Bacon and Cheese Spinach Quiche

Bacon. Cheese.  It sounds completely unhealthy but don't let those two ingredients fool you. Although there is a small amount of bacon and cheese in this delectable dish, the star ingredient is spinach. Try it with your hard-to-please kids, husband, or anyone you know that doesn't like spinach. Try it, you might like it!

Ingredients
16 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 T cooked bacon, crumbled
3 T cheddar cheese, grated
3 eggs
1 cup almond milk
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray pie plate with cooking spray.

Place thawed, drained spinach in greased pie plate. Top evenly with bacon and cheese.

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over the top of the spinach.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Serve immediately.

Gluten-Free Raisin Scones

I adapted this recipe from a Southern Living cookbook. You will love it! The scones are hearty yet light. Sweet yet not too sweet. Healthy and delicious. Did I mention you will love it? You will!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
1/2 cup milled flaxseed
1 T cream of tartar
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
2 T sugar
1 t grated citrus zest (i.e lemon, grapefruit)
1/2 cup cold margarine
4 T raisins
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk



Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine rice flour, flaxseed, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, sugar, and citrus zest in a medium mixing bowl.

Using a pastry blender, cut in margarine until crumbly.

Add raisins, yogurt and almond milk. Stir until dry ingredients are moistened.

Knead the dough 6 to 8 times in the mixing bowl. Hint: If you find the dough is too sticky to work with, moisten your hands with water.

Divide dough in half and shape into two circles (3/4 inch thick) on an ungreased baking sheet. Cut each circle into 6 wedges.

Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees F. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

Loosen scones by going over the cuts again. Cool another 5-10 minutes (if you can wait that long!) before eating.

Makes 12 scones. Store in a covered container.

Crustless Blueberry Pie

Ingredients
5 cups frozen blueberries, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
3 T oat flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
3/4 t cream of tartar
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t cinnamon
2/3 cup almond milk, unsweetened
1 t vanilla
2 eggs

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Lightly spray pie plate with cooking spray.

Combine blueberries, sugar, and oat flour. (Hint: You can make your own oat flour by processing whole oats on high speed. 3 T oats = 3 T oat flour) Spread blueberry mixture evenly in pie plate.

Mix together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and cinnamon. Whisk in milk, vanilla, and eggs. Pour over blueberry mixture.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. Let cool. Cut into slices and serve. Makes 8 servings.

Quick Back-Eyed Peas

You can't properly celebrate the New Year without at least a taste of black-eyed peas for good luck. Pick up a bag of these little beauties the next time you're at the store. They are a good source of fiber, potassium, zinc, and iron. Here's to you!

Ingredients
16 oz. frozen purple-hulled or black-eyed peas
1/2 cup favorite salsa (I use Herdez because there is no added sweetener)
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Directions
In a medium sauce pan, cover peas with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Check periodically to see if you need to add more water. Drain peas when done cooking. Stir in salsa, salt, and pepper. Happy New Year!

Gluten-Free Spanakopita

Happy 2013! I adore spanakopita and what better way to ring in the New Year but with some greens. This recipe is free of wheat and corn. Try it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here's to a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Ingredients
16 oz. bag frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1/3 cup green onion, chopped
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup brown rice flour
3/4 t cream of tartar
1/4 t baking soda
2/3 cup milk of choice
2 eggs
pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Spray glass pie plate with cooking spray.

Thaw and drain spinach in a colander. Squeeze out excess moisture and combine spinach with chopped green onions and feta cheese. Place in bottom of pie plate.

Mix flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda. Using a whisk, stir in eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over spinach mixture.

Bake for 26-28 minutes. Cool and cut into wedges. Makes 8 servings.

Gluten-Free Belgian Waffles

These waffles are crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. They are the best gluten-free waffles I've come up with to date. In fact, my kids have already asked me to make them again!

Ingredients
1 cup brown rice flour
7/8 cup milled flaxseed
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/4 t baking soda
2 T grapeseed oil
4 oz. unsweetened applesauce
1 1/3 cups unsweetened coconut milk

Directions
Preheat Belgian waffle iron.

Mix all ingredients in medium mixing bowl.

Spray waffle iron with cooking spray.

Spoon 3/4 cup batter into waffle iron and close lid.

Cook until indicator light goes off or waffle iron stops steaming.

                                                                     Makes about 3 waffles. Serve with pure maple syrup.

Coach's Chili

 I had a rendition of this chili at a church party earlier this month. It was so delicious that I had to make my own! I'll also be serving it this weekend for a chili and caroling party. Can't wait!

Ingredients
2 lbs. 93% lean ground beef
1 yellow onion, diced
3 jalepenos, seeded, diced
46 oz. tomato juice (i.e. V-8)
12 oz. tomato paste
24 oz. petite diced tomatoes
32 oz. dark red kidney beans
1 T chili powder
1 1/2 ground cumin
1 t salt
1/2 t paprika
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t dried oregano

Directions
Brown ground beef with diced onion and jalepenos. Add seasonings. Add tomato juice, tomato paste, tomatoes, and beans. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve hot with your choice of toppings.