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.

Creamy Vegan Winter Veggie Soup

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same." - Nelson Mandela

If you're feeling like you still need some warming up, this should do the trick!  This creamy veggie soup was made entirely with fresh winter veggies from my garden in the pic. above!!
I can't really try and act like i was trying to be all 'farm to table' and use what I had in my own back yard, although I did do this (pat on the back:)  Really, we were coming home from the Flea Market yesterday & I saw how many cars there were in the parking lot at the grocery store......and then I flashed back to last weekend when I thought it would be a good idea to go to take a drive to Whole Foods on Sunday (NOT a good idea in case you didn't already know this).

Leek and Bean Cassoulet with Biscuits

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." - Albert Camus

What a great way to warm up!! It's been a bit chilly here in sunny Cali, but I know it's even colder on the East side of things.... Check out this pic. my mom sent me of Susq. PA:

Aunt Gina's (/Aunt Karen's) Cabbage Salad

Here it is - the real deal - Aunt Karen's Cabbage Salad!!  I know I posted a version of this cabbage salad b/f without the noodles and now here's the real thing adapted so that its gluten and soy free.  If you liked the other salad, you're gonna love this (check it out Lisa!)

It has always been one of my favorites, and now it can be one of yours too.........
 This recipe makes a huge bowl - great for parties, potlucks and to share with friends!! If you want less just halve the recipe.

Crispy Kale

Yum! Fresh crispy kale from the garden.   You may be thinking 'green kale - yuck!', but trust me this is unbelievably good! It's also super fast and easy to make.  Kale is one of the most nutritious veggies you can eat because it packs the most nutrients per calorie.  These crisps were so good they tasted like popcorn crunchies - what a heathy and satisfying snack - try it out!

Rice and Beans

Just have to give a shout out today to my bffffffffffff Michelle!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & many more.....!!
This one's for you - well, definitely inspired by you:)

Michelle is one of the best people you could ever meet & I'm so lucky to have her as my friend.  Even though we're 5,000 miles apart, she's always there for me.  Actually, she's one of the people who has gotten me through the crazy times of late.......I called her awhile ago & told her about all of the crazy dietary restrictions I have & all the crazy crap I'm doing, and she says "You can do that!", and gives me a pep talk.  THIS coming from the girl I used to share vodka and Newports with!!  What a great friend!
Thanks Michelle - I love you LOTS and I hope you have a spectacular day!!

Grapefruit Sorbet

"Be careful about reading health books.  
You may die of a misprint." - Mark Twain

Did you know that February is National Grapefruit Month?? Better eat up before February is gone!

If you need some ideas, you can make this delicious grapefruit sorbet - it's sooooooo yummy! - And, **BONUS**you do not need an ice cream maker to whip it up!!  You can make the sorbet with just about anything - a few weeks ago I made it with raspberries and it was also delish....

Candied Citrus Peels

Do you have lots of extra citrus peels lying around?? Instead of throwing them in the garbage, why not make some delicious candied citrus peels?  They're pretty darn easy to make, & the taste-testers agree - they are really great ........ I think they taste almost like healthy gummy bear treats.
Plus, you can feel really green & waste less by using your citrus peel that would otherwise go into the garbage or compost.

Fix some up today & you will not regret it!!

Arugula Salad w/ Pear and Candied Pecans

"May you live everyday of your life." - Jonathan Swift

ARUGULA......mmmmmmm! -   You may want to skip this one (especially if you're not into the greens:), but try it out!!  It's pretty tasty, especially with these ripe pears and sweet pecans.

Even though some people think I'm a little crazy (not the raw foodies!!), I have been eating at least one green salad a day.  May sound a bit cooky to some, but it's helping me feel more energized, more regular (hmhmm!), and more balanced.  Raw greens are sooo good for you.  And, don't worry my carnivorous friends, you can have your cake and eat it too.  Scarf that meat and potatoes and finish it off with some fresh greens to balance your belly & your body out!

Juice Time

Have a little juice - for whatever ails ya!!

Last night I ate some pre-made pizza dough w/ yeast & now I am an itchy beast! Good times with the food allergies:) No worries though, I made myself a delicious OrangeAppleBeet Juice to cleanse myself out & already I feel better.  No lie! Try some for whatever's ailing you - hangover, flu, cold, sleepiness, dreary insides - you'll be feeling better in no time.

Or, just have some b/c it make you feel good and healthy and revived.... Go ahead, try it out!

Coconutty Thai Veggie Stir Fry w/ Rice Noodles

Last Night's Dinner: Coconutty Thai Veggie Stir Fry w/ Rice Noodles and Chicken


This Thai style stir fry is one of my favorites!  I always use thin thai-style rice noodles, coconut/peanut sauce, and whatever veggies are around or fresh.  For this one, I added chicken - you can eliminate this if you're a veggie or even add some tofu or tempeh.  Usually I make it veggie-only style and it's delicious.

It's pretty quick and easy to whip up with whatever ingredients you may want to use.   Keep a can of coconut milk and some thai rice noodles in the cabinet and you can have this in a flash whenever you're looking for something really delicious and different.

Potato Pancakes - Yes, they're VEGAN!

"Let us give something to each person we meet: joy, courage, hope, assurance, or philosophy, wisdom, a vision for the future.  Let us always give something." -  Daisaku Ikeda

These potato pancakes were so delicious - especially when it's cold and rainy out (I'm finally really starting to feel for you East Coast!!).
If you happen to be feeling a little chilly, whip up a batch of these delicious potato pancakes tonight.  They'll definitely fulfill your carb cravings and make you feel warm & good!

Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust/Great Apple Pie

I thought pie crust was kind-of an ambitious thing.  For one, I have only made real pie crust like once and I remember it not turning out the best. But no longer being able to buy Pillsbury pre-made pie crusts, I still wanna have my pie!!....Then I think of my friend James, who always says that pie crust is so much easier for people to make than they think it is - you just have to have the right tools.  Well, he was right about the tools - the pro mixer really helped a lot!! (better than the spoon a used last time - I KNOW!)

So I decided it was time to make pie crust.:

Apple Berry Smoothie

"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." - Lucille Ball

Happy Tuesday!  Feeling a little over-indulged after Valentine's Day (not really sure how this is possible on my restricted diet, but I managed to scarf all the sweets I could), I thought it would be a good idea to start the day off with a healthy smoothie!

Vegan Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes w/ Vanilla Frosting

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"-- Lucy Van Pelt, Peanuts


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
Hope it's a good one!  Just wanted to send out some LOVE to my favorite Valentine's!! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me while I work out my wacky new diet - - Thanks for checking out the blog, encouraging me to experiment, giving me recipes, buying me cookbooks & appliances (MOM!), eating my trials & helping me cook, listening to me whiiiiiine, not laughing at me as a cried over food!! I LOVE you all! And I appreciate you MORE!!

Here's my Valentine to you:

Red Velvet Cupcakes w/ Vanilla Frosting we can all Enjoy!!

Butternut Squash, Spinach & Pumpkin Seed Lasagna

Last Night's Dinner: Butternut Squash, Spinach & Pumpkin Seed Lasagna w/ Green Salad


This was soooo good! Pretty quick to whip up & really delicious.  Make some up tonight for your favorite vegan valentine (don't discriminate it can be for yourself!).

Vegan Gluten-Free Oatmeal Pancakes

Yum! These were some delicious pancakes.  Especially considering it's been awhile since I've had anything close to delicious pancakes.  I have been trying to make gluten-free vegan pancakes for quite sometime - with rice flours, coconut flour, almond flour, and who knows what else.......always either water, chalky or mushy (and not in a good way)

WELL, not anymore!! These pancakes are delicious:)!!
....Not only are they delicious, they were really quick and easy to make and they can be enjoyed by just about anyone.   So, enjoy your Sunday and mix up a batch of the yummy pancakes any time of day!
I think you'll like them just as much as I did!

FOOD CHALLENGE!!

                                                                                                                                        
This is so exciting - our first food challenge of many to come!!!!!                                  
You may have already seen it here on the sidebar ------------------------>----------------------->

OK, so here' the contest:

(yes it's a contest!!!!)

Send me pictures of the meals, treats and wonderful food creations you have been making. They can be your own recipes, or new ones you've tried & Loooooove, or some from the blog:) 

You could also add the recipe if it's your own creation (and especially if it's something we can all eat;)

-Hey it can be anything, don't necessarily think extravagant, think good!

**** BEST Picture***** will win a basket of wonderful natural home-made body products made by yours truly!!
.....Oh, and just because you're all such good sports, anyone who participates will receive a home-made goodie in the mail as well - what have you got to loose?!

-Send pics via email: ellenmillaine@gmail.com

or post them through the blog.......RIGHT HERE!! - Let me know if you have any probs.

Contest ENDS 3/15/2011 - SO get cookin' & snappin'... and send me those pics!!

Don't Cry Over A Little Spilt ALMOND MILK

Did you know that today is National 'Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk Day'??  I know.....if you're like me, you're thinking "what is this holiday and why have I never heard of it?"  Well it's a day where we can all remember not to cry over a little split milk (or whatever is irking us at the moment).
Think positive! Be optimistic! Look on the bright side! LOVE life! & Don't forget to smile!

....Maybe you can even have a 'Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk' party later and invite all your friends........just remember, if you look for the best in other people, you'll probably find it!

Rainbow Fruit Salad

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."  - Helen Keller

This one was inspired by my little sis - she is such a rainbow.  No, for real she is a great motivator for me in life - one minute she's doing an Ironman challenge, the next she's funneling beers like a champ!!  What a girl!  She is always trying to inspire others to eat healthy and exercise.  Last week I was feeling a little over the top & we were having a funny conversation about positivity & shooting rainbows out of our tooshies..............
I know you are thinking what the #$&! But seriously, next time you're feeling a little negative, just think of this and it might make you laugh.  Sunshine, lollipops & rainbows.....it made me feel better!  She also told me a really funny true life story about this.....give me a call & I can share that with you if you need a good laugh!!

Sesame Cabbage Salad

"Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be engaged in lightly."- M.F.K. Fisher

I was inspired to make this cabbage salad by my Aunt Karen.  She makes this really delicious Asian cabbage salad with ramen noodles and it is soooooo good!  I made a version here without the noodles and the soy, and it's yummy.   I have made this salad for the past two nights, and even the two carnivores I dined with last night devoured it - & raved about how good it was!  We also had some grilled jerk chicken - recipe posted b/f: http://recipeswecanalleat.blogspot.com/2011/01/last-nights-dinner.html

Peanut Butter Cookies (oh yeah, they're Vegan and Gluten-Free;))

After watching Hugo devour his cookies, I decided to make some cookies of my own!  Here are some we can really all enjoy.  If you're allergic to peanuts, you could substitute another nut butter as well.  Last night these cookies were really a hit - there's some crumbs left on the plate and that's about it!

Dog Cookies

Now, it's really food we can all eat!  I know this one is for the dogs....., but it's fast and easy and you should definitely try it out.  Our dog always watches me cook, and I kept thinking that one of these times it would be nice if I was actually making something for him.  Then it just so happened that I was looking through the Moosewood Restaurant Cookbook 'Celebrates", and I found this great recipe for dog treats.  I adapted it a little, but I can tell you they are definitely good - Hugo scarfed them down.  PLUS! you can use some of your flours and other ingredients that you can't eat and feed them to someone who will love them instead.
Just make sure you label them as dog treats:), they smell so good when they're cooking some people around may want to munch a few themselves! (OK, true story:  I guess my bf is wheat deprived because he came home after I was making them and had to try one himself, and then another!!.........)

Delicious Layer Dip

This dip is delicious, and it disappears fast!  My Aunt K used to make this 7 layer dip all of the time, for parties, and I LOVE it.  So, I decided that before the Superbowl I was going to try and make a version that I could eat.  I wanted to add fake cheese and sour cream, but it didn't really work out.   The cheese that I tried to make was less than cheezy, and the sour cream was something that looked more like mashed potatoes or a preschool project:

Black and Yellow Vegan Gluten-Free Cake!!

blackandyellowblackandyellowblackandyellowblackandyellow...........

.....and yes it's delicious!!  You may even wanna try some out tomorrow for the Superbowl - if you like!

This is some gooey vegan chocolate brownie cake - moist and delicious!....covered in yellow vanilla frosting.  Most people probably won't even realize it's allergy friendly;) - it's so good!
I adapted the recipes from "1,000 Vegan Recipes" to make them even friendlier and gluten-free.

Guacamole & Fresh Corn Chips

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are."  - - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

.....I guess these days I'm a lot of avocado....

Guac & fresh corn chips......what could be better?? Making some for this weekend's Superbowl!!  Try out a batch of this guacamole - you're friends will be raving.... And, if you're gonna skip the game all together, just make up a single batch to gobble up yourself - I do it all the time!!

The fresh corn chips are delicious too - if you have some old tortillas lying around, you should try this out.  It's easy & really yummy.  OR, if you wanna skip this part just grab a bag of corn chips to go with your guacamole (definitely easier if you're feeding a crowd).

!Nutty Vegan Cannolis!

WOW! These are so good - I am in love:) Seriously these are some delicious vegan cannolis....They do take a minute (hahahaha) to make, but when you have some time I recommend trying this recipe out.  Make up a batch with some friends and you'll be done in a flash.  You will not regret trying this one out - trust me!!!

Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

Cream of broccoli soup has always been one of my favorites.  It's delicious and warm on a cold day, so comforting.  My grandma used to make it for us, and we would always stop at Friendly's for some (I don't know why, but I loooved their cream of broccoli soup!)
So, here's a vegan version of cream of broccoli we can all enjoy - and I have to say it tastes pretty darn close to the real thing...... brings me right back! Try it out!

p.s. the celery in the pic. above is from the garden, and of cooooourse I used in the soup!

Veggie Penne Pasta, Apple Walnut Salad & Sesame-Crusted Oyster Mushroom Calamari: Last Night's Dinner

Mmmm, this was delicious!! And it made me feel full of good energy afterwards - try it out tonight!  It's pretty fast and easy, especially if you can get everyone else to help cook!

Last night I had dinner with someone who stopped eating meat, & it made me much more conscious about what I was eating......And it made me think that I could eat vegeterian a few nights a week.  It would be better for my health & I notice that whenever I eat all veggie, I feel less heavy full and more energy full.
SO, if you want, give it a try.  You could also add some meat to your pasta if you can't live without it!!
Here's last night dinner:

Blueberry Pancake Oatmeal

I knoooooow! More Oatmeal! Am I obsessed or what? I guess I'm just having a hard time letting January go.  And oatmeal is so good and warm and delicious - and I keep hearing about all of these major snow storms all over the country(I'm sure you could all use some warming up, huh?!)
So, I came up with yet another great variety - Blueberry Pancake Oatmeal.
Who knows, maybe I'll come up with 100 different varieties of oatmeal before the blog is said and
done!..... Try some out this week for a delicious warm up (....and it's quicker and easier than making blueberry pancakes for real!). Yum!

Breakfast of Champs: Berry Chocolate Oatmeal

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast." - John Gunther

(......or I say sometimes any breakfast at all!!)

I figured out this delicious breakfast (or lunch, or dinner!) by accident when I was camping.  We made some oatmeal over a little cooking stove, but it was pretty bland and blah.  So, we added some dried fruit and hot chocolate powder into the mix, and wow!  - Breakfast of Champs.  It got me through the rain and out of the wilds........At first I thought it was just good because I was starving in the wilderness, but then I tried it when I got home & it was still really good! Actually better!

yum! try it out b/c it's easy, delicious & filling any time!

WHAT DO YA THINK??

This post is just for YOU

Thanks for checking in from time to time and looking at my recipes and postings! Now, I'm wondering how you think...........

What would you like to see more of?
What do you like?
What don't you like???!?!?!
How the heck are ya?!

ANY thought or comments are appreciated!! Thanks for checking in!

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food" - George Bernard Shaw

"We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors, and furniture polish is made from real lemons."  - Alfred E. Newman

Winter Fruit Salad/ Twisted Acai Berry Fruit Smoothie

This delicious winter fruit salad is easy to make in pretty much any part of the country, and really good!  Mix it up for a snack, or take it a step further, and turn it all into a delicious acai berry fruit smoothie.  Yum!

Gluten-Free Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, & Cool Green Salad

"A good meal makes a man feel more charitable toward the world than any sermon." - Arthur Pendenys

Mmmmmm! That's the only sound I was making last night as I ate this meal! Fried chicken is one of my favorites, and this fried chicken is delicious, even if you can't have gluten.  If you're not into the meat, you could also substitute the chicken with Tofu, and make the famous 'Kentucky Fried Tofu', or veggies if you can't have soy. These mashed potatoes are delicious too - & healthier than the original variety.....Oh, and the salad's not bad either!! Cooling and delicious.  Try it all out tonight for a quick and yummy dinner!

My Favorite Hummus

This hummus recipe is great - it's fast, easy, simple, and tastes great....Seriously, everyone I have ever made it for likes it.  Even people who don't like chickpeas - try it out!
Recently, someone was asking me about some good snack recipes, and this definitely qualifies.  It's really easy and healthy to make - filling too! Great for snacking yourself, or use as a spread for crackers, breads, sandwiches....It's also a great appetizer for parties and dinners.

LOTION that LOVES your skin! - especially for eczema!

Lately, I have been using a loooot of lotion.  And I know it's dry inside in other parts of the country - seeeing that it is so cold! Making your skin dry as well..... I feel for you Philly, Boston, NY, NEPA!!

Also, since my skin is so sensitive, lots of lotions end up having additives I can't tolerate.  So, if you're like me & you don't want to spend a fortune on moisturizing and protecting your skin, here's the lotion recipe for you!  It smells and feels great, & I think you'll really like what it does to your skin.  Ever since I started making it, I can't get enough! 

Great Oatmeal Cookie Bars Everyone Can Enjoy!

Laughter is brightest in the place where food is." - Irish proverb

So, I didn't exactly make these delicious cookies from scratch, I had a little help.  I did mix the ingredients, and bake it all up, but I also used a prepared 'Oatmeal Spice Cookie Mix' from "the pure pantry".  Hey, I needed my cookies!! I'll list the ingredients in the mix below here, and I'm going to do some experimenting of my own so that soon I can bring you another great oatmeal cookie recipe from scratch.
For now, here's the delicious Oatmeal Cookie Bar Recipe:

* * Monday Morning Get-Up-And-Go Smoothie * *

I know that breakfast is the favorite meal for a lot of us - I love it!  Sometimes, there isn't a lot of time for b-fast, though and it can leave me feeling disappointed.  INsert: the Smoothie! The recipe I have here is really good, almost like dessert, and it will surely get you up and moving.  AND, it may even help to drag you out of bed on Monday morning!

The flax oil is also really good for your skin, and helping to repair it & is great for your overall good health - Look it up!

Allergy-Friendly Hot Chocolate!!

HOT CHOCOLATE......................................
After talking to some people on the East Coast, I realize it's really cold and snowy there, ........and no one really wants to leave the house sometimes.   This recipe will help keep them warm, and also satisfy my chocolate craving, and yours!! Very easy to make - mix up a batch for everyone & enjoy!

so good even on a hot day! - thanks for the mug Aunt K.:)

One Pot-Pasta: Rice Fettucini w/ Spinach, Pesto, Olives & Panchetta

................."Never Eat More Than You Can Lift", Miss Piggy

Here's a great one pot (well really two, I lied!:) pasta meal that everyone will enjoy.  You can adapt it to suit a variety of tastes and diets....and it is really delicious!

Here's the finished product, and here's the recipe:

19th Nervous Breakdown!! = Allergy Friendly pizza:)

radishes from the garden

So, after having about my 19th nervous breakdown when it comes to people I love eating pizza in front of me, I decided it was time to work on creating some pizza I could eat myself!!  (so I don't eat the people I love!)  Pizza has always been one of my favorite foods......until I discovered I was allergic to just about every ingredient in it - funny huh?  I looooove pizza - and ever since I have started this new diet, the one thing I have serious issues with is PIZZA!!