OMG!!

Red Velvet Cake Cake Ingredients (yes, it's gluten free! I will definitely try to make this weekend....I promise Brian):

1 3/4 c. canola oil
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten (room temp)
1 c. brown rice flour
3/4 c. sorghum flour
3/4 c. tapioca starch
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk (or 1 Tbsp cider vinegar and 1 c. milk substitute)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 oz. red food coloring (this is one of the McCormick’s bottles)
1 Tbsp. cocoa

Frosting Ingredients:

1 box confectioner’s sugar
8 oz. cream cheese (can sub vegan cream cheese)
1 stick butter (room temp)
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla

Cake Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Use a mixer to cream oil and sugar. With the mixer still going, add one egg at a time and beat until the eggs are thoroughly incorporated. (This step creates an emulsion that holds the batter together)
3. Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Make sure they are well mixed, either by sifting the flours or whisking them.
4. Add the flour to the oil and sugar mixture in four parts. Alternate the flour with the buttermilk. You should begin and end with dry ingredients and each part should be mixed in completely before you add the next. (If you were to start with the liquids the emulsion would break.)
5. Make a paste of the cocoa, red food coloring, and vanilla and gently stir it into the batter.
6. Pour the batter into two greased and floured round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 25 minutes. (A toothpick stuck into the middle of the cake should come out clean when the cake is done)
7. When the cakes have completely cooled, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Frosting Instructions:

1. Cream the confectioner’s sugar, cream cheese, and butter.
2. Mix in the vanilla and chopped nuts.
3. Spread over cooled cake.

Here's an easy one

Baked Chicken Salsa

INGREDIENTS

1 chicken breast
1/2 cup salsa
3 jalapeno peppers, sliced
6 small black olives

DIRECTIONS

Cut a piece of tin foil large enough to close around the chicken breast.
Place the chicken breast onto the foil and pour salsa over top of the breast.
Place peppers and olives on top.
Wrap the foil around the chicken and fold the ends together tightly and place in an oven dish.

Bake at 400 degrees for 60 minutes.
Number of Servings: 1

Thanks Mella!

Evening at the Biltmore

Last night I attended the USC Mexican American Alumni Association annual scholarship dinner at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA. It's an event I always look forward to and thoroughly enjoy. The food was delicious and completely gluten free, except for the dessert. Started with a delicious salad (I skipped the ranch dressing and bread) then came the main course - steak with risotto and vegetables (yum). Then the long awaited dessert, which I unfortunately could not have - a small fruit tart that looked absolutely delicious. I didn't want to be the only one left out at the table not enjoying a final course. I kindly asked the waiter if he could prepare me a fruit salad. He came back with a plate full of fresh strawberries, oranges, grapes, pineapple and watermelon. I couldn't have been more grateful!

Remember when in doubt at a social setting, always talk to the waiters and staff about how the food is prepared. They may not know, but will certainly ask the chef or their supervisor. If you tell them you have a food allergy of any kind, they always take this information very seriously. You can also try asking for other items that you know are safe for you, but may not be part of the event's menu. Always be pleasant when asking...it'll hard for them to say no.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Old-Fashioned Irish Soda Bread

I have obviously not tried making this, but it sounds delicious and just in time for St. Patty's Day!

MAKES ONE 8-INCH ROUND LOAF

1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup gluten-free oats
1 egg or flax gel*
1 cup buttermilk or milk of choice (rice, hemp, soy, almond)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly dust a cookie sheet with gluten-free flour.
2. Mix flour blend, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt and oats in a bowl.
3. Add egg (or flax gel) and buttermilk and mix to form a soft, sticky dough.
4. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead three times.
5. Shape dough into a 6-inch flat round. Place it on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle it with gluten-free flour and score a large X in the top.
6. Bake in preheated oven until top is golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes.

Serves 8. Each serving contains 189 calories, 2g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 28mg cholesterol, 494mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 5g protein.

*TIP To make flax gel, combine 1 tablespoon flax meal with 3 tablespoons hot water. Let sit until thickened, about ten minutes.

Recipe also available at livingwithout.com

Recipe - Chewy Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Enjoy this delicious recipe:
Tropical Traditions - Recipe - Chewy Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe of the Day

When I decided to go gluten-free, I knew there were many foods I was going to have to give up. However, I've come across many recipes and alternatives to enjoying every delicious options without hurting later. Here's one - enjoy!

Gluten Free Banana Bread

Ingredients
1 cup Arrowhead Mills White Rice Flour
1 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup potato starch flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 tablespoon Hain Pure Foods Featherweight Gluten Free Baking Powder
1/2 cup canola oil
2/3 cup honey or brown sugar
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease 1 standard loaf pan.

Blend bananas with sugar and oil. Stir in dry ingredients. Blend well until all ingredients are moist. Transfer batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes or until test skewer comes out clean. Cool on rack before slicing.

Helping a Great Cause

As some of you may know, my sister Brenda works for a non-profit organization called At the Crossroads (ATC) in San Francisco. ATC reaches out to homeless youth and young adults.

They are currenly in the midst of their fundraising campaign, and I am a part of it! Log onto my ATC fundraising page and please donate to this very worthy organization: https://atthec.sslcert35.com/campaign/campaign.php?id=252

Every little bit counts....thanks for your consideration!