Yummy Quinoa Mac & Cheese

     Mac and Cheese is one dish that most children like to eat.  There are tons of recipes for homemade mac and cheese that can be substituted with gluten free noodles.  I like this version because it is good for you, tasty, and my kids will eat it!  Many additions and substitutions can be made with this basic recipe.  If you need step by step instructions (with pictures) here's a great blog.  It's the recipe I used and made changes to.
I've done this a couple different ways.  One is to omit the egg, stir everything up and there is no need to bake.  This was great when we needed a quick dinner.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Quinoa

1 Medium Onion, Chopped
1/2 Tsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil, Extra Virgin
2 1/2 Cups Water
2 Cups cheddar cheese

1 Cup milk of choice (I used almond)

3 Tbsp. Butter, Unsalted

2 Tbsp. gluten free flour
2 Eggs
1 1/2 Cup Broccoli, Finely Chopped (or cauliflower, ham, peppers, etc.)



Directions: 
1. In a large skillet, add olive oil and onion to cook for 2-3 minutes. Add quinoa and stir to combine; let cook for 5 minutes for quinoa to become aromatic and slightly opaque. 
2. Add water, salt, and pepper to quinoa mixture; let simmer 15-20 minutes until 95% of the water is absorbed and the quinoa is softened.
3. In the meantime, melt butter and flour is saucepan over medium heat; stir to combine. Add cheddar cheese and milk; stir continuously over medium heat until all cheese is melted and fully incorporated with the milk/butter/flour mix. 
4. Combine, eggs, quinoa, chopped broccoli with the cheese blend; stir gently and well.
5. Pour into greased baking dish.
6. Bake at 400* for 30 minutes until top is slightly browned.

Gluten Free Navajo Tacos

Who doesn't love Navajo Tacos?  I know they are really well received in this house.  I have rarely made them and not at all since the family went on the gluten free diet.  I was looking for an easy bread recipe and came upon this.  Oh, it was heavenly and EVERYONE loved it.  If a good all-purpose flour is needed, check below the recipe.

Gluten-Free Fry Bread
makes 4-6 fry bread, depending on size
2 cups flour
1 egg
2 Tbl vegetable oil (I use olive oil)
1 Tbl baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup powdered milk or powdered milk substitute
3/4 cup warm water
vegetable oil for frying (I use coconut oil)

Pour approx 2″ of oil into a saucepan and heat over medium heat.

Mix flour, baking powder, salt, milk powder until combined. Beat egg, add oil and add to flour mixture. Add 1/2 cup water and stir with a fork, adding the remainder of the water if needed. Dough should be soft and somewhat sticky yet firm enough to hold shape.

Form into tennis ball sized balls and let rest for 5 minutes under wax paper or paper towel.

Drop a small piece into oil to test the heat – it should quickly bubble and turn golden brown within 20 seconds or so.

Pat each ball into flat rounds, approx 6 inches across and drop into the hot oil. Let cook 45-60 seconds and the flip over. Bread is done when it’s golden brown.

Drain on paper towels and enjoy. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a sweet treat or top and serve as tacos.

All-Purpose Flour

1 cup sorghum flour or brown rice flour
1/2 cup millet flour, almond meal, buckwheat flour, or quinoa flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch, potato starch or corn starch

Doesn't This Look Good

I'm trying to come up with an egg roll that is gluten free.  Many buy rice wrappers for this but I haven't found them yet.  This wrap was made from large cabbage leaves and the egg roll was sauted in coconut oil.  Toothpicks held the egg rolls together.  I thought this was good but next time I will pump up the flavors of the filling! 

Best Stir Fry Ever! GF

I don't know if I have ever mentioned my new love, Bountiful Baskets.  If you've never heard of BB - it's a co-op for fruits and veggies.  There are also other things that can be ordered like bread, sometimes honey, olive oil, etc.  I've been ordering and picking up baskets for almost a year now.  The fruits and veggies have been amazing!  This past week I added on an Asian pack to the basket order.  It was HUGE!  Last night I made the most delicious stir fry.  I didn't exactly measure anything in this recipe.  I couldn't find a recipe that matched what I had for a sauce and so it's made with what I had on hand.  This was my first time trying fresh water chestnuts.  Much better than the canned variety.  Next time, I'll use rice noodles instead of brown rice.

Doesn't this look yummy!

Asian Sauce

1 clementine orange

1 slice fresh pineapple

1/4 C soy or tamari sauce

grated fresh ginger to taste

tsp or so of apple cider vinegar

1 clove of garlic, pressed

Blend all ingredients well and set aside.

Stir fry

Pre-cooked chicken, cubed (optional)

Bok choy leaves and stems cut up

Asian cabbage cut up

Fresh snow peas

Fresh water chestnuts peeled and cut up

Carrots cut in strips

Diced green onions

Any other veggies or greens that you like in stir fry

Place all ingredients in a large sauce pan, including sauce.  Saute for 5 minutes or less.  Serve over rice or noodles!

Creamy Broccoli Soup

I am pretty excited about this recipe.  Mostly because it's my own creation AND it tasted so yummy.  I put cheese in it because I told my 8 year old I would.  Next time I won't.  It didn't need it at all.

1 cup grated or blended carrots (I used 3 large carrots processed in my Blentec
1/2 a large onion chopped
2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
2 cups broth or almond, soy, or dairy milk
1 - 1 1/2 large avocado
1 cup of cheddar cheese (optional)
2 cups cut and cooked broccoli

Place carrots, onion, and broth in stock pot and simmer until onions are tender.  Place chosen liquid in blender with avocado and blend until creamy.  Add avocado mixture to stock pot and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add cheese and stir until melted.  Stir in broccoli and serve!

This picture does not do it justice!

Baked Meatballs

These are super yummy and versatile. I'm not even a big meatball fan and I love these.

1 egg
1/4 cup milk (soy or rice if you can't have casiene)
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs (gluten free bread or dehydrated potato flakes or ground gf oats)
1 lb ground beef
2 TBS finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp worcestshire sauce

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Shape in 1/2 inch balls. Place in ungreased baking dish. Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes!

Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets

My kids just want KID food. This recipe is super easy. I don't have measurements so seasoning is to taste.

Cubed or chunked chicken
Almond Flour (grind whole almonds in coffee grinder)
salt, herbs, paprika (seasoning)
ground flax seed (optional, whole seeds ground in coffee grinder)
1 egg (or not if your egg free)

Mix almond flour, seasoning, and ground flax and place in a pie plate. Lightly beat egg and place in another pie plate. Dredge chicken through egg and then almond flour mixture. Pan fry or bake chicken nuggets.

My family loves these!