Gluten-Free Seafood Pancake

Love Korean cuisine, it’s comfort food for me. Yesterday, finally succumbing to the urge to cook Korean, I made seafood pancakes for dinner. I used a Korean mix I bought at H Mart and the pancakes turned out delicious. Today, wishing I had some leftovers I decided to try and make them in a gluten-free version. Belly full, here is something savory after all the sweet goodies I posted earlier.

What I had in the pantry

Half cup of Masa Harina (the one used to make tamales and gorditas)

One quarter cup of rice flour

One quarter cup of cornstarch

1Egg

Half a cup of small shrimps

Half a cup of calamari cut in small pieces

4 Green onions plus one for the sauce

Mazola oil for cooking

White vinegar

Wheat-free, reduced sodium Tamari sauce

Sesame seeds

Chiu Chow Chili oil (I was made aware that this chili oil contains wheat flour as one of the ingredients used to make the soy sauce, therefore to have a gluten-free spicy sauce a substitute should be used instead–plain chili flakes work fine)

How I made the seafood pancakes

I washed and cut the green onions in long, thin pieces and prepared a thick batter combining the flours, a beaten egg, and some water. I added the green onion, the small shrimps and the calamari to the batter. I poured the savory mix on an previously oiled and heated pan. Let cook the pancake until golden-brown on both sides. Meanwhile, I prepared the accompanying sauce mixing several tablespoons of the Tamari with one full tablespoon of vinegar, then I added the sesame seeds and the green onions cut in small pieces, and then diluted with some room temperature water. At the very end I spiced up the sauce with a few drops of the chili oil (Again, if you need the recipe to be gluten-free substitute the chili oil with plain chili flakes.) I served the pancake—turned out to be one big portion—on a plate and sprinkled the sauce on top. Obviously not the same flavor and consistency of the Korean seafood pancakes I eat at my friends’ house, but good enough to satisfy the craving without the bloating associated with the grain flour. Next time, I’ll play around with the flours, maybe using more cornstarch and rice flour than masa harina. Let you know if they’re any better. Enjoy.

Painted Pumpkins

September 5, 2012September 5, 2012 Monica La Portaacrylics on foam pumpkins, halloween crafts, halloween pumpkin decorations, Italian countryside painted on a foam pumpkin, lemons painted on a foam pumpkin, painted foam pumpkins, Seattle landscape painted on a foam pumpkin10 Comments

When I first moved to the United States, twelve years ago—can’t believe it has been so long already—I was exposed to the American art of pumpkin carving and decorating. Once I painted my first pumpkin, I realized I didn’t want for it to go to waste and be forgotten. So I started buying foam pumpkins to paint them with acrylics. Since then, every fall I paint at least one pumpkin—usually around three or four. Now, I have quiet a collection lying around the house all year long. Here are a few pictures of some of my special pumpkins.

Puppy Sweetness

September 4, 2012September 4, 2012 Monica La Porta#tuesdayphotomanipulation, Paint.NET, photomanipulation, picture of beagle puppiesLeave a comment

Last weekend, we went to pick up our beloved Nero at Castle Rock, WA, where he participated to the Beagle Field Trials with the rest of his extended family. We always have a great time at these events; nice company and lots of new puppies to cuddle and shoot pictures at.

The original picture:

Shot with my cell phone, hoping some of the puppies would pose for the camera.

After the photomanipulation with Paint.NET:

Monday Drawing #3

September 3, 2012 Monica La Porta#MondayDrawings, artrage, artrage fail, butterfly and sunflowers, digital art, monday drawing, one drawing a week, whimsical landscape4 Comments

Today, I worked for three hours on one of the most whimsical pieces I have created. My words will have to suffice. When I was signing the piece, the pc’s battery died, the screen went blank, and since Artrage doesn’t have the autosave I lost every single pixel. I swore in Italian, then vented on Facebook and Twitter in English, finally started again. The moral of the story is: Artrage is the greatest software for painting, but you have to immediately name the drawing and save every five minutes. It took me other three hours to recreate what I remembered of the first piece. Not the same atmosphere, but it has the same subjects plus a flock of sheep. The black one represents my mood.

Butterfly in Bloom

Friday Snippet #16

August 31, 2012August 31, 2012 Monica La Porta#FridaySnippets, friday snippet, small excerpt from a dystopian wip, writing just for fun1 Comment

Another week, another snippet. Still enjoying this new and surprisingly refreshing concept of writing for fun. Words just form in my mind and fingers click on the keys. Is that easy. Here it is, straight from my imagination, my weekly snippet from X:

“There’s nothing out here.” Allegra had never experienced sensorial blindness, but without her nose to direct her, she felt as if seeing with her eyes wasn’t enough.

“What do you mean nothing?” He caressed her shoulders the way he did when she was tense.

The slow, circular motions around her scapulae combined with a calming push from his aura normally soothed her anxiety.

But not this time. “My nose doesn’t catch anything. There’s nothing out here,” she repeated, and he finally understood the entity of her words and interrupted the contact between them by removing his hand to give her some privacy. “I don’t know how I didn’t catch it earlier.”

“You were so preoccupied…”

She felt him stepping closer, but he didn’t close the final gap waiting for her to decide if she wanted to be consoled. “I should’ve sensed it immediately.” She was angry. Mere hours out of school and she had already failed.

“It’s understandable—”

“I’m responsible for your life.”

“I’ve survived for nineteen years already.” His words weren’t meant to offend her, but Allegra felt worse.

“I was thinking about my family.”
“I know and I don’t blame you for it. I’m worried for mine too.” He did close the gap this time without asking for permission and she was glad for it.

Allegra leaned on him and closed her eyes. “It won’t happen again. I promise.” She breathed in his scent, the familiar essence of Julius doing the trick to send the tears away. “You’re still here.”

He chuckled at her statement. “I’ve no intention to let go of my guide.” He had started calling her My Guide a few years back, soon after they had been paired. At the beginning it was just who she was to him and she hadn’t liked it—their differences in built and height the source of infinite jokes among their peers. Then, she had realized he was only using it in private.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Banana Bread Muffins with Lemon Zest

August 29, 2012 Monica La Portacoconut oil used instead of olive oil and butter, gluten free dairy-free banana bread muffin picture, gluten-free dairy-free banana bread muffins, Paint.NET example of photomanipulationLeave a comment

I’m proud to announce another culinary success in the gluten-free, dairy-free muffins department. Today, I used the basic recipe for the banana bread my friend gave me (again, thanks S.) and I substituted some of the ingredients. Final result, mouthwatering and heavenly smelling.

What I had in the pantry:

2 Ripe bananas

2 Eggs

3/4 Cup Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

2 Cups Gluten Free Pantry Old Fashioned Cake & Cookie Mix

1 Lemon

How I made the Banana Bread Muffins

I preheated my old, battered oven at 350F. I mixed all the ingredients together with the Kitchenaid until the bananas were completely dissolved. Grated the lemon zest and added the peel to the mix, which it had a thick consistency. Then I poured it in the previously oiled muffin cups and put them in the oven. 25 minutes later the muffins were done. Truth to be told, they could have cooked a few minutes less, but my oven is not reliable. They passed the biting test though and the picture above shows one of the actual muffins. Enjoy.

It Ain’t Easy

August 28, 2012August 28, 2012 Monica La Portaartrage, dealing with grief with words and images, digital art, flash fiction, Paint.NET, wacom tabletLeave a comment

And these are the words accompanying yesterday’s painting.

Monday Drawing #2

August 27, 2012August 27, 2012 Monica La Porta#MondayDrawings, artrage, digital art, every monday a new drawing, poppy flowers painting, wacom tabletLeave a comment

Not in the best mood for writing, I decided to draw poppy flowers instead.

Escaping

Friday Snippet #15

August 24, 2012August 24, 2012 Monica La Porta#FridaySnippets, friday snippet, small excerpt from a dystopian novel, writing just for fun4 Comments

Here it is, and it is still Friday here in the Pacific Northwest.

From X, my little fun project which is getting darker and darker:

With uncertain steps, her heels loudly clicking on the stones, Allegra led the way to her parents’ house, a mere fifteen minutes away from the bridge. A few people hurriedly walked through the alleys, disappearing behind darkened glass doors. She took a good look at the buildings, at first incapable of understanding what was different. Then, she saw it.

“It’s early,” Julius said, “It’s not surprising there aren’t lots of people around.” He didn’t comment on the darkened glasses.

Every single soul on Terra knew of Cartaghena’s see-through skyscrapers. It was as if the fires that had ravaged the earth had also obscured the city’s soul. It was a morbid thought and Allegra didn’t need it.

“I’m sure there’s a reason.” Again, Julius had connected his aura to hers.

“It doesn’t seem right.” Allegra let him calm her. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you.” It was his usual response, but somehow his words sounded different.

She dared looking up and Julius averted his eyes, but she caught a lingering pale blue shade flickering through his aura before he could revert to neutral once more. Longing.

Unsettled by nuances of feelings she couldn’t decipher, Allegra hurried her steps, his hand protectively splayed on her back. Although she was his eyes, in moments like these she couldn’t have walked a single step by herself.

Gluten-Free Good Morning Pancake

August 23, 2012 Monica La Portaalmond milk cappuccino, gluten-free dairy-free breakfast, gluten-free dairy-free pancake recipe, Paint.NET photomanipulation, picture of gluten-free dairy-free pancakeLeave a comment

Nothing truly groundbreaking today, but I had a good breakfast and here’s my not-so special-recipe to start the day gluten-free and dairy-free. If you’re in a hurry, but you still want to munch on something healthy this pancake recipe could be what you’re looking for.

What I had in the pantry:

Gluten Free Pantry, Old Fashioned Cake&Cookie Mix

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Trader Joes’ Maple Syrup

How I made the pancake:

I mixed a quarter cup of gluten-free cake flour with enough water and a drop or two of coconut oil to create a thick batter. I oiled a pan with a minimum amount of coconut oil, probably a quarter teaspoon, and turned on the stove on the lowest setting. Then, I poured the pancake batter in the warm pan and let cook each side until golden. Meanwhile , I prepared my first espresso of the day and warmed half cup of almond milk for 20 seconds in the microwave (almond milk tends to overheat easily.) Poured some maple syrup on my pancake and slowly enjoyed my cup of fake cappuccino. Again, nothing earth-shattering, but made me feel better about my breakfast. Photo manipulating the picture with the usual Paint.NET was an added bonus. Buona giornata!