Monday, September 27, 2010

Karina's Coconut Apple Cake

We had a meeting to go to this evening.  It was supposed to be a cookie pot luck but since I haven't been to the grocery store in ages I didn't have everything on hand to whip up a batch of dairy and gluten free cookies!  Eeek!!  I was so excited when I saw the post for Coconut Apple Cake that Karina had posted on the Gluten-Free Goddess this morning and realized that I had all of the ingredients!  Cake it would have to be instead of cookies.  OK, so I didn't have the spring form pan called for... I used my trusty angel food pan and it worked out just fine.

This cake is simply amazing.  Moist and packed with flavor.  The perfect autumnal cake for those who like myself can't have pumpkin.





Just look at it... Doesn't it scream out for you to cut into it and take a bite?  It does me!  :)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Ultimate Smashed Potatoes

These Ultimate Smashed Potatoes are my go to mashed potatoes.  They are so rich and creamy that they don't even need gravy!  Plus they are cow moo free :)



Ultimate Smashed Potatoes

3 lbs Red Potatoes or Yukon Golds
8 cloves garlic, smashed
1 stick of vegan butter alternative
1 12 oz can evaporated goat's milk
salt and pepper


Cut the potatoes up into small dice.  Be sure to leave the skin on!
Smash the garlic to remove the skins.
Place the potatoes and the garlic in a pot of cold water.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bring to the boil and cook until the potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile melt the butter alternative and bring the goat's milk up to temperature.  Do not boil!
Drain the potatoes and garlic.
Mash the potatoes and garlic slightly.
Add the warmed butter alternative and goat's milk to the potato mixture.
Continue mashing until you reach the desired consistency.  We like ours on the lumpy side.
Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Chicken & Rice One Pot Meal

Don't you just love when a meal comes together in one pot?  I know I do!  I serve this yummy yet simple chicken and rice one pot meal with a side salad.

Chicken & Rice One Pot Meal

1 tbs olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
2 cups jasmine rice
4 cups chicken broth (gluten & dairy free)
2 tbs soy sauce (gluten free)
2 tbs honey
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs fresh parsley, chopped
salt & pepper to taste

In a large saute pan with a tight fitting lid, heat the olive oil.
Add the onion and bell pepper - Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Saute for a few minutes until the onions begin to soften.
Add the chicken thighs and garlic - Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Saute for a few minutes until the chicken is lightly browned.
Add the rice, broth, soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, and parsley.
Stir well.
Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Gallon Jar Refrigerator Bread & Butter Pickles

This is a simple bread & butter style pickle that requires no canning!  These pickles will stay good for up to a year if they stick around that long.



Pickling cucumbers, sliced
2 sweet onions, sliced
6 cups sugar
4 cups vinegar
1/2 cup canning and pickling salt
1 tbs tumeric
1 tsp mustard seed
1 tbs celery seed

Pack the sliced pickles and onions tightly into a gallon jar with a tight fitting lid.
Combine the sugar, salt, and vinegar in a pot and heat to dissolve.
Add the spices to the jar.
Pour the liquid into the jar.
Cover and refrigerate.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Chocolate Hazelnut Butter

Like many people I had a love affair with Nutella.  That luscious chocolate hazelnut spread was one of my most favorite things until my dairy intolerance reared its ugly head.  Sadly Nutella has milk :(  I thought that my days of enjoying a spread with chocolate and hazelnut goodness were over forever.  I looked at the ingredient list of every jar of chocolate hazelnut spread I found and until yesterday all of them had been off limits... Until I found a small little packet of Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter at the co-op.  That little packet changed my world!!  It brought back all of those memories but in a food allergy safe way!  I can't wait to find a jar of it now as that little packet just wasn't enough!!  Although maybe I need to just stick to the packets because I don't know if I can be trusted with a whole jar!  I also found out that there are a plethora of other flavors of chocolate food allergy safe nut butters by Justin's!  I can't wait to try the Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Almond Butter along with all the other amazing sounding non-chocolate flavors.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Mac 'N Cheese

Mac 'N Cheese is one of those comfort foods.  If you grew up being able to eat dairy and gluten like I did then it is probably one of the things you crave.  Good dairy & gluten free macaroni and cheese that can compete with those memories can be a difficult thing to accomplish. 

I remember a super creamy version with mushrooms and onions...
There also was a deliciously decadent version with bacon and caramelized onions...
Oh and last but not least plain cheesy gooey mac 'n cheese goodness.

Lately I have been working on perfecting this luscious comfort food.  I have found a few key ingredients in this process to be Tinkyada pasta and canned evaporated goat's milk.  Still working on finding the right cheese or cheeses though.

I did make a bacon, caramelized onion, and Follow Your Heart Vegan Mozzarrella version not too long ago that my dairy and gluten eating non mac 'n cheese loving husband thought was to die for.  Maybe I will share that one with you some day... When it is perfected.

What is your favorite mac 'n cheese?