Buckwheat - Gluten Free -- Grass Free

 Buckwheat, which is actually not in the wheat family at all, has somehow gotten a bad rap over the years. I personally have avoided it basically just because it had the word "WHEAT" in the name itself. Actually it is "NOT"  on the list of gluten free flours we must avoid if gluten sensitive, or if you have celiac disease. It is in fact, not even in the grass family, which I now have to  avoid because of allergies. 

It's hard enough when being sensitive to gluten, or allergic to wheat, because that eliminates a lot of baking flours for our use. Yet to be allergic to grasses also sets a whole new game into effect. Most gluten free flours with which with we bake fall into the family of grasses. Like oats, sorghum, rice, amaranth, cornstarch, etc. There are not many left on the table for those of  us who also have grass allergies. Yet that will be another post for the future.

Buckwheat however is a pseudocereal. It has been grown as a crop in China dating as far back to 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. A crop with an end use like a cereal, but is not in the grass family. It is a seed that is consumed as cereal grains but doesn't grow on grasses. Other common pseudocereals are quinoa and amaranth.So it is not only gluten free but also not in the grass family! It is a great cereal option for those of us who like a nice warm bowl of cereal for breakfast or even a light late night snack. I must admit I was skeptical to give it a try as I grew up loving cream of rice or cream of wheat on a cold winter day. Cream of wheat is definitely in the wheat family. Cream of rice is in the grass family! It is a loose, loose, situation for me! Or so I thought.

So I ventured off course this morning and gave cream of buckwheat a try. I was amazed at the taste and texture! Is was a cross between the texture of oats, and the taste of oats and rice all rolled into one. With a warm mellow sweetness that I fully enjoyed. The earthy taste was ever so slight and it didn't have the grittiness cream of rice usually has. Also I tried macadamia nut milk for the very first time also which had a smooth silky texture, not nutty at all! 

Oh by the way....Macadamia nuts are actually not nuts at all, but a seed! Kind of like the fact that a tomato is not actually a vegetable at all, but actually in the fruit family. Yet be aware that if you have nut allergies you could possibly also be allergic to macadamia nuts as well....Funny world, hu? 

I used unsweetened plain macadamia nut milk as I like the natural taste of foods.  I find almond milk to be to nutty of a taste for my liking lately. I want my milk to taste like milk, not a vanilla sunday :] Either way I found the cereal to be everything I had hoped for and more. I used the "pocono heart of buckwheat"  brand and will probably stick with their brand, as as the saying goes, "Why ruin a good thing"! Right?

I will be doing much more research over the course of weeks to come as I am working on a gluten free, grass free, flour blend with which to bake with. Oh, did you also know SUGAR is in the grass family also???????  Allulose to the rescue! Well I guess I have dropped enough bombshells on you for today , so with that I will close.

Until next post ,

Sharon

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus...

Trying again...n Enjoying Breakfast

 Well since my last post a few days ago I have either been on my computer, or phone, searching, and searching, and searching. If I am going to go for this with all my heart then I am determined to get it right this time. As I had mentioned in one of my earlier posts, my faithfulness to my GF diet has really gone by the wayside.Thank God my faithfulness to the Lord is still going strong. Not only do I have to pick and choose for a GF diet, but also for kidney issues as well. Its a balancing act to be sure : (

I have had many ups and downs recently. There has been sickness in my family. Family ties have been tested, along with financial testings as well. I guess I have been putting these other problems before my own personal health. Needless to say...I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Not only will I be getting back on a GF diet but I will also be trying new GF flour blends to eliminate any grains, flours, or starches that come from the grass family as well. Seems I also have a grass allergy from what I can vaguely recall. Mmmmmmmm...So since most of the flours and starches I have been using these past years are in the grass family,  it is now back to "The drawing board" as my husband would say. I will be asking my Doctor to run a new series of allergy tests since it's been many years since my last testings. Then possibly more adjustments will have to be made, but at least I will have a better starting point.

So with that said, I would like to share a favorite recipe with you that doesn't call for any flour or starches at all. It is a recipe for a handy spice, and will be one I think you will enjoy having on hand. It is a GF recipe without a lot of fuss, but truly makes the best homemade sausages ever!  I don't know about you, but I am tired of paying such high prices for breakfast meats at the grocery store. Reading labels and knowing that the extra additives are not what I personally want to put into my body. 

This homemade spice blend makes a big batch, and you only use 4 1/2 to 5 teaspoons per pound of meat. If you think it might make too much for your family to make at once, just cut the recipe in half. It stores well with all your other spices, so either way its a win, win...Did I mention homemade, so it's not filled with all those extra fillers n additives...

Homemade sausage seasoning:

1/3 cup seasalt (use real salt here, helps in curing)

1 T ground mace

1/4 cup ground rosemary

1/4 cup ground sage

2 T ground thyme

6 T garlic powder

1 1/2 teas cinnamon

1/2 cup date sugar OR coconut sugar

Put all ingredients in a jar or sealed container and shake well. Use 4 1/2 to 5 teaspoons for each pound of fatty pasteurized pork or lamb. ( you can try ground hamburger or turkey here but I can't guarantee the results as I have never tried either personally) Mix well into the meat and refrigerate. It taste better after a few days of curing in the refrigerator, but can be used right away if desired. 

Note * The sugar content comes out to about 5 grams per pound of meat.

Make into patties and cook in a skillet  over low/medium heat until browned and cooked through. Taste great with eggs and a small side of fruit.

I hope you enjoy. 

Sharon

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

New Year...New Beginning

 Wow..another year! Hard to believe that this past year has come and gone. Seems like just in the blink of an eye, an afterthought, and it has gone. 365 days of days n nights gone so fast...I'm also another year older, and hopefully wiser.

I will be the first to admit that I don't think that even one of my past New Years resolutions were kept. To be honest, I don't even remember what they even were. Funny sometimes how you just get so caught up in the everyday things in life, that life just seems to take you on this roller coaster ride that you never even hopped on board to ride. I personally don't even like roller coasters, as heights make me nervous. 

This year is a new chance at a better beginning. Hopefully I can pay attention to my health more seriously than last. As I mentioned years ago, when I first began this blog, I have a wheat allergy. No, I have never been tested for Celiac disease, but over this past year I believe I have found that even a allergy intolerance can be a pretty heavy load to bear.

Mood swings, depression, outbursts of anger, food cravings, especially all things sweet, have really taken a tole not only on my emotional being, but also on my physical health. I am tired all the time, sad most of the time, and always craving things that I know are on my "DO NOT EAT LIST".

So, with that being said let's start this "RIDE" again together. We will start from the basics. If you are new to this way of eating the best way to begin is by purchasing items that state they are Gluten Free on the box, or container. Look for signs underneath the products on the shelves in the stores stating that they are indeed Gluten free. Most stores offer this nowadays. Even stores like Meiers, and Whole  Foods have a section in their stores designated to gluten free products. That's a good starting point.

There are many products I have tried over the years that I have liked, some, not so much. In the future weeks I will be listing some of my top likes and some of my not so likable ones. Yet remember, everyone has different likes and tastes, so your opinion in the end is the only one that really matters.

I will be posting more tomorrow. Yet for now I wish you and yours a Blessed and Prosperous 2024!

Love, 

Sharon

"The old has passed away, behold, the new has come."  Isaiah 43:18-19

Stuffed Banana Peppers

 This recipe is a simple recipe, and my very first time ever making. I was doubtful about it at first because it's something I personally have never made before. I must say that it is now on the top of my list as my all time favorite!  

As I had mentioned in one of my previous posts that my daughter had a abundant growth in her garden this year. As always, she is eager to share with friends and family. I ended up with a mass amount of banana peppers. And I mean a mass amount, literally!

My husband being of Italian descent loves anything with sauce....that being said, going keto means no more carb ladened pizza's nor the "normal" spaghetti he grew up knowing in his household. Given that this recipe uses Italian sausage, sauce, and cheese, I thought that he might be pleasantly surprised, and he was.

These long banana peppers are stuffed with a tantalizing sweet Italian sausage and cream mixture, baked in a marinara sauce until soft and bubbly.They are then smothered in a ultra cheese blend that makes them almost melt in your mouth. The taste is irresistible and oh so comforting. Not only is it low carb but also gluten free, a dish your whole family will love.

Serve it with cauliflower rice and it is a meal you will be looking forward to soon again. I cut up the extra banana peppers and froze them as we like to add a little spice to our morning scrambled eggs as well.

So here is the exact recipe I followed. Try it now before banana pepper season comes to an end. I promise, you will not be disappointed.

Per pepper: Carbs 8gr, Fibers 2, Sugars 4, Calories 292 k

 Stuffed Banana Peppers Recipe: 

10 whole banana peppers

1 pound Italian sausage

1T butter or oil

1 small onion peeled and diced

2-3 cloves garlic minced

4 oz softened cream cheese

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 large egg

2 teas Italian seasoning

1/4 to 1/2 teas crushed red pepper

24 oz jar Marinara sauce, I like the lower sodium version

1 1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend

salt and pepper

Fresh parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Set out a 9 x 13 baking dish. Begin by cutting off the stems of the peppers. Then, taking a small knife slice down one side of each pepper from the top to the tip, being careful not to cut completely through the pepper. This makes a nice long boat form to place the stuffing in. Remove the seeds from the inside of the pepper and discard.

In a preheated skillet on medium heat add the butter, diced onion, and garlic, salt and pepper, and saute to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the Italian sausage, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper together in the mixing bowl.

Once the onions and garlic mixture has cooked until softened move to the mixing bowl and mix into the sausage mixture by hand, mixing smoothly but softly. Forming one pepper at a time, scoop up the sausage mixture with your hands and fill each banana pepper with the meat mixture, being sure to press the mixture all the way to the tip, filling the pepper entirely. The peppers do not have to be closed along the seam, but don't fill them so full that it causes the peppers to crack along the seam either.

Place the peppers in the baking pan alternating the directions of the peppers so that they fit neatly in the pan. Ex: pepper top, then bottom tip , then top, etc...Cover the top of the peppers with the marinara sauce evenly. Cover the pan with foil tightly. Bake for 55 minutes undisturbed.

After 55 minutes remove the foil from the pan and check that the peppers are very soft in texture. Sprinkle the Italian shredded cheese over the top of the banana peppers and place the pan back in the oven, uncovered, for 5 more minutes to melt the cheese.When done, sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve. Now that's Italian!!!

Hope you give the recipe a try and enjoy it as much as we did. I would definitely  recommend it. Its 5 Stars in my opinion.

Until next post. Have a blessed day!

Sharon

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

                                                           Psalms 91-1