Strawberry and Turmeric Smoothie

Some mornings I love to have a smoothie before I go to work or after a hard workout. This takes just a minute to make, and  the gluten free oats and Greek yogurt keep me full till later on when I’m ready to have a meal. Turmeric is a great anti-inflammatory and I started to add it to my smoothies when I’m feeling a bit sore (and I’ve always liked the taste). This makes 1 serving.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, stems removed
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup gluten free oats
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend till smooth. Drink cold, makes 1 serving.

Sweet Potato Kielbasa Hash

This is an easy dinner you can put together in 30 minutes or less. It’s ingredients are fairly simple but it’s still big on taste. I love sweet potatoes for how great they are for you – and how great they taste! I also kept this to 1 pan – less clean up is always a good thing. I ate some of the leftover the next day with eggs over easy and it was a fantastic breakfast. This will serve 2-4, I’d serve a  side dish if you’re serving 4 hungry adults, however.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4″ pieces
1 15 oz polish kielbasa, sliced
1 small onion, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
salt and pepper, to taste

Place the olive oil in a large skillet along with the onions over medium heat. Allow them to become fragrant and add the sweet potatoes. Allow them to cook and soften for about 10 minutes. Add in the green peppers, kielbasa, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 7-10 minutes, until the kielbasa is cooked through. Serve hot.

 

Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup

Here’s another delicious vegetarian and gluten free pumpkin recipe that’s perfect for those cooler fall nights. It also makes a large amount so you can either freeze some for later or have some for leftovers.

Ingredients:
2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
4 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

In a large pot over medium low heat, place the olive oil, onions, and garlic and allow them to become fragrant and cook for a couple of minutes. While they are cooking, place the black beans in a blender with 2 cups of the vegetable broth and blend until smooth. (You may need to do in 2 batches if your blender is smaller.) Transfer to the pot with the onions, and add the rest of the vegetable broth and the tomato sauce, along with the spices and the pumpkin puree. Stir together well  and allow to cook uncovered for another 30 minutes to thicken. Garnish with toppings of choice (cheeses, sour cream, green onions, etc) Serves 4-6.

Sun Dried Tomato and Ricotta Dip

This is a dip that’s simple to put together but big on flavor. It goes great with fresh cut veggies and all kinds of crackers and chips. I made it for something a bit different for snacks at home this week – but it’s also been a hit at parties and potlucks.

Ingredients:
15 oz ricotta cheese
1 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 fresh basil, finely diced
1 cup sun dried tomatoes (cut the larger pieces)

In a large bowl with a mixer, blend the ricotta and Parmesan cheeses together with the salt and basil until blended. Use a spatula and stir in the sun dried tomatoes. Serve chilled. Makes about 2 cups. Enjoy!

Cauliflower, Tomato, and Goat Cheese Casserole

Roasted cauliflower is delicious – and I can eat it right off the pan. However, adding a few more vegetables, some spice – and topping it off this this goat cheese – yum! This made a great complete meal and reheated for lunch the next day nicely. This is one of those dishes as well where I don’t feel bad if I end up eating a lot of it either!

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 large head cauliflower
salt and pepper, to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium onion, diced
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
1 large green pepper, diced
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 large eggs
2 oz plain goat cheese

Preheat the oven to 425F. Cut the cauliflower into 1/2 inch bite sized pieces and lay them on a baking sheet. Toss with 2 of the tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and place into the oven. After 10 minutes, flip with a spatula and roast another 10 minutes.

While the cauliflower cooks – in a medium sized pot on the stove, combine the other tablespoon of olive oil with the garlic and onion over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes and add the diced tomatoes, diced pepper, and basil. Allow it to come to a simmer, then bring the heat to low.

When the cauliflower is done, remove from the oven and reduce the oven heat to 375F. Take the cauliflower and place into the pot with the tomato mixture, and combine. Place into a 9×9 baking pan. Take the 2 eggs, and whisk together into a small bowl. Add the goat cheese to the eggs and stir to combine. Pour over top the cauliflower. Place into the oven for 30-35 minutes.

 

Curried Potatoes

These potatoes make a great side dish for many different types of dishes. I served them with a pork dish tonight – but they can bring a real nice kick of flavor to the table with a variety of different styles of dishes.

Ingredients:
2 large russet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Boil the potatoes in a pot of water with some salt until they are softened,  remove drain them from the water and allow them to cool until you’re able to safely handle them. Slice them up into bite sized pieces.

In a skillet over medium heat add the olive oil and allow it to heat up. Place the cumin and mustard seeds in the skillet and cook them for a minute or two – then add the rest of the spices and lemon juice. Stir the potatoes in and cover them in the spices. Turn the heat down to low and allow to cook for 7-10 minutes. Serve hot. Serves 3-4 as a side. Enjoy!

 

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

I’ve been waiting for all the fall flavors for weeks now. I’ve missed pumpkin, squash, pomegranates, persimmons… the list is big and I’m excited to have them back in my kitchen. So here are some delicious muffins to welcome fall. The recipe will make a dozen larger muffins, and I only use a half cup of dark chocolate chocolate chips – if you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll want to add a bit more.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups gluten free flour blend *
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 tablespoons ground flax
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
2 large eggs
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup chocolate chips

For the flour blend: you can use a store bought flour blend. If it doesn’t have xanthan gum, add a teaspoon to the mix. If so follow the recipe as is.

Preheat the oven to 400F. In a small bowl combine the flour, sugars, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and flax. In a large bowl mix together the eggs, butter, buttermilk, and pumpkin puree until combined. Then add the dry ingredients into the wet, and mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips and scoop into a prepared muffin pan.

Bake for 17-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out from the middle of a muffin clean. Makes 12 muffins. Enjoy!

Asian Salmon Salad

I’d been hungry for fish lately, and instead of just grilling or broiling it – I decided to serve it on top of a bed of salad greens and a spicy Asian style dressing. I really enjoyed the spiciness along with the tomatoes and fresh greens, and a fresh piece of salmon that was baked and lightly seasoned. My mom however, did find the dressing to be a bit spicy – so if you don’t like spicy food you may want to leave out the red pepper flakes and jalapenos off the salad.

Ingredients:
2 6 oz salmon filets
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
10 oz mixed greens of choice
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 green onion, diced
1 medium jalapeno, seeded and diced

For the Dressing:
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons gluten free fish sauce (do double check the label, some do have gluten)
1 teaspoon fresh ground ginger
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Preheat the oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the salmon filets skin side down on it. Sprinkle the salt and chili powder on top of the salmon and allow it to bake for 20 minutes.

While the fish is baking, mix together the dressing and prep the salad and vegetables. When the salmon is done, allow it to cool for a couple of minutes then lay it on top of the salad greens on each plate and split the dressing between the two salads. Serve hot. Serves 2. Enjoy!