pad thai, a gluten free comfort food

Today is the first day of fall. In Vancouver, fall came knocking on our doors about 3 weeks ago.  Coolers temperatures, rain (oh, and more rain) and shorter days. Fall is here.

It is that time of year when soups, stews and comfort foods are craved. I have set one goal: to make Bouef Bourguignon. I need a free weekend and some crockery to make that goal a reality. I'm thinking Thanksgiving weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

I don't often think about comfort food. For dinner I make what I'm feeling (or whatever is in the fridge). There isn't something I crave - or at least I didn't think there was until last weekend. My Aunt called and said she was coming to town. I had just visited her in Kelowna, BC a few weeks before and we had a conversation about Pad Thai. I realised since then I had been craving it.  I knew she would appreciate it and decided to put it on the menu for Sunday dinner.  It was a big hit. While finishing her last bite she said, "this IS comfort food".

The recipe is from a photo copy from a book from a friend. I don't know which book - but I do know my friend got it in Thailand. Fairly, authentic but also really accessible for westerners.

Pad Thai, gluten free 

Sauce:

6-7 tbsp sweet thai chilli sauce

1 tsp paprika

1/4 cup fish sauce, gluten free

1/4 granulated sugar

8oz rice noodles (it is about half a pack of rice noodles)

1 package of tofu (medium firm)

Prawns or chicken (amount up to you)

2 garlic gloves

4 tbsps vegetable oil

4 green onions, chopped 

1 cup of bean sprouts

1/4 roasted peanuts, chopped (I just put them in my magic bullet and gave them a bit of a chop)

1 large egg

Lime

Cilantro

Combine the ingredients for the sauce. Let sit while you prepare the remainder of the ingredients. Boil a large pot of water. Once it comes to a full boil remove from heat and add the rice noodles. Let sit for 7 or so minutes. Test a noodle after 5 minutes. When just about cooked, drain the noodles. Wok fry the prawns with garlic and 1 to 2 tbsp of the sauce. Remove prawns and set asid. Do the same with the tofu and egg. (You can also cook everything together, however, I like to deconstruct the ingredients and then put it all together at the last minute so it doesn't become one big clumpy eggy mess.

Take remainder of the sauce and add to wok. Heat until it starts to bubble, add the rice noodles and toss until full coated, add the prawns, tofu and scrambled egg.

Add green onions and bean spouts. 

Serve with the roasted peanuts, cilantro and lime. 

jammin'

It is a really easy process. Smash up some fruit, add the Certo, boil it, add the sugar and then jar. I been jammin' up a storm this summer. I've had some help from friends but it's been a fun and fruitful (pardon the pun) August. I've made blueberry jam and raspberry jam. All the time, waiting for the blackberries to be ready. The late August / early September picking window.  I received an email from my Aunt saying there were some ready so this weekend I went to Point Roberts and made did my annual blackberry jam session.

It has become a tradition. Making blackberry jam at the cottage with my friend Jen. It is quite the process and I have the scrapes, cuts and bruises to prove it. We both do. Blackberry is one of the most labour intensive jams. You don't just pick up a pound of blackberries at your local grocers - you have to pick it. Which means you have to hunt for it. You take a bucket on a bike and ride around picking whatever is within reach. And if it is just beyond your fingers touch you enter the bush just a bit to get it or walk down a path that states no trespassing but you see some berries that are within reach and you have to have them.  You want those berries. It becomes a short lived obsession.  

After collecting what we thought and hoped was 10 cups of juice filled berries we biked home. We took out the strainers and started the jam making process. Pressing all the berries through a strainer. You don't have to do this with many jams but blackberries have so many seeds that it is truly necessary. Unless, you want to provide a package of floss with every jam given as a gift.... Which, thinking about now, seems WAY easier. 

We did it - well almost. We needed one more cup. So out we went to the end of the road and found one more cup of berries. We smashed them up and added them in. 

After a quick boil, the addition of sugar (so much sugar!), a 5 minute stir, the sterilizing of the jars, jarring the jam, the cleanup - we were done. a mere 4.5 hours later. We each have 9 jars. We are exhausted. But worth it. Now, to find a gluten free bread worthy of this labour of love.

rhubarb bars - gluten free

I've been frequenting the farmers markets lately. Trying to get to them all. I've mentioned before the Eat Local organization that coordinate the Vancouver Farmers Markets. It has been a great experience. Waking up and walking out of my house on a Saturday or Sunday and buying eggs that were on the farm just that morning has been amazing. It really has expanded my knowledge of where my food has come from.

On the weekend my dad asked me to join him at what he referred to as Ladner Days. So, I woke up early, got into the car (which my friend had kindly let me borrow) and I drove to Ladner. I was excited to go to a town fair. I hadn't been to one in years. My dad and I walked to the town centre and what does the welcome sign say "August 21 Farmers Market". Not what I was expecting - but great nonetheless. In Vancouver I have gone to the Main Street market, the West End market and the Trout Lake market. None, compared to the Ladner Farmer's Market. The stands were of the local artisans and farmers who literally grew the vegetables and fruit down the road. I know - the day before (and only by chance and wrong reading of our GPS) as my friend and I went and bought blueberries in Ladner.

We walked around the many blocks of the market and I was amazed. SO may people came out and you could really see the community.

I didn't buy much but I saw that one person had rhubarb. I love rhubarb. Like love love rhubarb. Stewed rhubarb, rhubarb muffins, rhubarb pie and my new favourite Rhubarb Bars. It was perfect. I was going to a friend of mine's parents for dinner and I figured I could bring my new favourite dessert with what looked like the last of the season's rhubarb.

Back home I went.

I've made this recipe a few times this summer and think they are amazing.  I found them here but have adapted the recipe over the summer. I haven't met a person who doesn't fall in love with them. I warn you - they can look a bit sloppy and take a bit of time to prepare but they taste delicious and  are worth the time. Oh yeah, and they are gluten free!

Rhubarb Bars - Gluten Free

Heat oven to 350 degrees

About 8 to 10 stalks of rhubarb, chopped and tossed into a bowl with a sprinkle of sugar. After 5 minutes or so place into a pot and add water to just cover the bottom. Cook on low until it becomes stewed.... Let sit while you start the crust.

Crust:

1 1/2 cups sorghum flour

1/4 cup and 1 tbsp butter

1/4 granulated sugar

pinch of salt

Mix together butter and sugar in a mixer and blend for about 5 minutes. slowly add in the sorghum flour and salt. Press into a 9x5 dish baking dish and throw into the oven for the about 20 minutes.

While the crust is in the oven poor the strewed rhubarb into the blender and puree until it's smooth. You may want to add red colouring. I know, bad, but the colour just brightens a bit.

Now for the curd:

6 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

pinch of salt

1/4 cup butter chopped into pieces

Take a pot of boiling water and add a bowl on top (to act like a double boiler). add the egg yolks with the sugar and whisk for 5 to 8 minutes. It will become really think but you have to continue to ensure the egg doesn't cook. After 8 minutes add 1 and 1/4 cup of rhubarb puree. Continue mixing for an additional 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and add in chopped butter. Stir until butter is melted. 

Poor over crust and place in oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. 

Remove, let cool and serve. They are so good. I hope I haven't let this wait to late in the season for the rhubarb.

to market

I went to the farmer's market that the eatlocal organization put on on Wednesday's in Vancouver. It was so nice to meet up with some friends and enjoy a mid-week break. To walk through the many stalls and have the relaxed (although super crowded) atmosphere was an amazing change from the indoor office stress.

After the puchasing we went to a local Vegetarian restaurant. It was really good. Nice, fresh and clean tasting food. We decided to walk the seawall to Granville Island to take the aquabus home. I took a photo. It was so stunning. I love this city.

raspberry chocolate chip muffins, gluten free and a touch of blue rinse

I picked up some (unfortunately not so local) raspberries. To buy local would have been ideal but the option of that while walking home was slim to none. 

After a thoughtful stare and a quick rinse I decided to bake some muffins. I had made a few batches on the weekend with banana's, quinoa and walnuts. Pretty ordinary but really good. So with a quick change to the receipe I set out to bake a quick batch of Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins.

I usually use smashed up banana to help with the moisture (as I am sure you know ... gluten free can be really dry) but I went to open the freezer and realised my supply of over ripe banana's was out. Dang! To the plain yogurt I went.  After a quick mix of the dry ingredients and the incorporation of wet I added the raspberries. I will advise the error(s) now that I made: 1/ talking on the phone whilst baking 2/ over mixing while one talks on the phone. 

Bad move. 

The muffins seemed to turn a hint of blue. Like Florida granny hair blue. I've accepted it and am slowly moving on but I have taken a mental note and will not over stir when adding a berry to a muffin batter. I will not. I can also not commit to not talking one the phone but I will due my best to be more cognizant of when stirring.  Or if I do I will suffer the grey rinse sheen that over takes the mix. You can still see the soft red peaking out but once cut in half - the blue definitly appears. Either way, they turned out pretty tasty.  And really that's all that matters, right?

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins, gluten free

1 1/2 cup amaranth flour

1/2 cup sorghum flour

1/4 tapioca starch

1/4 rice flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp xanthum gum

1 egg 

1 cup sugar

1 cup plain yogurt

1/4 cooking oil

1 cup of fresh raspberries

1/2 chocolate chips, gluten free

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Lightly whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl mix together egg, sugar, plain yogurt, oil. Slowly fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture. After fully mixed -- slowly add in raspberries and chocolate chips.

Scoop into muffins cups and cook for 20 - 22 minutes.

Enjoy the granny blue muffins!

four times the potato, salad

Do you ever look at a potato and think - wow that's a gorgeous starch? I do. Its strange, but once I realised I could no longer indulge in the wheat filled world, I started to see things differently. New eyes perhaps? The gluten haze had drifted away? The multi-use of a potato, the variety of ways quinoa can be utilized in meals and how rice can virtually be used in everything (chip, pasta, flour and even vinegar).

I digress...Back to the potato. There are truly so many varieties out there. The classic russet, the new, the red, the purple and of course the creme de la creme: the fingerling. I'm very lucky because at my local market they tend to have all of these. At once and in abundence. I purchased just over a handful of each and brought them home. Still not certain of how their fate would end.

 

A friend of mine, happened to call and invite me over to watch a game and I figured this would be a great chance to make something with these beauties. Knowing I was going to be watching sports I decided to try a modernized potato salad. It was a success and has been requested twice since. 

Hope you enjoy!

Roasted Potato Salad with Asparagus

Approximately 3 lbs of potatoes, sliced in half (I used red, white, yukon, purple and red and white fingerlings)

A large bunch of asparagus, chopped to about 3 inches long

Rosemary, fresh but if you don't have fresh - dried works

3 cloves of garlic

Salt & Pepper 

Turn oven to 400 degrees.

Toss potatoes with crushed garlic, rosemary, olive oil and s&p. Pour tossed potatoes onto cookie sheet and throw into the over for an hour. 

After45 minutes or so add the aspargus in for a quick cook. Everything looks nice and roasted, remove from oven and let cool.

Dressing:

1/4 cup of dijon mustard

1/4 cup pesto

1/2 cup of mayonnaise

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

3 tbsp white balsamic (if no white on hand use the orginal)

 s&p to taste

2 tbsp  freshly grated parmesan cheese

Take cooled potatoes and asparagus and toss with dressing in large bowl. Once the potatoes are nicely coated, sprinkle parm on top. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving if time permits.

chocolate chocolate chip bundt cake, gluten free - reminder: buy a loaf pan!

I did it again. I went to bake a chocolate banana loaf and - oh - that's right. I don't own a loaf pan.

Since my last bundt post, I have purchased an array of kitchen accouterments. I have added a kitchen scale, sambal oelek, a new sifter and multiple olive oils. Yet, for some brain lapsing reason, no loaf pan.

I am going to write this in my agenda. For those who know me, know that I write a lot in my agenda. Or daytimer as my father (for whom I owe my obsession with said agenda to) refers to it as. Since, I am writing this in my to-do, this will be completed by the weeks end.

Moving forward. 

I have been in need of chocolate. Seeing as I am not able to enjoy the luxery of skipping   down to one of the four Starbucks Coffee Shops within a block radius of basically anywhere  I am in Vancouver, my access to a chocolate baked good is limited. So, I set off this evening on yet another DIY baking adventure.

In hopes of killing the chocolate craving I have had mustering in the back of my brain and lingering in my taste buds, I went all out and made an uber chocolate bundt. Unfortunately, due to mass impatience I poured the chocolate glaze on too early and now have more of a glazed cake plate then a glazed bundt. However, it was tasty and has successfully abolished my chocolate craving for a hopeful 24 hours.

I hope you enjoy!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundt

1/2 cup amaranth flour

1/2 cup sorghum flour

1/2 cup potato starch

1/4 tapioca starch 

1/2 cup sifted cocoa powder

1 tsp xanthum gum

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla
1 banana smashed up!

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup gluten free chocolate chips

* 1/4 cup walnuts, gently chopped optional

Sift all dry ingredients together. Using a standing mixer or hand held mixer blend together oil, eggs, vanilla and banana. Slowly alternate dry ingredients (by half cup intervals) and milk.  Using a spatula or wooden spoon mix in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Pour into greased bundt (OR LOAF) pan. Bake at 320 for 55 minutes.

Let sit for 10 minutes or so in pan and then transfer to rack. Allow to cool. Add glaze if you want. But as mentioned above, be patient and wait until cool.

Glaze:

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/2 cup icing sugar

1 1/2 tbsp melted butter

2 1/2 tbsp milk

Mix together slowly and pour over cooled bundt.

'tis spot prawn season!

At work a few weeks ago I received one of our newsletter's. I don't tend to read this monthly addition but I felt really compelled to click and read. So click I did. With a quick brouse - I saw a header for a Spot Prawn Festival the Chefs Table Society puts on. I had to click. So click. I did. Such a happy girl was I… reading about the 4th Annual Spot Prawn Festival (held on Fisherman’s Wharf) and after watching the video, I decided I HAD to go. I had heard about it in previous years but never made the effort to walk outside of the Market interior to explore.

After checking the dates I decided to make the 5 minute venture outside of the invisible walls of Granville Island to Fisherman’s Wharf.

I went and stood in line and waited for the triumphant horn to blast it’s notice of arrival from the prawning expedition. I was lucky and happened to be one of the first 3 people in line. I heard later through friends that they sold out within a half hour.

I didn’t really know what to do with the prawns. For some reason I thought they wouldn’t be alive. It was kind of bizarre… walking with a pound and a half of live prawns flickering around in your bag was something very different.

Talk about fresh. I headed home and cooked them exactly how the fisherman instructed: boiled salted water, in for 1 – 2 minutes heads on.

This was an interesting experience. I can’t even kill a spider (I am that girl on the couch screaming- even when alone) so a squirming prawn pushed me to try something I am definitely not comfortable with: I cooked them and then pulled off their heads (this was really disgusting), cleaned them and shelled them.

I had beautiful pink prawns in front of me that only hours previously were out on the ocean floor. I stood there and decided to make spaghetti, gluten free and with stunning fresh spotted prawns.

Have I mentioned my new favourite pasta brand?

Spaghetti with Spotted Prawns

8 Spotted Prawns

1 can of whole tomatoes

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1/2 sweet onion

Asparagus, chopped, about 1/2 cup

Zest of 1/2 lemon

Fresh parsley, 1 - 2 tbsps

Grape seed oil

Salt and Pepper

Put water onto boil - follow package directions.

Pour approximately 2 tbsps of the grape seed oil into a heated pan. Add sliced garlic and onion on a low-medium heat. Add salt and pepper to season. Cook until onions become transparent.

Open the can of tomatoes. Gently break them by hand and gradually added them to the onion mixture and add about ¼ to ½ cup of the tomato sauce from the can. Let cook until light boil happens. Add the asparagus and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add cooked spot prawns. The spotted prawns were huge and I chopped them because it just wanted like that – but you can add them whole or any way you want!

Add lemon zest and parsley.

Mix with pasta.

Serve and enjoy! I did and so did my friends who I shared it with.

a classic chocolate chipper, gluten free

I've been baking.  I've been cooking -Truth.

Blogging about it - Lie.

Awful - Truth.

I took photos with the full intent to write about my advenutres in the kitchen and then I went on a mini-vacation, went away for a birthday (no, not mine a very good friends though...) and I have attempted to add 3 workouts a week.  Writing up my recipes seem to lose to out collapsing on the couch.

I've made some tasty baked goods as late: biscotti, a birthday cake, and a very yummy chocolate chip cookie. I will eventually post all recipes but today I will start with the classic chocolate chip. For a while I have wanted to attempt chocolate chip cookie. I've seen many recipes but a lot used lard and I have refused to bake with this product in my cookies. It just seems weird. I have used it for pie crusts before but never in baking. So I set out to try it out for myself. I've gotten pretty good with combining different flours and looking at others for inspiration. 

This recipe is classically adapted from every chocolate chip recipe out there:

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups, 1 tbsp almond flour

1/2 cup amaranth flour

1/4 cup rice flour

1/4 cup tapioca starch

1 tsp xanthum gum

1 tsp baking powder, gluten free

1/4 tsp fleur de sel (or kosher salt)

1 egg*

1/2 brown sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

1/2 cup vegetable oil (or grapeseed)

1/2 cup chocolate chips, gluten free

Using a sifter blend all dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl whisk egg, brown sugar, vanilla and vegetable oil together. Slowly add the dry mixture to the egg mixture.  I like using the 1/4 cup and just slowly blend it together. Once all ingredients are mixed add the chocolate chips.

Place batter in fridge for 1 - 2 hours. 

Preheat oven  @ 350 degrees

Forms smalls balls and place on cookie sheet.(I really like bite size cookies - so I use a tsp or my cookie scoop).  Slightly press down on cookie with a fork. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on cookie sheet for 10 minutes or so. 

Enjoy! I did and so did my friends!

*I like to use the egg as I feel it binds the batter together. If you are vegan you can easily remove it. If you find the batter a bit dry you could add a tablespoon or two of water

a cornucopia of bananas

If you know me - you know that I love Bananas. LOVE THEM. My preference is when they are at the brink of becoming rotten and you can smell them.  I have done some research. This is not the majorities choice. Most like them when they are just about yellow. In my eyes they are not even close to being ripe at this point. Not even a bit. Give them 4 more days. At least. Then and only then are they ready to be eaten.

I could go on and on about different types of banana flavoured items -  but I think my favourite is a small banana slurpee - no other flavours. Just banana. So tasty. It's a weird obesession and I hope to never grow out of it. I even have banana ketchup. 

Yes. I. Do.

Due to my obsession with this said fruit, I have yet to go to the grocery store or farmer's market and not get bananas. I always think I don't have any at home but then once I return and take a look - oh... what do I see? Bananas. Consequently I have a lot of frozen bananas.
 

I have absent-mindedly been putting them into the freezer as they become too brown (even for me) and about 2 weeks ago while digging for a chicken breast I found a cornucopia of bananas.  I decided it was time to be rid of these bananas and to attempt a banana loaf. 


I have made it twice now and I think it is mighty tasty and has a fantastically light texture. One issue. I don't own a loaf pan. Weird- I know. I haven't really decided why this is the case but until it changes this loaf will be a bundt. Enjoy!

Banana Date Bundt Cake

Set oven to 350 F; lightly greased bundt pan

2 cups gluten free flour mix*

1/4 cup ground flax, optional

1 1/2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3 bananas mashed

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup apple sauce 
1 tbsp vanilla
1 1 /2 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 chopped dates

Combine all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl or large measuring cup mash up the 3 bananas. Add wet ingredients together. Fold into dry ingredients. Whisk eggs and slowly add to mixture. Mix in dates. Put into greased bundt pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.


I hope you enjoy! I think this will be a new favourite
 
* You can use Bob's Red Mill or any other mix, however I make my own and use the following: 1 cup sorghum flour, 1/2 cup amaranth flour, 1/2 cup tapioca starch, 2tsps xanthum gum and 1/4 teaspoon salt

MMMmmmmm...............

a lightly curried chicken, with a tasty chutney!

I needed to do some reorganizing in the kitchen.  I was cleaning out my cupboard yesterday evening as it had become a hairy mess. Is hairy mess the right descriptor?  It looked like what I thought a hairy mess would be, well, regardless it was epically messy. Since my awareness of my gluten and wheat allergy I had apparently slowly added to my gluten free flour collection which had consumed the entire cupboard.

I tossed a few things, found the lime kafir leaves I swore I bought but couldn't find for the past 6 months and subsequently bought again 2 weeks ago and realised that I own 4 too many half packages of corn pasta. I also found a jar of mango chutney my friend Jen gave me for Christmas. When I say found, I wouldn't want anyone to think it was lost, but I had momentarily for, 3 months, not remembered about it.

I couldn't believe I hadn't tried it yet (I apologize Jen).  I took it out and after a few moments of putting it under hot tap water -- I opened it.

It was so fragrant and peaceful. How can a chutney taste peaceful? I would say, the all-spice. After a quick spoonful and jumping taste buds screaming for more, I decided, that my undecided dinner was decided. I have a favourite Curried Mussels dish and the chutney instantly made me think of it.  With no mussels available I pulled out the trusty chicken and took a look in the very clean cupboard for something to go with... 

Curry Chicken with Mango Chutney

Chicken Breasts

2      Tsp Curry Powder, more if you like it stronger

2      Tbsp Mango Chutney*

2      Tbsp Olive Oil

1      Can Coconut Milk

1      Chopped Shallot

1      Green Onion

1      Garlic Clove

* The chutney my lovely friend made had raisins in it. Which I love. If your chutney doesn't have raisins and you like raisins feel free to add them!

Turn oven to 350 F.

In a small bowl combine the curry powder and the coconut milk. Whisk until combined.

Heat pan and add olive oil. Add chicken and sear for 2 minutes on each side (make sure you get the sides of the chicken). Place on baking sheet and throw into the oven.

Turn to medium heat. Add the remaining olive oil and shallots. Cook until transparent add in the curry mixture. Reduce heat and allow the sauce to thicken. Add chicken, chutney and raisins if you want them. 

Top with green onions. I wish I had coconut to throw on top too - but alas the clean cupboard was dry of coconut.

Serve chicken over rice or potatoes or veggies and enjoy!

Source: Rouxbe Cooking School - Curried Mussels recipe adapted by me.

a not so happy birthday cookie

It's my grandpa's 90th birthday tomorrow. I thought that I would make him some chocolate cookies.

It didn't work. I followed a recipe from The Casual Baker and I couldn't make it work. I don't know why?

I tried ...

 and then I tried again. This time I thought I would put them in my muffin top pan. But how do I get them out?

Needless to say it didn't work out.

 

This is one cookie I can't conquer. My grandpa will have to enjoy his birthday sans GF cookies.

Dang!

Source: adapted by The Casual Baker

a citrus salad, on a rainy day

I've been sick for over a week and haven't done any baking or cooking. It's been chicken soup (sans the noodle), ginger ale and pho. Pretty soupalicious. Today was the first time I've been able to actually taste anything.  It has been pretty crazy in the city (with a small event called the Olympics), the sun has been out and downtown Vancouver has had an intensely patriotic spirit people have never seen before... Today I woke up and knew I had to go back to work after being off sick and the rain was pouring. After an exhausting walk to work I knew it would be a long day.


To brighten my spirits I thought that I would make my favourite Quinoa Citrus Salad for dinner. 



I was introduced to this salad back in high school. Before Quinoa was commonly known and pronounced properly and WAY before its nutritional info hit the Canadian Food Guide. I remember when I had to go to the local grocery store and ask 3 people before someone even knew where to find Quinoa. Over the years it's become more readily available and last week I was even able to find it at Costco (thanks to a colleague from work letting me know they sell it there). Not only is it sold in large quantities now it is made in a wheat free facility!   Jackpot.

Now that is a main stream grain.







I've added a few things to the recipe my friends mum gave me - it's pretty flexible and any seed or dried fruit would be tasty in this salad.

Citrus Quinoa Salad

1 cup Quinoa

¼cup Diced dried apricots

¼cup Diced dates

¼cup Dried cranberries

¼cup Sunflower seeds

½cup canned Mandarin oranges, halved

½cup Fresh strawberries, sliced

2 green onions; diced

1 tbsp Sesame oil

2 tbsp Granulated sugar

¼ tsp Coriander 

1 tbsp of the mandarin juice

1 Lime, zested

Juice of 1 lime (about 3 tablespoons)

Rinse quinoa under cold water in sieve. Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to boil. Stir in quinoa. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Let cool.


Dressing: in a small bowl combine sesame oil, sugar, coriander, zest of the lime, lime juice and mandarin juice.



Mix together remaining ingredients into the cooled quinoa. Add the dressing, toss and serve. If you want the dressing to marinade make 2 hours before serving. I personally love this the next day. I could eat it forever.
Serves 4.

a chocolatey crinkle, gluten free

I love to bake. I know I mentioned that before - but I really do.  I am THAT person who starts baking for Christmas in November and does it every weekend prior to ensure there is enough to give out to all friends. I love creating cookies and I also love traditional recipes. I have only recently started to bake again. I found it extremely overwhelming with the crazy flours and the quantities of them within a single recipe. It seemed too much. Why do we need to use 3 types of flours to make a simple (yet soo complicated) cookie?

With the addition of xanthum gum to my pantry, I attempted.

It didn't go too well. The first cookie recipe I made ended up turning into muffin-top-like cookies. They were delicious but soft and essentially a muffin mix and when I spooned them onto the cookies sheet -  it became a big mess. Since then, I have officially bought into the use of the multiple flours. It is expensive but definitely worth the result.

Today, through the combination of a few recipes, I made Chocolate Crinkle Cookies.

They turned out great. I had a few friends drop by en-route to the LiveCity Yaletown and within minutes they were gone. They had no idea there was no "regular flour". A very successful baking adventure.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Gluten Free

1 cup rice flour

1 cup tapicoa starch

1/2 cup almond flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp xanthum gum

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Small bowl with sugar, for tossing the balls in

4 ounces dark chocolate, gluten free

1/4 vegetable oil or if you like a stronger oil, olive

1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/4 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (sour cream will make them richer in taste)

1 tbsp vanilla

1 egg

Combine and mix together all dry ingredients. Melt chocolate in microwave, I tend to do 30 second intervals until fully melted. Set aside.

Mix together oil and sugar until fully combined. Add apple sauce, sour cream, vanilla and egg. Mix well.  Slowly pour in melted chocolate. Mix until it is fully combined.

Add dry mixture by 1/4 - 1/2 cup at a time. It will be sticky at the end and may seem a bit wet for a cookie dough... but as I mentioned before... patience.

Cover with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for 2 hours.

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

Form small balls (I like to use a tbsp to get even sized balls.

Toss in the bowl of sugar and place on either a non-stick cookie sheet or cover with a slip pat or parchment paper.

Cook for 10 minutes and then leave on the cookie sheet for an additional 10. They are a soft cookie and need to set before you life them off of the cookie sheet.

Warning! I find gluten free cookies dry out quickly! These are soft and uber tasty the day they baked but can go dry fast. Once they are cooled I put them in the freezer.