Review: Breton Gluten Free Crackers

My mom brought over a couple packs of these. We had both seen them appear on the shelves of a couple stores but they were on the expensive side. Luckily they went on sale for 2 boxes for $5 so a good time to try em!

We cracked open a box and shared one. The texture was great. Light and crunchy and crispy. I haven’t had a real Breton cracker in a couple of years but from what I remember, these gfree ones taste JUST like that!

Its a good size too. Especially if you are like my mom and I who are always trying to cram meats and cheeses on top of a tiny rice cracker! This is a nice change- more room for toppings!

If you spot these in a store near you, give them a try and let me know what you think!

Grain Free Pumpkin Loaf

Fall just screams pumpkin.This loaf is moist and delicious on its own or with a smear of cream cheese or slathered with butter.It’s Gluten Free and  Grain Free  .

1.5 cups almond flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 cup melted butter
1/2 cup coconut sugar or regular sugar or honey
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl combine almond flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix melted butter, sugar, eggs and pumpkin until smooth. Stir wet ingredients into dry. Line loaf pan with parchment paper and pour batter into the pan. Bake 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean

Grain Free No Oatmeal,Oatmeal Cookies

I do love oatmeal cookies but I’m still trying to eat grain free so I went on a search for a grain free recipe that might fit the bill .I adapted this recipe from Against All Grain.While not an exact duplicate of a chewy grain filled cookie, it is nice to have on hand when the sweet tooth comes a calling.They freeze well.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 large egg at room temperature
• ⅓ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 cup almond flour (ground almonds)
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon  salt
• ¾ cup finely shredded coconut
• ½ cup raisins or chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Place the butter and egg in a bowl  and cream with a hand mixer for 1 minute on high.
3. Add the honey and vanilla and mix for another minute, until creamy.
4. Place the cinnamon,  flours, baking soda, and salt in another bowl
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix for another minute, until combined.
6. Add the coconut and raisins or chocolate chips, then mix again for a minute.
7. Using a spoon, drop balls of dough the size of a golf ball onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten.
8. Place in the oven and bake for 9 to 10 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned.
9. Cool on a wire rack completely before eating.

Dining: The Works (@TheWorksStKitts)

The Works. I looked at their menu online for what seemed like hours in preparation of our dinner. There were FIFTY burgers to choose from.  Insane!

I narrowed down my list to 6 before I got there, and then I ended up picking a completely different burger at the last minute lol One of the local favourites.

It was awesome! I LOVE avocado and this had tons on it! The burgers were thick and juicy and tons of flavor. It was one of the best burgs I’ve had in a long time.

And the best news (for a gfree girl like me) was that they have gluten free buns. And I’ve tried a few in my day, most of which were basically hockey pucks. Not this bun! It was so soft- I honestly couldn’t even tell it was gfree. It was awesome.

The atmosphere was great in there, love the fun décor. They even had the big window open to the street (it was a nice evening) so you could do lots of people watching (which I love!)

Prices were great, and I hear they have gfree gravy so I’m definitely going to check out a big huge poutine the next time we go 🙂

Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

Roasted vegetables are a fall treasure.Peppers,Tomatoes and Eggplant are some of the veg that roast well.Broccoli and Cauliflower are also stars in the oven.

This recipe is great for a side dish with fish,chicken or any meat.

Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

One head of cut broccoli washed and patted dry.Place in bowl and pour 1/8 cup of olive oil over the pieces of broccoli.Salt and pepper generously.

Sprinkle 1 tsp garlic powder and 1TBSP Parmesan cheese over the broccoli.Mix to make sure every piece is coated.

In a 375 degree preheated oven place broccoli on a sheet pan lined with foil.Bake for 30 minutes.

Review: Gluten Free “Animal Crackers”

Last week I was sick ALL week long with a bad cold. It was horrible. I had no appetite at all but would get some odd cravings and that’s all I wanted to eat and couldn’t think of anything else. I’m usually that way when I’m sick. And most often the only thing I can think of eating is something fresh. Usually some kind of fruit. Last week I survived primarily off of peaches.

Then I had this craving. For animal crackers. Which are cookies, so I have no idea why they are called crackers…. but I digress.

I needed to have them. I wanted that arrowroot flavour in tiny animal shaped form. I hunted down some gluten free ones that are awesome and satisfied me! Mi-Del Gluten Free Arrowroot cookies- that just happen to be in the shape of animals 🙂

If you ever get the same craving as I did, you should try these. They are really awesome.

 

Gluten Free, Grain Free, Blueberry Banana Muffins

This is a great recipe for using up ripe bananas you may have.They are nice treat with a cup of tea or pack in lunches.They freeze well

1 cup blanched almond flour
1/4 cup  coconut flour
3  ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
2  eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup  honey
1/3 cup  butter , melted
3/4 tsp  baking soda
1/2 tsp  sea salt
1 tsp  lemon juice
1 .5 tsp  vanilla extract
1 .5 tsp  cinnamon
2/3 cup blueberries(I used frozen)

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place muffin liners in muffin tin.
2. In a large bowl, add coconut and almond flours, baking soda, salt; mix to combine.
3. To the same bowl, add eggs, mashed bananas, honey, butter, lemon  juice, vanilla, cinnamon; mix again to combine. Gently stir in blueberries.
4. Drop by tablespoons into the muffin tins. Fill 12 muffins full. Bake for about 17-20 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5-10 minutes. Transfer muffins to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Review: Nature’s Path Organic Crunchy Granola Bars

I woke up one day earlier this week with a HUGE craving for one of those crunchy peanut butter granola bars (that came in a pack of two) that I always enjoyed as a kid. No idea where it came from, but the craving was strong.

I hunted around at the store to see if there was anything that was similar, sans gluten. I found something! Nature’s Path Organic makes a line of the crunch granola bars. Even more awesome, is they have a peanut butter one too! They are non-gmo (which of course I love!) and they dont contain any wheat. Because some are labelled as “gluten free” and some aren’t (these ones arent) I read the ingredients list over and over again just to be sure but they seem good to go! I don’t seen any gluten in there!

I know oats are a hit or miss for some people avoiding gluten but they seem to be okay for me.

I have tried the peanut choco flavour as well as the apple pie chia flavour and both are awesome! I hear the pumpkin pie one is really great too, and since its almost fall- I think that one will be making an appearance in my kitchen soon.

Craving satisfied.

Grain Free Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookie

In my quest to eat gluten free and mostly grain free,I look for different flour substitutes for my sweet treats.Most of us are very familiar with baking with almond flour but it is on the expensive side.

On my last trip to Bulk Barn I noticed ground pecans and wondered if I could substitute it for the almond flour in my favourite Grain Free Chocolate Chip Cookie  recipe. At half the price per pound it was certainly worth a shot.The result was a crispier flatter cookie and every bit as delicious.

Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 1 dozen large cookies

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter plus 2 Tblsp, softened
• 1/3 cup cane sugar (can substitute brown or white sugar)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/2 cups ground pecans (pecan meal)
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Using an electric mixer, mix together the butter, sugar in a large bowl until very creamy (like frosting). Add the vanilla and egg, mixing until well incorporated. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Then slowly mix in the ground pecans, 1/2 cup at a time, until well blended. Using a spoon, fold in the chocolate chips and coconut, if using.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about three-inches apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake approximately 13 minutes. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes on the baking sheet.

Recipe: Gluten Free Platz

White peach-Blackberry platz before it heads to the oven.

Until a week ago, I don’t think I had a clue what a Platz was, but boy am I happy I do now! A friend of mine Mama__B posted a great recipe on her blog for a peach raspberry platz. It looked absolutely delicious, and I had a TON of peaches to use up so I decided I was going to try making a gluten free variation… and it turned out great!

You can see the original recipe here. My variation is posted below. It was super simple, and a big crowd pleaser. Something you can whip up in a pinch! Give it a try this weekend and let me know what you think.

• 1 cup white rice flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 
1/4 teaspoon salt
• 
1/4 cup cold butter
• 
1 egg
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup golden brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 peaches, chopped (I used white peaches)
• 
1 cup raspberries (I used blackberries, but I think any berry would do!)

Crumb

• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/8 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and (rice) flour an 8×11.5 pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the rice flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. I just do this with my hands….seems to do the job well!
In a smaller bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir into the rice flour mixture.
Pour into prepared pan and cover evenly with the fruit.
Combine the crumb ingredients in a bowl and sprinkle over the fruit and batter.  I wanted the fruit to poke out a bit so I just made a half recipe of the crumb (which is what I have included above) but you can double that if you want a more full cover of crumb on top.