Category Archives: Lunch

Chicken Étouffée

This is another one of the late night creations that Jay dreamed up. Since my lovely boyfriend is from the south with family from Louisiana I often learn to cook dishes I never had tried. I had come home from the gym planning to make some quick dinner and he was in the kitchen chopping what he calls the Cajun trio of peppers, onion and celery. I walk in the door all excited to see him in the kitchen and he yells “just in time, I need help.” As great as it is to have someone else cook for you I must admit that spending time in the kitchen together cooking and hanging out reminds me how much I love this wonderful guy and how he is the reason I have gotten to this point.

This a great dish for upcoming Mardi Gras no better way to be transported to New Orleans, the only thing missing are the beads!

Ingredients:

2 Tbs Butter

1 Tbs Brown Rice Flour

1/2 Cup Gluten Free Beer

1/2 Cup Water

2 Cups Chicken Broth

2 Cups Crushed Tomatoes

4 Chicken Thighs

1/2 White Onion Chopped

1 Pepper Chopped

2 Celery Stalks Chopped

2 Cloves Garlic Chopped

1 Tbs Salt

1 Tbs Pepper

1 Tbs Cajun Seasoning

1/4 Cup Chopped Parsley

1/2 Tbs Pepper Flakes

1 Bay Leaf

3 Cups Chopped Okra

This dish needs a little love but it’s totally worth it. Start by salting chicken and then browning chicken in the bottom of an oiled big pot. You’re not cooking it but just browning the outside. Remove chicken and set aside. Place in the butter and melt while scrapping the bits of chicken off the bottom and mixing with the butter. Now add rice flour and mix together well. You are trying to make a lose light brown paste but be very careful not to burn it. Add the water slowly with continuing to mix the flour and butter until you have a smooth consistency. Add the onion, pepper, garlic and celery and begin to cook the veggies down. Add remaining salt and all spices. After a few minutes add the beer and broth. Mix well and then add tomato broth. Now cut the chicken into small pieces and add to pot. Mix in Okra and bring to boil. Stir again well making sure to scrap the bottom and then lower to a simmer and add bay leaf and parsley. Let it cook down for about 30 minutes mixing occasional. Serve warm with rice or on its own. Enjoy!

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Fancy Grill Cheese and Tomato Soup

It is not like me to want to write about something so simple but this was so good I needed to share. With little in the fridge for lunch I had to pull out some tricks and this is what I came up with.

Ingredients:

Sandwich

4 Slices Quinwa Gluten Free Sandwich Bread (I like the one from Taffets)

1/3 Pound Bre Cheese

2 Tbs Orange Marmalade

Soup

1 Cup Tomato Sauce

1 1/2 Cup Chicken or Veggie Broth

2 Tbs Ricotta Cheese

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Dry Basil

Pinch of Salt

1 Tbs Tomato Paste

Start by placing all soup ingredients in a pot and stir well. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer. Cover pot and allow soup to simmer low which you prepare the sandwich. Simply make a stove top grill cheese with cheese on one slice and marmalade on the other. Grill until cheese is melted. Serve both together hot.

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Chebe

DryMixes

I officially have a new gluten free love, its called CHEBE. I learned about it for the first time while I was planning my menu for the Gluten Free Camp I will be cooking at over the summer. I was told kids go nuts for this stuff. This is the first gluten free box bread mix I have used and I must admit I was SHOCKED by the results. This stuff has been around for awhile and it really is something special. I love any product that is easy to customize and this stuff is really great. I used it for the first time during my super bowl party and was very pleased by the results. They make a huge range of mixes and frozen doughs. The recipe is originally based off of a Brazilian Bread traditionally made from tapioca. Most of the mixes require you to add milk or water, eggs, a little oil and cheese. I have played around with leaving cheese out and also with substituting salsa and tomato sauce for milk or water. They all worked great and I am excited to keep playing with this stuff. It all comes in a small box and it super each to keep in a cabinet and always have on hand.

Whats even better about this products is the company. I had the pleasure of talking to the president and he was just amazing. He explained how his wife is forced to eat gluten free but they had been creating the product long before her diagnosis. He is passionate about the product and is creating it for all the right reasons. He loves to support the gluten free community and is doing some amazing work. A great product + a truly good company = a fantastic product for me. Chebe bread is really a Guilt Free Foodie Cutie All-Star!

I will continue to post all my creations using all the products they offer but I wanted to share two easy recipes with this review.

Bread Stick Nuggets

1 Box Chebe Bread Stick Mix

1 Cup Crushed Tomatoes

1/2 Tbs Basil

1/2 Tbs Oregano

1/2 Tbs Parsley

1/2 Tbs Garlic Powder

1/4 Tbs Salt

2 Eggs

2 Tbs Olive Oil

1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Combine bread mix with oil, eggs and cheese as directed on box. Instead of the water or milk add crushed tomatoes. Knead well and roll out small nuggets as instructed on box. Bake following box. While in the oven place tomatoes and seasoning’s in a pot to mix and heat. Serve bread sticks with a side of heated tomato sauce for dipping.

Green Fiesta Rolls

1 Box Chebe Original Bread Mix

1/4 Cup Green Tomatillo Salsa

2 Eggs

2 Tbs Olive Oil

1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Combine bread mix with oil, eggs and cheese as directed on box. Instead of the water or milk add 1/4 Cup Salsa. Knead well and roll out small nuggets as instructed on box. Bake following box. Serve warm with extra salsa if you want.

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Herbalife!!! Time to get healthy and lose some weight!

I love to be able to introduce new products that I truly believe in. Today I learned about a great gluten free nutritional product line that is worth it’s weight in gold. Herbalife has a gluten free line!

If you’re trying to get healthy, eat balanced and lose weight it can be tricky. Luckily with blogs and guides like mine it is easier to make great meals but when you’re short on time and living a busy life it is hard to always make healthy choices. Especially being gluten free, most grab and go stuff is high fat and high calories making weight loss a challenge.

Have you considered including supplements into your daily routine. This could be replacing a protein shake for your breakfast or lunch. Maybe having a low cal protein bar for a snack. Luckily HerbalLife a leading supplement company for years has developed a gluten free line and the products are outstanding. I visited one of the locations in PA and had a chance to sample some great product’s and was blown away by the taste and effectiveness to curve my hunger.

I am always on the road running around and it’s often a challenge to find a healthy high protein snack that is gluten free and grab and go. I have become good at preparing food but now all I need to do is bring a shake along with me and I can be for the day.

This stuff is proven to have you feeling great and losing weight in only a few weeks. I am very selective on what I market but this stuff really is impressive. If you’re interested in trying some of it out are read more then check out the site below and let me know what you think. You can order direct from the site and the prices are amazing.

If I get a lot of interest I will start to review each product in the line and come up with some great shake and recipe ideas to make it fun. If you live in the Philadelphia or Malvern area let me know and I set you up to try some stuff out.

Herbal Life: Click Here To Check It Out

hebal life

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Cauliflower for Cauliflower Haters

My dads favorite and since its been a long week for him I figured I would make him happy. It is a great side dish for everything. Easy to fool anyone that does not like cauliflower.

Ingredients:

1 head of Cauliflower Cut off stem and into pieces

1 Cup Shredded Cheese ( Go with something aged and hard that you can freshly grate like a prima dona or romano )

2 TBS butter

3 Tbs Salt plus a little to taste

2 tsp Paprika

2 tsb Garlic Powder

Boil cauliflower in a big pot of water with all the salt. Boil for about 20 minutes until it is very soft. Then, drain it well and return to pot. Mash with a potato masher or large spoon. Next, lower flame to medium and add all the cheese and spices. Stir well and cook for an additional 5 minutes until all cheese is melted and mixture is creamy and thick. Serve hot and enjoy.

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Basil BLT

Not many people are aware but on many Saturdays I work at Sweet Christens Gluten Free Bakery creating specials and making brunch and lunch items. People come out to the bakery to get a week worth of gluten free goods and sit to have a quick bite of what ever I am making.

This week I whipped up some Basil BLT’s and everyone loved it. I wanted to share the recipe since its super easy.

Ingredients:

Two sliced of your favorite GF Bread
4 Slices Cooked Bacon
2 Tomato Slices
1 Tbs Low Fat Mayo
1/2 Tbs Pesto
1/4 Cup Lettuce
*Extra Basil Optional

In a small bowl mix the pesto and mayo. Place a thin layer of the spread on each slice of bread. Put the bread on an oiled pan with a low flame with the pesto side facing up. Now build the sandwich with bacon, tomato lettuce and addition lettuce if you want. Close sandwich and flip. Once bread is slightly toasted and warm, remove and serve. Enjoy

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Pamelo

I don’t think I ever just introduced an ingredient before but Pamelo is currently in season and an item many people are turned off from. This fruit is tradition in South East Asia. Similar smell and outer appearance to a grapefruit but about twice the size. The outer layer of the fruit is very thick. The inside is a bright pink fruit with a similar constancy and texture of an orange. The flavor is a cross between a sweet grape fruit and an orange.

To prepare

Remove peel. Then slowly remove as much of the “pith” as possible including the thick marerial separating each section of the fruit. The pith is bitter and very think.

Panelo is easily eaten plan or traditionally served with a blend of sugar and chile powder blend for dipping.

Find on at any local Asian grocery store. Enjoy!

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Crispy Kale

Clearly being “guilt free” I get very excited when I find a healthy substitute for something I should not be eating. I love munching on anything that is crispy and salty but its not easy to do with out all the fat and calories. When I learned you can do the same with a vegetable I was excited. I have been making these forever and they never get old.

Ingredients:

1 Bunch Kale

Cooking Spray

Lots of Sea Salt

The first step is the most important and is better done a head of time. Rinse the kale well and dry. You can dry by patting with paper towel or laying out for a bit on some towels to air dry. Then tare the leaves of the thick center stem. Place each piece on a well sprayed and foiled cookie sheet. Then spray the kale on top well and sprinkle with salt. Bake for about 12 minutes on 350 degrees turning half way. You will know when they are done as soon as they are all crisp. Some of the tray may finish first so just remove and continue cooking the rest.

They are best eaten as soon as they are done or store in a air tight container if needed.

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Fish Sticks

Fish sticks are the only thing I ever ordered as a kid. Something about the crunchy out side and the flaky middle. Dipping it into anything and being able to eat with your hands. I have yet to find a fish stick gluten free that I like until I made my own. This recipe got a boyfriend stamp if approval so we know its good.

Ingredients:

4 Tbs Corn Meal
2 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Salt
1 Egg
1 Pounder Cod
2 Tbs Milk

Mix corn meal, garlic, onion, salt and paprika in a bowl and pour onto a flat plate. In the bowl whisk egg and milk. Now cut fish into strips or large chunks. Dip each piece into egg and then roll in corn meal to coat. Place each piece on a sprayer foil baking sheet. Cook at 400 degrease for 10-15 minutes and turn half way until golden brown. Enjoy!

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Adventure Bars

The hardest thing about being gluten free is having trouble finding healthy good eats when on the go. I am a very outdoors person and I am always trying to find new things to take for long days out doors. I will not spend $3 on a gluten free granola bar. This recipe is amazing. Full of protein, gluten free, low in sugar and tasty.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Rice Crispy Cereal

1 1/2 Cup Old Fashion Oat Meal (gluten free)

1/2 Cup Dry Coconut

1/2 Cup Dry Cranberries and or Raisins

3 Tbs Peanut Butter

3 Tbs Honey

2 eggs

4 Tbs Splenda / Sugar

1/2 Cup Crushed Pecans

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp salt

In one bowl mix peanut butter and honey and heat in microwave for a few second to loosen. After it cools add vanilla, salt and sugar then mix well and put it aside. In a larger bowl mix oatmeal, coconut, dried fruit and crushed pecans. Return to the first bowl with peanut butter and mix in eggs well then add this liquid mix to the dry bowl and continue mixing. Finally, add the rice cereal to the mix and mix everything together well. Press mixture into a square baking well greased baking dish and cook for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown. Allow to cool and then cut into bars. Enjoy!!!!

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