HOMEMADE GLUTEN-FREE QUESO

Many purchased queso dips are often thickened with flour, and so many homemade queso dips call for gluten-containing ingredients such as cream of chicken soup. Here is an excellent recipe for Homemade gluten-free queso. It is quick and easy, as well as delicious!

Queso Dip

2-CUPS DICED BAKED CHICKEN (ABOUT 6 TENDERLOINS OR 3 CHICKEN BREASTS)
2-CUPS CUBED PEPPER JACK CHEESE (CAN SUBSTITUTE WITH MUENSTER CHEESE IF PREFERRED)
1-8 OZ PACKAGE OF NEUFCHATEL OR CREAM CHEESE
1-7 OZ CAN DICED GREEN CHILES
GLUTEN-FREE CORN TORTILLA CHIPS

In microwaveable dish, add cheese, cream cheese, chiles, and chicken. Mix together. Cook on medium heat in the microwave for 2 minutes; stir with a fork, put back in the microwave for 2 more minutes. Make sure cheese is evenly melted and all ingredients are mixed throughout. And that's it. Your scrumptious gluten-free queso dip is ready to serve.

This dip is so easy and turns out great! It also can be made then reheated. It's wonderful for snacks during sporting events, movie nights, or a great appetizer. Try it out and let me know what you think!

GLUTEN-FREE FISH STICKS

The last time I had fish sticks was about 20 years ago, when I was just a kid. I did not know I had Celiac's yet and I still enjoyed many delicious gluten-filled foods. As a kid, Skippers (a seafood restaurant) was one of my favorite places to eat, and I loved fish sticks! Well I am happy to announce that I just finished a delicious lunch of gluten-free fish sticks. Ian's fish sticks contain no gluten, casein, milk, eggs, nuts, or soy. They are easy to cook; you just throw them in the microwave or oven (I recommend the oven for a crispier coating). I loved them! I had tried Ian's gluten-free chicken nuggets before, and found them also to be fabulous. The gluten-free fish sticks were just under $6.00 for a box which would make about two smaller meals. So, no, they are not ridiculously cheap or anything, but $3.00 for a lunch is not too bad. Plus, I am not going to lie, the pure sentimentality of finally being reunited with one of my childhood favorites was for me personally, a great selling point.

Ian's also tries to focus on nutrition and quality of food and even has a program for kids, to teach them how to make healthy food choices and to be more active. You can read more about it at:

http://www.imasuperfitkid.com/

So give these gluten-free fish sticks a try!

ST. PATRICK'S DAY GLUTEN-FREE TREAT

On March 6, 2009 3:28 PM

Elizabeth said...
Do you have any St Patrick's Day treats you'd recommend?


Yes I do! Here is an easy recipe I have been playing with, which I think would make an excellent gluten-free St. Patrick's day treat. You will need:

1 pkg Cream Cheese or Neufchatel Cheese
1 large box Instant Vanilla Pudding (or 2 small boxes)...sugar free works great
1 cup Milk
1 14 oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
Green Food Coloring (or mix yellow and blue)
Fruit (about 6 cups or ten apples or two cartons of strawberries,etc-just to give you a frame of reference)
Nuts (about 3 cups)

With an electric mixer, beat softened cream cheese with pudding and 1 cup milk until smooth. Next, you will add the sweetened condensed milk and beat until smooth and creamy. Add a few drops of green food coloring and beat just until blended.

Chop fruit into bite size chunks or slices (apples, strawberries, grapes...whatever kind you prefer)....coat with lemon juice to avoid browning if the fruit is cut in advance.
Chop (or smash with a mug) nuts into small chunks (walnuts make a great flavor combo with fruit).

In a small ice cream dish or bowl, fill the bottom of the holder with the chopped fruit (about 3/4 cup), top with a scoop of the creamy pudding mixture(1/4 to 1/2 cup), then add a couple spoonfuls of nuts. Best when enjoyed right after assembly. Makes about ten servings.

This gluten-free dessert is sweet, creamy, and a great cool treat for welcoming in the spring.

Thanks for the question Elizabeth!

GLUTINO

I have to sing out my praises for the brand "Glutino". Their gluten-free foods are so fabulous and delicious! The first time I enjoyed Glutino's gluten-free cookies was about ten years ago when my sister was serving an LDS mission in England. She sent our family a package, full of gluten-free wonders that were not easily available in the U.S, but were much more common in Europe. At the time I could not believe something gluten-free could be so delicious and with no bitter after taste! Now years later, I can find wonderful Glutino products even at my local grocery store...I love it! Given, these specialty items are often a bit pricier than I'd like to spend on non-necessities,(being similarly priced to that of gourmet cookies and crackers, that you don't usually find a generic form of), but they do tend to go down and down in price as they become more present in more and more stores. This last week I tried for the first time Glutino gluten-free crackers which come in Original, Vegetable, Cheddar, and Multi-grain flavors. They were about 5 bucks for a medium sized box (4.4 oz), but I absolutely LOVED them. I ate them with braunschwager (an acquired taste, I know), meats and cheeses, cream cheese, and plain. They were so excellent. I don't know what Glutino does differently but be it their delicious lemon wafers, chocolate cookies, or cereal, I think they are by far one of the best gluten-free brands when it comes to taste.....and hopefully the prices will continue to drop here and there (I usually just buy them when they go on sale, which seems to happen a lot). If you haven't tried this brand, then I recommend next time you are at a health food store or even your grocery store look for a Glutino product on sale, and treat yourself! It is worth it!