My Easy, Easy Chicken Spaghetti

I work a job all day and it takes me about 45 minutes to get home.  It's a little hard sometimes to get a meal on the table before it is time to go to bed.  One night the hubs wanted chicken spaghetti.  I use my sisters recipe that has cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup so on..  Well I was tired and not paying attention to what I was doing and messed up.  I forgot my soups.  I had it in the casserole and in the oven before I remembered it and it was to late.  When the hubs took a bite he looked at me and said " I like your mess ups!"  This is the way I make it all the time now.  If you have a store that has gluten free roasted chickens, by all means use that.  I like to cook a little extra if I am stewing or baking chicken and put it in the freezer to have on hand.  If you do, just skip the stewing step and cook your spaghetti in a pot of water and chicken broth.

My Easy, Easy Chicken Spaghetti

1 3-4 lb chicken, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon salt

1\2 teaspoon pepper

1 lb gluten free spaghetti

1 can tomatoes’ with green chili’s

1 ½ lb Velveeta, cubed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese – divided

In a large stock pot over low heat cook chicken, salt and pepper until done; around 1 hour.  Remove chicken and let cool.   In the same pot that the chicken was cooked bring liquid to a boil.  When boiling cook spaghetti until done.  When cool remove bones and skin and cut into bite size pieces.  In the hot spaghetti mix in the Velveeta and stir until melted.  Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and mix.  Put mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.  Bake at 350 F. for 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned and bubbly.  

Cheesecake- Low carb, low fat, high on yummyness!!

I looovvee cheesecake.  This recipe is low fat, low carb and high on flavor.  Serve it by itself or with strawberries, blueberries or whatever fruit you like.  It's pretty delicious.

Low Carb Lemon Cheesecake

3 packages Neufchatel cream cheese (room temperature)

4 eggs (preferably room temperature)

1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 and 1/3 cups sugar (or use cup for cup sugar alternative)

Crust:

1 cup almond meal (I like Bob’s Red Mill)

2 Tablespoon melted butter

2 Tablespoon sugar (or use cup for cup sugar alternative)

Preparation:

Heat oven to 375 F.
Combine ingredients for crust, and press into the bottom of a spring form pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until fragrant and beginning to brown.
Lower oven to 350 F.

Put cream cheese in mixing bowl, and beat until fluffy. Add other ingredients, scraping the bowl and beaters each time (this is very important), fully incorporating each ingredient. When all ingredients are combined, scrape one more time, beat one more minute, and pour mixture into pan over crust.
Instructions for water bath: Wrap the bottom and sides of the spring form pan in foil, put it in a baking pan and pour boiling water around the sides. Bake at 350 F for 60 to 90 minutes, checking often. When the cake is firm to touch but slightly soft in the center, or the center reaches 155 F, remove from oven.

Easy Ground Beef recipes

Easy Ground Beef recipes....yummy!!

Salisbury Steak

1 ½ pounds ground beef

4 Tablespoons GF Worcestershire sauce

1 egg

3 Tablespoons GF bread crumbs - I love Schar

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoon pepper

¼ cup finely chopped onion

1 can of GF Cream of Mushroom Soup - I use the one below

Mix all ingredients together.  Make into 4 patties about 1 inch thick.  In a medium sized cover skillet brown both sides until brown.  Mix mushroom soup with ½ cup water.  Pour soup over steaks and cook for 30 minutes or until done. 

Easy Meatloaf

2 lb. lean ground beef

1 teaspoon gluten free GF Worcestershire sauce

½ cup finely chopped onion

¼ cup chopped green pepper

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 ¼ cup catsup, divided

1 egg

3 Tablespoons gluten free bread crumbs

Oven 325

In a large mixing bowl; mix all ingredients.  Shape mixture into a loaf.  Cover top with remaining catsup and place into a 9 x 13 inch pan.  Bake at 325 for 90 minutes or until the center reaches 170 degrees.

Spanish Rice

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

2 teaspoons chopped garlic

1 Tablespoon chili powder

4 teaspoons cumin

1 cup long grained rice, uncooked

1 can fire roasted tomato’s

1 ½ cans water

2 cups cooked chicken or 1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained

In a large covered skillet or Dutch oven sauté onion and green bell pepper in olive oil over low heat until translucent.  Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.  Add chili power, cumin, rice and tomatos’s and stir until mixed.  Add water and meat.  Cover and cook over low heat stirring frequently until all liquid is absorbed.

Lemon Rice - creamy risotto like goodness

Have any left over rice?  This is really good.  My ever picky husband loved it!

Lemon Rice

3 cups cooked GF white rice

1 cup GF chicken broth

½ stick butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

½ cup GF parmesan cheese

1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice

In a medium saucepan mix cooked rice and chicken broth over low heat until simmering.  Add remaining ingredients and continually stir until all liquid is absorbed and creamy.  Around 5 minutes.

Cheddar Cheese Cornbread

I have a hand written recipe that was passed down from my grandmother to my Mom to me.  It is for the best Mexican Cornbread you can ever imagine. Being gluten free has denied me the possibility of eating it ever again.  I came up with this.  It's really good and very close to my family's recipe.  It made this gluten free girl happy!  I made it the other day for my nephew, who doesn't like cornbread, and he said it was wonderful!

Cheddar Cheese Cornbread

1 cup GF Corn Meal

½ cup GF all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¾ teaspoon xanthan gum

1 egg

1 can green chilies

½ cup cheddar cheese

¾ cup milk

Mix ingredients together.  Place into greased 8 inch baking pan or into an 8 inch cast iron skillet that has been heated.  Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until firm to the touch.  If it’s not brown enough for you place under broiler watching until browned on top.

Celiac symptoms - in case you didn't know

Hi, My name is Linda and I am allergic to wheat.  Nice huh?  I found out a long time ago but did nothing about it.  Back then you didn't have the choices you had today and I am not into self deprivation.  I have been told that I could live on bread and butter and it's true.
When I was first diagnosed I was devastated. I could no longer have my beloved bread.  So, being that I knew more than the average doctor, I kept on eating it.  Hamburgers, pizza, crackers (with butter) you name it...if it had wheat in it, it was my friend.  Nothing happened to me.  Joy of all  joys...they were wrong!
I was wrong and 30 years later I learned I've paid for it.  I have finally woke up and have stopped my wheat addiction.
If you are reading this it's likely you either are allergic to wheat as I am or have Celiac Disease.  If not here are the symptoms as found on webmd.com

They include:

• Gas, abdominal swelling, and bloating. These symptoms result from a failure of the small intestine  to absorb nutrients from food. You may also have mildstomach pain, but it is usually not severe.
• Abnormal stools. Diarrhea or bulky, loose (or watery), pale, frothy, and foul-smelling stools often occur. The stools may contain a large amount of fat and may stick to the sides of the toilet bowl, making them hard to flush. Although children and adults often experience the same types of symptoms, intestinal problems, such as constipation, are more likely to occur in children.
• Weight loss. Adults and children may have unexplained weight loss despite having a normal appetite. Younger children may fail to gain weight and grow as expected, a condition known as failure to thrive.
• Fatigue and weakness. Celiac disease can result in a general lack of energy and strength. Sometimes poor nutrient absorption causes fatigue and weakness.
• Vomiting. Some people may get sick after eating gluten. Children are more likely than adults to have this reaction.

Celiac disease may also lead to:

• Osteoporosis and other bone problems related to a lack of calcium absorption.
• Anemia caused by iron deficiency and/or folic acid deficiency.
• Infertility or having more than one miscarriage.
• Delayed onset of puberty.
• Frequent respiratory infections.
• Problems with memory and concentration.

The ones underlined and in bold are the problems I have.  I haven't been tested because we already know I am, as my allergist says, highly allergic to wheat.  So, I stay away from wheat and don't eat out very often.  Therefore, as I love to eat and as you see I didn't bold our underline weight loss, I had to come up with wheat free delicious meals that would satisfy me and my very picky husband....and I did!