Tag: gluten-free

Crunchy Everything Crackers

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These crackers feature both buckwheat flour and flakes, along with chickpeas, flaxseeds, hemp, and teff, delivering a nutritious—and delicious!—snack. This recipe was developed for Cuisine Soleil, a Canadian-based gluten-free and certified organic flour company that produces over 12 flours and a variety of mixes. Here I’m highlighting their porridge, an oat-free mixture that is big on texture and taste.

Crunchy Everything Crackers

Crunchy Everything Crackers

  • Servings: 30 crackers
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 1/3 cup chickpea flour
1/3 cup buckwheat flour
1/3 cup porridge/Grutze
1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
3 to 5 tablespoons water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Put the chickpea flour, buckwheat flour, porridge, ground flaxseeds, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk well to combine. Drizzle in the olive oil. Mix well. Slowly add the water, a little at a time, while stirring, just enough to create a soft dough.

Gather the dough in your hands and shape into a disc on the parchment paper. Roll the dough to about 1/8-inch thick. Brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. Use a butter knife to cut into 2-inch squares. Bake for about 15 minutes, then carefully pull apart and flip the squares. Bake for about 5 minutes until firm. They will continue to firm as they cool.

(Disclosure statement: I received monetary compensation and free product from Cuisine Soleil from a recipe development partnership. I only, however, promote and partner with companies I love and use regularly in my own kitchen. As always, all opinions and recommendations expressed are completely my own.)

Popcorn Puppy Chow

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If you haven’t had Puppy Chow (also known as Muddy Buddies), it’s pretty important that you do. I’ve made countless of variations from the original recipe — my favourites being the classic version (peanut butter and chocolate) and a mint chocolate version, using cashew butter for the peanut butter and adding mint extract.

Popcorn Puppy Chow
I’ve added various cereals, chopped nuts, dried cranberries and raisins. I’ve given it as gifts (an excuse to snack on it, really), made it for every occasion (and non-occasion), and love it straight from the freezer.

Two things remain the same: it’s likely my favourite snack ever and I always add more chocolate and peanut butter than the classic recipe, not really measuring either after I hit the recommended amounts (another spoonful of peanut butter? Sure. More chocolate chips? Yes, please.)

Popcorn Puppy Chow 4

This version uses popcorn, which I freshly pop on the stovetop with olive oil and salt. I like the Chex (well, Wegmans brand fake Chex) better — it has more of a crunch, but this is a close second that’ll make it back into the snack rotation for sure.

Popcorn Puppy Chow 3

Popcorn Puppy Chow

8 cups popped popcorn (plain)
1 1/2 cups nondairy semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, such as Enjoy Life
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup nondairy buttery spread
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch salt
1 1/2 to 2 cups icing sugar, sifted

Put the popcorn into a large bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper.

Put the chocolate chips, peanut butter, nondairy buttery spread in a large microwavable bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute. Stir, and then microwave on 30 second intervals until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla and salt. Let cool about 5 minutes, which will help the popcorn not get soggy.

Pour the mixture over the popcorn, carefully stirring until coated. Scrape the mixture into a large Ziploc bag (I do this in two batches).

Add icing sugar to the bag. Seal and shake until well coated. Spread on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining mixture. Let stand at room temperature to firm, or speed up the process by putting the baking sheet into the freezer (recommended!)

This can be stored for awhile in the freezer in an airtight container.  

Kale and Sweet Potato Patties

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Creamy, sweet, and crispy, these patties use chickpea flour to help bind them, giving a falafel-like flavor with a hint of sesame and lemon. They’re super easy to put together (especially if you have leftover sweet potatoes), and easy to adapt–try different greens, use olive oil instead of sesame oil, and add any fresh herbs you love. Leftovers are perfect for packed lunches, too!
Kale and Sweet Potato Patties2

Kale and Sweet Potato Patties

  • Servings: 20 patties
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2 teaspoons mild or medium extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup packed finely chopped kale
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 cups  mashed sweet potatoes
3/4 cup chickpea flour
3 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, plus more for serving
2 teaspoons ground ginger
Fine sea or Himalayan salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Lemon wedges, for serving
Lemon zest, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Heat the oil over medium high heat in a skillet. Add the kale and green onions and cook until the kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Put the mixture in a bowl with the sweet potatoes, chickpea flour, ground flaxseeds, cilantro, sesame oil, ginger, and salt and pepper. Mix well, adjusting seasoning to taste.

Use sesame-oiled hands to roll pingpong-sized balls of the mixture between your palms. Repeat with remaining mixture. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn, and bake for 10 minutes more. Remove the balls from the oven. Use your palm to gently flatten into a patty. Bake for 5 minutes more per side, until golden on the edges. Sprinkle with zest. Drizzle with sesame oil and lemon juice. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Kale and Sweet Potato Patties