Friday, November 7, 2014

Demi Glace Sauce with Beef (kind of, only simpler) and SO yummy

Made my own version of demi glace tonight because the stuff my amazing hubby brought home from the gourmet food store had very, very tiny writing that stated that it contained wheat... the awful, sickness producing WHEAT.  So... here is what I did to make the most amazing sauce this side of Paris:

We cooked filet mignon with just salt and pepper, then removed the steaks to the oven to finish off.  I added red wine (Menage a Trois) to the pan drippings and reduced it to a syrup over medium heat. Then, I melted about two tablespoons of butter in the pan, then I added about two tablespoons of tomato sauce.  I also put in about five drops of worchestershire sauce.  Finally, I added about three tablespoons of goat cheese and then more pan drippings from the steaks that had cooked further in the oven and a little bit of olive oil to thin out the sauce. Served it over the filets.  Wow.
 Disclaimer: this is not my demi glace.  This is a picture
I found on the 'net. We were far too busy eating and exclaiming 
"OH MY GOSH" to stop
and take a picture.  :-)




Saturday, March 22, 2014

Gluten Free Apple Banana Walnut Muffins

Gluten Free Apple Banana Walnut Muffins

This recipe is nothing short of amazing.  So tastey and delish! The coconut oil adds a really nice extra layer of flavor, too.  :-)

Ingredients
  • 2 cups gluten free flour blend (+ 1 teaspoon for coating apples) (I used "Mama's Almond Blend) See it here
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1 cup diced apples
  • 1 banana
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons gluten free vanilla extract
  • Preheat oven to 375ยบ F. Spray muffin tins with bakers spray or coat well with sh\utter and flour, making sure to discard any excess flour from the tins after coating.
  • Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • Toss together diced apples and 1 teaspoon of flour to coat apples in a separate bowl. Set aside.
  • Cream together coconut oil and brown sugar about 2 minutes. Add an egg, one at a time, taking care to fully incorporate before adding the other. Mix in vanilla. Mash banana in a separate bowl and add to the mixture.
  • Gently fold in flour mixture, Stir until just combined. Fold in diced apples and walnuts and scoop mixture into prepared muffin tins, filling about ⅔ to ¾ full. Bake until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.


  • Saturday, February 1, 2014

    Gluten Free Orange Muffins - THESE ARE DIVINE! :-)

    Mmm... Best Orange Muffins on Planet Earth... No one would guess they are gluten free!

    Gluten Free Orange Muffins

    These little babies are sooooooooo yummy. They will make you want to open your own gluten free bakery after you taste them.  You'll think, "People will pay me to bake these for them!" Then you'll think about how much work opening a gluten free bakery would be, and how complicated owning a business and doing taxes and hiring employees and paying for advertising would be... so you decide to just make these for your family and friends, who will forever consider themselves lucky to know you, the MasterBaker.  :-)

    Wet ingredients:
    1/2 cup melted butter (use organic... please... it's better for you)  :-)
    1/2 cup sugar (use cane sugar... please... it's better for you than beet sugar)  :-)
    zest of 1 whole orange (use organic because you don't want pesitcide-laden zest)
    1/3 cup fresh pressed orange juice (I've been using mandarin oranges and wow... so yummy)
    1 egg
    1/2 cup milk or non-dairy substitute
    1 tsp vanilla

    Mix all these together then add:

    2 cups Gluten Free Bisquick (or 2 cups of equivalent gluten free flour blend - include 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder and a little bit of xanthan gum if not using Bisquick)

    Stir until combined.  Butter up a muffin tin or use little muffin paper thingies.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the tops begin to get a little brown.

    You will love these.  I promise.  Enjoy.  :-)  



    Tags: Gluten-free orange muffins, gluten free orange muffins, orange cupcakes, Bisquick, masterbaker, mandarin orange, delicious


    Tuesday, December 31, 2013

    Gluten Free Homemade Pasta - So delicious you won't believe it's gluten free!

    The Best Gluten Free Homemade Pasta Ever!
    (This is from the epicuriuos site)
    • 2/3 cup corn flour
    • 1/2 cup quinoa flour
    • 1/2 cup potato starch
    • 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
    • 1 teaspoon guar gum
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 2 large eggs
    • 4 egg yolks from large eggs


    Combining the Flours
    Sift the corn flour, quinoa flour, and potato starch into a large bowl. Add the xanthan gum, guar gum, and salt and stir. Sift the entire mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer.
    Forming the Pasta Dough
    Put the eggs and egg yolks into the bowl of dry ingredients. Run the stand mixer on medium speed with a paddle attachment until the dough feels fully formed, about 3 minutes. The final dough should feel firm yet still pliable, a little like playdough.
    Making the Pasta
    If you are using a pasta machine, cut the ball of dough into quarters and roll out each piece of dough to about a 1/2-inch thickness. We like to roll out each piece between 2 pieces of parchment paper. Lightly flour both sides of the dough with a bit more potato starch. Run the dough through the machine, increasing the setting each time, until the dough is paper-thin and long. If the pasta sheet starts to break, it is thin enough.
    If you are making the dough by hand, we suggest you cut the ball of dough into 8 pieces, and then cut each of those pieces in half, so they are about the size of golf balls. Roll out each piece of dough as thin as you possibly can.
    For fettuccine, use the fettuccine setting on the pasta machine. If you are cutting the dough by hand, you want ribbons of pasta, about 1/4-inch wide. For spaghetti, use the spaghetti setting on the pasta machine. If you are cutting the dough by hand, you want thin strings of pasta.
    For ravioli, cut the rolled-out pasta into 2-inch-square pieces. Dollop the filling in the middle of a square of pasta. Brush the edges of the pasta with an egg wash. Place another pasta square on top and press down, crimping the edges. (Having a ravioli cutter on hand helps with this process.)
    For lasagna, leave the pasta in long sheets.
    To cook the pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Put the pasta shape of your choice into the boiling water. When the pasta rises to the surface, take a little piece and taste it. You should be able to bite into it without it falling apart. (With gluten-free pasta, it's a fine line. One moment it's al dente, and the next it's one big ball of mush, so watch the pot.) Cooking times will vary for the different shapes. Fettuccine generally takes 4 to 5 minutes, spaghetti 3 to 4 minutes. Ravioli takes a little longer, about 5 to 6 minutes. The cooking times will differ in each kitchen, depending on how thin you were able to roll out the dough. Let your taste be the judge.
    variations:
    You have some wiggle room with different flours here. Tapioca flour works as a replacement for the potato starch, as does cornstarch. You might try sorghum or brown rice if you cannot eat corn. However, be sure to substitute by weight instead of volume.


    (Editor's note: Yum!)

    Saturday, November 9, 2013

    Creamy Fettucine with lemon, pepper and yumminess

    Creamy Fettucine with lemon, pepper and yumminess

    This was A-MAZ-ING!  Yum!

    Ingredients
    Kosher salt
    12 ounces pasta (for gluten free eaters I recommend Deboles Gluten Free pasta)
    1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    1 large shallot, minced
    1 1/4 cups heavy cream
    1 large egg yolk
    1 to 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
    1/3 cup grated pecorino cheese, plus more for garnish
    Freshly ground pepper
    Crusty bread, for serving (optional)
    Directions
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook as the label directs. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup cooking water.

    Meanwhile, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Whisk the cream, egg yolk and lemon zest in a bowl. Reduce the heat to low and add the cream mixture and cheese to the skillet. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and 2 to 3 teaspoons pepper.

    Add the pasta to the skillet and toss, adding enough of the reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce. Divide among bowls and garnish with more pecorino. Serve with crusty bread, if desired.

    Saturday, October 12, 2013

    A Clock for Hobbits and Hobbit-Lovers! Second breakfast, Elevesies, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea...

    Finally... a clock for Hobbit-lovers!  Lord of the Rings peeps, check this out:


    How cute is this?  It's $24.95 on zazzle.com and you can get 20% off if you use 
    the code  AXRFG951UWQ4 when you check out!


    Tags: Elevensies, Elevenses, Second Breakfast, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, It's five o'clock somewhere...

    Gluten Free Gingerbread Men AND WOMEN Cookies - So yummy! The Best!

    Gluten Free Gingerbread Men AND WOMEN  :-)

    These are every bit as yummy... or more yummy than gluten filled cookies!  :-)

    What you need:
    1/2 cup sugar
    1/2 cup butter, softened
    1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons molasses
    egg
    1 3/4 cups Gluten Free Bisquick*
    teaspoon ground cinnamon
    3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
    1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
    1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

    Quick instructions: Mix the dry ingredients, add the wet.  Mix well.  Refridgerate for a bit.  Roll out using a bit of gluten free flour or Bisquick to keep it from sticking to the board or the rolling pin.  Cut your cute shapes.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Frost with a simple buttercream frosting.  Eat.  Repeat.  ;-)
    *If using a gluten free flour blend rather than Bisquick, add 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon xanthan gum and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

    Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies... that taste AMAZING!!!