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Monthly Archives: March 2014

March 27, 2014
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Breakfast

Easy Strawberry Pecan Breakfast Quinoa

March 27, 2014 Breakfast Leave a comment
Easy Strawberry Pecan Breakfast Quinoa

My Easy Strawberry Pecan Quinoa Breakfast is a quick, wholesome, and delicious morning treat.  There are many great quinoa breakfast recipes out there that start with uncooked quinoa and are prepared by gently cooking in a variety of delicious flavor combinations.  Although these recipes are great, they take way too long for a mom of two young boys who need breakfast stat.  This recipe is as quick as a bowl of cereal, but better.  My trick is having cooked quinoa ready to go in the fridge.

If you remember my last quinoa post, Quinoa with Zucchini and Portobello Mushrooms, you may recall that I love making extra quinoa to keep on hand.  I usually make double what I need and use the extra half for more weekday side dishes or for breakfast.  Plain, cooked, quinoa will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week in a sealed container.

If you haven’t joined the quinoa movement yet, you should get on board!  Quinoa has a great nutritional profile.  It is actually a seed so it has a high protein content relative to other grains.  It is also loaded with fiber, iron, magnesium, Vitamin B-6, and potassium.  Quinoa is also very versatile and can be used in sweet dishes, as well as savory.

Making my breakfast quinoa is not only super fast but also easily adaptable to what you prefer or have on hand.  This recipe is for a Strawberry Pecan version, but you can add any fruit, nuts, spices or other flavor combinations to create a breakfast suited to your own taste.  Think of your cooked quinoa as a blank slate, ready to absorb flavor.  I hope you make it a part of your morning!

Easy Strawberry Pecan Breakfast Quinoa
 
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Vegan
Author: FamilyGlutenFree.com
Recipe type: Breakfast
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • ½ cup cooked quinoa
  • ¼ cup almond milk or any non-dairy milk
  • 2 tsps maple syrup
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh strawberries
  • 2 Tbsp chopped raw pecans
  • Dash of cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Mix quinoa, almond milk and maple syrup in a microwave-safe bowl.
  2. Microwave on high for 1 minute.
  3. Mix quinoa mixture and top with strawberries, pecans and cinnamon
  4. Enjoy!
3.2.1284

 

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March 24, 2014
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Products I Love

Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix

March 24, 2014 Products I Love Leave a comment
Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix

When my first son was just a toddler, we used to love going to the pancake house in our hometown.  I have fond memories of those fluffy pancakes and my little guy stuffing maple syrup-drenched bites into his sweet little mouth.  Well, that was then.  Now, we are gluten-free and breakfast is probably the hardest meal to have out.  All those cute little diners are pretty much off limits and we do all of our breakfast eating at home.

Luckily, pancakes are pretty easy to make gluten-free at home.  There are numerous gluten-free pancake mixes on the market.  I’ve tried many of them, but none have been as good as Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix.  Pamela’s brand gluten-free products are widely available.  I can find the pancake mix at most supermarkets.  Whole Foods stocks a large 4-pound bag of Pamela’s Baking and Pancake mix, which can feed my family for several months.  As many of you know, being gluten-free means many trips to a variety of grocery stores to find our favorite products.  Pamela’s Products makes it easy.

Pamela’s Products was started in 1988 and is based in California.  The company focuses on certified gluten-free products using only high-quality ingredients.  Many of the pancake mixes on the market can be full of preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients.  I find comfort knowing that I am familiar with all the ingredients on their label and would use the same ingredients to make gluten-free pancakes from scratch.  The only downside is that Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix contains cultured buttermilk and almond meal, which means you cannot make them dairy-free, nut-free or vegan.

Pancakes - Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix

Pancakes – Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix

To make pancakes, you need eggs, oil, and water.  I typically use almond milk instead of water and I use melted coconut oil or grapeseed oil.  The pancakes are easy to make and brown similarly to regular pancakes.  I have found that some mixes brown very quickly.  The pancakes come out light and fluffy, with a soft nutty flavor.

When I make pancakes (usually on the weekends or an easy weeknight dinner), I make more than I need for the meal and freeze the leftovers for weekday breakfast for the kids.  The pancakes freeze very well and are easy to thaw in a toaster oven.

Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix provides variations for waffles, muffins, scones, and other baked goods. Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix also provides a nice base for being creative.  The batter can easily handle additions like blueberries or chocolate chips.  You can also be creative and add coconut milk or mashed banana to make your normal pancakes more interesting.

I have been through my fair share of gluten-free products and there are only a few that hold up as staples in my home, for both their taste and nutritional value.  Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix has easily met both requirements for my family.

Disclaimer:  I am not paid or compensated in any way to review gluten-free products.  I only review products that I love, use in my daily life, and feel that others can benefit from too.  I cannot guarantee that you will think these products are awesome too, but it is highly unlikely.

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March 21, 2014
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familyglutenfree
Sweet Treats

Chocolate Coconut Balls

March 21, 2014 Sweet Treats 2 Comments
Chocolate Coconut Balls

I am always looking for healthy sweet treats to have on hand for my kids (and my husband!).   Making little balls or bites out of healthy ingredients has been a nice addition to our daily lives.  When my 2 year old asks for “Cookie?”, I know exactly what I can give him to satisfy his sweet tooth and make me feel like Supermom!  One of our favorites is my Chocolate Coconut Balls.

My recipe for Chocolate Coconut Balls was inspired by Tammy Credicott’s Almond Butter Nut Balls from her cookbook, “The Healthy Gluten-Free Life”.  This cookbook is fantastic, especially for baked goods.  Her recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and egg-free!  She makes simple, allergy-friendly, crowd-pleasing recipes.

Chocolate Coconut Balls Ingredients

Chocolate Coconut Balls Ingredients

I tried to make this recipe simple and wholesome, while using ingredients that can easily be on hand.  By adding coconut flour, coconut oil, and shredded coconut, the balls have a multi-dimensional coconut taste.  The tablespoon of brewed coffee is added to bring out the chocolate taste.  It may seem odd, but coffee really enhances the chocolate goodness.

My Chocolate Coconut balls are vegan, grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free and soy-free.  They are easy to prepare and require no baking.

I hope you enjoy them!

Chocolate Coconut Balls
 
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Prep time
30 mins
Total time
30 mins
 
Vegan, Grain-free, Soy-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free
Author: FamilyGlutenFree.com
Recipe type: Sweet Treat
Ingredients
  • 8 medjool dates, pitted
  • ½ cup almond butter
  • ¼ cup coconut flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa or raw cacao powder
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut + ¼ cup for rolling
  • 2 Tbsp honey (raw is best)
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil
  • 1 Tbsp brewed coffee (I just use what’s leftover from the morning)
  • ¼ tsp sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
  • ¼ cup vegan mini chocolate chips (I like the Enjoy Life brand)
Instructions
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processer, except the chocolate chips. Process the ingredients until uniform (sometimes I need to stop to redistribute the ingredients, as it may ball up).
  2. Remove mixture into a large bowl and add the chocolate chips.
  3. Mix in the chips by hand until well distributed.
  4. Line a small baking sheet with wax paper.
  5. Place additional ¼ cup of shredded coconut in a small bowl.
  6. With your hands, roll mixture into 1-inch balls.
  7. Roll each ball in the shredded coconut to coat and place on baking sheet.
  8. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours and enjoy.
  9. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months.
3.2.1284

 

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March 18, 2014
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familyglutenfree
Products I Love

US Wellness Meats

March 18, 2014 Products I Love 1 Comment
US Wellness Meats

I first heard about US Wellness Meats when I started looking into where the meat I purchase for my family was coming from and how the animals were treated. I have found that eating meat that comes from animals that are free to graze (grass-fed beef/lamb, pasture/grassland poultry, and sustainable pork) tastes much better, is better for the environment, is more humane, and is much better for our bodies.

For example, a grass-fed/finished cow grazes on pasture grass and is not “finished” on grains or supplements to promote a quick weight gain.  This cow also lives a more humane life, grazing outdoors, the way nature intended.  The meat from this cow has more Omega-3’s and good fats, which is better for us.  Also, growing grass requires less energy than grain, which is better for our planet.  All of this leads to more sustainable farming practices.

This kind of meat is not easy to find, unless you raise your own animals.  Like most of you, I am not in a position to raise my own animals.  I try to buy locally as much as possible, but even local farms are not always forthcoming about their farming practices.  Although I am able to find some quality meat at local farms in my area, they don’t always have the cuts of meat I want.  That is where US Wellness Meats has completely met my needs.

US Wellness Meats Package

US Wellness Meats Package

US Wellness Meats is an online business that ships vacuum-sealed, frozen, high-quality meat all over the country.  The US Wellness Meats organization manages a group of family-owned farms in Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois.  The farms adhere to sustainable farming practices and guarantee that the animals were raised humanely, using farming practices that mimic how the animals would forage in nature.

So, how does it work?  If you check out their website, you can take a look at all of their products and select items for your “cart”.  Once you have completed your order, you get an email with a Fedex tracking number the next day.  The shipment will arrive at your doorstep 2 days after you place the order frozen and ready to put into your freezer.

US Wellness Meats Open Package

US Wellness Meats Open Package

I have ordered their ground beef, steak (NY strip and Delmonico), stew meat, pre-made beef burgers, beef short ribs, Polish kielbasa, ground chicken, ground turkey, chicken breast, chicken thighs, whole chicken, chicken apple sausage, and rack of lamb.  Everything arrived frozen and in perfect condition.  They also have a wide range of exotic cuts of meat such as rabbit, bison and duck.

What I am most excited about is the taste.  The meat is more flavorful and is much more tender compared to what you can get at the supermarket.  My kids are not huge meat eaters.  However, they have devoured everything I have cooked from US Wellness Meats.

There are a few downsides.  Because they depend on stocking their products from family farms, you may find that certain items are “temporarily out of stock”.  So far, this hasn’t been an issue for me, except for bacon.  Bacon is one of their big-sellers and I haven’t been able to place an order including bacon yet.  In addition, the meat is not cheap, but the prices are comparable to any grass-fed/finished beef or pasture raised chicken I have found.  You also have to place an order with a minimum cost of $75.

I realize that cost can be a major factor for everyone, but this is how I see it.  Having the meat come vacuum-sealed and frozen, allows me to stock my freezer and use the meat over a longer period of time. If you subscribe to US Wellness Meat’s email list, they give out coupon codes on a regular basis and give discounts on larger orders.  I also feel that once you realize the health benefits of this kind of meat, along with the superior taste, the cost will be worth it.

Whether or not you decide to try US Wellness Meats, I hope you start thinking about where our meat, eggs, and dairy products come from.  If we have to sacrifice by not eating gluten, I want the rest of my food to taste incredible. Also, the world may become a much better place if we all ate more meat using sustainable farming practices.

Disclaimer:  I am not paid or compensated in any way to review gluten-free products.  I only review products that I love, use in my daily life, and feel that others can benefit from too.  I cannot guarantee that you will think these products are awesome too, but it is highly unlikely.

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March 14, 2014
2 Comments
familyglutenfree
Smoothies and Drinks

Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie

March 14, 2014 Smoothies and Drinks 2 Comments
Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie

The inspiration for my Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie was the giant bag of organic frozen cherries I found at Costco.  Smoothies are a great way to be creative with what you have on hand.  Cherries are one of the most nutritious fruits you can eat, but it is hard to find them year round.  It is especially hard to find them organic, even the frozen variety.   Every once in a while I will find them at Costco in bulk, and when I do, I stock up.  Cherries are full of antioxidants (hence their bright red color), as well as, Vitamins A and C.

Frozen cherries are great in smoothies.  The come pitted, de-stemmed, and ready to go.  My kids love their mild sweetness and the beautiful pink color they create when added to a smoothie.

Frozen Cherries

Frozen Cherries

When I was thinking about what to combine with my lovely organic cherries, I immediately thought of chocolate. Chocolate is also a nutrition powerhouse, but I’m talking about raw, unsweetened chocolate, also called “cacao”. Raw cacao is sold as “nibs” or raw cacao powder. You can also use unsweetened baking cocoa, which almost everyone has on-hand.

Raw Cacao

Raw Cacao

Chocolate is also full of antioxidants, as well as, essential minerals (including, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, iron) and vitamins (specifically, folate).  Plus, it tastes awesome (duh!) and especially pairs well with cherries.  Who doesn’t like a chocolate covered cherry?

I also wanted to add almonds, via almond meal and almond milk.  I think the almond flavor mellows everything out and creates an overall delicious and refreshing treat for your morning smoothie.

So, without further delay, here is my Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie recipe for you to enjoy!

Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie 2

Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie 2

 

Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie
 
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Prep time
5 mins
Total time
5 mins
 
Vegan, Paleo
Author: FamilyGlutenFree.com
Recipe type: Smoothie
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1 small banana or ½ large banana
  • 1 cup frozen cherries (organic if possible)
  • 1 Tbsp almond meal or almond flour
  • 1 Tbsp raw cacao nibs/powder or unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1-2 medjool dates (remove pit)
  • 1 handful of baby spinach or kale
  • 1 cup coconut water (or regular water if coconut water is not available)
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • (Note: if not using a high-powered blender, substitute 2 Tbsp honey or agave nectar for the dates)
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and enjoy!
3.2.1290

 

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