Roasted Ranch Potatoes Recipe

How to Make Roasted Ranch Potatoes

I would basically describe these potatoes as a mashed potato encased in a crispy, ranch flavored outer shell that will explode in your mouth with the force not unlike a cool ranch Dorito chip. Now we don't eat Dorito's in our house, (not at all saying I'm immune to the deliciousness of a Dorito, just merely trying to keep our house free of processed foods) but we definitely like to eat a crispy, ranch-y potato now and then. I've been making this roasted potato recipe for a while now, which is NOT AT ALL like a regular old roasted potato. Boiling the potato first so it gets all soft and then baking it in vegetable oil and corn starch creates a magical effect that is probably a little unhealthy, but unhealthy in a way that is crispy and divine thereby making it totally worth it. Adding in the ranch seasoning has taken the recipe to a whole new level. A level that is definitely going to make everyone freak out the next time I make them for a dinner party, which is the goal of my entire life.

Katie MilesJune 30, 2014Side Dishes, Summer, Winter, Gluten Free, VegetarianComment

Grilled Watermelon Salad

Heat Up Your Summer Salad with Grilled Watermelon

Grilling watermelon is not a new thing for me. It was something I discovered last summer when my husband mentioned it to me and about lost my brain thinking about the amazing possibilities that grilling watermelon could bring to my dinner table. My first attempt at using grilled watermelon was the thai inspired Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Salad which came out AMAZING and seriously wowed my dinner guests. This time around I wanted to make something that featured the watermelon so I created this salad. The warmth and sweetness of the cubed grilled watermelon is the star of the show in this arugula, feta and mint salad and the balsamic vinaigrette plays nicely off the sweetness of the melon, rounding out the flavor of the dish.

Katie MilesJune 26, 2014Summer, Side Dishes, Salads, Healthy, Vegetarian, Gluten FreeComment

Gluten Free Baguette Recipe

When I started down the gluten free trial path, the first thought that went through my head was "what am I going to do without a baguette for two months! I'd rather die!" Somehow life just doesn't seem worth living when faced with the reality of not eating another chewy, moist, crusty baguette again. So I immediately began combing the internet for gluten free baguette recipes. I tried several of the recipes I found, tried my hand at coming up with my own recipe and even tried a couple of gluten free bread mixes. Out of all the baguettes I made, I found that the absolute best baguette can be made from Pamela's Gluten Free Bread Mix. It is really simple to make, and although it doesn't taste exactly like it's wheat counter part, it has it's own unique flavor that I found just as appealing. The best part about using the mix, is you don't have to trouble yourself with buying a whole bunch of different flours and gums to whip up a couple of hot and delicious baguettes. Just use the mix and and in less than two hours, you have delicious, warm homemade baguettes just waiting to have butter or olive oil smeared all over them and be devoured.

Katie MilesJanuary 30, 2014Gluten FreeComment

Chocolate Peanut Butter Treat Bars // Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Caffeine Free

I'm a snacker. Around 2pm I start raiding the pantry for a tasty treat to nibble on. Yes, I know I should grab a banana or an apple or some carrot sticks. But, I still have the mentality of a 7 year old most of the time and "I don't wanna! Nah nah nah!" I want something sweet and savory, crunchy and filling to eat. So I feel like I'm making a healthy compromise between nature's whole foods and a Snickers bar with these chocolate peanut butter bars. Plus they are so handy dandy to throw in your purse or diaper bag for an energy boosting fix. With ground flax seed, chopped nuts, puffed rice and no refined sugar, they are healthy enough to pass as an energy bar. But, the raw honey and peanut butter and carob chips will satisfy those inevitable sweet cravings. Make some up today and put them in your children's lunches or stash a few in your desk and keep the evil candy bars at bay.

Katie MilesJanuary 15, 2014Healthy, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Desserts, Toddler FoodComment

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe // Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Caffeine Free

These cookies may look healthy, but they taste oh so sinful. They are plenty sweet with the coconut sugar and maple sugar and the chocolate taste is perfection. My husband is a major carob cynic and he could not believe how good they tasted. When cooking gluten free, it is really important to add something to the flours to help with the binding process. Gluten does all of the binding in wheat flour baking. I added xanthan gum to help bind these cookies, but if you can't find it or don't want to make an extra trip to the store, you can use corn starch instead. You should be able to find all of the ingredients I've listed at health food store or Whole Foods. If you don't live near a good health food store you can also order all of the harder to find ingredients online.

Katie MilesJanuary 3, 2014Cookies, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Toddler Food, Healthy, DessertsComment