Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie with a sweet pie crust

Pumpkin Pie

When I made my Gluten Free Cuccidati Cookies I had a lot of dough leftover. And since the dough rolls out like a Pastry Dough I decided to experiment and see what it would taste like as a pie crust shell. So I made a Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie using said dough and prayed it would taste at least ok on Thanksgiving. Cause everyone knows that Thanksgiving isn’t really the right place to experiment with food recipes when everyone is expecting their Traditional yummy recipes.

Nevertheless, I experimented and the crust was better than ok.. it was delicious! I stressed for no reason, LOL.

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One-pot Gluten Free Turkey Alfredo

I have not been feeling well the last week. I have head congestion that just won’t seem to go away. But no matter how I feel, I am still at it in the kitchen making dinner for everyone, EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT.

Last night I decided that I was going to use up the last of the Thanksgiving turkey leftovers and thought a pasta dinner would be the way to go.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE turkey leftovers… but after a week of eating Turkey for dinner — I am kinda done and would like something else regardless of how creative I can get.

Making a dinner that only requires one-pot makes for easy clean up! And not to mention a simple dinner prep.

One-Pot Turkey Alfredo

 

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Gluten Free Sopapillas

Fried Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas

My mom always made my brother and I Sopapillas growing up. Ok Sopapillas is a fancy name for a Deep-Fried Flour Tortilla, Sprinkled with Sugar and Cinnamon. Around Halloween she would carve the tortilla to look like a pumpkin which was really cool.

Nevertheless, now with gluten free tortillas available at the grocery store I no longer need to make these with Corn Tortillas and can actually use a Gluten Free Flour Tortilla. YAY!

It is just so easy and quick — Just fry up the tortilla then sprinkle with a Cinnamon-Sugar mixture and then top with a dollop of whipping cream drizzled with honey!

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Turkey Gravy

IMG_3819

Well my gravy was a disaster yesterday. I have no idea where I failed, but the darn thing never thickened and looked like thin au jus unfortunately. Since I have a lot of leftovers because I cooked a 25 pound turkey, I made a new batch of gravy today — and it is perfect!

Never give up, today is a brand new day to try at it again!

Turkey Gravy

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pan drippings
  • 2 cups turkey or chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup arrowroot or more if you want thicker gravy
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Pour drippings into a fine mesh strainer then allow the drippings to cool a bit so that the fat rises to the top and starts to solidify. Use a spoon to remove the fat.
  2. In a pot on high heat add drippings and stock. Bring to a boil.
  3. Remove pot from heat add arrowroot, constantly whisking to combine until completely dissolved.
  4. Next add butter and stir until butter is melted.
  5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve immediately, or keep on very low heat until you’re ready to serve.

Lime Party Jello Salad

Green Jello

Many years ago when my husband and I were first dating he said his paternal grandmother use to make the best “green jello” and that he hadn’t had it in years. Well, I called up his grandmother, got the recipe and have been making that jello for every holiday since!

This is not for the faint of heart… it is full of flavor and carries a ton of calories with each bite. But it is a party, so why not enjoy.

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How to Make Gluten Free Bread Cubes for Stuffing

Bread Cubes

Homemade bread cubes are perfect for stuffing recipes, casseroles, and other recipes that call for bread cubes.

Since my family eats gluten free bread I have been saving the bread heels as well as the bread that has crumbled and for whatever reason we just didn’t end up eating that slice of bread. I placed it all in a ziploc bag and left it in the freezer for months in order to make Toasted Bread Cubes to use in my Thanksgiving Stuffing.

Some ask why not just use the fresh cubes; why do you toast them? The reason — the dried cubes absorb more of the juices while cooking! So let me show you just how easy it is to make!

Homemade Bread Cubes

Ingredients:

  • 1-1/2 pound to 2 pounds of gluten free bread
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Johnny’s Garlic Spread & Seasoning
  • Olive Oil

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
  2. Stack a few slices of bread; Using a serrated knife, cut the bread into 1/2-inch strips. Bread Cubes
  3. Cut the strips crosswise into 1/2-inch cubes.
  4. Place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with parsley, Johnny’s Garlic Spread & Seasoning and the coat with olive oil. Mix thoroughly to coat.
  5. Arrange the cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  6. Bake the cubes at 350º F for 8-10 minutes or until golden.
  7. Let cool, then place in a sealed container for up to a week before using.

Gluten Free Cuccidati Cookies

Cuccidati cookies

My mom who is 100% Italian taught me how to make my Grandmother’s Cuccidati cookies last Sunday. In my opinion they are like a yummier version of fig newtons but tastier and with a glaze frosting! AND of course, I adapted the original recipe to Gluten Free for my kids and I.

I have literally been busy beyond words. Running around like a chicken with its neck cut off. Yet, I put time aside to make these very time consuming cookies. And so very glad I did.

And since my grandmother’s recipe just had ingredients and no measurements it was all a guesstimate. Nevertheless, the cookies came out really great. Even my finicky husband stated I did a great job!

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Glaze (Dairy Free )

When you want to glaze cookies or donuts this is the best recipe. If you don’t have almond milk you can use regular milk or any milk you would like.

Glaze (Dairy Free )

Ingredients:

1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 cup almond milk
Candied Sprinkles (Optional)

Directions:

Glaze

Mix together in a medium sized bowl the powdered sugar and almond milk and set aside.

Crockpot potato and chickpea curry topped with mint and cilantro

Crockpot potato & chickpea curry topped with mint and cilantro | Small Town Living in Nevada

My husband was on a Vegan meal kick for awhile. I kept looking for new dinner ideas and came across this Potato and Chickpea Curry recipe. It sounded wonderful so I took out the Crockpot and got to it. By making the Potato and Chickpea Curry in the Crockpot it allowed me to prep very little, then set it and walk away until this vegan/gluten free dinner was ready much later in the day.

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Black Sesame Seed Dressing

I was making Spinach Salad for dinner and wanted to make a Poppy Seed Dressing but only had Black Sesame Seeds… so I improvised. And was happily surprised it came out really yummy.

Black Sesame Seed Salad Dressing | Small Town Living in Nevada

I have never tried making Black Sesame Seed Dressing before and usually buy Poppy Seed Dressing, however this dressing was very easy to make.

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