Author: Daisy

Gluten-less, Thought-less Breakfast Parfait

Breakfast Parfait
Breakfast Parfait

Breakfast is often the toughest meal of the day because: a) one is pressed for time, and b) one cannot think of interesting and delicious culinary delights so early in the morning. And yet, it is probably the most critical meal of the day because of its nutritional importance.

My solution? A healthy blend of dry and healthful ingredients that can be mixed and matched but still supply the morning nutrition essential for celiacs (and really, everyone).

I have glass jars full of: ground flax seed, powdered greens, chia seed, goji berries, raisins, cranberries, all types of nuts, fiber powder (you’ll want to make sure it’s  not made of gluten—Benefiber, psyllium husk, etc. are okay). To this, I add: coconut oil, wheat germ oil (a gluten-free kind), and honey. If I have fruit lying around, it’ll definitely go in as well (berries and bananas work particularly well). I add a small serving of gluten-free oats or corn flakes if I feel like it, both of which I can take in small proportions. Finally, the liquid part: almond milk or soy milk or rice milk, or even yoghurt or a yoghurt replacer. You can use real milk if the dairy doesn’t bother you.

Layered parfaits look nice but sometimes I just put it all in a bowl and lap up. Or in a smoothie as below, with some old bananas and other left over fruit. You can add some yoghurt and peanut butter to the smoothie to make it thicker and richer as well (check peanut butter label for gluten-free-ness).

Smoothie
Breakfast parfait in a Blender = Smoothie. Basically same ingredients!

This is my husband’s breakfast as well, and lately I’ve noticed that my house guests will readily join in. See? It’s not just us celiacs who could use a thought-free morning.

Peace,

Daisy

Grilled Shrimp with Lemon Butter Sauce

 

Grilled Shrimp with Garlic Butter Sauce
Super easy and so fancy!

 

One thing that annoys me the most: guests who know that I have food allergies and then expect to eat bad (synonym “healthy”) food at my house. Gluten-free food is healthy and naturally delicious because it doesn’t contain a lot of the “stuff” that gum up our digestive tracts. One simple and tasty appetizer idea: steamed or grilled shrimp with garlic lemon butter sauce.

Ingredients

  • Shrimp
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Lemon

Only six ingredients (unless you want to add other seafood to the mix). Steam the shrimp. I do it in the rice cooker on a steaming rack. Grilling is fine too if you have a clean non-sauce-contaminated grill.

The sauce is simple but involved a little bit of practice when it comes to controlling heat. Mash garlic and salt in mortar or chop finely. The salt makes the garlic literally melt. Squeeze lemon juice. Go easy on amount of lemon juice unless you like your food really tangy. Melt butter slowly in pan. Slowly (if you need to, *very* slowly) add the garlic and the lemon juice. Be careful not to burn!

And that’s all folks! Guaranteed to please and oh so simple. 🙂

Peace,

Daisy