Gluten Free Rhubarb Squares Recipe

GLUTEN FREE RHUBARB SQUARES

Ingredients:

Crust
1 cup gluten free flour
1/3 cup powder sugar
1/3 cup softened butter

Filling
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup gluten free flour
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups fresh or frozen finely chopped rhubarb

Directions

1. Combine crust ingredients (gluten free flour & powder sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs

2. Press into bottom of a greased 11x7x2 inch pan

3. Bake @ 350 F for 12 minutes

4. For filling: combine sugar, gluten free flour, eggs & vanilla extract in a medium bowl

5. Stir in finely chopped rhubarb; pour over warm crust

6. Bake @ 350 F for 35-40 minutes

7. Cool

8. ENJOY!

peace & love

bj



what you need to make gluten free rhubarb squares



cruz cutting in the butter for the crust



finely chopping up the rhubarb



crust baked and filling is ready to pour over

filling poured on top of warm crust



all done cooking gluten free rhubarb squares!



Crockpot Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Fall is like a reminder that we should all start pulling out our crockpots so we can make those hearty & toasty warm dishes that make are families happy and their tummies full!  I am a self-proclaimed crockpot lover because of the ease that comes through cooking with one.  Who has that much spare time these days?  I know I don't.  That is the beauty of cooking crockpot recipes.  Give yourself an extra 10 - 15 mins in the morning before rushing out the door and you can be enjoying a delicious meal within minutes of returning home from a hard day's work.  Plus, most of the recipes I have for my crockpot are SO SIMPLE!  You really have to work hard to screw them up.

As I was rummaging through my "junk/everything" drawer  last night I came across my Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup crockpot recipe.  I thought of how yummy it was last winter when I made it and decided it was time to pull out my trusty ole' crockpot to make it again.  I made sure I had all the essential ingredients.  Score, I did!  So I made up my mind that I was going to get up a little early to throw it together. 

As I sit here writing this, I know I will arrive home to a lovely smelling kitchen and 20 minutes of final preparation to pure appetite bliss. Without further ado, here is the recipe.

CREAMY CHICKEN WILD RICE SOUP

• 1 lb. chicken (I use slender cut boneless chicken breast tenders cut into 1 inch pieces)
• 1/2 cup wild rice (uncooked)
• 2 can (10 3/4 oz.) cream of potato condensed soup
• 1 can (14 oz.) chicken broth
• 2 cups frozen sliced carrots
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
• 1 cup half-and-half

Place chicken in 4 quart crockpot.  Mix in wild rice, onions, celery, soup, broth, carrots and seasonings.

Cover & cook on low heat setting for 8 hours

Stir in half-and-half, Increase heat setting to High. (if it seems too thick, add more chicken broth)

Cover & cook for 20 minutes.

Serve & Enjoy!

peace & love

bj

(raw ingredients freshly put into crockpot)

(raw ingredients all mixed together and ready for their 8 hour journey)

(finished product)



Black Forest Cake

There is this cake recipe that my mother would make when I was a child and it is one of my favorite indulgences to this day!  I didn't realize how incrediably easy it is to make until my mother passed her recipe onto me.  Now, I am doing the same for you. 

BLACK FOREST CAKE
(non-layered version)

Preheat oven @ 350 degrees
Grease & lightly flour pan (you can use a 9x13 or round pan)

• 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
• 1 can (21 oz.) Cherry Pie Filling
• 2 Eggs
• 1 -2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract

Mix all ingredients together in medium mixing bowl 
(Do not use electric blender, hand mix only)
*Notation: mixture will only be about 1/2 inch thick once you put it in the pan so don't worry if it looks thin.  The batter will rise like normal.  It is also going to be very dense and solid*

Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes

FROSTING

• 1 cup Sugar
• 5 tablespoons Softened Butter
• 1/3 cup Milk
• 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Mix sugar, butter & milk in small or medium sauce pan
Bring to a boil
Remove from heat and add 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Stir until chocolate has melted completely into mixture

Dizzle over baked Black Forest Cake batter that has cooled
Decorate with cherries, whip cream and chocalote shavings to your heart's desire!

ENJOY!

peace & love

bj

Foods You Should Be Buying

As a lot of you know from being my Facebook friend, I am in the middle of training for some road races coming up.  In preparing for them I have been researching a lot more about eating clean (healthy) and have found that a number of foods are best for your general overall health, low in calories & rich in antioxidants/ vitamins/ minerals/ protein/ fiber. They promote a better you which is always good.

Whether you are training for a race, trying to lose weight or simply want to live a healthier lifestyle, you should consider introducing the foods I am going to list in this post into your diet. 

Next time you go to the grocery store and see a box of oreos you need to: slap your hand, tell yourself NO and proceed to find some of the following:

Walnuts

Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, which protect your heart and boost your brainpower.

Almonds

The monounsaturated fats and vitamin E in almonds work together to cut cholesterol.

Macadamia Nuts

In addition to containing healthy fats like other nuts, macadamias also pack in an extra dose of filling fiber.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a good source of calcium, plus probiotics for gut health. Go for the Greek variety: It boasts all of the benefits of regular yogurt plus double the protein.

Blueberries

All fruits are great for diets thanks to their water content and key antioxidants and vitamins. Blueberries, however, are a true standout—studies show they may help rev metabolism and lower blood pressure.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are packed with fiber, iron, and vitamin B.

Leafy Greens

All vegetables are low in calories, chock full of vitamins and nutrients, and high in fiber.

Celery
One of nature's lowest-calorie foods at about five calories a stem, also it packs a ton of nutrition.


Green Tea (Unsweetened)
Green tea is high in an antioxidant called ECGC, which may reduce the risk of most cancers and promotes fat burning.


Watercress
Lacks calories and it's loaded with vitamins A, C and K.


Kiwi
Here's a fun fact: Kiwis are actually giant berries.  They pack fiber, potassium and vitamin E, as well as more than a day's worth of vitamin C.


Cottage Cheese
Containing about one-fifth of the calories you'll find in most cheeses, cottage cheese is a clear low-calorie winner in the dairy department.


Green Bell Pepper
In just one cup of chopped bell pepper you'll get more vitamin C than you would from an orange at about only a third of the calories.


Radish
In general all varieties of radishes share an abundance of vitamin C and help facilitate the digestive process.


Star Fruit
Is high in vitamin C and contains three grams of dietary fiber. It's also a great source of polyphenols, antioxidants that fight cardiovascular inflammation.


Cabbage
One cup is loaded with a type of isothiocyanate called sulforaphane, which increases your body's production of enzymes that disarm cell-damaging free radicals. Sulforaphane actually boosts your levels of these cancer-fighting enzymes higher than any other plant chemical, according to Stanford University scientists.


Cauliflower
The florets in this ivory cluster contain detoxifying compounds called isothiocyanates, which offer protection against forms of prostate cancer.


Tomato
Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, the phytochemical that makes them red, and they are a prostate protector and help eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays.


Strawberry
Packed with antioxidants, which protect you against cancer and memory loss, and immunity-boosting vitamin C, these little rubies make for a perfect low-calorie sweet treat.

***all nutritional information courtesy: www.fitbie.com ***

peace & love

bj

Superfoods That Help Burn Belly Fat

Diet is key when it comes to getting lean!  You always hear that you should eat clean.  Sometimes people have the mentality that if they just go to the gym and burn calories that they will lose weight.  They are missing the most important part to weight loss...eating healthy!  There are many foods that are considered superfoods.  Due to their biological make-up and how our bodies process them, they are found to be very beneficial to burning fat and helping us obtain those lean bodies we desire.  I came across an article about 16 superfood and how they contribute to help burn belly fat.  I have shared the list below, but if you'd like to read the full article, you can click on this link:  http://www.quickandsimple.com/diet-weight-loss/tips-calculator/belly-fat-foods

Superfoods that help burn belly fat:

1. oatmeal

2. olive or canola oil

3. protein powder

4. almonds

5. whole grains

6. eggs

7. beans & legumes

8. lean meat & fish

9.  berries

10. avocados

11. green vegetables

12. dairy

13. peanut butter

14. iced tea / green tea

15. parmigiano – reggiano cheese

16. cannellini beans

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Here is a little more helpful information about eating right:

Eat Healthy.  As the saying goes "abs are built in the kitchen".  You can train hard & build muscular abs, but it you eat junk food all day, you won't lose your belly fat!  Stop eating processed foods.  Eat whole, unprocessed foods.

Proteins. Meat, poultry, fish, whey, eggs, cottage cheese,...
Veggies. Spinach, broccoli, salad, kale, cabbage,...
Fruits. Banana, orange, apple, pineapple, pears,...
Fats. Olive oil, fish oil, real butter, nuts, flax seeds,...
Carbs. Brown rice, oats, whole grain pasta, quinoa,...

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A few more superfoods and how they help you burn fat:

Apricots. 
High in beta carotene which flushes out fat and waste products. 

Beets. 
Cleans blood cells and washes away fatty deposit.  Also great for cleansing the liver and kidneys.

Brussels Sprouts. 
Stimulate kidneys to release water and cleans out fatty deposit and other wastes from body cells.

Cabbage. 
Cleanses mucous membranes and washes out fatty deposit.

Carrots. 
Accelerates metabolism and dislodges fatty particles for elimination.

Cherries. 
Cleanses away waste products including fat deposit.

Melons. 
Particularly orange colored melons like cantaloupes are high in beta carotene and act as a fat flusher.

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Start making healthier choices for a better & healthier you!

xoxo

bj

Completely Gluten Free Meal

My dearest & best friend, Brittni was diagnosed with celiac disease this past summer.  As a young woman in her early twenties, she has to always be aware of what she eats, where she goes for lunch or if there will be food she can eat at a party.

Celiac (SEE-lee-ak) disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is primarily found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. People with celiac disease who eat foods containing gluten experience an immune reaction in their small intestines, causing damage to the inner surface of the small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. To read more about this condition, you can click on the following link:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/DS00319

I have been wanting to have her and her fiancé over for a completely gluten free (gf) meal for awhile now.  I finally got around to figuring out a full meal (appetizers, entree & dessert) and set a date for them to come over.  I knew that she would appreciate me taking the time to cook a delicious & gluten free meal.  After all...she is my best friend and deserves it!

Appetizers:
Spicy kidney bean hummus
Feta cheese, tomato & olive oil spread
GF crackers

Entree:
Cracked pepper steak
Steamed green beans
Boiled baby red potato

Dessert:
Raspberry sherbet
Fresh raspberries

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Spicy kidney bean hummus
1-2 cans light red kidney beans (rinsed)
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp olive oil
2/3 chopped jalapeno
1-2 Tbsp lemon juice
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of cumin

Put all ingredients in food processor.  I used a bullet blender and that works just fine!
Blend until smooth.  Add more spice if needed.  Served with GF crackers & Pretzel Crips (contains gluten).  Tip: if you'd like to thicken it, add more beans.  If you'd like to thin it, add a little olive oil.

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Feta cheese, tomato & olive oil spread
1/2 block of feta cheese
1/3 cup olive oil
sliced roma tomato
dozen olives
sea salt
cracked pepper

Set oven to 450 degrees.  Put olive oil in ceramic dish, place feta cheese in dish, add olives and sliced tomatos around cheese.  Top with a pinch of sea salt & cracked pepper.  Cook for 15 minutes.  Let stand for 5 -10 minutes.  Serve with GF crackers or bruschetta bread for those that are not required to eat gluten free.

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Cracked pepper steak

Steamed green beans

Boiled baby red potato (topped with slice of pepper jack cheese)

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Raspberry sherbet
Fresh raspberries

ENJOY!

Pull Apart Pizza Recipe

I have been making the following pull apart pizza recipe for about a year now from time to time.  This recipe is one of my own.  I have 4 key ingredients (plus a couple of adders) and it only takes about 35 minutes total to cook.  This is a go-to recipe when I don't want to put much effort into dinner on a Sunday evening!


1 | Ingredients: Pillsbury 13 inch french loaf, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, 8 oz. can of pizza sauce, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, extra virgin olive oil & Parmesan cheese.  (9x9 glass pan | serves 9)

2 | Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

3 | Coat bottom of pan with extra virgin olive oil.  Then sprinkle salt, pepper, Italian seasoning & Parmesan cheese.

4 | Cut french loaf into small cubes.

5 | Line bottom of pan with french loaf cubes.  Then brush extra virgin olive oil onto of cubes.  Finish by sprinkling Italian seasoning & Parmesan cheese on top.

6 | Bake for 15 minutes and then take out to add remaining ingredients.

7 | Brush 8 oz. can of pizza sauce on top of french loaf cubes.

9 | Add pepperoni slices as desired.  (you can add any type of pizza toppings at this point per your personal preference)

10 | Finish topping with shredded mozzarella cheese.

11 | Put back into oven for another 15 minutes.

12 | Take out once cheese is golden.

13 | Let cool for 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

14 | ENJOY!

*This ends up being pretty messy and you can't really eat it by hand.  I serve it in squares; much like lasagna.  It is a hit around my house!*

Super Bowl Appetizer Option

Tonight we had some good friends come over and I prepared one of our favorite meals to share with them.  All day while I was at work I contemplated trying to make a new appetizer.  With it being just after the new year I know healthy foods are on people's minds so I tried to keep this appetizer light and tasty.  After some careful consideration I decided on what I wanted to tackle... tomato, basil & mozzarella bites.  The recipe I found was super simple.  I picked up what I needed from the grocery store after work and rushed home to get busy in my kitchen.  The bites turned out to be a light and lovely little snack to munch on while our pork roast and sides finished up!  Here is the recipe I used (SO SIMPLE!):

Prep Time:15 Min |  Ready In:15 Min | Serves:8

Ingredients

• 15 grape or cherry tomatoes
• 15 fresh basil leaves
• 15 small balls/cubes fresh mozzarella cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 15 toothpicks

Directions

1. Using a toothpick, spear a tomato, a piece of basil, a mozzarella ball/cube. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Place on a serving dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix the vinegar and oil together in a small bowl to serve as a dipping sauce.

IT IS HONESTLY THAT SIMPLE!  THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPTION FOR SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!

Here are some photos of this recipe: