Tip Tuesday

So, I made some gluten-free sourdough starter with sorghum flour that I had in the house from the following recipe and we thought it was too sour.

https://successfullyglutenfree.blogspot.com/2013/12/easy-gluten-free-sourdough-starter.html

And, then I realized I didn’t have any brown rice flour in the house, but I realized that I had brown rice in the pantry so I ground some of the brown rice with a older coffee grinder (which hadn’t been used for coffee) similar to this one and made my own brown rice flour!

https://www.target.com/p/mr-coffee-174-blade-grinder-black-ids57-np/-/A-16391441?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Appliances%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Appliances_Food+Dehydrators&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9030852&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1247068&ds_rl=1246978&ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Appliances+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Appliances_Food%20Dehydrators&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9030852&gclid=CjwKCAjw6-_eBRBXEiwA-5zHadkXcFHD7V0BYp0KC6q7QsO17p_9CJ-gNlpOm-ZmRcdib-k4wi3E9xoCxD4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

At the moment the brown rice flour and water are sitting on the counter.  Later this week / next week I will report back how the sourdough bread turned out.

What creative cooking tips have you done lately?

Later – Heather

 

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Crockpot fall off the bone ribs!

I figured it was time to rerun this post since it is still one of my favorites and hard to find on the blog.  Enjoy!

Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July!  Since the local grocer had ribs on sale I decided we would have them last week, but we decided it was too hot to even cook them outside on the grill.

So, I wanted an easy (and hopefully cooler) way to cook the ribs so I went Google searching with the words Crockpot and Ribs.

I wish I came up with this idea since the ribs turned out SO good!  Here is the link to the site I used:  http://www.mylifeasamrs.com/2011/05/crockpot-bbq-ribs.html

The ribs I bought came pre-rubbed so all I did was cut the rack in two and put them in the crockpot.  I cooked mine on Low for 6 hours and then kept them warm for a few hours.

Husband put them on the grill (with the BBQ sauce), but he only flipped them a couple of time before the meat was falling off the bones!

So, I forgot to take a photo of the ribs prior to eating them, but here is a photo of a few ‘clean’ bones that the meat fell off the bones by itself.

 

Depending upon what is in your rub or BBQ sauce this could definitely be a gluten-free meal.

 

Enjoy! – Heather

Grocery Outlet – bargains and Gluten free

Note:  I got nothing from Grocery Outlet (or any of the brands listed) for this review.  I am just really happy that the Grocery Outlet opened in our town.

Since my favorite grocery store closed last year I have been bouncing around the local stores and Costco for my shopping.  I was happy when a Grocery Outlet opened locally.  I knew from extended family (and other blogs) that they didn’t always have everything, but when they had something they usually had a good price on it.

Did you know that each Grocery Outlet is locally owned?  The statistic is that for every $100 spent in a local store $45 stays in the community.  I am definitely willing to try the local stores to keep the money and jobs here.

So, here are some of the items we have been buying there lately.

Morasch Meats  – Beef New York Striploin Steak (2 pack, 14 oz,  $5.99) – Wow, we put some Dry Rub on these yesterday and cooked them on the BBQ.  They were great!   The husband and I were able to share one of them so we have the second one for another meal.   (Note – I went back today and bought two more packages of them since it was so good.)

Organic chicken legs – I got a great price on these (I cooked them up the same day and took them on our camping trip a month ago).

Smart Balance spread for $1.99 – this is a great price and the expiration date is way out there

Individual Garlic Bulbs (3 for $1.00)

Flaked Coconut

Cans of soup – today I picked up a can of Muir Glen Organic Homestyle split pea (14.9 oz) for $1.49

Frozen Ore-Ida potatoes (I just picked up a bag of Zesties for $1.49 for the first time today so I will let you know what we think).

Hummus – Since I am the only one in the family that really likes hummus I bought a container for a great price (don’t remember the cost now since it was a month ago), and then froze it in smaller containers.

Gluten free mixes – Arrowhead Pizza crust mix , 1-2-3 gluten free Rolls Mix and Poundcake Mix (haven’t tried them yet, but I know their prices were definitely cheaper than other places)

They also have bags of Gluten-free All Purpose Flour and other gluten free mixes which I am thinking of trying in the future.

So, now I stop at the local Grocery Outlet before I head to any other grocery store.

Have you checked out your local Grocery Outlet store lately?  Here is the link to their website if you want to find your local store:  https://groceryoutlet.com/

Let me know if you try them out and what bargains you found.

Later – H

Udi versus Rudi Gluten free bread and Walmart

So, for a few years now we have eaten Udi Gluten free bread.  The family likes it toasted and plain (when we rarely eat a sandwich).  Up until now we have been buying it at Trader Joe’s.  Well, this spring Costco (yeah!) started carrying a larger loaf in the frozen food section (in ours it is near the frozen berries – who would have guessed).

Anyways, I had seen coupons for Rudi Gluten free bread, but had never seen it in a store.  Well, the last time I was in Walmart (yes, I go there now, but not often) I went looking around and I found Rudi Gluten free bread in the frozen food section so I picked up a loaf.

The first time I tried the Rudi Gluten free bread I made it into toast.  It was tasty and didn’t fall apart.

On Father’s Day we took a picnic so I took some Rudi Gluten free bread (frozen when we left the house, but defrosted by the time we got there).  I hate to say it, but the bread fell apart as we were eating it.

(Note:  I did email the company that makes Rudi Gluten free bread and got a response that their bread does crumble.)

So, even though I don’t go to Walmart often I will be using the coupons I find to get some reduced gluten free bread for making toast in the mornings.

Oh, and both Udi and Rudi Gluten free bread are made in Colorado.

What new gluten free products have you tried lately?

Later – H

Amazing Chicken Drumsticks (gluten free even)

Well, I have worked on a couple of posts in the last few days with the intention of posting at least one soon.  But, I made these amazing Chicken Drumsticks (gluten free even) tonight so I had to share it first.

I had done a search for ‘spicy chicken legs’ and this recipe caught my attention:

http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2014/03/spicy-roasted-chicken-drumsticks.html

I made a couple of minor changes since I didn’t have a pan that could be used on the stovetop and then put in the oven.

a) I put a little butter in a 13×9 baking pan and put it in the oven so it would be hot when the chicken was ready to be put in the oven.  (When I put the chicken in the pan I added a little olive oil also.)

b) I ended up cooking the chicken at 375 degrees F by accident (and my chicken drumsticks were really meaty) so I cooked them for 45 minutes.

Oh, and I added the link to my ‘Links to other peoples gluten-free recipes’ page which is under ‘Gluten free pages’ so I can also find it easily in the future.

Let me know if you try them yourself.

Later – H

Chili’s and gluten-free menu

Did you know that Chili’s have a wheat / gluten-free (and other health options) menu?  Our copy was dated 3/1/2014 – 4/7/2014.

Last time we were there the server happened to ask if we needed one.  I said yes (I don’t have to eat gluten-free, but I try to stay away from as much wheat as possible and multiple family members have to eat gluten-free).  He handed me a paper sheet with suggested the menu options.

I was happy to see that some of the items we usually buy are gluten-free.  For example:

– Loaded Baked Potato Soup

– Southwest Chicken (without the Tortilla Strips)

Memphis Dry Rub Baby Backs Ribs ** without sides

Original Baby Back Ribs ** without sides

What I was surprised by was that even the french fries were not listed as gluten-free.  I guess that is since they are fried with their other items.  Too bad.

Have you asked for a gluten-free menu at a restaurant?  What was the reaction?

Later – H

Gluten-free Carrot Cake Cupcakes….

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.  We were supposed to go out of town to visit family, but the family is sick.  So, we decided to stay home.

Yesterday we went to Costco and they had their (wheat) Carrot Cake Cupcakes on sale.  They looked so good!  I didn’t pick any up, but I did come home and decided to make some Gluten-free ones.  Not sure if mine cost less, but I at least was able to control all of the ingredients that went into them.

This is the link to the recipe I used:

http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/glutenfreecakerecipes/r/glutenfreecarrotcake.htm

Oh, and by the way I added a page that lists other people’s gluten-free recipes that I have tried and liked.  This is partly so I don’t have to keep finding the recipe and to give you some help also.  Your welcome.

Later – H

 

 

Gluten-Free Baked Fried Chicken

When I found the link to the Baked Fried Chicken (not gluten-free) on Pinterest:

http://thewondertwins.blogspot.com/2011/10/mondays-menu-baked-fried-chicken.html

I knew I had to figure out how to make it gluten-free for my family.  This recipe is a HIT with my family.  Up until now I had only done it with skinless/boneless chicken breast, but today I decided to do it with skinless chicken thighs.

I use my version of Season All (without the curry) – another one of my posts:       http://wp.me/p2CNE7-5O

Here are my revised instructions:

Place thawed chicken breast tenderloin (or I have used thighs) strips in a bowl of milk. Let soak for 20-30 min.

Mix in a Gallon Size Ziploc or Large Bowl:  

1 Tablespoon  Season All  – I used my version of this –        http://wp.me/p2CNE7-5O

3/4 teaspoon Pepper

1 cup Flour  (Gluten-free  with no xanthan gum)

2 teaspoon Paprika

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut 1/2 stick of butter into a few pieces and place in a 9×13 pan. Melt butter in pre-heated oven.

Spread melted butter around the bottom of the pan. Lightly spray the pan, if needed, to make sure that there are no dry spots.

Shake excess milk off of chicken and completely coat each piece with the seasoning mix. You can either shake the chicken in the bag, until coated, or dip each piece in the bowl until coated.

Place each piece of chicken in the pan.

Cook for 20 min. Turn each piece of chicken and continue cooking for 20 more minutes, or until cooked through.

(I cooked the chicken thighs for 30 minutes, turned and then cooked for 30 additional minutes.)

Here is a photo of a piece that was reheat the next day:

   Enjoy! – H

My version of ‘Season All’

When I found the recipe for Baked ‘Fried’ Chicken (my gluten-free version will be posted soon) I knew I had to change it to gluten-free, but I realized I didn’t have Season All in the house (and wasn’t really sure what it was).  So, I did a Google search for a Season All recipe:

Here is the original recipe for Season All Seasoning Blend that I modified:  http://www.food.com/recipe/season-all-seasoning-blend-224441

When I started to make it I realized I didn’t have any curry in the house.  So, I made the spice mix without it.  My family liked the flavoring of the Gluten-free Baked ‘Fried’ Chicken better than the taste of KFC chicken.  I wonder if the KFC spices has curry in it…..

So, here is my version of the Season All

1 cup salt

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 Tablespoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon allspice

3 Tablespoons paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons celery salt

1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 Tablespoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix together and store in a cool, dry place.

 

Enjoy – H

Crockpot fall off the bone ribs!

Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July!  Since the local grocer had ribs on sale I decided we would have them last week, but we decided it was too hot to even cook them outside on the grill.

So, I wanted an easy (and hopefully cooler) way to cook the ribs so I went Google searching with the words Crockpot and Ribs.

I wish I came up with this idea since the ribs turned out SO good!  Here is the link to the site I used:  http://www.mylifeasamrs.com/2011/05/crockpot-bbq-ribs.html

The ribs I bought came pre-rubbed so all I did was cut the rack in two and put them in the crockpot.  I cooked mine on Low for 6 hours and then kept them warm for a few hours.

Husband put them on the grill (with the BBQ sauce), but he only flipped them a couple of time before the meat was falling off the bones!

So, I forgot to take a photo of the ribs prior to eating them, but here is a photo of a few ‘clean’ bones that the meat fell off the bones by itself.

 

Depending upon what is in your rub or BBQ sauce this could definitely be a gluten-free meal.

 

Enjoy! – H