My Gluten-free Winter

So far this Winter I have made and ate delightful food! I am lucky to live in a place that I can go out and buy ingredients for food that I can make and eat at home. I make my way through life as a Gluten Free/Wheat-free, Vegetarian who LOVES to cook! If I want to go out, I am privileged enough to be able to go to MANY great spots-whatever suits my fancy at the time!

In fact right around the corner is a great, Gluten Free/Vegan spot called: "Papa G's": Papa G's has a great salad bar, hearty soups, and other tasty fare. They sell their food in stores throughout the area and I am so happy that I can get Organic, Vegan and GLUTEN FREE food so easily! If only other folks with a diet like mine were so lucky! Their mashed potatoes and gravy are fantastic! Before Thanksgiving even rolled around I had that for lunch a number of times!

During the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I went shopping for ingredients to make, soup, gravy and baked goods. I began to cook up a storm! I love to cook when it's cold outside. I don't really have anyone to feed, so I end up with tons of leftovers and snacks for work!

I made Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes, and then tried making crepes. Those turned out decent, but the pancakes were amazing! I used a recipe as a basis for the pancakes from another Goddesses Help: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com. Again, I just used it as a BASE, I added my own flavors( Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Almond,and Vanilla,)for my own tastes. I also used Almond milk, instead of soy, or dairy. Adding flax seed made them healthier as well. I hope you enjoy- add your own spices....

These were so good! I made a ton, on more than one occasion, and I always freeze them to enjoy the next day. They are good with jam, honey, almond butter and with yogurt oozing off of them! I wish I could make pancakes everyday!

Another thing I made was a Pumpkin Ginger Soup (or gravy,depending on how much liquid you add). I made a GIANT pot of this tummy warming food to take to both of my Thanksgiving feasts. I am glad I made it into a gravy because both places I took this to had NO gravy until I arrived! It was so perfect poured on top of Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. And again used over Red potatoes mashed to the creamiest consistency ever. I even caught someone dipping rolls, and rice crackers into the goodness!

I started out wanting to follow a recipe for the gravy soup, but I started to realize that if I COMBINED a few good recipes I would end up with 1 SPECIAL dish. I sure did too! I wanted sweet/spicy/savory but all the recipes I found didn't combine all those flavors. I started with Pumpkin (Organic) Puree, then added Coconut Milk, Vegetable Broth, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Pie spice( a pinch) and Chile Powder. I stirred and stirred, let it sit and kept adding more flavor til it was just right. I ended up adding a bit too much Ginger but as the Gravy sat the Ginger mellowed out and all was well! Too bad I don't have the exact recipe-I would give it out if I did. Instead I have a memory of the pot being full of a beautiful orange color, the house smelling like Winter, and all my spices lined up on the counter. I also remember all the tasting I did to make it perfect for both of my Thanksgiving dinners I attended!

I recently have made Brownies, cookies, dips, stir-fry's, and I just started an Almond Liquor for a Winter Solstice gathering. I am excited to have that be done-I want to put it in hot chocolate or even in a fancy coffee drink!

When I don't want to cook, I can get YUMMY baked goods at a dedicated Gluten Free Bakery, I go there at least once a week. sometimes just for coffee and a cookie, either way I have to satisfy my sweet tooth somehow and these folks know how to do it! Everything they make is full of love AND flavor. Here is a link to the BEST place for a GF Girl (or guy) to go in Portland! www.newcascadiatraditional.com

Here are my other favorites to satisfy anyone during this LONG Winter:

http://www.papagees.com/

www.dkportland.com

www.glutenfreeconcepts.com

www.traderjoes.com

http://www.glutenfreemall.com/

**Creamy Vegan Hot Cocoa"

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons canned coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons white sugar (Coconut Palm sugar works well too)
  
• 4 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1 dash ground cinnamon
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions

1. Stir together coconut milk, vanilla extract, sugar, cocoa powder, and cinnamon in a large mug. Add boiling water and stir until the sugar has dissolved.

Being Gluten Free is tough but if you want to eat well, and you know your body, you will find what you need, this Winter and beyond. Thankfully we have the Internet! Maybe you can get your favorite, local store to start selling some of the amazing products that are out there for OUR special diets!

Hopefully your Winter is as Tasty as mine! I can't believe it's barely December. I wonder what I will cook (and eat) next?

~Satisy your Soul~

Melissa Magic