What you'll need:
Chicken (salt, pepper, paprika, season salt, and cajun spices if you dare), cubed and pan fried
Sausage (I like to use the kind you grill with. Slice it and throw in pan when chicken is almost done cooking. The Corn and Red Pepper flavor is my favorite)
Bell Peppers (I use red, yellow, and green)
Can of diced tomatoes
Rice
Chicken Broth
Cajun Spice (optional. I don't use it)
Wash and slice up the peppers. Throw them into a extra large pot. Add can of tomatoes, and enough chicken broth for the amount of rice you wish to make. Add the rice and turn the heat to simmer. Stir in the chicken and sausage, and cover. Allow to sit over simmer to low heat for about 25-35 minutes, until all liquid is absorbed. The rice on the bottom may turn a brownish black, but it shouldn't be scorched or burned.
This dish keeps great, so be sure to make extra!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Spinach, Artichoke and Cheese Dip
What you'll need:
Chopped Spinach (2 frozen packages)
Quartered Artichoke Hearts (2 cans)
8 oz sour cream
4 oz cream cheese
Garlic
Salt
Garlic Powder (optional)
Thaw and drain spinach.
Chop artichoke hearts and garlic.
Soften cream cheese.
Combine all ingrediants into a mixing bowl. Use electric mixer on low speed until evenly distributed. Place mixture into crock pot on high for 1-2 hours, until hot throughout.
Cream cheese/Sour cream measurements are what I use. If you have a preference for one taste over another, feel free to switch up the amounts. Also if you prefer a "runnier" mixture, add more sour cream/cream cheese. Same with the garlic and cheese. Use as much or as little as you'd like. This recipe can easily be cut in half to make a more reasonable portion.
Chopped Spinach (2 frozen packages)
Quartered Artichoke Hearts (2 cans)
8 oz sour cream
4 oz cream cheese
Garlic
Salt
Garlic Powder (optional)
Thaw and drain spinach.
Chop artichoke hearts and garlic.
Soften cream cheese.
Combine all ingrediants into a mixing bowl. Use electric mixer on low speed until evenly distributed. Place mixture into crock pot on high for 1-2 hours, until hot throughout.
Cream cheese/Sour cream measurements are what I use. If you have a preference for one taste over another, feel free to switch up the amounts. Also if you prefer a "runnier" mixture, add more sour cream/cream cheese. Same with the garlic and cheese. Use as much or as little as you'd like. This recipe can easily be cut in half to make a more reasonable portion.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Chicken and Rice in White Wine Sauce
What you'll need:
Chicken breast (salt and peppered. Pan fried)
Chicken Broth
White Wine
Milk
Rice
Broccoli (optional)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Salt or Garlic Powder
Cook the chicken. Set it aside.
Add some salt, chicken broth, and white wine to a large saute pan, and heat to a boil. Add milk and stir. After it returns to a boil, add in the rice and stir. (The amount of liquid you use will depend on the amount of rice you want to cook. Check your rice brand to figure out how much liquid you need and divide it up from there according to your tastes. It should be mostly broth. If you want a creamier sauce, add more milk. If you want a stronger sauce, add more wine). Stir in the broccoli and lay the chicken on top. Cover and let sit for about 15 minutes. Most of the liquid should be absorbed into the rice. If too much has absorbed for your liking, add more milk. It will be drier on the bottom then on the top. Enjoy!
Chicken breast (salt and peppered. Pan fried)
Chicken Broth
White Wine
Milk
Rice
Broccoli (optional)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Salt or Garlic Powder
Cook the chicken. Set it aside.
Add some salt, chicken broth, and white wine to a large saute pan, and heat to a boil. Add milk and stir. After it returns to a boil, add in the rice and stir. (The amount of liquid you use will depend on the amount of rice you want to cook. Check your rice brand to figure out how much liquid you need and divide it up from there according to your tastes. It should be mostly broth. If you want a creamier sauce, add more milk. If you want a stronger sauce, add more wine). Stir in the broccoli and lay the chicken on top. Cover and let sit for about 15 minutes. Most of the liquid should be absorbed into the rice. If too much has absorbed for your liking, add more milk. It will be drier on the bottom then on the top. Enjoy!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Restaurant Review: Le Colonial- San Francisco
I had dinner at this great Vietnamese-French fusion restaurant just off Union Square in San Francisco. The food was fabulous, albeit pricey. For those looking to dine gluten free, it is a great choice. The waiter was familiar with which options would be appropriate, and tell me which used rice flour, potato flour, corn starch, ect, but still checked in with the chef to be sure. The soy sauce did have wheat in it however. We had the spring rolls (in rice wrappers!) and I had the lamb chops for dinner. We had dinner with 2 other couples and everyone seemed to be pleased with their meals. Was it worth the $175/couple? Yes and No. I'd go there again, and I would recommend it to people, but I also wouldn't hurry up and run out to go again. For the record, my husband says no. However, he does think it's a fabulous weekend bar. (And the drink menu is very extensive, unique, and fantastic!)
Gluten free rating (out of 5):
For more information:
Le Colonial
Located off Taylor on Cosmo Place (in between Post and Sutter)
415.931.3600
http://www.lecolonialsf.com/index_flash.html
Gluten free rating (out of 5):
For more information:
Le Colonial
Located off Taylor on Cosmo Place (in between Post and Sutter)
415.931.3600
http://www.lecolonialsf.com/index_flash.html
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Watch out for: SOY SAUCE
Soy sauce is another one of those things that you think would be gluten free. Made from just soy beans, right? Nope. Some of the most popular brands, including Kikkoman, the kind you usually see with the red cap on the tables at the sushi restaurant, and the majority of the ones you'll pick up in the grocery store have wheat in them as well. It's easy to find ones that are all soy- just read the label. Kikkoman also makes a wheat free version.
Needless to say this makes eating out at sushi and Chinese restaurants difficult. It's hard to find items that aren't breaded or dusted with flour, have no noodles, and do not have soy sauce. I usually bring my own, and at Chinese restaurants go for things like Kung Pao or General Tsu's. Again, just make sure they are not putting in soy sauce into whatever you order.
The best place for Chinese food for those on a gluten free diet is PF Changs. They have a gluten free menu! My favorite things there are the Chang's Chicken Wraps in Lettuce and Chang's spicy chicken. But everything is great! You can even have the Spare Ribs off the normal menu- just make sure they put the sauce on the side because that is not gluten free. You'll also need to ask for gluten free soy sauce (yes they have it!! It's just not on the table). There are a number of these restaurants around the country. Check out http://www.pfchangs.com/cuisine/menu/GlutenIntolerantMenu.pdf for the gluten free menu and http://www.pfchangs.com/ for restaurant locations.
Needless to say this makes eating out at sushi and Chinese restaurants difficult. It's hard to find items that aren't breaded or dusted with flour, have no noodles, and do not have soy sauce. I usually bring my own, and at Chinese restaurants go for things like Kung Pao or General Tsu's. Again, just make sure they are not putting in soy sauce into whatever you order.
The best place for Chinese food for those on a gluten free diet is PF Changs. They have a gluten free menu! My favorite things there are the Chang's Chicken Wraps in Lettuce and Chang's spicy chicken. But everything is great! You can even have the Spare Ribs off the normal menu- just make sure they put the sauce on the side because that is not gluten free. You'll also need to ask for gluten free soy sauce (yes they have it!! It's just not on the table). There are a number of these restaurants around the country. Check out http://www.pfchangs.com/cuisine/menu/GlutenIntolerantMenu.pdf for the gluten free menu and http://www.pfchangs.com/ for restaurant locations.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Best Risotto
What you'll need:
Arborio Rice
White wine
Bacon pieces (the real bacon salad topping ones work great. Just make sure it's real bacon!)
Chicken (cut up a chicken breast into pieces, and cook in frying pan. Mix bacon in with chicken after cooked)
Chicken stock
Parmesan Cheese (or Romano or Asiago or a blend)
Garlic
Onion
Oregano
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Salt
Butter
Before we get started, note that I don't tell you how much of each to use. Go with what you'd like. I'll list some things as we go, but for the most part it's whatever you feel like and what suits your tastes. :)
Heat olive oil and a very small amount of butter in a sauce pan over low to simmer. Add garlic salt, salt, oregano, and pepper, then the onion and garlic. Stir it all around. Throw in the Arborio Rice (usually about 1 1/2 cups of rice is good for 2 people). Let the rice cook for a few minutes.
Heat up the broth so it is warm, but not boiling. You should need 1 small can of Swanson broth for 1 1/2 cups of rice. I use the low sodium version, but either will work.
Back to the rice. Add the white wine. I use lots of wine- probably 2 cups of it, but add it slowly. Save a dash for the very end. After the wine has been mostly absorbed, begin adding the broth. Again, slowly. Keep stirring. You don't want to allow the risotto to stick to the bottom. As it absorbs, add more broth until all broth has been added. Taste along the way to get to the rice to the desired texture.
When you are adding your last bit of broth, also add the bacon and the chicken. Fold it in, and then add as much cheese as you'd like. Top it off with a dash of wine, and you're ready to go. I usually throw on a small piece of butter and more cheese in my serving bowl. My husband just adds more salt. Whatever you need to make yours perfect for you!
Very simple and very yummy!
Arborio Rice
White wine
Bacon pieces (the real bacon salad topping ones work great. Just make sure it's real bacon!)
Chicken (cut up a chicken breast into pieces, and cook in frying pan. Mix bacon in with chicken after cooked)
Chicken stock
Parmesan Cheese (or Romano or Asiago or a blend)
Garlic
Onion
Oregano
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Salt
Butter
Before we get started, note that I don't tell you how much of each to use. Go with what you'd like. I'll list some things as we go, but for the most part it's whatever you feel like and what suits your tastes. :)
Heat olive oil and a very small amount of butter in a sauce pan over low to simmer. Add garlic salt, salt, oregano, and pepper, then the onion and garlic. Stir it all around. Throw in the Arborio Rice (usually about 1 1/2 cups of rice is good for 2 people). Let the rice cook for a few minutes.
Heat up the broth so it is warm, but not boiling. You should need 1 small can of Swanson broth for 1 1/2 cups of rice. I use the low sodium version, but either will work.
Back to the rice. Add the white wine. I use lots of wine- probably 2 cups of it, but add it slowly. Save a dash for the very end. After the wine has been mostly absorbed, begin adding the broth. Again, slowly. Keep stirring. You don't want to allow the risotto to stick to the bottom. As it absorbs, add more broth until all broth has been added. Taste along the way to get to the rice to the desired texture.
When you are adding your last bit of broth, also add the bacon and the chicken. Fold it in, and then add as much cheese as you'd like. Top it off with a dash of wine, and you're ready to go. I usually throw on a small piece of butter and more cheese in my serving bowl. My husband just adds more salt. Whatever you need to make yours perfect for you!
Very simple and very yummy!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Why Gluten Free?
In 2002, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease, which means my body cannot digest gluten- a protein found in wheat, rye and barley (for more information on celiac disease visit: www.celiac.org) Celiacs cannot eat anything made with those ingredients- your everyday pastas, breads, pizzas, cookies, anything made with regular white flour. And no beer!! But gluten is even found in products you may not necessarily think of at first- BBQ sauce, soups, seasoning mixes. Celiacs literally have to become food label inspectors. That bag of nacho cheese flavored chips? Modified Food Startch=gluten=we won't be eating it.
There are still PLEANTY of things for Celiacs or anyone else on a gluten free diet to eat. All of those things I listed above that usually contain gluten can be found in gluten free- even if they are not necessarily labeled as such. I'm starting this blog in hopes of helping others out when eating with or dining out with someone on a gluten free diet. I'll post recipes I've tried that are great- either modified to be gluten free or naturally gluten free, news about eating gluten free, great places to dine out gluten free all over the country, anything that can help make your life a little easier. Please add any comments if you know of other places or you have recipes, or if you have questions about eating gluten free. There is lots of information out there. Hopefully together we can try and find it all in one place.
There are still PLEANTY of things for Celiacs or anyone else on a gluten free diet to eat. All of those things I listed above that usually contain gluten can be found in gluten free- even if they are not necessarily labeled as such. I'm starting this blog in hopes of helping others out when eating with or dining out with someone on a gluten free diet. I'll post recipes I've tried that are great- either modified to be gluten free or naturally gluten free, news about eating gluten free, great places to dine out gluten free all over the country, anything that can help make your life a little easier. Please add any comments if you know of other places or you have recipes, or if you have questions about eating gluten free. There is lots of information out there. Hopefully together we can try and find it all in one place.
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