Winter Days and Comfort Foods

Everyone has certain comfort foods they crave...especially when it gets cold and blustery outside. In Ohio, our winters can have warm sunny days in the 60's and 70's and flip the next day and be 26 and snowing with a cold biting wind like it was today. We all crave comfort foods and having Celiac's (or a gluten intolerance) does not mean that you have to throw those comfort foods out the window at all! Gluten free options are out there, and they don't have to be unhealthy either! So today, we bring you the "Recipe of the Day"....Mock Mac N Cheese.

It is true, when you have to avoid gluten you can't have pasta....well you can't have "normal" pasta. There are many brands you can buy in gluten free to make your regular mac n cheese, you can even buy prepackaged mac n cheese with the powdered cheese stuff if you want. However, I also try to avoid processed foods as much as I can. My goal is not only to eat gluten free, but to eat GOOD food that also happens to be healthy. :-) The box stuff just isn't nearly as TASTY as mac n cheese made with REAL cheese. So, you can buy the box stuff in gluten free....or you can buy gluten free pasta and make it yourself (I'll post my "Suped-up and Gluten Free Nana's Baked Macaroni" another time).

Today's recipe uses that awesome grain I posted the other day, Quinoa. Ok, a little about Quinoa:

            

"Quinoa is a species of goosefoot, is a grain crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, as it is not a member of the true grass family. Quinoa is closely related to species such as beetroots, spinach and tumbleweeds.

It is high in protein, lacks gluten, contains essential amino acids like lysine and acceptable quantities of calcium, phosphorus, and iron^."

^{Basically, Quinoa is a SUPERFOOD and a GREAT choice if you have to be gluten free.} 

^{Mock Mack N Cheese 
(serves 2)}

 

 1/2 cup of uncooked Quinoa

1/2 can chicken breast (I buy it packed in water)

(I like to add steamed broccoli florets too sometimes)

Thyme

Salt

Pepper

1/2 cup finely shredded Cheese 

1. Steam the quinoa. 

*Remember it is the same as it is with rice. 

1/2 c quinoa and 1c water/veggie broth/chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to low, cover and steam for 20 minutes.

2. Put chicken into a skillet and heat on medium until warm/hot. 

*If you are choosing to add broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces and steam.

3. Put steamed quinoa into each bowl with chicken (and broccoli) and toss.

4. Add 1/4c of shredded cheese to each bowl 

(Colby, monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, mild cheddar are all good, so is Gouda, Parmesan, Asiago, and Sharp cheddar. For a more exotic flavor, use goat cheese.) 

5. Salt, Pepper and Thyme to taste.

6. One last good mix/toss and ENJOY

 

Sometimes (like today) I didn't have broccoli to add so instead I'll have carrot sticks on the side. You an also make this with spinach mixed in, diced and sauteed mushrooms or even a little bacon for some extra savory goodness. 

Comfort food doesn't have to mean fattening and over processed. This dish is a major favorite in our house and is so simple even kids can make it themselves. (So long as they are old enough to handle the stove.) My 14 year old son prefers this "Mock Mac N Cheese" to the "real thing" (read:box stuff) and we play around with different veggies to add, coming up with some new and interesting variations. 

Food is the fuel for life. It should be healthy but it should also taste good! It isn't just a matter of making food to quell the hunger pangs, it is crucial to enjoy the food that you eat. Remember, choose what you like, don't deprive yourself the good stuff...otherwise you find yourself "giving in" and "over indulging" on things you shouldn't eat (gluten) because you are not providing yourself with tasty and healthy alternatives. :-)