Gluten Free Mendocino County

So today I was determined to use up the old food left around to make room for new stuff.  I cleaned out the fridge and freezer, and found I had some oranges that were just on the edge and begging to be used up.  My thought was...gourmet...oranges three ways.  I peeled them to make candied orange peel, the sugar syrup from candying the peel I saved for orange flavored simple syrup for tea, I segmented the oranges, covered them in raw turbonado and baked them til carmelized.  I placed those on some simple rice pudding I made with the last of the So Delicious Coconut Egg Nog I had from Christmas (2 cups of Egg Nog, 1 cup of rice, cooked down for 30 min, with 1/4 cup of nog added in, in the last minute to make it creamy.  I like lots of nutmeg, so I added lots of extra!) I added dry blueberries for some added nutrition.  One thing more delicious than the next! I highly recommend it!! I'm so glad we have so many orange trees!!!!!

Need I say more? 

Jules Thin Crust

820 Sycamore Valley Road West

Danville, CA 94526-3955

(925) 743-2790

http://www.julesthincrust.com/

Open Mon-Thu,Sun 11:30am-8:30pm; Fri 11:30am-9:30pm; Sat 11:30am-9pm

Kellog's Rice Crispy Cereal can now be found gluten free!

I think the best part of living in a small community, is the presents you get are made from the heart.  This gingerbread house was created by one of my favorite patients and her mom.  It is a treasure.  I'm so greatful to all the wonderful homemade gifts I got this year.  Homemade peach cobbler, and gluten free cookies.  A pizzelle maker from my mom to make cannolis.......and fudge.  I've found some wonderful recipes that I'd love to share.....

Chess Pies

Filling:

2  cubes of butter melted

1 c. sugar

4 eggs

1 Tblsp vanilla

1 c. chopped walnuts

3/4 c. raisins

1/2 tsp salt

1 heaping tsp lemon extract

Make 2 batches of the perfect pie crust from the GF Base Recipe Tab.  Refrigerate while making filling.  Combine filling in bowl.  Roll out dough and place into muffin tins.  Place a scant 1/4 cup of filling in each pie crust.  Bake at 350 for 35 min.  Allow to mostly cool before removing from muffin tins. 

Nana's Dried Fruit Cookies

Make 2 batches of perfect pie crust from the GF Base Recipe Tab.  Refrigerate while making filling.

Grind individually in food processor:

Dates

Raisins

Dried Apricots

Prunes

Figs

Walnuts

Almonds

     and mix in bowl with small jar of orange marmelade.

Roll out pie dough into long roll.  Place filling in log in center.  Roll pie crust around it.  Cut on the diagonal.  Place on cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 20-30min or until crust is slightly golden brown.

Frost with either:

     Apricot Jam, Powdered Sugar, and Butter.

     Orange Juice Concentrate, Powdered Sugar, and Butter.

     Orange Marmelade, Powdered Sugar, Cream, and Butter.

Cannoli's

1st - Buy a good pizzelle maker.... that doesn't break on the second batch of pizzelle's.  Oh yes.... At least I was able to make two before it died. 

2nd - Pizzelle Batter

     Whip in Bowl: 1 Egg, 1 Egg White, and 1/4 tsp Salt - Until fluffy

     Then add: 1/2 c sugar, 2/3 c flour blend, 1/2 tsp xantham gum, 3 Tblsp melted butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla or anise extract.

     Place Tblsp in pizzelle maker and cook until brown.

3rd - Fill with: Ricotta, Fresh Whipped Cream, Honey, Orange Zest, and Mini Chocolate Chips

I love it best with just the whipped cream.  You can also make it DF with coconut cream instead.

Gluten Free Granola

Combine in Bowl:

4 c of Gluten Free Oats

1 c of any of the following chopped: Walnuts, Pecans, Pistacios, Hazelnuts

1 c Slivered Almonds

1 c Coconut

3/4 c Oil

1/4 c Honey

1/2 c. Brown Sugar

1 tsp Salt

1 Tblsp Vanilla

Bake at 350 for 10min at a time, stirring every 10 min until golden brown.

When cool may add: Dried Blueberries, Dried Cherries, Dried Apricots, Dried Figs, Raisins, Dried Date Pieces, Dried Peaches, Dried Apples, Dried Pears, or any other Dried Fruit.

You can also add Cinnamon for a warmer, more holiday flavor.

All I can say is.... Try it!  The food is amazing!

Pasta Bella

796 Gravenstein Avenue

Sebastopol, CA 95472-4543

(707) 824-8191

www.eatpastabella.com

Mac & Cheese

Polenta Lasagna and Vegetable Vegan Pasta

Pesto Chicken Pasta

Lemon Bars and Fresh Whip Cream (made special for this event)

Check out Dominique's Sweets at the Santa Rosa Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings from 8am-noon for Le macarons!  Or you can also find her at www.dominiquesweets.com.  Bittersweet Chocolate, Salted Caramel (me and my sister's favorite), Rose, Lemon, Pistachio, Hazelnut, and strawberry flavors. $20/dozen, $9/half dozen.

Also at the Santa Rosa Farmer's Market every other Saturday, Elegantly Organics Flour Craft Bakery Products.  Muffins, scones, brownies, cookies... all gluten free.  Delicious!