So, I had a craving for egglplant parm. I looked online and then adapted those that I found to the gluten free versioning!
Gluten free bread crumbs (I use Whole Foods' -in house baked prarie bread)
2 24oz jars of spaghetti sauce (cheating method, I do NOT make my own!) (I also pick the ones that are spiced to my liking, so I don't add many other spices)
One medium-large sized eggplant
1 16oz package of part-skim mozzarela cheese, grated by hand (I never trust the pre-grated soft cheeses, b/c they add ingredients to keep from clumping--that I worry are NOT gluten free. SO I always grate soft cheeses myself)
about 1/4-1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (yes, I use reggiano)
1 32oz container of part-skim ricotta cheese (add whatever spices to ricotta if you like-I actually don't add any, b/c I add my fav spaghetti sauce)
2 eggs (beaten and in a bowl)
Olive oil as needed for saute/baking eggplant
9"x13" baking pan
Optional: mushrooms, carrots, other veggie favs.
OR if you want meet in the eggplant parm, some gluten free sausage, fried and broken up outside of casings, or ground beef/turkey. I've even used leftover cooked chicken, finely diced.
Bread crumbs
First, you need to make bread crumbs. I take the prarie bread broken pieces and ends and toss them onto a cookie sheet and leave baking in the oven (at about 225), turning once, until they are crispified (hard), BUT NOT BURNT. That is why you cook on such a low temp, for what seems like forever. Just keep an eye on them as they are hardening up. Once hardened, let cool. Toss into the blender/food processor, or if you are desparate and without either of these items, into a doubled plastic bag and blend/pound the heck out of the bread, until you have crumbs to the size of your liking. I like mine finely ground. Beauty for this is that, whatever you don't use, toss into a ziploc and throw into the freezer for next time.
Preparing egglant
Cut up eggplant cross ways/long ways, whatever you like. Now there are 2 ways to prepare...one is in the oven and one is on the stove top. Oven is less fatty, but, honestly, less flavorful. And the stovetop is messy, but good. Either way, dip your eggplant into eggs, then into bread crumbs and either saute' in pan until crispy on both sides, or bake in oven (325-350) with olive oil sprayed on surface to keep from sticking, turning once, until crispy on both sides.
Stacking in your baking pan
Ok, so I don't coat the pan w/ anything, and this is my order...but you can do it anyway you want and until you run out of fixin's.
sauce
eggplant
(optional bits)
ricotta
mozz cheese
sauce
repeat as necessary, I usually have 2 or 3 layers...
last layer should be sauce, with small amt of mozz and the parm.
Cover w/ tin foil. Bake at 350 for about 60 minutes. I must say, though that the last one took 90+ minutes. If the cheese is melted when you take off foil, great. If not, take it off and pop it back in oven for a few minutes, until it does.
Cool about 10 minutes, enjoy!!!
Deb
Friday, March 22, 2013
Sawasdee
Lunch at Sawasdee
3601 Capital Blvd
Ste 107
Raleigh, NC 27604 (919) 878-0049
So, I am a HUGE fan of thai food, but must admit that there has been little impression by those restaurants I've visited in the triangle. That said, I think, thus far, though there are slim pickins' I would say this, so far, is my fav in the triangle (but my favorite place, ironically, is in Sydney, Australia).
All thai places I've been to in the area are in the mid-range scale and this is no different. The atmosphere is quite nice, with a raised balcony in the front and rattan chairs (that you really sink into!) make for a relaxed meal. There is a full bar, beer & wine if you like. The place is quite clean, and bathrooms are roomy and clean as well! The staff are pleasant and efficient.
Now on to the food...
They are fairly typical, offering a smaller lunch special menu with lower prices and a dinner menu that sees the prices shoot up. I highly recommend the lunch for those who are on a budget. I would honestly say the meals are a solid GOOD, but not outstanding (sorry guys, I do love you for what you are tho!). The portions are good sized, sauces are fine, the noodle dishes could be a bit better though! That said, I will absolutely go here again. Again, it's not that I hate it, but I'm just picky on my thai. The thai iced tea is great, btw; if you've not tried it, go for it!
As for the gluten side of things...well, I haven't been gluten'd here (yet). So, ...cross fingers!
Btw, sawasdee is a greeting/farewell which is a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.
Enjoy!
3601 Capital Blvd
Ste 107
Raleigh, NC 27604 (919) 878-0049
So, I am a HUGE fan of thai food, but must admit that there has been little impression by those restaurants I've visited in the triangle. That said, I think, thus far, though there are slim pickins' I would say this, so far, is my fav in the triangle (but my favorite place, ironically, is in Sydney, Australia).
All thai places I've been to in the area are in the mid-range scale and this is no different. The atmosphere is quite nice, with a raised balcony in the front and rattan chairs (that you really sink into!) make for a relaxed meal. There is a full bar, beer & wine if you like. The place is quite clean, and bathrooms are roomy and clean as well! The staff are pleasant and efficient.
Now on to the food...
They are fairly typical, offering a smaller lunch special menu with lower prices and a dinner menu that sees the prices shoot up. I highly recommend the lunch for those who are on a budget. I would honestly say the meals are a solid GOOD, but not outstanding (sorry guys, I do love you for what you are tho!). The portions are good sized, sauces are fine, the noodle dishes could be a bit better though! That said, I will absolutely go here again. Again, it's not that I hate it, but I'm just picky on my thai. The thai iced tea is great, btw; if you've not tried it, go for it!
As for the gluten side of things...well, I haven't been gluten'd here (yet). So, ...cross fingers!
Btw, sawasdee is a greeting/farewell which is a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.
Enjoy!
New World Coffee House
Best. Coffee. In. The. Triangle.
hands down. or up. whatever!
I love these guys.
4112 Pleasant Valley Rd
Ste 124
Raleigh, NC 27612 (919) 786-0091
hands down. or up. whatever!
I love these guys.
4112 Pleasant Valley Rd
Ste 124
Raleigh, NC 27612 (919) 786-0091
I've traveled the world, and have, over time, found that I LOVE european coffee. Heaven. And starbucks pales in comparison...quite sad. So, when I came across this little gem, I was just so excited! So, it is clear that the owner has a love of coffe as well, the typical european type, and this is his focus. Owner is always there, and honestly, I love that he is always teaching folks about coffee and coffee culture and how it is drunk in the rest of world, etc... What is great is that even though he has the european "small" cappucinos/latte's, he also has american tastes covered w/ bigger size options, so don't fear if you've no idea if you like european style coffees.
He also has a lot of sandwiches, soups and salad options. Unfortunately he does not have the ability to have a grill, so that limits his food options. Now, being gluten intolerant, obviously, I haven't tried most of these options, so suffice to say that I've heard folks quite like the food that IS available. He also has nice snacky cookies and cakes that would go nicely with your coffee. And again, I haven't tried them, so I wouldn't know if they are tasty. That said, I've explained to him, that I am gluten intolerant, and that, if ok w/ him, I may bring in a gluten free cookie to nibble on w/ my coffee. He is quite amenable and thanks me for mentioning this, as it seems others do not always ask permission/discuss reasons for bringing other food into the shop.
I would say that my one small complaint (very small), is that the place doesn't have a great atmosphere, exactly. It's a silly complaint, but the sugar is in the typical diner type sugar containers; the stirrers, napkins and accroutemnents are in stark plastic holders, that lend little to the high end coffee and food that he produces. I think this place would do well to offer special little touches... The bathroom is fine, but could also do w/ those special touches I mentioned. Oh, and the they have free internet (as long as you buy something).
Thumbs WAY up.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Heiko's Sauerkraut
Let's start out and say, this is NOT my recipe, but a friend's, who is into fermenting EVERYTHING....here is his fermentation blog:
http://www.hrath.net/hhb/And I just loved this yummy crunchy sauerkraut (and I hate sauerkraut)...simple, simple simple.
Sauerkraut
On 9/22/2012 I made a batch of Sauerkraut, chopping 5 heads of cabbage up in pieces, sprinkling a bit of salt on each layer, then tightly packing everything into a fermentation bucket. I covered it with a dining plate and weighted it down with a gallon jug to squeeze the juices out so it would be submerged in a salt brine. After about 10 days I tried the first kraut it and it turned out crunchy, slightly salty and very tasty. Since then we’ve been nibbling on this and it’s evolving nicely.
I’d call this fermentation experiment a success 
New Food Blog
Hello World,
This is my first Blog. I figured I'd make it about something that has to occur everyday (i.e. eating), so I'd be sure to have a bit of something talk about. So, I struggled with the name to start, and realized that it just didn't have to be so hard. Instead of making it small & niche (locality, restaurants only, etc), I figured, I'd allow for all sorts of possibilities. First of all, I love food. So, why not allow blogging about all sorts of food--whether restaurant fare, or home cooked fare (I love to cook) or food truck! In addition, I travel a fair bit, and though I had at first thought to only base this on my current locality (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill), I decided to allow flexibility there, as well!
So, a few things, I am gluten intolerant, and I'll mention this in my blogs, but realistically, food is food. So, I hope this works out for all folks out there!
More to come!
Debs
This is my first Blog. I figured I'd make it about something that has to occur everyday (i.e. eating), so I'd be sure to have a bit of something talk about. So, I struggled with the name to start, and realized that it just didn't have to be so hard. Instead of making it small & niche (locality, restaurants only, etc), I figured, I'd allow for all sorts of possibilities. First of all, I love food. So, why not allow blogging about all sorts of food--whether restaurant fare, or home cooked fare (I love to cook) or food truck! In addition, I travel a fair bit, and though I had at first thought to only base this on my current locality (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill), I decided to allow flexibility there, as well!
So, a few things, I am gluten intolerant, and I'll mention this in my blogs, but realistically, food is food. So, I hope this works out for all folks out there!
More to come!
Debs
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