Recipes
Healthy, delicious recipes that I've created through trial-and-error. In addition, these recipes have substitution ideas, fit special diets, and kitchen gear recos. 😃
Make Easy, Delicious Peanut Sauce and Dressing in 5 Minutes
Do you want to be able to make restaurant-quality peanut sauce – or a nut-free version – at home, and in less time than it takes to read a take-out menu? Nothing beats a creamy, coconut peanut sauce – for Pad Thai, on salads, chicken satay, tofu – it’s delicious on almost everything. Recently, I was mixing up some peanut coconut sauce to go with Pad Thai, and had a “lightbulb” moment. What if I used the extra coconut milk from my peanut sauce to make a salad dressing?! If you have one can of coconut milk, you can make an amazing peanut coconut sauce AND peanut coconut salad dressing.…
Make The Ultimate Comfort Food This Winter – Chicken Vegetable Soup
Have you ever told your family that you’re making Chicken Soup, and they respond with a sad-faced sigh? I don’t know why husbands and kids think soup is boring – that’s crazy! When it’s cold outside, nothing says “warm and soothing” like an ultimate comfort food like Chicken Vegetable Soup, and this is a recipe that got rave reviews from my picky eaters. How to Make Chicken Vegetable Soup Exciting Chicken soup has a reputation for being bland. After all, it’s what you’re supposed to eat when your stomach is upset, right? With a few creative ingredients and some unexpected toppings, chicken vegetable soup is transformed from “just OK” to…
Amazing Super Bowl Party Dips That Aren’t Guacamole
Sick of guacamole? Me either – I could eat it forever! Still, if you’re looking to change up the dips you serve this superbowl, here’s a roundup of non-guacamole options that are healthy and delicious. There are options for every dietary restriction – all are gluten-free, most are paleo, and some are vegan and dairy-free as well. I’ve included helpful labels to let you know which categories they fall into. Easiest – Homemade Ranch Dip Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added Ranch Dip – it’s a crowd-pleasing classic, not to be underestimated! Mix a cup of sour cream with 1 – 2 tablespoons of these dried herbs and spices and a few…
How to Make Better & Cheaper Protein Bars at Home
Tired of spending money on protein bars that look (& sometimes taste) like a piece of you-know-what? With the help of my taste-testing family (and lots of failed attempts), I’ve learned how to make protein bars at home that taste better and are a lot cheaper than prepackaged ones we buy. Have you ever been in an airport or grocery store looking for a healthy and convenient snack and wandered over to the protein bar aisle? There are dozens of carefully-concocted bars that have just the right “macros”, are shelf-stable, and come in mouth-watering flavors like “chocolate chip cookie dough” and “peanut butter pie.” Follow-up question: How many times do…
Ring in the New Year with Spicy Peanut Stew
Whether you believe in “good luck” foods or not, you’ll love to ring in the new year with Spicy Peanut Stew. It’s full of “lucky” legumes – black beans, garbanzo beans, and peanuts. (Feel free to throw in some black-eyed peas, if you’re a purist.) According to popular folklore in the United States and elsewhere, eating certain foods on New Year’s Day will guarantee good luck in the new year. Legumes – especially beans, black-eyed peas, and lentils – are traditionally “lucky” foods because they symbolize money or wealth. Other so-called lucky foods (and recipes) are: Pork – Juiciest Pork Chops Cabbage – Pan-Asian Chicken with Cabbage Greens – Salad…
30-Minute Creamy Broccoli Soup for Kids and Special Diets
Have you tried to offer creamy broccoli soup to a kid? I have. The reaction is a combination of bewilderment and disgust. Once I tricked my kids into actually tasting this (gluten-free, dairy-free, & vegan) soup, they were hooked (yesss!). This kid- and special diet-friendly creamy broccoli soup is ready in 30 minutes and now in heavy winter rotation at our house. Creamy Broccoli Soup Without Cream How to make a soup creamy without the cow? First, the non-dairy milk alternative (NDMA) adds the right amount of white/creamy color and enhances the texture. Note that “creamiest” NDMAs I’ve tried are oat milk and soymilk. Second, nutritional yeast gives the soup…
How to Handle Party Snacking Like a Boss
Don’t you love to hate a good snack or appetizer tray? I know I’ve struggled with how to handle a couple hours of heavy, buffet-style snacking, immediately followed by a mouth-watering celebration meal. You show up already hungry, and the snacks spread out before you like the poppy field in the Wizard of Oz. What to do? Three Approaches to Appetizers & Snacks Delectable bites of sweet or salty goodness are a hit with our taste buds and, like a can of Pringles, once you “pop” (on into your mouth), you can’t stop. Or, it’s really hard to stop! There are three ways to handle the “Snackmeal” before the actual…
Don’t Like Turkey? Here Are 6 Alternatives For Thanksgiving
What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Maybe it’s pumpkin pie, Grandma’s stuffing, or Aunt Paula’s Cherry Cheesecake. I’m willing to bet it’s not the turkey. In fact, I know people who don’t even like turkey, but most of us eat it every Thanksgiving (and Christmas!) anyway. Since 2020 is a dumpster fire already, why not take control (of something) and try some alternatives to turkey for Thanksgiving this year? Why Find Alternatives to Turkey on Thanksgiving? In a recent survey, over half of Americans said that the worst part about preparing Thanksgiving dinner is messing up the turkey. Some common mishaps: the bird gets dried out, takes an hour longer…
One Pan – Double Duty! Pan-Asian Chicken Thighs
What dinner can be made using only one pan and contains elements of both Korean and Thai cuisines? One-Pan-Asian Chicken Thighs … with roasted vegetables! Add a chopped salad, and dinner is served. Why One-Pan Asian Chicken? I found a great-looking recipe for Korean chicken thighs, but was missing a few of the key ingredients – honey and gochujang, to name a few. I used the ingredients I had, including raisins, applesauce, and Thai chili paste. The result was something probably a lot different than the recipe I found online, but the family raved! So, I’m going to share it with you.
No Beans About It – Killer Slow Cooker Chili
Warm up with a slow cooker chili that takes 20 minutes to prep, has no beans, and is super nutritious and delicious.
