Carefreeglutenfree - Carefree Gluten Free

"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients."

- Julia Child

{Photo via Chantal Andrea}

"Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness."                             - Jane Austen

All-American Apple Pie

Gluten Free Pie Crust*

Filling: 2/3 c. sugar ½ tsp. cinnamon 2 Tbsp. water 2 Tbsp. lemon juice ¼ tsp. nutmeg 2 Tbsp. margarine 5-6 medium sliced apples

Crumb Topping: ½ c. firmly packed brown sugar ½ c. softened margarine 1 c. Gluten Free all-purpose flour*

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. To Make Pie Crust: Follow package directions. 

3. To Make Filling: In large bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss with apples. Add water and lemon juice. Toss until evenly coated and spoon into unbaked pie crust. Dot with butter.

4. To Make Crumb Topping: Using a pastry cutter, mix topping ingredients until crumbly in texture. Sprinkle over apples. 

5. Place pie on a cookie sheet, covered with aluminum foil, to catch juices that may spill over.  Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.  Top with ice cream and serve.

*I used Gluten Free Pantry's perfect pie crust mix and all-purpose flour for this recipe.

Cook's Tip: This recipe can be made into a delicious gluten free apple crisp by omitting the crust.

"Laughter is brightest where food is best."

- Irish Proverb

Herb Crusted Pork Chops

Recipe adapted from the blog Eat Yourself Skinny!

4 boneless pork chops, fat trimmed

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 cup Gluten Free Panko breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 

2. Rub mustard evenly over pork chops.  Combine panko, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper in a large bowl and dredge pork chops in panko mixture. 3. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.  Add oil to pan and swirl to coat.  Add pork chops, saute for 2 minutes or until golden brown. 

4. Turn pork over and place skillet in oven for about 8 minutes or until pork reaches 145 degrees in the center.  Enjoy!

{Picture via tartineandapronstrings.com}