Saturday, June 20, 2026

Orange Cake w/Mascarpone Cream

Naturally Gluten-Free Desserts
Orange Cake w/Mascarpone Cream
Makes 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

Cake
3 Medium Oranges
¾ Cup Sugar
¼ Cup Honey
5 Eggs
2 Cups Almond Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/8 Tsp Salt
1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter

Syrup
½ Cup Sugar
1 Orange, zest & juice

Mascarpone Cream
1 Cup Whipping Cream, chilled
6 Tbls Mascarpone Cheese
2 Tbls Sugar
¼ Tsp Vanilla Extract

DIRECTIONS

Gently wash the oranges with clean water and put them into a pot and cover with water. Place a plate over the oranges to keep them submerged. Bring to a rolling boil, then turn down to a good simmer and cook for 2 hours. Remove from the heat, drain the cooking liquid into a bowl and set both the oranges and the liquid aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350 F
Grease a 9-inch spring-form pan and line with baking parchment

After the oranges have cooled enough to safely handle, cut them into medium-sized pieces (peel and all), remove any seeds. Place the granulated sugar and honey in the bowl of a food processor, add the eggs and blend until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. 
Add the oranges to the processor and continue to blend until smooth. Add the almond flour, salt, and baking powder and blend to combine.

Use a rubber spatula to scrape the cake mixture from the processor into the pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1½ hours. Test the cake with a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean then the cake is done. Let cake cool in pan before removing the spring-form ring and bottom.

Orange Syrup
Pour the reserved cooking liquid from the oranges into a large pan. Add the sugar, the zest of an orange and its juice. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes or until thick and syrupy. Let cool.

Mascarpone Cream
Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to beat together the whipping cream, Mascarpone, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. To serve, place slices of the cake on individual serving plates. Top with a dollop mascarpone cream. Drizzle a little orange syrup over the top.

NOTE: Always read labels carefully

Monday, June 15, 2026

Lemon Fish Dinner

Naturally Gluten-Free Meals
LEMON FISH DINNER
W/Tomato & Corn Salad
Serves 2-3 people

INGREDIENTS
3/4 Lb Red Potatoes, sliced
1 Tbs Olive Oil, divided
1/2 Bunch Asparagus, trimmed
1 Lb White Fish Fillet
1 Lemon, thinly sliced
Pink Sea Salt & White Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 425.
Toss potatoes with half the oil and season generously with salt & pepper. Spray baking dish with cooking spray and place potatoes in dish and bake for 30 mins. 

While potatoes are cooking, spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place asparagus and fish on baking sheet and top with lemon slices. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake with potatoes for final 15 mins or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve fish and veggies with baked lemon slices.

Tomato & Corn Salad

1 Tomato, chopped
1 1/2 Tbs Olive Oil
1/2 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
1 Garlic Clove, minced
2 1/4 Tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
5 Oz Frozen/Fresh Corn
2 Scallions, chopped
Pink Sea Salt & White Pepper to taste

In a small bowl whisk together 1 tbs of the oil, vinegar, & lemon juice and season with salt & pepper, then toss in the tomato and let sit for 10 mins or longer. Heat remaining oil in small skillet, add corn, scallions and garlic and cook for 5 minutes. Mix with tomato & serve.

NOTE: Always read labels carefully

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Bean Chilaquiles w/Avocado

Naturally Gluten-Free Meals
Bean Chilaquiles w/Avocado
Serves 2-3 people

INGREDIENTS
1 tbs Olive Oil
6 Corn Tortillas, cut into triangles
1 Cup Salsa, mild or medium
8 Oz Pinto Beans, drained & rinsed
3 eggs
1 avocado, peeled & chopped

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat oil in large skillet over med/high heat. Add tortilla triangles to skillet and toss until browned and crisp. Remove from pan and set aside. In same pan, add salsa and beans and stir. Once mixture comes to a simmer, create 3-small wells with the back of a spoon around the perimeter of the pan and crack eggs into wells. Cover and cook 7-9 mins until eggs are set but still runny. Remove from heat, arrange crisp tortillas around the outside edge, top eggs with avocado, and serve while still warm. Optional toppings can include; cheese, sour cream, cilantro or hot sauce.

NOTE: Always read labels carefully

Friday, June 5, 2026

Chicken Biryani

Naturally Gluten-Free Meals
CHICKEN BIRYANI
Serves 2-3 people

INGREDIENTS
1 Tbs Olive/Coconut Oil
1/2 Large Onion, diced
3/4 Lb Boneless Chicken Breast, cubed
1 Tbs Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Garam Masala
1/2 Tsp Chili Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Garlic Clove, minced
1/2 Tbs Ginger, grated
1 Cup Basmati Rice, dry
1 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth
2 Tbs Fresh Cilantro, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat and add onion, sauté until softened. In a medium bowl, toss chicken with lemon juice, garam masala, chili powder and salt. Add seasoned chicken, garlic, and ginger to skillet and cook until fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes. Add rice and stock to the pan and turn heat to high. Once stock comes to a boil, cover, turn heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is tender. Serve topped with cilantro.

NOTE: Always read labels carefully

Monday, June 1, 2026

Gluten-Free Emergency Kit

 
Gluten-Free Emergency Disaster Kit
Hurricane season is approaching. And while this isn’t exactly a travel tip…it is about being forced to live outside your comfort zone for a bit. What will you do if an emergency hits and you have to live without decent food, water and the other comforts of home? It always amazes me, when you ask if someone is prepared, the common response is they’ll stock up with a few extra cans of tuna and some granola bars. These people are lucky… they’ve obviously never had to miss more than a single meal due to an emergency. Oh no! My phone is broken… bring out the granola bars!
 
When you consider that the average disaster/emergency could be about 1-2 weeks without a proper stove or refrigerator what are you going to do? Truthfully, I never even thought about it myself… until one year when I actually had to use those Hurricane Shutters, I had installed on my home. That’s when I realized my family would be able to find food if they were desperate… but what about me? Was I willing to eat unsafe foods simply to survive? And would I survive if I did that? One day = 3 meals, 1 week = 21 meals, 2 weeks = 42 meals…and I’m not even willing to voluntarily do the gluten challenge to get properly diagnosed with Celiac Disease.
 
So, I decided to pack an emergency `bucket' to store in the closet just in case. Home Depot sells those bright orange "Homer" buckets with tops that seal up tight. They're brightly colored so you can find them regardless of your home's damage. And once the tops are tapped into place, they're pretty waterproof too.
 
Just fill the bucket with your emergency gear... including Gluten-Free food... and seal it up. Stow the bucket somewhere that's easily accessible. They have handles that make them easy to carry... but be careful not to make it too heavy. If you need it, you'll be functioning under less-than optimal conditions and you'll want to be able to handle it yourself. And don't forget to put it where you can actually find it. I keep mine stored inside the house in an interior walk-in closet that might actually become my shelter in the event of a Tornado. I also store blankets, jackets & sweaters there as well. During Hurricane Season I’ll probably stash water in there too.
 
Once it's closed its water tight…so you'll want food that has a long shelf life…something you won't have to worry about for a few years. I spent quite a bit of time researching online for Gluten-Free Emergency foods and found a couple sites. They have many Gluten-Free choices and you can purchase things in smaller airtight pouches, and the shelf life is five to twenty years.
 
I decided not to include anything that might have a shorter shelf life. I could always pack those things separately a little more last minute if needed. Protein Bars, Energy Bars, Vitamin/Mineral Supplements, Dried Fruit and Nuts ... these are all things I keep well stocked during the Season, but continue to use rather than waste storing them beyond their freshness dates. Even if you do need to open the bucket to remove any outdated 'goodies' and replace them with fresh, don't worry - you can get a new top at Home Depot to reseal the bucket.
 
And don't forget to store your sunscreen (the strongest you can find), some chap stick and of course bug spray!! Here in Florida these are just about as indispensable as the Gluten-Free food is.
If you get evacuated to an Emergency Shelter, take the bucket with you. You’ll find beds and clean linens and hundreds of people without a clue about eating Gluten-Free. So, take care of yourself and bring everything you’ll need with you. That way you can still eat safe and the only thing you’ll need to have is water to prepare your own food.

I packed my bucket for about $150.00 – a 1-week supply of Gluten-Free Food along with Antiseptic, Band-Aids, Batteries, Bug Spray, Flashlight, Freezer Bags, Garbage Bags, Gluten-Free Dehydrated Food, Hand Sanitizer, Knife/Fork/Spoon, Pens/Paper, Playing Cards, Pocket Games, Scissors, Soap, Stick Matches, Sun Block, Toilet Paper, Water, Work Gloves. I’m honestly hoping that I’ve wasted my money… I don’t ever really want to need to use what’s been packed inside that bucket.

Double Chocolate Macaroons

Naturally Gluten-Free Cookies 
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MACAROONS
Makes about 24 Cookies


INGREDIENTS
2 1⁄4 cups Shredded, Unsweetened Coconut
2⁄3 cup Sugar
1⁄4 cup Cocoa Powder
2 tsp Vanilla
1⁄4 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
1⁄2 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat oven to 325°
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper 

In a medium saucepan, quickly whisk eggs to combine. Add coconut, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt, and cook over medium-low heat; stirring frequently, until slightly thickened and sticky, 5–6 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl and let cool, uncovered, for 20 minutes; stir in chocolate chips and allow cooling to room temperature.

Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon portion and roll mixture into balls and place 1" apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until macaroons are just set. Be careful not to over-bake as cookies will firm up as they cool. Transfer to a wire rack to cool and store in an airtight container.

NOTE: Always read labels carefully

AmazonSmile, Gluten-Free for Life