These are the ramblings of a self-described wheat, grain and gluten-free “gourmet girl” that loves to cook and eat good food. I love creating and sharing recipes and photographing “beautiful food”. In July 2012, I eliminated wheat, grains and added sugar from my diet and rediscovered real, whole fresh foods again and effortlessly lost 65+ pounds. Join me in my wheat, grain and gluten-free journey. See how easy it is to enjoy grain free gourmet, one meal at a time! Welcome to my blog. Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Slow Cooker Pot Roast, Cheddar Cauliflower Mash...and Chocolate Chip Cookies w/ Toasted Walnuts & Ricotta
We finally saw the sunshine today and it was such a welcome sight! This evening I was in the mood to bake chocolate chip cookies...so I made a batch of my Chocolate Chip Cookies w/ Toasted Walnuts & Ricotta since I didn't have much to do to prepare dinner since our dinner was cooked in the crock pot. I put a small pot roast in the crock pot when I came home at lunch time today, along with some onions, mushrooms and carrots -- I added some red wine (Pinot Noir), Celtic salt, Chipotle Chile Powder, fresh parsley and covered it to cook all afternoon. I served it alongside Cheddar Cauliflower Mash. It was really nice to come home to dinner already cooked (except for the cauliflower). Below are a couple pictures of our dinner as well as the delicious cookies I made. The recipe for the cookies is embedded in the link above. Photographed alongside the cookies, check out the beautiful flowers my youngest son sent me at work today to get an early start on Mother's Day! Thank you so much my grown up "baby boy" -- they are absolutely beautiful!!! Without question, the greatest gifts in my life are my 3 children and I love them more than words could ever say. Being a Mom is the single most important job I have ever had or will ever have and I hope you all know how proud I am of each and every one of you. Check out the pictures below. Enjoy!
You are getting really good with that camera. The lighting is much better in these. Which is understandable, because it's easier to photograph outside in the nice light in the summertime!
ReplyDeleteI still haven't tried that cheddar cauli mash, or these cookies, but dang! You make it all seem so easy, I'm crazy for not getting to it sooner.
Thanks so much Natasha! It is so much easier taking pictures outside with natural light. You know that I use a "point & shoot" camera...not a nice professional camera like yours -- maybe some day! :-) Because I want to be able to get quick photos (as in I actually eat this food and don't just "stage it")...I keep looking for a better point and shoot than my Nikon -- I keep looking at the Sony RX-100 -- but not really sure if it's worth $650 for a point and shoot. One day I will take some photography classes so I can learn to take better pictures with a "real camera". I've actually checked out some of your photos -- they are awesome! I love the picture you took of chocolate covered strawberries -- it's one of my favorites! The cauliflower mash is really good -- and the cookies are good too -- some day you should try them out! Thanks for the kind comments about my pictures this evening -- I find myself rushing around trying to get dinner ready quickly so I can take a picture while there is still beautiful daylight! LOL
ReplyDeleteDear GG,
ReplyDeleteYour Photos are so incredible, that many times I forward them to m husband, he and I think that you do not need to "improve " anything, GG. They are incredible and I enjoy them every day! What other food-site (excuse the name) offers what yours has. I have never found one as wonderful as yours. A feast for the eyes. What is there to improve ? Absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must say that the bouquet of flowers is gorgeous, sure would love to have it in my house. Your garden must be breathtakingly beautiful.
You know GG I have lived in 5 different countries but I have never been to Georgia! I just can not tolerate heat unfortunately.
I made the *bagels* last night and followed your recipe exactly. My dough was too runny due to the very large eggs I used, so I added a little of and a little of that and they turned out beautifully. Thank you GG so much. you are a delight!
Barbara from California.
Thank you so much for the kind words Barbara -- I am not really sure why, but they made me a bit teary (I can be that way sometimes). Wow, I can't even imagine living in 5 different countries and adapting to the different cultures, languages, etc. So glad you were able to adjust the wet dough and still have the "bagels" turn out. I buy large eggs (at least that is what they are called on the package)...but many times, they seem smaller than that to me. I know what you mean about the heat though -- Georgia can get pretty hot in the spring and summer, even into early fall. I think it is the humidity here too that makes it uncomfortable with the heat. Strangely, we have had cooler than normal temps so far this spring, but today we got up to 82...so the hot weather is right around the corner! I am so glad you enjoy my blog and pictures and thank you so much for your kind words...and I want you to know that I think YOU are a delight as well! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi GGC,
ReplyDeleteI thought you must *certainly* be a professional food stylist and photographer. If you're not, then you're a "natural" ... as well as being a natural-born Gourmet Girl Cook! Thanks again for your beautiful and inspiring blog. :-)
Wow...thanks so much CyberSis! Trust me...I am an amateur that just happens to love cooking and taking pictures! And, the fact that I have been able to create and eat all this delicious food...lose weight and achieve better health makes me want to help others see that it really can be done. I enjoy sharing my recipes with others, hoping that it may help inspire someone or simply let them see that removing wheat and grains does not mean a life of dull and boring food -- as a matter of fact, quite the opposite. "Real food" is beautiful and delicious! I am happy that my blog inspires and sometimes helps others -- it's also a way to share my love of cooking with others. Thanks for all of your kind words, too, CyberSis! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if you started your slow cooker at lunchtime because of the newer models cooking faster? I don't know what I would do without the "keep warm" setting on mine. The flowers are so pretty~lucky you! Happy Mother's Day to you, and know that all of your readers appreciate your efforts!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Darlene! Honestly, the reason I started my slow cooker at lunch time was I forgot to get it started before I left that morning and I knew my pot roast was small (only 2 lbs) and the shape was more flat (about 2 or so inches thick)and that it wouldn't take as long to cook. I cooked it almost 8 hours on low and it was done. I couldn't have done that with a larger roast. I love using a slow cooker though -- it is so convenient. Thanks for the kind words! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have tried a few of your recipes and have been so happy with them! I absolutely love the cheddar biscuits. I have known about WB for quite some time as I previously worked with Dr. Davis in Milwaukee but never really jumped in to wheat belly. After finally realizing I have a wheat intolerance, I have eliminated it from my diet. I'd like to try your cookie recipe but am wondering if I can use regular sugar instead of "sweeteners" I am not quite sold on using sweeteners in place of sugar.
ReplyDeleteHi gogetter -- Thanks for the kind remarks. If it is your preference to use regular sugar in place of the granular sweetener in the cookie recipe, then yes, it should work just fine. Let me know how they turn out if you try them! :-)
ReplyDelete