Garlic-Basil Shrimp

This super simple recipe has become one of my favorites (and Bryan's too I think).  Its from the "So Easy" cookbook by Ellie Krieger.  You really have to give this a try and best part, the original recipe almost 100% naturally gluten free.  The only substitution I have to make is instead of orzo pasta, I use either white or brown rice

Garlic-Basil Shrimp by Ellie Krieger

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/4 pounds shrimp (20-25 per pound), peeled and deveined (I used tail on frozen shrimp)

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste

3/4 cup dry white wine

1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup finely chopped basil

salt and freshly grounded black pepper, to taste

3 cups of brown or white rice (original recipe calls for whole wheat orzo pasta)

Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking, then add the shrimp and cook, turning over once, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes.  Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl.

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the oil remaining in the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add the wine and cook over high heat stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.  Stir in the tomatoes and basil and season the sauce with salt and pepper.  Return the shrimp to the pan and cook just until heated through.  Serve with rice (or orzo).

Sweet Potato Fries

You know those nights where all you want is a cheese burger and fries?? Well tonight was one of them...minus the cheese burger. At last weeks farmer's market I picked up two sweet potatoes and figured, why not make fries out of them tonight.

Sweet Potato Fries

2 medium - large sweet potatoes

1 teaspoon of sea salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 garlic clove minced

1/2 paprika

enough olive oil to coat the fries

Peel and cut sweet potatoes in 1/4 inch pieces (try to get them as even in size as possible so they cook evenly) In a small bowl combine the garlic, salt, pepper and paprika. In a large bowl coat them with oil, season with the seasoning mixture. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the coated "fries" on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven, turning once.

Let cool and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce or ketchup.

I've had sweet potato fries before with different kinds of dipping sauces, all different and all very tasty. I've had a few may based sauces, and normally I wouldn't even think to dip a fry in mayo. I actually don't eat much mayo anymore but happened to have some in the fridge so I thought I would try and make one myself:

Sweet Potato Fry Dipping Sauce

1/2 cup fat free mayo

1 tbl spoon fresh lemon juice

1 clove of garlic minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 black pepper

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Frittata

Today I made my first frittata. I looked in my Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking cook book to get the basic idea of how to make a frittata and just ran with it. I looked to see what I had, pancetta, fresh spinach, baby potatoes, onion, garlic and rosemary and just used all of it. I have to say it came out pretty darn good.

I like many other cooks don't always measure. I learned that from my grandmother. It was always a pinch of this, a dash of that. Many times I find it hard to actually follow a recipe, I tend to read them, get the basic idea and adapt them. So if these amounts are not accurate, I'm sorry.

Frittata

1 package of diced pancetta

1 small onion diced

1 1/2 cups firmly packed fresh spinach leaves chopped

4 small potatoes - cubed

1/4 cup olive oil

6 eggs

two cloves of garlic minced

2 sprigs of rosemary chopped

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 tsp pepper

1/2 cup parmsean cheese

Turn oven to 350 degrees

In a small skillet sautee the pancetta until lightly browned. With a slotted spoon transfer the pancetta to a plate lined with paper towels. In the same pan sautee the onions until lightly browned (3-5 minutes). In a 10 inch sautee pan add the oil and cubed potatoes. Cook until softened and browned, about 8-10 minutes. Once the potatoes are fork tender, add the onions and pancetta to them, keep on low heat. Sautee the spinach and garlic in the pan you used for the onions and pancetta. Add to the potatoes

While the potatoes cook beat the eggs, rosemary and cream in a medium bowl. After the spinach and garlic has been added to the potatoes, add in the beaten egg mixture. Cook over low heat until eggs have set and the top is still loose.

Sprinkle with cheese and put in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes until set and lightly browned on top. Take out of oven, cool for a few minutes. Loosen the frittata by running a rubber spatula around the edges of the pan. Transfer to a plate and slice like you would a pie to serve.

Edamame Hummus and Corn Chips

The Edamame Hummus is from Ellie Krieger and the chips are mine.

Edamame Hummus:

• 2 cups shelled edamame, cooked according to package directions


• 1 cup silken tofu, briefly drained of excess liquid


• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste


• 3 cloves garlic


• 1/4 cup olive oil


• 1/3 cup lemon juice, plus more, to taste


• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, plus more, for garnish

Set 1 tablespoon of edamame aside for a garnish. Place the rest of the edamame, tofu, salt, garlic, oil, lemon juice[, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin in the bowl of a food processor and process until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, plus more lemon juice, if desired. Remove to a serving bowl and garnish with reserved edamame, and some cumin.

Corn Chips:

Six Corn Tortillas

2 Teaspoons lime juice

1/2 Teaspoon sea salt

3 Table Spoons Veggie Oil

Cut the corn tortillas in half and then in thirds.  Place them on two non-stick cookie sheets.  In a small bowl mix together the remaining ingredients.  Brush the mixture over the tortilla chips.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.  Let cool.

Gramma Lu's Chicken

My grandmother is a great cook. We all have grown up loving and craving her cooking (especially her meatballs and sauce). All of her recipes are stored in a brown folder that has been coveted by every female in my family!! Knowing that there would come a time that we would all want these recipes from her but only one person would end up with the folder, my Aunt Sue, my sister and I decided to put all her recipes in a "cook book" and give it to our family as Christmas presents one year.

I have to give her credit for my love of cooking. I remember being very young and her pulling up a chair for me to stand on next to her while she taught me how to make chicken soup from scratch.

Gramma Lu makes the best chicken wings (to me anyway). Ever since I was little I looked forward to these chicken wings of hers.

I didn't have chicken wings or pineapple juice so I adapted the original recipe. I substituted the wings for drumsticks and omitted the pineapple juice and added a teaspoon of ginger. (The original recipe is below along with the ginger)

Gramma Lu's Chicken Wings

1/2 cup orange juice

1 cup gluten free* soy sauce

1/4 cup pineapple juice

3 cloves of garlic minced

1 teaspoon of minced ginger*

1-2 lbs of chicken wings (or drumsticks)

~Combine first four five ingredients and mix well. Add chicken and marinate overnight. Place chicken in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees, turn once half way threw. Serve Hot.

(for drumsticks cook at 375 degrees for fifty minutes turning once. Turn oven to Broil and broil for five minutes or until skin is crispy).

Noodles in hot ginger and garlic broth

(Adapted from the recipe Noodles in hot ginger broth from the cook book: Allergy-Free Cooking)

Noodles in hot ginger and garlic broth

5 cups of gluten free chicken stock

large chunk of fresh ginger (about 1/2 ounce) peeled and fine julienne strips

3 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

7 0z of rice noodles (thin or medium)

8 baby corn, halved lengthwise

4 scallions sliced diagonally

1 packet of shitake mushrooms sliced (there are usually about 8-10 mushrooms in a pack)

(The originally recipe calls for 2 bok choy roughly chopped, and 1/2 cup of bean sprouts...I didn't have any so I made it with out)

Simmer broth, ginger, garlic and soy sauce for 3 minutes.

Bring to a light boil and add noodles. Cook as directed on package.

In a sautéed pan add one tablespoon of oil, and sauté baby corn to give a bit of color, then add the mushrooms. Cook for 1-2 additional minutes

Carefully add the baby corn and mushrooms to the pan of broth and noodles.

(If following the original recipe, add the bok choy, simmer until tender. Add bean sprouts at the very end

Simmer for an additional two minutes.

Garnish with scallions.

Serves 4.

General Tso's Chicken (A bit lighter)

General Tso's Chicken

(adapted from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food Magazine issue pg, page 34)

1/4 cup corn starch

1 pound snow peas, trimmed and halved crosswise

4 garlic cloves, chopped

2 teaspoons ginger (freshly grated or jarred)

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

2 large egg whites

salt and pepper

1 pound chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Brown Rice

~Cook rice according to package or rice cooker.

~In a large bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water until smooth. Add snow peas, garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce and red pepper flakes; toss to combine and set aside.

~In another bowl, whisk together egg whites, remaining 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat.

~In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Lift half the chicken from the egg-white mixture (shaking off excess) and add to skillet. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining oil and chicken, set aside (reserve skillet)

~Add snow pea mixture to the skillet. Cook until snow peas are tender and sauce has thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet (with any juices); toss to coat. Serve with brown rice.

Steak and Salsa

This is by far one of my favorite and easiest recipes. To me its definitely a comfort food. Sadly I didn't not come up with this one, but I try to make it my own.

Steak and Salsa

1 - 2 lbs of Steak

2 Garlic Cloves minced

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

4-5 Shakes of Gluten Free Soy Sauce

1 Medium size jar of Salsa (chunky salsa works great)

2 tbs White Sugar

*Olive Oil

White Rice

*If using a non-stick pan, there is no need to use oil

Cut steak into bite size pieces. Brown steak in a non-stick skillet. Add garlic. Pour salsa over steak. Add brown sugar, white sugar and soy sauce. bring to boil. After 5 minutes turn to low heat. Simmer about 45 minutes. Serve over white rice.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken

Prosciutto - Wrapped Chicken

1 boneless skinless chicken breast halved length wise

2 pieces of Prosciutto (thinly sliced)

1 teaspoon olive oil

Season chicken breast with pepper (no need to season with salt when using the prosciutto). Wrap each piece of chicken with one piece of prosciutto. Place the seam side down on a baking sheet. Lightly rub the top of each chicken breast with oil.

Bake at 350@ for 10-15 minutes until almost cooked. Switch oven to broil and broil for 5 minutes (or until cooked fully)

Serve with sauteed spinach and zucchini.