If you like French pastry you will LOVE these gluten-free French pastry cheese cups. Think flaky, buttery pastry filled with lightly sweetened ricotta cheese custard. A dream combination if you ask me. I'll be honest when I set out in making these I wasn't sure if they will work for my site. Why? Because I will not make recipes that are too complicated, I feel that recipes should be easy enough for anyone to make. Having said that, the first two batches that I made had to be thrown out, they just didn't make the cut. So now it became a challenge for me. I just had to make this gluten-free puff pastry work. The results, well they are nothing short of amazing, especially right out of the oven. Trust me, and they are simple enough to make with exceptional results! So there, I finally made gluten-free French pastry that anyone can whip up. I will serve them for breakfast at Thanksgiving with a cup of good organic coffee, but if there are any leftovers, I will save them for a snack. Good luck on having leftovers :-)

This is chili with a Cincinnati twist. Cincinnati Chili is made with ground meat, tomato sauce and an unusual blend of spices, but it also includes cocoa, coffee and chocolate. You may be surprised, but the cocoa and coffee boost the meaty flavour to another level without being overpowering, and the chocolate adds a little sweetness making this chili just perfect. I have also added my personal flair to this amazing chili which includes bacon for that smokey flavour and black beans with corn. Chili is such a versatile dish, don't you agree? You can serve it in a bowl just as is with your favourite toppings, or my favourite way to serve the chili is in a baked sweet potato, squash or over mashed potatoes. It's cozy, comforting food that goes with just about anything, even over pasta. And let's not forget, the chili is always better the next day or the day after. Nothing beats a slowly simmered chili in November.

Since the weather has cooled, there is something about those comforting smells of homemade bread. One of my favourite bread is a really good loaf of crusty, flavourful ciabatta bread hot out of the oven. Have you ever attempted to make your own ciabatta bread, but the making of homemade gluten-free ciabatta bread has scared you off. I will show you how easy is to make this gluten-free ciabatta bread. Honestly, it is super easy! You will love it. In this recipe, I have added some rosemary for flavour and buckwheat flour for texture. The results, rosemary ciabatta bread perfection! Honestly, I have made this several times now because I love this bread for making sandwiches. For me, it is the easiest gluten-free bread recipe out there :-) What I love about this bread it is excellent with hot dips like the hot pizza dip or dunk it in soups, chilli or stews, it is super versatile. If you have leftovers, they make for a great toast in the morning with a slice of cheese or scrambled eggs. You will love this simple to make gluten-free ciabatta because there is nothing that beats homemade bread! 

There is pizza, and there is a hot pizza dip! Hot pizza dip is a pizza without the crust. You know, the delicious melted cheese with your favourite toppings that you get on a regular pizza except without the bread. In this recipe, I used three types of cheeses, fresh tomatoes, basil, some garlic, and ham or pepperoni. I have also added jalapeño pepper, which is optional but I love spicy dips, so adding some heat really kicks it up a notch. Doesn't this sound so good? This is one of those fail-proof appetizers that everyone will love, I mean who doesn't love a pizza?. Don't know what to bring to a party? Bring this dip and just pop it in the oven, it's that simple. I have served this dip with gluten-free ciabatta bread (recipe coming up soon), but for those of you who watch the carbs, this dip goes well with fresh veggies like celery, broccoli or cauliflower. Gluten-Free corn chips are also a big hit with this hot pizza dip, just spoon the gooey dip on your chips and enjoy! You can also serve this hot appetizer during sports events yum!! With the holidays coming up, having an appetizer that is this simple to make is a must. You will not be disappointed, I promise :-) The best part is, you can prepare the dip a day in advance, just bake when you are ready. This will reduce your stress level when entertaining, believe me I know how crazy it can get during the holiday season

I am dying to share this gluten-free recipe with you. For one, these sweet potato chickpea sesame patties are super easy to make, but more importantly, they are healthy, vegan and grain-free. The patties are made with sweet potatoes, chickpeas, sesame seeds, fresh parsley, and a unique blend of spices. I have added coconut flour which gives the patties just the right texture and some fresh lemon juice which ties everything nicely together. Seriously, these versatile patties make for a delicious mouth full. The best part, these patties make great vegan burgers or add them to your favourite salad. For me, I keep them on hand for any time protein packed snack. On a side note, chickpeas nutrition not only contains essential protein, about 15 grams per cup of cooked beans but also has many other important nutrients and are high in fiber. Oh, I almost forgot, when you make a burger load it up with avocado, onion, tomatoes, lettuce or thinly sliced cabbage and your favourite vegan mayo, YUM!

Today it's gluten-free vegan Caprese mac & cheese. Creamy pasta with tomatoes and fresh basil, it's the kind of comfort food we dream of. Whether you follow a vegan diet or you are dairy intolerant this Caprese mac & cheese is for you! This is the kind of mid-week food that we remember, simple, satisfying and delicious. I must admit I adore the fresh tomatoes and fresh basil, they really change this dish from classic mac and cheese to a delicious pasta dish with an Italian twist. Trust me, if you make this, there’s not a chance you will be disappointed. It's creamy, tasty and has everything you could ever want in a gluten-free vegan mac and cheese and more!

So let's talk about Tuscan minestrone soup. I feel that when fall and winter come around, soups will make you feel warm and toasty inside. With the cold and wet weather we have been having, this soup clearly sounds pretty good now. Minestrone soup is loaded with colourful, healthy vegetables and has the most flavourful broth. Adding gluten-free pasta or quinoa turns this delicious soup into good old comfort food. This soup is one of those meals that will satisfy your craving for hearty food, plus it's super simple to make. I love serving this Italian soup with gluten-free artisan crusty rolls or gluten-free pull-apart soft rolls with rosemary, they are perfect for dipping. This is one of those hot meals to just have on hand for when you crave something warm and satisfying or when you know there just isn't enough time to make a healthy meal for your family. 

Potatoes are probably one of the most versatile vegetables out there. They can be boiled, steamed, stuffed, roasted or used in soups, stews and casseroles. The nutritional content of potatoes can vary depending on the variety. Potatoes are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. They contain zero fat and are naturally gluten-free. Did you know that potatoes have more protein, fibre and iron than broccoli? Anyhow, moving on to the recipe. If I were going to make a potato side dish to impress my family and guests, it would definitely be this one. Although this potato dish is simple to make, the flavour of the garlic herb lemon butter makes them addictively delicious. I used fresh parsley and fresh rosemary because both herbs go hand in hand when it comes to roasted potatoes. The splash of fresh lemon juice adds a little tartness balancing the saltiness and herbs to perfection. To add even more flavour, I topped them with Parmesan cheese which also makes them extra crispy. I feel that Parmesan cheese makes everything taste so much better, don't you agree? All of these flavours combined are just the best when it comes to potatoes. I have used small creamer potatoes because they hold their shape and taste better than any other potato when roasted. And as a bonus you don't have to peel them, making this potato recipe my favourite side dish. But don't stop there, these smashed crispy potatoes make for a wonderful snack especially during sports events. They are tastier than fries, you don't have to serve them hot, and they make perfect finger food. You don't even have to add a dip, they are that good! But the best part is, you can make them in advance. Just roast them, smash them and set aside until you are ready to serve them. When ready, finish cooking them with Parmesan cheese. Now that is an easy, amazing potato recipe. Enjoy!

This cozy, healthy warming pumpkin spice latte is a wonderful Monday afternoon pick me up when your energy is low. Just a right balance of warm chai spices, pumpkin flavour and silky milk. What's great about this latte is that it tastes sooo good without added sugar. October month is made for pumpkin spice, warm lattes and coziness. The best part it's made under 5 minutes. Since October month is almost over, this will be my last pumpkin recipe. Hope you enjoy this comforting vegan pumpkin spice latte as much as I do. For a selection of gluten-free pumpkin recipes from breakfast to dessert click here ->

This is a double layer gluten-free chai pumpkin cake with spiced buttercream frosting. The cake is nothing short of deliciousness! I am very excited how this cake turned out, it's truly a Thanksgiving dessert. I know traditionally it is pumpkin pie or pecan pie, but this year I wanted to go all out, so I created this heavenly gluten-free chai pumpkin cake with spiced buttercream frosting. Do I have your attention now? The two layers are moist, light and infused with chai spices. Then I generously frosted the cake with spiced buttercream frosting, making this dessert outstanding!  I must admit the spiced buttercream frosting is what makes this cake. Best part, there is nothing complicated about this cake. To make this dessert more festive add some berries or edible flowers. Believe me, your family will be impressed, it is that delicious :-) 

Sharing my favourite immune boosting chicken soup. We are entering a busy time of the year. With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, our lives become stressful and very busy. This is also the beginning of flu season. So, in my home, it is time to rev up the immune system with simple, healthy food such as this chicken soup. Traditionally chicken soup is a slow simmer soup which gives you the delicious broth that we all love. This chicken soup recipe is all about boosting our immune system to help us stay healthy and energized. To make this soup I used organic ingredients and 6 must-have ingredients that contain powerful medicinal properties to support our immune system. These are ginger, garlic, turmeric, lemongrass, lemon juice and honey. Did you know that lemongrass helps to heal colds and flu and is full of antioxidants as per medical news today? And honey is a natural energy drink and a cough suppressant as per medical daily. And let us not forget about hydration, very important to keep our bodies healthy.  An easy way to stay hydrated is with a delicious, comforting hot chicken soup. Now for the recipe, first I simmer the chicken with ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, bay leaf and clove. Once the chicken is tender, I add the julienned veggies with garlic, parsley, and finish off with fresh lemon juice and honey. The veggies are cooked briefly keeping them tender but still firm. This delicious soup is very easy and simple, but most importantly it will help boost your immune system

This past weekend when I was brainstorming I came up with this amazing vegan Dahl recipe. I call this recipe India meets Thailand. When creating gluten-free vegan recipes, it is important that they are nutritionally balanced and flavourful. In this recipe, I used red lentils, coconut milk, peanut butter, bell pepper, carrots, potatoes and Thai curry flavours. I finished the Dahl with fresh lime juice and plenty of cilantro. Are you thinking what I am thinking? :-) Yes, definitely not traditional, but sometimes classic recipes need to be kicked up a notch, and this is one of those recipes that needed a change. You have to trust me on this, it is super tasty and comforting, just what we need in October. To add even more veggies, I served this Dahl over roasted butternut squash and grilled zucchini, then I sprinkled pumpkin seeds over the top.  Can it get any better than this? Enjoy!

Let's talk about healthy food. One of my favourite breakfasts is a yogurt bowl packed with fruit, seeds and nuts. Don't get me wrong, I do spoil myself on the weekends with some gluten-free biscuits or gluten-free chocolate chip zucchini muffins. I believe life is all about balance and during my work week it is all about healthy food that will keep me energized and focused. Let's be honest most of us don't have time in the morning cooking elaborate breakfast anyway, myself included. You have probably guessed it by now, this week is going to be all about healthy gluten-free meals. Yes, HEALTHY :-) Focusing on some vegan recipes packed with protein using a variety of spices and colourful fruit and veggies. I like using a wide selection of herbs and spices in my recipes because they are packed with antioxidants and add so much flavour and beautiful colours to simple meals, don't you agree?  Ok, back to this oh soooo good pumpkin pie with apple cinnamon swirl yogurt bowl. I call it the ultimate breakfast because it has everything from protein, to fruit, to fiber, all the things we need for a healthy body. Now for the recipe, I combined dairy-free unsweetened yogurt with pumpkin puree and a little maple syrup with pumpkin pie spices. To top it all off, I made lightly cooked apples with cinnamon, lemon juice, maple syrup and vanilla and swirled it throughout the pumpkin yogurt. The apples take only 5 minutes to make, they are tender but still have firmness, and will keep up to 7 days when refrigerated. I have also added some fresh berries, seeds and nuts, so feel free to add your favourite toppings. Got it? Yes, I call it awesomeness :-). So after all this, if I didn't get you at breakfast, hope you enjoy this delicious bowl of pumpkin pie yogurt as a snack or add some coconut cream or vegan ice cream and serve as a dessert. You can't go wrong either way.  Looking for a Halloween gift for your chef in the kitchen. Check out this monkey pizza wheel or, the spaghetti monster colander they are so cute!

I love sharing simple, delicious chicken rice recipes with you at the beginning of the week. Mondays tend to be crazy for me, developing new recipes, shopping for ingredients and getting organized for the week. This is where leftovers come in handy, or I look for something simple to make. Rice is actually my favourite carb, especially in the fall. Fall is all about cozy, warm and feel good food, like this healthier version of gluten-free chicken and rice recipe with Louisiana flavours. This Louisiana chicken with edamame rice dish is a blend of savoury, zesty, and spicy flavours. I cooked the chicken in coconut oil with cajun spices, onions, garlic, bell peppers a little tamari sauce and honey. Then I added edamame and fresh tomatoes and the rice. The chicken is so flavourful in this dish, adding the perfect blend of spices to the rice. But it is the edamame what makes this dish shine. This gluten-free chicken and rice dish is so simple, flavourful and super easy. This recipe is perfect on busy nights or when you are craving take-out food. If you want to go all out, add some toppings like yogurt, sour cream, cashews, cilantro or lime juice. Have a happy Monday and an amazing week!!

Hello and welcome to a sunny weekend! Well, it is sunny here on the west coast. This morning I was just going to have a coffee and watch the news, but my family wanted something warm, savoury, cheesy and with ham. Since I did not want to spend too much time in the kitchen, I whipped up these gluten-free ham and cheese biscuits. These savoury biscuits had all the things that my family wanted, so it was simple. I served them warm while the cheese was still melting…so good! They loved them!! When it comes to breakfast ordinarily, I like to serve yogurt or chia pudding with fresh fruit, seeds and nuts. But since it is the weekend, I decided to spoil my family with these buttery, cheesy with ham gluten-free biscuits. If you are up to it, make them for brunch tomorrow and let me know what you think. This is one of those recipes you will want to add to your recipe box, and I feel it is my best gluten-free ham & cheese biscuit recipe! Have a super weekend! Back on Monday :-)