I LOVE broccoli salad. It’s a summer food that our family eats on a regular basis. And, it’s super easy and quick to make.

2 bunches broccoli, chopped into bite sizes
1/2 pound bacon, cooked and chopped (you can also use gluten free bacon bits, but make sure it is real bacon!)
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar (if you’re diabetic, you can use monkfruit sweetener or Swerve to reduce carbs but the dressing will be a little grainier)
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

In a large bowl, mix mayo, vinegar, and sugar together; let sit while you’re chopping broccoli and onion...

The other day I wanted to make chocolate chip cookies, only I discovered that I didn’t have any chocolate chips. I had white chocolate chips though, so I decided to make macadamia white chocolate chip cookies. Then I discovered that I didn’t have any macadamias! I found some coconut and decided to make do with what I have…and I came out with a gluten free cookie that even my gluten-loving husband ate (and ate lots of them)! These cookies were inspired by Baked by an Introvert.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1-1/2 cups gluten free flour blend (I use this one. If your flour blend doesn’t include xanthan gum, add some according to package directions)
• 1/2 teaspoon ...

Many of you might wonder what “Baked Alaska” is. In a nutshell, it’s a brownie or cake base, topped with ice cream, wrapped in a fluffy meringue that is then toasted with a kitchen torch. To be honest with you, I’m not sure why it is even called Baked Alaska, except that the little mounds sort of look like little igloos (because all of us up here in Alaska live in igloos!). I’ve only eaten Baked Alaska once in my life, but when one of our friends said they wanted mini Baked Alaska for dessert, I had to accept the challenge! I mean…how hard could it be?! Note: it seems intimidating, but it really isn’t that hard!

Ingredients:
One batch of my gluten free (dairy free!) triple ...

I learned of these cupcakes (from Brown Eyed Baker) from my neighbor, and I’ve since turned these into a gluten free version, with dairy free and egg free alternates.

For the Cupcakes:
1 1/4 cups gluten free flour
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
2/3 cup  milk (canned, full fat coconut milk works)
½ cup strong brewed coffee, at room temperature
1 package Starbucks via instant coffee
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature (you can also use non-dairy butter)
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
1 egg (you can put 1 Tbs. fax meal into 3 Tbs...

My kids and I love love love pasta salad. When I make a batch of this, I have to make a double batch as the kiddos always want to have a container of it in their lunch. It has lots of “nibbly bits” (a term my mom coined for all of the little bites of flavor from different ingredients).

Ingredients:

• Dressing: 1/4 c.  extra virgin olive oil, 1/3 c. balsamic vinegar, 3-4 large cloves of garlic sent through a press, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp. basil, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1/2 tsp. onion powder, salt & pepper to taste
• 12 oz. gluten free pasta, cooked
• 3-4 c. chopped mix-ins of your choice...