Easy Butterscotch Puppy Chow

Puppy chow is great any time of the year, but especially so during the Christmas season. Treat your family to a new version of the classic recipe with this butterscotch puppy chow!

This recipe is so easy and delicious, and it is a great treat to snack on while wrapping gifts, watching a Christmas movie, or for putting in a pretty bowl for a holiday party. No matter when you decide to have it, you will love every bite!

If you are making the mix for a crowd, think about doubling or tripling the recipe. It will be gone quickly!

Easy Butterscotch Puppy Chow

• 1/4 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 Cup Butterscotch Chips (make sure they are gluten free!)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 4 Cups Rice Chex Cereal
• 1/2 Cup to 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
• Extra Butterscotch Chips, optional

1. In a large microwaveable bowl, combine chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and butter. Microwave 20 seconds at a time until melted.
2. Add the vanilla to the mixture and stir. Add the cereal and mix until well combined.
3. Add the powdered sugar and stir in the bowl, or toss in a sealed bag.
4. Stir in some extra butterscotch chips (optional), and serve.

Enjoy!
-Bethany

Linking up to Allergy Free Thursdays.

Homemade Gluten Free Taco Seasoning

Before we get to the recipe, I would like to share a bit about my daily eating routine. I have been a vegetarian for 5 years tomorrow, as well as being a gluten free-eating individual for over 2 years, so if you are both of those things, as well, then you might be wondering what foods are available to you. Here is what I eat on a normal day.

Breakfast:

I like to start off my day with a smoothie. I'll throw some plain Greek yogurt, 1% milk, Stevia, a black bean brownie, protein powder and ice into a blender. Then I'll blend until smooth and drink away.

Lunch:

For this mid-day meal, I like to go with a chickpea salad. The recipe for the dressing that I use will be coming to the blog sometime soon. If I want something to go along with the chickpea salad, I will either have a cheese stick, an iced coffee, a piece of dark chocolate, or another small treat.

Supper:

I take the most time for cooking when it comes to this meal, so I frequently switch things up. One day it might be grits and fresh, crockpot black beans. Another day it's enchiladas stuffed with refried beans, corn and cheese. Or it will be spaghetti with chickpea meatballs, Alfredo, black bean burgers or taquitos. I love trying new foods, and I love cooking up something special for supper.

Snacks:

If you have been following my blog for long, then you probably have caught on for my love of sweets. I love baking, and I also love eating.

Another snack I love beyond sweets is chips. I love pretty much all gluten free chips. I love tortilla chips with homemade hummus. I love cheese puffs and Cheetos and all of those good things.

There are so many options of gluten free and vegetarian foods. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - there is always something good to be eaten, even when you follow both of these diets!

Now, onto the recipe (which is great for any gluten free vegetarian to have on hand!)

This taco seasoning could not be any easier to put together, and it makes everything a little bit tastier. There are many dishes that you could add this seasoning to, and the possibilities are endless.

To make this seasoning, just gather together all of your spices...

Don't they all look pretty when they are put together like that? So colorful.

And they even look pretty when they are stirred together.

If you don't want to make a dish dirty stirring it together, though, go ahead and shake it up in the jar/container that you're going to store it in.

And there you have it. Easy and flavorful homemade taco seasoning.

Gluten Free Taco Seasoning

• 2 teaspoons Cumin
• 2 teaspoons Paprika
• 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoons Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Oregano
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1. Put all of the ingredients into a bowl with a lid, put the lid on and shake it up.
2. That's it! Enjoy on taco salads, in taquitos and more!

Adapted from this recipe.

-Bethany

Snickerdoodle Fudge - Just in Time for Valentines Day!

If you are a fan of quick-and-easy desserts, this fudge is sure to make you happy. It is the perfect recipe Valentines day, allowing you to make something special without taking a whole lot of time to do so.

Not only is it easy, it is also creamy and delicious, tasting and looking like you've put a lot of time and effort into it.

Make everyone happy - including yourself - this Valentines day, when you throw together this quick-and-easy Snickerdoodle Fudge.

Snickerdoodle Fudge

• 2 Cups White Chocolate Chips
• 1 (16 oz.) Can Vanilla Frosting
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• Cinnamon and Sugar

1. Pour white chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring occasionally.
2. Add frosting to melted chips and stir until combined, then add the cinnamon and stir again.
3. Pour into a 9x9 pan that is lined with foil, or a smaller pan for thicker fudge, and top with a cinnamon and sugar mixture.
4. Let cool and then cut into small pieces.

Adapted from this recipe.

I hope you enjoy this fudge as much as I did!

-Bethany

Recipe: Easy Gluten Free Parfait

If you are still frantically looking for a gluten free dessert to make for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I have the quick and easy solution for you.

I considered making a pie, but since I don't bake with eggs, and since gluten free pie crusts can be complicated, I couldn't make up my mind if it was worth the work. So, finally, I settled on making these super simple gluten free parfaits. I can't wait to dig into one of them tomorrow.

Easy Gluten Free Parfait

• 1 Box Vanilla Pudding
• Rice Chex, crushed
• 1 teaspoon Sugar

1. Make the pudding according to box directions.
2. Crush as many rice Chex as you'd like to fill your cups with, and add the sugar.
3. Spoon the crushed Chex into cups and then add the pudding, topping with whipped cream if you desire.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

-Bethany

Recipe: No Machine Chocolate Ice Cream

This amazing recipe comes from Gluten Free on a Shoestring. If you haven't heard of the blog, I highly recommend checking it out. There are a ton of gluten free recipes on there, and they are great!

And this one... wow. It is one of the best chocolate ice creams I have ever had.

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

• 2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream 
• 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk, minus 1/4 Cup 
• Chocolate Syrup (recipe below) 
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 

Chocolate Syrup

• 3/4 cup Sugar 
• 6 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder 
• 1/8 teaspoon Salt 
• 1/4 Cup Water 
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 

Syrup Directions

1. In a medium size, heavy bottomed saucepan, place the sugar, cocoa powder, salt, water and vanilla extract, whisking until combined. 
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar crystals are dissolved and it has just started to thicken. 
3. Remove from heat and pour into a heatproof bowl, setting aside until cooled. 

Ice Cream Directions

1. Beat whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer until soft peaks form. 
2. Add sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt to the syrup and mix together. 
3. With the beaters running, slowly pour in the syrup mixture, beating until fully incorporated. 
4. Fold in mixing if you are using any. 
5. Freeze (minimum of four hours), serve and enjoy!

I have tried the original recipe with brownie dough, and also tried these add-ins; cookie dough, homemade marshmallow pieces, and chocolate sandwich cookies. I'm excited to try many more in the future! This ice cream is, like, seriously the best chocolate ice cream ever.
-Bethany

Recipe: Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

To me, there is nothing better than a good frosting. Whether it's coating a cake, brownies or eaten straight from the bowl, frosting is my favorite. 

And chocolate frosting? Even better.

Especially Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
• 3-4 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 2-3 Tablespoons Milk
• 1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

1. Cream butter in a large bowl for about a minute or so. 
2. Add three cups of powdered sugar and beat again until combined. 
3. Add two or three Tablespoons of milk, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt and beat again, for about three minutes. Add more milk if necessary.
4. Sample. Frost. Sample. Repeat.

Enjoy!
-Bethany