Need a little something sweet~ Gluten Free French Sable Cookies

Published on March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 by Life with Lisa WashingtonLeave a comment

I love dessert. I will talk about healthy eating forever, but I will never skip on dessert. A healthy lifestyle has a little dessert included, well at least that is what I believe and preach. Life is all about balance. We all need a little sweetness in our lives and honey these cookies will deliver just that. First off they are gluten free, so they are great for people with gluten allergies. They are small and just perfect with a cup of hot ginger tea. I love making these cookies and sharing with my granddaughter, can you say, TEA PARTY! Bottom line they are so yummy, that’s really all you need to know, right?

So, stay on your healthy path. Eat clean food, drink clean water and make your desserts from scratch with good high quality ingredients. Enjoy them at least once a week or so and get out enjoy nature. It’s all in Divine order.

As always, Remember to Set the Table with Love. 🙂

Gluten Free Sable Cookies — Gluten Free French Sable Cookies

Gluten Free French Sable Vanilla cookies
Ingredients:
2 soft, plump vanilla beans
1/3 cup organic cane sugar
8 oz. (1 cup) unsalted organic butter
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1-1/3 oz. (1/3 cup) organic confectioners’
sugar, sifted
2 large organic egg yolks
2 cups of gluten free flour blend ( Pillsbury Gluten Free Flour Blend)
My favorite gluten free cookie blend
2 cups white rice flour
1 cup brown rice flour
2/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

Directions:

1. Cut the vanilla beans in half lengthwise and scrape the seed pulp into a small bowl;
add the sugar. Using your fingers, rub them together until blended.
2. In a large bowl with a hand mixer, mix the butter on low speed until smooth and
creamy, mix in the salt. Add the vanilla sugar and the confectioners’ sugar and mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Add 1 egg yolk and mix for 1 minute. Still on low speed, mix in the flour just until blended; the dough will be soft.
3. Sprinkle a little gluten free flour onto the counter. Turn the dough out onto the counter and knead it gently a few times. Divide it in half and shape each half into a 9-inch log. Be
gentle with the dough and work with it, gluten free dough needs a little more care.
Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
4. Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and heat the oven to
350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
5. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup sanding sugar onto a piece of waxed paper. Combine the
remaining egg yolk with a splash of water in a small bowl and whisk with a fork.
6. Brush each log with the egg wash and roll it in the sanding sugar until evenly coated.
Trim the ends of the logs if they’re ragged. Using a knife, cut the dough into 1/2-inchthick rounds. Put them on the baking sheets, leaving about 2-inches between rounds.
7. Bake the cookies, rotating and swapping the baking sheets’ positions halfway
through, until the cookies are brown around the edges and golden on the bottom, 18 to
22 minutes. Let cool on the sheets for 5 minutes; then carefully transfer to a cooling
rack and allow to cool completely before serving. Sable’ cookies need to be eaten cool, so
cooling with allow them to set, so you can enjoy to perfection.

Coming Home to You Birthday Luncheon

Published on June 13, 2016January 10, 2017 by Life with Lisa Washington2 Comments

Coming Home to You Birthday Luncheon

Dee this one is for you.

13432168_10153759829798613_8445894510737530969_n — Asparagus with parsley and shaved parmesan

I love my friends. I am even so grateful that God put some incredible women in my life. I have women that have been in my life for over 3 decades. They have celebrated life with me and some of my most tragic times. These ladies have loved me unconditionally. They understand me and allow me to just be Lisa, without depends. I am so grateful for that more than anything.

13391446_10153759829413613_3499206838088019707_o — We all wrote a blessing on this card for her.

Yesterday I was able to throw a birthday brunch for one of those beautiful souls, Dee Armstead. I met Dee when we both were going through a very hard time in our lives, we both had lost our moms and we were there for each other. We kept each other afloat. She loves me for me, she builds me up and never tears me down. This is 14 year friendship and I can honestly say these words about her.

: Dee is the fabulous one in the linen pants

Dee is a big giver. When I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday and she said, Lisa I want to do something that will inspire and empower women. This is her gift, Dee inspires others, so I want this to be really special. So, I decided to do one of my Coming Home to You workshop brunches. I filled the whole entire brunch and exercises with positive affirmations, deep breathing technique , meditation and a lifestyle behavioral coaching exercise. The ladies were very inspired and the best part, my Dee was happy and pleased with the outcome.

God is amazing in how he works. There were many components in planning such a brunch, because it is not just about beautiful table settings and food, but helping people move passed the things that get in the way of connecting again themselves and what is next in there lives.

13413502_10153759829903613_5929717964840046381_n — Follow your Dreams

Dee trust me, she never once asked me, what I was planning. This is how you now it is God, she closed it out with a speech of gratitude and gave each of her guest, a beautiful frame with the most inspiring words that went along side the workshop’s entire message. “Allow ALL life to move though you, let go of fear and embrace love.”

One of the best things I got a chance to teach my granddaughter how to Set the Table with Love. She pressed napkins, linens, we made floral arrangements, and made the prettiest table settings. We had a blast.

13433303_10153759829583613_2946981162191292725_o — Coming Home to You Birthday Luncheon Homemade Floral Arrangement adds a special touch.

Thanks Dee for being one of my dearest friends and allowing your light to ignite my light within. Love you.

The menu was vegetarian. I wanted to share recipes with everyone that was simple, easy, delicious and healthy . The chai muffins were gluten free and one of my favorite recipes, we served the muffins with a simple ginger and cardamom butter.

The menu included:

Blueberry and Lemon scones with lemon sugar

Chai Muffins made by my bestie, Kristina Millsaps

Frittata Muffins with cheddar cheese and parmesan

Roasted Asparagus with parsley and parmesan

Roasted Potatoes with herbs and parmesan

Strawberry Basil Rosé Lemonade punch

Chocolate Oolong Tea

Coffee

Guests Favorite:

I want to share with you one of the recipes that was one the favorites. I will share the other recipes, including that incredible punch later this week. Enjoy this one.

Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients:

1 pound asparagus

A bunch of parsley leaves

Fine sea salt, ground black pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

Parmesan shavings

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400.

Trim away the bottom third of each asparagus stalk.

Put the asparagus on a cookie sheet with parchment paper, top with parsley. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast until slightly tender, about 10 -15 minutes. Just before serving, add shaved parmesan.

Spicy Corn and Poblano Soup with Honey and Sage Cornbread

Published on January 9, 2015January 9, 2015 by Life with Lisa WashingtonLeave a comment

This is the season for soup. Today I made a Spicy Corn and Poblano Soup. I wanted some bread to go with it. I was in the mood for some cornbread, but with a twist. I have had this idea in my mind for a week to make a Honey and Pistachio Cornbread. I did not have pistachios, but I did have some sage. It is a wonderful combination. Here’s the recipe and it’s gluten free. This version is a lighter version of this soup, still packed with lots of flavor.

Spicy Corn and Poblano Soup

1 large garlic cloves, unpeeled and minced

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

1/4 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 cup onions, roughly chopped

1/2 cup poblano peppers, roughly chopped

1/2 cup red bell peppers, roughly chopped

1 cup organic frozen corn

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp sea salt ( to taste)

1 tsp smoked paprika

4 cups vegetable broth

In a large sauce pan on a medium heat, add the oil and the cumin seeds and cook for a minute to release it’s natural oils, add the onions and sauté until transparent, then add the garlic and sauté until soften. Add your corn and spices. Stir and add 4 cups of vegetable broth. Bring to a boil for a minute and lower the soup to a simmer for 15 minutes. Serve hot with the Honey and Sage Cornbread.

Gluten Free Honey and Sage Cornbread

Wet Ingredients

2 large eggs, lightly beaten, at room temperature

1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk

1/2 cup Organic honey

1/3 cup Olive oil

Dry Ingredients

1/2 cup Bob’s Mills Tapicoa Flour

1/2 cup Bob’s Mills Sorghum Flour

1/4 cup Bob’s Mills Brown Rice Flour

1 cup Bob’s Mills GF Cornmeal

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Xanthan Gum

1 tsp Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease cast-iron skillet. Set a side.

2. In a large bowl, beat the wet ingredients with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended.

3. In a separated bowl, whisk together dry ingredients until thoroughly blended. Gradually, with a blender on low speed, add in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until the mixture is thick like cake batter. Spread evenly in the cast-iron pan.

4. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until top is firm and edges are lightly browned.

5. Remove from oven and drizzle with olive oil and honey before serving.

Atlanta and Company today/Sweet Potato and Apple Hashbrown

Published on July 31, 2014February 10, 2016 by Life with Lisa Washington1 Comment

One of my favorite recipes from my new cookbook Set the Table with Love. Check it out Set the Table with Love

What an awesome time on Atlanta and Company today. I enjoyed my demo and interview with Christine Pullara. We did this recipe. Check it out.

Click on the link below and watch the video. 🙂

Sweet Potato and Apple Hash brown Live Demo and Interview

1 extra-large sweet potato [peeled and shredded] 1 medium gala apple ( peeled and shredded) 1/2 tbsp ginger (peeled and shredded)
1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 c. gluten-free flour
1/4 tsp. ginger powder
1/4 tsp. of cinnamon
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
2 tbsp. coconut oil for frying

1. Wash and peel sweet potato and apple, then shred them. Using a colander, rinse the sweet potatoes until the water runs mostly clear. Squeeze the rinsed potatoes to remove excess water and empty them into a medium bowl with the shredded apples and ginger.
2. Add flour and all the spices to the vegetables and ginger, mix everything well.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to a cast iron skillet or regular skillet and heat on medium-high. Test the pan by tossing in a couple of sweet potato shreds — if it crackles, the pan is ready. Use a 1⁄4 cup to measure the hash brown mixture into the pan and then use a spatula to flatten them out into a nice circle.
4. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for 2 more, you may need to adjust time based on your stove. When golden brown they are ready.
5.Remove them from the skillet and allow them to cool for a few minutes on a paper towel-lined plate.

Makes 6-8 small hash-browns

Me want Cinnamon Rolls, Now! without Yeast :)

Published on February 26, 2014 by Life with Lisa WashingtonLeave a comment

So last night my son and I had a craving for something sweet. Well actually I just need my hands in some flour. I love the soft and silky feel of flour. I hope that is not too strange. I was going to first make cranberry orange scones. My son is not a fan of orange or cranberries. So we I said how about homemade mini cinnamon rolls. Yes!! that’s the ticket.

My husband was getting his workout on and all we heard was grunting and a breathy, ” You are guys are so wrong. I am trying to be good.” Oh well we thought and went on to make our cinnamon rolls and hey they were mini cinnamon rolls. Mini of anything doesn’t count on the scale of desserts. Right?! Somebody need to say Right, Lisa. The reasoning been I ate 4 maybe 5. LOL

I added orange zest at the end of half of them because my son doesn’t as I said before like oranges.

Here is the recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Serving~ makes 12 minis

4 tablespoons organic cane sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/4 cups organic all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder( aluminium free)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons cold organic unsalted butter
1 large organic egg
1/4 cup almond milk or any milk you enjoy using. 🙂

Glaze

2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon almond milk, or you can use regular milk. Orange juice is great for this recipe instead of milk.
dash of sea salt
orange zest as garnish ( optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small bowl stir together 2 tablespoons organic sugar and cinnamon. Into a large bowl sift together flour, remaining 2 tablespoon organic sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut butter into small pieces and with your fingertips or a pastry blender blend into flour mixture until mixture looks like coarse meal. In another small bowl whisk together egg and 3 tablespoons almond milk and add to flour mixture, stirring until just combined.

Transfer mixture to a lightly floured surface and gently knead, 3 or 4 times, until it forms a dough. Gently roll the dough out or you can pat the out, into a 10- by 6-inch rectangle (about ‚ inch thick). Brush dough with some remaining milk and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar. Beginning with a short side, roll up rectangle to form a 6-inch log and cut cross into 1 1/2 inch rolls. Arrange pieces on a baking sheet, cut sides up, with seams touching. Bake buns in middle of oven until pale golden and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes

In another small bowl stir together confectioners’ sugar, almond milk, vanilla. Once mixed well add the dash of sea salt and stir until the salt is completely incorporated and the texture is smooth. Drizzle over warm buns.

Oh yes almost forgot. Set the Table with Love!

I MADE PASTA ~ from scratch ~ What!?

Published on October 15, 2013 by Life with Lisa WashingtonLeave a comment

Yes. My dear friend gave me her Italian grandfather’s pasta maker to try my hand out with making pasta from scratch. I felt so special to have this machine. She has never used it and wanted someone to have it that would appreciate it. This bad boy is straight out of Italy, even the direction. But I followed the pictures to show me how to assemble it, pretty easy. Here are a couple of pix of the pastas I made today. I used a very easy pasta recipe. This recipe came from Mario Batali. But the stuffed ravioli and spaghetti with organic meat sauce is mines. Will post soon.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
4 extra-large eggs
Directions
Mound the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour, add the eggs. Using a fork, beat together the eggs and begin to incorporate the flour starting with the inner rim of the well. As you incorporate the eggs, keep pushing the flour up to retain the well shape (do not worry if it looks messy). The dough will come together in a shaggy mass when about half of the flour is incorporated.

Start kneading the dough with both hands, primarily using the palms of your hands. Add more flour, in 1/2-cup increments, if the dough is too sticky. Once the dough is a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up any left over dry bits. Lightly flour the board and continue kneading for 3 more minutes. The dough should be elastic and a little sticky. Continue to knead for another 3 minutes, remembering to dust your board with flour when necessary. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and set aside for 20 minutes at room temperature. Roll and form as desired.

Note: Do not skip the kneading or resting portion of this recipe, they are essential for a light pasta

Pecan Pie Tarts with maple butter glaze

Published on September 7, 2013 by Life with Lisa WashingtonLeave a comment

So I have been working out hard to reach a particular goal, so why am I making pecan tarts. Because I can and a tart never hurt anybody, right? Right? Ya’ll don’t hear me out there ( in my southern baptist preacher voice) lol. Enjoy! I will be working out hard in the next few days.

These are so yummy.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. butter, melted ( 1 Tbsp will for the phyllo dough cups you make)
2 large egg
3 Tbsp. organic brown
2 Tbsp. of Maple Syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
1 cup chopped pecans
Box of phyllo dough sheets

Instruction :

In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients except pecans. Mix well. Add in chopped pecans, and stir until combined.

In a regular muffin pan cut phyllo dough up into medium squares, lay in the muffin pans ,shape to the pan and dab with butter. I used about 3 sheets to make a nice sturdy container for the pecan mixture. Fill the cups about 1/2 way up. They will rise. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes. Let cool and drizzle I drizzled the maple butter glaze over top each one and served.

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Ingredients

Glaze

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: