MEATZA PIZZA- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

 

 

I made up this recipe the other night while craving some pizza. Since I can't have regular pizza dough, I thought I'd try to make something similar. It was really yummy!

 

Crust:

1 lb pork sausage (country style)

1 to 2 lbs mozzarella cheese, grated

Topping:

1 large can tomato sauce

1 1/2 tbs oregano

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 lbs Colby-jack cheese

Assorted pizza toppings

 

Brown sausage in skillet, drain grease. Lay in bottom of glass baking dish. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Place in oven on broil until bubbly. Watch carefully. This happens very quickly. Pull out of oven and set aside until cool. This is what it should look like. After it cools it should be really crispy.

 

Then add oregano and garlic powder to the tomato sauce. Spread onto sausage crust, then add Colby-jack cheese and other toppings (olives, mushrooms, etc). Broil until top is done.  Bottom should stay crispy.

 



ITALIAN SALAMI BITES- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

This has got to be one of my favorite recipes. So simple, but so good. Last night, I took 14 of them to work with me for dinner. I ended up only getting 5 because I had to share with everyone working.

Italian dry salami (I buy the Gallo)
cream cheese
oregano
sea salt
sliced banana peppers

Lay out the salami on a plate. Smear a little cream cheese on it. Sprinkle with oregano and sea salt and top with banana peppers. Delicious!!

UUGH!!

Would you like to know what happens to a 46 year old, pre-diabetic woman when she decides to go on a binge after following a starch-free diet for a while. She gains a whopping 10 pounds in 5 days! Just in case you are wondering, no that is not a typo. This last week, we went to Colorado for a nephew's wedding. We arrived on Thursday evening. When pulling up to the hotel we realized, it literally, was in the middle of nowhere. For the next 5 days, I would have a very hard time finding anything starch-free to eat. My brothers family provided lunch and dinner for most of the days. Wow, they are good cooks!! My daughter and I decided we would go off-plan for the duration of the wedding weekend then start starch-free again today. We have another wedding coming up in July. We will be staying with grandma and have more control over what we eat. This time we plan to bring our own food and stay on track.

CUCUMBER SALAD- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

2 lg cucumbers
1/2 c mayo (starch-free)
1/4 c sour cream
1/8 c sugar
a pinch of dried dill weed (optional)

Slice cucumbers, set aside. Mix remaining ingredients together. Add just enough lemon juice to make a thin sauce. Serve chilled.

LIME CHEESECAKE FLUFF- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

Since going starch-free, one of the hardest things has been finding foods with enough flavor to curb the many carb cravings I get on a regular basis. This dessert is delicious and tastes a little like lime cheesecake. I probably eat this at least once daily at one of my meals.

1 (8oz) block cream cheese
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup coconut milk (the kind that's very thick)
sweetener to taste

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, lime juice, and whipping cream together on high until it form peaks. Mix in coconut milk (this will make it a little more creamier) Then add sweetener to taste.

LATEST DOCTOR VISIT

I went to the doctor yesterday and got a little bad news. My AS is getting worse. It has moved into my left hip giving me a lot of extra bone in there. For anyone else this wouldn't be so bad. When they did my MRI's six months ago, they found a defect in my left hip that I've had since birth. I never had problems with it while growing up. I was a baton twirler in high school (wow, that really shows how old I am), I did the splits, back flips, cart wheels, and anything else that position required without any pain at all. Now this "defect" is causing the extra bone in there to hit my pelvic bone. (ouch!!) The inflammation makes it even worse. I have really been slacking on the Starch-free diet lately. Time to get back on board!

PARMESAN CRUSTED SALMON- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

I made the most wonderful fish yesterday!! There were no leftovers. Next time I will be doubling the recipe.

16 oz salmon- boneless, skinless
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (cheap stuff in the can)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning

Thaw salmon. Pat dry. Set aside. Mix Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning together. Brush mayo onto both sides of salmon. Coat with Parmesan mixture. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until fish flakes.

COCONUT BREAD- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

I found this link for coconut bread about 6 months ago and have been making it daily since then. As far as grain-free breads go this is one of my favorites and you can make it in about 5 minutes. I like mine slightly warm with jam. If you are starch-free, make sure to use SF baking powder using 1/4 cup cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons baking soda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmJ4jT9i2L4

Enjoy!

NEW DIAGNOSIS- ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

It's been quite a while since I posted anything.  Starting in September of last year, I stared having pain again in my lower back. This has happened off and on for the last 20 years throughout my entire back. It was always diagnosed as bulging or herniated discs. I have also had problems with plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, uveitis (eye inflammation), hip pain, and pain in my bum (nice huh!). While I was having the excruciating pain in my back, my left eye started acting up again. Then the hips started hurting. Finally, I had had enough!! I walked into my doctors office and told him we had to figure out why, at the age of 45, my body was literally falling apart. After x-rays,  MRI's, and many blood tests (there was a gene they were testing for), I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Osteo-arthritis. I will not bore you with all the medical details of  AS. The easiest way to explain it is my body is trying to fuse together into one big bone. My doctor said I would not die from this disease, but I will die with this disease (non-curable). Very reassuring. My sacroiliac joints have already started to fuse (that's why I have that pain in my rump roast, hehe). My lower back is trying to fuse but I am too active so it hasn't happened yet. I also have the hips of a 80 year old because of the Osteo-arthritis.

Since being diagnosed, I have spent many hours researching different treatment options for my AS. A doctor in England, A. Ebringer, discovered that 90% of people diagnosed with AS have a gene (HLA-B27). Not everyone with this gene will get the disease (my daughter has the gene but not the disease). They have not figured out what the trigger is that causes it to start but they do know that it involves a bacteria in the gut called Klebsiella. This bacteria feeds off of starch. This is why you will now see recipes labeled starch-free along with the gluten-free.

You can find out more about AS and a starch-free diet at www.kickas.org.

VEGGIE TRAY AND HOMEMADE RANCH DIP - GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

I was asked to bring a vegetable tray to a bridal shower this last week. Everyone loved the presentation and the homemade ranch was a hit!!

1 cup mayonaise
1 cup sour cream
1 tbs parsley flakes
2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder

Mix well and chill at least 30 minutes before serving.

SEVEN LAYER SALAD- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

**This is a great salad for pot luck dinners.
***To make this starch-free omit the peas, and use only SF mayo.
1 head lettuce, cut
1 green pepper, chopped
1 bunch green onion, chopped
1 (16 oz) frozen peas, thawed

Layer first 4 ingredients. Spread mayo over peas so there are no holes. Sprinkle with a little sugar and Parmesan cheese. Right before serving sprinkle with bacon bits.

EGG FOO YOUNG- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

**To make starch-free use xanthan gum instead of cornstarch and tamari sauce instead of soy sauce.

6 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper
ham
bean sprouts, fresh
mushrooms, fresh

Mix all together with fork. Fry in 3 tbs heated oil in frying pan, large pancake size,
making sure it is done through. Set onto plate. Drizzle with brown sauce.

BROWN SAUCE

2 tbs margarine
4 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp sugar
1 c water
3 tsp soy sauce-GF

In saucepan, melt margarine, add cornstarch and sugar. Stir. Add water and soy sauce. Cook stirring constantly until thick and clear.

COTTAGE CHEESE SALAD- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

1 (16 oz) cottage cheese
6 lettuce leaves
1 can pears, drained
6 maraschino cherries

Lay out one lettuce leaf onto salad plate.
Top with one ice cream scoop of cottage
cheese, then top with two or three slices of
pears. End with a cherry on the very top. 
Serves 6.

HONEY-DIJON HAM- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

1 (3 lbs) boneless fully cooked ham
1/3 c honey
2 tbs Dijon mustard-GF
2 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs water

Place ham on a greased baking rack in shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325 for 50-60 min. Combine honey, mustard, and brown sugar; brush about 3 tbs over ham. Bake 15 min longer. Stir water into remaining glaze. Heat through and serve with ham.

CHICKEN NUGGETS- GLUTEN FREE, STARCH-FREE

**To make starch-free use blanched almond flour or Parmesan Cheese instead of breadcrumbs.

5 chicken breast, boneless, skinless
1 1/2 c breadcrumbs (we use dried UDI bread blended in food processor)
2 eggs, scrambled
Italian seasoning, optional (GF, SF)

Cut chicken breast into small 1-inch pieces. Dip into egg, then breadcrumbs. Set onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 until done through.

BEEF OR CHICKEN GRAVY- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

Beef or chicken bouillon (GF, SF)
water
xanthan gum

In saucepan, prepare beef or chicken bouillon according to instructions for 1 quart broth. Add 1/3 cup milk.  Add xanthan gum in small amounts (1/2 teaspoon) heating thoroughly in between until thickened. Add more water if too thick.

BROCCOLI BRAVO- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

**To make starch-free grate your own cheese (pre-grated cheese has potato starch in it to keep it from sticking together)

1 (16oz) pkg frozen chopped broccoli
1 tbs milk
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise-SF
1/2 tsp oregano

Cook the broccoli according to the package directions; drain. Stir in the remaining ingredients and cook over low heat until cheese is melted.

ONION SOUP MIX- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

1/4 cup dried minced onion
2 tbs beef bouillon granules-GF, SF
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp parsley flakes
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp paprika (may have too much starch for some, just omit)

Mix together and use as substitute for 1 package onion soup mix.

MAKE-AHEAD MEATBALLS- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

**Starch-free (omit oatmeal)

I usually double or triple this recipe.

2 lb ground beef
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup oatmeal (certified gluten-free)-

Mix well. Shape into inch balls and brown until done through (this can be done in the oven on 400 degrees or in a fry pan). Drain. Once cooled, freeze in gallon size Ziploc bag. Thaw before using.

ITALIAN CHICKEN- GLUTEN-FREE, STARCH-FREE

5 chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
1 cup Italian dressing-GF, SF
8 oz cream cheese (opt)
Place chicken breast and dressing in quart-size ziploc bag. Marinate in refrigerator at least 3 hours or overnite. Remove chicken for marinate and bake uncovered for 45 min at 350 or until done through.