Sunday, August 24, 2014

Flowers and Food (Gluten-Free)



It's a treat to spend time with a friend that you haven't seen in quite some time. My recent guest has celiac disease and, therefore, has to eat gluten-free food. It turned out to be fun planning a lunch menu for us.

A crustless spinach and mushroom quiche was the main event; alas, no photo.  Perhaps you're familiar with the "quiche formula" found in Mollie Katzen's "The Enchanted Broccoli Forest". I don't know if the formula is online, but the link will take you to her wonderful vegetarian cookbook; I just omitted the step involving a crust. With Katzen's crust/filling/custard formula, there are a million and one variations for a quiche.






As a side dish, some yellow beans and fresh tomatoes from the garden became an easy salad; I'll have to try the suggested dressing next time. Not being sure if my friend was sensitive to vinegar, I didn't make the one in the recipe. (What are the odds that she would bring flowers that coordinated with the food?)

A second side was sweet potato and pear puree. The dark bits are toasted pecans which started off sprinkled on top and were happily mixed into the leftovers. For the record, I am a fan of leftovers. Delish! It's cooking for one in this household and if I can open the fridge or freezer and find a tasty little something there, it's a happy day.




I'm not, generally, much of a dessert eater, but that's not to say I don't enjoy one occasionally. Plenty of chocolate, sugar and eggs went into this flourless chocolate cake. Cheryl at The Creative Me and My McG., this is the recipe you requested. Or, you can swing over; there are leftovers in the freezer. Bring a friend!


I mentioned on Facebook that I was going to show a dessert in this blog post and a reader's comment said that was interesting, but ". . . please, always some flowers." No fear, there will be plenty of those till the season changes! 

I'm happy to be linking with Judith for "Mosaic Monday".
Have a lovely week.

42 comments:

  1. I love leftovers too ... think they always taste better on the second day. I purposely make soups and stews on the weekend (in the cooler months) and save them for later in the week. Even when we bbq we do extra pieces for another meal. I'm sure your friend appreciated all the time you spent creating a lovely meal that she could enjoy. And yes, flowers are also a necessity in a post.

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  2. Crustless quiche is a favourite around here even though we aren't celiac. The sweet potato and pear puree sounds delicious! And as always, your flowers are lovely. My cosmos have been very slow this year.

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  3. The sweet potato and pear puree - I wish I had some leftovers of that right now!
    What a lovely luncheon that must have been - your friend secure in the knowledge that she could enjoy every bite, and you should give yourself a pat on the back for accomplishing that so tastily!

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  4. Very pretty and colourful mosaics, Karen. The flowers are gorgeous. Have a wonderful week.

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  5. Karen - thanks so much for the recipe - I will be sure and let you know how it turns out! If you lived a little closer I would be sure to stop over for some leftovers...maybe next time we are up that way we will have to make a date for lunch!!

    Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG

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    1. Sadly I just clicked over to the recipe and realized there were a lot of eggs in it...might not be able to eat this one...I have a sensitivity to eggs since my stem cell transplant - it seems I have inherited some of my sister's allergies!! OH WELL - small price to pay for another chance at life!!!

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  6. Oh Karen, your food and flower photos are so pretty. The flower mosaic is just gorgeous!! I'm not good at food photography; it's something I need to work on. Your meal sounds delicious. I'm a quiche lover since way back; my husband and I both enjoy quiche lorraine for dinner. Thank you for sharing the flourless cake recipe; it looks scrumptious! :)

    I enjoyed your post and thanks so much for your visit. Have a wonderful week!

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  7. I'm a big fan of leftovers too! It was very thoughtful of you to work around your friend's gluten-free diet. I know how much I appreciate it when people do that for me. I'm almost afraid to click on the link for the chocolate cake. :-)

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  8. Gluten Free sounds wonderful after viewing this great menu and food. The flowers are gorgeous as well :)

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  9. Your menu sounds wonderful. I would like the quiche and the dessert.. YUM! Your flower mosaic is lovely, beautiful colors and blooms! Have a happy week!

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  10. Your food and flowers made for some pretty mosaics. Everything sounds and looks yummy.
    I could handle some of those leftovers. LOL

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  11. I love all the brilliant colours of fruits and veggies at this time of year. Your mosaic showing the beating and folding of ingredients for the flourless cake are very appealing Karen and the finished product - yummy!
    Awesome macros make up your flower collage, very creative.
    Thank you for linking to MM.

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  12. I often think leftovers are even better than the first-time around!! Beautiful mix of food and flowers here. Happy week!

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  13. The flowers and bee are beautiful! I can't eat sugar so I have to hurry past the photos of dessert! lol Looks good though! Hugs!

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  14. definitely going to try these. the photosnlook delicious. lol.

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  15. Your pears and sweet potatoes and chocolate cake look awesome! Yum! Glad you had a chance to visit with your friend and share a nice meal. Love the flowers too!

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  16. Yummy looking food mosaics, and your flower one is gorgeous. I've been cooking from The Enchanted Broccoli Forest for years! Great food!

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  17. I love the name of your blog. Your pics are beautiful. What a fun time you must have had with your friend.
    Your mosaics are lovely. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week.

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  18. Interesting post. I am allergic to wheat and these dishes look tasty!

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  19. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the last mosaic. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  20. Hi,Karen
    Glad to see you again.
    Beautiful post,Karen. Those colorful fruits and flowers make me smile and happy. I have my face book.
    Fortunately my face book has been silent. It will be active when I have more time.

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  21. Lovely, bright and delicious photos! So nice to prepare something special for a sweet friend. xo Karen

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  22. Oh everything looks so tasty!
    Glad you could have a great visit, good food, and beautiful flowers to enjoy .

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  23. Delicious!! I am sure that your friend enjoyed her lunch and the fact that you made such a effort a great deal! xx

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  24. Hi Karen,
    What a scrumptious post. Not only are the colours flavourful but the food as well. Your flourless chocolate cake looks divine. I'm sure you and your friend enjoyed your time together. Beautiful mosaics too. Happy Monday!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  25. Beautiful, colourful and delicious...such a wonderful and thoughtful treat for your friend Karen!
    So lovely too to read that Claire's story had the happy ending she so deserved x
    Hope you have a great new week,
    Susan x

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  26. A lovely visit with great food and beautiful flowers...I will have to check out some of the recipes as they sound yummy and I love dessert. Aren't you a great friend for making it GF.

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  27. It all looks and sounds delicious Karen - your friend must have felt very special.
    There's nothing nicer than sitting down to a meal prepared by someone else - especially when you've been preparing and cooking meals as long as I have!
    Left overs are often on the menu here too - in fact many dishes taste better the next day when flavours have had time to develop.
    Your flower photos are becoming legends Karen - today's lot are truly lovely!
    Shane

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  28. Your flowers are amazing. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Martha

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  29. How nice to visit with friends! Love your flower mosaic...especially the bee close up :)

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  30. Lovely first photo....so joyful! The cake looks delicious and the process is great material for a mosaic.

    Happy Tuesday!
    Ruby

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  31. Karen, how sweet and considerate of you to prepare such a mouthwatering meal and scrumptious sweet for your friend! I hope you dined al fresco, to take advantage of the floral ambiance of your pretty August garden, which is surely an appetizer in itself!

    Poppy

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  32. Your flower pictures are beautiful and the lunch looks amazing. You are a true friend to make such a great lunch your friend can enjoy!

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  33. Thanks for coming by to see my 'tortilla soup' post. He is definitely an imaginative 6 year old. I'm/we are Blessed.

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  34. Yea, another GF blogger! Our daughter made a GF, egg-free, potato flour-free birthday cake for her little guy. Sure hope he grows out of some of those allergies. But I know that I feel so much better eating GF.

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  35. Oh crust less Chiquita sounds perfect. Beautiful flowers always make a table look stunning. Glad you were willing to make foods your friend could enjoy.

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  36. Hi Karen. You're such a thoughtful host. Bet you had a lovely time. There's such a variety of GF recipes out there now, isn't there. I don't really bother, mainly because no one I know needs it, but Chloe is lactose intolerant and with today's choices of milk alternates it really doesn't matter any more. Last year, my sister in law hosted a catered party and the person made the most delicious cardamom, lemon drizzle GF cake. Oh my word! I asked for the recipe, but no luck. Darn!
    Hope you're having a lovely week. :D

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  37. I am back on my "no flour, no sugar" kick and feeling better. I need to look into gluten free.

    Everything you pictured looks delicious.

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  38. What a kind friend you are, Karen. Your choosing and cooking of special things for your friend was a lovely thing to do, and it all sounds and looks delicious. I like to try new things too, to liven up the daily menu...thank you for these ideas!
    Happy weekend.
    Helen xox

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  39. oh! Your photos are insane! I love the was you showed it!

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  40. Just popped over from Daphne's blog. ivyphyllisandme. What a tasty menu you created for your GF friend. I'll have to look into some of the recipes you shared. Your photos are fantastic & lovely mosaic. I'll be following you from now on by email.

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