Orange Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bread

Last Saturday I was at my local health food store. In their house-made gluten free baked goods section I came across orange chocolate chip breakfast bread. I passed it up but once I got home I kicked myself for not getting a piece to have for breakfast the next morning. Instead of going back the next day to satisfy my craving, I decided to attempt to make it myself. It's just so much more fun that way.  The first batch I made came out so good. Baking is an art of its own but gluten free baking is another story.  It's all about having a good and diverse flour blend that lends a similar texture as normal flours do.  I made my second batch yesterday afternoon so I could have a piece for breakfast each morning at work this weekend.

 

Orange Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bread, Gluten Free

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:

1/2 brown rice flour
1/2 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 tapioca flour
1/4 ground flax seed
1 cup coconut sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

1 egg
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup Greek yogurt 2%
1/2 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
1/3 cup olive oil

Additions

Zest from 1 medium orange
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, sift together your dry ingredients. Mix well to distribute flour blend evenly.
In a medium bowl, lightly beat one egg. Add in the rest of your wet ingredients and whisk till combined.
Add zest from orange and give another quick stir.
Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix till there are no lumps.
Fold in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
Pour batter into a greased loaf pan dusted with white rice flour.
Bake for 55-60 minutes.

Carob Cherry Granola, Gluten Free

Carob Cherry Granola, GF


Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups gluten free oats
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
3 tablespoons ground flax seeds
1/4 cup carob powder
3 packets stevia (NuNaturals brand)
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup olive oil
pinch of salt
1/2 cup dried cherries

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
In a large bowl, add oats, sesame seeds, flax seeds, carob powder, and pinch of salt. Mix well to incorporate ingredients evenly.
In a medium bowl, add honey, olive oil, and stevia packets and mix well.
Add the wet ingredients into the dry and toss to coat evenly.
Spread out on greased baking sheet or silpat mat placed on top of baking sheet.
 Bake for 30 minutes, stirring about every 10 minutes.
Once removed from the oven, add 1/2 cup dried cherries.
Let cool completely before storing.

Cashew Spinach Pesto

Cashew Spinach Pesto

Ingredients

1 cup roasted, salted cashews
3 large handfuls of spinach
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
Juice from 1 lemon
salt to taste
generous sprinkle of red chili flakes (optional)

Instructions

In a food processor, add cashews, garlic, lemon juice. Blend until cashews turn into small chunks. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides.
While the cashews are blending, add spinach through the feeding tube of the food processor.
Stop to scrape down sides and add water, salt and red chili flakes.
Continue to blend until desired consistency. I tend to like mine with some texture. 

This pesto pairs well with toast, crackers and veggies.

Gluten Free Strawberry Pancakes

Gluten and Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Pancakes Topped with Marinated Strawberries in a Ginger Honey Syrup.



In my last post, I created a recipe for ginger honey syrup to be used in a drink recipe. I still had half a jar left so I thought of what else I could use it in. As a lover of pancakes, it could make a nice alternative to maple syrup. Although the consistency was much thinner I decided to use it as a marinade for chopped strawberries and use that as the topping.
Prep the strawberries before you start on the pancakes so they have time to soak up the flavor of the syrup. 

Marinade:

1 heaping cup of strawberries, chopped.
Place in a shallow dish and pour syrup (see previous post) over to coat the chopped berries.
Set aside until ready to top pancakes.

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients

1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/4 tapioca flour
1/4 ground flax seeds
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 packets stevia (I use NuNaturals brand)
Pinch of salt

Wet Ingredients

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 egg
1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
1/2 cup Seascape strawberry jam from Sweet Lady Cook (sweetened with honey)

Instructions:

Preheat a large pan on the stove top.
In a medium bowl, add all of your dry ingredients and mix well to combine.
In a larger bowl, beat the egg and whisk in the rest of the wet ingredients.
Add the dry to the wet while continually whisking. Beat until there are no more lumps.
Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop batter into heated greased pan on medium heat.
Cook for about 2 minutes on each side.

Makes 10 pancakes.
Plate pancakes and top with marinated strawberries. I also topped my pancakes with a scoop of plain Greek yogurt.

Strawberry Ginger Honey Fizz

It's been so exciting to partner up with Sweet Lady Cook and create recipes using her homemade jams. Her latest batch of Seascape strawberry jam is made with honey, making this recipe free of refined sugars.

Strawberry Ginger Honey Fizz

Ingredients

1 cup water
Scant 1 cup honey
2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger
Sweet Lady Cook’s Seascape Strawberry Jam (sweetened with honey)
Sparkling water
Strawberries for garnish (Optional)


Instructions

First thing you will need to do is make your ginger honey syrup. I made mine a day in advance so it would be chilled. You could even make it up to a few days in advance if need be.

In a small/medium size pot, add honey and grated ginger. Mix well to distribute ginger evenly and turn on the heat to medium.
Continue to stir until the honey starts to liquify.
Add water and mix well to incorporate.
Once a boil begins, turn down heat to medium/low and simmer for 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
Using a strainer, pour syrup into a glass jar. It will fit nicely into a 16oz size.
Let cool before storing in the refrigerator.

In a glass or jar add 2 tablespoons of Seascape Strawberry Jam.
Using a muddler, mash down any chunks of fruit.
Add ice cubes, 1/4 cup ginger honey syrup, and finish off with sparkling water.
Give the drink a quick stir and enjoy!
Garnish with a strawberry or lemon wedge.