Gluten Free Tilapia Lettuce Wraps with Green Apple Dressing

Posted in Entrees, Gluten Free Recipes and Tips, grain free, Quick and Easy, Salads by
There are really only two meals that I specifically crave. Really crave. The lay awake in bed and think about lunch and then eat lunch for breakfast kind of crave. This is one of them. They’re called tilapia wraps, and you can make them with leftover baked tilapia, but you could make them with any white fish. Such an amazing combination of flavors and textures; the flaky fish is salty and soft, the apples are crisp and tart, the dressing is tangy, and the whole thing is wrapped up in a fresh, crunchy lettuce leaf. I’ll be right back. You read this, I’m going to put some fish on.
If you’re on a special diet, these are gluten free, grain free, dairy free and paleo.

gluten free tilapia lettuce wrap from knowgluten.me

This is the second lunch in our series, click to find more Simple Gluten Free Dinners and Elegant Leftover Lunches.

Tilapia Lettuce Wraps With Green Apple Dressing

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup flaked cold tilapia
  • 2-3T mayonnaise
  • 3T diced green apple
  • 3T diced sweet onion
  • 1T apple cider vinegar
  • 1-2tsp sugar or honey
  • Salt to taste
  • Romaine lettuce leaves
  • Thin green apple slices

Directions:

  1. Combine mayo, vinegar, sugar, onions and diced green apple in a bowl.
  2. Add fish and mix gently with a fork until completely combined
  3. Spoon fish mixture into lettuce leaves and garnish with apple slices
  4. Enjoy.
Alternative: serve fish mixture over a bed of lettuce and garnish with apple slices.

 

Gluten Free Baked Tilapia on a Bed of Sweet Onions

Posted in Entrees, Gluten Free Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes and Tips by

Tilapia is a a naturally gluten free food, and is a perfect busy night supper. One of my favorites. Perfect for those “throw something in the oven, we need to eat and leave,” nights. I like it best with a romaine salad. I keep a few leaves whole for tomorrow's lunch.

 

Okay. Here's what happened. I made the tilapia, and just snapped a couple of pictures in my dark kitchen, right before it went in the oven. My plan was to “plate” the leftovers in the morning when I had some natural light. My plan was to also make some amazing tilapia lettuce wraps with green apple dressing. Only, everyone loved it so much that there weren't any leftovers. (This mostly bothered me because we were now out of tilapia and I was totally craving the lettuce wraps and had to quickly cook flounder for them the next day.) So, the picture doesn't do justice to the amazing flavor.

 

This really couldn't be easier to make. If I have time, I'll wash it in a brine because some brands of tilapia have sort of a farmed taste, but if you don't have time to do that, just sprinkle some red wine vinegar over top.

gluten free baked tilapia on a bed of sweet onions from knowtgluten.me

This is the second dinner in our series, click to find more great recipes! 4 Simple Gluten Free Dinners and Elegant Leftover Lunches

Baked tilapia on a bed of sweet onions

Ingredients:

  • Tilapia filets, one for each person (if you're planning on leftovers, cook 2 each)
  • 1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 T melted butter
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper (or favorite seasoning, we used Louisiana Cajun Seasoning but made on just salt for the 3 year old)

For optional brine:

 

  • 1 3/4 cups cool water
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2-3 T sea salt (it should taste salty, but not really really salty)
  • 3 tsp sugar

Directions:

 

If using brine:

  1. In a 2 cup measuring cup, combine brine ingredients.
  2. Place fish in large bowl or ziplock bag.
  3. Pour brine over fish and let sit 5 minutes.
  4. Drain well.

After brine (or if you didn't use it):

 

  1. Thinly slice onion and lay in the bottom of a large parchment lined casserole dish or cake pan.
  2. Lay fish on top.
  3. Drizzle melted butter over fish.
  4. Sprinkle with red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.
  5. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes or until fish flakes.
  6. If you think you made “extra” hide some for tomorrow's lunch.

 

Go Gluten Free in 8 Easy Steps

Posted in Tips, Getting Started, Gluten Free Recipes and Tips by

go gluten free in 8 easy steps. tips from know gluten.me

1. Say goodbye

You feel terrible anyway, have one more meal of your favorite gluten free foods. (disclaimer, adults and mature teens only. This step is NOT for young kids. You want to avoid any thoughts that they’re going to “miss out”. Never ever ever make gluten filled food look special to a gluten free kid. With kids, proceed directly to step 2)

2. Buy yourself something nice

Seriously. Go to your grocery store’s gluten free aisle and get some Glutino cookies and a couple of boxes of gluten free cake mix. If your store doesn’t have a gluten free section, you can order lots of good stuff online. (You should be able to find something, we even found gluten free cake mix in Thailand. Africa was a little bit tougher.)

If your young child is the one going gluten free, try and make this a special event with lots of “wow! Brownies! I love brownies!”

3.Stock up your survival kit

While you’re at the grocery store, buy as many replacements for gluten things you can find. Uldi’s, Schar and DS make excellent bread, try a few brands of gluten free pasta, pick up some gluten free Rice Chex (or Chocolate Chex, I won’t tell.)

You may eventually stop using these, but for right now get the things you’d grab for quick meals. This will keep you from staring for hours into the fridge wondering what to eat.

Add a couple of bags of rice flour and coconut flour to your cart. When you’re ready to start making quick, easy things from scratch, these will come in handy.

Chocolate chip banana muffins from knowgluten.me

With rice flour you’ll be able to make quick easy treats like these Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

4. Get your own stuff

Get a new toaster for the gluten free people in your home. (I’ll be doing a whole post on sharing a kitchen with gluten eaters, but you need to know this now. You need your own toaster.)

If you got that cake mix, you’re also going to need your own cake pan or muffin tin and your own electric mixer.

5. Label Everything GLUTEN FREE

You can label your toaster, mixer and muffin tin with nail polish.
Label all spreads (like peanut butter) that could possibly become contaminated. Make sure you label both the jar and the lid. You can’t share anymore. If possible, put your stuff in a different cupboard or on a different shelf.

6. Make a list of quick meals you can eat

No joke. Write it down:
Fruit, carrot sticks, cheese and gluten free crackers, gluten free toast, baked eggs and Brie, Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans, left-over chicken…
Make the list as long as possible. Put it in the kitchen somewhere.

7. Grieve

You’ve just had a major life change. It’s going to be hard sometimes. We’ve all had the total meltdown in the grocery store. Crying because we can’t eat anything. It’s normal. It goes away. Once you learn a few simple recipes and get a few favorite treats, you’ll start to feel normal again.

8. Heal

You’re going to start feeling so much better. Most people notice headaches and brain fog going away in a few day, body aches in a couple of weeks. Digestive problems could take a little longer, especially if you’re celiac, but they’ll get better too.

I think I’ve covered the basics. If you’ve gone gluten free and you have any tips to make the transition to more smoothly, could you leave them in the comments section to help future readers?

Chicken and Vegetable Stir fry (or Salad) with Cilantro Cheese Salsa

Posted in Entrees, Gluten Free Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes and Tips, grain free, Salads by

Thinking back to those first days of going gluten free, long before gluten free bread was readily available in grocery stores, I tried to replicate my gluten filled lunch by spreading peanut butter and jam on plain rice cakes. I usually ended up throwing them out and eating nachos.

I'm not sure when I figured out that if I made a little extra, I could have leftovers for lunch, but I'm so glad I did.

This dish is almost a reheat and serve dish (though it's fantastic cold as a salad). It's yesterday's Grilled Chicken and Vegetables reheated in a skillet (or not) and topped with a very simple dressing. This makes enough for a large spoonful each. If you like things really saucy, double the recipe.

Chicken and Vegetable Stir fry (or salad) With Cilantro Cheese Salsa

This is the first lunch in our series, click to find more great recipes! 4 Simple Gluten Free Dinners and Elegant Leftover Lunches

Cilantro-Cheese Salsa

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or to taste up to 1/2 cup)
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients.
  2. Add as desired to grilled vegetables.

 

Grilled Chicken and Vegetables – Gluten Free, Grain Free

Posted in Entrees, Gluten Free Recipes and Tips, grain free by

Grilled chicken and vegetables is one of our favorite dinners. It’s fast and easy to prepare, you can stand outside in the sunshine when you cook it, there’s no huge mess in the kitchen to clean up, and it tastes great! I make extra so we can enjoy the leftovers for lunch in a Chicken and vegetable stir fry with cilantro cheese salsa. Our family eats about 1/2 a chicken breast at dinner each. If you have bigger or smaller appetites, feel free to adjust the amounts in this recipe to fit your family or add another side like baked potatoes or a salad. Chicken and vegetables are both naturally gluten free, so no label reading needed here. Make sure you check your seasoning. I’m loving the Louisiana brand Cajun Seasoning, but if you like things a little less spicy (and this is too spicy for my 3 year old), go ahead and just use garlic salt or salt and pepper.

I find it’s easiest to grill vegetables if I cut them first. I cut zucchinis into four long wedges each and I seed the peppers and cut them in half across and lengthwise so I end up with four pieces for each pepper.

grilled chicken and vegetables - gluten free, grain free, from know gluten.me

This is the first in our series, click to find more great recipes! 4 Simple Gluten Free Dinners and Elegant Leftover Lunches

Grilled chicken and vegetables

Ingredients:

For each person eating:

  • 1 large boneless skinless chicken breast cut in two pieces
  • 1 medium sized zucchini
  • 1/2 bell pepper
  • Louisiana brand Cajun Seasoning or garlic salt (or your favorite gltuen free seasoning for chicken.)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat gas grill to 400.
  2. Sprinkle chicken with Cajun Seasoning or garlic salt, set aside.
  3. Cut zucchini in 4 long wedges each, pepper in quarters.
  4. Dip your fingers in the olive oil and rub on cut vegetables to lightly coat.
  5. Place chicken on lower grill and vegetables on the upper grill.
  6. Close grill and cook on medium-low until chicken is browned on the bottom and no longer pink on top.
  7. Flip and cook until the other side of the chicken is done.
  8. Remove chicken and wrap in foil or place in warm oven to keep warm.
  9. If the vegetables are not yet tender, move to the lower rack and cook, watching carefully, until they’re done. (The skin on the pepper may blacken a bit, that’s okay.)

Serve everyone half the portion you prepared for them. Set aside the rest and I’ll show you how to make an amazing lunch with them tomorrow.

This post is linked up with
Poor and Gluten Free’s Waste Not Want Not Wednesday
Domestic Diva’s Allergy Free Wednesday
Vegetarian Mamma’s Gluten Free Fridays

4 Simple Gluten Free Dinners, and Elegant Leftover Lunches

Posted in Entrees, Gluten Free Recipes and Tips, grain free, Quick and Easy, Salads by

4 simple gluten free dinners and elegant leftover lunches

Giving up a major part of your diet can make preparing meals a little intimidating. Even with a list of gluten free foods, you may be wondering how to put it all together. For the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be sharing the dinners that I cook here, and the lunches that I make from the leftovers. Not “reheat in the microwave” lunches. I’m too picky for that. If I give up a food, I want the food I can eat to be as amazing as possible. The dishes below will all be linked up with recipes within a few days.

Four Simple Gluten Free Dinners and Elegant Leftover Lunches

 

Chicken and Vegetable Stir fry (or salad) With Cilantro Cheese Salsa

Dinner 1: Grilled Chicken and Vegetables

Lunch 1: Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry (or salad) with Cilantro Cheese Salsa

 

Dinner 2: Baked Tilapia on a Bed of Sweet onions, and Garden Salad (this is a great one for busy nights!)

Lunch 2: Tilapia Lettuce Wraps with Green Apple Dressing

 

Dinner 3: Roast Chicken with Apple and Sweet Onion Stuffing and Steamed Broccoli.

Lunch 3: Chicken and Broccoli Egg Bakes.

 

Dinner 4: Pan Fried Salmon and Onions Over Creamy Garlic Herb Spaghetti Squash

Lunch 4: Salmon salad with Sweet Rice Vinegar Dressing and Capers.

chicken and broccoli egg bake from know gluten

 

Looking for even more simple gluten free dinners?

Salmon and Sweet Potatoes with Cucumber Peach Relish
Super Easy Baked Chicken Breast in the Crockpot

 

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins – Gluten Free

Posted in Cakes, Gluten Free Recipes and Tips, muffins and quick breads by

When I was about 25 or so, I was out of town and I took my twins and my young foster sister to McDonalds. It was chaos. Three little kids, a busy Sunday morning, and of course this Mcd's had no play place so the kids had nothing to do except sit beside me and bicker. Here I was, 25 years old, with three kids, in the middle of the storm. Kids fighting, milk spilling, when an older man leaned down to me, smiled and said, “Happy Mother's Day, Mama.”

Little girl sitting at a messy counter, baking.

Motherhood

Mother's Day. We don't really celebrate it. It somehow doesn't seem right to recognize mothers en masse. Your mother is special. She deserves special recognition. Right here, I could write you an essay on Motherhood and what it means to love a child, whether you gave birth to her or not, but instead, I'm going to give you something you can give your mom or that special lady in your life who loves you like a mom. Chocolate.

 

Recipe options: If your mom has special health needs, you're fine to use an egg replacement, vegetable oil instead of butter and another sweetener. The muffins will still tastes amazing.

 

This recipe is dedicated to my mom.

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins – gluten free

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2-3 bananas
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cups rice flour
  • 1T baking powder
  • 1T vanilla
  • 1/2 – 1 cup mini chocolate chips

 

Directions:

  1. In a blender or magic bullet, coming the bananas, butter and eggs.
  2. Blend until smooth and pour into a large bowl.
  3. Add remaining ingredients, except for chocolate chips.
  4. Beat until smooth. (I use an electric mixer for this)
  5. Stir in chocolate chips.
  6. Fill lined muffin tins almost to the top (this makes about 15 for me)
  7. Bake at 400F for about 12 minutes or until the tops are light gold and spring back when touched.

Looking for more quick and easy quick breads and muffins? Check out these:

Gluten Free, Grain Free Raisin “Bran” Muffins
Gluten Free, Grain Free Pumpkin Muffins
Fast, Easy, Coconut Flour Cupcakes
Gluten Free Pumpkin Gingerbread with Lemon Curd
Basic Gluten Free Banana Bread

This recipe is linked up with:

Vegetarian Mamma’s Gluten Free Fridays for the first time! Stop over and check it out. Lots of great gluten free recipes!

Click the link below for a printable recipe:
Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins – Gluten Free