Perfect Cauliflower Pizza

He has filled the hungry with good things... Luke 1:53 (NKJV)

This week, we take a break from devotionals for cooking.  Instead of feeding the soul, we’re feeding your tummy. It’s been a long time since I shared a recipe with you.  Going through various health crises has caused me to overhaul all my eating, menus, and recipes.  Eventually, I hope to tweak all my recipes on this site to include what I can actually eat now. 

Today I’m following a predominantly grain-free Candida Diet to reduce small intestinal fungal overgrowth, as well as to encourage a healthy balance of yeast in the gut.  I’m also eating carefully to heal a fatty liver (caused either by gallbladder removal or too many painkillers for my back). Eating lots of cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage, are just the thing to heal the liver.

This Perfect Cauliflower Pizza is so healthy and yummy, I just have to share it today. It is grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and Candida-friendly.  When I was being treated for SIBO and ate a low fodmap diet, I substituted broccoli for the cauliflower, and rice flour for the almond flour, and it worked just as well.  The trick is to get people to eat their veggies, hidden in the pizza, on movie night :-).  And what are we watching for movies? Our family has been watching reruns of The Chosen while eagerly awaiting season 3. We also enjoy many of the programs on Minnokids, especially the Torch Lighters about famous missionaries.  And now, for the recipe…

Perfect Cauliflower Pizza

Ingredients:

  • 1 large head of cauliflower, cut in half (or 3 cups riced cauliflower)
  • 4 eggs (organic, free-range)
  • 1-1/4 cups almond flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or Italian seasoning (optional)
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Wash and cut cauliflower head into two halves.  Core one half of the cauliflower, leaving short stems.  Place cauliflower florets in a food processor.  Grind until rice-like.  This should be about 3 cups.  
  3. Put riced cauliflower in a microwave safe casserole dish and cover. Microwave on high 4 minutes.  Lay out a smooth dish cloth on the counter. Carefully transfer the cooked cauliflower to the towel to cool.
  4. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the 4 eggs.  Add the almond flour, salt and seasonings. Mix well. 
  5. When the cauliflower is cool. Fold up the edges of the towel and squeeze out the extra moisture over the sink. Transfer the cauliflower to the mixing bowl and mix well.
  6. Add 1 T. olive oil to the cauliflower mixture and give it one more stir.
  7. Line a pizza pan with parchment paper. Carefully spread the cauliflower mixture onto the parchment paper, shaping into a pizza crust.
  8. Bake the crust for 25 minutes and remove from oven. Edges will be golden brown.
  9. Top your pizza crust with your favorite toppings. Mine include homemade pesto, organic green olives, organic red peppers, and organic spinach.
  10. Use a pizza peel to place the pizza directly on the oven rack. Bake another 10 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven and top with any extras, like hemp seed or sprouts for added protein.
  12. Enjoy!  Repeat with the other half head of cauliflower.  Or, turn the other half into riced cauliflower and freeze for next week!  

For an amazing Pesto:  Toast 1 cup walnut pieces in a pie pan in the oven, 7-10 minutes at 375 degrees).  Combine in a blender: Juice from 2 lemons, 1/2 to 1 cup olive oil (depending on how thick you want it), 2-3 cups of fresh greens (basil leaves, oregano leaves, spinach, kale, etc.), 1 cup toasted walnuts.  Blend until smooth.  Use to top pizza, zoodles, pastas, salads, etc.  

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982

Party Beans, Rice Con Queso, and Sweet Potatoes

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:2 (NKJV)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  The big day is tomorrow!  I pray that God blesses you with family and friends and a feast!  Here are a few more of our family’s favorite recipes for the holidays. Scroll all the way down for extra Thanksgiving links.

Party Beans

Ingredients:
(All bean cans are about 15-16 ounces)
1 can kidney beans
1 can great northern beans
1 can butter beans
1 can black beans
1 can black-eyed peas
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1- 1/2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown coconut or monk sugar
2 bay leaves
1 T. apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon pepper

This is a great crock-pot recipe. First open your five cans of beans, empty them into a colander and rinse.  Pour all the beans into your crock-pot.  Next, chop your onion and peppers and add them to the beans.  In a glass measuring cup, combine the ketchup, water, brown sugar, bay leaves, cider vinegar, ground mustard and pepper.  Pour the ketchup mixture over the beans and veggies in the crock-pot.  Give it a quick stir.  Cover and cook on low heat for 5-7 hours, or high heat for 3-4 hours.  Remove bay leaves. Serve with cheese or chips for a great meal or side dish.  Any combination of 5 cans of beans will work, whatever you have on hand. Sometimes I’ll use a can of corn.  The more colors, the more festive for your holiday gathering!

Rice Con Queso

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups brown rice, cooked with 3 cups water, salt and pepper
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large red onion, chopped
1 small can green chilies, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded Jack cheese or Daiya cheese
8 ounces Ricotta cheese or almond milk Ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Daiya cheese

Put rice, water, salt and pepper in a soup pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and simmer for 50 minutes.  Or, you can cook the rice ahead in your rice cooker.  Saute garlic, onions, and chilies, in a bit of olive oil.  Add the sauteed veggies, along with the black beans, to the cooked rice.  Lightly oil a 2 quart casserole dish with olive oil.  Layer the rice mixture, Jack or Daiya cheese, and Ricotta or almond milk Ricotta in dish.  Repeat layers 2 times, ending with rice mixture.  Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheddar or more Daiya cheese.  We make one with dairy and a dairy-free rice con queso.

To make this a festive Thanksgiving dish, instead of serving in a casserole dish, serve it in a pumpkin!  You will have to pre-bake the pumpkin.  Here’s how:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Choose a small to medium pumpkin and wash thoroughly.  Cut off the top and scoop out the insides.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and turn the pumpkin upside down onto the paper.  Bake the pumpkin for at least an hour, until the inside seems tender.  Don’t bake too long, or it will collapse (that’s what happened to mine this year, so I don’t have a final photo for you 😕 ).  Remove from oven and place upright on a fresh lined pan or oiled casserole dish.  Layer the rice con queso ingredients and bake as described above.  It’s an amazing treat for Thanksgiving!

Sweet Potatoes

Here’s another crock-pot recipe.  We make this Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving and let it cook all night. The house sure smells delicious when we get up on Thanksgiving morning.  Then we scoop it into a casserole dish to serve later with dinner.

Ingredients:
6 medium sweet potatoes or yams (we like the orange yams best)
1-1/2 cups applesauce
2 apples, chopped
2/3 cup brown coconut or monk sugar
3 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 to 2 cups water

Place all ingredients in your crock-pot.  Cover and cook on high 8 hours or overnight.  Enjoy!

Need more holiday recipe ideas?  Check out my complete list of holiday recipes. Or my pies and jello salads.

Need an activity for your family around the dinner table, or while waiting for dinner?  Check out the Thanksgiving Chain.

Need a new grace to sing with your family?  Check out these favorite camp graces.

How about some Thanksgiving Bible verses to add to place cards at your Thanksgiving table?

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.  Jesus loves you!  And because of Him, we all have a reason to give thanks!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.  Psalm 116:17 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011

Grainburgers – GF

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Matthew 24:45-46 (NKJV)

Looking for something a little different for that end-of-summer cookout?  Here’s a recipe to please the vegetarians in your crowd and it’s even gluten-free!  Make a big batch of these veggie-burgers and freeze the extras for another impromptu barbecue.

Ingredients:

  • 1-1/3 cups rice (uncooked)
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2/3 cup onion, chopped
  • 2/3 cup green pepper, chopped
  • 2/3 cup carrots, shredded
  • 3 eggs, beaten (optional, leave out for vegans)
  • 2/3 cup ground pumpkin seeds
  • 2/3 cup ground sesame seeds
  • 2/3 cup ground sunflower seeds
  • coconut aminos
  • salt
  • cayenne pepper
  • olive oil for frying

Cook rice in a pot with water and salt (bring to a boil on high, turn heat to low, put on lid, and simmer for 50 minutes, rice should be sticky — you could also do this in a rice-cooker). Let rice cool a little.

Next sauté the onions and peppers about 5 minutes.  Add the veggies and carrots to the rice.  Mix in the eggs and ground seeds (you can substitute other grains and seeds you have on hand… flax, chia, walnuts, etc). Season to taste with coconut aminos, salt and a dash of cayenne.  Form into patties.  If it’s not sticky enough, you can add another egg.  If it’s too sticky, add more grains.  Brown in oil on both sides in a hot skillet. These also work on the grill on a grill mat.  Serve with lettuce and tomatoes.  A slice of goat cheese cheese melted on top is also yummy.

Enjoy your summer cookout!

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.  Psalm 90:1-2 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Shepherd’s Pie

I love to have a Christmas theme with our holiday meals.  This Christmas Eve we will have Shepherd’s Pie and Angel Food Cake!  You can’t beat that for sharing the Greatest Story while enjoying a family meal.  We will talk about how the shepherds were just sitting in their field, talking and watching their sheep as they did every night since they could remember.  When, boom, up in the sky appeared an angel, proclaiming to them:

…“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”   Luke 2:10-14 (NKJV)

And what did the shepherds do when they heard this Good News from the angels?  They left their posts and headed straight into town to find the baby Jesus.  Let’s leave what we are doing to find Jesus, too. Pop this shepherd’s pie in the oven or crockpot on Christmas Eve and head out to church.

Ingredients:
3 large white potatoes
1/2 teapsoon basil
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4-1/2 cup almond milk
salt and pepper
A variety of veggies, making 4-6 cups, including:
green or red onion
garlic (optional)
carrots
yellow peppers
kale/spinach leaves
pumpkin or zucchini cubes
tomatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon taragon
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1 cup water or vegetable broth
1/2 cup Daiya non-dairy cheese shreds
parsley flakes or fresh
paprika

Peel and quarter the potatoes. Put in a pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil, and boil gently for 20-25 minutes.  (Prepare your other veggies while the potatoes are cooking.)  Drain water.  Mash the potatoes, then add basil, olive oil, almond milk, salt and pepper.  Beat until fluffy.  Set aside.

Saute the onion in olive oil.  Add remaining veggies and seasonings, add firmer vegetables first (garlic, carrots, peppers), then add (kale/spinach, pumpkin, zucchini) and finally tomatoes right at the end. Cook 5-10 minutes total, or until veggies are starting to soften.  Transfer sauted veggies to a 2 quart casserole dish or crockpot.  Add the bay leaf and 1 cup water.  Spread the mashed potatoes on top.

Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes (set oven timer if you are going to church), or in the crockpot for 1-2 hours on high.  Just before serving, top with Daiya cheese shreds, parley and paprika sprinkles.

And for dessert, the day before, whip up this easy Angel Food Cake mix!

 

Now you can enjoy Shepherd’s Pie and Angel Food Cake and tell the Christmas story while you eat!  Have a blessed Christmas, everyone!!!

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Luke 2:14 (NKJV)

Scripture taken the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson

Thank you to Jesus The Good Shephed Clip Art!

Christmas Quiche

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

Celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus is always a special day with our family.  From church to presents to meals, it is a full day (thank you, Jesus, for these blessings!). So we don’t get too worn out in the midst of celebrating, and I still have time for my morning TEA with Jesus, quick and bake-ahead recipes make the day even better.

Recently I discovered our Town and Country grocery store carries gluten-free pie crusts. What a joy to be able to make quick pies and quiches again!  And with dairy-free cheese, even more people may eat this tasty meal. You will love this quiche for Christmas breakfast, brunch, lunch or even supper!

Ingredients:
1 prepared gluten-free pie crust
1 1/2 cups Daiya shredded or goat cheese
1 cup chopped veggies (the quiche in the picture has black olives, spinach, and broccoli)
4 eggs
1 cup almond or goat milk
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Set out the prepared pie shell. Layer in one cup of the non-dairy cheese https://klonopintabs.com shreds and then the 1 cup veggies.  In a bowl, combine the eggs, almond milk, garlic, salt and pepper.  Beat well.  Pour the egg mixture over the veggies.  Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup non-dairy cheese on top.  Bake for one hour, or until golden on top and set on the inside (when I used spinach, it took longer because of the extra moisture).  Remove from oven and allow to cool a bit before slicing.

Extra ideas:  My son Jacob adds Turmeric with the garlic for health benefits. You can bake this ahead of time and serve for any meal.  Keeps well for leftovers, so make more than one.  Enjoy!  Merry Christmas Quiche!

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Chickpea Salad

chickpea saladWhen the thermometer is in the 90’s and creeping to 100, you want to avoid the oven and stove at dinner.  Here is a tasty and nutritious summer salad sure to please!

Our son Jacob is into eating healthy, so I googled chickpea heathy facts for this recipe.  You will be happy to know that according to The World’s Healthiest Foods,
“Garbanzo beans are an excellent source of molybdenum and manganese. They are also a very good source of folate and copper, as well as a good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, protein, iron, and zinc.” Mix those nutrients with some tasty veggies and seasonings, and you have a fresh, delicious dinner!

I have so many people to thank for this recipe!  Thank you to FISHLOVE who posted the original recipe on allrecipes.com.  Thank you to my co-Grandma Dana who made this for our daughter Kallie on the birth of our granddaughter.  And thank you to my friend Elsbeth who loved it when I made it for her when her new baby Eli was born.  Try this for your next supper on a hot day…

Ingredients:
2 (19 oz) cans garbonzo beans drained and rinsed
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 mini red pepper, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped (optional)
1/4 red onion, chopped
1/3 cup mayo or dairy-free yogurt
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons dry dill weed
salt and pepper
fresh spinach leaves or pocket bread

Putting it together:
Put chickpeas (garbonzo beans) in a bowl and mash slightly with a fork.  Add veggies, mayo, lemon juice and seasonings. Cover and chill in frig until ready to eat. Serve in pita pocket bread or on a bed of fresh spinach (my gluten-free favorite), with a side of fresh fruit and a tall glass of lemonade or ice tea.  Your summer evening is set!

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12 (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Kidney Bean Burgers

kidney bean burgersSo when he had received food, he was strengthened… Acts 9:19 (NKJV)

One of the yummiest and easiest burgers I’ve made recently, this kidney bean burger recipe is a keeper!  It starts with canned kidney beans, cutting the cook time of other recipes.  Kidney beans have a natural sweetness, are packed with protein, and their red color is reminiscent of real burgers on the grill.  Keep this recipe handy for your Memorial Day weekend and summer cookouts!

Ingredients:

1 cup dairy-free plain yogurt
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 slices gluten-free bread, toasted and cubed
1/2 cup green onion, chopped (the rest of your bunch)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
dash cayenne pepper
dash pepper
2 eggs, beaten
olive oil

Combine the yogurt, green onions, oregano and salt in a small bowl.  Cover and chill in frig.

In a stand mixer, mash the kidney beans.  Add the bread crumbs, green onion, garlic powder, cayenne, pepper, and eggs.  Mix well, until it is a good paste-like consistency.

Prepare a grill mat by coating with olive oil. Spoon the burger mixture into 8 patties on the grill mat.  Grill approximately 8 minutes per side.  Serve kidney bean burgers topped with the yogurt sauce and your favorite burger toppings.   With sides of veggies, chips and watermelon, you are set for a summer cookout!

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.  John 8:36 (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Gluten-Free Pizza

apizzaAnother parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”  Matthew 13:33 (NKJV)

Our favorite Sabbath night activity is pizza and a family movie, often The Chosen. With restaurant prices as they are these days, it makes “cents” to whip up your own pizza at home. And this pizza tastes better than any gluten-free restaurant pizza I’ve found!

Get started about 1-1/2 hours before you want to eat.

In an electric mixing bowl, combine these dry ingredients:
3 cups brown rice flour
3 cups tapioca or arrowroot flour
1/2 cup corn meal
1/2 cup quinoa or millet flour
1/2 cup ground seed blend (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame or flax)
2 teaspoons salt
4 Tablespoons active dry yeast (leaven, we had to pause this while fighting candida, see Cauliflower Pizza recipe for an alternative)
2 Tablespoons honey or monk fruit
Blend together until well mixed.

In a measuring cup, combine:
3 cups warm water
1/4 cup olive oil
4 eggs or 8 egg whites (pasture-raised, free-range local fresh eggs!)
(use additional flax seed and water if you want to make this egg-free)
Pour this mixture into the mixing bowl and combine. Beat on high for 4 minutes.

While the dough is beating, line your baking pans with parchment paper. Using this recipe, I can make 2, 13-inch pizzas, plus 3 pie-pan size pizzas. I freeze the small ones to use later. You could also make 2 cookie sheet-sized pizzas and a few pie-sized pizzas, or a few loaves of bread.

Once the dough is mixed, turn it out onto your parchment paper, dividing between the prepared pans. Use a spatula to spread the dough to the edges of the pans. Dough will be sticky, so you may oil your spatula if needed. Let the dough rest on the pans for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Prebake the crusts for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Now top the crusts with your favorite toppings. Some of our favorites include:
Olive oil
Basil
Black olives
Green peppers
Pineapple
Daiya (dairy-free) mozzarella shreds or goat cheese

Bake the prepared pizzas for another 18-20 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot. The crusts taste great topped with honey like the famous restaurants use. Enjoy your family pizza night!

I would like to thank Angela Litzinger of angelaskitchen.com for her original recipe!

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.  Psalm 145:18 (NKJV)

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Yummy Breakfast Quinoa

Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ” Exodus 16:23. (NKJV)

Ingredients:
4 cups leftover cooked quinoa
2 cups coconut milk
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped apricots

Lightly grease a casserole dish with coconut oil.  In a mixing bowl, stir together the quinoa, pecans and apricots.  Transfer to prepared casserole dish.  Pour coconut milk over quinoa mixture, and cover the dish with glass lid or foil.  At this point you may put it in the fridge overnight, or bake it.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Warm quinoa for about an hour.  Serve topped with additional coconut milk, cinnamon, maple syrup or honey.  What a yummy, high-protein breakfast treat!

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Friends & Family Egg Casserole – GF & DF

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Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?  Job 6:6 (NKJV)

Here is the perfect egg dish for breakfast or dinner, and even makes great leftovers for lunch. I recently updated this recipe to make it diary free for my son and me.  It still turned out delicious, especially served with Gluten Free Banana Muffins. What a yummy meal! Thank you for our dear friends the Nash and Johnson families who have served egg casserole to us on our visits!

Friends & Family Egg Casserole – Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free

2 large potatoes, peeled, diced, and cooked in microwave (or substitute cauliflower if you are not eating potatoes)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
veggies of your choice (i.e. asparagus, mushroom, brocolli, etc.)
15 eggs
2/3 cup almond milk or goat’s milk

salt and pepper
1 cup Daiya cheddar cheese substitute or goat cheddar, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.  Place the cooked potatoes in the bottom of the dish.  Saute the onions and peppers, and other veggies, as desired.  Layer on top of potatoes.  Whisk together eggs and almond milk, salt and pepper and your favorite seasonings (my oldest son likes cayenne pepper, tumeric, garlic and oregano).  Pour over veggies.  Sprinkle shredded Daiya cheddar cheese on top.  Bake for 45 minutes or until done.

This casserole may be refrigerated overnight and baked in the morning, if you wish.
Serve with fruit and muffins, a great meal for any time of day!

Here’s a link to the gluten-free banana muffins: https://www.myteacuppprayers.org/2011/06/gluten-free-banana-muffins/

A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.  Proverbs 17:17 NKJV

New King James Version (NKJV)The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.