I initially shared my allergen-free pumpkin pie, but when I tested the recipe again this time around I got funky results that may have been due to not refrigerating it. However, I want to tweak the recipe so I pulled it from the post. You will see a new improved version soon! The pie crust was great, though.

It is a good thing you are all more creative than I am, because my Kale Carnival turned out a bevy of glorious recipes, with only a small kale chip contingent. Rikki’s raw kale salad reminds me that kale can be good fresh, Cheryl’s Kale Pesto demonstrates that sometimes kale can be wonderful when you don’t even recognize it, while Wendy’s Kale and Potato Cakes shows us how comforting kale can be in a family friendly dish.

I’m inspired, and sad to say goodbye to kale as the week draws to a close. I don’t think I’ll ever have a problem finding a new way to make kale, thanks to all of these entries and ideas. The linky will be up for at least 5 more days, so I welcome you to join in and add your favorite kale recipe to the carnival. I might just have to have another one of these ingredient carnivals soon!

Speaking of ingredients, I thought I’d share a quick menu.
Monday: American Vegan
Alisa’s Orange “Cheesy” Sauce with steamed broccoli and gluten-free pasta

Tuesday: Indian
Cauliflower Pilaf
Okra Supreme

Wednesday: Japanese Fusion
Slightly Spicy Tofu-Avocado Sushi Rolls

Friday: Italian
Alisa’s Go Dairy Free Eggplant un-cheesy parmesan
Gluten-free Flatbread

Baked Good: Chocolate Surprise

Shared with Org Junkie and In My Box and Slightly Indulgent Tuesday

When I shared this kale chip with my Dad, who last wrinkled his nose in dismay at “dried leaves” from the oven, he took one, tasted it, and got a twinkle in his eye. Then he grabbed another handful. That says it all, I think.

Almond Butter Sauce Kale Chip Recipe Snacks  Vegetables  American

Ingredients 1 very large bunch of kale (or 1 1/2 small bunches), deveined 1/2 cup raw almond butter (scant) juice from 1 lime (2 tbsp.) 1/4 onion, ground in food processor 1 tbsp. finely grated ginger 1 tsp. maple syrup 1/2 tsp chili sauce 1/2 of one zucchini, finely grated Directions Combine ingredients for sauce, put clean and spun dry kale in a large bowl, massage sauce into leaves and dehydrate on 115f for 6+ hours or longer until leaves are dry and crunchy. The curlier the leaves, the longer you will have to dehydrate. Notes Use any leftover sauce for dressing.

Rating:  8 Original Source:  The contents of my brain, please do not replicate without my permission. Recipe ID:  1544 Added:  February 28, 2011 Last Modified:  February 28, 2011

I also wanted to try a menu again. I’ve gotten out of the habit and I miss it, so here goes. The DH is out of town, so I just have to please Baby Yum and my Mother, who is living with us.

Monday: American
Tofu Meatball subway on Sorghum-Millet French Bread

Tuesday: Chinese
Vegetable Stir Fry

Wednesday: Indian
Masala Dosa
Manchurian Cauliflower

Thursday: American
Split Pea Soup

Friday: Italian
Prepared Ravioli in pumpkin-sage cream sauce

Dessert of the week: Fruit Cobbler

I shared this menu with Gluten-free Smiles for the Gluten-free Menu Swap and over at Org Junkie.

Dairy-free Soy-free Chocolate Frosting Recipe Sauces & Condiments  Alternative Grains  American

Ingredients 1/2 to 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup shortening 1 tsp dairy and soy-free Margarine (I use soy-free Earth Balance) 1/2 cup high quality cocoa 2 tbsp coconut cream (*you can add 1/2 tbsp more if you like) 1/2 tsp. gluten-free vanilla pinch of salt Directions Put your shortening, margarine and 1/4 cup of your powdered sugar in a standing mixing bowl or small to medium bowl and mix together until creamy. Add your cocoa and another 1/4 cup sugar and combine. Add coconut cream (the thick cream-like solid that forms at the top of a can of regular, full fat coconut milk) and vanilla and mix together. Add your pinch of salt and combine. Adjust as desired. If needed add final 1/4 cup sugar and whip together. Baste cupcake or cake with frosting. Will firm up as it sits, even at room temperature.

Rating:  8 Original Source:  The contents of my brain, please do not replicate without my permission. Recipe ID:  1540 Added:  February 6, 2011 Last Modified:  February 6, 2011

Dear Readers,
I know I should have posted this days ago. Where was I when you were looking for new gluten-free recipes to round out your Thanksgiving feast? Well… I was chasing my 16 month old daughter, and enjoying the company of my visiting in-laws, as well as relishing time with my DH who was finally home from a lengthy overseas business trip. But never fear, dear readers. I was thinking of you, and thinking of this Thanksgiving post, and of course thinking about what to serve for dinner. I hope this helps those of you who might procrastinate (like me) and find recipes at the last minute. And, if nothing else, I am happy to share with you our menu in the hopes that some recipe might tickle your taste bud fantasies for some post-holiday experiments.

So, without further ado… our menu. Feel free to share what you’re making for Thanksgiving in the comments! I’d love to know if you try any Book of Yum recipes!

*hugs* and holidays,
-Sea

The Main Entrees:
Acorn Squash with Portobello Mushroom Stuffing
Beet Green and Chard Spinach-less Pie Dairy Version Non-Dairy Version
Nutritional Yeast Vegan Gravy
Vegan Onion Rolls
Elana’s Brussel Sprouts with Roasted Chestnuts
Peas
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce

Dessert:
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
*Persimmon Pudding (Recipe Coming Soon)
Elana’s Vegan Raw Pumpkin Custard

*I’m especially excited about this one as it involved a steamer and in the future should involve a flame torch. Brandied desserts are so exciting. Here’s hoping we don’t burn down the House of Yum by accident.

Share your gluten-free Thanksgiving day menu post in the comments and I’ll add the link to the post!

When Diane of the Whole Gang suggested that this month we have an Oscar theme for our Gluten-free Progressive Dinner, I was both excited and perplexed. I’ve never held an Oscar themed dinner party. What could I make? Searching online, it seems that people hosting Oscar parties usually either go for a movie-theme (10 varieties of popcorn, anyone?) or prepare food inspired by one or more movies up for nomination. Popcorn didn’t inspire me, but I thought it might be fun to prepare a menu inspired by one of the nominated movies. Julie & Julia might be the most obvious choice, and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Hello, a movie about a food blogger and a woman who learned to cook in Paris- what could be better? I couldn’t remember much inspiring vegetarian fare, though, and the whole thing seemed a little too obvious. I briefly considered The Blind Side as I love making gluten-free Southern-inspired vegetarian fare. But, of this year’s nominees, Avatar was the one that really stood out to me. I loved its imaginative depiction of an alien society, its beautiful visuals, its interesting commentary on the exploitation of native peoples, and illustration of the anthropologist’s problem of “going native.” What could be more fun than creating a menu of other-worldly food? This vegetarian Avatar-inspired meal begins with an appetizer of spicy and lovely lotus root chips. If you prefer, you can try my healthier baked lotus root chip recipe. It continues with a hearty and peppery dish inspired by bruschetta but gone alien with a bird-seed millet grit base (appropriate for a people that fly on winged bird-dragons) topped with honey or agave sweetened caramelized balsamic eggplant and fresh arugula greens in a vinaigrette. The meal ends on a naturally sweet note with fried smashed plantain chips lightly spiced with exotic cinnamon and sugar. We enjoyed our meal thoroughly, and it would be perfect for an Avatar inspired Oscar Viewing party (or an Avatar viewing party).

This post is an entry in the Gluten-free Progressive Dinner Event Series.
Join us the week of February 22-26th for Award Winning Food for you to make for your Oscar Watching Party or anytime you want rave reviews.

Monday February 22- Shirley from gluten free easily sharing Veronica’s Pumpkin Soup

Tuesday February 23- SEA from Book of Yum with appetizers inspired from the movie Avatar

Wednesday February 24- Karen from Cook4Seasons and Diane from The WH.O.L.E. Gang using inspiration from Julie and Julia

Thursday February 25- Alison from Sure Foods Living

Friday February 26- Ellen from I Am Gluten Free

Looking for more Oscar Viewing Menus?
Epicurious Oscar Viewing Party Menu ‘09
Yahoo Oscar Menu Ideas ‘10 (love the “blue” theme for the Avatar menu!)

Fried Lotus Root Chip Recipe Snacks  Vegetables  Asian

Ingredients 1 lotus root bulb (renkon in Japanese) canola or other oil for frying salt smoked paprika if you want it spicy Directions Peel your lotus root and slice as thinly as you can manage. A mandolin works very well for this. If it will be a while before you fry, you can put the slices in water with a little vinegar added. Before frying, drain and dry the slices thoroughly. A salad spinner works well. Be careful of any splattering while frying. Prepare a wire rack with a pan underneath for excess oil to drip off while the chips cool. When ready to fry, put at least one inch of canola oil in a deep, tall pan. I often use a soup pan. Heat the oil to 365F and carefully drop in a few dry lotus root chips. Use a metal strainer with a long handle or chopsticks to turn them. When they are golden brown, remove them to the wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with salt and smoked paprika if you like. Continue frying in small batches. Serve and enjoy! *If the lotus chips are not done enough in the center you can fry them twice- first to a light golden brown, then let cool slightly, and then fry once more to a full golden brown. Season after the last frying. Notes You can buy lotus root at Asian Markets, especially Japanese or Korean markets. Check your lotus root carefully. It should not have any mold. Try to avoid any dark spots. The ideal lotus root will have crisp flesh, smooth, unblemished skin, and will still have its “knot” that attaches to another bulb. The knot should not have any mold, and ideally will look clean and fresh.

Rating:  8 Original Source:  The contents of my brain. Do not replicate without my permission. Thanks! Recipe ID:  1489 Added:  February 23, 2010 Last Modified:  February 23, 2010

Millet Polenta Croquettes with Honey Balsamic Eggplant topping recipe Main Course

Ingredients 1/2 cup Millet Grits (Bob’s Red Mill) 1 1/2 cup water 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tbsp. olive oil Your favorite herbal blend (I like the Provencal blends by Penzeys) 1 large Eggplant Marinade: 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar or more to taste 1/2 tsp honey or agave your favorite herbal seasoning blend Handful of arugula or other favorite sturdy salad green or herb such as basil Your favorite balsamic vinaigrette or homemade: 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 tsp. honey or agave salt pepper (adjust proportions to suit your palate) Directions Bring water and salt to a boil and add your grits, lowering heat and covering. Let cook on low for 10-15 minutes. Take off heat, cool for 15 minutes, and then remove to a small square shaped container like tupperware. cool in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 375F. Meanwhile, prepare your eggplant. Slice or cut into 1/2 inch thick cubes, depending on your preference. Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey and seasoning blend in a small bowl. Whisk ingredients together. You can either baste your eggplant cubes with your marinade or dip your slices in the marinade. If you run out of marinade (depending on the size of your eggplant) just make more! Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and place your eggplant slices or cubes in a single layer on the sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until eggplant has gotten soft and slightly caramelized. If you are making slices, turn over and bake another 10 minutes. The cubes may not need to be turned and baked more. While eggplant is baking, remove your firm, cooled millet grits from the container. They should keep their shape. Carefully slice into rectangles about the size you would expect from bruschetta. Sprinkle with your seasoning herb and a touch of salt, if not included in the blend. Heat olive oil in a nonstick pan on medium. Place your millet “polenta” rectangles in the oil and fry until golden brown. Turn over and brown the other side. Remove to a serving plate. If you like, you can caramelize some onions to top the dish with. Slice an onion and sautee in a little olive oil on low-med heat until it gets golden brown. Whisk together vinaigrette ingredients. Now, assemble the dish. Top the millet croquettes with arugula and caramelized onions (optional). Drizzle a little dressing on top and add your roasted eggplant. Add some sprigs of arugula for garnish and serve. Enjoy! *For a variation, you can add a little pasta sauce to the top of the eggplant while it is in its final roasting phase. Notes You can also layer the dish Croquettes, eggplant, arugula, but I decided I liked it better as written here. It’s up to you. :)

Rating:  8 Original Source:  The contents of my brain. Do not replicate without my permission. Thanks! Recipe ID:  1488 Added:  February 22, 2010 Last Modified:  February 23, 2010

Fried Plantain Chip Recipe Dessert  Snacks  Vegetables  Mexican

Ingredients 1 slightly green plantain canola oil salt sugar cinnamon Equipment *Tortilla press 1 quart sized freezer bag Directions Prepare your tortilla press by lining it with a freezer bag with the sides cut out. Slice plantain at an angle to get a long, oval slice. If the plantain is too green to easily remove the skin, carefully cut the skin off of each slice. Prepare a wire rack above a wide, long pan for draining. Preheat your canola oil (or other oil with a high smoke point) in a narrow, deep pan like a soup pan. Heat to 365F and you are ready to fry! Place in the freezer bag lining your tortilla press and press down on the handle to create a large, flat “chip”. Gently peel off your “chip” and carefully drop in the oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove chip from oil with a wire strainer and place on wire rack to cool. Season with a tiny smidgen of salt, and generous sprinkles of sugar and cinnamon. Continue frying until all chips are done. You can place the rack (if oven safe) in an oven on 200F to keep warm if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Rating:  8 Original Source:  The contents of my brain. Do not replicate without my permission. Thanks! Recipe ID:  1490 Added:  February 23, 2010 Last Modified:  February 23, 2010

Saturday: American Breakfast
Fried Potatoes and Onions, Slow Simmered Greens

Sunday: Japanese
Japanese vegetable rolls and onigiri

Monday: Vegan
Quinoa salad

Tuesday: Vegan
White Sweet Potato home fries, kidney bean patties

Wednesday: Irish
Vegetarian Shepard’s Pie

Thursday: Chinese
Vegetable Fried Rice

Friday: Vegan
Buckwheat Risotto

Saturday: Vegan
Mashed Smoky Sweet Potatoes, Veggie Soup

Soy-free Calcium Rich Bok Choy Stir Fry Recipe Side Dish  Vegetables  Chinese

Ingredients Medium sized bowl full of baby bok choy salt 1 tbsp. your favorite oil 1 large knob ginger, peeled Sauce: 1 cup your favorite GF allergen-free broth (I use veg bullion) salt to taste (my broth is low-sodium so i use 1/2 tsp. or more) 1 tbsp. honey or agave nectar (for vegan) 1 tbsp. brown rice vinegar 1 tbsp. potato starch (or corn starch, to preference) Directions Rinse bok choy and slice in half horizonally, rinsing again. Soak in water if needed- dirt can really get into the leaves! Cut one slice of peeled ginger and reserve. Use a microplane or grater to grate small shreds of ginger. Place half in a medium sized bowl and reserve the rest. Add your sauce ingredients into the medium bowl with the grated ginger, starting with the broth, salt, sweetener and vinegar. At the end, whisk in your potato or corn starch so it completely dissolves. Heat your wok to high and add your oil. When a whisk of white smoke rises off the oil, add the slice of ginger, and then the salt. Brown the ginger on both sides and then remove the ginger slice from the oil. Add the reserved grated ginger and toss your baby bok choy into the wok. Move the bok choy around the pan with your cooking chopsticks. When it looks close to done, with the leaves wilting but stalk still tender crisp, make a well in the center and pour in your sauce. Let it begin to thicken, folding the bok choy in. When done to taste, remove from pan and enjoy!

Rating:  9 Original Source:  The contents of my brain, do not replicate anywhere without permission. Recipe ID:  1467 Added:  October 22, 2009 Last Modified:  October 22, 2009

Tuesday: Chinese
White Jasmine rice with Veggie stir fry

Wednesday: Indian
Aloo Jeera Recipe (Potato with Cumin), Spiced Okra Recipe, Chard Chips

Thursday: Vegan
Brown Rice Pot Pie with Kidney Beans

Friday: Vegan
Mashed Smoky Sweet Potatoes, Veggie Soup

Saturday: Chinese
White Fried Rice and Veggie Stir Fry

Sunday: American Breakfast
Fried Potatoes and Onions, Slow Simmered Greens

This week I thought I would share a seasonal recipe for apricot glazed Brussels Sprout that is perfect for Thanksgiving or other Fall celebrations. I happened to have some apricot jam, which is odd as I have never liked apricots all that much, and some brussels sprouts begging to be used. Somehow it occurred to me that brussel sprouts might be nice glazed in apricot jam… and you know what? They were quite delightful! I took heart and inspiration from the blog Veggie Venture’s experiment with apricot glazed brussels sprouts, but I always roast brussels sprouts whenever I can rather than boil them. I have By the Bay to thank for that- and her savory Roasted Brussel Sprout Recipe is a favorite in our house. If you haven’t had brussel sprouts lately (or ever)- why not try one of these tasty recipes?

Other Book of Yum Gluten-free Brussels Sprouts Recipes:
Chinese Szechuan Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Gluten-free beer glazed Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Indian Mustard Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Sweet Caramelized Brussels Sprouts Recipe

*note: While strictly speaking the following is not TED, those doing extreme protein elimination diets may find it useful. Brussels Sprouts are also high in Calcium, which is nice for breastfeeding moms, although some moms reportedly have trouble with the “gassiness” of this kind of vegetable. Luckily, we seem to tolerate vegetables well.

Apricot Glazed Roasted Brussel Sprout recipe Side Dish  Vegetables  American

Ingredients 1 lb- 1 1/2 lb. brussels sprout olive oil dried dill to taste salt pepper 1/2 cup apricot jam (i use a no-sugar variety) 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice lemon zest, if desired Directions Clean sprouts and shake off water, or fold in a towel. Cut in half, horizontally, and place in medium to large bowl, drizzling with olive oil. Season with dill, salt, and pepper and place flat on cookie sheet. I think that it is easiest if you put them all one way, either flat, cut side face down or round exterior face down. Place in 425 F oven and bake for 15 minutes and then check. If one side is nicely browned, turn over. Otherwise, put back in oven for another 10-15 minutes or until browned on one side. (This will depend on size of the brussel sprout) When this one side is brown, turn the sprouts over and bake for 5-10 minutes or until done to your preference. I like them more done than my DH- My favorite part is the crispy, paper-like exterior. yum! He likes them lightly browned but not papery. To each their own. While sprouts finish browning, put your jam, lemon juice, and zest in a heavy bottomed, small soup pot. Bring to a simmer and let it come to a liquid like texture. Then turn off the stove and reserve glaze. When brussel sprouts are done, put in a pretty, medium sized serving bowl and drizzle generously with glaze, stirring if necessary. Serve and enjoy!

Rating:  9 Original Source:  Contents of my brain, inspired by many recipes online. Please do not replicate without my written permission. Thanks! Recipe ID:  1466 Added:  October 18, 2009 Last Modified:  October 18, 2009