Category: Gluten-Free

Gluten Free recipes on Decadently Fit

The Best Cauliflower Pizza

cauliflower pizza 5I am sure if you have a Pinterest account you have at least heard of the cauliflower pizza.  You may have even attempted to make one.  The consensus seems to be that most fall apart, and are just o.k.

Just o.k. doesn’t cut it on Decadently Fit.  Just o.k. won’t have you telling your friends about it.  Just o.k. keeps healthy food in the “I’ll eat it, but I don’t really like it”, realm.  So not o.k.

After researching the good, bad, and hideous recipes, I came up with this bad boy.

I figured out that one of the most important factors in making the crust is removing as much liquid as you can.  When you think you have removed it all, use your brute strength and remove more.  Leftover moisture will be the down fall of an otherwise successful *fake-out meal.

*fake-out meal – a mother/father’s attempt at making their family think what they are eating is not a healthy, sub par version of their favorite food.

One more tip, make the cauliflower ‘dough’ as smooth as possible when processing.  I left mine the consistency of cauliflower rice, and my 7-year-old gourmand asked if there was rice in the crust.  Albeit, he devoured his piece in record time.

cauliflower pizza

Have fun with this recipe.  As you can tell by the horrible picture taken on my iPhone (above), I made one half for the adults and one half for the kids.  You can add any combination of toppings that fit the tastes of your home.

I would love to see your combinations.  Feel free to post a picture of your version on our Facebook wall.

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Cauliflower Pizza

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower, stem removed

1 garlic clove minced

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

4 oz. goat cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 jar organic pizza sauce

12 oz. bag Trader Joe’s Lite Mozzarella (I used maybe 2/3 of the bag for the entire pizza)

In two batches pulse the cauliflower pieces till as smooth as possible, adding a little bit of water if needed.

In a microwave safe dish combine the cauliflower puree, garlic, basil, oregano and salt.  Microwave for 5 minutes on high.  Let sit with the lid on for 20 minutes.  Remove the lid and let cool.

When cool enough to touch place mixture in a kitchen towel and ring out as much liquid as possible.

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine cauliflower mixture with remainder of ingredients.  Form into a ball.

Coat a large pizza stone with a thin layer of coconut oil or ghee.  Place the cauliflower ball in the middle of pizza stone.  Work the dough out to the edges forming a circle, making sure the dough is not too thin.  Thicker is better.

Bake the dough without toppings for 10 -15 minutes, or until the edges start turning golden brown.  This is a very important step.  Do not under-bake.

Remove from oven.  Add your favorite pizza sauce, and toppings of your choice.  Cover in Trader Joe’s Lite Shredded Mozzarella Cheese.  Bake another **5 – 10 minutes.  Remove when the cheese is golden and bubbly.

**(all ovens bake at different times, please watch your pizza to keep from burning)

Nutrition facts only reflect the dough

Servings: 4• Size: 1/4 of pizza Calories: 176• Fat: 9.3g • Carb: 13g • Fiber: 5.3g • Protein: 13.2g • Sugar:  5.3g Sodium: 591mg • Cholesterol: 73mg

Gluten-free Chicken & Waffles w/ Mustard Maple Syrup

chickenwaffles 4 frameIt’s that time of year again.  The time where everyone will start pinning healthy recipes to their Pinterest boards.  Gym memberships will be bought.  New Year’s resolutions will be made in the hopes that 2014 will be the year they hold their weight. No pun intended.

Most likely you are reading this blog because you came upon it on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Google, or Twitter.  You may have pinned this as part of your master plan to keep that weight loss/health resolution.  Let me tell you, you scored on this find.  Especially if you are a foodie who struggles with typical bland diet/health food.

This recipe is what I would like to call the light amongst the dark.  We are spoiled with the ability to access great recipes with a simple Google or Pinterest search.  Unfortunately, a lot of the so-called replacement recipes make me want to go eat card board instead.

waffle batterThis Paleo/gluten-free waffle is an adaptation of the Amazing Paleo version.  I was a little nervous when I initially saw the list of ingredients.  The ratio of eggs to coconut flour scared me.  It sounded like it would be the consistency of a crepe, not waffle.  Due to the addition of baking soda twafflehe eggy batter transforms into a fluffy, savory waffle.

If you stop at the waffle you will most definitely be satisfied.  But, in the words of Emeril Lagasse, I think you should “crank it up another notch”.

chicken split 2The chicken is really easy to make.  Start off by splitting each lean chicken breast with a knife.

Next each of the slimmed down breasts marinate in tenderizing

buttermilk for 30 minutes.

crackers 3While they marinate, the gluten-free cracker crust is pulverized into a fine powder. and the eggs are whisked into a sunny yellow binding liquid.

After marination is complete, each breast is dunked into the egg mixture and then covered with the cracker coating.

After each breast has been coated, they are baked for 40 minutes at 400 degrees.  chicken cooked

I topped 2 -3 waffles with a piece of chicken, and dressed them with a cloud of spicy arugula that was tossed in a mustard maple syrup.  Then of course I had to drizzle a little more of the syrup on top of the crunchy goodness.

prelim waffle

If you did stumble upon this post on via the many different vehicles the internet provides, I hope you subscribe.  I would love to help you keep your resolution.

  Whatever your resolution(s) are for 2014, if they involve your health or not, aspire to keep them.  Remember, you made them for a reason.

Happy New Year!

Recipe

Chicken

3 boneless chicken breasts, halved lengthwise (see picture above)

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

1 box Van’s gluten-free Multi-grain crackers

2 eggs, whisked till slightly frothy (small bubbles)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt & white pepper to season

paprika

Waffles

4 eggs, whisked

2 tablespoons coconut flour (or brown rice flour)

2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted and cooled

3 tablespoons full fat canned coconut milk

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon baking soda

Syrup

2 tablespoons prepared mustard

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

2 cups arugula

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

Marinate the chicken breasts with the buttermilk in an air tight Ziploc bag for 30 minutes.

While chicken marinates, combine all ingredients for the waffles and let rest.

Whisk together all the ingredients for the syrup and refrigerate.

In shallow bowl whisk together the eggs, season with salt and pepper.

In a food processor pulse entire box of crackers until a powder forms.  Transfer powder to another shallow bowl. Mix in the garlic powder, then season with salt and pepper.

Remove the chicken from the Ziploc one piece at a time.  Coat all sides with egg mixture, then the cracker mixture.  Set each piece on a cookie sheet covered with foil.  Each chicken piece will sit on a cooling rack coated with olive oil or coconut oil cooking spray.  Repeat the process till all 6 pieces are coated.  Sprinkle each piece of chicken with paprika.  Bake for 40 minutes.

When there is 10 minutes left in the chicken’s cooking time, start cooking the waffles in waffle iron.  Use the highest setting possible.  Cook till iron indicates they are done.  Check waffle, leave in till waffle is the color you prefer.  I like mine to have a nice light brown crust.

Toss the arugula with 1 tablespoon of the syrup.

Assemble each plate with 2 – 3 waffles, 1 piece of chicken and a handful of arugula.  Drizzle each plate of goodness with more syrup.  Serve immediately.

Servings: 6• Size Calories: 356 • Fat: 16.1g • Carb: 26g • Fiber: 3g• Protein: 23.3g • Sugar: 9g Sodium: 345mg • Cholesterol: 224mg

(A regular plate of chicken and waffles has 941 calories and 30g of fat!)

Skinny Power Potato & Egg Crepes w/ Skinny Hollandaise (giveaway)

Egg Crepe wordsMost of my recipes come out of thin air.  Lots of trial and error from what I have on hand, or what looked good that day at the grocery store.  I excel in the ‘create something from nothing’ realm.

This dish was born the morning after my little sister’s bachelorette party.  We had a super sized adult slumber party, complete with decadent food, drinks and ice blocking.  Wild and crazy we were.

The seven of us that were left in the morning woke up starving.  The events from the evening prior led us straight to the kitchen to fill our rumbling, some turbulent, bellies.

Upon scouring my culinary domain for a suitable breakfast, I came up with this satisfying, yet sassy number.  I watched the first of the guests as she took her bite.  I must have looked like a child waiting for their parent’s life changing approval.  Thankfully she gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up.  Each of the slumber crew loved it so much they stayed for lunch, and dinner.  I was more than happy to oblige.

So, when Klondike Brand Potatoes contacted me to be a part of their *Pile on the Produce promotion and Giveaway, I knew exactly what I was going to make.

pileontheproduce_v3Before I give you the recipe for this to die for lean and mean crepe machine, I’ll explain Pile on the Produce.  It is a national retail promotion in which retailers build potato displays to promote the health benefits of potatoes.  Klondike Brand is encouraging families to incorporate as much produce as they can into meals.

Bloggers like myself have been asked to come up with recipes that use potatoes and at least two other produce items in a healthy dish.  By doing this they are hoping to spark your creativity in using the vitamin packed spuds and produce.

To reward all my readers for being such loyal fans, Klondike and I will be doing a giveaway each week in September.  There will be a total of 4 winners that will receive a potato prize pack directly from Klondike.  Each week I will randomly pick a winner from the entries. Drawings will be done every Sunday at 9 p.m. PST. (unless otherwise stated).

To enter, subscribe to Decadently Fit, like DF’s Facebook, follow DF on Twitter, or Instagram.  If you already do, send your friends.  Have them subscribe to DF’s blog, like the Facebook, follow Twitter or Instagram.  After they have done any of the items listed have them post anywhere on the pages that you sent them.  Good luck!

Now the crepe.

A combination of crispy Klondike Rose potatoes, sweet red bell pepper, and onion are warmly wrapped in an egg white blanket, only to be topped by a velvety hollandaise made with fat-free greek yogurt.

Sound good?  Then get up and go make this as a nice Labor Day treat for your loved ones.
Happy Labor Day!

For your drooling pleasure…

Recipe

Potato Hash

4 Klondike Rose Potatoes, scrubbed, coarsely gratedhash

1/2 of large red onion, diced

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

1/2 tablespoon coconut oil

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

Pre-heat your oven to 140 degrees.  Heat an oven safe medium skill over medium high heat.  Saute the bell pepper and onion for 3 – 5 minutes.  Stir the potatoes in with the bell pepper mixture.  Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.  Create an even layer in the pan, and put the lid on for 3 minutes.  Remove the lid and flip the potatoes.  Repeat til potatoes are soft.  Then repeat without the lid until the potatoes are crispy.  Keep warm in oven without lid on.

Skinny Hollandaise (adapted from a recipedouble boiler by Deantini)

6 oz. plain greek non-fat yogurt

2 teaspoons lemon juice

3 egg yolks (room temp)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

couple dashes Tabasco

Use a double boiler or (since I don’t have one) place your kitchen aid mixer bowl over a large pot of simmering water.  Whisk yogurt, lemon juice, egg yolks well.  Heat over simmering water, stirring frequently, until sauce has thickened, approx 15 min.  Sauce should be smooth and thick.  Remove from heat and stir in salt, mustard, and Tabasco.  Sauce can be stored up to a week in the fridge.

Crepeegg white crepe

5 egg whites, beaten

Olive oil in a misto sprayer (or non-stick spray)

2 cups baby spinach, ripped into bite size pieces

smoked paprika (optional)

Spray a small saute pan with a small amount of oil.  Divide the mixture into 2 or 4 servings.  Use either 1/4 of the mixture or 1/2 depending on your decided portions.  Pour egg white into hot pan and swirl, coating the entire bottom of the pan.  Put pan back on flame and cover for 1 minute.  Uncover and gently flip, cooking the other side completely.  Do not over cook.

To assemble:filled crepe

Place the crepe(s) on a plate.  Fill each crepe with the potato hash,  some of the spinach, roll up and place seam side down.  Top each crepe with 2 tablespoons of the hollandaise,  and sprinkle with the paprika.

dressed crepe

*Oh and don’t forget to go to the Klondike web page where you can be one of four winners to receive an Ipad2!  You can also get a great coupon here.

Disclosure: I was provided with a 5 lb bag of Klondike Rose Potatoes and The Culinary Guide to Klondike Potatoes from Potandon Produce L.L.C. as part of the Pile in on the Produce Promotion.  All opinions are my own.

Peach Crisp with Coconut Whipped Cream

peach crisp color fixedLast week, while trying out this whole gluten-free lifestyle, I learned a lot. What stuck out most to me was some times those with a gluten allergy also have a dairy allergy.  To be specific, a casein allergy.  Casein is a protein found in dairy. A very hard protein to digest.

Dairy and I have never gotten along, but at least I can somewhat tolerate casein once it has been cooked. I won’t go into anaphylactic shock,  instead I will feel like a tiny demon is using my stomach as a trampoline park.

Let’s face it, like gluten, dairy is in everything, especially desserts.   Having that removed from your food list permanently along with gluten would narrow your food choices significantly.

So, for my gluten, dairy, and egg free followers, here is a sweet treat.  This peach crisp is made with a combination of gluten-free flour (garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, white sorghum flour, and fava bean flour), almond meal, and coconut sugar.  Tossed together with beautiful, juicy peaches.  The perfectly portioned peach treats are topped with a cinnamon infused crumble that is to die for.  A small mountain of dairy-free coconut whipped cream adorns the crisp.

Even though this dish was made with my gluten and dairy free followers in mind, this version of peachy goodness is great for everyone.  Do keep in mind, although the calories are lower than a regular peach crisp, this is not a low-carb dessert.  It is a clean dessert.  For a lower calorie, lower fat version of this dessert, omit the crumble.

Recipe

Serves 4

Toss together

2 peaches, cut into 1 inch pieces (you can choose to take the skin off, or leave it on)

1 tablespoon gluten-free flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)

1 tablespoon almond meal

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

Crumble

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1/2 cup gluten-free flour

2 tablespoons almond meal

1 1/2 tablespoons coconut sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Whipped Cream

1 can of full fat coconut cream, chilled for 24 hours (do not freeze)

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Toss together the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl.  Divide into 4 small ramekins.

In another medium bowl combine all ingredients using a fork.  The mixture should be crumbly.  Divide the crumb topping into 4, and top the peaches with the mixture.  Bake for 20 minutes.

While the crisp is baking, open the can of the coconut cream.  Scoop out the cream, reserving the water for your morning smoothie.  Using the whisk attachment on your mixer, whip the coconut cream, on medium high-speed, till it resembles whipped cream.  Refrigerate immediately.

When the crisps are done, let cool slightly.  Top with coconut cream.  Prepare to be blown away.

Don’t forget to pin this recipe so your friends can be blown away too.

Servings: 4• Size: 1 ramekin Calories: 219• Fat: 9g • Carb: 34g • Fiber: 4g • Protein: 4g • Sugar:  14g Sodium: 23mg • Cholesterol: 0mg

Enchilada Casserole (gluten free)

enchilada casserole no wordsThis past week I started a gluten-free experiment. All of the pasta, bread, tortillas and cereal I consumed lacked gluten.  Not because I have Celiac Disease or an intolerance, but because I know I have a lot of readers that do.  I wanted to know how hard it was to eat gluten-free.  I wanted to know if it took more time to prepare meals.

Part of me felt bad for the gluten-free community.  Being excluded from eating any type of food is sad to me.  I get to enjoy most foods without side effects (except milk).  To be told no more pasta or bread would be pure torture for me.  Or so I thought.

Honestly after doing my little experiment I no longer feel sorry for them.  I actually feel sorry for anyone who hasn’t tried the gluten-free products.  I made a brown rice pasta rigatoni with pesto, and my entire family devoured it.  CT (my little guy), even asked to take it to school for lunch.  The cutie next to him went home and told her mom she wanted that for lunch too.  Needless to say it was a huge hit.  No one missed the gluten.

The brown rice pasta has a smooth texture that rivals it’s gluten filled counter part.  The taste is slightly nutty, and pairs great with any sauce.

Even though brown rice contains a modest amount of protein, the high quality lysine does it’s job perfectly.  The protein repairs and build muscles.

The fiber in brown rice is hard to digest, so all of the bad stuff is dragged out of the body with it.  Think of fiber as as the nightclub bouncer, toxins as the unruly club goers.  When the bouncer realizes the toxins are doing harm to your body, they grab hold and don’t let go till they, um, well, exit your body.  (Women should be consuming 25 grams of fiber per day.  Men should be consuming 38 grams daily). 

My next experience with a gluten-free product, was brown rice tortillas.  I didn’t even know they existed till a recent Trader Joe’s trip.  I was in the tortilla aisle searching for a healthier option.  I grabbed the last package and read it’s stats.  At 24 grams of carbs for one, I wasn’t sold.  I put them back and made another lap around the store.  When I came back around to the tortilla section there was a ruckus.  Customers were extremely upset that the brown rice tortillas were gone.  They wouldn’t be back till the next day.  I’m a middle child and hate to be left out of the fun, so the next day I went back and got some.

I really didn’t think I was going to like them.  When I pulled them out of the package there was a rubbery type feel to them.  Scared me a little bit.  But, then a bright figurative light bulb went on.  I had just made a home made enchilada sauce,  I would make enchiladas with the rubbery discs.  Yeah, I know how that sounds, but keep reading.

When I rolled the first enchilada, the light bulb started to flicker and dim.  The rubbery little suckers completely fell apart!  I started feeling bad for the gluten-free community again.  How could they live in a world where enchiladas were an impossibility.  It just wasn’t fair.  So I did what I normally do when a recipe doesn’t go as planned, I stared blankly at everything.

Whilst staring at the broken tortilla, with all it’s insides spilling all over the cutting board, the solution hit me. The light shone brightly again, and my feelings of sadness left as fast as they came.  I rebuilt that enchilada into a casserole, tearing up the tortilla, and layering the ingredients.

What I ended up with was a gluten-free, protein filled masterpiece.  After baking it, the tortillas were no longer rubbery.  They were delicious!  When I tallied the nutrition facts I was excited to see that the meat and beans gave the dish a whopping 21 grams of protein.  The tortillas added a nice 4 grams of fiber.

The entire casserole was gone by lunch time the next day.  Yes, all 8 servings, split between my husband and I for 3 consecutive meals.  It will most definitely become a regular on the dinner rotation.

And seriously, never buy a can of enchilada sauce again.  It only takes 10 minutes to make your own, and you can’t beat the taste of a fresh sauce.

So hurry, run to Trader Joe’s and grab brown rice tortillas.  I hear they move off the shelf rather quickly.

Recipe

1 lb. organic ground beef

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 can of organic black beans, preferably low-sodium

1/2 cup part skim cotija cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

4 – 6 brown rice tortillas

2 green onions, chopped (optional)

1 large tomato, diced (optional)

Enchilada sauce

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

2 tablespoons gluten-free flour (I like Bob’s Red Mill)

1/4 cup Hatch chili powder (or regular chili powder)

1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups water

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

salt to taste

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in flour and chili powder, reduce heat to medium, and cook until lightly brown, stirring constantly to prevent burning flour.

Gradually stir in tomato sauce, water, cumin, and garlic powder into the flour and chili powder until smooth, and continue cooking over medium heat approximately 10 minutes, or until thickened slightly. Season to taste with salt.

Enchilada Casserole

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat brown the beef, and drain the fat.  Return back to skillet.  Lower heat to medium-low, and add onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin.  Stirring frequently cook till onions are translucent.

Stir in the black beans into the meat mixture.

Put 1/4 cup of the enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 9 pan.

Tear up the tortilla into large pieces, and cover the enchilada sauce.

Sprinkle half of the meat mixture on top of the tortillas.

Layer half of the cotija onto the meat.

Layer half of the remaining sauce onto the cotija.

Repeat the tortilla, meat, cheese, sauce layering again.

Sprinkle with the cheddar, then the olives.

Bake for 20 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Garnish each slice with tomatoes and green onions.

Servings: 8• Size: 1/8 of casserole Calories: 383• Fat: 22g • Carb: 31g • Fiber: 4g • Protein: 21g • Sugar:  2g Sodium: 548mg • Cholesterol: 62mg