Gluten Free Turkey Meatballs with Orange Cranberry Gravy

When I have parties during the holiday season I like to keep things as simple as possible. Instead of inviting folks over for a high-stress, fancy-schmancy sit down dinner, I throw cocktail parties. There are lots of advantages to this. They are WAY less stressful, easier to pull off, you can have more people and by putting out platters of tidbits to eat and some beverages, you have more time to mingle and actually stand a chance of enjoying your party!

I make a few simple things and then supplement with items I can pick up at the store such as fruit, cheeses, olives, fancy deli meats or salami. I make a signature cocktail, stock up the bar with gluten free beer, wine and water (sparkling and still), turn on some music and that’s it.  I have even been known to use good quality, disposable plates and flatware (but I always use real glasses).

I don’t spend all day in the kitchen and at the end of the night I am not faced with a ton of dishes to wash. And I find people enjoy themselves more than when they were seated at a formal dinner table as they get to talk to everyone (or not, as the case might be) and the whole evening just has a relaxed, festive mood.

If you are looking for a cocktail party appetizer, or simple weeknight meal for that matter, this holiday season, I have a suggestion for you – Turkey Meatballs with Orange Cranberry Gravy. All the flavors of a festive holiday meal in cute, bite sized balls of yumminess – turkey with cranberries in a delicious orange sauce thanks to San-J’s Gluten-Free Orange Sauce.

So go ahead, deck your halls, shop ’til you drop, wrap your gifts with love and care but when it comes to parties – make it easy on yourself. You and your friends will enjoy it more – trust me!

Gluten Free Turkey Meatballs with Orange Cranberry Gravy


Ingredients

½ cup gluten free bread crumbs
1 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
¼ cup parsley, minced
1 ½ cups gluten free chicken stock – use divided
1 ¼ pounds ground turkey
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 – 12 ounce bag fresh or frozen cranberries (about 2 ½ cups)
1 cup San-J Orange Sauce
3 tablespoons sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine the breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion flakes, parsley and ½ cup chicken stock in a large mixing bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the turkey and mix with hands until thoroughly combined. Shape into 2 inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each). Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the meatballs until browned all over, about 6 minutes. Place browned meatballs on a baking sheet and bake in oven until cooked through, 10 minutes.

Add the cranberries to the skillet the meatballs were browned in along with the remaining cup of chicken stock, San-J Orange Sauce and sugar. Cook over medium-high heat until the cranberries pop and the sauce is reduced by half, about 7 minutes. Add the meatballs to the gravy and serve.

A gluten free recipe that serves 4 as a main course, 12 as an appetizer.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/12/gluten-free-turkey-meatballs-with-orange-cranberry-gravy.html

Gluten Free Chocolate Cherry Cloud Cookie

It is December (how did that happen?) and while that can mean many things to many people, for me it means coming up with lots of gluten free cookie recipes! I like to give out cookies this time of year and I like to have them on hand for people who stop by during the Holidays.  And doesn’t it kind of go without saying that, “I like to eat cookies?”

For some reason I always associate the flavors of chocolate and cherries with Christmastime. Maybe it is because my Dad would always buy those chocolate covered cherries this time of year. So I came up with this recipe with Dad in mind – chocolate meringues with a sweet cherry inside. They are crisp on the outside, a bit marshmallowy inside and have a secret surprise hidden at the heart – a maraschino cherry. Along with being naturally gluten free they are also dairy free and, if you worry about such things, fat free!

The way to get the very best meringues is to use egg whites that are room temperature but it is much easier to separate cold eggs so I suggest you separate your eggs first and let them sit while you get out all the rest of your ingredients, prepare the pans and dry up your cherries.

You can serve these cookies two ways – the first (and best in my opinion) is to bake them, then turn off the oven and let them sit in there for a couple hours to really dry out, this will give you the traditional meringue. But as I discovered (due to a very impatient Father who couldn’t wait for his chocolate-cherry fix) you can take the cookies from the oven after they bake, let them cool and eat. They will be a lot less crispy and much more marshmallowy; softer and not very crisp. Which way is better, is in hot debate around here.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cherry Cloud Cookies


Ingredients

24 maraschino cherries
3 large egg whites at room temperature
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking mats.

If the maraschino cherries have stems, remove them. Dry them well with paper towels and let sit until ready to use.

Combine the egg whites with the cream of tartar, salt and vanilla in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Start the mixer on low then increase the speed to high. When the egg whites are very foamy, add the sugar gradually while the machine is running. Continue to beat the egg whites until they form stiff, glossy peaks – about 5 minutes. Sift in the cocoa powder, fold gently to get them mixed in a little then mix on high speed with the mixer for a few more seconds until the cocoa powder is incorporated. You may have to scrape the side of the bowl a time or two.

Spoon 12 heaping tablespoons of the egg white mixture onto each prepared pan (a small #60 ice cream scoop works really well for this). Gently press a cherry into each mound of egg whites. Top with about a teaspoon of egg whites and using an offset spatula or your fingers seal the two meringue dollops together.

Bake for 30 minutes, turn off the oven and let the cookies sit in there for 2 hours. Peel the cookies off the parchment or silicon mats and serve. The cookies are best served within 24 hours, especially if you live in a humid climate. To store, put in an air proof container and keep at room temperature.

Alternately you can remove the cookies after 30 minutes of baking, let cool on a baking sheet and serve. They won’t really be crispy, but are still delicious.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/12/gluten-free-chocolate-cherry-cloud-cookie-recipe.html

Gluten Free Chipotle Turkey Bean Soup Recipe

There are a couple things I do every year on Thanksgiving after the food has been eaten, the table cleared and that last crumb of pie licked off the plates – first is to convince the hubby to do the dishes and secondly, I put a pot of dried beans on to soak. It’s not that I have anything against gluten free turkey noodle soup but after all the traditional, American flavors of Thanksgiving I am ready to spice things up! Chipotle Turkey Bean Soup is the answer.

I love this hearty gluten free soup recipe – it is filling and wholesome, packed with fiber and nutrients (as well as flavor) and it is a real budget saver. After all the turkey was already paid for, I use Hurst Family Harvest’s Black Bean Chipotle Lime Black Bean Soup Mix which cost about the same as 2 cans of black beans (but feeds a whole lot more) and has a tasty gluten free flavor packet included and the rest of the ingredients are just some pantry staples. If you don’t happen to have any leftover turkey hanging around you can use some leftover chicken or shred up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Or just leave out the turkey, use dairy free sour cream and you have yourself a fabulous vegan main course soup.

I also love the fact that this soup takes very little actual work to prepare! After all, I have been cooking, cleaning and entertaining for days – it is time for a little “easy” in my life!


Gluten Free Chipotle Turkey Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 package Hurst Family Harvest Chipotle Lime Black Bean Soup Mix
1 onion, diced
1 – 1 pound bag frozen corn kernels
1 – 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1 – 4 ounce can diced mild green chilies
1 bunch green onions, sliced
½ teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 cups cooked turkey or chicken, shredded (omit for vegan)
Chipotle Lime Sour Cream – recipe follows
Handful of cilantro leaves

Directions

Remove the flavor packet from the beans and save. Place the beans in a large soup pot and cover with water. Let sit, covered, overnight or for at least 8 hours. Drain the water from the beans. Place back in the pot and add 8 cups of cold water along with the reserved flavor packet. Bring to a boil, cover and let simmer for 90 minutes to 2 hours or until the beans are tender. Add the corn, tomatoes, chilies, green onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder and turkey and heat through, 5 – 10 minutes. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.

Serve with Chipotle Lime Sour Cream and cilantro for garnish.


Chipotle Lime Sour Cream


Ingredients

1 cup sour cream or dairy free sour cream
*1 – 3 teaspoons pureed chipotle in adobo depending on heat level you like
juice and zest of 1 lime – zest finely grated

Directions

Stir together the ingredients and let sit covered in the refrigerator until time to serve.

*I take one can of chipotle in adobo sauce, puree it in the blender and store in a covered jar in the refrigerator, that way I can use as much or as little whenever I want. Or you can take one of the peppers from the can with some of the sauce and mince finely.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/11/gluten-free-chiptole-turkey-bean-soup-recipe.html

Gluten Free Teriyaki Mushroom Pate Recipe

Fashion experts tell us that we should dress, get all accessorized up and then remove one accesory before leaving the house, that less is more. For about a second and a half I decided to try that philosophy to my Thanksgiving dinner, to remove one thing from my normal menu.

What I had decided to remove was an appetizer – my thought was it’s at the beginning of a huge meal and that no one is going to miss it. And I decided that what I would leave off was my chicken liver pate – it was my oldest son’s favorite part of the meal but he has gone vegetarian so what’s the harm in leaving it off? After all, less is more, right?

Apparently, at least at my house, when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner – less is less! The aforementioned son informed me that he had flown 3,000 miles and was basically paying a ton of money for one dinner and he didn’t want to be shortchanged.

So instead of taking off one thing, I am swapping it for something else – Teriyaki Mushroom Pate. This is a gluten free, dairy free, vegan recipe that is super easy and quick to prepare and packs a ton of flavor thanks to San-J’s gluten free teriyaki sauce. No one, not even the meat eaters are going to miss my chicken pate this year.

So go ahead, add instead of take away that one more accessory to your Thanksgiving feast this year – after all more is more to be thankful for.

Gluten Free Teriyaki Mushroom Pate


Ingredients:

4 tablespoons olive oil – use divided
1 medium white onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 – 8 ounce packages of mushrooms (any type) sliced
½ teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons gluten free San-J Teriyaki Sauce – use divided
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until they start to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms start to brown, about 8 minutes. Add 4 tablespoons of the San-J Teriyaki Sauce and the rice vinegar and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add the parsley and stir to combine.

Put the mixture into a food processor with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the remaining 1 tablespoon San-J Teriyaki Sauce. Process until the mixture is fully combined and fairly smooth. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.

Serve with gluten free crackers and fresh vegetables.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free
raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/11/gluten-free-teriyaki-mushroom-pate-recipe.html

Gluten Free Tuna Casserole Recipe

I am going to just spit it out – I love tuna casserole! There I said it. I know it is not hip, not trendy and certainly not “foodie” (you can add that to my mounting list of why I will never be called a “foodie”) but it is just plain good! I thought about adding some flair to this casserole, tossing in some sun dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese and portabella mushrooms, maybe some fresh basil and I am sure that would be delicious but what I really wanted was something very close to what I recall from when I was a kid – simple, comforting and homey. But I wanted it with less fat and calories and of course, it had to be gluten free.

I kind of think my mother made her tuna casserole with canned soup but when I started cooking I made mine with rich, thick, fattening-as-all-get-out white sauce laden with butter and cream. So I cut the fat and calories by using mostly gluten-free chicken broth for my sauce, low-fat milk in place of cream (rice milk can be used making this dish dairy free) and olive oil instead of butter. Then I added extra fiber by using Pastariso’s Brown Rice Gluten Free Vegetable Rotini – I love the way the spirals add extra texture to this casserole and the fact that this delicious gluten free pasta only takes 6 -8 minutes to cook.

Since there is high probability you just may have some turkey left over fairly soon, this works just as well with shredded turkey meat.

So go ahead, fess up – what food do you love that could threaten your reputation as a “foodie”?

Gluten Free Tuna Casserole


Ingredients

1 – 1 pound bag Pastariso Gluten Free Brown Rice Vegetable Rotini
3 tablespoons olive oil – use divided
1medium white or yellow onion
Kosher or fine sea salt
3 tablespoons gluten free flour blend or sweet rice flour
2 ½ cups gluten free chicken broth
1 ½ cups low fat milk (or rice milk)
2– 6 ounce cans solid light tuna in water, drain and flaked
1 cup frozen peas – thawed
1 cup gluten free panko style bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to boil. Add the Pastariso Gluten Free Brown Rice Vegetable Rotini and cook for 6 – 7 minutes. Drain and rinse with hot water.

While the pasta is cooking heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook until they are softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper and stir in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and milk, raise the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until the sauce thickens, 6 – 8 minutes. Stir in the tuna, peas and cooked pasta. Pour the mixture into a 9? by 13? baking dish.

Combine the remaining tablespoon of olive oil with the panko bread crumbs and top the tuna mixture. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until the top is browned and the sauce bubbly. Let cool a few minutes before serving.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/11/gluten-free-tuna-casserole-recipes.html

Gluten Free Autumn Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

As diligently as I follow a gluten free diet (and I am diligent – I never, EVER knowingly and willingly cheat) sometimes it happens – I get glutenized!

Such was the case sometime Saturday. I woke up Sunday with my typical signs, a migraine headache and a mysterious, unrelenting itchiness.

Unfortunately, ingesting gluten does nothing to dampen my appetite. No matter how icky I feel, I still need to eat. And at that point I want “comfort food”.

For me, Shepherd’s Pie is pure comfort. My mother made it often when I was growing up, usually using leftovers. I loved it more that whatever the original dinner was.

So I scrounged around my kitchen to see what I could find to put together for a quick and effortless Shepherd’s Pie. I had half a rotisserie chicken in the fridge, a large sweet potato in my veggie bowl and a freezer stocked with a variety of Kettle Cuisine gluten free soups – they are all made with the highest quality ingredients and are made by actual people in an actual kitchen!  The ingredients are prepared the way I would prepare them at home if I were making soup – they are hand peeled, and cut and treated with care and that’s why I LOVE Kettle Cuisine’s soups.

I chose their Roasted Vegetable Soup, not just gluten-free but dairy-free also, and in about 25 minutes I made a dinner for two that was simple but didn’t taste like it, with its rich, complex flavors. This made 2 large, grown up servings, you can easily double or even triple this recipe if need be.

This is seriously one of the easiest gluten free recipes I have ever made. Perfect for a time when you feel like “cooked-all-day comfort food” but don’t have the time or energy to cook all day.

If you find yourself accidentally glutenized, you are not alone. Pop over to this blog post of Shirley’s and see how some of the top gluten free bloggers deal with the occasional gluten poisoning.

Gluten Free Autumn Shepherd’s Pie


Ingredients

3 cups diced sweet potatoes (from 1 large or two medium, about 1 ½ pounds) – cut into 1 inch dice
1 package Kettle Cuisine Roasted Vegetable Soup
2 cups cooked chicken (about half a chicken) – shredded or diced
2 tablespoons Earth Balance (or other dairy free butter substitute)
¼ cup rice milk
1 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Put the sweet potatoes into a pan with heavily salted cold water. Cover and bring to a boil. Once it comes to a boil cook until fork tender, about 10 minutes.

While the sweet potatoes are cooking, microwave the soup for 3 – 4 minutes or until hot. Stir and pour into a mixing bowl. Add the chicken and stir to combine. Divide the mixture between 2 oven safe bowls or ramekins (my ramekins hold 18 ounces).

When the sweet potatoes are done, drain them and then return them to the hot pot. Put back on the fire and cook for another 30 seconds or so to evaporate any excess liquid. Turn off the heat, mash the potatoes with a potato masher then add the Earth Balance, rice milk, salt and pepper. Mash together until fairly smooth. Divide the potato mixture between the ramekins on top of the chicken mixture. Spread all the way to the edges of the ramekins. With the tines of a fork, rake the top of the potatoes to create little ridges. Cook for 10 – 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. If you want the top of the potatoes a little more browned, turn on the broiler and broil for a minute but watch carefully so it doesn’t burn.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/11/gluten-free-autumn-shepherds-pie-recipe.html

Gluten Free French Bread Recipe – Easy, Easy, Easy!

Today is supposed to be a very lucky day – 11/11/11.  And personally, I am inclined to believe it.  It was lucky for me and I think lucky for you.  I had a gluten free bread baking recipe breakthrough.

As a person who spends most of her time creating gluten free recipes you can imagine that I get my fair share of emails asking if I have a really good recipe for gluten free bread. Before going gluten free I made a few loaves of bread (with varying degrees of success) but I was by no means a bread baker. When I get these emails I think “Why ask me? Why not ask a bread baking expert?

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized, I am probably the perfect person to ask. Why? Because:

1. I went for probably 15 years without eating bread so I know I can live without it – I would rather not eat bread than eat yucky, grainy, crumbly bread.
2. I love great food but I am also kind of lazy so I am always looking for the easiest way to make something.
3. I am not a person who finds it “relaxing” to knead dough by hand for 15 minutes. I wish I was that kind of person, but sadly when I do menial tasks for any period of time, my mind starts to wonder and that is never a good thing!
4. I am success driven, persistent and some might even say a little OCD – I will keep at something until I get it right.

So, I decided to put my mind to making great gluten free breads. I decided to start with French Bread. I did my homework, I studied first the traditional French Bread recipes and methods, then I looked at gluten free ingredients and studied how to make them work better and finally, I baked and baked and baked!

I played around with flours and baking times and methods until I got a gluten free French Bread recipe that was crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, beautifully browned, tastes like what French Bread should taste like and was easy to make. I threw away a lot of bread, enlisted everyone I came across (including a good number of whom are regular gluten-eaters) in blind taste testing and finally, I am pleased to say, came up with a recipe I am happy with!  And I think YOU will love!

And you want to hear the very best thing? It is actually EASIER to make gluten free French Bread than it is to make the gluten-filled kind! Yes, you heard right – EASIER! No kneading, no double rising (I tried, better without) no hours until bread is ready. You can actually have lovely, perfect gluten free French Bread in about an hour and a half, start to finish!

Ok… so here are some tips I discovered:

Equipment

You are going to need a mixer – it is going to do pretty much all the work for you. (Don’t have a mixer? Head over HERE to enter to win a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer!) You also need a French bread pan – gluten free bread needs support when it is rising and baking. Fortunately you can get one for under $20.00 – considering the cost of decent gluten free bread, an investment so worth it! The pans come either perforated or solid, I used both in testing and it didn’t make a huge difference but I did like the results from the perforated pans slightly more. And finally, unless you are dead certain your oven is totally accurate, run over to the hardware or grocery store and grab an oven thermometer for about 4 bucks – you should have one anyway!

Kneading

Remember when the internet was all abuzz about no-knead bread? Ha! That’s old news to us gluten free bakers! 3 minutes in the mixer and that’s pretty much it, no kneading what-so-ever!

Yeast

I got the best result from Dry Active Yeast. It needs to be “active” so if you have had a jar sitting in your fridge since you can’t remember when, go get a new one – it lasts about 6 months refrigerated, after that it may not be good any longer. If you do store your yeast in the fridge then it will take longer for the yeast to “proof”. You want the yeast mixture to pretty much double in size and be all foamy.

Flours

After testing all sorts of different flour combinations, what worked best was a simple combo of white rice flour, sweet rice flour (also called glutinous flour) and tapioca starch. I used all Asian flours (Erawan Brand) which are more finely milled and cost a fraction of the flours you get in the health food store. I also tested this recipe using my own flour and it came out really great (well…dahaaa!) and the dough was a tad easier to work with.

Gum and Fat

I found that mixing the xanthan gum with the fat (olive oil) before adding it to the batter made it work better. I wish I could tell you why, just trust me on this.

Prep

Get all your ingredients out, mix your yeast, blend the xanthan gum with the oil and lightly beat your eggs before you start to mix, it makes it easier. Do the steps in order as I give you in the recipe.

The Dough

If you were used to bread making in a former pre-gluten-free life you will think there is not enough flour in the dough because it has a consistency more like a thick batter than dough. Resist with every fiber of your being from adding more flour! This is just the way gluten free bread dough is. You need to spoon the dough into the pans and shape it with a spatula – it won’t magically turn into pretty ovals unless you do this.

Slashing the Dough

Cutting 3 or 4 diagonal slashes into the top of the dough will help the steam escape while it is baking giving you a lovely, tender texture.

Prepping the Pans

Either spray your French Bread pans with gluten-free, non-stick cooking spray or brush with oil before putting the dough into the pans to rise. For a really authentic bottom, sprinkle a teaspoon of cornmeal on the bottom of the pans after you oil them up. It isn’t completely necessary but it does add that certain je ne se qua (fancy French term for “a certain something”). If using the perforated pans, place them on top of a baking sheet to oil and dust with cornmeal or you will have a mess to clean. Do not bake the bread on the baking sheet however, just put the French bread pan right on the oven rack.

Browning

I tested everything I could think of to get the perfect brown on the French Bread and what I found gave the best color came from brushing the loaves with melted butter just before baking. The good news is that they also came out beautifully browned with a brushing of melted Earth Balance as well – keeping the bread totally dairy free if need be.

Humidity

To get that crunchy crust and tender inside so characteristic of good French Bread it should bake in a humid environment. This is easily created by putting a pan of hot water into the oven while it preheats and just leaving it there while the bread is baking. You can also spritz the oven occasionally with water from a spray bottle but then you have to remember to do it whereas the pan of water just sits there and does its job.

Gluten Free French Bread


Ingredients

2 tablespoons Dry Active Yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
1½ cups warm water (it should be pretty warm to the touch but not hot)
3 teaspoons xanthan gum
2 tablespoons olive oil
*1½ cups super fine or Asian white rice flour
*½ cup superfine or Asian sweet rice flour
*1 cup tapioca starch
1½ teaspoons kosher or fine sea salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons cornmeal – optional
2 tablespoons butter or Earth Balance, melted

*in place of the flours and starch you can use 3 cups of a good, pastry quality gluten free flour blend

Directions

Combine the yeast, sugar and warm water in a bowl about twice the size of the mixture and whisk to dissolve the sugar. Let sit for 5 -6 minutes (10 if the yeast has been in the fridge) or until it is foamy and doubled in size.

In a small bowl stir the xanthan gum with the olive oil until the xanthan gum is dissolved.

Combine the flours, tapioca starch (or gluten free flour blend) and salt in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or just the regular beaters – don’t use a dough hook) and mix to combine. Add the yeast mixture, xanthan gum mixture, eggs and vinegar and mix on low to combine. Scrap down the sides of the bowl once. Turn the mixer to high and mix for 3 minutes.

Spray a French bread pan (with 2 forms) with gluten-free, non-stick cooking spray or brush with more olive oil and sprinkle a teaspoon of cornmeal onto the bottom of each pan.

Spoon the batter into the forms and shape into an oval with a spatula. Using a razor blade or sharp knife cut 3 or 4 diagonal slashes on top of each loaf. Cover the loaves with a clean kitchen towel and set in a warm, draft-free place to rise. Let rise for 30 minutes or until the loaves have doubled in size.

Place a baking pan on the floor of your oven (or on the bottom shelf) and fill it with about an inch of really hot water. Position the rack you are baking the bread on in the middle of the oven. Turn the oven on and preheat to 400 degrees.

Brush the top of the loaves with the melted butter or Earth Balance and bake for 40 – 45 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

You can also make crusty rolls by scooping the dough into 2 standard sized muffin tins, letting them rise 30 minutes and baking for about 20 minutes.

A gluten free recipe that makes 2 loaves of French Bread or 24 Crusty Rolls.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/11/gluten-free-french-bread-recipe-easy-easy-easy.html

Gluten Free Salmon Cakes Recipe with Two Quick Sauces

I know that at this time of the year many of you are scouring the internet for gluten free recipes for Thanksgiving or other upcoming holidays. But may I just point out that Thanksgiving is only one meal in a whole month of dinners! Yes, the truth is that we do need to eat every day, even when those days are getting more hectic by the second. And the reality is that if we have children, we are sort of obligated to feed them!

This is a quick recipe you can throw together in less than half an hour that is also tasty and even a little sophisticated. It also contains items that are always in my pantry such as Panko Style Gluten Free Bread Crumbs from Kinnikinnick and canned salmon – yet another demonstration of how having a well stocked pantry can be a life saver.  OK – maybe not a “life saver” but certainly a dinner saver!

I made two quick sauces for these salmon cakes, one a sour cream dill sauce and the other a dairy free quick tartar sauce. I think nothing goes as well with salmon than dill and the hubby is a staunch tartar sauce supporter – so yes… two sauces.

As with any recipe, you have the freedom to change it up to your liking; add some chopped bell peppers and chilies for a Mexican spin or toss in some cooked potatoes for potato fish cakes or…well you get the idea.

Gluten Free Salmon Cakes


Ingredients

1 – 15 ounce can salmon, undrained
1 cup Kinnikinnick panko style gluten free bread crumbs
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 – 2.5 ounce can sliced black olives
3 scallions (green onions) green and white part, thinly sliced
2 heaping teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning (if you don’t have Old Bay Seasoning, than season with salt, pepper, paprika and a few dashes of hot sauce)
3 -4 tablespoons cooking oil


Directions

In a large mixing bowl, flake the salmon with a fork. Add the bread crumbs, eggs, Old Bay seasoning, olives, corn and green onions. Mix well and form into eight patties, each about ½ inch thick, compacting firmly.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Fry the patties in batches (do not over crowd the pan) for 3 – 4 minutes per side or until nicely browned.

Quick Dill Sauce


Ingredients

6 ounces Greek yogurt (full, low or non-fat)
1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
1 small clove garlic, minced or grated
juice of ½ lemon
salt and pepper

Directions

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or store, covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Quick Tartar Sauce


Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
¼ heaping cup of sweet pickle relish
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/11/gluten-free-salmon-cakes-recipe-with-two-quick-sauces.html

Honey Fig Ricotta Flatbread - Gluten Free

There are three things about this gluten free recipe I would like to mention. In no particular order, here I go:

Figs

They are in season now, they are tender, sweet, plump and jammy. While most of the other fall fruits are crisp and cold, these babies are kind of contrary with their soft, warm, downright sexy lusciousness. I can’t get enough of them. So head on out to the market and grab some of the beauties while they’re still in season. Seriously. Don’t dawdle.

Almond Flatbread

This gluten-free recipe which is also grain-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and vegan for flatbread crust is a fabulous base for all sorts of ingredient. Really, anything you can imagine can go on to this versatile canvas. For this recipe I add some minced rosemary for a woodsy, herbal undertone that goes great with the figs and rosemary honey but you can add any kind of herbs and spices, garlic, a touch of agave for sweetness – the list goes on. Your imagination and pantry are the only things holding you back. Eggs are not an issue for me personally but I decided to make this egg-free because I love the addition of extra fiber in this high protein dough, but if you prefer you can use 2 large eggs in the recipe instead of the flaxseed meal and warm water. Don’t you just love recipes as versatile as this?

Rosemary Honey

Start with some fabulous honey like Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Fair Trade with its caramel, floral notes and gently heat with a couple sprigs of fresh rosemary – the rosemary infuses into the honey and the result is a rich, warm, thick syrup that is not only terrific for pan roasting the figs in this recipe but can be used alone drizzled over fresh figs, apricots or cheese; it is a great addition to your autumn cheese platter. Imagine it drizzled over polenta cake or brushed onto chicken as it roasts. Ah, the sweet possibilities are endless.

Combine all these elements into a flatbread and it is the perfect autumn treat that can be served as an appetizer, dessert or with a salad for a sophisticated weekend lunch. And since it is the weekend, maybe you can add a glass of crisp white wine to go along with that lunch.

To keep this recipe vegan just use Raw Blue Agave instead of the honey and leave out the cheeses; you can substitute the ricotta with some vegan cream cheese or cashew cream like this recipe from my friend Amy.

Gluten Free Honey Fig Ricotta Flatbread

Ingredients

Crust
*2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
6 tablespoons warm water
3 cups almond flour
1 ½ teaspoons kosher or fine sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely minced
¼ cup olive oil (or any kind of oil you like)

*If you prefer use 2 large eggs instead of the flaxseed meal and 6 tablespoons of warm water.

Toppings
½ cup Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Fair Trade Honey
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 pint fresh figs, stems and tough ends removed – quartered and diced
1 – 15 ounce container part skim or full fat ricotta cheese (or fresh ricotta), at room temperature
1 cup baby arugula
Course sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese – a few shavings as garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl stir together the flax seed and warm water and let sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture gels up.

In a large mixing bowl combine the almond flour, 1 ½ teaspoon of salt, baking soda and minced rosemary. Add the flaxseed meal mixture (or eggs) and oil and stir to mix. The dough with be kind of wet and sticky. Dump the dough onto a piece of parchment paper large enough to cover a baking sheet. Top with another piece of parchment and roll until you have a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until the crust is lightly brown and firm.

While the crust is baking heat the honey with the rosemary springs over medium heat. Add the figs and stir, continue to cook for 4 -5 minutes or until the figs are warmed and the honey has thickened slightly. Take off heat and reserve. Leave the rosemary spring in to infuse the honey.

When the crust is done, spread with the ricotta and then layer on the arugula. Using a slotted spoon, spoon the figs over the top of the flatbread then drizzle the honey over the figs. Sprinkle with some sea salt and black pepper and a few shavings of Parmesan cheese. Cut or break into pieces and serve.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/11/gluten-free-honey-fig-ricotta-flatbread.html

Gluten Free Vampire Eyeball Cookies Recipe

So, your gluten-free-child’s class is having a Halloween party at school and the thought terrifies you. Halloween is supposed to be a little terrifying but not because you are worried if your child will become ill. So what do you do?

Easy, you send cool treats the whole class can share but you know your child can eat. Not only do you keep your child safe for the day but you teach them an important life lesson – when invited to a party, bring something gluten free that everyone can enjoy! Not only is it polite and appreciated, it just makes good sense.

These gluten free vampire eyeball cookies are perfect for Halloween and are just plain fun! How creepy is it to eat something that can stare back at you?

These are basically a gluten free sugar cookie with a simple butter cream frosting – so far nothing too terrifying. But when you add blood soaked irises (thanks to maraschino cherries) dark pupils (courtesy of a chocolate chip) and some bloody veins (red gel frosting) you have yourself one eerie cookie!  And if you want alternative maraschino cherries, check these out.

Gluten Free Vampire Eyeball Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (or dairy free butter substitute), at room temperature
1 ½ cups sugar – use divided
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups pastry quality gluten free flour*
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt

Frosting
5 tablespoons unsalted butter or dairy free butter substitute
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pinch kosher or fine sea salt
1 – 1 ½ tablespoons milk or dairy free milk
Several drops maraschino cherry juice (about ¼ teaspoon)

Decorations
18 maraschino cherries – cut in half
36 chocolate chips
2 tubes red cookie decorating gel

• You can make your own gluten free flour blend by whisking together 2 ¼ cups super fine or Asian white rice flour with ¾ cup sweet rice flour, 1 cup potato starch, ½ cup tapioca starch and 2 teaspoons xanthan gum – will make about 4 ½ cups of flour.

Directions

Make the cookies. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with silicon baking sheets or parchment paper.

Take ¼ cup of the sugar and put in a small bowl, reserve.

In the bowl of an electric mixer (preferably fitted with a paddle attachment) cream the butter and 1 ¼ cups sugar on medium speed until very light and fluffy – 5 minutes. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing in well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix well.

In a medium mixing whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour and mix until combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl well to make sure all the ingredients are well combined.

Form tablespoons of dough into balls into balls (I use a small ice cream scoop for this) and roll in the reserved sugar. Place on the prepared baking sheets about 3 inches apart – the cookies spread quite a bit during baking. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until they are just beginning to brown around the edges. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

While the cookies are cooking, pre[are the frosting. Beat the 5 tablespoons of butter with the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt and 1 tablespoon of milk. Add a few drops more of milk if needed – the mixture should be smooth and thick but spreadable. Add a few drops of maraschino cherry juice and blend – you want the mixture just barely pink.

Frost the cookies with about 1 teaspoon of frosting in a circle (to resemble the whites of an eye). Top each cookie with a maraschino cherry half and stick a chocolate chip in the whole of the cherry. Use the decorator gel to make veins. Allow the gel to harden for 30 minutes.

Store cookies in covered container. Can be made 2 -3 days ahead.

A gluten free recipe that makes 36 spooky cookies!

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/10/gluten-free-vampire-eyeball-cookies-recipe.html

Penne with Roasted Cauliflower and Butternut Squash Recipe - Gluten Free

Fall is in the air. Yes, even here in Florida the temps have dropped into the high 70s (or low 80s). Not exactly sweater and boots weather but fall none the less.

It is time to say good bye to the lovely tomatoes and basil of summer and say hello to the hard squashes and cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli of fall.

Want me to let you in on a secret I have learned that will make people think you are a gluten-free rock star in the kitchen? Take some seasonal vegetables, roasted them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and toss with some good gluten-free pasta and an herb or two and voila! It is the simplicity that wows people and the fact that it is hardly any work at all is just a bonus (that we can just keep to ourselves).

I recently discovered a new gluten free pasta; Pastato Potato Penne from Maple Grove Gluten Free. It is made with potato and rice flours but enriched with quinoa flour, ground flax and psyllium husks for added fiber and best of all it tastes great and cooks up in about 7 minutes! Yes, that means that you can have this meal on the table in less than half an hour even if you feel the need to add a salad on the side.

This recipe is vegan but if you want to add some meat, just toss some thinly sliced Italian ham in at the end with the veggies. If dairy is not a dietary issue, a good grating of Parmesan Cheese just before serving is spectacular.

So while it may be hard to tell by the weather here in Florida that autumn has arrived, when butternut squash is roasting in the oven and sage leaves are sizzling in (dairy free) butter you can be sure that fall has fallen!

Gluten Free Penne with Roasted Cauliflower and Butternut Squash

Ingredients

1 box Pastato Potato Penne (8 ounces)
2 cups butternut squash cut into ¾ inch cubes
2 cups cauliflower, cut into 1 inch pieces
½ teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt, plus more for serving
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, plus more for serving
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3 tablespoons olive oil – use divided
¼ cup dairy free butter substitute
½ cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Toss the butternut squash, cauliflower, salt, pepper and nutmeg with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and place on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast the vegetables, stirring occasionally for even browning, for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are browned and the squash is tender.

Cook the pasta in heavily salted water for 7 minutes or until done. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta and then return to the hot pot.

Melt the dairy free butter substitute in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat until it starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the sage leaves, remove from heat and toss to coat.

Add the roasted vegetables, reserved pasta water, sage leaves and browned butter substitute to the pan with the pasta and toss to coat. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/10/gluten-free-penne-with-roasted-cauliflower-and-butternut-squash-recipe.html

Perfect Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe

Bakers, start your ovens!  Fall is what I consider to be the beginning of pie season.  The temperatures start to drop, crisp apples and pears fill the produce shelves and a freshly baked pie seems to be the perfect way to cozy-up a chilly evening.   And before you know it we launch into Thanksgiving and the beginning of Holiday Season.  I ask you – what is Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie?

For many years after converting to a gluten free diet I made crust-less pies and was perfectly happy.  After all a crust-less pie you can safely eat is better than a pie with crust you can’t!   But as time went by, I started to resent my crust-less life and started using nuts and gluten-free cookies as a base for my pies.  Nothing wrong with that and in fact in some cases, such as my chocolate peanut butter pie, a nut crust is the ideal choice.  But what was missing for me was the OTHER choice – a white, flaky, traditional pie crust just like Grandma used to make but without the gluten.  So I  embarked on a mission to make the perfect gluten free pie crust.  The first thing I learned is you can’t let pie crusts intimidate you. It is not only possible to make a great gluten-free pie crust, it is completely do-able and many of those who have tried mine, say they prefer my gluten-free crust to regular wheat crusts they have had.

Here are my tips for making the perfect gluten free pie crust:

1. Cold, cold, cold! Get your ingredients cold before using them. Cut up your butter or shortening into small pieces and pop it in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes before starting your pastry. Put ice cubes in your water for a good 10 minutes before using it to really chill it down.

2. Use a food processor. The speed with which the food processor can combine the ingredients and cut in your butter or shortening is so much faster than if you do it by hand and results in a flakier crust. Of course if you don’t have a food processor, just cut the shortening or butter in by hand but work quickly and don’t over do it. Bigger pieces of butter or shortening are not only OK, but preferred.

3. Be skimpy on the water. The biggest mistake most people make in preparing pie crusts (whether it be gluten-free or not) is adding too much water. Add just enough so that the ingredients hold together when squeezed in your hand. Too much water will result in a tough crust.

4. Give it a rest! Let your pie crust dough rest for at least an hour before rolling. Many people think this is to let the gluten rest, which would make no sense in a gluten-free recipe, but in truth what you are doing is letting the moisture distribute evenly. Never skip the resting period.

5. Extrude – don’t roll. Gluten-free pie crust is more fragile than regular pie crust as it lacks the sticking power of the gluten. It is much easier to employ the “extrusion method”. Simply place your dough on a piece of wax paper that is dusted lightly with gluten-free flour, then sprinkle a little more flour on the dough and top with another piece of wax paper and roll it out. This will help keep your crust in one piece. Using the wax paper also helps in transferring the dough to the pie plate. If a piece falls off or breaks, just pinch it back together, don’t be afraid to show your pie crust who’s boss.

6. Use great ingredients. The sum of the parts will only be as good as what you put in it. Start with a good, pastry quality all purpose gluten-free flour blend that is not grainy or cardboard tasting.   For a perfect-just-like-Grandma-used-to-make pie crust you need a flour blend that has a high starch content and some xanthan gum.  You need the crust to be flaky but still stick together.  If you don’t have a brand you like then make your own using either super fine or Asian flours, they are milled much more finely than most. Also use the best quality butter  you can get buy and always use either kosher or fine sea salt.  If you can not have dairy then substitute the butter with all vegetable solid shortening.  In my opinion, the butter flavored shortenings do not produce as good a flavor as the regular, non-flavored.  And actually I think that using Crisco results in the best tasting, dairy free pie crust but if you just can’t get on board with Crisco, I understand.  I also use regular sugar in my pie crusts, it helps with browning and after all – it’s dessert!

This recipe is for sweet pies, if using for a savory dish such as quiche, cut the sugar down to 1 teaspoon.  At the end of the recipe is a variation for a Chocolate Pie Crust which is a unique twist for pudding-type or berry pies.

Perfect Gluten-free Pie Crust

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter or solid, all vegetable non-dairy shortening
2 to 4 tablespoons cold water
*1¼ cups All Purpose Gluten Free Flour Blend plus more for rolling
1 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
2 tablespoons sugar

* you can make your own homemade version of a flour blend by combining 3/4 cup super fine white rice flour with 1/4 cup potato starch (not potato flour), 1/4 cup sweet rice flour and 1/4 cup tapioca starch (use Asian tapioca to avoid an “off” taste to the tapioca) and 1 teaspoon xanthan gum.  Whisk until fully combined.  This will give you enough for the recipe plus rolling.

Directions

Cut butter into ½ inch pieces and place it the freezer for 15 – 30 minutes.

Add some ice cubes to the water and let it get ice cold while preparing the dry ingredients.
Combine the flour blend, salt and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 5 -6 times to combine. Add the butter and pulse 6 -8 times or until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea size pieces of butter.

With processor running, add ice water 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture just barely starts to clump together. If you pinch some of the crumbly dough together and it holds then you have enough water, if not add more a little at a time. You do not want to add any more water than is absolutely necessary.

Remove the dough from the machine and form into a disk. Wrap the disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour or for as long as 2 -3 days.  Since the dough is so crumbly and does not hold together at this point, I find it easier (and far less messy) to pour the mixture into a large food storage bag and form it into a disk using the bag to help. Then just close up the bag and put it in the fridge. Remove dough from fridge 5 minutes before rolling.

To roll the dough, lay a piece of waxed paper on a work surface and sprinkle with some flour blend. Lay the chilled disk on the floured paper, sprinkle with some more flour and lay on another piece of waxed paper. Roll the dough into a circle approximately 12 inches wide. Remove the top sheet of waxed paper and carefully transfer into a 9 inch pie plate and remove the waxed paper. Push the dough very gently down so it lines the bottom and sides of the pie plate. If the dough splits or breaks apart just push it back together. Trim the edge of the pie crust to about ½ – ¾ inch over hang. Tuck the overhang under and pinch the dough into a decorative finish.

To Pre-bake (or Blind Bake) a pie crust:

Sometimes a recipe will call for a pre-baked or blind baked pie crust, here’s how to do that.

Freeze the pie crust in the pie plate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place a piece of waxed or parchment paper (or foil) in the bottom and up the sides of the pie crust. Fill with dried beans, rice or pie weights. (I prefer dried black beans as they help distribute the heat better and are much less expensive than pie weights. I use the same beans over and over.) Bake the crust for 20 minutes. Remove the weights and waxed paper, poke a few holes in the bottom of the crust using a fork and return to the oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Let pie crust cool completely before filling.

A gluten free recipe that makes 1 – 9 inch pie crust.

Variation – Chocolate Pie Crust:

Add 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and proceed as above.  The dough may require just a tad more water.  Make sure to brush off all the excess flour blend after rolling to keep the dark color.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of Gluten Free Recipes which are made from Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/10/gluten-free-almond-chocolate-cherry-cupcakes-recipe.html

I believe firmly that  no living thing thrives with deprivation. That is why it makes me so happy to create gluten free recipes for desserts that are rich and indulgent. If I can create a dessert that is not only gluten free but also sugar free and is STILL rich and indulgent then I am not just happy, I am ecstatic!

I just can not think of the words “chocolate” and “deprivation” in the same thought!  Seriously, who is going to punish you by making you eat chocolate? And I am willing to bet that one does not think “gelato” and then think “diet”. And yet one of my fairly guilt-free go-to desserts is Chocolate Gelato!

Did you know that gelato is lower in fat and calories than ice cream? Well, it is. Gelato is traditionally made with milk and typically has between 4 and 8 percent butter fat versus ice cream’s 14 to 16 percent butter fat content (at least in America).

So if gelato is lower in fat and calories than ice cream why does it seem so much richer? First of all the lower fat content of milk vs. cream makes it so that the flavors come through much more vibrantly. If you want a rich and sinful dairy free dessert make this with the dairy free milk of your choice – just make sure the fat content is similar to that of whole cow’s milk.

Secondly, I think the silken texture has something to do with it. In commercial gelato that silken texture is achieved by the use of corn syrup. It does something technical (that I could pretend to understand and explain but don’t and won’t) to the milk. But you can get the same result with agave nectar AND have the added benefit of a dessert that is free of refined sugar. Since agave is non-crystallizing it keeps the gelato smooth and silky without those little bits of rock hard frozen sugar that can ruin a good frozen treat.

So if we combine lower fat and calories with refined sugar free and the health benefits of chocolate which include everything from lowering blood pressure and possibly fighting cancer to preventing tooth decay, this Chocolate Gelato is actually down right virtuous! Isn’t it great to have a dessert that is rich, indulgent and virtuous? I think so.


Gluten Free Sugar Free Chocolate Gelato


Ingredients

3 cups whole milk (or dairy free milk)
1 pinch kosher or fine sea salt
2/3 cup organic raw blue agave
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1½ tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

Heat 2 cups of the milk with the salt and agave in a saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a simmer.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining cup of milk with the cocoa powder and cornstarch. Add the mixture to the heated milk and agave mixture. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to boil and stir for 1 minute. Strain the mixture into a clean bowl and let cool to room temperature. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, about 6 hours. (To hasten the chilling process put the mixture in the freezer for approximately 1 hour instead.)

Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and process for 20 – 30 minutes or according to the manufacture’s directions. Place in a covered container and freeze until hard, about 6 hours. The gelato will keep for a week in the freezer, covered.

A gluten free recipe that makes about 1 quart of gelato.

Want to know more about your favorite Gluten Free Recipe or how to avoid being bothered by Celiac with our range of
Gluten Free Recipes which are made from

Gluten Free raw material feel free to visit us at: http://www.simplygluten-free.com

Article Source: http://simplygluten-free.com/blog/2011/09/gluten-free-sugar-free-chocolate-gelato-recipe.html