Tag Archives: gluten-free

Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey

Need I say more haha?

I’ve been dying to make a dessert with figs!  I’d love to say that it’s because of their flavor, but sadly…no, it’s because of how beautiful they are.  YES, I’M THAT WEIRD!!  But in my mind…if they look that beautiful, and they are THAT EXPENSIVE (!!!), they have to be delicious too, right??

Truthfully…I’m glad I got some (thank to my parents splitting the Costco batch with me!), but…you could easily just top this with any fruit that is in season and it would be just as yummy!Blog Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey-1 Blog Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey-2 They ARE pretty though, right??!Blog Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey-4Banana Ice Cream

  • Frozen Bananas (I cut mine into 1-2 inch pieces and then freeze) amount varies on how many servings you want.  I used two, and it was enough to feed 3.
  • 1/2 Cup Almond Milk (or any kind of milk)

Toppings

  • Figs
  • Almonds (diced)
  • Unsweetened Coconut
  • Drizzle of Raw Honey

What to do

  • I a blender, mix all the Ice Cream ingredients until smooth and creamy.  It helps to let the frozen bananas sit out for about 5 minutes.
  • Scoop into little bowls and top with whatever you have on hand!   Really, the possibilities are endless on how you can vary this!  And…I DO! 🙂

Blog Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey-5 Blog Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey-6 Blog Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey-7 Blog Banana Ice Cream Sundays with Figs Almonds and Honey-8 And this is what happens when you try and take pictures of a dessert with a hungry toddler haha.Blog Outtake-1 Blog Outtake-2ENJOY!!

dit-elle-Lauren

Baked Parmesan Zucchini

Crisp, tender zucchini sticks are brushed with oil, topped with parmesan and herbs, and roasted to perfection. Totally yummy! I had to make a second batch just for the photos as the first batch disappeared pretty fast. 🙂

Blog baked zucchini-2 Blog baked zucchini-1

Ingredients

  • 4 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine Parmesan, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Place zucchini onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan mixture. Place into oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Thanks http://damndelicious.net/2014/06/21/baked-parmesan-zucchini/

dit-elle-Esther

Peach or Nectarine Crisp

Sweet succulent peaches and nectarines are sprinkled with an almond oat topping and baked till crisp and golden. Served with rich vanilla ice cream, this is wonderful and delicious summer dessert.

I modified this recipe from the original from PCC Natural Markets – but because the peaches were so ripe and sweet and I was planning to serve this with vanilla ice cream, I used a lot less sugar and also substituted tapioca flour instead of the corn starch. You can consult the original here, but here is my version of the recipe and the vote in my house was: this peach crisp is amazing!

Blog nectarine crisp
Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ripe peaches or nectarines, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 Tbsp coconut sugar, divided
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 4 teaspoons tapioca flour
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (quick-cooking fine)
  • 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into small pieces
  • Vanilla yogurt or vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
  • Combine peaches or nectarines, 1 Tbsp coconut sugar, lemon juice and tapioca flour in a 9-inch shallow round baking dish or pie plate.
  • In a separate bowl, combine almond flour, oats and salt. Rub in butter with your fingertips until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle oat topping over the fruit mixture. Place the dish or pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Bake until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving. Top each serving with a dollop of yogurt

Thanks PCC Natural Markets

dit-elle-Esther

Paleo(ish) Strawberry Cupcakes

Gluten free, grain free, high protein strawberry cupcakes? Yes! Yum! The kids had fun eating these. Whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top optional, but highly recommended! 🙂

Blog paleo strawberry cupcake

Ingredients

  • ½ cup coconut flour
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (I used tapioca powder since I did not have this ingredient.. arrowroot powder is used as a thickening agent)
  • <¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup agave nectar or honey (I used 1/4 cup, and these were plenty sweet)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
  • Whipped cream and more strawberries for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 8 muffin cups with paper liners (or 12 mini muffin cups).
  • In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, arrowroot powder, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, agave nectar, and vanilla extract. Blend the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a handheld mixer until thoroughly combined, then fold in the strawberries.
  • Scoop cup of batter into each prepared muffin cup.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 1 hour.

Thanks once again –  ElanasPantry!

dit-elle-Esther

Savory Mushroom Quiche

I can’t believe it’s September already, but it’s been a beautiful summer! There’s a late summer chill in the air here in Seattle and the days are getting noticeably shorter. We had our first big wind/rain storm of the season last weekend.. there were uprooted trees and felled branches all over and many people lost power for a day or more. It sure makes you appreciate having light and heat at the flip of a switch! It was a little hard to explain to my two year old why we couldn’t make toast or pancakes but my almost five year old thought it was very fun to eat frozen bread with butter and jam! Anyway, here’s a great fall dish – mushroom quiche! I took my classic Quick Quiche recipe added a step (I promise it’s worth it!) and voila – lovely seasonal fall quiche!

Blog mushroom quiche

Ingredients

I buy gluten free crusts in packages of two, so usually make two quiches at a time. One for now and one to freeze! So this recipe is for two quiches.

  • 2 pie crusts (wheat or there are many gluten free options out there)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups milk (2%, whole, or half & half.. your choice)
  • dash of salt and white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Filling

  • 2 cups shredded swiss cheese (divided)
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion
  • 1 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp thyme (dried) or 1 tsp fresh chopped thyme
  • 1 Tbsp dry sherry

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • In a large pan, saute onion in butter over medium heat for 5 minutes
  • Add mushrooms and seasonings and saute for another 5 minutes (when done, onions should be transparent and golden brown, mushrooms tender and shrunken and liquid should be evaporated)
  • Stir in sherry and remove from heat
  • Make your quiche custard now by beating eggs until frothy, then adding seasoning and milk
  • Now you are ready to assemble and bake: first put 1/2 cup cheese in bottom of each crust, then add the mushroom/onion filling evenly, top this with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese, and then divide and pour the custard mixture into each filled crust
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes (crust should be golden brown, filling browned and firm to touch)
  • Cool a bit and serve!

dit-elle-Esther

Kale, Broccoli, Brussel Sprout Salad with Blueberries and Avocado topped with a Fried Egg

If it sounds like I just threw a bunch of random stuff that was in my refridgerator, it sounds correct haha.  When the Huz is out of town, and we don’t have the boys I like to keep dinners pretty simple for Maya and me.  I love tossing a fried egg on salads.  The runny yolk acts as a dressing, and it’s a super easy quick healthy protein-WIN!Blog Paleo Kale Broccoli Brussel Sprout Salad with Blueberries Avocado topped with a Fried Egg-1 Blog Paleo Kale Broccoli Brussel Sprout Salad with Blueberries Avocado topped with a Fried Egg-2 Ingredients (for 2)

  • Large handful of Kale, broccoli, brussel sprout salad per person.  They carry it at Costco and Trader Joe’s.
  • 1/2 Medium avocado diced
  • Handful of blueberries per person
  • Drizzle olive oil over the top
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Top with fried eggs!

Dinner all done in under 15 minutes!  YESSSSS!  I’ll be posting another rendition of this soon!

Enjoy 🙂dit-elle-Lauren

Guacamole Deviled Eggs

A great variety of deviled eggs that adds yummy avocado to a protein rich appetizer!

Blog Guacamole deviled eggs-1

Ingredients

  • 6 large hard boiled eggs, cooled and peeled
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • chili powder, for garnish

Instructions

  • Cut eggs in half and remove yolks
  • In a bowl, mash yolks and avocados
  • Stir in cilantro, chives, lime juice, salt, and red pepper flakes
  • Scoop filling into egg whites with a 1 tablespoon ice cream scoop
  • Refrigerate until serving
  • Sprinkle with chili powder and serve!

Thanks ElanasPantry!

dit-elle-Esther

Classic Deviled Eggs

Do you love deviled eggs? This is a classic recipe – a bit art and a bit science – but with the promise of a super delicious appetizer!

Blog deviled eggs-3 Blog deviled eggs-2 Blog deviled eggs-1

Ingredients

  • Eggs
  • Mayonnaise
  • Chives, chopped
  • Parsley, for garnish
  • Paprika, for garnish

Directions

  • Bring pot with eggs and water to a boil and then simmer eggs for about 15 minutes
  • Peel under cool water
  • Cut each egg in half and remove the yolks into a separate bowl
  • Stir in mayonnaise until desired color and consistency is reached (this is the art part.. you’ll need to try your way forward)
  • Stir in chopped chives
  • Scoop yolks back into egg-whites and top with chopped parsley and a dusting of paprika
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve
  • Enjoy!

dit-elle-Esther

Return of the Moscow Mule

What’s all the fuss about anyway? Apparently old fashioned drinks are back in style.. including the Old Fashioned, the Mint Julep, and Moscow Mule.. the latter served in a copper mug filled with ice and topped with fresh mint. Totally refreshing on a hot summer day!

Blog moscow mule

Ingredients

  • Fill mug with ice and add
  • 2 oz. vodka
  • 1/2 oz. lime juice
  • 5 oz. ginger beer (ginger ale was fine!)
  • sprig of mint

Cheers!

dit-elle-Esther

Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella and Watermelon Skewers

We’re having another “heat wave” (Seattle doesn’t really know what to do when it’s 80+ degrees (except celebrate perhaps). Get to 90+ though and we start melting). With no air conditioning, we try not to cook and bake much, instead we head to the lake for picnic dinners or grill on our deck. These skewers require no grilling or cooking however and are totally summer, totally simple, and totally delicious.

We had these at a wedding few weeks ago in California. It was the perfect appetizer.

You skewer cherry tomatoes, cubed mozzarella, cubed watermelon and fresh basil leaves. Then drizzle with your favorite balsamic vinaigrette and serve! So easy!

Blog tomato basil mozaarella skewers-3 Blog tomato basil mozaarella skewers-2 Blog tomato basil mozaarella skewers-1

Ingredients

  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Watermelon, slice into 1″ cubes
  • Mozzarella, cubed
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Balsamic vinaigrette
  • Skewers (look for bamboo knot cocktail / Hors’ D’oeuvre picks)

 Directions

  • Skewer tomatoes, watermelon and cheese with basil layered in
  • Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette
  • Keep refrigerated until ready to serve
  • Enjoy!

dit-elle-Esther