Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Breakfast Rolls ~ Gluten Free – Yum!

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Breakfast Rolls ~ Gluten Free – Yum!

These taste just like the ones I remember from my childhood AND they’re gluten-free! My oldest daughter states that they remind her of a better version of the ones from the can 😉 These GF Cinnamon Rolls truly are yummy and are surprisingly easy to make! Now, our family can have our annual Cinnamon Rolls on Christmas morning (and weekend mornings!)!!! A BIG “Thank You” to Nicole @ glutenfreeonashoestring for sharing this wonderful recipe 🙂

Ingredients for the Rolls:

  • 3 1/4 Cups Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour (I use Better Batter brand and it works beautifully)
  • 1 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum (use ONLY if your GF Flour blend doesn’t already contain it – (Better Batter brand already contains Xanthan Gum, so I skip this ingredeint))
  • 1/2 Cup Nonfat Dry Milk (you can also use cultured buttermilk blend powder)
  • 2 tsp Rapid Rise or Instant Yeast
  • 1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
  • 2 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar (packed)
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (softened to room temperature)
  • 1 Large Egg, lightly beaten (at room temperature)
  • 1 1/2 Cups Warm Water (approximately 95 degrees )

Ingredients for the Filling:

  • 6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (softened to room temperature; divided)
  • 1 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar (packed & divided)
  • 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon (divided)

Ingredients for the Glaze:

  • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Milk (I use Whole Milk, but any kind is fine)
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  1. Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish; set aside

Making the Dough:

  1. Using a Stand or Handheld Mixer, fitted with the Paddle attachment, combine the GF Flour, Xanthan Gum (only if needed), Nonfat Dry Milk, Yeast, Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda, Brown Sugar and Salt; mix until completely blended.
  2. Next, slowly add the Vinegar, Butter and Egg; mix until thoroughly blended.
  3. Lastly, with the Mixer set on Low, add the Warm Water gradually in a slow, steady stream…let it trickle down the inside of the bowl until all of the Water has been added.
  4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then turn the Mixer up to Med-High and let mix for 3 minutes; dough should be moist and starting to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
  5. Gently scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured working surface; lightly flour the top with more flour and gently knead until smooth.
  6. Divide the dough in half and place half under a towel or plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
  7. Lightly flour the working half of the dough and roll into a rectangle, about 9″ x 12″ and 1/2″ thick, with a rolling pin (add flour as needed to prevent sticking).

Adding the Filling:

  1. Using an offset spatula or a butter knife, spread 1/2 of the softened butter onto the dough, leaving a 1″ border around the edges.
  2. Next, sprinkle 1/2 of the Brown Sugar on top of the butter and gently pat it down with your fingers; sprinkle 1/2 of the Cinnamon onto the Brown Sugar.
  3. Starting on one of the short sides of the dough, roll tightly into a coil/tube and gently pinch the end of the roll with the body of the roll to seal together.
  4. Using a very sharp knife, slice the dough roll into 2″ wide sections (I know this seems quite large, but you’re going to press them down) and place them into the prepared Baking Dish, about 1″ apart; gently press each roll down by about 1/3.
  5. Repeat these steps with the remaining half of the dough and filling.
  6. Cover the Baking Dish with lightly oiled plastic wrap (I use non-stick cooking spray) and place in a warm, draft-free place to rise for about 1 hour; the dough should double in size.

Baking the Rolls:

  1. Once the dough has almost finished rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Remove the plastic wrap and bake on the center rack for about 23-27 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked in the middle.
  3. Let cool to room temperature before adding the glaze.

Making the Glaze:

  1. While the rolls are cooling, combine the Powdered Sugar, Milk and Cinnamon in a small bowl, mixing until smooth; add additional Milk, a little at a time, if needed to reach desired consistency (the glaze should be thick, but able to be drizzled)
  2. Enjoy!!!
Breakfast, Desserts, Snacks




Brown Sugar & Garlic Pork Chops with Yukon Gold Potatoes

Brown Sugar & Garlic Pork Chops with Yukon Gold Potatoes

Are you looking for a quick & easy dinner recipe? This one-dish sweet and savory Pork recipe is perfect for those nights when you just don’t feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen 😉 I sometimes use thin Pork Chops, if I’m in a hurry and when I have more time, I use thick Pork Chops and slice them after cooking. I particularly like this recipe, because it only requires 5 ingredients (not including salt & pepper) and it tastes like you’ve been cooking all day 🙂 A 5-Star recipe in our home!
Note: If you do not like Pork, Chicken is a wonderful substitute

Equipment:

  • 9″ x 13″ Baking Dish
  • Large Mixing Bowl

The Ingredients:

  • 3-4 Thin or Thick Pork Chops (Pat dry; Note: see Instructions for comments on thickness of Pork)
  • 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar (Increase to 3/4 Cup if you prefer a sweeter taste)
  • 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic (I use the already minced Garlic in a Jar from the produce section)
  • 1/2 + 1/4 tsp Table Salt (1/2 tsp for the Potatoes; 1/4 tsp for the Pork)
  • 1/4 + 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper (1/4 tsp for the Potatoes; 1/4 tsp for the Pork)
  • 8-10 small/medium Yukon Gold Potatoes, thinly sliced (I use Yukon Gold for their buttery flavor, but any potatoe will do 😉 Use enough to cover the bottom of your baking dish)
  • 2 + 1 Tbsp Canola Oil (2 Tbsp for the Potatoes; 1 Tbsp for the Pork)
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Gather the ingredients.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced Potatoes, 1/2 tsp Salt, 1/4 tsp Pepper and 2 Tablespoons Oil. Toss to coat well and spread into the 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
    Note: If my Pork Chops are on the thinner side, I place the potatoes in the oven while I prepare the Pork Chops, to give the potatoes a little head start 😉
  4. Using the same large bowl that you used for the Potatoes, combine the Brown Sugar, Garlic, 1/4 tsp Salt, 1/4 tsp Pepper and 1 Tbsp Oil. Mix well.
  5. Add the Pork Chops to the Brown Sugar mixture, one at a time, turning them over and kind of “mushing” them around to coat well. Place the Pork Chops on top of the Potatoes in the baking dish. Note: if you have any leftover Brown Sugar mixture drop it amongst the potatoes.
  6. Bake, uncovered, for approximately 30 to 35 minutes, depending on the thickness of your Pork Chops. The Pork is done when the internal temperature measures 145 degrees.
  7. If your Pork Chops are on the thicker side, slice thinly and serve on top of the Potatoes, being certain to drizzle some of the yummy juices over the top before serving.
  8. Serve with your favorite veggie and enjoy 🙂
Dinner, Main Dish




Zucchini Bread – Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free

Zucchini Bread – Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free

This moist, delicious Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Zucchini Bread is packed full of nutrients and spices! I always make a double batch (this recipe is for 2 loaves), because it disappears very quickly in our house 😉 I attempted to make a Vegan version (substituting applesauce for the eggs) for my daughter, but it turned out like a VERY wet brick…I will continue trying different Vegan versions until I succeed! In the meantime, let me know what you think of this GF, DF version 🙂

  • 3 Cups Zucchini, shredded (water squeezed out)
  • 4 Cups Better Batter All Purpose Gluten Free Flour Mix (You can use other cup-for-cup GF flours, but end results may vary)
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2-3 Tbsp Granulated Sugar (for sprinkling in both pans)
  • 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar (Firmly Packed)
  • 5 tsp Baking Powder, GF
  • 1 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Zest
  • 1 1/2 Cups Plain Rice Milk (or any other non-dairy unflavored milk (if you’re not DF, you can use Skim, 1%, 2% or Whole Milk))
  • 1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil (I use Canola)
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Large Eggs (lightly beaten)
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray
  • 1/2 Cup Pecans or Walnuts, chopped (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Gather the ingredients.
  3. Spray two 8″ x 4″ loaf pans with the non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle all sides and bottom of each pan with about 1 Tbsp Granulated Sugar. Set aside.

The Flour Mixture:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the GF Flour, 1 Cup Granulated Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, Baking Powder, Spices and Lemon Zest. Mix thoroughly and form a well in the center. Set aside.

The Zucchini Mixture:

  1. Using a food processor or handheld grater, shred the Zucchini and place on paper towels in a large bowl to absorb the water.
  2. In another large bowl, mix the milk, oil, vanilla and eggs until well combined. Add the shredded zucchini and mix well.

Making the Batter:

  1. Add the Zucchini Mixture to the center of the Flour Mixture.
  2. Mix well using a fork to start with to help break up the Zucchini. Then switch to a large spoon to ensure that you get all of the ingredients off of the bottom. (Note: if you’re adding nuts, do so at this step).

Baking the Bread:

  1. Divide the batter between the two prepared loaf pans. If desired, you may sprinkle the tops with additional granulated sugar.
  2. Bake on the center rack for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  3. Cool in their pans for about 10 minutes.
  4. Transfer loaves to wire cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing.
  5. Enjoy!
Breakfast, Desserts, Lunch, Snacks, Sweet Breads




Baked Turkey-Ranch Meatballs with Spicy Avocado Sauce (Gluten Free)

Baked Turkey-Ranch Meatballs with Spicy Avocado Sauce (Gluten Free)

Oh my goodness! These savory and slightly sweet meatballs paired with the spicy Avocado dipping sauce is out of this world!!! I always make a triple batch when I’m making any type of meatball, so I can freeze some for another busy night. However, after making a triple batch of these yummy meatballs, I didn’t have enough to freeze…my family LOVED them and not only went back for seconds, but thirds 🙂 I served this with a fresh salad, topped with cucumbers, strawberries and a store-bought Honey Poppy Seed dressing…delicious! I hope you enjoy 🙂

The Meatballs:

  • 3 lbs Ground Turkey
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Cup Gluten Free Seasoned Bread Crumbs
  • 1/8 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons (heaping) Ranch Dressing Powder Mix (I use Hidden Valley Ranch)
  • 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar (I do not pack this)
  • 2-3 Pinches Ground Black Pepper

The Spicy Avocado Sauce:

  • 1 Large Ripe Avocado (seed removed and sliced into smaller pieces)
  • 2/3 Cup Mayonnaise (I use Hellmann’s Mayonnaise)
  • 2/3 Cup Buttermilk or Buttermilk Substitute (Since Buttermilk is difficult to find right now, you can make your own: pour 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar (or Lemon Juice) in a 1 Cup measuring cup, then add milk of your choice to fill remaining cup (I used Plain Rice Milk))
  • 3-4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 3 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • Dried Parsley (for sprinkling on top)

Making the Meatballs:

  1. Gather the meatball ingredients.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  3. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the Turkey Meatball ingredients and mix very well, either with a fork or your hands.
  5. Using a 2″ cookie scooper (or spoon), scoop turkey mixture onto the prepared baking sheets (16 meatballs per sheet). You may either form the meatballs using your hands or just drop meatballs directly onto sheet using the cookie scooper.
  6. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until inside temperature measures 165 degrees (I usually cut the center-most meatball in half to check for any pinkness).

Making the Spicy Avocado Dipping Sauce:

  1. Gather the Avocado ingredients.
  2. While the meatballs are cooking, blend the Avocado ingredients (except for the Parsley) in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour into serving bowl and top with dried Parsley. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. Once the meatballs are cooked, drizzle some Spicy Avocado Sauce over the tops and serve with your favorite veggie! Yum!!!

*Thank you to californiaavocado.com for sharing the Spicy Avocado Ranch Dressing recipe…I made a few minor adjustments 😉

Appetizers, Dinner, Hors d’Oeuvres, Lunch, Main Dish
American




Quick & Easy Barbecue Chicken Biscuits ~ Kids Love Them!

Easy Barbecue Chicken Biscuits

Kids adore these Barbecue Chicken Biscuits shaped into little Cups! They're slightly sweet and will remind you of those "Manwich Sloppy Joes." Kids love them because they can pick one up and eat it in just a few bites. Parents love them because these yummy little morsels are tasty, filling and not "sloppy!" Perfect for ANY night of the week :).

  • 1 lb Ground Chicken (Or Turkey or Beef)
  • 1 Cup Ketchup
  • 1 Can Tomato Soup
  • 1 Small Onion (Diced)
  • 1 1/2 tsp White Vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 10-Count Can Refrigerator Biscuits
  • 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Making the Chicken Barbecue Filling

  1. Gather the ingredients.
  2. In a large non-stick skillet, dump the chicken, ketchup, tomato soup, onion, vinegar and sugar.
  3. Mix well and simmer for 30 minutes.

Making the “Cups”

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. While the Barbecue Filling is simmering, roll out the biscuits on a floured surface, then press each into a muffin tin.

Assembling the Barbecue Chicken Cups

  1. Fill each cup with the Barbecue Filling (you will have some leftover filling).
  2. Top with the shredded cheese.
  3. Bake for 8-11 minutes or until the edges of the biscuits are a light golden brown.
  4. Let rest for a couple of minutes before removing them from the muffin tin.
  5. Serve with a fresh green salad and Enjoy!