Gluten-free orange sesame beef stir fry

I was speaking to a friend today about blogging. My advice to her was that some times it's ok to just write a quick entry without spending a lot of time. That's my goal; let's see how I do (I had to write the recipe; this took the longest).

This recipe is a combination of two recipes/techniques. It's broken down into 4 steps:

1. Marinate the meat and prep the sauce.

2. Cut the veggies.

3. Cook the veggies.

4. Cook the meat.

5. Put it all together and enjoy.

I grabbed some of the veggies (cabbage, mushrooms and scallions) from the salad bar for easy prep and used cooked green beans from the fridge along with shredded carrots.  When I cook, I usually prep as I go to save time but forgot that the flat snap peas take some time to take off the string in the center. Note to self: prep the veggies first!. Once you start cooking, it all comes together very quickly.

The meat is delicious on its own so you can use this part of the recipe to make Asian beef anytime. The orange rind is added at the end so it can even be omitted it you want something less "orange-y." We served this over brown rice. My kids didn't eat all of the veggies but most of them. My son kept asking for more "chicken" (really, I did tell you it's beef, honey...sigh). Either way, it was a great family recipe that I will make again.

Gluten-free Orange Sesame Beef Stir Fry

Serves 4-6

Marinade

1/2 cup gluten-free soy sauce

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (dark)

2 teaspoons minced ginger (you can also use a minced ginger paste)

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

1.5 lbs top sirloin, cut into strips

Stir fry vegetables, sorted in order of hardness: broccoli, carrots, red cabbage, zucchini, mushrooms, snap peas, about 3-4 cups total, more or less

Orange Sauce 

2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce

2 tablespoons water

4 tablespoons sugar

4 tablespoons white vinegar

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Oil for high heat like peanut or safflower

1 tablespoon ginger, minced

1 teaspoon garlic, minced

1 tablespoon sushi rice flour or white rice flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon rice wine or sherry (not vinegar)

Zest of 1 orange

Optional: hot chili oil or crushed red chili peppers

Optional: more cornstarch to thicken sauce

1. Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add the beef and stir to coat evenly. Let stand for 20 minutes. Optionally cover and marinate overnight.

2. Prep all of the veggies. 

3. Mix the orange sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.

4. In a wok, toast the sesame seeds over medium heat, shaking the pan frequently, until lightly colored, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately pour onto a plate to cool.

5. Place a wok over medium-high heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon of oil, swirling to coat on all sides. Cook the veggies until just crisp, hardest to softest. At the end, add the ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove and place all of the veggies in a bowl.

6. Drain the marinade. Add the rice flour and cornstarch to the meat and stir until combined.

7. Place wok back on stove and wipe out if necessary. Add 2 teaspoons oil. Add the beef and stir-fry until cooked but still slightly pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes. 

8. Add rice wine and cook for about 20-30 seconds. 

9. Add orange sauce and veggies; bring to boil then lower the heat.

10. Add sesame seeds, and orange zest. Cook for 1 more minute and serve. If you like spicy food, add hot chili oil and/or crushed red chili flakes.

11. If sauce needs to be thicker, in a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cold water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Add to the beef, stirring. This will thicken the sauce. Continue simmering about 2-3 minutes. Add more water or soy sauce if the sauce becomes too thick. 

Gluten-free Dairy-free Belgium waffles

I don't know about you but when I smell Belgium waffles at those kiosks, I really wish I could eat gluten. Last year I vowed to find a replacement and I must say, I nailed it. I have made it two ways; with the caramelized sugar and without. Both are still delicious and my children are very appreciative of the effort I have made (read: this is not a quick recipe but worth the wait).

This New Year's day, I thought it would be fun to make them as a treat. The crowd (both gluten-free and not) agreed it was a winner. Read through the recipe and make sure you have about 45 minutes before you want to eat these delicious waffles. The yeast gives it a unique flavor that is much better than a regular waffle. You really can't compare one to the other.

Note: for a "with dairy" version, use 1/2 cup of unsalted butter instead of the shortening and 1 cup of whole milk instead of 7/8 cup milk substitute and 1/8 cup vegetable oil.

With this recipe, mis en place (everything in its place) is very important. For example, make sure the shortening is cooled slightly and that the eggs are already separated. If you add hot shortening into the batter, it might “cook” the egg yolks. Adding oil to the milk substitute helps to replicate the fat from the whole milk in the original recipe. As always, enjoy!

Gluten-free Dairy-Free Belgium Waffles
Makes 8 waffles in a 6" waffle maker or about 8 squares (2 large waffles) in a square waffle maker

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
3/4 c warm water (105F-115F)
1 teaspoon white sugar

3 cups Amy's Gluten-free Flour Blend
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

4 ounces (1/2 cup) non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening, melted and cooled slightly
7/8 cup milk substitute at room temperature
1/8 cup vegetable oil (canola, sunflower or safflower)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, separated (separate first, then let come to room temperature)

Optional: 1/4 cup turbinado sugar (coarse)

1. In a glass measuring cup, dissolve the yeast in the water and sugar to proof it. Set aside. After 5 minutes, it should be foamy and fragrant.
2. In a small bowl, mix the flour blend, salt and xanthan gum. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, add the yeast mixture, melted shortening, milk substitute, oil, vanilla, sugar, and egg yolks and whisk until smooth. Add the flour mixture and mix until combined
4. In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form; when you pull the beaters out of the bowl, the peaks should fall over softly. With a rubber spatula, fold them into the batter and let stand for 20 minutes.
5. Turn the waffle maker on after 10 minutes so it is hot when the batter is ready.

6. In this next step, you need to act quickly so you don’t burn the sugar or the waffle. If you are not using the sugar, you can disregard this. Place about ½ tablespoon of sugar on each part of the waffle iron first. Scoop about 2-3 ounces of batter on top of the sugar.

Note: I used a 2 ounce hinged scooper and no sugar in this picture. When you use a round waffle iron as opposed to a square one, you will use less batter and have a bigger yield.

Top with another ½ tablespoon of sugar on each part. Close the waffle iron and cook until the waffles are golden, following manufacturer’s directions. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Amy's Gluten-free flour blend

When I started my adventure in gluten-free baking, one thing that stressed me out was the amount of flours in a recipe. It was so off-putting, sometimes I did not want to bake. I was soon rescued by a friend, Amy Andrews of Amy's Food Room, who gave me her recipe for a flour blend that she had created. Over the years, I changed it to what you see below. I am very grateful to her for getting me started on the road to successful gluten-free baking.

One of the differentiators of my recipes from others you may see is the concept of using one blend for almost everything. This flour blend can be your new best friend. I mix between 6 and 9 cups at a time (1 to 1.5 times the recipe below). I use it for bread, waffles, pancakes, cupcakes, cookies, etc. with few exceptions. I almost always use it in other people's recipes.

One thing that I noticed with many recipes and pre-mixed flour blends was that these have a lot of “white” flour, for example white rice, potato and tapioca starch. My blend still has more nutritional value with the brown rice and millet; it's 2/3 whole grain. The upside is that it is light enough to create a baked good with excellent texture.

Another distinction from other flour blends is that I do not add xanthan gum to my mix for three reasons. I find that for most cakes, you only need 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum for every 2 cups of flour but for cookies, you need more like 1 teaspoon for every 2 cups of flour. So it's better to mix according to the recipe. Another reason is that the xanthan gum, which lasts over a year, should be refrigerated. I don't refrigerate my flour mix for reasons of space and finding it is not necessary. Lastly, if I'm only mixing a small amount of xanthan gum with a large amount of flour, I would worry it would not get properly distributed. These are my views. If you are worried about the cost and not using it in a year, find a friend to split the bag. So, this is the secret to my success. I hope it helps.

Mix together and keep in an air tight container:
3 cups brown rice flour
1 cup tapioca flour or starch
1 cup potato starch (not flour)
1 cup millet flour

Here's to happy baking. Let me know if you like it.

Tip: When you measure the flour into the large container, it's ok to put in a little more or less of a flour. I have found it's ok to estimate. However, when you measure flour for a recipe, fill the cup with about half of the flour then scoop flour on top, enough so that it is heaping. Use a flat edged knife to level the cup to measure exactly.

Specialty coffee drinks for the holidays

Thanks to Krups for sending me these delicious looking recipes for coffee drinks. I usually make my own eggnog latte around Christmas time; I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes this!

Krups suggests using their combo coffee/espresso machine. I have used them at other people's homes; it does make good coffee.

Enjoy and happy holidays!!



Eggnog Coffee
2 ½ cups freshly brewed coffee
1 cup eggnog
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Brew coffee in your favorite coffee maker. Warm eggnog in a pot over low heat and add the hot coffee and nutmeg. Serve immediately. Garnish with nutmeg.



Chocolate Mint Latte
2 fluid ounces espresso coffee
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup milk, steamed
1/8 cup frothed milk
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings

In a coffee mug, brew the espresso coffee.  Add the peppermint extract and then pour in steamed milk and frothed milk. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.


Coffee Hazelnut Milkshakes
1 cup chilled coffee
4 scoops coffee ice cream
¼ cup crushed hazelnuts
Whipped cream
Crushed toffee or chocolate shavings

Blend coffee, ice cream and crushed hazelnuts in a blender until mixture becomes a smooth but thick consistency. Pour into a coffee mug and top with whipped cream and sprinkle toffee pieces (or chocolate shavings).

Santa hat cupcakes

Santa Hat Cupcakes courtesy of Lauryn Cohen

I know you might think I'm clever, but really, I'm not. Full credit goes to Lauryn Cohen, aka Bella Baker, who came up with this cute concept. Lauren is the queen of sweet and is known for her uniquely creative treats and crafts. She recently launched a holiday baking guide (entitled Sweet Gifts Holiday Baking and Crafting Guide- available nationwide) filled with innovative and delicious recipes for the holidays.

Lauryn was nice enough to share one of her creations with The Family Chef. In this recipe, she calls for a red velvet cupcake (you will find a gluten-free, no-dye recipe in my upcoming cookbook). You can always use a basic vanilla (regular or gluten-free).

Here is her technique for making super cute holiday cupcakes for your friends or family.

Santa Hats

Santa Baby! This cupcake is topped with your favorite buttercream frosting and uses an upside-down ice cream cone, sprinkles, and a white gumball to create Santa’s signature cap. Here's what you will need:

• 12  sugar ice cream cones (regular or gluten-free)
•  red candy melts
•  red sanding sugar sprinkles
• 12  white gumballs
•  white dot sprinkles or white sanding sugar sprinkles 

Assembly
With an offset spatula, frost a thin layer of buttercream icing onto the top of each cupcake. If you have a strip of some fun paper, wrap it around the cupcake.

Cut the pointy tops off of the ice cream cones (I might try it with kitchen scissors).

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the red candy melts in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring vigorously with a spoon between intervals, until they are completely melted. They should take 2 or 3 intervals to melt completely.

To decorate each cupcake, place your index and middle finger inside the large opening of the ice cream cone for stability and then carefully, using a spoon, coat the entire outside of the ice cream cone with the melted red candy melts. Immediately coat the entire cone in red sanding sugar. Gently slide your fingers out of the cone and stand the cone on a sheet of parchment paper (or a silicone baking mat).

Dab a small amount of the melted candy onto a gumball and place it on the top of the ice cream cone. Allow to dry completely. Place the Santa Hat onto the cupcake.

Finally, sprinkle the white dot sprinkles or white sanding sugar over the icing that is peeking out around the edge of the ice cream cone.

Farmigo brings Farmer's Markets to you

Would you be interested in a company which brings delicious farm-fresh foods to families but also benefits farmers?  Farmigo has the potential to change the way San Francisco families eat.

The first online farmer’s market has been launched as of December 11 to connect communities (such as workplaces, schools and community centers) directly to complementary local farms to provide “food community” members with an online marketplace for local, fresh-from-harvest food. They have kicked off in a handful of markets, and the Bay Area is one of them. (Get a look at what they are doing in Brooklyn here).

Once the food community site is established, it will be matched with complementary local farms that offer seasonal fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, cheeses (even wine and coffee in some locations) that was harvested within 48 hours of delivery and has traveled less than 100 miles.

The farms drop off the orders at the site at the same time each week and members can come by to collect their fresh produce. It’s a great way to bring communities together over food, and Farmigo even helps organize events for all the new communities.

Farmigo recognized there were many awesome, passionate people in the Bay Area, not just San Francisco, who want to bring fresh food to their communities.  Food sites can be organized at almost anywhere that a group of people can get together, etc. Anyone who is interested in a Farmigo food community can sign up on as of today. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe

 I was experimenting with gluten-free oatmeal cookies a few months ago and created this recipe based on a combination of a few other recipes I had found. Initially, I made it with butter which meant my daughter couldn’t have them. However, the last time I made chocolate chip cookies, she wasn’t so interested.

I still thought it would be good to make sure these tasted just as good without as with butter. Multiple Organics was kind enough to send me a sample bag of chocolate chips. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try them. Besides being organic, kosher, and fair-trade, these very tasty chips are also allergen-free. I was almost surprised at how good they were! They are produced in a dedicated facility free of major allergens including milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame.  

It was a surprise to me when my daughter came over to the cooling rack and grabbed one enthusiastically. Her comment was “Mama! Yummy”! Even my husband who does not have much of a sweet tooth grabbed a second cookie and commented “These are GOOD”.

You can be the judge. See my comments for each ingredient. I really hope you try them. These are worth it and make almost 4 dozen!

 

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 40-48 cookies

1 1/2 cups Amy's Gluten-Free Flour Blend

1/2 cup almond meal (for nut allergies, use the same amount of the above flour mix in place of the
almond meal)

1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)       

1 teaspoon baking soda                                                                            

1 teaspoon xanthan gum                                                                   

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup white sugar                

1/2 cup brown Sugar

1 cup butter substitute (I like Spectrum butter flavored shortening), softened

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats

1/2 cup organic shredded coconut, unsweetened

1 cup organic dairy-free chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

2. In a medium bowl, mix flour blend, almond, cinnamon, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt.

3. In a large bowl with a hand-held mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, cream the butter
substitute and sugars for 1 minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined,
scraping the sides.

4. Add the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add oats and coconut. Mix until combined. Add
chocolate chips and mix on low until just combined.

5. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets, pressing down slightly.

6. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool 2 minutes and then transfer to a wire
rack.