This is the most delicious pasta bake to make with the fresh squash and pumpkin in season right now.  I love buttercup, turban, acorn, pie pumpkins. All will work perfectly for this recipe.  I slice them in half, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, and bake them face-down on a tray at 375 until softened.  I've previously posted a couple easy ways to make homemade pumpkin/squash puree, pumpkin seeds, and links to my pumpkin/squash recipes.  Cool a bit, then scoop out the seeds (those are compost/trash).  Then scoop out all that lovely cooked squash/pumpkin to use in pumpkin recipes of your choice!   This is a lovely vegetable-filled pumpkin pasta bake.  Friends and family have loved it.  Enjoy! 

Fresh pumpkin pasta bake, ready to eat!

Yum!!! Cheesy and full of vegetables. 

A-maz-ing Pumpkin Pasta Bake

Preheat oven to 375 F.  

Noodles:

(I boil the water and cook the noodles while I'm making the sauce)

Prepare noodles while you're cooking the sauce.  Cook most of the way in slightly salted water (1-2 minutes less boiling time since they will bake in the oven): 

400 g GF fusilli pasta OR preferred shape

Drain and rinse noodles, setting aside until needed.  

Sauce:

Sauté over medium heat ~5-7 minutes: 

1 Tbsp olive oil (plain or chipotle-infused olive oil)

2-3 Tbsp butter

1 onion, diced

2-3 cups zucchini, cut into large bite-sized chunks

3/4 tsp freeze-dried thyme OR 2 tsp fresh, minced thyme

3/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

3/4 tsp ground pepper

1 tsp salt

Add, stir and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant: 

3 cloves garlic, minced

2-3 green onions, sliced

Don't be confused by the lack of green edges on this zucchini.  The zucchini my friend gave us was enormous, so the skin was thick. I just sliced off the skin and diced the zucchini.  

Add: 

2 cups chicken stock/broth OR 2 cups water + 2 tsp chicken bouillon or Asian mushroom seasoning

1 - 1 1/2 cup fresh cooked pie pumpkin or squash (buttercup, acorn, etc) OR canned 100% pumpkin

Simmering vegetables, plus cooking pasta on the next burner.  

Simmer ~10 minutes.  Mix together in a small bowl, and add into the pot to thicken: 

1/2 cup milk or 10% cream

2 Tbsp cornstarch

Thickened and ready for spinach and cheese. 

After thickening the sauce, remove from heat.  Stir in: 

1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach OR 2 cups fresh spinach, diced

1 cup mozzarella, grated

1/2 cup fresh parmesan, grated

Diced frozen spinach, mozzarella and parmesan. Yum!

Ready to mix with the cooked pasta. 

Stir in cooked noodles, from above.   Put into a 9" x 13" glass baking dish (or fold them together IN the 9 x 13 pan).  Divide among the top: 

1/2 - 2/3 cup ricotta

Ricotta divided across the pasta bake. 

Sprinkle with: 

1/2 cup fresh parmesan, grated

Sprinkled with parmesan, ready to bake!

Bake for ~20 minutes at 375F.  Serve and enjoy!!! 

You can cook it until it's just barely browning on the top, or give a few extra minutes if you'd like a more crispy cheesy top.  Either way is delicious. 

A-maz-ing Pumpkin Pasta Bake Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!

Strawberry Vanilla Pound Cake (Blueberries/Raspberries work, too!)

 This yummy gluten-free berry vanilla pound cake recipe is less sweet and heavy, perfect for what I was hoping to create - something that could be a snack for my teenage son.  Freeze-dried berries make this something that can be whipped up without worrying about having fresh berries on hand, or adding the extra baking time using frozen berries.    If you want a dairy-free version, you can use dairy-free substitutes for the butter and sour cream.  A dairy-free yogurt will work in place of the sour cream as well.  

Tasty GF pound cake, we can never wait until it actually cools to taste-test. 

Pound cakes can be made in mini loaf pans, or in an 8 x 8 pan. 

Strawberry Vanilla Pound Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Line 4 mini loaf pans or one 8" x 8" pan with parchment paper. 

In a large bowl or mixer, combine: 

3/4 cup butter

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract, but the bean paste really makes the vanilla flavor in this pound cake)

Add and mix in until combined: 

1 1/4 cup Kristin's Gluten-Free Flour Mix

1/4 cup coconut flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Fold in: 

3/4 cup crushed freeze-dried berries (strawberry, or mix of strawberry, blueberry and/or raspberry)

Spread into prepared mini pans or 8" x 8" pan.  Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes.  (I find it works the same for mini loaves or larger 8" x 8" in terms of time.) 

Spread in a lined 8 x 8 pan, then after baking! Yum! 

Rest a few minutes, then remove from pan onto wire rack to cool.  Slice and serve!  I love it served warm. 

Enjoy! 

Strawberry Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!

Pho-inspired Chicken Noodle Soup (Faux Chicken Pho)

 My family love getting GF Pho and other yummy dishes at Vietnamese restaurants.  Quite often, they have several GF options for us, which is great.  I think you'll love the flavors and the ease of whipping together something like this Pho-inspired chicken soup.  Once the garlic starts to simmer, it smells delicious! Enjoy!

A bowl of Pho-inspired Chicken Noodle Soup, garnished with fresh green onions

Pho-Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup

Over medium to medium-high heat, sauté 5-7 minutes: 

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp oil

2 large carrots, thinly sliced

1/2 large onion, sliced into thin strips

dash salt & pepper

Add: 

8 cups chicken broth (If I don't have fresh chicken broth/stock, I'll use water plus GF chicken boullion paste or water plus Asian mushroom seasoning) 

5 slices fresh ginger

1/2 - 1 tsp dried red chili flakes

2 Tbsp oyster sauce (or fish sauce)

Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower heat and simmer ~15 minutes.  

Soup simmering, almost ready to add the cooked chicken.

Add and cook another 5 minutes: 

1 cup cooked chicken, shredded

While your soup is simmering, cook and drain in cold water, then toss with 1-2 Tbsp oil to keep from sticking: 

GF ramen noodles or GF rice vermicelli noodles or pho noodles

GF ramen noodles - I can regularly find them at Costco, but any GF ramen or thin rice noodle of your choice will work. 

To serve: 

Place your GF noodles in a bowl.  Spoon broth over your noodles (you can remove the ginger slices - or just don't serve them).  Garnish with: 

green onions, sliced

fresh mint leaves, optional

fresh thai basil, optional

fresh bean sprouts, optional

Pho Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free! 

I've been making this yummy pumpkin chocolate chip snack bars for years, but I kept forgetting to actually take a picture before they were eaten!  These freeze really well and we often use them for school snacks, which is why I was mixing up another batch of them.   I really like the taste of coconut, oats, and puffed rice added to the bars.  Yum! Enjoy! 

A bite out of a piece from a fresh batch of pumpkin chocolate chip snack bars!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Snack Bars

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line one large or two smaller metal cookie sheets with parchment paper. (I prefer the smaller sizes - officially called a 1/4 size baking tray (they measure 8" x 12" at the largest).  

In a large bowl mix together: 

2 1/2 cup whole oats (make sure they're gluten-free if Celiac or sensitive)

1 1/2 cup Kristin's Gluten-Free Flour Mix

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

In a mixer (or you can just mix together by hand, using the back of your spoon to smooth out the batter), combine: 

2 cups pumpkin puree (homemade puree or canned) (If your canned pumpkin is on the thicker side, add 1/4 cup sour cream or 1/4 cup milk to your batter, and it will help balance it out)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar (OR 1/2 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup 100% date paste)

2 eggs

1 Tbsp molasses (OR extra 1 Tbsp date paste or Agave nectar if you don't like the molasses flavor)

2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.  

Add and mix in: 

1 cup unsweetened puffed cereal of your choice OR rice krispie type cereal

1/2 - 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Batter spread into the pan(s) with the back of a spoon or using the back of spatula.

Spread into a large normal cookie sheet or TWO 8"x 12" (1/4 sized) cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes until nicely browned.  Remove to a wire rack.  

Fresh from the oven, ready to slice. 

Slice while warm.  Let cool.  They freeze really well.  The slices hold together perfectly to take for quick breakfasts or snacks.  Enjoy! 

Sliced while warm - this will make for nice, clean slices to store later. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Snack Bars Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free! 

 These tasty gluten-free blueberry pie bars were inspired by a recipe in the NY Times.  However, their recipe used ready-made cookies, and I've created a delicious crumbly crust and topping that make it a yummy blend of blueberry pie and blueberry crisp/crumble.  Yum!  Enjoy! 

A lovely, delicious slice of blueberry crumble pie bar

Fresh from the oven. Yum!

Blueberry Crumble Pie Bars

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Have a 9 x 13 glass pan ready. 

Mix together in a large bowl: 

1 1/2 cup Kristin's Gluten-Free Flour Mix

1/4 tsp xanthan gum

1 cup GF whole oats

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Add and chop in with a pastry cutter until butter is in small pieces (but make sure it stays crumbly and doesn't mush): 

2/3 cup butter, chilled (not softened)

Gently press into 9 x 13 pan 2/3 of the crust mixture. 

2/3 of crust gently pressed into the pan. 

In a mixer or large bowl, beat together: 

8 oz cream cheese, softened (lactose-free cream cheese or dairy-free cream cheese substitute will work well)

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

Gently spread/pour the cream cheese mixture onto the crust.  

In a large bowl, toss together, then spread on top of cream cheese mixture: 

4 cups wild blueberries (wild blueberries are tiny, flavorful blueberries and naturally sweet)

1 Tbsp cornstarch

pinch salt

Blueberries sprinkled over the cream cheese layer, ready for topping. 

Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 of crumble crust over your blueberries.  Bake your blueberry pie bars at 350 F for 40 minutes, or until browned a nice light golden brown.  

Topped with the remaining 1/3 crumble mixture. Ready to bake!

Fresh from the oven! Nicely browned, but not too dark. 

Remove to a wire rack to cool.  You can serve these warm, or let them cool before serving.  Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for a few days.  Enjoy! 

Yum!

Blueberry Crumble Pie Bars Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free! 

 I really wanted something easy, but to compliment homemade enchiladas.  Cinnamon-sugar donuts were calling my name, but I wasn't in the mood to fry anything.  This cinnamon-infused flan made with brown sugar was just perfect!  I discovered a slightly faster method to whip it together using a microwave vs stovetop, like I use for my regular vanilla flan or pumpkin flan.  Enjoy! 

A yummy slice of cinnamon & brown sugar gluten-free flan, ready to eat! 

Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Flan

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter 8 x 8 glass pan.  

In a large microwave safe cup heat just until bubbling at the edges (I heated 3 minutes): 

2 1/2 - 2 3/4 cup 10% cream (or 2 cups milk & 3/4 cup 10% cream for a lighter flan)

1 Tbsp brown sugar

Whisk together in a bowl: 

4 eggs

1/2 cup brown sugar

Add and whisk into the bowl: 

1/2 cup Kristin's Gluten-Free Flour Mix

1/2 - 1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Slowly add, whisking regularly, to avoid scrambling the eggs: 

hot milk/cream from above

Pour into prepared pan.  Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes.  Lower heat to 300 F and cook an additional 30-40 minutes.  It should puff up during baking.  

Flan, fresh from the oven. You can see how it puffs up a bit.

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.  I prefer to let cool a full hour for really nice, clean slices, but we rarely last that long before digging in.  It still slices pretty neatly even if cut while hot.  Enjoy!!!! 

A side view after baking.  I liked the darker, speckled look from the cinnamon and brown sugar. Yum!

Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Flan Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!

 I spent a good portion of my childhood being very unhappy every time we had Sloppy Joe's for dinner.  Back then, the meat was cooked with a packet of spices and always incredibly salty.  It would be served on store bought rolls that always seem to fall apart under the weight of the soupy meat mixture.  However, when my dad decided to try the Pioneer Woman's recipe, we actually enjoyed it!  I've tweaked it a little bit and to make it just how I like it, and one of my kids requested it as their birthday dinner this year, so I'd say it's come a long way from the unpleasant stuff of my childhood.  Enjoy! 

My dad serving up sloppy joe's! He served it with a side of zucchini, chips, and a piece of one of our favorite family brownies, with a few mint chips thrown in. Yum!

Sloppy Joe's

Based on a recipe by Ree Drummond. Serves 8-12 

In a large deep skillet over medium heat melt: 

2 Tbsp butter

Add and cook until meat is fully browned (once cooked, you can drain it if needed, but I usually don't): 

2 lb ground beef (I prefer lean or extra lean)

Add, cooking a few minutes: 

1 large onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

5-6 cloves garlic, minced

Add the following: 

14 oz can tomato sauce + add 1/4 - 1/3 cup water used to rinse out the can

1 cup ketchup

2-3 tsp Worchestershire sauce

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp dry mustard powder

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt

Let the whole mixture come to a boil, then lower heat to simmer, uncovered for about 15 minutes.   You can taste it at this point and add an extra dash of Worchestershire sauce or salt & pepper, if needed.  

Serve the meat on top of homemade gluten-free rolls.  My versatile dinner rolls are a nice option.  We've also enjoyed it with my soft, buttery dinner rolls and my quick and delicious hamburger buns in a mixer recipes. 

Delicious with some favorite brownies for dessert! 

Sloppy Joe's Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!