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Simple Gluten-Free Pizza Crust, Yeast-Free

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Serves 2 to 4
Preparation time 10 minutes
Cook time 20 to 25 minutes

Crust:

2 eggs or egg substitute
2 tablespoons unrefined oil
1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
1¼ cups tapioca flour (starch), plus some extra for kneading the dough
¼ cup almond meal or other gluten-free flour (OR you can just use more tapioca flour)
¾ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1½ teaspoons dried oregano or Italian seasoning
Optional: 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
Olive oil for brushing

Preheat the oven to 400º. Whisk together egg, oil, and honey or agave syrup in small bowl. Mix together the rest of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Combine the ingredients as well as possible with spoon or fork – it will be quite sticky. Put about 1/8 cup of tapioca flour on a clean surface. Pull everything out of the bowl and make a dough ball. Knead the dough on the tapioca-dusted surface until it stops sticking to your hands (3 to 5 minutes). Roll the dough out into a circle; you can either use a rolling pin or your hands to press it out until it is the thinness you desire. I like to make two smaller rounds for two different pizzas! Transfer this circle to a baking sheet. Brush the round with a bit of olive oil, prick it in a couple of places with a fork, and place it in a 400º F oven for 15 minutes or until slightly golden on the top. Remove from the oven and add the sauce or pesto and toppings of your choosing. Place back into the hot oven and bake another 5 to 10 minutes until it’s all nice and bubbly. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve.

Simple Gluten-Free, Yeast-Free Calzone Crust

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Preparation time 10 minutes
Cook time 20 to 25 minutes
Serves 2 to 4 (makes 2 full-meal calzones)

Crust:
2 eggs or egg substitute
2 tablespoons unrefined oil
1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
1¼ cups tapioca flour (starch) plus some extra for kneading dough
¼ cup almond meal or other gluten-free flour
¾ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1½ teaspoons dried oregano or Italian seasoning
Olive oil for brushing

Filling:
1 cup any combination of fresh veggies, cooked beans, or cooked meats
½ cup marinara or pesto sauce
½ cup your choice of cheese, or non-dairy “cheese”

Preheat oven to 375º. Whisk together egg, oil, and honey or agave syrup in a small bowl. Mix together the rest of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Combine as well as possible with a spoon or a fork – it will be quite sticky. Put about 1/8 cup of tapioca flour on a clean surface. Pull everything out of the bowl and make a dough ball. Knead the dough on the tapioca-dusted surface until it stops sticking to your hands (3 to 5 minutes). For smaller calzones, separate the dough into 4 balls; for larger ones, make 2 balls. Roll dough out into a circle; you can either use a rolling pin or your hands to press it out until it is about 1/8-inch thick.

ADDING FILLING:
Transfer this circle to a baking sheet. In the center of the lower third of the circle add the following:
-For smaller circles, use ¼ cup of any combination of fresh veggies, cooked beans, or cooked meats, ⅛ cup marinara or pesto, ⅛ cup of goat cheese, Italian cheeses, ricotta cheese, or dairy free “cheese” options.
-For larger circles double the above amounts.

Once the filling has been placed, fold the dough over towards the front tip so that it comes just over the top of the filling. Bring the exposed portion of the bottom piece up and fold over the top piece, using your fingers to press down, creating a seal. Brush with a bit of olive oil, prick the top in a couple of places with a fork, and place in a 375º F oven for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown on top. Let cool 5 minutes and serve.

GF Calzone Crust, continued

Other options:

1. Pizza Crust: This dough makes a great pizza crust. Just roll it out nice and thin, crimp edges, prick several places with a fork, and bake in a 400º F oven on a pizza stone or baking sheet for 12 to 15 minutes, until slightly browned. Remove, add toppings, and bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes until bubbly.

2. Crackers: Flatten the dough to the thickness of a tortilla. Place on a baking sheet and brush with oil or butter. Cut into bite sized pieces and bake 20 minutes, until slightly browned and crisp. Let cool and store in an airtight container. Get creative with seasonings!

3. Soup Bowl: You can press this dough into ¼-inch thick layer over ovenproof bowls. Bake at 400º F for 25 minutes, or until golden. Remove from bowl and pour in soup of your choice! Idea adapted from “Gluten Free for Dummies,” by Danna Korn.

Gluten-Free Yeasted Calzone

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I love calzones, and I spent quite a bit of time, and wasted a lot of flour, trying to create a gluten-free version that would stay together and taste good. The xanthan gum is a must, and this mixture of flours creates a nice flavor.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 20 to 25 minutes

Crust:
1½ cups warm water (110º F to 115º F)
2 tablespoons sugar, honey, or agave syrup
1 packet dry, active yeast (2¼ teaspoons)
1½ teaspoons sea salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups Tif’s GF baking mix, consisting of 2 cups brown rice flour, 2 cups tapioca, 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
Extra olive oil and gluten-free flour for kneading

Filling:
1 cup chopped red onion
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
3 or 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoons crushed red chili flakes
2 tablespoons dried parsley and/or Italian seasoning
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup grated Italian cheese
1 cup GF marinara sauce (I like Amy’s brand)

Pour the warm water in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar and package of yeast. Stir the mixture slowly until the yeast and sugar are dissolved. Let it sit to allow the mixture to “mature” for about ten minutes or so. The mixture will begin to react; clouding and forming a foamy “head” on the surface of the mixture. Add the salt and the olive oil and stir again to combine the ingredients. Add 1 cup of Gluten-free flour mix and whisk in until dissolved. Mix in the second cup of flour and xanthan gum. Add the third cup of flour and combine. By now the dough mixture should be fairly thick. Add the last cup of flour and, with your hands, begin to combine and knead the dough. Remove the dough ball to a tabletop to knead it. You may need to add a dusting of flour from time to time to reduce the stickiness of the dough. Knead dough for about 5 to 8 minutes. You may need to add olive oil during this process.
You’ll know you’ve done well when the ball no longer sticks to your hands. It will become a smoothly-textured ball.

ADDING FILLING:
Transfer this circle to a baking sheet. In the center of the lower third of the circle add the following:
-For smaller circles, use ¼ cup of any combination of fresh veggies, cooked beans, or cooked meats, ⅛ cup marinara or pesto, ⅛ cup of goat cheese, Italian cheeses, ricotta cheese, or dairy free “cheese” options.
-For larger circles double the above amounts.

Once the filling has been placed, fold the dough over towards the front tip so that it comes just over the top of the filling. Bring the exposed portion of the bottom piece up and fold over the top piece, using your fingers to press down, creating a seal. Brush with a bit of olive oil, prick the top in a couple of places with a fork, and place in a 375º F oven for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown on top. Let cool 5 minutes and serve.

Bake at 400º F for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool and eat!

Coconut Lime Noodle Soup

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A fantastic recipe and a perfect dinner solution after a long day of hard work! This 15 minute recipe was inspired by a traditional Thai soup. And true to its culture, this is a simple recipe with few ingredients and yet abundant with flavor!

Preparation time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Serves 2-4

Dry weight: 3-4 ounce thin, rice noodles, cook as directed
1, 14 or 15 ounce can of coconut milk
2 cups water
1/8 cup gluten/wheat free tamari
1⁄4 cup fresh lime juice
2 to 3 tablespoons agave syrup or honey
1, 15 ounce can of straw mushrooms or 2 cup chopped shitake mushrooms
1⁄2 cup sliced bamboo shoots
1⁄2 cup chopped cilantro

1. Cook the noodles as directed and set them aside.
2. Heat all the ingredients, except the cilantro, in a medium sized sauce-pan to
a simmer. Let the ingredients simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Add the cilantro and then
turn off the heat.
3. Portion the noodles into bowls and pour the soup over the top. Serve hot with
chopsticks and a spoon! This is also excellent with chicken or shrimp and
with or without the noodles.

Wild Baby Greens Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette and Candied Walnuts

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While spring and summer are typically the best time of the year to enjoy salads, I just can’t help but enjoy this salad as long as I can get my hands on some fresh baby greens. It is so delicious! And so healthy! Learn how to make this tasty dressing and how to candy your own walnuts with healthy ingredients.

This salad tastes like spring in your mouth! I just love it! This recipe also includes a quick and easy way to “candy” walnuts. Walnuts are great for the brain, they can decrease inflammation in the body, and they can increase immune function. They are also used in Chinese medicine to “enrich sperm” and support the kidneys and adrenals.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5 to 8 minutes | Yields: 4 servings

6 cups mixed baby greens
1 cup raw walnut halves
½ teaspoon sea salt
1/8 cup dark agave syrup

Vinaigrette:

½ cup raspberries (fresh or frozen and thawed are fine)
2 to 3 tablespoons unrefined olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 to 2 tablespoons raspberry balsamic vinegar (if this is unavailable, just use regular balsamic)
Optional: 1 to 3 tablespoons agave or maple syrup (this will make the dressing less
tart if you prefer it that way)

1. Put the raspberries and vinegar in the blender and blend on high; add in the olive oil while the blender is on and let it blend another 30 seconds to one minute, until everything is smooth.
2. Put the clean greens either in mixing bowl or on separate serving plates.
3. Heat the walnuts in a small skillet over med/low heat. Stir every minute or so and
cook until toasted and fragrant, but not burned (5 or so minutes). Add salt and then
the agave syrup.
4. Stir the walnut mixture and then turn off the heat. Continue to stir until the nuts are “candied.”
5. Pour the dressing over the greens and then top with the walnuts. They are nice served
warm on top of the cool salad. Try this with sliced or grated apple. I have also
enjoyed this salad with a bit of feta cheese on top. Mmmmm!

Tangerine Carrots

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With just a few ingredients you can transform those plain-jane carrots into a tasty, tangeriney treat!

Tangerine Carrots
(Roasted Carrots with Tangerine Butter)

Medicinally carrots benefit the lungs and digestive system, stimulate the elimination of wastes, are alkalizing, are one of the richest sources of Beta carotene… an anti-oxidant which protects against cancer and night blindness, benefit the skin, can increase the milk supply of nursing mothers, and they contain large amounts of silicon which strengthens the connective tissue and aids in calcium metabolism.

Simply Amazing!

And this recipe is so tasty; it can be eaten as dessert too!

Preparation time: 5-10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Yields: 4 servings

• 1 ½ lb washed, peeled carrots
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon sea salt
• Optional sprigs of fresh thyme for garnish
• ½ cup fresh (if possible) tangerine or orange juice (Minneola’s or Clementine’s
• work great as well)
• ¼ cup dark agave syrup or honey
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder
• 1 teaspoon tangerine or orange zest (lemon or lime zest is nice as well)
• 1 tablespoon butter

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Slice the carrots in half lengthwise. If they are short, leave them with just this 1 cut. If they are longer, slice one or two times horizontally to make 4-5 inch long halves.
3. Place in a 9×13 baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and mix to coat. Roast for 20
minutes or until they are tender. Remove and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt.
4. Sauce: Place the juice in a small skillet with the agave syrup or the honey and the arrowroot powder. Stir to mix the powder until all of the clumps are dissolved. Heat to a simmer and add the tangerine or orange zest and butter. Keep the heat on low until the mixture is thick – about 5-8 minutes. Spoon the mixture over the carrots and garnish with fresh thyme or a tangerine slice.

Ginger Teriyaki Sauce

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Ginger Teriyaki Sauce is one of those amazing things that can transform almost any dish. A truly classic sauce that can be paired with spring rolls, drizzled over rice or noodle dishes, or can even be used for marinating meats and vegetables. Traditionally this recipe contains gluten, but in this video Tif shows you how to make a gluten free version that is even more delicious!

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Serves 4

1/4 cup gluten/wheat free tamari
1/8 cup pure maple syrup, or dark agave syrup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, or lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 to 2 tablespoons grated or minced fresh ginger
½ teaspoon ground pepper or, if you like a little kick, a teaspoon of gluten free hot sauce
1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

Put all of the ingredients in a pan and heat on medium for 5 to 8 minutes until the sauce is thick. Use for dipping, serve with Perfect Fried Rice, or use in a stir-fry.

Sweet Chili Sauce

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Sweet Chili Sauce is another traditional dipping sauce that can be paired with spring rolls and drizzled over rice or noodle dishes to add some zing! After watching this clip you’ll be able to enhance many Asian dishes with this quick and easy gluten free sauce. You will also learn the secrets of how to make it the perfect consistency!

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Serves 4 to 6

1 to 2 tablespoons garlic powder or 3 to 4 minced garlic cloves
1 to 2 tablespoons crushed red chili flakes
½ cup seasoned brown rice vinegar
1/3 cup agave syrup or honey
½ tablespoon gluten free tamari

Put all of the ingredients into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer; stirring occasionally until it is thick. If you would like a bit more twang, add some fresh lime juice. Serve in small sauce dishes or ramekins with Garden Veggie Rolls, Nori Veggie Rolls, or slices of fried Ginger Teriyaki Tofu. This is a fantastic sauce to marinade free-range chicken in!