Gluten Free Vegan Battered Veggies

These were SO good! You can use just about any pancake mix but I chose to use Bisquick's Gluten Free Pancake Mix.

1. Prepare batter as instructed on box (to make vegan: use Rice milk or Soy milk and use 1/4 cup applesauce for every egg).
2. Set batter aside
3. Cook veggies of your choice until "tender". I used fresh green beans, asparagus, and cut carrots because that is what I had in my fridge (green beans and asparagus cut into pieces about 1 inch long and carrots sliced, not chopped).
4. Dip veggies in batter until they are fully coated.
5.  Put a small amount of oil in a frying pan, enough to coat the bottom.
6. Place battered veggies in frying pan and cook each side over medium-high heat until golden brown. 
7. Eat as is or dip in your favorite sauce such as peanut sauce or duck sauce.

Enjoy!
Let me know if you have any questions  xo

Gluten Free/Vegan Rice, Kale, Artichoke & Spinach Dish

 

So, I am all about EASY EASY EASY!

This meal is quick, nutritious, and (best of all) ... tasty!

Ingredients:
1. Rice (white or brown)
2. Artichoke Hearts* (I bought artichoke hearts that were already cooked - makes things even easier!)
3. Spinach*
4. Kale*
5. Olive Oil*
6. Black pepper
7. Salt
8. Garlic Powder*
9. Onion Powder*

*Organic

I used brown rice that was left over from the day before (yes, yes... I cheated). Anyway, cook rice ahead of time. In a frying pan, coat the bottom with a bit of your olive oil. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, until the rice and artichokes are hot. The kale and spinach should be thoroughly sauteed (soft). Season to taste. Enjoy with a glass of wine if you wish. 

Thanks for reading, enjoy!

xo

Soooo, what IS gluten?

So, I've gotten the question a lot recently of - "What IS gluten?" ..... A protein? A sugar? What is it found in? How can I avoid it?

To tell you the truth, I had to do a lot of research myself. I'll share with you what I know, all put in layman's terms.

"Gluten" is...
1. a protein composite
2. found in products such as wheat, barley, rye
3. not a "grain" when it stands alone 
4. not found in potatoes, rice, or soy (when they stand alone)

.... there's a lot of information about gluten not being soluble in water, and its structure is blah blah blah... but, that's not the information that I needed to know, so I'm not going to bore you with it either!

Living in 2011 is WONDERFUL if you have allergies, diet restrictions, etc. Grocery stores now carry a plethora of gluten free (GF) products! It's amazing! Cookies, pastas, desserts, etc can even be found with NO GLUTEN, NO EGGS, NO DAIRY, NO PEANUTS, and NO SOY! One definite way to avoid gluten, is making sure to buy products that are labeled "gluten free".

Fresh fruits, veggies, and rice are naturally gluten free. These are the foods to stick to. You can buy tofu that is GF. Be careful with canned beans, make sure they are labeled "gluten free" or that you  read the ingredient list.

When it doubt, just google "Is ______ gluten free?". Many times, when I google something of that nature, all I have to type is "Is ______ gl ...." and it will pop up as an option.

Have any questions about gluten? Ask away!

Thanks for your time!
Michelle xo