Gluten Free Carrot Cake

I'm completely in love with this recipe.  It's seriously delish.  You can't even tell it's gluten free I swear to you.

Moist (sorry for those of you who hate that word), delicious cinnamon notes and the cream cheese frosting is just yum.  I think I need to make another one ASAP.

After my husband went gluten free I was thinking I'd miss out on all those yummy carbs, but you can still eat yummy carbs this way too.  No loss of flavor here.  Easy to throw together and yummy.  You can't beat it.

Gluten Free Carrot Cake

Recipe from About Food

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 whole eggs
• 1 1/2 cups light olive oil or vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose gluten free flour mix
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup chopped nuts or raisins (optional)
• 3 cups freshly grated carrots

Frosting: 

• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups gluten free powdered sugar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350º
2. You will need either 2-9" round cake pans, 1-9x13 inch dish or 36 muffin cups. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. If using cake pans, line the bottoms of each with parchment paper and then spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
3. Add the sugar and eggs to a stand mixer and blend until smooth, then add the oil and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. 
4. In a separate bowl add the dry ingredients: Flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Slowly add this to the wet mixture and mix just until smooth. 
5. Stir in the carrots and raisins or nuts or neither. 
6. Pour into the prepared pan and bake. Bake for 45-55 minutes for all pans other than the muffins.  For the muffins bake for 30-35 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the middle to check for doneness. 
7. Let cool on a rack before frosring. 
8. To make the frosting, combine all the ingredients together and mix until smooth. 

Quick Gluten Free Lasagna

A chill in the air means I break out the comfort food and lasagna is one of our favorites.  My daughter only recently started liking lasagna, and after 8 years of not eating it she requests it often.  I'm only too happy to oblige of course.  I mean, how could I say no? This recipe is very simple to throw together on a busy week night and tastes amazing.

Everything is already cooked when you throw the layers together so it's just a matter of melting the cheese.  Gluten free is such a big deal right now that it's not problem at all finding Rotini noodles. And most pasta sauce is gluten free but just check the label to make sure.

I have used both sliced mozzarella and shredded for this recipe but the slices to tend to be a bit stringier (which I like) so that's what I use mostly. Feel free to substitute your favorite meat sauce for the jarred sauce and meat, since you're making this you can add whatever your family likes best.  I love this recipe and my family does too.

Quick Gluten Free Lasagna
Recipe from FlippenDelicious

Ingredients

• 1 pound gluten free rotini
• 1 pound hamburger
• 1 (32 oz) jar pasta sauce (gluten free)
• 1 (24 oz) container cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375º
2. Follow the package instructions to cook the pasta. Set aside.
3. Brown the ground beef, drain off the excess fat.
4. In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning.
5. Pour just enough pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch dish to cover the bottom.
6. Pour the cooked pasta on top of that, followed by the cooked hamburger.
7. Top all that with the remaining pasta sauce.
8. Spoon the cheese mixture over the top of all that and spread around evenly and then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

3-Ingredient Brownies

So, in my flourless dessert obsession continues.  I just can't help it!  Ok, so this recipe intrigued me because it's "healthy".  Well, in fact, it really is healthy.  I was leery, but still opted to give them a chance. 

My conclusion? 

They are surprisingly good.  I didn't add mashed banana which is one option to give them a sweeter flavor, and I used mashed sweet potato and not pumpkin so they weren't very sweet.  The frosting obviously kicks up the sweet factor and I'm anxious to try it with the banana just to see how sweet they can get and still be healthy.  

The texture is very dense and heavy.  The flavor is chocolatey, smooth texture and the sweetness comes from the frosting.  Very good.  I even shared some with my neighbor and she loved them.  It's kind of hard to believe they only have three ingredients and are actually healthy. 

3-Ingredient Brownies

Recipe from The Big Mans World

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin puree or mashed sweet potato
• 1/2 cup drippy almond butter or any nut butter
• 1/4 - 2/3 cup cocoa powder

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350º
2. Coat a small 4x6 or 6x6 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
3. Place all the ingredients in a high powered blender or food processor or in a bowl and blend until fully incorporated.
4. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 15 minutes and then begin checking for doneness. Mine took more like 30 minutes to get done. Test with a toothpick inserted in the middle, when it comes out clean they're ready.
5. **1/2 cup mashed banana's in place of 1/2 cup pumpkin or sweet potato will make a sweeter brownie.
6. Frost with whatever frosting you like best. 

Mongolian Beef

Mongolian beef is a fast, easy item to make for dinner.  It takes no time at all and yet tastes like you spent all night making it.  

The beef is cut in pretty thin slices so it's easy to chew and has great flavor.  The sauce is yummy yet not overly strong. The onions add a nice crunch and a bit of color.  I served mine over rice to keep it gluten free but it would also be delicious over egg noodles.

Perfect dinner for a busy week night.  

Mongolian Beef

Recipe from My Recipes

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp dry sherry
• 2 tsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp chili paste with garlic
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp peanut oil
• 1 Tbsp minced fresh peeled ginger
• 1 Tbsp fresh garlic, minced
• 1 pound sirloin steak, cut against the grain
• 16 medium green onions, cut into 2 inch pieces

Cooking Directions

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients and whisk until smooth.
2. Over medium high heat, heat the peanut oil in a large skillet or wok.
3. Add the ginger, garlic and meat. Cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add the green onion pieces and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Add the soy sauce mixture and cook for 1 minute or until thick. Serve hot.