Gluten Free Galore

Yesterday I made a gluten-free tabbouleh using quinoa (pronounced key-nwah, not chin-o-uh). My sister usually makes it using cous-cous and others make using bulghur wheat - both no-no's for Gretchen's diet. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product, so here's one in the tupperware container for the leftovers.

Quinoa Tabbouleh
Most time is spent chopping and chilling. This is a refreshing summer dish that can serve as a lunch or appetizer.

2 c water
1 c quinoa
3 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c lemon juice
3 green onion stalks, minced
1/4 c fresh mint, minced
1 T cilantro, minced
salt
3 roma tomatoes, finely chopped
1 cucumber, finely chopped
(missing: 1/4 c pine nuts, 1/2 c parsley)

1. Rinse quinoa well first so it won't be bitter. Bring water and quinoa to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook 15-20 minutes, until water is absorbed and kernels are soft.
   
2. Combine oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt. Mix with quinoa.
3. Add greens and veggies. Mix well. Chill.
4. Serve with bread or over mixed greens.
   

Today I made a gluten-free French Bread. This came out surprisingly well and was really quick to put together, given that it was a yeast bread. The rising time was only 15 minutes! Gretchen really enjoyed this and we ate it plain and with leftover tabbouleh.

Fat-free French Bread
Note that potato starch flour is different from potato flour! Tapioca flour is the same as tapioca starch.

1 1/3 c + 1 T white rice flour
scant 1/2 c potato starch flour
2/9 c tapioca flour
2.5 t xanthan gum
1.5 t sugar
1 t salt
2 t instant yeast
1 t vinegar
2 egg whites, at room temperature
1.5 c warm water (110-115 deg)

1. Grease a French bread pan (or make your own out of a doubled piece of heavy foil about the length of the cookie sheet, to form a long curved mold).
2. Combine flours, xanthan gum, sugar, salt and yeast in large mixing bowl. Whisk well or mix through sieve.
3. Add the vinegar, egg whites, and water. Beat at medium speed for 3 min.
4. Spoon dough into the mold to almost full length. Smooth the top.
5. Cover and let rise for 15 min. Preheat oven to 400.
6. Bake for 1 hour. Turn down to 350 and bake another 15 min.
   
7. While hot, tear it apart to eat. Once cool, cut with knife.

When I was driving home from lunch with my uncle, I noticed a bumper sticker in front of me: Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam

I keep forgetting to take a picture of my uncle whenever I see him. Sitting across from him, I noticed how much he resembles my dad at times and sometimes his mother/my grandmother as well.

Yoko also stopped by today - she loved the house. Here's a link to original pictures: bantadesign Go to Projects - Residential - XYZ House