Foods High In Iron

I I'm always looking for new ways to enjoy butternut squash, especially when it's in season and plentiful in the fall. This Butternut Parmesan casserole is simple and unique. I would have never thought that cheese would pair well with the squash! But it really does! I got the idea from Trader Joe's . They sell a frozen Butternut Squash Parmesan package,  but its not gluten free. The other day when I was shopping, they were offering taste samples. Everyone was raving. So, I thought I would try to make my own gluten free version. I looked at their ingredients to get some ideas. I was happy with my final product. I'll never know if it tastes anything like the one at TJ's. Butternut squash is a low fat vegetable that is rich in Vitamin A ( good for the eyes), has more potassium than a banana per cup, provides a fair amount of fiber, Vitamin B-6 and other vitamins and minerals as well. It's a healthy vegetable to add additional nutrients to a gluten free diet. I

Sephardic Jews traditionally serve stuffed foods for Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)  like these delicious stuffed grape leaves. I use a simple vegan filling that is also gluten free. It seems like yesterday that I was on the picturesque coast of Greece, enjoying the scenery and the delicious food. One of my favorite Greek recipes is for  Stuffed Dolmades  or stuffed grape leaves. They are absolutely delicious but can be laborious to make until you have some practice making them. However, once you get the hang of rolling the grape leaves, you are good to go and will have one of the most delicious naturally gluten free appetizers or side dishes ever! My husband comes from a Middle Eastern/Greek/Turkish backgroun d, so stuffed grape leaves are a staple at all of our all of our holiday meals! My 91 year old mother in law ( Nona)  stuffs her grape leaves with meat and rice, my sister in law ( Danielle)  stuffs some of her grape leaves with meat and some with a vegan stuffing ( thank you Da

Bring on the party with these delicious tomato soup shooters! Served at room temperature or chilled, these shooters are the great way to get any party or meal started and they are one of the best tomato soups ever!  With just 5 ingredients, preparation is a breeze! The recipe meets my criteria for health, ease, convenience and taste. It's made from real food, is naturally gluten free, and vegan. In addition, it makes a fun presentation and can be served without heating- a real plus when you are trying to juggle last minute details for a dinner party! A shooter is just the right amount of soup for a big meal. Who wants to fill up on the soup when you have a full meal coming?? And you really get to enjoy the exceptional flavor when you are limiting the quantity. Get Creative Or you might want to serve them as part of your appetizers at a party or other gathering! Paired with some cheese and crackers, it's delicious! You could also top the shooters with some fresh salsa, a touch o

 I love ethnic spices, especially in soups. This roasted carrot soup is rich in warming spices of ginger, turmeric, and cardamom with a touch of cooling coconut milk. This easy soup is low in calories, low in fat, vegan, and and naturally gluten free ( like all my recipes)  I received carrots, onions, and potatoes this week as part of my CSA farm share. I immediately started to think soup! Roasted veggies make easy and flavorful soups One of my favorite and easiest ways to make soup is to use roasted veggies as my base. I got the idea when I had a significant amount of vegetables in the refrigerator, and we were leaving for vacation. I needed to find a way to cook the veggies and freeze them. I decided to roast them all. The result was a deliciously tasty blend of incredibly flavorful veggies.  My daughter in law Wendy said, " Why don't you just blend those roasted veggies in the Vitamix with vegetable broth." That's exactly what I did and to my surprise I ended up wi

Thank you Shirley at Gluten Free Easily! I could't have asked for a more delicious, health conscious fast and easy recipe for dinner tonight. I just didn't feel like cooking, but needed something quick, yet healthy, for dinner. I found this quick bean salad that can be made in under 10 minutes on Shirley's blog. ( Another few minutes for the dressing) This recipe has everything I love- chick peas, kidney beans, and black beans, chopped tomatoes, chopped red onion, chopped red peppers, cilantro optional. In addition, there is a homemade citrus dressing that enhances the recipe. 7 Reasons I love this recipe:   1. No cooking involved 2. It's a quick and easy meal 3. Lot's of fresh summer produce 4. It's high in fiber and nutrients 5. It's vegan, gluten free, and allergy friendly 6. It can be made in advance 7. Makes a beautiful colorful presentation and tastes great No cooking - Sometimes I just don't want to cook! It's already hot outside, so why hea

Thank you Vicki for this fabulous naturally gluten free recipe that is full of flavor and vegetables. Whenever we have a family get together, my good friend Vicki ( by request) always brings her homemade guacamole. For some reason, her guacamole is a crowd pleaser. Mine is usually good, but hers is actually great every time. I finally asked her for her recipe and am sharing it with you today. A great guacamole recipe starts with a perfectly ripe avocado. Choosing a ripe avocado can be tricky. Picking ripe avocados to use for guacamole reminds me of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears . Sometimes they are too soft, sometimes they are too hard , but sometimes they are just right! But how do you know? Here is how to pick a perfect avocado for guacamole.  A Simple Trick to tell if an avocado is ripe One simple way to tell if an avocado is ready to be used for making guacamole is to remove the stem .  The stem will reveal the condition of the avocado flesh without having to open the