Cali Salad

"We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are."  
 - Adelle Davis


Just by accident I added some of Cali's best to this salad & it turned into something really delicious - so of course I had to share it with you here.   It's pretty easy & chill - just like the state:).....filled with avocado, mixed raisins, sprouts, and almonds -  this is one yummy treat!

Peanut Chicken, Cabbage Spinach Salad & Mashed Sweet Potatoes

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." - Anthony D'Angelo

Mmmmmmmmmm! This was one delicious dinner - and it was ready in a snap.  Try it out for something really yummy!

Banana Berry Honey Nut Smoothie

You have got to try this! - Not only because it's delicious and tastes more like a milk shake than breakfast, but because it gives you the vitamins and energy you need to get you going all day long!!  I added in some peanut butter (you could put any nut butter, if you want) - to give a little extra protein and keep me filled up:).

Gluten-Free Mango Apple Crisp w/ Acai Drizzle

Well, you know I love acai berries, and when I saw this recipe for crisp that included them in the sauce, I just haaad to try it!  It came from a great book I found at my Grandma's house - the "Kitchen Table Book".  Thanks Grammy!! - I'm sure I'll be sharing some more recipes w/ you from here.  I adapted it a little and OF course made it gluten-free and vegan.  This crisp smelled so delicious when it was baking, I barely got it out of the oven before it was gone!!

Meatballs (w Quinoa Spaghetti) and a Very Green Salad

"To live is the rarest thing in the world.  
Most people exist, that is all." - Oscar Wilde

This meal is so green, you might think it's St. Patrick's Day all over again!! Try out this really green dinner - we had some 'greenish' meatballs (fillled w/ fresh cilantro and parsley) along w/ quinoa spaghetti & pesto..........., and a veeeery green salad.

If you're a veggie just have the pasta and salad - they were delicious!

P.A. Corn Fritters & Curried Cashew and Pea Salad

......Two delicious recipes from two great ladies!! - I found the recipe for the Curried Cashew and Pea Salad on my mom's desk at work and the P.A. Corn Fritters are from my Grammy's famous recipe book.  Both reallllly yummy, both from creative cooks:)!

"Muddy Buddies", really "Puppy Chow", AKA "Reindeer Ears"

Welllll, I'M BACK!!
After a short hiatus on the East side of things, I'm back to Cali. & I'm sharing some of the food!!

Vegan Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

"May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live." - Irish Blessing

HAPPY SAINT PADDY'S DAY!!!!!!   

Have a green beer for me if you can!   And, if you want you can try making some of this amazing Carrot Cake - I know it's not green but it is deeeeelicious!

Food Contest!!

cooking...........

And the winner is.............  

 1st PLACE (pic above) : Lisa A. w/ her homemade Tamarind Sauce!!!!  

GO Lisa!

    

Carrie's Gluten-Free Thick Chewy Granola Bars

I know it's Monday again, but I just had to keep the shared recipes going & add this one on - it's waaaay too good to skip on by!


This is Carrie's famous Granola bar recipe - and it's already gluten-free!!    These are sooooo good - a great snack to take on the road or have on hand at home:)

Barbara's Mushroom & Chicken Chili

YUM! This was some warm, spicy, delicious chili!! ......shared with me by Barbara, the nurse practitioner at my dad's office in P.A.  She gave me this recipe when I was home in December.   My mom told her about my diet and she gave me this amazing recipe.  How sweet!

I'm glad she did, b/c this is yummy! - really filling & delicious.  If you need some warming & spicing up, this will definitely do the trick!

Gluten-Free Vegan Crusty Bread

To keep the shared recipes going, I'm going to post another one shared by my Aunt Lynn.  She is always thinking of me - seriously, there's not a holiday that goes by that I don't get a card from Aunt Lynn!  I always appreciate her thinking of me, and this recipe is no exception.....

She saw an article on the Gluten Free Girl in a food mag with some recipes - and she's so sweet she sent them to me! So, last night I decided to try and make the Gluten Free Girls' Crusty bread....with a few adjustments:)  I made it vegan and skipped the yeast too (you could try it with - if you can have the yeast).

Vegan Potato Leek Soup

....'Cause you need something to go with that crusty bread!

It's warm & delicious and one of the easiest soups EVER to make!! Try it out for a quick warm hearty fix.

Mole Enchiladas with Butternut Squash

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art." 

- La Rouchefoucauld

I learned how to make enchiladas from my mom - who always makes some delicious enchiladas!!  Usually she uses vegetables or chicken and tomato sauce and cheese.  I modified these enchiladas to make them a little friendlier for all of us.....using some recipes given to me by another great cook, my sister Carrie!

Decadent Gluten-Free Brownies

HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!!!!!

To keep the week of shared recipes going, I have to share a FAT brownie recipe with you.  This one came by way of another one of the great chefs in my life - my mom!!  I can honestly say that I have never been afraid to try cooking anything because of her!  


She is always experimenting and trying new recipes.  And her food is always Deeelicious!  She sent this one to me -  adapted from a delicious recipe from my Aunt Karen (another great chef!) -  to make it gluten and vegan!

Louise's Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake (Gluten-free & Vegan!)

*****A WEEK OF SHARED RECIPES************

I've been receiving lots of recipes from friends and family - recipes We Can All Eat!  (thanks guys;)

And this week I want to share them with you here.

The first two recipes are passed on from one of the best and most-experienced cooks I know - my Grandma Louise!  She's been cooking for a lot longer than I've been around - & she's definitely taught me a lot!!  A few years ago for Christmas she made me and all of my cousins these amazing recipe books with some of her great recipes.  And the next two are borrowed from there.  The first, a delicious Coffee Cake you can enjoy any time of day.  And coming next, my FAVORITE Broccoli-Bacon-Raisin-Salad.

As Grammy said "Every now and then some 'comfort food' might just hit the spot". Isn't that the truth!!

Louise's Broccoli Bacon Raisin Salad

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has the ability to comfort." - Norman Kolpas

Another Shared Recipe from Grandma Louise!! Like I said before this is one of my all time FAVORITES!!  It's crispy, it's green, it's nutty, it's sweet and salty - everything I love all warped up into one.  I'm pretty sure this is one of my grandma's favorites too.

If you're a vegan or veggie you can just eliminate the bacon, it's equally as delicious!!

Mushroom Quinoa, Rainbow Salad & Roasted Chicken

What about quinoa??? Some people are definitely afraid of it - like my bf - usually when I make it or suggest making I see the stink face.  And last night was no different - he didn't know I was making it but when he saw what it was he immediately started rustling through the refrigerator and cupboards looking for carbs!!!!!  But then........by some twist of fate he decided to try it ........and he LIKED IT!!
So this must be some good quinoa:)

Good too if you're sick of the same old grains - try it out!

Products We Can All Eat!!!!! (Gluten-Free & Allergy-Friendly)

GLUTEN-FREE, ALLERGY-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS I LOVE!!

Happy Saturday!! Hope it's a good one so far:)

My middle sis came to visit me yesterday & we were sitting in the kitchen talking.   She looked at the counter & said "you should just take a picture of all this stuff and put it on your blog."  And so that's what I'm doing (isn't she such a smartie:))

Tropical Citrus Smoothie

Feeling a little cold?  Need a vacation??  Try out this yummy Tropical Citrus Smoothie and you'll feel like you're sitting under a coconut tree on a tropical island - well, at least for a few minutes!

Try it out for a healthy treat today.

Help For Your Eczema: Yoga & Meditation

Yes YOGA!  - along w/ meditation is a great way to help heal and relieve symptoms from stress-related eczema.  Part of the cause of eczema is usually stress-related - be it stresses in your life, body, surroundings, etc.
Spiritual and relaxation practices like yoga and meditation can really help your body to deal with and eliminate these stresses.

I made a New Years resolution to do yoga everyday.  I wanted to help deal with my stress, and I have been hearing for awhile that it is also really helpful in dealing with and healing eczema.  I have been doing yoga for a long time, but not nearly everyday......and I knew I could gain more benefit from it.  AND I was right!!  Yoga is helping me to feel calmer, less itchy, more balanced, and it is helping to heal my skin.  Seriously, I stopped doing yoga for two days over the past weekend and I REALLY noticed a difference.  I felt much more stiff and stressed by silly things.

Doing yoga everyday does not have to take up all of your time.  You can meditate or do a short yoga practice in 15-20 minutes.  And you can increase the time to increase the benefits!

Rainbow Pasta w/ Pecan Pesto & Olives (Chicken Optional) + A Microgreen Salad

This is another easy one-pot din din for everyone to enjoy! The pecan pesto came about by accident.  I knew I wanted some pesto, and usually I add pine nuts but I didn't have any.  So I tried the pecans, and they were delicious!

Try it out tonight, or any night - it's super easy and I used some quinoa pasta from "Pagodas"  This stuff is really yummy - a little less heavy I think than the rice pasta, but you be the judge!

Horchata - Its Vegan!

Happy March! It's National Nutritional Month in case you were wondering.....& today is NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER LOVER"S DAY!! - So if you can eat 'em , Enjoy!!

On another note, this horchata was delicious.  I always love to get Horchata w/ Mexican food & I had no idea it was so easy to make!  This is so creamy and delicious - will definitely fulfill your cravings.  It's like a delicious rice milkshake.