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Taking The Stress Out Of Gluten-Free Grain-Free & Dairy-Free Living
Sunday Dinner
Sunday is my favorite day of the week.
I’m not sure what it is about it really, but I love it. Maybe it’s because we are saying goodbye to the week behind us, which was hopefully successful and peaceful, and preparing to say hello to the week ahead. Sundays are usually a slower day for us. We try to squeeze in a little more time with each other, hang out with the dogs, mill around the house and yard, I usually make a nice dinner and bake something for dessert, and then we just soak in the last day of the weekend. This weekend seemed to go slower than usual, which was an extra bonus.
I ran across this little guy while I was watering. They are so diligent. I’m sure in a day or two the wind or my cat’s tail will come along and de-construct the web. He’ll have to move along and find a better place. Right now, he’s just soaking up the sun like the rest of us.
Loving the Lilacs. Cut a large bouquet for the dining room table and they are filling the whole house with the smell of spring.
After milling around the yard a little I set my mind to doing some more organizing and “streamlining” things for the big move. Tony was out and about taking his last H1 level hang gliding class so I had a little time on my hands to tackle our ever-growing “to do” list. I’m not a hoarder at all, but I still seem to manage to keep a few things I don’t really need. I went through closets, under bathroom cupboards, the pantry, and was able to purge quite a bit that we certainly don’t need to drag all the way across the country with us.
I am not typically a sitter, I’m usually a do-er. Someone who needs to feel that I’ve at least accomplished a few worthwhile things throughout my day. Occasionally, if my to-do list has been tackled, I don’t mine lying around reading a book or spending my day in the kitchen baking or cooking, it’s not like I don’t like to relax! But when there are things to be done, I need to get those off my mind so I can really soak in the day ahead. Once I had done a little organizing and purging of unnecessary “stuff”, I was able to come up with our Sunday Dinner & Dessert.
Steak Kabobs
Simple Spinach Salad
Cheesy Muffins with Roasted Red Peppers
&
Rustic Berry Tart for Dessert
Steak Kabobs
*Six Servings
2 Boneless NY Loin Top Steaks, cut into medium pieces
2 Bell Peppers, cut into large pieces
1 Large Onion, cut into large pieces
15 Cremini Mushrooms, stems removed
1 Cup BBQ Sauce, I used Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Chipotle
1/2 Cup Rice Vinegar, I used Nakano Basil & Oregano
2 Tablespoons Country Dijon, I used Grey Poupon
6 Skewers
Place the steak, peppers, onions, and mushrooms into a medium bowl. Add the BBQ sauce, rice vinegar, and Dijon. Stir well until all of the meat and vegetables are completely coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Place on skewers and grill to medium rare.
Simple Spinach Salad
*I didn’t measure anything for this, but it was about 3 servings.
About 2 Handfuls of Spinach Leaves
1 Tomato, diced
About 1/4 of a Red Onion, sliced
About 4-6 Slices of Bacon, diced and cooked
Olive Oil
Rice Vinegar
Freshly Ground Pepper
Warm the olive oil and vinegar in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Place all of the vegetables in a medium bowl. Drizzle dressing over the top and toss. Sprinkle with bacon. (Don’t dress the salad until you are ready to serve.)
Cheesy Muffins with Roasted Red Peppers
*Makes 9 Muffins
1 Cup Mama’s All Purpose Almond Flour
1/2 Cup White Rice Flour
1/2 Cup Brown Rice Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Cup Roasted Red Bell Pepper, diced
2 teaspoons Fresh Parsley, chopped
1 Tablespoon Fresh Oregano, chopped
2 Tablespoons Red Onion, diced
1 Cup Daiya Cheddar Style Cheese
1 Cup “Buttermilk”, 1 cup almond milk with 1/2 lemon squeezed, sit 5 minutes
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Large Egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with muffin cups or cut parchment into squares and line. Spray each cup lightly with non-stick spray. Set aside.
Measure the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum into a medium bowl and whisk together. Add the herbs, onion, and diced peppers.
Pour almond milk and juice of 1/2 lemon into a measuring cup and let sit for at least 5 minutes. Add the olive oil and beaten egg. Stir, pour over dry ingredients. Add the cheese.
Fold together until fully incorporated but do not over mix.
Fill each muffin cup evenly.
Bake for 22 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
This is one of my all time favorite desserts. Incredibly simple to make, but beautiful and delicious.
Rustic Berry Tart
2 – 16 ounce Bags Frozen Mixed Berries, or fresh mixed berries
3 Tablespoons Minute Tapioca
1/2 Cup Sugar
Gluten Free Flour for rolling
1 Egg, beaten with a few drops of water for brushing
Raw Sugar for sprinkling
Dairy Free Ice Cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place berries in medium bowl. Sprinkle with sugar and tapioca. Toss well and allow to sit out on counter for about 1 1/2 hours (if you’re using frozen berries).
Cut a piece of parchment to the size of a baking sheet. Flour, and roll dough out to “fit” parchment and pinch the rough edges. I rolled mine a little over the side edges. You will fold it over anyway so you don’t need to worry about fitting it exactly to the parchment. However, gluten-free dough isn’t as elastic as gluten dough so your edges may break when you transfer it to the baking sheet. If this happens just pinch them back on.
Transfer the dough with the parchment onto the baking sheet.
After the fruit has rested and melted for a while, gently stir to evenly distribute the juices. Spoon fruit into the middle of the dough.
Fold dough over carefully, long sides first, then ends. Crimp with fork, brush with egg and water mixture, and sprinkle with raw sugar.
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until crust is lightly golden.
A few more pictures from the garden…
Happy Monday and have a lovely week!
10 Comments on “Sunday Dinner”
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gluten free zen 
Beautiful flowers, i hope you are able to take slips of all your favourites so you can move some of your garden as well. Kebabs! i had forgotton about those.. yum! c
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I wouldn’t even know where to begin to do that and then have to keep them alive over the winter! But that’s OK. I love to garden so I’m sure I won’t have any problem filling my yards with native things back east. 😉
The kabobs are SO simple. A great dinner if you want something delicious and simple. Easy for company too.
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Everything looks amazing! 🙂
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Thanks!
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What a great post, April! The food looks and sounds delicious! I must try a berry tart! The flowers are all so beautiful and very well photographed. (So, was the food, for that matter.) Of all, though, I really like that poppy. I’ve always had a soft spot for them and this one is spectacular!
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Thank you, John. You HAVE to make the berry tart. Incredibly easy and it’s good for breakfast too. 😉
Poppies are one of my favorites as well. My grandma grew them and we also had them right outside our bedroom window in our first house. They are so neat and look like paper flowers. I’m going to plant tons and tons of them at the new house! 🙂
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What a lovely day! My kind of day as wel.. Lilacs are just blooming here and I swear I could almost smell them in your photos, lol! I love your entire meal.. But that rustic tart stole my heart!
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Your lilacs are amazing. I love the colours. Sunday is my most favourite day and I think because we usually go at a slower pace. Love the look of your rustic berry tart xx
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