Pots De Creme

Pots De Creme

This is a super easy recipe that is always a crowd pleaser!  

This recipe takes about 5 minutes to make + 3 hours of chilling time

12 oz Chocolate Chips (I use enjoy Life)

4 eggs

2 tsp Vanilla

pinch of salt

1 Cup Very Hot Coffee

 Blender

1. In a Blender (Doesn't need to be fancy) place the chocolate chips, eggs, vanilla and salt.  
2. Begin Blending (Have the Very Hot Coffee ready to use)
3. after a few seconds take the circular disk out of the lid of the blender and while it is blending gradually add in the Hot Coffee.
4. Blend for a few more seconds until smooth.
5. pour into little glasses.  Leave room at the top for the whipped cream
6. refrigerate for atleast 3-4 hours it WILL thicken up.

A fun variation is using this to make a Chocolate Cream Pie.  I make a Macaroon crust using my macaroon cookie recipe and then bake in the oven (crust).  After crust has cooled I pour the pots de creme into the pie crust and refrigerate. 

What Dairy Free milk is best?

Dairy is the first food allergy that I discovered.  So...I have a lot of years of experience with dairy free milk.  And I can tell you over the years I have used different products.  I used to use Soy milk because it had more protein than the other dairy free milks.  I eventually acquired the taste for soy milk.  But if you have a Soy intolerance or allergy like I do, this is not a good option.  

I can also say that it is a personal preference on taste.  I personally Love So Delicious Coconut Milk.  I have discovered that Brand DOES matter when it comes to dairy free milk.  But again let me emphasize it is a matter of personal taste.  Where as I believe So Delicious Coconut Milk is the best, One of my sister's believes that Silk Coconut Milk is the best.  I have yet another sister who thinks that Blue Diamond Almond Milk is the best dairy free milk.  I even have friends who swear by Hemp milk. 

So...My recommendation is keep a journal of the dairy free milks you have tried and which ones you liked and which you did not.  And if you try one and don't like it, don't give up try another brand or another type.  There are So many choices, Soy, Rice, Coconut, Oat, Hemp, Almond, Hazelnut, etc.

Banana Pancakes (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Corn Free, Soy Free)

These are super easy and healthy pancakes.  And best of all they are delicious!  They have a very light banana flavor.  I sometimes add, nuts, chocolate chips, blueberries... Really anything... (It is not a typo there is no sugar or flour)

1 Banana
3 eggs
1/2 Cup Gluten Free Oats

In a blender add all the ingredients and mix until blended.
Cook Pancakes on a hot skillet

Enjoy!!!

Gluten Free Flour Recipe #2

I like this flour blend because of the added nutrients that the coconut or almond flours provide.  I find it is particularly good in baked goods.  (But the drawback is that it is a more expensive flour to make)  

3 C. White or Brown Rice Flour (Can be a combination or all white or brown)
3 C. Sorghum Flour
3 C. Tapioca Flour
3 C. Potato Starch (not Potato Flour)
3 C. Almond OR Coconut Flour

(in most recipes unless it already has xanthum gum or guar gum in them you will need to add 1/2 tsp per cup of flour in the recipe unless the recipe already calls for xanthum gum or guar gum.

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Tips:

• It can be substituted Cup for Cup for regular flour.  ***** You will need to add 1/2 tsp of Xanthum gum or Guar Gum for every cup of Flour ****** (I have my flour container labeled with the amount of xanthum gum to add.
• Store in an airtight container in your fridge or freezer, for later use.
• This is a good all purpose flour.  
• I usually use Coconut Flour because it is incredibly healthy and it is usually less expensive than almond flour.  
• The best place to buy you flour's is in the bulk section of vitamin cottage.  Many of them are in the freezer section.
• Xanthum and Guar Gum are also best purchased at vitamin cottage in the bulk section.
• Remember to use Guar Gum If you have a corn allergy
• Try this flour in some your favorite recipes

Sarah's loaded butterscotch brownies

This is one of my all time favorite recipes.  Not only is it delicious it is incredibly quick and easy to make!  I vary what I put in it... Sometimes I make it plain with no nuts and no coconut-Sometimes with just nuts, but if I have coconut and nuts I usually add them (unless baking for people with nut allergies). my daughter wanted me to add chocolate chips to the recipe-it would be probably be good with them also (I guess I know why I add chocolate chips to so many of my recipes!!!).

1/4 Cup Oil
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 egg
3/4 Cup Gluten Free Flour Blend #1 or #2
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup Chopped Nuts (optional)
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Coconut (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease a square pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. Mix oil, egg and sugar.  
3. In a small bowl mix together flour, salt, and baking powder 
4. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients.
5. Add coconut and nuts.
6. Spread out evenly in the bottom of square pan.  
7. Bake 25 minutes.  Cut brownies immediately.  Wait at least 5-10 minutes to eat them.  they will get chewy as they begin to cool.

Sweet Potato Fries/Roasted Potatoes

Although, this would of course always be Gluten Free.  I am including it because it is yummy and it is good to have  everyday meal or snack ideas ready. I sometimes make 1 baking sheet of regular potatoes and 1 with sweet potatoes/yams.  I also sometimes make homemade potato chips by following the same steps but slicing the potatoes rather than making them into fries.  This is one of my daughter's favorite foods (She likes it without the rosemary)!!!

1 Large Yam or Sweet Potato or 2 large Potatoes
Rosemary to taste
Salt to Taste
1- 2 TBSP Oil

1. Preheat oven to 420 Degrees
2. Peal Potatoes
3. Cut into Strips and make them  about 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long (size up to you)
4. With pastry brush lightly brush oil onto the fries
5. sprinkle with salt and Rosemary
6. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes  (if you want to have lightly roasted potatoes take them out now..I love them this way too)
7. Turn over and bake an additional 10-20 minutes.  Bake until they are to your desired texture.  They will be good.
8. Enjoy!

Make Extra

One of the best tips that I can give someone who is adjusting to food allergies or sensitivities is whenever possible double or even triple some of your favorite recipes and Keep your freezer stocked with meals that can quickly be used for those days, when you just don't have time to cook.

Here are a few of things I freeze:

• Shepherd's Pie (various varieties)
• Chicken Green Chili
• Turkey Meatloaf and Turkey Burgers
• Soups
• Banana Bread & Pumpkin Bread
• Cooked Chicken or Turkey that can be used in Recipes
• Cream of Mushroom Soup/ Dairy Free
• Spaghetti Sauce

This should just give you some ideas.  The list is endless...   The more you make it convenient and delicious to eat at home, the more you will enjoy it.  The fact is, with food allergies it is easier to eat at home.   I don't want you to think that you cannot eat out.  You can, and I sometimes do...The problem is that you are limited in what you can eat and it is often challenging figuring it all out.  Plus, it is sometimes hard to have everyone around you eating things that you would like to eat, but are not allowed to.