Pizza Presto!

So I was desperate to find a GF Pizza dough that tasted good. A lot of the GF free Pizzas taste terrible in my opinion. I decided to try Pamelas's bread mix to make the Pizza crust (instructions on the pack) and it turned out awesome. I made a BBQ chicken Pizza and here is the recipe

BBQ chicken Pizza

Ingredients

10 ounces chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup Gouda cheese
2 cups mozzarella
1/4 small red onion - sliced into rings
2 tablespoons cilantro


Directions

For the Chicken

• In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil on medium high heat.
• Add chicken pieces and cook until light brown .
• Chill for 10 minutes
• Coat chicken with 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce.
• Set aside in the refrigerator for 15 minutes

For the Pizza Crust/Base

1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix
1 yeast packet (enclosed in mix)
1/4 cup oil
1-1/2 cups warm water


Dough makes two - 12 to 14-inch crusts.

• Combine Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix, yeast packet, oil and water (no eggs are used). With a Heavy Duty Stand Mixer mix on medium for 2 minutes.
• Pour 1/2 dough onto greased cookie sheet or pizza pan (for added texture sprinkle corn meal on pan).
• Use oil or non-stick spray on dough and fingers to keep fingers from sticking when spreading dough into pizza shape. Let rise 1 hour, then add sauce and toppings.
• Bake in a preheated 375º oven for 25 to 30 minutes on a lower rack. Dough will puff when baking. For a crispier crust bake at 400º or try the Pamela's Crunchy Pizza Crust recipe.

For the Toppings

• Spread 1/4 cup barbecue sauce over the surface of the each partially cooked
base.
• Distribute 1/2 of the gouda cheese over the sauce on each base.
• Distribute 1/2 of the chicken over the cheese on each base.
• Place half of the onion rings over the chicken pieces on each base.
• Place the pizzas in the oven
• Remove pizzas from the oven and sprinkle each with 1/2 of the cilantro.

Port Salut Bison Burgers

Port Salut Stuffed Bison Burgers

Ingredients
1 lb ground bison
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup BBQ Sauce
1 tbsp of Port Salut cheese
Salt & pepper


Directions
1. Mix all ingredients into bison and combine well
2. Make 8 skinny patties
3. Put Port Salut in between two patties enclose so cheese doesn’t fall out
4. You will end up with four patties total
5. Cook like you would do any hamburger

Choocolate Chip Cookies

This is a recipe of the original Nestle Toll House cookies using my GF flour mix. Works without the xanthan gum!

Chocolate Chip cookies

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups GF flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels



Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
3. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large
mixer bowl until creamy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts.
6. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
7. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool
completely.
9. Yields 60

Xanthan Gum

Since I use this in some recipes I thought I would give you some information from Wikipedia as to what this is. It's pretty expensive. I bought a small bag for $10 but it does go a long way and I do use it to make my roti/ traditional indian bread with GF flour. Without this the dough is very hard to handle.

Xanthan gum is also used in gluten-free baking. Since the gluten found in wheat must be omitted, xanthan gum is used to give the dough or batter a "stickiness" that would otherwise be achieved with the gluten. Xanthan gum also helps thicken commercial egg substitutes made from egg whites, to replace the fat and emulsifiers found in yolks. It is also a preferred method of thickening liquids for those with swallowing disorders, since it does not change the color or flavor of foods or beverages.

Brownies

So James wanted to be sweet one day and he baked me brownies. It was a regular recipe, actually Alton Brown's. So here it is with the Gluten free twist.

Ingredients

* PAM, for greasing the pan
* 4 large eggs
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 8 ounces melted butter
* 1 1/4 cups cocoa
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup GF flour
* 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch square pan.

In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs at medium speed until fluffy and light yellow. Add both sugars. Add remaining ingredients, and mix to combine.

Pour the batter into a greased 8-inch square pan and bake for 45 minutes. Check for doneness with the tried-and-true toothpick method: a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan should come out clean. When it's done, remove to a rack to cool. Resist the temptation to cut into it until it's mostly cool.
to a rack to cool. Resist the temptation to cut into it until it's mostly cool.

Cashew Chicken

The Pressure Cooker Demystified

Two things have increased my love for cooking in the recent years: one is my fiance James for being super duper helpful in the kitchen and raving about my food and the other is the purchase of a pressure cooker. Now I know you have heard the horror stories about pressure cookers blowing up and yes there is much truth behind them but the newer models have safety features and you just need to use a timer and be smart. If you like saving energy then you will love owning a pressure cooker as it quickly cooks food with delicious results. The internal temperature rises above the normal boiling point of water when under pressure, causing roasts, stews, soups and vegetables to cook faster. The shorter cooking time saves energy as well as more of the nutrients and flavors in the food. I bought mine for $20 for Bed, Bath and Beyond and I have had it for two years. They have ones that are much more expensive which, in my opinion are frivolous. I cooked mashed potatoes, lentils, meats such as beef in half an hour. Regular stove top style would take me hours and waste much more energy.