Best way to make pizza rice cakes.

One of the hardest things for me is coming up with lunches that are simple, fast, kid pleasers. Simple and fast rarely goes along with gluten free. Not only that but the words cheap or inexpensive are almost a joke. But I’ve got no choice. With three boys and myself all eating gluten free, budget wise is a must!

Here is one of our simple meals using regular groceries (not specialty) that also saves precious time during the middle of our school day.

It doesn’t seem that there should be a science to making rice cake pizza’s but by trial and error I have come up with some helpful tips.

One – NEVER EVER put the sauce directly on the rice cake. Unless of course you like soggy food. Experience has taught me that the sauce can melt a hole right throught the middle and cause quite an interesting anomoly. Donut shaped pizza!

Two – Don’t ever let the boys make their own pizza rice cakes using cheese sticks! If you haven’t ever tried to microwave a cheese stick I am here to tell you, do not attempt!

Three – Well, I guess there isn’t a three. So here is a lovely picture of one of the Thinglets’ favorite lunch meals. Enjoy!

Borrowed Breakfast Idea – Gluten Free Breakfast Casserole

Here is another delicious borrowed meal. A Gluten Free Breakfast Casserole complete with fresh pork sausage from the hogs we raised last year! Mmmmm!

Brian at Fire and Salt comes up with some of the heartiest, tastiest gluten free meals you’ve ever had. Not to mention he has tons of great desserts!

My husband took this to a staff breakfast and it was a hit! Sorry I didn’t get a picture, it was devoured before I could find my camera!

Borrowed Dinner Idea – Mexican Hamburger and Potato Casserole

At Linda’s “What can I eat that’s gluten free carnival”  I spotted a recipe that is just right for our large family.

I’d like to share it with you so check out Gluten Free Greenie’s Mexican Hamburger and Potato Casserole.

I’m adding a new category on the side to show linked recipes because my ideas are by no means the end all and be all.

For great recipes from other bloggers click the category XYZ Blog Friends’ Recipes

One of the easiest meals I can come up with.

Most days I just need a no brainer when it comes to feeding myself. The Thinglet’s “go to” power meal is rice cakes and peanut butter. How is it that kids can eat PB&J until it comes out their ears and not get sick of it?

When you need something decent and have only about 10 minutes to prepare you can cook this easy, naturally gluten, milk, nut, egg and soy free meal in a snap. Even I can do it!

Steam some brown rice. Costco has a package of precooked organic brown rice that has a sweet (not earthy and dry) flavor. It is a little spendy for rice but a great quick lunch especially if you need something gluten free to take to work.

Cut up one large chicken breast, toss in balsalmic vinagrette (always double check ingredients with dressings) and cook in a skillet over medium high heat until done. Serve with the rice and a bit of cilantro. Wa-la!

For an on the go meal, refrigerate or freeze the bite size chicken in meal portions and grab the Costco rice bowls to go.

Chex Snack – puppy chow

My thinglets love this snack. With Chex now gluten free, it ‘s great to whip up when the sweet tooth hits. I snuck a batch last night after the thinglets went to bed so I didn’t have to share! Evil MOM

Here is the original recipe from the Chex site.

What is your favorite 15 minute, gluten free snack. Healthy is great or not so healthy works for me too!

Best Gluten Free Cookies Review and Pictures!

Gluten free/ allergen free sugar cookies, oreo imposters and the pictures to prove it!

It’s cookie time and I finally have access to the pictures on my rogue computer.  

The Big Batch Gluten Free Sugar Cookies at Karen Joy’s blog Only Sometimes Clever are my all time favorite. 

They cook up just like regular cookies and tricked even my “cookie connoisseur” dad who does not eat allergen free.

The boys had a blast decorating loads and loads of sugar cookies.  Too bad I can’t mail them to everyone but surely they will all be eaten before the week is out.  I might have to make them again when the inlaws come.

Another recipe I came across recently that was to die for are these Gluten Free Homemade ”Oreo’s”  by Kate Chan at Gluten Free Gobsmacked. 

My husband remarked while eating one of these, “The only thing wrong is they are better than the original!”  Haha!

The only thing I did differently is leave the cookies to fluff up instead of squashing them flat so they would be more authentic. I just couldn’t help it.  They were such an incredible texture, chewy and delicious.  But if you desire you can make the cookies thin and let them sit on the counter to dry slightly for a perfect oreo replica.

Please visit Linda’s  “What Can I Eat That’s Gluten Free” and don’t forget to check out the other great recipes this week!

My Favorite Big Batch Gluten Free Christmas Cookies

THESE SUGAR COOKIES are to die for!  Check out my pictures and another awesome cookie recipe HERE

My sister found this blog a couple years ago before I had internet and passed along the recipe.  Once I got into the 20th century I stopped over at Only Sometimes Clever and met Karen Joy.

The cookies are incredible but the fellowship and discussions that take place at OSC have me hooked.

The recipe originated in the cookbook Special Diets for Special Kids II but I’ve pulled to wool over the eyes on my own father who does not need a ”special diet”.  He is a self proclaimed gluten free sleuth.  If you try to trick him he KNOWS!  Well, usually. In a side by side test with two plates of cookies readily available in identical cut outs and decorations, Dad picked these over and over and over!

100 Random Gluten Free Foods

1. chex cereal
2. corn tortillas
3. apples
4. chicken
5. rice
6. coffee (is that food?)
7. chocolate (okay that’s better)
8. rice cakes
9. peanut butter
10. milk
11. cheese
12. steak
13. potatoes
14. green beans
15. salad
16. eggs (hard boiled, scrambled, omelets, green, “on a train”)
17. sunflower seeds (careful of seasonings)
18. hot dogs (read label)
19. salsa
20. corn chips
21. fruit snacks
22. nuts (but not all trail mixes)
23. ham
24. red hots
25. apple sauce
26. yogurt
27. soup (some Progresso brand or homemade)
28. beef
29. Frito’s
30. cucumbers
31. jasmine rice
32. fish
33. sushi (most- but beware of soy sauce)
34. cheese sticks (definitely a different food group than plain cheese)
35. spaghetti sauce (read label, try Classico Brand)
36. ice cream
37. M&M’s
38. pears
39. bananas
40. humus
41. black beans
42. pinto beans
43. refried beans
44. carrots
45. corn
46. lettuce
47. cabbage
48. salad dressing (NOT asian dressings, most have soy sauce)
49. tapioca
50. jello
51. bacon
52. potatoes
53. turkey
54. rice noodles
55. mushrooms
56. sprouts
57. zucchini
58. Reese’s (I had to counter all those veggies)
59. pudding
60. peaches
61. melons (and I don’t mean the Hooter’s kind)
62. grits
63. onions
64. eggplant
65. french fries (if they are fried in a dedicated vat- and no it’s not the same as potatoes!)
66. non wheat flour alternatives - sorghum, rice, tapioca, corn starch, buckwheat (technically a cousin to the rhubarb family), potato starch.
67. raisins
68. popcorn
69. pepperoni
70. carrots
71. snickers
72. pop (D.P, Coke, Pepsi translation for you non Northerners)
73. fudge (some)
74. gravy (if made with corn starch and drippings)
75. Ahhh I’m stuck…  oh how about berries
76. shrimp
77. lobster
78. tartar sauce (I don’t know about all but I think so)
79. cereal that is simply the puffed grain ie. puffed rice (check label, kamut and durum are WHEAT)
80. some brands of rice cracker
81. larabars
82. nachos (okay people I’m running low on ideas)
83. peaches
84. tomatoes
85. garlic
86. chocolate chips (did I already say that?)
87. fruit smoothie drink (be careful with protein powders)
88. hamburger patty’s
89. ketchup
90. mayo
91. salt and pepper
92. crisco, butter
93. creme cheese
94. peas
95. chick peas
96. yams
97. dried fruit (ha ha, not really another food but hey)
98. alfredo sauce by classico (many have wheat as a thickener so beware)
99. craisins
100. pistachios

So call me obnoxious   It took two days to come up with this list and I’m sure I’m missing key items.  Do you have any to add?  Maybe we’ll make a secone 100 list!

Dairy free mushroom soup saves the day.

If you are like me and most mornings start with the  slamming of drawers and the incredibly loud rumble that little feet can make on the stairs, you will understand my love for coffee and will have experienced the daily cry,

“What ELSE is there to eat MOM!?”

Yesterday we went twenty-four hours without water and this morning when I woke to those galloping bare feet I crammed the pillow over my head and tried to sneak fifteen more minutes of sleep.  When Bubba flung open my bedroom door and started shouting something about Thing Two being mean, I knew my beauty rest was over and I prayed,

“Lord, please let there be coffee!” 

Without water I would be unable to have my daily cup o’ joe.  Thank goodness God cares about the little things too

Water flowed freely.

Pee Wee decided to enter into the pantry raid and my day starts three steps behind!

 

Besides coffee I tend to have an unhealthy attachment to the dreaded housewife casserole.    The problem is most of my recipes have been converted to gluten free.  That’s great right, but when I discovered Bubba can’t have soy or milk either I was doomed!  The housewife casserole  goes out the window without “cream of something”!

Thank goodness for waterless days and dinners that sneak up on me, I can make my casserole un-recipe again and have one waiting happily in my freezer for just such an occasion using this dairy free mushroom soup recipe, I’m home free! 

Even if you don’t have multiple allergies this soup was delicious and  very gourmet tasting (I’m sure due to the white wine).  A little wine doesn’t hurt matters eh?   It was not too rich and yet still very flavorful even without all the different mushroom varieties suggested.  Remember in my little town there aren’t a whole lot of options and I didnt’ expect to find “special mushrooms” at Wal-Mart, though who knows I’m sure I could find some variety  around the corner but that too is a different story!

A couple loaves of frozen bread would be nice as well. Check out my new pictures on last week’s contribution to the carnival, Alice’s Tapioca Loaf.

Please visit Linda’s new and improved “What Can I Eat That’s Gluten Free” and don’t forget to check out the other great recipes this week!

Pizza Please with a Cherry on Top!

What’s your favorite pizza topping?