Stephanie's Smoothie

Evan has been sick for about a week, so not a lot of recipe experimentation has been going on here. He's fine during the day, but throws up in the middle of the night. Not fun. I thought he was doing better because we just made it two days, but he was up at midnight last night. Dan hadn't even made it home from Red Robin (his part-time job) yet, so that was a blast by myself. I've been so thankful to have Dan here to help with clean-up... or at least to sit with Evan and read to him while I cleaned it up. We've got to get it under control because a week from today we'll be headed to my mom's for almost two weeks while we have some contractors here to do some work on our house. Evan will be sleeping in his play-yard (if he's not too long for it by now!) and if he vomits all over the side of that, it's done for. So we really need to get over this. Plus, I want him to feel better. He didn't really want anything for breakfast this morning, but I made him this smoothie and he went to town on that. I know it's not really part of a BRAT diet, but yogurt's now supposed to be reccomended, too, because of all the probiotics. Anyway, onto the recipe...

My friend Stephanie gave me this recipe and the only change I've made is that she uses strawberries where I use mango, but Evan's allergic, so I had to substitute. These are so fast and so good.

1/2 c. rice milk
1/2 c. frozen blueberries (70g)
1 c frozen mango (186g)
6 oz. plain coconut milk yogurt

Simply mix in a blender until smooth. Stephanie also says that these freeze well as popsicles, although we haven't tried it here yet.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm still behind. I know, I know. Still working on it... obviously not getting quite where I want to be. But hooray- here's a new recipe for today at least.

I am super proud of these cookies because I was able to recreate my old favorites in a version that is not only safe for Evan, but healthier, too! These cookies are not your typical chocolate chip, but are more like little morsels of banana chocolate chip bread/muffins. In fact, when Evan tried these, he said “It’s a muffin!” which, from him, is a huge compliment. These cookies are also quick and easy, which is always a plus, too!

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
1¼ c. brown rice flour (200g)
1¼ c. gluten-free oat flour (150g)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
3 large ripe bananas
⅜ c. canola oil
⅜ c. pure maple syrup
½ tsp. vanilla
1 c. Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips (175g)

In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Then in a blender, pureé the next four, until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients from the blender into the bowl and mix until well-combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop cookies onto baking sheet by the tablespoon. Bake for 10 minutes at 350° and cool on wire racks.

Note: My original NOT-allergy-friendly cookie recipe was from Gooseberry Patch Family Favorites and I worked from that and then borrowed from the recipe for Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies from Clean Food by Terry Walters. Also, this recipe makes about 45 cookies. Yum!

Granola Bars

Warning: These are addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you.

The original recipe for “New Zealand Oaty Bars” is one that I used for my food project when I was in 4-H. I’m not sure where it’s from, though. In my version, I reduced the margarine from ½ to ⅓ c. and, of course, made allergy-friendly substitutions. We have to take a break from them here for a little bit because Earth Balance, our favorite dairy-free margarine has changed their ingredients! I'm going to try to see if I can find any more of the old ones before I have to find a new brand.

Granola Bars

⅓ c. margarine
2 c. gluten-free rolled oats (192 g)
¼ c. sugar
1 Tbsp. soy “nut” butter
¼ c. Enjoy Life chocolate chips (50g)

Melt margarine and stir in sugar and oats. Add soy “nut” butter and chocolate chips and mix well. Press the mixture into a 9x9 microwave-safe baking dish. Microwave on high for 3½ minutes. Cool until close to room temperature. The refrigerate for 15-30 min. before cutting into bars. If they are crumbly, they’ll still be yummy enjoyed with a spoon in a bowl!

Pizza Sauce

I am still behind. I know. This is the eleventh week of 2011, so this should be at least the eleventh recipe that I am posting. It's number eight. I still want to finish my Tastebook before the end of the year, so technically some weeks should have at least two recipes, so I definitely have some catching up to do. I'm working on it!

This pizza sauce is from the book Incredible Edible Gluten-Free Food for Kids by Sheri L Sanderson. I had it from the library probably about a year ago. I had tried this pizza sauce for Dan and I and we really liked it. Last week was the first time Evan tried it and it was a big hit with him, too. Previously his only "pizza" was some leftover spaghetti sauce and fake cheese on top of some tapioca toast, but last week I tried Gluten-Free Bisquick and made the pizza crust on the side of the box. Amazing. I had to substitute Ener-G egg replacer for the eggs, but other than that I followed the recipe. Very good and very easy. Now for the recipe...

Pizza Sauce

1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
½ tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp dried basil, crushed
1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1 tsp. dried minced onion

Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Spoon the sauce onto a prepared pizza crust, or cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.


The results are one happy boy:

And one yummy pizza- topped with green pepper, mushroom, a few pepperonis, and some Daiya mozzarella shreds. Evan actually requested pizza again this Sunday, so of course, I obliged. And I was happy to do so!

Overdue

This post is overdue, I know. My goal is to enter at least one recipe into my Tastebook each week and then blog it here. I owe you three this weekend. I am fairly certain there are no spelling errors here, but it IS midnight and we were up at 5:30am. (4:30 the day before!) I don't know how Dan is handling his schedule between his two jobs and the fire dept.- I'm barely handling it myself and I'm not working. Doing plenty at home, but nothing I get paid for! While I wait for him to come home from job #2, I'll post the first recipe of the weekend.

Michelle's Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

After searching the internet for just the right recipe and not finding it, I decided to come up with my own instead. And I am so glad that I did! Dan said it tasted like KFC, which, from him is a compliment! I chose not to figure exact measurements because it will never be the same, depending on how the chicken is cut.

boneless, skinless chicken breast- cut into strips and/or nuggets
olive oil
combination of rice and corn chex cereal, crushed (Evan loves to help with the crushing!)
salt
pepper
garlic powder

Prepare your three-step assembly line. First is a plate with the chicken, cut to desired size. Second, a bowl with olive oil in the bottom. Third, in a pie plate, combine crushed cereal with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, to taste. Be generous.

Take the chicken and dip in the olive oil, allowing the excess to drip off. Then, roll in chex mixture to coat. Arrange chicken pieces on greased baking sheet and bake at 450° for 16 minutes. Cut into one or two of the largest pieces to ensure that the chicken is cooked through. Enjoy!

Evan's Chili Garlic Party Mix

I finally figured out a party mix to satisfy both boys in my house. Enough flavor for Dan, but not too much for Evan. And I like it, too! Happy to have finally figured this one out- just in time for our Superbowl party tomorrow night! Here's the original at chex.com and here is my version...



2 c. Corn Chex cereal (62 g)
2 c. Rice Chex cereal (54 g)
5 c. Mike Sell’s Puffcorn Delites (54 g)
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1 heaping tsp. chili powder
1 heaping tsp. garlic powder

In a large microwavable bowl, mix cereal and “popcorn.” Drizzle with oil and toss until evenly coated.
In a small bowl, combine the chili powder and garlic powder. Sprinkle over cereal mixture and toss until evenly coated.
Microwave uncovered for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring after each minute, until crisp. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container.


I am really looking forward to our Superbowl party tomorrow. Just a couple of friends coming, but Evan is excited because he knows we're having a football party. AND I am serving all food that is safe for him. Can't wait to see how it all turns out! Trying out a couple of new recipes, too, so excited for that. I don't really care about football, but still looking forward to a fun time together. And a full day to have my husband at home. It doesn't happen often and his schedule just got even crazier, so extra thankful for the time we do have together!

Country Apple Coleslaw

I am very thankful that Evan is such a good eater. It is true that there are a lot of things that he can't eat because of his food allergies, but he truly is a good eater. He likes to eat. And he likes to eat a lot. I didn't really expect him to eat this coleslaw, but it was safe for him, so I let him try it. And he LOVES it! He calls it "cole-slot" and it makes me smile every time he asks for more. This recipe is super easy and comes from The Gluten-free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods by Bette Hagman.

Country Apple Coleslaw

¼ c. apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
¼ tsp. salt
10 oz. package of coleslaw
2 c. apples, chopped (do not peel)
½ c. raisins

In a microwavable salad bowl, combine vinegar, brown sugar, and salt. Microwave on high for one minute.
Add the remaining ingredients and toss well to coat. Chill or serve at room temperature.

A Couple of Favorites

Tonight I'm posting a couple of semi-new favorite recipes. But first, I have to post a picture of my favorite taste-tester!




Now for the recipes...

First is the absolute best Gluten-Free Biscuit Recipe I've ever come across! After a year long search and several failed attempts, I've finally found the one! I found it at http://www.food.com/recipe/gluten-free-biscuits-406047, but of course, I altered it slightly, so I'll post my version, too.

The Best Biscuits

4 Tbsp. Earth Balance margarine
1⅓ c. cornstarch
1¼ tsp. xanthan gum
1 Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. sugar
½ tsp. salt
¾ c. rice milk
1 tsp. white vinegar

Preheat the oven to 375° and grease a baking sheet. Mix all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add rice milk and vinegar. Mix together well. The dough will be soft.
Drop 6 to 8 biscuits onto prepared baking sheet and bake for about 13 minutes, or until starting to brown.


I know the picture is not the best, but I was jumping for joy when I took it!

The next recipe has become a recent favorite. I made these muffins on Thanksgiving morning and have made them several times since. I altered the recipe for Sweet Potato Cranberry Muffins found in The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook by Cybele Pascal to come up with these...



Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

1/2 c. canola oil
3/4 c. maple syrup
15 oz. can pumpkin
3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 1/4 c. (150 g) oat flour
1 1/4 c. (200 g) brown rice flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. Craisins

Preheat oven to 350° and grease muffin pan or fill with liners. Using an electric hand mixer set on medium, combine canola oil and maple syrup. Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Mix. In a separate bowl, combine the flours, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined. Fold in Craisins.
Bake in the center of the oven 30-35 minutes for 12 regular muffins, or about 20 minutes for 24 mini-muffins.



Hope you enjoy these! We sure do!

Evan's No-Bake Cookies

Keeping up with my goal to complete my Tastebook this year and blog the recipes here, I'm posting a quick no-bake cookie recipe for your enjoyment. We've been enjoying them here! No-bake cookies aren't only good for the summer when you don't want to heat things up, but they are super quick and easy for when you are pressed for time! (And when aren't you??)

Evan's No-Bake Cookies

2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. Earth Balance margarine
1/4 c. plus 1 Tbsp. rice milk
1 1/2 c. gluten-free oats
1/4 c. soy butter (peanut butter substitute)
1 tsp. vanilla

Place cocoa powder, sugar, Earth Balance, and rice milk in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for 3 minutes, stirring after each minute. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. Roll into small balls. Place on wax paper and refrigerate until firm.



I'm allergic to peanuts, too, so I have made these with sun-butter before, but since Evan's allergic to sunflower seeds, I had to use soy butter. I don't like the taste of it all by itself, but you don't notice it in the recipe. This was Evan's first time with the soy butter and he did just fine with it, thankfully! I'm excited that it worked for him because that opens up a bunch of other recipes that I'd like to try for him.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Okay, my link didn't work, but here is my version of the recipe.

12 corn tortillas
3 c. shredded salsa chicken (doesn't have to be salsa chicken, though)
1 c. frozen corn
½ green pepper, diced
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles
Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds, to taste

Place half of tortillas in a greased 9x13 baking pan. Layer with chicken, corn, green pepper, and diced tomatoes. Cover with remaining tortillas. Spread tomatoes with green chiles evenly on top. Cover with foil and bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with Daiya cheese and bake for another 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Top with mashed avocado, if desired.

New Year, New Start

Okay, so I know I went MIA in September. And I'm sorry. Trying to keep on top of everything at home can get kind of overwhelming and I always feel like there are so many other things I should be doing other than this. But I think I have come to realize that this is important, too- it's time for me. Just me. It's actually one of my goals for this year to find my way here at least once a week.

Another goal is to complete my Tastebook this year, so I'll be posting links to the recipes here as I finish those up. The first one that I am giving you is Chicken Enchilada Casserole. I thought that Evan wouldn't eat anything mixed together, but I have come to discover that he just won't eat rice or ground beef. This is the first casserole he's had. He still kind of picks through it, but he does a pretty good job with it.

The original recipe was found here: http://www.food.com/282566

I had to get rid of the onion because it seems to give Evan major heartburn. Not sure if there is any allergy issue there, but might have him tested when we do all of that this summer. I think this link will work for my version. Someone let me know, please. Here it is: http://http//www.tastebook.com/recipe_books/639273-Recipes-from-Michelle?details_view=true



Well, Dan is finally home from job #2, so I think that'll be it for now. Hope your new year is off to a great start!