Food for Thought

If you know of anyone who is experiencing any weird unexplained symptoms have them read this. If you are having a hard time reading it click on picture.

 If you are wondering if this may be your problem,  Don't go off gluten!!!  Have a blood test done first!!

My symptoms were:
Peripheral Neuropothy
Geographic Tongue
Unexplained weight loss (10 lbs, 5 years ago)
I would wake up with my whole leg (including rear end) or arms and hands asleep
Tender abdomen when pressed on right in the center below my ribs. (Didn't know until going Gluten free)
I also have other weird stuff that I wonder if it will go away now that I am gluten free.

No Bake Pumkin Pie

This is a quick, easy, and delicious pie.  (If you don't have to be gluten free a graham cracker crust would be really good.)

1 can easy pumpkin pie mix (30 oz)
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 c evaporated milk
1 small tub cool whip

Mix all ingredients well.

I made mini pies in my muffin pans or pour into a 9" pie pan.  Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.

Here's how I made the mini pies:

I used the rice pie crust recipe on here.  I rolled out 17 1 inch balls and squished them into the pan.  If you do it that way double the pie crust recipe because I had a bunch left over.  Be sure to remove them from the muffin pans before you fill them.  It will make it much easier.

Simple Pulled Pork Sandwiches

I love to make this on a day that I know I won't be home around dinner time.

1 1/2 to 2 lbs Pork (a roast or country style boneless ribs work well)
1 Packet of dry onion soup mix
OR

4 t beef boullin

6 t dried onion flakes

1 t onion powder

1/2 t garlic powder

Place pork in crock pot on low (don't add water).  Once juices form in bottom add the onion soup or all the other ingredients. Cook about 8 hours stirring occasionally and shred with forks.  It is actually great with cornbread if you don't like other breads.  It's also really good topped with BBQ or Horseradish.

(These ingredients are actually a recipe from scratch for dry onion soup mix.  You can use it to replace onion soup mix in any recipe.)

Onion Soup Mix

4 t beef boullin

6 t dried onion flakes

1 t onion powder

1/2 t garlic powder

Mix and use in place of onion soup (lipton). Can be stored in dry place for 6 months.

Bacon Potato Salad

If you like bacon this salad is very yummy and pretty simple with basic ingredients.

6 cups of diced potatoes
8 slices of cooked bacon
1/4 c fresh chives
3/4 c mayo
1 T brown spicy mustard

Boil potatoes 12 to 15 minutes.  Cut bacon into pieces.

Mix mayo and mustard in a large bowl.  Add potatoes, bacon, and chives to the sauce.  Refrigerate at least a couple of hours.

This is the first time I've made this salad, but as I was eating it I thought it would also be good with chopped celery to give it a crunch.

Sweet N Sour Chicken

This is my favorite meal

4 chicken breast halves
1 egg, beaten
cornstarch

Sauce:
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c vinegar
1/2 t garlic powder
4 T ketchup
1 T soy sauce

Cut chicken into strips.  Warm a few tablespoons of oil in frying pan.  Dip chicken in egg and then into cornstarch.  Place in pan and brown chicken on both sides.  Make sauce while browning chicken.  Add sauce when chicken is browned and simmer until chicken is done. Serve over rice.

Rice Flour Pie Crust

This pie crust is actually very tasty. (My husband liked it better than regular pie crust.)  It is crispy and has a great taste and I don't see it getting soggy like regular crusts do.

1 1/2 c white rice flour
1/4 t baking powder
1 T Sugar
1 Pinch Salt
1 Large Egg
1/4 c butter or margarine (I added another T)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Set aside a 9" pie pan.  Beat egg and butter or margarine in a medium bowl.  Sift dry ingredients together and another bowl and at to egg mixture.  Stir.  Dough will be soft (if it is too crumbly add 1 T water at a time until it makes a ball.  I used about 3 T on mine). Place dough on a rice floured surface. Roll out.

Here's the tricky part.  You have to slice the dough into about 8 pieces and pick each of them up with a spatula and place in pan.  Then you have to press it back together in the pan.  Shape it and the edges to get the desired look.  Bake for 15-20 minutes. (The dough does not stay together very well, but it is very forgiving. Once it is cooked it stays together like a normal crust.)

French Silk Chocolate Pie

• Simple and delicious.  It is very smooth and fluffy.  (Sorry the pic makes it look hot, but the whipping cream set on it for too long. Be sure to keep it refrigerated.)
• 
  
• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked (I used the rice flour pie crust)

Cream butter and sugar. Blend in cocoa and vanilla. Beating at high speed, add one egg and beat until thoroughly incorporated about 2 minutes each. Repeat with each remaining egg. Keep whipping until fluffy. Spread in cooked pie shell of choice and keep refrigerated. ( I didn't have a problem with it not setting, but if you do, put it in freezer about 20 minutes and beat on high again.)

Taco Soup

1 lb. hamburger ( I like to use ground turkey)
1 small onion, chopped
16 oz. bag of frozen corn (or two cans of corn, undrained)
2, 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
1, 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 can pinto beans with liquid
1 can black beans with liquid
1 can kidney beans with liquid
4 oz. can diced green chilies
1 can refried beans (optional)
3 Tbs. McCormick taco seasoning

Cook hamburger with onion. Drain grease.

In a large soup pot, combine hamburger with all the other ingredients and heat through.
Taste it and if you want it to be spicier, add more taco seasoning. Great for crock pot too (just cook meat and add ingredients cook on low about 5-6 hours). Top with sour cream and cheese.  I like to dip or mix crushed tortilla chips in it too.

Spicy Chicken and Rice

I know it doesn't look awesome, but this is really good.  It is very simple with just 4 ingredients.  I also use it to fill tacos or enchiladas too.

5 chicken breast halves
1 bottle salsa
1 small tub of sour cream
2 c rice (cooked); or eat on corn tortillas

Place chicken in crock pot and pour 3/4 of the salsa on top.  Cook until chicken is tender enough to shred (about 5 hours).  Drain excess juice if there is any.  Add remaining salsa and sour cream (I add less, it just depends on how creamy you like it).  Cook until hot again 30-45 min.

Sweet Chex Mix

So, sweets are the only thing getting me through this first week. They give me carbs (not necessarily the best way to get carbs) to get through the day. Here's a simple and sweet recipe that has almonds and "enriched" Chex (so you get some vitamins).

Sweet Chex Mix (be sure all ingredients are gf)

3/4 Box of Corn Chex

3/4 Box of Rice Chex

2 C Coconut

1 C Slivered Almonds

Mix above ingredients in a very large bowl

1 C Corn Syrup

1 C Sugar

3/4 C Butter or Margarine

Bring above ingredients to a boil and continue boiling for 3 minutes. Add liquid to mixture and mix well. Continue mixing often until mixture is cooled. Store in airtight container.

Cornbread muffins

These are an easy great tasting snack if you are in the mood for some sort of bread. I think they are better than cornbread muffins with flour.

Yeild 12 muffins


1 cup white rice flour
3/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal (be sure it was made in a gluten free facility)
3/4 t xanthan gum (optional makes it less crumbly)
3 Tablespoons of sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 beaten egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, and oil.  Mix until smooth. Place in muffin cups. Bake about 15 minutes.