Dowling Oaks

Comfort Food with a Gluten Free Twist

Quick Gluten Free Waffles Recipe for One

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In the mood for gluten free waffles but don’t want to make enough to feed a crowd? This simple gluten free waffle recipe makes two waffles, just enough for one person. It’s so quick and easy to make, you can have a plate full of healthy homemade goodness in less than 10 minutes.

Gluten Free Almond Flour Pancakes with Syrup on a Plate

When You’re Gluten Free, but you Love Breakfast…

It’s no secret to my family that I love breakfast. Well, let me correct that. I love breakfast foods. I like it so much I don’t limit eating it to just the mornings. I’ve been known to have breakfast for lunch or dinner. Heck, I’ve even had it as a snack.

I come by it honestly though. We never ate out much when I was a little kid, but when we did, it was almost always for Saturday morning breakfast. Daddy usually picked a little mom and pop cafe and my meal of choice was eggs, sausage, grits and toast.

One Saturday morning we drove a few towns over to eat at a Waffle House. Game. Changer. I saw pecan waffles on the menu and it looked good. It was love at first bite. Waffles have held a special place in my heart ever since.

When I had to go gluten free and low carb, I was crushed. As much as I liked eggs and bacon, I really missed traditional breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles.

Of course, GF recipes for waffles were one of the first ones I tried, all with varying levels of success. They never quite hit the spot though. Some were so flat they were more like crepes, others (okay most of them) honestly tasted awful. Oh, how I missed that fluffy waffle-y goodness.

Most LCGF waffles lack flavor and fluffiness, and if you do find one that’s halfway decent it makes a large batch. That’s why I love this easy almond flour waffle recipe.

How do you Make Gluten Free Waffles from Scratch?

My gluten free waffle recipe for one person is actually a variant of an almond flour pancake recipe I saw in a keto FB group. I read what someone said in a comment how they bet it would make a good waffle, and I thought hmm…I bet it would. I gotta try it out!

When I developed this recipe, I did it with the idea of making it just for one serving. I’m the only person in my household that will eat gluten free and low carb, so I’m not interested in a recipe that makes a whole bunch. Yeah, I could and freeze what I don’t eat, but honestly I don’t like to do that because it doesn’t taste as good as fresh. 

For waffles and pancakes I like to use almond flour instead of coconut flour. I feel like it makes the waffles crisper on the outside and fluffy on the inside more than the coconut flour would.

I make this almond flour waffle recipe in my mini Dash waffle maker. I’d never seen these before I joined the LC Facebook group, and I really can’t believe I’ve gone this long without one. I love it because it’s just the right size for a single serving.

This recipe makes 2-3 pancakes in a Dash mini. I know you’re probably thinking, why 2-3? Shouldn’t it make the same amount each time? Well, I don’t know why, but usually when I make this recipe it makes two, but every once in a while it will make three. The only thing I can think of is maybe the egg I’m using just happens to be larger. Let me know if it varies for you, I’d love to know if it’s just me! LOL

Brown Dash Mini Waffle Maker

These healthy homemade waffles aren’t just simple to make, they’re super versatile, too. I’ve added fresh blueberries and Lily’s stevia chocolate chips. I’ve also added walnuts and pecans, which makes it taste pretty darn close to those Waffle House pecan waffles I had when I was little. 

Sprinkle your add ins before you close the lid and let your Dash do its thing. Don’t forget to top your waffles with grass fed butter and Lakanto low carb syrup and you’ll have yourself a quick and easy gluten free breakfast that will keep you full and satisfied until lunch.

Gluten Free Waffle Batter in a Dash Mini Waffle Maker Sprinkled with Chocolate Chips

Yield: 2 Waffles

Quick Gluten Free Waffles Recipe for One

Gluten Free Almond Flour Pancakes with Syrup on a Plate

In the mood for gluten free waffles but don't want to make enough to feed a crowd? This simple gluten free waffle recipe makes two waffles, just enough for one person. It's so quick and easy to make, you can have a plate full of healthy homemade goodness in less than 10 minutes.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

Add Ins:

  • Chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, berries, etc.

Instructions

  1. As the waffle iron heats, mix all ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Spoon batter into the iron. Be careful not to overfill the well.
  3. Sprinkle add ins on top of batter and close. Cook 3-5 minutes until done.
  4. Top with Lakanto maple syrup or honey and enjoy.

Notes

This recipe makes 2-3 waffles in a Dash mini Waffle maker, or one 8 inch waffle in a standard Dash waffle iron.

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© JuliaK
Category: Breakfast

 

 

Best Ever Gluten Free Fudge Brownies

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My favorite chocolate childhood dessert, easy pan brownies, just got a makeover. These gluten free fudge brownies are every bit as chewy and gooey as I remember. They’re so full of chocolate fudgy goodness, everyone swears they just can’t be GF.

one bowl gluten free brownies recipe

When You’re a Packrat and you Love Food…

Ok, so I have become my mother. I keep EVERYTHING! But it totally pays off. (I’m trying to convince my husband of this 😛 ) Because of my mother’s and mine packrat tendencies, I’ve been able to keep gems like this.

How to Make Gluten free Brownies

This is my mother’s old recipe box. From my earliest memory it always sat on our kitchen counter. By some miracle, it’s survived over four decades, a house fire, and a flood.

Tucked inside are my mother’s favorite handwritten recipes, recipes she cut out of magazines and glued on index cards, and even a few my Aunt Shirley shared. They’re like foodie snapshots from my childhood. Going through the index cards is like taking a foodie time machine back to my childhood.

As soon as I rediscovered the box, I went right to a certain spot. Momma had them in alphabetical of course, but I had a favorite recipe I kept tucked way in the back because it was my favorite. One Pan Brownies.

Gluten Free Pan Brownies Recipe Card

It’s the first dish I remember making from an actual recipe I could read by myself. I held it lovingly in my hands and felt super nostalgic. I wanted to make these again, so I made them over to be gluten free. 

I wasn’t sure how it would taste. Gluten free cooking can be so finicky. Could it be as easy as swapping the flour out for GF flour? 

Most recipes don’t work out so well when you swap gluten free flour for regular flour, but I tried it and, OMG, it tasted just like I remember.

One Bowl Gluten Free Brownies

I think the reason why this recipe was so easy for an 8 year old to make is because everything gets mixed up in one pot. Just melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan and then stir in the other ingredients. Pour into a square pan, bake, and bam, you’ve got the easiest gluten free chocolate brownies you’ve ever made.

When I was a kid Momma kept Baker’s chocolate in the pantry, so that’s what I would use to make the brownies. I wanted a richer chocolate flavor, especially since GF baked goods can taste ho hum. So I switched out the Baker’s squares for Guittard semisweet baking bars. It definitely amped up the chocolate flavor and made these brownies gooey!

I swapped out regular flour for King Arthur’s all purpose gluten free flour and had great results. If you use a different brand (or use your own blend) please let me know how your brownies turned out in the comments below and I’ll add it to the post for other readers.

If avoiding xanthan gum is your goal, you’ll be happy to know that I didn’t add any and, in my opinion, this recipe doesn’t need it. The texture is just like the fudge-like brownies you remember eating when wheat wasn’t a problem.

Yield: 9 pieces

Best Ever Gluten Free Fudge Brownies

one bowl gluten free brownies recipe

My favorite chocolate childhood dessert, easy pan brownies, just got a makeover. These gluten free fudge brownies are every bit as chewy and gooey as I remember. They're so full of chocolate fudgy goodness, everyone swears they just can't be GF.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Sift the flour and baking powder together.
  3. Over low heat, melt butter and chocolate in a saucepan.
  4. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in the remaining ingredients, adding the eggs last so they won't cook.
  5. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool then cut into squares.

Notes

  • For extra gooey fudginess, sub chocolate chips for half the nuts. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped nuts.

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© JuliaK
Category: Desserts

Gluten Free Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings

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The comfort food favorite chicken and dumplings gets a gluten free makeover. It’s a southern classic so delicious even your non-GF friends and family will ask for seconds.

Gluten Free Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings

I Refuse to Settle for “Good for Gluten Free”

I used to fall into the “good for gluten free” trap. I settled for sub par tasting GF versions of the real thing because I didn’t think I could make them taste as good as the original.

This meant I’d make two different meals, a wheatless version for me and an original for my family because they didn’t like how mine tasted. Major time suck!

So I decided about a year ago to stretch my GF cooking skills to make dishes that would taste so amazing my family wouldn’t even realize what they were eating was gluten free.

And when my husband asked me to make him chicken and dumplings, I knew I had to knock it out of the ballpark.

My challenge? To make homemade gluten free chicken and dumplings so good my husband would have to ask me, “is this really gluten free?”

How to Make the Best Ever Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings

My husband has always been really supportive since I’ve had to go gluten free, and at this stage he’d never ask me to make something for him that I couldn’t eat, too. He’s always up for eating gluten free with me! (or at least giving it a shot 😛 )

I work long and weird hours during the week, so Sunday afternoons have become the time I go all out on dinner. I usually make a hearty homemade dinner and dessert. My son and DIL have figured this out, so they usually make it a point to visit on Sundays. With company coming over, I knew my flourless dumplings had to be on point.

I’ve found that the secret to making a GF dish taste so good no one can tell it’s gluten free is to use quality ingredients to amp up the flavor.  I used a quality chicken bone broth as the base for my soup, and homemade broth would be awesome, too. But, please, for all that is holy, don’t use a cheapo brand. Trust me, you taste what you pay for.

Instead of going the typical frozen vegetable route, I used fresh carrots, potatoes, and onions, but I did use frozen green peas just because finding fresh is hard if they’re not in season and canned peas are mushy.

Let’s face it, the best part of chicken and dumplings are the dumplings.  I use King Arthur’s all purpose flour because they make my drop dumplings fluffy and tender, but feel free to try your favorite all purpose GF blend and let me know your results.

Helpful Tips For Making Tasty Wheat Free Chicken and Dumplings

  • Add fresh chopped herbs like parsley, chives, rosemary, and thyme to the dumpling batter. 
  • Use all purpose gluten free flour, not measure for measure gluten free flour.
  • Don’t add the cornstarch directly to the soup. Whisk the cornstarch into milk, then stir it into the soup mixture. Remember, you’re going for smooth and creamy, not lumpy and goopy. 
  • I bought a rotisserie chicken and cut the breast meat into chunks. It saved time and added a lot of flavor.
  • If you don’t have baking powder, that’s okay. These dumplings still fluff up well and taste great if you leave out the baking powder.
  • Once you’ve dropped the dumplings into the stew, cover with a tight fitting lid and resist the urge to peek for the 15 minute cook time.  (That’s my Momma’s secret to cooking fluffy drop dumplings 🙂 )
Yield: 6 Servings

Gluten Free Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings

Gluten Free Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings

The comfort food favorite chicken and dumplings gets a gluten free makeover. It's a southern classic so delicious even your non-GF friends and family will ask for seconds.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken Soup

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 large cooked chicken breasts, chopped
  • 2 small onions, diced
  • 2 small potatoes, cubed
  • 1 cup slice carrots
  • 1 cup frozen English peas
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 tbsp gluten free cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper

Dumplings

Instructions

  1. In a 6 qt dutch oven, saute the onions in a drizzle of oil until soft.
  2. Next, add the chicken broth, chicken, remaining vegetables and salt and pepper and bring to a rolling boil.
  3. While the soup mixture comes to a boil, whisk 1 cup of milk and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to the chicken soup, stirring well. Continue to boil for 5 minutes, or until it starts to thicken,
  4. In a small bowl, mix the dry dumpling ingredients together with a fork, then add 1/3 cup milk, melted better, and egg. Stir until it just comes together. You'll have a wet, ragged dough.
  5. Drop by rounded tablespoons into the boiling soup mixture. Cover, reduce heat, and let simmer for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid before 15 minutes is up.
  6. Remove from heat and serve. Enjoy! 🙂

Notes

  • You must use all purpose gluten free flour. Do not use measure for measure gluten free flour.
  • Do not lift the lid to check on or stir the chicken and dumplings before the 15 minutes is up. It will release the steam and your dumplings won't be as fluffy.
  • To cut down on prep time and add a boost of flavor, use the chicken breasts from a store bought rotisserie chicken.
  • This recipe is versatile. Leave out the dumplings and add rice or gluten free noodles for a hearty gluten free chicken soup.

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© JuliaK
Category: Dinners

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Easy Gluten Free Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Goof Proof Salted Caramel Frosting

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A fluffy and rich salted caramel frosting to take your cupcakes and cakes from ho hum to OMG. This simple old fashioned caramel icing recipe tastes like  grandma’s and it will become your go to homemade frosting.

Easy gluten free caramel frosting recipe

When You Want to Make Homemade Frosting, but You Have No Skills…

The other day I had a huge craving for a spice cake like my Aunt Dorothy used to make, so I whipped up a batch of gluten free spice cupcakes.  When it came to frosting them though, I wanted to do something other than the typical cream cheese frosting that always gets paired with spice cake.

I didn’t know what kind of frosting I was going to make, I just knew I wanted something different. To be honest with you, up until a few months ago I’ve always being frosting challenged. I know it sounds stupid to be frosting impaired, but no lie, the only one I could make was a powdered sugar glaze, and even that was questionable some days. 😛

While flipping through one of Momma’s old cookbooks, I saw this boiled caramel icing recipe. I saw the word “boil” and I was like, heck, no. I’m even less capable of using a candy thermometer as I am of making frosting from scratch. Soft ball? Hard ball? That requires too much effort. *Sigh* I’m a lazy baker. LOL

But when I looked closer at the recipe, I saw I didn’t have to use a candy thermometer at all, I just had to let it boil for 5 minutes. I could do that!

In fact, this quick caramel frosting recipe is so easy, I nailed it the first time I made it. Yeah, now I’ve got frosting skills. 😉

How Do you Make Caramel Frosting?

The reason why I was hesitant to make this recipe is because it basically starts off with a caramel base. I tried to make caramel once and it turned out to be a burnt sugary mess. Did not want a repeat of that!

But this recipe is goof proof, right? For this frosting, start off by bringing the butter, brown sugar and milk to a boil, boil for 5 minutes. Pour into a mixer bowl, add the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt and beat until cool and fluffy. Voila, you’re done!

How to Make Sure Your Caramel Icing is Gluten Free

  • Powdered Sugar. Most powdered sugar brands contain cornstarch or tapioca starch. Some brands do use a starch that has wheat in it, so always check the label or make your own.
  • Brown Sugar. Brown sugar is just molasses and white sugar, so no worries about it containing gluten. Of course, always double check the label. Better safe than sorry!
Yield: About 2 cups

Goof Proof Salted Caramel Frosting

Best whipped brown sugar caramel frosting recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 tbsp butter, room temperature

Instructions

  1. Sift together the powdered sugar and salt.
  2. In a small pan, bring the brown sugar, 1/4 cup of the milk, and butter to a boil over medium heat. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes.
  3. Pour mixture into the mixer bowl and stir in the powdered sugar and the rest of the milk. Beat on high for 10 minutes or until cooled and fluffy, adding more milk if the frosting is too thick.
  4. Makes about 2 cups or enough to frost a dozen cupcakes, a 13 x 9 cake, or a 2 layer, 9 inch cake.

Notes

  • Do not stir while the caramel frosting is boiling because it will make it grainy.

© JuliaK
Category: Desserts

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Quick salted caramel frosting for cupcakes and cakes

Use This Frosting to Decorate Cakes

If you’re frosting a cake, you may need to add extra milk so it spreads easier. If you’re using it for piping, you’ll want a thicker consistency. I used a Wilton 2D tip to frost my cupcakes, and you can see how nice they look.

This recipe makes an indulgent and rich gluten free caramel cake filling, too.

Moist and Fluffy Gluten Free Spice Cupcakes

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Biting into these gluten free spice cupcakes is like taking a nibble out of Autumn. These flourless cupcakes are moist, fluffy and taste a-maz-ing. It’s the perfect GF Fall dessert.

Easy Homemade Gluten Free Spice Cake Recipe

A Classic Fall Dessert

Do you have certain foods that as soon as you take a bite it takes you back to when you were a kid? That one bite is an instant time machine. You remember the smell, the taste, the house, and who made it.

Well, spice cupcakes are my time machine. Eating it takes me back to my Aunt Dorothy’s house in the wintertime. I loved to eat them right after it came out of the oven. They were warm and moist and tasted like a little hunk of love.

I feel like spice cake only feels the love between September and Christmas. It’s like as soon as the days get shorter and the temps start to dip the spice cravings start kicking in and we all go into a spice frenzy.

It’s a shame, too, because anytime is a good time for spice cake, especially cupcakes.

As far as cake goes, my taste buds rank spice cake up there right next to chocolate cake. It’s one of my favorites I don’t eat often enough anymore. I have to admit I’ve been guilty of saving spice cupcakes for the Fall, but this year it’s going to be different.

This delicious gluten free spice cupcake recipe will satisfy your craving for homemade Fall treats.

How to Make Gluten Free Spice Cupcakes Moist

There’s definitely a knack to baking a moist gluten free cupcake, and sometimes it seems like I hit the jackpot with one recipe only to have to throw the next one in the garbage can.

This flourless spice cupcake recipe, though, is a keeper. It’s soft and fluffy and easy to make. To make sure you end up with yummy cake and not a dried out paperweight, try this tip:

Whisk the eggs until frothy, add the sugar and molasses, and then beat for at least five minutes. I know that sounds like overkill, but I’m not exaggerating here and it’s a step you won’t want to skip.

Gluten free flour by its nature doesn’t raise as well as regular flour, even if you add baking powder or soda. Beating the eggs until they’re frothy helps to give you that soft and fluffy cake texture that mimics wheat laden cakes.

How to make the best gluten free cupcakes from scratch

 

How to Make Gluten Free Baking Less Dense

When I first started baking gluten free cakes, I nearly gave up. It seemed like I made more duds than winners. I couldn’t get a cake to come out with a decent texture to save my life. They were so dense, it wasn’t even edible sometimes.

Here’s two tips that’s helped my cakes and cupcakes soft and fluffy:

Use a cup for cup gluten free blend. Years ago when I became gluten intolerant there wasn’t much in the way of gluten free flour blends. A single flour doesn’t bake well, so you’d have to add things like potato starch, xanthan gum, etc. I never could make the perfect blend and my cakes were always heavy and dense.

I’ve tried several measure for measure blends, but never had good results until I tried King Arthur’s Measure for measure baking flour. I’ve been cooking with it a while and it’s never let me down. If you already have a favorite cup for cup blend, try it out with this recipe and let me know how it turns out. 🙂

Sift the flour before you measure, then scoop it into your measuring cup and level off with a knife. Gluten free flour can be dense. Like, hockey puck dense. So if you scoop out a cup of flour and add it to your batter, you could be adding as much as 1/4 cup of flour to your recipe which makes your baked goods dried out and heavy.

What Kind of Frosting Can I Use for Spice Cake?

The most popular frosting that gets paired with spice cake is cream cheese frosting, but what happens if you want an icing that’s out of the box? Try one of these:

Yield: 15 Cupcakes

Moist and Fluffy Gluten Free Spice Cupcakes

Moist and Fluffy Gluten Free Spice Cupcakes

Biting into these gluten free spice cupcakes is like taking a nibble out of Autumn. These flourless cupcakes are moist, fluffy and the taste is a-maz-ing. It's the perfect GF Fall dessert.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line or grease a large muffin pan.
  2. Sift together the dry ingredients.
  3. Beat the eggs until thick and fluffy. Add the sugar and molasses and beat until frothy, at least five minutes.
  4. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk, mixing well with each addition. Next, add in the melted butter and stir until well combined.
  5. Fill cupcake wells 2/3 full. Bake for 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool, then frost with your favorite frosting. (My Quick and Easy Salted Caramel Frosting tastes amazing with these cupcakes!)

Notes

  • If you don't have sour milk or buttermilk on hand, add 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice to the 1 cup of milk. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until thick and curdled.
  • Sift the flour before measuring, spoon into your measuring cup, and level off with a knife.

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© JuliaK
Category: Desserts

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Moist gluten free spice cupcakes recipe from scratch

 

Authentic Southern Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe

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What do collard greens and vegetable soup have in common? Neither of them are complete unless there’s a piece of crusty cornbread to go along with it. When you think of cast iron skillet cornbread, you can’t go wrong with this authentic Southern gluten free cornbread recipe.

Easy Southern Style Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe

Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

For the most part, just about every family in the South has a cornbread recipe and a cast iron skillet that’s been passed down for generations. Some cooks, like my Aunt Dorothy, made a flat cornbread that didn’t use any leavening. Others, like Momma, made cornbread that was fluffy on the inside and crusty on the outside.

But one thing they’d both agree on…true Southern style cornbread MUST be baked in a cast iron skillet and must NEVER have sugar in it.

Like most Southern kids, I got my daily dose of cornbread. Momma made it everyday because my dad had to have it with dinner every night. So imagine how heartbroken I was when I couldn’t eat gluten anymore. 🙁

I tried making cornbread with plain cornmeal, but it was way too course and it wasn’t like Momma’s cornbread. I kind of accepted the fact that I was never going to have the cornbread I loved as a kid. Here lately, I’ve fallen in love with King Arthur measure for measure flour, so I decided to try it my cornbread recipe.

OMG, ya’ll, it tastes just like I remember. This easy recipe is the best homemade gluten free cornbread I think I’ve ever made!

How to Make Cornbread with Gluten Free Flour

Luckily with King Arthur gluten free flour I didn’t really have to change my mom’s recipe much, but it does have to have a little extra prep to get a good and tasty result.

I’ve found that when baking with gluten free flour you have to sift…a lot. To avoid the dreaded dried out hockey puck that happens so often in gluten free cooking, follow these simple steps:

  • Sift the flour before you measure it.
  • Spoon it lightly into your measuring cup and level the top without packing the flour down.
  • Sift it again with your other dry ingredients.

I’ve always been a lazy baker, but that had to change once I started making wheatless goodies.

Me pre-GF: “Sift? Nope, ain’t nobody got time for that. Throw it all in there, stir it up, and we’re good to go.”

Me now: “Sift, sift, sift. I love to sift.”

Gluten free flour can be very dense. If you don’t sift your flour you’ll end up with more flour in your recipe, which is why so many times your gluten free baked goods come out hard and dry.

I’ve actually tested this out. This skillet cornbread recipe calls for 1/2 cup flour. I measured 1/2 cup flour, sifted it, and then spooned it back into my 1/2 cup. I had about a tablespoon of flour left over.

I’ve tested this out on a lot of recipes. I always have leftover flour. So if you never get good texture when you bake GF, try sifting before you measure your flour.

Best Cast Iron GF Cornbread Recipe

                              Looks delicious, doesn’t it? Enjoy your cornbread with a bowl of the best gluten free chili!

Is All Cornmeal Gluten Free?

Watch closely when you buy your cornmeal. There’s cornmeal that’s plain ground corn with some added vitamins, and then there’s self-rising cornmeal mix. The cornmeal mix has wheat flour in it, so double check the ingredients to make sure you are buying plain ground cornmeal.

Yield: 8 Servings

Authentic Southern Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe

Authentic Southern Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe

A Southern style gluten free cornbread recipe that's easy to make and of course tastes best baked in a cast iron skillet.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 F.
  2. Put the shortening or bacom grease into a cast iron skillet and place in the oven.
  3. Sift and then measure the gluten free flour.
  4. Add the other dry ingredients to the flour and sift again.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until foamy and then add the buttermilk.
  6. And the rest of the dry ingredients and stir well. The batter will be runny.
  7. Take the hot skilled from the oven and pour the batter onto the hot grease.
  8. Put the skilled back into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Notes

  • Don't skip the sifting before you measure step. Your texture will be off.
  • Don't have buttermilk? No problem! Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the milk and let it set for a few minutes to curdle.
  • If you want true authentic Southern cornbread flavor, use bacon grease.
  • Use this recipe to make gluten free cornbread stuffing.

© JuliaK
Category: Uncategorized

Tips For Making the Perfect GF Skillet Cornbread

  • Sift!
  • Grease your pan with bacon drippings.
  • Use a cast iron skillet
  • Do not add sugar! (Ok, so maybe this part is optional, it’s just not authentic. 🙂 )

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Cast Iron Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe

The Best Gluten Free Chili Recipe for Two

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A yummy gluten free chili recipe that makes just the right amount for two people. Whip it up and have it on the table in less than 35 minutes. It’s the perfect weeknight comfort food.

How to Make Gluten Free Chili

Happy Fall, Ya’ll…It’s Chili Time!

When the days get shorter and the temperature dips, around here that means chili weather.

Now, I know you’re probably thinking, Julia, seriously, you’re in Florida. You don’t have Fall.

Okay, so my Fall and your Fall are probably two totally different animals. But here in Florida, when it dips below 68, it’s Fall.

And, to me, that means chili weather.

Back in the day when I came home from school and saw that that pot of chili simmering on the back of the stove, I knew dinner was going to be awesome!

Chili, shredded cheese, crackers…OMG. Best. Dinner. Ever.

Navigating the comfort food waters can be tricky when you’re gluten intolerant. But my quick and easy chili is wheat free, fabulous, and the perfect small batch recipe for two.

How Do You Make Gluten Free Chili?

Going through Autumn without having chili for dinner at least two (or 10) times is a sin.

Luckily, it’s easy to make chili gluten free, so I can easily meet my chili quota for the season.

Many recipes add flour or masa to thicken chili. Instead, I don’t add as much liquid and keep everything chunky which makes this GF chili thick and hearty.

Canned beans are almost always gluten free, (I use Bush’s) but, of course, always check your ingredients to be sure they’re certified gluten free. This will guarantee you your chili is wheatless.

This Recipe Makes a Small Batch

I’ve always been someone who can cook for a crowd, which wasn’t a problem when my son lived with us. But now that it’s just my husband and me, I’ve had a hard time cooking for two but I’m learning. 🙂

This recipe is perfect for two people. It makes about four bowls of chili, which means my husband gets his two bowls, and I get one for dinner and one for lunch the next day.

Gluten Free Chili Recipe Tips

This one pot dinner is very economical. I often buy ground pork because it’s cheaper than ground beef. It’s not as greasy, and now I actually prefer the taste of pork chili rather than beef.

I make this recipe using a dutch oven, but it also cooks great in a crockpot. Just brown your meat and vegetables, throw it in the crockpot, and let it simmer all day.

This hearty chili is a meal in itself, just pair it with southern style gluten free cornbread and finish it up with a moist and fluffy GF spice cupcake.

Yield: 4 Bowls

The Best Gluten Free Chili Recipe for Two

How to Make Gluten Free Chili

A yummy gluten free chili recipe that makes just the right amount for two people. Whip it up and have it on the table in less than 35 minutes. It's the perfect weeknight comfort food.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
  • (1) 13.4 ounce chili or kidney beans
  • 10 ounces of ground pork or beef
  • 1 tbsp chicken stock concentrate
  • (1) 13.76 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  1. Finely chop the onion and the seeded poblano pepper. Mince the garlic and rinse and drain the beans in a colander.
  2. Add the pork and seasonings to a large pan. Cook on medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain any fat and transfer to a bowl.
  3. Add a bit of oil to the same pan and add the onions, poblano pepper, and garlic. Cook over medium heat. Cook until brown and softened. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Add the cooked meat, chicken stock concentrate, beans, tomatoes and 1/2 cup of water to the pan. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes until thickened.

Notes

Instead of simmering on the stove, I use a Lodge dutch oven as a slow cooker and cook in the oven at 250 F for 3-4 hours.

Of course, you can also use a crockpot, too!

© JuliaK
Category: Dinners

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Easy Gluten Free Chili Recipe for Two People

Fast and Easy Gluten Free Mexican Chicken Casserole

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Gluten free Mexican chicken casserole that’s low carb, too. This quick and simple GF casserole is a one dish meal that will become your family’s favorite Tex Mex dish. The perfect weeknight meal when you have to get dinner on the table in a hurry.

Gluten Free Low Carb Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe

Mexican Cooking, the GF Way

I have loved Mexican food practically my whole life. My mom really didn’t do a whole lot of Mexican cooking,(aside from tacos here or there) so any Mexican I got came from Aunt Myrtle.

Her specialty was chicken enchilada casserole. OMG, when we went to visit and it was in the oven, you knew it was going to be a great night.

When I got older, she gave me her recipe. Since I found out I was gluten intolerant, I have to say it’s one of the recipes I miss the most.

Right after I went gluten free, I didn’t know I could eat corn tortillas. I was trying to watch carbs at the time, too, so instead, I came up with this gluten free Mexican chicken casserole so I could have my Mexican fix.

No, it’s not the same as Aunt Myrtle’s enchilada casserole. Not even close. But this quick and easy casserole is amazingly delicious all on its own.

Gluten Free Cooking Doesn’t have to Mean Time Consuming Cooking

Back before I was gluten free, it was a cinch to throw a last minute dinner together. Add some meat, some potatoes, a powdered gravy mix, and a can of creamy condensed soup together and you could have a really great tasting dinner in no time flat.

Gluten free low carb cooking can be very time consuming because you can’t add prepackaged ingredients that add flavor and cut the cook time.  And while I love taking the time to cook a healthy gluten free dinner, when I’m working late it’s just not an option.

I’ve made it my mission to come up with quick gluten free dinners to keep in my back pocket for times like that, especially recipes like this low carb wheat free Mexican chicken casserole. But you’ve got to get creative to make a casserole gluten free, low carb, and tasty. Tortillas and beans were out.

Tips to Making a Great GF Mexican Chicken Casserole:

  • To save time, I used frozen cooked cubed chicken breast and frozen fajita peppers and onions mix. If you want to make yours from absolute scratch, cube two cups of leftover chicken breast and use one cup sliced onions and one cup sliced peppers.
  • Try this with beef instead! Tastes just like tacos with a little crunch. To make the beef version, brown 1 pound hamburger and use in place of the 2 cups chicken.
Yield: 6 servings

Fast and Easy Gluten Free Mexican Chicken Casserole

Gluten Free Low Carb Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe

This quick and simple gluten free Mexican Chicken casserole is a one dish meal that's low carb, too. The perfect quick gluten free weeknight dinner.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken, cut into cubes
  • 1 cup sliced onions
  • 1 cup sliced red and green peppers
  • 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilies
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Grease a 9x13 casserole dish. Empty the can of tomatoes into the dish and then add the oil, water, and spices and mix well.
  3. Next, add the chicken and vegetables and stir to coat. Dot the cream cheese cubes across the top.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes.
  5. Remove from oven and stir, blending in the cream cheese. Add shredded cheese and return to stove. Cook for 10 more minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving.
© JuliaK
Category: Dinners

Wheatless Mexican Bake Step by Step:

Low Carb Mexican Casserole

Preheat the oven to 400F. Lightly grease a 9×13 Pyrex casserole dish. Pour in one 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chilies.

Add 2 tbsp melted organic coconut oil, 2 tsp organic chili powder, 2 tsp organic cumin, 1 tsp organic garlic powder, 1 tsp organic onion powder, 1/2 tsp organic dried oregano, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper and mix well.

quick gluten free casserole

Add two cups cubed cooked chicken and two cups peppers and onions. Add 1/2 cup of water and mix well. Cut an 8 ounce block of cream cheese into 1/4 inch cubes and dot across the top of the casserole. Bake for 20 minutes.

GF cheesy chicken casserole

Remove from oven and stir in the cream cheese until melted and blended in. Add two cups shredded cheese and return to the oven. Bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

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Simple Gluten Free Mexican Chicken Casserole

Healthy Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Healthy gluten free chocolate chip cookies made from scratch. These easy gluten free cookies are soft, gooey, and made without xanthan gum. It’s truly the perfect GF chocolate chip cookie.

Healthy gluten free chocolate chip cookies recipe

Mmm….Cookies

I remember when I was little, my mother would bake cookies and treats for a week the first of December to box up and ship to my brother for Christmas.

I loved being in the kitchen and helping her. I was small, so I don’t know how much help I really was (other than to eat the cookies!) but I think that’s when my love affair with cookies began.

I’ve rarely met a cookie I didn’t like, but chocolate chip cookies are hands down my favorite. I’m kind of picky about them, though. I only like them if they’re soft and gooey. If they’re crunchy, I just won’t touch them.

How Do you Make Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies?

So when I went gluten free and low carb, I was kind of bummed I had to give up cookies.

I’d try a GF chocolate chip cookie recipe here and there, but they never did the trick for me. More often than not they were crunchy and crumbly. I wanted a chocolate chip cookie that was gluten free AND soft and gooey.

I can’t remember where now, but a few years ago I came across a blog where they were discussing leaving eggs out of cookie recipes completely and using liquid to get a gooey texture.

I had just started baking with xylitol honey, so I decided to do a little experimenting to see if I could come up with really good gluten free chocolate chip cookies from scratch.

After a few batches, I nailed it. The result was an easy gluten free chocolate chip cookie recipe that met my soft and gooey standard.

Food Intolerances? Give These a Try

Before I found out I was gluten intolerant, I never really thought much about food allergies or special diets. I didn’t know anyone who had dietary requirements either, so it just wasn’t on my radar.

Now I know how tough it is to watch other people eat good tasting treats and I’m stuck with the same old same old. And that stinks!

That’s why I like this chocolate chip cookie recipe,  it ticks all the right boxes for several diets:

  • Gluten Free
  • Dairy Free (substitute dairy free chocolate chips)
  • Vegan (substitute vegan chocolate chips)
  • Vegetarian
  • Keto/low carb

Important Tips to Getting the Perfect GF Cookie

This really is my go-to cookie recipe now, and I make them a lot. I’ve tried changing up the ingredients at times and I had to throw them out. I have a couple of tips to make sure you get the best results:

  • Do not double this recipe! This recipe only makes a dozen cookies, and they don’t last long. I’ve tried to double it, but they turn out awful and I’m not sure why.
  • This recipe only works with xylitol honey or xylitol maple syrup!  I thought I’d be smart once and buy sugar free honey from the store instead of ordering xylitol honey. The result was a plastic looking, plastic tasting cookie.
  • You must use both almond flour and coconut flour. If you only have one flour or the other, don’t assume you can substitute all coconut flour for the almond flour or vice versa. You’ll have either goop or hockey pucks if you do.
  • Xylitol can be harmful to dogs. Use caution when using around your four legged friends!
Yield: 1 Dozen

Healthy Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Healthy gluten free chocolate chip cookies recipe

Healthy gluten free chocolate chip cookies made from scratch. These easy gluten free cookies are soft, gooey, and made without xanthan gum. It's truly the perfect GF chocolate chip cookie.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Add the first eight ingredients and mix well. Fold in the chocolate chips and/or nuts.
  3. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake 15-17 minutes or until slightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool. Once they've set slightly, remove to rack to finish cooling.

Notes

  • Do not double this recipe!
  • This recipe only works with xylitol honey or xylitol maple syrup. My experience with sugar free honey resulted in a plastic looking, plastic tasting cookie.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

© JuliaK
Category: Desserts

Looking for Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Xanthan Gum?

I’ve never done a lot of cooking with xanthan gum. I’m not against using it, it was just an ingredient I couldn’t find when I first started baking gluten free so I didn’t use them in my recipes.

Since then I’ve realized a lot of people can’t digest xanthan gum well, but have problems finding GF recipes without it.

This is a flourless chocolate chip cookie recipe that doesn’t need the xanthan gum to have a normal texture. I hope you’ll find these as yummy as I do! 🙂

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Soft and chewy gluten free chocolate chip cookies

 

How to Make Gluten Free Fudge in 3 Easy Steps

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Easy gluten free fudge. Forget the guilt when you bite into this healthy Holiday dessert. Learn how to make gluten free fudge in 3 simple steps.

Easy low carb gluten free fudge candy

Coconut Oil Fudge

I always wondered as a child, especially when my mother was making me eat Brussels sprouts, why God didn’t make healthy food taste like chocolate? To my six-year-old mind it made perfect sense. If it’s supposed to be good for you, why didn’t it taste, you know, good?

Fast forward a little over 30 years later and I still don’t like Brussels sprouts, but I am still in love chocolate.

I still wonder why a lot of healthy dishes don’t taste out of this world amazing, but I have found one yummy healthy dessert that gives me all the chocolate feels.

Fudge made with coconut oil.

Coconut oil fudge is a delicious way to get healthy fat into your diet when you’re low carb or keto.

I use it as an excuse to eat chocolate. Oh, I’ve got to get more fats into my diet. Better eat me some fudge.

Darn.

Sometimes I’ll eat it for a snack, other times I have a piece or two in the morning with my tea if I’m not very hungry. I make my friends choke when they ask me what I had for breakfast that day and I casually tell them fudge. They think I’ve fell off the wagon, but I know I’m really eating healthy.

Healthy Christmas Fudge

I don’t know what it is about the holidays and sweets, but you can’t seem to have one without the other.

I used to bake batches of  cookies and other sweets for Christmas. Since I became gluten intolerant, I’ve had to revamp all of my recipes, even the Christmas standbys.

Fudge always reminds me of Grandma in Missouri. She made the best fudge I’ve ever tasted because she used black walnuts. They have a distinctive flavor that doesn’t even resemble typical English walnuts. I’m here in Florida, and it’s a nut that’s not grown down here.

To me, fudge isn’t fudge without black walnuts, and I’ve kept her tradition by adding black walnuts to my gluten free fudge, but you can replace it with your favorite nut or don’t use any nuts at all.

To sweeten my coconut oil chocolate fudge without making it gritty and grainy, I used Confectioner’s Swerve. This is a no-cook fudge recipe, and that’s why you can’t use a granulated sweetener. It won’t dissolve, and you’ll be left with a grainy crunchy goop.

Yield: 12 servings

Easy Gluten Free Fudge

Easy low carb gluten free fudge candy

Easy gluten free fudge. Forget the guilt when you bite into this healthy Holiday dessert. Learn how to make gluten free fudge in 3 simple steps.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Line a small loaf pan with waxed or parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, mix oil, cocoa, sweeteners, vanilla, and salt. Combine well. Pour mixture into lined loaf pan. Refrigerate for an hour. Remove your chilled fudge and sprinkle nuts on top. This is to keep them from sinking to the bottom.
  3. Return to refrigerator. When your fudge is solid, remove from loaf pan. Using a large knife, cut into small squares. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

Notes

Do not use a granulated sweetener or sugar. This is a no-cook fudge recipe and the sugar won't dissolve. Do not store at room temperature as your fudge will melt in temperatures above 76F.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

© JuliaK
Category: Desserts

Does Fudge Have Gluten?

Gluten is a sneaky little booger. It hides in foods you never thought could contain gluten. A standard fudge recipe typically won’t have gluten, but using uncertified ingredients can make everything go downhill fast.

So instead of giving friends the third degree about what they put into their fudge before I eat it, I find it’s easier to just make my own.

So when making this simple GF fudge recipe, be sure to use only ingredients that are labeled gluten free. But you knew that already, didn’t you. 😉

How Do you Make Fudge with Cocoa Powder? Is that Even Possible? :-/

Most traditional fudge recipes are made with cocoa powder. It’s only been the last few decades that fudge recipes have popped up that’s made from melted chocolate.

Grandma would be proud I’m making fudge with cocoa powder, just like she did when I was a kid. However, this recipe is so much simpler than hers because it’s not cooked to the soft ball stage.

So if you haven’t tried old school fudge made with cocoa powder, give this quick and easy GF recipe a try.

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Healthy Gluten Free Fudge recipe