kids all time favorite! 

So let’s get started! The menu:

Homemade corn tortillas

Black beans

Rice

Guacamole

Grass fed ground beef (for the carnivores)

       In the interest of efficiency (as parents this is goal número uno) start the beans first. 

Black Beans

1/2 red onion, chopped ( chop the whole thing… You’ll use the rest for beef and guacamole)

1 tsp chopped garlic

I chopped potato

Mix in saucepan with 1T olive oil and salt and pepper until potato is browned

Add, 

1/2 c shredded carrots

2-3 sweet peppers, chopped roughly

1T Italian seasoning

After 2-3 min add 1 can of black beans

Add 1/4 c cilantro , stir

Reduce to simmer and cook until you are ready to eat (20 mins – 2 hours)



Ready , set, go!



onions, garlic and potato… browned



can’t wait…. I’m getting hungry

Homemade Corn Torillas

Don’t be intimidated by a tortilla…these are easy, easy, easy….and handmade tortillas….ah…..heaven…great with butter, cinnamon & sugar, Nutella (what isn’t good with Nutella), and….yes….TACOS!

What you need…

A tortilla press (readily available on Amazon.com), corn flour (I use Maseca), salt & water

2 c corn flour

1 t salt

1 1/3 c warm water

Mix and knead….with your hands….you can skip therapy this week…and then roll into little balls, cover until ready to use.



dont be intimidated!



Go ahead! work out your issues…



knead into a smooth ball…feel better?



ready to impress….with the press



Okay! Break time…all my veggies are prepped. Guacamole is made and in fridge, the brown rice is in the rice maker and…. it’s time for a swim!! To eat like this, a girls got to exercise! When I get home really late, I just continue on…the last part will take only 15 minutes. The first part should take you 20-30- depending on whether your children are running interference…..

When I get back, I brown the beef (feel free to omit this….I don’t eat meat..so I can’t even tell you if its good but my son says it’s awesome) with 1/4 red onion, garlic, 1T chipotle. Done!

Next press the tortillas, wrap your press in Saran Wrap, cook on med-high (no oil!) 50 sec per side, remove and wrap in towel.



put a little muscle into it… youre burning fat!



ok…i’m getting hungry again… i wonder if i have nutella



Ok! That’s it! Get ready for your fiesta…. You’re going to book a trip to Mexico after this one!



serve it up family style!





Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Sweet Spring Salad

In the mood for a delicious, nutritious, filling salad?

Gotta try this!

Organic mixed baby greens

1/4 c shredded carrot

1/2 c snap peas

1/2 c cherry tomatoes, quartered

1 Organic Daisy Girl Apple, cored & chopped

1/4 c rasperries

1 T chia seeds

1/4 c walnuts

balsamic glaze for dressing

gorgonzola cheese (optional)

Toss veggies, top with fruit, seeds & nuts, dress with Balsamic Glaze and

Yummy!

 

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Distracted Driving

545 am…not exactly my favorite time, and today my 6 year old is awake… Reason unknown…and would like breakfast and her hair done.  This definitely will add a wrinkle into my morning dash, but who can be upset by eyes like those? 

I have a busy day ahead and need to get some calories in before it truly starts. First things first… This girl needs coffee and thankfully the latest studies show so many health benefits that I’m going to make it a double! Second, Rudi’s gluten free cinnamon toast… With a little butter… Okay… Don’t be a hater! I like butter on my toast. If you don’t, I would suggest orange marmalade, but honestly it’s perfect by itself.

I pack up, hop in the car and eat this buttery deliciousness while I drive. Now that’s some Distracted Driving. Make it a great day!



maybe a little too much butter…



Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Page 7 of 8

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén

Be Gluten Free & Follow Me!

Gluten Free & Happy