Dijon Mustard Pasta

The first time I made this recipe, I made the whole thing...way to much for one meal!  The second time I halved it and that was about the perfect amount for our family of five with enough leftovers for Jon's lunch.  It is very rich and creamy.  Shout out to my sister Michelle for sharing this recipe!!  If you are on a diet or counting calories and fat grams, this recipe is not for you!  I feel like meals like this are okay once in a while.  

I have noted the changes I made in red (only because those were the ingredients I had on hand when making this recipe) 

Dijon Mustard Pasta
Sauce (Full recipe listed below, I would recommend halfing it)
7 ½ tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons chopped garlic
3 ¾ tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 ¼ cup chicken broth
2 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
1 ¼ cup milk (3 C  1% milk, (more or less depending on desired thickness of sauce) combined with cream cheese)
2 ½ tablespoons dijon mustard
5 tsp. fresh rosemary (oregano)
1 ¼ tsp. salt
1 ¼ tsp. fresh thyme
¾ tsp cayenne pepper
4½ cups of heavy whipping cream (replaced with 8 oz. of lowfat cream cheese)
2 ½ cup parmesan cheese
2 cooked breast cut in bite size pieces
6 slices of bacon cooked cut in 1” pieces
16 oz. of dried GF penne pasta, cooked as directed on package

1. Melt butter and garlic (don’t brown).
2. Dissolve cornstarch in small amount of chicken broth.
3. Add all sauce ingredients EXCEPT FOR PARMESAN CHEESE, stir with a whisk; and simmer about 10 minutes until thickened.
4. Stir in 2 ½ cup parmesan cheese, set aside.
5. Layer cooked pasta with chicken and bacon in a well sprayed casserole dish.
6. Spoon sauce over top.
7. Top with additional 1/4 C parmesan cheese mixed with paprika (to add color).
8. Cook at 475 ̊F for around 10-15 minutes until bubbly.

Cheeseburger Chili Macaroni

Cheeseburger Chili Macaroni

Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin ( I just used ground beef)
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 1 to 2 cups beef stock (depending on how liquid-y you want it)
• 1 16 oz. Pkg. GF noodles
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp yellow cheddar (the sharper the better!)

Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat for the pasta.
Heat 2TB of Olive oil in pan and brown the beef. (I did not use any oil with the ground beef)

Add the onion and chili powder to the pan, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the onion is tender, 4-5 minutes. Add the ketchup, mustard and beef stock to the pot, bring up to a bubble and simmer until slightly thickened, 4-5 minutes.
While the chili is working, salt the boiling water and drop the pasta in. Cook to al dente according to package directions then drain thoroughly and return it to the pot.

Add the chili to the pot with the pasta and give everything a good toss. Transfer to a casserole dish and top with the shredded cheese. Place the casserole under the broiler to melt and brown the cheese. Serve with a simple salad alongside.

Glazed Poppy Seed Cake

I had the opportunity to go to a cooking party the other night and this cake was served.  It was absolutely fabulous.  The recipe can be found on several blogspots (here and here to name a few).  The only conversion I had to make was switch out the cake mix for a Betty Crocker GF yellow cake mix.  This is something I would be proud to bring to any function and know that it tastes great and presents itself very well.

Glazed Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

1 yellow cake mix (Betty Crocker GF)
1 (3.5 oz) box of instant vanilla pudding
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup pineapple or orange juice (I used pineapple)
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs

Mix yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding and poppy seeds. Add juice, oil, and sour cream and mix. Add 4 eggs one at a time, mix well.
Pour batter into a sprayed bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes (don't over bake).

When the cake is about 10 minutes from being done start the glaze.

Glaze:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup butter (1 cube)

Bring ingredients to a boil and keep bubbling until ready to pour over cake. You can either pour the glaze over the cake while it is in the pan or turn the cake out onto a cooling rack and pour the glaze over the cake that way. It is really like syrup that soaks in.

Better Batter

This has been the best thing to happen to our kitchen in two years!!  It makes the best cookies.  I have had friends that have made bread dough with it and it works out great....that is my goal for next week.

Better Batter
2 C brown rice flour
2 C white rice flour
1 C tapioca flour
¼ C potato flour
¼ C xanthan gum
1/8 C fruit pectin

Mix well and store in an air tight container.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

All right, it is for real this time!  We have made a cooking breakthrough in the GF world.  I have been given a new flour blend that works miracles!  It's a variation of the Better Batter Flour Mix.  I used it in my old cookie recipe that I have grown up with and they turned out fabulous.  Thick, chunky, chewy, soft...need I say more?  No grit, no after taste, no complaints! Yeah!! 

Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cubes butter or 1 C shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
2 eggs
3 C Better Batter Flour Mix
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°. Mix first 4 ingredients really well. Add remaining ingredients. Bake 7-8 minutes (or until golden brown) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Place on cooling rack. Store in air tight container.

This next set of cookies is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie...This recipe comes from Allrecipes.com.

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Better Batter Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla and egg until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter just until moistened. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Drop by tablespoonfuls on to lightly greased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges start to brown. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely

Sweetheart Jell-O Treats

2 pkgs. (6 ounces) Cherry Gelatin

2 C boiling Water

1 C cold Milk

1 pkg (3.4 ounces) Instant Vanilla Pudding

In a bowl dissolve gelatin in the boiling water, then let sit until cooled.  In another bowl, whisk the milk and pudding mix until smooth. Combine with gelatin and mix well.  Pour mixture into a 13 x 9 dish lightly coated with nonstick spray.  Put in the refrigerator until set.  Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make sweet treats for your family and friends.

Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies

If you are worried about sugar, fat and calories...this recipe is not for you!  I came across this recipe on a blog called Picky Palate.  Her recipe is NOT GF, but I knew I could convert it to be GF.  They were a hit!

4 C GF flour

1 1/2 C sugar

1 C Shortening

1 C Sour Cream

1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Vanilla

 2 Eggs

2 tsp Xanthan Gum

Butter

Brown Sugar

Cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream sugar, shortening, sour cream and eggs.  Add remaining ingredients until well blended.  Chill for at least one hour.  Divide dough into three portions.  Roll out first one on a floured surface. 

For the filling:

Lightly spread some butter over dough and then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Roll the dough and then cut or slice through (I used dental floss).  Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining dough.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from baking sheet to a cooking rack and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Quinoa and Black Beans

Don't you love a pleasant surprise?  This was one of those recipes.  It was liked by all!

Quinoa and Black Beans
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.
2. Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes,
3. Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro.

**This makes a TON... Half a recipe was still more than enough for our family of five.

Lime Chicken Tostadas

This one will add some kick to your chicken!  The recipe below is for tostadas, but we made tacos instead.  I have noted those changes in red.

Lime Chicken Tostadas
½ C lime juice
¼ C soy sauce
¼ C vegetable oil
1 TB honey
2 tsp minced garlic
1 ½ tsp chili powder (optional)
1 lb boneless chicken breasts or tenders (I used pre-cut chicken strips)
Corn tortillas (Taco shells)
Shredded Monterey Jack cheese (Cheddar Cheese)
Shredded lettuce
Refried Beans

Mix first 6 ingredients to make a marinade. Add chicken, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours (best if over night). Cook or grill chicken. Cut into strips.

For tostadas, brush each side of the tortilla with oil and place on grill or pan and brown each side. Sprinkle tortilla with cheese, lettuce and chicken.
For tacos, spread beans inside the taco shell,add chicken and then favorite toppings after that.

**Optional toppings: Salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro and green onions.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

This one is definitely a keeper!

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 8 oz. cream cheese

½ C grated mozzarella cheese (I used 1 slice of Provolone per chicken and did not mix it with the cream cheese)

½ tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Bacon, partially cooked (I used turkey bacon and did not partially cook it)

Favorite BBQ sauce

Pound out chicken breasts with meat tenderizer. Mix together cream cheese, mozzarella, garlic and salt and pepper. Divide mixture between chicken breasts. Spread mixture on each chicken breast and fold in half. Wrap with bacon. Use a toothpick to keep bacon from coming unwrapped.   Cover bottom of a casserole dish with BBQ sauce and place chicken in the dish. Pour BBQ sauce on top of chicken. Bake uncovered at 350° for 45 minutes.

Tuscan Pumpkin Soup

The name and color of this soup was very daunting to me but I really wanted to try it. It was actually pretty good. You don't really taste to much of the pumpkin, more so the chicken broth.  It tastes very similiar to chicken noodle soup, only orange!

Tuscan Pumpkin Soup

2 TB Olive oil
2-4 cloves minced garlic
2 celery stalks chopped
½ large onion chopped
6 C chicken broth
1 15 oz. canned pumpkin
2 C cut, cooked chicken or turkey
1-2 cans great northern white beans (rinsed and drained)
Parmesan cheese

Sauté in olive oil:
Garlic, celery and onions

Smooth together:
Chicken broth and pumpkin

In large pot, add chicken/turkey and beans with all other ingredients and heat thoroughly. Serve with parmesan cheese on top.

**After following the first two steps, I combined mine in the crock-pot and let it simmer for a few hours.

Santa Fe Chicken

I can't believe that a whole year has passed since I started posting recipes.  My goal for this coming year is to  meal plan for the entire month and to try at least 4 new recipes a month.  Wish me luck! So here is recipe #1 for the month of January. I will be the first to admit that this is one of those meals that is hard to make look good in a picture, but it definitely tasted great.  It has a little bit of a kick to it.  I served mine with rice and tortilla chips and sprinkled it with cheddar cheese. 

4-6 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1 can corn rinsed and drained
1 jar of mild green salsa
1 8 oz. pkg of cream cheese

Place everything in the crockpot and cook on high for 5-6 hours.
We sprinkled ours with cheddar cheese and added tortilla chips on the side.

**This is half of the original recipe and it still made ALOT.  Plenty of leftovers!

Turkey and Rice Soup

Need something to do with those turkey leftovers? Homemade turkey and rice soup hits the spot on a cold winter's night!

Turkey leftovers

8 C broth (chicken or vegetable)

carrots

celery

onions

garlic (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

bay leaf

1 C rice (mine was already cooked)

Bring broth to boil and add vegetables and spices. When veggies are tender, add turkey and rice. Cook until heated through.

**Chicken could be used as well.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Butter

Sour Cream

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Ginger (just a tiny)

Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for one hour wrapped in tinfoil. Cut in half and scoop potato away from skin. Add enough butter and sour cream to create a creamy potato. Add spices to taste. Sprinkle top with cinnamon and sugar.

Rainbow Jell-O

Rainbow Jell-O

1 each of following 3oz Jell-O
Lemon, Orange, Strawberry, Black Cherry

1st Layer:
Divide 1 pkg of Jell-O in half (approx ¼ C)
Dissolve in ½ C boiling water
Add ½ C cold water and let set for 1 hour in refrigerator.

2nd layer:
Take the remainder of the 1st pkg of Jell-O
Dissolve in ½ C boiling water
In separate bowl, use a wire whisk to mix ½ C sour cream or plain yogurt and ¼ C water.
Mix with Jell-O
Pour on top of first layer of Jell-O.

Repeat 1st and 2nd steps with each pkg of Jell-O
Spread cool whip on top of last layer of Jell-O