Honey Nut Chex gingerly

I am baking wheat flour cookies for the family since I am not doing sweets anymore (not good with Hashimoto's disease)...but I did feel like making something that might be a treat for me, without all the sugar sugar sugar...so I looked on the Honey Nut Chex box and adapted the recipe for ginger almond apple treats.

I mixed 6 cups of Chex with 3 cups of almonds (just plain almonds, not roasted or salted)then melted in microwave 1/4 cup Spectrum shortening, 1/2 cup apple cider molasses and 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger to boiling, then poured the boiling mixture over the dry mix and stirred... Microwaved it 4 minutes, stirring after each minute, then let it go on its own for 3 min. in the microwave, dumped it in a foil lined pan to cool.

I craved a ginger treat after mixing gingerbread cookie dough...so now I have it! Good for me! HEHE

Corn chowder and Udi's whole grain bagels

I looked in the cupboard and saw two cans of corn and one can of creamed corn and thought...Hmmm corn chowder? why not?...as usual I googled corn chowder recipes and then made some...my style.

I sauteed chopped onions and celery in shortening and then added cut potatoes, drained cans of corn, creamed corn, chicken broth, pepper, salt, celery salt, minced dried garlic, cayenne pepper, dried parsley. Simmered it until potatoes were soft...ladled it up...and enjoyed it! We all did. And adding a toasted whole grain Udi's bagel topped it off deliciously.

bean brownies

We had to have a new septic system put in and we got to talking to the man who put it in and he recently learned he is celiac and he told us his wife makes great black bean brownies. I had not heard of that before. I am not eating sweets but the other day my curiosity got the best of me. I didn't have black beans but had kidney beans so googled kidney bean brownies and stumbled on to some recipes. I tried it and am very pleased. I have been eating them for breakfast like breakfast bars...how outrageous is that? Can't remember where I found this but THANKS to the inventor of this recipe...I LOVE YOU!

1 can of beans drained and rinsed (red or black or white)
2 bananas
1/2 cup agave syrup
1/4 cup powdered carob (could use cocoa but I am staying away from caffeine)
1 TBs cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup GF oats
I threw in a handful of pecans

Process in food processor and spread in a greased 8X8 or 9X9 pan bake at 350 deg. for 30 min. Cool before cutting and store in the refrigerator.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

beeeeeef stew with GF Bisquick dumplings

I made beef stew today and used GF Bisquick to add dumplings. I followed the biscuit recipe (using almond milk) and plopped spoonfuls onto the boiling stew, covered and ignored it for about 15 minutes...yum...

Back tracking...I browned beef chunks, cut carrots, onions, and potatoes in spectrum shortening, added salt and pepper and just enough water to cover and let simmer for hours...then the dumpling procedure...comfort chilly weather joy!Oh boy!

Udi's GF CF pizza

I made a pizza for lunch using Udi's pizza skin, Daiya's mozzarella flavored cheese, shredded onions, black olives and tomato slices. I added garlic powder, basil, and ground oregano. Baked for about 10-15 minutes in a 400 degree oven, it was delicioso, magnifcentio...don't ya know.

HAPPY SUNDAY!:)

Bean soup, DF Cheesy polenta, brown rice grits pudding

Had one of those chilly day cookathons...soaked beans and made bean soup...then later made brown rice grits pudding with apple molasses...and finished off with DF cheesy polenta. Added a tossed salad which made for a fabulous dinner, if I do say so myself.

For the bean soup I used chicken broth instead of water and it gave it great flavor. It had beans, broth, cut up carrots, celery, and onion and last but not least chunks of ham.

The rice grits recipe was on the side of the package and I used the variation that eliminated milk and eggs replacing it with water. Instead of honey I used apple molasses. I also added cinnamon and nutmeg. It was quite good.

Wanting to add something else to the roundup I searched my cupboards and found some polenta corn grits so Bingo...that is what I made next. I thought it would taste good with my Daiya cheddar flavored DF cheese and I was right, it did. Kind of a mac and cheese kind of thing only corny.

Well, that's my entry for today. Here's to HAPPY COOKING the foods you can safely enjoy and learning to love it!

All Natural Brown Rice Pasta Goulash

I bought some brown rice pasta at The Christmas Tree Shop and got around to trying it this morning. I like it. Goldbaum's All Natural Pasta Gluten Free. I added it to browned ground beef and onions and celery and organic canned sauce and seasoned it with salt and pepper and basil and oregano and powdered garlic. Pretty darn tasty. Goulashish!

On a home note...we are having an Amish man redo a bedroom. He stripped the particle board and outdated wall board off the walls and is pretty darn amazing. Will update as the project unfolds.

PS...the veggie burger baked in a pan was delicious too. 350 deg. for about 30-45 minutes.

GF CF Veggie Burgers

While in a waiting room in a hospital I did what many do I snagged a recipe from a magazine. I wasn't proud of my self but I did it, I ripped it out and stashed it in my purse.

So what was it? A veggie burger with brown rice and chick peas. I tried it today, my way, and was pleased with the results.

I didn't have all the ingredients (what else is new?) so I used what I had.

Made a cup of brown rice, processed it with a half toasted Udi's bagel, a can of drained chick peas, cup of Daiya's cheddar cheese, then added an egg (I try to avoid eggs but I did use one), pepper and salt and then made two patties and fried on the stove top griddle until brown on both sides. I like it!

I took the rest of the mixture and baked it like a meat loaf...will post how that came out tomorrow.

Schar table crackers

I am pleased to have finally found a decent cracker...I have missed saltines since I went gluten free and have tried gluten free crackers but until I bought Schar's Table crackers I was disappointed and settled for something to eat but not yummy. I am thrilled with the crunchiness and flavor of the table crackers. THANKS, SCHAR!

Berry Berry good GF CF pancakes

I made Hodgson Mill Gluten Free with milled flax seed Pancakes this morning and added frozen blueberries and cinnamon and vanilla and get this...I used water for the liquid...they were great...especially topped with blueberry preserves that have no sugar added.

Berry Berry Barry good!

Carob Treat

No more chocolate since it has caffeine (no no for Hashimoto's disease. So I thought I would give carob another try. As usual it was on a whim that I made Eco-Planet Instant Hot Cereal and tossed in some Chatfield's carob chips before microwaving it for two minutes. It was a little dry so I added a little bit of Hazelnut Milk and oh baby...it was a real treat for me...comforting and delicious as well as nutritious! WIN WIN! GRIN!

Rice Grits hot cereal

I am always looking for new products that are gluten free so when I saw brown rice hot cereal made from rice grits I was intrigued. ORGANICE RICE and SHINE by Arrowhead Mills. Stamped Gluten free Wheat free. YEAH! Also USDA Organic. YEAH! again.

Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Grits

My only warning is that if you try the micro version take seriously the part about placing the ingredients in a "narrow, tall microwave safe bowl."

I used a four cup glass Pyrex measuring container (see pic) to prepare it in and it still boiled over. I didn't lose much but it was messy. What didn't boil over was satisfying and comforting. There are recipes for a cheese souffle and rice pudding on the package which I will try (using non-dairy, non-soy cheese, of course).

I simply added salt and pepper to mine, nothing else and it was delish!

Decaf coffee with hazelnut non-dairy and Udi's goodies

Since I had my thyroid surgery, learned I have Hashimoto's disease, found out all the tea I consumed was not good for me (naturally occurring fluoride), I switched to decaf coffee (caffeine is a no no), I have been experimenting with what to put in it to make it a tasty drink for me. The non-dairy creamers all seem to have casein added which is another no no. MimiCreme isn't bad but...well, suffice it to say I need to avoid sugar too and the unsweetened variety isn't to my liking...then I tried Pacific Natural Foods All Natural Hazelnut non-dairy beverage in my decaf coffee and voila! It's a winner!

Add a Udi's baked goody; bagel, whole grain bread, or blueberry muffin (sugary but once in a while I will indulge) and you'll think you are royalty.

Another good eat I discovered this morning is brown rice grits...but I will discuss these more at length next time. Have a good day!