Category Archives: gluten free

Baked Pakora

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This pakora recipe is a take off from an original recipe that I love. Normally I would just spend extra time frying these in oil about 1″ deep in a pan doing about 4 to 5 at a time. But I have decided to forgo the long process of frying them and press the whole works into a baking dish and bake. This is also a healthier method of cooking and allows for the flavor of the vegetables to intensify through the process of baking. This worked out great and I will never deep fry pakora again.

  • 2 cups chickpea flour
  • approx. 1″ fresh ginger finely diced (optional)
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic finely diced
  • 1 Tbsp. cumin
  • 2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 – 1 1/2 cups water
  • approx. 8 cups of chopped vegetables. Use any kind you like. Some that I have used are onions, peppers, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, arugula, celery, kale, sweet potato, swiss chard etc.

Once you have all your vegetables prepared mix all other ingredients, except water, together in a large bowl. Add water and mix to get the consistency of pancake batter. Now add all your veggies. Mix well, using your hands, for this step will help get the veggie mix well coated with batter. Press mixture into a greased or parchment lined 9×13 pan and bake at 350°F for approx. 40 min. Pakora goes really well with Chutney. See my recipe for Apple Chutney. It is very easy to make and versatile.

veggies and batter
hot out of oven

Apple Chutney

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This is a great condiment to use with just about anything.

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 tsp. fresh dice ginger (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. curry powder
  • 1/4 cup Date Puree
  • 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
  • 5 – 6 large apples, peeled, cored and diced (*see note)

In a medium size sauce pan heat coconut oil. Sauté onions until translucent add date puree and stir together. Add ginger, cinnamon and curry powder, mix well. Add diced apples and raisins. Simmer until apples are soft but not mushy. Enjoy as a condiment with pakora, quiche, eggs, fish cakes, burgers, etc.

*note Other fruit such as rhubarb, peaches, pears, mango etc. can be used in place of or in combination with the apples.

Lemon Cheesecake with Wild Blueberry Sauce

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Makes 12 small mason jars or 1- 8″ spring form pan. The crust I use for this cheesecake is my oat crust. Make crust and divide between 12 jars. Approx. 2 Tbsp. per jar and press evenly over bottom. Bake @ 375°F for 10 min. Cool.

Cream cheese filling

Lemon Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce
coconut cream
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • zest of 2 lemons
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • 1/2 cup Date Puree
  • 1 400 ml can coconut cream (not milk)

Cream together cream cheese and date puree. Add lemon zest, juice and mix well. Blend in coconut cream. Divide evenly over cooled crusts approx. 1/4 cup per jar. Top with blueberry sauce.

Wild Blueberry Sauce

  • 2 cups wild blueberries(fresh or frozen)
  • 1/4 cup date puree

Place blueberries and date puree in sauce pan and cook over medium heat, stirring often. Bring to boil and simmer approx. 5 min. Let cool and divide evenly over cheesecakes. Refrigerate and Enjoy.

Chocolate Peanut Oat Bars

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squares scored after 30 min in fridge

This is a healthy alterative to chocolate peanut butter cups which are loaded with sugar. These are made with no sugar (of course) and taste amazing. I use an 8 x 8 pan lined with parchment so that I can lift out to score and cut. They can also be done in a 9 x 9 pan. This would make them a bit thinner.

Ingredients

Base

cut and ready to enjoy
  • 3 cups of rolled oats ground into flour (this can be done in food processor) or just use oat bran
  • 1 1/2 cups natural peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup date puree
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. salt

If using rolled oats, process into a coarse flour. Melt coconut oil and mix with peanut butter, date puree, vanilla and salt. Using a food processor for this makes it easy but it is not necessary. Add oats and mix well to combine. The more you mix the smoother the base will be.

Chocolate Topping

this is the chocolate combo that I use
  • 4 oz. chocolate chips (sweetened with Stevia)
  • 2 oz. 95% Lindt chocolate
  • 2 Tbsp. coconut oil

Using a microwave safe glass container, melt all 3 ingredients together. Start with 30 seconds and stir. Then only 10 second intervals, stirring after each. Once completely melted pour over base tipping pan to spread. Refrigerate approx. 30 min. and remove to score chocolate before it gets too hard. Return to refrigerator.

Shepherd’s Pie

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This recipe is vegetarian but can be made with ground beef or chicken in place of kidney beans. Peel and cook enough potatoes to make approx. 4-5 cups mashed. To make this recipe quicker and easier, use a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. I use a large cast iron pan when making this so it can go directly from stove top to oven. If you don’t have a pan like this it can be started in a smaller pan and finished in a casserole dish.

  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 portabella mushrooms, sliced
  • olive oil or butter
  • 1 19 oz. can kidney beans
  • 1 Tbsp. basil
  • 1 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
  • 3 medium size carrots, diced
  • 2 medium size parsnips, diced
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • water
  • 1/2 cup Ketchup (link to my ketchup recipe)
  • 2 Tbsp. mustard
  • approx. 4-5 cups mashed potatoes (peel and cook potatoes while cooking filling)

Sauté garlic and onion in oil or butter until onions are soft. Add mushrooms and kidney beans, continue to sauté, breaking up beans a bit as they soften. Add seasonings stirring into mix. Add red wine (if using) and cook until almost evaporated. Add carrots and parsnips, ketchup, mustard and just enough water to barely cover vegetables. Simmer until vegetables are almost done. Mix in corn and peas. Cover with mashed potatoes and bake for approx. 45 min. at 350°F.

Here is a new twist on Shepherd’s Pie. Instead of mashed potatoes use baby potatoes. Just wash and toss in oil, salt and pepper and place on top of base. No need to precook. Baking time will be the same.

Layered Vegetable Loaf

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This was one of my Aunt Marion’s favorites. I have changed the original recipe and replaced rice with cauliflower and also use fresh onion and garlic instead of the salt form. Add your favorite seasonings. Any kind of cheese can be used. This can be made ahead and stored in fridge or frozen. Reheat in microwave or oven. If freezing I suggest slicing in portions before freezing.

Layered Vegetable Loaf

First Layer

  • 1 cup finely chopped broccoli
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese (cheddar or marble)
  • 2 Tbsp. finely diced onion (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp. finely diced garlic (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper
  • 2 eggs

Second Layer

  • 1 cup finely chopped cauliflower (chopping in food processor works great)
  • 1 sweet bell pepper finely diced
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)
  • 2 Tbsp. finely diced onion (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp. finely diced garlic (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper
  • 2 eggs

Third Layer

  • 1 1/2 cup grated carrot
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese (cheddar or marble)
  • 2 Tbsp. finely diced onion (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp. finely diced garlic (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper
  • 2 eggs

Mix each layer in a bowl. Grease an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan and press each layer into the pan. Bake a 325°f for approx. 1 1/2 hours or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Let cool slightly. Slice and enjoy.

Veggie Nuggets

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These little nuggets are a great way to get your family to eat more vegetables. Serve them with a favorite dipping sauce (sugar free of course) or just the way they are.

This recipe is very versatile. Replace the vegetables with any kind you have on hand. Some I have tried include, sweet potato, zucchini, cauliflower, kale, corn, parsnip and squash. The seasonings can also be changed. Some other ones that I like to use are thyme, basil, oregano, coriander, curry and cayenne.

This recipe makes approx. 24, using 2 Tbsp. per. nugget.

  • 1 medium sized carrot, peeled and grated
  • 1/4 cup onion, fine diced
  • 1/2 sweet bell pepper, fine dice
  • 3/4 cup chopped baby spinach
  • 1 can chick peas 15-19 oz. (drain and rinse)
  • 1 tsp. oil plus extra for frying
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. seasoning salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup oats ( I used certified gluten free)
  • salt and pepper to taste

In food processor or blender place oats and seasonings. Blend just long enough to make oats into a fine meal. Add veggies and oil and continue processing until veggies are mush. If your processor is large enough add rest of ingredients and process until chick peas are also mushy and well blended. (My processor will not hold everything so I remove the veggie mix and then put chick peas and egg in processor. Once they are of the right consistency I mix the two parts together in a bowl.) Heat pan add a bit of oil and fry. (Using a small scoop to portion works best. Flatten slightly.) Cook over medium heat until brown on one side and flip to brown other side. Sever immediately or refrigerate and reheat before serving.

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

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This is Eastons’ Recipe

So I received this recipe from my eight year old grandson Easton. Easton loves trying all kinds of foods. He has been a great support in testing and giving his honest opinion on almost every recipe that I have on this site. So hopefully I will be able to share more of his creations.

This one is very good.

  • 1 banana peeled and cut up into blender
  • 4-5 pieces of ice
  • 1&1/2 spoon full peanut butter (natural no sugar added)(I use approx. 1/8 cup
  • cinnamon(as much as you want)Easton says “you can’t have to much cinnamon”
  • almond milk(or milk of choice) approx. 3/4 cup

Blend it all together and enjoy.

Peach Chutney

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This chutney is good with curry dishes, quiche, sausage, pakora, falafels etc. This recipe makes 3-4 pints and can easily be doubled. It is important to sterilize your jars and lids prior to filling. Wash jars and lids in hot soapy water, rinse well. Place jars on sheet pan in an oven at 200°f for 20 min. Place lids in pot of boiling water and simmer for at least 5 min. Fill bottles as soon as you remove from oven and place lids on directly from boiling pot. Do not let them cool down before filling. https://pressurecanners.com/how-to-sterilize-canning-jars-in-the-oven/ Please check out this link if you have never made perseveres before. If you are not sure about the seal on your bottles, store in fridge of freezer.

  • 2 lb. peeled diced peaches
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 2 oz. fresh chopped ginger
  • 2 cups date puree
  • 3/4 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. curry powder
  • 1/2 tbsp. mustard seed
  • 1/8 cup pickling spice
  • 2 cups apple cider vinegar

In a large heavy pot, stir together the peaches, garlic, onion, ginger, chili powder, mustard seed, curry powder, date puree and apple cider vinegar. Wrap the pickling spice in a cheesecloth bag, and place in the pot.

Bring to a boil, and cook over medium heat uncovered until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. It will take about 1 1/2 hours to get a good thick sauce. Stir frequently to prevent scorching on the bottom.

Remove the spice bag, and ladle into hot sterilized jars. Wipe the rims with a clean moist cloth. Seal with lids and rings.

 

Peanut Butter Cookies

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cookies topped with chocolate
  • 1 cup gluten free oats
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2/3 cup Date Puree
  • 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

In food processor grind oats into oat flour. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until well mixed. Using a small scoop (approx. 2 Tbsp.), scoop onto parchment lined baking sheet. Press down slightly with fork. Bake in a 350 F oven for 12 -15 min. After cookies are cooled they can be topped with a chocolate drizzle. For the chocolate drizzle use 1/4 cup stevia sweetened chocolate chips and 2 squares of Lindt 95% chocolate. Melt in microwave safe dish for 30 seconds, stir and melt at 10 second intervals till melted.