Food Challenges

Welcome to Food Challenges!

Welcome to Food Challenges, a site specializing in creative food preparation for people with Gluten Sensitivity Syndrome, Celiac Disease, gluten/wheat intolerance and other food sensitivities.

Feel free to search the many sections of my site. They are full of recipes, articles and information you may find helpful!

I have just added a new gluten free gingerbread recipe that will be a huge hit with all our little ones over the holidays.

I’m also building what I hope will be a valuable resource for people living in or visiting Ontario, Canada. It’s a Facebook page dedicated to identifying gluten free businesses and products here in Ontario. I’m looking for people throughout the province to send me the name of restaurants, bakeries, candy stores, hotels, markets or anything else that will help all of us living a gluten free lifestyle. I’ll post the information and create data bases that are easy to access. Please drop by and leave some information or a comment!

Ontario Gluten Free Resources

Holiday Season Recipes

The holidays are quickly approaching! It’s a wonderful time to gather with family and friends to celebrate life together and observe a variety of rituals and traditions. Of course when people come together, invariably there are food offerings. I’m going to attach links to some recipes here on the site that might be of interest as you plan your meals and parties. If you’re going to a party or dinner, why not take a hostess gift that includes gluten free foods that are safe for you to eat? I know my family and friends appreciate the specialty items I bring to celebrations.

Appetizers:

1. Cheese Crisp Horsd’oeuvres
2. Hot Crab Dip
3. Smoked Salmon Devilled Eggs
4. Potato Popovers

Main Course:

1. The Turducken - the turkey and dressing layered with duck and chicken
2. Beef Wellington -  a variation of the classic created to deal with GF pastry
3. Crown Roast of Lamb - crown roast of lamb stuffed with wild rice dressing
4. Tortiere Medallions – a variation on the classic French Canadian savoury pie without the crust
5. Turporko - a turkey breast stuffed with tortiere meat wrapped in proscuitto
6. Prosciutto Chicken Breasts - chicken breasts stuffed with pesto and wrapped in prosciutto
7. Osso Buco - braised veal shanks
8. Lamb Shanks - Mediterranean style braised lamb shanks

Sweet Treats:

1. Shortbread Cookies
2. Decadent Chocolate Torte
3. Mini Pumpkin Cheese Cakes
4. Cherry Chocolate Mousse Cake
5. Blueberry Ginger Bars
6. Sugar Plums
7. Black Forest Sugar Plums
8. Gingerbread

Traditions:

1. Roasted Chestnuts
2. Tackling the Sweet Tooth

Please feel free to drop by from time to time as I will be adding more recipes! Happy Holidays!

Steak Roll

My 90 year old mother, who makes her home with my husband and I, was going through her recipe box the other day and came across this old favourite. The original recipe called for round steak to be braised in one cup of wine for 90 minutes. I wanted to speed up the process, so I opted to use top sirloin steak. Instead of using raw onions and mushrooms, I sauteed them to help with the cooking process. I also added a bit of cognac to the cooking liquid and changed the cooking time to 40 minutes. The results were delicious and we all agreed it was a main meal dish that we would certainly do again. Thanks Mom! Continue Reading…