My kids, and husband love lasagna. It brings everyone to the table. Faster than usual. I actually don’t even need to yell “dinner”. They come running in on their own, eagerly awaiting a big square piece of lasagna to dig into. I think it’s on everyone’s comfort food list.
Easy Beef Stew {gluten free, dairy free, soy free, paleo}
With the beginning of the cool season I like to make stew – making use of those “what do I make with this?” cuts in my freezer. What is fall with a comforting stew?
For my beef stew recipe, I chose three cuts – eye of round, chuck, and shank cross-cut, all moderately priced cuts that go well in stews. I braise the meat after coated in coconut flour (recipe is paleo), then it all simmers in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. What you get from these very chewy cuts is the most tender meat that pulls apart without a knife. Did I mention how easy this stew recipe is? Or how you can freeze half of it? Oh yes. I know you have a lot to do. And Halloween is coming up…
Cabbage Salad with Peanut Chili Maple Dressing
My favorite thing to order at Real Food Daily, a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, is the yin yang salad. We are not vegan, but we go to vegan restaurants because we know there won’t be any issue with dairy accidentally getting into my children’s food. Living allergen-free and going out to eat don’t always work out well, so places like this are safer for us to go to. Most vegan restaurants have gluten free options. I know it can be confusing sometimes when I say dairy free and then post a chicken recipe. With some of my meatless recipes being egg-free I can share recipes with my vegan friends 🙂
Onion Quiche
Sometimes I want a good slice of quiche with a side of salad on a Saturday afternoon. Something that I cannot go pick up at the store, not even the health food store. The freezer section has gluten free crusts, but never dairy free and soy free too, which leaves me to the old-fashioned way. My Grandma would be proud, considering I would not care to hang out in the kitchen as a little girl. My grandmother would make everything from scratch. My favorite was her pickled watermelon and cinnamon rugelach. Yes, pickled watermelon, tastes way better than it sounds, really.
Pumpkin Dumplings w Sage Butter
It’s not often that I make dumplings. I usually like to make things quick on the spot or multiple step recipes ahead of time that just look like I spent the day in the kitchen. All homemade, of course, but without all those hours by the stove. Dumplings are a bit time consuming I will admit, you can’t start it on the stove and go do something else while it’s doing it’s thing. But I will tell you for the few times I do, I wish I did more often. The dumplings take comfort food to a whole new level. Beyond spaghetti and meatballs, beyond meatloaf and mashed potatoes. These little dumplings are pillowy, creamy, earthy, nutty, fragrant, and rich all in one bite with the sage bringing it all together. And it’s PUMPKIN! Who doesn’t love pumpkin?
Mac and Cheese (gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan optional)
Ah, Mac n Cheese – who doesn’t love mac and cheese? There’s something about the combination of crunchy, and creamy with some pasta joining the party that brings back childhood memories. Albeit, it was the gluten and dairy kind from the Boston Market where I grew up, or the boxed version. It’s the ultimate comfort food, don’t you think? Of course you do. Silly question.
Lamb with butternut squash and asparagus for dinner (gluten free, dairy free)
The Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, begins at sundown tomorrow night. A time when those who observe the holiday will fast until sundown the following night. Though we are not orthodox we still fast. I usually prepare foods that are on the sweeter side and foods that are not salty or acidic like deli style or marinated foods for the meal before the fast. This year I made a boneless leg of lamb with pan roasted butternut squash with raisins and oven-roasted asparagus that makes a delicious dinner anytime. I served it along with chicken soup with dumplings as the hot dishes.
Chicken Soup with Matzoh Balls
I just love a good chicken soup, with “matzoh” balls. My version of “matzoh” balls are gluten free and dairy free, which you would not be able to detect, according to my family and friends. This is a menu staple during the Jewish Holidays and of course when it begins to get chilly. This soup with the gluten free raisin challah dipped in, or on the side, is soooo good. We eat round challah for Rosh Hashanah to symbolize the circle of life into the new year. There is something so soothing, and therapeutic, yet traditional at the same time about having a good bowl of chicken soup. I will post our beautiful Rosh Hashanah dinner from last night tomorrow. I used a whole chicken instead of cut-up pieces because the extra bones add more flavor to the stock. Oh and if you don’t like matzoh balls, add some cooked noodle pasta or rice for an easy, flavorful meal…enjoy!
Baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes
I have a weakness for pumpkin. It may be stronger than chocolate. When pumpkin season comes around I roast as much pumpkin as I can and freeze it for something pumpkin throughout the year.
Yes, it’s August, but if you love pumpkin as much as I do you will love this recipe.
These pancakes were, however, created from a mere frustration of standing over the oven on a fine Saturday morning. A frustration worth having because this is how I am making pancakes the rest of my life. Period. The Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Pancakes were sooo good.