Gluten-Free Goddess Recipes

Stormy weather comfort food.  Temps have plunged to zero here in New England. Oh, well. Perhaps I shouldn't exaggerate. Okay. It was 1 degree above zero. One. As in uno. As in eins. As in une. Translation? COLD. AKA soup weather. So I whipped up a wintry weather comfort food favorite. A creamy and delicious split pea soup. That just so happens to be gluten-free. Meat-free. Dairy-free. My secret? Coconut milk, darling. And a dash of spicy jalapeños. It was lip-smacking tasty. Trust me. You won't miss the ham hock. Stay safe and warm out there!  Karina xo

A bowl of comfort with a kick. Created during one gnarly week in the Northeast, on the cusp of a March snowstorm. A soup recipe too good to ignore. Too tasty to keep to myself. So here it is- from The Gluten-Free Goddess Recipe Archives... The word wicked does not even begin to cover it. Epic... might be a start. Massive... might be an understatement. The snow, you see, is record breaking. One might even say, crazzzzzy. It's enough to make a big dog weep. In (previously) typical fashion, one might be tempted to throw up one's hands in defeat and shout, Let the carb cravings begin! But I might actually be in the mood to defy such cravings, yipping and gnawing inside my belly like so many tiny, quivering chihuahuas. Tugging my attention to mocha frosted vanilla cupcakes . I might actually choose, instead, to grab a big pot. And start a batch of hearty, soul mending soup. And living- as we did for three decades- on Cape Cod, you might guess I rustled up some classi

Banana bread for the rest of us. No apologies needed.  Out there in the cold cruel world, Darling, some folks apparently (still) view our gluten-free lifestyle through a jaded foodie lens, believing, first of all, that gluten-free anything is never going to taste anything but awful, and second, that this whole gluten-free trend (their word not mine) is a fad not worthy of serious consideration, appreciation and compassion. Apart from the standard (and brief) lip service that non-afflicted food writers, bloggers and journalists pay to celiac disease, adhering to the medical treatment that is a gluten-free diet is degraded- for that sexy topical hook- to a "bandwagon". An eating disorder. A diet by choice. They dub it a controversy. Two food bloggers referenced the gluten-free diet on a social networking site recently, bragging about their "iron stomachs" and their ability to chow down on everything, implying that those of us unable to ingest gluten merely have &

For today's menu? Gluten-Free Shepherd's Pie Two Ways (one vegan). A frigid wind is rolling through, interrupting our whisper of solar warmth with bracing bursts of frosty cold. But the skies are clear and cobalt blue, nudging out the low wooly gray of yesterday. Still, it's the kind of day that calls for comfort in the form of food. Something baked in a crock. Something piping hot and old fashioned. Something with mashed potatoes. A savory pie, I said out loud, standing at the window watching our pair of cardinals and chickadees take turns at the feeder stocked with black oil sunflower seeds. Don't tease me, said my husband from his corner study, looking up, I imagine, from his latest screenplay effort. I wouldn't joke about a thing like pie, I assured him. I'm thinking- a shepherd's pie, I said. More to myself than him. But not the usual shepherd's pie. No lamb. No beef. No onion. No peas, I murmured. Please, he said. No peas. (His hearing is ex

Last night's winter storm crept in overnight, waking me in the pitch black dark of 4 AM with its silence, its ten-inch thick blanket of fresh fallen snow. Magic like that can wake you up out of a sound sleep. After padding around to the windows to see if flakes were still drifting down and downy, sticking to the bird-feeders in impossibly high heaps, I couldn't get back to sleep, so I preheated the oven and baked us a tea cake for breakfast.  It's a simple muffin style cake studded on the top with blueberries. I know. I know. Blueberries? In January. Well. Yeah. Because January. Because snowstorm. And honestly, who doesn't crave blueberries all year round? Why should they be relegated only to summer recipes?  That's why The Goddess invented frozen blueberries. For snow days. And recipes like this one.  Stay cozy wherever you are, and stay safe. Bake a cake.  Add a little sweetness to your weekend. Karina xo

Facing the Winter of 2022 takes a dash of courage. A pinch of patience (well, way more than a pinch!). And a hopeful refresh of your favorite treat go-tos. In other words. HERE WE GO AGAIN. Bring on the chocolate. So with that in mind, my beloveds. This is my latest version of a chocolate breakfast treat- a gluten-free muffin with options. If you need a sweet- but not too sweet- lure to start your day, these cocoa infused beauties might be just the ticket. If- like me- you may need a little extra deliciousness, especially on a gloomy day, you can add in (like I did, I confess) extras. Like, dark chocolate chips. And walnuts or pecans. It's up to you how much indulgence you need to get you through. We don't judge. The added bonus? Your kitchen will smell like a bakery. Like a chocolate hug. Like... love, maybe. Because the secret ingredient is always LOVE. Put love in your baking and your day is sure to be brighter. And more delicious. Love yourself. Take care of your Someone Sp

Fabulous Chicken Enchiladas- worthy of a game day get-together. Yummy. Easy. Chicken enchiladas. I never tire of them. And I'm not alone. My chicken enchilada recipes are among the most popular recipes on the blog. It's understandable. Enchiladas make a perfect make-ahead recipe for a weeknight supper, football Sunday, or a pot luck gathering. And they are (easily) gluten-free.  Make enchiladas earlier in the day- in this handsome ceramic baking pan , if you like. Half time nosh is done. Serve with this longtime family favorite-   Joey's Rockin' Guac   and tortilla chips. As easy as uno, dos, tres. Stay safe out there! Karina xo

A New Year's bowl of comfort for 2022. Sweet 'n spicy chili with a dash of lime. New Year's Day is almost upon us. Rather than wax nostalgic about the bumpy ride of the year we've had, I'd rather post a simple home cooked recipe I know you'll love.  Making a pot of bean soup or legume heavy chili to welcome in a freshly minted year is a tradition as old as the hills. From Italian Pasta Fagioli to homestyle southern Hoppin' John , beans somehow acquired the favorable reputation of attracting good luck.  Why? I haven't a clue. But I do know this.  Beans paired with cubes of winter squash make for one sweet and tasty chili. That, Dear Reader, you can take to the bank. Wishing you all good luck, good health and lots of love in 2022. Karina xo

This Dark Goddess Cake recipe is one I've played with for years. It began back in the nineties as one of those trendy flourless chocolate things with ten eggs, and has evolved over time into mere semi-indulgence with only seven (!) eggs and some extra cocoa powder for a little more structure. Bonus: And for those baking without xanthan gum- this recipe is for you! Yep. No gums. Karina xo

Bring on winter comfort with this flavor-packed quartet of hearty and fabulous soup recipes. The unwritten slate of 2022 awaits our choices, as clean and cold as a January dawn. What will you do with this gift of time? This fresh start? Where to begin? First darling, you gotta eat. I suggest soup. Home simmered comfort in a bowl. Kind to your body. Nourishing to your spirit. A soother of cravings. Happy Healthy New Year Wishes to You All! Karina xo

Sunday worthy gluten-free pancakes. And a quick trip down memory lane, because time in social isolation has a way of overlapping into memories... When I was small and clueless I ate the world in tiny bites. I chewed apologetically, counting each deliberate grind in time to the spiral beats of a song in my head that only I could hear. A tune not unlike a mosaic of bird calls, and the powdery flutter of wings feeding on the garden lit by young Mozart's star. Colors were a mysterious and spiritual language infused with deep logic and meaning. A lime green Jello box invited tunneling and confusion, but the sweet brush of balsam as I sought asylum beneath its rooted symmetry petted my pining fatherless heart. Trust is green and hard to paint, but so is betrayal. Not only the betrayal by others. The betrayal you participate in. The hammering of your spirit self into propriety. The brittle, safe shell you construct and will curl inside for the rest of your life. You inhabi

Ah, flourless chocolate cake. The perfect rich dessert.  Forgive the hyperbole. But I just can't help it. This is rich, sexy chocolate deliciousness on a plate. And such an easy recipe, especially if you use a food processor to do the work. Serve this to non-gluten-free folks with no apologies. None. Zip. Nada. And for gluten-free folks? Hand out seconds (we deserve it, don't we?). And the best part is- the recipe is inherently gluten-free and wheat-free. Always has been. No substitutions. No funny stuff. This is the same flourless chocolate cake I've been making for decades. It never contained flour. The only thing I've tweaked post-celiac diagnosis is adding more coffee and vanilla. Just because. And PS: See below why I make this recipe in a food processor- thanks to Bobby Flay. Happy Holidays! Karina xo

Keep your eye upon the donut, and not upon the hole. In light of our current situation (aka global pandemic), a little wisdom. Right? We focus on what we have,  how much we're grateful for, the small pleasures we still do enjoy. The monstrous and mutating Covid virus is whipping our collective butt. We're tired. Frustrated. Grieving losses on multiple fronts. And no sugar coated words from me are going to help much. This is a big, traumatic, surreal, awful thing we find ourselves living through, one day at a time. With no fixed goal line in sight. No happy endings anytime soon (or soon enough, anyway).  It's natural to feel a sense of  discouragement, frustration, exhaustion. My husband and I are snugly in the high risk category- so we've been faithful in our duty, getting our two Moderna shots, and recently, a booster (thank goodness for the boosters- three shots of Moderna are surprisingly effective against the newest variant currently ravaging the world at warp

Playing Dress Up. This is not your average weeknight cornbread. You know, the one you toss together from a gluten-free mix to serve with a bowl of Butternut Bean Chili  as you catch up with The Crown . Nope.  This tender cake-like cornbread is a pinch more elegant. A gently sweet treat you might serve at high tea with your BFFs (or low tea, depending upon the company you keep). Picture fresh cut flowers on the table, stemmed glasses filled with dewy fresh berries, a pot of Earl Grey tea or organic chamomile and lavender buds steeping beneath a cozy. This is the sort of cornbread that begs to be served with style. That longs to be gussied up.  The kind of cornbread you eat with a fork. A cornbread that secretly dreams of being cake. On Christmas morning. Cheers, Luvs. Karina xo

Sweet and simple raspberry jam bars. Our favorite holiday cookie. So let's be honest. I am here today to tempt you. To coax you. To seduce you with a gluten-free dessert worthy of every single luscious calorie. In full transparency, I am admitting up front these are not fat-free. Or sugar-free. These aren't diet food. They're not proper for breakfast (unless you serve them with Champagne). And you won't be able to sigh ever-so-wistfully at parties and mention, off hand, how hard it is to eat gluten-free at family gatherings and parties. Because, Darling Reader, you'll score zero sympathy points once people sink their teeth into the luscious raspberry jam filling nestled between buttery toasted coconut-almond crunch topping and tender hazelnut cookie crust. In fact, these decadent raspberry coconut-almond bars should come with a warning:   Be careful who you share these with. Because they are sure to fall madly in love with you. Happy Winter Solstice!

My Ode to Cookies. Quick question. Which camp are you in? The You Can Never Have Too Many Cookie Recipes camp- or the Enough with All the Cookie Recipes contingent? You already know which faction I belong to. I don't even have to say it. In fact, I might even rename my culinary caucus. Something like, You Could Never In a Million Spectacular Carbon Infused Star Struck Years Have Too Many Cookie Recipes, Goddess Forbid . Why all the cookie love? Life is short, number one. And just because I have celiac disease  (for twenty years and counting) doesn't mean I surrender to a life without  chocolate chip cookies  and mint chocolate chip cookies . I'm not giving up on warm-from-the-oven melty chocolate goodness. I'm most definitely not settling for any month old pre-packaged gluten-free poor excuse for a cookie. No way. Not gonna happen. Because a good cookie is no small thing. A good cookie can make you smile, even after a long, achingly crappy day. A good cookie m

Italian Dreams.  There isn't a speck of Italian blood in me. Allegedly. No blood lines (even faint ones) to trace back to Italy's flavor and culture rich boot. I claim no Italian grandmother with deft, gnarled hands who could roll out ravioli dough in her sleep. No puttering, gardening grandfather who offered me my first taste of a sun warmed tomato straight off the string-tied vine. We didn't have lasagna on our Thanksgiving table. Or baked ziti. My mother never mixed me an almond infused Italian soda after a rough day at school. So why is Italian food forever, for me, the ultimate comfort food? Hungry, angry, lonely, tired- what do I crave? Spaghetti slick with garlicky olive oil and red pepper flakes. Bubbling hot lasagna. Fresh baked focaccia. Bruschetta. Risotto with butternut squash. Baked stuffed pasta shells. All heaven. The tough part is- living gluten-free AND dairy-free can seriously crush your Italian gilded comfort food dreams. Back in the

Chocolate Mint Cookie Love.  Okay.  I'll say it up front. For all those perceptive Readers out there. This post? It's a redux slash revamp of a previous chocolate cookie recipe. Why? Because Darling, we are always tweaking and gently nudging recipes toward perfection around here. Though as you and I well know, perfection is unattainable (in the gluten-free vegan baking world, that is). But we can come close. Very close. And with this latest peppermint chocolate chip incarnation we are a good nibble closer to the best chocolate cookie yet. So of course, I had to tweak and share. These remind me of those Girl Scout cookies called Thin Mints. Except they're chubby (though I suppose one could flatten them a bit if one was so inclined). These peppermint laced fudgy sweethearts are crisp chocolate goodness. We freeze ours and serve them slightly chilled. Those of you more adept at fancy baking could try creating heart shapes.  These are lovely warm from the oven with an ice

A Luscious Lemon Cookie. Dusted with sugary snow. It is a vaguely unnerving thing to look back and see the past curving away behind you, blurring into a soft and distant memory. So often we food bloggers write about the future, imagining holidays like Christmas (and lemon cookies) perched in a hot SoCal apartment on a bright August afternoon, conjuring the stillness of snow and December candlelight. Such is the blogging life- often a life lived forward, imagining the new. Today, however, in mid December 2021, I find myself in chilly northern Connecticut. We had our first snow this week- powdering the trees and walkways with a magical white blanket. I immediately thought of this cookie recipe--- And wished I had some. Happy Mid December! Perhaps you'll try baking up a batch of these delectable lemon laced cookies for the holidays. Karina xo

Divine Gluten-Free Layer Bars. From my kitchen to yours. This classic style dessert is a family favorite- my chocolate-coconut layer bar recipe. Simple to make. Sweet and gooey and bliss inducing. And most important? You can offer them at any gathering without a gluten-free apology. (Would that be, Don't ask, don't tell?) Chill before serving, if you like, for a snappy, cold burst of sweetness. Cheers- Karina xo Karina's Nirvana Layer Bars Recipe By Karina Allrich For son Alex's last night home I made a batch of these wonderfully rich and decadent bars. Truthfully, they're more like candy than cookie. Gooey and divine, they made the men in the house simply go, "Ahhhhhhhh." "Nirvana?" I asked. "You betcha," was the lip-smacking reply. Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter (or vegan buttery stick, such as Earth Balance) 1 1/2 cups gluten-free chocolate cookies, processed into crumbs 1 cup (heaping) semi-sweet or dark chocola

A Cookie for Grown Ups. I was seriously jonesing for a crunchy, dunkable coffee treat this week.  I decided to try a new mix of high protein lower carb flours and agave to make a lower glycemic cookie. Not an all-you-can-eat cookie. But a smarter cookie choice. A cookie for grown-ups. And guess what? If you're looking for a treat that is chocolaty and crisp and dunk worthy, and if you've tamed your sweet tooth and don't expect a sugar high sexy explosion, this recipe just might tickle your fancy. So crunch and dunk away, My Sweets. Karina xo

Chocolate Gingerbread, Gluten-Free Goddess Style The flannel soft sky is spitting snow today. The wood stove is lit, warming our bodies and our spirits. The pandemic news is tough. In the category of the vulnerable, the two of us have been isolating and social distancing for over twenty months, masking up when out of the house, and accepting the vaccine (three times now, counting the booster). We are taking care of each other. Listening to the experts. Cautious and hopeful. Saddened and empathetic. The numbers of the fallen are devastating. We are literally living through a historic, world wide catastrophic event.  I cheer my fragile spirit by baking. I put on my holiday playlist and stir cocoa-laced batter with a wooden spoon, imagining my fellow gluten-free bakers- all of you- out there- standing in your own humble kitchens, beating strange flours and non-traditional ingredients with a hefty dash of hope.  By Winter Solstice I will celebrate another gluten-free anniversary. NUM

This time of year simply begs for gingersnaps- the classic and humble cookie that tastes old fashioned and elegant and post new wave all at once. A subtle, spicy, gingery bite that snaps with a crunch to awaken satiated taste buds soaked in a holiday sea of egg nog, cheese logs and peanut butter balls. Fancy cookies, these are not. Slathered with green icing and star sprinkles? Not exactly. Though, you could, I suppose. Slather these. And sprinkle with abandon. If you're of a mindset that more is more, and nurture not the minimalist mantra of Less. The choice is yours. Go old fashioned and let the gingersnap goodness tingle on its own. Or go wild. And get your frosting on. It's your party. Karina xox

A tasty new granola recipe for the coming Winter season? Yes! Our latest, easiest, crave worthy homemade granola recipe is a veritable breeze to make. And it's endlessly customizable. Add dried coconut, cashews, nuts, seeds or dried berries to your cereal loving heart's content. Use our favorite spice blend (pumpkin pie), or substitute your own preference. In fact, our combo of pure maple syrup and a touch of brown sugar is so delicious, you may decide, as we often do, to leave the spices out. It's THAT good. All you need is a sturdy sheet pan/cookie sheet.  And an oven, of course.  You know, to bake it in. Your house will smell like a cottage bakery. Cheers--- and please be safe out there! Karina xo

Have I got a Faux for you. My last cookie post stirred up a veritable stew of feelings. From oat-loving high fives and boogie till the cows come home oatmeal cookie bliss, to very sad, That's okay, I'll sit this one out in the corner moping. Because oatmeal? It's not for everyone. Apparently, oats can sometimes be unkind to certain sensitive celiac tummies. They are high in fiber. Which messes with some folks.  And others  believe the trouble starts with its globulin or legume-like protein called avenalin. Some think it's the "soluble" fiber factor. Other gluten-free diet centrics believe that the prolemine in oats called avenin triggers a celiac-like response. Or that oats are too often contaminated during the harvesting process. The debate rages on. And I'm no scientist, I'm sorry to tell you, so I'll sit this one out.  But that does not mean, Darling, that I am not motivated to figure out an alternative to oats in such a class

Feel like baking up something delicious for the coming holiday season? Try these easy gluten-free pie crust recipes. They'll work for all kinds of fillings- from key lime custard to pumpkin, cheesecake to chocolate chiffon. And the nifty part is- they're dairy-free as well as gluten-free. Note: If you love baking with butter and dairy, simply use your preferred dairy choice. Subs are noted. Keep your taste buds happy, folks. Cheers, Karina xo

I have a tasty tip for you. Why not spice up your turkey leftovers this year? Rather than the typical turkey soup, or reheated bird and stuffing, I say perk up your taste buds. Make enchiladas! This recipe is an homage to my sons who tend to like their enchiladas with roasted green chiles and tomatillo salsa. Not to mention, drizzles of fresh lime juice, or chunks of sweet pineapple. My latest version in this familial genre features leftover turkey and sweet potatoes- a combo that makes for some seriously scrumptious enchiladas. I kid you not.  As always, make these as mild or as spicy as your little heart desires. Be well- be safe! Take care of each other. Karina xo

A Tea Bread Slice That Tastes Like Pie? Yes please. For the holidays! I am forever looking for ways to bake with pumpkin (aren't you, Babycakes?). So I absolutely had to share our latest recipe, baked fresh and warm and tender and spicy, just this morning, filling our chilly kitchen with the cozy autumnal aroma of pumpkin pie. It was simply too darn tasty to keep to ourselves. We are, after all, in the thick of the season of gratitude and giving. And the best part is- for many of us- this gluten-free recipe has nary a single gum. No xanthan gum. No guar gum. No locust bean gum. No weirdo ingredients. Just a whole lotta YUM. Have a safe and delicious holiday weekend! Karina xo

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake, Darling. Silky. Creamy. Divine. Quick question. Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving is just around the corner. The annual Pumpkin Spice Love Fest has been tickling our tastebuds for weeks. So I ask you. Are you tired of the sensible, traditional pumpkin pie? Wanna kick things up and create some gluten-free love food for the vegans and dairy-free folks visiting this holiday season? Every family has one. Or two. Or six. Are you with me? Because I am here to lure you- with a silver fork-worthy dessert recipe totally worth baking. This is a silky, creamy pumpkin cheesecake that begs for a party. Or a family rumpus. One of many last hurrahs as daylight dwindles darkly toward the Winter Solstice low point, flickering her last sigh Northward before the pale glare of January dawns in all her cold and sober glory (and I step- ever so gingerly- on the reality check scale). And maybe, sigh. A little hint of a sigh. Because even though it is pre-Thanksgiving, pr