Spun Sugar

Image: Flan Topped with Spun Sugar

Have you ever wondered how they make those caramelized designs on fancy desserts? Some people try to make it using a mixture of water and sugar. When you add water to sugar during the caramelizing process, you are risking the chance of crystals forming. It is best to use sugar alone. I even found a recipe online calling for vinegar and water to be added to the sugar. Vinegar is only needed if you are going to use quite a bit of artificial food coloring. As in red velvet cake, vinegar offsets the bitter taste of the food coloring. You can create different shades of spun sugar by altering the time you brown the sugar. The longer you cook it, the darker it becomes. However, overcooking it can harden the sugar. Temperature is key. However, it is so easy to make…only one ingredient. How simple is that? It’s a great way to garnish creme brulee′ or flan. Continue reading “Spun Sugar”

Healthier Gluten Free Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Image: Healthy Gluten Free Grilled Cheese Sandwich

You can coat your bread with tons of butter and fill it with ton of oozing melted cheese, but why not make your gluten free grilled cheese sandwich healthier? Add healthier fats by adding avocado, and using less cheese. Or…use the same amount of cheese, but add additional fiber. It will balance out the carbs from higher starched bread, resulting in lower net carbs. You can add your favorite raw veggies such as sprouts, tomatoes, and cucumbers, which provide additional fiber. In addition, use a higher fiber and higher protein bread. Learn about high protein gluten free flours. They are usually higher in fiber, as well. Instead of tons of butter, use a healthy oil of your choosing. I enjoy lite/light extra virgin olive oil. It has the same nutritional value as extra virgin olive oil, but less of the olive flavor. Another favorite of mine is grape seed oil. It’s clear, and virtually flavorless. Enjoy, with less guilt! Continue reading “Healthier Gluten Free Grilled Cheese Sandwich”

Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie

Image: Chicken Pot Pie Sliced

This delicious gluten free chicken pot pie recipe was adapted from All Recipes’ Chicken Pot Pie IX recipe, with a couple of twists of my own, creating a very flavorful sauce, with a touch of sweetness, which you may control. I’ve never enjoyed a pot pie before, even when they were made with gluten, but I went back for seconds on this gluten free pot pie! My newly developed gluten free pie crust is moist, light, and flaky, and the sauce in this recipe is so flavorful, making this is a match made in heaven! My husband had to stop eating premade pot pies years ago due to his low-sodium diet. So, he was in heaven with this version, as I was able to control the sodium content. He eats gluten, and truly enjoyed it! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Continue reading “Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie”

Gluten Free Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Image: Broccoli Salad

This recipe can be made naturally gluten free, though I chose to add bacon, which you’ll need to ensure is gluten free. I love this gluten free broccoli salad, as it you can make it a number of ways….add shredded cheese, carrots, use almonds or walnuts, kick it up a notch with a spicy salad dressing, and more. I’ve listed a brand of bacon and bacon bits that are gluten free, but you can check out the Gluten Free Products List to find more. If you desire a dairy-free creamy dressing trying creaming avocado with a vinaigrette. I hope you enjoy this recipe. Continue reading “Gluten Free Broccoli Salad with Bacon”

Easy Potato Salad with Dill (Naturally Gluten Free)

Image: Potato Salad with Dill and Olive Oil

I don’t know about you, but I have been consuming way too much rice lately…rice pasta, rice flour in baked goods, rice as side dishes, and more. I thought you would appreciate more gluten free potato sides dishes, and this easy potato salad recipe is so fast to make if you use a microwave. This recipe is especially great to make for one individual or multiply to feed a crowd. If you desire, you can make this recipe much richer by substituting mayonnaise or sour cream for the olive oil. They’re all delicious! Continue reading “Easy Potato Salad with Dill (Naturally Gluten Free)”

Gluten Free Recipes and Ideas for Valentine’s Day Breakfast

Image: Heart Shaped Gluten Free Panakes

Valentine’s Day is this Thursday, and I understand that some of you may be celebrating it this weekend, or next. However, there’s nothing wrong with making a special Valentine’s Day breakfast for your special someone, in addition to your weekend celebration. I have listed below a few ideas, as well as linked to a couple of my gluten free recipes. I hope you find them useful. Happy Valentine’s Day to you all! Continue reading “Gluten Free Recipes and Ideas for Valentine’s Day Breakfast”

Gluten Free Chocolate Mug Cake (Sugar-Free Dairy-Free Egg-Free)

Image: Gluten Free Chocolate Mug Cake

I’m under deadline on another project but wanted to squeeze in a recent recipe request for a healthier gluten-free mug cake. I chose chocolate this time, as I already have a recipe for a regular Gluten Free Coffee Mug Cake (actual coffee cake). I love coffee mug cake, as they are so easy to make! To make it healthier by using xylitol which is sugar-free, and dairy-free by allowing you to choose the variety of milk. I hope this helps more than just the person who requested it, as it is delicious. I am thinking of substituting some of the all-purpose flour for a little almond flour next time. If you try this idea before I do, please let us all know how it turns out. If you’d like, you can even add some natural peanut butter, or other nut butter, to the top/middle of the batter for a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup flavor. I took one bite while it was fresh out the microwave, and couldn’t stop myself…and it was pretty much guilt-free! Continue reading “Gluten Free Chocolate Mug Cake (Sugar-Free Dairy-Free Egg-Free)”

Egg Yolk Substitute

Image: Egg Yolk Substitute

For my egg-free allergic friends, as well as the dairy-intolerant, I tried quite a few versions of vegan egg yolk substitute recipes today, none of which tasted like egg yolk to me. So, I gotta thinkin’…”What does egg yolk taste like?” I had some in the frig, and dipped my finger in it. It tastes like melted butter with a little salt. That was the easy part. I knew a little shortening and salt would create the flavor, but how was I going to make the right color. Well, adding some carrot juice (I just pureed some carrots with a little water in my small food processor, and strained it to make my own juice), makes it orange, but how was I going to make it yellow. Continue reading “Egg Yolk Substitute”

Gluten Free Cabbage Rolls

Image: Gluten Free Cabbage Rolls with Tomato Sauce

My husband and I met in 1978. This gluten free cabbage rolls recipe was the first dish I ever cooked for him. He enjoyed the stuffing so much he went back for seconds, and ate the stuffing by itself. I suppose the way to a man’s heart is truly through is stomach. I remember it was football season, and the only attention I received from him was during half time or commercials. I should have seen the writing on the walls, then. Seriously, you have to try this recipe. Most kids even like it, as it masks the taste of the vegetable. I haven’t been able to to taste it in decades due to my tomato allergies, but I just had to share it with you. Enjoy. Continue reading “Gluten Free Cabbage Rolls”

Gluten Free Gravy – The Perfect Thickener

Image: Gluten Free Gravy

The most asked question from new gluten free dieters I receive is how to make gluten free gravy. Over the years, I have experimented with several different methods. I have tried several different gluten free all-purpose flours and starches, even using several mixes of my own. They all resulted in thinning once refrigerated, frozen, or reheated. I even tried a technique that was in a scientific gluten free book made for professional and scientific recipe developers. I was hopeful, however, it did not work either. After some recent experimentation I tried something new. It turned out well. I froze it and just defrosted it the other day. It worked! It was still thick upon reheating. Yes! Sweet success! Continue reading “Gluten Free Gravy – The Perfect Thickener”