Pumpkin Spice Cake (Gluten and Dairy Free)

Because we ate the cake before I could take a picture every time, I found this picture that closely matches what mine looks like.  I'll replace it next time I make it! :)

Ingredients:
1.5 cup G-F flour (I use either Bob's Red Mill G-F All Purpose or Rice Flour)
1 tsp xanthan gum
1 cup brown sugar
1 can pumpkin puree (I love the organic pumpkin from Trader Joe's)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup coconut cream (I use the coconut cream from Trader Joe's, but regular coconut milk probably works too)
1 tsp. pumpkin spice, or allspice
1 tsp. baking soda

Mix together and put in 8x8 greased cake pan or similar size.  I use a bunt pan which looks really nice with the glaze.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. (I usually check it at about 35-40 minutes)

Glaze:
1/4 cup butter or Earth Balance if you are dairy-free
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar (I've found organic confectioner's sugar has a better texture for the glaze)
2 Tablespoons water
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice or allspice

Heat in small saucepan and wisk together until blended.  If you want more of an icing, add more confectioner's sugar or omit the water.  Because I use a bunt cake pan, I pour the glaze over the cake after it has cooled a bit.

*If* you aren't gluten free, I imagine using regular All-Purpose flour and omitting the xanthan gum would work, but I haven't tried it yet. :)

Pizza At Long Last!

being wheat-free, dairy-free, one of the things i miss MOST is pizza. today, i was feeling under the weather with a lingering cold and i knew that something hot and full of flavor would do the trick, at least temporarily, to make me feel better. :) luckily, the last time i was at whole foods, i had snagged some udi's gluten-free pizza crusts, which are heavenly. a quick trip to the nearby store got me some herbed goat cheese, simple marinara sauce, ground turkey, baby bella mushrooms and when i got home i threw in some basil from the garden and green olives from the fridge.

don't ask me why i chose ground turkey, but it seemed like a nice medium between chicken and pepperoni. i seasoned it with white pepper, chili powder, sea salt and shallots. after removing it from the pan, i let the mushrooms quickly cook in it's delicious pan flavor!

i piled everything carefully onto the crust and stuck it in my toaster over for about 20 minutes and it produced the most wonderful, fantastic pizza i have had in years! even dating back to the days when i could eat real pizza, this one won over a lot of those. and it DID make me feel better! can't wait to eat the leftovers...like, now! :)

Curry salsa halibut over fresh arugala

Fresh raspberries with drizzled honey and basil!

The perfect snack or dessert! Will surely cure a sweet tooth!

Goat cheese egg scramble on GF bagel with fried potatoes and avacado

Udi's is my favorite GF bread, and recently they started carrying their bagels in my local grocery store. I couldn't be happier to slather EB (butter) and grape jelly on a bagel again after all these years...plus make meals like this!
Check them out at http://udisglutenfree.com/

Herb Crusted Cod over Brown Rice Couscous

Every time I get off a tour, all I want to do is cook in my kitchen. Some call it nesting, but I get such an overwhelming urge to fill my fridge with yummy dishes, I can hardly stand it...the truth is that I just LOVE to cook!!

I was craving fish today, so I created this dish, and I will admit, it was scrumptious!!

- 2 or 3 large cod fillets, fresh
- 1/4 cup brown rice flour or any G-F flour (I use Bob's Red Mill)
- 1 Tbs "All Herb" mix (Rosemary, Thyme, Savory, Basil)
- 1 Tsp salt & 1 Tsp coarse black pepper
- half a lemon
- 1/4 cup peanut oil
- 1 Tbsp Earth Balance (butter substitute)
- 1 box Brown Rice Couscous

Rinse and pat dry the fillets. Mix the flour, herbs, salt and pepper together in a shallow dish. Toss the fillets in flour mixture until completely covered.

Heat peanut oil and EB in skillet to medium/high heat. Once hot, place coated fish in skillet. Squeeze lemon over fillets and cook for 4 minutes per side.

Cook rice Couscous as directed. Place cooked fish over couscous and top with fresh herbs. Garnish with lemon!

Lemon basil veggies over brown rice linguini with brocollini