Tomato Soup and Arepas
Posted: April 24, 2019 Filed under: Gluten Free, Recipe | Tags: Arepas, Easy Gluten Free Recipes for New Celiacs, Gluten Free, Naturally Gluten Free, tomato soup 6 Comments
Of course tomato soup is great with grilled cheese, but to change it up I decided to pair the soup with arepas. I really never thought about making my own tomato soup and decided to give it a try. This recipe is tasty and easy. It is naturally gluten free. Click on Arepas for that recipe.
Homemade Tomato Soup
Makes 4 to 6 servings
1 – 28oz can of whole tomatoes
1 – 12oz jar of roasted red peppers drained
1/4 cup of half and half
1 1/2 teaspoons of Kosher salt
1 teaspoon of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of water
Put all ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth. Pour into a medium sauce pan and heat on medium, stirring often for about 8 minutes or until hot.
Arepas – Naturally Gluten Free
Posted: April 22, 2019 Filed under: Gluten Free, Recipe | Tags: Arepas, Easy Gluten Free Recipes for New Celiacs, Naturally Gluten Free 4 Comments
Arepas are often served in South American restaurants and of course, are very popular in South American. They are easy to make at home.
Arepas are made from precooked corn flour and the one that I used is P.A.N. It is marked GF and is found in many grocery stores. Bob’s Red Mill also makes a harina precocida which can be used. As always, check it carefully if you have Celiac.
This recipe makes slightly crispy thin arepas, which I like to use as a substitute for a dinner roll. They can also be topped with cheese, tomatoes or black beans. Arepas can also be made larger and stuffed like a sandwich.
I like to use plastic wrap to shape them and keep my hands clean.
1 cup arepa flour P.A.N. (or any harina precocida)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups of boiling water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
Add boiling water and stir
Cover and let stand for 5 minutes
*****
Put dough on a piece of plastic wrap and form a 2 inch thick disk.
Cut into 6 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball and flatten into a 3 inch disk – use plastic wrap to keep the dough from sticking on your hands
Heat a large skillet on medium high, coat with cooking spray and add a small amount of oil
Cool 5 minutes or more until arepas turn golden brown and form a crust
Move the arepas to a baking sheet coated with spray
Bake for 20 minutes
Enjoy!
I also used this recipe with Pulled Pork Arepas Appetizers.
Old Faithfuls
Posted: April 15, 2019 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Black and Blue Salvia, Black Eyed Susan, Butterflly Weed, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Gulf Coast Penstemon, Passalong Plant, Salvia coccinea, Salvia guaranitica, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 15 Comments
Black and Blue Salvia guaranitica.
Salvia coccinea
Black Eyed Susan
Butterfly Weed
Gulf Coast Penstemon
These plants are the backbone of my garden. I can count on them every year. Many have been transplanted from my former house nearly 20 years ago and others are passalongs. They have faithfully grown and multiplied for years and should continue to do so.
Camellias Still Blooming
Posted: April 10, 2019 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, My Kitchen Window, Professor Sargent Camellia, Red Velvet Camellia, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, White by the Gate Camellia, Year-round gardening 12 Comments
My camellias have been having an outstanding year. They have been blooming since the end of January. I am so thrilled, I just had to take more pictures of them. The Red Velvet has more flowers than ever. I think it helped that deer didn’t eat the shrub this year.
White by the Gate has had very little discoloration from fungus despite the rains this year.
I do not know what is different this year, but the Camellias have given me months of pleasure. Professor Sargent has a few more buds to open.
Fantastic Fringe
Posted: April 8, 2019 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Chionanthus virginicus, Fringe Tree, Gardening, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 13 Comments
Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a native to the southeast and because of that it is very easy to grow and virtually pest resistant. Surprisingly, this one is still alive after being hit by a tree during Hurricane Ike. Its lightly scented fringe-like flowers remind me of shredded coconut when they fall to the ground.
This fantastic Fringe Tree is really worth adding to a Southern landscape.
Foraging for Volunteers
Posted: March 31, 2019 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Black Eyed Susan, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Hardy Gloxinia, Hinckley's Columbine, Oenothera grandiflora, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 16 Comments
The Automatic Garden is full of plants that multiply in one way or another. The offspring does not always land in a bed. A Polka Dot plant came up in the cobble stones among leaves and Elm tree seedlings.
I love to forage around my yard looking for volunteers. This Black-eyed Susan is growing happily between the patio and grass.
It is always amazing how little soil is needed for a plant to germinate. A Columbine and Hardy Gloxinia are growing on this moss rock.
The Oenothera grandiflora preferred to grow in the grass and managed to survive several mowings.
I find plants cannot resist germinating in cracks. There are at least 3 different kinds plants started here. Over the last few weeks, I have been popping them up and replanting them where they belong.
Bluebonnet Surprise
Posted: March 25, 2019 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Bluebonnets, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 15 Comments
I was not expecting to see Bluebonnets in my garden this year as I had the bed relandscaped and didn’t buy or plant any. But a seed from the Texas State flower must have stayed behind and germinated. A happy surprise.
