Tag: gluten free

Coeur a la Creme

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—Make like PEPI LE PEU, and whip a bit of romance into your life. You can add fresh berries or a sauce.

Coeur a la creme

Coeur ❤️ a la Creme (heart of cream) Recipe

Valentines Recipe

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS
6 oz. fresh goat cheese
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1⁄3 cup honey
3⁄4 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar

INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1
Make the coeur a la creme: Soak two 12″ x 12″ pieces of cheesecloth in cold water and squeeze dry. Put a 7″ heart-shaped coeur a la creme perforated mold on a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl; line mold or sieve with the cheesecloth, allowing the corners to drape over the side. Set aside.
STEP 2
With a whisk or hand-held mixer, whisk together the goat cheese, cream cheese, and honey until very smooth. In another bowl, whisk together the cream and confectioners’ sugar until soft peaks form. Gently fold the cream into the cheese mixture until evenly combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared mold or sieve and fold the corners of cheesecloth over the top. Allow the mixture to drain for at least 2 hours, or overnight in the refrigerator

Buy Couer a la Creme bowls on Amazon for about $7.95. The original recipe calls for cream cheese. The goat cheese was a very nice combination. Pair with cake, biscuits or dry toast.👍

3 Stages to shape and drain water from the dish. ~ BlackBerry/Grand Marnier Sauce [used a 6 inch kitchen sieve with 2 layers of cheese cloth. It worked perfectly fine. ]

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

THE CLASSICS

For newby foods connoisseur, this recipe was developed in the French countryside during the Middle Ages.

This recipe is the ORIGINAL FRENCH Version. I appreciate the classics. Myself, I omit all sugar and it tastes great. A bit like creme fraiche. Fruit on its own is sweet. ‘Fructose’ is a natural sugar in fruit. The cream is sweet on its own. After making this dish by omitting all added sweetness and it is not to your liking, then drizzle honey on top. A perfect save.

Honey, savory chutney and smaller sized portions.
One with fruit already in the cheese mixture.

Pickled Carrots and DUQQA (dukkah)

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EGYPTIAN Duqqa ~DUKKAH

SPICE OF LIFE! Sesame seeds found on bagels and hamburger buns are now enhanced or “stepped up a notch” with this century old mixture called Duqqa adds protein, rich nuts and spices to make your taste buds sing. 🎵

There are as many recipes for DUKKAH as there are Egyptian cooks. I like the protein from nuts and seeds. Tonight, having rainbow trout that I will dredge in DUKKAH. Sesame seeds are a must. Mix hazel nuts, walnuts, pistachio nuts, and/or pine nuts with the classic almonds.

Egyptian Dukkah Recipe

  • Servings: A Topping
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

▢ Nuts: 3-4 tbsp each Hazelnuts, almonds and pistachios 
▢ Spices:
▢ 4 tbsp (1/4 cup)Sesame Seeds
▢ 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds
▢ 1 tsp cumin seeds (or powder)
▢ 1 tsp coriander
▢ 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
▢ 1/2 tsp. kosher salt (I use Celtic Salt)

INSTRUCTIONS
Toast/roast the nuts in the oven at 350F. Toast the sesame seeds in the oven in a separate small baking sheet. Watch for doneness!!
Dukkah depends on the freshness of the ingredients. Typically the spices are used whole, then crushed.
Combine the nuts, seeds and spices in a bowl. Crush and blend with the classic mortar and petal, or a food processor.
Pulse the processor until the nuts are well crushed. Do not over process to a powder form.

ROASTING NUTS AND SEEDS

Attempted to toast in a dry skillet on the stove top ends up with a burnt exterior and completely raw, untoasted interior. I have burned my share. Using the oven to toast your nuts is ideal because an oven provides uniform, even heat, which means that the nuts are going to be toasted from the inside out.

ROASTING TIPS🔥

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Oven must be at a low temperature. Use an air fryer for convenience and speed. Cook the nuts only until they start to turn golden (a light brown) with parts still appearing raw. Your nose also tells you when they are done too.

Is Dukkah The Same As Za’atar?

I get asked this question a lot. The answer is: no. While Dukkah and Za’atar are two Middle Eastern blends that can be used similarly, they are clearly not the same in texture or flavor profile. DUKKAH is crunchy and granular. Za’atar , a finer blend, is a mixture of toasted wild thyme and sesame seeds along with sumac.

Pickling Instructions 🥕🥕🥕

Pickled Carrot Presentation

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

▢ 2 cups of pickled carrots (add zucchini + cucumber -optional)
▢ 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (or basil)
▢ ½ cup of home made yogurt (see recipe) ~you decide how much per person)

INSTRUCTIONS/PRESENTATION
Add a large dollop of yogurt on your plate and spread it around
Place carrots (and zucchini) on top of the yogurt followed by fresh chopped mint or basil.
Finish with a sprinkling of DUKKAH on top of the vegetables with a drizzle of your favorite olive oil.

PICKLING PROCESS: Use a vegetable peeler to make carrot/zucchini/cucumber ribbons. Submerge veggie ribbons in a bowl with a mix of 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water. Ready in one hour! Or, refrigerate overnight. I like adding pear ribbons. Tastes great. 🙂

FAST PICKLED CARROTS

You don’t have to roll your carrots and zucchini like I have done here. Alternate with carrot on the outside. Or place in jars randomly. These pickled veggies were placed in a large steel bowl marinating overnight and then placed in jars stored in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. You will use them up quickly. Hint: If you get peckish. Take a veggie roll from the jar and enjoy! Healthy snack!

Pickled Carrots 🥕 Is Good For Your Gut Health

PICKLED CARROTS offers vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.They are low in calories and fat, making them a healthy snack option. The fermentation process involved in pickling carrots (added mustard seed, 1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar) creates beneficial bacteria that support gut health.Cooking carrots depletes nutrients. Consuming pickled carrots in moderation can aid in weight loss due to their high fiber content. Adding pickled carrots to your meals provides additional nutrients.

DUKKAH (duqqa) with hummus is enjoyed as a dip or sandwich spread. Add pickled veggies as a burger topper. Sprinkle the Dukkah directly on the burger, chicken or seafood.

Using DUKKAH on so many foods encourages healthy choices as we develop good eating habits for better living!

Sprinkle Dukkah On Top Of Your Saurkraut/Carrot Side Dish!!

Add pickled carrots to sauerkraut. It softens the tanginess of the SAURKRAUT and adds good flavour. I also shred a raw potato to the sauerkraut and heat it up all together with the pickled carrots.(my German relatives recipe). OPTIONAL: serve with pork chops or sausages. 1 PROTEIN/Fat (sausage/port chops) plus 2 VEGGIES (carrot and cabbage).

Low Carbohydrate !!

Carrots are Complex carbs and Keto friendly. Very low carbohydrates. Carbs A cup (128g) of chopped raw carrots has 12.3 grams of carbohydrates, with 3.6 grams of fiber and 6.1 grams of natural sugars. Carrots are sweet! Almonds are not nuts they are classed as a stone fruit. Cashews are a fruit of the Cashew trees. As olive is a fruit too. The nuts you choose should come from a tree not in the ground(peanut).

AWE NUTS! Tree Nuts?

All these nuts are 15-18 gm weight. Eating dukkah does not involve a lot of calories since it is sprinkled on food.

YOGURT ~ JUST DESSERT ~ No Sugar!

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What are you having for dessert TODAY!!! YOGURT with blueberries (any fruit – apples), a handful of seeds or nuts, flax seeds, chia seeds. Whatever tickles your fancy.

Yogurt

I grew up on yogurt. The quality of your yogurt depends on the quality of your ingredients. This is such a good video I wanted to share it with you. NO SUGAR!!! ignore those recipes low sugar yogurt. BAH!!! You don’t even have to buy a yogurt maker. Notice when you have home made yogurt has a slight fermented acidic notes. Something like Kambucha. If you think it’s sour, you’ve been eating way too much sugar in your diet. I am at a point where ice cream is too sweet. I cant eat it. Take care of yourself for me! Please be good to yourself!

The next thing you want to know is ..What is the best yogurt?

HOME MADE YOGURT

NEXT BEST YOGURT: GI (Glucose Index) for GREEK YOGURT : 11. The GI for ice cream : 88!!! Replace your sour cream (GI 56) with Greek yogurt – for your baked potatoes-a side with any meal to add creaminess and balance to what you are eating. Instead of a dollop of ice cream or whip cream, use a dollop of yogurt? Note: GI under 55 is considered low.

GREEK style yogurt has the least amount of carbs.

DOCTORS AGREE
Full fat Greek yogurt is your #1 choice.
2% is the lowest percentage you want to buy.

Did You Know?

If you are lactose intolerant you can eat yogurt.

YOGURT contains lactase which is the enzyme our bodies need to break down lactose.
Yogurt is often beneficial to the lactose intolerant.

Blame The Manufacturers Then .. Blame Yourself!

MANUFACTURERS know that people like sugar. No, people are obsessed with sugar. Sugar is a preservative and enhances flavours. What would you think if I told you 70% of the supermarket shelves would be empty if sugar products were removed.

PIONEERS did not know the price you pay for sugar. Today’s ULTRA “Processed Foods” have way too much sugar. A lot of sugar is found in processed foods not as a preservative but to eat freely. Read your labels. The first ingredient in most power bars is sugar. Sugar is found in abundance from white bread, whole wheat bread to milkshakes.

Sugar Is Legal

GLUTEN FREE chocolate brownies have listed sugar as the number one ingredient written on the side of the box.

Diabetes (type 2) was diagnosed for a 13 yrs old child! !Diabetes leads to heart disease… It all starts with sugar. Since sugar is legal, we can eat as much as we like. Don’t be porous and let this information go right through you. I hope you are mindful of the dangers from sugar.

GOOD Dessert CHOICES

Fruits are an excellent sources of minerals, vitamins and enzymes. They are easily digested and excise a cleansing effect on blood. Each and every fruit is enriched with their own kinds of nutrients. And, 70% dark chocolate is full of manganese!

Home Made Clafoutis (click for recipe)

Blueberries are at the top of the nutritional food chain. I have them around all the time. If it’s not fresh, it is frozen. But, always GOOD! If you have to have sugar, be sensible about it.

15 BEST SUGAR FREE DESSERTS

Tempura Batter Recipe (Easy & Authentic)

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We had the best tempura fish for dinner last night. Considering the feedback from my dinner, I was anxious to share my recipe with you. I have made this for years and changed some steps that works beautifully. I have been told it tastes the same as in a ‘good’ Japanese restaurant.

MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF! Make it…AT HOME!

What inspired me to make this dish was my fitness trainer, His girlfriend bought 5 different kinds of fish. I asked how he prepared his fish. The answer was grilled or on the fry pan. I had to introduce him the the tempura world. He will be getting a printout of this recipe at our next workout session!

Tempura Batter Recipe

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

 FISH AND VEGGIES
▢ 4 pieces of white fish (basa, halibut, cod)
▢ 2 c vegetables (carrots, green beans, mushrooms, broccoli, onions )sliced evenly and prepared 5 mm. thick -ideal

TEMPURA BATTER
▢ ¾ cup cake and pastry flour*
▢ 1 tbsp baking powder
▢ ¼ tsp salt
▢ ¾ cup corn starch (divided) ¼  cup in batter  ½ cup -for coating (first step) 
▢ 1 large egg 
▢ 1 cup carbonated water (beer or water) chilled (add ice cubes to the cup)


TETSUYA DIPPING SAUCE
▢ ¾ c (chicken stock or veg. stock in water)
▢ a squeeze of catsup ( to taste start with 1 tsp)
▢ ¼ c soy sauce
▢ ¼ c oyster sauce

EQUIPMENT USED
▢ 2 mixing bowls 
▢ a whisk: mix batter
▢ sieve: mandarin strainer for fryer (wok) 
▢ Wok (or heavy bottomed pot/fry pan)
▢ tongs
▢ cooling rack & paper towels</em>

INSTRUCTIONS
FISH AND VEGETABLES
Fish: Cut into 1/2 inch strips then dry fish with paper towels.
Prep vegetables by washing and drying them before dunking them in the batter. Root vegetables: cut into 5 mm thick slices to make sure they cook properly.

TEMPURA BATTER
1. In a wok (or heavy-bottomed pot), add about 2 inches of oil from the bottom of the pot. Heat the oil to medium temperature – 350 °F degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl, add the flour, 1 tbsp baking powder and 1/4 c of corn starch, salt and mix thoroughly. Set aside the 1/2 cup of corn starch to coat your ingredients right before dipping into the batter. 
3. In another bowl, mix the egg with a whisk. Then add the carbonated water: mix thoroughly (with a whisk)
4. Add flour into the wet batter in the mixing bowl. Mix the batter in swift movements.
5. Make sure to not over mix the batter or your tempura. You should have some lumps in your batter. The mixing process should take no longer than one minute.[ The batter must have the texture of pancake mix]
6. In a separate bowl, add 1/2 cup of corn starch in a shallow bowl. Cover the fish & vegetables in a light layer of corn starch. Then dip fish into the batter one at a time.

▢ Frying fish: Carefully lower the battered fish into the oil.
▢ Turn the fish after about one to two minutes.
▢ Remove the cooked fish (with tongs or sieve) from the oil and place them over paper towels on a cooling rack.

▢ Frying vegetables: Make sure you have first dipped the veggies in corn starch, then the batter.
▢ Carefully lower the battered vegetables into the oil. Turn once every minute. Root vegetables take about three minutes and other vegetables take about one to two minutes depending on their thickness.
▢ Remove the cooked vegetables (they should have a pale blonde color) from the oil and place them on a cooling rack. Optional: use paper towels to absorb more of the grease).

TETSUYA DIPPING SAUCE
▢ In a small sauce pot, add the stock/water over medium-low heat.
▢ Add the oyster sauce, soy sauce, and catsup.
▢ Heat until it boils for one minute and then remove from heat.
▢ Serve in a small sauce dish.

NUTRITION FACTS

Calories: 354.64kcal | Carbohydrates: 53.73g | Protein: 21.51g | Fat: 2.75g | Saturated Fat: 0.65g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 189.38mg | Sodium: 1449.36mg | Potassium: 513.01mg | Fiber: 5.57g | Sugar: 4.53g | Vitamin A: 4688.5IU | Vitamin C: 12.55mg | Calcium: 135.52mg | Iron: 4.01mg

TIPS AND TRICKS

NEW ~ TIPS

I bought a temperature gun and needed to try it out on my tempura. The fish was 1/2 inch by about 2 inches (see diagram) . Timed 2 minutes on each side using my phone as a timer. Of course, visually golden brown is the colour. With the temp. gun, I ensured the heat would rise to 350F before I dropped any fish or veggies in the oil. After each batch, the temperature will drop slightly. New Technology: Temperature gun and phone timer made lighter work. 🌞

I changed the flour to cake & pastry flour from the original recipe of all purpose flour (more gluten) Protein count = gluten count. As you mix dough, the gluten in the flour (aka the protein) binds together and becomes tighter (more dense). This is why it’s especially important to not overwork your dough—too much mixing will lead to a tough, chewy dough.

Another Flour substitute: Rice flour (for this recipe). Double OO flour works well. Make sure your wet batter has a good consistency.

Adds chilli powder, ajwain seeds and cumin seeds to this batter mix. This batter is light and crispy and doesn’t soak up as much oil as other battered deep fried foods. The wok helps since it is not flat and needs less oil. I used avocado oil. The avocado worked well. Any good oil has good results. I might add a small bit of paprika just for fun! Maybe divide the batter into smaller bowls Deep, small bowls and add different herbs and such. That might bring new, interesting flavours!!!

VEGAN CORNER

An easy recipe for TEMPURA vegetables and very healthy

VEGAN VERSION: The only substitute is the egg. Flax egg: A combination of ground flaxseeds (or chia seeds) and water helps to make a binding egg replacement to make vegan tempura. (This is for you Joanna).

Blueberry CRISP ~ New and Improved!

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Blueberries are at the top of the nutritional food chain. I have them in my fridge all the time: fresh or frozen. Always GOOD!

Blueberry Crisp

  • Servings: 8
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS
FILLING:
4 cups Blueberries (plus other fruit -optional)
3 tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
1/8 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Paste (or vanilla extract)
2 Tbsp (30 mL) Truvía® Brown Sugar Blend ~or~
⅓ cup Sweet Potato or Butternut Squash for sweetness
TOPPING:
1 heaping cup Almond Flour
¼ cup(60 mL) Truvía® Brown Sugar Blend
1/8 teaspoon Kosher Salt
¼ teaspoon Cinnamon Powder (or grated stick)
¼ teaspoon Fresh Ginger -Grated
1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg -Grated
¼ teaspoon Cardamon – 2 to 3 cardamon pods -ground
½ teaspoon Baking Powder
5 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (cold and cubed)
Optional: ⅓ cup Walnuts, Pecans -or mixed nuts (chopped)

INSTRUCTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make the blueberry filling. Mix together your fresh (or frozen!) blueberries and other fruit with lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, truvia or sweet potato (or squash) in a medium bowl.
2. Divide your blueberry mixture to buttered ramekins and set it aside while you make the KETO crisp topping.
3. In another medium bowl, combine the almond flour, baking powder, chopped nuts, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, sugar substitute, cardamon and Kosher salt.
4. Cut the cold butter into smaller pieces and add it to the dry ingredients mixture and blend into a crumb-like texture.
5. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the blueberry mixture, cover with foil and bake for about 40 minutes then remove the foil and bake for about another 10 minutes -until the topping is golden brown. Optional: mix ½ cup gluten free oats to the topping.

TOPPING (Additional)
Add a dollop of Greek Yogurt and garnish with lemon or chocolate mint.
310 cal. per serving Prep: 15 min. Bake: 40-50 min.

TIP: Pile Blueberries as high as you can. The blueberries will cook down. Remember, as fruit cooks -they get sweeter and sweeter -without added sugar!

Mix and Match!

⅓ Blueberries + ⅓ peach, apricot or apples + ⅓ butternut squash -or- ⅓ sweet potatoes, You can mix and match for your filling. Rhubarb pairs well with blueberries. I do not add any sugar in my filling. The sweet potato or butternut squash is my “go to” sugar substitute (If needed).

Blueberries are sweet and slightly tangy. They pair well with a sweet, crunchy topping. Don’t forget the salt. Kosher Salt is an important flavour enhancer!

Alton Brown’s TIP – Good Eats (Food Network) ..see below…

GLYCEMIC INDEX

The GLYCEMIC INDEX (GI) is a number from 0 to 100 assigned to a food, with pure glucose (a simple sugar) arbitrarily given the value of 100. Glycemic Index ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by how quickly they digest and raise your blood sugar or glucose levels.

G.I – Ice Cream vs Yogurt Topping

Many desserts have an added dollop of ice cream or whip cream. Let’s make it better!
Remember, the GI index for ice cream is 88. and the GI index for GREEK yogurt is: 11. Add “full fat” Greek yogurt instead of whip cream to your dessert. Note: GI under 55 is considered as a low GI. Y

What is the best yogurt to buy: (i) no-fat, (ii) 2%, or (iii) whole fat? Full fat – Greek style yogurt – is the right answer. It has the least amount of carbs. The carbs in Greek yogurt is very LOW. Doctors agree that a low fat or 2% yogurt is not the healthiest choice. Full Fat – Greek Yogurt Is your “Best Choice”!

Thick, Creamy Greek Yogurt GI: 11 With Blueberry Crisp!
Blueberries GI: 53 Apples GI:38 (Diabetic Protection)
GI INDEX Is A Most Important And Valuable Guide to Controlling Your Insulin Level
Good Living With Healthy Choices

SO-O-O GO-O-OD!

A MEMORY FROM CHILDHOOD

I am cutting down on cane sugar. Blueberry crisp can be enhanced with cardamom, lemon and ginger. Sweet potato is a good cane sugar substitute – if you want more sweetness.

EXTRA NEWS ~About Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes are known to be beneficial to individuals with type 2 diabetes due to the high levels of magnesium and fiber, which helps in reducing insulin resistance and stabilizes blood sugar. Sweet potatoes do have a large level of carbohydrates. But, they generally have a low glycemic index:

Butternut squash GI 52
Sweet Potato GI:61

Orange Sweet Potato (most common), Red Jamaican (white inside) and Japanese Sweet Potato: (red inside).

ALTON BROWN suggests to add crackers, breakfast oatmeal packets, crumbled plain or cinnamon bread to the blueberry crisp. Before baking, mix half your mixture with the blueberries. The other half is the topping! Kind of like mock bread pudding with fruit. Alton you’re so creative!