Beef Manicotti

I have a recipe for Manicotti that we haven't made in years.  I just haven't been able to find gluten free manicotti anywhere.  As much as I love Manicotti I prefer to make only one meal for the whole family so I tucked this recipes away. Until now.  I saw this done on another blog and wish I could remember where, to give them the credit for the genious idea.  I used gluten free lasagne noodles and rolled the filling up inside of them.  They were a bit too long so I cut them in half and they turned out perfectly.

This recipe is courtesy of Giadia De Laurentiis 

Ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 pound ground beef
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
14 (8-ounce package) manicotti (I used a box of GF lasagne noodles instead)
1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta
3 cups shredded mozzarella
1 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups marinara sauce
2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

Directions

Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.

Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.

Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.

Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

I also served this dish with cheese rolls from Cheese Bread Mania sprinkled with Salad Supreme before baking.

Wendy's

Wendy's has become by far our most common stop for gluten free fast food.  So many places are jumping on the gluten free train, but this has always felt safe and reasonably healthy.  For a list of gluten free menu items CLICK HERE.

Our favorite gluten free menu choices are:

Baked Potato

Chili

Burger w/o bun

Frosty

Luna Protein Bars

This is great news......

All flavors of Luna Protein bars are gluten free!!

I recently discovered these bars at my Target store and bought them for Brittany to try.  She has loved all of the flavors, especially Mint.  I am always thrilled to find a 'healthy' snack that she can pack in her purse to eat on the go.  They are just under 6 dollars for a box of six.

Gluten Free Rice Krispies

We made our first batch of these yummy treats tonight!

I have found boxes this new cereal at Walmart and Smith's.

Gluten-Free Treats

Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® Gluten Free cereal

Directions
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES Gluten Free cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Taco Salad

Oh, how I love to eat a big bowl of this for dinner. 

Some of my family doesn't think it is enough to fill them up so I serve it with nachos or cheese quesadillas, but it is quite filling on its own.

2 pounds ground beef w/taco seasoning

2 heads of iceburg lettuce

2 chopped tomatoes

1 bunch green onions

1 chopped red onion

1 cans dark red kidney beans

1 can olives

2 cups cheese

crushed tortilla chips

Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet, then add taco seasoning.  Chop up lettuce, tomatoes, green onion and red onion and put in a VERY large bowl.  Drain kidney beans and olives and add to the large bowl.  Add cheese and crushed tortilla chips. 

I like a combination of both ranch dressing and salsa on top of my taco salad.  Mmmm!

The New Food Plate

This just makes so much more sense to see it on a plate. 
It resembles how most of the dinner plates at our house look (minus the spam-looking meat...hehe!)

Glad to see they got rid of the last chopped up pyramid.  That was a bit of a joke to understand.  But hey, we all know that all things in moderation plus exercise is what keeps our bodies healthy.  I didn't need Michelle Obama to tell me that.

Oh, and while we are on the subject of the first lady and her campaign on childrens health, I will take this chance to offer perhaps another way to help the kids in this country to make a better food choice.  One of my biggest gripes since Brittany's diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes has been, (besides the midnight blood sugar checks), the lack of beverage options for her when we eat out.  I consider eating out a treat for my family, there are six of us and it can be expensive so it doesn't happen often.  I am not bothered by my kids enjoyed a soda with their meal, but why can't restaurants or the movie theater or the zoo offer a diet option other than diet coke.  What about sprite zero or diet root beer?  These are options we enjoy at home and don't miss the added sugar.  It always bugs me that Brittany's choice is water or a caffeinated diet drink.  Her diet is already limited so I hate to see us go out to eat and her get to sip on water while people around us are digging into bread baskets and refilling their strawberry lemonade.  But that's the life of a Diabetic Celiac.  Phew!  That felt good to vent!  



Is it just too much to ask that places offer a diet non-caffeinated beverage?

Creamy Beef Alfredo

This is a one-pot-wonder meal

It took less than 30 minutes to put together and it only dirtied one pan.

And.....it beat the boxed version of the sodium filled hamburger helper hands down. 

(Giggles because they use that little glove man as their mascot. 

Oh, I crack myself up!)

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

15 oz Classico Creamy Alfredo Sauce

1 cup water

2 tablespoons ketchup

8 oz uncooked gluten free pasta

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet brown meat and onion.  Drain fat.  Add Alfredo sauce, water and ketchup and bring to a boil.  Stir in pasta.  Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat.  Simmer for approximately 10 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.  Sprinkle with cheese. 

All of the Classico® red and white sauces are gluten-free

http://www.classico.com/