Author Archives: Amy Fothergill

What are your “Keys to the Kitchen”?

I’m lucky. I got to ask Aida this question up close and personal. If you don’t know her name, you should. Aida Mollenkamp is California-based food expert, TV host, writer, and culinary curator. She studied at the Cornell Hotel School (like me!) and Le Cordon Bleu Paris before joining CHOW.com where she worked behind the scenes as Food Editor. Eventually, she moved to television where she hosted her Food Network show Ask Aida (you get the pun now) and later the Cooking Channel show, foodCrafters.

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What’s New with Udi’s?

If you eat gluten-free, you might think there aren’t a lot of choices for bread out there. A few years ago, I discovered Udi’s products and pretty much haven’t gone back since. The bread in particular was so much better than most of the other gluten-free bread that was being sold. Other brands more closely resembled cardboard than anything I would put turkey upon. My kids, at 6 and 4 years old, were able to make the change as well. I noticed though, my son would eat the meat and was very often not eating the bread. We tried toasting it and that really seemed to help. No more bread waste with the exception of a few crusts here and there.

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Gluten-free Orange Sesame Beef Stir Fry Recipe

This recipe is a combination of two recipes/techniques. It’s broken down into 4 steps:

1. Marinate the meat and prep the sauce.
2. Cut the veggies.
3. Cook the veggies.
4. Cook the meat.
5. Put it all together and enjoy.

I grabbed some of the veggies (cabbage, mushrooms and scallions) from the salad bar for easy prep and used cooked green beans from the fridge along with shredded carrots. When I cook, I usually prep as I go to save time but forgot that the flat snap peas take some time to take off the string in the center. Note to self: prep the veggies first!. Once you start cooking, it all comes together very quickly.

The meat is delicious on its own so you can use this part of the recipe to make Asian beef anytime. The orange rind is added at the end so Read More »

Santa Hat Cupcakes

gluten free Christmas cupcakes

Santa Hat Cupcakes courtesy of Lauryn Cohen

I know you might think I’m clever, but really, I’m not. Full credit goes to Lauryn Cohen, aka Bella Baker, who came up with this cute concept. Lauren is the queen of sweet and is known for her uniquely creative treats and crafts. She recently launched a holiday baking guide (entitled Sweet Gifts Holiday Baking and Crafting Guide– available nationwide) filled with innovative and delicious recipes for the holidays.

Lauryn was nice enough to share one of her creations with The Family Chef. In this recipe, she calls for a red velvet cupcake (you will find a gluten-free, no-dye recipe in my upcoming cookbook). You can always use a basic vanilla (gluten-free).

Here is her technique for making super cute holiday cupcakes for your friends or family. Read More »

Gluten-Free “Very Easy” Crepe Recipe

Sometimes I can be intimidated to cook certain foods, especially new gluten-free dishes. For some reason, I thought crepes would be similar to going into the chem lab. I’m happy to report it can be made just as easily as regular ones! But, my theory behind knowing how to cook, regardless of whether it’s gluten-free or not, holds true. Technique is very important.

The recipe I used was from Gluten-Free Gobsmacked. I really like her simplicity and explanation of each step. See below for my version and additional instructions. Either way, great product.

I can’t wait for my little girl to try them. She made some in camp this week but could only eat a bite as it was made with regular flour. While at camp, she also had a hamburger bun because she thought it was gluten-free; a bit of miscommunication. Poor thing was so itchy last night, it made me sad. Her gluten sensitivity comes out in her skin. I suppose it is this that motivates me to try things. Read More »

Gluten Free and Dairy Free Caesar Salad Dressing with Croutons Recipe

gluten free dairy free caesar salad dressing with croutons

Photo: Amy Fothergill

Running out of gluten-free and dairy-free lunch ideas for your kids lunchboxes for school or summer camp? This can be a particular challenge when most traditional options revolve around bread and cheese. Of course you can always use gluten-free bread to make the traditional turkey or peanut butter and jelly, but why not think outside the standard lunch box fare and prepare a fresh salad? Children are often big fans of Caesar salad for the creamy dressing, pleasantly non-bitter romaine lettuce and the crunchy croutons. I love to use Easy Lunchboxes since it’s easy to keep everything separated; the croutons would be a bit mushy if I put them on in the morning!

I usually make this dressing with Parmesan cheese but have had a few people request a dairy-free version. I adapted this recipe, which is a fan favorite, by eliminating the cheese and adding Read More »

It’s Almost Time for Summer Salads

Summer is coming and fresh vegetables — in the stores, at the farmer’s markets and in your garden — will be plentiful. It’s time for summer salads.

Try this delicious salad as a side dish or even as a main. It’s light and satisfying.

Use the ingredients list as a guide. If you don’t have peppers, use what is on hand. If you don’t like cilantro, it’s fine not to use it at all; many people don’t like it. Use any lettuce, even finely sliced cabbage. See the tip below for how to make your red onion a little mellower. Or see what’s in your fridge, open a can of black beans, defrost some corn, and you have a delicious salad great for lunch or a party. Enjoy! Read More »

Gluten Free Quinoa and Corn Cakes Recipe

I’m going to really try to not tell a super long story so you can get right to this recipe. Promise.

A friend of mine brought me one of these a few weeks ago; she had just made a batch and I was very excited to try them. I pictured it being more like a crab cake when she described it but it was closer to a griddle cake since it’s flat.

My 6 year old daughter was in the room when she arrived with the sample. I’m thinking, “Oh yeah, it’s doesn’t have sugar. My daughter won’t want this.” Wrong.

“What’s that, Mama?” she asked.

“Something with quinoa; I don’t think you’ll like it.” (It smelled so good, I really did not want to share this).

“Can I have some?”

“Sure honey” and I gave her a piece.

“Uhmm, that’s good!” she says, “Can I have more?”. At least she has good manners.

“Of course, you can. I’ll give you half.” But inside I was like, really? You want this? Woe is me. Never assume what your kids will and won’t eat. I think I said that.

So, I got the recipe from my friend. It had come from her sister who had gotten it from a magazine in Southern California so I don’t know the exact source. I did change some of the amounts and ingredients as well. If I find out where it came from, I will update the post.

I made the quinoa cakes the next week. Surprisingly, everyone (8 year old son and husband included) loved them. What a great way to get some healthy protein for us all! I hope you will give it a try. Read More »

Quick and Easy Gluten-Free Cioppino Recipe

I have lived in Northern California for over a decade and I have never made cioppino until last week. I have no idea why; maybe it seemed intimidating, even to me! After having it at a friend’s house over the holidays and seeing how simple it was, I knew it was time for me to tackle it.

The recipe she used was this one from Giada de Laurentiis which was delicious, of course, but one thing she (my friend, not Giada) complained about was the availability (and cost) of the fish stock. Since I often make seafood risotto with chicken stock, I was curious if I could pull it off for cioppino as well.

After making it last weekend for some friends, the results were unanimous; the chicken stock not only made the broth lighter but it was less salty. I decided to use the juice from the canned clams to add some extra flavor. With the exception of the halibut and the crab (it’s high season for Dungeness right now), the other fish was frozen (shrimp and scallops) or from a Read More »