The Bestest, Crunchiest, Yummiest Oven Fries

The family gave these fries a top rating at supper tonight - and they WERE good! In fact, when I tried one, I thought, "Oh no! I have gone and made something addicting!" I will have to make them only occasionally or my waist line will reflect my liking for them!
As is my habit, I did not measure ingredients as I cooked. However, it should be fairly simple to guesstimate according to how many potatoes you are using.

CRISPY OVEN FRIES

1 large potato per person, cut into fries
rice flour to coat - 1-2 Tbsp per potato
seasoning salt
onion salt
olive oil 1-2 Tbsp per potato

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place cut potatoes in a bowl. Toss with flour to coat. Sprinkle generously with seasoning salt and onion salt. Sprinkle olive oil over potatoes and toss to coat. Dump onto baking sheet and cook for 45-60 minutes or until crispy and brown.
Enjoy with ketchup, salsa, or the dipping sauce below.

SMOKEY DIPPING SAUCE

1 cup sour cream (for dairy free, use 1 cup mayonnaise)

1-2 cups salsa, according to taste

2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp taco seasoning

few drops of smoke sauce

Stir all ingredients together - adjust seasoning to taste. Great with vegetables, tacos or fries.

Carrot Cake

Baked and arranged by my lovely daughter, Emily.

CARROT CAKE

   Preheat oven to 3
Mix these three ingredients together50*

    1 cup        brown sugar
    1 cup        oil
    4               eggs

.Add these ingredients (except the grated carrots) to the first three. Mix well, than add the grated carrots. 
    1/2 tsp      salt
    1 1/2 tsp   cinnamon
    1 1/2 tsp   baking soda
    1 1/2 tsp   baking powder
    1 tsp         xantham gum
    1 cup        rice flour
    1/2 cup     potato starch - tapioca starch
    2 cups      grated carrots
    
Bake for 40-50 min. Cool.

If you can have dairy, slather this moist cake with cream cheese frosting. If dairy is a problem, try the plain white frosting below. It really is quite nice - if you can keep yourself from thinking about cream cheese! 


                                                                 FROSTING

    3 cups       icing sugar
    2 tsp         margarine
    1 1/2 tsp   vanilla extract

    non-dairy substitute such as Rice Dream
Mix the icing sugar and margarine together, than add milk till the icing till the icing is shiny and has a creamy consistency.

"Make-It-All-Better" Dairy Free Frappuccino

Like I said yesterday, we are enjoying a beautiful, warm Indian summer. After a few hours of working out in the yard doing fall cleanup, I come in tired, hungry, hot and grumpy (not really ;)). A tall, cold glass of frapp makes it all better!
I have often wished that I could order one of those delicious frappuccinos at Starbucks or Tim Horton's. Of course I can't because of the dairy in them...but to be honest, I don't know if I could get myself to spend the $3-$5 dollars for one!
So, if you, like me are dairy-free, a spend thrift or both...this is the recipe for you!
This recipe makes 2 very large glasses.

Dairy Free Frappuccino

3 cups           ice
1 1/5 tbsp     instant coffee (I buy a nice quality kind - but even the cheap stuff taste good.
                                          Decaf will also work)
3 tbsp          granulated sugar (honey works too)
1 cup           coconut milk (I usually just use the whole 398ml/14oz can)
1 cup           water
1 tsp            vanilla

Directions:
-Place all ingredients into the blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth.

Options:
-Mocha: add a couple of tbsp of cocoa powder
-Java Chip: blend in some semi-sweet chocolate chips - or dark Lindt chocolate chunks
-Top with whip cream and caramel sauce.

Dairy Free - Soy Free Fruit Smoothie

First of all, I apologize for the lack of posts.

Part of it has been because of the lack of mental energy to do anything extra.

Part of it has been because of my obsessive habit of "All-Or-Nothing": 

If I don't have have time to do something REALLY WELL, I don't want to do it at all! 

:(

An Indian summer is upon us, I am taking advantage of the warm days to enjoy smoothies.

My ingredient measurements are a little vague...I rarely measure anything but go by "lumps" or "spoons".

I'll do my best to put that into tablespoons and cups for you.

This recipe makes a frozen treat for two.

Dairy/Soy Free Fruit Smoothie

3-4 Tbsp.     coconut milk (more if you want it richer and creamier)

1                  farm-fresh raw egg, preferably organic (if you only have access to store bought 

                    eggs do not use raw egg because of increased risk of salmonella)  

1                  ripe banana

1 tsp            psyllium husks (optional)

1 tsp            flax seed (use more if you like to)

2 tsp            flax seed oil (optional)

dose for 2 people of vitamin D3 drops (optional)

2 cups         frozen fruit - any variety or mix

1                 thin slice of lemon, including peel if organic (this gives a little sparkle of flavor)

1 cup -/+    water as needed to help smoothie turn over in blender 

Directions:

-Put all ingredients into blender. 

-Blend until smooth and creamy, adding water as needed and tamping down to help it move.

-Divide into two large glasses and enjoy along with good conversation.

Breadless Breakfast

Not only am I avoiding gluten, dairy, soy and nuts...but right now I am also having to avoid yeast, most sugar and simple carbohydrates. That makes breakfast a bit of a challenge!
Pictured is my current most favorite, satisfying breakfast: One fried egg (or poached), 1 piece bacon or ham or a little shredded chicken, stir fried vegetables (mix of whatever I have on hand and reheated from the night before to save time) with salsa on the side. So, even when the rest of the family is eating muffins, pancakes or toast, I am very satisfied with my delicious, filling breakfast.

For lunch I usually have a bowl of vegetable soup (homemade from leftovers with sliced vegetables and homemade broth added). Sometimes I have a flax wrap filled with raw or stirfied veggies and Dijon mustard.
My afternoon snack is usually fruit: an apple or an orange, grapefruit, or small smoothie.
Supper is whatever the family is eating...with some modifications. I eat little or none of the starch (potato, rice, whatever), a large helping of vegetables (steamed or stir fried) with a piece of meat the size of the palm of my hand. Since I have a very demanding sweet tooth :) I do usually have some dessert at supper: a cookie or a small piece of pie for example.

Eating this way has almost healed me of my long standing UT infection and the gas/bloating from too much yeast in my system. Plus I have more energy - a very welcomed bonus!