Almond Shortbread Cookies (gluten free)

Shortbread cookies are one of my favorites...I have also been using almond flour a lot lately....so this cookie is perfect and this recipe uses very little ingredients... this is such an easy cookie to make when you need a little something quick.....I literally threw these together in like 10 minutes!...I may even try to make thumbprint cookies with this dough.....Here is what I did....Enjoy!

 

INGREDIENTS

 

1 Cup Almond Flour

3 Tablespoons Confectioners Sugar

3 Tablespoons Soft Butter

1/8 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl

I just mixed well with a fork, but you could mix in you mixer if you like.

Mix until dough forms

roll into small balls and place on silpat or parchment lined baking sheet and then mark with a fork each way

 

Bake at 350 for 8 minutes

 

This recipe makes about 15 cookies

 

Chicken Rockafeller

My husband and I just love Oysters Rockafeller, the only problem is they are not always in season. While we were in Florida enjoying an order, we thought we would try it with Shrimp when we got back home. So we got to work to come up with  recipe and tried it with Shrimp...they were very good and a big hit....So I thought I would try the mixture with Chicken Breast also...And this is what we came up with....So you can use the recipe with your choice of Chicken or Shrimp or both at the same time! ...Here is what we did...Enjoy!

 

INGREDIENTS

 

4-6 Chicken Breasts (slice half through)

 

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 small shallot (diced

1 clove garlic (minced

5 ounces (1/2 bag) Spinach (chopped)

1 Tablespoon dry parsley

1/4 Cup white wine

1/3 teaspoon salt

1/2 Cup Panko breadcrumbs (I used gluten free)

2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

2 Strips Bacon (cooked crispy and crumbled)

3/4 Cup Half and Half

Parmesan and shredded mozzarella for topping

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Melt butter in pan and add shallot...cook until translucent...add garlic simmer about 1 minute

Add spinach and cook until soft...add parsley and salt and then the wine....

 

and Lemon Juice.....add the Panko and cheese then the Bacon and stir until incorporated.

At the end add the Half and Half and stir. This is your mixture to add over your Chicken or shrimp.

 

For Chicken Breast Preparation take the breast and make slices half way through and place in a baking dish

Add the mixture placing in the slits and over top.

 

Cover and Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes When done sprinkle with parmesan cheese and then Shredded Mozzarella and return to oven until melted

 

Here is how we did the Shrimp version...In individual Ramekin dishes

 

 

Butterfly and saute Shrimp in butter

add shrimp to Ramekin ...top with mixture and then Parmesan and Mozzarella and bake until cheese is melted

 

 

One Pot Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Well this recipe is another one pot meal ...which I Love!....It's not that Tuna Noodle casserole is anything new and exciting, but the fact that this can be made so quickly makes it nice....You add the  (raw) noodles and other ingredients all together in your pot, except the cheeses at the end. This recipe is really easy and everyone really enjoyed it! Here is what I did....Enjoy!

 

INGREDIENTS

 

12 ounce bag of Egg Noodles

1-32 ounce box Chicken Broth

2 cups Milk

2 cans Tuna (albacore)

1-1/2 cups frozen peas (thawed)

1 Shallot (diced)

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

1 Cup Sharp shredded cheddar cheese

2 ounces (1/4 of a brick) Cream Cheese

3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Ritz Crackers (crushed for garnish)

 

 

Add (to a covered Dutch oven or heavy pot) the Noodles, Broth, Milk, Tuna

Onion, peas and spices

 

Give it a stir, and cook  uncovered on medium heat until it comes to a boil

Once it comes to a boil, stir, cover and simmer for 20 minutes until most liquid is absorbed

Add the cheeses and stir until combined

 

 

Garnish servings with Crushed Ritz Crackers if you like!

 

 

 

 

Chicken and Dumplings (gluten free)

I have never made dumplings before, but have always wanted to try them...especially if they can be gluten free!....You can make these with regular flour if you like. You can also use your own chicken soup recipe, but I will show you how I did mine. I used the meat off of a rotisserie chicken for this. And I used 8 cups of broth....1 32 ounce box plus 2 cubes of Knorr chicken cubes with 4 cups of water....I just like the flavor Knorr boullion has so I like adding it, but you can use your favorite broth....I have also been buying dehydrated parsley, but you could use dry or fresh.....Here is what I did ....Enjoy!

SOUP INGREDIENTS

2 Tablespoon oil

1 onion chopped

4-5 carrots diced

4-5 celery ribs sliced

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon ground thyme

1 Tablespoon dry parsley

1 rotisserie chicken (meat)

8 cups  chicken broth

salt and pepper to taste

DUMPLINGS

2 1/2 cups all purpose or gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon xanthum gum (omit if using regular flour)

1 tablespoon dry parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chicken broth

2 eggs beaten

DIRECTIONS

Add oil to pot with onion carrot and celery and saute until soft

Add the rest of soup ingredients and bring to boil and then simmer

For Dumplings add all dry ingredients to a bowl and then add eggs and broth

stir with a fork until combined....Dough should be thick and sticky

When soup is done to your liking...Drop the dough into pot with a Tablespoon until gone

Cover pot and simmer for 20 minutes

Skinatalie Margarita's

I have to say I do love a great Margarita.....what I don't like is all of the sugar and calories in the Pre mix you have to use when making them....So I came up with my own way of making them with fresh limes and Stevia.....They quickly became known as Skinatalie's.....I regularly get requests from family and friends to make a pitcher them...they are a great summer cocktail but we make them anytime!.....You know how you see those giant bags of limes at Costco and think what in the heck am I going to do with all of those?,,,Well now you know!..I am going to base this recipe on 8 limes.....and I use a 2 ounce shot glass for measurements, I also find a hand held citrus juicer works well for squeezing limes....Here is my formula of how I make them....Enjoy!!

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

LIMES

STEVIA

TEQUILA (silver)

GRAND MARNIER or COINTREAU

 PELLIGRINO (sparkling soda)

CLEMENTINE OR AN ORANGE

 

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

My rule of thumb is for every fresh lime you squeeze you will add 1 shot of tequila, 1/2 shot of Grand Marnier or Cointreau  a pinch of stevia and 1/2 glass of sparkling water.. I prefer Pelligrino

 

EXAMPLE

 

8 limes (juice)

8 shots of tequila

4 shots Grand Marnier

Stevia (to your liking)

4 cups of sparkling water

I juice 1 clementine at the end for flavor!

 

Add these ingredients to a pitcher ...stir and serve over ice

 

From here you can adjust any way you like as far as more or less liquor or limes to your taste.

I have found this formula works pretty well.....Cheers!

 

 

Cauliflower fried "rice"

So using Cauliflower as rice is a thing!.....I have been seeing a lot of it so have been wanting to try it......This fried "rice" turned out so good I can't wait to do other things with it!...I have so many ideas!.......You can put your own spin on this adding what veggies or even meats that you like.....You could do beef with broccoli or diced chicken with zucchini......The ideas are endless...you could even use frozen diced carrots and peas......I didn't use a clove of garlic in this recipe because I used a shallot for my onion, but you could add minced garlic to this if you like.....Here is what I did....Enjoy!

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil

1 Cup diced carrot (2-3)

1 cup frozen peas (thawed)

1 shallot diced

1 clove minced garlic (optional)

1 whole cauliflower "riced"

2 eggs beaten

3 Tablespoons Liquid Amino (soy sauce)

salt and pepper

2 green onion or scallion (chopped)

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Wash cauliflower break into florets and add to food processor or I used my large Ninja blender

Pulse until the consistency of rice...set aside

add sesame oil to pan and saute the carrot peas and onion until tender, then add the

cauliflower and cook about 5 minutes

push everything in pan to the edge and add the beaten eggs in center of pan...stir around until cooked then start combining and stirring everything together

add the Liquid amino or soy sauce and salt and pepper garnish with the chopped green onion

 

Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin

I am loving making things with spaghetti squash lately!!.....It really can take on the flavors of whatever you put with it which is great.. This au gratin dish tastes exactly like the cheesy potatoes I make with the frozen hash browns...I couldn't believe it ....now I can have this dish and don't have to feel as guilty eating it!...I made this with one whole squash so if you need to feed a crowd you can just double this...it is very easy to put together with minimal ingredients! Also you can use whatever type of onion you like....regular, shallot or scallion or green onion...your choice!....Here is what I did ....Enjoy!

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

1 spaghetti squash

1/2 cup sour cream + more if needed

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese

1 small onion of choice

salt and pepper

olive oil

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Cut squash in half and remove seeds....drizzle with olive oil and then salt and pepper

Lay flesh side down and bake for 40 minutes at 375

when done scrape flesh and add it to a bowl.....add the sour cream (depending on your squash size it may need a little more), 1/2 of the cheddar cheese, onion and parmesan

spoon into a sprayed or greased casserole dish and top with remaining cheddar

Bake for about 25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly