Rachel’s Recipe Box

I read a book a while ago which included a chapter about eating frugally without eating fast food. If you have dietary restrictions, it’s unlikely that you’ve been eating fast food, but it is likely that you’ve been paying a lot of money for your food. Sometimes cooking from basic whole foods and looking at dishes inspired by other cultures will lead you to something inexpensive, tasty, filling, and delicious.

I always make sure we have some meat in the freezer, and if I can’t get to the grocery store, we’ll eat this meal. We eat it more frequently than that because it’s a meal everyone likes, and it’s inexpensive. What a great deal!

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, corn free, top 8 allergen free, and an under $10 recipe.

Ingredients:

• splash cooking oil (canola or olive)

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb pork, cubed (substitute chicken, ham, or whatever is on sale)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp garam masala spice mix (I highly recommend having this on hand, it’s well worth the original expense!)
• 1/4 tsp kosher or sea salt
• splash wine (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups rice
• 1 1/2 cups brown lentils
• 1/4 cup red lentils (optional, but it adds to the flavor and color)
• 5-6 cups water or broth
• about 2oz frozen spinach (I buy the 1lb bags of frozen spinach, and use 2 handfuls)

Method:
Warm the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté until they begin to soften.

Add meat and spices, and continue to sauté until meat has browned.

Deglaze the pan with a splash of wine (or not if you don’t have any/don’t cook with alcohol).

Mix in rice, lentils, and broth, and bring to a boil.

Add the spinach, then turn heat down to medium-low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Stir 2-3 times during the cooking time.

Check rice & lentils for done-ness, and cook for a longer period of time and/or add more liquid as needed.

Serve and enjoy with a salad or a yummy roasted vegetable!

My whole family loves fried calamari, but I don’t like the work required to make it. Occasionally we’ll go to a restaurant that sells gluten-free fried calamari as a treat for my oldest daughter (fried calamari and sushi are her two favorite foods), but we were looking for an easier cooking method for in-between restaurant trips.

Our local grocery store sells frozen calamari tubes which are pre-cleaned and easy to just slice into rings. I found that if the calamari is mostly thawed rather than fully thawed, it’s easier to slice. This is a light “sauce” for pasta, and could be paired with a salad, artichokes, or any roasted vegetable. We had roasted brussels sprouts on the side, one of our favorites.

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, and corn free recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pasta (we used Tinkyada Brown Rice penne, but linguine would be great)
• 1 lb calamari, pre-cleaned tubes & tentacles
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 TBS olive oil
• 2 TBS margarine or 2 additional TBS olive oil
• 1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
• 3-4 grinds black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried basil (or 2 tsp chopped fresh)
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano (if you don’t have fresh basil)
• 1 splash white wine (optional)
  

Method:
Thaw the calamari: submerge the frozen package in cold water, then place under a slooowly dripping faucet for 20-30 minutes.

While the calamari is thawing, bring the salted water for cooking the pasta to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.

When the calamari is mostly thawed, cut the tubes into rings (cutting the flattened tubes into strips, which creates rings when the tube is opened). Don’t slice the tentacles, they’re great as-is. Set the calamari to the side.

In a large skillet, mix olive oil and margarine, and heat to medium, melting the margarine.

Add onion and garlic to the oil, and begin to sauté. Add spices, and keep the garlic & onion moving so it doesn’t brown or burn, cooking for about 3-5 minutes.

Add a splash of white wine if desired, it will carry the flavors, but the alcohol is burned off.

Add the calamari rings and tentacles to the garlicky goodness, and cook for about 6 minutes. The calamari will be cooked, but not rubbery. Take calamari off heat before it gets rubbery!!!

Drain the pasta and toss with the calamari, then serve with a salad, roasted brussels sprouts, or another vegetable. Delicious, easy, and ready in under 45 minutes!

This is based on an Italian peasant dish. It’s made with a little of this and a little of that - leftovers that have been turned into a delicious meal. The original has plenty of milk and cheese, but our version is dairy-free. We needed to keep the eggs, though - so this won’t work for folks with egg allergies.

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, and corn free recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pasta (we like the Tinkyada Brown Rice pasta)
• 3 eggs
• several pieces of bacon or ham, cut into small pieces (double check ham/bacon for allergens!)
• olive oil, flax oil, or margarine

Method:
Prepare pasta according to package directions

Lightly whisk the 3 eggs together.  Add a bit of milk substitute if desired.

Drain pasta, immediately dump into a serving dish, and drizzle with olive oil, flax oil, or margarine.  Stir until combined.

Drizzle the egg mixture over the pasta, and toss - the hot pasta will cook the egg.

Add the bacon or ham, and mix until well combined.

Serve for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or a light dinner.  Yummy, easy, quick, and inexpensive - what’s not to like?

I love casseroles. I love mixing all the ingredients into a pan, and then popping it in the oven, only to have it emerge 45 minutes later fully cooked. There’s really nothing better! So when I had some apple sausages, a few apples, and some pork loin, this was what I came up with. It’s easy, yummy, has a bit of a kick, and has all the wonderful nutrients of quinoa!

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, corn free, and top 8 allergen free recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well (rinse it in a sieve so it won’t be bitter)
• 1 package (12 oz) apple sausages
• 1 medium apple, cored and sliced
• 1 lb pork, cut into 1/2 - 1 inch cubes
• 1 1/2 cups broth, water, or stock
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 pinches kosher or sea salt

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 F

Combine all ingredients in a deep casserole dish. Stir well.

Cover tightly, and bake for 25 minutes.

Stir again, then recover and cook for about 20 minutes more. I slid in some broccoli to roast next to the casserole for the final 20 minutes.

Remove from oven, test quinoa for done-ness, then serve with roasted broccoli or a salad. A wonderfully warming meal for a cold winter day!

We love Beef Stroganoff here. It’s got a deliciously creamy sauce, meat, sautéed mushrooms, and noodles. Add a salad or a steamed veggie on the side, and you’ve got dinner in less than 30 minutes, and for well under $10. Our other Dairy Free Beef Stroganoff recipe required 3 pots, and was a bit of a hassle. This revamped recipe only requires 2 pots, and is less work. Same delicious taste, but with less work. What’s not to love?

Remember: Coconut milk does not have a coconutty taste when used in a savory dish. For some reason, salt appears to eliminate the coconutty taste, and you end up with just a deliciously creamy dinner that tastes like you’re able to eat dairy again!

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, corn free, top 8 allergen free, and South Beach phase 2 safe recipe.

Ingredients:

• splash cooking oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/3 lb ground beef (approximately)
• 6-10 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced (use whatever size container you can buy easily)
• 3 TBS starch - arrowroot is best, but you can use tapioca or corn starch if that’s what’s available
• 2 pinches kosher or sea salt
• 1/2 tsp Tony Chacheres Cajun seasoning, or a little more salt and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 14oz can coconut milk
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 lb brown rice pasta (we like Tinkyada Brown Rice Spaghetti)

Method:

Set a large pot of salted water over high heat so it will come to a boil for the pasta.

Place a large skillet with a splash of cooking oil (we use canola or olive) over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and begin to sauté.

When onion and garlic begin to soften, add the mushrooms. Sprinkle a couple pinches of salt over them, and stir frequently.

When the mushrooms have started to darken and shrink, add the ground beef. Sprinkle the Tony Chacheres Cajun seasoning, or a little more salt and cayenne pepper over the skillet and continue stirring.

Add pasta to the water when it boils, and cook according to the package directions.

When the beef is browned, sprinkle the mixture in the skillet with the starch. Stir, then add the coconut milk and lemon juice. Mix together well. The sauce will thicken as it cooks. Taste test and add more salt or Tony Chacheres or cayenne pepper as needed.

Drain the noodles, then toss with the sauce - easy, quick, and delicious! The tang of the lemon, the slight kick of the Tony Chacheres and the creaminess of the sauce all meld in your mouth for much yumminess!

I miss going to Mexican restaurants and eating gooey cheese enchiladas. While beef and bean enchiladas aren’t quite the same thing, having delicious enchiladas at home is wonderful. It’s great to know your food is safe because you made it at home, when you’ve always got some risks eating out. The trick is finding a gluten-free enchilada sauce, as most use wheat as a thickener. It is very easy to make your own enchilada sauce if you can’t find a commercial Our grocery stores sell “La Victoria” brand, which has a good taste and is gluten-free and dairy-free.

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, and top 8 allergen free recipe.

These are really easy, and (if you have premade enchilada sauce) should get you from chopping to table in under 45 minutes, and should cost less than $10 for the meal, too. Just pop in a roasted vegetable next to the enchiladas in the oven, and you’re good to go!

Ingredients:

• Splash cooking oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/3 lb ground beef (approximately)
• 2 14oz cans black beans, or 1 28oz can, drained
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• pinch kosher or sea salt
• 2 cans or 3 cups homemade enchilada sauce (double check ingredients!)
• 15 or so corn tortillas

Method:
Preheat the oven to 400F and lightly oil a 9×13 pan.

Warm oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and begin to sauté.

When the onion & garlic start to soften, add the ground beef. Stir, browning the beef. Add spices so that the flavors will meld while cooking.

While the beef is browning, warm the tortillas. Wrap the stack of tortillas in a slightly damp tea towel or paper towel, then microwave for 30 seconds. Flip the stack over, and repeat. Check to see if they are warm and softened. You may need to microwave them a little longer because microwaves vary.

Drain the fat from the beef mixture, then add the drained beans and stir until well combined.

Pour a little enchilada sauce into the 9×13 pan, enough to lightly cover the bottom. Hold a tortilla across your palm, and spoon in a couple tablespoons worth of the beef/bean mixture. Roll the sides over (they fold over just like your fingers and thumb do when making a fist), and place in the pan seam-side-down. Repeat until you are out of filling, tortillas, or space in the pan!

Pour enchilada sauce generously over the enchiladas - you want them to end up deliciously moist. Cover with foil and pop in the oven for 25 minutes. If you slide in a quick roasted vegetable next to it, dinner will all be ready at once!

Serve as is or with guacamole, olives, or chips & salsa. Yum! A great tex-mex dinner without the hassle!

In our ongoing search for wonderful one-skillet meals, we decided to try a more Tex-Mex flavor rather than our usual Cajun red beans and rice variations. This got a big thumbs up from all of the taste-testers here, as well as some very intrigued onlookers as our taste-testers were eating their leftovers for lunch.This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, corn free, top 8 allergen free, and South Beach phase 2 safe recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 TBS cooking oil (canola or olive) 
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 1 1/2 lb boneless chicken, diced (approximately). We like chicken thighs, but it works with chicken breasts, too.
• 1 1/2 cups rice (basmati cooks quickly, but you can use any type)
• 1 28oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 28oz can black beans, or 2 14oz cans black beans
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 pinches kosher or sea salt
• a couple grinds of pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 cups water

Method:Warm a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until they begin to soften.Add chicken and spices to the onion and garlic, and cook stirring frequently until chicken is browned.Mix rice, beans, tomatoes, and water into the skillet. Mix well, and keep stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.Turn down the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet. Let simmer for 20 minutes, test rice for doneness, and serve with a side of steamed vegetables or a salad. Yum!

This recipe is based on a similar oven-baked casserole. The original is wonderful. But if you are short on time, it is lovely to have a delicious, warm dinner ready in about 30 minutes!

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, corn free, and top 8 allergen free recipe.

Ingredients:

• Splash canola or other cooking oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced/pressed
• 1 1/3 lb raw Italian sausages, sliced
• 1 1/2 cup basmati or jasmine rice
• 1 can corn (omit if you cannot tolerate corn)
• 2 15oz can(s) black beans (drained)
• 2 cups water
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes (or petite diced)
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp cayenne
• 2 pinches kosher or sea salt

Method
In a large soup pot, warm enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Sauté until they become tender.

Add sausage slices, and continue to cook, stirring frequently. Continue cooking until they become browned.

Pour rice into the pot, stirring so the rice absorbs some of the flavors from the sausages and onion/garlic.

Add all other ingredients, stirring. Turn heat up to a boil, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t burn on the bottom.

When it boils, turn heat down to low, and cover. Set timer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally while it is cooking.

Serve on plates or in bowls with some steamed veggies or a salad.

Sometimes money is tight for everyone, and if you are following a gluten-free or allergy-safe diet, food can get really expensive! This is especially true if you end up buying prepared foods, but it’s also true for others who cook every meal. I take joy in the canned products we can eat - beans, water chestnuts, tomatoes, etc. A few little shortcuts make meals a lot easier. This is my kick-off recipe in my “Under $10″ category. Yummy, quick, and not expensive. Enjoy!

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, and South Beach friendly recipe (without the rice).

This is one of my favorite “Under $10 for 5 people” meals. This is a big hit here, especially the rice. My youngest daughter calls the bean sprouts noodles!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 lb beef. Don’t buy “Stir Fry Beef”, buy a lean, boneless cut (London Broil works well) and slice it yourself.
• 1 medium sized onion, diced
• 1 knuckle sized piece of ginger, skin removed and minced or grated
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• splash canola (or other cooking oil)
• 2 cans pre-sliced water-chestnuts
• 1 large can bean sprouts
• 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets
• GF soy sauce (La Choy, Braggs Amino Acids, or Wheat-Free Tamari work well)
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine or other rice

Method

Slice the beef into thin strips (1/8 - 1/4 inch) about 2 inches long. Set aside.

Start cooking the rice, according to package directions.

Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, and ginger, and sauté until tender.

Add beef, and stir quickly. OXO Good Grips Tongs are a great way to move the food around easily.

When the meat starts to brown, add the broccoli. Shake some soy sauce over the meat and veggies (just enough to add flavor, people can always add more at the table).

When the broccoli starts to turn dark green, add the drained water chestnuts and drained bean sprouts.

Quickly stir it all together, until it is all hot. Bring to the table with rice and extra soy sauce. Yum!

Follow the “Read More” for the money breakdown - (more…)

I feel like I’ve been making marinara almost my whole life (my grandmother’s family is from Sicily). I’ve changed it a bit as I’ve grown older and changed myself. At this stage in my life I’ve tried to make it as easy as possible, while still retaining good flavor. I play somewhat fast and loose with seasonings, so be sure to taste test along the way! This amount makes enough to feed a family of 5 with some left over. It’s easy to half or double as needed.

This is a delicious gfcf, gluten free, family-friendly recipe! It is also (if you double check ingredients!) a wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, corn free, top 8 allergen free, vegan, vegetarian, and South Beach safe recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 28oz cans crushed tomatoes, or 1 crushed, one petite diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2+ tsp basil
• 2+ tsp oregano
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 shake red pepper flakes
• 2 pinches Kosher or Sea salt
• a few grinds pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• splash white wine

Method:
Warm the olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Sauté the onion and garlic, watching that the garlic doesn’t brown or burn. Sprinkle the spices over the onion and garlic, stirring them together. (Dried herbs will intensify their flavor if warmed like this)

Add a splash of wine, and after the wine has sizzled, add the 2 cans of tomatoes. Add salt and pepper and a bay leaf. (The wine is, of course, optional. However, flavors can be carried by fat (oil), water, acid (tomatoes), and alcohol. My best sauces are always the ones with a splash of wine.)

Turn the heat up to High, and stir occasionally, waiting for the sauce to come to a boil. When it boils, turn it down to low or medium-low, allowing it to simmer.

Let the sauce simmer for at least an hour to let the flavors develop.

Make some polenta or pasta (we like Tinkyada Spaghetti), and serve with a nice salad for a delicious dinner!

If you have leftover sauce, it freezes very well! I will sometimes make a double batch just to have some in the freezer for a quick and easy meal later.

Variations:

• Pizza Sauce: Add about 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes with the other spices. Let boil a few minutes longer to reduce (concentrate) the sauce. If you cook off some of the extra liquid, it won’t make the pizza crust. Another option is to use 1 can petite diced tomatoes, drained, in addition to the 1 can crushed tomatoes - then there is less liquid in the sauce.
• Vegetable Sauce (or, not-quite-rattatouille): peel and dice 1 small eggplant, slice a handful of mushrooms, and dice a summer squash and a zucchini. Add the vegetables after the onion and garlic have started to soften. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have started to soften. Return to the above directions, starting with adding the wine.
• Meat Sauce: After the onions start to soften, add 1.5 lbs ground meat. Cook until meat is browned, then follow other steps.
• Sauce with Sausages: Before you begin cooking, cut 1.5 lbs uncooked Italian sausages into circles. (Choose sweet or hot sausage as desired) Add sausages after onions begin to soften. Stir and cook until browned, then follow the other steps.