Category Archives: Dinner

by Rebecca McGeary

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake: Tweaked and Delicious!

Improved Betty Crocker GF Yellow CupcakeWOW.  My friend, Catherine, at A Gluten-Free Guide is my hero.  She turned Betty Crocker’s yellow cake mix from ho-hum to oh, yum!

We have entered what, in my house, we call birthday season.  In just two short weeks, my boys will attend seven birthday parties, with more soon to follow.  Although my amazing and irreplaceable friends and family now often offer a gluten-free option for my boys, I truly would rather not burden them with our food sensitivities.  Besides, my oldest son loves to help out in the kitchen and has a blast decorating his desserts before the parties.  And so…the baking begins.

This season I had the foresight to bake cupcakes and freeze the extra to pull out as needed.  Just hours before a birthday party, I went to our pantry to get the process started.  I quickly scanned the shelves for my favorite chocolate cake mix, and, alas! (and other expletives), the cupboard was bare!  All I could find was a box of Betty Crocker yellow cake mix, tucked away at the back of a shelf, collecting dust.  I had bought it months before when I first discovered Betty Crocker’s gluten-free mixes in the grocery store; as of yet, I’d had little inspiration to try it.  We had sampled a few gluten-free yellow cakes, including some made with this mix, and not one was worth the calories.  They were dry and crumbly, and the taste was just eh.  Cat had encouraged me to try her tweaked recipe long ago, but I was hesitant.  With limited other options, however, I decided to give her modified version a try.  Thank gluten-free goodness I did!!

I’m usually an icing girl; I like it super sweet and slathered on thick.  Cake?  I could take it or leave it.  But a lack of confectioners sugar (you know, bare cupboard and all), led me to try these golden beauties without frosting, and I did not miss it at all.  These cakes are fluffy, moist, and delicious.  My husband and boys devoured several in no time at all.  That’s right…even my children ate them without the sweet, creamy topping.  That’s just unheard of!  If I hadn’t frozen the extras, I am sure they would not have lasted much past the first two birthday parties.  I am so thrilled to have a go-to yellow cake recipe that is easy and scrumptious.  Thank you, Catherine!  Well done!

by Rebecca McGeary

Saucy Baked Ziti

Two nights ago, my husband and I watched in awe as our boys downed two large helpings each of the baked ziti I’d made for dinner.  They rarely finish one serving of any meal, much less ask for seconds!  The following afternoon, we had a late lunch/early dinner of leftover baked ziti.  As I stood at the sink, scraping the boys’ plates of sticky cheese, I was shocked to hear my husband yell, “Dammit!  You can’t make this ever again!”  I turned to see him dishing his third helping of the day.  He said, “It’s too good!”

I don’t imagine I will share too many recipes here, as I am not über-talented in the kitchen.  However, when my family of four finished an entire baked ziti in less than 24 hours, I thought it noteworthy!  (Not to mention, if I can do it, it’s pretty safe to say anyone can.)

Baked ziti has always been my go-to meal to take to friends experiencing one of life’s big moments, like the birth of a new baby or a death in the family, because it is delicious, it freezes well, and it can feed a large group (or, at least, it should).  I only recently attempted to make a gluten-free version for my own family.  If you took the time to read the novel in my About Me section (and I don’t blame if you if you didn’t), you will know that I typically follow a recipe line by line, but I do like to add “more of the good stuff.”  This gluten-freelicious baked ziti is made especially delectable with an excess of sauce and cheese.  It pairs well with a side of Tums.

Saucy Baked Ziti Penne

16 oz package gluten-free pasta (I actually don’t know that a gluten-free ziti even exists.  I like to use Tinkyada or Trader Joe’s brown rice penne.)
6 cups pasta sauce (I like Classico Four Cheese Pasta Sauce.)
4 cups mozzarella cheese
15 oz ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tbsp parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder
4 tbsp Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a big bowl, mix hot pasta, 2 1/2 cups sauce, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, oregano, basil, parsley, and garlic powder.

Spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce across the bottom of a 13″x9″ pan.  Top with pasta mixture.  Cover with remaining 2 cups sauce.  Sprinkle with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and 4 tbsp Parmesan cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more, or until cheese is melted.

ENJOY!