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Free from: gluten, grain, dairy, eggs, soy, & nuts!

All May long, we’re going "against the grain" to gain insight into how simple grain free baking can be!  

Last week, we satisfied our munchies with my amazingly simple and delish Grain Free Gluten Free "Pot" Brownies. This week I have another sweet treat to share just in time for Mother's Day!

My Chocolate Covered Grain Free Gluten Free (Oven Free!) Sunbutter Bites are special enough to fill a candy box tied up with a pretty bow for Mom to show her how much you care!

In fact, this recipe is so incredibly easy and FUN to make, you'll want to keep it near the front of your recipe box to use any time you want to share a sweet gift from your kitchen. (We don't even need to turn on the oven for these!!)

Of course, once you try one of these decadent little bites, you might just decide to double the recipe and make extras to nibble on for yourself (I know I do!).

And that's a-OK because these decadent candy bites are free of the most common "Big 8" food allergens as well as gluten free and grain free!! That means nearly everyone can enjoy them! 

Now, let's get that recipe and get in the kitchen!

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Strawberries - in season for spring - are the perfect partner for my Dairy Free Lemon Ice Cream!
 
Even though there's still a chill in the air, the sunny skies and warmer temps of spring can't help but bring chilled bowls filled with frozen treats to mind! 

Of course, I want a recipe that comes together in a snap with a few simple, affordable ingredients. I know you do, too! 

My dairy-free ice cream fits the bill, but that's not all...
 
This recipe is versatile enough to become our warm weather "go to" dessert - no oven required!

So, this week, I'm sharing with you my recipe for Dairy Free Lemon Ice Cream along with several variations I've made!
 
And I have so many more in mind... The possibilities for this simple ice cream seem nearly endless, and that's precisely the idea!
 
I'm excited for you to take this recipe, check out my variations, try one (or more!) of them, then make your own custom flavors of rich, creamy dairy-free ice cream to keep you cool all spring and summer long!
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Last week the web buzzed with Mylie Cyrus’ announcement about eating gluten free. Stories about popular personalities capture the public’s interest. It’s no surprise, really. There’s something mysterious and intriguing about the celebrity lifestyle.

It’s no different with our edible “super-stars”... A new, nutrient-dense gluten free food is exciting and we all want to learn more so we can begin devouring the delicious benefits!

That’s why, this week, I’m shining the nutrition spotlight on a curious character in the gluten free “grains” world... Amaranth!

I receive questions all the time about amaranth. People hear about it but many simply aren't quite sure how to enjoy these tiny "grains" of goodness as part of their gluten free diet.

Today, we’re changing that! I’ve got your answers for:

(1) Why you may want to eat amaranth.
 
(2) How to prepare amaranth and incorporate it into your gluten free diet. 

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Few things capture the taste of spring like a crisp, light salad that's simple to prepare and bursting with flavor! 
 
And this Spring week is a perfect one for my Naturally Gluten Free Apple Fennel Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette... Sweet apple and mild, anise-flavored fennel tossed in a light herb vinaigrette make a tantalizing combination! 

This dish is also a super-flexible time saver... You can make it a day in advance, so it's a perfect "take-along" dish! I even put it to the test for this year's Easter brunch. Saturday evening, I took about 15 minutes to put together this salad and then stored it in the fridge overnight. The next morning, off to Easter brunch I went with no worries of last-minute prep or cleanup! 

My salad was SUCH a big hit with everyone I had to write the recipe down for four people and left with an empty serving bowl! 

Everyone was so busy raving about the salad's flavor, I hardly had a chance to explain the OTHER great thing about my salad... By using fennel, I've made sure it also packs a powerful nutrition punch! 
 
If you haven’t used fennel before in your cooking, this salad is the ideal introduction to this healthy veggie!

Fennel is a relative of carrots and dill. It is brimming with vitamin C, it's full of fiber, and it contains plant nutrients with anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.  

Of course, it's understandable if fennel hasn't made its way into your kitchen. That big veggie looks a little intimidating and the bulb is a bit tough. And, truth be told, unless someone shows you, those feathery fronds, long stalks, and that big bulb can be tricky to prepare. That's why I made this short video showing you exactly how to prep fennel and use it! 

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How about a 2-ingredient gluten free recipe so scrumptious you won't be able to resist?! 

What if I told you it's super-simple to make and GOOD FOR YOU, too?

Sounds too good to be true, but I assure you, it's not. 

My Gluten Free Avocado Fries have all this and more!

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gluten free bread, gluten free biscuits, vegan bread recipes, vegan biscuit recipes
Add these chive biscuits to your gluten free brunch table!
Chives are one of my favorite spring herbs. This subdued member of the onion family, with its mild flavor and fresh green color, is a popular accent in dishes like scrambled eggs and baked potatoes.

Chives also make a flavorful addition to breads, like my Gluten Free Chive Biscuits.

Serve these at breakfast with eggs, at brunch filled with thin slices of ham, or at dinnertime to accompany your favorite spring vegetable soup. You won’t be disappointed!  

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Legend has it fairies place pots of gold at the end of rainbows. Leprechauns are said to guard the pots. Capture the leprechaun, and the treasure belongs to you!

Of course, if you don’t have time this St. Patrick’s Day to chase after mischievous leprechauns, you can make your own rainbow and pot of gold. It’s simple, affordable, and even if it’s not the “real thing”, rainbows are magical. That's especially true when they are made of an array of naturally gluten free, nutrient-rich veggies!

No less dazzling is my savory Pot O' Gold Dip!

This blend of roasted butternut squash and seasonings makes a terrific dip for raw or steamed vegetables. Everyone will feel lucky when you serve this eye-catching display, on St. Patrick’s Day, or any day of the year!

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Simple, affordable, nutritious, and naturally Gluten Free... Artichokes!
For our final February post, capping off this month of loving our gluten free lifestyle, here's a veggie with HEART ... Artichokes!

Full of naturally gluten free nutrition, artichokes are an excellent source of nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and folate. They’re also loaded with antioxidants to keep our cells healthy!

Of course, just by looking at an artichoke, it isn’t obvious how to prepare (or eat) one. Truth is, this barbed member of the thistle family can be downright intimidating at first.

Fortunately, with artichokes, looks are deceiving. They aren’t difficult to prepare, cook, or eat. Once you see how it’s done, you’ll be enjoying fresh artichokes and reaping those tasty health benefits, too!

I have a super simple recipe to get you started - Roasted Artichokes with Garlic & Lemon. 

If you're an artichoke pro, go right to the recipe, but if you've never tackled one before, this is one of those times when my You Tube How-To Cooking videos really come in handy! In my video, "How-To: Preparing an Artichoke", I show you exactly how to do it, start to finish!

You won't believe how easy this is!

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Homemade Ketchup ~ a simple way to reduce your sugar intake!


A gluten free diet makes reading ingredient lists on food labels a necessity.

These days, it’s not only allergens we’re searching for on food labels.  Ingredients like preservatives, sodium, and SUGAR are a focus for many of us.

New research related to sugar and its negative impact on our health surfaces almost daily. Some say “natural” sugars, like honey, agave nectar, and pure maple syrup, are better than granulated refined white sugar. Others claim foods made with honey, pure maple syrup, or palm sugar are “sugar-free”.

Regardless of where you stand on the sugar issue, you probably agree LESS IS BEST when it comes to the sweet stuff. 

This week's recipe can help do just that!

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Naturally Gluten Free Roasted Veggies are a terrific way to add tasty nutrition to your GF diet!
Roasting vegetables is a simple way to intensify the natural flavors that otherwise go unnoticed in foods like cauliflower.

This simple How-To applies to most veggies... broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, eggplant, etc. Use your imagination and find YOUR favorite roasted veggie dish!


Gluten Free Gigi's Roasted Cauliflower (with Cajun Spice)
1 head cauliflower (substitute any veggie you like here!)
Juice from 1 lemon
1 Tablespoon Olive oil (or other oil of your choice)
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (salt, pepper, cayenne pepper)

Preheat oven to 400F.

Line a large baking pan with foil.

Remove outer leaves from cauliflower. Separate cauliflower into florets, wash, drain.

Add oil, juice from lemon, and florets to a large bowl and toss, coating all florets with oil, juice, and seasonings.

Pour contents of bowl onto prepared pan.

Place in oven and roast for 40 minutes. Turn half way through roasting, at 20 minutes.

Remove from oven when done, edges will become dark and slightly crisp.

Serve hot, or cool to room temperature. Roasted cauliflower is even excellent served chilled!

Then, try this...

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