Tuna Topped Corn Thins

This little gem of a recipe is a Gluten Free and You original and can be made in less than 15 minutes. Although I think this recipe cries out to be served at a brunch; I have whipped it up in a jiffy and served it to my family on a Tuesday night before running out to karate.

Tuna Topped Corn Thins

Recipe tips: The corn thins I use are called Corn Thins by Real Foods. http://www.cornthins.com/ Although I don't always have it on hand, freshly shredded Parmesan adds the best flavor to this recipe.  Recipe can easily be doubled.

2 cans tuna packed in water, drained
2 1/2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
2 Tbsp pine nuts, roasted
2 Tbsp dried cranberries
2 tsp herbed basting oil
Parmesan cheese, shredded
Corn thins, two per serving

Place pine nuts on a pan in the toaster oven, toast for approximately 2 minutes.  Watch them carefully; do not allow them to burn.  In a medium sized mixing bowl, break up tuna gently with a fork and stir in mayonnaise.  Add toasted pine nuts, dried cranberries and herbed basting oil, stir to combine.  Divide the tuna mixture evenly among the corn thins. Top with shredded Parmesan. Serves 2-4 people.  Enjoy!

This recipe submitted to The Gluten Free Homemaker's Monthly Challenge on June 15, 2011. 

Essential Coleslaw, Chopped

I love the seasons!  All four of them.  I welcome summer, because my boys are out of school and it just seems my family spends more time together, whether it be boating on the lake, visiting friends, or heading "down the ocean".   Ahhhh summers in Ocean City, Maryland. Such great memories I have from childhood.

All this reminiscing and I have lost track of the task at hand. Well, over the weekend I was experimenting and it turns out that I prefer chopping my own cabbage as opposed to shredding it in the food processor or buying it in the bag. So the following is an amended recipe to Essential Coleslaw. The dressing stayed the same with one exception, adding a dash of celery seed. This recipe also omits the carrots, but please add them if you desire.

 Essential Coleslaw, Chopped 
1 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp white horseradish
1 Tbsp white vinegar
1 lb. cabbage, chopped
A dash or two of celery seed


Purchase one green cabbage head and one purple cabbage head. Slice each head in half, discard outer layer of leaves and core.  Save halves in airtight containers for other recipes or more coleslaw. Lay head halves flat on cutting board and slice lengthwise into thin strips. Next cut horizontally into smaller bite size pieces.  In a large mixing bowl combine and mix well the first four ingredients.  Add chopped cabbage and a dash or two of celery seed;  mix until blended.  If you have time, allow dish to cool in the refrigerator and serve once chilled. Enjoy! 

Simply the Best Carrot Cake Recipe

Using Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix and following the recipe below will bring your carrot cake baking abilities to new heights. Whether you require a gluten free diet or not; give your taste buds and those of your guests a flavorful treat with the recipe for carrot cake found on Pamela's Products website. You won't regret it! http://www.pamelasproducts.com/recipe_frames.html

Recipe Tip: I have always frosted this cake with Pillsbury Vanilla Frosting, but use what you like best.

Carrot Cake (loaf or layer)

3/4 cup oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups grated carrots
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix
1/2 cups walnuts (optional)

Yield: one layer or one loaf

Beat oil, eggs, and sugar together, then mix in the rest of the ingredients. Batter will be thick. Poor into a greased loaf pan (8 x 4) and bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes (toothpick should come out clean), or use a greased 8-inch layer cake pan and bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Pamela also has a package to make frosting. I have never used this product, but I am quite sure it would be delicious. I have had much success with all of Pamela's Products that I have tried.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 bag Pamela's Vanilla Frosting Mix
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, room temp/no melted
6 ounces cream cheese, room temp
1 teaspoon water

Soften butter or margarine. Add remaining ingredients and mix together on medium for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. If frosting is too thick, add more water one teaspoon at a time.

Optional: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Frost on a cooled cake.

Clam Dip

Imagine sinking a chip into that. MMMMmmm, good!

For this Father's Day and many other days throughout the year, we dip our favorite gluten free potato chips and assorted veggies in clam dip. I found this fantastic recipe on About.com

Recipe tips: I like to make a good size portion of this flavorful dip. To do this I increase the cream cheese to 8oz. and also use about a cup of mayonnaise. I use Hellman's Mayonnaise, Gluten Free is printed on the label! This dip has turned out best when I use an electric mixer to blend first 3 ingredients. To soften the cream cheese I put it in a microwave safe bowl and warm for 30 seconds.

Clam Dip
 
6-8oz. cream cheese
3/4 - 1 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
1 7oz. can minced clams, drained
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
dash cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce


Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic until smooth. Add minced clams and carefully blend with remaining seasoning. Chill dip thoroughly. Serve with chips and veggies. Enjoy!

Hooray for Fathers!

Happy Father's Day to my husband and to all fathers! This year's menu for us is probably not too different than in years past. We love beef! I was going to try something a little different this year, perhaps some pulled pork. However, my husband came home yesterday from our favorite deli, with a 2 1/2 lb sirloin. To quote the Cattleman's Beef Board and Cattleman's Beef Association, "Beef, It's What's For Dinner".  Maybe we'll have pulled pork next year, or better yet, the Fourth of July! That's a lot sooner!

This year my children and I will prepare for my husband, deviled eggs, clam dip, (recipe can be found under Dips) small red creamer potatoes with onions and bacon, Essential Coleslaw (recipe found under Salads), and yet to be decided because it largely depends on what is fresh at our local Mennonite market, a vegetable. We will also be preparing a carrot cake using Pamela's Products Baking and Pancake Mix. (recipe found under Desserts) I did not include the sirloin because my husband loves to grill and he has a plan for the sirloin. I do know it will be medium rare.

Due to geographical challenges, I am not able to spend this Father's Day with my father. Happy Father's Day Dad, I love you!

I hope you enjoy photos of the Clam Dip, Essential Coleslaw and Deviled Eggs

Making Tracks for Celiacs

Making Tracks for Celiacs

NINTH INTERNATIONAL RUN/WALK FOR CELIAC DISEASE

 http://www.celiacwalk.org/

Readers, I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day. I am rested and ready to report on the walk my family and I participated in to benefit the Center for Celiac Research. Let's hear it for the nearly 600 people who came out to the picturesque Jamesville Beach County Park in Jamesville, NY on May 22, 2010.

Karen, the organizer let me know that the event has raised $22,000 which is up $4,000 from last year. There were approx. 600 people in attendance. There were 82 runners this year. Thirty more than last year.  Way to go Central New York!

If you haven't participated in an event.  All the vendors provide gluten free goodies and/or are resources that are worth knowing about. Here is an abbreviated list of sponsors from the event where I was.

Outback Steakhouse (provided samples to eat for lunch)
Uno Chicago Grill (provided samples to eat for lunch)
Wegmans
Mary's Gone Crackers
Food Should Taste Good
Chebe
Katz Gluten Free
Bob's Red Mill
Enjoy Life, Eat Freely
Blue Diamond Almonds
Bakery On Main
The Cookie Connection
Namaste Foods
Nothing But Noodles
Ian's
Glee Gum
Think Products
Pamela's Products
and more...

Now if that doesn't make your mouth water, imagine getting a grocery bag filled with samples from these sponsors. Another feature about going to walk/runs is local vendors, you may not have been aware of in your area.  If you still want to participate go to www.celiacwalk.org to see where walks are this month.
Below are photos of Jamesville Beach County Park. What an uplifting day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!