Cooking

Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

If you think being on a gluten free diet means never eating some of your favorite foods, think again. There has been an explosion of gluten free products over the past few years so become familiar with the brands that work for you. Bionaturae has many options for pasta like elbows, spaghetti and penne rigate.

Here are important tips to cooking good gluten free pasta:

  • Make sure there is plenty of water when boiling.
  • Add salt to the boiling water.
  • Start testing the pasta 1 minute before the recommended time. If it’s not done, test in 1 minute intervals.
  • Don’t over mix or over cook gluten free pasta; it will fall apart.

The key to a satisfying macaroni and cheese is learning to make a good cheese sauce. By making a few adjustments from a traditional recipe, you’ll soon be in business. Read More »

10 Quick Gluten-Free Baking Tips

Cashew Apricot Quick Bread from GFDF Cooking Made Easy

Here are ten quick baking tips that will help make your next loaf of gluten-free bread, pie or cake a success! 

  1. Maintain a gluten-free pantry to avoid cross-contamination if you have gluten-containing products in your kitchen.
  2. Avoid flopping in cakes when using egg whites. In making cakes that use egg whites for structure, be careful when whipping whites. If over-whipped, they will deflate as the cake cools. Read More »

True Story: Doctor Says “Don’t Eat Wheat Ever Again”

 

gluten free challah bread

Gluten Free Homemade Challah Bread

This is a quote that a lot of people are hearing these days. What happens after your doctor says these words? Here is a synopsis of my journey; if any of this sounds familiar, give it some serious thought…there may be a very simple answer.

I first heard these words while I was barely concious, in a bed at Methodist Hospital in Houston. I had become so weak and debilitated by my undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease that my life was in danger. The symptoms over twenty years included gastrointestinal problems, fibromyalgia, irritability, bone pain and more. The good news was that I finally found out what was wrong with me; the better news was finding out that the disease is completely manageable through dietary changes alone.–no medications, no surgeries, none of that stuff. Just don’t eat grains that contain the gluten protein, mainly wheat, barley and rye. That sounded really good to me.

Not so fast. While still in the hospital, I was really still very sick, and not really able to process the information. After a couple of days (in which I was already improving), it dawned on me that Read More »

Gluten-Free Quinoa & Pumpkin Seed Granola Recipe

I have dubbed this my no-oat granola. I missed that detail when I first started adapting this recipe and was sure Better Homes and Gardens had forgotten to list the oats in the ingredient list. Alas, it was intentional and I’m loving it! This granola with a little homemade almond milk is my new go-to breakfast, snack, and occasional dinner.

Quinoa & Pumpkin Seed Granola

Quinoa & Pumpkin Seed Granola

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Corn-syrup and Cane-sugar-Free Caramel Popcorn Recipe

gluten free sugar free corn syrup free caramel corn

What’s the problem with how traditional caramel corn is made? The primary ingredients are usually corn syrup and refined white sugar (not at all beneficial to our health or mood).  Also, you often have to fight to keep the caramel corn on the baking sheets as you stir it during baking.  All these problems have been solved with this new recipe.  Natural sweeteners replace the corn syrup and white sugar and the mixture is baked in a casserole dish.  Easy and yummy! I’m also always amazed by how large a batch is made with such a small amount of ingredients.

Pop ½ cup of popcorn (produces 2-3 quarts of popcorn)

3 Tbsp. coconut oil/butter
1/3 cup honey and/or maple syrup Read More »

Surviving Game Day Gluten Free

Many will be gathering with friends and family to see who this year’s Superbowl champion will be.  I am not a football fan, but I will most likely find  myself at a party on Sunday.  Since I am gluten free, I will need to be careful that I don’t eat anything that will make me sick.

Here are some suggestions on surviving the big game day gluten free. Some of the common causes of accidental gluten ingestion are cross contamination from crumbs or pieces of gluten food dropping into gluten free foods or on plates, serving utensils used with gluten foods used on gluten free foods, or not knowing ingredients in a dish.

If you are hosting a party:

1. Separate tables.  If possible, have separate tables for gluten and gluten free offerings.  This is the most reliable way to keep cross contamination from occurring  at a party.

2. Label serving utensils and dishes that are gluten free with the same color ribbon, so guests can tell which serving utensil goes with which dish. Read More »