Monday, December 24, 2012

Garlicky Spinach Mashed Cauliflower Gluten Free/ Dairy free if altered/ Nightshade Free

Garlicky Spinach Mashed Cauliflower
Found it on PBS FOOD.
You can substitute the milk with other lovely items, almond milk, soy milk, help milk.  Love it!
Same for the butter, find a great dairy free spread and you have magic!

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped into florets
  • 1 cup loosely packed baby spinach (fresh, not frozen)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • ¾ tsp seasoned salt
  • 1 tbsp butter, room temperature
  • 3 tbsp milk

Directions

  1. Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl with about two tablespoons water. Cover the bowl tightly with microwave safe plastic wrap and cook for two minutes. Stir then cook for another two minutes until florets are just tender. Drain water and set aside. Alternately, you could steam the cauliflower over the stove.
  2. Drizzle the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for about a minute, then add the spinach and continue sauteing until the spinach just begins to wilt. Remove pan from heat and transfer garlic and spinach to a food processor or high-speed blender.
  3. Add the steamed cauliflower to the food processor, along with the salt, butter and milk. Process until smooth and season to taste.
Yield: 4 servings
Take it to the in-laws, try it for a pot luck. Green and beautiful!
Garlicky Spinach Mashed Cauliflower

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Traditional frothy goodness - Honoring my Grandma - Gluten Free Orange Julius

Looking for a great tasty treat? well a drink that is non-alcoholic?
My Grandma is in my thoughts today, so I went looking for a great Orange Julius recipe. Why?  I fondly remember being in Toronto Canada, and seeing an orange, big as a bus front, with person sweetly set inside the James and the Giant Peach..... and they made these great frothy succulent drinks that my bought ans shared.  She told me of times she remembered in New York, and how they used to purchase one for a treat.....
so I wanted to honor her.  
here is one I found that you might find delightful. 
The Budget Savvy Diva says:
What You Need
6 oz. can frozen concentrated orange juice ( of course check the label for purity that it is just orange juide)
1 cup milk (you could use soy milk or almond milk)
1 cup water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (make sure you are using Gluten free vanilla)
8 or more ice cubes
1 Tablespoon of Instant Vanilla Pudding Powder (check that this is gluten free as well)
What To Do
Place all ingredients in a blender except for the ice cubes.
Blend until mixed
Add ice cubes one at a time  – blend until smooth.
"Enjoy :) I always place the mix in the freezer for about 15 minutes."
credit for the recipe.budgetsavvydiva.com
She found it HERE 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Bacon - a great christmas gift - Gluten Free, Nightshade free, Dairy free

Who doesn't love bacon? Well that is rhetorical. Be nice!
The guys at the shop loved to share food. I often have to decline. I did joke once I would bring in chocolate covered bacon for food sharing day.
They all said they would devore it!

But to be honest... I may just look into this recipe.
Smoked pork belly
http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/styles/tp_content_wide/public/DIYBacon.jpg
Why wouldn't you want a few pounds of this DIY smoked meat in your fridge? (Photo: Ian Knauer)

Sunday, December 9, 2012

gluten free cocktail that sounds nummy - CHERRIES !!!!

So... I look forward to doing cocktails with the clan again.
Sometimes we are classic and we bring a few bottles of wine, and some little snick snacks.
Of course there are the men in kilt days... where the whiskey jug is smoothly and graciously passed.
So... what about the days that you are sitting down to a fire and really a bottle of beer isn't going to work, a Smith n' Kerns is delightful but possibly not right, and it isn't margarita night... I know, I know.. when isn't it margarita night...bear with me here.

I do so enjoy a little maraschino cherry lovliness in a drink sometimes.
I used to order my Captain and coke with Cherry coke, and extra cherries.
The kicker in this drink... well you try it out... you might like the zing.

How about a little number I found today, that is very close to what I used to order when Clubbing in the bigger cities.

Our Blogger calls it the Cherry Whiskey Smash.
Doesn't it look nummy?
So... I know the recipe can be gluten free... which means you might like it for a cocktail hour for work. What you need:
- 1 ounce jack daniels
- 1 ounce cherry juice
- 1/2 ounce amaretto
- 1/2 ounce ginger brandy
- 2 ounces cherry cola
- 5 maraschino cherries
(Serves one, is easily multiplied)
check your ingredients, and be sure to tip your bartender... or if you make it at home... make sure to thank yourself for this treat.