Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

They may not be pretty, but they're delicious!

If you can have dairy, you must make these. RIGHT NOW. Go ahead and get the ingredients, I'll wait. Back? ok, here you go.

The original recipe came from here, but, as the Whole Foodigans are wont to do, I tweaked it a bit, but I'm still not calling myself a "tweaker". ;)

Mozzarella cheese, cut into sticks or chunks or whatever strikes your fancy
bread crumbs mixed with Italian seasoning and salt (I made my own bread crumbs by toasting pieces of my bread)
eggs
fine flour like rice or sorghum (I used sorghum)
coconut oil (what else?)
Marinara

While making cheese sticks, heat marinara or your cheese sticks will get cold. Ask me how I know.

Heat coconut oil to cover bottom of pan about 1/4".
Dip cheese in flour, egg, bread crumbs and then if you want, back in the egg and breadcrumbs.
Put in oil.
PAY attention! Don't forget to turn them, they cook very quickly.

Eat. Die of deliciousness.
You're welcome.

Mary

Elk Sausage Spring Pasta

It's spring!

Our local Food Co-op (Seward Market) makes their own sausages with locally sourced meat and other ingredients. They're pricey, but so delicious you'll go back for more. This month, the special was Elk Sausage with Mushrooms and Cranberries.

We decided to mix it up with other spring offerings that we were so glad to see after our extra long Minnesota winter.

In a large pan, cook sausages until almost done (any fine sausage will do).

To the pan, add:

1 bunch of chard, one bunch of ramps (yay spring!), a head of cauliflower, some minced garlic, and any other green vegetable you might be so inclined to add, in the large pan with a little added butter and olive oil.

We had planned to have slices of sausage in this, but the casings fell apart, so it looks more like ground meat, but the sausage juices added all the extra flavoring we needed.

Once the vegetables are soft, de-glaze the pan with a little white wine to make a nice sauce.

Serve over the pasta of your choice and top with Parmesan cheese.

Broiled Cod Steaks

This sauce is so good I was literally licking the pan. Adapted from a James Beard recipe. Makes me hungry just reading the recipe!

4 cod steaks (or other firm white fish), about 1 inch thick

Basting mixture:

1/2 c melted butter

2 T grated onion

2 T lemon juice

1/4 chili sauce (homemade ketchup)

1 t tarragon

1 t paprika

2 T chopped parsley

Rub the steaks well with salt. Combine remaining ingredients and brush the mixture on one side of each steak. Place the steaks on a well-oiled broiler rack and broil about 4 inches away from the broiler for 5 minutes. Turn, brush well with the butter mixture, and broil another five minutes, basting once more during the cooking period. Transfer to a hot platter. Serve with tiny boiled new potatoes and chopped buttered spinach, and if you like, drink a pleasant Pinot Blanc.

Spinach Potato casserole

I'm sorry I don't have a picture of these delicious potatoes, but they're a great make-ahead side dish that will be making an appearance at our next Thanksgiving dinner!

6 medium poataoes

2 t salt

1/4 t white pepper

1 c sour cream

1/4 lb butter

2 tsp chives

1/4 t dill

1 10 oz package frozen spinach, cooked and well drained

1 c shredded cheddar cheese

Cook and mash potatoes. Add salt, pepper and a little milk. Add sour cream and butter. Beat until fluffy. Add chives, dill and spinach. Mix and place in a buttered casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Can be made a day ahead, or frozen ... put cheese on top just before baking.

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes

These are the first pancakes I've had where I don't feel a huge blood-sugar rush right after eating. They're wonderful and filling. Recipe is adapted from one a friend gave us, but I don't have the original source.








My daughter likes the "Baby" version of everything:

3/4 c quick-cooking oats (regular are fine as well, just let them soak a bit longer)

1 1/2 c plus 2 T well-shaken buttermilk, divided

3/4 c whole wheat flour

1 1/2 t baking powder

3/4 t baking soda

1/2 t cinnamon

1/8 t nutmeg

1/2 t salt

1 lg egg

2 T butter melted

1 t packed brown sugar

Soak oats in 3/4 c buttermilk for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and slat in a large bowl. Stir egg, butter, brown sugar, remaining 3/4 c plus 2 T buttermilk and oat mixture into dry ingredients until just completed. Cook pancakes.