Amazing Gluten/Wheat Free Blueberry Muffins

These gluten/wheat free blueberry muffins are amazingly good! They're made too with powdered Stevia, plain yogurt and coconut oil! Your kids will love these little healthy anti-oxidant bites! Just don't tell them they're good for them! :)


 
3 cups minus 2 tablespoons gluten/wheat free flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

Heavy pinch of salt

Dash of Nutmeg

1 cup powdered Stevia (Stevia Sugar in the Raw at HEB. It has 0 calories and is great for Diabetics and it taste great)

1/2 cup Coconut oil

1 Free Range egg

1 generous cup plain, unflavored yogurt (I added a little extra because this batter seems a bit dry, but the muffins come out amazing!

2 cups fresh blueberries

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

Olive Oil Spray for small non-stick muffin tins

Preheat oven to 385 degrees.

In a large bowl sift flour, baking soda, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In another large bowl whisk together sugar, oil, cap-ful of vanilla, egg, and yogurt. Add the dry ingredients and stir to a count of 10.  The batter is pretty thick so don’t panic.

Add blueberries, reserving 1/2 cup, to mixture and stir 3 times.

Add mixture to well-buttered muffin pans. Sprinkle remaining berries on top and press down lightly. Sprinkle some Stevia sugar over top.  I use an ice cream scoop to fill the muffin tins.


Bake 20 to 25 minutes and allow to cool completely. Mine were done after 22 minutes in an Electric oven


**Blueberries are not only popular, but also repeatedly ranked in the U.S. diet as having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings. Antioxidants are essential to optimizing health by helping to combat the free radicals that can damage cellular structures as well as DNA. We recommend enjoying raw blueberries — rather than relying upon blueberries incorporated into baked desserts — because, like other fruits, raw blueberries provide you with the best flavor and the greatest nutritional benefits.  From:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8

Sue

Founder Gluten Free Lady

"Someone is sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree a long time ago."

Gluten Free Egg Pasta with Balsamic Brown Butter

OMG! This dish is so good and so easy and fast to make!!! I modified this recipe and my husband says it's restaurant quality! If you are gluten free and you love your pasta you gotta try this dish!!! Even if you're not gluten free you gotta try it!  Yummo!!!


I modified this recipe using Gluten Free egg Pasta (instead of Ravioli because I haven’t found any gluten free ravioli yet in any store.) AND this is the first gluten free egg noddles I've found!  Yipppee!!  Ok so I haven't had any pasta in a while! I'm excited about it!!!







Ingredients


Gluten Freed Jovial Pasta Egg Noodles from Whole Foods (so good!!!)

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup of chopped Crimini mushrooms

• 

•  
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup toasted, chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan  
•  

• Directions
•  
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook according to directions until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally.

• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan cook the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the foam subsides, and the butter begins to turn a golden brown, about 3 minutes, turn off the heat. Let cool for about 1 minute. Stir in the balsamic vinegar salt, and pepper.

 

• Transfer the pasta to the pan with the balsamic brown butter and Sprinkle walnuts and Parmesan over the top. Serve immediately.

I'm half way through the Group Exercise certification training!  It's bringing back memories from years ago when I was certified before and so much new stuff! So exciting! Looking forward to sharing with all of you! 

They call Group Exercise Group X now!  Perhaps we should call ourselves Daniel GROUP Xer's! 



Enjoy the Journey!
Sue

Holistic Health Coach &
Gluten Free Home Chef

Tutuma Squash Info & Chicken Recipe

This season we are growing Tutuma Squash because of the Vine Borer’s getting our squash plants last year! We bought our seeds which were recommended at the Natural Gardener. Here’s our first two fruits!  Cute little fellers aren't they?! 

This fabulous summer squash may not be well-known, but that is soon to change!  With wonderful, creamy texture and buttery flavor, squash lovers will be happily pleased, and even squash skeptics may soon be won over.  Also called tatume or calabacita, the Latin word referring to any small cucurbit, this squash is a favorite in Mexico and southern Texas. Fruits are best when picked at about 3” long. Vigorous vines to 12 feet thrive in heat, and are more drought tolerant than most squash; practically immune to squash borer insect.

An oblong-shaped vegetable with a tapered end, this squash is native to Latin America where it is often served in casseroles and other side dishes. Similar to zucchini in shape, size and texture, Tatuma has a soft green skin with a slightly firm white flesh. The squash can be baked, fried, or sautéed to be served as a side dish seasoned with butter and herbs, or used as an ingredient in stews, casseroles, or stir-fried vegetables. When preparing in an oven, the squash can be cooked whole or cut lengthwise from stem to bottom and baked. Available year round, this squash is also known as white Mexican squash or tatume.

Here’s more information and how to cook this flavorful squash - http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/2010/jun/tatume.html


Chicken With Tatuma Squash ( Pollo Con Calabacita )
Ingredients -

1/4 cup grape seed oil

1 (2 1/2-3 lb) broiler-fryer chickens, cut into 8 to 10 pieces or 4 large bone-in chicken breasts
1 teaspoon salt

4 tatuma squash or 4 zucchini or 4 summer squash, halved, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes

4 large tomatoes, halved and sliced

1/2 medium onion, sliced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 -5 whole serrano chilies (optional)

Kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 Teaspoon Cumin

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper and/or Garlic Pepper which I use in everything!

Directions:

 
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt; add to the pan, and cook, turning once or twice, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Pour off the excess fat.

Add the squash, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and chiles, if using.

Season with additional salt if needed, the oregano, cumin and garlic pepper.

Cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the squash is fork-tender, about 15 minutes.


Enjoy the Journey!
Sue

PS - Just started the fitness certification training yesterday!  Excited to get this class going at PRF in September! 



Holistic Health Coach &
Gluten Free Home Chef

Carrying on the Daniel Lifestyle strong!

One of the best ways for us at PRF to carry The Daniel Plan through strong is by developing a fitness class for anyone in our church as well as our community to attend.  

When we decide to prioritize our time and commit to a regular fitness program we start to develop a routine that turns into a habit which eventually turns into a lifestyle!  This my friends is how we become healthier for God’s plan!   They say it takes 21 days to develop a habit.   

Pray about giving this 21 days and see how you feel!  

Exercising together on a regular basis will also give us the opportunity to spend time with other people who are focused on healthy living habits which include eating good wholesome food, moving and praising together to christian music, drinking more water and taking care of the body God gave us to function better for Him while here on this earth.  It’s not to brow beat people or condemn others when they don’t show up to exercise!  

Everyone falls off the wagon now and then after starting good intentions.   I’ve gotten off track before myself because of various circumstances. 

The purpose for this program is to encourage and support people to develop healthy habits for life.   It’s an excellent way for us to carry on Daniel plan strong just like they are doing at Saddleback church.  Of course we’re a much smaller church body. Remember though that we do have a large community to reach out to with this ministry so think of the possibilities.  

This type of healthy spiritual environment can provide –

Health benefits such as lower blood pressure, raise HDL good cholesterol, stress relief, improve mood, control weight, better sleep, better focus, more energy, adds years to your life.   In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

Support and encouragement to one another 

An outreach for our church to the community

Fitness class can be a lot of fun!  Bringing people closer to God while getting fit! 

‘Get Fit God’s Way’ is the 30 minute total workout that allows people to work out at the level that is right for their own body.

Here’s a sample:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSwzCa6HCt4

*They use Exercise bands in some of the routines. These are $10.95 each from their website or you can bring yours if you have one at home.   I’ve used bands before and love them for strength training.  *They show the exercises in low impact without the bands using your own body weight.

Strength training exercises are so important to our overall health without having to buy all sorts of heavy equipment.  We can strengthen our muscles without the heavy weights. An exercise band is perfect because this light weight band can strengthen all the muscles in our body.

As we age it is more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. This is because of our decrease in muscle. Strength training exercises increase our metabolism (allows us to burn calories faster) prevents osteoporosis, improves our posture, helps us avoid injuries and so much more and the handles make them comfortable to use. 

Exercise bands are not only great they are also light weight and compact making them great to travel with.

Ok that's it for now!   I’m off to get a work out in at Curves.  They are closing their doors August 31^st. I’ve spoken with Jeanie the owner and she is happy to refer people to our fitness class at PRF and she may be willing to donate some of the Curves equipment to our church.  

Here's the Fitness survey again for those who haven't had a chance to give us your feedback -  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JX6Y2QG

Here’s some awesome Christian trance and electronic music to move, praise and dance to the Lord: 

Enjoy!

You Are Loved:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItjYCAWTGk0&list=PLC5994EE9D98534BB

Worship music mix #3 ft: Hillsong, Matt Redman, Martin Smith –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhNy2bRJYQQ

See you soon!

Sue  :)

Easy Peazy Gluten/wheat free Lemon Pie w/Stevia

Just made the most incredible gluten/wheat free Lemon pie WITHOUT using that yucky sweetened condensed milk which is full of sugar and who knows what all else! I used Stevia instead of regular sugar! So easy and this pie actually taste like key lime! 

Going to try some other desserts using this same recipe like Lemon bars with my gluten/wheat free crust recipe...


Pie Filling Directions: 

Instead of using that very sweet sugar filled condensed milk I made this filling –

2 Cups Carnation Instant Non-Fat Dry Milk (they had a different brand at HEB and it worked fine).  Find it over in the section with all the flour mixes on the left side down on bottom near the evaporated milk.

1 cup filtered water

6 TBS of softened Organic (I use grass fed) No-Salt butter

2 cup Stevia

Mix these ingredients very well in a blender about 5 minutes.  The blender is key!  This pie filling turns out very nice and creamy!


Then add to a mixing bowl and combine with 2 / 3 cup of lemon juice, 1 TBS of lemon rind, 1/4 tsp kosher or sea salt and mix well with a mixer.  Pour into a baked pie crust and level.


Chill for about 3 hours in frig.  Top with some homemade whipped cream.

1/2 carton heavy whipping cream, 1 TB Stevia, 1 Teaspoon Vanilla, 1 Teaspoon Kahlua (optional). Whip up in kitchen aid mixer or hand blender!  Top the pie and put back in the frig until ready to eat!


Pie Crust:  (This is a store bought gluten free crust from Whole Foods pre-baked according to directions) or you can use a graham cracker crust which is very easy to make.  They have gluten/wheat free graham crackers at HEB and Whole Foods.  Put in food processer with some melted butter and mash into your pie tin.


Easy peazy! 

This Lemon pie was amazingly good! It was a bit tart so for those who love lemon tart that's good, for those that want a little more sweet add in a little more powered Stevia.   Have an idea to make blueberry lemon bars with homemade gluten/wheat free crust!  This is the product I bought at HEB. You use it cup for cup.   I recommend using fresh squeezed lemons.

The label states: Each serving contains less than 2 calories which the FDA considers Dietetic ally zero. Suitable for people with diabetes.

*Maltodextrin is gluten free. It can be made from a variety of starches, including corn, potato, rice or wheat. However the source does not matter because maltodextrin is such a highly processed ingredient that the protein is removed, rendering it gluten free.

Enjoy the Journey!

Sue
 
Holistic Health Coach &
Gluten Free Chef

Corn Free Beanito Pie

Beanito Chips are my new fav since corn bothers me almost as much as gluten/wheat when I eat too much of it! I used Black Bean Beanito Chips in this and some of the pinto bean ones. Use the ones you like! They have several varieties.

1 / 2 lb of grass fed ground beef

Half Vidalia onion cut up

3 cloves garlic

Sauteed the onions, meat, garlic and spices. Kosher salt, garlic pepper, cumin, garlic powder, Chili Spice (I buy this organic chili mix in a packet at Whole Foods so it’s optional), Cheyenne.







Remove meat from the pain and add in about 1 /2 cup of Pacific Chicken or beef stock. (I didn’t have any beef stock today so had to use chicken and it was just as good). Sometimes you gotta improvise!  No need to panic!   I just used this to deglaze the pan.


Pour in 1 Packet of Enchilada sauce from Whole Foods.





Medium Queso Dip from Whole Foods over in the cheese section.   I used one container for the sauce and had about 1 / 2 left over in another container and put that on top before sprinkling with some
Cheddar Cheese.





Heat up the Queso first in microwave for about 1:25 minutes.  It needs to be hot when added to the sauce or it will curdle!  Stir the meat back in and you’re done!

Ladle a little of the sauce in your backing dish, layer the chips, and add some sauce on chips, add some Cheddar cheese, sauce, cheese, chips, until you are out of sauce.  Add some Queso on top and top with more Cheddar cheese.  Heat in oven on 350 for about 10 minutes to melt the cheese!  That’s it!

Enjoy the Journey!

Sue

Holistic Health Coach &
Gluten Free Chef

Zucchini Parmesan Chips

Delicious, healthy snack or side dish! Try these with the kiddos to entice them to eat some veggies!  Yum yum!

 Ingredients

Olive Oil Cooking spray

2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound total)

1 tablespoon olive oil or Coconut oil

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (3/4-ounce)

1/4 cup Ian’s Gluten Free Panko Bread crumbs (from Whole Foods)




1/8 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper or garlic pepper (I buy it at HEB and use it on everything!)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch thick rounds





In medium bowl, toss the zucchini with the oil. In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan, bread crumbs, salt, and a few turns of pepper. Dip each round into the Parmesan mixture, coating it evenly on both sides, pressing the coating on to stick, and place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the zucchini rounds until browned and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove with spatula. Serve immediately.


Enjoy the Journey!
Sue

Holistic Health Coach
Gluten Free Coaching & Cooking

Get Fit God's Way Survey for Fitness Class at PRF

Hey gang,

I've put together a short survey to find out interest for starting a Free community Fitness class at PRF which could actually become a great outreach for our church as well as provide some fitness fun and health for our church family.  Get Fit God's Way!

This survey will give us an idea for favorable interest, type class, best times, days, etc.  If you have already filled it out thank you for your feedback.

Click this link to fill out the quick survey so that we can serve you better - 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JX6Y2QG

Thank you for your time and feedback!
Sue   

--

Sue Seward
Holistic Health Coach
512-557-7523 Mobilehttp://www.glutenfreelady.com