Oven Roasted Potatoes....pure magic

Here is a little snippet of some lunch conversation today from my birthday lunch......

My Brother: "What kind of potatoes ARE these?"
ME: "Magical! They are good right?"
My Brother: "Ya, real good"

So the consensus was that these potatoes rock. I, of course, already knew that!! I love to make them with the teeny tiny potatoes from Trader Joe's. However they can also be made with regular potatoes cut into chunks. They are very easy to make....they just take time and patience...and magic. ha

 

Oven Roasted Potatoes

2-3 Bags (16oz. each bag) of Trader Joe's Teeny Tiny Potatoes (or a similar amount of regular size potatoes cut into chunks, skin on)
1 to 1 1/2 sticks of Margarine or Butter, melted
1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
1 T. Minced Onion

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a 9x13 pan sprayed with cooking spray, combine the ingredients and toss to coat the potatoes. Start with 1 stick of the margarine melted, you may need more later on if the potatoes soak it up.

Let the potatoes cook for 30 min. then stir them with a wooden spoon. Set the timer for 15 min. and then stir again. Repeat this until the potatoes have cooked for 1 1/2-2 hours. Stirring every 15 min. You may need to add the additional 1/2 stick of margarine if the potatoes begin sticking to the bottom of the pan. If they aren't sticking then you don't need it.

Potatoes should be a roasted brown. Serve immediately.

Combine all of the ingredients and toss to coat. Bake at 350 deg.

Be faithful in stirring them every 15 min. Add the extra butter if they are sticking to the pan. They will get caramelized and turn amazing if you follow the instructions.

Just like magic...look at that caramelization...yummers!

 

I hope you enjoy these potatoes. They are one of my favorites. Simple ingredients and pure yummyness!

 

-Jessica

 

 

Product Review: Crunchmaster Cheezy Crisps & Grammy Crisps

     Without further adieu.....my product review for the New Crunchmaster products!!! I have been trying to find a free moment to sit down and write the review for these. I have FINALLY found a chunk of time to do it....so I had better get this posted before someone decides I need to be doing something else! ha

     Crunchmaster was kind enough to send me a review box that contained their two new products. Cheezy Crisps and Grammy Crisps. I was more excited than a kid at Christmas when the UPS man brought the box. Some of you may have caught my picture of the box on the USASillyYaks facebook page. I have been looking forward to these products for MONTHS now!! I have been so excited. I used to LOVE cheesey crackers back in my gluten filled days (Cheez-its, goldfish, etc). So I could not wait to tear into the boxes and get started. Here is what I thought........

 

     I think that these are an OK product. I think they could be better. I was envisioning a cheese cracker more like a cheez-it or a goldfish....puffy, crunchy, with baked in cheese. Cheezy Crisps are ok, but they are more of a rice cracker with cheese dusted on the outside. That product can already be found in the gluten free market, granted it isn't in a triangle shape...but it's mostly the same taste. I was really hoping for a bolder cheese tasted that was baked into the cracker.

     To sum it up...these are ok. I may buy them but I probably won't crave them.

Now on to the Grammy Crisps...............

 



     Again, I was super excited about this product. I used to LOVE the cinnamon and sugar graham crackers. So I was very excited to give this a try. I'm also a HUGE fan of the Cinnamon Chex. However, again, I really think that the Crunchmaster product fell through with the flavor. It seems like the flavor is just sort of dusted on the outside, so it was like a rice cracker with a small amount of cinnamon and sugar on the outside. The flavor wasn't strong enough for me.
     I didn't hate it. I probably won't crave it either though.....

I really hope that Crunchmaster goes back and amps up the flavors on these two products. They have great potential and would really fill a needed niche. Those are just MY thoughts on the product....if you have tried them leave me a note and let me know what YOU thought.

-Jessica

Secret Ingredient Strawberry Pie

 
     Each time I opened the refrigerator door this weekend I had a box of strawberries that stares at me. They needed to either be eaten or used in a recipe. Unfortunately, they didn't have super flavor soooo they needed a recipe. I decided to make them into pie! I ran across a strawberry pie recipe that used jell-o and 7-up....I thought that was different so I had to give it a try. However, in their recipe they didn't use any actual strawberries in the cooked mixture....so I had to change that. I adapted the recipe to be gluten free and tweaked it and here it is:

Secret Ingredient Strawberry Pie

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 T. cornstarch
10 ounces of lemon lime soda (like 7-up or Sprite - regular or diet)
1 (3 ounce) box of strawberry gelatin
1 pound of fresh strawberries, rinsed and sliced
1 gluten free pie crust precooked and cooled
Homemade whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping

Place the sugar, salt, and 1/2 C of the sliced berries in a small saucepan and let it sit for 5-10 min. This will draw the juices out of the berries. Then use a spoon or a whisk to mash the mixture. Add the cornstarch and 7-up and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat and thoroughly whisk in the strawberry gelatin. Set aside to cool (about 10 min.)

Layer the strawberry slices in the precooked, cooled crust. Pour the gelatin mixture evenly all across the top of the strawberries. Chill until set and serve topped with a dollop of whipped cream or Cool Whip.

Shhh....these are your "secret" ingredients

 

While your pie crust is baking, slice your strawberries

Put about 1/2 C. of the sliced berries in a pan with the salt and sugar. Allow them to work on drawing the yummy strawberry juices out. Then mush the berries, add the other ingredients and cook until thickened.

Layer the sliced strawberries in the baked shell

Pour the cooked mixture over the sliced berries (don't overfill yours like I did..oops)

Refrigerate until the pie filling is set.

Top with a dollop of cool whip

 

     This pie is super simple to make if you use a pre-made crust. I just picked up a box of Kinnikinnick ready made crusts. I hope you enjoy this yummy strawberry pie.

 

-Jessica

 

 

 

 

 

Corn Casserole:Gluten Free Style

     If you have ever been to a pot luck in the Midwest, then you have probably seen a corn casserole. It is a suped up cornbread type side dish. SO good!!! However, if you are a person who eats gluten free you quickly realize that the "simple" recipe of a couple cans of corn and a Jiffy Mix aren't going to work for you. That's where I come in......I have converted it to gluten free and it is still SO yummy! Get excited!

Gluten Free Corn Casserole

1/2 C. Margarine or Butter, Melted
1/2 C. Corn Meal
1/2 C. GF Flour Mix
2 T. Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Egg
1 C. Sour Cream
1 Can of Creamed Corn
1 Can of Whole Kernel Corn, drained
1/3 C. Diced Onion OR 1 T. Minced
1/4 tsp. Black Pepper

Combine the ingredients together and mix well. Baked in a 8x8 casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 deg. for 30 minutes covered with foil, then uncover and bake another 30 minutes.

The edges are crispy and the top is slightly brown.

The inside is moist and amazing.

 

I hope you enjoy my pot luck style recipe turned gluten free.

 

-Jessica

My secret for you: Re-heating pizza to make it new again

     Want to know a secret?? How about a secret that will forever change your life? I have one for you today. I'm going to teach you the secret way to re-heat pizza. It is life changing!! You will want to name your first born after me when you are done reading this......unless it's a boy.
     We all hate soggy cold pizza. Soggy warm pizza comes in at a close second place. You put the pizza in the microwave and it comes out warm, but soggy crust. You re-heat it in the oven and it comes out overcooked and dry. ICK! So here is your life changing tip of the day!! You will need a skillet, piece of foil, and your cold pizza slice.

Place your slice into the pan. Turn the heat on very low and cover with foil.

The key is low flame and the foil to keep the heat in.

 

Check the pizza after 4 or so minutes to see if it is warm enough. You don't want to burn the bottom so be sure that heat is very low. Let the foil do it's job of keeping the heat in and warming the toppings while the direct heat from the burner crispies up your crust.

 

You know when it is warm because the cheese will get that shiny look to it, and of course it will feel warm to the touch. Once it is warm then serve immediately. You will never go back to putting pizza in the microwave again!

     I hope that you enjoy this life changing tip. I ONLY re-heat my pizza this way. I have this perfect little skillet and it is just the right size for one slice. The pizza tastes just like it did the night before (sometimes better) if you re-heat it this way. Enjoy!

-Jessica

Old chair with a new purpose.....craftyness!!

 

    You know that I have a slight Pinterest addiction. Well, this is another Pinterest project. A couple of months ago I had run across a pin for a old chair turned into a planter. Sooo cute. So, I have been keeping my eye out at sales for the perfect old chair. This past weekend I found my chair. It was only fifty cents! It was missing a seat (which I would have removed anyways), but very sturdy and ready to be painted and turned into a planter. I couldn't pass it up.......

Before......

 

 

I decided the chair didn't need much work before painting other than to wipe it down and get the dust and dirt off of it.

Then I started painting........

Once the paint was dry. I cut a square of metal window screen material and used a staple gun to secure it to the rungs on the chair, leaving a pocket to hold dirt and plants. (The pinterest pin used chicken wire, but you have to purchase a whole roll of that and only need a small amount. Screen can be purchased in smaller amounts and my parents had some laying around they donated to my project).

I then lined the mesh with coir pot liners. I bought 4 round bowl shaped liners and cut them to fit. I shaped them over the edge to cover the mesh.

The next step is to put some dirt down on the coir liners and plant some of your favorite plants. However, summer is almost over here, so I will wait until next season to put the dirt and plants into my chair. For now it will just hold a house plant or maybe a mum when those come into season.

This project was super easy and super cheap. I think it turned out cute and I can not wait to plant some flowers in it next season.

 

-Jessica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guilt Free, Gluten Free, Zucchini, Pasta Substitute

 

    I was sitting around trying to figure out what I was going to make for supper tonight. Ok, let me rephrase that......trying to decide on something semi-healthy for supper. When out of nowhere, it was like Dr. Oz heard my thoughts.....he had a person on his show talking about using zucchini for pasta.

     I absolutely LOVE spaghetti squash in place of pasta, so I had to try the zucchini. It is soooooo easy to do and it tasted very good. I can't wait to try it out with some meat sauce sometime soon.

     Ok, so here is what you need to do. Wash and dry your zucchini. Use your vegetable peeler to slice the zucchini into long thin strips. Saute the strips in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add your sauce and toss to coat. Ta-Da....you are done! Dinner is served in less than 10 minutes. 

For my pasta fake out, I used zucchini and yellow squash. Use your veggie peeler to cut the zucchini into long strips. Saute for 5 minutes and add your sauce.

Toss the "pasta" with the sauce and serve.

Ta-Da!!! You can feel a little better about that Alfredo sauce when you are putting it on top of veggie pasta.

 

Enjoy!

 

-Jessica