My quest to create a little breathing room in the pantry and freezers continues... Last night I made this amazing soup. I think Steve said how much he liked it at least 6 times. (Which definitely says something. He's a quiet kind of guy. And for him to say that 6 times speaks volumes.) I took split peas from my legumes container, sausage links from the freezer and some … [Read more...]
Quadruple Berry Pudding Cake
So my friend Christan and I have been trying to get our families together for dinner...oh, for about 2 months now! And it finally happened just before Thanksgiving! She made Stack-E-Up-Es...and I brought this. Christan's family has been transitioning to the Nourishing Traditions lifestyle, so I *tried* to make as healthy as a dessert as I could! This Quadruple Berry … [Read more...]
Stack-E-Up-Es (or the Polynesian Buffet)
Just before Thanksgiving, we had the pleasure of eating dinner with Christan, her husband and her 3 girls. (It was so lovely being in a "hormonally balanced" place. 3 boys. 3 boys. All the estrogen and testosterone totally cancelled each other out. But really, it made for a loud and rambunctious evening.) Christan shared this in an email before we headed over. I was … [Read more...]
Chili with Pumpkin and Cinnamon
I remember seeing a recipe for some kind of chili with pumpkin in it about this time last year. If you remember, this time last year, I was suffering from "newborn mommy brain!" I have no recollection as to where I saw this recipe, but I remember being both intrigued and bothered by the concept of adding pumpkin to chili. I also remember thinking that it was as simple as … [Read more...]
Curried Turkey Salad
Our Thanksgiving dinner, like most Americans, consists of a buffet that includes too many heavy dishes. And on Thanksgiving Day, I allow myself to indulge. However, I try to make up for that indulgence by using the leftovers to create healthier and lower calorie meals. I will make quite a bit of turkey soup and freeze it to use later on hectic evenings. I also use the … [Read more...]
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
I saw this recipe in a Kroger coupon mailer, of all places. And I had to try it. I *heart* potato salad. And I *heart* sweet potatoes. And I now can say that I *double heart* roasted sweet potato salad. Here's how you make it... A sweet and delectable side dish for an upcoming meal! Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Such a fun, fresh take … [Read more...]
Brown Rice with Black-eyed Peas and Greens
So black-eyed peas...they're kinda plain. It's like they're crying out for help! Crying out for zest and zip!!! And what better ingredients to help than mustard greens and some zesty jalapeno diced tomatoes! You'd never have known these were black eyed peas in this dish! Let me show you how it's made. Serve it over … [Read more...]
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
I sure hope that they roast garlic in heaven! Seriously though, I absolutely adore the smell of roasting garlic. Adoration. If the oven wasn't so hot, I'd jump in for a closer whiff!!! And it's not just the smell, it's the flavor that it brings to food. Rich. Robust. Just add roasted garlic to your favorite mashed potatoes. Here's how I did it... Roasted Garlic … [Read more...]
Individual Beef Pies – Repurposing Spaghetti Sauce
So last week I bought some pie crust. You know, the tube kind! While I normally make my own pie crusts, I'm cutting myself some slack and saving myself some time...given the current situation with Tyler and the need to spend extra time with him while he eats and drinks. (Update: He has both a video swallow study and a scope of his tummy and esophagus scheduled for this … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Spicy Chili
I love chili in the slow cooker. I love how it makes your house smell delicious all day long. I love how you can tell your spouse when they get home that you've "been slaving away" on dinner...because a smell that good certainly means you've been slaving away! ;) I love how you can mix and match ingredients so easily with chilis and soups. And I love that it's finally cool … [Read more...]