My youngest son & me

My youngest son & me

About me

Hi!
My name is Tanja (Sater) Miller and I'm excited about sharing my journey of converting my favorite recipes to gluten free! I am not a fancy cook - I prefer just a casual, fun meal. I am married with grown children (and have small grandchildren) & 3 dogs. I work full time as a registered nurse & I am a geek. Yes, I love Star Trek, Star Wars, Fringe, Firefly, Farscape and most of the other Scify shows. You will probably see a little of my geek side come out once in a while! Please join me on my journey of cooking, baking & converting every day recipes into yummy gluten free meals that everyone can enjoy (not just those with a gluten allergy!) Don't be shy about checking out my recipes....I have the gluten free version along with the regular recipe that I adapted from!

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Gluten Free Dog Biscuits

Gluten Free Dog Biscuits. Yes, everyone at our house gets gluten free baked goodies. I can't touch regular flour anymore without getting hives plus I have one dog that has a gluten allergy. How do I know he has a gluten allergy? He lost ALL of his hair (he ended up looking like a Chinese Crested dog), was irritable, itchy and grouchy. We had him tested for just about everything and all the blood work came back normal. Then I decided to put him on a gluten free diet. Within 6 weeks he was feeling much better, less itchy and his beautiful hair grew back. That was over a year ago. He now is a happy little dog with a beautiful silky coat! (I also have another dog that is allergic to cheese so I don't add cheese to my biscuits but you can add it if you prefer). If your dog does not have a gluten allergy then feel free to use regular or whole wheat flour. I use whatever gluten free flour I have on hand....sometimes it is a combination of different gluten free flours I want to use up. It will all work just fine. This dog biscuit recipe isn't as finicky as normal human baked gluten free treats so you don't have to use a specific gluten free flour. It is a good way for me to use up flours I don't use often or ones I don't like much! I am picky when it comes to gluten free flour blends in my baked goods. You can also make your own rice flour by grinding either brown or white rice in your blender until a fine powder. You might want to to this in small batches because it can over heat your blender. You can also grind up your oats for a fine powder if you prefer.

Gluten free dog biscuits are difficult to find and very expensive. I have 3 dogs that love treats. It gets rather pricey to purchase enough for all 3 dogs. They act like little kids...if one gets something different....they pout. Needless to say...they all get the gluten free diet. Nina (my youngest dog) is by far the pickiest of them. She only likes certain flavors and they have to meet her high standards. If they taste "gluten free" or don't have enough flavor then she WON'T eat them! I tried a lot of different recipes and she snubbed them all (even the store bought ones) until I came up with these 3 recipes that she LOVES! My dogs really like it if I make them biscuits with tuna but I can't handle the smell of them so I avoid making them most of the time! ;)

Here is the first one: (this is my dogs' favorite biscuit recipe)

Meat & Veggie Dog Biscuits:
  • 1 1/2 cups broth (I use left over broth from cooking if possible. I include any little bit of fat, seasonings and little tiny meat scraps. Canned broth works fine too but it isn't usually as flavorful).
  • 1 tbs. paprika
  • 1 tbs. parsley or basil
  • 1 cup cooked rice (I use left over rice if I have any, otherwise I just use instant rice since it takes less time to cook)
  • 1-2 tbs. powdered beef or chicken bullion (make sure it is labeled gluten free! I used Mazola brand that I found at the Mexican market which was labeled gluten free). 
  • 2 1/2 cups of gluten free flour (any gluten free flour will work. I have tried a different variety of them and since these don't need to rise like regular baked goods, any of them will work. I use whatever I have on hand or whatever is on sale. Today, I used 2 cups of brown rice flour + 1/2 cup of gluten free oats). If your dog does not have a gluten allergy, you can use regular flour!
  • 1 cup finely chopped or pureed cooked vegetables (I used some leftover broccoli, cauliflower, green bean & carrot mixed veggie blend that we had leftover from dinner last night.  If I have any left over meat scraps or leftover lunch meat then I will chop them up real fine and toss them into the mix also. If I have any bacon grease or bacon bits...I have been known to add it for some extra flavor. I did not add bacon today since I didn't have any on hand. (poor doggies!)
Mix all ingredients together. If you have a heavy duty mixer (I used my kitchen-aid mixer today) then use it. Otherwise, use your hands to mix it up. The batter will be thick and could break your regular hand mixer. I am speaking from experience! If it is too dry then add a splash of water or more broth. If it is too moist then add a little more gluten free flour. You don't have to mix it perfect. Just mix  it until you can spread it out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Batter should be similar to thick brownie dough. I don't roll it out and cut it into shapes at this point. To get a nice crispy dog biscuit, I bake them twice like you do a biscotti type cookie. It will keep them from molding and give you a crisp dog biscuit without burning them. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. (Note: I did not cut them into shapes yet! I do it before I bake them the 2nd time!) Turn oven off but let the biscuits cool in the oven. I usually do this in the evening and let them cool overnight in the oven. I pull the parchment paper with the partially baked dough (the texture will be like a soft cookie at this point) and cut out my shapes or just cut them into squares using a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Then I toss them into a 275 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes. Let them cool completely and they should be nice & crunchy. If for any reason they are not crunchy after cool...put them back into the oven at 275 degrees for additional 10-15 minutes. Let them cool completely and make sure they are crunchy before storing so they don't mold.
 
Peanut Butter Biscuits
  • 2 1/2 cups gluten free flour or gluten free oats (or combination). I used buckwheat flour today because I had some leftover and I wanted to use it up. Buckwheat is gluten free even though it has the name "wheat" in it. I have used rice flour, oats or a combination gluten free blend and they have all worked just fine. I have also used Maseca brand gluten free corn flour. My dogs don't have an allergy to corn so I  have used it without issues. If your dog does not have a gluten allergy, you can use regular flour!
  • 1 cup peanut butter or almond butter (I like to use crunchy just because it adds texture)
  • 1 tbs. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (optional)
  • enough water or broth to get a brownie like texture dough (I used about 1/3 cup today but it varies depending on which type flour you use)
Mix all ingredients together. If you have a heavy duty mixer (I used my kitchen-aid mixer today) then use it. Otherwise, use your hands to mix it up. The batter will be thick and could break your regular hand mixer. I am speaking from experience! If it is too dry then add a splash of water or more broth. If it is too moist then add a little more gluten free flour. You don't have to mix it perfect. Just mix  it until you can spread it out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Batter should be similar to thick brownie dough. I don't roll it out and cut it into shapes at this point. To get a nice crispy dog biscuit, I bake them twice like you do a biscotti type cookie. It will keep them from molding and give you a crisp dog biscuit without burning them. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. (Note: I did not cut them into shapes yet! I do it before I bake them the 2nd time!) Turn oven off but let the biscuits cool in the oven. I usually do this in the evening and let them cool overnight in the oven. I pull the parchment paper with the partially baked dough (the texture will be like a soft cookie at this point) and cut out my shapes or just cut them into squares using a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Then I toss them into a 275 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes. Let them cool completely and they should be nice & crunchy. If for any reason they are not crunchy after cool...put them back into the oven at 275 degrees for additional 10-15 minutes. Let them cool completely and make sure they are crunchy before storing so they don't mold.


Pumpkin Biscuits:
  • 2 1/2 cups gluten free flour or gluten free oats (any type will work. I used rice flour today)
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree or sweet potato puree (or any squash puree)
  • 1 tbs. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (optional but my dogs like it better with this spice & it sure makes the house smell great!)
  • 1 cup finely chopped veggies or apples (I usually use either mixed vegetables, carrots or apples. (Avoid raisins or grapes because they are not healthy for your pet!)
  • enough fluid (water or broth) to get a brownie dough like consistency. 
 Mix all ingredients together. If you have a heavy duty mixer (I used my kitchen-aid mixer today) then use it. Otherwise, use your hands to mix it up. The batter will be thick and could break your regular hand mixer. I am speaking from experience! If it is too dry then add a splash of water or more broth. If it is too moist then add a little more gluten free flour. You don't have to mix it perfect. Just mix  it until you can spread it out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Batter should be similar to thick brownie dough. I don't roll it out and cut it into shapes at this point. To get a nice crispy dog biscuit, I bake them twice like you do a biscotti type cookie. It will keep them from molding and give you a crisp dog biscuit without burning them. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. (Note: I did not cut them into shapes yet! I do it before I bake them the 2nd time!) Turn oven off but let the biscuits cool in the oven. I usually do this in the evening and let them cool overnight in the oven. I pull the parchment paper with the partially baked dough (the texture will be like a soft cookie at this point) and cut out my shapes or just cut them into squares using a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Then I toss them into a 275 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes. Let them cool completely and they should be nice & crunchy. If for any reason they are not crunchy after cool...put them back into the oven at 275 degrees for additional 10-15 minutes. Let them cool completely and make sure they are crunchy before storing so they don't mold.



Mmmmm. I love mommy's homemade gluten free biscuits. They don't taste like cardboard! :) I am the picky eater! I approve of these recipes!


This is my dog Rico (he has gluten allergy) when he first started losing his hair. We took him multiple times to the vet for blood work and no one could figure out what was wrong with him. He was miserable. Every test came back normal.

This is Rico at his worst. He lost almost all his hair, he was pink, itchy and irritable (not to mention...hairless!)


This is Rico on a gluten free diet. His hair has grown back silky and full, no itchy skin and much happier!

Taste testing the biscuits! Yummy!
These are the meat & veggie version

Up close view of the meat & veggie version. You can see how crisp they look


Here are the peanut butter version that I got lazy and just cut into squares. My dogs actually prefer the square shape because I think they size is easier to manage. Besides, they expect two treats in the morning before work and smaller ones last longer!

Here is a small jar as a gift for my new grand puppy!

You can see the rich, golden peanut butter color.

I like to gift them up as Christmas gifts for my neighbors with dogs. I put in a clear cellophane party bag and either tie with curly ribbon, string or just close with a colored clothes pin. I usually attach a note with the flavor of the biscuits or include the recipe...so dog parents know what ingredients are in the biscuits in case their dog has allergies.

Here is a look at the pumpkin flavored biscuits
I hope you like the easy recipe for home made gluten free dog biscuits. I will say that your house will smell wonderful. My hubby thought I was making a beef pot roast or pot pie yesterday when the meat & veggie biscuits were baking and my neighbor stopped over today and asked what I was cooking because it smelled awesome. Hahahaha! Dog biscuits! Yes, all of these smell incredible while baking and I guess you could eat them if you wanted. There isn't any preservatives in them. They may not taste like your sweet biscotti but you could technically eat them if you wanted! :) I know a lot of people add eggs or milk to their biscuits but I didn't see any reason to add them and decided to just keep the recipe simple. You can substitute items to customize the recipe. The recipe is really flexible and is just a basic recipe that you can substitute with items you have on hand.

Enjoy!
Tanja
Gluten Free Casually

Monday, August 25, 2014

My Star Wars Baker's Hutch "Upcycle" Project


Although this is a cooking blog...I have been asked by so many people to share my recent "geek project".  Since it is related to cooking, I decided I would share. I love geeky items like Star Wars, Star Trek, green aliens, etc. I wanted a baker's cabinet but didn't want to spend a lot of money and I wanted something on the geeky side rather than a "girly" flower type cabinet. I found a used hutch on craigslist for a decent price then I got started on my project.

I researched a lot before I got started. I didn't want to keep the original maple color and the hutch wasn't in perfect condition. It was used, had some minor scratches and dents but was perfect for the "upcycle" project I had in mind. I wanted to go with fun, bright colors to match the kitchen chairs that I re-upholstered with the help of my friend Laura. (My friend Judi scored me the awesome Star Wars fabric!) I really loved the fun print and the bold, sassy colors in the geek fabric and I wanted to bring the same fun colors into the hutch.

Before I got started, I researched the best way to paint furniture. Although there are many great products out there and a lot of different ways to do it, I chose to clean the wood furniture really well with Dawn dish soap and water. I purchased Zinsser primer. It doesn't require you to sand the furniture or strip it first which is convenient. It got great reviews online so I decided to try it. I did two coats of the Zinsser primer (letting it dry between layers). The primer coat doesn't have to be perfect.

Since we really like the Valspar paint, I chose two colors that were a close match to my fabric. I chose the colors "pool party" which is a dark turquoise blue color and "sassy green" which is a very bright lime color. I won't tell you about the eye rolls I got from the people behind the paint counter. They asked what I was painting with bright colors. I whip out my fabric and show them how well it matches! They asked me if I was doing a kid's bedroom. Hahahahahaha! When I told them it was for a Star Wars themed hutch...for a kitchen....well....I think they were speechless. You know you are a total geek when people don't get as enthusiastic about a geek project as you do. I tend to be a bit of a chatterbox and I can get quite enthusiastic about things I love. Well...I quickly realized that my audience at Lowe's were giving me the "Crazy Lady" looks...so I grabbed my paint and hurried home. I am sure the contractors listening at the counter where thankful that I wasn't their wife! Star Wars Kitchen?! Heck, I doubt any of them even knew who Yoda was. Hahahaha! Anyway...I did two coats of each paint in the areas I used them. I used a small smooth roller on the sides and top for faster & smoother application and a brush every place else. I did not put a "sealer" top coat over the paint. I was told it would eventually turn a yellowish color and that it wasn't needed since it isn't a kitchen table and won't be getting abused.

The insides of the cabinet were just cheap particle board and I like a surface that is easy to clean up. We chose to get some inexpensive peel & stick linoleum tiles and cut to fit in each of the drawers and the bottom of the cabinet. I know I would end up spilling something eventually and I wanted it to look neat and easy to clean!

Then came the knobs. Wow...I had a difficult time finding knobs. Not only are they EXPENSIVE but I couldn't find anything geeky or modern in my price range. I needed 16 knobs and I sure didn't want to pay more money for knobs than I had for the cabinet. I also didn't want to go with cheap plastic knobs or with something girly. So I did some brain storming. I had silicone ice cube/chocolate molds that I had received as a gift. I knew that I should be able to make some type of knobs out of clay. I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased some clay that you can bake (Of course I used my 40% coupon that I found online!). If you don't have a Hobby Lobby near you, I am sure any craft store like Michael's, JoAnn Fabrics and even the craft department at Wal-Mart will have the clay. Just make sure it is the type you bake. Read instructions because each brand is slightly different. They come in colors or white that you can paint. (I bought the colored). I measured the size screws that I would need. My grand-daughter (age 2) helped me press the clay into the molds. I carefully placed the screw in the unbaked clay. Then I baked the molds with the clay & screws for 30 minutes at 275 degrees. I let them cool then I gently popped them out. BINGO! Inexpensive custom knobs! Geek alert!

After it was all assembled, I thought I needed a little more green accent. I purchased some green clay (the one you can bake) and rolled it out on parchment paper. I used a Yoda cookie cutter to cut the Yoda accent piece. I used an industrial glue to attach it.

I am pleased with the results. It isn't perfect...if you look closely I am sure you can find a few flaws but it works great for my geeky baker's hutch. It offers storage for my baking supplies. I have enclosed pictures of my project in stages so anyone that is interested in making something similar at home can do it easily.

My silicone DarthVader Molds (suppose to be for ice cubes or chocolate...but you can make knobs out of them!)

This is the base of the hutch. I had already taken the top off and started to dissemble it before I remembered to take photos. Sorry!

I took all the hinges off the doors and put them in a bag & labeled it

The drawers

After two coats of the Zinsser primer paint (it is white)

2 coats of the Zinsser primer

After Two coats of the "Pool Party" blue color from Valspar (I chose satin finish)


This is the maple top portion of the hutch. I have already removed the door and the drawer

After two coats of the Zinsser primer paint

My green clay and Yoda cookie cutter. I baked on parchment paper at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Cooled off and slightly hardened. Ready to glue onto my hutch for accent color and fun!


This is the hutch ready to use! (Don't mind the unfinished walls behind it. This geek kitchen is still  under remodeling!

Another view of the hutch after it is assembled


These are the kitchen chairs that gave me the idea for the colors of the hutch

Up close view of the super cool fabric!

GEEK ALERT! Star Wars Hutch!

Up close view of my Darth Vader Knobs

I am using a Darth Vader Halloween Pail as my utensil holder

My Star Wars empty popcorn tins now hold my gluten free baking flours & sugars

Inside the little door on the hutch top piece. It will store my measuring cups & spoons in addition to some spices
I hope you enjoy my little geek project. I had a lot of fun doing it and I like how it pulled together the colors from the Star Wars kitchen chairs. I would like to say "SORRY" to the lady I bought the hutch from. She was so excited that it was going to a good home. I think she was under the impression that I was going to strip it down and refinish it. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was about to "GEEK" up her grandma's hutch. The hutch will be loved & cherished though! :)

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. By the way, I did not get paid or compensated in any way to recommend the products I used. I am honestly telling you what I used in case someone else would like to do a similar project.

Geeky Girl
Tanja


Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken. I have had several requests for more quick & easy dinner recipes. Everyone loves recipes that get you dinner to the table fast without a lot of prep work. Here is another recipe that I really like because not only is it easy &  affordable but you can change the ingredients slightly for a whole new flavor. I love versatile recipes like that! You can change the flavor of the cheese you use, you can substitute boneless pork loin or thick cut boneless pork chops for the chicken and change out the spinach for any other type of thin cut veggie that will cook fast or substitute the spinach with thinly sliced ham, pepperoni or salami. It all works. Use whatever you have on hand or whatever is on sale at the grocery store. If you have leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken that is already cooked...you can just layer everything in a greased casserole dish and bake. It will turn out heavenly! It is a great way to "recycle" that leftover holiday turkey!

I like it because you just slice partway through the chicken or pork and put your ingredients in the slits, sprinkle with your favorite seasoning, cover & bake or grill (or you can even just put it in the crock pot before work so it is ready when you get home! Just be sure to add some fluid to the crock pot so you don't burn your meat). How easy is that? These freeze great too so feel free to make a big batch of them and freeze either before or after cooking for a super quick meal later. I serve with rice or gluten free pasta. Depending on what flavor seasonings and "fillings" I use in the chicken (or pork) will determine how I season my rice or pasta. Sometimes I just keep it simple and sprinkle on a light drizzle of olive oil with the same seasoning I used on the chicken.  (The Weber brand Zesty Lemon flavor seasoning is great on rice & pasta in place of sauce. You can use seasonings to season a lot of things besides meat! Think outside the box! It is a great way to make your own gluten free seasoned rice!) Most of the boxed seasoned rice contain gluten so I like to make my own. Not only is it healthier but it sure tastes great & more affordable! (I AM NOT GETTING PAID TO SPONSOR OR GETTING FREE PRODUCTS TO PROMOTE PRODUCTS. I DON'T HAVE ADS ON MY BLOG. I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU WHAT I LIKE & USE AT HOME IN MY KITCHEN!) One of my co-workers got me hooked on the Weber seasonings & I love them! They are very flavorful, affordable & labeled gluten free!

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Recipe:
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or pork loin or thick cut boneless chops. You could probably do this with thick cut boneless beef too)
  • handful of fresh spinach (or substitute any thinly cut vegetable that will cook fast like zucchini, onions, peppers, kale, etc.)
  • Sliced Cheese (any flavor, I just don't use processed cheese like American because it melts too fast and makes a mess)
  • Seasoning to sprinkle on top of the meat (any flavor you want. I used Weber brand Zesty Lemon flavor in today's recipe. It is labeled gluten free & it is very flavorful. It has a strong lemon flavor!)
Here is my boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I'm only making two today!

One of my new favorite seasonings. Gluten Free!

Cut the chicken or pork just a little over half way through to make slits. Don't cut it all the way through.

Stuff the slits with your ingredients & sprinkle with seasoning. Bake 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes, until chicken juice runs clear. I bake it in a covered dish to keep the chicken moist and help it cook faster. If you are putting it on the grill, I like to wrap in foil that has been sprayed with a light coat of oil to keep everything from sticking & keep the chicken moist. If you are putting it in the crock pot...be sure to add water or fluid to keep it from burning.


Here is the chicken after 25 minutes in my oven. I save the juice from the meat  and use it to make my instant rice. It adds a lot of extra flavor. It will be like using a flavored chicken broth. Since these were lean chicken breasts, it isn't fatty.

Ready to eat!

Up close view of how moist & delicious it is!

See how great the seasoning is covering the chicken? Yummy!

Looks like a fancy restaurant dish but it only took a few minutes & a few ingredients to prepare before you stuff it in the oven to bake. Whip up some instant rice or pasta if you are in a hurry & you have a quick, inexpensive dinner! :)

Inside of the chicken after it was cut. Moist & juicy!

I hope you enjoy this super affordable, quick & easy dish that looks like you spent a lot of time and money on it. It is impressive enough to serve guests but simple enough for any weeknight dinner. Yep, these are the recipes I like. Simple, affordable, casual yet delicious! Have a great day!

Enjoy!
Tanja
Gluten Free Casually


Monday, August 11, 2014

Mashed Potato Puffs

Mashed Potato Puffs. These are incredibly easy, affordable and absolutely delicious. So much easier than making fried mashed potato cakes! These are creamier than a twice baked potato but similar in concept. You can customize these by adding any of your favorite potato toppings. These are great for breakfast, brunch or even as a side dish for dinner. I love these because you can make the mashed potato puffs ahead for parties and just pop them in the oven right before you need them. I love them because they taste like you spent a ton of precious time making them but actually they go together pretty fast and it is a great way to use up any left over mashed potatoes after the holidays! These will also freeze great!

This is a budget friendly recipe to make for a crowd. I try to make affordable foods that everyone can eat. Kids LOVE them! I don't have to purchase any specialty food items which can be very expensive and potatoes are very affordable. You can use any type of potatoes for this recipe. I have used red skin potatoes, Idaho baking potatoes, butter potatoes, white potatoes and even sweet potatoes. They all work!

I love to serve them when we have a BBQ dinner on the patio. They go great with grilled steaks, ribs, pork chops or chicken. I like serving them instead of mashed potatoes because it seems like it feeds more people. I think my boys can each eat 3 cups of mashed potatoes! However, when I serve these, everyone eats 2-3 and it seems like I can feed more people! Since everything is pre-cooked, you can even just toss the muffin tins on the grill (my grill has a temperature gauge so I can control the heat) or you can cook them in your oven. Keep in mind they take about 25-35 minutes so they get nice & crusty on the top....so be sure to start them before you cook the meat! Oh...and if you are thinking outside the box...these also go great with chili. Don't ask me why but they taste delicious with spicy chili or with eggs for breakfast! Yummy!

I make homemade mashed potatoes which go together pretty quick because I don't peel the potatoes. I wash them, cut them up, boil them until soft and mash them with real butter and salt & a splash of milk or broth. (Sometimes I add some fancy herbs, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, etc). I don't bother peeling the potatoes. Let's face it, we are all busy and I convince everyone that the peels are packed with nutrients. I like the texture it adds. Bottom line is...if you want homemade mashed potatoes at my house...you get them slightly chunky with peels unless you plan on peeling them. I don't like peeling potatoes! I have never made these potato puffs with instant mashed potatoes so I am not sure if they would turn out as well. I am not very good at making instant mashed potatoes. It seems to take me longer to get the texture right than if I just make them from scratch.

Mashed Potato Puffs: (makes about 12 potato puffs about the size of a muffin)
  • 3 cups of mashed potatoes (I like to use just basic mashed potatoes with butter, salt & splash of milk or broth)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (any type you want. I used shredded Mexican blend cheese today). I also like using a chipotle cheddar cheese or a smoky gouda cheese. Use whatever kind of cheese you have on hand.
  • 2 tbs. parmesan cheese or cream cheese, optional (I like to add one of these but you don't need to do it)
  • finely chopped green onions or rosemary, optional (I like to add some herbs if I have them on hand but you don't need to do it)
  • bacon bits, optional. I like to add some crunchy little real bacon bits to these if I have them on hand and I don't have any vegetarian friends over for dinner. If I am having them for a party or taking them to a brunch then I just leave out the bacon bits in case someone doesn't eat pork. 

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Spoon into greased cupcake pans. Bake in 400 degree pre-heated oven for about 25-35 minutes or until lightly golden on top. Cool a few minutes before running a knife around edges and flipping out onto serving tray. You can serve with your favorite potato toppings if desired (sour cream, salsa, etc). My family likes them without anything else!

Here are the basic (cold) mashed potatoes that I am using today

I added 2 eggs, parmesan cheese, Mexican blend cheese & bacon crumbles

Here is the potato mixture ready to spoon into greased muffin cups

Here the mashed potato puffs are prior to baking in pre-heated 400 degree oven

Fresh from the oven

Up close view of the slightly crusty top with bacon crumbles


Ready to eat


Yummy! See how the outside is slightly crunchy and the center is warm, fluffy and creamy!


I hope you enjoy this family favorite. It is a very simple, affordable and casual recipe. It is fancy enough for a holiday party or easy enough for a weeknight supper side dish!

Enjoy!
Tanja
Gluten Free Casually