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!!!

Bron's Famous Chocolate Cake

Derwyn's sister Bronwyn Hanney Grissom makes the best chocolate cake ever.  She is a a wonderful and kind person, so she shared her recipe with me.  :-)  I made this with regular flour before I went gluten free, and I've made it with gluten free flour since... and it's still AMAZING.  Recipes for the cake and frosting are found on the below photos.  :-)  (Thank you, Bron!)
Sorry it's sideways!  I don't know why it loaded like this!  :-}


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Gluten Free Zucchini Bread - THE MOST AMAZING RECIPE! You won't miss the gluten at all!

Gluten Free Zucchini Bread

You seriously will fall in love with this zucchini bread.  My husband can eat gluten yet he loooooooves this recipe.  :-)

2 cups Gluten Free Bisquick
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini 
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:Heat oven to 350°F and grease the bottom of 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Stir first three ingredients in a bowl.  Add oil, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and walnuts and stir to combine.  (Don't stir too much.)  Pour into loaf pan and bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Loosen sides of pan and remove and place on wire rack top side up.

Spread with butter and enjoy!!!




Thursday, July 18, 2013

Flourless Chocolate Cake - the VERY best, ever ever ever ever ever!

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Ingredients:

  • 6 1-ounce squares coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F

Spray a 7-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray. If you don't have a tart pan, use a 6 to 7-inch springform pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and spray the paper.

  1. Melt 6 ounces of chopped chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium low heat. Stir until chocolate and butter are melted and smooth.
  2. Add sugar and salt and reduce heat to low. Cook while stirring for about one minute, until sugar starts to dissolve.
  3. Remove pan from heat. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. The mixture will look smooth and glossy.
  4. Use a mesh hand sieve to sift cocoa into mixture. This prevents lumps. Whisk until the cake batter is smooth.
  5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes. The center of the cake should be just firm to the touch, but be careful to not overbake the cake or it will be dry.
  6. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Invert the cake on a plate.
  7. Enjoy the rich yumminesss.  MMmmmmmmm.....

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Kyle got the opportunity of his life to meet Allen Stone last weekend.  I'm in awe and super jealous and also super happy for him.  :-)  He even got to play drums with Allen.  (See next picture)
Kyle Pickard, Allen Stone and Dakota Brown. July 14th, 2013.
Yep.... that's Allen Stone pointing at my son on the drums.  :-)  Proud mama alert!!!!!!

Summertime.
My hubby and I enjoying a blue Solo cup beverage on the Deschutes River.
Yeah.  Summertime.  :-)



Thursday, May 9, 2013

Peace Love Cupcakes T-Shirt - so cute!

This is such a cute shirt!  And with Zazzle.com, you can put this design on any shirt, sweatshirt, etc. that you like.

http://www.zazzle.com/peace_love_cupcakes_super_cute_super_true_tshirt-235881182274674924

Here is an image of the shirt.

I designed this shirt and I'm hoping to spread the cupcake love around the world.  :-)



Wednesday, February 20, 2013

"Most Happiest Elephant in the World" Video. So. Cute.

Video of Elephant Frolicking in Ocean... click to watch

Not much to say other than... wow.  So amazing and cute and just like a kid.  Or a kid at heart.  :-)

Oh, and I want to go to a warm ocean right now reallllllllly bad.



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

All in Good Pun

This is my future book title:

ALL IN GOOD PUN

No, seriously.

Derwyn and I LooooOOOOooOOOOOove to make puns.  And it's rubbed off on the children, bless their souls.  They come up with some good/bad ones.  Makes me so proud.  :-)  And so, one day I shall compose a book with the above title.  Or perhaps just a fun piece of music.  A comical musical duet.  Something or other shall have this title, I do declare on this 19th day of February, 2013.


:-)



Saturday, February 16, 2013

Portland Cello Project
2-15-13
Sisters High School

Not the *bestest* picture of the Portland Cello Project that was ever taken... but I wanted to remember this night.  "Severus Snape" was awesome (Skip vonKuske is his real name, but wow he looked like Snape last night with his wild long Snape-like hair trashing about).  :-)   The most amazing cellist I've ever seen.  I know Yo-Yo Ma is the best on earth and all that... but seriously... this dude is freakin' amazing.

Click here for awesome video of Portland Cello Project playing All of the Lights by... Kanye West...?!?!?!?!


Friday, February 15, 2013

Valentine's Day Gift


This was one of the presents I gave to my Wonder-Husband for Valentine's Day.  It's a canvas art piece.  It's accurate in describing our lives, love, relationship, days, nights.  Thank You, God!

Sprouts!


February 15, 2013.  And we have sproutage!  Sprouting!  Sprouts!  I have recently (very recently) turned over a new leaf, so to speak.  Grown a green thumb, as a matter of fact.  Where I used to kill plants with some frequency, I am now suddenly helping them thrive.  What is the explanation???  Well, perhaps it's twofold:  1. It's very bleak and brown outside, so my spirit is craving GREEN-ness.  And I'm figuring out what it takes to make that happen.   2. I'm not on that evil time vortex Facebook (a.k.a. Fakebook) much at all these days (yeahhhhh me!) and so I have TIME to do REAL THINGS in the ACTUAL PHYSICAL WORLD.  What a concept.  :-)