Tuesday, April 19, 2011

My New Favorite Banana Bread

People.  I tried the most bizarre thing ever, and it was a total success, so I wanted to share.  A few nights ago a friend at work showed me this blog.  This woman reveals an amazing secret (at least it was news to me...).  Oil can be substituted in baked goods with BEANS!! Yes, beans.  Stay with me, now.  Here's what I did:  I made this recipe and instead of 1/2 c. oil, I used 1/2 cup white beans pureed with water.  She shows you how to do it on her blog.  I opened a can of beans, drained them, filled them back up with water and them tossed it in the magic bullet.  You just switch it out, cup for cup.  You would never guess.  It tasted fabulous, and I felt so much less guilt eating half of it in one day. =)  Imagine the decrease in fat, and all that extra protien and fiber!


Yogurt Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil (or go crazy and use pureed beans/water)
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 ripe bananas)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 c. walnuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan (or use 3 small loaf pans). In a large bowl, beat together sugar and oil. Add eggs, bananas, yogurt and vanilla. Add flour, baking soda and salt; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 60 minutes (about 40 minutes for smaller loaf pan) or until toothpick inserted in center comes clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Rolled Ham & Cheese Omelet

This is what we ate for Sunday dinner last night. =)  It was so easy and we all loved it!  The nice thing about this recipe is that while I am a plain, “ham’n’cheese” type person, you could really add whatever veggies or meat you wanted as a filling. 
DSC_0765
Rolled Ham & Cheese Omelet
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used Blue Chip Feather Lite)
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 eggs
2-1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2 cups finely chopped fully cooked ham
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions (optional)

Line the bottom and sides of a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with parchment paper; grease the paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add flour and salt; mix until combined. In a large bowl, beat the eggs until blended. Add cream cheese mixture; mix well. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until eggs are puffed and set (the gluten-free version didn’t “puff” nearly as pretty as the regular, but it was set). Remove from the oven. Immediately spread cheese and ham, reserving about 1/4 c. of cheese.
Roll up from a short side, peeling parchment paper away while rolling.  Once I got mine started, I actually just pulled upward on the parchment and the omelet rolled itself. Super easy. Sprinkle top of roll with the remaining cheese; bake 3-4 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Slice into 12 rings and serve.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Broiled Tilapia

This is a recipe I found a few weeks ago on Sister's Cafe.  It was pure heaven.  Try it out.

Broiled Tilapia

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 T mayonnaise
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp celery salt
2 lbs tilapia fillets

Preheat broiler. Grease broiling pan or line with foil. Combine parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Add basil, pepper, onion powder, and celery salt. Mix well and set aside. Place fillets on prepared pan. Broil a few inches form the heat for 2-3 minutes. Flip fillets over and broil for a few more minutes. Remove from oven and cover with Parmesan cheese mixture. Broil for 2 more minutes or until topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Do not overcook. Serve immediately.

The best thing happened to me today...

I went to the Sweet Tooth Fairy and had one of their new gluten-free cupcakes.  Oh my word.  It was so dang good!  They just started making gluten-free cupcakes, brownies, and cookies this month and they all look amazing.  Their French Macarons are also gluten-free and they are just to die for.  I'm a huge Sweet Tooth Fairy fan.  I love a good, "cute," treat every now and then so I love this place!  Go try it!