Mamalauraskitchen

Summer Beet and Strawberry Salad with Pretty in Pink Santa Rosa Plum Dressing🌸🍓

✨️Full recipe coming soon✨️

*6-7 strawberries, washed and dried and cut into 1/4's.
*2-3 beets, washed and scrubbed
3-4 cups mixed lettuces
2-3 radishes, pink, white, or purple - very thinly sliced
2-3 green onions, whole, ends cut in thin strips
8-12 edible flowers, rinsed and dried, remove pedals off some
1 spring of thyme, leaves removed

🌸Pretty in Pink Santa Rosa Plum Dressing🌸
Makes 3/4 cup

2-3 small Santa Rosa Plums, pits removed
1 tbsp balsamic
1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon minced shallot
1/4 cup avocado oil or olive oil
3 tbsp water
Salt to taste

1. Poke beets with a knife. Wrap each in a piece of foil. Place on a baking sheet and roast in a 400-degree oven or convection oven for 28-35 minutes.
2. Remove the foil and cool. Rub the skin off with a gloved hand or a paper towel. Once the beets have cooled, cut the stem off, then slice in half lengthwise, and each half in 4- 6 wedges.
3. Place the mixed lettuces in a large bowl. Add the beets, strawberries, and radishes to the top. Add the edible flowers and the whole green onions around the edge of the bowl. Finish with torn edible pedals or flowers. Drizzle with plum dressing.
Serves 3-4

For the dressing:
Add the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Is anyone in for some creamy and silky pot de crème?

I made the chocolate cream a bit less in these glass pots of cream... with plenty of barely sweetened pillowy cream, topped with macadamia nuts and a sprinkle each of Ancho chili powder, cinnamon, and cayenne 🌶.

Together with the Molina Mexican Vanilla Reserva, and Extra Dark Baking Chips, they have all the yummy flavors

These desserts are sure to satisfy both the chocolate lover and the dessert lover. ❤️ Simple to make and Gluten free!

Recipe in my link in bio :
Mexican Chocolate Pot de Crème

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Summer Days ☀️🌻 -

A weekend of sun and good grilled food and summery fruits and veggies, outdoor movies around the fire pit, with the family. Girls night with Colbie Caillat, mini chocolate ganache tart leftovers😘, plus wild blackberry picking and fruity berry mocktails. Life is good!

Recipe now posted for these little babies - I love my mini desserts! How about you? 🫐🧀🍰

Link in bio ⏫️

🍰🍴

I know it's National Cheesecake Day today, but it's always a good day for chocolate! So why not a Decadent Salted Caramel Chocolate Ganache Tart (GF)??

We brought this one out of the archives because the flavors are just so good!

Link in my bio ⏫️ for the tart.

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Are you a chocolate lover?

A few of our favorite grilled shrimp recipes - perfect for summer grilling. ☀️🌼

#1 is a marinated shrimp with such delicious lemon, garlic, and herb flavors

#2 is also marinated and grilled. A slightly elevated. Slighty spicy marinade with paprika and crushed red peppers and spices, topped with warm apricot preserves, chopped pistachios, and crisp bacon.
The sweet and the spicy are so good together!

Check out the recipe link in my bio⏫️ for this sweet and spicy shrimp recipe.

Shrimp with Apricot, Chili, and Pistachio (Gluten Free)

Summer berries are the best, don't you think? We happen to live near and get some very fresh berries here. I love to make summer desserts with them!
Here, we have a Chocolate Roll Cake with Whipped Cream (Gluten Free). Perfect for a birthday or celebration of any kind, but also for any day of the week!

This one has a layer of chocolate ganache and a layer of remaining blueberry compote from the other days cheesecakes. Whipped cream and sliced strawberries and raspberries (that were the prettiest and largest ive seen!) for the next layer, then rolled and covered in ganache and more fresh organic berries and chopped macadamia nuts.

A favorite cake in our house, you can fill this any way you like: with your favorite ice cream flavor or whipped cream and chopped candles, or even chocolate mousse!

🍰 Recipe in the link in my bio if you're interested.

Have a great rest of your week 🍓🍫
Thank you for your support and encouragement!

These little lava cakes can be eaten warm or chilled. How do you prefer yours?

When it's hot out like it is here today, I prefer the chilled version, which is more like a chocolate torte or chocolate souffle.

Check out the recipe if your interested - https://mamalauraskitchen.com/dark-chocolate-gooey-lava-cakes-gluten-free/

Birthdays mean delicious treats will be served!
🍰🍧 Mud Pie (Gluten Free) 🍰🍧

Do you love coffee ice cream? This mud pie is so easy to make. It brings me back to when I could order this out in some of my favorite restaurants.

Your gluten eaters will not even notice this has been made gluten-free!! The coffee lovers will be in heaven❤️.

Mud Pie (Gluten Free)

Crust:
💫9-10 Gluten-Free Joe-Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies or Gluten Free Oreos, crushed or ground
💫 2 tbsp butter, melted
💫 1.5 quarts of coffee ice cream, gf (I used
Coffee Ice Cream)

Whipped Cream:
💫3/4 cup heavy cream
💫1 tbsp sugar
💫1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, gf

Chocolate Fudge Sauce:
💫4 tbsp heavy cream
💫6 oz. Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Baking Chips or gluten-free dark chocolate chips
💫1 tbsp butter
💫1 tbsp pure maple syrup
💫1 teaspoon pure vanilla, gf

💫 1/4 cup toasted blanched almonds or other nuts, chopped

1. Stir together the ground cookies and melted butter. Press into a parchment lined 7 or 8" springform pan. Freeze for 15-20 minutes.
2. Soften the quart of ice cream slightly. Scoop out in large chunks and press the cookie layer.
3. Freeze for 30 minutes.
4. Whip the cream until lines begin to appear. Mix in the the sugar and vanilla and beat until pillowy. Remove the springform pan from the freezer and spread the whipped cream onto the ice cream layer. Freeze again while making the fudge sauce.
5. Heat the heavy cream, butter, chocolate, and maple syrup in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Add the vanilla. Let cool slightly. Use a small tip to pipe lattice or drizzle on the top of the whipped cream. Add chopped nuts if desired.
6. Cover with foil. Freeze for 3-4 hours or overnight. Remove from the freezer 15-20 minutes before slicing, removing the springform ring, parchment on the bottom, and edge before slicing.

Serves 8-10.

Is anyone else excited for fresh organic figs to be back at ?!

It's time for all the fun fig recipes!
Like this Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Simply made, and you can even pack an extra one for the next day if you want.

Today, we've brought a recipe I thought I'd already posted! The Not Too Sweet Apricot Raspberry Tart (Gluten Free) is mostly fruit tucked in a crust.

You can make this gluten-free using a gluten-free crust, either purchased or homemade. I like to use a recipe of mine that comes deliciously flaky while being gluten-free.

It makes two 8" tarts. I subbed in white and yellow nectarines for the second tart, which was still really good but not as delicious as the apricot one, in my opinion.

Is anyone else living Freeze Dried Rasperries Unsweetened and Unsulfured? I love crumbling these to decorate cakes or other desserts, put them in drinks, or make a raspberry whipped cream. I didn't use more than a few berries after whipping the cream with sugar and vanilla. Crushing the berries and folding into the whipped cream made it glorious! But you could add more.

It makes two 8" tarts. I subbed in white and yellow nectarines for the second tart, which was still really good but not as delicious as the apricot one, in my opinion.

Recipe in my link in bio.

Paella is probably one of my top favorite foods. I ordered it as often as I could when in Spain. I order it out in restaurants here when I can, too! You can make it or have it so many ways, but the other night with a seafood allergy, we did it without the seafood.

I was also without Valencia or Calasparra rice, so I subbed in Aborrio. Although it was still delicious and had good texture, it was missing the crispy toasted rice on the bottom of the pan.

For the flatbread, I decided to try a new refrigerated pizza dough. Although it tasted really good, it was a bit doughy, cooked for the recommended time and temperature in the oven. We'll try it next time on the pizza oven. Also, it was difficult to handle, as it was very stiff.

Funny story about the paella... After enjoying the second night, my husband was sweetly cleaning up. I glanced up to see him tossing it in the garbage! I was appalled and then was upset! Now mind you, we don't throw much away, and especially not my most favorite food! But he somehow had thought I was going to throw the remainder out after dinner. Misunderstanding! They happen.😘 All is good now! We just have to get some Valencia rice and make another pan!

Link to Paella Mixta in my link in bio.

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Summer time is here! We eat more salads during the summer months. How about you?

Here's a selection of some of my favorite salads this month - which one do you pick? Do you like yours with fruit and veggies? Nuts or cheese on top?

1. Antipasto Platter Salad and Lemon Vinaigrette
2. Floral Berry Salad over Greens, with Gorgonzola and a Berry Balsamic Dressing
3. Greek Salad with Black and Green Olives and Garbanzo Beans
4. Pear and Parm Salad over Greens with a Honey Thyme Vinaigrette
5. Mixed Greens with Thinly Sluces Apples and Raspberries, Gruyere and Candied Pecans and Maple Balsamic Dressing
6.Mediterranean Salad with Artichoke Hearts and Roasted Red Peppers, Feta, and Pistachios with a Slightly Tangy Vinaigrette

Today is the best smoothie weather here. 100 degrees on the deck yesterday, but cold drinks definitely help! Some of my favorites from the past week:
1. Açaí smoothie made with Acai Powder
2. Purple iceplant 💜 and ocean walks, East Cliff, Santa Cruz
3. Borrowing a cat (I need a pet♥️)
4. Grilled tri-tip (not pictured roasted potatoes, artichokes, Greek salad, and corn on the cob)
5. Views from a favorite spot

Who's up for saving some money on your dinner budget?

Sometimes, I like to splurge, but I also like to be thrifty when I can. These bone-in skin-on chicken thighs are perfect at just $3 for a quantity of 4. It was enough for 5 tacos and extra for topping a pizza that night, too!

We love the charred skin on these, Charred Mexican Seasoned Chicken Thighs (Gluten Free). You can cut up for tacos or just serve alongside grilled potatoes, fruit, and salad.

Check out the link in my bio for the recipe.

Crafting and coffee just go together - dried flowers that and I foraged from the garden and forest, then dried between parchment in books. These days are the best!

Smoothies and hanging out are just good for the soul.
And coffee....or espresso☕️ and sharing a mini peanut buttery and chocolate pie. Have you checked out the peonies at Trader Joe's?!

Highlights of the weekend: including the Felton Remember Parade and Felton Library visit, homemade pesto for pizza and bruschetta nights, picnic with friends, beach picnic, BBQ with family, and making granola clusters (these are so yummy!).

Hope you had a great weekend, too!

Dessert picking time. Which do you pick? Great are both summertime desserts!

Lightly Sweetened Apricot Galette (gluten-free crust) with Nutmeg Whipped Cream
or
Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Trifle - with layers of sweet cream cheese, strawberry compote, lemon pound cake, and whipped cream (also gluten free)

Spiced Dark Chocolate Torte (Gluten Free) is great for a holiday, but it is also pretty great for any day.
Mother's Day and chocolate go together, for me.
The torte makes one 10" cake or you can make two smaller 6" for sharing.

What will you be doing for Mother's Day?
🌸🌸🌸

Recipe can be found in the link in my bio.

This weeks joy moments -

🌸 Blooms and espressos, and my newfound favorite rose tulip - and garden flowers
🌸 Cinco de Mayo taco plate with carnitas and shrimp tacos, margarita (not shown), and yummy gluten-free churros - and time with friends
🌸 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with my granddaughter and pizza night
🌸 Family breakfast
🌸 lunches with daughter over açaí bowls

What brought you joy this week?

What do you do when you have leftover cookies?

I sometimes make ice cream pie! Leftover crumbled gluten free peanut butter cookie and butter crust, then layer of Breyers vanilla and chocolate (both gf flavors), a layer of brown sugar whipped cream, peanut butter drizzle and finished with Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Freeze for 2-4 hours before slicing.

Yum! We're ready for summer! Are you?

Recipe link to the cookies can be found in the link in my bio.

I love my new 2 oz. Espresso Cups with Saucers, Porcelain Espresso Cups, Set of 6!

These are perfect for my breakfast espressos or for a pretty, dainty set to serve espresso and dessert for guests. The cup is delicately shaped and a nice shade of white. The saucer fits perfectly, so the cup doesn't slip.

You can find these on Amazon along with many other products.

Browned Butter Oat Bars (Gluten Free) with plenty of oats and almond flour, plus Candied Pecans and Dark Chocolate Chips. They're kind of like a blond brownie (but can also be eaten as a breakfast bar!).

Whatever your day looks like, fuel up with this probioctic, great tasting drink!

With so many healthful benefits, Wheatgrass Pineapple Cold-Pressed Energy is a great choice to start your day, whether you're spending it inside or out. I felt so great starting my day with this instead of my coffee!

✅️ plant based energy from Guayusa Leaf - no crash or jitters effects
✅️ living probioctics to support digestive health - one billion cultures!
✅️ alkalizing wheatgrass blended with cucumber pineapple, kale, spinach, and alkaline water.
✅️74% cold pressed juice, 100% organic, and no added sugars

Pick them up online at .com or at Clark's Nutrition.

*gifted

We tried a new pie last night, and we were so happy with it!

Using our thinly sliced Meyer Lemons 🍋, garlic olive oil & butter, parmesan cheese, and a small amount of grated mozzarella, red pepper, fresh thyme, and ricotta cheese. This had such a delicious flavor! Caramelized Lemons and cheeses for a little different pie.

Made on my newest dough - recipe on my website. Check out the recipe if you need a great gluten-free dough. You can also find lots of other recipes there, all gluten-free and yummy.

Would you eat it? Or would you rather have the second one with three cheeses (parm, mozz, and .cheese white cheddar, garlic olive oil & butter, sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper, and fresh rosemary?



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Gluten-free and grain free brownie sundaes for Sunday. Dark chocolate, berries, whipped cream, and two kinds of gluten-free ice cream. Yep! The day just got even better.

Firecracker Salmon for an easy, great tasting meal. Marinated salmon, pan seared on one side and then oven baked. It's such a nice meal which I tend to feel really good after eating.

Spice it up as much or as little as you like. It's easy to make this gluten-free, but it seems like it always contains gluten when I see it on a menu.

What's your favorite way to have salmon?

Recipe in the link in my bio.

Garden blooms and vegetation, gluten-free and dairy free lemon raspberry cake with garden edibles, sunshine, and other things that make me happy.

How's your Monday going?


# instagramglutenfree

Although I don't always feel like making açaí, I always feel like eating it! I'm trying to get some of my low blood pressure foods in today after my splurge day yesterday.

I actually froze some of the Navitas Organics smoothie I made the other day, so it's a bit of a makeshift açaí. But it tastes delicious, especially topped with some of my favorite fruits.

Was your day a healthy day of eating or a splurge day?

Things to eat when you're trying to naturally lower your blood pressure naturally (mine has just been a little high lately):
Potassium rich foods, like bananas, lentils, avocados, beets, potatoes, and dried fruits like raisins or apricots. Other foods for lowering blood pressure: oats, berries, leafy greens, nuts and oily fish, dark chocolate, kiwis, cinnamon, and some spices as well.

I love just some oatmeal (gluten-free) with dried fruit, frozen blueberries, banana slices, chopped nuts, a little honey, and sprinkled with cinnamon or ground ginger for an easy healthy breakfast!

Here's a few of my favorite salads, a Caesar like salad with avocado instead of croutons and a lighter dressing, and a Greek salad loaded with veggies and a little feta.

The Navitas Organics Açaí Powder is great for a quick bowl or smoothie.

What's your favorite breakfast or lunch here?