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How-to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
I know it’s been a while since I have shared a Tutorial Tuesday post with you guys, but it’s been a busy few weeks. So, I thought an easy, no frills tutorial would be perfect. No need for step-by-step photos on this one, just one quick step and then we wait.
Making homemade vanilla extract is so easy. You literally need just two ingredients, alcohol and vanilla beans and just a few minutes of prep time. You do need a little patience while the flavor of the vanilla beans is extracted, which takes several weeks. But, it is all more than worth it when you end up with the tastiest, most incredible flavor – perfect for all of your baking needs. Plus, this delicious homemade vanilla extract makes an amazing thoughtful gift.
To start, for a standard vanilla extract, I recommend an inexpensive vodka, at least 70 proof. Cheaper, many times, is better since there are no distinguishing flavors from the vodka, as it can be with a pricer spirit, which can interfere with the vanilla flavor. If you are sensitive to certain grain-based vodkas, I do recommend selecting a certified gluten-free vodka, I like and use Tito’s.
The recommended ratio of vanilla beans to vodka that I have found works best is 1 quart vodka to 1/4 pound of dry vanilla beans. This makes things very easy as I divide this amount among four 8-ounce containers, and it’s very easy to divide the 1/4 pound of beans amongst them. Simple, no crazy math, no crazy precise measuring.
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50+ Gluten-Free Recipes For Summer
Now that we are smack in the middle of summer, I just can’t help but be so excited by all of the amazing produce in season right now. Summer is full of incredible fresh fruits and vegetables, perfect for creating delicious gluten-free dishes with.
As part of my ongoing Restricted Diet Series with Free People, I pulled together a this list of 50+ Gluten-free Recipes for Summer, featuring some of my favorites, from this site and from some of my very favorite bloggers. I hope you enjoy!
Head to the Free People Blog BLDG 25 now to get all of these amazing recipes!
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How-to Make Cauliflower Rice
How-to Make Cauliflower Rice
Use this simple step-by-step and learn How-to Make Cauliflower Rice! It’s super simple. Cauliflower rice is a staple around here! It’s been a favorite of ours for years now and although it cannot completely replace traditional rice in all recipes, it is truly wonderful when you are enjoying a dish that calls for a bed of rice – curries, stews, sauces and so on. Usually the rice is a nice way to have a more filling meal, to offer some texture and a way to soak up some of the extra sauce, so cauliflower rice is such a perfect substitution for these dishes and it is so incredibly easy to make. Done in about 10 minutes, or less.
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30-Minute Sweet Potato and Kale Coconut Curry {Gluten-free and Vegan}
I have been all about the simple healthy one-pot meals, as of late. Life has been hectic for us. Lots of work, deadlines, house guests every two to three weeks, commitments, shows and so on. I am certainly not complaining, such is the life of the self employed. But, some days by the time I am done cooking and creating recipes for the blog, editing photos and writing back all the emails – by dinner I am actually just too exhausted to make any sort of feast. The sad truth is that as a food blogger sometimes my own meals get forgotten, I am so focused on making the recipes that I have planned for the blog to share with all of you. Plus,the idea of tons of prep, lots of steps, loads of dishes – it all seems overwhelming and unwelcomed at the end of a busy day, especially a day that included much of just that.
A good 30-minute, one-pot meal means that, besides a few minutes for cutting up a few ingredients and dirtying a cutting board or knife, dinner is done before you can blink an eye. Just like that, you can sit down and enjoy a nutritious home-cooked meal with your love and the clean up after is next to nothing. Enter this super easy 30-minute Sweet Potato and Kale Coconut Curry.
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Potato and Spinach Soup with Jalapeño from the Nourished Kitchen Cookbook + Giveaway
What a wonderful time it is for fantastic passion-filled cookbooks! So many incredible, drool-worthy books on the shelves right now, it is such a great time for us food lovers! I can tell you, this self-proclaimed cookbook junkie is in heaven, currently. You should see the many packages and envelopes that have been showing up here over the last month or two, each one filled with another stunning book that is exuding the incredible passion of the dedicated creator.Today, I am excited to bring you another book that I have been highly anticipating. The Nourished Kitchen: Farm-to-Table recipes for the Traditional Food Lifestyle, from the ever so talented, Jenny McGruther, is a book that I have been waiting to have in my very own kitchen, since the minute I heard that it was in production. I have followed Jenny’s blog, The Nourished Kitchen for many years now and she has always been an inspiration to me, how I cook and how I eat. Jenny’s blog was one of the first I found when I initially changed my diet.
For me, there is nothing more inspiring than flipping through the pages of a cookbook that I know was created with much love and passion. Regardless of the content of a cookbook, there is something so special about the ones where you can feel the author’s devotion to their craft and the immense amount of love and care that they put into every single dish that they created to share with us, the readers. The Nourished Kitchen is a fine example of this. Jenny’s words illustrate the profound love and joy she has for cooking and with each paragraph I read, I get more excited to get into my kitchen to start creating something beautiful. Although Jenny and this cookbook are not exclusively gluten-free, she and I share so many very similar views on food and eating. As the Jenny puts it:
“a fad-free approach to cooking and eating that emphasizes nutrient-dense, real food, and values quality environment, and community over the convenience of processed, additive-laden products that are the norm on grocery store shelves”
I couldn’t have said it better myself, really. For those of you that have followed Tasty Yummies over the 4 years I have been writing it, you know that I have chosen to not put any labels on my diet. Besides eating gluten-free, I choose to focus my efforts on a real food diet rich in nourishing whole foods that feed both my body and my soul. I eat intuitively, always listening to my body and feeding it with fresh, unprocessed, seasonal and whenever possible, local foods that are not just delicious and good for me, but that also fills me with happiness and joy.
You also probably know that despite my mostly plant-based diet, I do consume some meat. I consider myself a conscientious omnivore who prefers to only eat meat and other animal products, when I am given the opportunity to purchase it locally, from a farmer whom I can trust. This is something that has become increasingly more difficult for me, since we’ve moved to California last year. The cost of raising livestock on pasture and sustainably seems to considerably more expensive here, than it obviously is in New York. So, I have to say, I am very envious of Jenny’s amazing resources, living in the central mountains of Colorado.
With each recipe and every section in this beautiful book, you can see the incredible advantages of Jenny’s location, which provides her access to amazing traditional foods throughout the year. The Nourished Kitchen contains more than 160 recipes, inspired by the seasons, land and waters around her. Whether you are gluten-free or dairy-free, or you have other restrictions on your diet, there are still plenty of recipes in this cookbook for you and the best part is, because of the simple and traditional preparations and the approachable ingredients (many of which you can grow in your very own garden) – many of the recipes are easily adaptable to fit your own way of eating. Read the rest of this entry »
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Grilled Asparagus Spring Salad with Meyer Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette (Gluten-free w/ Vegan Option)
Spring produce honestly makes me giddy. I get school girl crush excited to stroll the aisles at the farmers market and my favorite organic grocery store and it feels like Christmas morning every Wednesday when I open the CSA box that our farmer drops off and I get to look inside. I am not sure how you feel about it, but I seriously think all of this fresh green goodness is definitely worth celebrating.
One of my absolute favorite in season vegetables is asparagus. I am not joking when I tell you I consumed about 3 lbs of it myself in a 24 hour period, one day last week. I love it. My two favorite ways to enjoy it is roasted in the oven and grilled. The smokey flavor and those char marks from the beautiful caramelization of the natural sugars are just perfection.
Oh and I personally find just picking those spears up with my hands and enjoying them, sans silverware, only enhances all of this! Try it, you’ll see. Read the rest of this entry »
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Gluten-free Cinnamon Rolls (with Dairy-free options)
After making the (huge) move from New York to California earlier this year, I knew that the holidays would be an especially hard time of year for missing my family. When the first signs of the season hit, I was instantly an emotional wreck (crying in the decorations aisle at Target, at the tree lighting ceremony at Disneyland… you get the gist.) Since we wouldn’t be making the trip back home this first year, I quickly realized how important it would be to bring my family’s holiday traditions to our new home.
Every Christmas morning for as long as I can remember, my mom would form a batch of her homemade cinnamon rolls into the shape of a Christmas tree. Some years, she would get creative and decorate the tree with sprinkles or color the icing green, but no matter what, they were always in the shape of a tree. The sweet rolls served as a final gift to enjoy together after every other present from under the tree had been opened. It’s the little things like this – 34 years of the same Christmas traditions – that I’m going to especially miss this year.
Since being gluten-free for almost a decade, my Mom and I have attempted GF versions, but it’s been tough to get the recipe exactly right. But even if I didn’t have any to eat, it was enough just to see everyone enjoying them around the table. Read the rest of this entry »
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99 Gluten-free Thanksgiving Recipes
For even MORE gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes, be sure to check out the follow-up post to this
99 MORE Gluten-free Thanksgiving Recipes.Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our gratitude. To take time to appreciate all that we have. This month I have been participating in a 21-Day Gratitude Meditation Series. Each morning I wake up and I dedicate a set amount of time before I start my day, to reflect on the gratitude I have for my life and those that are a part of it. It has been a wonderful journey and I don’t let a day pass by that I don’t recognize what a gift each and every moment truly is.
OK but let’s be really real and totally honest, Thanksgiving is also ALL about FOOD! Delicious, yummy, satisfying, comforting food! Rather than share a bunch of new recipes throughout this month, I thought I would take some time to pull together some of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving recipes, from here on TY and from some of my favorite bloggers. Some I have made before, some are on my menu for this year and some on my fantasy menu (if only I could have a skilled team of chefs to help me prepare an 11-course meal)!
Here is a list of some great gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes, sure to please everyone at your celebration. There is a little bit on something for all. Some of the traditional classics you’ve come to know at your holiday feasts, some lightened up and extra healthy dishes. Some covered in cheese, some are literally just vegetables. Whatever your preferences are, I do hope that this list of Gluten-free recipes will help you plan your best Thanksgiving, yet!
Whether you are gluten-free yourself, or hosting a guest who is gluten-free this Thanksgiving, check out my tips on entertaining – How to be an Accommodating Host and a Gracious Guest. And please, if this is your first holiday season gluten-free, be sure to check out my Quick Guide to Gluten-Free, so you can be mindful and aware of all the unsuspecting places gluten could be hiding.
And now the good stuff – I’ve got 99 Recipes and Gluten Ain’t One. (sorry had to)
99 Gluten-free Thanksgiving Recipes
Dietary Legend
ALL of the below recipes are gluten-free! Some are vegan, some paleo, some dairy-free, etc.
Use this key to easily select the recipes that will work for you:V – Vegan
Veg – Vegetarian
P – Paleo
DF – Dairy-free
NF – Nut-free
SF – Sugar-free*
RSF – Refined Sugar-free*
* So it wasn’t repetitive and redundant, I only used these on the recipes where you could expect to find sugar or sweeteners. Read the rest of this entry »
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Grain-Free Orange, Almond & Dark Chocolate Biscotti – Gluten-free + Vegan
I wrote this recipe up back when we were still in Buffalo staying at my parents house but I never had the time to make them while we were there. Both of my parents and Mark are coffee-aholics. Man do they love their coffee. Me, I could take it or leave it these days. I probably drink 2-3 cups a month, at most. Most times it is part of a super early wake up call for an event or on a long road trip. I love the way coffee tastes, but I don’t always like how it makes me feel. I don’t like the caffeine jitters or the burny, acid bitterness of some cups of joe.
Mostly I like the smell of coffee and the culture surrounding it. Yeh, I know that’s weird. I love coffee cups and mugs, local coffee shops, french presses, pour over coffee, fancy organic fair trade beans, and yes, I even love cookies meant for dunking in coffee. That is exactly what I think of when I think of biscotti. That crispy, crunchiness is just begging to be dunked into coffee.
All the nights at my parents house when the three of them would fill up their mugs, add their splash of cream, grab a sweet of some kind and then come out to the living room to watch the evening news. I felt kinda left out. Sometimes I would have a cup (then have a terrible time getting to sleep that night), sometimes I would have some tea and other times I opted for another glass of wine! I should have made these cookies when I was staying there, they could have added dunking these yummy cookies to their evening ritual and I would have dunked mine into Mark’s hot cup of java.
I was inspired to combine orange and dark chocolate in these biscotti because my mom LOVES that flavor combo. So do I. Just the smell alone is so delicious. Looks like I’ll just have to make these for my parents when then come visit in June! (Which by the way, I cannot wait for) I originally wanted to make these with cocoa nibs, but was unable to find any at the stores locally, so I just went with dark chocolate chunks, I cannot wait to get my hands on some cocoa nibs and make these again!
Do you drink coffee? What is your favorite thing about coffee?
[print_this]Grain-Free Orange, Almond & Dark Chocolate Biscotti – Gluten-free + Vegan
Makes 12-15 cookies- 1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour (tightly packed)
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (or tapioca starch)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds or other nut
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks, mini chocolate chips or cocoa nibs
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
In your food processor combine the almond flour, arrowroot powder, salt and baking soda. Process until all of the ingredients are well combined. Then pulse in maple (or honey), orange juice and orange zest until the dough forms a ball. Fold in chopped almonds and chocolate chunks by hand.
Dampen hands and form the dough into a log approx 10″ long and 2″ wide on the parchment paperlined baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool for 1 hour. Turn the oven to 250º F.
Once fully cooled cut the log into 1/2-inch slices on the diagonal with a very sharp knife.
Spread slices out on a baking sheet cut side down and bake at 250° for 10 minutes then turn over and bake another 10 minutes on the other side. Turn off the oven and let them sit inside the oven on the baking sheet until cool.
Once cooled they should be nice and crispy. Serve with coffee, tea, ice cold almond milk, etc. Also, you’ll want to consider sharing these with friends or you will likely eat the entire batch yourself. In one sitting.
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Chocolate Chip Coconut Macaroons – Gluten-free + Dairy-free
I have no problem admitting my obsession with coconut. I absolutely adore it. If I see a macaroon at a high-end bakery and they can assure me it is gluten-free, I am on it! Sadly, most times I take a bite and it is sooo overly sweet that it actually ruins it for me, I can rarely finish one of those from a bakery due to the extreme sweetness. I don’t think coconut has to be so overly sweetened. It is so amazing on it’s own. Add some chocolate and forget about it, I lose all control. But you already knew that, didn’t you? I mean really, is my obsession really that obvious?
I decided the best thing to do instead of always being let down and not being able to finish the ones I buy at bakeries, is to create my own macaroon recipe at home that utilized an unrefined sweetener instead of loads of sugar or that gross canned sweetened condensed milk that many recipes call for. Some recipes actually call for sugar, the canned condensed milk which is usually sweetened AND sweetened coconut. UGH. Hurts my teeth just thinking about it.
As much as I love macaroons dipped in melted chocolate, I can sometimes be lazy with melting chocolate. It can be annoying, I hate the mess and really the same flavor combo could be achieved by adding mini chocolate chips instead. Problem solved. If you want these cookies truly refined sugar-free, leave the chocolate chips out or make your own refined sugar free chips.
Most classic macaroon recipes are made with egg whites, I decided to keep that as part of the recipe, but I have seen many vegan recipes that utilize Ener-G egg replacer in place of the egg whites. I haven’t yet tried this myself, so please report back if you do.
[print_this]Chocolate Chip Coconut Macaroons – Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Paleo
Makes 18-20 cookies
- 2 cups unsweetened shredded organic coconut
- 1/4 cup local organic honey* or organic Grade B maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract)
- 1/3 cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips
- 2 large local egg whites
- pinch of salt
*If you want to use raw honey, just heat it up before hand over a very low heat, to liquify it.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl mix together everything except the egg whites and salt, making sure the coconut is evenly coated with the honey (or maple syrup). Get your hands in there, that’s what I do!
In the bowl of your stand mixer, or using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites with a small pinch of salt. Beat for 2-3 minutes until stiff peaks form when you lift the mixer out.
Gently fold the coconut mixture into the eggs, being careful not to totally destroy the lovely beaten eggs. Let sit in the fridge for 10 minutes.
Drop batter onto the lined baking sheet, one rounded tablespoonful at a time. I like to really press the batter into the tablespoon, then carefully tap the cookie out of the spoon. It makes for the most perfect shape.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Let chill for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to wire rack to continue cooling completely.
*To make vegan try using 3 teaspoons Ener-G egg replacer with 4 tablespoons of water and be sure to choose maple syrup over honey. I haven’t tried these yet this way, but there are many recipes online that use the egg replacer instead. Just whisk the egg replacer with the water, add a pinch of salt and add the coconut mixture to it.[/print_this]
Head on over to the Free People Blog BLDG 25, where I am sharing this recipe as part of my Restricted Diets series. Please leave a comment there if you enjoy the post and feel free to comment here let me know if there are any other classic recipes that you would like recreated to be gluten-free, refined sugar-free, cleaner, etc.
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My Favorite Gluten-free Pumpkin Recipes
OK so, it’s officially that time of year and I have already dove head-first (actually mouth-first, maybe) into all of the pumpkin goodness of the season! I shared the first of this season’s recipes on Saturday, my grain-free vegan mini pumpkin pie tarts, and I have lots more irresistible pumpkin recipes planned for the coming weeks. So grab those beautiful pie pumpkins at the farmers market by the bushel and start making your fresh puree, I have some fun stuff planned.
What is your favorite pumpkin treat of the season?
(all of the below recipes are gluten-free)
Grain-free Mini Pumpkin Pie Tarts (Gluten-free, Vegan + Refined Sugar-free)
Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Gluten-free + dairy-free)
Pumpkin Spice Bread with Crystallized Ginger and Walnuts (Gluten-free + dairy-free)
Pumpkin Spice Granola (Gluten-free + vegan)
Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins with Dried Cranberries (Gluten-free + vegan)
Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie (Gluten-free + vegan)
Pumpkin Hummus (Gluten-free + vegan)
Pumpkin, Ricotta & Gruyère Pasta Casserole (Gluten-free)
Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Hazelnuts and Cranberries (Gluten-free + dairy-free)
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds (Gluten-free + vegan)
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream (Gluten-free + vegan)
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Gluten-free + Vegan Lentil “Meat” Loaf
Hey guys, sorry it was a bit quiet on here last week, we were getting ready for and working our (Hero Design Studio) Pop-Up Shop over the weekend. It went super well and I can’t wait to share some photos from the event with you guys. I am a bit behind on recipe posting from being so busy last week, so look for lots of new recipes this week!
I am super duper excited to not only share this new recipe with you, but to also be the guest blogger at Healthful Pursuit today! If any of you follow me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, you will probably remember my extreme excitement about 2-weeks ago when I finally got this Lentil “Meat” Loaf recipe right. I had messed around with a few different versions, but no matter how delicious my loaves tasted, they just didn’t want to stay together, they ended up being a crumbly, sloppy mess on the plate when I would serve them. I finally got it figured out and I couldn’t wait to share it with anyone who would listen, it’s that good.
When Leanne, from Healthful Pursuit, contacted me to share a recipe on her blog with her readers while she is on an incredible trip to India, I was in the middle of experimenting with this recipe, so I knew this was the one to share. Plus, knowing it would be out there in front of even more people, it gave me an even more incentive to try to get it right and perfect.
Leanne’s blog has always been one of my favorites, I found her through her comments on my blog about a year ago and I was always so inspired by what she was making in her own kitchen. In addition to having a similar approach to health and well-being as I do, as a Holistic Nutritionist, Leanne, also has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to foods, eating and our health. Finding Healthful Pursuit brought a wonderful new breath to my cooking and has affirmed all of my decisions about food. I promise after just one visit to HP, you too will be adding it to your bookmarks.
This Lentil “Meat” Loaf pretty much sums up so many of my feelings for food. It is healthy, comforting, satisfying and you won’t feel like you are missing out on a thing when you eat it. It is hearty without being heavy and it is packed full of foods that are great for you. In addition to all of that, the most important thing to me is that it stayed together when I sliced it and it looks beautiful, instead of a lumpy pile on the plate 🙂
This lentil loaf is almost a little meaty and is sure to satisfy even the meatiest of meat-lovers in your family, I promise. My hubby, Mark, LOVED it. He even made up a song for it. Reheat a slice or two of this loaf up in a cast iron skillet to get it a little toasted on the outside and toss it on your favorite gluten-free (or not) bread, with a little more BBQ sauce and some pickled red onions for a delicious “meat” loaf sandwich. The perfect hearty and healthy lunch.
In addition to the loaf, I also made a delicious and spicy vegan BBQ sauce to go on top. You could certainly use your favorite store bought BBQ sauce, but I urge you to try making your own, even if just one time. It is much easier than you think, you can skip all the gross refined sugar or corn-syrup laced store brands and you can tweak the ingredients to have a taste that is all your own. My BBQ sauce is a tad bit spicy (you can make it as spicy as you’d like), a little tangy and just a tad bit sweet. I love it.
This recipe was originally shared on Healthful Pursuit.
[print_this]Gluten-Free and Vegan Lentil “Meat” Loaf
Makes about 8 slices2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
6 tablespoons boiling water
2 cups cooked green lentils, cooled and split into 1 1/2 cups and 1/2 cup
1 cup mushrooms, diced
2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, roughly chopped
1 cup gluten-free rolled oats, split in half
1/2 cup almond flour
3/4 cup spicy vegan BBQ sauce (see below)Preheat the oven to 375º. Add the ground flax seeds to a small bowl, pour the boiling hot water over and stir to combine well. Set aside and allow it to thicken and cool.
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5-8 minutes until the onions are tender. Add in the mushrooms and cook another 3 to 5 minutes until the mushrooms are tender, add in the thyme and spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Add in 1/2 cup of the BBQ sauce, stir to combine and turn off the heat, add salt and pepper to taste, if it needs it.
Process 1 1/2 cups of the cooked lentils and1/2 cup of the oats in the food processor until smooth (some whole bits may remain, that’s ok). Spoon the mixture into a large bowl, add in the remaining lentils and oats, plus the flax “egg”, almond flour and vegetable mixture. Stir really well to combine. Then get your hands in there, just like you would with a regular meat loaf or meatballs, and make sure it is mixed and mashed together really well.
Spoon the mixture into a parchment paper lined 9″ x 5″ loaf pan, (leave a bit of the parchment paper hanging over so you can easily lift the loaf out when it is cooked). Using your hands, you really want to press it in good. Brush on the remaining 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce over the top.
Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes at 375º. Cool in the pan for about 5, pull the loaf out by grabbing the sides of the parchment paper and lifting up and allow it to cool for another 5 to 10 minutes on a cooking rack. Slice and serve.[/print_this]
[print_this]Spicy Vegan BBQ Sauce
Makes about 1 quart of sauce1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3-4 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon celery seed
24-ounce jar of strained (or crushed) tomatoes (or a 28-ounce can)
7-ounce jar of tomato paste (or a 6-ounce can)
2 tablespoons Sriracha (if you don’t like spicy, you can skip this, add less or use just a pinch of two of red pepper flakes instead)
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup whole grain mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
2 teaspoons liquid smokeHeat olive oil in a medium saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onion is slightly tender, add the garlic and saute for another minute or two. Add in the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine, reduce the heat to a medium-low and allow to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring often. Taste the sauce and make sure you don’t want more of anything, you may want it more sweet, spicy, sour, salty. I like my BBQ sauce tangy and smoky, so I added another 1/4 cup of vinegar and another teaspoon of liquid smoke. Remove from the heat, allow to cool for a few minutes, then puree until smooth in the food processor or blender.[/print_this]
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Apple Crisp (Gluten-Free and Vegan)
I absolutely love my mom’s apple crisp, it is one of my favorite things about fall! I have been making my own gluten-free version for a while now and it is so delicious. After I made the vegan apple cobbler two weeks ago with palm oil shortening instead of butter, I decided I wanted to make an updated and healthier version of the apple crisp, too. I’ve actually been calling it Apple Crisp 2.0, but I didn’t think that would make for a good title or dish name. This apple crisp is as healthy as dessert can get in my opinion – it is gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, dairy free, egg free and corn free. Besides using organic all natural palm oil shortening in place of butter in recipes to make them vegan, I have also really fallen in love with baking with coconut oil. When solid, it makes a great replacement for butter in many baking recipes that call for cutting it in. The benefits of coconut oil are numerous and can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc. It is great for your skin and hair when used topically and has been found to have anti-aging, regenerative effects. We even use it topically on and feed it to our dog, Seri, when she has itchy skin. She LOVES the way it tastes.
I was also excited to play with date sugar and maple syrup in this recipe instead of refined white or brown sugar. It turned out so perfectly sweet. Date sugar is totally unprocessed, unrefined and raw. It naturally contains fiber and is loaded with vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, and selenium. Because date sugar doesn’t melt the way sugar does, I knew I wouldn’t get that delicious syrup with the apples that I usually get with the brown sugar, so that is how I decided to add in the maple syrup. It was such a small amount, you can barely distinguish any maple flavoring, if any at all. Other options instead of the maple syrup would be rice syrup or molasses or if you aren’t vegan, you could also use honey. I am so excited about how this apple crisp turned out. It has so much flavor and I actually think it is better than any apple crisp I have made in the past.
You could serve this with your favorite vegan (or not vegan) ice cream or whipped topping. Something that I saw a while back on Healthful Pursuit that I have been meaning to try is coconut whip, which I think would be perfect on top of this recipe. I may just need to make that happen this week.
Gluten-free Apple Crisp (Vegan)
serves 6Filling:
- 4 cups of peeled and sliced apples (4 med)
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping:
- 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
- 1/2 cup certified gluten-free oats (I like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Rolled Oats)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/3 cup date sugar, coconut sugar or other granulated sugar of your choice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup (1 for the topping and 1/2 to drizzle over the top)
- 1/3 cup coconut oil (make sure it is somewhat solid and not liquid)
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Place apples in an 8-inch square pan, pour lemon juice over. Add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, spices and vanilla, toss around to combine.Mix almond flour, oats, spices, date sugar and maple syrup together in a medium sized mixing bowl. Cut in coconut oil in to make crumbly consistency.
Sprinkle over the apples, drizzle remaining 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup over top and bake 30-40 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Serve warm.
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Butternut Squash & Chickpea Coconut Curry (Crock Pot Recipe)
I absolutely adore my slow cooker. It is so perfect for those days where you kinda feel like cooking, but you don’t really have the time or desire to stand around stir this pot so it doesn’t stick, toss that thing in this dressing, cut up this and that. I always love eating at home and cooking my own meals, but sometimes after a long day of work, I just don’t have the energy to head to the kitchen and start on another 1-2 hour adventure. Though it hardly feels like work, sometimes it’s just hard to muster up the energy after a long and busy day. With a crock pot there is no preheating, no keeping an eye on it so it doesn’t over cook, no stirring. It’s just simple, easy home-cooking. When you are ready to eat, just head to the kitchen and serve yourself. I always tell Mark that my crock pot is the closest I will ever come to having a personal chef, it really feels like that.
This recipe is exceptionally easy, just toss all (well, almost all) of the ingredients in to your crock pot in the morning and check back later. I decided to keep out the peas until the end and wished I had done the same with the spinach, so I altered the recipe to reflect that. That’s it. You could certainly fuss with sautéing the onions and garlic ahead of time if you wish, but I really don’t see why you should bother. I tossed it all in and it was ready to go 6 hours later. I had some beautiful spinach and peas from the market so I decided to toss those in for some extra greeny goodness and that was our meal.
I truly think this was the best curry I have made yet. I personally have a wonderful yellow curry powder that I love, though I know many people swear by making your own mix, toasting the spices yourself, etc. I have yet to try that as I really love the powder I buy. If you prefer to take that route, please do. Beyond being extremely easy to make, this curry is loaded with flavor and is so satisfying. I served it over a small serving of brown basmati rice and topped it with fresh cilantro and a bit of unsweetened shredded coconut. The perfect cleanse-friendly, fall meal.
Butternut Squash & Chickpea Coconut Curry (Crock Pot Recipe)
serves 82 1/2 cups diced butternut squash
1 1/2 cups dried organic chick peas
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can 13.5 ounce organic coconut milk (you can use light here, I didn’t)
1 bunch of fresh spinach, rinsed and roughly chopped (you could also use kale here)
1 1/2 cups freshly shelled peas (you can use frozen here, if you wish)
1-2 large tomatoes, diced
3 cups vegetable broth or water
3 tablespoons yellow curry powder (you can use your own blend of spices here, I just happen to have a premixed curry powder from a local indian grocery store that I love)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
handful of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (save some for serving)Rinse and sort through the dry chickpeas. Cut the skin off the squash, remove seeds and cut into 1 inch square cubes. Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker besides the peas and spinach. Cook on high for 6 hours. About 20-30 minutes before serving add in the fresh peas and spinach, and give it a stir. If your sauce seems to be a bit too thin or watery when it is done cooking, you could make a quick mix of cornstarch and hot water and pour a tablespoon or two of the mixture into the crock pot, allow it to simmer a bit longer. This will thicken it right up.
Serve over brown basmati or jasmine rice topped with fresh cilantro, mint or basil and maybe even some shredded coconut.
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Cherry Almond Flour Muffins
This may seem a bit off topic, but I have a massive obsession with Pinterest. Holly, a friend of mine sent me an invite a few weeks ago, since she knew I would love it, and she couldn’t have been more right. Basically, as you come across images on the web, you can virtually “pin it” onto your different boards on Pinterest. The appeal is that not only does it act like virtual inspiration boards, but it also works as a way to remember and store links to projects, recipes and other fun things you want to try out. I like that I can access my pins and boards from any computer or device. I have been coming across some super fun images for inspiration and a ton of exciting and easy to do DIY projects for both work and for fun. Not that I don’t already have enough to do, but I love a good crafty project, especially once the weather cools down. You can also see other people’s boards and you can repin their items into your boards. It is so addicting.
This recipe is one that caught my eye on my daily internet travels a week or so ago, but when I had come across it, I didn’t have the time to make it, but I really wanted to remember it. Rather than print the recipe out, waste paper and have it get lost in a sea of papers in my office, I “pinned it” to my recipe related board on Pinterest. A few days later I hit the farmers market, grabbed some cherries and was ready to get baking.
These muffins were bursting with flavor and were so easy to make. I have fallen in love with almond flour, it is so easy to bake with, you don’t need to add tons of other flours or any gums, and on top of it, it has a lovely nutty taste. The other bonus is that almond flour is protein packed and low in sugar. I love by keeping the cherries in halves you get a big burst of tart, sweet flavor in every bite.
If you are on Pinterest you can follow my boards here. If you are looking for an invite, post your email address and I will send you an invite.
Cherry Almond Flour Muffins
makes 6 large muffins2 cups blanched almond flour*
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 local farm fresh large brown eggs
1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup)
1/4 cup grape seed oil (or olive oil)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted and halvedPreheat oven to 350˚F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
in a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Add in the honey, vanilla and oil and whisk until well combined.
Add the dry mixture to the wet, stirring until combined. Carefully fold in the cherries.Spoon the batter into the muffin tin, filling to the top if you want a nice muffin dome, or as us ladies know it “muffin tops”. Bake for 25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the muffin pan on a wire rack for five minutes. Gently pop the muffins out to continue cooling on the rack (don’t cool them longer than 5 minutes in the hot pan they’ll definitely get soggy). Enjoy a muffin after they have cooled 10 minutes, you know you want to.
I find storing muffins covered tightly in the refrigerator or freezer to be the best, especially in the heat of summer. Just pop one out as you want it, heat slightly in the microwave if you want to take the chill off and go.
* Something I have learned from baking on my own and from reading Elana’s Pantry, is that not all almond flour (or meal) is created equal. Bob’s Red Mill makes an almond flour, though easy to find, that doesn’t seem to react quite the same as other almond flours. It doesn’t seem to rise as much and it just seems to leave recipes flat. On Elana’s recommendation I now buy Honeyville brand almond flour in a 5-lb bag from their website.
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Apple, Gruyère and Sage Muffins (Gluten-Free)
I would LOVE to take credit for this amazing recipe and all of it’s tastiness. But, I cannot. I simply saw the recipe, knew they would be amazing and made them. Now I am sharing it with you because you really need to make them yourself. Someone recently told me about Cannelle Et Vanille, a lovely food blog filled with some of the most beautiful photography I have ever seen. On top of all of that, the recipes are all gluten-free :swoon:!
I had been wanting to make some type of apple muffin or bread ever since we had gone apple picking last weekend, so when I came across this recipe, I knew it was perfect. Let’s be honest, apples and cheese together are definitely drool-worthy. I am a big fan of savory for breakfast instead of overly sweet, so these have been the perfect morning meal for me the last few days. I used a really nice aged Gruyère that brings a nice earthy flavor to these muffins that are a bit sweet, a bit salty and perfectly moist. The nice thing about this recipe is you could also make it in loaf form instead of muffins. Bake it at the same temperature at 40 minutes instead of 20.
Apple, Gruyère and Sage Muffins (Gluten-Free)
adapted from Canelle et Vanille
makes 12 muffins1 cup (150 grams) superfine brown rice flour
1/2 cup (75 grams)millet flour
2 tablespoons (30 grams) potato starch
2 tablespoons (20 grams) tapioca starch
1/3 cup (70 grams) cane sugar
1 tsp (8 grams) baking powder
1/2 tsp (3 grams) baking soda
1/2 tsp (5 grams) salt
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped
1 cup (55 grams) shredded Gruyère
1 egg
1 cup (250 ml) buttermilk
1/4 cup (55 ml) olive oil
2 apples, peeled and small diced
Extra shredded Gruyère for toppingPreheat over to 400ºF. Grease your muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the first 11 ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk and olive oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until combined. Fold in the diced apples.
Scoop batter into mold, sprinkle a bit of shredded Gruyère on each muffin. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and firm to the touch. A wooden pick inserted into the center should emerge clean.
