Thursday, December 30, 2010

Super easy Thai style rice noodles

My mother made this when I was growing up. It has been one of those dishes that I just throw together for a quick lunch and never really give much thought. This is my "peanut butter and jelly sandwich" kind of meal. As easy as it is, I am really surprised more people don't make this. I have been able to find these particular rice noodles at most grocery stores for about $1 a pack. There are three servings in each pack. You can't get a much better deal than that!
I don't buy soy sauce that is marketed as GF. I have found that many Lite soy sauces are already GF. I usually buy Lite La Choy soy sauce, but always check the ingredients. Remember that companies are not required to change anything about the label if they change the ingredients!
The recipe here is vegetarian, but I have added tofu, shrimp and chicken to it in the past. That is really good too! I have never actually measured my ingredients, so adjust as needed for your own liking.

Makes 1 serving
Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 7 minutes
Cost: roughly $0.50 per serving


1/3 a package of Maifun rice stick noodles
15 to 20 shakes of soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter (I use all natural, which is why I add brown sugar. If you have regular PB, you might want to reduce the sugar)
1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger
dash of cayenne pepper
cut up green onion (optional)

In a microwave safe dish, cover the rice sticks with just enough water to cover them. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Allow to sit for 2 minutes before draining the water.
After draining, add soy sauce, sugar, PB, ginger and pepper. Mix well. If it is hard to mix or has chunks of PB that aren't spreading around, add a little more soy sauce and microwave for 15 seconds. Top with green onion.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Ethiopian cabbage and potatoes

I was first introduced to the wonderful world of Ethiopian food while my husband and I were on our honeymoon in 2005. I was instantly smitten with all of the wonderful flavors. One of the side dishes that stuck in my mind was a mixture of cabbage and potatoes with spices. It is super cheap to make, exceptionally tasty and like most Ethiopian food, naturally gluten free. Injera, the traditional Ethiopian pancake, is made from teff, a gluten free grain. Teff and injera are not easy to find in Montgomery, AL, so I eat this without it. Oh well. It is still pretty awesome, though! But, if you live somewhere with an Ethiopian restaurant or a great international food store, you might just be able to find it. Or, if you really want, there are some sites that will ship it to you.

Makes 6 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Cost: $2.50 or $0.41 a serving

1/2 head of cabbage, shredded
10 baby carrots, sliced thinly into discs
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
6 or 7 red potatoes, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon curry or turmeric (I didn't have turmeric, but curry makes a great substitution)  
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin

In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots and onion and saute for about 5 minutes. Add cabbage and spices. Cook for about 15 minutes. Add potatoes and cook another 20 to 30 minutes. Try not to burn your mouth when it eating it, because you won't want to wait for it to cool.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Chicken with bell peppers and rice, or "Yummy" Chicken

In search for a quick and easy dinner, I threw this together one night after having something similar at my sister's house. Bell peppers have been my favorite food since I was child, so I knew I would like it. Chicken with bell peppers and rice became an instant hit. My husband is not much of bell pepper fan, but he loves this dish. It is very easy to modify as well. For instance, I add BBQ sauce on top before I eat it just about every time. A splash of soy sauce (La Choy Lite is GF!) gives this an Asian flare. Add a touch of salsa for some yummy Tex Mex. But, it is wonderful plain like this, too!
I made this for a dear friend of mine who dubbed it "Yummy Chicken." She has dinner with us often; yummy chicken has become a staple in our meals together.
No ever thought something so simple could become a family favorite.

Makes about 6 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Cost: about $6 or $1 a serving


3 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
3 bell peppers (I like to use 1 yellow, 1 orange and 1 red), roughly cut
1 medium onion, roughly cut
3 cloves of garlic, minced
Tony's or salt and pepper
Rice

Over medium heat, brown the chicken. Add peppers, onion and garlic. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until peppers are cooked through and chicken is no longer pink. Serve over rice.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Chicken salad with cranberries

This is a classic chicken salad with a touch of sweet - dried cranberries. It is good as a sandwich, rolled in a corn tortilla, on lettuce, topped on sliced tomatoes or just plain in a little bowl. Since I waste not, I like to boil my chicken on the bone and keep the broth for something else. Tonight's chicken salad was made with chicken quarters I found on sale for $0.78/lb. I have also used already made rotisserie chicken that was marked down. Most grocery stores mark the rotisseries down around 6 pm. With a Winn-Dixie card compounded with the mark down, you can get a chicken for only $2! Plus, the bones from the rotisserie make a super good stock. Keep in mind that chicken salad is no exact science!
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes (sometimes longer if you need to remove bones)
Cook time: 20 to 30 minutes
Cost: about $3 or $0.75 to $0.50 per serving

2 chicken quarters, boiled
1/2 small onion, minced
1 to 2 stalks of celery, minced
1/4 cup mayo
handful of dried cranberries (raisins, apples and mango are also good)
Tony's/salt and pepper to taste

Boil chicken for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the meat begins to fall from the bone. (If making a stock to keep, put the bones back in and boil them some more). Removed bones and chop chicken.
In a large mixing bowl, mix everything together.



Yeah, it is that easy.

Egg Tostada, kinda

Breakfast has come again! I had this for dinner two nights ago and I had it for breakfast this morning, thanks to my wonderful husband.
I wish I could take credit for this one, but it is my husband who makes it for me. I have made this before, but for some reason, it just tastes better when he makes it. I think it is that extra does of I-didn't-have-to-cook-it that makes this dish the best.
We are meeting up with our friend Sriracha again only because I usually buy mild salsa. My husband isn't as big a fan of spicy food, so I figure I can add spice to my salsa, but I can't take spice out of his.
Wait - who am I kidding? I would still put Sriracha on it, even if it was atomic salsa.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Cost: about $0.25 a serving


2 eggs
2 corn tortilla
cumin
salsa
cheese
minced onion (optional)
pad of butter
salt and pepper, Tony's

Before you start anything, pop those two corn tortillas in the toaster oven. What? You don't have a toaster oven? You can wrap them in moist paper towels and microwave them for 20 to 30 seconds. They won't be crispy, but they will still taste pretty darn good.
I happened to have some minced onion in the fridge for another dish I am making later today, so he browned just a little in the butter. I must say, it was a wonderful addition. Scramble the eggs in a small pan with cumin, salt and pepper. Take the corn tortilla out of the toaster over. It should be crispy, but not burned. Top one with cheese and egg. The heat from the tortilla and the eggs will melt the cheese. Add salsa and Sriracha sauce. Close up this bad boy with the other corn tortilla.
I usually cut into four wedges to eat it.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Yummy cheesy spicy grits.

Breakfast is an often ignored time of the day. People seem to just skip over the breakfast recipes. However, for someone with a gluten issue, breakfast is one of the best times of the day! There are just so many options: eggs of all sorts, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, Chex cereals, hash browns, home fries, and my personal favorite - grits. I  used to not enjoy grits, and it wasn't until I was forced to give up my cream of wheat that I gave them another try. I still do not enjoy them plain; I have to always add at least butter or cheese. I eat these grits at least twice a week.
Now, Sriracha sauce is God's gift to those who love spicy food. It has an awesome flavor. I used to be a Tabasco girl, and don't get me wrong, Tabasco has a place in my heart. But, it adds a vinegary taste sometimes. Sriracha is made with garlic paste instead and isn't over powering. Since it seems to be increasing in popularity, I luckily have been to find it each time I have needed it, even here in Alabama.

Prep time: 3 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Cost: to buy everything outright, about $6.00, but per serving it is just pennies. 


1 cup of water
3 tablespoons instant grits
cheese of your liking
1 egg
ranch dressing
Tony's (or salt and pepper)
Sriracha sauce

Place water and grits in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for three minutes. Be sure your bowl is big enough since grits will overflow.
While the grits are in the microwave, scramble the egg and slice the cheese if you need to.
Add egg, cheese, a little ranch dressing, Tony's and Sriracha sauce.

It is SO good. I swear.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Jambalaya and Spanish sheet cake with cinnamon mocha icing

In the spirit of the holiday season, my Sunday school class is getting together this evening for a night of frivolity and gluttony. Since we are Methodist, it is, of course, a pot luck. So, I am bringing the two dishes that people request the most with us this evening: good ole' Cajun jambalaya to honor our Louisiana background and Spanish sheet cake with cinnamon mocha icing. Both are the ultimate in comfort food for anyone!

Jambalaya
The jambalaya is a dish I make often in our house. It is my husband's favorite dish I make. Plus, even though it is a dish that takes some time to prepare correctly, each step is easy and allows you to do the prep work for the next time while things are simmering.
This is a modification of an amazing recipe found in The Encyclopedia of Cajun and Creole Cuisine by John Folse. His uses more oil, bacon drippings, different sausage and less parsley. This recipe makes about 8 servings.

Prep time: about 30 minutes total, spread out
Cook time: 2 hours
Cost: approximately $1 a serving

3 chicken breasts with bones
olive oil
1 package turkey sausage
1 bell pepper
3 stalks celery
1 medium onion
6 cloves garlic
1/2 package of button mushrooms
2/3 a bunch of parsley
4 bunches of green onion
4 cups of water (or broth if you don't want to make your own)
2 1/2 cups of rice
Tony's (or salt, pepper and cayenne if you don't have it)

Start by taking as much meat off the bone as possible and cutting the chicken into bite sized bits. In a smaller pan, place chicken bones and water on to boil. Cover and allow to simmer until you need the broth. In a large pan, such as a dutch oven or extra large saute', lightly coat the bottom with olive oil. Brown chicken in the pan until it is reddish brown. This takes about 30 minutes and is what gives it the color and taste that is jambalaya, so don't skip it. In that time, slice the sausage and set aside. The veggies need to be divided into two groups after they are chopped: the onion, celery, garlic and bell peppers in one group and the mushroom, green onion and parsley in another.
When the chicken is browned, add the sausage and saute for about three minutes. Add the first group of veggies, reduce the heat to medium-low and allow to caramelize for about five to ten minutes. Make sure all that brown goodness has lifted from the bottom on the pan. While the veggies are cooking, drain the broth into a measuring cup. Make sure you have four full cups, so you will most likely have to add a little water to it. Add the broth. Allow to simmer for a few minutes. Season to taste. I usually over season it since I am adding rice. Add the second group of veggies and rice. Reduce to low and stir every fifteen minutes until rice is cooked (usually takes 45 minutes).

Spanish sheet cake with cinnamon mocha icing 
This is a recipe that I adapted from one my mother has made my entire life. However, I am a little bit of a cheat because I am not making the icing from scratch like she always did. Everyone thinks this a "from scratch" cake because it really tastes like it. Really, it is just a cake mix that I modify.
This is one of the very few items that I buy that is specifically gluten free. I have been able to find the cake mix in every grocery store, though. Also, the mix is much cheaper than any of the others I have seen AND is the best tasting one. Makes ten servings.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 43 minutes
Cost: about $4.50 or $0.45 a serving

1 box Betty Crocker Gluten free chocolate cake mix
1 cup of left over coffee
1 tablespoon instant coffee (optional)
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 stick butter, softened
3 eggs
1 container chocolate frosting
cinnamon, 3 teaspoons, divided

Preheat the oven to 350.
Mix cake mix, coffee, butter, eggs, 1/2 the bag of chocolate chips, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon together. Blend well. In a 8x13 sheet cake pan, bake for 43 minutes.
Melt the remaining chocolate chips (microwave for 30 seconds, stir, repeat until blended smooth). Remove all the foil from the frosting container and microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Fold the warm icing and melted chocolate together with the remaining cinnamon and instant coffee.
Pour the icing over the cake while it is still hot from the oven. Allow to cool completely before cutting.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

You can put Nutella on anything, and it will taste good.

Nutella is the food of the gods, I am sure of it. When I was pregnant, I think I put Nutella on just about everything in the house. Apples? Check. Bananas? Super check! Strawberries? Heck yeah! However, my favorite way to get my Nutella fix in my third trimester, besides just eating it with a spoon, was on rice cakes. All of the large rice cakes made by Quaker are now gluten free. Some, but not all, of the small snack sized ones are as well. Plop a little dab, or in my case a large dab, and there you have an instant chocolate fix.
One jar of Nutella is good for about two packages of ten rice cakes.
Prep time: 1 minute
Cook time: none
Cost: approximately $5.50 or $0.28 per rice cake

http://www.nutellausa.com/

Southern Style Chicken and Rice

Oh man! Who doesn't love a good homemade chicken and rice dish? This is a wonderful basic chicken stock recipe with rice added in to make it a meal. It is thick, hearty and dirt cheap to make. And let me just add, it is so good!
I made this last night for dinner because it was cold and cloudy outside - the perfect weather for this dish. When my husband came home from work, his eyes lit up as he inhaled the aromas. Not only is the dish awesome and easy, it also makes the entire house smell good for the night. Even though there are only three of us in the house, one of which is still too young for solid food, I make 8 to 10 servings at a time. It is less expensive, we can have it two nights in a row, and it freezes well.

Prep time: 15 minutes to start, 20 minutes in the middle.
Cook time: 2 hours, but you can walk away from it for most of the cooking time.
Cost: $0.70 to $0.90 per serving

1 whole frying chicken (I use the fryer because it is a little smaller and usually less per pound)
3 to 4 carrots, chopped
1 turnip, chopped (yeah, I know. But, it is a great flavor to add to most southern style chicken dishes. It is still pretty darn good without it in there.)
3 stalks of celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups of water
salt and pepper
2 cups of rice
parsley (optional)

In a large stock pot, place the whole chicken (don't forget to remove the innards) with the carrots, turnip, celery, onion and garlic around it. Add enough water to cover the chicken, which is usually about 5 cups. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to a low simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender enough to fall from the bones. Remove from the heat.
Remove the chicken and allow it cool until you can handle it. If it is cold outside, I put in a big bowl, cover it with a splatter screen so the heat can still get out but nothing can get in, and leave it outside on a table.  While the chicken is cooling, I start skimming some of the fat off the top of the broth. Then, debone the chicken. By the time the chicken is off the bone, you can get most of the fat from the broth. I do leave some, but not too much. Break the chicken up with you hands to bit sized bits and drop it back in the pot. Some people strain the broth and chop the veggies up smaller, but I am admittedly lazy and don't do that. Add salt and pepper to taste, keeping in mind that you are adding rice to it. Bring to a boil and add the rice. Reduce to low, cover and cook for 20 minutes. It should be only slightly soupy when it is finished.
Oh man... this is making me hungry again. Good thing I still have this in my fridge.

Happy Eating!