vegan

Just Desserts: Now Available for Pre-order

February 13, 2023 — Leave a comment

I’m thrilled to announce that my new cookbook: Just Desserts: 40 Step-by-Step Gluten Free Dessert Recipes is now available for pre-order exclusively through Hipocampo Children’s Books.

This cookbook has quite literally been 10 years in the making ever since I started this award-winning website in 2012 while living in Nashville, TN. I could have never fathomed all the places food blogging and content creation would take me, the people I would meet, and the community that would evolve from this journey.

This cookbook features my collection of 40 mouth-watering, classic, and easy-to-prepare dessert recipes that are entirely gluten-free and 100% delicious. I am forever grateful to YOU my community, and all the creative collaborators that are helping bring this project to life. My cookbook features gorgeous full-color photography by my brother Adam Eaton (who shot the cover) Sarah Fredenburg, and Emily Baker for every recipe. I also thank Tiffany Nicholas for the amazing illustrations, and everyone in my Gluten Free Rochester online group, beyond that, have taste-tested, edited, test-baked, and cheered me online, and in person.

My cookbook includes a generous selection of plant-based desserts that are egg-free dairy-free and nut-free, easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes with standard and metric ingredient measurements, and nutrition information for each recipe. Just Desserts is the ultimate gluten-free baking guide for anyone interested in learning how to bake no fuss yet classic gluten-free desserts and sweets.

Your pre-orders are instrumental for me as an author — and help support a local Latino-woman-owned bookstore. I plan to make this cookbook available only to small local women-BIPOC bookstores in Rochester and this preorder campaign is one step in this surreal process for me.

Thank you to everyone that continues to support me, I truly cannot believe this vision has come to life, and I am humbly grateful to my entire community for your continued love, encouragement, and support.

Pre-order now

golden tumeric milk

Golden Tumeric Drink | (Vegan + Anti-Inflammatory)

July 26, 2019 — 1 Comment

Tumeric has been a real game changer as I am in the process of taking a holistic approach for fibromyalgia management for the first time in ten years. I’m working on a more comprehensive post soon to share my process and experience but for now I am elated to share this tumeric-rich vegan “milk” drink that I am now taking every day before bed.

Tumeric has so many health benefits and anti-inflammatory properties that are a great aid to those like me living with chronic pain. This warming beverage is just one way you can incorporate more of it into your diet. I’ve adapted my version from the recipe found on the Minimalist Baker blog.

Golden Tumeric Drink adapted from the recipe found on Minimalist Baker 

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups full fat coconut milk (about one can)
  • ¾ cup almond milk 
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil 
  • 2 teaspoons ground tumeric 
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup 
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger 
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 
  • pinch ground black pepper
  • (makes about 2 cups/ 16 ounces)

Preparation

  1. To a small saucepan, add coconut milk, almond milk, ground turmeric, ground ginger, cinnamon stick, coconut oil, black pepper, and maple syrup

  2. Whisk to combine and warm over medium heat. Heat until hot to the touch but not boiling – about 4 minutes – whisking frequently.
  3. Serve immediately, dividing between one 16 ounce mason jar
  4. Best when fresh, though leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
  5. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave until hot.

enjoylife grain and seed bars

Enjoy Life Grain & Seed Bars | Product Review

January 5, 2019 — Leave a comment

With 2018 in the rearview every one is slowly getting back into the swing of the New Year and with that setting goals for cleaner, healthier, and better ways of being. Here on theglutenfreechef blog we promote whole plant based foods processed as minimally as possible but this doesn’t mean that busy active lifestyles don’t need a supplement here and there.

This is where our favorite gluten free snack brand; Enjoylife comes into play. As a brand Enjoy Life is all about taste-FULL worry-free snacks that are full of whole ingredients but free of the most common allergens; gluten, wheat, soy, dairy, and more. They have a huge product line that includes baking chocolate, cookies, snack bars and more. Currently, we’re snacking on their newest flavors of grain and seed bars; cranberry orange and lemon poppyseed.

Enjoy Life Grain & Seed Bars

enjoylife grain and seed bars

The Cranberry Orange Grain & Seed Bars re packed with purity protocol certified gluten free oats, three types of sorghum, plant-based protein, and fruit including tangy orange and sweet cranberries. They are the perfect am pick me up right as you get up in the morning or a lovely mid-morning snacks with a serving of greek yogurt or almonds. Even better this flavor or one of the other five including:

can fill the sneakiest late night sweet tooth craving. Each bar has only 5 grams of suga, 4 grams of protein, and only 120 calories. Whats’ better is you can literally see the real whole ingredients that make up each bar and with a simply ingredient list you can know what you are putting into your body.

Grilled Portobello Caprese Sandwich | Guest Recipe by Benjamin

April 13, 2018 — Leave a comment

One of the biggest challenges for me trying to reduce my gluten and wheat intake has been finding satisfying replacement for bread. Before switching my diet, I’d long been a bread obsessive and my greatest fear had always been to find strong substitutes so I could still enjoy my greatest love: Sandwiches. I had just about managed to create gluten-free versions of pizza, flatbreads and pasta, but a good sandwich recipe had eluded me for a while.

Enter today’s recipe.

This gluten-free vegetarian sandwich uses two hearty portobello mushrooms instead of bread to house beautiful fresh mozzarella and tomato pesto.While the portobello mushrooms might strike some people as a bit bland, their juices combine brilliantly with the mozarella. The two together make for a brilliant pile of melted cheese, packed full of flavors. Everything blends together perfectly.
Let’s get into it!

Grilled Portobello Caprese Sandwich

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 large portobello mushrooms
2 tbsp dried tomato pesto
1 tsp crushed garlic
½ cup mozzarella cheese, sliced
½ roma tomato, sliced
4-6 large fresh basil leaves
¼ cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
½ cup roasted bell peppers
olive oil cooking spray (for the grill)

Preparation

  1. Start by heating your grill on a medium heat.
  2. Use a spoon to clean out the insides of the mushroom, making sure not to break the skins.
  3. Split the pesto and crushed garlic between each mushroom, spreading as evenly as possible on the inside.
  4. Split the mozarella between each mushroom – don’t be afraid to be generous – and then place the sliced tomatoes and basil on one of the mushrooms. Top the other mushroom with the pepperoncini and bell peppers.
  5. Carefully put the two sides together and then place the sandwich on the grill.

Cook for 10 minutes on one side and then 10 minutes on the other. Remove from the grill and enjoy!

About the author:

Ben is a former semi-pro cyclist and big eater. Now he is just a big eater. He writes about food and drink for lazy chefs at The Online Grill.

 

5 Reasons You Should Be Using Argan Oil Everyday 

April 10, 2018 — Leave a comment

I was put onto Argan Oil two years ago while listening to one of my favorite podcasts (The Friend Zone) where resident natural life guru Francheska Medina talked about the oil’s gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and healing benefits; making it the perfect replacement for harsh and toxic chemically laden facial scrubs.

I know you’re probably thinking ” Oil as a cleanser” how odd. But I promise you need to be adding argan oil to your daily hygiene and beauty repertoire. Here are five reasons why.

What is Argan Oil

Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree  that is native to Morocco. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. It is also used for cosmetic purposes here in the United States. Argan oil is rich with vitamin A and vitamin E. It is also packed with antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid. Research shows that when applied to skin, argan oil benefits include easing inflammation while moisturizing the skin.

5 Reasons You Should Use Argan Oil Daily

1. Works wonders for your hair

Argan oil benefits the hair unlike anything else. It is non-greasy and gets rid of split ends in a jiff. It also coats the air and protects it against the heat of curlers, hair dryers, and even flat irons! It does all these things together while promoting a healthy, vibrant shine.

2. Your skin will love you forever

From moisturizing, to toning, to exfoliating argan oil is a one stop shop when it comes to daily skin care.

Argan oil is a one stop shop when it comes to daily skin care.

Need a nighttime moisterizer? Apply one drop to your face, using a tapping motion, from the bridge of your nose to your temple and back again. Then apply a drop beneath your eyes with the same gentle tapping. The vitamin A and vitamin E can help to reduce fine wrinkles and keep this delicate area moisturized.

A DIY all natural toner. For an all-over glow, add 2–4 drops to 8 ounces of your favorite toner

Exfoliate the dead skin away. Just mix 1 tablespoon of brown sugar with a couple of drops of argan oil in your hand. Rub into your face in a circular motion for two to four minutes; pay special attention to acne-prone areas and areas that are dry. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.Regular exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while giving you a younger, fresher complexion. With the aid of the brown sugar, the argan oil’s nutrients are more readily absorbed into your skin.

3. Internal Medicine

Argan oil can taken internally as a medicine for healthy digestion and to reap its’ super antioxidant benefits. The dosage of argan oil for internal usage is 1-2 tablespoon a day. To fully feel the benefits argan oil, consume 1 tablespoon in the morning, and 1 tablespoon at night.

4. You’ll be toxin free

Let’s be honest; most skin and beauty products even those claiming to be natural are riddled with all sorts of toxic harmful chemicals. Replacing even one or two of those products with organic argan oil get you one step closer to being toxic free for life.

5. You’ll save a ton of money

One drop makes a world of difference. And since you only need a few drops in most cases you’ll save a lot of cold hard cash that you would normally use on bath, body, or skin care.

Learn more about argan oil at one of the links listed below:

Sources: Diamond Herbs | Dr. Axe | Wikipedia

Organic DIY Tea Tree & Lemon Essential Oil Cleaning Spray

April 5, 2018 — Leave a comment

Back in 2016 I made clear my goal to completely detoxify my life in all areas including my personal care and cleaning products. I can proudly say that two years later I have come a long way. From DIY toothpaste, oil pulling, shea butter moisturizers, deodorant and essential oils my life is one big ball of organic. To celebrate; I’m sharing this amazing DIY tea tree oil cleaning spray. Tea tree oil has many uses including cleaning and purifying.

I’m sharing this amazing tea tree oil cleaning spray

DIY Tea Tree Lemon Cleaning Spray

What You Need

  • 16 ounce spray bottle
  • 16 ounces filtered water
  • Tea Tree Essential Oil
  • Lemon Essential Oil
  • The Honest Company’s Organic Dish Soap

Preparation

  1. Add water to spray bottle
  2. Add 20 drops tea tree oil
  3. Add 10 drops lemon essential oil
  4. 2 teaspoons dish soap
  5. 2 tablespoons vinegar
  6. Shake and spray
  7. Don’t forget to label

What Makes It Awesome

This multi-purpose cleaner is great for cleaning as well as disinfecting and can be used on:

  • Countertops
  • Sinks
  • Mirrors
  • Glass, Metal, and Wood Surfaces

Stay tuned as I will be sharing more amazing uses for tea tree (and other) essential oils as well organic vendors and products I have incorporated into my everyday life that work wonders.

xoxo

The Gluten Free Chef

Vegan Baked Macaroni & Cheese | Living Vegan

February 6, 2018 — 1 Comment

It’s taken me months to find the time to share this amazing Vegan Macaroni & Cheese recipe with you. Created last year, this mac & cheese became one of the most popular dishes that I created for 540WMain Learning Academy’s monthly vegan pop up dinners. My goal was to create a vegan version of this classic American “main” dish as a side.

Feedback was so positive that I made it a staple for the newly created Vegan Cheese Making Class also at 540WMain. I’m elated to finally finally share this recipe with the world. Get into the recipe below.

Vegan Baked Macaroni & “Cheese”

Ingredients

  • 3 yams, peeled and steamed soft
  • 2 stalks celery
  • scallion
    3 cups non-dairy milk
  • 2 cups veggie broth
  • ¼ cup just mayo
  • ½ cup nutritional yeast
  • ½ cup (1 stick) vegan margarine
  • ¼ cup almond meal
  • ¼ cup balsamic or apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup Dijon mustard
    3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
    2 teaspoons tumeric
    1 teaspoon cumin
  • cooking spray

Preparation

  1. Wash and scrub yams, cut in half, cover with foil and bake on 400 degree F for 50-60 minutes or until tender. Allow to cool completely before moving on.
  2. Meanwhile, bring 5-6 cups water to boil. Add pasta, a pinch of salt and drizzle of olive oil. Reduce heat to low-medium, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside in large mixing bowl.
  3. In a food processor blend yams with milk until smooth. Set aside.
  4. Coat a cast iron skillet with cooking spray, add celery and scallion and sauté on medium heat until tender. Add margarine, almond meal, vinegar, just mayo, mustard, garlic, cumin, and tumeric and stir until margarine is completely melted. Add in puree yam mixture. Pour this sauté mixture over macaroni along with veggie stock. Stir in yeast and salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Grease a 6×9 pirex dish and add macaroni mixture. Bake on 400 for 15 minutes until bubbly. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.