Dreamy Cilantro Sauce

Cilantro.  Coriander.  Chinese Parsley.  Call it what you want, I call it divine!  Full of flavor and nutrients, cilantro can brighten any dish. 

Mix it with your favorite creamy (gluten free) substance, mayonnaise, yogurt, cream cheese or ranch dip and you have a dipping sauce that is great on chips, tacos, salmon patties... you name it!

7/21/12 Revision: I forgot to mention the lime juice that makes this sauce so bright.  Roll the lime against the counter top a few times to release the juice.

Wild and (Gluten) Free Salmon Patties

Before going gluten free, a weeknight family go-to meal was baked salmon patties.  I would mix the salmon with bread slices and mayo then coat in panko bread crumbs before baking.  Surprisingly, everyone in the family loved them! 

I have not been able to reproduce them gluten free and still make them tasty... until now! 

I have fallen love with Gluten Free Houston's Sourdough Millet bread.  It toasts up nicely and has such a great texture.  I've been saving the ends of the loaf in my freezer, not wanting to waste a crumb.  I now realize what I was saving them for!

If you do not have access to Gluten Free Houston's products, use your favorite gluten free bread that tastes good toasted.

Wild and Free Salmon Patties

6 cans wild caught salmon (I buy at Costco)
2 medium baked potatoes
1 cup mayonnaise
2-3 tbs dill
1 cup gluten free bread crumbs
1 cup unsweetened coconut
garlic powder and/or italian seasoning to taste
butter

1.  Bake then cut potatoes into small cubes, 1/2 inch or smaller, including the skins.  This is easier to do if the potatoes are cooled or chilled.

2.  Process bread in a food processor or Vitamix until it makes a fine bread crumb.

2.  Drain salmon and place in large mixing bowl with potatoes, dill, and mayonnaise.

3. Mix bread crumbs, coconut and seasoning on wax paper.

4.  Scoop the salmon mixture and shape into a patty.  I like to use a large ice cream scoop with a release lever.

5.  Press into the bread crumb and coconut mixture.  Be sure to coat the sides of the patty with crumbs also.

6.  As you shape the patties, melt about 1 tbs of butter in a large skillet at medium heat.  Add patties and cook at medium heat.  Do not flip the patties until the first side is well browned and crunchy.  Once brown, flip and continue to cook the second side.


Serve with Dreamy Cilantro Sauce!

This recipe will make about eight hamburger sized patties.  They save nicely for left overs too!

Ready to Thai One On

Since wheat is not traditionally grown in Thailand, most Thai dishes are naturally gluten free.  This has made Thai food my new comfort food. 

Although all the ingredients in this salad are not classic Thai, this salad is my new summer time favorite!

Dressing: 12 ozs coconut milk (a little less than a can) 1 tbsp fish sauce 1/4 cup lime juice 1 lime zest 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp pepper 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 1/2 tsp salt Salad Fixin's: Chopped Romaine Lettuce Sliced strawberries Grilled chicken (sliced thin) Avocado Chopped Cilantro Fresh Parmesean Cheese

The Beatles, Maureen O'Sullivan and the Gluten Dude

When The Beatles were in India, one of their ashram mates was Prudence Farrow, sister to Mia and daughter of one of my favorite actresses, Maureen O'Sullivan.  Apparently Prudence took the whole 'get-closer-to-God' thing a little more to heart than the Fab Four.  She would spend all day meditating in isolation trying to transcend her earthly reality.  John Lennon wrote the song "Dear Prudence" to encourage her to socialize more with the group.

What in the WORLD does this have to do with being gluten free?

Hold on tight--my stream of consciousness can be like a whitewater run.

My favorite celiac blogger, the Gluten Dude, had a bad experience at PF Chang's.  He blogged about it and PF's sent him a gift card to, I don't know; make getting glutened more cost effective?  At any rate, the dude went altruistic with the peace offering and is giving the card away.  To be entered in his drawing, all you have to do is write a letter to "Dear Gluten". 

Introspection is a good thing, but the reality of living with Celiac Disease is isolating enough.  In order to transcend the experience, we have to pull together.  Like John Lennon coaxing Prudence from her room, the Gluten Dude asks other celiacs to come out and play. With acerbic wit, candor and a touch of rebellion, he's sharing his journey.  He's enticing the celiac community to do the same. 

Still wondering how The Beatles, Maureen O'Sullivan and the Gluten Dude ended up in the same stream of thought?

Simple.

'Dear Gluten' sounded too much like 'Dear Prudence' in my head.  It just spiraled out of control from there...



Dear Gluten (Sung to the tune of Dear Prudence)

Dear Gluten, won’t you get out my way?

Dear Gluten, out of my life you’ll stay
I’ve wizened up, I’m through with you
Barley, Malt and Rye grains too
Dear Gluten, won’t you get out my way?

Dear Gluten, I finally realized

Dear Gluten, fog lifted from my eyes
My rash is gone, my joints now spring
You muddled up most everything
Dear Gluten, I finally realized

Doctors give run a round

(Round, round, round, round ,round
Round, round, round, round, round)

AhhhhAhhhAhhhAhhh

Dear Gluten, you’re going in the trash pile

Dear Gluten, by you I’m not beguiled
My energy I will regain
So in my house you can’t remain
Dear Gluten, you’re going into the trash pile

Dear Gluten, out of my life you’ll stay

Dear Gluten it’s a brand new way
I’ve wizened up, I’m through with you
Barley, Malt and Rye grains too
Dear Gluten, won’t you get out my way?