Monday 22 June 2015

Pineapple Creamsicle Smoothie

Here's a quick & easy smoothie recipe!




This Monday morning I'm sharing a super easy recipe for delicious smoothies that can be made up in 5-10 minutes (cut this down to 2 minutes if you have frozen fruit already chopped up!). My kids loved this. I used Silk Brand Almond Coconut Blend, because I like that it’s unsweetened. I used fresh pineapple, but frozen would be fine too. Mango would be a good replacement, or peaches. Either way it’s a nice treat with no added sugar. I hope you make it and enjoy it!


Pineapple Creamsicle Smoothie

pineapple smoothie that tastes like a creamsicle


image_text

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

Yield:about 2 cups



Ingredients:

  • ½ cup Almond Coconut Blend milk (I like Silk Brand)
  • 1 cup Fresh Pineapple Chunks
  • 2 heaping tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
  • 10-12 ice cubes


Instructions:

  1. Add everything to your blend (liquid first). Blend until smooth and then serve.

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Jalapeño Macaroni and Cheese (Gluten Free)

I LOVE homemade mac & cheese. Do you? Please say yes.

If you haven't made homemade macaroni and cheese before, give this recipe a try. It's pretty easy and so tasty.

When I make macaroni, I always remember 2-2-2-2. I use two tablespoons butter, two tablespoons flour, two cups of milk and two cups cheese. This is always my starting point, and from there I can make adjustments. Sometimes I use cheddar cheese. This time I used Monterey Jack because I thought the color contrast of a light cheese with the jalapenos would be nice. And I really liked it. I always add in a bit of mustard with my cheese sauce also (sometimes dry mustard powder), usually Dijon mustard. Salt and pepper only after you’ve added your cheese.

For a bit more decadence, you can bake this afterwards with more cheese on top, or some gluten free bread crumbs. (Or both!)

To make this ahead and have it ready to go in the oven for dinner, cook your noodles a little less by a minute or two (because they will cook in the oven and you don’t want mushy noodles). Then follow the recipe up to and including mixing the noodles into the cheese sauce. Pour the whole thing into a baking dish and then refrigerate until needed. Warm it in the oven at 350F (180 C) until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes or so, but check it often after 20-25 minutes.


To make this less spicy, remove the seeds from your jalapenos before adding them in. (Leave the seeds in for more spice!)

What would you add in with this? I think corn would be a good addition. Also, I LOVE spice, so instead of eating this with ketchup like my son does, I drizzle some Sriracha sauce on top. I used the new Walmart brand of gluten free elbow macaroni noodles and was quite pleased with them. They were not at all mushy in leftovers the next day.




Monterey Jack & Jalapeno Macaroni

GF Mac & Cheese
creamy macaroni and cheese with spicy jalapeno
Yield:
Preparation time: 5min
Cook time: 8-12 min

Ingredients:

  • 400 grams gluten free elbow noodles (fusilli or penne would be good here too)
  • 2 cups grated cheese (I used Monterey jack)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons gluten free flour mix
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon mustard (I used Dijon)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

      1. Boil your noodles according to package directions. Then drain and let sit in colander while you make the cheese sauce.
      2. In a hot skillet or dutch oven, over medium-high heat, melt the butter. (In my cast iron enamel dutch oven on my stove top, I only need to use medium heat to get this very hot) Sprinkle flour over top of the melted butter and mix with whisk. Cook flour until light brown and nutty smelling. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking well to avoid having lumpy sauce. Once incorporated, let simmer and bubble until it thickens. Then add cheese, jalapenos, mustard and salt and pepper to taste. Mix reserved noodles into the sauce and serve.
      3. OPTIONAL: Use noodles that have been cooked a minute or two less than package time, and once everything is mixed together, pour into casserole dish, top with cheese and gluten free breadcrumbs if desired, then bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes at 350 F.

    Tuesday 2 June 2015

    Pumpkin Waffles (Gluten Free)

    Pumpkin Waffles - a quick and fun breakfast

    My kids love a quick, ready to eat breakfast. Waffles are great for that. These are so quick to put together, but also, after I make them, I wrap the extras, put them in the fridge and then they are ready to pop into the toaster or use in a sandwich (my favorite - although not with pumpkin flavored ones.. haha)

    There is something about the little pockets, which make waffles seem very fancy to my kids too. They really feel like it's a special treat, which is always nice, especially in a recipe that has only 1-2 tablespoons of sugar in it.

    If you don't like syrup, like me, these are great with just butter, or nut butter. My daughter thinks they would be good with cream cheese on top and a sprinkle of cinnamon. My family assures me that they are great with maple syrup though. So top them how you like, either way - delicious. (I'm going to try cream cheese next)

    And I guess the flavors here might be more suited to fall, but I have a whole bunch of pureed pumpkin in the freezer that I wanted to use up. I hope you try these and like them too.

    What's your favorite waffle flavor? Or favorite quick breakfast?



    Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles

    pumpkin waffle
    Yield: 8 waffles (in my waffle maker)
    Preparation time: 5min
    Cook time: 5-7min

    Ingredients:

    • 140 g (1 cup) all-purpose gluten free flour mix
    • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum, if not included in your mix
    • 2 tablespoons sugar (I use coconut sugar)
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • ½ cup pumpkin puree
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
    • ½ cup milk
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

    Instructions:

        1. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, xanthan gum (if using), sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
        2. In another medium bowl, mix together the pumpkin, egg, butter, milk and apple cider vinegar.
        3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredient s, then add the wet ingredients in and stir until combined.
        4. Cook according to your waffle maker’s instructions.
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