Bacon Chicken Corn Chowder from GFE....

Yesterday, Shirley at Gluten Free Easily posted her recipe for Bacon Chicken Corn Chowder. It looked delicious and simple. I actually had all the ingredients, minus the corn, already on hand, so I made it for dinner last night. It was so tasty...even without the corn. Here's the recipe http://glutenfreeeasily.com/bacon-turkey-or-chicken-corn-chowder-gluten-free-dairy-free-refined-sugar-free-and-more-free/

Shirley's directions are for the microwave, but I cooked mine on the stovetop, and she gives some tips for that too. Of course, I had to cook it longer, and as Shirley suggests, add more liquid. I'm not sure if I didn't add enough stock and milk, or if I added too much chicken. I think probably a little of both, so it turned out thicker and less soupy than I intended, but regardless, it was very good!

Cheater's GF Huevos Con Chorizo....

Before going gluten free, I loved to go to the local Mexican restaurant and order the huevos con chorizo....I think I could have eaten that amazing dish 3 times a day! Chorizo sausage and eggs with jalapenos drenched in salsa, oh my goodness! Yesterday I got a craving for this delicious dish. But not having any chorizo; not knowing if I could find GF chorizo if I wanted to; and never having cooked it in my life anyway....I used what I had on hand, gluten free bulk pork sausage. I was thrilled to find it complete with a big "gluten free" label while shopping this week. I looked at a number of recipes, and basically followed this one http://whatscookingmexico.com/2008/04/13/chorizo-and-eggs/ , with a few changes. Of course, my dish didn't quite have the kick of the original with the chorizo, but it was still yummy...

Here's what I used
1 lb GF pork sausage (bulk sausage, not links) ~I have also used GF Italian bulk sausage and it gave this dish a great flavor

1 small onion diced

5 eggs

almond milk or regular milk

salt and pepper

oregano

oil or GF butter

GF salsa

GF jalapeno slices

Here's what I did

dice small onion

brown and break up sausage with the onion until sausage is no longer pink
set aside

crack eggs into medium bowl

add about 4-5 teaspoons milk (about 1 tsp for each egg)

add salt and pepper

add a few dashes of oregano

whisk together

In a separate pan, heat oil or butter on med heat.

once oil or butter is heated, pour in eggs

spoon in the cooked sausage

scramble the eggs with the sausage till eggs are done

pour egg and sausage mixture onto plate

top with jalapenos and salsa

This recipe is linked to...

Gluten Free Wednesdays at http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/

It's a Keeper Thursdays at http://everydaytastes.com/

Allergy Free Wednesdays http://glutenfreepantry.blogspot.com/2012/02/allergy-free-wednesdays-blog-hop-week-4.html

30 Great GF Blogs from celiact.com

When I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I felt like I'd been turned upside down and dumped in the middle of nowhere all alone...I was lost. Even though more people are being diagnosed with gluten intolerances and sensitivities, it seems even doctors don't know that much about it. Mine, as wonderful as he is, had very little advice to give. He just told me it'd be a huge lifestyle change, that there was lots of info on the web, and that I couldn't have fried chicken or beer...(I now know there is so much more to living gluten free...)

Anyway, after three days of sobbing over the unknown, I picked myself up and starting combing the internet for anything I could find on Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet. One of the first blogs I stumbled upon was adventuresofaglutenfreemom.com/ Heidi even listed her email address. Desperate to talk to someone, I sent a letter to this gluten free mom, pouring out all my feelings and fears. I was shocked when I actually received a reply! Heidi's blog made going gluten free seem doable and not so scary.

The more I searched, the more blogs I found; a huge community of gluten free bloggers... And I can say they really were and still are lifesavers for me on this gluten-free journey! I started accumulating so many great recipes and info from so many different sites, that I needed a place to keep it all together.... and that's why I started this blog, that hopefully helps someone else along the way too!

celiact.com has created a list of their top 30 gluten free blogs. There are some of my favorites on it. There are also so many more great blogs that didn't make this list. Check these out!

http://www.celiact.com/blog/2012/01/04/79-best-gluten-free-blogs-and-gluten-free-info-sites

Slow Cooker Orange Spiced Sweet Potatoes

This sweet potato recipe comes from an old cookbook I have called Rival Crock Pot 3 Books in One: Slow Cooker Favorites, Winning Slow Cooker Recipes, & Slow Cooker Recipes for All Occasions.

The potatoes turn out so sweet and yummy in the Crock Pot. So delicious!  Hope you enjoy.

Here's the recipe....

2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

juice of 1 medium orange

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Place sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange juice, salt, and vanilla in crock pot. Cover and cook on low 4 hrs or on high 2 hrs, or until potatoes are tender. 

A Yummy "Breakfast" Sandwich

So I was hungry for lunch today and got the idea to make a "breakfast" sandwich. In my opinion breakfast food can be eaten anytime of the day! So here's what I came up with...a yummy bacon and egg sandwich, with a little kick!

Here's what I used...

2 eggs

butter or oil

4 slices bacon (I use Hormel Black Label)

salt and pepper

Hellman's Real Mayonnaise

Melinda's Hot Sauce

Udi's GF White Sandwich Bread

Here's what I did...
Crack 2 eggs into medium bowl.
Salt and pepper to taste
Whisk the eggs
Heat the butter or oil in the pan
Scramble eggs
Set aside

Cook bacon according to directions.

(I always just stick it in the microwave between paper towels)

While the bacon is cooking, in a small bowl, combine a "dollop" of the mayo (as much as you'd like for your sandwich) and the hot sauce (I like things spicy, so I added quite a bit, but put as much as you like). I got a little dollop-happy and had a little of the mixture left over :)
Stir until combined.

I always heat my Udi's bread in the microwave for 10-15 seconds beforehand....So heat the bread for a few seconds and then slather the bread w/ the mayo mixture...(I slathered both sides of the bread, the more the better, right?)

Top one slice with the egg, the other with the bacon and combine.

It might be a little messy, but YUM! Enjoy!

Winter is Here

Winter has come! We had our first really cold night here last night. Of course, this made getting up early for the first day back to school after Christmas break all the more excruciating! I just wanted to stay in my warm bed under layers of blankets....but I had to brave the cold to get my son up and out the door to school. He, of course, was no happier than I to be getting up at such an early hour!

With Winter comes warm coats, warm blankets, and warm comfort food, yum! I found a yummy recipe this morning over at http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/ that I can't wait to try tonight, Cheeseburger Fries. Just the name alone makes my mouth water! Of course, not wanting to go outside today anymore than necessary, I will use what ingredients I have on hand here at the house. Check out the Homemaker's recipe here http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/01/cheeseburger-fries/ I'll be using fresh potatoes and may even throw some GF salsa in with the ground beef for a little extra flavor! I'll try it tonight with my own spin on it and post the recipe soon.

Cinnamon Sauteed Bananas~Oh, thank you from the bottom of my heart Julia Child!

So for the past few mornings I've had a banana for breakfast, but this morning I was craving a little something extra. Certain I could find a recipe somewhere for bananas slathered in cinnamon, I went searching for such a recipe...and I stumbled on this masterpiece, courtesy of Mrs Julia Child....hold on to your socks...it's just that good! As Julia would say, "Bon Apetit!" Check out the recipe here

http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/cinnamon-sauteed-bananas/146024