Raspberry-Lemon Scones ~ Gluten-Free

Raspberry-Lemon Scones ~ Gluten-Free

These delicious Scones are so easy to make and only require about 10 ingredients (including the usual staples – baking soda, baking powder, etc.) that we usually have in our kitchens. Plus, you can substitute whatever berries you have on hand 😉 A huge “Thank You” to Chris Scheuer of “thecafesucrefarine” for sharing the original version of this recipe – I made a few small changes to make it Gluten-Free and allergy-friendly for my family. 🙂

The Scones:

  • 1 Cup Heavy Cream
  • 8 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
  • 2 Cups All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill GF “1 to 1 Baking Flour”)
  • 6 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 Large Lemon (Zest (reserving the Juice for the glaze))
  • 1/2 Cup Fresh Raspberries, broken in half (or any other fresh berries that you have on-hand)

The Lemon Glaze:

  • 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 3 Tbsp Half & Half (or whole milk)
  • Lemon Juice from 1 large lemon (from the Lemon used in the scone mix above)

Making the Scone Dough:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking pad; set aside.
  2. Pour the 1 Cup of Heavy Cream in a freezer-proof container and freeze for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Next, melt the butter in a microwave-proof container (I do this in 30 second increments until butter is fully melted); set aside to cool a little while you prepare the rest of the dough.
  4. In a Large mixing bowl, whisk the GF Flour, Baking Powder and Soda, Sugar, Lemon Zest and Salt until thoroughly mixed.
  5. Once the Heavy Cream has been in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, combine it with the melted Butter and stir with a fork until clumps appear (looks kind of like curdled milk).
  6. Pour this Cream/Butter mix into the Flour mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until ingredients are well-combined.
  7. Gently fold the halved-raspberries into the Scone dough until the berries are evenly distributed.
  8. Dump the dough onto the prepared baking sheet and form/pat it into a circle (about 12″-14″ in diameter); place in refrigerator for 15-45 minutes.
  9. Meanwhile, place oven rack in the middle position of your oven and Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  10. Once the dough has been refrigerated for at least 15 minutes, remove from the freezer and cut into 6 or 8 “pie pieces” (triangles) – this works best with a really sharp knife that has been sprayed with a non-stick cooking oil; separate and place the triangles evenly on the sheet, leaving at least 2″ between each one.
  11. Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes (remember, all ovens heat and cook at different rates, so keep an eye on your scones) or until they are golden brown around the edges.
  12. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before icing.

Making the Lemon Glaze:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the Powdered Sugar, Half & Half and Lemon Juice; whisk until smooth and pourable (add more Powdered Sugar for a thicker consistency or add more Half & Half for a thinner consistency).
  2. Enjoy!
Breakfast, Desserts, Snacks
American, English, Irish, Scottish




Creamy Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Bacon ~ Gluten Free

Creamy Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Bacon ~ Gluten Free

Oh my! This dish is delish 😉 The tangy sun-dried tomatoes are a perfect accent for the savory chicken and bacon in this recipe! And, the creamy sauce has a tiny bit of a punch with the addition of red pepper flakes. This dish received a “Double Yum” in our house 🙂
A BIG “Thank You” to “juliasalbum.com” for sharing the original version of this recipe ~ I have tweaked the ingredients a tiny bit to make it Gluten-Free and Allergy-friendly for our family

The Chicken:

  • 3-4 large Chicken Breasts (quartered)
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika
  • 2-3 Pinches Salt
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil (you can use the oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes, if desired)
  • 2 tsp Garlic, minced (I use the already-minced Garlic in a jar)
  • 3/4 – 1 Cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes (packed in oil, drained (reserve the oil if using in place of the Olive Oil))

The Cream Sauce:

  • 1 Cup Half & Half (or Heavy Cream for a thicker sauce)
  • 1 Cup Whole Milk (you can also use 2%, 1% or Skim for a lighter version)
  • 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 1 heaping tsp Dried Basil (or 1 Tbsp Fresh, chopped)
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Ground Black Pepper (to taste)
  • 8-10 Strips bacon (cooked and crumbled)
  1. Cook Bacon until crisp, drain and set aside.
  2. Cut each Chicken Breast into quarters, sprinkle with the Salt and Paprika; set aside.
  3. In a large non-stick sauce pan, heat the 2 Tbsp. of Olive Oil (or the oil reserved from the Sun-Dried Tomatoes) over Medium heat.
  4. Once the oil is hot (the surface should be shimmering), add the Garlic and Sun-dried Tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until you start to smell the Garlic; using a slotted spoon, remove the Garlic and Sun-dried Tomatoes from the pan, leaving the oil behind, and set aside.
  5. Add the Chicken to the pan with the leftover oil, adding more oil if needed; cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side (until the chicken is a light golden brown).
  6. Remove the pan from the heat & cover; the chicken will continue to cook (about 5 minutes).
  7. Once the Chicken is no longer pink inside, remove it from the skillet and set aside; drain any juices leftover in the pan.
  8. Return the pan to the cooktop, add the Half & Half (or Heavy Cream, if using) and cook over Medium heat until it comes to a boil;
  9. Add the 1 cup of Shredded Mozzarella cheese, reduce temperature to Low, and stir until cheese has completely melted.
  10. Slowly add the 1 Cup of Whole Milk and whisk continually until mixture is smooth.
  11. Add the sauteed Sun-dried Tomatoes and Garlic to the cream sauce, mixing well;
  12. Next, add the Basil, Red Pepper Flakes and Salt; mix thoroughly.
  13. Lastly, add the cooked Chicken breasts and 1/2 of the crumbled cooked Bacon (reserving the other 1/2 for serving); heat until chicken is warm.
  14. Top with the remaining 1/2 of the Bacon and serve over rice, pasta or plain with your favorite veggies 🙂
Dinner, Main Dish




Gluten Free Lasagna in Creamy Turkey-Vodka Sauce

Gluten Free Lasagna in Creamy Turkey-Vodka Sauce

Sweet and Savory is what this Gluten Free Lasagna in Turkey-Vodka Sauce is all about!!! I have been tweaking my Vodka Sauce recipe and I think I finally got it just right 🙂 Adding 93% Lean Ground Turkey makes it thick and hearty! So, I decided to try it in my Gluten Free Lasagna dish and it passed the family’s taste test with flying colors!!! 🙂

The Turkey-Vodka Sauce Ingredients

  • 3 lbs Lean Ground Turkey (I used Butterball 93% lean)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Medium Onion, finely chopped (I used a Vidalia)
  • 3 tsp minced garlic ((or 2 cloves, minced) I used the already minced Garlic in a jar)
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • 3 15 oz. Cans Tomato Sauce (45 oz. total)
  • 1/3 + 1/4 Cup Vodka (Any unflavored Vodka will do)
  • 3 Tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Pepper
  • 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Basil
  • 1 Cup Half & Half

The Lasagna Ingredients

  • 8-10 Sheets Gluten Free Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles (I used Barilla brand)
  • 30 oz. Ricotta Cheese (I used the Low-Fat version)
  • 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Parmesan Cheese
  • 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (Or you can use 12 Mozzarella Cheese Slices)
  • Salt & Pepper (to taste)
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray

Making the Turkey-Vodka Sauce

  1. Gather the ingredients.
  2. In a Large Lidded Cooking Pot, brown the Ground Turkey until thoroughly cooked. Drain any leftover liquids and set cooked Turkey aside in large bowl.
  3. In the same large pot, heat the 2T of Olive Oil over medium-low heat. Add the chopped Onion and Garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
  4. Add the Red Pepper Flakes and cook for 1 minute.
  5. Next, add the Tomato Sauce, Vodka and cooked Turkey. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes.
  6. Throughly mix in the Tomato Paste, Balsamic Vinegar, Sugar, Salt & Pepper. Simmer on Low for 15-20 minutes, partially covered.
  7. Stir in the Basil and Half & Half and continue cooking for another 5 minutes on low.

Building the Lasagna

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Spray a 9″ x 13″ or 10″ x 14″ baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. In a medium or large mixing bowl, stir salt & pepper into the Ricotta Cheese until thoroughly mixed. *I used about 1/2 tsp Salt and 1/8 tsp Pepper.
  4. To assemble the Lasagna layers, evenly spread a layer of the Turkey-Vodka sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking pan – it takes about 2 cups.
  5. The next layer is the sheets of Lasagna Noodles – since I used a 10″ x 14″ pan, I used 4 whole sheets placed side-by-side and 1 broken sheet to fill in any large empty gaps/spaces. If you’re using a 9″x13″ pan, 4 sheets should suffice.
  6. Top the Lasagna Sheets with another layer of Vodka Sauce, making sure that the sheets are completely covered with sauce.
  7. Sprinkle about 1/3 each of the shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheeses evenly over the sauce layer. *If you’re using Mozzarella slices, sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese first, then place Mozzarella slices on top of the Parmesan.
  8. Next, add a thick layer of the Ricotta Cheese and spread with a fork. *The Ricotta Cheese is easier to spread on Mozzarella Slices 😉
  9. Repeat steps: Add another layer of Sauce, Lasagna Sheets, Parmesan & Mozzarella, another thick layer of Ricotta Cheese, another layer of Sauce, and sprinkle top with Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. *Note: I had a little bit of Ricotta Cheese leftover.
  10. Spray the underside of a sheet of Aluminum Foil with non-stick cooking spray and cover the Lasagna.
  11. Bake covered in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes.
  12. Let rest about 15 minutes before slicing.
  13. Enjoy!

I used a 10″ x 14″ baking pan and cut the Lasagna into 15 pieces – each serving contains approximately:

388 Calories

17.5 g Total Fat

552 mg Sodium

32.15 g Protein

 

 




Creamy Garlic Chicken with Spinach & Bacon

Creamy Garlic Chicken with Spinach & Bacon

If you’re searching for a tasty Chicken dish for these cold Winter nights that will satisfy just about any palate, look no further! This creamy recipe is not only savory and rich, but hearty and filling! And, if you’re not in the mood for Bacon (who in the world would NOT be?!), just substitute Sundried Tomatoes. This dish is quick and easy to make 🙂
Many thanks to eatwell101 for sharing this delicious recipe!!!

  • 6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (Rinsed and patted dry with paper towels)
  • 2 tsp Olive Oil
  • 2 Tbsp Butter (salted or unsalted)
  • 3 tsp Garlic (chopped (I use the already chopped garlic in a jar from the produce section))
  • 1/3 Cup Chicken Broth
  • 5-6 Crispy Bacon Strips (If you’re substituting Sundried Tomatoes, use as much or as little as you want (I usually add about 5 Tablespoons))
  • 1 3/4 Cup Half & Half (You may also use Heavy Cream or Skim Milk)
  • 3 Cups Spinach Leaves (Fresh)
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Basil
  • Salt & Pepper (to taste)
  • 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese (Shredded)
  • Crushed Chili Pepper Flakes (Optional)
  • 1 tsp Cornstarch (mixed with 1 Tablespoon water if you need/want a thicker sauce)
  1. Gather your ingredients.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the Olive Oil over low to medium heat (our cooktop runs quite hot, so I cook this between Low and Medium heat).
  3. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and add to the skillet, adjusting the temperature to brown both sides. Cook about 6-8 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the breasts. Remove the chicken breasts from the skillet, once they’re cooked and set aside (you may place them in a warm oven).
  4. Next, add the butter to the skillet, mixing with the leftover chicken juices. Once melted, add the garlic and cook for approximately 1 minute.
  5. Add the Chicken Broth to the butter and garlic mixture in the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes to reduce down slightly. Add the Bacon (or the Sundried Tomatoes) and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  6. Add the Half & Half (or Heavy Cream or Skim Milk) to the skillet and continue cooking over Low Heat until mixture starts to bubble, stirring frequently. Add the Basil and Oregano (and salt & pepper to taste, optional).
  7. Add the Spinach and Parmesan Cheese and simmer until Spinach has wilted and cheese has melted. At this stage, if you want a thicker sauce, add the Cornstarch & Water mixture, mixing well. Continue simmering and stirring often.
  8. Once the sauce has reached the desired consistency, add the chicken breasts back into the skillet, coating well with the sauce. Add the chili pepper flakes, if using.
  9. Heat for a few minutes to warm the chicken. Top each breast with the savory garlic sauce and extra Bacon, if desired. Serve over steamed rice and your favorite veggie. Enjoy!
Main Dish




Chicken Dijon

Chicken Dijon

My family’s all-time FAVORITE Chicken recipe! I have been making this dish ever since my husband and I got married back in the early 1990s and it has become my “Go To” recipe for dinner, Church potlucks, neighborhood get togethers and school fundraisers. Everyone who eats this dish begs for the recipe! It is perfect for those chilly Autumn nights…a velvety smooth and creamy dish to warm the belly :). Enjoy!

  • 4 Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Trimmed, Rinsed & Dried)
  • 3 Tablespoons Salted Butter
  • 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 Cup Chicken Broth (I use the Reduced Sodium one)
  • 1/2 Cup Half & Half (You can substitute with Whole Milk, 2%, 1% or Skim for a lighter version)
  • 3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2-3 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley (Minced; You can substitute with Dry Parsley, but reduce to 1/2-1 Tablespoon if you do)
  1. Gather all ingredients.
    Preheat oven to approximately 250 degrees (this is for keeping chicken warm while preparing the Dijon sauce).

  2. In a large skillet, melt the butter.
  3. Add the Chicken Breasts and cook over Medium to Medium-High heat for 20 minutes (10 minutes per side) until lightly browned.
  4. Transfer Chicken to a warming dish and place in the preheated oven, leaving the drippings behind.
  5. Add the Flour to the drippings in the large skillet and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk.
  6. Add the Chicken Broth and Half & Half to the flour mixture, stirring with the whisk over Medium-High heat until it thickens and begins to bubble.
  7. Reduce heat to Medium and add the Dijon Mustard, mixing well with the whisk.
  8. Return the Chicken to the skillet, cover and heat for approximately 10 minutes.
  9. Add the Parsley just before serving.
  10. Serve with your favorite side dish (I usually serve it with Rice and a steamed vegetable or salad).

I sometimes prepare this dish in the oven by making the sauce first in a saucepan, then dumping it over uncooked Chicken Breasts in a large baking dish and cooking it for 25-30 minutes in a 400 degree oven (inside temperature of Chicken should measure 165 degrees). I usually turn the chicken over once or twice while baking.

Serve over rice and pair with a steamed vegetable or fresh salad and a nice glass of Pinot Grigio!

Main Dish