Ah meatloaf. It is a fall/winter comfort food that is surrounded in controversy! Everyone's Mama thinks theirs is best and I am sure some have been throughly insulted when others do not agree! lol
My Mom made great meatloaf. She really did. Hasn't made it in years! Why would she? I now make it and bring it to her! Mom had a great recipe. I don't even remember where she got it from or how long she has made it but, I can not remember not having it. Once I had the boys and have picky little divas in training to feed, I revamped Mom's meatloaf recipe! And thankfully, Mom approved.
Now this recipe requires a muffin tin pan or 2 and it is delicious!
Mini Meatloaves!
(makes about 12, give or take)
2 pounds ground beef, lean
1 egg (or use equivalent of egg replacer)
1 1/2 cups of GFCF flaked cereal OR if you use them, Soda crackers Crushed
1 heaping tablespoon of dried basil
pinch o' salt
dash or 3 of black pepper
2 small cans of tomato paste
Shredded Cheese OR Daiya "cheese" for topping
Alrighty, get a big bowl, mix the beef, egg, flakes or crackers and basil. Knead it like bread. I know it feels gross but this stage is important or nothing will stick together!
Now, Spray your Muffin tins (Yup that pan not the loaf pan) with cooking spray or wipe each muffin hole (I don't know what to call it... it's too early to remember) with a little olive oil.
Take about a half a handful of beef mix, press it into the tin so it is about half full. Now take a teaspoon of tomato paste and plop it on top of the beef. Take another half a handful and squish it on top of that! Now your muffin hole tin thingy should be full to the top! :) Yay! You did it! Congrats!
Now continue til you run out of beef mix. This usually makes about 12-14 for me.
Oh ya, preheat the oven to 350F and then you bake these for about an hour.
10 minutes before time is up I just pull out the pan a little bit and top each loaf with a spoonful of tomato paste and a light sprinkling of cheese or Daiya then continue baking for those last 10 minutes.
I usually serve this with alfredo noodles and some veggie based pasta sauce! If you are in a crunch you can even use one out of a can or jar (just always read the labels folks, companies change ingredients all the time). I plop the loaf right on top like a big meatball and Tyler's eyes light up like a christmas tree!He loves his "big meatball loaf muffins". That is what he calls them.
This is great to make ahead and freeze too! I freeze the mini loaves individually into freezer bags for quick dinners for the boys or for lunches!
Anyone can make this and AMAZE their family and friends! The debate will then continue.... who's mama makes the best meatloaf?
I think Bill, Jake and Ty's Mama does ;)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sweet & spicy
My boys are very much apart of what is produced in my kitchen. Tyler is so picky, he is also very demanding. If Bill doesn't like it chances are no one will and Jake is my partner in crime. He is the one who mixes and pours and blends plus, he sometimes has some awesome suggestions. As we create, Tyler supervises and tells us "I don't want it" if we use an ingredient he doesn't like. Ah, the joys of Autism!
For those who don't know all 3 of my boys have some form of Autism. It makes life difficult sometimes, other times it is a good thing. In the challenge of a disability also comes food intolerances, allergies, medication reactions, sleep deprivation and the list goes on and on. Food became my comfort and I pride myself on being a great (not just good) cook! Those who have said I am not a good cook well, I am sorry you can't handle culinary goodness!
So with that being said, I have had some major struggles from my own kids and others in my life with food choices. I love how what is in my kitchen becomes drama for others. Hmmmm. They need a hobby, maybe a therapist or two. lol Anyways, today I thought I would write a bit about food substitutes when it comes to kitchen basics.
Sweet things.
Ah, sugar, how we crave thee! How that sweetness tempts our tastebuds and makes us drool at the sight of sugary covered.... whatever! Let's face it, it doesn't matter if it is a chocolate cake or a butter tart or a piece of strudel! I crave it! I do. I never used to like sweets and now I am a junkie. So, how do you get rid of sugar but satisfy the sweet tooth? I found some solutions!
Stevia. It's natural! It's in a little bottle! It's fairly cheap (about $7 for 1000 drops) and its ok. I use stevia to sweeten milk, puddings, tofu when I am baking but, its just ok. (in my opinion) Others I know swear by it. I am like "Ya, its good to have on hand."
Agave nectar. *TEQUILA* lol kidding! Agave nectar IS used to make tequila but, this is also a nice substitute for sugar. It is sold in a glass or plastic bottle for about $6. One bottle lasts us about 6 weeks and it works better for me than Stevia.
Sugar Twin. Eww. Yuck. Gross. I will be honest. I don't like this chemically induced formula of crap. It comes from aspartame and even though I love it in my diet coke, keep it out of my cakes, cereals and tarts!
Splenda. For baking this is a GIGANTIC 2 thumbs up! I am one of those people who can taste when something is different in a recipe and I honestly can not tell the difference between a chocolate cake made with sugar or one made with Splenda! It comes from sugar. It is the alternatives for diabetics and I tell ya, I buy it in the big bag at Costco. I always have splenda for baking. If I need a little sweetness added I use Stevia or Agave Nectar with it.
Coconut. My friend Shannon, ahhh I love her. I was chatting with her on MSN years ago and we were talking about the diet. I told her I used Coconut milk in place of regular milk in my cooking. (Oh ya I forgot to mention that in the milk post.. bad Indigo!) anyhoo, she said "Coconut is great for sweetening and I swear by coconut oil" Now coconut oil is not sweet... so don't think it is. But adding shredded coconut, coconut milk, coconut flavoring does add sweetness to a dish or baking pan! Experiment a little and see what you can come up with!
*Coconut milk IS fattening. Suck it up! It's not like you will be drinking it 3 times a day or cooking with it daily. Everything in moderation. A can runs about 99 cents. I will not pay more for a can of this milk. Some stores it is $4! I say no thanks... the other store down the street has it for cheaper! :)
Sexy Spice!
Ahhh spice. I love spice! I do. I love thai and jerk chicken and spicy goodness in my food! Peppers and garlic and ohhhhh my! Food should taste GOOD!
Most spices at the supermarket say "May contain wheat". Crappy. I know. It sucks. Especially when you are omitting it from your diet. GFCF spices can be insanely expensive too. What's a cook to do? GO NATURAL!
Peppers.
I love peppers. From green pepper to jalepenos to habanero to you name it! For hot peppers (used in ethnic cooking) I put my my gloves, I seed them, chop em down to sweet nothings then I dry them in the oven on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper! Then I grind em in the grinder. Now you have wheat free, milk free peppers. Store in an air tight container. :)
Black pepper.
Yup, chances are that pepper in the container at the store has come into contact with something you don't want in your diet. It is sad. I hear ya! But, peppercorns are generally safer and all you need is a pepper mill from the dollar store to grind em up fresh! Problem solved!
Salt.
Honestly, I don't use it. A pound of salt lasts us 2 plus years. I use it in baking, in baths for us but that is it. From what I understand it is safe. Check labels and companies to be safe.
Garlic.
Basil, Parsley, Oregano (Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Cilantro)
I use these fresh. But when I can't I buy them fresh at the store, bring em home, wash them really good then I pat them dry with paper towel and dry them in the oven! Crush/grind them up and pop them into separate labeled jar! Your own fresh made herbs! WOOHOO! Or you can get a window kit and grow your own to cut, dry and grind! Easy and fun! Get the kids to help!
The spices we use the most are Black pepper, garlic and basil. If I have those 3 I am happy. Chili powder is another I like to always have but, I run out a lot.
Well, if you got this far congrats! (Wow I wrote a lot again today!) Now want the recipe to my favorite homemade spice blends? Ya, you will like 'em!
I don't remember where I got this recipe from but I added my own stuff.
Homemade chili powder
1 dried ancho chili or habanero
1/4 cup dried oregano
1/4 cup cumin seed
1/4 cup coriander seed
1/4 cup paprika
1 tbsp of splenda
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Grind ingredients in a grinder and store in a jar.
Happy Cooking all! :)
For those who don't know all 3 of my boys have some form of Autism. It makes life difficult sometimes, other times it is a good thing. In the challenge of a disability also comes food intolerances, allergies, medication reactions, sleep deprivation and the list goes on and on. Food became my comfort and I pride myself on being a great (not just good) cook! Those who have said I am not a good cook well, I am sorry you can't handle culinary goodness!
So with that being said, I have had some major struggles from my own kids and others in my life with food choices. I love how what is in my kitchen becomes drama for others. Hmmmm. They need a hobby, maybe a therapist or two. lol Anyways, today I thought I would write a bit about food substitutes when it comes to kitchen basics.
Sweet things.
Ah, sugar, how we crave thee! How that sweetness tempts our tastebuds and makes us drool at the sight of sugary covered.... whatever! Let's face it, it doesn't matter if it is a chocolate cake or a butter tart or a piece of strudel! I crave it! I do. I never used to like sweets and now I am a junkie. So, how do you get rid of sugar but satisfy the sweet tooth? I found some solutions!
Stevia. It's natural! It's in a little bottle! It's fairly cheap (about $7 for 1000 drops) and its ok. I use stevia to sweeten milk, puddings, tofu when I am baking but, its just ok. (in my opinion) Others I know swear by it. I am like "Ya, its good to have on hand."
Agave nectar. *TEQUILA* lol kidding! Agave nectar IS used to make tequila but, this is also a nice substitute for sugar. It is sold in a glass or plastic bottle for about $6. One bottle lasts us about 6 weeks and it works better for me than Stevia.
Sugar Twin. Eww. Yuck. Gross. I will be honest. I don't like this chemically induced formula of crap. It comes from aspartame and even though I love it in my diet coke, keep it out of my cakes, cereals and tarts!
Splenda. For baking this is a GIGANTIC 2 thumbs up! I am one of those people who can taste when something is different in a recipe and I honestly can not tell the difference between a chocolate cake made with sugar or one made with Splenda! It comes from sugar. It is the alternatives for diabetics and I tell ya, I buy it in the big bag at Costco. I always have splenda for baking. If I need a little sweetness added I use Stevia or Agave Nectar with it.
Coconut. My friend Shannon, ahhh I love her. I was chatting with her on MSN years ago and we were talking about the diet. I told her I used Coconut milk in place of regular milk in my cooking. (Oh ya I forgot to mention that in the milk post.. bad Indigo!) anyhoo, she said "Coconut is great for sweetening and I swear by coconut oil" Now coconut oil is not sweet... so don't think it is. But adding shredded coconut, coconut milk, coconut flavoring does add sweetness to a dish or baking pan! Experiment a little and see what you can come up with!
*Coconut milk IS fattening. Suck it up! It's not like you will be drinking it 3 times a day or cooking with it daily. Everything in moderation. A can runs about 99 cents. I will not pay more for a can of this milk. Some stores it is $4! I say no thanks... the other store down the street has it for cheaper! :)
Sexy Spice!
Ahhh spice. I love spice! I do. I love thai and jerk chicken and spicy goodness in my food! Peppers and garlic and ohhhhh my! Food should taste GOOD!
Most spices at the supermarket say "May contain wheat". Crappy. I know. It sucks. Especially when you are omitting it from your diet. GFCF spices can be insanely expensive too. What's a cook to do? GO NATURAL!
Peppers.
I love peppers. From green pepper to jalepenos to habanero to you name it! For hot peppers (used in ethnic cooking) I put my my gloves, I seed them, chop em down to sweet nothings then I dry them in the oven on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper! Then I grind em in the grinder. Now you have wheat free, milk free peppers. Store in an air tight container. :)
Black pepper.
Yup, chances are that pepper in the container at the store has come into contact with something you don't want in your diet. It is sad. I hear ya! But, peppercorns are generally safer and all you need is a pepper mill from the dollar store to grind em up fresh! Problem solved!
Salt.
Honestly, I don't use it. A pound of salt lasts us 2 plus years. I use it in baking, in baths for us but that is it. From what I understand it is safe. Check labels and companies to be safe.
Garlic.
Basil, Parsley, Oregano (Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Cilantro)
I use these fresh. But when I can't I buy them fresh at the store, bring em home, wash them really good then I pat them dry with paper towel and dry them in the oven! Crush/grind them up and pop them into separate labeled jar! Your own fresh made herbs! WOOHOO! Or you can get a window kit and grow your own to cut, dry and grind! Easy and fun! Get the kids to help!
The spices we use the most are Black pepper, garlic and basil. If I have those 3 I am happy. Chili powder is another I like to always have but, I run out a lot.
Well, if you got this far congrats! (Wow I wrote a lot again today!) Now want the recipe to my favorite homemade spice blends? Ya, you will like 'em!
I don't remember where I got this recipe from but I added my own stuff.
Homemade chili powder
1 dried ancho chili or habanero
1/4 cup dried oregano
1/4 cup cumin seed
1/4 cup coriander seed
1/4 cup paprika
1 tbsp of splenda
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Grind ingredients in a grinder and store in a jar.
Happy Cooking all! :)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Hidden sources of Milk/Dairy & things that will make you go UGH
I started the first kick at a GFCF diet with 2 things. A book and my kid's doc saying "You gotta do what you feel is right!" Dr. Geiger was a great doctor. He knew my struggle, never questioned me and knew I was doing the best I could. He was a treat. I really miss him.
The book was Unraveling the Mysteries of Autism. I read it (was totally overwhelmed but powered on), referenced it and when we went back to regular food 2 years later I passed it on to a young mom with one ASD child. She then passed it on as well. The book was well used.
Now, I read the book. I know food (as I am a certified food inspector) and I know what to look for, what labels mean, what "hidden" sources of contaminates are.
I am going to share some basic knowledge with you. Do not feel overwhelmed as there is always a solution to everything!
1) If the ingredients say "Spices" it probably has trace amounts of what you are trying to avoid, whether it is milk or gluten... Find GFCF spices. They are available at your local organic or alternate grocer.
2) Lactic acid, Lactylate, Sourdough. All 3 are milk UNLESS it is listed that the lactic acid is derived from Beets(and the label will usually say so). There is one bread we can buy locally that is dairy free. It is Golden Vienna. The rest, every other bread, has milk products in them.Most crackers (even soda biscuits) have milk in them!
3) The people that work at the store do not know what is in it. Seriously, they have no idea. They try but, they don't know. They are not experts, they are paid to stock shelves. When in doubt, do not buy and come home to google! (I love google.... but you knew that right?)
4) Yogurt, pudding, margarine, butter, ice cream, cream/creme, have dairy in them. Becel Vegan Margarine is safe. Earth balance products are vegan. But, read the labels! Some gelatos I have found are 100% dairy free but not all brands are. You need to be aware.
5) Family and friends will try but, they will fail by giving your child something they shouldn't have. I bring my own food to even my mom's house. I have stocked her freezer with GFCF burgers, wieners, rice milk and daiya cheese. She tries (she really does) but, we both feel safer with me doing what I do. It works better then we don't have any issues. Always plan ahead.
6) What are you using for bath and beauty products? Are they GFCF? Probably not. You need to watch for these things. Some soaps, shampoos & bath bombs have skim milk powder in them. Many have wheat protein (check hair dye ingredients too). Hidden sources can kill anything you are trying to accomplish.
7) Just because it says "Not tested on animals" does not mean it is animal free.
8) The deli. I love the deli. I love deli meats, pepperoni, kielbassa! I do. Yum! BUT cheese is cut on those blades as well AND! Milk ingredients (Like Lactylate) are a preservative and used in the curing process. Deli meats are dangerous to a milk allergy. And a gluten allergy as well. We now only buy from the alternate grocers deli or make our own meat mixes at home (I will post these recipes soon)
9) Vitamins. YUP! Not all are free of contaminates. Check labels and when in doubt come home and google!
10) Alcohol. Now, I hope your kids are drinking yet! But, there are lots of alcohols that are derived from wheat and yes, if its creamy (Tequila Rose, Irish Creme, Doodley's) it is MILK. Most alcohol is not gluten free.
11) What you eat can easily be passed on to someone else. Have you eaten cheese and then kissed our kiddos good night? Come into contact with milk them hugged someone? That is cross contamination.
12) Just because it is dairy free does not mean it is gluten free or vice versa! ALWAYS read the labels. And double check! Companies change their ingredients all the time so just because 6 months ago it was CF does not mean it is now!
Ok that's all I can think of for now. I now just feel like I am rambling! (I do that) So, I hope this helps someone and if you have questions PLEASE post 'em! :)
Happy Shopping!
The book was Unraveling the Mysteries of Autism. I read it (was totally overwhelmed but powered on), referenced it and when we went back to regular food 2 years later I passed it on to a young mom with one ASD child. She then passed it on as well. The book was well used.
Now, I read the book. I know food (as I am a certified food inspector) and I know what to look for, what labels mean, what "hidden" sources of contaminates are.
I am going to share some basic knowledge with you. Do not feel overwhelmed as there is always a solution to everything!
1) If the ingredients say "Spices" it probably has trace amounts of what you are trying to avoid, whether it is milk or gluten... Find GFCF spices. They are available at your local organic or alternate grocer.
2) Lactic acid, Lactylate, Sourdough. All 3 are milk UNLESS it is listed that the lactic acid is derived from Beets(and the label will usually say so). There is one bread we can buy locally that is dairy free. It is Golden Vienna. The rest, every other bread, has milk products in them.Most crackers (even soda biscuits) have milk in them!
3) The people that work at the store do not know what is in it. Seriously, they have no idea. They try but, they don't know. They are not experts, they are paid to stock shelves. When in doubt, do not buy and come home to google! (I love google.... but you knew that right?)
4) Yogurt, pudding, margarine, butter, ice cream, cream/creme, have dairy in them. Becel Vegan Margarine is safe. Earth balance products are vegan. But, read the labels! Some gelatos I have found are 100% dairy free but not all brands are. You need to be aware.
5) Family and friends will try but, they will fail by giving your child something they shouldn't have. I bring my own food to even my mom's house. I have stocked her freezer with GFCF burgers, wieners, rice milk and daiya cheese. She tries (she really does) but, we both feel safer with me doing what I do. It works better then we don't have any issues. Always plan ahead.
6) What are you using for bath and beauty products? Are they GFCF? Probably not. You need to watch for these things. Some soaps, shampoos & bath bombs have skim milk powder in them. Many have wheat protein (check hair dye ingredients too). Hidden sources can kill anything you are trying to accomplish.
7) Just because it says "Not tested on animals" does not mean it is animal free.
8) The deli. I love the deli. I love deli meats, pepperoni, kielbassa! I do. Yum! BUT cheese is cut on those blades as well AND! Milk ingredients (Like Lactylate) are a preservative and used in the curing process. Deli meats are dangerous to a milk allergy. And a gluten allergy as well. We now only buy from the alternate grocers deli or make our own meat mixes at home (I will post these recipes soon)
9) Vitamins. YUP! Not all are free of contaminates. Check labels and when in doubt come home and google!
10) Alcohol. Now, I hope your kids are drinking yet! But, there are lots of alcohols that are derived from wheat and yes, if its creamy (Tequila Rose, Irish Creme, Doodley's) it is MILK. Most alcohol is not gluten free.
11) What you eat can easily be passed on to someone else. Have you eaten cheese and then kissed our kiddos good night? Come into contact with milk them hugged someone? That is cross contamination.
12) Just because it is dairy free does not mean it is gluten free or vice versa! ALWAYS read the labels. And double check! Companies change their ingredients all the time so just because 6 months ago it was CF does not mean it is now!
Ok that's all I can think of for now. I now just feel like I am rambling! (I do that) So, I hope this helps someone and if you have questions PLEASE post 'em! :)
Happy Shopping!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Milk.... how to fake it like a pro!
Ah Milk. Cereal is awful without it, most baking recipes require it and I can easily live with out good ol' cow's milk! (My Grandfather just rolled over in his grave... He was a cattle farmer!)
My guys have been off cow's milk for months. Years ago we went GFCF and they were used to soy milk (which is a good place to start) then we gradually switched to Rice or Potato Milk. Rice milk can be watery, potato milk is delicious but, hard to come by in Canada without purchasing in bulk.
Vance's Dari-Free is available from distributors! Medallion Milk in Winnipeg, MB carries it for Canadians. In the US it is more widely available.
You can find more international distributor links here! It is a nice consistency and kinda creamy.
Now, I can't get potato milk all the time. So, at the local grocery store we have the options of Soy Milk, Rice Milk and Rice "Beverage". They are ok, especially in a pinch but, we like different milk now.
At Goodness Me in Hamilton, they have an incredible selection of various milks! And it really does make a difference between a noname brand (store brand) and a "name" brand. We use Almond milk for the most part. If the Hemp Milk is on sale we buy that (the kids LOVE hemp milk).
The Almond Milk is Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. The Boys like the chocolate and the original. We haven't tried others yet. We cook with it like you would cook with cow's milk and they haven't said EWWWW yet! lol
Hemp Milk is called Hemp Bliss. Delicious and is Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut free and 100% Vegan! It is expensive though. About $5 a liter here in Canada but when it is on sale 2 for $7 I buy a few and we use it sparingly!
Now, it wouldn't be me without a cheaper way to do it! :) I have found some homemade milk recipes online (Thanks to the help of some friends)!
This is the Almond milk recipe I use weekly! From Novel Eats, it is simple and fun for the boys to get in on some cooking skills! We use Stevia to sweeten and I add a couple drops of GFCF Vanilla (I get this at the Bulk Barn which has a decent GFCF section).
I have found several recipes for Rice Milk and Hemp Milk online (I am educated by Google!) but, I haven't tried them yet! When I do you all will be the first to know :) Sharing what I can.
Honestly though, do not give up on cowless milk... there are several options and there is one out there for you! If my kids can give it up, anyone can.
And, buy a pound of almonds, soak 'em in water and try that recipe from Novel Eats. Sweeten to your liking (Using Agave Nectar or Stevia), or add some vanilla or chocolate flavouring (Make sure its GFCF). How often can you say "I make my own milk" lol
I use the almond meal leftover after processing to add to cakes, cookie recipes and pancake batter. I freeze it into little scoops (about the size of 3 tablespoons). Options are endless!
My guys have been off cow's milk for months. Years ago we went GFCF and they were used to soy milk (which is a good place to start) then we gradually switched to Rice or Potato Milk. Rice milk can be watery, potato milk is delicious but, hard to come by in Canada without purchasing in bulk.
Vance's Dari-Free is available from distributors! Medallion Milk in Winnipeg, MB carries it for Canadians. In the US it is more widely available.
You can find more international distributor links here! It is a nice consistency and kinda creamy.
Now, I can't get potato milk all the time. So, at the local grocery store we have the options of Soy Milk, Rice Milk and Rice "Beverage". They are ok, especially in a pinch but, we like different milk now.
At Goodness Me in Hamilton, they have an incredible selection of various milks! And it really does make a difference between a noname brand (store brand) and a "name" brand. We use Almond milk for the most part. If the Hemp Milk is on sale we buy that (the kids LOVE hemp milk).
The Almond Milk is Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. The Boys like the chocolate and the original. We haven't tried others yet. We cook with it like you would cook with cow's milk and they haven't said EWWWW yet! lol
Hemp Milk is called Hemp Bliss. Delicious and is Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut free and 100% Vegan! It is expensive though. About $5 a liter here in Canada but when it is on sale 2 for $7 I buy a few and we use it sparingly!
Now, it wouldn't be me without a cheaper way to do it! :) I have found some homemade milk recipes online (Thanks to the help of some friends)!
This is the Almond milk recipe I use weekly! From Novel Eats, it is simple and fun for the boys to get in on some cooking skills! We use Stevia to sweeten and I add a couple drops of GFCF Vanilla (I get this at the Bulk Barn which has a decent GFCF section).
I have found several recipes for Rice Milk and Hemp Milk online (I am educated by Google!) but, I haven't tried them yet! When I do you all will be the first to know :) Sharing what I can.
Honestly though, do not give up on cowless milk... there are several options and there is one out there for you! If my kids can give it up, anyone can.
And, buy a pound of almonds, soak 'em in water and try that recipe from Novel Eats. Sweeten to your liking (Using Agave Nectar or Stevia), or add some vanilla or chocolate flavouring (Make sure its GFCF). How often can you say "I make my own milk" lol
I use the almond meal leftover after processing to add to cakes, cookie recipes and pancake batter. I freeze it into little scoops (about the size of 3 tablespoons). Options are endless!
Ohhhh I am a slacker but,
This should make up for it! Life got busy and let's face it... I can be soooo lazy (But at least I am honest!) So here is the Faked & Baked Scalloped Potato recipe I promised some of you over a month ago!
Faked & Baked Scalloped potatoes!
You need:
6 or 7 decent sized potatoes sliced (I use my food processor for this)
1 cup rice milk (Original flavor)
3 heaping tbsp of Potato flour (I am sure any GFCF flour would do! I just had potato)
2 tbsp of melted VEGAN GFCF Margarine
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of Daiya Mozzerella Cheese (GFCF product)
1/2 cup of Daiya Cheddar Cheese
Ok so you slice the potatoes. Place 'em in a greased 9x13 pan.
Mix the milk, flour and margarine..... shake/stir well and pour over the potatoes! Shake a lil salt and pepper on top (We love pepper so I am liberal with it) and then sprinkle the cheeses on top.
Cover with Foil and bake @ 350F until tender.... about an hour.
We had this will pulled pork and we have had it with Ham steaks... delicious and my guests were impressed that the recipe is GFCF!
Totally faked! Just the way we like it! lol
More to come shortly! I got lots more to share!
Happy Faking!
Faked & Baked Scalloped potatoes!
You need:
6 or 7 decent sized potatoes sliced (I use my food processor for this)
1 cup rice milk (Original flavor)
3 heaping tbsp of Potato flour (I am sure any GFCF flour would do! I just had potato)
2 tbsp of melted VEGAN GFCF Margarine
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of Daiya Mozzerella Cheese (GFCF product)
1/2 cup of Daiya Cheddar Cheese
Ok so you slice the potatoes. Place 'em in a greased 9x13 pan.
Mix the milk, flour and margarine..... shake/stir well and pour over the potatoes! Shake a lil salt and pepper on top (We love pepper so I am liberal with it) and then sprinkle the cheeses on top.
Cover with Foil and bake @ 350F until tender.... about an hour.
We had this will pulled pork and we have had it with Ham steaks... delicious and my guests were impressed that the recipe is GFCF!
Totally faked! Just the way we like it! lol
More to come shortly! I got lots more to share!
Happy Faking!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Macaroni. Faked.
I am a comfort food junkie. I love thick sauces, classic recipes that Grandma used to make. Well, Macaroni was a family staple. I can not ever remember a week of my life without this recipe. My son's friends come over and ask for the "pasta with the tomatoes thing" because it is "really good!". My Gran used to make it with tons of onions. My Mom makes it with a few onions and cheese. We fake it in my house but, my Mom likes my recipe as much as she likes her own but myne is low fat and oh. so. simple. :)
Macaroni (vegan recipe to follow)
1 package GFCF Pasta (Tinkyada is the best one we have found)
1 pound of lean ground beef
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt & Pepper to taste (honestly I do not use salt)
Pinch or two of Garlic Powder
1 can (19oz) of Diced Tomatoes
2 tbsp of dried Basil
Seasoning (to taste)
Cook pasta as per package directions, set aside.
Take 1 pound of ground meat. (I use extra lean ground beef.) and brown to perfection. Drain and give the meat a quick lil rinse in the strainer. (trust me) Put it back in the pan (I rinse the pan too)
Now add minced garlic. Fry that up! And as you are frying add some pepper and I throw in a pinch or two of garlic powder (not salt, powder). Smells good eh? Ya, it does.
Open a can of diced tomatoes (I use Unico Diced tomatoes... all the time) and add to the beef mix. At this point I toss in a tablespoon or two of dried basil and a dash of lemon pepper seasoning (just a dash). Now heat thoroughly and add cooked and drained pasta.
Mix well, remove from heat and serve!
The beauty of this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate, you can freeze it in sinlge serving sizes for lunches and quick eats for the kiddos, or you can adjust the amounts easily for more or less people!
Now time to go VEGAN!
Cook pasta as per package directions, drain, set aside.
Fry minced garlic in a pan, add sliced mushrooms and zucchini (I shred the zucchini and then fry it... it is awesome!), cook thoroughly and then add diced tomatoes, seasoning and stir! Add cooked and drained pasta and stir together and serve!
If you wish, you can add veggie ground round a few minutes before adding the pasta! It is delicious and has a beef like texture.
Some suggestions...
You can also add veggies to the meat mix in the first recipe. I just don't always have them on hand. Both recipes are a hit in my house and company always loves it.
*IF* you are a cheese eater, dice up some cheddar or mozzarella or provolone and add it just before serving. That's how my Mom makes it!
Enjoy!
Macaroni (vegan recipe to follow)
1 package GFCF Pasta (Tinkyada is the best one we have found)
1 pound of lean ground beef
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt & Pepper to taste (honestly I do not use salt)
Pinch or two of Garlic Powder
1 can (19oz) of Diced Tomatoes
2 tbsp of dried Basil
Seasoning (to taste)
Cook pasta as per package directions, set aside.
Take 1 pound of ground meat. (I use extra lean ground beef.) and brown to perfection. Drain and give the meat a quick lil rinse in the strainer. (trust me) Put it back in the pan (I rinse the pan too)
Now add minced garlic. Fry that up! And as you are frying add some pepper and I throw in a pinch or two of garlic powder (not salt, powder). Smells good eh? Ya, it does.
Open a can of diced tomatoes (I use Unico Diced tomatoes... all the time) and add to the beef mix. At this point I toss in a tablespoon or two of dried basil and a dash of lemon pepper seasoning (just a dash). Now heat thoroughly and add cooked and drained pasta.
Mix well, remove from heat and serve!
The beauty of this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate, you can freeze it in sinlge serving sizes for lunches and quick eats for the kiddos, or you can adjust the amounts easily for more or less people!
Now time to go VEGAN!
Cook pasta as per package directions, drain, set aside.
Fry minced garlic in a pan, add sliced mushrooms and zucchini (I shred the zucchini and then fry it... it is awesome!), cook thoroughly and then add diced tomatoes, seasoning and stir! Add cooked and drained pasta and stir together and serve!
If you wish, you can add veggie ground round a few minutes before adding the pasta! It is delicious and has a beef like texture.
Some suggestions...
You can also add veggies to the meat mix in the first recipe. I just don't always have them on hand. Both recipes are a hit in my house and company always loves it.
*IF* you are a cheese eater, dice up some cheddar or mozzarella or provolone and add it just before serving. That's how my Mom makes it!
Enjoy!
Baked, Caked & Faked it! A lesson in Potato Flour Sponge Cake!
When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste. ~Laiko Bahrs
10:30pm.
This is probably why I am an awful baker! I melt and pour quite nicely though! My friend Ann is GFCFSF, she has limited dessert options and says she eats a lot of homemade rice cereal treats. My goal is to bake a GFCFSF (Gluten Free, Casein Free, Soy Free) cake that tastes good. I think rice cereal treats are great but, I want to have more options. I think Ann should have some too. So, off to No Frills I went to purchase my GFCF Margarine, Rice Milk (as my almond milk was not ready yet... had to sub!) and I found Potato Flour (next to the muffin mixes, above the regular flour) this afternoon! The recipe is from the Joy of Cooking.
It calls for sifting the potato flour 3 times. It seems fairly basic so I will be pausing here, making the cake and returning with pics as I make it. Wish me luck.
Midnight.
Alrighty, So I sifted the potato flour 3 times... separated the eggs, whipped, stirred, folded, and poured into a greased 9" foil pan and baked it for 20 minutes at 325F then increased the temp to 350F for 15 minutes. It baked up beautifully! We sliced a few pieces and ate it with nothing on it. Spongy (but it IS a sponge cake) and full of flavour! Tastes beautiful!
The recipe is on Page 670 in the Joy of Cooking and it is delicious! Could easily be iced as a birthday cake or diced into a trifle! I think next time I make this (yes, I said next time... I am not a baker so this is huge!) I will try fruit or carob in the blend and see what happens.
I will post pictures once I find my card reader as it has disappeared. (Ahhh children with hands and legs... hmm school is back when?)
Happy Baking All!
*edit*
Ahhh finally... PICS!
Give it a try if you have a copy of the Joy Of Cooking!
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