Chicken and Biscuits

The best thing about a gluten-free diet is the moment when you figure out that you can still eat pretty much anything you want to eat. 

2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon brown rice flour
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Biscuits
1/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup brown rice flour
1/3 cup oat flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375*F.  Place chicken in the bottom of a baking dish.  In a medium sauce pan, saute onion until clear.  Sprinkle in brown rice flour and cook one minute.  Remove from heat and stir in spices.  Add milk and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Boil 2 minutes. 

Combine dry ingredients for biscuits in a medium bowl.  Stir in olive oil.  Stir in milk. 

Pour hot onion mixture over chicken.  Spoon biscuit mixture over the top to form six biscuits.  Cook about 30 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and gravy bubbles.  Cool 5 minutes and serve.

Berry Grape Salad

I think the most important thing that we've learned about a gluten-free lifestyle is that you don't have to change as much of your diet as you think you'll have to change.  We have been able to use a lot of the same recipes because they're already gluten free.  Tonight we had sloppy Joes over gluten-free bread and a really good salad.  The only change for tonight's menu was to swap out the bread because everything else is already good to go.  Here's a simple recipe:

Berry Grape Salad

A pound and a half of red and/or green grapes, washed and de-vined.
6 ounces of blueberries, washed
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla

Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla.  Beat until smooth. 

 

Gently toss together berries and grapes in a large bowl.

 

Gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the berries and enjoy!  Strawberries go well with the same recipe.

 





Gluten Free not Taste Free!

Gluten Free not Taste Free!

We stopped at the gas station to fill up before embarking on our annual camping trip and I couldn't help but notice how pale he was.  The first time in nearly 10 years of marriage that he asked me to take him to the hospital.  We parked the camper, called Grandma to take the kids and headed off to the local Urgent Care.  Hours of testing and a very ill husband later, we were told to go home.  He must have a bug.  No one had any answers for us.  They recommended a stomach scope. 
 
About six months later, we finally talked him into getting checked out and the doctor thought he might be gluten intolerant.  He mentioned Celiac Disease. 

We were instructed as to what to eat, what to avoid.  It was a nightmare.  I tried whipping up some chocolate chip cookie mix...they were hard and tough.  I tried some French bread, it resembled Elmer's Glue with a crust.  Nothing tasted GOOD!  I posted my frustration to Facebook.  People came out of the woodwork.  So many of my friends had gone gluten free for various reasons and they all had been exactly where we were.  Frustrated with food that tasted like cardboard.  Every person had a suggestion and they were all fantastic.  We finally started feeling like there was hope.  Slowly we've figured out recipes that taste good.  My husband got to eat cinnamon rolls the other day and they were delicious.  The whole family enjoyed them.  We haven't conquered the gluten free beast, but we're getting closer every day!  Please join us as we continue on our journey towards gluten free, not taste free.