Easy Pumkin Mac and Chees

Your first reaction when you saw this recipe was probably, "Yuck!".  Give me a minute to explain myself....first off the pumpkin in the recipe is barely detectable by taste. If you do not tell someone that pumpkin is in it they will not know. It adds this deep orange color to the mac and cheese that makes it look like it came straight off the pages of a cooking magazine. It looks really delish! Pumpkin is full of fiber, which most of us are not getting enough of. Pumpkin is also high in vitamins, E, A and B6, folate and iron. Helloooo healthier mac and cheese! Feed this to your children and smile since they are eating something healthy and have no idea. Feed this to yourself and chow down guilt free.

Easy Pumpkin Mac and Cheesey

 

Ingredients

• 1 14- 16 oz package of your favorite gluten free pasta
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/8 cup of cornstarch
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree or 1 cup fresh pureed pumpkin
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions :

1.      Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.      Cook pasta according to the directions on the package.

3.      Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir in the cornstarch and cook while stirring until well combined. Remove from heat and stir in milk. Place back onto heat and bring to a simmer.

4.      Stir in salt, pepper, mustard and pumpkin puree.

5.      Add 1 ½ cups of cheese then cook, stirring, until cheese is melted.

6.      Add the drained macaroni to the pot and combine well with the cheese sauce.

7.      Once combined, place in a baking tray and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese on top of the macaroni and bake, uncovered, until the top is golden brown.

 

 

Go Greek!

Greek food is so delicious and flavorful. This particular recipe is low in fat if you use a low fat greek yogurt. Try this with a side of rice and and easy greek salad made from chopped seeded cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese, and purple onion. The Tzatziki is nothing short of addicting, make a double batch and enjoy it as a dipping sauce for your veggies and g-free pretzels.

Chicken Souvlaki

Juice of half a lemon or about 2 TBSP of lemon juice

1 Tablespoon  olive oil

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1/2 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon oregano

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3 chopped garlic cloves

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1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken chopped into inch cubes

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Tzatziki Sauce

¼ cup grated cucumber

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1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

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1 TBSP of lemon juice

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1/4 teaspoon salt

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1 chopped garlic clove

 

Directions

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1.      Combine all ingredients for Tzatziki Sauce and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2.    Combine all of the ingredients (with the exception of the chicken) into a Ziplock bag. Add chicken and refrigerate for 1 hour.

3.     Take chicken out of the bag and discard the remaining marinade. Cook the chicken in a pan on a medium heat ( add additional olive oil if needed) until cooked through  ( about 8 – 10 minutes)

4.    Use Tzatziki as a dipping sauce for your chicken.

 

It's apple season folks!!!

A simple way to help you in your gluten free quest is to eat seasonal one ingredient foods ( for example, a fresh apple has one ingredient.. APPLE!) or you cook with a combination of foods that have one or few ingredients. It gets murky when you have the long list of unpronouncable ingredients, gluten comes in many forms and goes by many names. Yestarday, in starvation desparation, I picked up a salad from Wendy's. Pecans, strawberries and grilled chicken. Seemed pretty legit so I didn't really question it. I was reading the ingredient list of the pecans ( why it isn't just pecans is beyond me!) and there was wheat flour in them... sigh.. lettuce and strawberries for lunch. Let this be a lesson to us all.. READ ingredients even if it is something gluten has no business being in. I am thankful I read the label, mainly out of habit but I saved myself from a week of intestinal distress, mouth sores and body aches. Anyway, I try to instill the importance of seasonal, one ingredient eating to my students. Today we made baked apples. So easy, healthy and the kids really enjoyed themselves. This is also a great starter for parents that may not have cooked with their kids or are a little reluctant.

Baked Apples

2 apples
• 2 tsp. butter
• 2 tsp. honey
• raisins and/or chopped dates
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1. Slice apples to about 1/4 inch pieces.
2. Dab a small amount of the butter on each slice.
3. Drizzle or spread the honey on each apple slice.
4. Sprinkle with raisins and cinnamon.
5. Place apples in a microwave safe baking dish and microwave for about 2 - 3 minutes.

 

 

JuicyJerk Chicken

One of the things I had to get used to in my g free life was the prep that goes into daily eating. I make my breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. It can get tedious! I teach 6th grade Family and Consumer Science, so after a long day at work, I want to do minimal prep for dinner. Minimum prep with maxium results of course. I am a big fan of seasonings and rubs that I can throw on meat and cook with little effort. Enter Badia Jerk Seasoning.

So easy  and so good. It is not a spicy Jerk seasoning but aromatic and delish. Adding a lil Jamacian to your meal is as simple as rubbing it on the meat and letting it marinate for an hour or two. The longer it sits the more flavor it will have. I rub the jerk seasoning on chicken breast, put a small amount of olive oil in a saute pan and cook until ready. Go really Jamacian with a side of Bammy. Bammy is a biscuit made out of casava flour. You can find it in most markets that sell Carribean foods. If you can't find it, make my cheesey biscuits to go with your chicken!

 

Sweet Potato and Turnip Gratin

This dish just reminds me of the fall season that is right around the corner. It's warm and cozy and down right  delicious. We all know the benefits of eating sweet potatoes, but they tend to be a little one note in the flavor department. When you pair them with the bitterness of turnips, they really shine! Turnips may look like a pale, harmless root but they are a little dietary fiber powerhouse in their own right, they have over 3 grams in a medium size turnip. Fiber will keep you full longer, making it less likely to snack; which is turn will help you stay slim. Up the fiber factor by adding some spinach to this dish. 

Turnip and Sweet Potato Gratin

Ingredients

2 large turnips, cut into 2 inch cubes

3 large sweet potatoes, cut into 2 inch cubes

Salt

Pepper

¼ cup corn starch

2 TBSP of butter

1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth (gluten free)

1 cup of shredded cheese ( Mozzarella,  Munester cheeses seem to work best)

Directions:
 Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a square baking dish, arrange turnips and sweet potatoes in a single layer. Sprinkle the layer with half of the corn starch. Create another layer and sprinkle with corn starch.
 Dot pieces of the butter on the top layer and pour chicken stock into the dish. Cover with foil and cook until vegetables are tender, about 20 – 25 minutes.

           Remove pan and sprinkle cheese over the dish. Return to oven and cook until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Allow to sit before serving so sauce can thicken.

Breakfast Dilemmas

I get so frustrated being g-free at breakfast time. Anyone that has to eat on the go can relate. Most g-free breakfast foods, although delicious, take some serious prep or require a sit down meal. Now, I have the best intentions of waking up early to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, go jogging, etc. but in my 30 years this has happened.. never.  So either I am late or I am a miserable beast because I am hungry. What’s a g-free go getter to do? There are g-free options such as granola bars, breakfast bars and bagels that you can take with you but these foods are not exactly budget friendly. Also, most of these foods are carb heavy which means within an hour you’ll be ready to hit the vending machine.  Always try to eat some form or protein in the am. It will keep you fuller longer. I tend to eat a lot of peanut butter but if you’re not a fan, try almond butter or soy nut butter. Here are a couple of my weekday breakfast on the go tricks. Stay fab and full!

Hot Ham and Cheese – put a corn tortilla on a paper towel, put a slice of cheese and a few slices of ham on top. Microwave for 15-30 seconds, fold in half and eat.

Banana Split- take a banana out of its skin and cut it in half length wise. Spread natural peanut butter on one half, sprinkle with a little cinnamon. Put the two halves together and eat. Try this with Nutella to, crazy good!

Rice Cakes – Take 2 whole grain rice cakes and spread with cream cheese and preserves of your choice. My fav is cream cheese with black berry jam.

Apple wraps- You can use either gluten free sandwich wraps or tortillas for this one. Cut up an apple into thin slices. Smear peanut butter and some honey on your wrap. Put apples on top, fold and eat.

Always warm your corn tortillas in the microwave for 15 seconds wrapped in paper towels to make them soft.

Use any seasonal fruits or raisins in these wraps, the more fiber the fuller you will be!

Spanish Stuffed Peppers

Here's a new twist on an old fav!

Spanish Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

5 skinless, boneless chicken thighs

I medium sized  jar of salsa (mild if you don’t like spice, I used PACE brand but any gluten free brand will do)

1 can of corn ( 6- 8 oz)

1/4 cup of black beans

5 bell peppers ( top cut off, seeds and ribs removed)

1 packet of sazon seasoning

1 cup of chicken stock or prepared bullion

Directions

1.       Put  chicken, salsa, sazon, and stock into a large pot and allow to cook over low heat until the meat is easily fork separated ( about 1 -2 hours).

2.       Heat oven to 400 degrees and place peppers in a baking tray for approximately 15 minutes or until they become easily pliable.

3.       Once chicken is ready, put corn and ¼ cup of black beans  in pot and stir to combine. Allow to cook on low while peppers are in the oven.

4.      Stuff the chicken mixture inside the peppers and place back in the oven for another 15 minutes.

5.       Top with sour cream, or cheese.