This is the original Toll House recipe, adapted to gluten-free and divided in half. These are really delicious!

Ingredients:

• A heaping 1 3/4 cup rice flour or gluten-free flour mix
• 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 stick butter or non-dairy alternative
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/2 package gluten-free semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Nuts, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix sugars and butter until creamy.

2. Beat in egg, then add the dry ingredients except chocolate chips and nuts, if using.

3. Once smooth, add chips and nuts, and roll into balls.

4. Flatten slightly.

5. Bake 8-10 minutes.

6. Let cool on cookie sheets.

7. Remove and eat or store in airtight container.

Note: You can replace the egg with egg replacer or applesauce to make them vegan.

Ingredients:

• Fresh cherries
• Strawberry slices or whole
• Apple slices
• Kiwi, cut in half or star shaped halves
• Honeydew, sliced into spears or cubes
• Green grapes
• Dark seedless grapes
• Small plums, sliced

Directions:

1. If you have a three-tiered tray, top each level with a doily. Cut a hole in the middle if it is the correct size or cut a few pieces to fit each level accordingly.

2. Place your fruit in “clumps” of their own category. Arrange the fruit so no two colors are close to each other – it adds contrast and excitement to the arrangement.

3. If you do not have a three-tiered tray, then various platters of shapes and sizes on a table will also look beautiful. You can even add cheeses if you are indoors or have air-conditioning available.

4. Occasionally refresh your platter (and even the doilies) to add new fruit as people munch away.

Stay cool and enjoy your summer!

My friend Rebecca Subbiah RD, LDN, CPT shared this incredible recipe with me. The recipe is adapted from Dr. Ben Kim with slight alterations.

– Miranda Jade

Makes 10-12 pancakes.

Ingredients:

Pancakes

• 1 cups yellow mung bean
• ½ cup jasmine rice
• 1 zucchini (about 12 oz)
• 1 tsp. unrefined sea salt
• ½ red bell pepper
• 3 green onions
• 1 cup mung bean sprouts
• ½ onion
• ½ – 2 cups filtered water
• ½ tsp. unrefined sea salt
• Virgin coconut oil (to cook)

To serve

• ¼ cup gluten-free soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
• Chili oil, to taste

Directions:

1. Soak the mung beans and the rice in water overnight with 1 Tbsp. of whey, yogurt, buttermilk, kefir, lemon juice or vinegar.

2. Cut the zucchini in matchsticks and place in a large bowl with the salt. Toss the zucchini, then set aside and let it sit for one hour to draw out the moisture. Then, seed and dice the red bell pepper and chop the green onion. Peel and cut the onions into medium dice.

3. To blend the mung bean mixture, drain the mung bean and the rice and place in a blender along with the diced onions. Add 1 cup of water and blend. Then slowly add about ¼-½ cup of water while the mixture is blending. Then check the consistency. It should have the consistency of a pancake batter. Add the salt and blend again. Transfer to a large bowl.

4. To prepare the pancakes, squeeze out the liquid from the zucchini and add these to the pancake batter. Fold in diced red bell pepper, chopped green onion and mung beans sprouts until combined.

5. To cook the pancakes, heat a large stainless steel or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil. Swirl the pan to coat the whole surface with the oil. Ladle the pancake batter into the pan, about 4-5 inches in diameter or even smaller. Lower the heat slightly. Cook until you see bubbles on the top of the surface. With an offset spatula, flip the pancakes and cook for another couple of minutes. Transfer to a plate. Do the same with the rest of the batter, adding coconut oil for every batch.

6. To serve the pancakes, combine the gluten-free soy sauce, vinegar and chili oil. Serve with the pancakes immediately. They are best when hot.

7. Leftover pancakes can be kept in an airtight container and reheated in the oven until hot.

Contributed by Rebecca Subbiah RD, SRD, of ChowandChatter.com.

This recipe is an old favorite which I made gluten-free and without potatoes. I use mashed “cauliflower” as the topping and no one even knows. Not even my pickiest tester – my daughter.

Ingredients:

Topping

• 1 head cauliflower
• 2 tbsp butter or soy butter – not melted
• 2 tbsp rice milk (or milk of choice)

Filling

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion diced
• 3 celery stalks diced
• 2 carrots diced
• 2 cloves garlic diced
• 2 lbs ground beef (chicken or turkey)
• ¾ tsp chili or chipotle
• 2½ tbsp of cornstarch
• 6 oz peas (frozen or fresh sweet peas)

Directions:

Preheat oven 420 degrees.

Topping

1. Steam cauliflower till soft in 2½ cups of water (drain and save water).

2. Place in bowl and mash with a fork.

3. Take a blender or food processor and puree. Add butter and milk if you desire a slightly creamier texture.

4. Salt and pepper to taste.

Filling

1. Heat oil in large skillet.

2. Cook onion about 2 minutes on medium heat.

3. Add celery, carrot and garlic. Cook about 8 – 10 minutes

4. Add beef and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir and break up pieces so they’re small.

5. Add the cornstarch to 2 cups of your saved water from your steamer and whisk it. Add mixture to beef and simmer around 1-2 minutes on low heat.

6. Pour filling into a 2-quart dish.

7. Evenly distribute cauliflower mash over the top, sealing edges.

8. Bake for approximately 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 4 ½ cup cauliflower
• ¾ cup cashews, soaked in water for 4 hrs. (optional)
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 ½ tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 medium garlic clove

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together. If you’re using a Vitamix blender, blend fast and long enough to heat up.

Gluten-Free, Fresh & Delicious: Garden Vegetable Risotto

By Vanessa Maltin,
NFCA Director of Programming & Communications

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
• 3 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup zucchini, diced
• 1 cup yellow squash, diced
• 1 cup green peas
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
• 2 cups dry white wine
• 2 cups grated parmesan cheese
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

In medium-sized saucepan heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté onions and garlic in oil until they begin to brown. Add rice and remaining olive oil and allow to brown for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Slowly add vegetable stock one cup at a time and allow liquid to absorb before adding more. After adding 3 cups of vegetable stock, add in mushrooms, zucchini, squash, peas and carrots.

Add in white wine gradually, allowing time for liquid to absorb. After adding second cup of white wine, add parmesan cheese. Allow cheese to melt for about two minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Once cheese is fully melted and liquid is absorbed, remove from heat. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes before serving.

See more low-cost gluten-free recipes at www.GlutenFreeonaBudget.com.

Stuffed Chicken

By Chef Edgar Steele
NFCA Chef Spokesman

Ingredients

• 3 Chicken Breasts
• 4 slices Prosciutto
• Fresh Mozzarella or Fontina cheese
• Gluten free pesto sauce
• Fresh basil leaves
• Sundried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups gluten free bread crumbs
• 1 cup Pecans
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried cumin
• 1 cup gluten free all purpose flour
• 1 beaten egg

1. Slice each chicken breast in 2 long pieces then place between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound until thin (about 1/8 thick).
2. Place 1 slice of prosciutto, cheese, pesto sauce, sundried tomatoes and basil leaves (each ingredient can be added in the quantity desired) on top of the chicken breast. Roll up each piece of chicken into a tight log making sure to roll it down the length of the slice, not across the width. Fasten each roll with twine. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
3. Place the pecans, thyme, cumin and salt in a food processor. Combine the mixture with the bread crumbs. First coat the chicken with flour, then coat it with the beaten egg and bread crumbs until completely covered.
4. Fry the breaded chicken in 350°F vegetable oil until golden and then remove the twine. Place the chicken roll in an oven set at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°F. If you prefer not to fry the chicken, you may sear it in a hot sauté pan with a littler oil and finish it in the oven as directed above.
5. Remove the cooked chicken from the oven and slice it into pieces. Serve it with any accompaniment you choose.

Rice with chicken (Arroz con pollo)

By Chef Edgar Steele
NFCA Chef Spokesman

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups rice, preferably short grain
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 whole chicken
• 1 small red pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp. dried orégano
• 1/2 cup chorizo, diced
• 1/4 cup ham of your choice, diced
• green olives (optional)
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• Saffron

1. Break the chicken into breasts, thighs, drumsticks and wings or buy each part individually. Season all of the pieces with salt and pepper. Heat enough vegetable oil in a saucepot to coat the bottom of the pan. Sear the chicken parts on all sides (making sure oil is hot before searing it) until golden brown. When finished, take them out and put them on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
2. In the same pot where chicken was seared, add the tomato paste and a pinch of saffron, keep stirring it for 5 minutes then add the diced onions and the red peppers. When they’re half way cooked add the chorizo, ham, olives, oregano and garlic.
3. Place the seared chickens back in the pot and add the 3 cups of rice and salt. Stir everything together and add the 3 1/2 cups of chicken stock and the bay leaf. Taste the liquid and adjust the seasoning. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat until the liquid has evaporated almost completely and lower heat to low. Cover and stir every 10 minutes. After 30 minutes the rice should be finished cooking and the chicken will be cooked.