I love risotto, but the idea of standing by the stove for 45 minutes stirring the rice until it is cooked does not appeal to me. This is why I thought why not make risotto in my new Instant Pot. Risotto a northern Italian rice dish is cooked in broth until it becomes creamy and is one of the most popular ways of cooking rice in Italy. In this gluten-free vegan risotto, I added mushrooms and asparagus, and I cooked the rice in mushroom broth, making it extra flavourful. For that cheesy flavour, I added nutritional yeast and my personal favourite a hint of nutmeg. If you love risotto but don't have the time to cook it the traditional way, try this Instant Pot version. For best results serve immediately

You asked, and I listened. One of the questions I repeatedly hear is why I don't have gluten-free Instant Pot recipes on my website. Well, it was time for me to invest in an Instant Pot. However, first I had to do my research. Which brand, what size and the various features the instant pot should have, all of these factors are important. So here it is my new instant pot and my new best friend ;-) Now the fun starts, learning how to use it correctly. After experimenting with numerous recipes, I decided to share my favourite one, an easy Instant Pot coconut curry chicken. For a healthier and heartier meal, I also added some vegetables which compliment this curry dish. The coconut curry chicken is so flavourful, the chicken and vegetables are cooked to perfection, and the sauce is just right wow! I can't believe how delicious the curry turned out. And it was so easy to make. The best thing that I LOVE about this recipe is the cleanup, only one pot and a clean stove. The total cooking time is 20 minutes and if you are quick at prepping, the total time for the entire dinner is less than 30 minutes. So I am converted, there will be a lot more Instant Pot recipes coming your way. I would like to mention, while the curry was cooking, I made easy basmati rice to go with this incredibly delicious coconut curry chicken. 

If you love dessert made with apples, I promise you this gluten-free maple caramel apple tart will not disappoint! I know the tart may look complicated to make, but it is simple, and the maple buttery caramel sauce outshines any apple tart or pie. In this stunning dessert, the apples are baked in a silky maple caramel sauce, and the crust is light and buttery. Honestly, you will love this heavenly dessert. Next time you are thinking of making gluten-free apple pie, please make this maple caramel apple tart. This dessert is a winner all the way. Vegan option included

These simple gluten-free sesame ciabatta buns can be used in many ways. However, they make for a fabulous burger bun, a sandwich bread or use them for dipping into exotic curry dishes. The texture is soft inside with a crispy sesame crust. I love using ciabatta buns for burgers because they are sturdy so you can pile on various toppings and they will not fall apart. They also toast nicely on the grill. But don't stop there, make some delicious garlic bread. Mix melted butter with garlic and fresh chopped parsley, brush bun halves with the garlic butter and grill, it is that easy. Gluten-free baking is getting simpler and better, just like these sesame ciabatta buns.

These days all I think about is earthy soups, something warm and cozy such as this Russian cabbage and beef soup. Growing up in eastern Europe, this soup was a staple in our home with gluten-free rye bread. When it comes to healthier soups, this is definitely on top of my list. Why you ask? The soup is packed with cabbage, tomatoes, root vegetables and extra-lean beef. Have you heard of the cabbage soup for weight loss? Well, this is one version of it. The soup is packed with fiber, vitamin C and for added flavour lean beef. I consider this naturally gluten-free soup, low calorie, low fat and low in net carbs, so definitely a soup for weight loss. To add some creaminess to this soup add yogurt or low-fat sour cream and fresh dill or parsley. 

The colder than usual temperatures we have been having made me think, it is time to bake a delicious gluten-free homemade bread. One of the most popular loaves of bread in most homes is sandwich bread. I always wanted to develop that perfect yeast-free sandwich bread without too much work. I mean, we all love freshly baked bread but who has the time to bake fresh bread at home these days? The bread had to have flavour, perfect texture and simple to make. The only grain that I used in this recipe is rice flour, then I flavoured it with a hint of paprika and mustard. Honestly, it adds so much flavour and to finish it I added cheese. The buttermilk keeps the bread nice and moist, not crumbly. This bread is one of my best gluten-free sandwich bread recipes. To make this bread is simple, all you do is mix everything together and bake. No kneading isn't that great? It doesn't get any easier than that. Make the bread into your favourite sandwiches or serve it up with hearty soups and stews. The best thing about this bread is, it costs a fraction of the price that you would pay for one at a supermarket, and it is fresh not frozen. This gluten-free bread takes a little longer to toast than your typical white sandwich bread, but it does toast beautifully. Please try this recipe, you will not be disappointed and let me know what you think. I always love to hear from you :-)

What is the difference between flatbread and a pizza? Pizza is such an iconic food that you may never have thought of it as a flatbread. But it is, of course, and it is just one of the dozens of regional flatbreads made all over Italy. Since I did not add any typical pizza toppings, I will call it a flatbread. This is probably one of my simplest gluten-free recipes this month, and it is so versatile. First, let me tell you about the recipe. This rustic flatbread is made with Italian herbs, fresh garlic and two kinds of cheese, so it has plenty of flavours. The dough is leavened with baking powder rather than yeast, unlike pizza or focaccia dough, so it's quick and easy. The wonderful thing is, you can use it as a side with spaghetti Bolognese, soups and stews or make it into a stunning sandwich. My family loves the flatbread just as a snack. If you have leftovers, just pop them in a toaster, they toast beautifully 

For a healthy snack on the go, try these delicious gluten-free coconut chocolate chip energy bites. When you combine coconut and chocolate, you can't go wrong. These simple to make energy bites are packed with fiber and protein and are wonderful as a before workout snack or an afternoon treat. Replace cookies in your kid's lunch box for a healthier option with these tasty sweets or enjoy as an after dinner sweet. These mouthwatering bites are a win-win all the way  :-)

Happy Monday! Yes, it's the day after Super Bowl. Some of us may have indulged in hearty finger food and maybe some cocktails this weekend, so I thought let's start with something healthy and delicious this week. The weather is cold, so a nutritious, sweet and savoury velvety soup is perfect! The comforting combination of silky sweet potatoes with tangy apples 🍎 make this soup tasty and satisfying. I used spices such as curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh ginger to enhance the flavour of this delicious vegan soup. This sweet potato and apple soup is packed with vitamin A, C and fiber, but the best part, the soup is low in calories only about 140 calories per cup and has virtually zero fat. Double the recipe and enjoy a delicious hot cup of soup at work or school this week. I promise you, this gluten-free soup will keep your hunger at bay without the extra calories. 

It is not often I get this excited about one of my gluten-free recipes. First, let me explain what apple raisin fritters are. They are something like mini donuts except much better. Why, because they are packed with fresh apples, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla and very little maple syrup for sweetness. These gluten-free fritters are amazing 😉 The texture of these delicious morsels is, soft and pillowy on the inside and a little crispy on the outside, oozing with apples, raisins and cinnamon. I promise you, they are the BEST gluten-free fritters. The wonderful thing about this recipe is, they are super easy to make with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. When I made them this morning, all it took is 30 minutes and I had 32 gluten-free apple raisin fritters on a plate. I have added simple to make maple cinnamon glaze for extra goodness, but they are delicious just as is. You can also sprinkle them with some fine grain coconut sugar if you like instead of the glaze. How can something like fresh apples, raisins and cinnamon made into mini donuts not be heavenly? Please, if you make them let me know what you thought. I always love to hear from you!

I am ending this week with a hearty, delicious casserole. What's not to love about a casserole made with all our favourite comfort foods. This naturally gluten-free dish is made with layers of spiced roasted potato wedges, cilantro and lime sausage, jalapeno, black beans and two types of cheese, a great combo, don't you agree? Serve the casserole with a salad for easy casual dinner, or make it for brunch with scrambled eggs. For added flavours, add delicious toppings such as sour cream, salsa, avocado, fresh cilantro, green onions and a drizzle of lime juice. If you are having a crowd for brunch, no problem! Serve this potato, sausage and black bean casserole it will surely make a big hit. 

I just had to share this glorious gluten-free coconut cheesecake with berry compote with you, especially before Valentine's Day :-) This is a healthy-ish version of cheesecake, and I will explain why. This cake has a delicious oat crust topped with a creamy cheesecake made with light ricotta cheese, eggs, unsweetened coconut flakes, lemon zest, vanilla and a splash of pure maple syrup. The topping, fresh berry compote oozing with sweet and tart flavours complementing the coconut and vanilla flavours in the cheesecake. The best part is, the berry compote takes less than five minutes to make. So, if you are looking for an impressive gluten-free dessert for Valentines, this is it! But don't stop at Valentines, this stunning dessert brings Sunday brunch to another level. Enjoy!

There is nothing more satisfying after a long cold day than coming home to a delicious Irish lamb stew. This has been a very cold winter so far, especially on the East coast, so comfort food becomes a priority in many homes. When it comes to a winning gluten-free Irish lamb stew, there are few things to know. First, you can't use Guinness stout because it contains gluten. Then, it takes time, you can't rush a good stew. The stew is simmered slowly and in stages. First, the meat is cooked in a delicious meaty sauce, then you add the veggies and cook the stew just long enough for the veggies to be tender but still firm. I don't know about you, but when it comes to a stew, you want the meat to be tender enough, so it starts to pull apart and the veggies to be cooked but still keeping their shape. In order to get that delicious meaty flavour the meat has to be browned correctly, please see the instructions. Then an essential part of making an amazing Irish lamb stew is, chill the stew overnight. By doing this, the flavour of the stew intensifies, and the sauce thickens. This Irish lamb stew won a 10 out of 10 in our test kitchen. This stew goes exceptionally well with gluten-free chia soda bread. Enjoy! 

Yes, it is still January, so I must include a healthier gluten-free, low-carb chocolate chip cookie recipe for this month. In this recipe, I used heart-healthy avocado oil instead of butter, coconut and almond flour, sugar-free chocolate chips and delicious walnuts. As a sweetener I used xylitol. If you don't know what xylitol is, it is sugar derived from plants and counts as zero net carbs per serving. As sweetener on a low carb diet, xylitol is a good choice not only because it has zero net carbs, but because it has some health benefits. Firstly it does not spike blood sugar, and it also feeds friendly microbes in your digestive tract. But what I love most about this sweetener is, you use it just like sugar, and it actually tastes like sugar, no after taste :-) Moving on to the cookie, the texture is in-between soft-chewy not crispy, and the combination of walnuts and chocolate chips make this cookie a winner. This gluten-free chocolate chip walnut cookie is one of those cookies that is super addictive, it is that good. Total net carbs about 4 g per cookie, most commercially made chocolate chip cookies have between 9 - 18 g net carbs per cookie. Enjoy!

In my home, Fridays are for something spicy like this buffalo chicken kale salad. This stunning healthy salad makes a wonderful light meal, and the best part it is still hearty and satisfying. For the buffalo sauce, it is made entirely from scratch with simple ingredients. For the salad, I did my own version. Since I love kale and arugula, I decided to mix the two as a base. I added julienned carrots, cherry tomatoes, and onions and tossed everything with delicious light buttermilk dressing. To complete the salad I topped it with spicy buffalo chicken bites, cheddar cheese cubes and avocado. Just thinking about this salad makes me want to eat one now. You will love it. I always make my buffalo sauce from scratch because I can control the salt amount and same goes for the light buttermilk dressing. By using Himalayan salt, I know that I am getting salt packed with minerals, not the same with table salt which is used in most processed sauces and salad dressings. Hope you enjoy this buffalo chicken kale salad this weekend. It may change your mind about serving salad during cold winter months