Category: dietary

Recipe: Gluten Free Twinkies

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I bought a Twinkie pan just to make these for my friend who is sensitive to gluten. I’m a big believer in eating foods that are GF naturally instead of trying to make fake versions of the foods you love with gluten that will always be a little disappointing when compared with their gluten packed cousins but on the other hand, everyone has a birthday and he requested these. They do fluff up and are similar enough to the original that they may give you some nostalgia vibes.

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Gluten Free Twinkies

Makes about 10-12 twinkies (my pan only holds 8 though so it was 8 + a mini cake)

3 cups gluten-free multi-purpose flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 1/2 cups sugar
12 tablespoons soft butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1 cup milk

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease your twinkie pan.
  2. Using an electric mixer, beat together the sugar, butter, salt, baking powder, and vanilla until smooth.
  3. Now beat in the eggs one at a time then the milk and the dry ingredients, adding about 1/3 of each at a time.
  4. Scoop the batter into the prepared pans. Bake the cake for about 25 to 30 minutes, about 3 to 4 minutes past the point where the cake springs back when touched lightly in the center, and a cake tester (or toothpick) inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Source: King Arthur Flour

Recipe: Pizza Bites

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This is a great lunch recipe. It’s quick, easy to make, you can add anything you like in to it and you can even make a few different flavors for different people (if you have fussy people in your house). I make mine with onion, peppers, and mushroom but feel free to use any of your favorite pizza toppings even pineapples and ham just make sure any meat you used it cooked and that any toppings are cut in to small pieces.

Pizza Bites

Adapted from Little B Cooks

Recipe: Easy Baked French Fries

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The potatoes do have to soak before you bake them so there is a 30 minute wait and the 30 minute cooking time makes less very less convenient than their frozen counterparts but they’re delicious and taste and feel just like they were fried without all the extra fat and oil needed to fry. They also take only 2-3 minutes of active work, mostly just chopping up a potato.

Easy Baked French Fries

Recipe: Summer Risotto

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In most places the summer is too warm to stand over a stove making risotto for 20-30 minutes, but thankfully it’s pretty cool in Seattle and on the right weekend this is a perfect was to celebrate the flavors of the summer in a delicious and simple dish. I used regular rice since arborio rice is a bit pricey, but the dish has the same soul as a real risotto I feel.

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Summer Risotto

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
8 oz peas (fresh or frozen)
2 zucchini, cut into 1″ pieces
1 tbsp butter
3 to 4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1 cup rice
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
salt and black pepper, to taste

  1. Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Saute the zucchini and summer squash until just starting to brown, about 7 minutes. Set aside.
  2. In a medium pot, bring the vegetable broth to a simmer. Add the remaining tbsp of olive oil to the pan. Over medium heat, saute the shallots until tender, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add the rice and saute for 1 minute, constantly stirring. Add 1 cup of the simmering vegetable broth, stirring continuously until almost all of it evaporates. Add another 1/2 cup of the broth and stir until it evaporates. Repeat with remaining broth until rice is tender and cooked through, reserving 1/4 cup of broth.
  4. Add the veggies to the pan and cook for one minute or until heated through. Remove from the heat and stir in the reserved 1/4 cup broth, parmesan cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, and better. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Source: Eats Well With Others

Bento: Delicious Dinner

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Technically this isn’t a bento but it was too good of a meal not to post. This was our dinner last Sunday: a very simple mac and cheese, some seared peas with lemon and mint and of course, sweet potato fries (with my special blend of spicy ground peppers on top for an extra exciting kick!)

Recipe: Japanese Chicken Curry

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This dish takes time. It’s a labor of love and it’s worth making in bulk due to the large scale process. It can be frozen and it can also be halved if you’d just prefer to make less. Japanese curry is not hot like Indian or Thai curries and instead is made with a roux and has a thick, stew-like texture to it.

Japanese Chicken Curry

Recipe: Miso Udon Soup

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This is the perfect after work food. It’s fast, one pot, cheap with little prep and practically no mess. Using fresh udon (found in the refrigerator section in most international supermarkets) it becomes a completely no fuss meal but you can substitute fresh noodles for dried one in a pinch though carefully follow directions on the dry noodles before adding them to the soup. You can add just about any vegetable to this and any mix of miso you like. I prefer red for a hearty soup with a bold flavor though shiro miso make a milder soup that many enjoy.

Miso Udon Soup

Adapted from Steam Kitchen

Recipe: Thin Crust Pizza

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If you have a stand mixer this recipe is about as easy as they come simply pop all the ingredients in and prepared to be wowed by what comes out. This pizza is best when rolled thin and cooked until the edges are perfectly crisp. Ready for just about any toppings and with a very short rise time it’s great for a slow Friday night. You can honestly ignore the rise time if you’re in a rush and you roll it out thin enough it will puff while you’re putting toppings on and when cooking but for a little extra softness waiting the 30 minutes for it to rise will give it a pillow-y texture. This recipe easily doubles for a crowd.

Thin Crust Pizza

Adapted from Frugal Girl

Recipe: Shakshuka

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There’s something to be said about creamy, runny eggs and a spicy tomato sauce. It’s simple and quick to make and if you can get ready made naan or make naan ahead of time and re-heat it in the oven this is the perfect slightly fancy weeknight meal.

Shakshuka

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen