Gluten Free Shortcut Crumb Cake

I LOVE Crumb Cake... not just like, but LOVE!!! I had been searching for an easy gluten free Crumb Cake recipe for some time now. I am all about the easy... Last weekend, I happened to stumble upon a "shortcut" recipe for Crumb Cake. It called for a "regular" cake mix, so as a light bulb came on, I realized that I could use my trusty Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mix. Let me just say, Wow!! I wish I would have thought of this sooner... or stumbled upon the recipe sooner... DELICIOUS!!

Gluten Free Shortcut Crumb Cake
Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mix
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 C. Betty Crocker gluten free flour blend
1 C. sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the cake mix, according to package directions. Pour batter in a prepared 9x9 pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes.  With a mixer, combine the butter, flour, sugar, and cinnamon into a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle all the crumbs over the cake and return to the oven for an additional 15-20 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting.

* If using a regular cake mix and regular all purpose flour, bake cake in a 9x13 prepared pan. The original recipe also had a double batch of the crumb topping. I cut it in half for my gluten free cake. 

Original Recipe: Shortcut Crumb Cake

Gluten Free Sausage Cheese Breakfast Donuts Bagels

So, I stumbled upon a recipe, similar to this on Pinterest. Thank you, Pinterest God!! The original recipe told you all the flours to make your own batter, etc. I don't have time for that... when I am making breakfast, in zombie mode, I want quick and easy. In case I have failed to mention it before, I am NOT a morning person... I need something that doesn't take much brain power. 

Anyway... here is the recipe! MAKE THEM!! You will NOT regret it!

P.S. If you don't have a donut pan... GET ONE!! 


Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Donuts/Bagels    
1 C. Bisquick (I used gf, but you can use regular)
1 egg
1/2 C. (approx. ) shredded cheese
3/4-1 C. ground sausage (browned)
1 C. (approx.) milk (I use almond, but reg. milk will work)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add all ingredients, except milk, to a bowl and combine. Add milk, a little at a time. I added just enough milk to make it about the consistency of Elmer's glue. So, 1 cup of milk, more or less. It needs to be "runny" but not thin. Cake batter consistency might be a better way of describing it. Grease the donut pan and poured batter in each form. Baked at 350 degrees for about 20-25 min. I think you could also use a muffin pan, if you don't have a donut pan.
Original recipe: Cheddar Sausage Stuffed Bagels

Gluten Free Wacky Cake

This cake recipe has been a favorite one of mine, every since my Kindergarten teacher took us into the school kitchen and taught us how to make this cake. It is deliciously moist and chocolatey, and oh so wonderful. It is also so super easy to make. Everything can be done in the pan that you are baking it in, no dirtying any extra bowls or anything. A "regular" version of this cake can easily be made my using "regular" all purpose flour, in place of the gluten free flour blend and xanthum gum.

Wacky Cake
1-1/2 C. Betty Crocker gluten free flour
1 C. granulated sugar
3 T. cocoa
1 tsp. xantham gum
1/4 tsp. salt
1 T. vinegar
6 T. butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C. water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar (dust on top of cake)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients together in 9x9 or8x8 pan. Add melted butter, vanilla, water, and vinegar. Stir to combine all ingredients.  Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool. Dust with powdered sugar.

Doritos Chicken

My plans for a steak and shrimp Valentine's Day supper were thrown off, when someone made steak for supper Friday night and used all of the potatoes. So, I had to find something else to make. I had planned on making this chicken later, this next week, so I already had all of the stuff to make it. It is really pretty easy to throw together. I was pretty impressed with this recipe. The chicken stayed very tender and moist. The biggest win for this recipe... my SUPER picky 11 year old LOVED it!!

Doritos Chicken

Chicken breasts, pounded (or chicken tenders)

1 C. mayonnaise
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 C. nacho cheese flavor Doritos, crushed
1/4 C. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put chicken breasts in zip-lock bag and pound to flatten somewhat. If using chicken tenders, they do not need to be pounded out. Combine mayonnaise and Italian seasoning in a bowl. Crush Doritos in a zip-lock into pencil eraser sized pieces, or smaller (I used generic nacho cheese tortilla chips). Roll chicken in the mayo mixture and then roll in Dorito crumbs.
Place in casserole dish and drizzle melted butter all over the chicken.
Bake, uncovered 30 minutes.

Original recipe: Nacho Cheese Dorito Chicken

Gluten Free Cornbread, Quick and Easy!

Today, I was in a cooking mood! I am so ready and excited about supper tonight! I smoked a pork butt, which I will share the recipe for later. To go along side it, I made cream cheese corn and baked beans. Mmmm... delicious! 

I love to use my smoker, but tend to go in spurts. Anytime I smoke meat on it, I almost always make cream cheese corn to go along with it. One of my most favorite side dishes.

Anyway, enough rambling... 

Enjoy!

Gluten Free Cornbread

1 C. cornmeal
½ C. Betty Crocker All-purpose gluten free flour blend
½ C. cornstarch
1 T. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ C. sugar
1 C. milk
⅓ C. oil
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a glass baking dish (or similar sized dish of your choice, or a cast iron skillet, if you have one.) Place the baking dish or skillet in the oven as the oven preheats. In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add milk, oil, and eggs; stir until batter is smooth. Carefully pour the batter into the hot pan. Return the pan to oven and bake 20-25 minutes, or until cornbread is golden brown on top and deep golden brown around the edges. Cut and serve hot from the oven!

Original recipe: Glutenfreegigi

Gluten Free Tortillas

About a month ago, after being pushed to the limits by my beloved oldest child, I sat out on the journey of finding "good" gluten free tortillas. I browsed through many more recipes than I could ever count on Pinterest.  I FINALLY found one that I was going to attempt. On the first attempt, they turned out pretty good, but rolled them all out by hand. That took awhile to do. In the mean time, I ran to eBay and quickly ordered a tortilla press.  This was one of the smartest things that I have ever done!

Gluten Free Flour Tortillas

2 C. Betty Crocker Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
2 tsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. lard or vegetable shortening
3/4 C. cold water, plus more as needed

Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt. Cut shortening into flour with a pastry blender, your hands, or 2 forks. No large pieces of shortening should remain.
Add 1/2 cup water. Stir into dough using a spoon. Dough will be dry. Add additional 1/4 cup water. Stir. If the dough begins to hold together, stop adding water. If the dough remains dry, add a little water at a time, until it beings to hold together, but isn't wet. The dough should feel damp, not wet.
It should not stick to your hands. If the dough seems dry, add a tablespoon of water. If the dough is too wet, add in additional flour. To test the consistency, pinch off a generous tablespoon and roll it between your palms. The dough should form a ball easily and not stick to your hands. 

Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Line a tortilla press with a plastic bag (that you've cut open on two sides) or wax paper. I used wax paper. Pinch off about two tablespoons of dough. Roll into a ball and place in tortilla press. Flatten dough in the press. Remove. If dough seems thick, peel back the plastic bag from the tortilla, dust with a little additional white rice flour, cover and roll out slightly.

Increase heat to high. Heat until skillet or griddle begins to smoke lightly. Remove tortilla from plastic bag/wax paper. Place in hot skillet. Cook for about three minutes. Tortilla should be lightly brown. (As your first tortilla cooks, begin pressing out the next tortilla.) Flip and cook an additional minute or two. Second side won't get as brown. Immediately transfer hot tortilla to a plate. Cover with a towel. Repeat process until all dough is used.

Tortillas are best served right away. However, they can be stored overnight in a sealed plastic bag. Heat before serving to soften.
Adapted from: Gluten Free Tortillas

Quick Brown Gravy

Today was a day of not really doing much and watching a bunch of junk tv shows. I did do a little laundry and began pumping the green slime out of the swimming pool, but that is about all that was accomplished. When planning supper, I wanted something good, something that would stick with me, and was comfort food. I decided on chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and brown gravy. In trying to stay gluten free, I browsed around on Pinterest until I found an easy brown gravy recipe that could easily be adapted. This turned out great!

Enjoy!


Quick Brown Gravy
1/4 C. gluten free OR all regular purpose flour
1 Tbsp. beef bouillon granules OR 3 beef bouillon cubes crushed
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp.  garlic powder 
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Dash of dried parsley

Mix the dry gravy mix with 1 cup of cold water in a saucepan. Whisk until smooth. Heat at medium until the sauce thickens, then add another cup of water and whisk once more until smooth. 
Original recipe: Brown Gravy

One Pot Goulash

After getting A LOT of sun, maybe a little too much, from mowing the yard today, I was craving goulash. It has sounded good to me for a couple days now, and I knew that I would have the time to make it today. The recipe that I used, and adapted a little, I found on Pinterest. I can get lost for hours in the world of Pinterest. Being able to make this dish in one pot, made it even more enticing to me. I like meals where I only dirty one pot or pan and a couple utensils. This makes me happy! I used gluten free macaroni noodles, but regular macaroni noodles can be used.

Enjoy!

One Pot Goulash

2 onions, chopped
2 lbs. lean ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 C. water
1 (24 oz.) jar tomato pasta sauce
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 bay leaves

2 C. gluten free Barilla macaroni noodles, uncooked
salt and black pepper, to taste

Sour cream/shredded cheese (optional)

Cook ground beef, onion and garlic over medium high heat until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
Add water, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and pepper. Allow to come to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Add in the macaroni, cover and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender, about 20-25 minutes. Discard bay leaves and serve. Can top with sour cream and shredded cheese.

Original recipe: GrandmasGoulash

Fresh Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cake Gluten Free

So, I was browsing Pinterest the other day... A couple minutes quickly turned into a couple hours! I can easily get lost within the world of Pinterest. Anyway... I came across this most delicious looking cake! It has two of my most favoritest things EVER! Strawberries... and... chocolate! I mean, how could you go wrong?! And, since I am being the meanest mom ever and making my children eat leftovers for supper... I thought this might sweeten the deal a bit, lessen the torture. We shall see!

In order to try to "behave," I wanted this to be gluten free. Also, I was being too lazy to try to make a gluten free cake from scratch, so I called on my good friend, Betty... Betty Crocker! I love her! 

Enjoy!

Fresh Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cake (gluten free)

1 gluten free white or yellow cake mix

All the ingredients called for on the box mix

Fresh strawberries, sliced

Mini-chocolate chips

Powdered sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix up cake mix, as directed on the box. Fold in 1/2 C. mini-chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan. Lay sliced strawberries, cut side down, on top of cake batter. You can use as many as you want. Sprinkle additional mini-chocolate chips around strawberries. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Original recipe: Juliasalbum

Creamy Taco Pasta

I saw this recipe and thought that it sounded delicious! And, well... I was right! It is so good and pretty quick and easy to make. This is a great dinner for a quick meal. This turned out so good, I had seconds, and could have easily have eaten a third plate of it. I can safely say that I LOVE this!

Enjoy!

Creamy Taco Pasta
1 (12-oz) pkg. gluten-free pasta
1-1⁄2 lb ground beef
1 sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 (14.5-oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (8-oz) pkg. cream cheese, cubed
1 C. shredded mozzarella

Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, brown beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain; stir in chili powder, ground cumin, tomatoes, and cream
cheese. Cook 5 minutes or until creamy; stir in cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese just before serving.
Original recipe: emeals

Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

It has been bitterly cold here for the past week or so. I really dislike the cold. The cold and I do not mix well. I am ready for warm, sunshine, shorts, tank tops, and my beloved flip-flops. Oh, how I miss my flip-flops.  Anyway, so, here is a good chicken and rice soup recipe! 

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 
2 (14.5-oz) cans chicken broth
1 (16-oz) bag frozen, mixed vegetables
1⁄2 C. chopped celery
1 tsp. dried parsley
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. sugar
1⁄3 C. uncooked instant white rice

Combine first 8 ingredients and 1⁄4 C. water in a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6 hours. Shred chicken breasts, and stir in rice during the last hour of cooking. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
Modified from recipe from eMeals

Taco Meatloaf

Well, here we are... New Year's Eve 2014!! In a mere 8 hours and some random minutes, we will be starting 2015! Hopefully, with the coming of the New Year, there will be many positive changes! I hope everyone has a great evening and stays safe!! Enjoy your time with loved ones, friends and family, alike!

I had some ground beef that I needed to use up and I also needed something quick and easy to throw together, for a quick supper before someone went to work for the night. So, this is what I settled on making!

Enjoy!

Taco Meatloaf
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 slices American cheese slices
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C. canned sweet corn kernels
1/4 C. chopped green bell peppers

or... 3/4 Schwan's southwest roasted corn
1/4 C. chopped onions
1/2 C. salsa

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook peppers and onions for three minutes over medium heat in a pan sprayed with non-stick spray. (If using the Schwan's Southwest Roasted Corn, I just mixed it all in with the ground beef, onions, and seasoning mix.) In a large bowl, combine onions and peppers with ground beef, corn, and seasoning mix. Spread half of the mixture evenly into the bottom of the loaf pan (about 9″x5″), sprayed with nonstick spray.
Layer the two slices of cheese on top of the mixture (try to keep slices away from the pan’s edges). Evenly top with the remaining meat mixture. Pour the salsa over the top of the loaf. Cook in the oven for approximately 30 minutes.Top loaf with shredded cheese. Return loaf to the oven and cook for another 15 minutes.

Original recipe: Taco meatloaf

Baked Frito Chili Pie

I love Frito Chili Pie... I really do. It is so simple, yet so yummy. When I saw this recipe floating around, I knew I had to give it a try. I had to change it up a little bit, one, because I wasn't paying attention, and two because I was running really low on shredded cheese. Anyway, this came out really well!! 

Enjoy!

Baked Frito Chili Pie

1 lb. ground beef

1 can (16 oz) chili beans (do not drain)
1 can (14-16 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes (drained)
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
3-1/2 C. corn chips (Fritos)
1-1/4 C. fat free sour cream

Cook ground beef until meat is browned; drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (I wasn't paying attention and I did not drain mine...), taco seasoning mix. and 1/4 c. of cheese. Sprinkle 1 C. corn chips in bottom of baking dish. Cover with chili. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Spread sour cream over chili. Top with remaining corn chips and cheese. Bake 4-5 minutes longer. I used Velveeta on top of mine, I was running low on shredded cheese.Original Recipe: Myfamilymealplan

Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies!

I was craving something sweet this morning... but wanted to try to stay gluten free. I was not so good yesterday about following the whole gluten free thing. Well, I stumbled upon this recipe and decided to give it a try. I had tried a flour free, gluten free peanut butter cookie recipe before, but they did not turn out very good. I am VERY happy with this recipe! They turned out so good. Very sweet, but VERY good!

Enjoy!

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
1 C. creamy peanut butter
1 C. granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda

extra sugar, optional

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream all ingredients in a mixer. Roll into one inch balls, roll in extra sugar, and flatten with the bottom of a glass jar or cup. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes and cool on cookie sheet until completely cool.

Original recipe: RumblyTumbly

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Potato Casserole

The weather here has been very rainy and cold. The temperatures have finally dropped off and our highs have only been in the 50s the last few days. I am loving the fall weather, but wish I could stay at home, snuggled up with my cat and a good book. I was really craving comfort food. Comfort food, to me, is usually something warm, and with lots of melted cheese. Oh! Add some potatoes in there too! So, as I was browsing around Pinterest looking for some ideas, I came across a recipe that I knew I had everything to make. I took this recipe and adapted it some, to fit my comfort food craving, and voila! 

Enjoy!

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Potato Casserole

3 C. potatoes, boiled and cut into cubes, approx. 1 lb.
4 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour (I used gluten free flour)
2 C. milk (I used almond milk)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese, diced
1/2 C. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb. skinless smoked sausage
1/8 tsp. smoked paprika

Preheat oven to 350*. Cut skinless smoked sausage in half, lengthwise, and then slice into 1/2 inch "half moon" cuts. Cook in a frying pan for about 15 minutes, until slightly brown. While the sausage is browning up, put the cooked & diced potatoes in 2 quart casserole. Add the cooked sausage. Mix all remaining ingredients (except shredded cheddar cheese & paprika), with a whisk, in a saucepan over medium heat until warm, melted, and smooth. Stir constantly. Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes and meat, stir to combine. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top, and then sprinkle paprika evenly over the top.
Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

*You can substitute: 1/2 lb. hot dogs, sliced into 1/2-inch slices OR 1/2 lb. ham diced into 1/2-inch dices OR 12 oz. can of Spam diced into 1/2-inch dices, instead of the smoked sausage.

Original recipe: Jolean's Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole

Baked Chili Cheese Dogs... YUM!

I had been thinking that chili dogs sounded good. But, when I went to make them, I thought I wanted to go about it a little bit differently than usual. So, this was the result. These were quick to put together and very good!

Baked Chili Cheese Dogs
8 gf or regular hot dog buns
8 hot dogs
1 can chili or one batch of homemade chili
shredded cheese
diced onion (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Put one hotdog per bun, place in pan. Top each hotdog with chili, shredded cheese, and onion (optional). Cover with foil, and bake for 40-45 minutes minutes.

Quick Meatballs

Every time that we have spaghetti for supper, my oldest ALWAYS asks for meatballs. I rarely make them, because, well, I am lazy. Just browning the hamburger is way easier. So, tonight when I decided to make spaghetti, I thought I would surprise her with meatballs. When looking for a recipe, I wanted something quick and easy to make. 

Quick Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 - 3/4 C. bread crumbs (I used gf)
1 egg lightly beaten
garlic powder
black pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all ingredients together. I threw all of the ingredients together in my KitchenAide mixer, I don't like touching raw meat. Once mixed well, form into meatballs, approximately the size of golfballs. Bake for 20-30, or until done.

Gluten Free Quick and Easy Banana Bread

With the cooler weather, I have been craving banana bread. I love the flavors, the smells... Mmmmm... In my quest for a GOOD gluten free banana bread recipe, I also wanted something super easy. Well, this recipe could not be any easier, I don't think. 

Gluten Free Banana Bread
1 box gluten free yellow or white cake mix
3 eggs
4 ripe bananas 
1/2-1 C. mini chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 C. chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two loaf pans with nonstick spray. Mix first three ingredients together. Fold in chocolate chips, if using. Pour half of the batter into each prepared loaf pan. Top each pan of batter with half of the chopped pecan, if using. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or util toothpick poked in middle comes out clean.

*If you are not wanting gluten free, you can simply use a regular cake mix.

Another Oven Baked Fried Chicken

I had some more chicken legs to use up, so this was another take at oven fried chicken legs. The family liked this recipe better than the previous one. I would have to say that these did turn our really well, and honestly, not having to actually fry them made it a lot less of a mess to clean up.

Oven Baked Fried Chicken

1/2 C. all-purpose flour (I used gf)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic
1/3 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. chili flakes
6-8 chicken drumsticks
1/2 C. butter, melted

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix the flour, salt, garlic, paprika, chili flakes, and pepper in a bowl. While you are mixing your coating, but butter in a shallow container that is wide enough to dip the legs in. Melt the butter in the microwave.

Dip the drumsticks into the butter, coating them completely. Roll in flour mixture to coat completely. Then, dip in the butter again and back once again into the flour mixture. 

Put the drumsticks in an ungreased pan. Bake, uncovered, until done, about 45-50 minutes.
Original recipe: howtobestunning

Home From Vacation and Bacon and Cheddar Pork Chops.

Well, I survived a family vacation! You may question that comment, but when you have a child with Asperger's and ADHD, who exhibits problem behaviors due to diet and other factors, driving for 7 hours and staying away from home for 5-6 days is something that can cause anxiety. At least for this momma, it does. It was a nice trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We had a really nice condo, that had a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The youngest is now in love with balconies!! Anytime that we were in our condo, she was on the balcony. 

We hit a lot of the typical "tourist" attractions, but it was a good "first" vacation for the girls and for me. I feel more comfortable do other vacations and possibly hitting destinations that are farther away, next time.

Bacon and Cheddar Pork Chops

4 pork chops
2 eggs
1/4 C. of milk
1.5oz real bacon bits
1 C. gluten free bread crumbs
1-1/2 C.  shredded cheddar or cheddar blend cheese
chopped green onions to garnish (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In one wide dishes, whisk together the eggs & milk. In another, mix together the bacon bits, bread crumbs, & 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Dip the pork chops in the egg/milk mixture & then into the breadcrumb mixture. Shake off any excess crumbs & then dip back into the egg/milk mixture again. Dredge in the breadcrumb combination a second time & press the mixture into each side. Place in a sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle on any remaining breadcrumb mixture, and press down lightly. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping over halfway through cooking. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese & return to the oven for 2 minute, just enough to melt the cheese. Garnish with chopped green onions, optional.

Original Recipe: MrsHappyHomemaker