Between the shutdowns making me feel less than motivated and having the kids home nearly full time since March, I’ve had less time and energy which results in not posting a recipe in WAY too long. On the upside, being home more often has had …
Homemade taco seasoning is one of the hand blended spice mixes that I always have stocked for simple easy meals. With no crazy additives like MSG or anti-caking agents that are commonly found in packaged mixes, you can be sure you’re keeping your diet clean. …
Comfort foods have been in high demand at our house and these chipotle stuffed peppers have absolutely been in rotation a few times this past month. I’ve been exhausted balancing the kids school work with trying to maintain running our consulting business. Add in that we’re cooking more meals than usual with the kids home for lunches now full time due to distance learning so easy foods are a necessity. I must say though that this really has been a beneficial time to regroup and collect our thoughts on what’s truly important in our lives. Part of this learning has been to recognize which pieces of our lives we really want to return to “normal” after all of the stress and uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic passes. I, for one, want to refocus on creating more recipes again. This past year was focused primarily on prioritizing our new consulting business and now that it’s under control and growing, I’m looking forward to business returning to normal and my cooking creativity being able to be cultivated once again.
I realize that chipotle stuffed peppers aren’t a massive creative effort, but these certainly aren’t the same stuffed peppers I had in my youth. Mouthwatering Spanish inspired flavors of paprika, garlic and onion, are blended with fire roasted tomatoes and chipotle peppers in adobo for a smokey spicy combo. I’ve upped the health factor in this panacea of comfort by incorporating riced cauliflower with the brown rice and using ground turkey for variety. You can totally use all riced cauliflower to keep it grain free or you use just rice as well. I personally love having a mix of each which also means that the kids don’t even notice that it’s cauliflower until I tell them after they’ve finished smacking their lips with empty plates. Chipotle stuffed peppers are easily customizable in the spice department as well and are full of flavor that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy!
My daughter is always asking for ramen or chicken noodle soup especially during these cold Minnesota winter months. She’s my kindred soup spirit as both of us could eat soup for every meal. It’s so flavorful, full of nutrition, warm and comforting. I’ve indulged her …
Finally, I’m willing to admit that my garden is done for the season. I’ve harvested all it had to offer and preserved much of it for future meals. One of the vegetables that my garden provided in abundance this year was tomatillos. These plants seem …
It has been far too long since I’ve posted a recipe. I’ve been indulging in all things summer from spending time with family to relaxing and learning new skills in the form of a consulting business. While the hubby is the main product (consultant), I’m the business end of it so it has been quite the adjustment and learning curve doing something new in the professional realm again. It’s exciting and terrifying all at one time which is why I’ve been turning to quick simple meals and sides such as this sesame asparagus salad that’s ready to serve in an (almost) instant.
Farmer’s markets are in full swing so while my garden is gradually catching up to demand, I supplement with the gorgeous veggies available from our local produce vendors. Asparagus is currently in abundance and is an easy veg that can be eaten cooked or raw which makes it a suitable contender for a fresh asparagus salad. This particular sesame asparagus salad dressing is a recipe that my sister introduced to me and I instantly fell in love. I had high hopes that my family would too and it went over incredibly well! My kids don’t really care for it cooked so this raw variation with an Asian influence of tamari, a touch of honey and sesame is just the ticket to keep this asparagus salad crunchy and satisfying. I finally found a way for my kiddos to eat asparagus! If you like a little spice, feel free to toss in some crushed red pepper flakes or stir in some chili paste to the dressing.
Oh my goodness! I think summer has FINALLY arrived in Minnesota! Not that we every stopped grilling, even under multiple feet of snow but summer grilling is much easier than shoveling out the grill first. Ha! In addition to the yummy brats, burgers and whatever …
Now, I know Salisbury steak is not a glamorous meal but it’s one of those meals that is super economical, family friendly and doesn’t take much time to make. I have fond memories of having this as a kid… except it had been incorporated into …
I first had panna cotta when I was in Florence, Italy over a decade ago. How I miss those decadent Italian desserts! Panna cotta is traditionally made with a sweetened cream combined with gelatin. Use a high quality gelatin made from pasture raised beef for the best health benefits. Gelatin is a super food that provides amazing benefits such as improved elasticity for our skin as well as protects our joints. In this dairy free panna cotta, I’ve blended the gelatin in coconut milk and them combined with a coconut milk based Greek yogurt and pureed strawberries. Strawberry and lime work great together to give a little bit of tartness to the panna cotta that compliments the tang of the yogurt as well.
If you don’t need to avoid dairy, feel free to use a whole milk Greek yogurt for ultra creaminess. You can also use an unsweetened almond milk in place of the coconut milk for a slightly nutty twist. Either way you make it, the intense fresh and fruity strawberry flavor in this dairy free panna cotta is perfect for a light dessert or even for breakfast!
Why, hello you handsome plate of braised venison! Old Nordic recipes like this one remind me of growing up on the farm, especially in the winter when the Minnesota wind whips your face and it’s so cold that hell may have actually frozen over. The …
