Quinoa Summer Salad

 Do you ever just crave salad for dinner? 

Do you contemplate different veggie combinations in your spare time? 

Do you try to think how you can combine quinoa, sweet potatoes, and salad into one meal?  

No? Just me?  

Ok. It's ok.  I already know I am weird when it comes to veggies and salad.  I love veggies just a little too much.  Veggies make me happy, people, there's just no denying it. 

But that is exactly how this meal came about.  Because I do all those weird things . . .all. the. time. 

Quinoa Summer Salad 

1 c. dry quinoa, thoroughly rinsed 

1 -2 chicken breasts 

2 sweet potatoes 

5 - 6 boiled eggs 

spinach, or other salad greens

tomatoes 

carrots 

cucumbers 

any other veggies you like 

Cook the quinoa, then let cool. Meanwhile, roast the sweet potatoes.  Chop them into bite sized pieces (I do not peel them).  Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Stir till coated then cook on a rimmed baking sheet (I line with parchment paper) for 30-40 mins at 450*, stirring once. Let cool.  Pan fry the chicken breasts, chopped up into small bite sized pieces. Mix quinoa, sweet potatoes, chicken, eggs and other salad fixings and top with dressing of your choice.  

Enjoy! 

Peach Cobbler - Gluten, Dairy, and Oat Free

 Our fruit trees are feeling VERY ambitious this year.  This means that I have been trying to use up loads of plums, peaches, and apricots for weeks and weeks now.  

So today, I bring you a delicious Peach Cobbler. 

Peach Cobbler - Gluten, Dairy and Oat Free

Fruit mix:

coconut oil (for greasing)

1/4 c. of sugar

4 tbsp. cornstarch

dash of salt 

7 -8 cups sliced and peeled peaches

Topping: 

1 c. sugar 

2 c. gluten free flour 

2 tsp. baking powder 

2 eggs 

cinnamon and sugar (for sprinkling on top) 

Generously grease a 9 x 13 pan with coconut oil. In large saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, and fruit.  Stir and bring to a boil . Cook for about 5 mins. Pour into greased dish. 

For the topping combine sugar, flour and baking powder.  Sift until well combined.  Add two eggs and stir well, or use pastry cutter to mix until it looks like peas.  Pour over fruit mixture. Top with cinnamon and sugar. 

Bake at 350* for 40-45 mins.  

Enjoy with a dollop of divine coconut cream! Yum! 

Purple Steel Cut Oats - Gluten and Dairy Free

***One of my children has become severely allergic to oats...so while I do make this for the rest of the family occasionally, I don’t do it very often.***

I never knew how difficult it is to make purple food look good in a picture!  

So, take my word for it, this is super yummy and better than it looks!  What kid is not excited to eat purple oatmeal? 

Purple Steel Cut Oats - Gluten and Dairy Free

1 1/2 c. steel cut oats 

6 c. water or milk of choice (canned coconut milk makes it nice and creamy)

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 

2 c. blueberries (frozen or fresh are fine) 

1/2 tsp. of salt 

Add all ingredients to crockpot and stir.  Cook on low for 5 hours then keep warm till morning. (Or cook for 7-8 on low, it will just be a little less chewy, but still good.) 

Serve with milk of choice and a scoop of brown sugar, if desired.  Yum! 

Creamy Chicken Pasta Sauce - Gluten and Dairy Free - Instant Pot too!

EDIT: Instant Pot version below - using frozen chicken! Also you can cook rice in the instant pot at the same time! 

My dearest bloggy . . . I haven't forgotten you . . . it's just, you know . . . life.  

But you know . . . the food and the eating and the cooking go on and on everyday!  So I do have lots to share. 

Like this creamy pasta sauce (also SO delicious served over rice).  

One of the things I have missed desperately since becoming dairy free is creamy pasta sauces.  So rich and delicious! 

So I thought this up and was super pleased with the results.  And my dairy free kids? Ecstatic.  Even the dairy eating kids loved it. 

Creamy Chicken Pasta Sauce - Gluten Free and Dairy Free

2 chicken breast 

2 c. chicken broth 

2 c. rice milk (or coconut milk) 

1 1/2 tsp. salt 

1 1/2 tsp. dried parsley

1 1/2 tsp. dried basil 

garlic, to taste

pepper, to taste 

1/4 c. arrowroot powder (used as a thickener - can sub corn starch)
1/2 c. cold water 

Slice and pan fry chicken breast and set aside.  In the same skillet add the rest of the ingredients, except the arrowroot powder and water.  Bring to a boil. Put arrowroot powder in a small bowl and slowly whisk in cold water until it is smooth and lump free.  Stir into the sauce until incorporated. Add the cooked chicken back in.

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta Sauce - Gluten and Dairy Free 
*Add frozen chicken, broth, rice milk, and spices to instant pot.
(**If you want to cook your rice in the IP also, see below for directions.) 
*Cook on High Pressure (manual) for 15 minutes, then Quick Release pressure. 
*When pressure has all released, remove chicken and shred. 
*Before returning to pot, turn on "sauté" function. 
*In small bowl whisk arrowroot powder and cold water till smooth.
*Add to broth/milk mixture and whisk.
*Return chicken to pot. 

If you want to cook your rice in the Instant Pot at the same time:
* After adding chicken, broth, milk and spices to the Instant Pot, place your trivet on top of the frozen chicken. 
*Place an oven safe bowl on top of trivet.
*Add 3 cups of rice and 4 1/2 cups of water to bowl.
*Continue with IP directions above.  
PEASE NOTE:  This will cook your rice perfectly for this meal, but you will get some broth in the rice, so it will be slightly flavored.  (In case you wanted rice leftover for another meal and didn't want it flavored with broth.)

Serve over GF noodles or rice.

Enjoy!

We have discovered we really enjoy these gluten free noodles.  They are definitely our favorite noodles now.  The spaghetti noodles from this brand were so surprisingly good I forgot they were GF!