Don’t Do Without – A Celiac’s Guide to Safe Takeout!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in Recipes on December 4, 2014
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned since being diagnosed with Celiac disease is that if I am craving a food, I can either make it at home or find a reasonable take-out solution with a little bit of research. This is really valuable at busy times of the year, like in the weeks leading up to Christmas!
Here are our top ideas so that you can satisfy your cravings with some gluten-free goodies.
What’s For Dinner? Easy Pan-Fried Fish!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in What's For Dinner on November 21, 2014
Why We Love It
This meal from reader Dave is the perfect fast, easy weeknight treat. You probably have all the ingredients required in your pantry right now!
Ingredients
- 4 fish fillets, thawed and at room temperature
- ½ cup gluten-free flour (any blend will do)
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Canola oil for frying
- One 355 mL can club soda or gluten-free beer (like Glutenberg Blonde), refrigerated
Method
- Put enough oil in a large frying pan just so it covers the bottom. Place on stovetop and heat on medium until the oil is hot (shimmering but not smoking – about 400 degrees).
- Mix the dry ingredients together. Place about ¾ of the mixture into a wide bowl and the remaining mixture on a plate.
- Slowly add the liquid to the bowl of dry mixture until the mixture is slightly thicker than pancake batter. (You may not need the entire can of liquid.)
- Pat fish dry with paper towel.
- Dredge fish fillets in the reserve mixture on the plate and then dip into the wet mixture.
- Carefully place fish in oil. Cook two to three minutes per side.
- Serve with a slice of lemon and enjoy!
Tips
- You can customize this dish by swapping out the spices for different ones. However, don’t leave out the salt or baking powder.
- This dish pairs perfectly with these oven-baked fries.
- If you’re looking for a deep-fryer recipe, try my dad’s secret concoction!
(Original Source: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/03/gluten-free-beer-battered-fish-fry.html)
What’s For Dinner? Honey Garlic Chicken Bites!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in What's For Dinner on November 12, 2014
Why We Love It
Chinese night is a staple in our house, and this dish adds another item to the menu!
Ingredients – Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients – Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce (like San-J)
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce (you can use less if you like)
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Working in batches, dip chicken into eggs and then the breadcrumbs.
- Add chicken to prepared baking dish. Place into oven and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 15-20 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine honey, garlic, soy sauce, and Sriracha sauce. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and ⅓ cup water. Stir mixture into the saucepan until thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
- Once chicken is cooked, toss the chicken in the sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
- Enjoy!
Tips
- To make your own crispy gluten-free breadcrumbs, put a few slices of gluten-free bread through the food processor and then toast them in the oven for a few minutes. This is an especially good way to use up the ends of bread!
- Serve this dish with gluten-free chicken fried rice for a total takeout experience.
(Original Source:
http://damndelicious.net/2014/07/25/baked-honey-garlic-chicken/)
Taste Testing Pillsbury Pizza Dough!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in Products on October 28, 2014
The Product
Before you get excited, I’ll confirm that Pillsbury gluten-free pizza dough is not yet available in Canada. However, hopefully their recent Canadian launch of other gluten-free products has done well enough that they’ll consider bringing it here.
I picked up a 360-gram tub of Pillsbury gluten-free pizza dough at Whole Foods Market while in the U.S. recently for $3.99.
The Test
We had friends over unexpectedly on the weekend, so I decided this was a good time to try out the new dough. I prepared and baked it pretty much as instructed: cut the dough ball in half, flattened each piece into a pizza shape, par-baked it for 11 minutes, added toppings, and baked for about 5 more minutes. The only thing different was that I didn’t flip it between the two baking steps since I had put it in the pan incorrectly the first time (with the crust part up instead of down).
We made a classic margherita-style pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning, as well as a caramelized onion and bacon pizza.
What’s For Dinner? Classic Beef Braise!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in Recipes on September 27, 2014
Why We Love It
This recipe is great for preparing on a chilly fall Sunday and makes plenty of leftovers for the week ahead. Follow the directions below for a family of four, or double for leftovers. This recipe also freezes very well.
Ingredients
- 1 strip of bacon, cut into a large dice
- 1 ½ carrots, diced
- 1 ½ stalks of celery, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
- 1 pound stewing beef, cut into two-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- ½ cup gluten-free beef broth or stock
- ¾ cups water
- ½ cup dry red wine
- ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and whole)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp. dried)
- ½ cup red or white pearled onions
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large oven-safe saucepan, sauté the bacon strips until fat starts to render. Add carrots, celery, and onions. Cook until vegetables are tender and fragrant (about six minutes).
- Remove bacon and vegetables. Set aside. Drain bacon fat from pan.
- In shallow dish, combine flour, salt, and pepper to taste. Dredge beef in flour mixture until lightly coated. Shake off excess.
- Add canola oil to the bacon saucepan and heat on medium. Add beef and lightly brown on all sides, working in batches if necessary.
- Remove beef from saucepan and set aside.
- Add broth, water, wine, and tomato paste to the saucepan. Blend all ingredients.
- Then, return the beef to the pan along with the bacon, vegetables, garlic, bay leaf, and rosemary. Cover tightly and braise in the oven at 350°F for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, to peel the pearl onions, bring a pot of water to boil. Blanch the onions for about 30 seconds. Remove and place in a bowl of ice water to cool. Remove onions from the water. Cut off the roots, make a vertical slit, and slip off the skin.
- Add the pearl onions to the braise and cook for 1 more hour.
- For the final 20 minutes, remove lid and allow meat to brown.
- Before serving, remove the bay leaf and rosemary sprig (if used).
- Serve meat and vegetables topped with sauce. Enjoy!
Tips
- Serve this hearty meal with some homemade mashed potatoes for a warming winter feast.
- Always read all labels to make sure your ingredients are gluten-free.
(Source: https://www.sobeys.com/en/recipes/classic-beef-braise)
New Finds at Costco!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in Products on September 23, 2014
We visited Costco Bayers Lake for a change this weekend and picked up a couple of great certified gluten-free finds that we wanted to share with you.
The first item was a two-pack of Essential Baking Company gluten-free bread. We paid $8.99 for two loaves of their Super Seeded Multi-Grain bread. The best part is that each loaf is in its own vacuum-sealed bag, and they don’t have to be frozen (or even refrigerated) until opened, or January 2015!
Another Burger Place to Krave!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in Reviews on September 14, 2014
For several months, Halifax has been waiting for Krave Burger, its newest gourmet burger joint, to open its doors. Last month, they released a sneak peek of their menu. It included an icon for many gluten-free options, including French fries. We all know what that usually means: cross-contaminated and not suitable for Celiacs.
Still, I was curious, so I tweeted them to ask if they would have a dedicated fryer. Their response was amazing:
We couldn’t ask for much more than that!
Taste Testing O’Doughs Bagel Thins!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in Products on September 10, 2014
The Product
Bagels are one of the few things that I really miss. Over the past five years, I’ve tried almost every brand on the market. Udi’s bagels are OK, but the nutritional information is horrific: add peanut butter to your morning bagel and you’re basically consuming a Big Mac. Other brands taste like wet cardboard, or just bread in a weird shape.
Luckily, over a year ago I heard about O’Doughs Bagel Thins. I did see them at Jane’s Gluten Free in Moncton this spring, but I didn’t pick any up and have been kicking myself ever since. Luckily, we spotted them at Pete’s Frootique in Halifax last weekend thanks to a sampling event!
The Test
At Pete’s Frootique, we got to try the sprouted whole grain flax and apple cranberry flavours, toasted and with ghee on top. I also purchased a six-pack of the sprouted whole grain flax bagel thins for $6.99. Here’s what my breakfast looked like the next day:
Gluten For Punishment 