The Challenge

 

Calling out all the stops. February is a month that our bodies need lots of help to stay healthy. Engine 2 has offered a wealth of resources on their website and Facebook page to help you get success in cleaning up your eating! We've eaten this way before after a serious medical wake up call. We're in! Check back for updates on the progress throughout the month. 

Seafood Saturday Night

More yummy seafood! Shrimp cocktail. Crab cakes. Steamed lobster tail. Linguini with clam sauce. 

I had a coconut Popsicle for dessert. Fantastic!

Creamy Clam Chowder

This was a pleasant surprise! It's a rainy day in January. We had the urge to eat seafood. After a shopping frenzy, the first thing I wanted to make was clam chowder! Grab a slice of bread or crackers and chowder love is in the air. 

I enjoy creamy soups. Cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, cream of broccoli.... Name another and I will probably like it! So Manhattan style is not for me. 

Searching online recipes gave me a start in the right direction. Here's what I did to make mine. 

-Creamy Clam Chowder-

Melt 2 TBSP unsalted butter in pot. Add 1/2 onion, diced. Cook until softened. 

Chop 2-oz mushrooms, put in bowl with 2 6-oz jars of clam sauce. Let soak a few minutes then add to onions. (The mushrooms will absorb the juice and taste like clams)

Finely chop a large potato, add to pot. Bring to boil and cook until potato is soft. About 10 minutes. 

Add 1 can of drained clams. I used whole clams and chopped them up into large chunks. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. 

Add 1/2 cup heavy cream and bring to low boil. If too thin, add 1 TBSP cornstarch mixed in water to thicken. 

Serves 2 large bowls or 4 small ones. 

That's good stuff!

Creole Gumbo Soup

I made a batch of this incredible Creole Gumbo soup today. The only change I did was to add a can of black beans.

I mixed up a quarter of a batch of creole seasoning blend.
While in the store, I looked over the rice mixtures and decided, after an "ah ha" moment, to make my own blend of rices. Mine has white, brown, red and black rice. It looks exactly like the expensive wild rice packages but was about 1/2 the cost. Score!

To make it gluten free, you can easily omit the flour and add a cornstarch and water thickener at the end.

Try it! (if you like creole spicy food) I bet you'll like it! I gar-ran-tee!

Oven Baked Chicken Dinner

Eating gluten free does not mean that you have to become a vegetarian. It doesn't destin you to only bland food. It doesn't mean you will never get to enjoy an Italian meal again. It just means you cook things your way. The way that gives you the most strength for your body. Anyone can benefit by it. You don't have to be diseased to eat gluten free food! You just have to read labels and get cooking. 

I wish you could smell my kitchen right now. It's roasted chicken night! I like to get legs or thighs; we like dark meat. Check it out...

Pull out the ingredients in the picture and turn the oven on to 350. Take the chicken and coat it with the cornmeal. Place in baking dish or cast iron skillet that's been sprayed lightly with canola oil. Grind pepper over the meat and sprinkle it with your spice blend favorite (like Mrs Dash). Add a sweet potato and bake for one hour.

That's it! It's juicy, delicious, and gluten free! Add a side salad or a pile of another veggie to stretch it out farther. You know those crunchy bits left in the pan? I scrape them out with a fork and put them on my potato. Yum!

Try it! Let me know how you make it!

GF Restaurant Options - Shane's Rib Shack

What to eat that's GF; that's the question. Shane's has an answer!

More restaurants are getting on the GF bandwagon these days. They have to. So many people are having issues with food sensitivities. 

When you walk into Shane's, their gluten free menu is posted right onto the counter. No mystery or hoops to jump through. No feeling weird about asking if they "do gluten free" or not. You don't have the problem. You're the customer and you are right!

So I chose the BBQ chicken plate with baked beans and coleslaw.  Yum!

So if you see a Shane's Rib Shack in your travels, you can consider them an option for a GF meal. Good times!

Peanut Butter Cookies

I love cookies. This is possibly the easiest peanut butter cookie recipe ever. AND it's gluten free! AND it's just in time for the holidays!!! Woo hoo!

Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup white sugar (or organic)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
Chocolate kisses (optional)

Mix the sugar and baking powder. Add egg and peanut butter. Mix well. Take spoonful and roll into a ball shape. Coat with sugar and place on baking sheet with parchment or wax paper liner. Press criss-crosses lightly with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 12 minutes; the edges will begin to crack a little. Remove from oven but leave on baking sheet for about 5 more minutes to give them a chance to firm up before putting them on a cooling rack. If desired, set a kiss on top when first removed from oven.