Greek Casserole recipe with a Gluten-Free variation

Yummy Greek Casserole is quick and easy

While trying to come up with quick and easy meals for one of my customers, I envisioned a casserole similar to a Shepherd's Pie but with Greek flavors. I created a base recipe but needed to test it first. My husband even asked where it came from. Uhm, me...

The night I made it we had just gotten back from a trip. I love creating recipes that can be thrown together in 30 to 45 minutes. Even after flying all day, this recipe was still easy enough to make.

You might know that I eat gluten-free. So, instead of making the traditional white sauce with a flour-based roux, I used a cornstarch slurry. Using whole milk and adding a wee bit of butter at the end gave the milk sauce a creamy texture. I didn't miss the flour for a minute. I'll give you both recipes, though, just in case you like the texture of a sauce made from a roux.

Regardless of the gluten, the one tip that I'll give you now that will make a huge impact on the flavor of your dishes is to step away from the stove when you cook ground meat. Heat the pan first and then drop pieces into the pan. Don't break up the meat and don't crowd the pan. Cook until brown on one side, then turn over. Once cooked for a few minutes, begin to break the meat up with the back of the spoon. A simple trick that will do wonders; I promise.

If you don't eat meat, use sautéed mushrooms instead. I have options for everyone.

Let me know how you like it. After seeing the empty bowls tonight, I know the verdict here.

Greek Casserole

1 lb ground meat (beef, lamb, turkey or chicken) or 1-2 cups sautéed mushrooms
2 tsp olive oil
½ onion, chopped
¼ tsp ground pepper
½ tsp each dried oregano and thyme
¼ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt
2 garlic cloves minced
2-3 cups of cooked brown or white rice (Tip: cook rice first, then cook the meat and onion)
1 bag frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
½ c Feta cheese, crumbled
2 c white sauce (see recipes below)

1. Sauté ground meat in a large pan until browned and cooked through. Remove and transfer to a bowl.
2. Heat the same pan over medium heat and add olive oil, then onion and seasonings but not the salt. Without stirring very often, cook until golden brown. Add salt and garlic and cook 1 minute. Add ground meat back to pan and cook together for 2-3 minutes.
3. Place the meat and onion mixture into a 13x9 greased pan.
3. Place rice on top of meat, then spinach. Pour white sauce over this and top with the Feta cheese.
4. Bake in a 375ºF oven for about 25-30 minutes or until brown on top and bubbly. Or, bake 20 minutes and then broil 3-5 minutes or until brown.

Optional additions on top of the spinach: Kalamata olives, chopped sun-dried tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes

White Sauce (made with a roux)
2 Tbl unsalted butter
3 Tbl flour
2 c whole milk
1/2 tsp salt
Sprinkling of pepper, garlic, nutmeg and oregano

To make the roux, in a medium to small sauce pan, over medium to medium-low heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk.

While that is cooking, heat milk in a glass measuring cup in the microwave until warm (1 minute works well) or on the stove top in a pot. This helps to reduce lumps since the liquid is closer to the temperature of the roux.

After the roux has cooked for 2-4 minutes, slowly add milk to roux, stirring. Add salt, pepper, garlic, nutmeg and oregano. Continue to cook until slightly thickened. You might need to raise the temperature slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Gluten-Free White Sauce (made with a cornstarch slurry)

2 c whole milk
2 Tbl cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbl cold water
1/2 tsp salt
Sprinkling of pepper, garlic, nutmeg and oregano
1/2 Tbl unsalted butter

Heat milk in a medium sauce pan until just beginning to simmer/scald; look for tiny bubbles on the edges.

Whisk in the cornstarch slurry and seasonings. Cook for about 3 minutes or until thickened. Add butter and stir until melted. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Gluten-Free Biscotti

This is often how things work with me. I decide at some point that I want something. Pizza, cookies, a madeleine...and since I'm eating a gluten-free diet, I can't always go to the store to buy it. Or, maybe I can but it's not always good.

So it was, that day, when I really wanted a good biscotti. Believe it or not, I've never even made them, even with gluten! The next part of the journey began with finding the right recipe.

I wasn't in the mood for lemon pecan or orange walnut. I didn't want chocolate either. Cinnamon almond was coming to mind so that's what I decided to try to create. I used this recipe from one of my favorite bloggers, gluten-free girl, and made a few changes, including using less sugar.

The real test was in serving these little delightful treats to my non-gluten free friends. All were pleasantly surprised when I told them my little secret.

I hope you try it and know you'll like it!

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Almond Biscotti

1/2 c almond flour
1/4 c sorghum flour
1/4 c tapioca flour
1/4 c potato starch
1/4 c white rice flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp xanthan gum
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

8 Tbl (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c sugar (I used 1/2 c brown sugar and 1/4 c brown rice syrup)
2 large eggs
1/2 c sliced almonds, not toasted

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place a piece of parchment paper or a Silpat on a baking sheet.

2. Add the dry ingredients into a bowl (flours, baking powder, salt, xanthan gum, and cinnamon). Using a whisk, mix until well blended. If necessary, use your fingers to break up any big pieces of almond flour or baking powder.

3. Put the butter in a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat the butter for about a minute and then pour in the sugar. Cream the butter and sugar together until the batter is smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time until the mixture is fluffy.

4. With the mixture on low, add the dry ingredients in 3 batches. Turn the speed to medium and mix for 1 minute. This helps to "gel" the xanthan gum and hold the dough together. Lower the speed and add the almonds until just mixed.

5. The dough will be sticky. You can either use an ice cream scoop to place the dough on the baking sheet in two long rows or use a greased spatula. Pat down and form each into it's own long log with a spatula. It should be a little flat as well. And yes, it will be sticky.

6. Bake the biscotti for 16-18 minutes, turning around once. Bake until golden and somewhat firm, but still somewhat soft, pushing the top center of the cookie. This is the best way to tell whether it is done. Once done, take the baking sheet out of the oven and allow the biscotti to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully, move them to a cooling rack and leave for at least 30 minutes to firm up.

7. When the biscotti are entirely cool to the touch, place one log on a cutting board. With a serrated knife, cut consistent slices, about 1/2" wide, depending upon how you like your cookies. Move them back onto the baking sheet, bottom side down and repeat with the other log.

8. Heat oven to 350°F again. Once oven is hot, place biscotti back into oven. Bake until they are browned and crunchy, about 16-20 minutes.

Cool them entirely before attempting to eat. Ok, try one if you are drooling but they are better once cooled! Store in an airtight container.

Makes 2-3 dozen biscotti.

Pasta alla Norma (pasta with eggplant)

My version of Pasta alla Norma

We recently visited Sicily for the first time and I was happy to find a dish I had never heard of before, Pasta alla Norma. I don't think I would have ordered it except I saw it on every menu and got curious. I was pleasantly surprised to find this dish delicious whether with pasta or even with pizza. And in case you are wondering why I was eating pizza and pasta, the European gluten does not seem to affect me the same way as it does in the US; I might have to move!

Eggplants, which are prevalent in Sicily, are used in dishes like caponata and pasta. Pasta alla Norma is a dish you can find almost any where there but was originated from Catania, a city on the eastern coast of the island. Nino Martoglio, an Italian writer and poet, was so enthusiastic with this dish that he compared it with the awe of the opera Norma, written by catanese composer Vincenzo Bellini. If you like eggplant parmesan, you might say the same thing.

The recipes I found have three basic elements:
1) Saute or roast eggplant until soft and sweet
2) Cook the tomato sauce, then add the eggplant
3) Add the sauce and cheese to the pasta.

If you don't wish to make the sauce from scratch, use your favorite pre-made variety. It's the combination of the flavors that really make the difference. I would also suggest making a double batch of the sauce and using half for this dish and half for later.

For a gluten-free version, just switch your pasta to gluten-free.

You can also make Pizza alla Norma by adding fried eggplant to your pizza along with some extra sharp cheese.

So, either way, make a batch, open a robust red wine, sit back and enjoy.

Pasta alla Norma
Serves 4

2 eggplants, peeled and cubed
2-4 Tbl olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large can diced tomatoes in juice
1 Tbl tomato paste
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp sugar
2 Tbl chopped basil leaves
12 oz pasta like penne or fusuli
Grated hard ricotta salada cheese (not ricotta) or parmesan or peccorino cheese

1. Fry eggplant in a saute pan in 1 Tbl olive oil until brown on each side. Do this in two batches. Alternatively, roast eggplant in the oven. Place eggplant coated in olive oil on a baking sheet in the oven at 400ºF for about 20 minutes. Once cooked, put eggplant aside.

2. In a medium pot, add 1 Tbl oil. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add tomato, paste, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook for 30 minutes, simmering, stirring occasionally. Add basil and eggplant at the very end. Cook 3 more minutes.

3. While the sauce is simmering, cook pasta according to directions. Always save 1/2 c pasta water in case the sauce is too thick to help loosen it up. You may only need 1-2 Tbl of water but it's better to have more on hand.

4. Serve pasta with sauce and top with cheese. If sauce is very thick, see step 3.

Surviving travel with your family

When you travel with children, especially between time zones, you might have to make adjustments to your routine. After taking a couple of trips with my young kids, I've learned a few things that hopefully can help you.

Get Them on The Time Zone ASAP
When the kids were very young and we traveled to a destination with a 7 hour or more time zone difference, we found ourselves up at 2am, playing trains and legos. As they got older, we learned the importance of the time zone adjustment. One way to do this is to schedule an early flight. Although a 6am flight may seem ridiculous, waking our kids up at 4am was the beginning of the adjustment.

On a red-eye flight, try to make sure they sleep. We always bring pajamas as well as their "stufties" (stuffed animals). This along with a blanket and pillow helps a lot. When we arrive at our location, keeping them awake is key. This last time we all had to take an afternoon nap which only lasted 2 hours but was necessary. Then, instead of an 8pm bedtime, we tried 11pm. This seemed to work well. Within a few days, we were all functioning rather well.

Keep Expectations Within Reason
When you have young children (under 6), it's not the best strategy to see 3 tourist attractions in one day. If your kids are cranky and uncooperative, especially if they are a bit jet lagged, you won't be having any fun either. If you traveled before you had kids (when you were younger and had more energy), it's going to be much different now.

It would be a good idea to not over schedule and even have some down time or days. It's important to find a park or an open space where children can run around and get out their "crazies".

For Food, Adopt "Travel Rules"
Although at home, we are very strict about making sure they eat vegetables, not eating too many sweets and not drinking soda, when we travel, we are much more relaxed. When you are eating out 3 meals a day, it's not that easy to keep up the same standards. You know your children best. I have found as they get older, it's easier to stick to some of the rules but some times, you have to be flexible.

Although normally I would insist my daughter eat vegetables every day, she survived on a lot of pasta and butter this past trip. As her parent, I know when I can push her and when I can't. Instead of getting into a battle with her (which I know I would not win), we compromised by saying she had to eat her regular food when she got home, like carrots, broccoli, lettuce, apples and strawberries. After making the connection with how food can affect how you feel, especially when you are in the bathroom (hopefully that's not TMI), she agreed as well. She's already back to her routine.

When we see that glass-eyed, glazed-over look kids get when they are tired, we really change the rules . Last year, when we arrived at a restaurant and my son fell asleep at the table, I yelled to my husband like the way a doctor would to a nurse in the ER “Honey, order him a Coke!”

Although my husband drinks it, our children don’t get a lot of soda, unless it’s on a trip or a special occasion. I watched my son, drinking soda through a straw out of the corner of his mouth, come alive like a dehydrated flower that has been watered for the first time in days. Within minutes, he was awake.

Don't Forget to Have Fun
As I had said, a successful trip has much to do with the expectations. If I expect my children to behave as they do at home or eat vegetables with every meal…well, I might not have such a good time.

I let all of that go. As long as they had some fruit each day and ate a meal before gelato, I just didn’t care. On our trip, they ate lots of bread and drank juice and soda. Instead of negotiating, I just said “Ok”. The combination of letting my standards go a little and keeping my expectations below the norm led to a very satisfying vacation which will be carved in my memory as a pleasant experience.

Although my daughter's meal might have been pasta and butter,

we were able to enjoy some delicious food

Weeknight Friendly Meals: Quick Italian Cassoulet

Would you be willing to spend an extra $3 in a restaurant for a really good dish? Most times, we don't think about it but when we are in the supermarket, we might be looking at the difference between $4.99 and $4.59. If you could create a quick meal at home that tastes just as good as a restaurant, would you spend an extra couple of bucks?

A friend of mine is creating a blog highlighting value items for the home; it includes everything from wine to rugs. It made me think about value items in the supermarket.

I recently bought the Mario Batali's marinara sauce. Yes, I do buy jarred sauce but only if it's good. Now don't squawk but this probably costs $9 per jar. However, the flavor is so much better than the store-brand that you might be buying. To me the value is the flavor; it's almost as good as my homemade sauce and the taste is fantastic. This was evidenced by the empty plates tonight after dinner.

Let's talk about why this particular dish is so good. You can rehydrate dried beans in less than 3 hours (check this article I wrote about how to do it) or you can make it easy and buy canned beans. For this dish, use cannellini (white kidney) or small white beans. The dish is incredibly simple and delicious. It's really a matter of simmering the ingredients together. The reason it tasted so good was because of the quality of the sauce. It was worth it.

Below is a picture I took of a dish we had in Italy. I'm sure the beans, sausage and tomato sauce were fresh. If you want to take a cheap trip to Italy (ok, you'll have to close your eyes and imagine), try the recipe below. Enjoy.

Tuscan Beans and Sausage in Northern Italy

Quick Italian Cassoulet-Sausage and Beans

2 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cans cannellini or small white beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 jar Mario Batali Marinara sauce (or 2-3 cups homemade)
4 Italian chicken sausages, like Trader Joe's Spinach and Fontina
1/4 c grated Italian cheese like parmesan, romano or peccorino

Optional: serve with penne pasta, cooked separately
Optional: pesto or chopped parsley for garnish

1. Place olive oil and garlic in a pot. Heat pot to medium. Once garlic begins to cook, give it a stir and cook 1 minute.
2. Add beans and cook for 1 minute. Add sauce, sausage and 1/2 c water. Cover the pot and simmer 20 minutes. Remove the cover toward the end if the dish is very watery. Add salt if needed.
3. Serve with a side of pasta or bread and a dollup of pesto or chopped parsley. Top with cheese.
4. Close your eyes and say "Bellissima!" (very good).

Easy Caesar Salad Dressing recipe

When I went to culinary school, I remember when we learned how to make Caesar salad table-side. It was always delicious, but the raw egg in the dressing always bothered me, especially after taking the Food Sanitation course. Salmonella is scary!

Some recipes call for coddled or partially cooked eggs. Sure, you might kill some of the bacteria but it also seemed like a lot of effort. Another food sanitation revelation was that commercial mayonnaise is not a bacterial culprit; fresh mayo is another story since it's made with raw eggs. Commercial mayonnaise uses pasteurized eggs and plenty of vinegar; acid is an inhibitor to bacteria. So, although your grandmother may have told you anything with mayo can make you sick, in today's times, it's actually closer to the opposite.

So, instead of using raw or even partially cooked eggs in my Caesar dressing, I started using mayo. It gives the dressing a wonderful creaminess and is "safer" than raw eggs. It's also super easy if you have a mini-food processor; if you don't, just mince the garlic finely and whip ingredients with a whisk.

My family loves creamy dressing, especially this one which is fresh and bright. Don't make the assumption that I did which was that kids won't eat salad. My children constantly surprise me with what they will and won't eat. I just keep trying.

If you think your children won't eat salad, one of the best bits of advice is getting them involved in the process. Let them help pour in the ingredients and after you carefully put the top on, let them press the button. Worry less about the mess and more about the fun and learning that is happening. Get a big bowl with a salad fork and spoon, toss in some lettuce, some dressing and let your kids do the rest. I hope you enjoy this one.

Fresh and Easy Caesar Salad Dressing
Makes 1 cup or about 8-10 servings

1-2 garlic cloves
1/2 c regular mayonnaise
1/4 c grated parmesan (or any hard Italian cheese like Romano)
2 Tbl olive oil
1 tsp Kosher salt or 1/2 tsp table salt
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4 tsp ground pepper

Place all ingredients in a small food processor and blend for 1-2 minutes being careful not to overprocess; the mayo can "break". Keep refrigerated until ready to use. Toss with crisp, romaine lettuce pieces and shredded carrots (optional). Skip the croutons unless you have them in the pantry.

This dressing keeps for a few weeks in the fridge.

Gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe

Who would have thought that you could use the term "gluten-free" and "tasty chocolate chip cookie" in the same sentence? Up until recently, I didn't think you could either! Even now, as I write this article, I just want to take a bite out of one of those cookies. Lucky for me, I put a bunch in the freezer so I actually could do that!

I use Twitter to get the latest gluten-free news and see what's happening with those whom I follow. I found a link to a link to a great recipe for chocolate chip cookies, apparently from Alton Brown. I admire him as he always looks at the science of cooking and baking. But, if I'm not mistaken, I don't think he's been baking gluten-free for 3 years. When you have been doing this a while, you know what to look for and can make adjustments accordingly.

Although the original recipe is his, here's my take on it. I hope it yields you with happy eaters.

Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies

8 ounces unsalted butter
2 cups brown rice flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 Tbl tapioca flour
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 c sugar
3/4 c light brown sugar
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
2 Tbl whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (I like Guittard which are gluten-free)

1. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat or in a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Once melted, pour into the bowl of a stand mixer. Allow to cool slightly.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together the rice flour, cornstarch, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, salt and baking soda. Set aside.

3. Add both of the sugars to the bowl with the butter and using the paddle attachment, cream together on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the whole egg, egg yolk, milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

4. Chill the dough in the refrigerator until firm, approximately 1 hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

6. Scoop out rounded tablespoons and place on parchment-lined or silicone baking mat-lined sheets. Arrange about 9 to 12 cookies per sheet.

7. Bake for 16-18 minutes, rotating the pans after 8 minutes for even baking. Make sure cookies are browned. Remove from the oven and cool the cookies on the pans for 3 minutes. Carefully, move the cookies to a wire rack and cool completely. Store cooked cookies in an airtight container or in the freezer in a freezer-safe bag.