Broccoli Cheese Soup

My aunt Jeanette used to make this soup every Christmas Eve!  It has become one of our family favorites!  I'd had to say it's my boys favorite soup.  I like this particular recipe because of all the veggies in it, and it's simple to put together!  The original recipe had twice as much butter/flour, but I've found it's not necessary, especially when it's made gluten free.  It makes a huge amount, big enough for a crowd!

4 quarts water
12 chicken bouillon cubes
5 - 6 cups vegetables:
     1 cup onions, diced
     1 1/2 cups celery, sliced
     1 1/2 cups carrots, sliced
     2 cups potatoes, 1/2 inch cubes
28 ounces frozen broccoli florets
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 cubes)
3/4 cup featherlight flour
1 15 ounce jar Cheese Whiz

Bring water and bouillon cubes to a boil.  Add veggies and simmer until tender.  Add frozen broccoli and continue to simmer.  In a separate pan, melt the butter.  Add the flour to the butter.  Whisk and cook until thickened.  Pour butter/flour mixture into soup, and stir.  Add Cheese Whiz.  Stir and cook until ingredients are combined well.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These meatballs are delicious!  The flavor is amazing; sweet and tangy!  The recipe comes from the Lion House.  Double batches work great.

1 to 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
3/4 cup gf oats
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350º.  Combine all ingredients; mix well.  Form into about 12 balls, each about 2 inches in diameter.  Place in casserole dish.  Cover with sauce (below).  Bake at 350º for about 30 minutes.  Make 6 to 8 servings, 2 large meatballs each.

Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/4 cup barbecue sauce (make sure it's gf)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine ingredients and blend thoroughly.  Heat and pour over meatballs.

Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

This sugar cookie recipe is delicious!  It's from eatingglutenfree.com.  The cookies seem a little hard after they are cooked, but when you frost them, the frosting softens the cookie!  They taste as yummy as "normal" sugar cookies! You could also use this recipe for Fruit Pizza.

1 3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup instant vanilla pudding mix
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups featherlight flour
1 3/4 teaspoons xanthan gum
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream butter, pudding mix, and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.  Add vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, then add to creamed mixture.  Chill about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350º.  Sprinkle clean counter with featherlight flour.  Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut with cookie cutters and place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-11 minutes.  The edges will start browning, but the tops will still be very light.  Cool.  Frost with cream cheese frosting, and decorate.


Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
about 1 pound powdered sugar (maybe a little more)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend cream cheese and butter well.  Beat in powdered sugar.  And vanilla and beat.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

These cookies are so easy!  You can't beat the peanut butter and chocolate combination!  They also have no flour in them, imagine that!

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
24 - 30 Hershey kisses

Preheat oven to 350º.  Cream peanut butter and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Beat until blended.  Roll into 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350º for 10 - 12 minutes, or until tops are slightly cracked.  Remove from oven and immediately press one Hershey kiss into center of each cookie.  Cool 5 minutes, then remove from pans to wire racks.

Note:  Don't use reduced fat or generic brands of peanut butter.

Chicken with Green Curry Sauce

I really love this curry recipe!  It's quick to put together and loaded with flavor.  It has a little bit of a kick to it, which I like!

1 T olive oil

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cubed

salt & pepper

1 (14 oz) can coconut milk

1 (4 oz) can diced green chili's

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 teaspoon Garam masala

1 teaspoon cumin

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon corn starch

Cooked rice

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Cook chicken in olive oil.  Season with salt & pepper.  In a medium bowl, whisk together coconut milk, green chilies, curry powder, garam masala, and cumin.  Add mixture to cooked chicken and simmer 5 minutes.  The sauce will be quite runny.  To thicken it up a bit, mix one teaspoon cornstarch with 2 T cold water and add it to the sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes to thicken.  Stir in cilantro.  Serve chicken and green curry sauce over rice.

Chicken Cabbage Tacos

This is a refreshingly different taco!  The crunch from the cabbage and the combination of flavors is delicious!

10 chicken tenders, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
Salt & pepper
Olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 - 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Corn tortillas
Cabbage, shredded
Cucumber, peeled, Julienne cut
Tomato, diced
Green chili taco sauce, or your favorite hot sauce
Ranch dressing

Saute chicken in olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Add lime juice, cumin, chili powder.  Cook until chicken is cooked through.  Add cilantro, and cook for another 1 - 2 minutes.

Assemble the tacos with chicken, cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes, taco sauce and Ranch dressing.  Roll up and serve.

Note:  I really like La Victoria Green Taco Sauce