Gluten Free Biscuits

Light and Fluffy Gluten Free Biscuits (from http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/light-and-fluffy-gluten-free-biscuits/ )
(Yield: 16 large biscuits)

1 1/2 c. brown rice flour
2 c. corn starch*
1/2 c. soy flour or sorghum flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. xanthan gum

1 stick of butter* (chilled in the freezer)
1 1/4 c. soy milk*
1 1/4 c. water
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar*
1 egg, beaten (or the equivalent amount of your favorite egg replacement)

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl thoroughly combine the flours, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and xanthan gum.

3. Grate the butter into the flour using the small holed side of a box grater. Mix the butter into the flour so that there are no large balls of grated butter.

4. Add the soy milk, water, vinegar and beaten egg to the flour and stir until the dry and liquid ingredients are combined.

5. Using a large spoon, drop the dough onto a greased pan to make 16 biscuits. Cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Cook’s Notes:

1. If you’re not vegan or dairy free, feel free to use 1 c. buttermilk in place of the soy milk and vinegar. If you’re allergic to soy, try using your usual milk substitute and keep the vinegar in the recipe.

2. You may substitute potato starch or tapioca flour for the cornstarch.

3. 1 stick of butter = 8 Tbsp. = 1/2 c. = 1/4 lb. = 115 grams

4. Earth Balance Buttery Sticks should work if you need this to be casein free. I just checked their website and the sticks are gluten and dairy free.

5. Thanks to Kate at Gluten Free Gobsmacked for the tip on grating the butter. It was a lot of fun and decreased my prep time by quite a bit.

Beef Kebabs

Adapted from: Artisan bread in 5 min a day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Fancois

Meat patties:

1.5 lb ground meat (beef, lamb, or lamb + veal)

1 t cayenne

1 t cumin

1 t coriander

1 t black pepper

ground sumac for sprinkling

Other stuff to serve it with:

Thinly sliced sweet or red onions

Finely chopped parsely

Pita bread

1. Combine meat patties ingredients and shape into patties that can fit into pitas
2. Grill patties until well done (no rare allowed here... but no charcoal patties either!)
3. Sprinkle patties with ground sumac
4. Fill pita with other stuff + meat and enjoy!

Note: This makes medium spicy patties. Adjust to suit your preferences.

Hearty Lentil & Vegetable Soup

2 T vegetable oil

3 leeks, green parts only, finely sliced

3 carrots, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

1 c lentils

1/3 c rice

4 c stock

1 c frozen corn

Garnish with fresh chives and sour cream

1. Saute leeks, carrots, and celery. Cover and cook until tender.
2. Stir in lentils and rice. Add stock and boil for about 20 min (until rice and lentils are tender).
3. Add corn and cook 10 more min.

Potato Soup

2 T butter

2 shallots, finely chopped

8 oz potatoes, peeled and diced

4 T flour

2 T dry white wine

1.5 c milk

1 c frozen corn

3 oz Gruyere cheese, grated (Cheddar works as well)

8-10 fresh sage leaves, chopped (or 1 T dried sage leaves)

2 c heavy cream

croutons for serving (or crusty bread)

1. Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter in large pot. Saute shallots.
3. Add cooked potatoes.
4. Sprinkle in flour and cook for about 1 min stirring constantly.
5. Remove from heat, stir in wine.
6. Return to heat and add milk. Bring to a simmer.
7. Stir in corn, cheese, sage, and cream. Don't let it come to a boil.

Slow-cooker Maple Ham

7-8 pound bone-in spiral-cut ham

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup all natural maple syrup

2 cups pineapple juice

The Directions.

Use a 6-7 quart slow cooker. Unwrap the ham, and discard flavor packet. Place it into your stoneware, flat-side down. Rub brown sugar on all sides. Pour on maple syrup and pineapple juice. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. If possible, baste ham with collected juice from the bottom of the crock an hour or so before serving. When cooking is done, remove carefully and let it rest on a cutting board for 15-20 minutes before carving.

Orange Almond Cake

I haven't actually tried this recipe yet, but it looks fantastic. I'll make notes if I try anything a little different.

From: http://shecraves.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/02/orange_almond_c.html

3 oranges (or 6 clementines, tangerines, or 4 Meyer lemons)

water for boiling

6 eggs

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar (1/4 cup more for lemons)

2 1/2 cups ground almonds

1 teaspoon baking powder

superfine sugar for dusting

whipped cream

dark chocolate shavings

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg F.
2. Place the fruit in the pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for about two hours until it's tender all the way through (pierces easily with a knife, "like butta" as they say).
3. Cut the fruit in quarters and fish out the white pips (the big chunk of white membrance usually at two points in the fruit). Then put the fruit into the food processor and puree. Pith, skin, and fruit—everything.
4. Add the eggs and pulse until combined. Add the dry ingredients and mix well.
5. Pour into two prepared 9-inch cake pans or one 8-inch springform pan (buttered and parchment-lined). Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about an hour.
6. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan. When it's cooled, unmold and sprinkle with superfine sugar. Serve with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

TIPS:
*You can make the cake ahead. It keeps for up to four days. After that the cake will resemble anything that sits still outside in a Seattle winter—mold and perhaps even moss will start to grow.

*You can even make components of the recipe in advance. For instance, I ground my own almonds (with the blanched slivered almonds from the bulk bin) one day to use later in the week. And you can poach the oranges to use another day. Just keep them covered and in the fridge until you're ready for some CuisinArt fun.

Nathan's Brownies

½ c butter/margarine

2 oz. baking chocolate

¾ c flour

½ t baking powder

½ t salt

2 eggs

1 c sugar

1 t vanilla

¼ c chocolate chips

¼ c nuts

Microwave butter and baking chocolate 2 min to mix

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.

Mix the remaining ingredients

Cook in 8x8 pan for 30-40 min at 350F.