Menu Monday: Spring Dinner Menu

Everything about this menu screams "fresh!" and "spring is HERE!"so why not take it for a test drive this week? The crisp apples and creamy gorgonzola make a perfect pair, but instead of being set atop a fresh arugula salad with candied walnuts and a nice vinaigrette (yum...), here they make for bite-sized appetizers perched on crispy garlicky bread slices - oh and for something much quicker, easier (and maybe even a little better...) try using slices of Udi's Bread cut into triangles instead of baking a whole loaf of French bread just for the occasion.

And really, what says spring like these pristine coconut cupcakes?

Bruschetta with Gorgonzola & Apples
Spring Risotto with Artichokes
Chicken with Lemon Shallot Sauce
Coconut Cupcakes

Photo by Jamieanne

Thirsty Thursday: Fruit Smoothies Perfect for Spring

For many of us it is often hard to find the time to make time to make a nutritious breakfast in the morning. One great option is to whip up a quick, fruit packed smoothie. Smoothies are delicious, quick and provide a full serving of fruits (and vegetables, if you choose to include them) in one simple glass. All you really need is a blender and an assortment of fruit and you are in smoothie business!

Great tips for getting the most out of your smoothies

Keep an assortment of frozen fruit on hand in the freezer for smoothies. Frozen fruit is perfect for smoothies because it gives it a thicker texture, plus it is keeps for a long time and sometimes you just don’t always have fresh fruit on hand.

For added nutritional punch you can also add in flax or a gluten-free protein powder as well. Add in some carrots or even some spinach for some additional sweetness and added nutrients. This month we created several delicious fruit smoothies that will surely brighten your early spring mornings. This delicious drink also makes a great snack (my daughter often prepares them for herself after school).

Black & Blue Smoothies
(serves 2)
1/2 cup blackberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup blueberry pomegranate juice
1/4 cup orange juice
1 Tablespoon honey
1-1/2 cups crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Note: you can also use frozen blueberries and blackberries in this recipe. If you choose frozen fruit cut the crushed ice down by 1/2 cup.

Orange, Pineapple & Coconut Smoothie
(serves 2)

1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup fresh pineapple
1/2 banana
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 Tablespoons shredded coconut
1-1/2 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Note: you can also use frozen fruit in this recipe. If you choose frozen fruit cut the crushed ice down by 1/2 cup.

Mixed Berry & Banana Smoothie
(serves 2)
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup strawberries
1 banana
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 Tablespoon honey (or more to taste)
1/2 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Note: you can also use frozen fruit in this recipe. If you choose frozen fruit cut the crushed ice down by 1/2 cup.

Photo by realSMILEY

GFCF Weekly Roundup: Lemon Polenta Cake

In honor of Oranges and Lemons Day next week (March 30th), I thought this would be the perfect recipe to feature! The whole thing comes together really quickly and the bake-time rivals a pan of brownies. Polenta, reconfigured as grits in the South, comes in both an instant and original varieties.

GFCF Lemon Polenta Cake
Ingredients
2 cups gluten free flour
1/4 cup polenta (coarse ground cornmeal)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon lime zest
Powdered sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter a 9" springform pan on the bottom and sides.

In a medium bowl, combine gluten free flour, polenta, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a small, separate bowl, combine oil, lemon juice and vanilla extract. In a large bowl, beat eggs with sugar on medium speed until thick, about 3-4 minutes. Gradually beat in oil mixture and lime zest. Gently fold in dry ingredients until just blended.

Scrape batter into prepared springform pan. Bake for about 50 minutes or until center springs back when lightly pressed. Let cake cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Release cake from spring form pan and let cool completely. Cut into wedges and dust with powdered sugar.

Photo by avlyxyz on Flickr.

Recipe of the week: Beets with Mixed Greens

This week's recipe features fresh beets - still available at farmer's markets across the nation at the tail end of their season. Because they are root vegetables, it is pretty important that they are organic -- they are definitely on the Dirty Dozen list. To add a little bit of interest, feel free to use golden beets instead of, or in addition to, standard beets - they are much less messy, guaranteed not to stain your tablecloth and hands and hardly taste any different. Now the recipe calls for boiling the beets, but I'm a big fan of roasting - so if you have some extra time, I would recommend trimming off the greens (set aside to use later!)

Beets with Mixed Greens
Ingredients
2 beets (preferably organic)
1 carrot, peeled and sliced thin
1/4 cup English cucumber, peeled and sliced thin
2 Tablespoons thinly sliced red onion
6 cups mixed greens
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon stone ground mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 oz thinly sliced aged Gouda cheese

Directions
Cut the stem and leaves off the beets and quarter. Place beets in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Remove beets from water and let cool. When cool enough to handle, slice.

Meanwhile, place carrots, cucumbers, red onion and mixed greens in a large salad bowl. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, and stone ground mustard. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Add cooled, sliced beets to salad and drizzle half the dressing over the top and toss. Leaves should be just nicely coated with dressing, not drenched. Add more dressing if need be.

Divide salad among 6 salad plates and top with aged Gouda slices. Serve immediately.

Photo by Ralph Daily

Menu Monday: Early Spring Casual Entertaining Meal

This menu highlights the incoming warmer weather and fresh produce hitting grocery stores and farmers markets across the country. This meal is elegant and can be at least partially prepared ahead of time - definitely the endive appetizer and asparagus salad. The meal is light and fresh, but still hearty and sophisticated. Omit the steak and you can have a tapas-style picnic lunch for some al fresco dining!

Early Spring Casual Entertaining Meal
Smoked Salmon Stuffed Endive
Asparagus Salad with Toasted Walnuts
Potato Galette
Steaks with Shallots & Madeira
Marinated Strawberries with Sweet Mascarpone Bruschetta

Grilled Asparagus Image by Missy and the Universe on Flickr.

Hale's Kitchen: A New Spin on Bruschetta

This month, Hunter Hale show us how to take traditional bruschetta to a whole new level! Instead of demonstrating a few of the (probably) hundred variations on savory bruschetta, our young chef has developed several sweet adaptations that make for a simple, elegant desserts! Watch out Food Network, Hunter Hale is on his way!

Part I:


Part II:


The Recipes...

Sweetened Ricotta, Pistachio & Chocolate Drizzled Bruschetta
Ingredients
4 slices of Udi's Gluten free White Sandwich Bread, crusts removed and sliced on the diagonal, toasted
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup confectioner's sugarDash of vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pistachio's
2 Tablespoons chocolate sauce or chocolate shavings

Directions
In a small bowl, beat the ricotta with the confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract until incorporated.

Spread ricotta mixture on top of the toast triangles and top with chopped pistachios and drizzle with chocolate (or top with shaved chocolate).

Marinated Strawberries with Sweet Mascarpone Bruschetta

Ingredients
4 slices of Udi's Gluten Free White Sandwich Bread, crusts removed and cut on the diagonal, toasted
1 cup strawberries sliced
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
Dash of vanilla extract
Mint leaf for garnish

Directions
Toast the bread triangles under the broiler until just browned.

In a bowl, combine the strawberries, sugar and balsamic vinegar. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

In another bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese along with the confectioner's sugar and a dash of vanilla extract until incorporated.

Spread about 1-1/2 tablespoons of the mascarpone cheese mixture over a toast triangle and top with marinated strawberries. Drizzle the top with any reserved marinade and garnish with a mint leaf.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today marks the beginning of the most important Chinese holiday - the lunisolar New Year. Lasting for 15 days, this annual festival begins on the first day of the new month and ends with the Lantern Festival, welcoming spring. With themes of happiness, wealth and longevity, this is a very family-oriented holiday featuring beloved traditional recipes. Here are our interpretations of some of these classic dishes....

Peking Duck
Fresh Vegetable Spring Rolls (pictured above)
Fried Mushroom & Leek Spring Rolls (pictured at right)

GFCF Weekly Roundup: Carrot Cake

GFCF Carrot Cake
Ingredients

For the cake
1 cup canola oil
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups grated carrots
2 cups + 1 Tablespoon gluten free flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Few grates of fresh nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped

For the icing
1/4 cup EarthBalance butter substitute
4 ounces Tofutti cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup toasted pecans

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a bundt pan. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of gf flour into the pan and tap the sides and bottom to lightly coat the interior of the pan with gf flour. Shake out excess flour.

Place the oil, sugar and eggs in a mixer and blend until incorporated. Add the carrots and mix briefly.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the gf flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking soda.

Add the gluten free flour mixture to the sugar-egg mixture and mix until well incorporated. Stir in the nuts. Transfer batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a baking rack and let cool.

Meanwhile, prepare the icing. Place the EarthBalance and Tofutti cream cheese in a mixer and mix until incorporated, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla and continue to mix. (If the icing is too thick, thin with a little milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a spreadable consistency.)

When the cake has cooled, spread with the icing. Sprinkle with toasted pecans. Slice into wedges and serve.

Menu Mondays: Perfect Winter Lunch

This has to be one of my all-time favorite menus. Featuring liquid warmth and comfort in the form of a creamy potato soup, a great new take on a childhood favorite and the perfect make-ahead dessert- this recipe is great for a hearty winter lunch or light dinner!

On the menu...
Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Creamy Potato Soup
Chocolate Chili Dessert Cups

Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Makes one sandwich.
Ingredients
2 slices Udi's whole grain or sandwich bread, defrosted if frozen
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1-1 1/2 teaspoons basil pesto
2 slices of provolone cheese, torn or cut to fit on the bread slices

Directions
Preheat griddle or panini grill. Begin by lightly buttering one side of each bread slices. Stick bread slices, buttered-sides together, to each other and spread half of the pesto on each slice. Peel apart slices and place first slice butter-side down on grill or griddle. Layer cheese on the bread slice until gone, top with remaining slice.

Cook until golden brown on bottom, then flip and repeat.

GFCF Weekly Roundup: Coconut Tapioca Custard

One of our tried and true favorites, this soymilk based custards is silky and delicious! Topped with sliced bananas and toasted coconut, this dessert combines the best of silky and crunchy, sweet and salty. Perhaps add a drizzle of homemade rum caramel for a more decadent option.

Coconut Tapioca Custard
Ingredients

1 cup, plus 2 Tablespoons soy milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup uncooked, quick-cooking tapioca
1/2 teaspoon salt
One 14-ounce can coconut milk
1 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sliced bananas & shredded coconut for garnish

Directions
In a medium saucepan whisk together soy milk, sugar, tapioca, salt, coconut milk, and egg. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Bring to a boil over medium heat; stirring constantly. Cook for 30 seconds at a boil; stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract.

Pour mixture into individual ramekins. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

To serve: slice bananas over the top of each custard and sprinkle with shredded coconut.

Recipe of the Week: Artichokes with Ricotta, Spinach & Pine Nuts

The New Year is always a time of reflection, introspection and reevaluation, and probably the most common resolutions involve dieting and weight loss. Let Glutenfreeda help you eat healthier this year, all of our recipes use fresh "real" ingredients and can help you to be the best possible you!

Low Fat Artichokes with Ricotta, Spinach and Pine Nuts

Ingredients
2 artichokes (top trimmed and sharp ends of leaves cut off)
1-1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
5 oz. chopped, frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 ounces ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 Tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the artichokes, cover, and cook for about 40 minutes or until the artichoke leaves can be pulled away with only slight resistance. Remove the artichokes from the water and let cool.

Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, sauté the shallots for about 2-3 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic; sauté for 30 seconds. Add the drained spinach and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the ricotta, lemon juice, and pine nuts. Adjust seasonings to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let cool.

Spoon the ricotta mixture into a bowl and serve alongside the artichokes.

Tips
To toast the pine nuts, place the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook the pine nuts, shaking the pan occasinally, until lightly browned on all sides. Note: watch the pine nuts carefully as they cook - it is real easy to burn them instead of the intended "toasting".

GFCF Weekly Round-up: Spicy Sesame Dip

Perfect for entertaining (New Year's, anyone?), this Asian-inspired dip is spicy, tangy, naturally dairy free and absolutely delicious!

Ingredients
2 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons gluten free Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 cup cooled, brewed black tea
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1-1/2 Tablespoons gluten free soy sauce (like Tamari)
1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 cup mayonnaise
Paprika for garnish

Directions
Place the garlic, mustard, cayenne pepper and chili powder in a food processor and process until the garlic is finely chopped. Add the cooled tea, red wine vinegar, gf soy sauce and tahini; process until incorporated. With the machine running add the mayonnaise and process until smooth. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Sprinkle paprika over the top and serve with fresh vegetables.

Tips
This dip is packed with flavor! It is great served with a variety of fresh vegetables or you can even mix it into cooled gluten free pasta for a nice lunch "salad".