Gluten Free Coconut Cardamom Carrot Bread

Bob’s Red Mill has been providing gluten-free flours, cereals, baking mixes, and grains for over 30 years. The company is so committed to it’s gluten-free promise that they even have a separate gluten-free packaging division to ensure their products are purely gluten-free.

Camilla V. Saulsbury’s new cookbook showcases the breadth, depth and versatility of Bob’s Red Mill’s gluten-free grains. As more and more people move towards a gluten-free lifestyle (either due to allergies or other health reasons), one of the easiest ways to transition to a gluten-free diet is to embrace the many grains available that are naturally gluten-free.

The cookbook, Bob’s Red Mill Everyday Gluten-Free Cookbook, includes 281 whole-grain recipes for entrees, side dishes, baked goods, desserts, etc. that include grains such as amaranth, quinoa, millet, and teff. The book also includes a section describing the grains, their uses, and how to store them.

There are a bunch of really delicious sounding recipes in the cookbook, but I wanted to try a baked recipe because that seems to be the toughest type of recipe to make gluten-free and still maintain the same texture and taste.

This recipe for Gluten Free Coconut Cardamom Carrot Bread uses a mixture of sorghum flour, millet flour, and potato starch to make a gluten-free bread. The bread is flavored with grated carrots, coconut flakes, and cardamom.

Before sharing the recipe, I thought it might be helpful to give some information about the different ingredients used in this recipe that may be a bit unfamiliar.

 

Sorghum Flour is a good source of protein, iron, dietary fiber and antioxidants. Sorghum promotes a healthy metabolism due to its high magnesium and copper levels. The starch and protein in sorghum flour take longer than other similar products to digest, making it particularly helpful for those with diabetes. Sorghum flour adds slight sweetness to baked goods and can be added or substituted in any recipe that calls for flour. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Millet Flour is a good source of protein, essential amino acids, and dietary fiber, as well as manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium. Millet flour helps keep the digestive tract operating smoothly and lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It has a light, mild flavor and works well in sweet or savory baking. Millet flour delivers a cake-like crumb to baked goods. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months or in the freezer for up to 12 months.

Potato Starch is used as a thickener for sauces, soups, and stews, or is used in baking with a combination of other flours (rarely by itself) and is a natural way to add moistness to many baked goods. Store potato starch in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months or in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Virgin Coconut Oil can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. When kept at room temperature, coconut oil will go in between being a liquid and a solid, which doesn’t affect the oil’s quality. It’s easier to measure out larger amounts of coconut oil when it is a liquid, so run the jar under warm running water before opening to liquify when measuring for this recipe.

 

Ingredients:
  • 2/3 cup sorghum flour
  • 2/3 cup millet flour
  • 2/3 cup potato starch
  • 2 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder (like Clabber Girl)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup melted virgin coconut oil (you can also use melted unsalted butter or olive oil if you prefer)
  • 2 cups shredded carrots
  • 1 1/4 cups unsweetened flaked coconut
Courtesy of Bob’s Red Mill Everyday Gluten-Free Cookbook by Camilla V Saulsbury, 2015 © www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission.

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Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice Pilaf

This cold weather just won’t let up, so my cravings for comfort foods keep on coming! This recipe for Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice Pilaf comes from the March 2015 issue of Cooking Light. It takes a little longer to make (~1 hour) so it’s probably better for a weekend meal.

You brown the chicken thighs in the same pot that you make the rice in, so it adds a subtle roasted flavor to the rice as well. This Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice Pilaf recipe is also a one pot meal, so less dishes! The pilaf is loaded with carrots, Brussels sprouts, and golden raisins and work surprisingly well together!

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup walnut halves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 cup uncooked wild rice
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
  • 1/4 cup chopped celery
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins
  • 8 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • lemon wedges, optional

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Slow Cooker Beef Ramen

So I’ve been feeling pretty crummy for the past few days. And I’ve been craving soups like crazy. One of my favorite options when I want a comforting meal is ramen, specifically Shio-style from Nom Nom Ramen in center city Philadelphia.

When I saw Betsy Life did a version of Ramen in her slow cooker, I knew I wanted to try to make my own Slow Cooker Beef Ramen as well!

Ramen is typically made with pork belly, but I couldn’t find any in my supermarket so I went with beef. So this Slow Cooker Beef Ramen is definitely not a traditional style ramen.

This recipe is adapted from BetsyLife.com

 

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs beef chunk roast
  • 32 oz container low sodium beef broth, plus 1/4 cup, divided
  • ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce — if not it will be too salty
  • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon chili garlic paste
  • The juice of 1 lime
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 cups sliced mushrooms (I used 1 cup shiitake caps and 1 cup baby bella)
  • 1 pack Chinese-style noodles (Chuka Soba)
  • Cilantro, sliced green onions, jalapeños, lime wedges, nori (seaweed), etc. for garnish

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Spiked Mint Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate

Today (February 19) is National Chocolate Mint Day! With the cold temperatures across most of the U.S., I think we can all use a nice warm beverage to keep us toasty, and this is the perfect food holiday for such a beverage! So, I present: Spiked Mint Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate!

Blue Chair Bay must feel the same way, so I developed this non-dairy hot chocolate beverage to pair with their Coconut Spiced Rum. The coconut rum, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove is the perfect accompaniment to hot chocolate, don’t you think? To enhance the coconut flavor in the rum, I decided to use coconut milk which makes a rich and creamy hot chocolate base.

Rum always reminds me of warmer weather, and the Coconut Spiced Rum is no exception. Blue Chair Bay offers a collection of premium-blended rums inspired by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney’s love of the island lifestyle. So even though most of us probably are not soaking up the sun at the moment, we can have our own little escape with this winter-weather treat!

For readers over 21 years of age, I also have an exciting giveaway! Blue Chair Bay has offered to give one bottle of Blue Chair Bay Rum to a lucky winner! Details after the recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 2 (13.5 oz) cans full fat coconut milk
  • 4 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 4 teaspoons turbinado sugar
  • 4 oz Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced Rum

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Blue Rose Cocktail

I have never been one to shy away from sharing all of the awesomeness that the Philadelphia area has to offer. I am pretty darn proud of my city, especially when it comes to our rocking food and beverage scene. So it should come as no surprise that my gin of choice is always Bluecoat Gin.

Why yes, Bluecoat IS made in Philadelphia!  What sets Bluecoat’s flavor apart from others is their use of organic juniper berries, which give off a more spicy, earthy tone versus pine-tree flavors found in regular juniper berries. Bluecoat is finished off with a premium blend of organic American citrus peels and spices which adds a nice citrusy finish to the spirit.

Bluecoat must have known my affinity for them, because I was asked to develop a Valentine’s Day themed cocktail using this yummy gin. Because Valentine’s Day is all about the love, I threw in a bunch of my favorite cocktail ingredients to make the “perfect” cocktail for me! (Here’s hoping you agree)

 

This recipe for a Blue Rose Cocktail starts with a strawberry mint simple syrup, adds in some sparking wine, and finishes off with some pomegranate juice.

My fiance (and considerably more creative half) dubbed this a “Blue Rose Cocktail” — Bluecoat Gin + rose coloring from the simple syrup and pomegranate juice.

 

Ingredients (makes 4):

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped strawberries (~2 strawberries)
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint sprigs
  • 4 oz Bluecoat Gin, divided
  • 12 oz dry sparkling wine, divided
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate juice, divided

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Last weekend, I made a ridiculous number of recipes.

 

On Sunday, a friend and I got together to make a bunch of recipes that freeze well to stock our freezers for busy week days.

 

On Saturday, I borrowed my mom’s slow cooker for the weekend so that we would have two on hand. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make two slow cooker recipes at the same time on Saturday as well! I made this yummy Cooking Light recipe for Slow Cooker Beef Stew as well as a favorite recipe of mine — Chicken Cacciatore.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds boneless chuck roast, cubed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 3 medium yellow onions, roughly  chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
  • 1 (12-ounce) nut brown ale (I used Samuel Smith’s)
  • 1 1/4 cups unsalted beef stock, divided
  • 1 1/2 pounds baby Dutch potatoes, halved
  • 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut diagonally into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves

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Chicken Satay

I have been meaning to make this recipe for Chicken Satay forever; seriously, years. I don’t know why it took me this long because Chicken Satay is a pretty easy recipe, but for some reason I kept putting it off. And boy do I regret that. It’s so tasty! Honestly, what isn’t better with some peanut butter?

 

Chicken Satay is skewered chicken marinated in a peanut sauce that is typically eaten as an appetizer or street food. By adding a side of brown rice, this turns into an easy dinner!

This Chicken Satay recipe actually has you ground your own peanuts with some other ingredients to make a sauce rather than starting with peanut butter. The result is really tasty!

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon toasted cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (~2 limes)
  • 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 shallot, peeled
  • 1/3 cup light coconut milk
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 serrano chile, stem removed
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

 

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Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes

I spent the last two weeks in total holiday mode. With my birthday, Christmas, and getting engaged all in the past couple of weeks, it’s been one big celebratory meal! I’ve done very little cooking and a whole lot of eating, so it’s time to get back into a normal cooking/eating schedule again.

This recipe for Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes from Cooking Light is a really simple weeknight meal option. I served it with a simple salad; green beans or asparagus would also work great with this recipe.

I changed the Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes recipe slightly because my supermarket was out of basil; this version uses some oregano leaves to give a pop of flavor.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided (I used basil infused olive oil)
  • 2 (6-ounce) halibut fillets, skinned
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 12 oz cherry tomatoes
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves

 

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Cinnamon Star Cookies (Zimtsterne)

Now that Santa has waved from his sleigh in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it is officially the Christmas season! (Does anyone else use this reference, or just my family?)

New York may have the “official” start of the Christmas season, but Philadelphia is filled with its own wonderful holiday traditions from the old (going to the old Wanamaker building, now Macy’s, to see the holiday light show) to the new (ice skating at the outdoor rink on the Delaware Waterfront), but one of my absolute favorites is going to Christmas Village, located in LOVE Park (15th and JFK Boulevard).

Going to the open-air German Christmas Market, open daily between Thanksgiving and Sunday, Dec 28, is a priority of mine this time of year. Sixty-five international and local merchants and artists offer high-quality gifts that are sold in decorated tents and wooden houses located throughout Center City’s famous LOVE Park. With toys, apparel, jewelry, decorations, home goods, artwork and more, there will be something for everyone on Santa’s list.

 

Daily market hours starting Black Friday through the last Sunday in December will be Friday through Saturday 11:00am to 8:00pm, and Sunday through Thursday 11:00am to 7:00pm. Christmas Eve hours are 11:00am to 5:00pm (closed on Christmas Day).

 

Follow the smell of gingerbread and waffles to a full menu of European food, sweets and drinks, including mouthwatering German bratwurst or schnitzel served on a warm roll (Brötchen). Wash it all down with a warm mug of traditional German Glühwein (spiced mulled wine) or rich hot chocolate.

On top of the great shopping and dining experiences, be sure to check out the huge Christmas Tree in LOVE Park, a Wish Wall in conjunction with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a new kid’s zone on the weekends, theme days and weekends, tasting cheese and wine tours, live music during evenings and weekends, and other surprises to be announced.

 

So to get in the spirit, I wanted to make a traditional German Holiday Cookie to celebrate the return of Christmas Village! Cinnamon Stars (or Zimtsterne) are made with almond flour base so they are actually gluten free. And even better, they can be stored for quite a while, and taste even better as time passes, making these the perfect cookie to give as a gift!

Ingredients:

  •  2 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 16 ounces sliced almonds, with skin (about 4 1/2 cups)
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

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Steamed Spinach with Curry Butter

Sometimes your sides need a bit more pizzazz. This simple recipe for Steamed Spinach with Curry Butter from Cooking Light adds a ton of flavor (and a little bit of heat if you want it) with little effort and time. The recipe below makes enough for 4 people but can easily be multiplied to fill a crowd (this would be a yummy side at Thanksgiving!)

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or olive oil to make paleo)
  • 1 tablespoon mild curry powder
  • 2 (16-ounce) containers fresh spinach
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

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Cherry Port Cranberry Sauce

I absolutely love cranberry sauce. This not-too-tart and not-too-sweet Thanksgiving staple is always a favorite of mine.

Now I don’t turn my nose up at the canned stuff, but this homemade version for Cherry Port Cranberry Sauce is a really simple alternative. It’s also a bit of a chunky sauce instead of the smooth canned version, so it has a really nice texture to it. Plus, it can be made in 20 minutes!

If you don’t want to use port in the recipe, you can substitute in pomegranate juice.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh cranberries (about 8 ounces)
  • 3/4 cup dried sweetened cherries
  • 3/4 cup port wine
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

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Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

I don’t know how this is even possible but I’ve never had Sloppy Joes before making this recipe. It was not in my family’s dinner rotation, my camp never served it, and I never came across it at a friend’s house when sleeping over.

Well, my wait is finally over! Traditional Sloppy Joes are made with beef but I for this Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes recipe, used a mixture of ground beef and Johnsonville Bratwursts removed from their casings.  The recipe is adapted from one I found on MyRecipes.com.

note: I was sent free coupons for Johnsonville products. Opinions are my own.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 (19-oz.) package Johnsonville Brats
  • 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 10 brioche buns, toasted

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Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew

My slow cooker and I are good friends, although I’m pretty sure the slow cooker is bringing more to the relationship than me. I love coming home to a delicious smelling dinner after work that takes maybe 15 minutes of prep time in the morning on my part.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew from Cooking Light’s latest issue uses an ingredient I’ve never used before, or honestly even noticed in the supermarket: Oxtail. Oxtail is a gelatin-rich cut, which makes it perfect for hearty stews, especially slow cooked ones. The ribs add a bit more meat to the stew, which also has carrots and potatoes to round out the flavors.

This recipe is originally made in a Dutch oven and cooks for about 2 hours so if you’re not in the mood for a slow cooker version, be sure to check out the original recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 pound bone-in short ribs, trimmed
  • 1 pound oxtail
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced shallots
  • 6 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 3 cups unsalted beef stock
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pound very small Dutch Potatoes (bite size)
  • 3/4 pound carrots, cut diagonally into 2-inch-thick pieces
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch dissolved in cold water, if needed

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Black Bean Brownies

So, I’ve avoided making this recipe for Black Bean Brownies for months. Seriously, MONTHS. Black bean brownies always sounded really um… not tasty… to me.

This recipe is from a cookbook I received ages ago called Vegan Beans from Around the World: Adventurous Recipes for the Most Delicious, Nutritious and Flavorful Bean Dishes Ever. There are some seriously awesome recipes in here, from African Peanut Soup to Curried Dal with Cauliflower. But I was really curious about the Black Bean Brownies and wanted to make them. So after months of putting it off I finally tried it. And this recipe really changed my mind about black bean brownies! The consistency is spot on, and the chocolate flavor comes through really well. Who knew?

I adapted this recipe slightly from the original: I doubled the recipe to make a thicker brownie and used a different baking dish so the cooking time is different as well. I also limited the cinnamon because when I originally made these, I felt like the cinnamon flavor was too strong.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 (15.5 ounce) cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly ground flax seeds
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons lukewarm coffee (I just used what was left from my morning coffee)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup walnuts

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Autumn Apple Salad with Cinnamon Honey Dijon Dressing

It’s September which means apples are right in their prime season! Although apples are available year-round, most apples ripen in the August-October time frame. I’ve had a craving for apples ever since September began so I was so excited when I was contacted recently about trying an apple variety called SweeTango that I’ve never had before.

SweeTango apples a variety bred at the University of Minnesota and are a cross between the Honeycrisp and Zestar! varieties.  The apples are crisp and sweet with a hint of citrus, honey, and spice and have a nice crunchy and juicy texture that’s perfect to eat raw. They have a beautiful coloring too — SweeTango is a blush apple with deep red coloration over a yellow breaking background. The variety first hit store shelves in limited quantities in 2009, and has since grown to achieve distribution across the U.S. and Canada. 

Photo Courtesy of SweeTango

I received two SweeTango apples in the mail and couldn’t wait to try them! One I saved for me to just enjoy on its own and the other went into one of the most delicious salads I’ve ever had, Autumn Apple Salad with Cinnamon Honey Dijon Dressing! This salad is packed with a bunch of different textures and flavors which is what I really love about it. But the true star of the salad is the SweeTango apple!

Photo Courtesy of SweeTango

Ingredients:

Salad:

  • 2 cups red leaf lettuce, torn
  • 2 cups spinach leaves, torn
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced fennel bulb
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons salted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • 2 tablespoons dried cherries
  • 2 tablespoons golden raisins
  • the juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 SweeTango apple, thinly sliced

Dressing:

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • a pinch of salt and pepper

Continue reading Autumn Apple Salad with Cinnamon Honey Dijon Dressing

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