Intentional Hospitality

Recipes

Intentional Hospitality recipes which are mostly healthy and plant-based.

CBD Smoothie Bowl

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Starting the day off with a nutritious CBD Smoothie Bowl is a great way to ease chronic pain, inflammation and reduce anxiety. It’s an all around healthy way to boost your mornings!

CBD Smoothie in a bowl

Smoothie bowls are another delicious way to enjoy your favorite fruit smoothie blends, then as a flavor bonus, you can top them with more fresh fruit, granola, hemp, nuts or coconut flakes. A CBD Smoothie Bowl makes a great breakfast, snack or late night treat.

Why Add CBD To Your Smoothie

Some of the benefits of adding CBD oil to your smoothies may include:

  • soothe pain
  • ease anxiety
  • reduce inflammation
  • recover from a hard work out

According to Thrive, research shows that CBD might reduce stress signals due to its anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory properties. CBD oil gives a sense of calm throughout the body which is helpful for people with stress in their life. Also, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can possibly reduce the stress that our guts often experience during times of emotional stress or illness. CBD anti-inflammatory properties help decrease intestinal swelling, which helps our gut to bring balance to our general health.

Is CBD Oil Safe?

According to the World Health Organization, CBD has no adverse side effects, cannot get you high, and is not connected to any health risks.

When choosing CBD be sure to choose an organic product, because it’s only through organic production that you can be fully assured that your CBD is free from any pesticides, chemicals or other compounds that are detrimental to your health.
 

How Do You Make A CBD Smoothie Bowl?

It’s easy to whip up this delicious, high protein smoothie.

Pick Your Fruit

For the combonation of your base you can use strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, bananas, cherries, or any other fruit you enjoy. Try a  tropical smoothie of pineapple, mango, and banana or add blueberry and peach to switch it up some. You will need about 3 cups of fruit.

It’s best to use frozen fruit to create a smoothie thick enough to eat with a spoon. You can freeze fresh fruit or purchase it frozen bags. Just be sure to buy organic.

Add A Thickner

This is where you can get creative. Try adding peanut butter, almond butter, or coconut yogurt. You could also add a serving of protein powder in the flavor of your choice. About 1 serving, according to package directions

For my thickener, I have found a great protein addition that has a hint of coconut flavor called Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Protein. It is organic and non-genetically modified, with a blend of coconut powder, pumpkin powder, and pea powder. A serving gives you 20 grams of plant protein and 30% of your daily iron needed.

Carrington Farms also focuses on the worldwide issue of hunger. That’s why they decided to address the issue right where they source the coconuts, in the Philippines. In the local community, every week for 3 days a week, they feed lunch to 250 school children through Carrington Cares.

Choose A Liquid

Almond milk is great for adding a slightly nutty flavor or try coconut milk for a tropical smoothie. Add about 1 1/4 cup of liquid give or take to make the perfect consistency. If you skipped the thickener, use less liquid, however.

Toss In Some Extras

You can add spinach or kale for additional nutrition. Try adding flax seeds for omega-3s or chia seeds for a massive punch of nutrition.  Fresh mint, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger or honey add fresh exciting flavors

Add CBD Oil

Add flavored or unflavored CBD oil. To decide how much CBD oil ask your doctor or phamacist. Also, I suggest looking at Natures Ultra How Much CBD Should I Take chart.

Add A Little Sweet

Pyure Organic Stevia is my choice for adding a little sweetness. It only has Stevia, no other ingredents such as sugar alcohol sweeteners.

Mix

Blend all ingredients in a vita mix type bender until smooth.

Toppings

Pour smoothie into a bowl and top with whole frozen berries, unsweetened shredded coconut, nuts, cocoa nibs, or granola.

CBD smoothie in a bowl

For a great topping on your CBD Smoothie Bowl try my Delux Honey Sweet Granola recipe

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CBD Smoothie Bowl

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Description

Starting the day off with a nutritious CBD Smoothie Bowl is a great way to ease chronic pain, inflammation and reduce anxiety. It’s an all-around healthy way to boost your mornings!

Scale

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries

1 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries

1 serving  Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Protein 

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk. You might need to add more or less to create a thick smoothie depending on your blender and frozen fruit. 

1 serving Organic CBD oil. For dosage see Natures Ultra How Much CBD Should I Take chart.

3 scoops of Pyure Organic Stevia

Toppings: frozen strawberry slices, frozen whole blueberries, unsweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

Place all ingredients except topping in a strong blender such as a Vita-Mix

Blend on high for 1 minute or until your fruit is smooth.

Pour in a bowl and top with frozen fruit and shredded coconut. 

Enjoy right away. 

 

Keywords: CBD Smoothie Bowl

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Spaghetti Sauce With Fresh Tomatoes

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The rich, delicious flavor of this homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes is like stepping into a sweet Italian grandma’s kitchen, smelling the aroma of tomatoes and garlic roasting creating anticipation to the delicious bowl of spaghetti you soon will be eating.

fresh tomatoes sauce on spaghetti

What to do with so many cherry tomatoes?

I was trying to figure out what to do with the abundance of cherry tomatoes that are growing now when I came up with the idea to create this homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh roasted tomatoes.  

How To Roast Cherry Tomatoes

Roasting them was easy. I do have a tip, however, to get the roasted tomatoes to hold their flavor and shape. After cutting them in half, toss them in a colander and sprinkle salt on them. Let them rest there for 30 mins in your sink.  This will help draw the moisture out. After that pat, any excess moisture of with paper towel and then place the tomatoes in a dry bowl for the next step,  seasoning.  I also put sliced zucchini in the with the tomatoes and garlic to add another layer of flavor.

roasted tomatoes on a pan

Fresh herbs are always best if you have them to make this homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes.  If not most groceries sell the plants now in the produce section. I find them cheaper than the little packs they sell and I can get several trimmings off of them if I keep them watered.

Fresh herbs on board

I have a hydroponic garden tower that I have all my herbs for this recipe growing in. I have been able to keep this going year round, but I do have to pull it into our garage in the winter and use plant lights.

hydroponic garden tower

For this light pasta meal, I ramped up the nutrition and cut out the gluten by using Trader Joe’s Brown Rice & Quinoa Spaghetti Pasta.  Quinoa is an excellent alternative choice to wheat pasta since it doesn’t get mushy when it’s cooked. It tends to be higher in protein than other gluten-free varieties, and it contains high amounts of fiber and iron. Another plus, it cooks quickly and does not clump together like other grain alternative pasta.

Quick Vegan Cheese Topping  Substitute

vegan cheese topping in bowl

I also created something a little different for this recipe to go with this homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes, I wanted to a topping like cheese but I’m vegan. So I created an alternative that I like even better than parmesan cheese.  I mixed dried Italian bread crumbs equally with nutritional yeast, tossing to mix and then sprinkled on top of my spaghetti.

Another great pasta dish to try is Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach. It’s a one-pot wonder of creamy light lemon and garlic flavors that is an easy healthy vegan meal your entire family will love.

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Spaghetti Sauce With Fresh Tomatoes

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Description

The rich, delicious flavor of this homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes is like stepping into a sweet Italian grandma’s kitchen, smelling the aroma of tomatoes and garlic roasting creating anticipation to the delicious bowl of spaghetti you soon will be eating.

Scale

Ingredients

3 cups of cherry tomatoes in various sizes and colors

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup garlic cloves peeled and cut in half

1 cup diced zucchini, about the size of the tomatoes

1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup of fresh chopped herbs such as parsley, oregano, basil, and thyme. Divide these into half portions

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Trader Joe’s Brown Rice & Quinoa Spaghetti Pasta

Vegan Cheese Topping

1/4 cup fine Italian bread crumbs

1/4 nutritional yeast

1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

Cut tomatoes in half, place in a colander.  Sprinkle with salt lightly and toss. Allow draining in the sink for 30 minutes. This will help release some of the moisture from the tomatoes which will help them roast quicker and hold their shape better

Fill a large pan with water, bring to a boil. Drop in 2 servings of spaghetti and cook until done.

Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper

After 30 minutes, pat the tomatoes excess moisture off with paper towels.

Place tomatoes in a large bowl. Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil and then add 1/4 cup of herbs, garlic, zucchini, pepper, salt, and crushed red peppers. Toss gently until all coated, then place on parchment paper

Roast tomatoes mixture at 400 degrees for 35 minutes without stirring or until most of the moisture has evaporated. Remove from oven.

Place cooked pasta in a large bowl, add cooked tomato mixture over pasta, add balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup fresh herbs and toss to coat evenly.

Sprinkle vegan cheese topping over pasta when serving.

Vegan Cheese Topping  Substitute

Place Italian bread crumbs, nutritional yeast, and salt in a bowl. Stir until well mixed, set aside until ready to use. 

Keywords: Spaghetti Sauce With Fresh Tomatoes

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fresh roasted tomato spaghetti sauce on plate

Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach

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Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach is a one-pot wonder of creamy light lemon and garlic flavors that is an easy healthy vegan meal your entire family will love.

lemon spaghetti with spinach on plate

The secret to creamy almost cheesy vegan spaghetti.

The key to making this lemon spaghetti rich and creamy is surprisingly in the pasta you choose and the way you cook it.  I use quinoa and brown rice past so that I can serve a gluten-free dish.

Quinoa is a seed that packs a punch for nutrition. Quinoa pasta is my favorite alternative to wheat pasta because when you serve it you can’t tell the difference from regular pasta.   It’s a whole grain that is loaded with plenty of fiber, protein and 25% of your daily need for iron.

The secretto making a creamy sauce is the process of cooking the quinoa and rice noodles directly in the vegetable broth and coconut milk.  Quinoa is a seed that puts off starch when cooked, it’s like a natural rue being made in the pot while the noodles are being cooked. If you boil quinoa and brown rice noodles to use for other pasta dishes I suggest rinsing them before you sauce them.

I buy my quinoa and brown rice noodles from Trader Joes.  It’s over an hour drive for me to get to our closest one so sometimes I order them off of Amazon. They are one of my favorite pasta products and I keep them stocked in my pantry regularly.

lemon spaghetti with spinach in a yellow bowl.

Another great recipe I make with quinoa and brown rice noodles is my Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes.  It’s like stepping into a sweet Italian grandma’s kitchen, smelling the aroma of tomatoes and garlic roasting creating anticipation to the delicious bowl of spaghetti you soon will be eating.

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Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach

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Description

Lemon Spaghetti with Spinach is a one-pot wonder of creamy light lemon and garlic flavors that is an easy healthy vegan meal your entire family will love.

Scale

Ingredients

2 tablespoons virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

4 tablespoons garlic, minced

1 can of full-fat coconut milk

3 cups vegetable broth

9 oz Quinoa and brown rice spaghetti

3 cups fresh spinach

1/2 lemon juiced

2 teaspoons organic lemon zest and some for topping

1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

red pepper flakes to taste

Instructions

In a large pot heat olive oil, add onions and cook until almost soft then add garlic and saute for 1 minute on medium-high heat.

Add vegetable broth, coconut milk, and lemon juice. Bring just to a boil and add spaghetti slowly stirring in so it does not break. Turn heat to medium and allow to cook, stirring every minute or so so it does not stick. Cook until noodles are soft, about 20 minutes.  I found after about 10 minutes I needed to turn my gas stove to low to prevent sticking.

When the spaghetti is al dente, stir in lemon zest and spinach.

Serve immediately, seasoning with a bit of lemon zest, chili peppers, and salt.

Keywords: Lemon Spaghetti

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lemon spaghetti with spinach in a yellow bowl

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas Recipe

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BBQ Roasted Chickpeas recipe is a simple to make a healthy snack, full of sweet bbq flavor and the best part is they are protein packed, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free!

roasted chickpeas in a bowl

Move over popcorn and nuts, a new snack is in town. This roasted chickpeas recipe is inexpensive, simple to make and packed with disease-fighting nutrition. Chickpeas provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and protein.

A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving provides the following nutrients:

  • Calories: 46
  • Carbs: 31 grams
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Protein: 3 grams
  • Folate: 12% of the RDI
  • Iron: 4% of the RDI
  • Phosphorus: 5% of the RDI
  • Copper: 5% of the RDI
  • Manganese: 14% of the RDI

According to Healthline.comChickpeas have several characteristics that may help reduce the risk of several chronic diseases.

Heart Disease

Chickpeas are a great source of several minerals, such as magnesiumand potassium, which have been studied for their potential to boost heart health (1, 22, 23).

This is because they may help prevent high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

Additionally, the soluble fiber in chickpeas has been shown to help reduce triglyceride and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, which may increase heart disease risk when elevated (16, 24).

In one 12- week study, 45 people who ate 728 grams of chickpeas per week significantly reduced their total cholesterol levels by an average of almost 16 mg/dL (21).

Cancer

Including chickpeas in your diet on a regular basis may help reduce your risk of certain types of cancer.
First, eating chickpeas may promote the body’s production of butyrate, a fatty acid that has been studied for its potential to reduce inflammation in colon cells, possibly decreasing the risk of colon cancer (16, 25).
Furthermore, chickpeas are a source of saponins, which are plant compounds that may help prevent the development of certain cancers. Saponins have also been studied for their role in inhibiting tumor growth (16, 26, 27).
Chickpeas also contain several vitamins and minerals that may lower your risk of cancer, including B vitamins, which may be responsible for reducing the risk of breast and lung cancer (28, 29, 30).

Diabetes

Chickpeas have a few properties known to support blood sugar control, and thus may help prevent and manage diabetes.
The fiber and protein in chickpeas help prevent your blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after eating, which is an important factor in diabetes management (5, 10, 16, 31).
Additionally, their low glycemic index (GI) makes them appropriate for those with diabetes, as they are unlikely to lead to blood sugar spikes (16, 32, 33).
They’re also a source of several vitamins and minerals that have been found to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, including magnesium, B vitamins and zinc (1, 34, 35, 36).
 

With all this goodness it’s easy to see that we need to add more chickpeas to our diets. One great way is snacking on them like nuts or popcorn when you make this BBQ Roasted Chickpeas recipe.

roasted chickpeas on a bowl

For more delicious roasted nut recipes be sure and visit my Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews.

roasted cashews in a bowl

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas Recipe

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BBQ Roasted Chickpeas Recipe

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Description

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas recipe is a simple to make a healthy snack, full of sweet bbq flavor and the best part is they are protein packed, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free!

Scale

Ingredients

1 15 oz can chickpeas

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

BBQ Seasoning Mix

1/4 cup finely ground coffee
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1/2 tablespoon cayenne ~ or more

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside
  3. Rinse and thoroughly dry the chickpeas. It is best to place the chickpeas on paper towels and pat until they are almost dry.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients to the bbq seasoning mix. You will have extra seasoning so I suggest placing in a jar with a tight lid to use next time.
  5. Place the chickpeas in a large dry bowl and drizzle the olive oil over them. Toss until they are completely covered.
  6. Add 2 tablespoons of the bbq seasoning mix, lightly toss to coat.
  7. Place coated chickpeas on parchment lined baking sheet
  8. Roast in 400-degree oven for 35 minutes. Set your timer every 15 minutes to gently stir the chickpeas while roasting.  Ovens vary so when the desired roasting is done, remove and allow to cool.
  9. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week

Keywords: roasted chickpeas recipe

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Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews

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Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews are a delightful appetizer, snack or gift to give that is quick and easy to make. The best part is these cashew nuts are good for you, gluten-free and vegan.

roasted cashews on pan

Are Cashews Good For You?

According to Livestrong Cashews offer several health benefits, although many avoid eating them because of their fat content. The fact is that cashews contain less fat than many other nuts, and what they do contain is primarily unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health. Along with delivering healthy fats, cashews have a positive impact on your health in several other ways.

roasted cashews in a bowl

Cashew Nutrition Facts

  • 155 calories
  • 9.2 grams carbohydrates
  • 5.1 grams protein
  • 12.3 grams fat
  • 0.9 gram fiber
  • 0.6 milligram copper (31 percent DV)
  • 0.5 milligram manganese (23 percent DV)
  • 81.8 milligrams magnesium (20 percent DV)
  • 166 milligrams phosphorus (17 percent DV)
  • 9.5 micrograms vitamin K (12 percent DV)
  • 1.6 milligrams zinc (11 percent DV)
  • 1.9 milligrams iron (10 percent DV)
  • 0.1 milligram thiamine (8 percent DV)
  • 5.6 micrograms selenium (8 percent DV)
  • 0.1 milligram vitamin B6 (6 percent DV)
  • 185 milligrams potassium (5 percent DV)

Cashews nutrition also contains some vitamin E, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid and calcium.

roasted cashews on pan

For these roasted cashews, I like to use the flavor of butter to go along with the maple syrup. I did this by using Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil with Butter Flavor

roasted cashews in bowl

For another yummy roasted appetizer try my BBQ Roasted Chickpeas They are a simple to make, healthy snack, full of sweet bbq flavor and the best part is they are protein packed, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free!

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas in bowl
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Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews

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Description

Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews are a delightful appetizer, snack or gift to give that is quick and easy to make. The best part is these cashew nuts are good for you, gluten-free and vegan.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw cashews
  • 4 teaspoons butter flavored  coconut oil melted and warmed
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt divided
  • 1/2  teaspoon cayenne red pepper ground
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely chopped and divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375F
  2. In a mixing bowl add the raw cashews, warmed coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, and 1 tablespoon rosemary, whisk well. Then toss over nuts and stir until they are evenly coated with mixture.
  3. Roast nuts on a parchment paper lined sheet pan for about 10 minutes, stirring and turning pan 1/2 way through roasting. Then roast for another 7 minutes or until golden brown.  I set my timer and checked them every minute until they were brown and caramelized. Be careful they can go from golden to dark fast!
  4. Immediately after removing the cashew nuts from oven, sprinkle with remaining salt and fresh rosemary. Allow to cool one minute then give them a stir. Allow to cool another minute or so and then lift the parchment paper with the nuts on it and break apart any nuts sticking together.
  5. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Store in a covered container for up to a week.

Keywords: roasted cashews

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Coconut Cranberry Vegan Cookies

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Coconut Cranberry Vegan Cookies are gluten free, dairy free and low sugar so you can have a healthy alternative to your cookie cravings. The sweetness comes from the cranberries and coconut so these are more like a shortbread cookie.

cranberry coconut vegan cookies in a stack

My husband is a diabetic, and he struggles with cravings for sweets and high carbs. I believe it is something a person without diabetes can not understand but I do try to help him by having alternatives to high carb and high sugar snacks around the house.  These Coconut Cranberry Vegan Cookies are a healthy alternative to a sugary carb loaded cookie.

Why Use Almond Flour In Vegan Cookies

 I use almond flour in this recipe because foods made with refined wheat are high in carbs but low in fat and fiber. This can spike blood sugar levels and then follow with a rapid drop, which can leave a person feeling tired and hungry, craving foods high in sugar.  However, almond flouris low in carbs and high in healthy fats and fiber. For this reason, almond flour’s properties give it a low glycemic index, meaning it releases sugar slowly into the bloodstream to provide a sustainable energy source. 

Almond Flour and Diabeties

It is important to note that people with diabetes may tend to be deficient in magnesium, especially if they have uncontrolled high blood sugars, because their body may be clearing it out along with excess sugars in the urine. It is estimated that between 25–38% of people with type 2 diabetes have a magnesium deficiency, and correcting it through diet or supplements may significantly reduce blood sugar and improve insulin function. Since almond flour is packed with magnesium, its ability to improve insulin function may also apply to people without type 2 diabetes who have either low magnesium levels or normal magnesium levels but are overweight. Switching from wheat flour to almond flour will provide low glycemic properties and high magnesium content which may help control blood sugar in people with or without type 2 diabetes.

For this recipe, I used Blue Diamond Almond Flour. You can find this in most health food stores or on Amazon.

I kept the ingredients in this Coconut Cranberry Cookies recipe as natural as possible so I used Frost Ridge Maple Farms maple sugar.  It is produced in Pennsylvania, using small batches and double sifting.

I tried a new product for these cookies that I was pleasantly surprised that I liked called Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil with Butter Flavor.  It is made from non-GMO, Steam Refined, Sustainably Farmed Coconuts and truly has a buttery taste and it’s vegan. I plan on trying it with popcorn, toast and in some other recipes. 

For a fun treat try Bacon Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are a  sweet chewy chocolate chip cookie filled with little surprise bites of salty pretzels and bacon.

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Vegan cookies in a stack

Coconut Cranberry Vegan Cookies

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Description

Coconut Cranberry Vegan Cookies are gluten free, dairy free and low sugar so you can have a healthy alternative to your cookie cravings. The sweetness in these comes from the cranberries and coconut.

Scale

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups almond flour

1/4 small dried cranberries

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon maple sugar

1 tablespoon flax milled

2 tablespoons water

3 tablespoons butter flavored coconut oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl combine almond flour, cranberries, coconut flakes, baking powder, maple sugar, and salt.  Stir to mix all ingredients well.

In a small bowl put flax mill and water. Stir well and let set on counter for 3 minutes.

Melt coconut oil in the microwave, about 15 seconds in a small microwave-safe bowl.  Combine in the bowl with flax and water, and add vanilla. Sir well.

Add liquid ingredients to the dry and mix until a soft dough is formed. Place in freezer for 10 minutes to chill then roll dough into balls and flatten them to 1/4 inch thick. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake 12 minutes or just until the edges start to brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature before removing from pan.

Keywords: vegan cookies

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Asian Noodles Lao Gan Ma

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Delishious Asian Noodles Lao Gan Ma have layers of sweet spicy flavors that develop a sauce you will be willing to lick the pan for. They are the best-flavored noodles I have ever had, better than takeout or even some fancy restaurant.

asian noodles in a bowl

A friend was home from the mission field for a few months and we were discussing how she would like to learn some better cooking skills before she goes back. Several of us agreed to get together and show her some ideas of dishes she could make with the products she could get in her area.

She suggested I look at The Wok Of Lifeto get some ideas for recipes and did I ever! The site is full of recipes I plan on trying but for our cooking demonstration, I settled on Lao Gan Ma Noodles & The Godmother of the Godmother Sauces.  My eyes have been opened to a whole new line of products that create the most uniquely delicious flavors.

The Secret Sauce!

They shared with me how this little gem, Laoganma (Lao Gan Ma) Spicy Chili Crisp can transform a dish’s flavor profile. Ok, folks, this stuff is life changing when it comes to flavor for your Asian recipes. I love discovering new products that become a staple in my house, and this Spicy Chili Crisp is it. 

Don’t let the grumpy lady on the front fool you. Lan Gan Ma translates to godmother and she does have an interesting story. The Wok Of Life tells us “the Godmother is actually a real person––a widow who never finished school and can’t read. But her sauces helped raise her two boys, and she built a world-famous brand in just twenty years’ time! As a businesswoman in a former life, I understand hard work, but going from a small village in China to building a global brand boggles my mind. Her secret is the focus on the quality and integrity of products, and she proudly claims that her sauces are available wherever you find Chinese people!”

Asian Noodles Your Way

For this Asian noodles recipe, I did a little tweaking to the add-in ingredients such as cashews for peanuts. If you prefer to change up a few vegetable add-ins, it will not change the flavor much, the secret is in the combination of the ingredients in the sauce, keep that as it is in the recipe for best flavor

These Asain Noodles have layers of sweet spicy flavors that develop a sauce you will be willing to lick the pan for. They are the best-flavored noodles I have ever had, better than takeout or even some fancy restaurant.

Fire up the grill and try my Thai Grilled Chicken. You can use the seasoning on vegetables such as eggplant or squash and grill them also.

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Asian Noodles Lao Gan Ma

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Description

Asian Noodles Lao Gan Ma is absolutely the best Asian noodle recipe I have ever tried, better than takeout or even some fancy restaurant. The dish has layers of sweet spicy flavors that develop a sauce that you will be willing to lick the pan for.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon Chinese black vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons minced scallions
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1½ tablespoons of Laoganma (Lao Gan Ma) Spicy Chili Crisp   or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ⅓ cup raw cashews
  • 200 grams dried rice noodles
  • 2 cups largely chopped bok choy
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. Toast sesame seeds in a 350-degree oven for 4 to 6 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
  2. Next, prepare the sauce in a large bowl by mixing together the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, scallion, ginger, garlic, Laoganma (Lao Gan Ma) Spicy Chili Crisp , sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a pan using medium heat, and fry the peanuts for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring every minute or so until cooked through. Drizzle the hot oil and cashews into the sauce base.
  4. Soak and then boil the rice noodles per package instructions. Once the rice noodles are a minute away from done, add in the bok choy to blanch. Cook for the remaining minute, and then drain the noodles. Pour the sauce base over the noodles, stir to combine, and top with chopped cilantro.

Keywords: asian noodles

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Vegetable Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

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Vegetable spring rolls with peanut sauce are a delicious and easy way to get a rainbow of veggies all wrapped up into one eye-popping meal.

The great thing about spring rolls is you can make them any way that suits your diet. They can be vegetarian, keto, FODMAP friendly, gluten-free, or paleo, whatever suits your desire. Spring rolls are a fantastic way to wrap up great nutrition for an appetizer or a meal. These Vegetable spring rolls with peanut sauce pack a good for you punch in every bite.

Vegetable Spring Rolls, Eat The Rainbow

try of vegetables or spring roll
  • Mint – antioxidants + calms the stomach
  • Cilantro – Vitamin C + antioxidants
  • Bell Pepper – vitamin C, carotenoids + fiber
  • Mango – vitamin C, fiber + antioxidants
  • Carrot – beta carotene + vitamin A
  • Basil – magnesium + vitamin K
  • Watermelon Radish – fiber + vitamin C

Why Are Spring Rolls Clear?

Spring roll wrappers are made from a paste of rice flour and water that is stamped into bamboo mats and dried. The rice paper wrappers are so thin they are translucent which means when dried they are brittle and delicate. For these Vegetable Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce I used Three Ladies Brand rice papers.

What Is A Watermelon Radish?

The watermelon radish is a member of the mustard family, which includes arugula, broccoli, and turnips. The radish has an edible round white root with a green stem and leaves. Inside the flesh is rimmed in white with a dark pink circular pattern, resembling a watermelon; hence it’s named. 

You will enjoy the radish’s crisp, sweet, mildly peppery taste. When picking out watermelon radishes, select those that are firm, without bruises or cracks. Keep them in the refrigerator vegetable drawer until ready to use. 

watermelon radish

How To Roll A Rice Paper Spring Roll

  • Clear a workspace on your counter or work on a large cutting board.
  • Layout a damp dish towel on the surface to work on.
  • Fill a pie pan large enough for your rice paper to completely fit in with warm water and submerge one wrapper in the water for 15 to 20 seconds.
  • Rub it with your hand, flip it, and rub the other side, leaving it in the water just long enough to make sure the whole rice paper wrapper gets wet. It will still feel slightly firm when you pull it out of the water, but it will continue to soften some. It takes some practice to figure out what the right amount of firmness feels like. If you leave the wrapper in the water for too long it will start sticking to itself and get too soft for you to work with. 
  • Lay the rice paper wrapper out on the flat damp towel and place ingredients in the bottom third of the wrapper.
  • Be sure and place the prettiest items on the bottom since they will show on the outside of your spring roll. Layer the ingredients so you get a little bit of every ingredient in each bite. Don’t overstuff the roll, you need to leave enough space on all sides to wrap it up. 
spring roll wrapper and vegetables
  • Carefully pulling the edge of the rice paper closest to you, wrap up and over the filling, tucking it under a little bit to pull the ingredients closer together.
  • Gently pull the left side of the wrapper over the middle, and then the right, to close up the ends of the roll, similar to a burrito roll.
  • Roll it up away from you, continuing to gently tuck the filling in tighter as you go. The tucking helps the roll keep a nice shape.

For more Asian inspired dishes be sure and try my Asian Noodles Lao Gan Ma. They are absolutely the best Asian noodle recipe I have ever tried, better than takeout or even some fancy restaurant. The dish has layers of sweet spicy flavors that develop a sauce you will be willing to lick the pan for.

Asian noodles Lao Gan Ma
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Vegetable Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

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Description

Vegetable spring rolls with peanut sauce are a delicious and easy way to get a rainbow of veggies all wrapped up into one eye-popping meal.

Scale

Ingredients

7 spring roll rice papers

A quarter of each, yellow, red, green and orange pepper, seeded and sliced in thin strips

2 small rainbow carrots, peeled and julienne cut

3 small watermelon radishes sliced with a mandolin (carefully)

1 ripe mango, peeled and cut into small cubes

8 ounces cooked rice noodles

1 small bunch of cilantro

1 small bunch of basil

1 small bunch of mint

Peanut Sauce

1/2 cup salted natural peanut butter, no sugars added

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 medium lime, juiced

1 clove garlic minced

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

1 teaspoon  Sambal Oelek Chili Paste

hot water to thin as needed

Instructions

Peanut Sauce

Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl except the water. Whisk together until creamy and smooth. If needed add warm water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Set aside

Spring Rolls

Prepare all vegetables and fruit as directed, place all together in preparation for rolling.

Fill a cookie sheet 1/2 way with warm tap water.

See notes* for detailed rolling instructions – Submerge one rice paper in water to soften for about 20 seconds then lay on a damp towel, fill and roll.

Serve with Peanut Sauce

Notes

  • Clear a workspace on your counter or work on a large cutting board.
  • Layout a damp dish towel on the surface to work on.
  • Fill a pie pan large enough for your rice paper to completely fit in with warm water and submerge one wrapper in the water for 15 to 20 seconds.
  • Rub it with your hand, flip it, and rub the other side, leaving it in the water just long enough to make sure the whole rice paper wrapper gets wet. It will still feel slightly firm when you pull it out of the water, but it will continue to soften some. It takes some practice to figure out what the right amount of firmness feels like. If you leave the wrapper in the water for too long it will start sticking to itself and get too soft for you to work with.
  • Lay the rice paper wrapper out on the flat damp towel and place ingredients in the bottom third of the wrapper.
  • Be sure and place the prettiest items on the bottom since they will show on the outside of your spring roll. Layer the ingredients so you get a little bit of every ingredient in each bite. Don’t overstuff the roll, you need to leave enough space on all sides to wrap it up.
  • Carefully pulling the edge of the rice paper closest to you, wrap up and over the filling, tucking it under a little bit to pull the ingredients closer together.
  • Gently pull the left side of the wrapper over the middle, and then the right, to close up the ends of the roll, similar to a burrito roll.
  • Roll it up away from you, continuing to gently tuck the filling in tighter as you go. The tucking helps the roll keep a nice shape.

Keywords: vegetable spring rolls

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Canned Green Tomato Salsa

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The combination of green tomatoes, chilies, onions, and cilantro creates a salsa with authentic Mexican flavor in this recipe for Green Tomato Salsa.  It is perfect with chips or as a condiment for fajitas, burritos, and quesadillas. 

Green tomato salsa in a jar with spoon

Ok, this might sound crazy but my family’s favorite salsa is made with green tomatoes. Not tomatillos, just go out in the garden and pick early green tomatoes. Our family loves this so much I try and can 15 or 20 pints each spring or late fall just before a frost when I still have green tomatoes.

What Does Green Tomato Salsa Taste Like?

Green tomato salsa tastes similar to regular red ripe tomatoes however the salsa has a hint of tartness and a thicker consistency than red salsa. In this recipe, the addition of onions, peppers, cumin, garlic, and cilantro all cook together to infuse a wonderfully traditional style salsa that you might become addicted to.

Canned Green Tomato Salsa

Here is the best part about using green tomatoes, it’s so simple to make because you just quarter the tomatoes and toss them in a roaster with the other ingredients and allow to simmer for a few hours then blend with your emersion blender and presto you have salsa. There is no labor intensive pealing off the tomato skins like you would in red salsa!

Green tomato salsa in a rosting pan

As you can see there are a few tomatoes I threw in that were starting to turn red but they were not near ready to enjoy eating, more like the feel of a hard baseball. So, they got made into salsa too.

Once the tomato mixture is cooked down I use a KitchenAid Hand Blender stick right in the roaster pan. This creates a perfect and consistent small chunky salsa.

green tomato salsa on a spoon

How To Make Green Tomato Salsa

  • Place all the ingredients into the roaster pan.  Cook at 250 degrees.
  • Stir the mixture every 15 minutes to prevent sticking.
  • Allow to simmer for 2 hours or until the tomatoes are soft and starting to fall apart.
  • Using a hand blender stick, blend until the salsa is smooth yet slightly chunky

For another great salsa style recipe be sure and try my Shrimp Pico De Gallo

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canned green tomato salsa on spoon

Canned Green Tomato Salsa

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Description

The combination of green tomatoes, chilies, onions, and cilantro creates a salsa with authentic Mexican flavor in this recipe for Green Tomato Salsa.  It is perfect with chips or as a condiment for fajitas, burritos, and quesadillas. 

Scale

Ingredients

11 cups coarsely chopped green tomatoes

2 cups coarsely chopped onions

2 cups chopped green chilies. If you want it spicy use jalapeños, or mild peppers if you don’t want heat.

1 cup white vinegar

10 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

10  cloves of garlic minced

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

4 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons pink Himalayan salt

1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes or more if you like it spicy.

Instructions

Using a Roaster

  1. Place all the ingredients into the roaster pan.  Cook on 250 degrees.
  2. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes to prevent sticking.
  3. Allow to simmer for 2 hours or until the tomatoes are soft and starting to fall apart.

Using a stock pot

  1. In a large stock pot combine all ingredients. Bring just to a boil over medium-high heat, stir continuously.
  2. Reduce heat, and simmer gently. Stir frequently so the tomatoes do not burn.  Allow to simmer for about 45 minutes or until the tomatoes are very soft, starting to fall apart.

Canning green tomato salsa

  1. Use hand blender stick to puree the salsa until it is smooth, yet slightly chunky.
  2. Pack hot salsa into hot jars, leaving 1-inch of headspace.
  3. Wipe jar rims clean
  4. Center lid on the jar and adjust the band to fingertip- tight.
  5. Process filled jars in a pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure 55 minutes for pints and 1 hour and 25 minutes for quarts, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. The lid should not flex up and down when the center is pressed.
  6. For complete pressure canning instructions be sure and visit Ball’s pressure canning link: http://www.freshpreserving.com/tools/pressure-canning

Freezing green tomato salsa

1. Use hand blender stick to puree the salsa until it is smooth, yet slightly chunky.

2. Allow salsa to cool to room temperature. Then ladle salsa into freezer containers, seal with a lid and freeze for up to 6 months.

3. Allow thawing overnight in the refrigerator before eating.

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green tomato salsa in a jar on spoon

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates

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Cinnamon Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates are the perfect quick snack when you are craving something sweet and good for you.

stuffed dates

What Are Dates

Dates grow on large trees called date palms. They are native to the Middle East and have been a part of the region’s cuisine for generations. Dates grow in large clusters, kind of like bunches of grapes, which hang higher than fifty feet off the ground. 

To harvest dates someone must climb up the distance of tall palms, which can grow up to 75 feet tall. However, we now have large machinery that can help with the harvesting process.

When the dates are picked the bunch is not all ripe at the same time. This creates a labor-intensive task of separating the dates that are ripe and setting the ones that are not out in the sun to dry so they become more sweet and chewy. 

Why Dates Are Good For You

According to Healthline dates contain several vitamins and minerals, in addition to fiber and antioxidants that this sweet treat provides.

Dates have an excellent nutrition profile.
Since they’re dried, their calorie content is higher than most fresh fruit. The calorie content of dates is similar to that of other dried fruits, such as raisins and figs.
Most of the calories in dates come from carbs. The rest are from a very small amount of protein. Despite their calories, dates contain some important vitamins and minerals in addition to a significant amount of fiber.

A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving provides the following nutrients:

Calories: 277
Carbs: 75 grams
Fiber: 7 grams
Protein: 2 grams
Potassium: 20% of the RDI
Magnesium: 14% of the RDI
Copper: 18% of the RDI
Manganese: 15% of the RDI
Iron: 5% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 12% of the RDI

Dates are also high in antioxidants, which may contribute to many of their health benefits

How To Make Stuffed Dates

For this recipe, I suggest using Medjool dates. They are easy to find in your local grocery, are very sweet and a little larger than other types. When purchasing look for skins that are a little translucent, with minimal rips and tears, the dates should be intact and separate, not mashed into a big clump.

  • Slit dates in half just enough to get the pit out, being sure not to cut all the way through. 
  • Mix peanut butter and cinnamon in a small bowl until blended. Set aside. 
  • Stuff each date with 2 or 3 whole peanuts
  • Fill date with as much cinnamon peanut butter as you can without it going over the sides
  • Finely chop leftover peanuts and sprinkle lightly on top of dates.
  • Place shredded coconut and chopped cranberries on top of stuffed dates. 
  • Place on a serving board and sprinkle a little cinnamon over the stuffed dates

For more easy and delicious snack ideas be sure and try these recipes.

Savory Parmesan Rosemary Shortbread

Sweet and Spicy Cashews

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas

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stuffed dates

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates

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Description

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates are the perfect quick snack when you are craving something sweet and good for you.

Scale

Ingredients

12 Medjool dates

3 tablespoons peanut butter with no sugars added

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 cup roasted whole peanuts

1 tablespoon unsweetened  shredded coconut

1 tablespoon finely chopped dried cranberries

A bit of cinnamon for dusting

Instructions

Slit dates in half just enough to get the pit out, being sure not to cut all the way through.

Mix peanut butter and cinnamon in a small bowl until blended. Set aside.

Stuff each date with 2 or 3 whole peanuts

Fill date with as much cinnamon peanut butter as you can without it going over the sides

Finely chop leftover peanuts and sprinkle lightly on top of dates.

Place shredded coconut and chopped cranberries on top of stuffed dates.

Place on a serving board and sprinkle a little cinnamon over the stuffed dates

Enjoy

Keywords: stuffed dates

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Roasted Carrot Chickpea Salad

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Roasted carrots and chickpeas tossed with a warm mix of seven grains, kale, and tart pomegranate seeds then drizzled with a sweet spiced maple dressing create this healthy Roasted Carrot Chickpea Salad that your friends and family will rave over.

Roasted Carrots Chickpea Salad is tossed with a warm mix of seven grains, kale, and tart pomegranate seeds, drizzled with a sweet spiced maple dressing.

I was in the mood for some roasted vegetables and wanted to create a recipe using them as a main dish salad that was warm.   My tower garden, which is similar to the HGTC Vertical Hydrogarden, has really been producing this fall so I wanted to harvest some kale and mint from it for the recipe.

Tower Garden is an easy way to grow your own kale and herbs.

The mint from the tower garden added a sweet fresh element to this recipe and created another level of flavors that made this Roasted Carrot Chickpea Salad so delicious.

Roasted Carrots Chickpea Salad is tossed with a warm mix of seven grains, kale, and tart pomegranate seeds, drizzled with a sweet spiced maple dressing.

I wanted this recipe to be simple also so I used a pre-cooked bag of  Earthly Choice Organic Seven Grain Blend.  I picked mine up at Costco but you can also purchase it on Amazon. It makes a recipe super healthy and super easy.

Roasted Carrots Chickpea Salad is tossed with a warm mix of seven grains, kale, and tart pomegranate seeds, drizzled with a sweet spiced maple dressing.

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Roasted Carrots Chickpea Salad

Roasted Carrot Chickpea Salad

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Description

Roasted carrots and chickpeas tossed with a warm mix of seven grains, kale, and tart pomegranate seeds then drizzled with a sweet spiced maple dressing create this healthy Roasted Carrot Chickpea Salad that your friends and family will rave over.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 lb organic carrots
  • 1 16 oz can chickpeas, drained
  • 1 bag Earthly Choice Organic Seven Grain Blend or 2 cups of a cooked grain of your choice.
  • 1 cup chopped kale
  • 1/4 pomegranate seeds
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped mint
  • 1/4 cup toasted finely chopped pecans
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper
  3. Peel carrots and cut lengthwise into quarters. Place on cookie sheet. Lightly season with a dash of cumin and salt.
  4. Roast carrots for 15 minutes then add chickpeas.
  5. Continue to roast for 10 more minutes or until carrots are soft.
  6. In a pint jar add 2 tablespoons olive oil, maple syrup, cumin, coriander, chili flakes and chili powder, mint leaves, and pomegranate seeds. Place a lid on the jar and shake well.
  7. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, sautee kale in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until just tender.
  8. Add Seven Grain Blend and pecans, stirring for one minute
  9. Place contents in a large bowl and then add the cooked carrots and chickpeas.
  10. Shake dressing, pour over and toss.
  11. Serve warm. Top with a few pomegranate seeds and chopped mint
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For more yummy salad recipes with pomegranates be sure to check out my Corn Salad With Cilantro

Affiliate links within the post.

Gluten Free Vegan Banana Bread

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Be ready to amaze your taste buds when you bake this Gluten Free Vegan Banana Bread. No eggs, no wheat, no white sugar just healthy guilt-free goodness.

vegan banana bread on a plate with nuts

I have been in search of the perfect, gluten-free, vegan and low sugar banana bread for some time now.  There were many recipes I tried and tweaked but they all were a complete flop in taste. Some turned out so wrong I had to use a spoon to eat them.

Healthy Vegan Banana Bread

I am finally satisfied with this wonderful tasting, slightly sweet Gluten Free Vegan Banana Bread recipe.

It is a heavier bread so eating a piece is more like a meal than a snack at breakfast.  It would be wonderful served warm in a bowl nesting warm almond milk and drizzled with a hint of maple syrup.

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Vegan Gluten Free Banana Bread

  • Author: Intentional Hospitality
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 50 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 mins
  • Category: Vegan Bread
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Description

Be ready to amaze your taste buds when you bake this Vegan Gluten Free Banana Bread. No eggs, no wheat, no white sugar just healthy guilt-free goodness.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pink salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 flax eggs (1 Tb ground flax to 2 Tb water for each egg substituted)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup of baking stevia
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 large ripe bananas
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Grease a small black cast iron skillet with coconut oil
  3. In a small bowl combine flax and water, stir and allow to sit for 5 minutes)
  4. In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients, almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking soda.
  5. In a medium bowl, finely mash bananas.  Add honey, almond milk, vanilla and the flax eggs.  Stir well.
  6. Stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until mixed.
  7. Fold in chopped pecans leaving a few to sprinkle on the top of the bread before baking.
  8. Pour batter into greased black skillet, top with a few pecans and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the center is firm.
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More Vegan Bread Recipes

If you are looking for more vegan bread recipes, be sure and check out my Beer Bread, it goes wonderfully with my Wendy’s Chili recipe.

Beer Bread

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers

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Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

 

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

It has been one of those times in life where one realizes what we are doing is not the best way to go about life.  I had given up buying and squeezing into my normal pants size once and for all. I bit the bullet and bought the biggest size I had ever gotten before. Yes, it was depressing, but comfort outweighed my pride.

It was time; I had to make a  lifestyle change.  I started researching, listening to podcasts and reading how a mid menopausal lady could lose the fat that is starting to happily layer itself to my hips.  After much consideration, I purchased Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle by Diane Sanfilippo

I needed a clear, no-nonsense diet that made the greatest impact on my overall health, not just my waistline. After reading through Practical Paleo, it became clear that the changes I needed to make and Diane was going to help me do it without feeling like I was missing out on something.

After a month in a half, I am excited to report I have lost 10 of the 15 pounds of my goal. I have thoroughly enjoyed the recipes in Diane’s book . They have helped me change my eating habits and enjoy doing it.

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

 

Today I am sharing with you one of my favorite recipes I have tried so far, Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers.  They were quick and easy to prepare ahead and then bake at dinner time.

 

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

 

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Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers

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Description

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 bell peppers, halved and cleaned
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1/2 large onion, diced
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 4 cloves garlic, pressed or chopped
  • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes, fresh or canned
  • 1 pound ground organic beef
  • 6 basil leaves, finely chopped
  • Extra basil leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the bell pepper halves in a roasting dish face down for 10 to 15 minutes. (You can skip this step if you want to keep the peppers more firm or raw.)
  2. While the bell peppers are cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions in coconut oil, adding sea salt and black pepper to taste, until they’re translucent and slightly browned on the edges.
  3. Add the tomatoes and garlic, and simmer for about two minutes.
  4. Add the meat, and cook until fully done. Taste the mixture, and adjust seasoning to your liking. Mix in the chopped basil.
  5. Remove the peppers from the oven, they should be just a bit softened.
  6. Flip them over. Spoon the stuffing mixture into each one. You can go ahead and eat them at this point, or put them back in the oven for five to 10 minutes to allow the flavors of the bell pepper and the meat mixture to blend together more.
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Nutrition Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

 

 

Italian Style Stuffed Paleo Peppers, are made with sweet bell peppers stuffed with Italian herbs and organic beef to create a delicious and healthy one-dish paleo meal for your family.

Grasshopper Mint Parfait

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BiteSizedBitsOfJoy #CollectiveBias  Grasshopper Mint Parfait

Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well, I’m going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

 

Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well I'm going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

 

What is old is cool again, especially when it comes to Keebler Grasshopper Mint & Fudge Cookies! I remember being a kid going down that one aisle in the local A&P store, all the cookies neatly stacked up, tempting the buyer to indulge. However, my choice was simple, “I want the grasshopper kind” I would tell my dad.   I loved the chocolate covered cookie with a hint of sweet mint and what fun it was to ask for a cookie named after a bug!

My fudgy mint obsession followed me into adulthood and when I started having kids I wanted to share my love for the grasshopper cookies with them.  All 6 kids grew up enjoying them with a glass of cold milk or crumbled as a crust for Grandma’s famous frozen mint cream pie.

Now our next generation is coming up and it’s time for Gigi to introduce the grandkids to the grasshopper cookies.  It just so happened Kroger had them on sale this week, so we had to buy three packages of course.

 

Keebler Grasshopper Cookies at Kroger. Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well I'm going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

 

We start out with the basics, a cookie, and milk. Ok, maybe 5 or 6 cookies, since they are at Gigi’s house.

 

 

Then for a family dessert, I use my mom’s grasshopper pie recipe, preparing it with a new twist by making this quick and fancy little Grasshopper Mint Parfait.  For the adults, I like using high stem glasses to give the dessert a more sophisticated feel.

 

Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well I'm going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

 

The kids get the same dessert in a shorter glass with a fun little surprise, a grasshopper smiling at them. To help you create your own kid-friendly Grasshopper Mint Parfait I have included a free printable below. Just print, cut out and tape to a cute straw that has been cut in half. Insert the straw when serving and watch the kids faces light up.

Free Grasshopper Printable | Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well I'm going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

DOWNLOAD YOUR GRASSHOPPER PRINTABLE HERE

 

Making this recipe is quick and easy. Start out by placing the cookies in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbles are formed.

 

Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well I'm going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

 

Next mix room temperature cream cheese and sugar together with a mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add the peppermint extract, Cool Whip and whip for 30 seconds. Then mix in enough green food coloring until desired shade is created.

Layer cookie crumbs and mint filling in a cute serving glass, chill for one hour and serve.

 

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Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well, I'm going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

Grasshopper Mint Parfait

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Description

Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well, I’m going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 10 oz bag of KEEBLER® GRASSHOPPER® COOKIES
  • 1 8 oz block cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 8 oz tub Cool Whip
  • green food coloring

Instructions

  1. Pulse cookies in a food processor until fine crumbles are formed.
  2. In standing mixer whip cream cheese and sugar until smooth, about 1 minute on medium high
  3. Fold in Cool Whip and peppermint extract, whip until blended, about 30 seconds on medium high
  4. Layer cookie crumbs and mint filling in a cute serving glass.
  5. Chill and serve
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I would love to see your retro Keebler Grasshopper recipe, head on over to Intentional Hospitality Facebook page and share your photos.

 

Remember the Grasshopper cookies you loved as a kid? Well, I'm going retro with this Grasshopper Mint Parfait creating a light, easy summer dessert that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will love.

 

For more great recipes using Keebler cookies be sure and visit the Keebler Elves on Facebook.

 

Keebler Cookies at Kroger: Summer 2016

Mango Sesame Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing

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I was feeling a little tropical when I created this light and fresh Mango Sesame Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing.

 

I was feeling a little tropical when I created this light and fresh Mango Sesame Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing.

 

Mangos have been selling for a great price this spring and since they are on my list of top favorite fruits I have been buying quite a few.  They are great in smoothies and mixed in a fruit bowl for a light dessert.

There is just one problem with this yummy fruit, they can be quite the challenge to peel, cut, and cube.  Now you can go the gadget way to get the job done and try OXO Good Grips Mango Splitter which is a handy tool by one of my favorite kitchen gadget tool companies.

 

Best Mango Slicer Gadget

 

 

I was shown another way to get the mango separated from the seed and skin when a group of friends and I were preparing freezer meals for a sweet young lady starting chemo treatments for breast cancer.  One request she had was frozen pre-packaged fruit for her smoothies.  It was at this time I learned a great trick from one of the ladies for getting all the mango removed.   The great part of this technique is no fancy gadgets, just a knife, and a juice glass.

 

The National Mango Board shares another great technique for preparing mangos.

 

 

So now that you know how to cut your mango it will be even easier to make this Mango Sesame Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing.  Why not make this salad a wonderful summer meal,  by adding my Thai Grilled Chicken. It’s going to be great!

 

Fire up the grill for this slightly spicy, exotic flavored Thai Grilled Chicken. It's easy to prep ahead so all you have to do at dinner is grill and eat, which is perfect for a quick night dinner or a bbq on the patio.

 

There is one more bonus to this recipe, ginger is a super food that helps keep us healthy. As part of my own fight with colon cancer, I have been adding ginger to my juices, dressings, and veggies every day.

 

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I was feeling a little tropical when I created this light and fresh Mango Sesame Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing.

Mango Sesame Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing

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Description

I was feeling a little tropical when I created this light and fresh Mango Sesame Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing.

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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup coconut vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoon finely shredded carrot
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 8 ounces romaine lettuce chopped into bites size pieces
  • 2 mangos cubed
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Place vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, carrot, maple syrup and lime juice in a glass jar. Place lid on and shake well to blend.
  2. Place lettuce and mango in a bowl. Toss with dressing
  3. Plate salad and sprinkle with sesame seeds
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Spicy Seed Salad Topping

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Kick up your salads with a little bit of heat and crunch when you make this Spicy Seed Salad Topping. It’s a delicious healthy  topping with only 23 calories per serving.

 

Kick up your salads with a little bit of heat and crunch when you make this Spicy Seed Salad Topping. It's a delicious healthy topping with only 23 calories per serving.

 

Being content shares with us a great article on  Why Eating Seeds Is Good For Your Health. They state, people often forget that seeds are in fact nutritional powerhouses high in fiber, contain significant amounts of vitamin E and are super high in omegas. They also act as a source of protein – meaning they are a wonderful choice for snacking as they will keep you fuller for longer.

So sprinkle this low-calorie nutritional powerhouse Spicy Seed Salad Topping on your salads, veggies and eggs to help you eat well and feel fuller.
Kick up your salads with a little bit of heat and crunch when you make this Spicy Seed Salad Topping. It's a delicious healthy topping with only 23 calories per serving.

 

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Kick up your salads with a little bit of heat and crunch when you make this Spicy Seed Salad Topping. It's a delisious healthy topping with only 23 calories per serving.

Spicy Seed Salad Topping

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Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/8 cup raw white sesame seeds
  • 1/8 cup raw black sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 pine nuts
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon flaked salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
  2. Pour sesame seeds and sunflower seeds on a small baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes stirring twice. Pour into a small bowl.
  3. Preheat a sauté pan over medium heat. Add sesame, sunflower, nuts, and poppy seeds. Toast for about 5 minutes or until pine nuts are golden brown. Be sure and stir every 20 seconds or so.
  4. Add salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and lemon zest. Mix all together. Pour onto a cookie sheet and bake for 5 minutes in preheated oven stirring once 1/2 way through.
  5. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
  6. Store in a tightly sealed container or jar in a cool place.
  7. Can be used as a salad topping, on steamed or sautéed vegetables and eggs.
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Spicy Seed Salad Topping Nutrition

 

Spicy Seed Salad Topping

Thai Grilled Chicken

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Fire up the grill for this slightly spicy, exotic flavored Thai Grilled Chicken.  It’s easy to prep ahead so all you have to do at dinner is to grill and eat, which is perfect for a quick night dinner or a bbq on the patio.

 

Fire up the grill for this slightly spicy, exotic flavored Thai Grilled Chicken. It's easy to prep ahead so all you have to do at dinner is grill and eat, which is perfect for a quick night dinner or a bbq on the patio.

 

 

I created a Thai Seasoning blend that is easy to make and can be kept on hand in your pantry.  This blend of seasonings can be used to impart the flavor of Thai into meats, vegetables or grain dishes. Be sure and print a copy of the recipe and keep a batch on hand.

For this grilled chicken I used the Thai Seasoning as a rub, and then coated the chicken with unsweetened shredded coconut.  I have  a hint for you,  use disposable latex gloves to rub the seasoning onto the chicken.  The turmeric in the seasoning will stain your hands a pretty shade of yellow if you don’t have gloves on.

 

 

 

This chicken would be great on a bed of lettuce, add some mandarin oranges and toss with an  oil and vinegar dressing, you will have a light and delicious dinner.

 

Fire up the grill for this slightly spicy, exotic flavored Thai Grilled Chicken. It's easy to prep ahead so all you have to do at dinner is grill and eat, which is perfect for a quick night dinner or a bbq on the patio.

 

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Thai Grilled Chicken

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Fire up the grill for this slightly spicy, exotic flavored Thai Grilled Chicken. It’s easy to prep ahead so all you have to do at dinner is and eat, which is perfect for a quick night dinner or a bbq on the patio.

Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Rub Thai seasoning on chicken breast, coating well. I use latex gloves so my hands do not get stained by the seasoning.
  2. Pat shredded coconut on chicken.
  3. Place in refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours.
  4. Preheat grill, then grill on medium heat until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees
  5. Serve with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce for dipping if you would like.
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Thai Grilled Chicken Nutrition

Thai Grilled Chicken Nutrition

Maple BBQ Dry Rub

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Whip up a batch of Maple BBQ Dry Rub for your next cookout and you will find out how the sweetness of maple infused with spicy seasonings will bring your grilling techniques raving reviews from your family and friends.

 

Whip up a batch of Maple BBQ Dry Rub for your next cookout and you will find out how the sweetness of maple infused with spicy seasonings will bring your grilling techniques raving reviews from your family and friends.

 

I’m always on the hunt for a good dry rub recipe. I love finding new full flavored ingredients to combine, then allowing them to infuse throughout a piece of meat for a few hours before grilling.

 

Whip up a batch of Maple BBQ Dry Rub for your next cookout and you will find out how the sweetness of maple infused with spicy seasonings will bring your grilling techniques raving reviews from your family and friends.

 

Today I want to share with you a new twist on rubs that I created.  I love a sweet and spicy rub but wanted something other than brown sugar. I decided to try maple sugar knowing it would give the meat a sweet, earthy note along with the other rub spices.  Maple sugar is made out of 100% pure maple syrup. It is completely unrefined, giving perfect sweetness the way God created it for our enjoyment. Also, unlike highly processed white sugar, maple sugar contains naturally occurring minerals like potassium and calcium.

For this recipe try Coombs Family Farms Organic Pure Maple Sugar. It’s great to use in all kinds of recipes or try sprinkling on your warm popcorn for a late night sweet treat.

 

 

Be sure and make a double batch of  Maple BBQ Dry Rub, use some on your steaks for dinner tonight and then the next time you cook out rub it on chicken or salmon.  Just keep in an airtight container in your pantry.

 

Whip up a batch of Maple BBQ Dry Rub for your next cookout and you find out how the sweetness of maple infused with spicy seasonings will bring your grilling techniques raving reviews from your family and friends.

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Whip up a batch of Maple BBQ Dry Rub for your next cookout and you find out how the sweetness of maple infused with spicy seasonings will bring your grilling techniques raving reviews from your family and friends.

Maple BBQ Dry Rub

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Description

Whip up a batch of Maple BBQ Dry Rub for your next cookout and you find out how the sweetness of maple infused with spicy seasonings will bring your grilling techniques raving reviews from your family and friends.

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon granulated onions
  • 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 6 tablespoons maple sugar
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (2 teaspoons if you like it spicy)
  • 1 teaspoon crushed mixed peppercorns

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a quart glass canning jar. Screw on lid and shake to combine ingredients.
  2. Rub on your favorite meat, placing the meat in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before grilling.
  3. Store extra rub in an airtight jar for up to 3 months.
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Maple BBQ Dry Rub Nutrition

Maple BBQ Dry Rub Nutrition

 

Whip up a batch of Maple BBQ Dry Rub for your next cookout and you will find out how the sweetness of maple infused with spicy seasonings will bring your grilling techniques raving reviews from your family and friends.

Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs

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If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.

 

If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.

 

Not only is this salad healthy it also creates a delightful presentation when you serve it.  Start with fresh tomatoes that come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.  I picked up a  container of these Wild Wonders at my local grocery store. I love that they are verified non GMO.

 

wild wonders tomatos

 

For this recipe I only sliced the tomatos in half so the salad looks like it was just picked out of the garden.  Next I stired up the  dressing in a mixing bowl using my Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix.  

 

Creating your own delicious Italian seasoning and dressing at home is easy and quick with my recipe for Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix.

 

Make up a batch of Fand keep it in your pantry. Then when you pick up your fresh tomatos it will only take you a minute to create this recipe.

 

If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.

 

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If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.

Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs

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Description

If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound of small tomatoes in an array of colors and shapes
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix (recipe on Intentional Hospitality)
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Wash tomatoes and then cut in half, place in a mixing bowl
  2. Mix olive oil, vinegar, sugar, Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix, sugar and salt in a small bowl. Whisk for 1 minute to blend well.
  3. Pour dressing mix over tomatoes, toss until coated
  4. To serve, top with finely chopped fresh parsley
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Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs Nutrition

 

Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs

Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe

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Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

 

Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

 

My daughter bought me some graffiti eggplants while she was at Dekalb Farmers Market in Atlanta. She got them for me because they were pretty (yes my family knows I like to take pictures of fruits and vegetables)  and she knew I certainly like eggplant. However, the challenge was to use them in a recipe that my non eggplant eaters would not notice and maybe after trying it they would say, “There was eggplant in there? Maybe I do like eggplant!”

So I went to work at creating a recipe that turned out even better than I planned! I decided I wanted an Italian twist on meatballs, so I seasoned my panko bread crumbs with my Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix, cooked the eggplant in olive oil and garlic, then added low-fat grass fed beef.

 

Creating your own delicious Italian seasoning and dressing at home is easy and quick with my recipe for Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix.

 

I then baked the meatballs in the oven instead of frying on the stove top. It truly became a low-fat, healthy meatball dinner.

 

Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

 

The meatballs were a hit!  My two year old granddaughter was over spending the night when I served them and she normally will not eat any type of meat. However,  not these meatballs, she asked for seconds and thirds and then wanted them the next day for lunch.  My non eggplant eaters all thought they were moist and full of great Italian flavor too.

For more great meatball ideas on preparing, cooking tips and recipes be sure and check out My Kings Cook’s post    Quick & Easy Ways on How to Make Meatballs You Probably Didn’t Know Exist  The article has great photos and will teach you everything you need to know about making great meatballs of all kinds.

 

 

Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

 

 

Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

 

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Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe

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Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large eggplant diced into small cubes, about 5 cups
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoonHomemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix(recipe on Intentional Hospitality)
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 pound lean grass fed beef
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 quart of your favorite marinara sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish
  • 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Heat olive oil in a nonstick fry pan over medium heat, add eggplant cubes, cook until soft about 10 minutes
  3. Add garlic to eggplant and cook 3 minutes, stirring each minute
  4. Remove eggplant from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes
  5. After cool pulse in a food processor until chopped fine
  6. In a large mixing bowl add breadcrumbs, Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix, parsley and toss until blended
  7. Add beef and egg, then mix with hands until smooth
  8. Add eggplant and mix with hands until incorporated.
  9. Roll mixture into size balls, place on parchment lined cookie sheet
  10. Bake meatballs for 30 minutes or until done in a 350-degree oven
  11. When meatballs are done, place in a casserole dish, top with your favorite marinara sauce and bake another 15 min at 350 degrees
  12. Topp casserole dish with chopped parsley and shredded parmesan cheese
  13. Optional: Serve with your favorite pasta sauce or in your favorite hoagie roll
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Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe Nutrition

 

Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe Nutrition

 

Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe-2

 

Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe

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Create a sensationally flavored seafood boil with this Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe. This seasoning mixture will unmask the full flavor in any seafood yet will not overpower it.

 

Create a sensationally flavored seafood boil with this Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe. This seasoning mixture will unmask the full flavor in any seafood yet will not overpower it.

 

Every Christmas Eve for the past 26 years our family has had a low country boil. A low country boil is a classic Low Country South Carolina dish. According to What’s Cooking America, this dish has more than one name to locals, some including  Frogmore Stew or Beaufort Stew. The dish gets its name from a place that has only a post office on one side of the road and a two-story white country store on the other. Frogmore is the mailing address for the residents of St. Helena Island just off the South Carolina coast.

Frogmore Stew is actually not a stew, and it contains NO Frogs! Frogmore Stew features two main ingredients, fresh shrimp and freshly shucked yellow corn, but most anything that is good boiled, such as crabs, crab legs,  redskin potatoes, and even crawfish can be added. We also add whole onions, sausage, and artichokes to our pot.  Throw in a few bags of my Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe and you have an easy to prepare southern feast. Typically we spread a thick layer of newspaper on the table and dump the low country boil right on the table.  Next to our chairs are tin buckets for the shells and melting butter pots light by candles next to each place setting for dipping our crab meat in.

 

Create a sensationally flavored seafood boil with this Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe. This seasoning mixture will unmask the full flavor in any seafood yet will not overpower it.

 

 

Create a sensationally flavored seafood boil with this Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe This seasoning mixture will unmask the full flavor in any seafood yet will not overpower it.

 

Create a sensationally flavored seafood boil with this Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe This seasoning mixture will unmask the full flavor in any seafood yet will not overpower it.

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Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe

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Create a sensationally flavored seafood boil with this Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe This seasoning mixture will unmask the full flavor in any seafood yet will not overpower it.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup whole mustard seeds
  • 3/4 cup whole coriander seeds
  • 1/2 cup course sea salt
  • 1/4 cup celery seeds
  • 1/4 cup marjoram
  • 1/4 cup dill seeds
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon whole allspice
  • 1 tablespoon ground red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 2 small bay leaves, crushed

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients in a quart canning jar, screw on lid and shake until well blended. Store in a cool, dry place until needed.
  2. To use in seafood boil, scoop 1/2 cup of seasoning into cheesecloth, tie up well with twine. Place in a pot of water, bring to a boil, add seafood and cook until done. Discard the bag of seasoning and serve seafood.
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Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe Nutrition

Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe Nutrition

 

Create a sensationally flavored seafood boil with this Seafood Boil Seasoning Recipe This seasoning mixture will unmask the full flavor in any seafood yet will not overpower it.

7 Famous MASTERS Golf Tournament recipes You Must Try

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Here are 7 Famous MASTERS Golf Tournament recipes You Must Try!  Next time you are looking for a party idea why not throw a golf party with a theme around the famous Master’s golf tournament. Grab your yellow and green decorations, spread around some cute golf equipment and then whip up some of these famous Masters food recipes.

Here are 7 Famous MASTERS Golf Tournament recipes You Must Try! Next time you are looking for a party idea why not throw a golf party with a theme around the famous Master's golf tournament. Grab your yellow and green decorations, spread around some cute golf equipment and then whip up some of these famous Masters food recipes.

 

1. Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe

The Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe is a classic southern tradition, full of creamy swiss and cheddar cheese mixed in with just the right amount of pimentos.

 

The Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe is a classic southern tradition, full of creamy swiss and cheddar cheese mixed in with just the right amount of pimentos. Get the recipe

 

2. GREEN JACKET SALAD

Green Jacket Salad

 

An amazing salad from an Augusta icon, The Green Jacket Resturant. Get the recipe

 

3. The Masters Egg Salad

Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

 

Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad. Get the recipe

 

4. Augusta National Sour Cream Pound Cake

Simple sweet pound cake to southeners is as traditional as Augusta National is to golf. So it's safe to say, Augusta National Sour Cream Pound Cake is the penical of southern pound cake recipes, with smooth sour cream and sweet buttery flavor.

 

Augusta National shared their own recipe!  Get the recipe

 

5. How to Make an Arnold Palmer

 

How to make an Arnold Palmer

How to make an Arnold Palmer. Get the recipe

 

6. Azalea Cocktail

Azalea Cocktail for the Masters

 

Azalea Cocktail, just the thing to enjoy after a long day on the course. Get the recipe

 

7. Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich

Masters Peach Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe

 

For dessert at the Masters, try their Peach Ice Cream Sandwich. Get the recipe

Corn Salad With Cilantro

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Corn Salad With Cilantro is a quick, colorful salad full of fresh flavors perfect as a side salad, topping on meats or as a dip with chips.

 

Corn Salad With Cilantro is a quick colorful salad full of fresh flavores perfect as a side salad, topping on meats or as a dip with chips.

 

This is one of those recipes that I just started creating on what seemed good together and what I had on hand. I needed to zip up our dinner salad, which I had grilled chicken in the works for, using my BBQ Coffee Dry Rub.  I planned to cut the cooked chicken into strips for the salad, but  I didn’t have any veggies in the fridge to make the salad a complete meal.  Then it hit me to make a sweet Corn Salad With Cilantro and pomegranate seeds to compleat our dinner salads.  I got high fives from the whole family! There was just something about the sweet dressing, fresh cilantro and tart pomegranate seeds that made it really delicious with our grilled chicken.

Here is a bonus, we had some Corn Salad With Cilantro left over so the next day I made my Simple Authentic Mexican Restaurant Style Salsa then added a cup of the leftover corn salad. Another great hit!  Had nothing but chips and corn salad salsa for lunch that day!

 

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Corn Salad With Cilantro is a quick colorful salad full of fresh flavores perfect as a side salad, topping on meats or as a dip with chips.

Corn Salad With Cilantro

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Description

Corn Salad With Cilantro is a quick, colorful salad full of fresh flavors perfect as a side salad, topping on meats or as a dip with chips.

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1 14.75 can of whole corn
  • 1 cup fresh finely chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet onion
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate seeds

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk vinegar, oil, mustard, sugar, salt and celery seeds together
  2. Stir in corn, cilantro, and pomegranate seeds, tossing until coated
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Nutrition Label |  Corn Salad With Cilantro

Corn Salad With Cilantro Nutrition Label

The Masters Egg Salad

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Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

 

Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

 

Many copycat recipes add all kinds of ingredients like, vinegar, mustard, celery or seasonings but that is not how  Augusta National does things. Everything is done simple and perfect just like the egg salad they serve to their Masters patrons.

 

Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

 

To create this recipe I went right to the source, the Masters egg salad sandwich bag. They list every ingredient and surprisingly there are only a few simple ones.

 

Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

 

The key to creating an authentic egg salad just like you would get on the course is to chop your boiled eggs very small. Then it is important to mix all the ingredients until the yellow of the eggs and the mayonnaise create a creamy smooth salad.  Of course, if you have ever been to the Masters you know it’s always served on soft white bread!

 

Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

 

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Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

The Masters Egg Salad

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Description

Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 6 hard boiled eggs
  • 1/2 cup Dukes mayonnaise
  • 1/8 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • (yes, that’s all there is to perfect egg salad)

Instructions

  1. Chop hard boiled eggs very fine, the whites should be the size of peas or smaller
  2. Combine chopped eggs, mayonnaise and paprika in a bowl, mix until egg yokes and mayonnaise form a creamy consistency
  3. Serve on soft fresh white bread
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