2- Step Magic Pulled Pork

I have been making this recipe for years because you can put it together in 5 minutes before work and then come home to a great meal. Goes great with BBQ in the summer and then a great hot comfort meal in the winter.

Ingredients-

1 Pork Tenderloin

2 Cups Diet Root Beer

1 Tbs Balsamic Vinegar

Salt and Pepper

All you need to do is salt and pepper the pork. Then, place it in the slow cooker. Next, Add the soda and balsamic. Put the lid on the slow cook and turn it to low. 8 hours later is will be done. Just shread the meat and place on your favorite gluten free hamburger bun with a little BBQ sauce. You can get my favorite at http://www.onlinebakery.co/. Enjoy

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Low Fat Tiramisu

I have started to become a big fan of Tiramisu but I needed to come up with a gluten free and guilt free recipe. This is a great recipe to play around with, easy to do and no baking needed. Great dessert for everyone for the holidays. With the added kick of espresso and liquore its a crowd pleasure and no one will know if guilt free.

Ingredents:

14 oz Light Cool Whip

25 Gluten Free Fingerling Cookies

8 oz marscappon cheese or light cream cheese

4 Eggs whites whisked to high peacks

1 oz Port

1 Oz Coffee Liquor

1 1/2 cups espresso or strong coffee light sweetened

2 Tbs Splenda

The first step is to whisk egg whites and cream cheese in two separate bowls. Pour the port into the cream cheese to help soften. Slowly combine the three in on large bowl working hard not to over work the eggs. Now, combine the coffee liquor and espresso and sugar.

Now its time to assemble. Soak each cookie in coffee for 15 seconds on each side. You want them to be well soaked but still firm. Place each cookie in a 9′ by 5′ dish to form layer. Then place half the cream mix on top. Place an addition layer of soaked cookies above the cream layer. Top the whole thing with remaining cream mix. Chill in fridge for 3 hour. Enjoy!

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Carrot Cake

Carrot cake has been my cake of choice since I was a kid. Something about the unique taste and cream cheese frosting that is just perfect. Lucky enough my boyfriend feel exactly the same. I played with a way to make it gluten free and I think it came out great.

Ingredients:

2 Large Carrots Grated

2 Cups White Rice Flour

2 Cups Sugar

1/2 Cups Oil

4 Eggs

1 Tbs Cinnamon

1 tsbn Baking Soda

Whisk eggs and sugar together. Stir in remain ingredients and pour into a well greased spring pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 min. Allow to cool well and then remove from pan. Frost with any cream cheese frosting and enjoy.

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Guilt Free Chai Tea

As soon as the trees change colors and the air starts to become crisp I think pumpkin and spice. Nothing better then the powder chai tea latte that they sell at every coffee house and cafe in town. But most of the mix they use are high calorie and surprisingly gluten free. This recipe makes a ton of the powder and in a small jar would make great birthday gifts. At 30 calories a serving and fat free I promise you want tell the difference.

Ingredients:

1 Cups Splenda

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Spice

1 1/2 Cup Instant Tea (Lipton make a great powder version)

1 1/2 Cups Powder Fat Free Milk

1 1/2 Fat Free Sugar Free French Vanilla Coffee Mate

Pint Salt and Pepper

Place it all in the a food processor and mix really well. It takes a bit to mix well but you will end up with a fine powder. Pour into an airlock container.

To serve: Place 3 Tbs ( 1/8 cup) in an 8oz mug of hot water, stir and enjoy.

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Apple Fritter

Its hard to get the best fall treats gluten free. Like the apple pies and donuts. I am trying hard to come up with some great alternatives. This time I made a simple and healthy recipe or Apple Fritters. I have been having them for breakfast and cant get enough.

Ingredients –

1 Large apple sliced into 1/4 inch rounds (remove seeds)

1 Large Egg

1 Banana

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

In a food processor beat egg, banana, baking powder and cinnamon till batter is formed. Pour batter into bowl. Dip each slice in the batter to coat well and cook on a hot well greased pan. Flip after 2 minutes. Cook apples on medium flame so that they cook completely with out burning the batter. I like to store the finished ones on a cookie tray in a 200 degree over while l finished cooking all the batches.

Serve hot with syrup or power sugar!!!

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Gluten Free Holiday Tips

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Thanksgiving is about a week away. I want to share some tips I wrote up for the NFCA. Preparing a holiday meal gluten free can be easy with a little planning and creative thinking. Please comment with any questions.

Gluten Free Holiday Tips –

Corn Starch will always do the trick. Most gravy packets have flour, using corn starch does the same thing and no one will notice.

Start saving your bread end pieces. Good gluten free bread crumbs are hard to find. Save the unwanted ends, toast them up and make your own.

Offer to bring a dessert since dessert is the hardest to find something gluten free friendly. Try making a rice pudding with some cinnamon or make a pie using your favorite gf gluten free pizza dough or cookie dough as a crust.

Make your own crust with 1 Cup crushed walnuts, 1 Cup Nut Flour and ½ Cup butter and ½ Cup Sugar.

Buy a slow cooker! You can make any side dish simply amazing from cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato casserole to fun desserts like pumpkin pudding!

If you’re worried about what a gluten free child might eat don’t be scared to bring a box of gluten free macaroni and cheese. It is simple to do without getting in the way of the cook and some of the new quinoa versions are really great.

Get creative with stuffing made from corn bread or rice.

If you’re going away for a special meal make sure to tell the host ahead of time. They would rather understand that have you not eat. Offer to bring your own bread or anything else on their menu that you may need.

Remember that traditional green bean casserole is made from canned mushroom soup and fried onions that are not gluten free.

Most store bought corn bread mix HAS flour, make your own from scratch with just corn meal, eggs, butter and a little sugar.

Have fun experimenting and creat your favorites with a new spin. Who knows what you might create!

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Cheese Cauliflower

I am always a sucker for a good creamy side dish but love finding ways to enjoy it gluten free. I whip this one up really quick as a side to a store bought roast chicken. It would be a great Mac and Cheese alternative for a holiday side.

Ingredients:

1 Cauliflower Head cut up
1 Slice American cheese
1/4 Cup Almond Milk
1/3 Cup Parm Cheese
1 Tbs Half & Half
2 Tbs Bacon Bits (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Boil cauliflower till very soft. Stain well and mash with fork or potato masher. With heat on low add remaining ingredients. Cook until all liquid is gone and cheese is melted.

Serve Hot

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Brussel Sprouts

Its finally brussels sprout season and I am trying to come up with a good recipe of the holidays. This is an easy recipe for any holiday side dish. I had received a sample of Pecan Yummies sweet pecans that worked as a great topper for this one. They are gluten free and are a great snack even by them self. Check them out at http://www.pecanyummies.com. Great gift idea for any chef in the family.

Ingredients-

1 Pound Brussels Sprouts

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Lemon Pepper

1/3 Cups Pecan Yummies Candy Pecans

Cuts the ends off all the sprouts and slice in half. Place them all in a large sauce pan of boiling water. Add salt and stir. Cook in boiling water for about 5 minutes until tender. Drain and return to pan. Toss in lemon pepper and the serve. Top each serving with a good sprinkle of crushed candy pecans.

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Dana Slaw

I have been asking my friend Dana to make a recipe for my blog. Her cooking always inspires me do do fun vegetarian stuff. I changed the recipe a bit to make it vegan. Give it a try and let me know what you think. I would be glad to bug Dana for more.

Ingredients:

Slaw –

Cabbage Grated (I used the store bag of slaw mix because it was on sale and EASY)

1 grated apple or pear (Optional)

1/3 Cup Sunflower or Pumpkin Seeds

1/3 Cup Raisins

Dressing –

1 Tbs Olive Oil

2 Tbs Almond Milk

1 TBS Honey or Maple Syrup

1 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tsp Marjoram Spice

Salt and Pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients for slaw in one bowl. In a separate bowl mix all dressing ingredients and whisk together well. Pour dressing into slaw ad mix well. Serve as a fun side to a sandwich or soup.

Cooking a disaster deployment. I think this was our chili cook off! I miss those days 🙂

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Slow Cooker Pork Chops

I am never a big pork chop fan because they are so hard to make tender. This was so easy, great for any week day meal.

Ingredients:

1 Pound Pork Chops (I went with boneless)

Salt

Pepper

1 Tbs Paprika

1 Tsp garlic powder

Marinade –

1/4 Cup Red Wine

1/4 Orange Juice

2 Cups Water

4 Bay leaves

1/2 Tbs Rosemary

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I just coated the chops with salt, pepper, garlic and paprika on both sides. Placed them in a container and pours in all tee marinade ingredients. Just letting the rosemary and bay leaves float on top. Leave the whole thing in the fridge over night. In the morning, place it all in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours. Take each one out careful for dinner because they will break apart from being supper tender. Serve with apple butter, polenta (Ancient Harvest Quinoa Polenta version is the best http://www.quinoa.net) and a veggie.

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Enjoy!

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