-
Strawberry Freezer Jam-3 Ways
Growing up, my parents were big into canning, and my sister caught the bug. Me though, I don’t can. I purchase cans, and I gladly take jars of canned goods offered from my parents, but canning…NOPE. Freezer jam, on the other hand, is well…my jam. I love freezer jam, strawberry my being my favorite, just triple berry is great as well. This recipe will work for both. In the past, I made freezer jam with sugar, but I wanted to figure out how to make it healthier. In my attempts, I was able to create 3 variations, one with honey, one with agave nectar, and one with Swerve sweetener. Each…
-
Meatless Tex-Mex Bowls
While I am a carnivore at heart, I do love a good meatless meal. The American Heart Association’s recommendations with meat, poultry, and, eggs are 8-9 servings a week. If you are eating 3 square meals daily, then you have to go without meat or animal proteins for more than half of your meals to have a well-balanced diet. If you consume a breakfast burrito one morning that has both eggs and sausage, that is 2 servings of animal protein and you’ve already eaten 1/4 of your weekly recommended animal protein intake. The science behind this is that animal proteins tend to be higher in saturated fats, which is one…
-
Oven Roasted Tropical Kabobs
I love kabobs, but I hate the tedious task of grilling them. Oven roasting kabobs gives the same smokey flavor, without the need to stand next to the grill. Kabobs are also a fun dinner for my boys. There is something about eating their food from a stick…corndogs, smores…that causes them to go nuts. There is a ton of flexibility with kabobs. Basically gather two or three of your favorite vegetables and fruits and a protein and you can create a kabob. One key tip is to soak your kabob sticks in water for a few hours beforehand if they are wooden sticks. This is for two reasons; the main…
-
Coconut Lime Rice
I am always looking for ways to spice up rice and genius hit me the other day when I was listening to this song… Well..technically I was watching Practical Magic and the Lime in the Coconut song came on and that is when the lightbulb occurred. Like most anything else in my life, my genius ideas come from the oddest places. I guess that is just how my brain works. Anyway, I had planned on making oven-roasted Hawaiian chicken kabobs for dinner and decided that coconut lime rice would pair nicely with the kabob flavors.
-
Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Avocados in chocolate mousse sound extremely odd to the typical individual. The thing with avocados is that their natural flavor is rather bland. They can morph into almost any flavor you add to them. Their texture is perfect for pudding or mousse. Avocados are very much a food that either you hate or you love. I have a close friend who loathes avocados and she ended up loving this chocolate mousse. Another friend said that this recipe tastes exactly like the chocolate mousse that is served at the Bellagio on The Strip. Either way, this chocolate mousse recipe has been a huge hit with every person I have had try…
-
Philly Stuffed Peppers
A couple of years ago when Matthew and I decided to go Paleo, I started converting my recipes to make them Paleo and even Whole 30 compliant. My Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches were one such recipe. These stuffed peppers are also Keto-Diet friendly as well. My kiddos are NOT fans of peppers, but they absolutely love these Philly Stuffed Peppers…it may or may not be due to the cheese topping-which is not Whole 30 compliant-but is sure tasty! Not only are these stuffed peppers delicious, but they are extremely easy…only 7 ingredients! These stuffed peppers are SO tasty you almost don’t miss the bread. They are also extremely filling. I can…
-
Autumn Fruit Salsa
One of my favorite past-times is visiting my grandparent’s strawberry farm/orchard in Oregon and helping eat pick strawberries, cherries, apricots and all things yummy and sweet. For a long, while I refused to eat strawberries that had been washed, I would only eat dirty strawberries right off the bush. My love of fruit has been passed along to my children, so keeping it around long enough to actually do something with it, other than consuming it, is rather rare. BUT…every once in a while, I am able to throw together what I like to call fruit salsa. My favorite is the ripe fruit around this time of year, peaches, apricots,…
-
Easy Homemade Smoothie Bowls
A recent food trend has been acai bowls or smoothie bowls. They are super yummy and filling. Most often they are also packed with vitamins and minerals and very heart-healthy. The place that is close to my house is one of my most favorite places to treat myself to…but, one bowl is $9 and for that much, I can make my whole family their own smoothie bowls at home. While it is super convenient to have someone else make one for you, I do enjoy creating them at home where I can control the ingredients. The key to smoothie bowls is to make sure the thickness of the puree is…
-
Creamy Pasta Primavera
Sunday dinners are some of my most favorite family time; especially now that we have church in the morning. I have plenty of time to prep and cook. This week I had a bunch of fresh veggies that I needed to use up before they went bad, so I thought that pasta primavera would be perfect. And…being that while my boys do like vegetables, they snub their noses as what they call ‘exotic vegetables’…also known as squash. I also know that adding cheese helps ease their snobby attitudes. This creamy pasta primavera recipe was a hit, hands down. Keep scrolling for the recipe. Ingredients: 1lb farfalle pasta 1 medium zucchini…
-
Paleo Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops
Growing up, pork chops and applesauce was a staple meal in my house. It brings back a lot of memories, but it is also a very simple flavored meal. When I saw some amazing cuts of pork chops at my local butcher I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. This recipe is a zhuzhed up version of my childhood applesauce and pork chops. Not only are the ingredients in season, which makes me super happy, but this recipe is Whole 30, Paleo, and Keto all rolled into one. It may look complicated, but it is ALMOST as easy as grilling pork chops and pouring applesauce on top. Keep…
