Musings on Life & Eating Gluten Free

      It's me again.. I am never making promises to post faithfully.. but I will promise fitfully..
    Some big changes have gone on..the biggest one being I have been on a gluten free diet for health reasons.. yes I get SICK.. it's not some fad or trend to lose weight and boy it is NOT fun!!  I never realized how many wheat products I eat until I cannot eat them.  In fact, I realized that if I ate it ..it probably has wheat!  And as much fun as it is not, I am so grateful not to feel sick and in pain most every day.  I have had stomach problems for as long as I can remember.. I spent so many days so sick- too sick to eat.  So when someone asks me how my paleo diet is going, I truly want to smack them silly!  NO ONE would choose this!

    So our adventure today will be to delve into simple but delicious recipes that  are safe to eat.  I will give you some of my favorites.  Unlike some Gluten Free recipes, mine wont contain anything weird... and nothing you have to shop in a health food store for.  I still love food and love to eat..  and not cauliflower crust pizza either!

Our first entry, Loaded Nachos.. yes I said it!  I used to make this as dinner, when my kids were smaller.. it is quick, easy and everyone likes it.. It's a 10 definitely.

Loaded Nachos a la DJ style

Gluten Free Corn Chips **
1 lb of extra lean hamburger
1 small onion chopped
1 1/2 tsp chili powder

1 1/2  tsp ground cumin

1 can of chopped tomatoes (about 15oz or so) 

about 1 1/2 cups of shredded pepper jack cheese

about 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (you can use all cheddar too)

sour cream

hot pepper sauce

here are your options.. depending on your personal taste- I don't us any of this

clove of garlic, chopped (optional)

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tsp of cayenne pepper sauce (medium heat)
but I do love black olives

In a frying pan, brown hamburger and onion (garlic and peppers if you choose, too). Once onion is almost transparent, add chili powder, cumin, and tomatoes. Cook until tomatoes are thickened.. this can take 10-15 minutes, so don't freak!


Line a cookie sheet with corn chips of your choice, making sure they overlap- or just dump enough of the bag on the cookie sheet so none of the pan shows through- next layer on meat mixture. Now if you want to be healthy and add fiber, you can layer on red kidney beans (but since I have a low tolerance for fiber foods.. I don't use them). Top all this with cheese... and bake for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.. Take them put of the oven, top with sour cream, if you wish and your favorite options- garlic, peppers, hot pepper sauce, black olives, avacado... but my favorite topping is pico de gallo.. easy recipe follows.






Pico De Gallo


4-6 ripe tomatoes chopped


1 red pepper, chopped


1 green pepper, chopped

1 small white onion, chopped

1/4 cup, 2 handfuls, cilantro leaves, finely chopped -- substitute parsley if cilantro is not to your liking ( I don't like cilantro)

Salt


1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped, for medium to hot heat level (optional)


**GLUTEN FREE CORN CHIPS- I am sure there are many others, but these are easy to find and taste good (important in my book)


DORITOS® Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips

FRITOS® Lightly Salted Corn Chips

FRITOS® Original Corn ChipsTOSTITOS® Bite Size Rounds Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Cantina Thin & Crispy Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Cantina Traditional Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Crispy Rounds Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Original Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Oven Baked SCOOPS!® Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Reduced Fat Crispy Rounds Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Simply Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Simply Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® SCOOPS!® Tortilla Chips

TOSTITOS® Thick & Hearty Rounds Tortilla Chips

  Eat Well and Prosper, my little foodies!!