A Vegetarian GF Rosh Hashana

Just because you need to eat a gluten-free diet, does not mean you can't eat traditional Rosh Hashanah holiday foods.  I've planned a delicious traditional gluten-free vegetarian menu for you!

When I first became a vegetarian and then later gluten free, I was overwhelmed with the thought of what I would cook for the holidays. Since my home had always been a hub for relatives to get together during the holidays, I wondered if they ( and I) would miss the traditional  foods I used to make.

It turns out they were ok about it , and I learned to make some really wonderful meals. I even get requests for the recipes. This year for the Jewish New Year, I am making dinner for 15 people and will be serving some of my previously posted  recipes. I gathered them on this page to put them together for a meal.

My menu for lunch could look like this: 

Carrot Ginger Soup- with the best ever .gluten free  Matzo Balls

Vegetarian Chopped Liver - with ripe tomato wedges ( the best)

Arugala Cashew Salad

Asparagus Quiche and Mushroom Quiche

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Chocolate and ground hazelnuts Dipped  figs and Strawberries

Apple Cake in the Crock Pot ( can be made in oven as well)

Scroll down for the recipes

Vegetarian Chopped Liver -
This is so good, even meat eaters beg for it.
( the rolls were for company and not gluten free)


Carrot Ginger Soup-
A wonderful broth to eat with the matzo balls.


How To Make Matzo Balls


Quiches  I double the recipe and cook them in a pie type pan

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Arugala Cashew Salad

Zucchini Biscuit Quiche

Wendy's Crunchy Vegetable Balls



Chocolate Dipped Figs in ground hazelnuts


Apple Cake in the Crock Pot

Crock Pot Apple Cake GF

You can bake a cake in the crock pot!
Can you imagine?
I just did it ,and it came out moist and extra delicious.

It started yesterday when I noticed a few crock pot cake recipes online. I was intrigued and said , " Judee you have to get out that crock pot and give this a try." This was a first for me, and I have to say the results were great!

It was right up my alley because I love making anything and everything in the crock pot. I use crock pots, not just for cooking , but also for serving.  When I am having company, I use my crock pot to heat up the soup, keep it warm , and I serve right from it..

The crock pot I used today is unusual. It is a two sided crock pot.

 I can actually make two things at once, and that is exactly what I did. I made two gluten free cakes at once. On one side, I made an apple cake using almond flour and oats. On the other side I made an applesauce spice cake with coconut flour. (Now if you are not gluten free and don't want to use the extra healthy ingredients, you can make this with regular flour and regular sugar. See my variations at the bottom of the post/

I used organic palm sugar for the extra nutrition and low glycemic effect.. It was also my first time trying palm sugar

 I bought the palm sugar at the health food store. I've read about palm sugar on other blogs, but I never actually tried it. The packaging says, " palm sugar is a healthy alternative sweetener that has a lower glycemic index than agave, honey, or cane sugar."  It goes on to explain that it also is a good source of minerals and B vitamins. The original recipe called for brown sugar.

This is my recipe for Crock Pot Apple Cake adapted from a great blog,  Finding Joy In My Kitchen

Ingredients:
3-4 large organic apples, sliced ( I used delicious)
1 and 1/3 cup almond meal ( you can use GF flour or regular flour if you are not gluten free)
2/3 cup gluten free oats ( oatmeal)
3/4 cup palm sugar  + 1 TSBP for the apples ( if you don't care, you can use sugar)
2 tsp baking powder ( I use aluminum free)
1 + 1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

DirectionsPeel and cut up apples. Toss with 1 TBSP palm sugar, 3 TBSP almond meal, 1 tsp cinnamon. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix almond meal, oats, baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon.
In a small bowl, beat eggs, vanilla, applesauce.

Mix wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth and blended. Pour the mixture over the apples and mix completely.

Pour batter into a well greased crock pot.
Cover and turn onto high and bake for about 2 hours. ( check after 1 and half hours that it is not too dry.)

Turn of the heat and remove lid. Take a rubber spatula and pry sides loose. Allow to cool off . When cool turn over and release cake.

Step by Step

Assemble Ingredients

Cut up apples and then toss with 1 TBSP palm sugar, 3 TBSP almond meal, 1 tsp cinnamon

Mix wet ingredients in a small bowl ( forgot to take a pic)
Mix dry ingredients in a larger bowl. Mix dry into the wet and pour over the
apple mixture until well blended.

Pour into a well greased crock pot. ( I sprayed with cooking oil)  Turn on high and bake for about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
check it with a toothpick. Turn off heat and allow to sit with lid off. Take a knife and cut around
the sides to loosen. Remove the container from the heat and allow to cool and then remove the cake.

http://bizzybakesb.blogspot.com/  

Why would you use a crock pot? To free up your oven if you have a lot of things to make. Since a cake usually has to go in alone, it creates oven time. Also, in the summer, if you don't turn on the oven, you don't need to heat up your kitchen. I'm sure you can think of lots of reasons making the cake in the slow cooker could work out well. Personally, it just looked like fun, and I wanted to try it. I have to say, both cakes were moist and delicious.

If anyone is interested in the coconut flour recipe, it is egg and dairy free.

Leave the request in the comments by scrolling down to the green box at the end of this post. I you are reading this in your email, click the top of the post where it says click her to go to the blog. Leave a request and  I'll send it to you.

May be shared on a few of the following blog carnivals

Like my recipes? I post lots more ; Follow me on Pinterest Gluten Free A-Z  and Twitter .

Please leave a comment so I can be  introduced to your blog . I will visit you and  I usually follow on G+, Twitter, and Pinterest. I would love if you followed me as well Follow me as well : Gluten Free A-Z  and Twitter .

How to Make Gluten Free Matzo Balls

What is a Jewish holiday without Matzo Balls? 
For those of us who are gluten free, we may have given up trying to find a gluten free recipe for this amazing holiday treat! Guess What? I have an amazing and easy recipe!

Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers

                          

These beautiful red peppers are stuffed with quinoa, black beans and sauteed vegetables. They not only look pretty, but they are filling, satisfying, and nutritious. Did I mention that they tate really good? Served with soup or salad, they are a meal.
I like to serve the outside of the pepper raw to preserve the vitamins and antioxidants, but I also provided a variation where you can cook the pepper, if you prefer. Either way they are delicious, hearty, gluten free and vegan.

                           
Ingredients

6 large red peppers
2 cups of cooked quinoa
1 can of black beans, drained well
1 large onion , chopped
4 cloves of fresh garlic, chopped
1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 more large can of diced tomatoes ( optional for cooking peppers)
2 carrots, diced
1 small zucchini, diced
1 bag of frozen spinach, thawed and water squeezed out
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
Olive Oil Spray
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in olive oil spray for about 2 minutes. Add can of diced tomatoes and cook for about 2 more minutes. Add  diced carrots and zucchini and cook for about 5 minutes. Add lemon juice and continue cooking for about another minute. Add spinach and cook until all is tender but not mushy.Stir frequently. Add quinoa and beans and stir until everything is blended well. Season and set aside .

Cut the top off of the washed peppers and clean out the insides. If you like the pepper raw, stuff it and it's ready to eat.

If you prefer the pepper cooked, then stuff the peppers and arrange them in a dutch oven pan. Add another can of diced tomatoes and some more lemon juice around the peppers. Cover and cook until peppers are soft, basting the peppers with the tomato sauce as they cook. Serve immediately.

These peppers can also be frozen .