Fish Sticks {Gluten Free}

 

Anyone else have crazy cravings at times? One food I rarely eat is ketchup but I do at times crave it- especially on fish sticks but since going gluten free I haven't been able to enjoy them. And recently I was craving ketchup! So time for fish sticks it was! Please make sure you use quality and sustainably sourced fish (no tilapia). I used haddock for this recipe.

Fish Sticks

haddock fish filet, cut into fish stick sized pieces (thawed if using frozen fish)

1 c gf bread crumbs (I like Glutino.)
1/2 T each onion, garlic powders, parsley
dash Old Bay
1/2 tsp pepper

2 eggs, beaten

Start oil heating in skillet (I use palm shortening as it does not go rancid at the high frying temperatures). Mix by hand the dry ingredients in bowl. Put beaten eggs in separate bowl.

Dip fish in egg then coat well in dry mixture and set on plate.

 When oil is hot enough (drop in a small crumb to test), lightly fry on both sides.
 

Set on paper towels to drain. If you are making a large batch you can place on cookie sheet in warm oven to keep warm until serving.

 These did amazing with staying together and being very dip-able in ketchup!

What I'm Loving

Sometimes you find something and it is too good not to share! Here are some of my favorite recent food finds that are healthy, delicious and satisfying!

1. Lentil Crackers (found at Big Lots)- I was first able to taste these at a recent women's retreat (they were a welcome gf option for communion bread). They are a wonderful snack to eat with #2 and #3!

2. Organic Hummus- Where do I begin...lots of health and lots of flavor to be found in hummus! A great way to get more veggies in your diet by dipping in hummus and #1 is great in it, too! Purchased at Giant.

3. Local Grass Fed Goat Cheese- I can go either way with goat cheese. Sometimes I love it and other times I feel like I am licking a goat! Thankfully this one is the former and from a farm a few miles away! Bought at the Made in America store in Dover.

4. Coconut Chia Pudding- My mom bought this for me to try for my birthday. It is a mix that is simple and fast and makes a great delicious snack and substitute for more unhealthy items (like ice cream).

BBQ Pork Ribs {gluten-free}

 
Before starting clean eating 4 1/2 years ago, I loved getting ribs at a certain chain restaurant. My husband and I would always laugh when they would bring out our meals and give him the ribs but they were always for me :)

It has been a LONG time since I have been able to enjoy ribs. I always check at the Carriage House Market, one of my favorite places for local, grassfed meats for pork ribs but I never seem to catch when they have them. FINALLY a few weeks ago they did! I was so excited!

Now came the tricky part of figuring out how to make them. I didn't have the ability (or patience) to smoke them and I didn't have hours to let them roast or grill at a low temp.

I came across this recipe for a faster cooking method and this one for the rub/sauce and decided to combine and see how it goes! They ended up being a little spicier than I normally like (and truth be told I did have heartburn) but would most definitely still eat it again, it was that good! The leftovers reheated wonderfully in the oven and the sauce was even better the next day. Perhaps adding a little honey would help tone down the heat for another try.

I want to try the BBQ sauce on other foods as well (maybe on organic hot dogs to mimic little smokies? or chicken? or cauliflower?) This recipe was for a little over 2 pounds or 2 racks.

Dry Rub

1 T Real salt
1/2 T red pepper flakes
1 T sucanat
1/2 T smoked paprika
1 T garlic powder
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp ground pepper

First step is to remove the membrane on the underside of the ribs (see the recipe links above for step by step pictures of this).

Mix together all of the ingredients in the dry rub and rub in on both sides of the ribs and place in glass dish for a few hours to overnight (as much time as you have, I put the rub on before going to work).

After letting the ribs hang out with the rub, wrap in foil and bake in 400 degree oven for one hour.

While the ribs roast, start on the BBQ sauce.

BBQ Sauce

3/4 c organic ketchup
1/4 c water
2 T sucanat
1/8 c dark molasses (not blackstrap)
1 T organic apple cider vinegar
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 T red pepper flakes
1/2 T garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (find one without high fructose corn syrup)

Combine all ingredients in small saucepan over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for the duration of the ribs roasting.Taste after cooking for a while to see if you need to add more heat and/or sweetness.

After one hour of roasting, open the foil and brush sauce on both sides of the ribs and return to oven for 15-20 minutes.

Brush with more sauce before serving if desired (we also added more sauce while eating, it was that good!)