Catelli Gluten Free Pastabilities Challenge

Celiac Awareness month takes place in May. The great folks at Catelli asked me if I would like to participate in their Gluten Free Pastabilities Challenge to help celebrate. The task - to create an original gluten free pasta recipe, using any cut of Catelli Gluten Free pasta. I chose to work with Penne, which Catelli then graciously supplied me with.

Catelli Gluten Free Pasta is made from a unique four-grain blend of white rice, brown rice, corn & quinoa. It is is produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Certified by the Canadian Celiac Association’s Gluten-Free Certification Program, it is available in Spaghetti, Fusilli, Penne, and Macaroni. The pasta is made with ingredients that are declared GMO-free as well as Cholesterol and preservative free. You can find Catelli Gluten Free Pasta at all major retailers across Canada

After playing around with some ideas, I came up with a recipe which I have dubbed "Maple Brunch Penne". I'm a big fan of comfort food and for me, this really hit the spot. I hope you will enjoy this as it has quickly become a family favourite in my home of picky eaters.

" Maple Brunch Penne "

Serves 4

Core Ingredients

1     box Catelli Gluten Free Penne     
4     eggs
5     strips of bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
2     tablespoons maple syrup
      shaved parmesan cheese and pepper to taste 

Marinara Sauce Ingredients

3      tablespoons olive oil
1/2   cup finely diced onion
4      cloves garlic, minced
1      jalapeno pepper, finely diced
1      teaspoon brown sugar
1      tablespoon white sugar
1      teaspoon salt

3      tablespoons tomato paste

1      796ml can crushed tomato
    



Directions

1) Heat olive oil in large saucepan or wok, on medium-low heat
2) Add onion, garlic and jalapeno pepper. Cook until soft, but not brown. Stir frequently
3) Mix in brown sugar, white sugar, salt, and  tomato paste. Continue to stir frequently
4) Separate juices from crushed tomato and set the juice aside
5) Add crushed tomato and stir. Bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce reduces. About 15-20 minutes. Occasionally stir mixture
6) While sauce is simmering, bring pot of water to boil and cook Catelli Gluten Free Penne per directions on box
7) While pasta is cooking, fry bacon until slightly crisp and drain. Place bacon in a bowl and drizzle with maple syrup. Add the maple syrup coated bacon to sauce
8) Add the reserved juices from crushed tomatoes to sauce and stir
9) Fry eggs sunnyside up in bacon grease
10) While eggs cook, drain pasta (do not rinse!!!) and add to sauce
11) Place finished pasta mixture in 4 bowls and top each with fried egg. Add shaved parmesan and pepper to your liking. Serve and enjoy!


You can use an egg ring like I did, to produce a nice rounded shape.

Like what I have created here? Feeling up for a challenge? 

Visit Websaver.ca and grab a coupon for $1.00 off of any one Catelli Gluten Free 340g product. Then, create your own Catelli Gluten Free pasta recipe and share it here on Catelli's Facebook page. The recipe can be for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert! The choice is yours. Catelli's Gluten Free Pastabilities Challenge will be held for the public from May 4-31, 2015, and Catelli is offering major prizes for delicious, out-of-the-box gluten free pasta ideas. The three people whose recipes get selected and have the highest number of likes on Catelli’s Facebook page will receive a year’s supply of gluten free pasta, courtesy of Catelli! How cool is that?!



**Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of  product for this post

Stuffed Tomato Boats With A Kick

The cold weather is here to stay, bringing with it the longing for comfort food. I have created the recipe below, as part of the Hidden Valley Gluten Free Challenge. These Stuffed Tomato Boats With A Kick, are a great addition to any meal. They are also a perfect little snack, which will warm you right up.




Ingredients

• 1 boneless chicken breast
• 4 Roma tomatoes, halved
• 1/3 Cup Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch Dressing
• 1 Tbsp gluten free apple butter BBQ sauce
• 1/4 Cup crumbled, already cooked bacon
• 1/4 Cup diced green onion
• 1 Tsp Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup sour cream
• 1/3 Cup grated, Marble cheese
• Shredded lettuce to garnish

* Always read labels to ensure ingredients are gluten free



Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Heat 1 Tsp of Olive Oil in a pan, over medium heat. Add chicken to pan and cook each side for approximately 10 minutes. Chicken should no longer be pink. You can use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken has safely cooked to an internal temperature of 165F-170F.
3. Let chicken rest for about 5 minutes.
4. Place chicken in a bowl. Hold chicken steady with one fork and use another to pull or tear the chicken apart.
5. Add Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch, gluten free apple butter BBQ sauce, crumbled bacon and green onion to the shredded chicken. Stir ingredients together until well incorporated. Set aside.
6. Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp and juices of tomatoes. Fill tomatoes with chicken mixture and place on baking sheet.
7. Add cheese to top of the now filled tomatoes
8. Bake for 15 minutes. Tomato skins will be blistering slightly when done.
9. When tomatoes are finished baking, top each with a spoonful of sour cream. Place shredded lettuce (as little or as much as you like) on top to complete dish and serve.

Hidden Valley Ranch Products and other promotional consideration were received in exchange for providing the above recipe as part of a submission in a contest sponsored by Hidden Valley Ranch.

Campbell's Gluten Free Broth Recipe Challenge & Giveaway!

As part of Celiac Awareness Month, I am taking part in the Campbell's Gluten Free Broth Recipe Challenge. To help spread awareness, I developed my own recipe  with Campbell's recently launched No Salt Added Ready to Use Vegetable Broth. This broth is also 100% Gluten Free.

I have never made soup from scratch before so what better reason to give it a shot then this opportunity right here! I had a lot of fun experimenting in the kitchen and even taught myself a thing or two, thanks to trial and error.

Below is my Garden Vegetable Noodle Soup recipe:

Ingredients

1 Carton of Campbell's No Salt Added Ready To Use Vegetable Broth

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 Tablespoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic

1/2 Onion
2 Carrots
1 Tomato
5 Mini Potatoes (I used Mixed Little Gems)
1/2 Cup Frozen Edemame

1 Cup Whole Grain Instant Brown Rice
1/4 Cup Gluten Free Pasta (I used Brown Rice Fettuccine)

Desired Seasonings

Directions

Prep your desired pasta per the instructions on the box

• Bring 1 Cup of Water to a boil
• Add Rice and stir in 1 Tablespoon of Butter
• Turn off heat and place lid on pot

While the Rice is doing it's thing....

• Prep those Vegetables! Cut Onion, Carrots, Tomato, and Mini Potatoes into bite size pieces. Think small enough to get a variety in one spoonful. 

• Add the Vegetable Oil, Minced Garlic and bite size Vegetables, as well as, the Edamame to a large pot and let sweat.

• Cook pasta until al dente (it will finish in the soup)

• Pour in 1 Carton of Campbell's No Salt Added Ready To Use Vegetable Broth

• Add both the cooked Rice and Pasta

• Stir gently

• Add 1 Teaspoon of desired seasonings (ie: Salt and Pepper)

Garden Vegetable Noodle Soup

***Disclosure: Campbell Company of Canada provided me with product to develop this recipe.

Contest Time!!!

Would you like to win (4) Coupons to enjoy  1 FREE 900ml carton of Campbell's No Salt Added Vegetable Broth? 

4 lucky readers have a chance to win 4 of these FPC's each! Enter below through Rafflecopter!


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Cheese Steak Hoagie

With the cold and wet weather here to stay, a warm and hearty meal is what we are all in need of this time of year. I used Udi's hot dog buns (sent to me by Udi's as part of their Fall Comfort Giveaway) and created my own little cheese steak hoagie.

Boy, was this a family crowd pleaser!

Want to make your own? Follow the simple steps below:

Ingredients

4 Udi's hot dog buns
Quick Fry Steak cut into thin strips
1/2 White Onion
1/2 Green Pepper
3 Mushrooms
1 tsp Steak Spice
Mozzarella Cheese cut into cubes
Gluten Free smokey BBQ sauce

*Cut vegetables as thin or thick as you like 
*Use as much or as little cheese and BBQ sauce as you desire

Directions

Cook steak on medium heat until lightly browned. Add steak spice. Then add mushrooms, onion and pepper.Remove from heat and add cheese to the skillet.

Place a layer of cheese on the bottom of the bun. Then add skillet mix of steak,cheese and vegetables. Drizzle some BBQ sauce on the top and enjoy!

Udi's French Toast Sticks With Cranberry Apple Compote

Here is the first recipe that I have come up with using the Udi's products that were sent to me. I hope that you find it as warm and comforting as my family does. Two awesome things about this recipe are that the components can be eaten together or separately and can be easily frozen for a quick bite when you are in a rush.

French Toast Sticks With Cranberry Apple Compote

Ingredients

French Toast Sticks
4 slices of Udi's Whole Grain Bread
2  large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Cranberry Apple Compote
2 small apples
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup canned cranberries
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp margarine
1 tbsp cornstarch


Directions

French Toast Sticks
Slice bread into four equal rectangles.
Whisk together eggs, milk and cinnamon.
Preheat a non stick pan on medium heat with margarine or butter.
Soak bread slices in the egg mixture, turning once and making sure they are completely coated. When bread is no longer firm to the touch it is ready to be removed.
Add bread sticks, a few at a time to pan and cook until all four sides are slightly toasted.


Cranberry Apple Compote
Peel and chop apples into small cubes and place in a pot.
Add lemon juice, cranberries, brown sugar, cinnamon, and margarine then mix with wooden spoon on med/low heat.
Once juices start seeping from the apples, mix cornstarch with enough cold water to make a paste and add to mixture while stirring.
Leave on heat for several minutes, stirring occasionally until mixture is thick and apples are no longer crunchy.


Head over to the Udi's Fall Comfort Giveaway on my blog for a chance to win $150.00 CDN worth of amazing products from Udi's!