Slow Cooker Gluten Free Butter Chicken

This slow cooker butter chicken has great flavour and is easy to make! It is perfect for the person on the go, and can be frozen for lunches and dinners. It is healthy and can be customized to suit your tastes!

Butter Chicken is one of my favourite meals when I go out to eat, if I can get a gluten free option! It has become a comfort food in my mind, and is is perfect on cold winter days. It warms you up with its spice, however is light and won't leave you feeling like you over ate. This is not prepared the same way as traditional butter chicken, but it has the same great flavour. It is easy for someone on the go because it is quick to prepare and can be left in the slow cooker all day. This is a great base, you can change it as you feel necessary. You may want to lightly grill your chicken before putting it in the slow cooker, or add more curry if you prefer a spicier dish. It is necessary to use the slow cooker so the flavour is absorbed into the chicken, and the sauce gets a chance to thicken since there is no flour required. Next time I make this recipe I will make some gluten free naan bread to pair with it. It freezes well, so the left overs can be enjoyed for lunches later on when you are short on time.

Gluten Free Butter Chicken 

2 Diced Tomatoes
1 Cup Chopped Onion
5 Cloves Garlic
1/4-1/2 Inch Fresh Ginger (Add more if you want it spicier)
1 Tsp Olive Oil
2 Tsp Garam Marsala
1 Tsp Curry
1 Tsp Chili Powder
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
1 Can Light Coconut Milk
1 Can Tomato Paste
3 Large Chicken Breasts, Chopped

In a frying pan sauté Tomatoes, Onion, and Garlic. Add in remaining ingredients (not the chicken) and mix together. Place Chicken in a slow cooker and pour sauce on top. Cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 4 hours. Serve on a bed of Jasmine Rice, with yogurt and chives on top. 

*You can also put 1/2 a cup of chopped peanuts into the sauce if you like, or use them as a garnish on top. 

Makes approx 6 servings

Gluten Free Breakfast Omelette Muffins

Breakfast omelette muffins are like mini quiches, but they do not have a crust so they are gluten free. They are quick to make and are perfect for busy mornings and snacks on the go. They can be personalized for everyone enjoying them, or they can be made in advanced and warmed up when ready to be enjoyed.

Day 7: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking

Todays gluten free treat is easy to make and is the perfect breakfast for Christmas morning! So easy, you could even have them today! These quiches are crustless, making them more like an egg muffin,  and can be filled with whatever vegetables you prefer. I chose all my favourite items, but you can customize them to suit every single person Christmas Morning with less work than making everyone their own individual omelette.

Gluten Free Breakfast Omelette Muffins

6 Eggs

1 Cup Chopped Spinach

1 Cup Chopped and Cooked Bacon

1 Cup Chopped Tomatoes

1 Cup Grated Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.

Lightly Grease a muffin pan.

In a bowl beat Eggs and mix in Spinach and Tomatoes.

Fill muffin tins half full.

Top with Bacon and Cheese.

Bake for 15 Minutes.

Makes 12 Muffins.

I have made these in advance and kept them in the freezer for lunches as breakfasts on the go! They make a great snack and taste just as good as the day they were made. Sometimes the easiest things, are the best things. They still require love and attention, but can be made quickly and allow you more time to enjoy the Christmas festivities while ensuring that everyone has a good meal to start the day!

Tomorrow marks the return of the sweet and tasty gluten free Christmas treats! If you have not had a chance to check out the previous week of gluten free baking check out the links below! Have a great Sunday, and I will see you tomorrow!
K.

Day 1: Christmas Coconut Macaroons
Day 2: Gluten Free Rolled Vanilla Chip Cookies
Day 3: Gluten Free Gingersnaps
Day 4: Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts
Day 5: Honey Glazed Honey Brie Cheese
Day 6: Gluten Free Cheesy Crackers

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers

These Chicken Fingers are gluten-free, healthy, and have the perfect mix of sweet and salty. They are baked, but still have the crispy coating as though they were fried. These chicken fingers make the perfect comfort meal, or appetizer for a party!

Every year time changes and I feel like I could sleep for a week. We get an extra hour of sleep for one night, and daylight begins earlier. However, I still struggle to function for the first few days. This week is about getting back into a daily routine! As the days get shorter it become easier to let routine slip away. Because of a few rough weeks my routine is long gone and I feel awful about it. When I have a normal routine I am more productive in school, I feel better about myself, and I am a genuinely happier person. Now that midterms are over I am taking some days to refresh and relax with my Mom before I have to worry about final exams and the term papers that are looming over my head. It is the perfect time to get back on schedule and to start living a healthy life once again! I am going to find the balance of school, healthy eating, working out, and studying that I had, but lost.

My favourite part about getting into a routine is getting my day planner organized. I need to know exactly where I have to be when, and when deadlines are coming up. I need to see where I have time to go to yoga, the gym, or take a nap. I need to-do lists, and organization. I thrive on organization, it is a calming experience to see how much control I have over my life when so many things seem out of control this time of year. Every aspect of my life is categorized and given a colour in my day planner. This way nothing gets forgotten and I can visually process what is a priority and what is not.

Before getting back into routine in full force I granted myself a grace period to eat the things I crave and catch up on my sleep. This time of year makes me want to curl up on my couch and relax with a cup of earl grey while the fireplace roars. My favourite thing about fall is comfort food! I find myself craving all my favourites from childhood, but this week my weakness was chicken fingers! It took me awhile to decide how I was going to tackle breading the chicken, but I managed to find a way that had flavour and made these chicken fingers as healthy as possible and gluten free!

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers

1/4 Cup Gluten Free Flour
1 Large Egg
2 Cups Gluten Free Honey Chex Cereal (Crushed)
1 Tbsp Parmesean Cheese
1 Tsp Oregano
1/2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
10 Ounces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (Approx. 2)

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees. In one bowl beat the egg, place flour in another bowl, in a third bowl combine the crushed Chex cereal, cheese, and spices. Cut each chicken breast in 4 pieces. Dip the pieces in the flour, then the egg, and then the Chex, and place on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, flipping half way. Each chicken finger is 2 weight watchers points plus and pairs perfectly with mustard! 

Cooking gluten free does not have to be difficult. You just have to experiment with the items that you have in the kitchen. It involves thinking outside the box. Cooking regular foods comes more naturally because it becomes a habit, you know what you need and what conventionally goes into what. You cannot think conventionally when you are cooking gluten free, you have to start combing the foods that you enjoy and be creative! I realize that not everyone enjoys cooking, or is creative in the kitchen, but do not let that discourage you from trying new things!

Remember that things happen and it can be difficult to stick with a routine. Life gets busy, people get sick, and sometimes you just cannot keep up. Try not to be to hard on yourself, and keep pushing along. When life calms down you will be able to develop a routine again. Just try to maintain a balance that keeps you healthy during the rough times, so you can thrive in the good times!

Enjoy the rest of your week!
K.