Gluten Free Turkey Chili

1 Lb Ground Turkey

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Medium Onion Chopped

3 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

1 Cup Gluten Free Beer

1 28 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Roma Tomato Chopped

1 Tomatillo Chopped

1 16 Ounce Can Kidney Beans (Drained and Rinsed)

4 - 5 Cloves Garlic Crushed

2 Tbsp GF Chili Powder

1 Tsp GF Paprika

1 Tsp Dried Oregano

1/2 Tsp GF Cayenne Pepper

1/2 Tsp GF Ground Cumin

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper

(More Salt & Pepper to Taste May Be Necessary)

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat and cook ground turkey until browned. 
2. Stir in onion and cook until just slightly tender. 
3. In a food processor add crushed tomatoes, beans, crushed garlic, chopped tomato, and chopped tomatillos. Pulse until well blended and to desired consistency. 
4. Deglaze pan with red wine vinegar, and stir tomato mixture into pan. 
5. Stir in 1 cup Gluten Free Beer. 
6. Add the remaining seasonings and stir until well blended. 
7. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30-40 minutes until slightly reduced.
8. Serve Hot with your favorite toppings. 

Can be served alone or with your favorite dish, such as hot dogs or chips and salsa if you are entertaining. 

Product Test - Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Cake Mix

Over the next few weeks, we will be testing 4 of Bob's Red Mill Mixes, and we chose to start with the Chocolate Cake Mix. All I have to say is Wow!!! Since we have been Gluten Free, this has been the best cake we have tasted. The instructions were super simple to follow, and didn't require any special ingredients such as buttermilk as others did, and no extra steps such as stand time before baking. Aside from the the packaging, this was the closest thing to conventional "glutenous" cake mix. I didn't have 2 eight inch cake pans, so I used 1 ten inch round deep cake pan. The cake was done at exactly in the time  the instructions called for. For the icing you could use a Betty Crocker pre-made, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and make homemade. I used the recipe on the back of the Hershey's Cocoa. Here it is:

1 Stick of Butter

2/3 Cup Hershey's Cocoa

3 Cups Powdered Sugar

1/3 Cup Milk

1 Tsp Vanilla (Pure)

1. Melt Butter. Stir in Cocoa. 
2. Alternately add powdered Sugar and Milk, beating on med speed to spreading consistency. Add more Milk if needed. Stir in Vanilla. 

It was Absolutely Delicious!! Liz even had 2 pieces and she doesn't have a sweet tooth. To repeat an earlier post, Gluten Free does not have to be difficult. You don't have to make sacrifices, only substitutions. The key is to make the right substitutions, and we hit the Bull's Eye With this one!!

Bob's Red Mill products are available at most supermarkets, or online at the link below:

Click Here To Order Online

Healthy Eating Helps Cancer Patients

Healthy Eating Helps Cancer Patients

Eating well is vital to living a healthy life, and is even more important for cancer patients. A nutritious diet helps to boost energy levels, the immune system, and an overall sense of well-being. Whether a cancer patient has just received the dreaded diagnosis, is undergoing treatment or is in remission, it is never too late to incorporate a more healthful way of eating.

Improve Immunity

Because it may be difficult to eat well during cancer treatment, it’s a good idea for patients to begin nourishing their bodies as soon as possible. A proper diet can improve the immune system, which will help the patient cope with the treatments and fight the disease. Furthermore, proper nutrition can help keep patients strong during these treatments and aids in the rebuilding of body tissue as patients recuperate

What to Eat

While it’s important to consult a doctor about any special diet restrictions, experts generally advise eating plenty of food with phytonutrients. These include dark, leafy vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, legumes and whole grains.

Dietary fiber, between 25 and 35 grams per day, has been recommended for cancer prevention. Many cancer patients may be asked to continue that regimen when possible. Omega 3’s are also important. They’re most often found in fatty fish such as salmon, but can also come from berries, mushrooms and brussels sprouts.

Difficulty Eating

Good intentions aside, eating enough food each day is often a challenge for some cancer patients, according to the National Cancer Institute. Various side effects from chemotherapy treatments often lead to difficulty eating. Reasons for this include loss of appetite and changes in sense of taste or smell. Vomiting and nausea are common in patients undergoing treatment for many types of cancers, including asbestos exposure-related mesothelioma.

A patient’s doctor may also advise against eating certain foods. He may, for example, suggest limiting the amount of fiber, which is often touted as beneficial for maintaining a healthy life. Doctors recommend that patients not eat when they’re nauseous, but rather eat very well when they are feeling better. Eating small nutrient- and protein-rich meals several times a day can help maintain a good immune system and adequate energy levels.

By:  Jillian Mckee of:  The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

Gluten Free Pierogi & Ham

Another Home Run By 

Conte's Pasta Co., Inc.

If the package did not say "Gluten Free", you would not be able to tell the difference. Pierogies and Ham have been a staple in our home for years. When we went Gluten Free, we thought we had eaten our last pierogies. Thanks to Conte's Pasta Company based in New Jersey, we can once again enjoy a family favorite. They are delicious prepared boiled as instructed on the package, but the following is our recipe for Sauteed Pierogies and Ham. 

1 Pkg Conte's Pasta Company Gluten Free Pierogies

1/4 Lb Boars Head Deluxe Ham Diced or Shredded

1 Small Green Pepper Sliced

1 Small Onion Sliced

1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning

3 Tbsp Butter

Salt and Pepper to Taste 

1. Prepare pierogies as directed on package. 
2. In a large skillet, melt butter and add onions and peppers.
3. Saute over medium heat until onions begin to become transparent.  
4. Remove pierogies from boiling water with a slotted spoon and add to skillet.
5. Stir in ham and seasonings and continue to saute until pierogies just begin to get crisp. 
6. Remove from pan and serve hot. 

Gluten Free Cocktail Meatballs

For Meatballs:

2 Lbs Ground Beef

1/2 Cup Gluten Free Crumbs*

1 Small Onion Finely Diced

1/2 Cup GF Ketchup

1 Egg Beaten with 1 Tbsp Heavy Cream

3 Cloves Garlic Crushed

For Sauce:

14 Oz Jellied Cranberry Sauce

7 Oz GF Ketchup

7 Oz GF BBQ Sauce**

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In a large bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients until well blended. 
3. Form into small meatballs, about 1 inch each. 
4. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees, about 20-25 minutes, until browned all the way through. 
5. While meatballs are cooking, combine all sauce ingredients in a blender on low until well blended. 
6. Combine with meatballs in a oven safe dish or casserole, and heat until desired temperature. 
7. Serve hot with cocktail toothpicks. 

*For Gluten Free Crumbs: Combine 1 box each of Rice Chex and Corn Chex in food processor. Pulse until you are left with your desired texture of crumbs. Season as needed. 

**Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce is Gluten Free. 

Product Test - Conte's Margherita Pizza With Roasted Garlic And Olive Oil

Conte's Margherita Pizza
With Roasted Garlic And Olive Oil


It's been a long time since I have tried any frozen dinner products. Sometimes though, you just don't have the time to cook, not to mention take the time to consider whether or not your ingredients are Gluten Free. I then came across Conte's Pasta Company. They have a nice selection of Gluten Free Italian Products, and today we tried their Margherita Pizza. If nobody told me this was Gluten Free, i would have has no Idea!! The crust was crisp yet not dry, the sauce tasted like homemade, and the cheese tastes fresh as if it came from the local Italian pork store. I highly recommend this product for anybody looking for a quick gluten free Italian meal. 


In the coming days we are looking forward to also trying Conte's Raviolis, Pierogis, and other Gluten Free Meal Products!! We will post about All of them!!
  
To Contact Conte's:


Toll free: 1-800-211-6607Tel: 856-697-3400
Fax: 856-697-1757