Category Archives: Lunch

New England Clam Chowder

With a big snow storm in town and temperatures low, it is a great time for a big pot of a good creamy soup. New England clam chowder is a great classic very easy to make.

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes (peeled and chopped)

8oz clam juice

4 stalks celery (chopped)

3 medium carrots (peeled and cut into rounds)

1 onion

2 teaspoon pepper

3 tablespoon butter

1/3 cup flour

32 oz chicken broth

1/4 cup white wine

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoon garlic powder

38oz chopped clams with juice

1 1/2 cup half & half

In a small pot start by boiling potatoes in clam juice. In a large pot melt butter and cook carrot, celery and onion. Once onion starts to become translucent add pepper and flour. Mix until combined. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Now, add wine, bay leaf, garlic and half&half. Continue to cook for 5 minutes and then add clams with juice. Cook an additional 5-10 minutes until soup is at a low boil. Serve hot.

La Brea Bakery Bread

A good, sliced gluten-free bread is the hardest thing to find in the gluten-free world. Many of us just stick to one of the few name brands we see in stores but most of them are never that great. I recently received samples from La Brea Bakery. This is an outstanding product and available to buy online!

 La Brea Bakery is the #1 selling artisan bread company in the country. La Brea Bakery created award-winning gluten free breads that taste different than most other options available.

They offer two outstanding flavors.  A classic white that is soft with a thin crust. Also a multi-grain that is soft on the inside with a nutty crust. You can find more about each option here . 

I have sampled a great number of gluten free sliced bread and this product clearly stands out. Has all the characters a gluten-free eater is looking for. The flavor of both option is spot on tasting clean and full of fresh baked flavor. Quality is spot on, clearly coming from an artisan company and not a mass produced item. Slice size is nice, not to big or small, great for toast or sandwich. No air holes in the slices which is always important and hard to find. Both options have an actual crust that has its own character and is part of the loaf. Texture soft, smooth, fluffy and not chewy at all. Toast’s up great and hold’s up to anything I have put on it yet. 

Where to buy:

Amazon Fresh 

Find Store Locations Here

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TIME TO WIN!! #BagelandNutButterBonanza

Undoubtedly, one of the best food combinations is peanut butter and jelly!! It’s time to take this creamy and sweet combination to the next level! Working together with Grinders Nut Butter and Sweet Note Gluten-Free bagels we bring the challenge home to you.

What is your perfect combination? What is the ingredient you add to your classic nut butter sandwich? Think outside the box, no jelly, something new and unique.

Sweet Note Bagels + Grinder Nut Butter + (your pick) = the best sandwich ever!!!

Can you fill in the blank? Think you have the best missing ingredient?? Let’s hear it!! Winner gets a bundle gift of Sweet Note Bagels and Georgia Grinder Nut Butters …. Give it your best try and you may win!!!

A bit more about these two great brands:

Sweet Note Bagels- Finally, a New York Style Bagel that is gluten-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy free and more! These bagels come in many flavors and are easy to prep in the oven or microwave. The first gluten-free bagel on the market to be crispy on the outside, soft on the inside but with the New York style texture I grew up with. The best part is this super special product is easy to find Shoprite, CVS, Whole Foods or one of many stores near you. Check out this link to find Sweet Note Bagels in your area Location. You can also have an order shipped to your home with the Online Store. Sweet Note is also donating to Camp Celiac this year where I volunteer. Very happy to have our campers give them a try.

   
 

Georgia Grinders Nut Butter- This company makes a wonderful, home style nut butter. Flavors consist of original almond, honey almond, cashew, no salt butter  and much more. Everything made with the highest quality of ingredients, all-natural and non GMO.I am always looking for healthy (paleo friendly) nut butters and this is one of the few that has no added sugar or oil. I have tasted many all natural almond butter but Georgia Grinders is doing something very special. The nut butters are smooth, cream and filled with flavor. The quality of the ingredients being used shows from the very first taste. Buy online at online store or a store near you. When shopping online use code “guiltfreefoodiecutie”.

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It’s your turn. Come up with your favorite match for this classic sandwich and you could win!! Tell me your third ingredient in a post, blog response or Facebook. Make sure to tag it #BagelandNutButterBonanza

Winner will be announced soon. 

  

 

SUNWARRIOR Review

Shakes have become my healthy meal option on the go. After a good workout or running out the door, my daily routine includes a nutritious shake of some kind. Adding protein to a shake can be difficult since many of the powders on the market are filled with junk and not gluten-free.

Sunwarrior is a clean plant based protein and natural supplement option. Sunwarrior offers a large selection of products with items the are raw, organic or all-natural. Can’t beat an option that is gluten-free, soy free, non-gmo, dairy free and vegan.

Many different options are available:

Classic Protein is made from fermented brown rice. This simple formula is suggested for those with food allergies and our more granola customers.
Warrior Blend is a synergistic combination of pea, goji berry, and hemp proteins with the bonus of medium chain triglycerides from coconut. Warrior Blend has a slightly better amino acid profile and includes the anti-inflammatory power of coconut to speed recovery.

Classic Plus relies on brown rice, pea, quinoa, chia, and amaranth for ancient grain goodness without the gluten or carbs. It has a similar amino acid profile to Warrior Blend, but a slightly different texture and flavor.

Read more about this product or buy online at: https://sunwarrior.com/store/

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Light Buffalo Chick Dip 

With football season in full swing it’s time for some great snacks. Buffalo dip is normally loaded with some calorie heavy ingredients. This version is much lighter and no one with ever know. Give it a try!

Ingredients:

1 roasted whole chicken 

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

8oz light cream cheese (softened)

4oz crumbled blue cheese

3/4 cup buffalo wing sauce (look for a brand that is 5 calories a serving)

1/2 cup grated light cheese (Colby jack, mozzarella or cheddar) 

Start by shredding the meat of the whole chicken. Make sure to remove all skin and bones. Place the shredded meat into a large bowl. Add yogurt, cream cheese, blue cheese, buffalo sauce and 1/4 of the grated cheese. Mix together well. Pour mixture into round baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Broil for an additional 1-2 more minutes to make the top golden. Serve hot with celery and carrot sticks. 

  

Simple Silver Dollar Biscuits 

This was my first attempt at gluten-free biscuits. I think they came out great. I cut the rolled dough into small biscuit shapes instead of normal cut-out style which is why they are called silver dollar.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup gluten-free all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

1 pinch salt

2 tablespoons butter (cut into cubed)

2 oz cream cheese (cut in to cubed)

1/4 milk

Start by mixing the all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together. Next, cut the cream cheese and butter into the mix until you have a crumbly mixture. Then, slowly kneed the milk into the mix. Once mixed well, roll into a log about 2 inches in diameter and ten inches long. Slice log into round disks about 1 1/2 inches thick. Place the round biscuits on a foiled baking sheet. Spray tops well with cooking spray or oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 mins. Next, remove and flip them all and bake for ten more minutes. Once done enjoy with honey or jelly. 

 

Brussel Sprout Salad

I am always coming up with new slaw recipes. I was making a big fancy fish dinner and needed a fun side to go with it. The whole thing came out crunchy, sweet and sour. 

Ingredients

2 Cups Brussel Sprout

1 Head Fennel

1 Lemon

1 Sugar Cane Vinegar

1 tsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 Pepper

2 Tbs Orange Marmalade

 

Start by shredding brussel sprout and fennel in a large bowl. Do this carefully. Using a micro planner makes this much easier. Pour the juice of the lemon and vinegar in the bowl and mix well. Add salt, pepper and orange marmalade. Mix well and serve cold.

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Spicy Watermelon Salad

Watermelon salad is a wonderful side on a hot day. The texture sweetness of watermelon makes it fun to get creative.

Ingredients-

4 cups cubed watermelon
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 jalapeño pepper
1/3 cup goat cheese (optional)

In a large bowl mix watermelon and lemon juice. On the side remove the seeds of the jalapeño and then slice into thin strips. Add half of the jalapeño to the bowl and mix well. Serve cold with optional cheese crumbled on top.

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Stir Fry Chinese Eggplant

Eggplant works great in many dishes. This is one of my favorites.

Ingredients:
4 Long Chinese Eggplants
1/4 Cup Gluten- Free Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce
1 Tablespoon Oil

Start by cutting the eggplant up into rounds. Add eggplant into a large heated pan with oil. Heat over medium high heat for a few minutes until eggplant begins to brown and then add soy and hoisin sauce. Lower heat and continue to cook and toss until eggplant begins to get soft. Enjoy hot!

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Paleo Health Salad

Health salad is one of those classic deli sides. A cross between slaw and a quick pickle. Goes great as a side to any sandwich or BBQ dish.

Ingredients:
1/2 green cabbage
2 medium carrots
1 large cucumber
2 bell peppers
1 cup vinegar (apple cider or red
wine vinegar)
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoon honey

A mandolin is key to cutting all the veggies to a consistent size. Start by cutting veggies into thin long slices. Next, place all sliced veggies into a glass or plastic container. Break cabbage up and mix veggies together. Then add vinegar, pepper, salt, oregano and honey. Mix together well. Cover container well with lid or plastic wrap. Set in fridge for 12-24 hours shaking container a bit a few times along the way. Serve cold.

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