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”

Gluten Free Bread Machine Recipe – Oat Bread

Image: Gluten Free Oat Bread Sliced

This is the second gluten free bread machine recipe that I have developed and recently published. This oat bread is my all-time favorite, though I need to experiment with substituting the tapioca flour/starch for cornstarch, due to allergies. I’ve created a specific category for these Gluten Free Bread Machine Recipes. So, you may check it now and again to see what’s new (see link above). Continue reading “Gluten Free Bread Machine Recipe – Oat Bread”

Crisp Gluten Free Chocolate Cookies / Wafers (Girl Scout Thin Mints)

Image: Gluten Free Chocolate Dipped Wafers

Refrigerated dough is so much easier to handle and prevents dough from spreading too much. In addition, chilled dough helps create crisp cookies. That’s exactly the features this cookie dough provides. They resemble the crunch of Thin Mints® Girl Scout Cookies. You’ll never miss the real thing. Continue reading “Crisp Gluten Free Chocolate Cookies / Wafers (Girl Scout Thin Mints)”

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 Pie Crust – Perfect for Double Crust

Image: Double Gluten Free Pie Crust

This gluten free pie crust is awesome to work with! I developed it for KitchenAid’s new 13-Cup Food Processor with ExactSlice System. It’s the perfect gluten free crust! If you’d desire, you can even weave a top lattice crust using this dough. It is a lighter crust than typical pie crusts, similar to a pâte brisée, which is a half fat (butter and/or shortening) and half flour ratio. However, in this recipe, I used quite a bit more flour. I just wanted to lighten up a regular crust a bit. It turned out an amazing gluten free pie crust, as it was not dry at all, but moist, flavorful and flaky. Continue reading “Gluten Free Pie Crust – Perfect for Double Crust”

Gluten Free Apple Rings

Image: Gluten Free Apple Rings

In a mood for a healthier alternative to donuts? These gluten free apple rings may just fit the bill. Rather than starch filled donuts, these fritter-like rings are filled with the natural sweetness, nature intended. The batter is lighter and crunchier than my Gluten Free Fruit Fritters recipe; skipping the butter, milk, egg whites, and baking powder, and replacing all with sparkling water. Though the batter is thinner, it can be made thicker simply by adding an additional tablespoon or so of rice flour. Top them with powdered sugar or an apple cinnamon caramel sauce (recipe included). Continue reading “Gluten Free Apple Rings”

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)”

Duchess Potatoes (Naturally Gluten Free)

Image: Gluten Free Duchess Potatoes

Duchess potatoes, also known as duchesse potatoes, are a French dish, pommes de terre duchesse, consisting of seasoned mashed potatoes, made stiffer than traditional mashed potatoes, with the addition of egg, in this case, egg yolks. They are piped using a piping bag or device, and browned just enough to accent the design. Most recipes call for heavy whipping cream, however, my recipe below is a lower-fat version, and may be made dairy-free. Now you’re the duchess. Enjoy Continue reading “Duchess Potatoes (Naturally Gluten Free)”

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”