Rosemary focaccia bread

 My husband can have gluten so he basically used the recipe here https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/rosemary-focaccia-bread/

He did add some black olives snd he did sprinkle the top lightly with garlic powder. After removing from oven he also sprinkled with parmigiana cheese.

Chocolate mousse

 Easy and tasty

• 1 can chickpea water, aquafaba or cannellini bean water
• ½ cup dark chocolate, or semi- sweet or whatever 
• 2 tablespoons  powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional

Using a mixer mix the water until it looks like whipped cream. Add the powdered sugar and beat a few more minutes until it forms a mixture that doesn’t fall out of the bowl if tipped. In a separate container melt chocolate chips— I use the microwave. Once chips are smooth add vanilla to chips if using . Gently fold the chocolate mixture into your whipped stuff. This is the tricky part— one time it clumped up and didn’t work— not sure why. The other option is slowly at the whipped stuff to the chocolate folding it in gently.Separate into serving dishes and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Good with whipped topping.

Brussels sprout salad

This is so tasty. Full recipe found here: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/cashew-crunch-shredded-brussels-sprouts-salad/

Used red cabbage snd Brussels sprouts and red bell peppers and many other good things. Very nice Asian dressing. I made about 1/2 of the ingredients below. I also used a bit of purple onion since I didn’t have green onions and I liked the little kick it gave. I didn’t have fresh ginger so I used powdered ginger to taste.

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• 1 pound brussels sprouts, end trimmed and any yellow outer leaves removed
• 4 cups shredded red cabbage (also known as purple cabbage)
• 1 ½ cups shredded carrots (from the bag) or carrots cut into small matchsticks*
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup diced green onion
• 3/4 cup salted roasted cashews
• 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
• For the dressing:
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos if GF)
• 2-3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 ½ tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly minced ginger

P.S. I like more soy sauce than called for in the above recipe 

 

Shepherds’ pie for Christmas eve

 Delish- made 4-5 servings. Found the recipe here https://www.thewholesomedish.com/the-best-classic-shepherds-pie/  But did some substitutions. Used gf measure for measure flour in place of regular flour. In place of meat we used a combination of soy crumbles and pea based ones as shown below.

We also use the Mcdougall recipe for the potato part when wanting to go vegan

Ingredients

Meat Filling:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef -or ground lamb or see above 
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (used gf)
• 2 garlic cloves -minced
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour (used gf)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste(used ketchup)
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup frozen mixed peas & carrots*
• 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

Potato Topping:

• 1 1/2 - 2 lb. russet potatoes -about 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter -1 stick (4)
• 1/3 cup half & half
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Go to link for Sometimes we use lentils as the base and combine the 2 recipes using this linkhttps://eatplant-based.com/wprm_print/19543

Wild rice sweet potato soup

 

Go here for the full instructions https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/cozy-autumn-wild-rice-soup/     

Note: I used the above rice which doesn’t need cooking so it saves time wise. Instead of the old bay seasoning I used a substitute found online and added some Garam Masala. I used only 4 cups of the broth as my rice was already cooked.

Here are the ingredients but go to link for directions:

• 6 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
• 1 cup uncooked wild rice*
• 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1 large (about 1 pound) sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk (or see cream sauce option below*)
• 2 large handfuls of kale, roughly chopped with thick stems removed
• fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

Chickpeas would be a nice addition 

Note— I used some of the spices below along with the garam masala 

• 2 tablespoons celery salt 
• ¼ teaspoon paprika 
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper 
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 1 pinch dry mustard 
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg 
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon 
• 1 pinch ground cardamom 
• 1 pinch ground allspice 
• 1 pinch ground cloves 
• 1 pinch ground ginger

Chicken soup

 Love this for it tastes like pot pie.

INGREDIENTS 

1 small onion chopped 

1/2 cup or so chopped baby carrots (or whatever amount)

2-3 stalks celery chopped

3 medium red potatoes chopped 

Cup or so chopped cauliflower 

1/2 cup or so frozen garden peas

4 cups chicken broth

1 can gf cream chicken soup

1 12.5 ounce can chicken

Handful or so broken up brown rice spaghetti noodles

Thyme, rosemary, sage, poultry seasoning to taste

Directions 

Pour some broth in the pot. Add onions, celery, carrots, cook 5 minutes. Add potatoes, and cauliflower  and broth and seasoning-cook another ten to ten minutes . Add spaghetti noodles cooking until tender adding peas near the end. When everything is tender mix in cream of chicken and drained canned chicken. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.

Vegan bourguignon

 Nice hearty vegan bourguignon

I found this here: https://www.veganricha.com/vegan-mushroom-bourguignon-instant-pot/

I just did mine on the stovetop. The recipe called for serving it on mashed potatoes and cauliflower. I used red potatoes (peeled) and sweet potatoes combined which was very tasty and filling. Pictured above is before placing it on the potatoes. I used Malbec for the wine.

Go to link for instant pot directions. 

The Ingredients:

Mushroom Bourguignon:

• 2 tsp oil
• 1/2 (0.5 ) medium onion chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
• 10 oz (8 oz) sliced mushrooms mixed or white or cremini ( I used some canned ones)
• 1/4 cup (58.75 ml) brandy or whiskey or red wine or use broth ( Malbec was great)
• 3/4 cup (75 g) chopped carrots
• 1 cup (101 g) chopped celery
• 3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh
• 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) garlic powder
• 1 tbsp soy sauce ,tamari for gluten-free, coconut aminos for soyfree
• 2 tsp tomato paste (I used marinara)
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) water or broth
• 1 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot starch mixed in 3 tbsp water (you can also add 2 tbsp of the mashed potato mixture to thicken) (I omitted)
• 1-3 cups fresh spinach 

• Potato Mash:

  • 1 large potato cubed small
  • 1 cup (100 g) cauliflower florets (heaping cup)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 to 4 tbsp non dairy milk
  • 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) each salt garlic powder
  •  black pepper to taste
  • Note: I just used sweet potatoes and red potatoes mashed
  This makes 3 servings if you use enough potatoes— I used more than the recipe called for.

Carrot cake oats overnight

Actual if you use quick oats you don’t have to do it overnight! I love this.

This was delicious. Similar in taste to granola.

1/2 cups oats

3/4 cup milk if your choice

3 tab grated carrots

1/2 to 1 tab maple syrup

1/2 tab raisins

1/2 tsp cinnamon or to taste

1/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond extract - optional- love it

1 tab unsweetened flaked coconut

1 tab chopped nuts of you choice

Mix all and place overnight in fridge 

 

Pumpkin oat mug cake

So easy and good. Topped mine with yogurt. Found this on Instagram. Mix all and bake in a large mug sized dish for 15 minutes at 350 F. 

 

Bob’s crockpot split pea soup

 Easy and a favorite—Makes 4 large soup bowls

INGREDIENTS 

3 medium carrots, chopped 

1 onion , chopped 

1-2 teaspoons minced garlic 

1 bay leaf

16 ounces of dried split peas

1 and 1/2 quarts of water ( can substitute with vegetable broth if desired)

1-2 tsp salt

Black pepper- to taste

Optional: 4-6 fresh basil leaves chopped, a few drops of liquid smoke hickory 

DIRECTIONS 

Mix together all but the liquid smoke and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high4-5 hours.  I sometimes cook on low for 7 hours and add an extra hour on high. At the end add the liquid smoke and season to taste. Or 4 hours high and then 2 on low.

chia tiramisu

This is my all time favorite chai recipe. Found it on Instagram- see below. I just used plain yogurt for the yogurt part in mine. PS I usually need a bit more of the chai seed:

 

Gluten-free apple cider doughnut cake

 Moist and yummy

INGREDIENTS 

1 King Arthur gf yellow cake mix

3/4 cup apple cider- not apple juice

1/2 cup cinnamon apple sauce- not chunky 

4 large eggs at room temperature 

4 tablespoons of soft butter

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or more (I used 1/2 teaspoon)

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla 

Gf flour for the Bundt pan and oil or spray

See below for optional toppings

DIRECTIONS 

Preheat oven 350. Grease a 10 or 12 cup Bundt pan and sprinkle/shake gf flour over it. Mix the ingredients and pour in pan and bake about 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean in a middle section.

Cool ten minutes on a rack. Loosen sides a bit with silicone spatula if desired before inverting on a plate. Cool another ten minutes. 

Optional: mix 1/4 cup apple cider with cup of powdered sugar. Drizzle a bit over cooled cake. Then mix a bit of granulated sugar and cinnamon together if desired and sprinkle over cake. The rest of the Apple cider sauce can be served over each piece as desired.

Cucumber salad- oriental

This was very good; recipe was from Instagram. We like it with added olives and good with added broccoli and Italian dressing as optional in addition to the ingredients listed below. I used regular cucumbers, but took out most of the seeds and didn’t smash😀 I didn't use the chili oil or the chilies--I just added a pinch of dry chili peppers.

 

Gluten free crockpot bread

Easy chewy crusty bread

 3 cups King Arthur gf measure for measure flour

2 tsp salt 

3/4 teaspoon yeast 

1 and 1/2 cups room temperature water

Small crockpot- I think mine is 2 quarts?

Mix all in a bowl and let rise over night covered with a damp towel. In the morning dump mixture into parchment paper. With a silicone spatula shape into a round loaf to fit the small crockpot. Put in crockpot and Let rise for an hour covered with wet cloth then turn on high and cover with crockpot top and cook for 60-70 minutes on high. 

Remove and place under broiler for a few minutes to brown. W do 4-5 minutes on each side.

For a faster method use 2 & 1/4 teaspoons of yeast. After mixing and forming your ball place in parchment lined crockpot. Cover with wet towel and let rise until double( about 1 hour and 20 minutes or more— 2 hours is great, Remove wet towel and cover with crockpot top and cook on high For 70 to 80 minutes or until firm. To brown place in broiler-/ I brown both sides.

I refrigerate what I don’t use immediately and then toast or microwave slices as needed.