Gluten Free Macaroni Salad Italian Style

Image: Gluten Free Macaroni Salad

I’ve been asked how to prevent gluten free macaroni salad from hardening so much in the refrigerator. I find it best to make the salad right before you’re going to serve it. And if your dressing is well chilled, it should make the salad cold enough. Though, serving it room temperature is fine. I made this salad a little sweet by using stevia, but you can add sugar instead, if desired. It was just perfect! I had never made a gluten free version, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope you do, too. Continue reading “Gluten Free Macaroni Salad Italian Style”

Sugar-Free Gluten Free Chocolate Parfait

Image: Gluten Free Chocolate Parfait

I’ve had several requests for gluten free, Jello instant pudding recipes as well as sugar-free ones. I do not advocate the use of sugar-free jello instant pudding, as it contains aspartame, which is a known cancer causing sweetener. To make this parfait with Chocolate Sugar-Free Fat-Free Jello Instant Pudding it will contain 8 grams of carbs per 1/2 cup. My suggestion is to make my No-Cook Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Sugar-Free Chocolate Mousse, which is pudding-like, and it uses avocado, a healthy fat, and is sweetened with dates. It also does not contain any chemicals or artificial dyes like the package pudding. Nor does it taste bitter. If you’d like to make the no-cook pudding with lower glycemic levels try substituting the dates with a little agave nectar/syrup. Either way, the natural way may be more work, but it’s delicious and a healthier choice. Enjoy! Continue reading “Sugar-Free Gluten Free Chocolate Parfait”

Gluten Free Chocolate Mousse without Cream

Image: Gluten Free Chocolate Mousse

For Father’s Day I made my husband one of his favorite desserts, chocolate mousse. This gluten free chocolate mousse recipe is no different than a regular version accept for the use of gluten free chocolate. There are several ways you can make chocolate mousse: with heavy whipping cream, with egg yolks, and with egg yolks and butter, but I decided to go with egg yolks and separated egg whites. I allowed it to chill for about 6 hours and it wasn’t light enough for our taste buds, but 2 days later it was wonderful. And I’m sure it would have been lighter on the third day. Chilling for days is one of the keys to making this version lighter, and the use of egg whites is the other. I used semi-sweet chocolate morsels for the one in the photo, but natural dark chocolate is my favorite. And the photo represents only one day chilled. Enjoy. Continue reading “Gluten Free Chocolate Mousse without Cream”

Gluten Free Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos

Image: Gluten Free Pulled Pork Taco

What makes this recipe different than my regular pulled pork recipe is that this one calls for Mexican spices such as cumin and chili powder. You can make this recipe with chili verde sauce or regular enchilada sauce. My husband and I use our favorites, separately. Use it to fill tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, crepes, sandwiches, and appetizers. I recently used this to make enchiladas. (Sorry, no photo of enchiladas, but they were so delicious that I forgot to take a picture.) I have even served left-overs over rice topped with shredded cheese. You’ll see the photo of one of the tacos I made below. However, neither the green or red chile sauce is mixed in because we used them for tacos.

Traditionally, pulled pork is made from pork roast, but I like to use boneless country style pork ribs. I purchase the ribs in large quantities, about 7 pounds, from Costco, and make pulled pork as well as this carnitas recipe (from another site) and add a little garlic.

Shredded pork doesn’t taste much different than shredded beef when you remove the additional fat from the pork, but it does have a little more flavor. Therefore, you can make this with shredded beef stew meat, or chicken, if you desire. Either way, it’s delicious. My next plan is to make mini taco cups. Stay tuned in!

Mexican Pulled Pork with Chili Verde Sauce

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Yield: Serves 10-12

Mexican Pulled Pork with Chili Verde Sauce

A delicious gluten free, Mexican pulled pork for use in tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, crepes, sandwiches and appetizers.

Ingredients:

  • 3 1/2 lbs. boneless country-style pork ribs
  • Water, enough to cover pork
  • 1 large green or red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3/4 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 6 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin
  • 1 Tablespoons chili powder (use less if desired)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 10 oz. can green chile or red enchilada sauce or homemade*

Instructions:

  1. Remove excess fat from ribs by cutting them into pieces; add to a large pot and barely cover with water; bring to a boil; simmer for approximately 2 hours.
  2. Drain most of the broth from the pot, reserving for other uses, leaving enough to cover the meat that has now shrunk.
  3. Add onion, garlic and spices to the pot; simmer for additional 30 minutes or more.
  4. Remove meat from the pan, allow to cool long enough to handle, and shred with your fingers or two knives, removing additional excess fat.
  5. Add 2 parts broth and 1 part enchilada sauce to the meat mixture, toss and use as desired.
  6. If using for tacos and you cannot find any crispy gluten free taco shells try frying your own in 375°F oil for 90 seconds using a taco press as illustrated in the photo below. (Note, that most store-bought corn tortillas are treated with lyme and/or lime.)
  7. If using the pulled pork for enchiladas, stuff the enchiladas with the meat mixture; add a little cheese, if desired; roll and pour the enchilada sauce mixture over the top; top with shredded cheese (Monterey or cheddar), and bake for 25 minutes.

Tips

*Las Palmas Red Enchilada Sauce is free of gluten ingredients, but labeled as such. Their Green Chile Sauce is not gluten free. La Victoria Red and Green Enchilada Sauces are gluten-free, and states so on their website.

Homemade Gluten Free Green Chile Sauce - Chile Verde Sauce

Because most canned green enchilada sauces contain corn, soy, and artificial coloring the healthiest choice is make your own by combining a can of green chiles, 1 teaspoon cooking oil, a splash of white vinegar, garlic powder or 1 clove fresh garlic, onion powder or fresh onion, and a pinch of starch (corn, potato or tapioca) mixed with a little water, a pinch of sugar or your favorite sweetener, and salt; simmer on the stove and then puree in a food processor or blender. If adding to a recipe that will need to cook, you may skip the simmering step.

Mascarpone Filled Gluten Free Cannoli Dipped in Dark Chocolate

Gluten Free Cannoli with Mascarpone Filling

I saw some regular cannoli in a bakery decorated so elegantly that my first thought was that I just had to make a gluten free version! They were filled with mascarpone cheese, which is a sweetened Italian cream cheese. The one thing I will never order in a bakery is pre-filled cannoli, as sitting there just makes the cannoli shell soft. Ordering ahead of time is the only way to go, but making them from scratch is even better. If you’re considering skipping the chocolate dipping step, consider that when dipped in chocolate cannoli  stand up properly, instead of rolling over when served or displayed. Enjoy these luscious gluten free cannoli! Continue reading “Mascarpone Filled Gluten Free Cannoli Dipped in Dark Chocolate”

Video (HD): Soft Gluten Free Oat Bread

Image: Soft Gluten Free Oat Bread

You may have already seen or made my Gluten Free Oat or Sorghum Bread with Flaxseed recipe or video. In some of the heavier breads such as oat, teff, etc., I have been adding a bit of baking powder to not only soften the bread, but provide more rise. I really enjoy the entire experimental process. The video below shows the difference in texture, along with a slight less amount of shrinkage. The newer texture was very pleasing to my palate. I hope you find this video helpful. Find the written recipe at Dairy-Free Gluten Free Sandwich Bread Recipe: Oat Bread (or Sorghum). Or find an even better gluten free bread recipe, though not dairy-free at Gluten Free Oat Bread (or Sorghum)

Continue reading “Video (HD): Soft Gluten Free Oat Bread”

Gluten Free Banana Oat Muffins

Gluten Free Banana Oat Muffins

I love banana nut ice cream and banana pancakes, and wanted to create a recipe for gluten free banana muffins that was a little healthier than the usual muffin recipe. I decided to use gluten free oat flour, as oats are nutritious. One third of a cup usually contains 7 grams of protein and 4 grams of dietary fiber. If you are gluten intolerant you’ll need to purchase a gluten free oat flour, as others will contain high amounts of gluten cross-contamination. If you are oat intolerant, Montana Gluten Free carries PrOatina, which some gluten intolerant individuals who are also sensitive to gluten free oats, may tolerate well. Meanwhile, these muffins turned out yummy; not too sweet, either. Enjoy! Continue reading “Gluten Free Banana Oat Muffins”

Gluten Free Honey Mustard Salad Dressing – Sauce

Image: Honey Mustard Dressing - Sauce

I was in the mood for a new salad dressing, and something that would compliment chicken. Though my chicken was not marinaded, I really was in the mood for honey mustard chicken. So, the next best thing was to create a honey mustard dressing. This dressing can be used as a sauce for many other dishes, besides salad. Use it as a dip for chicken tenders or raw vegetables; or a marinade for chicken. Get creative! It’s sweet and a little tangy. Continue reading “Gluten Free Honey Mustard Salad Dressing – Sauce”

Soft Whole Grain Gluten Free Wraps – Tortillas Recipe

Soft Gluten Free Wholegrain Tortillas using Expandex

La Tortilla Factory makes a Gluten-Free, Ivory Teff Wrap. I have been wanting to go to Whole Foods to pick some up, but just haven’t had the time with all of my other errands while I’m in town. So, my cravings got the best of me, and I created a recipe of my own. They turned out fantastic! And they don’t taste anything like a whole grain gluten free wrap or tortilla. The best thing about them is that you can roll them like a regular tortilla. They may be even softer than the glutenous one. Just perfect, to me! Continue reading “Soft Whole Grain Gluten Free Wraps – Tortillas Recipe”

Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

Looking for a gluten free multigrain bread that will fool your kids into thinking it’s a white bread? This one is pretty light in color. Or perhaps you wish to improve your gluten free recipe collection with healthier grain choices. Well, I must say, I have perfected this recipe! It does not fall at all upon cooling. I created my first gluten free multigrain bread recipe several months ago using Expandex, a modified tapioca starch. I wanted to improve that recipe, and to make something more natural and healthy, without the Expandex. And here it is! I hope you enjoy it. It makes a wonderful sandwich bread. Continue reading “Gluten Free Multigrain Bread”