Gluten Free Skin and Hair Care from Mother Dirt

We take care of our bodies by eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest (if possible). Many people have found that skin problems have diminished once they have changed to a gluten free diet. Gluten free goes beyond what we put INTO our bodies, it also is part of what we put ON our bodies via skin care treatments, hair care products, and cosmetics. 

Mother Dirt products provide an opportunity to restore skin to its natural state. Their scientific research has shown that modern chemicals strip the body of helpful bacteria in the cleansing process.  This research helped them develop a product that cleanses AND restores the body's natural bacteria.

I have been using the product for a few weeks and have found that the skin on my face and neck is smoother. Mother Dirt products clean without leaving a dry feeling to the skin! The shampoo leaves my hair smooth and shiny! The combination of the AO Mist and Shampoo have given me the opportunity to go a day or two between washing my hair...even in the hot summer weather!

If you wish to try Mother Dirt, you can follow this link and use this code (Myblog25-GF8) to get 25% off your purchase.

Amaranth Hot Cereal with Seasonal Fruit

Hot cereal is a satisfying meal to start your day. Amaranth is a good choice to use for hot cereal as it is high in protein and will keep you satisfied for a while. Use it before a morning work-out or before heading off to school. The texture and consistency is a bit thicker than Cream-of-Wheat. Add the seasonal fresh fruit of your choice (or diced dried fruit) to the dish when serving and enjoy!

Base Ingredients and Variations:

·      3 cups of liquid (I use 1 part almond milk and 2 parts water)

·      1 cup amaranth grain (I use Bob’s Red Mill)

·      I cup chopped seasonal fruit (or diced dried fruit)

·      .5 cups nuts (I used slivered almonds for this recipe – look for a nut that goes with the fruit chosen)

·      1.5 tsp almond flavoring (substitute vanilla or maple – use a flavor profile that works well with the fruit you are using)

·      1 tbsp local raw honey

Instructions:

1.    Amaranth grains need to be cooked with a ratio of 3 cups of liquid to 1 cup of amaranth. I increased this recipe so that I would have left-overs and used 4.5 cups of liquid to 1.5 cups of amaranth grain. I started by boiling 3 cups of water in a pot then adding the amaranth. As the liquid absorbed into the grain I added 1.5 cups of almond milk .5 cups at a time and stirred to integrate the almond milk.

2.    When the liquid is almost absorbed, add the flavoring and stir.

3.    Let hot cereal rest for 5 minutes and serve or store in an airtight container for later.

Serve:

Top with fruit and nuts of your choice and 1 tbsp honey

You may add additional almond milk if you prefer a thinner texture.

Reheating:

Add 6 TBSP milk to your bowl and stir prior to reheating in the microwave for 1-1.5 minutes depending on your microwave

Gluten Free Veggie-of-the-Day Burgers

I used to enjoy eating veggie burgers when I went out to eat but had to remove them from my dining options when I became gluten free. I have experimented with creating several variations of a veggie burger and have found one that comes close to my old restaurant favorite! You can customize this recipe and use different vegetables each time you make this if you like. It is a great way to use up small portions of a variety of vegetables or an abundance of one vegetable from a summer harvest!

Serve with a gluten free bun and add the toppings of your choice (based on ingredients used in the patty): sriracha, ketchup, mustard, pesto, cheese, or olive tapenade.

 

Ingredients:

·      1 Cup TVP – textured vegetable protein (I use Bob’s Red Mill TVP)

·      2 Cups cooked vegetables roughly chopped in a food processor – see below

·      1/2 Cup Gluten Free oats

·      1/2 Cup Gluten Free Panko Bread Crumbs

·      4 TBSP Seasoning – I suggest Cajun, BBQ, Asian, or Chipotle

·      1/2 Cup Low Sodium Vegetable Broth

·      1 TBSP Olive Oil for sautéing vegetables

·      4-6 TBSP Olive Oil for sautéing burgers

Vegetable of the Day used in this recipe … start with 4 cups of chopped uncooked vegetables to make 2 cups once diced in food processor. The veggie burger is a GREAT way to use “bits and pieces” of vegetables that are left in your refrigerator.

·      4 Crushed garlic cloves

·      1/2 Vidalia Onion (or onion of choice…substitute 1 shallot or 1 leek)

·      1 Medium sweet potato (substitute potato)

·      1 Bunch Chard …about a pound or 15 leaves/stems (substitute cauliflower or broccoli flowers AND stems or 5-7 large carrots)

Instructions:

1.    Dice and sauté onion and garlic in a pan with olive oil until translucent.

2.    Add remaining vegetables and broth and cook until el dente or just a bit softer

3.    Dice in a food processor into a chunky paste

4.    Add 2 cups of vegetables and dry ingredients to a bowl and combine into patties – it will make 4-6 depending on the size burger you wish to make.

5.    Place Gluten Free Panko crumbs on a plate and coat the patties with the crumbs

6.    Place olive oil in a pan and heat to medium high

7.    Add veggie burgers and sauté for 3-5 minutes on each side. Press down with a spatula half way through on each side

8.    Serve on a toasted gluten free bun (I used Udi’s for this picture) and add melted cheese, ketchup, mustard, sriracha, or pesto if desired based on seasoning used in the patty.

Gluten Free Fruity Whole Note Waffles

On Sundays we have time to eat a nice breakfast together. It is a day that we can sleep in and take the time to enjoy a breakfast together – unlike the workweek when our schedules are not the same! I enjoy finding ways to take advantage of seasonal fruit and plan my breakfast menu around what is in season at the time. With a variety of fruits from which to choose, I decided to make waffles and use the fruit as my topping.  I used Whole Note Gluten Free Waffle Mix for this recipe and made modifications along the way.

This meal does not take a long time to make; it is only 15 minutes from start to finish. What is the luxury is not having to rush and being able to eat a meal at a leisurely pace and appreciate the flavors and texture of each bite. The fresh fruit added a sweet flavor to the satisfying and chewy waffles. The added slivered almonds added a slight crunch.

Base Ingredients:

Package: 1 egg, 7/8 cup almond milk, (I used 1 cup), 2 tbsp oil (I used extra virgin olive oil), and 1 ¼ cup mix

Healthy Recipe Variations: ½ cup slivered almonds, 2 tsp almond extract, 1/2 cup ground flax seed meal

Topping: Fresh banana, apricot, and figs dices into small pieces

Sauce: Melted nut butter of your choice or local raw honey (1/4 cup … you do not want to turn a nutritious breakfast into a sugary dessert)

I love Whole Note Gluten Free Flours and Mixes. To the boxed waffle mix, I added the above ingredients to customize the flavor profile. I knew I was going to use fresh apricots, figs, and bananas so I decided to use almond flavoring as it pairs well with figs and apricots.

Other Spice/Fruit Options: Pair spices or flavorings with fruit (either fresh or dried). Vanilla pairs well with peach, banana, berries, or dates, cinnamon pairs well with apples, pairs, or guava, maple pairs well with apples, and coconut pairs well with pineapple, banana, and berries

Other Topping Options: Natural Maple Syrup, Agave Nectar, homemade chia sauce, or homemade simple syrup

Instructions:

1.    Mix together the wet ingredients in a stand up mixer then add the dry one at a time. For a fluffier waffle, beat the egg prior to adding the rest of the wet ingredients.

2.    While mixing the ingredients, warm the Belgian waffle maker.

3.    Spray the waffle maker with oil so that the waffles do not stick and clean-up is easier

4.    While waffles are cooking, dice the fruit

5.    When waffles are done, top with fruit and/or nut butter or honey and enjoy!

NOTE: Half a package creates 3 waffles that are 3/4 size or two full size waffles.

Healthy Recipe Variations was created to give home cooks ideas for customizing recipes to simultaneously meet the needs of many different requirements. Whole Note products contain whole grains and are Gluten Free and Non-Dairy so they are a great start to satisfying a group!

Gluten Free Whole Note Trail Mix Muffins

I love to make muffins to eat as part of my daily breakfast routine. Since I have had to eat a gluten free diet I have been trying out several recipes and mixes to find the “right one”. I love Whole Note Gluten Free Flours and Mixes. Whole Note’s Gluten Free Muffin Mixes create muffins that are very satisfying and remind me of muffins I ate before I had to become gluten free.

Many days my breakfast includes a muffin with fruit and eggs or a muffin with Greek yogurt and fruit. I like to vary the muffin flavor profile so I do not get tired of it! Whole Note’s Create-A-Muffin Mix is great for my cooking style. I am able to add the flavors I want to customize a batch OR just make the muffins as the package instructs and appreciate the satisfying whole grain muffin! Whole Note has found the right combination of grains to create a satisfying muffin that LACKS the sugary aftertaste and spongy texture of many gluten free mixes. Their mixes are a symphony…one you wish to buy tickets to time and time again!

Base Ingredients:

Package: 2 eggs, 3/4 cup milk, (I used almond milk), and 1/3 cup oil (I used extra virgin olive oil),

Healthy Recipe Variations: 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 2 tsp almond extract, 1/2 cup ground flax seed meal, 1/2 cup diced dried apricots, 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Other Mix-In Options: 1 cup of packaged trail mix, 1 cup of fresh fruit + 1/2 cup of ground flax seed meal, 2 tsp maple flavoring + 1/2 cup diced pecans or walnuts,

Instructions:

1.    Preheat oven to 350 and add “skirts” to muffin tins prior to mixing the ingredients

2.    To the boxed muffin mix, I added the above ingredients to customize the flavor profile.

3.    Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on temperature of your oven…use a toothpick to check after 20 minutes. Muffins are ready if toothpick comes out clean. (HINT … test on THICKEST part of muffin)

4.    Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy! Store the extras in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Healthy Recipe Variations was created to give home cooks ideas for customizing recipes to simultaneously meet the needs of many different requirements. Whole Note products contain whole grains and are Gluten Free and Non-Dairy so they are a great start to satisfying a group!