So, I didn't get around to making a new lentil recipe for tonight, but I did make a nice big pot of lentil soup, with turkey sausages instead of pork for a bit of a healthier new year's day meal tomorrow. Tonight, I think it will just be a quiet evening with family, with some food picked up from a local restaurant and some cheesy t.v., or maybe a game of cards. I'm missing out on the annual family bowling party, but since I don't feel great, sticking close to home is the best idea. The important thing is to spend the evening with those I love.
Thank you for sharing the past year with me. Your readership means the world to me. I hope you and yours have a safe and happy New Year, and may 2012 bring you everything you wish for and more.
Join me next year for new weekly menu plans, weekly recipes, more product, restaurant and cookbook reviews and of course, musings on handling the gluten free side of life!
Here's to a brave New (Gluten Free) Year!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
New Year's Eve Soup
Last year, I posted about a tradition that Italians have of eating lentils and pork sausages on New Year's Eve. The shape of the lentils are said to resemble Roman coins, and the sausage casings are akin to small sacs to carry around the wealth. I mentioned as well that the representation of wealth referred not only to monetary wealth, but wealth in all areas of life.
I'm hoping to post a new recipe tomorrow featuring lentils and sausage, but I'm a bit under the weather. In case I don't get around to cooking something new, here's last year's post and recipe for the yummy lentil soup (that can be vegetarian if the sausages are left out) that is eaten traditionally either on New Year's Eve or New Year's day.
Who couldn't use a bit more wealth in every area of life for the New Year?
Here's The Recipe (First posted December 30, 2010)
Ingredients:
olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 cup green lentils, washed
1 package frozen, chopped spinach
1 can tomatoes (diced, not crushed)
4-6 cups vegetable broth (1 1/2 boxes)- /if serving more than four, up the broth content
1/4 cup each chopped fresh basil and parsley, or 1 tsp each dried herbs
salt and pepper to taste
optional: 1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
Directions
1. Pour enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of a large soup pot. Over medium-low heat, cook onions until soft. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add lentils and stir to cover with oil.
2. Add 4 cups of broth and stir in herbs. Unwrap frozen spinach and place in the pot. It will defrost in the pot, just break up with spoon when soft. Bring soup to a boil and then lower to a simmer until lentils are soft.
3. Add tomatoes and juice and heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste, and optional red pepper flakes if using. If you don't like pieces of tomatoes in your soup, then puree the whole can first or strain the chunks out and just add juice.
4. If the soup is too thick, add the remaining two cups of broth. Heat through and serve.
Non-vegan options:
Top with some grated Parmesan cheese and some sausage medallions. To make medallions:
Fry whole sausages (Italian style pork sausages are traditional, check labels for gluten) in a non-stick pan until cooked through. When done, remove from pan and slice into medallions. Garnish bowls of soup with a few medallions.
Can't wait to eat some tomorrow night!
I'm hoping to post a new recipe tomorrow featuring lentils and sausage, but I'm a bit under the weather. In case I don't get around to cooking something new, here's last year's post and recipe for the yummy lentil soup (that can be vegetarian if the sausages are left out) that is eaten traditionally either on New Year's Eve or New Year's day.
Who couldn't use a bit more wealth in every area of life for the New Year?
Here's The Recipe (First posted December 30, 2010)
Ingredients:
olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 cup green lentils, washed
1 package frozen, chopped spinach
1 can tomatoes (diced, not crushed)
4-6 cups vegetable broth (1 1/2 boxes)- /if serving more than four, up the broth content
1/4 cup each chopped fresh basil and parsley, or 1 tsp each dried herbs
salt and pepper to taste
optional: 1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
Directions
1. Pour enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of a large soup pot. Over medium-low heat, cook onions until soft. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add lentils and stir to cover with oil.
2. Add 4 cups of broth and stir in herbs. Unwrap frozen spinach and place in the pot. It will defrost in the pot, just break up with spoon when soft. Bring soup to a boil and then lower to a simmer until lentils are soft.
3. Add tomatoes and juice and heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste, and optional red pepper flakes if using. If you don't like pieces of tomatoes in your soup, then puree the whole can first or strain the chunks out and just add juice.
4. If the soup is too thick, add the remaining two cups of broth. Heat through and serve.
 |
| My hearty lentil soup! |
Non-vegan options:
Top with some grated Parmesan cheese and some sausage medallions. To make medallions:
Fry whole sausages (Italian style pork sausages are traditional, check labels for gluten) in a non-stick pan until cooked through. When done, remove from pan and slice into medallions. Garnish bowls of soup with a few medallions.
Can't wait to eat some tomorrow night!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
2011 Goals Update
This is the last goal update for the year, and what a year it's been! I signed up to post every day this year, and so far, I've kept up. Things have been a little light this week due to the holidays, but I'll be back in regular posting mode by the new year!
Overall, this year has been a whirlwind! We visited El Salvador in April, Pittsburgh, Washington, Dewey Beach and Wilmington, Delaware in August. Not to mention a week at the cottage in July! I went back to work full-time in September and my son started at the French daycare at the same time.
At the beginning of the year, my husband and I sat down and set out some goals for the year in various areas of our lives. Not resolutions, but just some guidelines to help us keep our focus as the craziness of the year set in. Some were concrete, like getting the roof done or updating the family room. Others were geared more towards improving our quality of life, like monthly date nights or weekly family outings. And because we're two separate people as well as being part of a pair, we each had a list of personal goals. One of mine was to make more time for writing.
I'm pretty happy with how well we were able to stay focused, even though there are still several items on the list that will have to be moved onto next year's list, or maybe removed altogether if they're no longer priorities. My goal to Run 5K didn't happen, but it's still something I want to achieve in the future. I also didn't read 100 books for pleasure, but if I add in all the academic books I read for my thesis, I'm well over the limit. Next year, I'm going to get to 100!
On the house front, we're still in the process of turning the basement into a playroom/family room, but we've made some significant progress, not the least of which is the fireplace, which makes the space toasty warm in the winter. The roof was done, and the family room is no longer filled with old, hand me down furniture, so I'd say that's an improvement!
Perhaps the biggest change this year was the full-time commitment to providing a gluten free world for my son, and sharing that journey with you! As I get more comfortable navigating a gluten free existence inside the kitchen and out, my son's positive food experiences grow. The company that provides his food at the daycare has taken a huge load off my shoulders as well- most days, my son eats a meal that looks almost exactly like that of his classmates.
Moving forward, I'm looking forward to creating a new list for next year. This time, I'm going to make a whole list dedicated just to the blog- I have a lot of ideas swirling around in my brain that I'm looking forward to making a reality!
I'll be blogging straight into the new year, including a whole new year of weekly gluten free menu plans! Check back often!
Overall, this year has been a whirlwind! We visited El Salvador in April, Pittsburgh, Washington, Dewey Beach and Wilmington, Delaware in August. Not to mention a week at the cottage in July! I went back to work full-time in September and my son started at the French daycare at the same time.
At the beginning of the year, my husband and I sat down and set out some goals for the year in various areas of our lives. Not resolutions, but just some guidelines to help us keep our focus as the craziness of the year set in. Some were concrete, like getting the roof done or updating the family room. Others were geared more towards improving our quality of life, like monthly date nights or weekly family outings. And because we're two separate people as well as being part of a pair, we each had a list of personal goals. One of mine was to make more time for writing.
I'm pretty happy with how well we were able to stay focused, even though there are still several items on the list that will have to be moved onto next year's list, or maybe removed altogether if they're no longer priorities. My goal to Run 5K didn't happen, but it's still something I want to achieve in the future. I also didn't read 100 books for pleasure, but if I add in all the academic books I read for my thesis, I'm well over the limit. Next year, I'm going to get to 100!
On the house front, we're still in the process of turning the basement into a playroom/family room, but we've made some significant progress, not the least of which is the fireplace, which makes the space toasty warm in the winter. The roof was done, and the family room is no longer filled with old, hand me down furniture, so I'd say that's an improvement!
Perhaps the biggest change this year was the full-time commitment to providing a gluten free world for my son, and sharing that journey with you! As I get more comfortable navigating a gluten free existence inside the kitchen and out, my son's positive food experiences grow. The company that provides his food at the daycare has taken a huge load off my shoulders as well- most days, my son eats a meal that looks almost exactly like that of his classmates.
Moving forward, I'm looking forward to creating a new list for next year. This time, I'm going to make a whole list dedicated just to the blog- I have a lot of ideas swirling around in my brain that I'm looking forward to making a reality!
I'll be blogging straight into the new year, including a whole new year of weekly gluten free menu plans! Check back often!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Turkey Leftovers? Four Meal Ideas
This year I cooked a turkey roast, which is similar to any other type of roast. It's smaller than cooking a whole turkey, and all white meat. There were only 6 adults at my house for Christmas, so cooking a whole bird was unnecessary. That doesn't mean we don't have any leftovers. If you're already tired of eating leftover plates that are exact replicas of your Christmas dinner, here are four meal ideas to change things up without wasting food.
1- Turkey Soup- Chop up an onion and saute in a little olive oil until softened. Mince a clove or two of garlic and add to the pot, cooking for a minute more. Add vegetable broth, some leftover vegetables or some frozen veggies and the cooked turkey. Season with some thyme, rosemary or other herb of choice. Heat through and serve, topped with some Parmesan cheese, if desired.
2- Turkey Salad- I like my turkey in a turkey Caesar, but a salad of mixed greens, with chopped turkey, dried cranberries and some cooked quinoa in a herb vinaigrette sounds lovely too.
2- Turkey Pie- I made this on Thanksgiving, but it is supposed to be a recipe for leftovers. It's Jaime's Turkey Pie, from the Jamie Oliver website.
His version isn't gluten free, so here are the changes I make to his recipe to make it gluten free:
a) The recipe calls for puff pastry. There are GF puff pastry recipes out there, but it's too complicated for me to bother when using up leftovers. I use a gluten free pie crust, either from a mix or from scratch. Frozen formed crusts don't work because the crust only goes on the top of the pie, not the bottom. If you don't like/have chestnuts, leave them out.
b) I thicken the gravy either with gluten free all purpose flour or cornstarch, whichever I have on hand. This recipe is a bit more work than the other two above, but it's a staple at my house, and everyone loves it.
4- Turkey Chili- Ground meat is traditional in a chili, but who cares? Tear or chop up leftover turkey and use it in a thick and chunky chili. Chopped onion, garlic, orange or red bell pepper, niblets corn and some chickpeas or white beans make a great base. Saute in a little olive oil, add a large can of pureed tomatoes, another of broth, and season to taste. Add the cooked turkey and heat through. For better flavour, let it simmer. Top with shredded cheese or sour cream, and serve with tortilla chips or over rice.
1- Turkey Soup- Chop up an onion and saute in a little olive oil until softened. Mince a clove or two of garlic and add to the pot, cooking for a minute more. Add vegetable broth, some leftover vegetables or some frozen veggies and the cooked turkey. Season with some thyme, rosemary or other herb of choice. Heat through and serve, topped with some Parmesan cheese, if desired.
2- Turkey Salad- I like my turkey in a turkey Caesar, but a salad of mixed greens, with chopped turkey, dried cranberries and some cooked quinoa in a herb vinaigrette sounds lovely too.
2- Turkey Pie- I made this on Thanksgiving, but it is supposed to be a recipe for leftovers. It's Jaime's Turkey Pie, from the Jamie Oliver website.
His version isn't gluten free, so here are the changes I make to his recipe to make it gluten free:
a) The recipe calls for puff pastry. There are GF puff pastry recipes out there, but it's too complicated for me to bother when using up leftovers. I use a gluten free pie crust, either from a mix or from scratch. Frozen formed crusts don't work because the crust only goes on the top of the pie, not the bottom. If you don't like/have chestnuts, leave them out.
b) I thicken the gravy either with gluten free all purpose flour or cornstarch, whichever I have on hand. This recipe is a bit more work than the other two above, but it's a staple at my house, and everyone loves it.
4- Turkey Chili- Ground meat is traditional in a chili, but who cares? Tear or chop up leftover turkey and use it in a thick and chunky chili. Chopped onion, garlic, orange or red bell pepper, niblets corn and some chickpeas or white beans make a great base. Saute in a little olive oil, add a large can of pureed tomatoes, another of broth, and season to taste. Add the cooked turkey and heat through. For better flavour, let it simmer. Top with shredded cheese or sour cream, and serve with tortilla chips or over rice.
Happy Eating!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Some Christmas Images
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| Running his own supermarket |
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| With his brand new truck |
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| I used to love my viewfinder as a kid- now he loves his! |
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| Well, he didn't get the violin, but he did get the guitar he wanted! |
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| Gluten and Dairy Free Chocolate Cake For Dessert |
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
The gifts are opened, the dinner is done, and now it's time to just sit back and relax with family.
Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Happy Christmas Eve!
We're almost ready to head out to my parents' house for Christmas Eve dinner, traditionally a meat-free meal and some sort of fish. My sister's cooking this year's meal, and I think there's halibut involved. I promise to take photos and post them here!
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve! Enjoy the time to be with family, share a good meal and hopefully, lots of laughs.
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve! Enjoy the time to be with family, share a good meal and hopefully, lots of laughs.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Happy 89th Birthday!
I almost forgot to post this, but today is my husband's grandfather's 89th birthday! Our son is lucky to still have his great-grandfather in his life (and his great-grandmother too!) We only see him occasionally since he is in El Salvador and we're not, but Etienne has visited him twice over his short life. Hopefully there will be many more visits to come.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
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| Meeting his great-grandparents for the first time 2009 |
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| The meeting of the minds, 2011 |
Welcome to Christmas Weekend!
Work is done for the holidays, so now I can focus on family and the holidays!
Tomorrow I'll be busy cooking and cleaning for Christmas day, but we'll also be spending Christmas Eve at my mom's house. My sister has been putting together the Christmas Eve menu, so I'm excited to see what she has in store!
Then Sunday, it's Christmas at our house! I can't wait to see what Santa brings my son!
Posting will continue as usual over the next few days, with lots of food and family photos, as well as some leftover ideas so that all your yummy food doesn't go to waste in the days following the big feast!
Tomorrow I'll be busy cooking and cleaning for Christmas day, but we'll also be spending Christmas Eve at my mom's house. My sister has been putting together the Christmas Eve menu, so I'm excited to see what she has in store!
Then Sunday, it's Christmas at our house! I can't wait to see what Santa brings my son!
Posting will continue as usual over the next few days, with lots of food and family photos, as well as some leftover ideas so that all your yummy food doesn't go to waste in the days following the big feast!
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