Best, best, best, best, best ever lemon squares and gluten free to boot.

I haven't participated in a Mystery Ingredient Monday in a few weeks, because I just haven't gotten it together to make a recipe...but when I saw that this week's ingredient was lemon,

Insert random lemon picture off the internet here. 

 I knew I just have to post my recipe for long squares...a recipe that got RAVE reviews at our recent family reunion AND, it's gluten-free to boot.  (Isn't that a funny expression, to boot, I'm not sure why I'm using it, other than I must want to channel my mother who probably used quaint expressions like that in the 50's .

Lemon squares are basically lemony goodness on top of a rich shortbread cookie and shortbread is actually a cookie that comes out REALLY WELL gluten-free...in fact, one could argue that shortbread is better gluten-free.  I could argue that...but I won't because I don't like arguing on my blog.

And, this is going to be a super lame blog post, because I don't have any pictures of my lemon bars or the baking process.  I'm just too busy living life to photograph it.  (Actually, I just didn't think to take pictures..but I like to come up with pithy sayings like that, just for kicks). 

Lemon squares are a great summer recipe, because they are a nice cool cookie.  And, these squares are very lemony and the perfect blend of sour and sweet. 

Best, best, best, best ever lemon squares. 

1 cup butter softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups flour (I used Namaste brand Gluten-free Perfect Flour blend)

Beat butter, sugar and flour together. 

Press into bottom of ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until firm and golden.

Meanwhile, beat together:

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 + 1/8 cup flour

3/4 cup lemon juice.

Pour over baked crust and bake another 20 minutes in hot oven. 

Sift powdered sugar over top.  Cut into squares and resign. 

So, go check out the Bazin Chronicles for more lemony goodness. 

Mystery Ingredient Monday: Mint

So, a couple bloggers I follow are doing this fun mystery ingredient Monday link-up.  This week's mystery ingredient was Mint...which is awesome because there are so many health benefits of the mint plant. 

And, since there just happens to be this growing in my back-yard right now. 

And, since I was commissioned to make a pasta salad to bring to a cook-out last night, I said to myself.  Self, what the heck...I'm going to give it a whirl.  (Yes, I really do talk to myself in my head like that...I'll be waiting for the people in the white jackets now.)

And, I came up with this recipe, that I made up all on my own.

It was surprisingly good and the mint adds a refreshingly different, but cool taste.  This is definitely a "light" pasta salad..but very tasty.

Since, I made the recipe up myself, I can call it whatever the heck I want, and I'm calling it

Amelia's Awesome Veggilicious Pasta Salad. 

1 lb. cooked pasta (I used gluten-free pasta, because that's how we roll..but you can use regular)

2 cucumbers (chopped)

2 red peppers (chopped)

1 bunch scallions (chopped)

4 tomatoes (chopped)

2 handfuls of fresh mint leaves (chopped)

Dressing:

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup olive oil 

salt (to taste)

dried basil (to taste)

dried oregano (to taste)

black pepper (to taste) 

sugar (to taste)

Combine the pasta/veggies/mint.  Mix the dressing up in separate container and pour over pasta/veggies.  Toss it all together...let sit in a fridge a few hours for the flavors to blend and prepare to wow your guests with your awesome culinary skills

I used a scissors to shred the mint and cut the scallions..it made things much easier. 

You can play with the ingredients to suit your own tastes..try adding in different vegetables, change the ingredients in the dressing...whatever. . 

And, if you want to see more minty recipes..head on over to A Clan's Tale. 

Five Favorites

Time for another Five Favorites!

1.

This little blog of mine.  Is that totally narcissistic and vain to list my blog as one of my favorites??  Well it is, not that I think my blog is all that great or anything, it's definitely not. No, but because I enjoy blogging and writing so much...I never really knew how much I enjoyed it, until I started doing it.    So, even though this blog is definitely not one of the great blogs of the internet, it is MINE, and the place where I can ramble on about whatever I want, and oddly enough, (a few) people actually read it.  Plus, I've made new friends through blogging, so that's always fun as well.

2.

Rewards Points.  Our credit card gives us reward points for every purchase.  I know a lot of people are all into the "cash-only" system, but I love our credit card, because it gives us reward points. We put basically every purchase on it, (gas, groceries, auto insurance, etc.).  I always, always, always pay it off IN FULL every month, so we never carry a balance and never have to pay interest, but we still get reward points.  It's win-win.   Last year, I got this (except mine is green).

photo from Amazon.com

.  This year, I just got this!  

photo from Amazon.com

Can't wait until we get it.   Our current camera is old and unreliable and eats batteries like you wouldn't believe.  So excited to upgrade slightly...and now you can all look forward to even more boring pictures of my kids. 

3. 

And, speaking of reward points, Ben used reward points he got from Lexis Nexis and West Law to get me a food processor.  Wasn't that swell of him?  And, we also got a $100 Amazon Gift card.  Yippee., 

4.

Swagbucks

If you don't search using swagbucks...well you are just crazy.  I installed the toolbar on my browser, and every time I type in some inane search like 

How to remove turmeric stains from counter-tops?

or

]

is (insert common symptom here) a sign of cancer of (insert random body part here)?

or 

How to roast a turkey in under an hour?

or

babies with lumps under their nipples 

(apparently that's normal and not a sign of some terrible disease as I was sure it was)

I get swagbucks and every month or so, I have enough to redeem for a $5 Amazon gift card.  Cool..huh?

If you're not signed up already..go sign up now!

5.

And, just because, I can't possibly have a Five Favorites post, without mentioning food...my absolute, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite breakfast which I had on Mother's Day.

Not by bagel..mine was gluten-free.and didn't stand a chance with the camera.  This photo is by  Simon Law

Bagels with cream cheese, and lox and lettuce, and tomato and onion!

Food heaven!

Go see Hallie for more Five Favorites

Five Favorites (the (mostly junk) foodie edition)

It's time for a few more of my five most very favorite things!!

1.

 

Sausage Pancake Casserole

I love pancakes, but I hate, hate, hate standing over a stove cooking them.  Hate it.  With our family size (and appetites) it takes A LOT of pancakes to feed us, as pancakes are the ONE food that EVERY member of the family likes.  Well, besides ice cream that is...but I can't serve ice cream for dinner all the time. 

So, this recipe is always a big, big hit.   I can easily make it gluten-free by subbing in a GF flour blend and xanthum gum and everyone still LOVES it.

2. 

And, to go with our pancakes.

Log Cabin All Natural Syrup

  

It's way, way, way cheaper than real maple syrup, but really yummy and without all sorts of nasty things like high fructose corn syrup and preservatives and who knows what else.

3.

Publix Premium It's Your Birthday Cake Ice Cream

Not healthy, not natural, loaded with all sorts of artificial colors and flavors and preservatives and corn syrup and whatnot...but oh, so, so, so, so good.  Birthday Cake ice cream is also the ONE flavor of ice cream that EVERYONE in our family LOVES.   It has it's own facebook fan page and everything.

4.

Shrimp

I didn't used to like shrimp.  In fact, I used to hate it.  But, a few months ago I had some at a restaurant and realized much to my surprise that I liked it.  In fact, I LOVED it.  

Of course, none of the kids like it, so when I make it, it's just more for me (and Ben).   I love it with pasta, or rice (but pasta is my favorite).  I toss pasta with olive oil and garlic and salt and parmesean cheese and mix with cooked shrimp.  So, so, so, so good. 

5.

Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

These are incredibly bad for you.  But, so incredibly good...my number one favorite, favorite junk food.  And, I've even found a gluten-free version...which thankfully isn't sold in too many stores, but is sold at one store in RI (or at least it was last summer).

And, now that I've confessed all my junk food longings, so see Hallie and the gang for more Five Favorites.

What I Wore Easter Sunday...and Gluten Free Goodies

Linking up again for a fun What I wore Easter post!

I spent the entire day yesterday baking goodies for this morning. I made brownies with chocolate butter cream frosting, peanut butter sandwich cookies with a cream frosting and coffee cake...everything gluten-free of course.

 And, guys...I going to spill a secret about gluten-free baking. It's not that hard. Honestly..it's not. For everything, except for breads and pizza crusts, I basically use any regular recipe and substitute a good gluten-free flour blend with xanthum gum or guar gum. I prefer Namaste Perfect Flour blend, because Whole Foods has it for a decent price and it already has xanthum gum in it..but Better Batter brand is also really good.

 I don't like the Bob's Red Mill GF flour blend though...it contains bean flours which aren't that great for baking...so don't buy it...unless of course you want to ignore the voice of experience.

..  

 For the brownies, I used a brownie recipe from The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook (subbing for the flour) and frosted them with a regular chocolate butter cream frosting (butter, powdered sugar, cocoa, vanilla and milk). 

 For the peanut butter sandwich cookies, I simply made flourless peanut butter cookies. The recipe is so easy..just 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar and 1 egg. Form into balls, flatten and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. I filled them with cool whip mixed with melted chocolate chips. I was hoping to turn the cool whip into chocolate, but it didn't quite work out that way, the chocolate chips just hardened into little small bits..but it was still super, super good..almost like an oreo cream filling. I made sandwiches out of the cookies and used the cool whip in the middle. 

 For the coffee cake, I used a basic recipe for cinnamon coffee cake and just subbed the flour. We had that for breakfast (along with ice cream and the peanut butter sandwich cookies) after Mass. I took the brownies with me to a SUPER fun Easter gathering at a friend's house with a bunch of  other families, the kids had an eggs hunt and a good time was had by all! 

And, I don't know why I just spent the first several paragraphs of this post blathering on about food...other than the fact that I love to eat and love food and baking...and I wanted to talk about my goodies.

And, I probably subconsciously think that food is more interesting than clothes. 

So, now you all know where my priorities lie. 

 But, here is the actual point of this post. What I wore Easter.

   

 Dress: Thrifted from an awesome thrift store in Rhode Island. I bought it while I was pregnant with Elsa, even though it's not a maternity dress...but I hoped I could wear it as one. I couldn't..it looked terrible. But, it actually works pretty decent as a nursing dress...even though it's not one. I usually hate wearing dresses because they are hard to nurse in, but this one isn't so bad...although I do need to use a cover with it, because I have to come out over the top. I'm not a big nursing cover fan..but I did have one and it worked pretty well with this dress, and Elsa is at the age where the cover actually helps her nurse because she is easily distracted.

 Tank top: Wal-Mart 

 Belt: Amazon.com 

Shoes: acquired for free from Payless. 

 Glasses: Zenni Optical (I have so many glasses from there..love that place). 

 And, here's a pic of the kids. I could NOT get a good one, before they started mutiny. They were especially uncooperative this morning. All their clothes are hand-me downs from others, except for Heidi's. She bought her skirt with her birthday money off Zulily (sob..my girl wants to spend birthday money on clothes?!?!?) and her shirt was bought from Wal-Mart (I think).

This one is a tiny, tiny bit better:

   

 But, not much.  

So, go check-out the better dressed families at the link-up and I'll be linking up with Fine Linen and Purple tomorrow. 

And have a wonderful and Blessed Easter and Easter Week Everyone!! Alleluia!!!

Biscuits that are really Popovers

(This photo and these popovers were made by Ann Larie Valenine...because my popovers didn't look nearly as pretty, so I just hopped on over to flickr and found a beautiful photo that was available for sharing via the creative commons license.   So, we'll just pretend that my popovers looked as pretty as Ann Larie's did...okay?)

So, for the last, oh, 5 years or so, I have been serving soup with either drop biscuits or no-knead 5 minute artisan bread, which if you haven't tried yet, you absolutely should because it is so, so, so, so easy and so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, good!  Is that enough so's for ya?   Seriously, this bread is like the one thing I miss most about being gluten-free.  Well..besides breaded/fried mozzarella cheese sticks that is-- the ONE food I totally craved in my last two pregnancies.  I can't even tell you how excited I was last summer when I discovered that a local grocery store in Rhode Island carried GLUTEN-FREE fried mozzarella sticks!   Those were no doubt responsible for at least a couple pounds of extra baby weight I am currently trying to lose.  Thankfully, I haven't found them in a store down here in Naples yet, otherwise I probably would have gained like double that weight.

Anyway, back to the popovers, so I've always served soup with either biscuits or bread, because that is what my mother did..and well you know, we do things a certain way because our mother did them.   Except my biscuits never, ever came out the way I remembered my mother making them.  Never, ever, ever, ever.

And today..I FINALLY figured out why...because my mother wasn't serving biscuits all those years...she was serving POPOVERS.   Awhile back, I noticed a recipe for gluten-free popovers on the back of a box of King Author gluten-free flour blend.  And,  I said to myself, Self, those popovers sound good, you need to try them.  So, today I did..except I had long used up that box of flour, so I hopped onto my trusty laptop and used good ole' google to find another recipe for gluten-free popovers.

So, I made them tonight for dinner, took one bite and was instantly transported back to my childhood.  I remember sitting around my kitchen table on long wooden benches and eating green onion soup (yuck....no offense mom..but I hated it) begrudgingly just so I could eat those delicious little balls of crusty goodness on the outside and delicious airiness on the inside.  I can even distinctly picture the bright yellow bread basket, covered with a towel, she used to serve them in.  And all this time, I thought they were biscuits!!  I'm so embarrassed.

Anyway, these gluten-free popovers are DELICIOUS!  Greta even said they were "super, incredibly, amazingly yummy" and for her to say that about a recipe that doesn't even contain any sugar is pretty darn amazing!

And they are SO easy!  I will never, ever,  make biscuits with soup again.. I am forever converted to a popover fan.

Anyway, dear readers...here is my wonderful recipe for gluten-free popovers that taste JUST like how I remember my mom's regular old, gluten-containing popovers tasting.

2 1/2 cups gluten-free all purpose flour blend (I really like Namaste Foods, Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend_

1 1/2 tbsp melted butter

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp xanthum gum (omit if you are using a flour blend ..like Namaste, which already contains xanthum gum).

1 1/2 cups milk

5 eggs..slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk all ingredients together until smooth.  Grease 18 muffin tins and fill each tin about 1/2 way with batter.  Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.  Prick each top with a fork to let steam escape and then bake 5 minute more.  Remove from oven and ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!

Blessings,

Amelia