18 March 2012

stay tuned...

This past week was spring break. So wild & out of control was I...in the kitchen, people, c'mon! I had some unsuccessful as well as some relatively successful concoctions/recipes this week. Stay tuned, as they most certainly will be posted...


Look at how lazy the frathound was over break...couldn't even stand up to eat. 

Clearly he had way.too.much.fun at Dogwood Dog Park with his buddy, Camo.


Camo's "sister", Allie, made the dogs homemade treats for our play-date! Even picky eater Dutch liked them. In fact, he gobbled up the crumbs in the container...which I know you're thinking, "SG, dogs eat crumbs. It's a fact of life." Well, folks, not with my pup. He leaves crumbs from treats he eats all over the rugs, but not these! I'm going to get the recipe Allie used and share later this week!

Sweet Potato Fries

Nothing accompanies a meal with more ease than sweet potato fries!


They are so yummy and versatile — make 'em salty, spicy, sweet, or a combination of the three. So many options! I like to use Simply Organic's Cinnamon Sugar on my fries as well as cinnamon, crushed red pepper, nutmeg, garlic powder or fresh garlic, cayenne pepper, freshly ground pepper, parsley, chili powder, paprika, & sea salt. 
GET CREATIVE!

Toss them with olive oil and whatever spices you've got a hankering for {I always include cinnamon} and you are set! Who knew it could be so easy?? A lot of people, apparently, as sweet potato fry recipes are a dime-a-dozen on Google.


With the sweet potato fries, maybe it's just me, but you really have to watch them in the oven. I know mine aren't exactly uniform in cut, so that's most likely why, but I do try to cut them in roughly the same shapes and sizes. After about 20 minutes, take off of the tray any fries that are starting to burn or have dark marks on them. As for the ones that are not done yet, flip them over and put them back in the over. I check on and flip the fries every 5 minutes after that. I know it's tedious, but that's how I have figured out how not to end up with 183 burned fries and only 12 good ones.


Although Jessica, from How Sweet It Is, has a b r i l l i a n t idea: she bakes her S.P. fries on a wire rack! That way you don't have to flip them as often as I do. So.Stinking.Smart. I, however, have not yet found a non-coated wire rack to use for this. My cooling racks are coated and my over racks are too wide for the cut fries. I need to put that on my wish list though!


You could just go to the market and grab a bag of Alexia Sweet Potato Julienne Fries... they are tasty! I prefer making my own as I can add whatever spices I want and can say that I made them without my guilty conscience saying, "shoving frozen fries in the oven & reading directions on a bag does not count as making them." But that's just me.


Baked Sweet Potato Fries
(adapted from Whole Foods & How Sweet It Is)

· 2 large sweet potatoes/yams
· 3 table spoons olive oil
· 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
· 1-2 tablespoons cinnamon {depends on how much you adore cinnamon}
· 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
· 1 teaspoon sea salt

Preheat oven to 450°

If desired, peel sweet potatoes. Cut into wedges. In a large bowl, add olive oil, pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Toss potatoes with olive oil mixture until well coated. Spread potatoes in a single layer onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, take off any fries that are beginning to burn &/or have dark marks, flip fries that are not done yet, and continually flip/check on them every 5 minutes after the initial 20 minutes. Once fries are done, sprinkle sea salt on top & serve.

P.S. by waiting until the fries are cooked to sprinkle salt on, the fries refrain from getting soggy

How do you like your sweet potato fries?





11 March 2012

Better Batter!

I just got my first package of Better Batter! I have been reading Gluten Free On A Shoestring who is sponsored by Better Batter. I was {overly} excited to use this flour as I am a baker and love my cookies, muffins, breads, etc. 


As soon as I possibly could, I broke out the Better Batter gf flour and got to baking! 



My biggest fear about going Gluten-Free was still is baking. I know I've been terrible about being gf {especially lately}, but...gluten is love. Warm, fresh, french baguettes...cinnamon sugar popovers... ugh. I just hope that with this Better Batter gf flour everything will taste somewhat normal.


And, for the most part, they did taste normal. 

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

makes about two dozen cookies

3/4 cup Coconut Oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup Turbinado sugar (or packed dark brown sugar)
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Better Batter Gluten Free Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
14-18 ounces chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life Foods Mega Chunks)

Preheat over to 350°. Beat coconut oil & sugars at medium speed {with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer} until creamy. Add eggs & vanilla, beating until blended. 
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; gradually add to sugar mixture, beating just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. 
Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a well-greased baking sheet.
Bake for 10-14 minutes. Let cool on wire racks, about 15 minutes.

Note: My cookies did not spread like regular cookies. As you can see they came out roughly the same shape they went in as.



catching up on Sunday

Well folks, it has been quite a long week. There was a great tragedy at my high school, Episcopal, on Tuesday. It is horrific and upsetting.

Isaiah 25:8 (NIV) says,
 "He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all the faces; He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken."

During this troubling time, we are all leaning on the Lord as we just try to comprehend the situation.


04 March 2012

A Delicious Mess

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Rice Krispies® Treats



These are so tasty! Look at that ooey gooey deliciousness.


You might not want to share these with anyone else...I'm the only one in the house that has eaten these treats so far and I've got half of them left - they are gooood. I have been stuffing my face with these sticky marshmallow treats.

GF,CF Rice Krispies Treats

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
1 package kosher marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® Gluten Free cereal

Directions:
In a large saucepan melt coconut oil over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. 
Add cereal and stir until well coated. 
Evenly press mixture into a greased 13x9x2-inch pan. Cool. Cut into squares.
ENJOY!