Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Easy Rice & Broccoli



        This is one of my favorite go-to side dish recipes. We have all made a box of 'Rice-A-Roni' in our lives. Easy 15 minute side dish recipe to have in your pantry. Now it's surprising, but making a savory gluten-free rice side dish from scratch is just as easy. Plus you can add any kind of veggies you like.

Ingredients:
1 cup of uncooked white rice
3 cups of water
4 tablespoons or 1 bouillon cube* (Chicken, beef or vegetable flavor)
2 tablespoons of garlic powder
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup frozen veggies (Broccoli, green beans, spinach)

Heat oil in a pan that has a lid
Add rice
Stir & brown the rice,
Then add the water and seasonings
Taste the broth to make sure it has enough flavor
Then add the vegetables of your choice
I used Broccoli and French Style green beans, the vegetables get so tender and full of flavor you don't even notice you are eating them. Perfect for those picky eaters.
Bring to boil, cover & reduce to a simmer. 
Set your timer for 15 minutes. DO NOT OPEN until the time is up.

Easy side dish with ingredients you can always have on hand & no added preservatives or weird ingredients that you might get from a box mix. Just as easy, twice as delicious.
(Pictured with Rotisserie chicken from the supermarket, steamed baby carrots & corn) 

Try it once & you will be sold.

*Make sure the bouillon you use is gluten-free. I've also made this recipe with organic gluten-free beef broth instead of water with equally as flavorful results.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

gluten-free spicy chicken sandwich

        I used to love stopping at a drive-thru and grabbing a spicy chicken sandwich on my way home from school. I haven't had one in about two years. I forgot about them when I started making gluten-free versions of my favorite foods.

Ore-Ida makes gluten-free frozen french fries, but I made some steak fries from good ole Russet Potatoes, tossed in oil, salt, pepper & garlic powder. Baked in a 400 degree oven for 20-35 minutes depending on how thin you cut your potatoes and how hot your oven gets.

For my spicy chicken I used
Tapatio hot sauce
Rice Chex cereal
Instant mashed potato flakes
Salt, pepper & garlic powder

I marinated the uncooked chicken tenders in hot sauce & water. I like using the tenders because they are small and easy because you don't have to clean them or cut them into more manageable pieces.

I crushed the cereal and mixed it with potato flakes and seasonings in a large ziploc bag. One by one I added a piece of chicken to the bag to shake and coat with my "breading".

In a parchment lined baking dish, I placed the breaded chicken & put in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway through. When the chicken is golden-brown, remove from oven.

Lettuce, tomato, mayo on my gluten-free roll, I had the best chicken sandwich of my life.