July 30, 2009
What can I eat that’s gluten free? July Review
First, I totally forgot to mention this week that NEXT WEEK has a theme of cold treats. Some of you have already linked to a cold treat post in recent weeks. You can link the same post again if you like, add a new one, or do something different than a cold treat. Remember, the theme is only a suggestion. What do I mean by a cold treat? A cold dessert, Italian ice, ice cream, cold beverage, anything cold that’s a treat for you. And, it doesn’t have to be a recipe. You could tell us what gluten-free cold treats you like to buy.
Here’s the July review with my posts listed next to the date.
July 29 - Potato Pie
1. Brian (Pasta Salad)
2. Cheryl - Stuffed Potatoes
3. Wendy (Asian Flank Steak W/Brown Rice Salad
4. Simply Sugar & Gluten- Free (A Simple Homemade, Lower- Fat Vinaigrette)
5. Tole's Kitchen (Shrimp & Asparagus Risotto)
6. Jessie- Slacker Map
7. Jen (GF Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies)
8. Gluten Free Taste of Home (Creamy Mustard Thyme Potato Salad)
9. Brenna Kater, Ocean Skater (GFDF Chocolate Zucchini Bread)
July 22 - Corn Bread Pizza
1. Gluten Free Taste of Home (double berry cream pie)
2. The W.H. O. L.E. Gang (blast from the past)
3. Cheryl - (Chicken Nuggets)
4. Simply Sugar & Gluten- Free (Fresh Apple Cake)
5. Gluten Free Portland (Barbecued Chicken)
6. Heather @Celiac Family (7- layer salad)
7. Jen @ Feeling Better Gluten Free (Spaghetti Sauce)
8. Gluten Free in the Country - Kabobs
9. Brenna Kater, Oceanskater (Gluten- free Dairy- free Chocolate Zucchini Bread)
July 15 - Cheeseburger Rice
1. Jessie (barbecuey ratatouille)
2. Rachel (corn & black bean salad)
3. Cheryl (BLT pasta salad)
4. Simply Sugar & Gluten Free (fig bars w/ice cream)
5. The W.H.O.L.E. Gang (chicken pot pie)
6. Brian (gf spring rolls)
7. Hungry Vegan (coconut milk kefir)
8. Flour Arrangements (gluten free pizza)
9. Buckwheat & Honey English Muffins
July 8 (Dessert Edition) - Banana Cake
1. Jessie (Choc-chip cookies)
2. Gina (Creme Caramel)
3. Brian (Chocolate Cake Mix)
4. Jen (Baked Potato Bar)
5. Heather (Chocolate Souffle)
6. The W.H.O.L.E. Gang- Ostrich Steak Strips Stir-fry
7. Amy (Smooth Watermelon Granita)
8. The W.H.O.L.E. Gang-DF, GF Blueberry Ice Cream & Blueberry/Blackberry Mini Pies
9. Cheryl (Rita's Ice)
10. Mikki (Chocolate dipped strawberries)
July 1 - Breakfast for Dinner
1. Jessie (beach food)
2. Gluten Free Portland (Trader Joe's Mini Tacos)
3. Gluten Free Taste of Home (busy day soup)
4. Amy (Meatballs with Veggie Sauce & Peas)
5. Cheryl (Sausage and Navy Beans)
6. Brenna Kater, Oceanskater (Garbanzo Flour Pancakes)
7. The W.H.O.L.E. Gang (Monthly Menu with recipe links)
8. Rachel (Breakfast Tacos)
9. Brian (Omelettes)
Labels: What can I eat?
Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Mix
For various reasons it has taken me a while to get around to using another Betty Crocker gluten-free mix. I reviewed the yellow cake mix here, and this time I tried the chocolate chip cookies.
The directions say to mix everything with a spoon. I used my mixer, but only briefly on low after I added the mix since it included the chocolate chips. The dough was dry and crumbly like the directions said it would be. I couldn’t figure out, though, how they expected you to drop the cookie dough onto the baking sheet when it was so crumbly. I scooped up a bit with a spoon and then pressed it together with my hands, which worked fine.
If you like to keep gluten-free mixes on hand, I would recommend giving these a try (if you can find them). They’re a winner in this house!
Labels: reviews
July 28, 2009
Using Leftover Potatoes and Chicken
This week’s dinner idea is courtesy of my youngest son (12). He made this recently when he was staying with my parents and couldn’t wait to try it again at our house. It’s a variation on what my mom always called potato cakes, but since this is put together in one casserole dish, my son has chosen to call it potato pie. It’s a stovetop dish, however, that only uses the broiler to melt the cheese.
Because I never have enough leftover mashed potatoes to feed us all for second meal, I made a pot of potatoes for him. (You simply would not believe how many mashed potatoes my 18 year old son can eat.) I did have plenty of leftover chicken to use though. This isn’t an actual recipe, more like guidelines really. It’s hard to go wrong.
Potato Pie
Ingredients
- mashed potatoes
- cooked chicken, cut in bite size pieces
- eggs (about 1 per serving)
- salt & pepper
- garlic powder
- cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
In a bowl, mix together the mashed potatoes, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic. Stir in the chicken. Add to a large skillet and cook, turning and mixing sections at a time until hot through. Place in a casserole dish and sprinkle with the cheese. Place the dish under the broiler for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.
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Labels: chicken, main dish recipes, What can I eat?
Storing the Little Ingredients
Since I do most of my gluten-free baking from scratch (gluten free is the only kind of baking I do), I like to have my baking ingredients organized and easy to find. A number of months ago I decided I needed to do something different with all the “little” ingredients. You know, things like baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt.
I’m lucky enough to have an Ikea in the area and one day while browsing there I decided to try using magnetic containers stored on a metal strip. The problem was that the containers weren’t meant for that purpose. They had twist on lids which didn’t twist on or off very well, and the containers were shallow, making it difficult to get your measuring spoon filled up. However, I bought the things so I kept using them.
Then recently, I saw some new magnetic containers at BJ’s (I’ve also seen them at Bed Bath & Beyond). I bought a set of four with my fingers crossed. They worked so well I bought another set. Eight containers fit just perfectly on my metal strip from Ikea. Now my little ingredients look like this:
I also used a label maker I received for Christmas to put labels on the side of each container. I placed them so they are centered over the area where the hole is. That way, when I put the container back on the strip, I simply make sure the label is facing up and I know the hole if facing up also. The eight ingredients I chose to use are:
- baking powder
- baking soda
- cinnamon
- gelatin (used in some gluten-free breads)
- guar gum
- salt
- sugar
- xanthan gum
The reason I included sugar is that when making breads, I only use a little to activate the yeast. Also, I do not use a sugar jar so it could be used for sprinkling into coffee or tea.
Obviously, I have to store packages of these ingredients elsewhere, but they can be tucked away in an inconvenient place and brought out for refilling. Do you have a method you use for easy access to little ingredients?
For more helpful ideas visit We Are THAT Family.
Labels: tools of the trade
July 26, 2009
Gfree Menu Planning and a Giveaway
Recently, I was contacted by someone at Gfree (gfreecuisine.com) and thought I would tell you about their service. Yes, it is a subscription service, but the thing that caught my attention was the name Carol Fenster. You see, Gfree is a menu planning service that provides recipes, helps you plan your menu, and creates a shopping list.
Each week you are give ten easy, healthy meals to choose from. You choose five of the meals and a grocery list is created for you. The recipes are developed by Carol Fenster, Ph.D. and she provides simple bread recipes and desserts in addition to the weekly menu. Monthly freezer meals are also part of the subscription.
I own several of Carol Fenster’s cookbooks, and love her recipes. I am pretty tight with my money when it comes to paying someone to do something I can do myself, but this service really appeals to me. I might consider trying it when our pace picks up in the fall.
If you are too busy to plan good meals or are simply new to the gluten-free diet and need some help, this sounds like a great service for you to try. The cost is $30 for 3 months, $49 for 6 months, or $79 for 12 months. Be sure to visit Gfreecuisine.com for more information and to view a sample menu and grocery list.
The Giveaway!
Gfree is offering a one year free subscription AND a $50 Crate and Barrel gift card to one lucky winner! To enter:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me something you like about Gfree (or don’t like).
- Leave a way for me to contact you. A Blogger profile with no public blog or email does me no good.
The giveaway will end on Friday, July 31st at 10:00 p.m. eastern time. I will use random.org to pick a winner who I will contact on Saturday. The winner will have 24 hours to respond.
A New Look
I think it’s been over six months since I last changed the look of my blog. I’m a person who likes change, and so I have given my blog a makeover. It’s quite different. I probably should have done this a couple of months ago because it might seem too bright come fall. Maybe I can make some color changes without much trouble.
I started with a free template and made a lot of changes. My header is not as fancy as the original, but it fits my blog theme better.
If you normally read my posts in a feed reader, stop by and take a look. What do you think? Don’t be afraid to tell me you don’t like it. I appreciate constructive criticism.
July 24, 2009
Zucchini!
Zucchini is one of our favorite vegetables, so when I decided to try my hand at a garden this year, I had to put in a zucchini plant. I’m happy to say that it is thriving.
Since today’s Friday Foodie Fix ingredient is zucchini, I thought I would remind you of a couple of my favorite zucchini recipes from my recipe index. Click on the link or the picture to view the recipe.
Zucchini muffins – This recipe can also be used to make zucchini bread. One recipe makes one loaf. I usually double it and bake two loaves at a time.
Zucchini rotini – A delicious vegetarian casserole.
Ratatouille – I’ve never made it on the stovetop or in a crockpot, but I think those would be good summer time options for this dish.
Egg & potato skillet – This should actually be called egg, potato, and zucchini skillet. Sorry the picture is so dark. This is great for any meal.
Zucchini & onions – Definitely our favorite zucchini side dish. I learned this recipe from a cousin. Simply sauté zucchini and onions in butter (or olive oil) with plenty of dill weed. I usually start cooking the onions first because I like them well done, but I like the zucchini still crisp or at least not mushy.
Do you have a favorite zucchini recipe? Visit The W.H.O.L.E. Gang for more zucchini ideas.
Labels: gluten-free recipes
July 23, 2009
Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Mixes Winner
We have a winner! Terah will receive all four of the new Betty Crocker gluten free mixes along with the tote bag, shopping list, and pen. Congratulations Terah!
Labels: giveaway
July 21, 2009
Corn Bread Pizza: What can I eat that’s gluten free?
Hi! Welcome to this weekly blog carnival where we share gluten-free dinner (and non dinner) ideas. At the end of my recipe you can add a link to a gluten-free eating idea on your blog. If you’ve never participated before, you can read the guidelines here.
Last Friday it was hot, and I didn’t have a lot of time to fix dinner. That meant we wouldn’t be having our usual Friday night pizza. The family is always disappointed when we don’t have pizza on Friday, so I tried to think of something else they would really enjoy that would be fairly quick and didn’t require baking.
I settled on this idea which I had never tried before. The corn bread is cooked on the stove, but it does require a cast iron pot/skillet with a lid or a similar type of dutch oven. It has to be something heavy or it will burn on the bottom. As it is, I burnt the bottom because I started out with the heat too high. Thankfully, it was only a thin layer and I was able to shave it off with the electric knife. You could, of course, bake the corn bread in a round pan. That would actually be easier, just hotter.
I only used the oven briefly by putting it under the broiler to melt the cheese. The result was terrific and everyone loved it. I was told I should make it again.
Corn Bread Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 recipe corn bread (use only 1/4 c. sugar)
- 1 lb. ground beef
- pepperoni
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- olive oil
- cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
Put your cast iron pot on the stove and warm it up, but not too hot. Spray the bottom and sides with cooking spray. Make the corn bread batter and put into the pot, spreading it out to the edges. Cover and cook on medium low heat for 10 minutes. Use a spatula to get under the cornbread and flip it over. This is a little tricky. It might take two spatulas or an extra pair of hands. Cover and cook another 5 minutes. Remove from the pot and cool on a wire rack.
While that is cooking brown the ground beef. Take a handful of pepperoni and cut them into pieces. Kitchen scissors work well for that. Add the pepperoni to the beef. Add the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Stir and heat.
Slice the cornbread in half horizontally. It doesn’t have to be completely cooled but should no longer be hot. Put the halves, cut side up, on a cookie sheet. Brush them with olive oil. Put half the meat mixture on each and spread to the edges. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Put the cookie sheet in the oven and broil for several minutes until the cheese is melted.
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Labels: main dish recipes, What can I eat?
July 19, 2009
Yummy Caramel Topping
What is summer without ice cream, and what is ice cream without toppings? I love caramel, and this recipe is easy as well as delicious.
Caramel topping:
ingredient: sweetened condensed milk
Remove the label from the can of milk (be sure you're not using evaporated milk) and place it (unopened) on its side in a heavy saucepan. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 hours. Remove from heat and let the can cool completely. It is best to put it in the refrigerator overnight. If you don't wait until it is cooled, you could have a hot explosion, so please be patient. When the can is cooled, open it up and, voila, you have a thick caramel sauce. You will probably want to thin it with a bit of milk. I often do several cans at a time in a large pot and store the cans in the refrigerator.
Labels: dessert recipes
July 17, 2009
Starbucks: Bring Back the Gluten-Free Cake
If you would like to see Starbucks continue to sell the gluten-free Orange Valencia Cake, consider signing this petition which Triumph Dining has put together. Simply click on the link below, enter your name and email address, then click on “sign the petition.” You will receive an email with a link that you have to click on to confirm your signature.
Petition to Starbucks: Bring back the gluten-free cake!
Labels: gluten-free news
July 16, 2009
Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Mixes Giveaway
This giveaway is now closed.
I recently received complimentary samples of Betty Crocker’s new gluten free mixes, courtesy of My Blog Spark. If you haven’t joined yet, it’s easy and free. Here is a quote from their site.
“MyBlogSpark™ is a fun and exciting group of bloggers that have access to review new products and services and participate in exciting giveaways, surveys and events.”
Not only did they send me a prize pack, but they are also offering a prize pack to one of you! You can see the details below. I have only had time to try one of the mixes. I will review that one here and post reviews of the others later. I wanted to go ahead and get the giveaway started.
The Betty Crocker yellow cake mix is worth buying. Whether it is worth the price is another question. I knew the mixes would cost more than a regular mix, but when you consider that it only makes one layer (half as much as other mixes) the cost is even higher.
For that reason, it is something I will only buy occasionally. I will, however, recommend it to others. I think these mixes will be particularly helpful to people who want to entertain gluten free guests. Also, they will probably be greatly appreciated by moms who have gluten free kids and need to provide alternatives for birthday parties and school activities.
The best part about this giveaway, is that everyone can be a winner. Simply call 1-800-446-1898 to request a coupon for one free gluten free mix! Then, if you’re like me, you just have to wait until they show up at your local store.
This giveaway is now closed, but you can still call the number for the coupon.Starbucks Stops Production of Valencia Orange Cake
I haven’t seen an official statement, but word is out that Starbucks has stopped producing its gluten-free Valencia orange cake. On Twitter, @Starbucks said, “We heard that it was too much of a treat, and not a nutritious snack. The @KindSnacks bar is replacing it.” That would be these Kind bars.
I agree, it was a treat for me. I suppose they need something that people will buy frequently, not occasionally. I am not someone who frequents Starbucks, but I did stop in on occasion for the gluten-free cake. I don’t think I’ll be making any special stops for a Kind bar. I’ve never tried one. They are probably good, but fruit and nuts are easy for me to find. In fact, I often carry mixed nuts with me when I’ll be out for a while.
I, as well as others, would like to see Starbucks offer some other type of gluten-free baked item. A sandwich on gluten-free bread would be great, but a muffin or scone would be nice also.
What do you think?
Labels: gluten-free news
July 14, 2009
Cheeseburger Rice – What can I eat that’s gluten free?
Welcome to “What can I eat that’s gluten free?” formerly known as “What’s for dinner Wednesday.” It’s a weekly blog carnival that’s all about sharing gluten free eating ideas. Most weeks are focused on dinner ideas, but you’re welcome to share any gf food idea. You can read about the blog carnival changes here and the guidelines here.
This week I have another stovetop casserole type dish. It’s easy to make, and is usually a kid pleaser. I can’t remember where this recipe came from, so let me know if you have seen it elsewhere.
Cheeseburger Rice
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 c. catsup
- 2 Tb. mustard
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- 3 c. cooked rice
- 1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
In a large skillet, brown the beef and sauté the onion. Drain. Add the catsup, mustard, salt and pepper and mix. Stir in the cooked rice and heat until hot through. Sprinkle the cheese over top, or mix it in.
Note: You might notice the orange bell pepper in my photo. I had some that needed to be used so I added it. It wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t do it again. It’s just not a typical cheeseburger flavor.
1. Jessie (barbecuey ratatouille)
2. Rachel (corn & black bean salad)
3. Cheryl (BLT pasta salad)
4. Simply Sugar & Gluten Free (fig bars w/ice cream)
5. The W.H.O.L.E. Gang (chicken pot pie)
6. Brian (gf spring rolls)
7. Hungry Vegan (coconut milk kefir)
8. Flour Arrangements (gluten free pizza)
9. Buckwheat & Honey English Muffins
Labels: main dish recipes, What can I eat?
July 13, 2009
Introducing Zeer
Zeer is a new web site that provides useful information for people on a gluten-free diet. I will tell you up front, that it is a subscription service costing $14.95 per month. But before you stop reading, I also want to tell you that at the end of this post, you will find a promo code one free month. Even if you don’t subscribe, some basic, but helpful information is provided for free.
Please read my update here.I have no affiliation with Zeer, but I was given a run through of the site before it went public. I’m writing about it here because some of you, especially those who are new to the gluten-free diet, might find it worth the subscription price.
What is Zeer?
Zeer is a food product database that provides you with a gluten free status rating and label information for thousands of products. 500 products are added or updated each week. Their four status categories are:
- Labeled as gluten free
- Appears to be gluten free
- May contain gluten
- Contains gluten
Each category has its own icon which allows you to quickly see what category products fall into. Ingredient and nutrition information is provided with possible problem ingredients being highlighted and linked to an explanation. Manufacturer statement and allergen warnings as well as contact information is also given.
The database is easy to search. You can search by product name, UPC, brand, or category, but searching for products is not the only useful tool. You can also select items to create a printable grocery list or to email to a friend or family member. If you don’t subscribe, you are still able to view ingredient and nutrition information for many products (though not all).
Learn more by visiting the Zeer web site. If you would like to sign up for a 30 day free trial just do the following:
- Go to this page.
- Enter a name, email and password, then continue.
- Enter payment information (you can cancel at the end of the 30 days and you will not be charged, but you have to enter the information).
- In the last box on that page, enter GFHOME as the promo code. It is case sensitive.
I’m interested in hearing what you all think of the service. For me, it’s not worth the subscription price. After being gluten free for over eight years, I no longer panic about what I can eat. The change in the food labeling laws has also been a tremendous help. Many of the products that Zeer lists are ones that can easily be determined as gluten free by simply reading the label. But that’s just me. What do you think, especially those of you who are new to the gluten free diet?
Labels: gluten-free diet
July 12, 2009
What Can I Eat That’s Gluten Free? Guidelines
This blog carnival, which used to be known as What’s For Dinner Wednesday, takes place on a weekly basis. How many times have you heard the question, “What’s for dinner?” Food is very dear to us, and we like to know what’s coming. When your diet is restricted, however, figuring out what to eat becomes harder. The goal of this carnival is to provide people with gluten-free meal ideas. Most weeks I will focus on dinner ideas. The first Wednesday of each month, however, there will be a different theme. You can find the themes listed below.
I would love for you to participate in this carnival, and participation is easy. Every Tuesday night (about 10:00 or 11:00 EST) I will put up a new “What can I eat that’s gluten free?” post. Wednesday is intended to be the main carnival day, but you can add a link any time throughout the week. Please read over these guidelines, and you’ll know what to do.
1. All links should provide a gluten-free eating idea. You don’t have to have a gluten-free blog, but many meal ideas are naturally gluten free.
2. You do not have to provide a recipe. Gluten-free product reviews, menu plans, or even restaurant reviews are welcome. We’re looking for ideas. Recipes are definitely appreciated, though.
3. When you use Mr. Linky, please enter the permalink to your post, not a link to your homepage. This keeps people from having to search for the post if they follow the link at a later time. It also allows you to use an older post. You can usually get the permalink by clicking on the blog post title and then copying it from the address bar.
4. You also need to enter a name, which can be a first name or a blog name and a brief 2-4 word description in parentheses. For example: Linda (Salisbury steak).
5. Please provide a link to my site somewhere in the text of your post.
6. If you would like to use the above button, you can copy and paste the code below.
The themes through the end of the year will be as follows. All other weeks anything goes. The themes are only a suggestion. You can link to any gluten-free eating idea on any week.
August 5th – Cold treats
September 2nd – Appetizers
October 7th – Breakfast
November 4th – Soup
December 2nd – Party food
Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
Labels: What can I eat?
What’s for Dinner Wednesday Changes
What’s for Dinner Wednesday has been both fun and helpful to me and hopefully to many of you. I especially enjoy the sense of community it has helped a small group of us develop. The changes I’m making have little effect on how the carnival works. It’s more about how it is perceived.
I participated in several blog carnivals during my early months of blogging. They all had a day associated with the name to help you remember when the carnival took place. I automatically did the same with this carnival. However, in this case, I didn’t realize how confusing it would be. The name really sounds like it is about what you are having for dinner on Wednesday, which is not my intention at all. I have to wonder if some bloggers do not participate because that idea seems too restrictive.
In addition, I would like to have a theme other than dinner once a month, and in those cases “What’s for dinner?” doesn’t fit. For those reasons, I am changing the carnival name to “What can I eat that’s gluten free?”
I have decided to keep Wednesday as the first day of the carnival and will continue to put my post up Tuesday night. However, I’m going to keep Mr. Linky open for the whole week. That way, if Wednesday is a bad time for you, you can do it another day. I will also continue to post a monthly review.
The themes I have scheduled through the end of the year and will take place on the first Wednesday of each month. I’m listing them here, but I will also remind you a week in advance. Since dinner is probably the most challenging meal for people, we’ll continue with a dinner theme the remaining weeks.
August 5th – Cold treats
September 2nd – Appetizers
October 7th – Breakfast
November 4th – Snacks
December 2nd – Party food
Important points to remember:
- Any theme is only a suggestion. You can use any kind of gluten free food post any time you want.
- A recipe is not required. You can link to a recipe you tried from another site, you can do a product review, you can link to your menu plan, or tell us about a dinner out.
- You can add more than one link per week. Personally, I would run out of dinner ideas, but the other themes don’t come up very often. Feel free to add more than one.
- You can link to an older post. If you’re having a particularly busy week and don’t have time to write a new post, link to an old one.
- You can find the guidelines and the code for the new button here.
Labels: What can I eat?, What's for Dinner Wednesday
July 10, 2009
Pamela's Bread Mix is on Sale Today
Today only (Friday), Pamela's Wheat Free Bread Mix is on sale at Amazon. The $22 price is for a case of 6. The mix can be used in a bread machine or in the oven. It makes a nice loaf of soft bread. The bread is gluten-free, and Pamela's has changed the name to reflect this. I guess Amazon still has older packages or just hasn't changed the picture. The only problem with this sale is that it puts the total below the $25 super saver shipping amount. I ordered another item I have been wanting to put it over $25. Even with shipping, the cost would be a little less than the regular price. If you like Pamela's mix or haven't tried it yet, now is a good time to buy.
Cucumbers!
I’m not a natural gardener. I don’t know why; it’s in my genes. I just don’t have much natural talent for gardening. That doesn’t mean, of course, that I can’t learn and improve, so it is something I’m working on. Last year we did a little bit of container gardening. This year we branched out and planted a small garden with 7 cucumber plants, two tomato plants, one zucchini, and one bell pepper plant. It turns out that this was a good year to plant a garden because we’ve had LOTS of rain. As you can see in the picture above, my cucumber plants are doing quite well.
We are now harvesting large burpless cucumbers daily. T
We’ve given away a few, and today I’m sending some to work with my husband for him to give away. We just can’t eat them all. We enjoy cucumber on salads, but my favorite way to eat them (and I’ve passed this on to at least one of my kids) is on a cucumber and peanut butter sandwich. My parents introduced me to this sandwich and it was always one of my favorite lunches to take to school. It may sound strange to some of you, but it’s not too different than eating celery and peanut butter.
Making the sandwich is quite simple. First you spread peanut butter on both slices of bread. Then you slice a cucumber and layer the slices on one piece of bread. Put the other piece of bread on top and you’re done.
In case you’re wondering about the bread, I made this from Pamela’s gluten free bread mix. It’s my favorite sandwich bread.
Yesterday, I ran out of bread and was looking for ways to use the cucumbers. I came across this cucumber recipe file, and saw a recipe for cucumber lemonade. That sounded strange but appealing! I tried it and really liked it. Here is my version of the recipe.
Cucumber Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber, peeled seeded, and cut in chunks (about 2 cups)
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 2 lemons, juiced
- water
Instructions
Put the cucumber and about 1 1/2 cups of water in a blender. Blend until pureed well. Strain the liquid into a pitcher and discard the pulp. Add the sugar and about 1 cup water to the blender. Blend thoroughly to dissolve the sugar. Add to the pitcher. Juice the lemons and add the juice to the pitcher. Add enough water to make 8 cups of liquid. Stir and serve over ice.
The theme of today’s Friday Foodie Fix is…..cucumbers! That worked out perfectly for me. Visit The W.H.O.L.E. Gang for more cucumber ideas.
Labels: other recipes
July 9, 2009
Heinz Gluten-Free List Update
Last month I posted a letter I received from Heinz including their gluten-free product list. A reader pointed out to me today that Heinz Worcestershire sauce was listed as gluten free despite the fact that the label says it contains wheat. According to the label shown on the web site, wheat is part of the soy sauce that is used in the Worcestershire sauce.
I have notified Heinz of the mistake. This should be a reminder to us that we need to always read labels. Product lists are a helpful starting point, but mistakes do happen. If you printed the list for reference, please be sure to cross off the Heinz Worcestershire sauce. A gluten-free alternative is Lea & Perrins brand, also made my Heinz.
July 7, 2009
Banana Cake – What’s for Dinner Wednesday
Welcome! What’s for Dinner Wednesday is usually a carnival of gluten free dinner ideas. This week, we’re doing a dessert edition, but you might still find a dinner idea or two. If you haven’t participated before, you can read the guidelines here.
First, let me apologize for some confusion last week. Many of you apparently thought having breakfast for dinner was the theme for the week. I didn’t intend it to be a theme, it was just my idea for the week, but I enjoyed everyone’s ideas. When there is a theme, I will give you at least a week’s notice, and the theme is always a suggestion, not a requirement.
Soon after I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I found a gluten free banana cake recipe on the Internet which quickly became a family favorite. You can now find the recipe here. As my repertoire of baked goods increased, I made it less often, but it remains a favorite.
Until this week, I hadn’t made it in a while, but after being away for several days, I had a few bananas that were perfect for use in a cake. The problem was that my frig was rather bare and I didn’t have any sour cream. I was determined to to make it without a trip to the store, so I began to think of substitutes.
I was out of yogurt, and thought I might be stuck until I remembered that this chocolate cake recipe uses mayonnaise. I ended up subbing the mayo for the sour cream and also making a few other changes. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was as good as ever, if not better. This cake is soft and moist and has plenty of banana flavor.
Gluten-Free Banana Cake
Ingredients
- 1/4 c. butter, softened
- 1/4 c. vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 c. sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 c. mashed banana
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 3/4 c. mayonnaise (I used Kraft reduce fat w/olive oil)
- 2 c. gluten free flour mix (I used Carol’s sorghum blend)
- 1 tsp. xanthan gum
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Instructions
Using a mixer, cream together the butter, oil, and sugar. Add the eggs, banana, and vanilla, mixing well. Add the mayonnaise and mix. Combine the dry ingredients in a small bowl, then add, mixing until thoroughly incorporated.
Spread the batter in a 9 x 13 inch pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 – 35 minutes. Cool in the pan, or turn onto a rack if desired.
This cake is good with a cream cheese or vanilla frosting. It’s also great without any. This time I used a simple vanilla glaze.
Note: I’m sure there are many ways to mash bananas, but my favorite is to put them in a small bowl and use a pastry blender to mash them.
Please add a link to your gluten free dessert (or dinner) idea.
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Labels: cake, dessert recipes, What's for Dinner Wednesday
Cookbook Giveaway Winners
The winners of the Gluten Free Every Day Cookbook are:
Kay Guest and Renee G.
Congratulations!
Labels: giveaway
July 2, 2009
July 4th Gluten-Free Recipe Roundup
This week, Karina posted a great roundup of gluten-free recipes for summer picnic fun, and Carrie listed her Top ten 4th of July recipes. With the holiday weekend just a few days away, I thought that was a good idea and put together my own gluten-free recipe roundup.
From The Gluten-Free Homemaker:
- Beef barbecue sandwich
- Warm Chicken & Potato Salad
- Hamburger buns
- Brownies
- Carmel topping
- Cheesecake
- Chocolate bundt cake
From a few other blogs:
- Pulled pork – Celiac Family
- Roasted potatoes, mushrooms & green beans – The W.H.O.L.E. Gang
- Balsamic chicken with garlic – Living Without Wheat
- Lemon Garlic Pork Tenderloin – Fire and Salt
- Smoked salmon Alfredo – Celiacs in the House
- Warm spinach pasta salad – Feeling Better Gluten Free
- Summer Pasta Salad – Blog Schmog
- Pigs in a blanket – Brenna Kater, the Ocean Skater
- Roasted vegetables – The Gluten-Free Gourmand
- Chocolate peanut butter cake – Fire and Salt
From the Web:
- Red, white, and blue delight – Family Fun
- Fruit flag – Family Fun
- Peanut butter and strawberry sundae – Family Fun
- Barbecue checklist (no recipe) – Family Fun
- Red, white and blue parfaits – Better Homes and Gardens
- Honey chicken kabobs – Disney Family Food
- Sensational sirloin kabobs – Disney Family Food
I’ll be taking a blogging break for a few days while my husband and I celebrate our 20th anniversary. You’ll probably hear from me again on Tuesday when I tell you about a new gluten-free web site. Enjoy the holiday!
Labels: gluten-free recipes
July 1, 2009
Cookbook Review & Giveaway
The book offers a wide variety of recipes which use common ingredients. A few of them use premade gluten-free products such as crackers or cookies. My only caution would be to those who are also on a dairy free diet. Many of the recipes do contain dairy. Some would be easy to modify, others would be difficult.
The recipes that contain flour use varying combinations of rice flours, sorghum, and starches, but a few also use chestnut or garbanzo flour, and maybe a couple of others.
I think the only yeast bread recipe is the pecorino pizza crust or bread sticks. The remainder of the bread recipes are quick breads. I recently made the flaky buttermilk biscuits. One of my kids said, “Mom, what did you put in these? They taste like regular biscuits.” They were very good.
This picture shows the Corn, Potato, and Leek Chowder. I did modify it according to ingredients I had on hand, but not significantly. I omitted the chile powder and the light cream. It was very good with my modifications, and I’m sure it would be good without any changes.
If you click on the title, Gluten Free Every Day Cookbook, you will be taken to the Amazon page where you can look inside the book. It shows you the table of contents, some of the first pages, and the index. That will give you a good idea of the types of recipes included. For most of you, it will be worth the price of $11.55.
If you think you would like a copy of this book, the publisher is offering to giveaway two of them. To enter the giveaway, please do the following:
- Go to the Amazon link, Gluten Free Every Day Cookbook, and click the picture of the book to look inside. Go to the index and look over the recipes listed there.
- Leave a comment on this post telling me one of the recipes you would like to try.
- If your name is not linked to a blog or web site where I can contact you, leave an email address.
- One entry per person.
This giveaway will run until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 6 (hey, that’s my birthday!) I will contact the winners on Tuesday and they will have 24 hours to get back to me. Please check your email (including your junk folder).
Labels: giveaway
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