Tag Archives: Gluten free

Homemade Gluten-free Gourmet Crackers

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I am a cracker fanatic. Anything that is a crispy, crunchy and made with flour or should be made with flour is my friend.

Over the years I have stopped buying these delicious crackers if they are made with white flour, yeast and any ingredients that I can’t pronounce and I love eating the crackers that are made with spelt, or kamut flour with maybe some extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and maybe some rosemary, flax, or other similar ingredients. Trust me they taste a million times better than regular old crackers that have all this processed crap in them.

I shy away from gluten free because generally the replacement ingredients for the flour and binders are just more crap and sometimes high in sugar. This of course isn’t all of them you can find some really great Gluten free products but you do have to read the labels on gluten-free products because just cause they are gluten-free does not mean that they are healthy.
I like Elana’s Pantry and her recipes for all things gluten-free are pretty great. I came across this recipe that I thought looked interesting and I really had an itch to try it because it seemed so simple and I love almonds so why not. I am curious and always up for a good ol’ recipe that stimulates my taste buds. Well the outcome was great.  But I have to admit that I did non like the taste the egg left, the almond flour tends to absorb the taste of anything you cook it with….it tasted a bit eggy to me so I decided to make a few changes and I must say they are delicious. You should try them too!

I think these would be great served with a cheese board or even with some charcuterie or served with some preserves or even peanut butter and honey…you choose either or, but this Monday is Memorial Day and I’m sure as hell eating these. ‘Nuff said. Here’s the recipe. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
Makes about 20-24

  • 1 1/3 cup Almond Four
  • 1tbsp. ground Flax/Chia seeds
  • 3tbsp. Water
  • 1tbsp. Olive oil
  • 1tbsp. Rosemary, freshly chopped
  • Sprinkle of Sea Salt

In a small bowl combine the ground flax/chia with the water. Let sit for 3 minutes.

In a large bowl combine almond flour, rosemary and sea salt and mix ingredients.

Add Olive oil to the flax & chia, mix and stir into the Almond flour mixture.

Roll the dough in between to pieces of parchment paper until about cracker thickness (so thin)

Remove the top piece of parchment paper and cut into 2 inch squares.

Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes. Until lightly golden.
Allow to cool completely.
Variations:
  • Use and egg instead of the flax and water
  • You can incorporate 1/4 cup sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds
  • Replace rosemary with turmeric, cayenne, and any other spice you would like.
  • Hey go ahead and add something that you might like, shaved parmigiano  or black pepper. Try anything!

 

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Soft, Healthy, Dairy & Gluten -free Oatmeal Cookies

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Experiments, Experiments. Seems like I am always trying to find a way to think up healthy good for you alternatives to some of my favorite meals and treats.

So, let’s start off with me heading to the store on my bike; I only had to get a few things some fruit and veggies. Like most of the time I ended up buying way more than I planned, not thinking much of it I got this heavy bag put it on the back of my bike and secured it with the latch. I started riding my bike and I could feel as though it might be a bit too heavy and without even giving me the chance to stop the bag flies out of the bike onto the middle of the street, argh……. so I stop start picking up my bananas, melon, nuts, and so forth put them back on the bike and try to hold onto them while trying to pedal and maneuver this bike to the house at the same time; as if one time weren’t enough the bag flies out onto the middle of the street for a second time bringing a car to a screeching halt, eyes rolling at me as if I were some idiot (which I guess I sorta was). I raise my hand politely saying sorry and pick up my fruit again. This time I put some on the side bags and then the rest in my basket up front. Got home without any other unbearable embarrassment. Phew!!

I’m sure you can guess at this point that my bananas were completely bruised 😦
Although thankfully enough the rest wasn’t really damaged, I lost a good portion of my nuts, but I guess that’s what I get for not thinking this grocery run through correctly. (BTW I like to go to the grocery store on my bike, but I generally get just a few things and this sorta sh@#t doesn’t happen.)

Well I had to figure out a way to use these poor, poor bananas (no way in hell I was going to throw them out after all I had been through!)
Ummmm, well what is great with bananas none other than our friend oats?!
I decided that I would try to make healthy oatmeal cookies adding a nice alternative to my breakfast or a snack. They actually turned out quite tasty. And to top it off healthy, so what more could one want. I’d say they are a breakfasty, protein packed, pre-workout or just anytime cookies. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Makes about 6 cookies

1 Banana

1/4 cup Peanut Butter, (all natural)

1/2 cup Oats

1/2 tbsp. Sucant Sugar, Or raw

1 tsp. Baking soda

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 cup Raisins or Dried Cranberries

Preheat your oven at 350°F (180°C)

Mash up your banana and mix in a bowl along with peanut butter.

Add baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar mix well. Now add the oats and raisins. Mix thoroughly.

Spoon onto baking sheet and cook for about 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

My Easy, Quick, No-Carb Veggie Stack…It’s that Good

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So today’s post is about finding time to eat healthy always, no excuses whatsoever. Sometimes I think that people feel that when you have to eat healthy you really need time for it, although I can understand completely I also think that it takes time to cook a meal even if it’s not considered “healthy”.

We as a whole have to get into the mentality that our body is truly a Temple, it needs clean, healthy and most of all homemade foods to feel energized, peaceful, strong and to look it’s best. Lately I, although seem to have a ton of time feel like I am constantly pressed for time, and although it’s delicious and easy to come home and throw some salad, and other veggies in a bowl and mix it up and voilà dinner is served; I also feel like I would like to serve something a little different but that also looks as though I put time and effort in it. Ha! That must be the little cook in me….always trying to achieve perfection.

I’ve mentioned previously how much I love to grill, it’s low fat and quick. So, I decided that I would make grilled Veggies and kinda give them a sort of lasagna layering. You can grill whatever veggies you like it’s really up to what you have in the fridge and what you enjoy most that can be put on a grill….Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Onions, Radicchio, Endive, Potatoes, Asparagus. But remember if you’re in a rush don’t stress out use what you have, it’s going to be delicious. Trust me.

Ingredients:

2-3 Zucchini

1 large Eggplant

4 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tbsp. Vinegar (any flavor you prefer)

1/2 Garlic Clove, minced

6 Parsley stems, chopped

1 Chili chopped, optional

Salt and Pepper to taste

Turn on your grill at medium setting and let heat. In the meantime slice your eggplant and zucchini 1/2 inch thick longwise. Once grill is warm put your veggies on top allowing to cook for about 5-8 minutes.
Chop Parsley, Garlic and Chilli and mix in a small bowl with Olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Put aside.

You may flip over your veggies now and allow to cook another 5 minutes allowing to reach grill marks.
Remove from heat. Get your plates and drizzle a little of your Olive oil mixture on the bottom and layer some eggplant drizzle again and layer some zucchini, drizzle again and  layer eggplant, continue this until you’ve atleast achieved 4 layers and top off with a drizzle. Do the same with other dish and serve.

Now you’ve cooked up a delicious, healthy, quick meal and you still managed everything else. You can do all sorts of variations, sprinkle pine nuts on top, feta grape tomatoes…you choose. This is what I had and it was perfect. Enjoy.