Zucchini, Tomato & Mozzarella Casserole

September 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

Zucchini, Tomato and Mozzarella Casserole

This is a super easy, comforting side dish, perfect for all those zucchini and tomatoes over-flowing your garden! I adapted the recipe from Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen, she used halved zucchini with Gouda cheese, I sliced mine and used Mozzarella. There are endless ways you can make this dish but the spices in the recipe below really hit the spot with me! You could easily add your favorite cooked protein to the layers to create a complete meal, this particular recipe would be great with a spicy Italian sausage.

Zucchini, Tomato & Mozzarella Casserole

Serves 4 as a side dish

Ingredients
  • 2 medium zucchini, sliced length-wise (10-12 slices total)
  • 2 Roma tomatoes thinly sliced (18 slices total)
  • salt
  • 3 Tbsp ghee or butter, melted (olive or avocado oil would be good too)
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp dry Italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp black pepper or to taste
  • 4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup gluten free panko breadcrumbs (I used Ian’s)
  • 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp dry basil
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8×8 glass dish with cooking spray or lightly grease with butter/oil.
  2. Place the tomato slices on a paper towel and sprinkle lightly with salt. Gently press another paper towel on top and allow to sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  3. Slice the zucchini lengthwise into ¼” slices to yield 5-6 per zucchini.
  4. Mix 2 Tbsp melted ghee/oil with the garlic salt, onion powder, dry Italian seasoning and black pepper.
  5. Place one layer of zucchini in the bottom of the casserole dish. Brush the tops of the zucchini lightly with the seasoned ghee/oil. Place a layer of tomatoes on top of the zucchini.
  6. Sprinkle with ½ of the mozzarella cheese.
  7. Repeat the layers of zucchini (brushed with seasoned ghee/oil), tomato and remaining mozzarella cheese.
  8. Toss the panko breadcrumbs, dry basil and grated Parmesan cheese with the remaining 1 Tbsp of ghee/oil and sprinkle over the mozzarella cheese, lightly pressing down.
  9. Bake for 30 minutes or until fork tender.
  10. Enjoy!
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Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

January 10, 2016 Leave a Comment
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Perfect for a healthy breakfast on the run…

Who doesn’t love a healthy grab-n-go breakfast?
This is a super easy make ahead recipe that is perfect for those mornings when you are racing out the door but don’t want to skip a healthy breakfast. One or two of these muffins heated in the microwave and you’ve got a tummy-warming oatmeal breakfast without the mess! Feel free to customize these to your liking, sub out the chocolate chips for raisins or dried cranberries, add a dash of cinnamon or use pumpkin in place of the banana…the options are endless.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients (for 24 muffins):

5 cups gluten-free rolled oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill)

1 tsp. salt

2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

2 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas

5 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup

2 1/3 cup water

5 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted

2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375º F. Line 24 muffin cups with silicone liners.

In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, salt and mini chocolate chips. In a separate bowl whisk together mashed banana, sweetener, water, oil and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients, combine thoroughly. Divide evenly into muffin cups. These don’t rise so a heaping 1/4 cup of batter is enough to fill the muffin cup without running over.

Bake for 20 minutes, rotating pans 180º after 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks. Freeze in airtight container or plastic freezer bags.

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Irish Cream-Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Bailey’s Cinnamon Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

March 17, 2015 Leave a Comment
Irish Eyes are definitely smiling for this treat!

Irish Eyes are definitely smiling for this treat!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

CUPCAKES:

6 Tablespoons Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips

3/4 teaspoon flour

1 1/2 cups Gluten Free Flour (I used Cup 4 Cup)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened

5 Tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup organic granulated sugar

1/2 cup organic brown sugar, packed

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

6 Tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur (I used Cinnamon Vanilla)

BUTTERCREAM:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

3 Tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Cream (Cinnamon Vanilla)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350º F.  Line cupcake tin with 12 silicone or paper liners.
  • In a small bowl, toss the chocolate chips with the 3/4 teaspoon flour to coat, set aside.
  • Sift together dry ingredients – flour, baking powder and salt; set aside
  • In a large bowl, with a hand mixer combine cream cheese and butter.  Add sugars and vanilla; mix until well blended and smooth.  Add eggs and mix until well incorporated.  With mixer on low add dry ingredients and liqueur alternately to the wet mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Gently fold in chocolate chips.  Batter will be very thick.
  • Using an ice cream scoop, divide the batter evenly between the 12 cupcake liners.  Bake cupcakes about 20-22 minutes or until the centers are set.
  • Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • To make Buttercream: Blend all ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.  Transfer to a pastry bag with decorative tip and store in the refrigerator until ready to frost.

This recipe was adapted from RECIPEGIRL

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Banana Split Brownie Pizza

May 4, 2014 2 Comments

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Banana Split Brownie Pizza

Serves 12

Ingredients:

1 package gluten-free brownie mix, or your favorite homemade recipe

8 ounces cream cheese

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved

1-2 tablespoons sweetener (sugar, agave, maple syrup, honey)

2 bananas, sliced

1 cup strawberries, sliced

1/2 cup nuts, chopped (I used peanuts)

chocolate syrup for drizzling

freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings for topping

Directions:

Grease a 15-inch pizza pan.
Prepare the brownie mix according to package directions. Spread into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until done. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
Beat the cream cheese, pineapple, and sweetener together in a bowl. Use the reserved pineapple juice, if needed, to soften the mixture to a good spreading consistency. Spread the mixture over the cooled brownie crust.
Arrange the banana and strawberry slices over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with the chopped nuts and drizzle with chocolate syrup.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
To serve, slice as you would a pizza, add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate shavings.
Enjoy!
***If you are not serving the entire pizza right away toss the banana slices in a little lemon juice to prevent browning…OR…add the bananas to the dessert individually when ready to serve.***
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Spicy White Chicken Chili

March 22, 2014 Leave a Comment

Spicy is a bit of an understatement for this chili…but it will warm you to the core on a chilly day!  We actually like a lot of heat in our chili so we used the whole Serrano, seeds and all…if you like your chili milder substitute jalapenos and be sure to remove the seeds.  This is really tasty with corn bread or white tortilla chips on the side!

Loaded White Chicken Chili

Loaded White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

2 cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 Tbsp. olive oil or butter

1 large onion, chopped

2 Serrano peppers, seeded and minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 pound ground chicken thighs

1⁄2 pound ground chicken breast

2 cups organic chicken broth, low sodium

16 ounces green chile salsa

4 ounces chopped green chiles

1 lime, juiced

1 Tbsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ancho chile powder

1 1⁄2 tsp. coriander

1⁄2 tsp. white pepper

1 tsp. Celtic sea salt (or to taste)

sour cream, avocado, tomato and cilantro for serving

Directions:

Drain and rinse the canned beans. In a medium bowl, mash half of the beans with a potato masher until chunky. Set aside until needed.

Add the oil (or butter) to a large Dutch oven and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, onions, and garlic and saute until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Crumble in the ground chicken. Add the cumin, coriander, and chili powder and continue to brown until the chicken is no longer pink. Stir in the chicken broth, green chili salsa, green chiles and lime juice and bring to a simmer. Add the beans and continue to simmer for 20 more minutes.  Season with the white pepper and sea salt to taste.

After simmering, taste for seasoning, and adjust if necessary.

Serve the chili in individual bowls topped with a dollop of sour cream, cubed avocado, diced tomatoes and chopped fresh cilantro.
Serves 6-8.
Here is the chili still in the pot without all the good stuff on top!

Here is the chili still in the pot without all the good stuff on top!

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Spicy Stuffed Poblano Peppers

March 8, 2014 Leave a Comment

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Ingredients:

  • 4 large poblano chiles
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
  • 1 large clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 Serrano pepper, chopped
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 ⁄8 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 6 oz. grated sharp Cheddar
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 Tbsp. lime juice
  • black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Slit the chiles from stem to tip and carefully remove the seeds, leaving the stems intact.  Set aside while you prepare the filling.

Purée the tomatoes, onion, garlic, Serrano, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp. salt in a food processor or high-speed blender. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the purée and cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid has evaporated and the mixture looks thick and pulpy, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the chicken and quinoa, and then half of the cheese, the cilantro, and the lime juice. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Divide the filling evenly among the peppers.

Place the stuffed peppers into a 9×13 glass baking dish, pour about 1/2″ of water in the bottom of the baking dish and cover tightly with foil.  Bake for 40-50 minutes or until peppers are tender.  Remove the foil and top the peppers with the remaining 3 oz. of cheese…bake until golden and bubbly.

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No-Bake Crispy Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

February 16, 2014 2 Comments

Crispy Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars have been around for ages…this recipe is actually adapted from a recipe for Peanut Butter Balls that has been passed down from my great-grandmother.  Most recipes call for graham cracker crumbs or rice crispy cereal but I like the crunch that the corn flakes add in this recipe, for an extra crispy texture I use crunchy peanut butter too.  I decided to make them into squares and add the layer of chocolate but they are equally good plain as bars, squares or balls! 

Crispy Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup organic corn syrup

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 Tbsp. butter

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

1/8 tsp. salt

3 cups organic gluten-free corn flakes

6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

Butter for greasing baking dish

Directions:

Grease an 8×8 baking dish with butter.

In a large mixing bowl, measure 3 cups corn flakes, crush the corn flakes with your hands until fine.  Add 1/8 tsp. salt and mix, set aside.

In a small saucepan bring the sugar and corn syrup to a boil and then quickly remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla, butter and peanut butter until smooth and creamy.

Pour peanut butter mixture into the corn flakes and stir to combine.  Press into the greased baking dish using a rubber spatula or a piece of waxed paper.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove.  Pour over the peanut butter and corn flake mixture and spread evenly to the edges with an offset spatula.

Place the dish in the refrigerator until set.  Once the squares are set loosen the sides with a metal spatula taking care not to break the chocolate topping.  Turn the square out onto a sheet of waxed paper, chocolate side down.  Using a sharp knife cut the candy into 16 squares.

Crispy Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

I like to serve the squares on a platter with some turned chocolate side up and some peanut butter side up…they will get softer at room temperature so keep them in the fridge until ready to serve.  We like them best at room temp.

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Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Bars

January 19, 2014 3 Comments

Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Caramel and Chocolate and Oats…OH MY!

This year for Christmas I had intended on making a Caramel Pecan Pie so I bought a bag of those cute little individually wrapped caramels.  I ended up making a traditional Pecan Pie instead…

Then I was going to make a Caramel Apple Pie for New Year’s Day to use up the bag of cute little individually wrapped caramels that were lurking in the pantry.  But I made a Pear-Apple Galette instead…

Here it is the middle of January and those cute little individually wrapped caramels are still begging to be used, transformed into a yummy decadent dessert.  I simply had to oblige.  These kind of remind me of a Magic Cookie Bar in texture and richness…they really pack a sweet punch but have the buttery caramel flavor instead of coconut.

This recipe uses store-bought caramels but you could sub in homemade caramel or a jarred caramel sauce.  It also calls for heavy cream and butter but you could sub in coconut milk and coconut oil respectively 1:1.  If you are not gluten-free then regular all-purpose flour and any type of rolled oats can be used, I used Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour and Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Rolled Oats.

Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

35 individually wrapped caramels (Kraft and Brach’s are gluten-free), unwrapped

4 T. heavy cream

3/4 cup gluten-free flour (I used Cup 4 Cup)

1 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup light brown sugar (palm sugar works here too)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 stick butter, melted

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.  Grease an 8×8 glass baking dish and line with parchment paper, leave a few inches hanging over the sides for easier removal.

In a medium sauce pan, over low heat, melt together the caramels and heavy cream, stirring occasionally until smooth.  You could also use the microwave to do this!

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt.  Stir in the melted butter until well combined.  Press half of the oat mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.  Set the other half of the mixture aside.

Bake the cookie crust for about 8 minutes.  Remove and while still warm sprinkle the crust with chocolate chips and pecans.  Pour the melted caramel over the chocolate and pecans and spread evenly, not all the way to the sides if possible (usually not though!).  Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top of the caramel and press lightly into the warm caramel.

Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 12-16 minutes, or until the top is lightly toasty brown.  Remove to a wire rack to cool COMPLETELY.  Yes, this means completely…about 2 hours on the cooling rack.  Loosen the sides without the parchment paper with a sharp knife, gently lift the entire square out onto a cutting board.  Using a large sharp knife cut into 24 cookie bars.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator…they are perfectly fine at room temperature but we found the texture to be better out of the fridge!

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Small, but super rich and delicious!

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Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Brownies (Gluten Free)

October 27, 2013 9 Comments

Double Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Chip Brownies

Anybody who has ever baked a pan of brownies from scratch knows that they can be tricky…under cook them and they are too gooey, over cook them and they are dry and crumbly and the edges are hard as bricks…it takes practice to get them just right.  Anybody who has ever baked a pan of gluten-free brownies from scratch has probably thrown more than one batch in the trash.  Well…I have to admit I’ve thrown more than one in trash, probably even more than ten.  Yikes.  Not only is it disappointing to not get it right or to not get the reward of a delicious chewy brownie after the labor but gluten-free ingredients ain’t cheap!!!!  I came across a recipe in Food and Wine Magazine last month that I just had to try…Oh boy, am I glad I did!!!!  These brownies came out just about perfect…I live at high altitude so next time I may try a few adjustments but I think the recipe is definitely a keeper.  I typically don’t bake with a lot of sugar so these will be reserved for special occasions because they are SUPER RICH and SUPER SWEET!!!  This recipe comes from Tully Phillips of Tu-Lu’s Bakery in New York City and Dallas…I can’t wait to visit them in person!!!

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Brownies

Ingredients:
3 sticks unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons, plus more for greasing
12 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate, finely chopped
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white rice flour
3/4 cup tapioca flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 large eggs
3 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan.

Place the 3 sticks of butter in a heat-proof bowl and set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water). Melt the butter, stirring occasionally. Add the chopped chocolate and stir until melted. Remove the bowl from the heat.

In a small bowl, whisk the rice flour with the tapioca flour and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar and vanilla until blended. Fold in the dry ingredients until incorporated, then fold in the peanut butter chips and chocolate chips. Fold in the melted chocolate mixture. Scrape the batter into the prepared dish.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the brownies are slightly puffed and a tester inserted in the center of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Transfer the pan to a rack and let cool completely before turning out the brownies and cutting them into bars.

The brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, or wrapped in foil and frozen for up to 1 month.

***Recipe reprinted with permission from Tully Phillips and Jennifer Wells***

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Brownies 2
This recipe is shared at:
Gluten Free Tuesday, 5 Ingredient Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Gluten-Free Wednesday, Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Love, Allergy-Free Wednesday,  Teach Me Tuesdays, Gluten-Free Fridays, Wednesday Extravaganza
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Orange Cheesecake Brownie Cupcakes

September 24, 2013 12 Comments

Orange Cheesecake Brownie Cupcakes

I LOVE brownies and I LOVE cheesecake…putting the two together is absolute heaven.  These little gems are SO tasty and fairly easy to make.  I have made them with both regular sugar and Swerve (erythritol) and they have turned out great both ways.  They also work nicely in a mini-muffin cup for an even smaller bite-sized treat.  I have not tried them in anything but the silicone liners though so I’m not sure how they’d do in a paper liner…I think they have enough fat in them that they would slip right out but I can’t say for sure.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Ingredients

Orange Cheesecake Layer:
  • 1 Tbsp. orange zest
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener or your favorite sweetener (or powdered sugar 1:1 swap)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp. orange flavor extract
Brownie Layer:
  • 8 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup Swerve Sweetener or your favorite sweetener (or granulated sugar 1:1 swap)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 5 large eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F and set 16 silicone muffin cups on a large baking sheet.
  2. For the cheesecake layer, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered erythritol (or sugar) until smooth. Beat in egg until well combined.  Add orange zest and orange flavor extract and beat until smooth and well mixed. Set aside.
  3. For the brownie layer, in a medium sauce pan, melt butter and coconut oil over low heat, add cocoa powder and stir until smooth. Stir in erythritol (or sugar) and vanilla extract. Let cool 10 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well combined.
  5. Spoon 2 Tbsp. of brownie batter into the bottom of each muffin cup.
  6. Spoon 1 Tbsp. cheesecake mixture over top and use a toothpick to swirl layers together, bringing some of the brownie mixture to the surface.
  7. Bake 20 minutes, or until sides are set and the middle is just barely jiggling. Remove from oven and let cool 20 minutes, then refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

Orange Cheesecake Brownie Cupcakes 2

This recipe is an adapted from All Day I Dream About Food’s Raspberry Cheesecake Swirl Brownies.

Shared at:

Gluten Free Tuesday, 5 Ingredient Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Gluten-Free Wednesday, Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Love, Allergy-Free Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Wednesday Extravaganza

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