Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Curried Bean Soup

Got this recipe from my mother-in-law many years ago - she is in her nineties now.  This is an easy soup to make and very satisfying - great for a cool fall day.
I use dried beans that I soak and cook myself but you can substitute with canned beans - just make sure you add the liquid from the canned.  Oh yes, almost forgot- this recipe is gluten free.


Curried Bean Soup
1 pound dried kidney or chili beans (probably 2 cans of store bought beans)
12 cups liquid - use the liquid from the canned or home cooked beans plus water to make 12 cups
1 cup onion, diced
2 tablespoons bacon drippings or butter or oil
3 tablespoons sweet rice flour, rice flour or wheat flour if you can eat wheat
3 tablespoons curry powder
1 cup cooked rice - or just add 1/2 cup dry rice to the soup - I use brown rice.
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 teaspoons salt
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup ham , chopped (or smoked sausage or bacon)
If using dry beans, soak overnight, drain in the morning and cover with water.  Cook until soft.
Fry onion in bacon drippings in bottom of large pot.
Add flour and stir.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 30-60 minutes until rice is soft.
This is a pretty forgiving recipe.  You can add more rice and beans if you like a thicker soup.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Chocolate Chip Cookies - you'd never guess they were gluten free, egg and dairy free!




These cookies are so good you will find that everyone wants at least two or three!

Chocolate Chip Cookies   
1 cup chickpea flour
1 cup tapioca flour
1 cup potato or corn starch
3/4 cup white rice flour (fine Asian style)
1/4 cup sweet rice flour
2 tablespoons guar gum
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup cooking oil or shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup Rogers Syrup , corn syrup or honey
4 tablespoons flax meal
6 tablespoons water
1/2 tsp pysillium husk
2 tsp vanilla extract
16 ounces chocolate chips ( use dairy free substitute if you have to)
Cream together oil and sugars - do not over mix.
Mix the flax meal with the water in small dish - let sit a minute or two
Whisk the dry ingredients together.  Mix everything together.  Form into 1" balls and place on greased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan.