S'Okay Escarole

Bub has been eating a lot of stir fried lettuces since Len told us James enjoys it.  Lettuce is also the one green thing both Derek's will eat.  Hell, even Scooter likes lettuce!

I won't buy iceberg since there's really nothing good for you there.  While browsing the lettuce section on Peapod, I spotted the escarole!  So perfect!  Bub loves lettuce.  He loves beans.  I love making things he will enjoy.

This is so simple and basic but good comfort food.  Pair it with warm bread.

2 large heads of escarole, rinsed and dried
2 - 16 ounce cans of cannelli beans, DO NOT drain
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Garlic

Heat two tablespoons olive oil in very large skillet on medium heat.  Add the escarole.  Cook and turn with tongs until soft, about 10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In another skillet or pot, heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.  Add the beans with their can liquids and garlic.

Simmer until thick and creamy, 10 minutes, stirring occassionally.

Add the beans to the escarole.  Toss with tongs to combine.

Ginger Pear Chicken

Two non-vegan dinner posts in a row.  Sorry friends!  Still gluten free though and still cooking dinner for the meat eaters at my house.

1 lb chicken breasts
2 tablespoons Peanut oil
Garlic powder
Ground ginger
3 tablespoons Bragg Liquid Amino's plus a little more for the pears
1/2 cup water
1 can sliced pears, reserving 1/4 cup of the can liquid

1/4 cup cold water mixed with one tablespoon potato or tapioca starch
A little sugar for the pears

Cut your chicken into bite sized pieces.  Brown in peanut oil in a skillet with a lid.  Add 1/2 cup water, 3 tablespoons Bragg's, the 1/4 cup pear juice, and the spices.  Reduce heat to low.

Cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through and tender (at least 30 minutes.  The longer you simmer, the more tender the chicken.). 

Add the 1/4 cup water, starch combo.  Increase heat to high and cook until bubbly and slightly thickened.

Completely drain the pears.  Arrange them on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with more Bragg's and a little sugar.  Broil until carmelized.  Keep a close watch on them so they don't burn.

Serve chicken over rice and add the carmelized pears to the top.  Pretty.  Yummy.  Pretty yummy.

Better For You Biscuits and Gravy

Lower sodium.  Lower fat.  No preservatives.

1lb ground beef
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup gluten free baking mix
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup plain Soymilk


Brown the ground beef in a skillet.  Add salt and pepper to taste and other spices if you can have them (oregano, sage).

Sprinkle the baking mix over the meat and stir to combine and coat.  Add the Soymilk and water.  Heat until just bubbling, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat immediately.

Serve over biscuits or mashed potatoes.

I've been adding a little bit of mashed potato flakes to my biscuit dry ingredients.  They are lighter and crispier!


Biscuits

Preheat oven to 450.

2 cups gluten free baking mix
1/4 cup mashed potato flakes, Whole Foods brand
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Dash of salt
1/4 cup Earth Balance margarine
3/4 - 1 cup Soymilk

Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  Cut the margarine in with a fork or pastry cutter.  Add the milk and stir until moistened.  Add a little more Soymilk if necessary.

Drop by tablespoon full onto a baking sheet.  Bake for 12 mimutes.  Serve warm.

Lisa is Lovely Brownie Bites

Gold pans for my birthday!!!  Jennie sent me the mini pizza pans and my friend, Lisa, gave me the brownie bite pan!  

The possibilities are endless!  I can make pizza, pot pies, chocolate pie, brownies, bread squares, mini frosted cakes...

I decided to start with brownies!  Tomorrow, pot pie!

These are different than my other brownie recipe.  They are easier.  Faster.  Neater. And tastier!

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour the wells of a brownie bite pan or an 8" square pan.

1/2 cup Earth Balance stick margarine

1 tablespoon potato starch

1 cup sugar

6 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/2 cup GF baking mix

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Dash of salt

2 tablespoons vanilla Soymilk

In large microwaveable bowl, melt the margarine.  Mix in the potato starch. Next, stir in the sugar.  Stir in the cocoa powder, baking mix, baking powder, salt, and Soymilk.

Spoon one tablespoon of batter in each prepared well or spread into full pan.

Bake for 14 minutes for brownie bites or 25 minutes for full pan.  

Allow to cool in pan on a wire rack.  Loosen brownie bite edges with a knife then turn them out onto foil.  

Chewy.  Gooey.  Golden.