More Gluten-Free Hits & Misses

Hello GF peeps, and Happy Wednesday!  Time for another addition of Gluten-Free Hits & Misses, as we continue to try new things every day on our gluten-free journey.  So off we go......

Gluten Free Hits & Misses - Volume 1

It has been 2 weeks today that my son has been gluten-free and our household has been gluten-reduced.  And as we continue on this journey we are discovering new products almost daily.  Many of which we have never eaten or tried before.  So I thought we would share some of our "Hits & Misses" in the gluten-free/healthier eating department as we go along.

Tuna & Pasta Cheddar Casserole

Tuna & Pasta Cheddar Casserole

I have had a request for a quick and easy tuna casserole.  Although personally not a fan of tuna, I have made this one before and I have to admit that even this non-tuna fan enjoyed it!  Must have been the cheese! *wink*

Ingredients

- 3 cups uncooked rotini pasta
- 3 cups water
- 1 can condensed Cream of Mushroom soup
- 1 can solid white tuna in water, drained
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp melted butter or margarine

Directions

- preheat oven to 375F
- in large pot, boil pasta in 3 cups of water until just tender. DO NOT DRAIN
- add soup to pasta & water and stir well to combine
- pour pasts/soup mixture into 2 qt (2L) casserole dish
- gently stir in flaked tuna
- sprinkle with cheddar and parmesan cheese
- top with mixture of bread crumbs and melted butter
- bake at 375F for 20 minutes

*Serves 4.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Chicken Caesar Pasta

Chicken Caesar Pasta

If you are a tomato-lover like me, then this is the perfect dinner that's ready in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 lb (500 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 1 can condensed Cream of Celery Soup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup Caesar salad dressing
- 4 cups hot cooked linguine
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- grated parmesan cheese

Directions

- heat oil at medium-high heat in large skillet
- add chicken and cook 10 minutes or until browned
- reduce heat to low
- stir in soup, water & salad dressing
- heat to a boil, stirring occasionally
- cover and cook over low heat until chicken is cooked through (approx 5 minutes)
- toss with cooked linguine and tomato
- sprinkle with pepper and parmesan before serving

*Serves 4

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Savoury Chicken Stew

Savoury Chicken Stew

We made this earlier in the week and it was really good!  The leftovers were perfect for school lunches too.  Veggies can be substituted depending on your taste - we skipped the broccoli and added mushrooms and red peppers instead.

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 can condensed Cream of Chicken & Broccoli soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 small red potatoes, cut into quarters (approx 2 1/2 cups)
- 2 medium carrots, sliced (approx 1 cup)
- 1 cup fresh broccoli florets *Quick Tip - we are not broccoli lovers in our house so we substituted mushrooms and red peppers. Any veggie you like will do!
- 1/8 tsp pepper

Directions

- in large skillet over medium-high heat, in hot oil, cook chicken until browned, stirring often
- remove chicken once cooked and set aside
- in same skillet, combine soup, milk, potatoes, pepper and veggies *Quick Tip - we used a large pot for this step as things were overflowing out of the skillet!
- heat mixture to a boil and reduce heat to low
- cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally
- add cooked chicken to stew mixture
- cover and cook an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink & veggies are tender

*Makes 4 main-dish servings.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

This was submitted last night and sounds too good not to try!  I know this will be a hit with the 12 and under crowd in this house! :)

Ingredients

- 1 package (16 oz) wide egg noddles
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 jar (26 oz) spaghetti sauce
- 1 can ( 4 1/2 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 package (3 1/2 oz) sliced pepperoni
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- non-stick cooking spray

Directions

- cook noodles on stove top according to package directions
- meanwhile, in large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink
- drain fat from beef
- stir in spaghetti sauce, mushrooms and Italian seasoning
- drain noodles
- coat Crock Pot with non-stick cooking spray
- spread 1/3 of meat sauce on bottom of Crock Pot
- cover with 1/3 of noodles and pepperoni
- sprinkle with 1/3 of cheese
- repeat layers twice more
- cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or until heated through and cheese is melted

*Makes 6 to 8 large servings

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

No-Fuss Mac & Cheese

No-Fuss Mac & Cheese

I just discovered this in my Campbell's soup recipe book (give credit where credit is due!) and am going to give it a try this weekend.  It looks SUPER cheesy!!!! And as you all know, cheese makes me happy :)

Ingredients

- 2 cans condensed Cream of Celery soup
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp prepared mustard
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 6 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 3 cups dry)
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can French fried onions

Directions

- cook macaroni noodles first and set aside
- preheat oven to 400F
- in large bowl, combine soup, milk, mustard & pepper
- stir in COOKED macaroni and 3 cups of cheese (set 1 cup of cheese aside)
- spoon mixture into 3-quart oblong or square baking dish
- bake at 400F for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbling
- stir casserole
- sprinkle onions and remaining 1 cup of cheese over macaroni mixture
- bake 1 minute more or until onions are golden

*Serves 8

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Saw this posted on my friend Kathy's Facebook page this week and it looked too good not to share!  Going to give it a try later this week.  Yum!

Ingredients

- 2 lbs (32 oz) chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup diced canned tomatoes
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
- 1/2 cup carrots, shredded
- 3 tbsp sour cream

Directions

- place chicken in Crock Pot & sprinkle taco seasoning over meat
- layer vegetables and salsa on top
- pour 1/2 cup water over entire mixture
- cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours
*Meat is cooked when it shreds easily or reaches internal temp of 165F
- when ready to serve break up chicken with fork and stir in sour cream

*Serves 8

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Cheeseburger Pasta

Cheeseburger Pasta


Just came across this recipe today and am going to give it a try.  Looks super easy and most ingredients are things you would have in your cupboard already.  Perfect for a day like this when it's too cold to leave the house!

*This recipe is getting rave reviews! :) 

Ingredients

- 1 lb (500 g) ground beef
- 1 can condensed tomato soup
- 1 soup can of water
- 2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar or marble cheese

Directions

- cook beef at medium-high in large skillet until browned
- drain fat and reduce heat slightly
- stir in soup and water
- heat mixture to a boil, stirring often
- stir in uncooked rotini pasta, tomato, green pepper and black pepper (ensure pasta is in liquid)
- cover and cook over low-medium heat approx 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring often
- top with shredded cheese and serve

*Serves 4

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Chunky Pizza Soup

Chunky Pizza Soup

This one is from the archives!  My mom used to make this when we were kids.  Sounds like a perfect comfort food dinner for a cold night in!

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 large can plum tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 tbsp basil
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 cup slivered green peppers
- 1 cup thinly sliced pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Directions

- in large skillet, stir fry onions, mushrooms & peppers in oil until soft
- add remaining ingredients (except cheese) and cook til heated through
- divide mixture into 4 oven-proof bowls
- sprinkle with mozzarella cheese
- broil until cheese is melted and bubbly *Quick Tip - you can also microwave on HIGH until cheese melts

*Serves 4.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Two-Step Mozzarella Chicken

Two-Step Mozzarella Chicken

I used to make this "back in the day" and just came across the recipe again this morning in my box of tricks.  It is super easy and done in less than 20 minutes.  Pair it with a salad or vegetable side and voila.......dinner!

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp cooking oil (I use extra virgin olive oil)
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- 1 can condensed tomato soup
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

- brown chicken breasts in hot oil in skillet
- in small bowl, combine condensed tomato soup and oregano
- add soup/oregano mixture to skillet
- simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through
- sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and serve

*Serves 4.

Enjoy!

~ The LazyGourmet

Turkey Vegetable Chili Mac

Crock Pot Turkey Vegetable Chili Mac

Have to admit that I am not generally a fan of chili, but this sounds sooooooo good I will have to give it a try!

Ingredients

- 3/4 pound ground turkey breast
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz) Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or garlic powder equivalent)
- 1 tsp Mexican seasoning
- 1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1/3 cup sour cream

Directions

- brown turkey in skillet on stovetop *Have to admit I never pre-cook CrockPot meat, but that's just lazy me!
- combine turkey, beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, garlic and seasoning in Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW 4 to 5 hours
- stir in macaroni
- cover and cook on LOW 10 minutes & then stir mixture thoroughly
- cover and cook 20 to 30 minutes or until pasta is tender
- serve with a dollop of sour cream on top

*Makes 6 hearty servings.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Ravioli Bake

Ravioli Bake

Was looking for something to keep us warm this week as winter rears it's ugly head! Brrrr......  This is a wonderful winter comfort food.

Ingredients

- 2 pkgs fresh ravioli *Frugal Tip - since frozen ravioli is easier on the budget, I buy frozen and just boil for a few minutes before putting the casserole together
- 1 jar pasta sauce
- 1 can stewed tomatoes
- 1 can beef broth
- 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (or more if you are cheese addicts like us!)

Directions

- preheat oven to 350F
- combine pasta sauce, stewed tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste and Italian dressing in large bowl
- place ravioli in large (lightly greased) casserole dish and pour mixture over pasta
- sprinkle cheese over entire casserole
- bake at 350F for 45 minutes or until pasta is tender and cheese is melted

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Christmas Morning Casserole

Christmas Morning Casserole

I have prepared this casserole on Christmas Eve for the past 5 years and then let it bake in the morning while we open gifts.  It is very easy to prepare and can make a great mid-week dinner too.

Ingredients

*NOTE - this casserole must chill either overnight or for several hours before baking. 

- 10 to 12 slices of bread (brown is best)
- 3 to 4 tbsp Dijon or Honey Mustard (whichever you prefer)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped ham, bacon or turkey (I have even super-short-cut this & used bacon bits!)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- salt & pepper
- 1/4 cup butter or margerine
- 2 cups Rice Krispies

Directions:

- butter 4-6 pieces of bread (enough to cover bottom of your dish) and place BUTTERED SIDE DOWN in a large rectangular casserole dish
- spread "upper" side of bread with mustard
- create another "layer" using your ham/bacon/turkey
- create another "layer" using your shredded cheese
- create the top "layer" using the rest of your bread - BUTTERED SIDE UP
- in large bowl whisk together eggs, milk & dash of salt & pepper
- pour mixture evenly over casserole
*Cover and chill overnight or for several hours before baking*

When ready to bake:
- melt 1/4 cup butter or margerine & add 2 cups Rice Krispies
- spread mixture over casserole
- bake at 350F for approx 45 minutes

*Festive Note - if you are making this for Christmas morning and have kids in your midst, using the red & green Holiday Rice Krispies on top makes it look a little more festive without affecting the taste.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Pork Roast in Red Pepper Jelly Sauce

Pork Roast in Red Pepper Jelly Sauce

Just received this submission today from my friend Shannon in Waterloo who is trying it tonight.  We look forward to her family's review! :)

Ingredients

- 5 potatoes, cubed *Quick Tip - sweet potatoes can be used instead if you prefer
- 3-pound pork loin roast, boneless
- 1/2 cup red pepper jelly
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 onion, cut into rings
- 1 red pepper, slivered

Directions

- place potatoes in Crock Pot and set pork roast on top
- in a bowl, combine red pepper jelly, soy sauce, ginger, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper
- pour mixture over pork roast
- sprinkle onion rings and red pepper slivers on top of pork roast
- cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours

*Serves 6.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce! Mmmmm.......

Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

With the exception of my Grandmother's "old school" recipe, this is the BEST spaghetti sauce recipe I have come across.  The brown sugar may be the secret ingredient!

Ingredients

- 1 lb ground beef or bulk Italian sausage (I've only ever used ground beef)
- 1 medium onion, chopped (I skip this)
- 1 large can of stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce *Quick Tip - just buy the cheap 99 cent sauce since you can add your own spices to this recipe
- 1 small can of tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp dried basil
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt

Directions

- add all ingredients (with meat at the bottom) to the Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours
*Quick Tip - I use a wooden spoon to break up the beef after it's been cooking a few hours, just to distribute the flavour of the meat through the sauce
- discard bay leaf
- serve over hot, cooked spaghetti

*Makes 6-8 hearty servings.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Jambalaya

Jambalaya

Just found this one again in my recipe box. I used to make this all the time and we loved it! This is a great recipe for leftover ham.  Guess I better get some ham and bust this one out again this week. :)

Ingredients

- 2 cups diced, cooked ham
- 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 large can of whole stewed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain converted rice
- 1 lb fresh or frozen shrimp, shelled and deveined (*Shrimp is optional and I do it without*)

Directions

- thoroughly combine all ingredients (except shrimp) in Crock Pot
- cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours
- 1 hour before serving, turn Crock Pot to HIGH & stir in uncooked shrimp*
- cover and continue to cook on HIGH until shrimp are pink & tender*

*Skip last 2 steps if you are omitting shrimp.

Makes 6 hearty servings and is fabulous for school lunches the following day.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Veggie & Beef Pasta

Crock Pot Veggie & Beef Pasta

Just tried this for the first time last night and it was fabulous!!  And super easy!!

Ingredients

- 2 cups frozen veggies (I used California Mix of broccoli, cauliflower & carrots)
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 can stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 2 cups cooked rotini pasta (approx. 1/2 a bag)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (in my opinion, MORE is BETTER when it comes to cheese so I used 1 1/2 cups)

Directions

- combine veggies, onion, basil, oregano, thyme tomatoes & beef broth in slow cooker
- cover and cook on LOW for 2 1/2 hours
- add ground beef and garlic to slow cooker
- cook an additional 2 hours (or more) on LOW
- cook rotini on stovetop
- add pasta, tomato paste & cheese to slow cooker and cook 30 min or until heated through

*Recipe says makes 4 servings but we had it for dinner last night & lunch today and I probably still have 4 servings left over!

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Ranchero Macaroni

Ranchero Macaroni

Wow, it's been awhile! This recipe is an oldie but a goodie!  Haven't made it in awhile and decided to throw it in the oven tonight. Super easy and super yummy!

DISCLAIMER: NOT low fat. NOT low sodium. DEFINITELY yummy! :)

Ingredients:

- 1 can condensed Cream of Chicken soup
- 1 cup milk
- 6 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (approx 3 cups dry)
- 3 cups shredded Cheddar OR Monteray Jack cheese (I use waaaay more!)
- 1 cup salsa (again, I use way more! Like 1/2 the big jar!)
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips

Directions:

- in large bowl, combine soup & milk
- stir in cooked macaroni, cheese & salsa (to save dishes I sometimes do all this in the casserole dish)
- spoon mixture into 3 quart baking dish
- bake at 400F for 20 minutes
- remove from oven and stir
- sprinkle chips over macaroni mixture
- bake 5 more minutes or until hot & bubbling

*Makes approx 8 main dish servings. FAB for freezing or leftovers for lunches.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Thai Chicken

Crock Pot Thai Chicken


This recipe was submitted by my friend (and former student) Erin. Thanks Erin!

Ingredients

- 2 ½ pounds of chicken pieces
- 1 cup hot salsa
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp fresh ginger
- White rice, for serving
- ½ cup chopped peanuts

Directions

-  Place chicken in a crock pot.
-  In a bowl, mix together salsa, peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, and ginger.
- Pour over chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- To serve, place chicken over rice, pour sauce over chicken, sprinkle with peanuts.

Sounds yummy! Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet