Gluten Free Big Breakfast

I haven't posted at all this week, I've just been so busy making lists and packing for our upcoming cruise (2 more sleeps until we leave!). But I wanted to post one more time before I go, so I thought I'd show you the fabulous breakfast I made last weekend. It was so good!

Okay so it wasn't like I did anything unusual, but for some reason everything worked out perfectly and even hubby said it was the best breakfast he's had in ages. It was two fried eggs on Udi's bread (toasted well), served with sausages and home fries that were out of this world! The recipe is below. Enjoy!

When I get back from my trip I'll post a gluten free review of my Carnival cruise. See you in a couple weeks!

Gluten Free "Weekend" Breakfast

Gluten Free Oven Home Fries

Yield:  4 servings

2 1/2 pounds potatoes
3 Tbs olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
2. Chop potatoes into cubes and transfer to a baking dish. Toss with oil, onions and seasonings and place in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until crisp to your liking, turning twice with spatula. 

Gluten Free and Comfort Foods

One thing I've noticed, looking back over my recent blog posts, is that I really tend to make a lot of comfort foods. Not that this has anything to do with being gluten free, in fact I've pretty much always cook like this. But it's nice to know that I can still eat my favorite style of food while being gluten free. (duh... is it any wonder why I can't lose weight?!)


Speaking of comfort food, last night I made this awesome pasta dish. It turned out really good, which got me thinking that I should also post my gluten free lasagna recipe soon. 


Today some of my co-workers made a spicy hot pepper chicken stir fry at work and I had some without making sure it was gluten free first. So far I haven't had any ill-effects, but I feel pretty guilty about not making sure it was safe.  

Which brings me to another point...


I do not have celiac disease (that I know of), but I've continued to eat gluten free because of the huge improvement with my tummy issues. However, both times I messed up and mistakenly ate wheat and/or gluten since going gluten free, I had serious cramping and diarrhea the following morning (sorry TMI). So I'm wondering if maybe the effects of wheat and/or gluten are more pronounced after cutting it out completely?


Does anyone know if that's a common thing?

Gluten Free Italian Sausage, Peppers, & Spinach Pasta

 Gluten Free Italian Sausage, Peppers & Spinach Pasta

You can't possibly miss eating wheat pasta when you can eat this! I'll have to post my rice noodle lasagna recipe soon.

Gluten Free Italian Sausage, Peppers & Spinach Pasta

Yield:  6 servings

1 lb Italian Sausages
1 Tbs olive oil
1 onion, chopped

2-3 bell peppers, chopped (any colours)

2-3 tomatoes, chopped

1 Jar pasta sauce

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups spinach, chopped

3/4 lb uncooked spiral -shaped rice pasta
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, squeeze sausage out of casings to form little sausage meatballs (see 2nd photo), and cook them in a skillet over med-high heat until they are browned on all sides, set aside.
3. In a large pot, cook peppers and onions in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and continue cooking for about 2 more minutes.
4. Add the sausage into the pot along with the pasta sauce, seasonings and chopped spinach. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Combine the sauce with the cooked, drained pasta and Parmesan cheese.
6. Serve. Top with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Gluten Free Nachos Supreme

Well, it's Saturday night and for something fun I decided to make Gluten Free Nachos Supreme for dinner. Usually hubby doesn't like "appys" for dinner, but he ended up eating two large plates of this! Even the kids did pretty well eating up their portions.

I didn't have any green onion, tomato or olives for the toppings but hubby and the kids are so picky that they probably wouldn't have eaten it if I had put them on anyway. I also think the picture would have looked so nice with the additional colour added, but oh well. :)

Gluten Free Nachos Supreme

Gluten Free Nachos Supreme

Yield:  6 dinner servings or enough for a crowd as an appy

1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped (green or red)

3 Tbs chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
.5 tsp salt
pepper (to taste)
1 can refried beans
1.5 cups salsa
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 bag tortilla chips (gluten free of course!)
Optional Toppings: green onions, chopped tomatoes and slice black olives, salsa, sour cream, guacamole


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper and spices. Drain well and continue cooking until the meat is well browned.
3. Add in refried beans, salsa and about 1/2 cup of the cheese and stir until heated through.
4. Place bag of tortilla chips in a large baking dish or platter, top with beef mixture and then the rest of the shredded cheese.
5. Bake nachos in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
6. Top with chopped tomatoes, green onions and sliced black olives.
7. Serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole, if desired.
8. Enjoy!

Gluten Free Tortilla Pizza

We wanted pizza for dinner tonight and this gluten free tortilla pizza turned out great. And by crisping up the tortilla first, I was even able pick up the slices by hand to eat them (which is actually kind of ironic since I always used to  eat my pizza with a knife and fork).

I made two pizzas, one for dinner tonight and one for my work lunch tomorrow!  I've tried some specifically gluten free pizza crusts, but I actually think the "rice tortilla" pizza is the greatest of them all! The best part is how quick it is to make, using simple, on-hand ingredients.

Yum Yum Yum... this pizza was so good!

Gluten Free Tortilla Pizza - before baking

Gluten Free Tortilla Pizza - after baking

Gluten Free Tortilla Pizza

Yield:  1 (big) serving

1 Tortilla (gluten free rice tortilla)
2 Tbs pizza sauce or pasta sauce

1 cup cheese, shredded (I used mozza and cheddar)

Pizza toppings (I used Pepperoni)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Place tortilla directly on oven rack and cook for a few minutes until lightly crisp.
3. Place tortilla on a baking sheet and top with sauce, cheese and pepperoni.
4. Place in the oven and bake until toppings are heated and cheese is bubbly. 
5. Slice pizza and serve!

I topped my pizza with Parmesan cheese after it came out of the oven. I find this soaks up some of the grease from the pepperoni... plus it just tastes good! :)