Sunday, May 31, 2009

Basic Risotto

Another recipe from celiac.com:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. minced shallots or 1/4 c. minced onions
olive oil & butter
2 1/2 – 3 cups stock (see note in cooking instructions)
1 cup Arborio rice
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a small saucepan over high heat, bring the stock to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer & keep the liquid hot.

In a sauté pan over medium heat, sauté onions in 1 tbsp. each butter & oil, stirring occasionally, until onions become translucent & slightly golden–about 5–8 minutes.

Add the rice & stir constantly until all the rice is slightly translucent and a white spot appears in the center of the grain–about 3 minutes.

Turn up the heat, pour in the wine & stir until it is absorbed–about 2 minutes. Set the timer for 20 minutes now. The timer is only an approximate measure. The rice should only be cooked until it is tender but still chewy (firm to the bite or "al dente"), but never so long that it is soft in the center.

Add just enough hot stock to cover the rice, stir well, and reduce the heat so it cooks "at a lively pace". Keep gently stirring the sides and bottom of the pot until the rice has incorporated all the broth. This should take about 3–4 minutes. Season w/ salt & pepper.

Continue to add the hot broth, little by little, stirring continuously until at least 2 cups of the broth has been absorbed & the rice is cooked, about 18–20 minutes in all.

NOTE: When this was first posted, a lot of people said that needed more stock. Be careful, especially if you’re using canned or salted stock. All the cookbooks say 2 1/2 to 3 cups stock, so try to adjust the heat until it takes 20 minutes to absorb 3 cups of stock.

Hint: As the risotto nears completion, gradually reduce the amount of liquid you add at each time, so when it is fully cooked, it is only slightly moist–no liquid should be left unabsorbed at the end.

Stir in half of cheese and 1 more tbsp. butter & cook, stirring constantly, for 1–2 minutes. Take off the heat & salt to taste.

Serve immediately with fresh ground pepper & the remaining cheese sprinkled on top.

Lemony Risotto with Asparagus and Shrimp

This is a delicious recipe that was posted on the celiac.com forum:

Ingredients:


3 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
3/4 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 1/4 cups Arborio rice
1/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/4 cup grated parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

Bring broth and water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Add asparagus and simmer, uncovered, until just tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus with a slotted spoon to an ice bath to stop cooking, then drain. Keep broth at a bare simmer, covered.

Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add wine and simmer, stirring constantly, until absorbed.

Stir in 1/2 cup broth mixture and briskly simmer, stirring frequently, until absorbed. Continue adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until rice is creamy and tender but still al dente (it should be the consistency of a thick soup), about 18 minutes. (There will be leftover broth mixture.)

Stir in shrimp and cook until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in asparagus, zest, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, parmesan, parsley, and pepper to taste. (Thin risotto with some of remaining broth if necessary.)

Monday, May 25, 2009

Crockpot Country Captain (Chicken and Shrimp)

From Sunset Crockery Cookbook:

Ingredients:

2 Granny Smith apples
1 onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 T raisins or currants
1 T curry powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup uncooked rice
1 lb raw shrimp, shelled and deveined
1/3 C slivered almonds
salt
parsley

Directions:

Quarter, core and dice unpeeled apples. Combine apples, vegetables, spices, raisins in Crockpot. Rinse chicken and pat dry; arrange on top of fruit and veggie mixture. Add broth. Cover and cook on Low 6-7 hours.

Remove chicken to warm plate; cover and keep in warm oven (200 degrees). Add rice to cooking liquid in Crockpot; turn heat to high and cook for about 30 - 35 minutes, until rice is almost tender. Add raw shrimp and cook until shrimp are opaque in center (about 10 more minutes). Toast almonds in small pan until golden; set aside. Season rice mixture with salt to taste; mound on a large serving dish and arrange chicken on top, then sprinkle with parsley and almonds. Makes 6 servings.

Directions:

Crockpot Beef Stew

Based on a recipe from the Sunset Crockery Cookbook, altered to be gluten free:

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped
2 C baby carrots
1 lb baby red potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
2 - 3 lbs stew beef or beef round, cubed
1/4 C sweet rice flour
2 tsp thyme
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/4 C red wine or beef broth
1 pkg frozen peas (about 10 oz)
salt and pepper

Directions:

Place vegetables into Crockpot; coat beef cubes with sweet rice flour, add to Crockpot and sprinkle with thyme. Add tomatoes and wine or broth. Cover and cook 8 - 10 hours on Low. Skim off any fat and stir in frozen peas. Turn heat to High, cook until peas are heated through (15 minutes or so). Adjust seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste.

Dark Chocolate Gluten-Free Brownies

Such a WONDERFUL, decadent recipe, from Karina's blog:

Ingredients:

5 ounces Belgian dark chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 C almond meal
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Optional:

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired
1/2 cup extra semi-sweet chocolate chips for the top, if desired

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan.

Melt the dark chocolate and butter in a large measuring cup in the microwave. Stir together to combine. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs on medium high till frothy. Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is smooth.

Add the melted chocolate mixture into the egg-sugar mixture a little at a time - incorporate it slowly- and beat well for a good minute. The chocolate will look smooth and glossy.

In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: almond meal, rice flour, salt and baking soda; whisk together. Add the dry flour mix into the chocolate mixture and beat well for a minute. Add the vanilla, beat another half a minute or so.

If you are adding nuts, stir in the nuts by hand and spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Shake the pan a little bit to even out the batter.

Layer the semi-sweet chips all over the top of the batter and press them in slightly, if adding.

Bake in the center of a preheated 350 degree F oven for 33 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are set. Don't overcook. (Err on the side of gooey, if you must- that's what I do; I find gluten-free brownies taste better slightly undercooked and soft in the middle than over-cooked and crumbly.)

Cool on a wire rack; chill before cutting.

Best Barbecue Ribs (or Chicken)!

This recipe is based on one from RecipeZaar; I've incorporated a number of variations from people who actually tried it and commented:

Ingredients:

3 - 6 lbs pork back ribs (or chicken pieces)
1 (8 ounce) jar honey
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 T Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/2 C dark brown sugar
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 medium onion, grated or finely chopped
12 oz barbecue sauce (I used homemade BBQ sauce)
1/4 C white sugar (or white or apple cider vinegar if you want it less sweet)

Directions:

This can be made in the oven in a roasting pan or in the Crockpot. I've included directions for both, as well as directions for chicken.

Mix all ingredients except ribs together. Cut ribs apart for easier serving. Place into roasting pan or Crockpot and coat all ribs with the sauce.

Roasting pan directions (ribs):

Line the bottom of the roasting pan with silicon sheet for easier cleanup (very sticky!). Spread ribs out evenly on bottom of pan; coat with sauce and cover lightly with foil. Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 3 hours. Turn and baste occasionally. At the end of cooking time, broil the ribs for a couple of minutes before serving.

Roasting pan directions (chicken):

Line the bottom of the roasting pan with silicon sheet for easier cleanup (very sticky!). Spread chicken pieces out evenly on bottom of pan; coat with sauce and cover lightly with foil. Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 1 hour covered, then 1/2 hour uncovered. Turn and baste occasionally.

NOTE: if using boneless chicken, you should reduce cooking time. Bake covered until internal temperature is 160 degrees, then bake uncovered for approximately 15 minutes longer (probably 45 min total).

Crockpot directions (ribs and chicken):

Place ribs in Crockpot, cover and cook on high for 6 - 7 1/2 hours. (Bone-in chicken would probably take about 6 hours; boneless would take about 4-5 hours on high. Check internal temperatures to make certain they are done!)

Homemade Gluten-free Barbecue Sauce

Found this recipe somewhere on RecipeZaar:

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, finely chopped
1-2 T butter
1 1/2 C gluten-free ketchup (Heinz works)
1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/4 C gluten-free worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrins is gf in the USA, but NOT in Canada)
2 T lemon juice
1 T liquid smoke

Directions:

In a sauce pan melt butter. Add onion and saute until tender. Add all remaining ingredients and heat 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken

There are a lot of different versions of this delicious recipe out there on the Internet; this is mine (based in part on recipes found on RecipeZaar and A Year of Crockpotting):

Ingredients:

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken pieces
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 T sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb mushrooms, sliced thick or quartered

4 T butter
4 T sweet rice flour
1 C milk
1 C chicken broth

8 oz cream cheese

Directions:

Place chicken in crock pot and sprinkle with herbs and spices. Add chopped vegetables.

Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat and add the sweet rice flour to make a roux. Add chicken broth slowly while whisking, then add milk. Stir until thickened and smooth. It should be thick, but you may need to add a little more broth; I try to aim for the consistency of canned cream of chicken soup (well, maybe a little runnier than that!). Pour over chicken and vegetables in Crockpot, cook on high 4 - 5 hours until chicken is cooked through and can be shredded with a fork.

Add cream cheese to Crockpot and cook on high for half an hour, until cream cheese is melted. Stir to mix thoroughly and serve over gluten free pasta or rice.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Gluten Free Beef and Cheese Enchiladas

Ingredients:

For the enchilada sauce:

2 T butter
2 T sweet rice flour
2 - 2 1/2 T red chili powder
2 - 3 dashes cayenne pepper (to taste)
1 T cumin
1 T garlic powder
2 T dried onion flakes
6 ounces tomato paste
2 - 3 cups water and/or chicken stock
salt and pepper

For the enchiladas:

corn tortillas
olive oil
3 cups roast beef or canned cooked beef, cut in bite-sized chunks
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cumin, to taste
1/2 teaspoon or chili powder
salt and ground pepper, to taste
4 C Cheddar or Jack cheese, shredded

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a or 9 x 13" baking dish.

First make the sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan; add the rice flour and whisk smooth. Mix in the spices and tomato paste; then add the liquid, whisking constantly. Heat just until the sauce begins to simmer; feel free to taste and adjust seasonings to your own liking! Remove from heat after it thickens.

Make the filling by combining the beef, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss well to coat. Add about 3/4 of the shredded cheese to the filling and mix well. Set aside the remaining cheese for the topping.

Pour about 3/4 cup of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the baking dish.

Soften the tortillas by briefly frying them in oil in a small skillet (if the oil is hot, you only need a couple of seconds per side!).

Place a tortilla in the pan, on top of the sauce, spoon in the beef and cheese filling, and roll the tortilla up. Continue until the pan is full and/or the filling is used up, whichever comes first.

Pour the remaining enchilada sauce all over the top. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top. Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the enchiladas are bubbling around the edges and heated all the way through.

Crockpot Brown Sugar Chicken

I found this recipe on Stephanie's blog; my 3-year-old LOVES it! In fact, we all do...it's easy and tasty...has a sort of sweet Asian flavor. I served it over white rice:

Ingredients:

12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or 6 boneless, skinless breast halves
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon-lime soda (7-up or whatever)
2/3 cup vinegar (white wine, regular white, or apple cider work fine)
3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
2 T soy sauce (La Choy and Tamari wheat free are GF)
1 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:

Use a 5-6 quart crockpot for this recipe.

Place the chicken into Crockpot. Cover with the brown sugar, pepper, chopped garlic, and soy sauce. Add the vinegar, and pour in the soda. It may bubble!

Cover and cook on low for 6-9 hours, or on high for 4-5. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and has reached desired consistency. The longer you cook it, the more tender it will be. If you wish, you may add 1/3 C cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 water at the very end to thicken the broth a little.

Serve over a bowl of white rice with a ladle full of the broth.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Chicken Artichoke Enchilada Casserole

This is a wonderful recipe from Karina, the Gluten-Free Goddess:

Ingredients:

For the sauce:

2 cups chicken broth
2-3 tablespoons rice flour
A dash of cumin, to taste
A dash of hot pepper, smoky chipotle or cayenne, to taste
1 C chopped fire roasted green chiles- mild or hot, to taste

For the enchilada casserole:

10 corn tortillas
olive oil
2-2 1/2 cups hand torn cooked chicken pieces
1 10-oz. package frozen artichoke hearts, cooked, drained
4 cloves garlic, minced
Juice from 1 big juicy lime
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cumin, to taste
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning or chili powder
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
4 oz. Cheddar or Jack cheese, shredded

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 8 x 11" or 9 x 12" baking dish.

First make the sauce. Heat the broth to almost a simmer. Add the rice flour and whisk smooth. Continue to heat just until the sauce thickens. Add the cumin, hot pepper and green chiles and stir well to combine.

Make the filling by combining the chicken, artichokes, garlic, lime juice, cumin, Old Bay Seasoning, sea salt, and pepper, in a bowl. Toss well to coat. Add about 3/4 of the shredded cheese to the filling and mix well. Set aside the remaining cheese for the topping.

Pour about 3/4 cup of the green chile sauce into the bottom of the baking dish.

Cutting some of the tortillas in half to make straight edges, layer five corn tortillas in the bottom of the baking dish. Brush with a little olive oil.

Spoon in the chicken filling, and spread it evenly in the pan. Top with five more corn tortillas, cutting some of them to fit against the sides. Brush these with a little olive oil.

Pour the remaining enchilada sauce all over the top, slowly, using a small spatula or knife to make room around the edges of the tortillas, so that the sauce can seep in all around and reach the bottom.

Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the enchiladas are bubbling around the edges and heated all the way through.

Garlic fried Jasmine Rice

Another recipe from Tim Luym, published in the October 2008 Sunset. This is a staple for breakfast in the Phillipines, but it's great for dinner too:

1 1/2 C brown jasmine rice
1 1/2 T plus 1 tsp canola oil, divided
1 T minced garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Rinse rice thoroughly in a fine strainer, then pour into medium saucepan with 1 3/4 C water (you may want to use chicken or beef broth in place of some or all of the water to add additional flavor). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until water is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let stand, covered, 10 minutes.

Pour rice into a rimmed baking pan; let cool, then chill, uncovered, until firm and dry, at least 2 hours (you can leave it overnight if you wish).

Heat 1 1/2 T oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add rice and heat, stirring gently, until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. With a wooden spoon, clear a space in the center, and pour in 1 tsp oil. Stir the garlic into the oil. Let garlic sizzle for about 30 seconds, then stir the garlic and rice together. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Beef Adobo Salpicao

I found this recipe in a Sunset magazine (Oct 2008); the author is a Philippino-American chef in San Francisco named Tim Luym:

Ingredients:

1 C thinly sliced shallots (4 - 6 large)
1/4 C each canola oil and olive oil
1 1/2 lbs top sirloin steak, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 T gluten free soy sauce or Tamari sauce
2 T coconut vinegar or 4 tsp cider vinegar (coconut vinegar may be found in Asian grocery stores)

Directions:

In a large skillet over med heat, saute shallots in oils, stirring often, until deep golden brown (7 - 8 minutes). With a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to paper towels to drain. Discard all of the oil except for 2 T.

Increase heat to high. Add diced beef to pan and cook until brown on one side (1 - 2 minutes). Stir in garlic and bay leaf. Turn meat; when second side is brown, stir in pepper, soy sauce, and vinegar. Boil until reduced by half, 1 - 2 minutes. Spoon meat into bowls and top with shallots.