Classic Macaroni Salad - Gluten Free

If you are looking for a crowd pleasing side dish, my gluten free Classic Macaroni Salad is just the answer. The simple, fresh ingredients in this creamy salad add wonderful flavor and texture. This is the comforting, sweet macaroni salad you may remember eating at your mother or grandma's house growing up (minus the gluten!). The addition of a sliced hard-boiled egg and paprika as garnish make for a lovely presentation. Prepare some tonight to enjoy with your loved ones!

Classic Macaroni Salad - Gluten Free

2 cups uncooked gluten free elbow macaroni (I always use Tinkyada brand)

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish

2 teaspoons sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup thinly sliced celery

1/3 cup chopped carrot

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 hard-boiled egg, sliced

Dash Paprika

Cook macaroni until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely.

For Dressing: in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pickle relish, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, gently combine the macaroni. celery, carrot and onion. Add dressing and toss gently to coat.

Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with egg and paprika. Yield: 8 servings.

*Recipe adapted from Taste of Home Magazine

Enjoy!

Giveaway Winners - StoreHouse Foods

The (3) winners of the StoreHouse Foods giveaway are:

-- *Grannie4*

-- *Gluten Free Greenie (Wendy)*

-- *Chandice*

Congratulations! I am e-mailing you all now. Please respond within 48 hours or new winners will be chosen.

Special thanks to StoreHouse Foods for sponsoring this giveaway.

Cinde's Gluten Free Spotlight - Gourmet Parmesan Crisps (a Rachael Ray "Snack of the Day"!)

I love, love, LOVE these Gourmet Parmesan Crisps from Kitchen Table Bakers! I mean it when I say that words alone cannot express my desire to eat these crispy, salty, decadent treats. Do you know how cheese sometimes drips down the side of food as it melts and lands on the hot baking sheet? The result is usually a small, salty, crisp, treasure that you can peel off the baking sheet and eat. In my household my husband, daughter, and I all clamor to see who will get to eat the "crispy cheese" first. There is never enough of this rare treat to go around in my house full of cheese-lovers!

Kitchen Table Bakers have solved the never enough "crispy cheese" to go around dilemma for my family, and multitudes of other "crispy cheese" loving individuals across America. Barry Novick, the founder of Kitchen Table Bakers created these phenomenal Gourmet Parmesan Crisps when he was looking for a safe, salty, crunchy and delicious snack to curb his cravings while dieting. The coolest part is that these delicious Gourmet Parmesan Crisps are made completely from cheese. That's right! 100% pure cheese... no flour, starches, or artificial ingredients are added. Because of this, they are naturally gluten free! Even Rachael Ray is a Gourmet Parmesan Crisps fan, and has featured them as the "snack of the day" on her t.v. show. Check out the short video clip (below) to hear what Rachael has to say about these delicious crisps:

I have tried (and enjoyed!) every single flavor of the Gourmet Parmesan Crisps. It is truly difficult for me to choose a favorite because each flavor tastes wonderful, but if I HAD to choose my top three they would be: Sesame, Everything and Aged Parmesan. Oh, wait... I have to add the Flax Seed to that list... they rock! Not to say that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the Jalapeno, Garlic, Italian Herb and Rosemary flavors, because I really did. Well, as I said... I can't choose a favorite!! Try the whole flavor collection for yourself and see if you can choose a favorite!

When I eat Kitchen Table Baker's Gourmet Parmesan Crisps I can hardly believe that they are:

Made from 100% Aged Parmesan Cheese

Low in Carbohydrates <1gm

All Natural - No Preservatives

Sugar - Free

Gluten Free

Wheat Free

Low in Calories (70-80 calories per serving)

Contain No Trans Fats

Rich in Calcium (20%) & Protein (7 gms)

Baked - Not Fried

The Aged Parmesan flavor is also available as "Mini Crisps" in a re-seal-able grab and go pouch. I keep plenty of these on hand to send to school with my children as snacks (my kids LOVE them!), and to eat in the car while running errands.

It's no wonder that Kitchen Table Baker's Gourmet Parmesan Crisps have been reviewed and listed as one of the top choices for healthy gourmet foods by: NY Times, Rachael Ray, MSNBC, Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), Shape Magazine, and MANY others!

Because Kitchen Table Baker's Gourmet Parmesan Crisps are crossover gourmet/health products with acceptance among dieters, non-dieters, and those with special dietary needs you will find them in various areas with in stores. Look for them in the deli, grocery/natural, cheese, or speciality departments.

Kitchen Table Baker's Gourmet Parmesan Crisps can be found at many fine stores such as: Wegman's Balducci's Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Fox and Obel, Grace's Market, Christina and Valentino's, Woodlands, Bristol Farms, Kroger's, Rice Epicurean Markets, Central Market, HEB Markets, Roche Brother's, and many other high end grocery/deli's, natural health, and speciality stores throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.

You can also order Kitchen Table Baker's Gourmet Parmesan Crisps from my amazon store and have them delivered right to your door. :)

Enjoy!

Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Thai-Style Peanut Sauce - Gluten Free

I could eat ethnic food every day of the week and never tire of it. Spring rolls are a favorite of mine that I order anytime they are available in Asian restaurants. Recently I learned how to make spring rolls at home! My gluten free spring rolls taste just as good (if not better) than many spring rolls I have tried in restaurants, and guess what? They aren't difficult to make at all, I promise! My husband and I had so much fun making them together. They were a hit with my whole family (the kiddos too!), and the left overs we had for dinner the next day tasted even better the day they were made. Yum!!


These tasty gluten free spring rolls taste great dipped in the smooth Thai Style Peanut Sauce. I used Earth Balance Natural Creamy Peanut Butter to make the sauce. I prefer Earth Balance Natural Peanut Butter over other brands because it contains no sugar, is sweetened only with natural Agave syrup, and contains flax seeds (which are rich in Omega 3 content). Unlike other natural nut butters, Earth Balance Nut Butters need no stirring... hoorah! Give Earth Balance Natural Peanut Butter a try and let me know what you think!


My Gluten Free Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Thai-Style Peanut Sauce are sure to become a fun family favorite in your household too! Both kids and grown ups alike love dipping these fresh tasting finger foods into the nicely seasoned peanut sauce. Whether served as a main dish, appetizer, or side dish, these beauties are delicious, satisfying, and wholesome.


Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Thai-Style Peanut Sauce - Gluten Free

1 1/4 ounces dry rice vermicelli (thin rice noodles), or enough to yield about 1 cup cooked

1 1/4 cup shredded carrots

1 1/4 cup shredded cabbage

2 scallions (white and green parts) sliced very thin

15 fresh basil leaves, chopped

15 fresh mint leaves, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1/4 cup peanuts, crushed

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce (Tamari)

1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon toasted (dark) sesame seed oil

15 (8-inch) round gluten free spring roll wrappers (made from tapioca or rice; in the Asian section of your market)

1 batch Thai Style Peanut Sauce (recipe to follow)

Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Remove from heat and stir in the rice noodles. Let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until soft and opaque. Drain and rinse under cold water for 30 seconds; drain again. Cut into 1-inch lengths and transfer to a large bowl.

Add all of the remaining ingredients, except the rice papers and sauce, to the noodles and mix well.

Prepare a bowl of warm water large enough to dip the rice papers. Working with one at a time, dip the rice paper in the warm water until it begins to soften, 8-10 seconds. Transfer to a flat work surface. Working quickly, put about 1/4 cup filling on each wrapper. Fold the bottom of the wrapper up over the filling, and then fold each side toward the center. Roll from the bottom to the top of each roll, as tightly as you can without ripping the wrapper. Wrap in plastic to keep from drying out. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. Serve at room temperature, with Peanut Dipping sauce. Alternatively, refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight, and serve chilled or return to room temperature. Yield: 15 Spring Rolls

Thai-Style Peanut Dipping Sauce - Gluten Free

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 tablespoon sugar

1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter (I use Earth Balance Natural Creamy Peanut Butter)

1 1/2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce (Tamari)

1 tablespoon coconut milk

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon Chinese chili paste (use spicy or sweet chili paste depending on your taste preference)

1 large clove garlic, finely chopped

In a small bowl, combine the warm water and sugar, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients, whisking until smooth and well blended. Serve at room temperature. Yield: about 1 1/4 cups sauce.

*Recipe adapted from The Gluten Free Vegetarian Kitchen cookbook.

*For more gluten free meal ideas check visit the Gluten Free Homemaker and check out the What Can I Eat? page.

Enjoy!

Giveaway Winners - Senna Cosmetics Lip Pics

The winners of the Senna Cosmetics Lip Pics giveaway are:

*Shooting Stars Mag (Lauren)*

AND

*Gluten Free Mom (Andrea)*

Congratulations Lauren and Andrea! I am e-mailing you both now. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Special thanks to Senna Cosmetics for sponsoring this giveaway

Giveaway & Review - StoreHouse Foods

Most people don't like to think about emergencies, and of those people even fewer are prepared for them. Perhaps we could all learn a lesson from the Girl and Boy Scouts of America and give emergency preparedness a second thought. A quote from The first handbook for Girl Guides (now Girl Scouts), says:


"The motto of the Girl Guides is "Be Prepared". Why is this? It is because, like the other Guides, you have to be prepared at any moment to face difficulties and even dangers by knowing what to do and how to do it."

Those are wise words indeed. StoreHouse Foods is a family owned company that truly believes in the importance of "being prepared", and have built a thriving business based on this concept. StoreHouse Foods says "Our company goal is to bring awareness to consumers of the options that are available when it comes to planning to feeding your family in an emergency."

Since their inception in 1998, StoreHouse Foods has been a leader in the selling of the best storable foods available. Their message is clear and simple: "Knowing that you are prepared brings peace of mind in any emergency situation."

Are you prepared? Chances are you have thought about preparing, but have never gotten around to it. StoreHouse Foods is here to help, because they know that some day you may actually need to depend on a food reserve system. StoreHouse Foods has shelf-stable food systems that will meet all of your needs. Their exclusive "No Cooking Required" systems can be eaten "as is", or you can prepare them by simply adding hot or cold water to reconstitute.

Check out the many benefits StoreHouse Foods has to offer:

- Food selections are broad spectrum and include gluten free and vegetarian options

- Food selections are all natural, and completely free of artificial preservatives, flavorings,

colorings, MSG, and white sugar.

- Food selections are familiar, everyday foods enjoyed by adults and children and offer a

balanced diet

- Food can be prepared with a limited amount of fuel and water

- StoreHouse Foods utilizes the latest technologies to offer the longest shelf life possible

(3-15 years depending on selection)

- Their Emergency Preparedness Specialist will answer your questions free of charge via the

StoreHouse Foods website

- Offers generous servings for all food selections to ensure 2000+ calories per day

- Manufacturing facilities are inspected daily by a U.S.D.A. resident inspector and comply with

strict standards for wholesomeness and cleanliness

- Many selections are organically grown and their beef products are hormone free

- Most food selections can be prepared right inside the can or pouch

And now for the $50,000 dollar question: "How does the food taste?" Of course I wondered the exact same thing, so my family and I sampled a few of the food selections ourselves. Here's the verdict... the food really tastes great! My gluten intolerant ultra-finicky seven year old sampled the gluten free Mashed Potatoes and Country Gravy with Turkey. She liked it so much that she asked for a second helping! The generous portion was ready in 10 minutes flat and the only preparation involved adding water to reconstitute it. It had a creamy herbed country gravy and nice sized pieces of turkey along with the mashed potatoes. I sampled the gluten free-vegetarian Santa Fe Black Beans and Rice. After reconstituting it in water for 10 minutes, it was ready to serve. I was impressed with the nice spicy kick that it had. It tasted really good!




My gluten free readers will be pleased to know that the wide variety of gluten free selections available from StoreHouse Foods can be used not only for emergencies, but for portable, gourmet meals that are perfect to eat at work, while traveling or simply to enjoy as a quick delicious gluten free meal at home. I am not aware of any other portable gluten free meals that travel light, need no refrigeration, have a super-long shelf life, and can be prepared in minutes by simply adding water. What a break through! Be sure to share this fantastic news with all of your gluten intolerant family and friends... they will thank you for it!


StoreHouse Foods Giveaway!

StoreHouse Foods has generously offered to giveaway $25.00 gift certificates for use on their website to (3) of my lucky readers! Use the gift certificate to sample some of their delicious foods, or use it toward the purchase of a complete emergency preparedness food system. The StoreHouse Foods Emergency Preparedness Specialist will be happy to help you customize your emergency preparedness food system so it meets you and your families needs perfectly!

TO ENTER:

Visit my Freebie Fairy website and follow the easy entry instructions.


*Giveaway ends Saturday, September 13, 2009 at 10:00 PST. I will select (3) winners at random and announce the winners by September 15, 2009. Winners will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond before new winners are selected.


*REMEMBER... please leave your e-mail address with EACH entry so I can contact you if you win.


*Giveaway open to US readers only


Best of Luck!

Blackberry-Blueberry Crumb Pie - Gluten Free

There are definite perks to living in the country. One of them is the endless bounty of fresh blackberries that grow on my property. My whole family munches on these juicy dark purple beauties at the end of each summer, and we freeze the surplus so we can make delicious blackberry pancakes and muffins throughout the year.


This recipe for gluten free Blackberry-Blueberry Crumb Pie is my kid's favorite. I employ a few shortcuts to speed up the preparation of this juicy summertime treat, so I can serve it in a jiffy when my kids get a craving for it. By using a pre-made frozen gluten free pie crust, and opting for a simple crumb topping this pie comes together in no time.


Embrace the last days of summer by making this old fashioned, gluten free Blackberry-Blueberry Crumb Pie for your friends and family. Whether served on it's own, or along side a scoop of vanilla ice cream it is the perfect end to a summer time meal.


Blackberry-Blueberry Crumb Pie - Gluten Free
1 gluten free (single crust) pie shell - unbaked (I use the frozen Gluten Free Bakehouse brand available at Whole Foods Market)


3 cups fresh blackberries


2 cups fresh blueberries


3/4 cup sugar


1/4 cup cornstarch


1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg


TOPPING:

1/2 cup Pamela's Ultimate Baking and Pancake Mix

1/4 cup packed brown sugar


1/4 cup cold butter


In a large bowl, combine blackberries and blueberries. Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and nutmeg; sprinkle over berries and toss gently to combine. Pour into crust.


In a small bowl, combine the Pamela's Ultimate Baking and Pancake Mix and brown sugar; using a pastry blender cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over filling. Bake at 375 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until set (cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent over-browning if necessary). Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 6-8 servings.

*Recipe adapted from Simple & Delicious Magazine

*For more gluten free menu ideas visit The Gluten Free Homemaker and check out the the What Can I Eat That's Gluten Free page.


Enjoy!