GFCF Thanksgiving

Here we are again...THANKSGIVING....CHRISTMAS.. which means..STUFFING, COOKIES, MASHED POTATOES WITH OODLES OF BUTTER.... What's a GFCF family to do??!!!

There are lots of ways to make the holidays a 'treat' without having to give in to bad flavor and soggy stuffing. I was watching Rachel Ray Thanksgiving in 60 and realized that I could make most of what she had in her episode with very few adjustments. The pumpkin soup could use GF flour for the roux and the cream could be replaced by coconut milk. You could even make the squash soup I just posted here on this blog in it's place. I have found stuffing difficult with gluten free breads because it tends to get soggy. I like her stuffin' muffins because I think they would dry out easier and make for a better gf muffin.

Everyone in the food world is talking about Gluten free...and it is not a fad. It is seriously helping so many people feel well again! Even Martha's blog is talking about it here on her post about Thanksgiving and special diets.

Aut2Bhome has a wonderful collection of GFCF recipes. The pictures on this post have disappeared but the food is still very yummy.

I am going to post our Christmas dinner that we did last year (Beef Tenderloin!) and some gfcf Christmas crafts over the next few weeks.

Squash Soup

I tried making this soup the other day with canned pumpkin and canned butternut squash. It wasn't even close to the same. I ended up not eating it. Add liquids to your liking. Make it think, thick, more coconut taste...whatever.

Cook 2 butternut squashes. (you can use other types of squash.)
saute 1/2 onion
Add cooked squash
Add chicken broth (I added about 1 cup)
Add coconut milk (I added about 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk. If you add lite, which is fine, you will probably want less broth.)
Add a dash (1 TBS) of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
You could add cinnamon, nutmeg etc... but I personally like it with just salt and pepper.

Top with toasted pine nuts.


You can find coconut milk in the Asian section of any grocery store. My favorite brands however are 365 or Trader Joe.

J's Amazing Oatmeal Cookies

My friend J gave me this amazing recipe for GF oatmeal cookies. I actually didn't read to the bottom of her email and have never put them in the freezer although I made an extra batch of dough that I will probably stick there. I also have never added cinnamon or anything else but I am sure that would be yummy! As a note, oatmeal and oat flour is NOT gluten free however Bob's Red Mill makes GF oats. Take them for a whirl in the blender to make the oats into the oat flour.

Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup margarine---I'm going to try to make them this week with coconut oi instead and see how it goes...

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup loose brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tbs water, 1 1/2 tbs oil, 1 tsp baking powder mixed together (or egg replacer for one egg)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 cup quick oats

1 1/2 cup oat flour

If you are making oatmeal cookies, add 1 tsp. cinnamon and/or raisins, dried cherries, or dried apples. If you are making choc. chip cookies skip the cinnamon and just stir in GFCF choc chips.

Cream together wet ingredients, stir in dry. If it seems really wet, add a little extra flour. Scoop small amounts (about a tsp) onto cookie sheet and pack tightly. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for about ten minutes then bake for 7-9 minutes at 325 degrees or until set. Let them cool well on cookie sheet before removing. Makes about 2.5 dozen.

I know it sounds weird to stick them in the freezer and then the oven, but for some reason it helps them hold together better without any eggs.

Sushi Rice ball ideas!

My Son Eats Spinach!!!

Ok he drinks it. And don't tell him! One of my favorite food blogs is Happy Foody. Going 100% (or even 50%) raw is probably outside the realm of possibility; however she inspires me to at least eat a bit more 'green.' I have started making 'green smoothies' each day for the entire clan. To start off I have put frozen blueberries in the mix which makes the smoothies purple which is a little less off putting. I mix frozen strawberries and blueberries and a frozen banana with a bit of water to blend. Then I add a couple of handfuls of baby spinach with some additional water and some agave. If you have a 'regular' blender, you need to let it go for quite some time and there might be the occasional spinach leaf that you come across. I am thinking about the purchase of a Vitamix which will not only make great green smoothies but much much more. They cost quite a bit of cabbage though. But I have heard they are a mean machine.

Now don't be scared!!!! I was...but I went for it. And they are delicious. There are many different recipes you can find online and it is great for extra greens you have lying around. Plus, can you get your kid to eat spinach any other way???!!!

Vitamix Giveaway!!!!!!

You can find a free Vitamix Giveaway here!!!! on Jessie Hawkins blog.

Andrew's Birthday Cake design....

Here is Andrew's design for a birthday cake.
Yes he wants it to say Happy Bday (not Birthday.)
Notice the 'Gold tooth.)
Press the button to see us drawing it using the FB graffiti feature