Butter and Herb Roasted Whole Chicken

Even though we all eat chicken all the time, there is something special, but comforting, about a whole roasted chicken.  The way it fills your entire house with the most delicious smell, knowing you can make an awesome chicken stock afterwards, and most likely having plenty of leftovers make it such a fun dish. 

This time I bought a fresh, all-natural, organic chicken from WF and I don't think I have to tell you that the taste and texture was far superior to a frozen, hormone-filled chicken.  This particular birdy was a bit shy of 4lbs.  I let it sit out on the counter for probably an hour or two before cooking, so it could come to room temp.  I did not wash it.  People have differing opinions on washing your bird first.  I don't do it- do you?  I don't want to get raw chicken juice all over the place personally.

I also did not use a roasting rack- rather I tossed a bunch of sliced onions and baby carrots over a foil-lined baking sheet, and placed the chicken on top of the carrots to keep the bottom of the chicken off of the baking sheet so the hot air could circulate underneath it.  I didn't bother greasing the foil. 

The picture doesn't do this guy justice.  It may look burnt, but that's just the herbs.  It was not burnt at all.  In fact, it was the juiciest, moistest chicken I've ever had!

Butter and Herb Roasted Whole Chicken
1 whole chicken, giblets removed (mine was almost 4lbs) and totally DRY
One container poultry herbs (several sprigs of rosemary and thyme, plus a handful of sage leaves, FRESH)
4 tbsp all natural butter, like Kerrygold (I prefer to use unsalted) room temp
1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
handful of baby carrots
half an onion, chopped

Place your baby carrots and sliced onions on your foil-lined baking sheet, then place chicken on top of the carrots.  Salt and pepper the inside of the bird generously, and if you have extra herbs or onions, throw them in too.  Tie the legs together with twine (I only had hemp, it worked fine!) and tuck the wings under the bird so they don't burn.  Finely chop all your herbs and then throw them in a small dish.  Add your room temp butter, garlic, and salt and pepper.  Mix it up well.  Then, with clean hands, take a glob of butter and smoosh it around under the chicken skin.  Try to get it as far down as you can.  Smear the remaining butter mixture all over the skin and don't skimp on the legs, thighs, wings, etc!  Roast in your preheated oven at 425 for about an hour and 20 minutes.  I used my convection feature and it only took one hour, so if you have a convection oven go for it!  You must must MUST let the bird rest for 20 minutes at least.  If you are unsure whether it's done or not- take a peek at the juices running out.  Are they clear?  If so, it's dunzo.  You can absolutely eat the carrots, they are ridiculously insanely good.  Best of all- keep the carcass and use it for the best stock ever!

I did a lot of googling before I decided to use butter.  I had never ever used butter before to roast anything.  EVOO all the way.  But the milk solids in the butter create a fabulous crispy and browned skin that EVOO just can't.  I've also seen a lot of recipes that call for Mayo- which I also think is a great idea, but was worried about trying it for the first time on company.  But I'm all for it next time.  On their Thanksgiving special, I noticed the Voltaggio (sp?) bros used mayo to roast something.  I also am not thrilled with the mayo I have on hand.  I need a really good quality organic mayo. 

Make this chicken.  It's awesome.  Super easy.  Pretty to look at.  Who doesn't love a roast chicken.  With butter.  Duh. 

More Veggie Pancakes

Another pancake post.  This time, savory.  I've got veg latkes, or pancakes, down at this point.  I've now discovered what an easy way this is to get everyone to eat their veggies.  How could you not when they're in pancake form?  I tried them again for Chanukah dinner with M's grandma.  With the addition of crunchy shredded carrots, this batch was colorful and full of your daily beta carotene!

Carrot Zucchini Pancakes (Latkes)
2 small zucchini, grated, water squeezed out
half a bag of pre-shredded carrots (about a cup to 1 1/2 cups)
1 whole egg, 1 egg white
1/2 tsp paprika
4 tbsp chickpea flour (besan)
S&P to taste
3 green onions, sliced finely
1/2 tsp minced garlic

Into a large mixing bowl throw your grated/shredded veggies, then egg, flour, garlic, onions, and seasoning.  Mix well.  Try not to let it sit as the salt will draw out a lot of water and make the mixture soupy.  Heat up a tsp or two of oil in a frying pan and get it sizzling hot.  Using a tablespoon, drop batter onto hot pan and cook about 3 min per side.  These are better crispy.  They have a natural kick to them as the chickpea flour has a bit of spice to it.  I like them plain but they are great with sour cream, applesauce, or even hummus!  I served this with a simply roasted chicken (recipe coming soon) and a salad.  A nice meal to serve to company, no muss no fuss!  Best of all, for all the non GFG's out there, this feels like you are getting a nice starchy carby dish even though it's just veggies!  No one misses out.  Now, if you're expecting a crunchy, super crispy pancake like potato pancakes can be, you may be disappointed.  These don't get crunchy.  A zucchini is delicious and a great substitute, but hello, it's not a potato.  M asked me, why aren't these crunchy?  Well, zucchini's are full of water, and potatoes are full of starch.  Water won't crisp up on you, sorry folks.  But I don't miss those carbohydrate-bombs, and neither should you.  I can't wait to try these with spinach and maybe some red peppers!  Yum!

Protein-Packed Strawberries and Cream Pancakes

Even though we don't celebrate Christmas, I wanted to make a special breakfast for M and S.  It ended up being lunch because we went to the JCC this morning and then over to see our friends new house, but it was festive and very special all the same.  Experimenting with coconut flour is definitely a trial and error endeavor but it very reliably will make a GREAT pancake.  Here is what we had today!


Protein-Packed Strawberries and Cream Pancakes (serves 4)
1/4 cup coconut flour
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup cottage cheese
2 tbsp sugar-free vanilla syrup, or liquid sweetener of choice
3 eggs
1/3 cup strawberries, sliced
3 or 4 tbsp (nut)milk, or even water

In a large mixing bowl, stir flour, salt, and baking soda together.  Add in three eggs, syrup, and cottage cheese, and mix well.  You want your batter to be wet, and pourable, so add 2 tbsp of water or milk and see where you're at.  If it's not the right consistency yet, add another tbsp of liquid and see what you got.  Lastly, mix in your berries.  Drop by the tablespoonful onto a sizzling hot frying pan.  These are great on their own, with some jam, apple butter, whatever!  I think S ate half of them, no joke.  When we finally made her stop eating she was very unhappy.  Not sure if that's good or bad.  Anyways- these are a nutritional powerhouse.  With the naturally higher fiber and protein content of the coconut flour, plus the eggs AND cottage cheese, these are a fantastic vehicle for a yummy high-protein breakfast.  Very filling and very satisfying.  I think I got about 10 large pancakes out of it.  They are a little more custardy than your average pancake, from the cottage cheese, but quite good.  I hope you try it!

CCK-Inspired Double Chocolate Almond Cookies and Walnut Apricot Biscotti

Chocolate-Covered Katie is a great resource for "healthier" dessert recipes, and they are all vegan.  Usually the recipes call for spelt or whole wheat flour and I don't normally try to GFG-adapt them, but every once in awhile she does have a grain-free recipe.  This recipe in particular looked really great because she only used dates as the sweetener.  That is a rare find! 

Before I talk about the recipe, I want to go back to the word "healthier" in quotes.  What is healthy, or healthier?  Five years ago, even two years ago, I would have had a totally different answer for you.  And who knows, a year from now, I may say something else.  I know I used to characterize healthy as primarily something that was low-fat.  Funny how now my nutrition is made up of mostly protein, and fat!  Browsing recipes on Pinterest, I'm always struck by how many people use the word "healthy" to describe something that is anything but.  Sugar-filled pastries that use veg oil instead of butter, a high-carb pasta dish with some vegetables thrown in, or something with a reduced number of eggs, etc.  I always want to comment and be like, "what makes this healthy?"  which of course would be incredibly rude, judgmental, and condescending.  But all the same, it makes me think about what my definition of healthy is.  I'm still in the process of defining it.  But what does a "healthy" diet mean to you?  Has your opinion of healthy foods changed?  Do you have foods you eat now that used to be off-limits?  I know I do.  Fat used to terrify me.  Meat used to be something I only seldom indulged in.  It's just so interesting to experience such a marked shift in food perception.  Tell me about how your perceptions have changed?  What are some food myths you used to believe that you have now "unlearned"?

On to the recipe.  Here it is in its original form.  The post is actually a good read because the commenters get into a discussion about gluten-free as a fad or food trend.  A lot of folks on the thread start getting pretty preachy and judgy, talking about their opinions on whether it is truly a fad or not, making some assumptions and generalizations, and so on.  I am not about to chime in over there- but will say that while I do believe that gluten-free is becoming something of a more popular choice, I don't think you can call it a trend, or that I am following a trend by adopting a grain-free, and thereby gluten-free lifestyle.  There are some theories that I wholeheartedly believe to be true.  I believe that for many many people, maybe even all people, gluten is a toxin.  I believe that over time, many people will probably develop an intolerance to it, depending on how much of it you consume and what your genetic predispositions are.  I believe that the effects of your intolerance will aggregate over time and eventually it becomes systemic.  I believe that the ways it shows itself outwardly can be hard to pinpoint.  Maybe its GI issues, maybe its migraines, rashes, erratic blood sugar, and so on.  I believe that due to genetically modified crops in the US, that the amount of gluten in our grains has skyrocketed, which contributes to the huge rise in celiac disease we are seeing.  European countries that have been eating grain-filled diets for much longer than us have even higher rates of celiac disease- take a look at Italy, and Denmark, for example.  But they are theories, and they are my beliefs, not fact necessarily, and even if they were, we are all entitled to think whatever we want.  I just hope we can refrain from looking down on people who don't share the same belief system as ourselves, and that goes for all things, not just food! 

I got off on a tangent.  It just irks me when people make sweeping generalizations.  So to end on a lighter note this holiday weekend, make these.  I made them with sugar-free chocolate chips and grapeseed oil (does anyone else's coconut oil smell/taste kind of spoiled?  I think from now on I'm going to use refined coconut oil.) making them 100% sugar free.  I also decided to round out my sugar free baking with a few new ingredients, xylitol, erythritol, and some sugar-free vanilla syrup which I'll occasionally use in recipes that call for agave.  I already used it in a sugar-free, grain-free biscotti (recipe below), and some yummy protein-packed strawberry pancakes.  Recipes coming soon!  The xylitol I'm a little nervous about, but the reviews on amazon and iherb make it sound like the greatest thing since sliced (grain-free) bread!

Sugar-Free, Grain-Free, Vegan Walnut Apricot Biscotti

1 1/4 cups almond flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup sugar-free vanilla syrup, or your liquid sweetener of choice
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup (or more) chopped apricot
1 tbsp arrowroot (or 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch if it doesn't bother you, but check to make sure it's gluten free)


In your cuisi, pulse almond flour, salt, and baking soda just a few times, then add in your syrup.  Process until it forms a ball.  Depending on what liquid you use, it may be wetter or drier.  Transfer to a bowl and add in your nuts and fruit.  Form into a big ovally looking log on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Take it out and let it cool for at least 20 minutes.  Reduce heat to 300 and cut log on diagonal into strips.  Bake for another 20 minutes or so until it's browned and starting to crisp up.  Et voila!  Yummy sugar free biscotti!

Thai Shrimp and Snowpeas

Are you an "eyeballer?"  Or do you measure everything meticulously?  Do you read the directions on a recipe before you start or do you just jump in without preparing?  Yeah.  I am both an eyeballer and a jumper.  I rarely measure when cooking and never read through the directions fully.  That's what I love about cooking as opposed to baking.  I can get away with both.

I had pinned a shrimp recipe awhile back and after finally picking up some Thai Red Curry Paste last weekend I was ready to give it a shot.  I am not going to post a recipe because it was so dang easy.  Takes 10 minutes to prepare.

Thai Shrimp and Snowpeas- Saute four sliced scallions in a little oil and add some minced garlic and salt, let cook for a few minutes.  Then add a tbsp of thai red curry paste and cook for another minute.  Add your shrimp and cook for three minutes.  Pour in coconut milk, between half and one cup, and a few liberal dashes of fish sauce.  Stir and cook for a minute, then throw in your snowpeas.  Cook until veg are heated through and shrimp is done.  Super easy, super fast.  M and I ate ours with chili garlic sauce to give it some heat, but S scarfed hers down happily without it. 

I need to get some recipes together for this weekend.  We aren't all that into hannukah and we have no family in town so this weekend is going to be long and pretty uneventful.  Lots of cooking, hanging out, and family time, just the three of us.  I'm just kind of sick of baked goods.  Sick of almond flour, coconut flour, flour in general.  Maybe it's time to play with my ice cream maker again.

I hope you all have wonderful, fun, and happy plans for this holiday weekend and for New Years as well.  However you spend your time, and whoever it's with, may it be pleasant, joyful, healthy, and happy.  Much love to you all and your grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, whatever-free families! XoXo GFG

No Sugar, Grain-Free Flour-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

I am having a slight sugar issue.  Everywhere I turn there are sugary treats, candy, and chocolate, and it's slowly making me crazy!  Cookies and pastries and snacks I don't have much trouble ignoring, but chocolate, that is my weak spot.  I have the hardest time turning down chocolate.  And I always find myself justifying it in some way.  I've had enough though!  I need to cut it out NOW.  It's making me feel tired, sluggish, and gross.  I really need to amp up my protein and fat intake and cut out the crap.  Well, crap to me anyways.  That leads me to my next point.  The blogosphere is swimming with posts about sugar substitutes, sugar swaps, unrefined this and refined that, maple syrup vs. honey vs. molasses vs. sorghum, you name it.  And people get into crazy heated arguments.  Stevia is a natural zero calorie sweetener!  No it's POISON!  Splenda gives you cancer and is made of Chlorine!  Agave will shut down your pancreas!  Ahhhhhhhhh!  It's really insane.  I personally used to bake with splenda and quite liked the taste, but have since moved on to stevia, which I'll admit, can taste bitter and have a strange aftertaste.  I haven't tried erythritol, not because I have some moral opposition to it, but because it really only works in wet applications and that just seems like a pain to me.  And then the other natural sweeteners, no matter their glycemic load whether its coconut sugar or date syrup, agave or honey, I just won't do.  It's still sugar, and I'm still not interested.  I felt like making something completely free of any added sugar or sugar substitutes today.  The result was a somewhat cakey cookie and very very subtly sweet, barely a hint of sweet at all actually, and if I hadn't been having so much chocolate lately I probably would have appreciated it much more. 

I don't eat bananas anymore but I still hoard them for baking.  A nice brown banana is like gold to me.  If for no other reason than I love to make banana bread as hostess gifts.  So today, while contemplating how much stevia I'd need for these PB cookies, I decided, what the hell, lets try it with just a banana.


No Sugar, Grain-Free Flour-Free Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
1 cup all natural PB preferably unsalted, or try Sunbutter if PB is a problem
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
sprinkle of cinnamon
1 overripe banana, mashed

Combine mashed banana with egg and vanilla, then stir in PB, cinnamon, and baking soda.  Drop by the teaspoon-full onto parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 20min or until browned.  Usually these recipes call for 1 cup of sugar instead of a banana, which in turn yields a much drier, more crumbly cookie.  I would have definitely preferred a crunchy crumbly cookie but using a cup of stevia in the raw would have been disgusting and there really is nothing like real white sugar for getting that chewy but still crumbly texture.  If you want a very subtly sweet cookie and like PB and banana together this will be a really nice treat to have around.  Best of all, it's got folate, potassium, protein, and good fats.  I could give one to S with breakfast and not feel guilty about it.  Is it the best cookie ever?  No.  Will it satisfy your after-dinner snack-tooth?  Yes.  And maybe it will help me pass up a piece of sugar-laden chocolate too. 

How do you feel about sugar substitutes?  Do you use them?  I've read that using erythritol and stevia together is a good combo.  Have you baked with agave?  Coconut crystals, or nectar?  I'd love to hear what you guys use, what you like, what you don't like.  It seems that different brands of stevia can taste totally different too.  I've heard NuNaturals is good, and then there are those that like Truvia, and others still who say it's the devil.  People get really nutty about sugar.

No Recipe Recipe for a Protein Packed Yogurt Dessert

Kalyns Kitchen is a great blog for anyone following South Beach Diet or Atkins or whatever, which in some ways can be closely related to the GFG diet.  She has tons of low carb dishes.  One recipe caught my eye last week and I was excited to give it a try.  MKG isn't the biggest fan of chocolate and sometimes I get tired of baked goods.  He loves fruity desserts and this looked simple enough.  I am not even going to bother with a recipe, it would be too ridiculous.  Go to Kalyn's blog and check it out if you need to!

This dessert is so easy, S could probably do it.  And packed with protein.

Here are instructions for this Protein-Packed Yogurt Fruit Pie.

Combine two small packages of sugar free lemon jello with one 32 oz container of 0% fat plain Greek yogurt.  Zest one lemon and add zest to bowl.  Stir well to incorporate everything.  Microwave for about 90 seconds, and then stir.  Microwave another minute or two, and stir again.  Pour the heated mixture into a greased pie dish and let set for about 4 hours.  Before serving, top with sliced berries.  How easy is that?  And so yummy.  This is a dessert you really do not need to feel guilty about.  Kalyn suggests serving with whipped cream or topping, but honestly, why bother?  It's awesome just like this!

Edited:  I've also done this with strawberry SF jello and a container of ricotta- has a cheesecake-ish texture to it!

(Cheese)Burger Soup

Pinterest is truly the best invention of 2011.  Well, who knows when it actually rolled out but I discovered it in 2011 and am eternally grateful.  I just love the darn thing so much.  Scrolling through my favorite categories and boards is always an inspiration.  I see recipes I want to try, tricks for the home, products I'm interested in, articles, books, you name it.  So this soup recipe was inspired by Pinterest as well.  As usual, I see a recipe, like the premise, but end up changing most of the ingredients.  Same goes for my (Cheese)Burger Soup.  Weird name, great taste!

(Cheese)Burger Soup (serves at least 8)
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 32 oz carton reduced sodium beef broth
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 package ground meat, lean turkey or beef (about 1 1/2 lbs)
1 cup of grated sharp cheddar
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 large onion, chopped
3 or 4 large carrots, chopped
1 tbsp celery salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
seasoned salt, salt, and pepper to taste

In a large soup pot, brown your onions in a bit of EVOO.  Add ground meat and brown the meat.  Pour off your fat once the meat is browned.  Add celery and carrots and sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook for 7 minutes or so.  Then add broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and season generously.  Since your broth is reduced sodium you'll definitely need to season the soup up.  I didn't want to overspice it but some cayenne or a dash of red pepper flakes would be awesome.  The longer you cook this the better but 45 minutes is really the minimum.  Before serving, reheat and then add your rinsed and drained beans.  This will of course be better on day two!  Sprinkle the top with cheddar to make it a cheeseburger soup!  Yum!!  S had a bowl, and then M and I each had quite a bit, and there was still more to fill two containers.  Enjoy!

Grain-Free PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there anyone alive that doesn't like pizza?  I'll admit, even before adopting the GFG-lifestyle, I stayed away from pizza because it was just one of those off-limit foods to me, but oh man, I sure liked it!  I'm a Chicagoan so a nice slice of deep dish pizza will always make me salivate.  Lou Malnati's, you know what's going on. 
So, ok, my pizza above may not look like the aforementioned Lou's pizza, but I'm telling you, it is a very very good approximation of some seriously good thin-crust.  MAKE THIS PIZZA ASAP PEOPLE!  It is crazy good.  There are lots of grain-free pizza crust recipes floating around the interwebs.  And plenty more of gluten-free crusts.  You need to buy several different flours, combine them in the right amounts, knead them, add this and that, proof 'em, etc.  Not this recipe.  Even better, this is a great way to "hide" veggies.  The crust is cauliflower.  No kidding.  It does NOT taste like cauliflower either, yummy as it that little white veggie is, if you didn't make it yourself you would have no clue it was cauli.  Try it.  You will LOVE it.  Promise!  And google this recipe, you'll see there are quite a few variations.  I think my technique proved superior, but the ingredients are all roughly the same.

Grain-Free Cauliflower Crust Pizza (Gluten-Free, of course!)

1 head of cauliflower
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp minced garlic
1 can of pizza sauce, like Muir Glen organic
1 bag of part-skim mozzarella
toppings, like turkey pepperoni, sauteed mushrooms or spinach, tomatoes, olives, green peppers, whatever!!!

Preheat your oven to 450 and spray two cookie sheets with non-stick spray.  Cut your head of cauli into florets and throw them in the cuisi.  You will probably need to do this in two batches.  Pulse the cauli until it's at the "rice" stage and transfer to a glass microwave safe bowl.  Microwave the cauliflower for 10 minutes or so.  You want to cook out some of the moisture and get the little grains a bit drier so your crust isn't watery.  Don't skip this step!  You'll probably have about three cups of cauli rice at this point.  If you use all three cups of it, you can probably make 9 individual pizzas, 2 per person.  Depending on how many you're feeding, make all 9, or save the third cup for another time.  I sauteed one cup and will give it to S for lunch.

With the other two cups, I added a tsp of  garlic, 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp oregano, and 2 eggs.  Mix thoroughly.  Using a large spoon, drop even amounts of the wet crust onto your cookie sheet.  (Warning- do not used a parchment-lined baking sheet unless you want to start a fire in your oven... yeah...)  This made 6 individual pizzas for me, three per sheet.  Spread the crust out evenly using the spoon and try to get it as flat and thin as you can.  Bake the crusts for 25-30 minutes until the edges are crisp and the whole pizza is brown.  Other recipes tell you to make one big pizza, which leaves the centers underdone and soggy.  This technique works muuuch better.  While the crusts are baking, sautee up some veggies or chicken or whatever toppings you want.  Once the crusts are nice and browned, pull 'em out and set the oven to broil.  Spread pizza sauce onto the crusts, then top with about a 1/4 cup of cheese, and your preferred toppings.  Get creative and try funky combinations, like goat cheese and thyme, feta and red peppers!  Or stick to the basics like pepperoni.  Put your baking sheets into the broiling hot oven for just a couple minutes, until the cheese is melted.  That's it!

Don't worry if your edges are burnt, that's ok!  It'll be great, and that way you know the bottom is well-cooked.  You CAN pick these up and eat them like a regular old slice of pizza!  If you choose to make one large crust, I don't think you can. 

I promise, these do not taste like cauliflower.  It tastes like pizza.  Maybe a floppy pizza, but a damn good floppy pizza.  And instead of a bunch of starchy gluten filled carbs, you're eating veggies!  Yeah buddy!  Great recipe for those tough to please toddlers.

I have to say, this is one of those recipes that has really gotten me excited!  Every once in awhile you make something that just totally blows you away, and this is one of those recipes.  Please give it a try!  You'll be so glad you did!

Totally on a different subject, last month I mentioned I was going through a rough patch.  The last six weeks have been pretty trying.  I don't want to bore anyone with the deets, it was work related, and I'll leave it at that.  But I am so so so so so pleased that things are really looking up.  I am so grateful to this goofy little blog of mine for giving me purpose, giving me a positive outlet, and giving me something to do that was rewarding for me and always makes me smile.  Some days, when everything is going wrong and you feel like a failure, at the very least I know I can get in the kitchen and create something healthy, wholesome, and GFG-approved that I can be proud of.  If nothing else, I know that is one thing I am good at.  Sharing that with whoever is out there is a privilege and a joy.

In my little fantasy-world I've concocted, I have a small nutritional empire comprised of a brick-and-mortar store selling all manner of goods for all of us on special diets, whether its a diabetic diet, grain-free, primal/paleo, gluten-free, SCD, GAPS, anti-candida, etc, where you can get quality ingredients at a fair price (can you believe what they charge for "gluten" free products in that sad little gluten-free aisle at the grocery-store?  UGH!) maybe some cooking classes for the newly initiated, and nutritional counseling from holistic nutritionists, that can shop with you, cook with you, clean out your pantry if needed, and just work with you on your new lifestyle.  Maybe this blog is the first step in my little fantasy, maybe not, but it's fun to dream, right?

Do you have any business ideas you'd love to make happen?  However goofy our outlandish?  What are they?  Any tips for a risk-averse wannabe entrepreneur like myself?

Thanks for reading, and thanks for eating!  XoXoGFG

Easy Grain-Free, Sugar-Free Strawberry Cream Cheese Bars

A jar of sugar free or no sugar added preserves or jam can be a big help if you need a quick dessert.  So can some cream cheese, or neufchatel if you're so inclined.  This entire recipe from start to finish took about 35 minutes, including bake time.  Try it next time you're in a pinch!  Best of all, you can jazz it up any way you like- different jams, dried fruit, chocolate, dried coconut, whatever!  They remind of when I was little and those lucky days I'd get a strawberry and cream cheese sandwich, yum!!!!!!!!

Grain-Free, Sugar-Free Strawberry Cream Cheese Bars
1 jar no sugar added fruit preserves or jam.  I mixed cherry and strawberry together so I could use up the cherry.  Microwaved for one minute.
1 egg
1 1/2 cups almond flour
2 tsp oil
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 packets of sweetener, like Purevia or whatever you like (optional)
3 tbsp cream cheese, microwaved for 30 seconds or so

Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment and preheat your oven to 350.  In a bowl, mix your almond flour, baking soda, salt, and sweetener.  Mix your oil and egg together, then add to almond flour mixture.  Press your crust into the baking dish and push with your fingers until it's reached all the sides.  Now pour your melted jam over the crust, and then your cream cheese, or neufchatel.  Using a fork or spatula, spread the jam and cream cheese around until it covers the crust completely.  This would be the time to add chopped nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips, what have you.  Bake for 25-30 minutes and then let cool for a few hours before serving.

Grain-Free, Sugar-Free Cranberry Orange Muffins

 We all know I regularly lament the lack of unsweetened dried cranberries in the markeplace.  Sooner or later I'll just get a dehydrator and do it myself, but until then, there's always fresh, right?  Well, wrong actually- aren't cranberries only in stores this time of year?  Anyhow- I picked up a bag and figured whatever I didn't use could be frozen.  Back in the day, when I was still on the SAD diet- I used to loooooooove S'bucks cranberry orange scones.  Never mind they had like 500 calories and 3000 carbs.  I felt like trying to recreate those flavors with this muffin.  Next time I would add much more liquid, but the flavors were spot on.  (Recipe amended for more liquid)
GF/SF Cranberry Orange Muffins
3/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/3 cup sweetener
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
zest of one orange
1/4 cup oil
1 cup buttermilk or soured nutmilk
1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped, and macerated in 1/4 cup of OJ and a packet of pure via/stevia
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Combine coconut flour, almond flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and baking soda, incorporate well.  In a separate bowl, mix your oil, sweetener, egg, and vanilla.  Add your buttermilk and stir, then add wet to dry.  Add orange zest, then add cranberries and mix evenly.  Pour into greased muffin tin and bake 35-40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  I sprinkled cinnamon over the tops of the muffins too.

Herbed Bacon and White Bean Soup

Are you a Top Chef fan?  Have you noticed how when a chef has either kinda crappy ingredients, not a lot of time, or is just a little stumped on what to make, they'll make soup?  Soup is great for those situations.  Maybe you don't have anything fresh, maybe you don't have much time or you don't want to dirty a bunch of pots and pans.  Make the soup, let it sit for a few hours on or off the heat, and you're dunzo.  This soup is a great example of that.  On another note, if you do like Top Chef, how do you feel about Padma?  I hate her.  I don't often say I hate someone, and it's really not a habit of mine to throw that word around, but I hate her.  She's awful, and makes my stomach turn.  She practically ruins the show for me, and often does.  Two weeks ago, the rodeo episode, when she rode in on a horse, I think I gagged audibly.  She is just the worst.  Sorry, moving on.

Herbed Bacon and White Bean Soup
4 or 5 strips of bacon (I used turkey but use whatever you prefer)
1 can rinsed and drained white beans/cannellini beans
1 carton of low sodium chicken broth
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
3 large carrots, chopped
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
3/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried sage
salt and pepper

Heat up your pot with just a touch of oil, and once it's hot, add chopped bacon.  Cook until starting to crisp up, stirring frequently.  Add your onion, pinch of salt, and cook for another few minutes or until onion is starting to brown.  Then add garlic, celery, carrot, bay leaf, sage, rosemary, and another pinch of salt, and some pepper.  Cook for about 7 minutes or so, until veggies are softening.  Then throw in your beans, and cover with chicken broth.  Cook for 45 minutes.  The longer you let it sit, the better it will be.  If desired, use immersion blender to make a creamy soup!  Yum!

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cherry Double Almond Cookies

It's really too bad that SF/GF cookies are usually so un-cookie like in appearance.  They may taste amazing and have great texture to boot- but typically you just don't get that nice round spread to them, they don't seem to flatten out, puff up, or brown like you want them to, or like you imagine a proper cookie would.  The "flours" are heavier and denser, and there is just no approximation for real sugar.  But that's ok!  Pretty they aren't, but yummy all the same.  And you don't have to feel quite so bad for eating them! 

I've baked with coconut flour quite a few times, and I make S coconut flour pancakes every Saturday, and I'm slowly figuring out how best to work with it.  It is just so stinking good for you, has tons of fiber, protein, but wayyyyyyyy less fat and calories than almond flour.  I won't lie, I've had some issues with the stuff.  It can be alternatingly mealy, cakey, eggy, or spongey.  Yuck yuck yuck and yuck.  It needs tons of liquid.  When you think you've added enough, add more.  These coconut chocolate chip cookies came out really good.  They are really more like little balls than cookies- I need to remember how little they spread and to press them down next time.  But if you want a chocolate chip cookie and don't want to use almond flour- check these out.  You'll be glad you did!

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten/Grain-Free)
1/4 cup coconut flour (room temp)
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, or coconut powder
1/4 cup sweetener, like stevia in the raw
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil (coconut, grapeseed, etc)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips (I used 365 brand 72% dark chocolate chunks)
1/4 cup nuts (optional)

Preheat your oven to 375.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Mix your oil, eggs, sweetener, and vanilla together.  Add coconut, coconut flour, salt, and combine, then adding in chocolate chips and nuts, if using.  Don't overmix.  If your batter is looking too dry, add some (nut)milk.  Using a tbsp scoop, form balls and drop onto cookie sheet.  For a more cookie-like appearance, press them down with your palm.  They will not spread in the oven.  Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are starting to turn golden brown.  To make this completely sugar-free, sub nuts/dried-fruit for chocolate chips, use SF chocolate chips, or create a SF chocolate ganache for dipping.  Makes about 12 small cookies.

My Cherry Double Almond Cookies were a good excuse to use up some blanched slivered almonds I'd had for awhile.  I don't really like almonds all that much and wasn't sure how to use them.  The dried cherries are nice and plump and are totally unsweetened (oh how I wish I could find unsweetened cranberries!) so these are truly SF.  MKG is in loooooooove with them!  They are very crunchy and crumbly and while a bit messy, have a great cookie texture.

Cherry Double Almond Cookies(Gluten/Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan)
1 1/4 cups almond flour
1/4 cup sweetener
1/4 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup oil
2 tbsp (nut)milk
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup dried cherries

Preheat your oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment.  In one bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  In a separate bowl, mix oil, sweetener, and vanilla.  Add wet to dry.  At this point, you'll most likely need to add some liquid.  Try 2 tbsp of (nut)milk first and see how easily it comes together.  The mixture will be crumbly, but you want to be able to form into a ball with your hands.  Once it's reached the right consistency, add your cherries and nuts, or whatever fruit/nut combo you want!  Bake for roughly 20 minutes or until golden brown. 

If anyone has any tips for how to give your GF/SF cookies some spread, or some chew, like a regular cookie, let me know.  I've noticed even Elana's cookies don't appear to be much different than mine.  They certainly don't look like normal cookies.  I'd love to hear your GF baking tips, suggestions, and thoughts!  It's tricky isn't it?  But pretty rewarding too!

Have a great night, XoXoGFG

Grain-Free Zucchini Pancakes (Latkes)

Traditionally during Chanukah a dish called latkes are served, which are basically potato pancakes, to remind us of the miracle of a single container of oil, lasting the Maccabee clan 8 days around 165 BCE when Judaism was outlawed in Jerusalem.  The latkes are fried in oil which stinks up your entire house for at least 8 days, again reminding you I guess of story of the Maccabees haha.  Many cultures have potato pancakes and they basically taste like a big round fried tater tot- how could that be bad?  But low-carb and GFG-friendly they are not!  So behold my Zucchini Latkes- Jewish or not- these are delish and also a great way to get kids to eat zucchini.

Grain-Free/Gluten-Free Low-Carb Zucchini Pancakes (Latkes)
2 small zucchini, or one very large zucchini, grated and water squeezed out
1 egg
1/4 cup parmesan
2 tablespoons chickpea flour (besan)
1/4 tsp paprika
salt and pepper
1/4 tsp minced garlic
EVOO for pan

Using your shredder attachment for your food processor, shred your zucchini.  Place in a large clean dishtowel and wring out as much water as possible.  Place in large mixing bowl.  Add to bowl one egg, salt and pepper, paprika, garlic, chickpea flour, and parmesan, and combine well.  You want it to have a thick batter consistency and stick together well.  If it's a bit watery, add a tsp more of your chickpea flour.  In a hot frying pan, add a tablespoon of EVOO and drop using tablespoon scoops onto hot pan.  You want the pan to be sizzling at this point.  With a spatula, spread the pancakes out evenly.  Flip after about 2 minutes, making sure each side is browned and crispy.  Serve with sour cream, applesauce, or eat plain!  They are really delish.

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast

We all know how boring, bland, and dry plain boneless skinless chicken breast can  be.  Especially if it's been sitting in your freezer for awhile.  But, it's nothing some bacon can't fix!  Many recipes call for first pounding out your chicken, and rolling up some kind of elaborate stuffing into it- smoked gouda, swiss cheese, herbs, all kinds of things.  By all means, if you have the extra time and ingredients, go for it.  But if you're looking for a quick and budget friendly meal, this version is it!

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast (Serves 2)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, patted dry
1 tbsp mayo
2 tsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper
5-6 slices of bacon, depending on how big the breasts are

Preheat your oven to 365.  In a foil lined baking dish, spray a little cooking spray to ensure nothing sticks.  Mix mayo and dijon in a small bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Slather may mixture onto chicken breasts liberally.  This will keep them moist and flavorful.  On a clean surface, lay your bacon strips down horizontally, then put your chicken breast down over them perpendicular to the bacon.  Wrap the strips around the chicken breast.  You don't really need to put toothpicks through them to keep them in place, but if you want to, go ahead.  Repeat for second chicken breast, or however many you're doing.  Now, I would not recommend using turkey bacon, as there is really not enough fat for them to crisp up nicely, and you'll end up with something more like smoked turkey wrapped chicken, which is fine, but not really what we're going for.  If that's all you have on hand, you could try brushing some EVOO or butter over the turkey bacon to help it crisp up in the oven.  Bake chicken breasts for 30 minutes or until the bacon is starting to brown.  Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.  Served with some kale chips and salad, this was Wednesday night's dinner in a flash.  Best of all, clean up is easy- just remove the foil and you're done!

Bacon is sure getting ample time in the spotlight these days.  I'd say we are experiencing full-on bacon fanaticism.  Don't get me wrong, I love bacon, but people are really going all out nuts.  One awesome result from the bacon craze is that people are really starting to seek out sustainably raised, organically fed heritage pigs, and going back to nose-to-tail eating.  Utilizing every ounce of protein and fat from the animal humanly possible.  And why not?  If you have to kill an animal for food, do it with honor and respect for the animal, and use every bit of it you can. 

What are your favorite bacon recipes?  Bacon pancakes?  Bacon chocolate-chip cookies?  Bacon milkshakes?  I just recently made some egg muffins with bacon too.  Share your fave bacon recipes! 
XoXoGFG

Crockpot Beef Stew

I finally did it!  Pulled out my ginormous crockpot I've had since one of my bridal showers over three years ago.  I don't know why but I was always a little hesitant to use it.  Maybe because it's such a beast.  Takes up a lot of space on the counter that's for sure.  Most beef stew recipes call for potatoes, which I left out.  I think that with plenty of vegetables (throw them in frozen even) you'll have a hearty meal all the same.  I made this recipe last Friday- but have had a not-so-fun stomach flu the past few days and eating/cooking has not been high up on my list of priorities.  Anyways- I will definitely be trying out many more recipes in the crockpot as this turned out great.  Just beware, if you've never used your crockpot before, don't assume the cooking time on the recipe will be true for your crockpot, and the size of the pot will also alter cooking speeds and how much liquid you need. 

Crockpot Beef Stew (Serves 3)
1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat
1 can of tomato paste
2 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 tsp rosemary
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pepper
1 package sliced button mushrooms
2 cups baby carrots
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 cup beef broth, vegetable broth, or water
1/2 tsp minced garlic
add frozen veggies as desired, green beans, asparagus, spinach, etc.

If you have time, brown your stew meat first in a bit of oil with S&P.  If you don't, no worries.  Into your crockpot, toss your beef, veggies, balsamic vinegar, seasonings, tomato paste, and broth.  Stir so tomato paste is well distributed.  If adding frozen veg, add these last.  Set your crockpot either to high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-8, depending on how big your crockpot is, how old it is, etc.  Super easy, and dinner done with almost no effort and NO DISHES!  Yeah!

Parmesan Broiled Tilapia

I'm pretty sure there was once a rule mandating that fish and cheese were not to be combined.  Maybe some old school Italian rule.  But paremsan and tilapia, or any mild white fish for that matter, go incredibly well together.  And it couldn't be easier.  Sprinkle some seasoned salt over your fish, heat up some EVOO in a pan, and cook 2 or 3 minutes per side, while your oven is preheating.  This entree takes about 15 minutes top to prepare.

Parmesan Broiled Tilapia
2 large tilapia or white fish filets
2 tsp seasoned salt (I used Curt's from Door County WI but use whatever you like!)
2 1/2 tbsp shredded parm, freshly grated or pre-grated, though fresh is preferable
2 tsp EVOO

Set your oven to broil.  While it's heating up, coat your fish on both sides with your seasoned salt.  Pour EVOO into saute pan and cook fish 2 or 3 min per side depending on how thick your fish is.  Transfer fish to a baking dish and sprinkle generously with parm, a sprinkle of black pepper would be great too.  Place in broiler for 3-5 minutes or until parm is starting to brown and bubble.  So delicious!  With a big helping of lemony asparagus, dinner is dunzo in minutes!

I actually like to buy frozen fish from Trader Joe's so I always have a healthy and super easy protein ready to go.  What's your favorite way to cook frozen fish?  I get sick of salmon pretty easily and am always looking for a nice flaky, mild white fish.  Let me know your favorite way to cook fish, and what your favorite kind of fish is!