Tag: comfort food

Beef Guazzetto – Italian Beef Stew

Would you believe that an Italian dish like this one could be gluten free?  You might be surprised to know, that other than the pasta, there was only one ingredient swap needed to make this meal completely Celiac safe!

It’s true!  There are some recipes that require major modifications, but the vast majority will only need a swap of one or two ingredients to be gluten free.  This Beef Guazzetto, or Italian Beef Stew is a great example.

An economical cut like beef chuck becomes melt in your mouth tender using this slow cooked, braising method.  With today’s soaring food prices, it is a great way to stretch your grocery budget.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. stew beef (chuck), cut into cubes
  • 1 cup gluten free beef broth
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp. gluten free flour (you can use rice flour)
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 sweet onion, minced
  • 2 small carrots, minced or grated
  • 2 small celery stalks, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. basil
  • gluten free pasta
  • grated cheese, for serving
  • fresh Italian parsley, for garnish (optional)

Preparation:

If the prep sounds familiar, it’s because the steps are similar to making a Bolognese sauce.  Let’s get started!

First, make a “soffritto” by pulsing the onion, carrot and celery in a food processor or electric chopper.

Dry the beef with paper towels, this helps with browning.

Place the beef cubes in a food safe plastic bag with 2 tbsp. rice flour and shake to coat.

Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a Dutch oven and begin browning the beef.  Don’t crowd the pan, brown in batches if needed using an additional tbsp. of olive oil for each batch.

Leave those caramelized brown bits in the bottom of the pan, they are full of flavor!  Set the beef aside and keep warm.

Add more olive oil to the pan with the onion, carrot, celery and garlic.  Cook for several minutes, stirring frequently, then clear a space in the center for the tomato paste.

Toast the tomato paste for a minute, then stir it into the vegetables.  Add the wine, using a spatula to scrape up those browned bits at the bottom of the pan.  Reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking until the wine is reduced by half.

Add the beef cubes back to the pan, with the bay leaves.

Stir in the beef broth and crushed tomatoes, cover and simmer on lowest heat for 2-½ hours.

Stir the sauce frequently to be sure it isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan.  A simmer mat is great for keeping sauces on a low simmer.  As it cooks, you will see the stew gradually thickening.

After 2 hours, this is what it will look like.  You will still have distinct chunks of beef, but some will partially break down and become one with the sauce.  It is incredible!

A sauce like this deserves an extra special pasta.  Check out these Gluten Free Paccheri Rigati – OMG what a find!  I got them from La Piccola Rosa Culinary Classics and believe me they are fabulous.  Check them out!

To plate, spoon cooked pasta into serving bowls and ladle the Beef Guazzetto over the top.  Sprinkle with grated cheese and fresh Italian parsley if available.

Variations: For a splurge, substitute beef short ribs for the stew beef.  At the end of cook time remove the bones and shred the meat.  Or, for a lighter sauce, use veal stew meat with white wine and chicken broth.

Notes ♪♫ Beef Guazzetto, or Guazzetto di Manzo was adapted from an episode of Lidia’s Italy, Lidia has long been one of my favorite TV chefs!  If you are thinking that you cannot enjoy your Italian favorites on the gluten free diet, think again.  Or better yet, let me inspire you!

Originally posted 5/28/2022       Updated and rephotographed 5/16/2026

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Gluten Free Bacon and Egg Muffin Cups

If these egg cups look familiar, it’s probably because I have shared a few variations of this recipe over the years, in the form of a quiche, casserole, or muffin.  This is my absolute favorite rendition to date- they are the perfect blend of bacon, egg, potato and cheese. 😋

This recipe is great for family brunches, because you can prep most of it the day before and bake in the morning.  The extra step of par-baking the crust is well worth the trouble because they are DELICIOUS!

Naturally gluten free with no oddball ingredients to purchase, always a plus!

Ingredients:

  • Crust
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (I used Ore-Ida)
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • pepper, about 10 grinds

 

  • Filling
  • 2 strips of bacon, cooked and diced
  • 6 large eggs
  • dash of half and half (or milk)
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup baby spinach, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. fresh chives

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Preparation:

Take the hash brown potatoes out to defrost an hour ahead of preparing.

Mist a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 400º.  Combine the egg, hash browns, cheese, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl and stir together.  Divide the hash brown mixture evenly in each of the 12 muffin cups and press it into the bottom and about 2/3 of the way up the sides.

Par-bake the muffin cups for 12 minutes, remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Cook the bacon, drain on paper towels and cut into small dice.  Cover and set aside.

For the filling, whisk together the remaining ingredients (eggs through chives).

Note ♪ You can prepare and refrigerate up to this point the night before.  Keep the filling separate until ready to bake in the morning.

In the morning (or when you are ready), preheat the oven to 400º.  If refrigerated, take the muffin tin out and let it sit on the counter 30 minutes before baking.  You should also whisk the filling again, as it will have settled overnight.

Carefully fill the muffin cups to about ½” from the top (they will expand).  Sprinkle the diced bacon over the top and bake for about 20 minutes or until the eggs are set.

Remove from the oven and rest for 10 minutes.  To serve, use a spoon to carefully remove the muffin cups from the pan.  You may need to run a knife or spatula around the edges to nudge them out.

The egg cups were a hit, delicious hot out of the oven, and again later as leftovers.  They keep well in the fridge for several days and you can reheat them in the microwave for a quick meal.  With all my favorite breakfast foods in one dish, this recipe is a keeper!

Notes ♪♫ When planning a brunch menu, I always include a savory dish to balance out the sweeter ones like French toast or muffins.  Check out all my favorite brunch recipes here!

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Gluten Free Chicken and Sourdough Waffle Skewers

Chicken and Waffles, Breakfast on a Skewer!

I tend to stick with the same basic brunch menu year after year, maybe changing an ingredient here or there, but leaning into what I know has worked in the past.  This year for Easter though, I wanted to try something different.

These Chicken and Waffle Skewers were a great addition to my brunch repertoire.  Unlike their full-sized version, you can sample a bite or two and still have room for all the other goodies.  Everyone seemed to enjoy them, and I thought they were great.

6 Servings

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Ingredients:

Waffle ingredients:

Chicken ingredients:

  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. pepper
  • ½ tsp. garlic granules
  • ½ tsp. onion granules
  • ½ tsp. paprika
  • 8 chicken breast tenders
  • milk or buttermilk (see preparation)
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • powdered sugar and maple syrup for serving

Preparation:

For the gluten free waffles, I used the batter from my Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Pancake recipe and adjusted the yield to 6 servings or 6 full-sized waffles.

Just whisk together all of the ingredients and cook on your waffle iron at 350º for 4 minutes.  Cool the waffles on a rack then cut each waffle into 4 pieces.  You can make the waffles the day before and refrigerate them.

Can you use a gluten free waffle mix, or even (gasp) buy frozen waffles?  Of course you can, I won’t tell! 😉

For the chicken, whisk together the first 5 ingredients, salt through paprika.  Cut each chicken tender into 3 pieces, they should be about the same size as your waffle squares.  Place the cut-up chicken in a bowl and add just enough milk to cover.  Sprinkle with ½ tsp. of the spice mixture.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, heat the canola oil in a deep skillet.  Add the cornstarch and the rest of the seasoning mixture to a small bowl.  When oil is very hot, use tongs to pick up one piece of chicken at a time and dredge in the cornstarch, shaking off the excess.  Add to the hot oil and cook until browned on both sides and the internal temperature reaches 165º.  If you’re not sure, use a thermometer.

Don’t crowd the pan, cook the chicken in batches if needed.  As the pieces finish, place them on a rack to drain.

To assemble, arrange the waffles on a serving dish in a single layer (if you made them the night before, pop them into the microwave for 1 minute to reheat).  Top each waffle section with a piece of chicken and secure with a skewer or toothpick.

You can sift a little powdered sugar over the top and have maple syrup to pass around at the table.

Wow, these little skewers were so tasty!  The recipe was a bit of extra work, but I think everyone enjoyed them along with my usual brunch offerings.  As I said before, it was all about trying something different.  And would you believe, I myself had never had Chicken and Waffles before?

Notes ♪ When serving alongside other courses, you can plan on 2 to 4 skewers per person depending on appetites.  I made 2 dozen for a gathering of 6 people and we did have leftovers.  They were great the next day, reheated in the microwave.

Notes ♫ For the waffles, try Better Batter Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour- Use my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off your full price purchase!

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Honey Glazed Pork Loin Roast

This pork roast was SO good, that I will be making it on repeat over the winter.  It’s perfect for families, dinner guests or any time.  The simple honey glaze perfectly complements the pork without overpowering it.

For this recipe, I used a pork loin roast.  Not to be confused with tenderloin, the pork loin is a rectangular shaped roast with a layer of fat, or fat cap, which helps keep it juicy as it bakes.

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Ingredients:

  • 2 lb. pork loin roast
  • dry rub (I used this one)
  • olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tbsp. gluten free soy sauce (tamari)
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 450º.  Heat a stainless-steel skillet with olive oil.

Season the roast all over with your dry rub of choice.

Sear the roast in olive oil, browning all sides.

Next set up a small roasting pan with a rack, and mist with cooking spray.  Add the roast and brush with half of the honey mixture.

Place the roast in the oven on the middle rack and lower the heat to 375º.  Insert a thermometer and bake for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes, carefully brush with the remaining glaze, tent with foil and continue roasting until the internal temperature reaches 140º, about 35 minutes longer.

Remove from the oven and let it rest 10 minutes before slicing.  As it rests, the internal temperature should continue to rise to 145º, which is perfect for me.  If you like your meat well done, you can leave it in the oven a little longer.

Doesn’t that look great?  SO juicy!  I served it with potatoes and carrots, but this versatile roast would go equally well with rice or noodles.

Notes ♪♫ This is not an ad, just a recommendation to try the Ginger Chile Espresso Maple Rub from The Spice House, which is what I used in this recipe.  It is currently one of my favorite seasoning blends and goes especially well with pork dishes!

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

🎃

Looking back at my recipe notes, I was surprised to find that I have not made Pumpkin Bread since 2013.  Why I don’t know, because I had a really good recipe that everyone enjoyed.

So, this week I decided to dust off that old favorite and give it a gluten free makeover.  Would you believe, the only ingredient that had to be changed was the flour?  I find that’s the case with so many recipes.

For my Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread, I used Better Batter Original Blend.

This easy pumpkin bread is super moist!  Serve it with ice cream for dessert and have the leftovers for breakfast!  It would be a fine addition to your Thanksgiving breadbasket.

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Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

Wet Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup softened butter (1/2 stick)
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup Pumpkin Puree
  • 1/4 cup milk (I used 2%)
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Use my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off at Better Batter!

Preparation:

Whisk together all of the dry ingredients.  Combine the wet ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk until smooth and the butter breaks down into little bits.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and fold with a spatula just until moistened.  Let the batter rest while you preheat the oven to 350º.

Scrape the batter into a greased 1 lb. loaf pan (8″ x 4″) and smooth it out evenly.  Bake for 60-65 minutes.

Test with a toothpick, it should come out clean, and the loaf will be starting to pull away from the sides of the pan.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then slide a thin spatula around the edges.  The loaf should remove easily.  Allow it to cool for at least 2 hours.  Bet you’ll have hard time waiting!

I let mine cool to room temperature, then stored it in a plastic bag on the counter overnight.  Look at that beautiful color! 🎃

I sliced my Pumpkin Bread into nice thick pieces and wrapped a few individually for the freezer.

I ate the 2 end slices on the spot (had to taste test!), then had another big slice for breakfast!  SOOOO good!

Notes ♪♫ Pan size is important.  Be sure to use a 1 lb. metal loaf pan.  I like this one, from USA Pan.  Larger loaf pans, like a 1.25 lb. pan will change the height and width of the loaf, as well as the cook time.

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Gluten Free Chicken Marsala

This restaurant classic gets a gluten free makeover with just two ingredient swaps!  I can’t remember the last time I made Chicken Marsala.  It’s definitely been on my recipe bucket list though, so on my last trip to the liquor store I picked up a bottle of dry marsala wine.

I was able to get thin sliced chicken breast for this recipe, lucky me, a real time saver!  Each slice weighed about 6 oz.  If you can’t find this, just use a whole breast and cut into 1/2″ slices.

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Ingredients:

  • thin sliced chicken breast, about 6 oz. per serving
  • olive oil
  • white rice flour
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 cup shallots, sliced
  • 8 oz. package button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
  • 1 tbsp. fresh minced sage leaves
  • 1/2 cup dry marsala wine (not cooking wine!)
  • 1/3 cup gluten free chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz. gluten free penne (I used Barilla)
  • Italian parsley for garnish

Preparation:

Once you slice the mushrooms and shallots, this meal comes together quickly, so be sure to have all your ingredients laid out and at the ready.

Heat a large pot of salted water for the pasta.  Dredge the chicken breast in the rice flour, shaking off the excess.

Coat a large nonstick skillet or sauteuse pan, with olive oil, and begin browning the chicken.  Season with salt and pepper.

When the chicken is cooked through (check with a thermometer), remove to a plate.  Cook the pasta to several minutes less than the package directions (it will finish cooking in the sauce.

Add the butter to the pan and stir in the shallots.  Cook for 30 seconds then add the mushrooms and sage.  Season with salt and pepper.

Add the marsala wine to the pan and simmer to reduce by half.

Add the chicken broth and heavy cream and return to a simmer.

Add the chicken back to the pan, along with the pasta.  Toss well and continue cooking for several minutes to warm the chicken through and finish cooking the pasta.

Serve in bowls and garnish with Italian parsley.

Notes ♪♫ Be sure to use REAL marsala wine, not cooking wine.  I picked up a bottle of Nando dry marsala for under $10 and it was excellent in this recipe.  I’m sure I’ll use the rest of it, because this meal was a definite do-over!

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Gluten Free Ham and Bean Soup

This hearty soup will hit the spot on chilly fall nights.  It is one of the best soups I’ve made lately.  I shared with a neighbor, who said I outdid myself- high praise indeed.  You will be glad to know that most of the ingredients are pantry staples, and you can use canned beans for a short cut.  Here are the step-by-step instructions along with some notes on avoiding gluten!

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I was featured at the senior salon pit stop

Ingredients:

  • 1 large, sweet onion, diced
  • 4 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 6 celery stalks, washed and diced
  • olive oil
  • sea salt and fresh ground pepper
  • 8 oz. cubed ham (I used Smithfield)
  • 10 oz. mixed beans (I used a half bag of Hambeens)
  • 1 carton gluten free low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 carton gluten free low sodium beef broth
  • salt free beef bouillon (I used Herb Ox)
  • 1/2 tsp. sage
  • 1/2 tsp. thyme
  • 1 cup cooked corn kernels
  • Schar Table Crackers, for serving

Note ♪ I used HamBeens 15 Bean Soup blend in this recipe.  The package is labeled gluten free.  Be aware though, that other brands of mixed beans may contain barley and should be avoided by anyone with Celiac disease.  I recommend that all beans, regardless of labeling be rinsed several times to minimize potential cross contact.

Preparation:

Rinse the beans under cold water and drain.  Place them in a saucepot and add cold water to cover.  Cover and let them soak overnight.

The next morning, drain and rinse again.  Add back to the saucepot with COLD water, cover and turn the heat on low.  Simmer gently for 2 hours.

Drain and rinse again and set the beans aside.

Heat olive oil in a stainless-steel skillet.  Begin sautéing the veggies, beginning with the carrots as they take the longest to cook.  Season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper and stir frequently for 3-4 minutes.  Transfer the carrots to a 5-quart stock pot and proceed to do the same with the celery and onions.

Hint: Sauté the veggies in olive oil before adding them to the soup for extra depth of flavor.

When the veggies are done, wipe the skillet clean and add the diced ham with a bit more olive oil.

Note ♫ For extra convenience I used Smithfield Anytime Cubed Ham, it is labeled gluten free.  Always check ingredients on prepared foods like ham!

Cook the ham until the liquid reduces and you can see some caramelization on the bottom of the pan.

Add the ham to the stock pot, and deglaze the skillet with a little beef broth, scraping up the caramelized bits at the bottom.  Pour the liquid into the stock pot.

Next, add equal parts of chicken and beef broth, enough to cover the ham and veggies.  Return the cooked beans to the pot, along with the bouillon, sage and thyme.

Simmer until the veggies are soft, then add the corn kernels in to heat through (adding the corn at the end of cooking gives the soup a little textural contrast to the soft beans and veggies).

Soup is ready to enjoy with gluten free crackers or bread.  Leftovers (if you have any!) can be refrigerated for up to a week.  Don’t worry though, it won’t last that long!

Notes ♪♫ I used lower sodium broth and salt free bouillon in this recipe (got to watch that blood pressure 🙄).  I did lightly salt the veggies and of course the ham had plenty of salt, so that was enough for me.  If you follow a low sodium diet you can cut it down further by using unsalted broth, be sure it’s gluten free!

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Gluten Free Meatloaf

Are you missing meatloaf on your gluten free diet?  Meatloaf made with gluten free breadcrumbs can be disappointing, a wet soggy mess that doesn’t hold together.  Today I’ll show you how to make a moist tasty meatloaf that won’t fall apart when you slice it.  By the way, this meatloaf is loaded with healthy veggies, but that can be our little secret!

4 Servings

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Finely mince the veggies, using a knife or electric chopper.

Season the veggies and garlic with salt and pepper, then sauté in a little olive oil.  I used onion, bell pepper, mushroom and zucchini.  They will almost disappear into the meatloaf (shhhh, don’t tell the kids)!

When the veggies have reduced by half and there is no visible liquid in the pan, set them aside to cool.

Whisk together the egg, ketchup, brown sugar, red pepper flakes and Worcestershire.  Be sure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten free, check labels and don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer if needed.

Now add the meat and the cooled vegetables, mixing it together with your hands.  I usually use pork sausage, but chicken or turkey sausage will work just as well.

Next add the breadcrumbs, rolled oats and potato flakes, and work together until well combined.

Press the mixture into a standard, 1 lb. loaf pan.  I used a nonstick metal pan, but if you have a glass loaf pan be sure to mist it with cooking spray.

Now squeeze a little ketchup over the top and use a fork to spread it evenly to make a line pattern, like this.

Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350º.  When it’s done, you should see a little browning around the edges, and the meatloaf will begin pulling away from the sides of the pan.  The internal temperature should reach 150-155º, if you’re not sure check with a thermometer.

Ready to serve, this meatloaf is moist and juicy, definitely not falling apart.

Meatloaf is great leftover, and you can even freeze it.  It makes a great lunch sandwich too!

Notes: ♪♫ How are you feeling about oats these days?  For myself, I have decided to only use certified gluten free oats processed under a purity protocol.  As always, consult with your own medical team for advice.   

Originally published 04/09/2018           Updated 07/02/2024

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Gluten Free Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine, the French classic.  What’s not to love about a yummy quiche filled with bacon, cheese and onions?  I think that a quiche is one of the easiest things to make for brunch, because you can prepare most of it a day ahead then just assemble and bake in the morning.

Is quiche gluten free?

The filling of a quiche, usually consisting of eggs, cream, meat and/or vegetables is gluten free.  Only the pie crust contains gluten.  Fortunately, this Gluten Free Cream Cheese Pie Crust is easy to make, and it is perfect to use with both sweet and savory pie recipes.  And of course, I just happened to have one in my freezer, waiting for a special occasion!

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

If your pie crust is frozen, take it out one day ahead to defrost in the refrigerator.  Then let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes before rolling it out between two sheets of parchment.

If it breaks, you can put it back into the refrigerator for 15 minutes then try rolling it out again.  With a gluten free crust, you do not need to worry about overworking the dough, so you can roll it out as many times as you need to.

Gently place the rolled-out dough into a glass pie dish, trim the edges and crimp.  Use the scraps to patch any holes or cracks (you can see I had quite a few!).  Yes, pie crust does not always cooperate, but I got it to work.  Remember, even if it’s not the prettiest it will taste great!

Place the pie dish in the refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Hint: you can prepare the pie crust to this point and refrigerate it overnight for baking in the morning.  Just cover it with plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out.

You can also prep the bacon, cheese and onion the night before.  Cook the bacon (in batches if needed) and drain on paper towels.  Chop it into 1/2″ pieces.  Grate the cheese and mince the onion.

In the morning, when you are ready to assemble the quiche, preheat the oven to 425º.  Take the pie crust out of the refrigerator while the oven preheats, so you are not placing a cold plate directly into the hot oven.  Spread the bacon, onion and cheese into the pie shell.

In a bowl, beat the eggs together with the light cream, salt, sugar and cayenne pepper.  Don’t skip the cayenne, it’s just enough to brighten the flavor without adding heat.  Pour the egg mixture evenly into the pie shell.

Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15 minutes.  Then, lower the heat to 300º and continue baking for 30 minutes longer.

The edges should be nicely browned, and the center golden.  To test, you can insert a knife or a toothpick into the quiche, it should come out clean.

The quiche can be served warm or at room temperature.  Leftovers can be refrigerated for several days (do not freeze) and reheated in the oven or microwave.  And if you’re ogling that bacon wrapped sausage, get the recipe here!

Notes ♪♫ I always have gluten free pie crust in the freezer for when I want to make sweet or savory pies and quiche.  It’s a real time saver, especially when we can’t always grab a ready-made gluten free pie crust at the grocery store.  Get the recipe for easy, Gluten Free Cream Cheese pie crust here.

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Split Pea Soup

Another Easter has come and gone, and I’ll bet you still have some leftover ham in the fridge!  And since the winter weather just won’t give up here in New England, I’m craving soup.

Everyone has their own traditions for using up the holiday ham.  I always ring in the New Year with a pot of Lentil Soup.  After Easter though, I like to make Split Pea, which is essentially made the same way.

The ham bone, of course is what you would use to make a stock.  But what if you didn’t make a ham for Easter?  Or maybe your ham was boneless.  Well fear not, you can still use your leftovers or even pick up a ham steak and use that in the soup.  This year I actually cooked a 2 lb. petite boneless spiral ham for myself after the holiday and that’s what I used.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. split peas
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1/2 sweet onion, diced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 48 oz. gluten free chicken stock or stock from ham bone
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp. sage
  • 1 tsp. thyme
  • 1 packet beef bouillon
  • 2 cups diced ham
  • Schar Table Crackers, for serving

Preparation:

Rinse the split peas thoroughly in a colander and examine them for stray bits of barley or pebbles.  Place them in a stock pot and bring to a boil.  Cover, remove from the heat and let them soak while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

Chop ham leftovers into small dice.  Set aside and refrigerate.

Cut the onion, celery and carrots into even sized small dice.  Add a little olive oil to a 5 qt. stock pot or Dutch oven and begin cooking the carrots, onion and celery over medium low heat.

Season with sage, thyme, salt and pepper.  Add 32 oz. of the chicken stock, bay leaves, and bouillon.  Simmer 30 minutes.

Drain and rinse the peas again.  Add them to the pot, stir well and continue cooking for another 45 minutes to an hour, or until the peas are tender.

As they simmer, the peas will absorb quite a bit of liquid, so add more chicken broth as needed.

When the soup is ready, partially puree it with an immersion blender (don’t forget to remove the bay leaves first).  I like to leave some of the veggies whole, but you can make it as smooth or chunky as you like.  After pureeing, add back the diced ham and heat through.

Serve with Schar Table Crackers (similar to saltines).  Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for at least a week.

Notes: ♪♫ If you have a ham bone and don’t want to make soup right away, don’t throw it away!  You can wrap it in foil then place in a freezer safe bag and store in the freezer for quite a few months.  There have been times that I would find a ham bone in the back of the freezer just in time for fall soup season.

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