Product Review: Bob's Red Mill Hearty Whole Grain Bread Mix

I found this mix on a grocery clearance for $.99,

yep that's right, less than a dollar...unheard of in Gluten Free packaging.

Bob's Red Mill Hearty Whole Grain Bread Mix

This bread was easy to mix up and the yeast packet was included.

The bread has lots of seeds in it, sunflower, sesame, caraway.

It actually turns out to look like real bread.

(sorry, the picture is really orange).

The bread is very stable, not crumbly, but not really moist.

The seeds give the bread a crunchy texture, and there is a slight earthy flavor.  

This is not a bread for a good old PB and J, more for a cheese and meat sandwich.

Be sure to store in the fridge, it will start growing mold within 3-4 days.

Personal preference, this was not my favorite bread.  I don't think that I will buy this mix again, 99 cents or not.  I'm not really into all the seeds and I didn't really like the flavor that the bread had.

Gluten Free Pasta Salad

This recipe screams summertime!

Not only is this a really easy pasta salad recipe it's for a single or double serving. 

Other pasta salad recipes I have call for an entire box of pasta and makes so much, most of it gets thrown out or gets taken to a potluck.

Here is a recipe that is a cinch to make.  It tastes better if you make it and let the flavors blend overnight.

Gluten Free Pasta Salad

(2 servings)

4 oz gluten free pasta

1 1/2 cups cooked broccoli florets

3 green onions, sliced

2 T. olive oil

1 Roma tomato, chopped

1 t. fresh basil, or 1/4 t. dried basil

1/2 t. garlic powder

1 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated

Cook the pasta according to package directions.  Drain.

Combine the pasta, broccoli, green onions, olive oil, tomatoes, basil and garlic powder.  Mix well.

Sprinkle with cheese and toss.  Chill before serving.

Also try:

Gluten Free Berry Chicken Salad

Gluten Free Spicy Chinese Noodles

At first I didn't think that I would like this recipe.

My husband just completed P90X, and not only is he looking smokin', we've tried some new healthy recipes along the way.

This is one of them.

I made these noodles for his lunch, expecting him to be totally grossed out, peanut butter and noodles really?? but he loved it and said I needed to make some for myself. 

So I did.

And I love them.

Give the peanut butter noodles a chance....

Gluten Free Spicy Chinese Noodles

(This is one portion, feel free to double/triple/quadruple whatever you need)

2 oz Gluten Free pasta

2 T chunky peanut butter

1 1/2 T. gluten free soy sauce

1 1/2 T. rice vinegar

1 t. honey

dash of cayenne pepper

1 T. green onions, finely chopped

Cook the pasta according to package directions.  Drain and place noodles back in sauce pan.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and cayenne.

Pour over pasta and heat until peanut butter is melted and combined.  If the pasta is too dry, add a little chicken broth or water to thin sauce.

Garnish with green onions.

Also try:

Gluten Free Mac and Cheese

or

Gluten Free Pesto with Noodles 

Gluten Free Black and White Bean Chili

I know that mostly everywhere now (unless you live above the Arctic Circle) it might be past chili season, but you know there are the "June Gloom" days that just beg to have a big bowl of chili for dinner.

What's perfect to go with your Gluten free chili?

Gluten Free Cornbread.

Try it out, you'll love it.

Back to the chili.  

It's a thicker chili with mild heat.

And it's pretty healthy as well, 200 calories per cup, with 15 g of protein.

You can't beat that.

Enjoy!

Gluten Free Black and White Bean Chili

1 t. canola oil

1/2- 1 cup onion, diced (depends on how much onion you want)

2 cups chicken broth

6 oz tomato paste

4 ounce canned chopped green chilies

1 t. cumin

16 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

16 oz can navy or white beans, drained and rinsed

In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the broth, tomato paste, chilies, cumin, and beans.  Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Also try:

Gluten Free Southwestern Soup

Gluten Free No Bake Cookies, PB Variety

What do you do when your toddler needs some creative fun

but you are recovering from having a baby?

You cook of course!

We made No Bake Cookies, my old stand by, since they are fast, easy and all the ingredients are on hand.  It will usually keep her attention from start to finish.

But here was the catch, we had to leave the chocolate.

I'm a nursing girl, y'know!

So we made the Peanut Butter variety and they are so good.

You might not even miss the chocolate.

Follow this recipe: GF No Bake Cookies and just omit the cocoa powder for a peanut-buttery treat!

Product Review: Pamela's Classic Vanilla Cake Mix

I used this cake mix at make a Gluten Free Dream Whip Cake, and it turned out really well.

This is a cake mix I would recommend using.  It's moist and will make a 9x13 cake easily.  It's easy to mix up.  It's pretty moist as well.

It's priced in the middle of the cake mixes, not the cheapest but not the priciest either.  For what you get, this a great cake mix to use.  

I used this to make my daughter's rainbow cake and the batter dyed easily and gave great color results.  I did notice the batter was a little yellow, probably due to the egg yolks, but you could just use the egg whites to get a true white cake.

Overall, I would recommend this product.

Gluten Free Apricot Sauce

With only 3 ingredients and your favorite meat, chicken, steak, roast, fish, etc. this sauce is a snap to prepare and really tasty.

I have only used this sauce over chicken, but I'm sure it's good on the protein of your choice. 

I have used it three different ways:

1. Barbecued chicken, brushing on the sauce.

2. Pan-frying the chicken and at the end of cooking add sauce and glaze the chicken.

3. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish, cover with sauce and bake for 30 minutes at 350 or until done.

Enjoy this versatile sauce.

Gluten Free Apricot Sauce

1/2 cup apricot jam/preserves

2 T. Dijon Mustard

1/4 cup Gluten Free Soy Sauce

Combine ingredients and mix well.

Also try:

Gluten Free Plum Sauce

or 

Gluten Free Barbeque Sauce

It's Been Awhile...

Well, it's been crazy around here.

My last post about a great side dish for Easter was about the last time that I actually made anything.

My sweet baby girl was born last week and I've been taking advantage of having mom/grandma here by napping, showering, being waited on with meals, laundry and seeing that the house was cleaned.

It was glorious.

Now, back to real life with a husband, toddler, and newborn.

It's fun.

Don't worry, I'll post some good stuff for you all to enjoy!