Gluten-Free Butternut Squash Gnocchi

I have found a quiet moment to share. Chris (DH) is picking up some routine groceries. The girls, now 3 and 1.8 are falling asleep(???). Actually, moments ago Addisyn finished yelling "fie-wok, fie-wok" and Rylyn crying because someone is lighting fireworks in the neighbourhood. They clearly have confused the January thaw for the first of July.

I tried a new recipe tonight. I had a butternut squash left over from my "Good Food Box" from December. While I will eat butternut squash, I am not a huge fan of the texture and am the only one who will tolerate the texture in my family. My Gluten-Free-Recipe-Fairy from work placed a new mini-cookbook in my box after Christmas break and I found "Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Savory Herb Butter."

To be honest, trying this recipe on a school night was a dumb idea. I thought it looked so simple…it was…but it was also a lot of steps. It was like making pierogies! Fortunately, the gnocchi turned out great so I have a new and different butternut squash recipe to use when I have an extra hour and a half on my hands…ha! The lemon sauce was a little tart for the girls (and me). Next time, I may try a cheese sauce. As my husband says, everything tastes better with cheese.

"Better a bread crust shared in love

    than a slab of prime rib served in hate." -Proverbs 15:17

(by the way the gnocchi was shared in love…despite the ordeal to make it!)

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Credit to the recipe PIL Cookbook's Gluten Free Recipes, November ed.

1 butternut squash

1 cup rice flour (I used a little more to make the dough more pliable)

2.5 tsp salt (divided)

1 tsp Xantham Gum

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup butter

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp dried parsley

1 tsp rubbed sage (I used fresh)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 lemon

Parmesan cheese to taste

-Cook (cut in half, bake in a water bed at 400 degrees for 45 min) and mash squash (ricer is best). Add rice flour, 2 teaspoons salt, xantham gum, and pepper. Mix well (I used dough blades on my mixer).

-Dust cutting board with rice flour. Scoop batches of dough and hand roll into 1/2 inch ropes and cut into 1 inch pieces.

-Drop 8 to 12 gnocchi into boiling water until they float to surface. Remove gnocchi with slotted spoon; drain on paper towel.

-Combine butter, garlic, parsley, sage, thyme and 1/2 tsp of salt in skillet and heat until butter begins to brown. Add lemon juice (I squeeze the lemon through a sieve) and cook for 30 seconds. Add gnocchi and toss. Cook 2 minutes or until browned and served topped with parm.

Do you see my concern, Smuckers???

Do you see the "may contain wheat and oats" statement? A brand called Purity with packaging marked 100% Natural and No Additives. Since Jenny Maids has been taken care of, I am moving on to a bigger fish. "Hello Smuckers, my name is Kara and I am slightly relentless."

Chris picked this bag of cornmeal up, while in a hurry. He didn't read the fine print as the packaging looked safe (a good reminder not to judge a book by its cover). I have already called and emailed Smuckers to let them know their branding of cornmeal and packaging is misleading to their consumers with dietary restrictions and serious medical conditions making them a brand I will not trust when preparing foods for my family and friends. I am requesting it be made clear on the front of the package, that as a result of possible cross-contamination, this brand is NOT pure and gluten-free as its name and package suggests.

As always, there is strength in numbers and if you feel my plight is worthy please forward your concern alongside mine. All the information (concern included) is below:

The brand Purity cornmeal and its packaging that says 100% Natural, No Additives is VERY misleading to your consumers (especially those with medical dietary restrictions) as there is a may contain wheat and oat statement in fine print on the back of the package. I want Smuckers to know that misleading packaging and branding like this makes Smuckers a brand I cannot trust when it comes to serving my family and friends. Would it please be made clear on the front of the package, that as a result of possible cross-contamination, this brand is NOT pure and gluten-free as its name and package suggests?

UPC Code: 5900003970

http://www.smuckers.ca/contact-us.aspx

Gluten-Free Play Dough

Tonight's adventures included catching up with a friend over making gluten free play dough. As my daughter constantly has her hands in her mouth, and fingernails are an easy trap, I have decided play dough is an issue for us. Recently I have come into contact with more and more people that are unaware of what Celiac Disease really is. For the record, it is chronic autoimmune disorder (not an immediate life-threatening allergy), you cannot "grow" out of it and just because someone is gluten-free does not mean they have Celiac Disease. The Canadian Celiac Association says "crumbs matter" so if it is a matter of a crumb, I care.

I used the "Easiest Gluten Free Play Dough Recipe." I found the dough too sticky at first (like most gluten free doughs) and ended up microwaving it to dry out the balls. For a first attempt, I think it turned out okay even if I wasn't patient enough to fully knead in the colour. We are set with two dough balls each for church, the Early Years Centre and home!