Author: Michelle

Gluten Free Bagels and Lox

Gluten Free Bagels and Lox

I grew up having bagel and lox family Sunday brunches most of my life. So when I started following a gluten free diet, I really felt like I was missing out. Sitting around the table, everyone would talk about how delicious and fresh their bagel was and compare this week’s bagels to last week’s (no exaggeration!). Luckily, Trader Joe’s has gluten free bagels that when toasted properly totally do the trick. I can’t partake in all of the bagel banter but at least I can enjoy my Gluten Free Bagels and Lox!

Chicken Salad with Grapes and Toasted Pecans

Chicken Salad with Grapes and Toasted Pecans

My whole family loves this chicken salad. You know a recipe is really good when everyone goes back for seconds and thirds. It starts with the chicken being shredded instead of cubed which does wonders for the consistency of the chicken salad. Then in each bite there’s a nutty crunch from the toasted pecans combined with the sweet juiciness from grapes. And the little bit of garlic powder goes a long way to give the chicken salad that extra umph! Warning…this chicken salad is addictive.

Turmeric Coconut Crunch Rice with Wilted Spinach

Turmeric Coconut Crunch Rice with Wilted Spinach

Turmeric Coconut Crunch Rice with Wilted Spinach differentiates itself from other rice dishes with its sesame/coconut/lime/scallion crunch topping. The crunch topping is soooo good! Sprinkle it on the creamy coconut rice fragrant with turmeric, garlic, and ginger and spiked with wilted greens throughout to make this a winning rice dish.

Grilled Romaine with Creamy Caesar Dressing

Grilled Romaine with Creamy Caesar Dressing

Grilled Romaine with Creamy Caesar Dressing is a fresh twist on the classic Caesar Salad. Grilling the romaine hearts takes the Caesar salad experience to the next level. The lettuce remains crunchy despite being browned and the warmth of the leaves allows the creamy dressing to seep into the crevices. It’s hard to go back to Classic Caesar after tasting this version.

Gluten Free Soft Shell Crabs with Balsamic Tomato Caper Sauce

Gluten Free Soft Shell Crabs with Balsamic Tomato Caper Sauce

I love soft shell crabs! They’re so different from most other seafood because you actually eat the whole crab…shell and all. Gluten Free Soft Shell Crabs with Balsamic Tomato Caper Sauce is one of my favorite soft shell crab preparations. The sauce is sublime, velvety and pairs perfectly with the delicate crispiness of the crabs.

Spice-Rubbed Chicken with Lemon-Shallot Sauce

Spice-Rubbed Chicken with Lemon-Shallot Sauce

The secret ingredient in Spice-Rubbed Chicken with Lemon-Shallot Sauce is the allspice which is included in the dry rub. When the allspice is combined with a popping lemon tang from the sauce, the resulting dish presents with an exciting and fresh new flavor. If you don’t use allspice in your cooking, try it as a change to the normal spices you use. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Lemongrass Chicken

Lemongrass Chicken

Lemongrass Chicken is big on taste yet takes less than a 1/2 hour to make…from start to finish. Keep this recipe in your back pocket for nights when you’re short on time but don’t want to compromise on flavor.

Fresh Mozzarella with Roasted Peppers and Olives

Fresh Mozzarella with Roasted Peppers and Olives

The combination of Roasted Peppers, Fresh Mozzarella and Kalamata Olives makes a simple and very tasty Italian salad. It has the creaminess of the mozzarella, with the saltiness of the olives and the richness of the peppers tied together with a slightly tangy balsamic syrup drizzle.

Crab Louie Cobb Salad

Crab Louie Cobb Salad

My friend Susan and I discovered the Crab Louie salad while vacationing in Florida. The Crab Louie Cobb Salad is my twist on the traditional version of that salad…amped up a few notches. For me the key is to have big lumps of crabmeat throughout the salad so that you get a nice chunk of crab in each bite.

Halloumi Toast (Gluten Free) with Grapefruit Marmalade

Halloumi Toast (Gluten Free) with Grapefruit Marmalade

Halloumi cheese wasn’t on my radar until recently. But once it was, it became an addiction. Cooking the Halloumi brings out the complexity of the cheese- the salty, savory and tangy flavors. Pair warm Halloumi with a sweet and slightly-tart grapefruit marmalade on toast, and you have created the perfect Mediterranean breakfast (or snack)…Halloumi Toast (Gluten Free) with Grapefruit Marmalade.

Sizzled Lamb Chops with Browned Garlic Cloves

Sizzled Lamb Chops with Browned Garlic Cloves

If you’re looking for an extremely simple lamb chop recipe that takes less than five minutes to cook and delivers big on taste, Sizzled Lamb Chops with Browned Garlic Cloves is for you. I recently discovered this recipe and have already made it many times. Each time is as delicious as the first.

Snap-‘n-Peel Sautéed Asparagus

Snap-‘n-Peel Sautéed Asparagus

Try my snap-‘n-peel method for the tastiest asparagus…it’s the secret to creating tender asparagus bottoms. My mom is the one who taught me this simple trick! Most people love the asparagus tips, but in my family we love the tender bottoms best. Try Snap-‘n-Peel Sautéed Asparagus and see if your family agrees!

Mom’s Saucy Brisket – Gluten Free

Mom’s Saucy Brisket – Gluten Free

Are you having friends over for dinner or hosting a holiday meal and not sure what to serve? Consider making Mom’s Saucy Brisket Gluten Free. It’s delicious and simple to make…and a little goes a long way. The best part is you can make it 2-3 days in advance and simply reheat when serving.

Crispy Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings

Crispy Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings

These wings are deliciously crispy, tangy and finger-lickin’ amazing! Cooking them on a wire rack first at a low temp and then finishing them off at a very high temp allows the fat to drain away from the wings producing the extra crispy skin we all crave in our buffalo wings…and without deep frying!

Smashed Thyme Potatoes with Aioli and Balsamic Syrup

Smashed Thyme Potatoes with Aioli and Balsamic Syrup

Each potato is a crispy gem that bursts with flavor and texture. The roasting caramelizes the garlic and crisps the mashed edges of the potatoes. The warm potato with the cool Aioli topped with the tangy Balsamic Syrup drizzle completes the complexity of the dish. Each bite is a tasty treat that will keep you coming back for more.

Grilled Corned Beef Specials – Gluten Free

Grilled Corned Beef Specials – Gluten Free

Growing up I loved corned beef specials on rye bread, especially grilled ones. Oh, the memories — sooo good and sooo messy! Just because I can’t eat rye bread anymore, doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a grilled corned beef special. With this recipe, you and I can have our delicious, messy Grilled Corned Beef Specials Gluten Free, just without the bread… and nothing is lost in the taste department!

Carrot Ginger Soup – (no cream!)

Carrot Ginger Soup – (no cream!)

Carrot Ginger Soup – (no cream) is a delicious, healthy soup that can either be served as a meal or as a starter. The combination of carrots and ginger works great together and the resulting soup is velvety and creamy yet there’s no cream… it’s all vegetables and spices.

Citrus Dill Gravlax

Citrus Dill Gravlax

Gravlax is always a party, holiday and brunch favorite. Citrus Dill Gravlax is one of the easiest gravlax recipes to make because unlike other gravlax recipes, this one is left undisturbed in the refrigerator for 3 days…no turning every 12 hours! Love it!! Plus, gravlax can be sliced a day ahead and arranged on a platter a few hours in advance of serving to further simplify your pre-party, holiday or brunch to-do list.

Thousand Island Dressing

Thousand Island Dressing

Use this dressing on sandwiches, salads and cold seafood such as shrimp cocktail. Thousand Island is especially perfect when used on the Grilled Naked Corned Beef Special and the Crab Louie Cobb Salad recipes posted on my site. Making a homemade dressing doesn’t get much easier than this.

Blue Cheese Dressing

Blue Cheese Dressing

Whether you want to use this dressing for a Wedge Salad or as a dipping sauce for your wings, you’ll be happy with the zing, tang and texture in this amped-up version.

Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette

Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette

This dressing is one of my most requested recipes. It’s a classic and never disappoints.

Homemade French Dressing

Homemade French Dressing

Bye Bye bottled French dressing. Instead of buying pre-made, bottled dressing, I’ve discovered that making a batch of Homemade French dressing is the ticket. Put it on a salad or use it as a sandwich condiment. Either way you’ll be totally satisfied.

Creamy Caesar Dressing

Creamy Caesar Dressing

Once I tasted this version of Caesar Dressing, I was in love. Creamy Caesar Dressing has just the right amount of creaminess and saltiness combined with little bits of delicious grated parmesan. Pair the dressing with GFchow’s Grilled Romaine Salad. You be glad you did!

Chicken Wings Africana

Chicken Wings Africana

I usually make a double batch of these wings because each time I make them, they fly off the plate. The combination of spices creates such great flavor they don’t need a sauce.

Easy Deviled Eggs

Easy Deviled Eggs

Easy Deviled Eggs are versatile and tasty. They’re perfect for breakfast, as a snack, or served as an appetizer for a party or holiday.

Blistered Green Beans

Blistered Green Beans

Simple, quick and extremely tasty. It doesn’t get better than that!

Honey-Glazed Sweet Potato Wedges

Honey-Glazed Sweet Potato Wedges

Honey-Glazed Sweet Potato Wedges take sweet potatoes to another level. Slice them into wedges and roast with olive oil to make them crispy on the outside and creamy, smooth on the inside. Then drizzle honey for the last ten minutes of roasting to create a wonderful candied-coating that makes these sweet potato wedges totally irresistible!

Gluten Free Crab Cakes with Chili-Garlic Mayo

Gluten Free Crab Cakes with Chili-Garlic Mayo

If you like jumbo lump crab cakes, Gluten Free Crab Cakes with Chili-Garlic Mayo is for you. Whether you’re entertaining friends or just feel like having a delicious family dinner, these crab cakes are the ticket. You won’t be disappointed.

Sauteed Baby Bok Choy with Shiitake Mushrooms

Sauteed Baby Bok Choy with Shiitake Mushrooms

I saw a big bag of enticing-looking baby bok choy at the korean market the other day. When I bought the bok choy, I had no recipe in mind. After getting home, I saw that I had a package of shiitake mushrooms. So I sautéed the two together and thoroughly enjoyed result.

Crispy Trout with Lemon and Capers – Gluten Free

Crispy Trout with Lemon and Capers – Gluten Free

If you like crispy skin, tangy lemon and salty capers, Crispy Trout with Lemon and Capers is for you. I was pleasantly surprised by how much everyone in my family loved the combination. But I was completely shocked when I started getting dinner requests for crispy trout from the kids. That’s a sure sign you have a recipe winner!

Sautéed Mushroom Medley

Sautéed Mushroom Medley

When I find interesting mushrooms at the market, I buy them because there is nothing as tasty as a sautéed mushroom medley.

Homemade Roasted Peppers

Homemade Roasted Peppers

There’s a big difference between homemade roasted peppers and those from a jar. Because it’s so easy to make roasted peppers, you’ll never have to compromise again.

Gadgets

Gadgets

I thought I would share with you some of the kitchen items I use most often as I am cooking. I have provided links directly to Amazon for ease of shopping.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes

These Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes are so good…crispy on the edges, cake-like on the inside with just the right amount of pumpkin and all from a box mix.

Coconut Curry Chicken with Spinach, Mushrooms and Pine Nuts – Gluten Free

Coconut Curry Chicken with Spinach, Mushrooms and Pine Nuts – Gluten Free

I have been making Coconut Curry Chicken with Spinach, Mushrooms and Pine Nuts for years and it’s one of my all-time favorite recipes. Each time I eat it, I feel the same satisfaction bite after bite. The spinach, mushrooms, and noodles (or rice) soak up the coconut cream and the nuts add a subtle nutty crunch and texture so that every forkful has the perfect balance of flavor and texture.

Sugar-Seared Salmon

Sugar-Seared Salmon

If you’re not the biggest salmon fan, this Sugar-Seared Salmon recipe may convert you. The sugar in this simple rub helps create candied, perfectly crispy skin while the meat of the salmon stays moist and juicy. This dish could just as easily be called “Salmon Candy!”

Quick-style Korean Pickles

Quick-style Korean Pickles

I love super-easy recipes that are big on flavor. This is one of those! Combine a few sauce ingredients together and add sliced cucumbers. Mix together and let marinate for at least 10 minutes. That’s it!

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup-(Gluten Free)

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup-(Gluten Free)

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup is the Best. Soup. Ever. And so versatile. Whether you want to keep it all veggies or add tofu, shrimp and/or crab, this soup strikes the perfect balance…rich, slightly spicy, colorful, tasty and filling. It’s an amazing meal in a bowl.

Crispy Fried Eggs

Crispy Fried Eggs

In my humble opinion a runny fried egg completes just about any dish — a burger, pizza, salad, etc. The only thing better than a runny fried egg is a runny CRISPY fried egg!

Old-Fashioned Egg Salad

Old-Fashioned Egg Salad

Forget about buying Egg Salad at the market. There’s no need with this quick, easy and delicious recipe for Old-Fashioned Egg Salad.

Crispy Olive Oil-Baked Potatoes

Crispy Olive Oil-Baked Potatoes

The skin on these potatoes is crispy and very flavorful while the inside is piping hot and smooth. Put them in the oven for 1 hour 15 minutes and serve them with your favorite toppings.

Michelle’s House Salad

Michelle’s House Salad

I make this salad 3-4 times a week. I make it so often, I’ve named it Michelle’s House salad! It’s my go-to dinner salad. Simple, colorful, crunchy and most importantly…tasty. I generally use my Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette as the dressing.

Raspberry Baked Brie

Raspberry Baked Brie

My daughter, Lindsey, loves loves Baked Brie. When I make it for a party or gathering she gets so excited. I have to admit, baked brie always seems to be a party favorite. And there are so many possible variations, the recipe can always seem new and exciting.

Satay Breakfast Toast-(Gluten Free)

Satay Breakfast Toast-(Gluten Free)

Satay Breakfast Toast sounds strange–I know. But try it. If you like peanut butter, I bet you’ll like it. Toast up your favorite gluten free bread, spread some peanut butter, sprinkle cilantro and scallions, and finish with a drizzle of sriracha. Take a bite, close your eyes, and enjoy the great combo of flavors that burst in your mouth.

Avocado and Cucumber Plate

Avocado and Cucumber Plate

The combination of crunchy cucumbers with creamy avocado is perfect.

Perfectly Cooked Hard-Boiled Eggs

Perfectly Cooked Hard-Boiled Eggs

Perfectly Cooked Hard-Boiled Eggs are very easy to make and they are a quick, nutritious breakfast or snack. This recipe produces hard boiled eggs with perfectly yellow yolks…every time.

Homemade Chunky Guacamole

Homemade Chunky Guacamole

Homemade guacamole is so good. There’s no reason to buy the pre-made stuff when making the real-deal is so easy.

Spatchcocked Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Spatchcocked Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Spatchcocked Lemon Rosemary Chicken sounds like a fancy dish but this one I buy from Trader Joe’s in the refrigerated section where they sell other chicken products. Spatchcocked Lemon Rosemary Chicken is a great, simple weekday dinner dish. The chicken is pre-marinated and oven-ready. As the chicken cooks the skin gets deliciously crispy and the meat is infused with a wonderful lemony flavor. Weekday cooking doesn’t get easier than this!

Chicken Skewers with Spicy Satay Sauce

Chicken Skewers with Spicy Satay Sauce

I discovered these chicken skewers at Costco. They are moist, pre-cooked, gluten free and seasoned really well. I made a simple, homemade spicy satay sauce ahead of time that paired perfectly with the skewers. A great football game-day appetizer.

Creamless Pureed Mushroom Soup

Creamless Pureed Mushroom Soup

Don’t be fooled by the nondescript color of this Creamless Pureed Mushroom soup…it’s pure mushroom deliciousness and without any cream!

Arugula with Apples, Goat Cheese Crumbles, and (GF) Granola

Arugula with Apples, Goat Cheese Crumbles, and (GF) Granola

Arugula with Apples, Goat Cheese Crumbles and Homemade Gluten Free Granola is a riff on the original salad my stepdaughter, Amelia, and sister-in-law Meg created one summer. The pairing of fruit with arugula, goat cheese and granola is dyn-o-mite and I’ve been making this salad ever since. As the seasons change, so does my fruit selection.

Gluten Free Panko Crusted Chicken Breasts

Gluten Free Panko Crusted Chicken Breasts

Gluten Free Panko Crusted Chicken Breasts is a simple chicken dish that pops with flavor. The mustard/gf-soy coating adds a layer of flavor to the chicken that is unexpected and the gluten free bread crumbs add the perfect crunch factor. This is a kid (and adult) favorite.

Lunches from the Heart

Lunches from the Heart

Lunches from the Heart is a free lunch program I developed to help feed the homeless, hungry and/or food insecure in the Philadelphia area.

Avocado and Cilantro Salad with Homemade French Dressing

Avocado and Cilantro Salad with Homemade French Dressing

I especially like using French Dressing when my salads contain avocado and cilantro. The homemade dressing for this recipe is sooo good. Just the right amount of sweet, tang and spice. The Avocado and Cilantro Salad with the Homemade French Dressing is a great combo…a trifecta of sorts!

Homemade Gluten Free Granola

Homemade Gluten Free Granola

Homemade Gluten Free Granola is delicious…crunchy, nutty and not too sweet. Add it to your yogurt, salad, fruit cobbler or eat it plain. You won’t be disappointed. And the wafting smell in your kitchen as it’s baking is just scrumptious!