Fire Roasted Eggplant Tutorial: How to roast an eggplant

Grilled or roasted vegetables are the perfect gluten free side dish. I happen to love eggplant and find that fire roasting an eggplant creates a unique flavor that is absolutely delicious.
If you want to get away from the SAD ( Standard American Diet) don't reach for gluten free prepared products. Think vegetables and find a variety of healthy interesting ways to make them.

My favorite way to make eggplant is to grill the entire uncut eggplant over an open flame. Where do I get the open flame? Right on the burner of my gas stove in my kitchen!!

Char grilled Eggplant tastes tender, smoky, and delicious.  The first time I tried this method, I have to say I was hesitant. After all, I was putting the eggplant into the flame on top of my stove without a pot??? It sounded crazy, but it worked great!

I simply wrapped the eggplant in a triple layer of aluminum foil and placed it right over the flame.
( Some cooks don't even wrap it in the foil- they place the eggplant directly in the flame)
Using tongs, I turned it over once or twice and waited for 25 minutes. Removed it from the stove, unwrapped it, put it in a bowl, sliced it down the middle to let the juices run out, and then scooped out the delicious inner tender flesh! Easy!

The outer eggplant skin chars while the inside of the eggplant gets soft and  is almost melted. It's easy to scoop out and is the secret in spreads like homemade Babaganoush or Smoky Eggplant zero smart points dip!

Step By Step Tutorial

Roasted eggplant is a staple in Middle Eastern and Italian cooking.

It will take you about 30 minutes to roast your eggplant. Follow my step by step procedure:

1.  Wash and pierce your eggplant with a fork in a few places

2.  Cover your eggplant completely with three layers of aluminum foil.

3. Place the eggplant over an open flame on your stove top. Keep the temperature on low/medium.
    do not place the flame higher or the paper will burn.

4. Turn after 10 minutes.

5. Using tongs, remove the eggplant from the flame and place in a glass Pyrex.

6. Slice the eggplant and begin to scoop out the flesh into another bowl.

7.Scoop as much eggplant as possible into a glass bowl and set aside.

           
                                  This recipe is linked to these fabulous blog carnivals

I'm a Young Living Essential Oil's Distributor. If you would like to learn more about using Essential Oils, please feel free to contact me at Judee Algazi- Email:  vegyid2@yahoo.com Distributor #3329912

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Egg Free Banana Coconut Macaroons ( GF)

These easy egg free banana coconut macaroons are made from a few simple gluten free and vegan ingredients. I whipped them up with my grandkids in just 3 easy steps in less than 25 minutes from start to finish!

3 Easy Steps: 
1. Mix ingredients in a bowl with a spoon
2. Shape into balls
3. Bake for 15 minutes

It's a healthy, dairy free, dessert that can be packed in lunches, taken along in your purse just about anywhere, or elegantly served at the Seder. The ingredients are made from real food and offers a nutritional boost.

Since it's Passover this week, what better than a simple ( KP) cookie that is fun for little ones to make and tasty enough for everyone to enjoy!

Sometimes you just want something sweet; try this real food quick and easy recipe!
If you are making these for Passover- all ingredients should be labeled with a hecture.

Coconut is a good fat, the sweetness comes mostly from the banana, and they are filling.

Author: Judee Algazi @Gluten Free A-Z Blog
Prep: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 15 minutes
Total : 20 minutes
Makes: 1 dozen macaroons
Adapted from: Paleo Table

Ingredients: 
2 cups of shredded coconut ( or coconut flakes)
1 ripe banana, mashed
1 Tablespoon of honey ( or sugar if you must)
1 Tablespoon of cocoa
2 Tablespoons of oil ( coconut or olive)
1 tsp. cinnamon
Optional: chocolate chips

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well with a spoon. Shape the mixture into 1 inch ( ish) balls and place on a covered cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove and place in mini muffin holders if desired.

Place on parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes

Shared on Weekend Cooking at Beth Fish Reads
where anyone can share a food related post every Saturday!

See all my recipes at a glance: : Bloglovin 



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Gluten Free and Vegetarian Passover Seder Recipes

Happy Passover! Looking for easy vegetarian and or gluten free Passover Seder ideas?

I've dived into my recipes and created a traditional Kosher for Passover Seder menu for you that is both GF and Vegan! Choose from the recipes listed below.

Hope you get some inspiring ideas and enjoy a delicious meal. If you are not vegan or GF the recipes are still delicious and make a great parve ( non dairy)  side.


Passover Seder Recipes

• Charoset  ( vegan and GF)
• Matzo Balls ( vegetarian and  GF)
• Matzo Ball Soup ( tastes like chicken type broth) (Vegan and; GF)
• Horseradish Soup  -Light and creamy with a slight kick ( Vegan and GF)
• Mock Chopped Liver ( Vegan and GF)
• Stuffed Tomatoes and Stuffed Peppers ( Vegan and GF) 
• Quinoa stuffed Peppers ( Vegan and GF) 
• Mini Potato Kugel Muffins
• Honey Roasted Brussel Sprouts Vegan and GF) 
• Moroccan Carrots with cilantro and lemon dressing
• Healthy Chocolate Pudding ( vegan and GF)
• Chocolate Dipped Strawberries 
• Fudgy Brownies- vegan and gluten free
• Fresh Fruit Sorbets - vegan and gluten free

These Passover Sorbets are made with frozen fruit and your blender. They are easy to make and delicious!

Did You Know ? 

The Conservative Movement Overturned an 800-Year-Old Passover Ban on Rice and Legumes( see article)- Now you can eat it.. Everyone is happy but especially vegans!

I've included recipes that contain rice! All of the recipes are vegan except the matzo balls and mini kugels which have eggs.
Check out all my recipes at a glance : Bloglovin 



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Strawberries Contain the Highest Amount of Pesticides!

The new list of dirty dozen fruits/vegetables just came out from EWG!

Strawberries were number one on the list for the fruit/vegetable with the highest amount of pesticides!

When I read the article , I was sad at how little the consumer really knows about what we are eating.
Can you imagine that with every bite of a red luscious strawberry we are eating more than we want in pesticides! It's bad enough for us , but what about our kids?

When it comes to strawberries, I guess it's one fruit that need to be organic! From now on, I'll buy organic when it comes to anything on the list from the dirty dozen. 
I already always buy organic apples, celery, and spinach. I often buy organic strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and grapes. I need to step it up a little!

The EWG has a list of what they consider the

Dirty Dozen= highest amount of pesticides


1. Strawberries

2. Apples

3. Nectarines

4. Peaches 

5. Celery 

6. Grapes

7. Cherries

8. Spinach

9. Tomatoes

10. Bell Peppers

11. Cherry Tomatoes

12. Cucumbers

CLEAN 15 based on the amount of pesticide exposure according to EWG.
These are the cleanest vegetables/fruit  * Look for non GMO vegetables

1. Avocado 

2. Corn 

3. Pineapple 

4. Cabbage

5. Frozen sweet peas

6. Onions

7. Asparagus

8. Mango

9. Papaya 

10. Kiwi

11. Eggplant

12. Honeydew

13. Grapefruit

14. Cantaloupe

15. Cauliflower

Americans eat nearly eight pounds of fresh strawberries a year – and with them, dozens of pesticides, including chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive damage or are banned in Europe.

Strawberries tested by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2009 and 2014 bore an average of 5.75 different pesticides per sample, compared to 1.74 pesticides per sample for all other produce, according to a new EWG analysis.  Bill Walker,

This is the beginning of the article on strawberries from EWG: Click to read full article

Pesticides + Poison Gases = Cheap, Year-Round Strawberries

By  Investigations Editor, and Sonya Lunder, Senior Analyst

Read their research and info : EWG 





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