Who doesn’t love fall weather? The colors changing on the leaves, cooler weather (well, maybe we will be a couple degrees less than 100), the beginning of a new football season, the glorious Austin City Limits Music Festival, the list goes on. Some of the best tasting vegetables are also in season in the fall such as the mushrooms, oranges, lemons, cauliflower and fennel. All of the following vegetables have unique flavors and can be used in a variety of dishes. The top five are:

Mushrooms
Mushrooms are known for their immune boosting benefits in the nutrition world. They have been used for thousands of years in helping prevent cancer, boost the immune system and are also known as a great anti-aging food. There are several different types of mushrooms that are fabulous to cook with. Try grilling some beefy Portobello’s with Italian seasonings for a nice vegetarian meal this fall.

Oranges
The beloved orange; it’s one of the most popular fruits in North America. Known for the immune boosting vitamin C, oranges have many other health benefits. Oranges also have a good amount of Potassium (which helps with muscle contraction), fiber and vitamin A. Oranges are very versatile when it comes to cooking. Try this yummy recipe from celiac.com: Orange Chicken. Read More »

I love casseroles. They are quick, easy and versatile. They can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner and offer an easy clean up.

What you will need:

EVOO (Extra virgin olive oil) for sautéing
½ bag frozen green beans (optional)
½ lb-1 lb ground turkey sausage
1 onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
12 eggs, beaten together Read More »

Chef Michael Chiarello's grilled radicchio version

What you will need:
• An outdoor grill or cast-iron skillet.
• 2 heads of radicchio
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic 
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil (Macadamia Nut Oil is also tasty with this recipe)
• ¼ C white balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Goat cheese
• Basil, ripped apart into small pieces.

Cut radicchio in quarters; keep some of the stem. By keeping the stem, the radicchio is more Read More »

A hidden source of gluten is often found in shampoos, conditioners and lotions. Who would have known?

Many beauty products contain some source of wheat. Those with food allergies should check with the company to make sure their product is gluten-free. One of my favorite gluten-free beauty products is by Desert Essence. Their fragrance free collection is great for those who have sensitive skin. The lotion is delightfully moisturizing, the shampoo and body wash lather extremely well and the conditioner detangles the hair nicely. Desert Essence also makes several other shampoos and conditioners with an assortment of wonderful fragrances. Read More »

I love cooking with different wines, juices and making up different sauces. It can be quick and easy as long as you know the basic steps. Recently, I received a sampling of the POM Wonderful pomegranate juice and immediately thought it would pair well with pork.

Pork is a meat that can be made quickly and goes well with a variety of seasonings and sauces.

I have always been a big fan of POM Wonderful juices so I was thrilled to see what I could come up with in the kitchen that would be gluten-free. POM Wonderful juice is a great source of potassium and iron. The juice also has a slight tart taste.

What you will need for the pork chops: Read More »

Alas, the school cafeteria: A place where gluten and other allergens are free roaming. Don’t fret, there are plenty of wonderful GF conveniently packaged foods your child will enjoy (And many non-GF kids might get jealous of how delicious they look!)

Here are my favorite gluten-free products for school lunch: Read More »