California Citrus Salad

I adapted this recipe to make it whole30 and whole30 AIP compliant. I tried making the dressing as well, but I decided it's easier to just use olive oil and lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. This recipe makes enough for 4, which is great because I can have it for dinner and then lunch the next day.

Ingredients: 

1 head of romaine lettuce chopped

4 clementine oranges

1/4 cup dry roasted pecans (omit if AIP)

1 large granny smith apple

4 dates chopped or 1/4 cup raisins

1 avocado

1/4 cup dried cranberries (omit for whole30 or AIP)

2 stems green onions chopped

1 lemon (quartered to squeeze onto salad)

olive oil to drizzle

salt

Directions:

Chop ingredients and place in bowl, except for avocado. Slice avocado and place on top of salad when plating. Drizzle lemon and olive oil onto salad. Salt to taste. 

If you plan to use this as a salad the next day, chop the apples and oranges and store them in a separate container. The citric acid in the oranges prevent the apples from turning brown.

Week 1 lunches

My baby still doesn't have a regular nap schedule and I don't like spending his entire nap cooking, so I double my dinners so I can have something quick and easy to reheat for lunch. I also like to keep the following lunches in mind:

chicken or salmon salad sandwiches

turkey lettuce wraps

Trader Joe's brand of canned salmon is BPA free. Since I can't have eggs, I use smashed avocado as the dressing for canned meat. 

Week 1 Dinner Meal Plan

Day 1: California Citrus Salad with meat (I'm using leftover rotisserie chicken)
Day 2: Butternut Squash Soup, ham, and roasted artichokes

Day 3: Garlic Chicken with pesto zoodles (add tomatoes if not AIP)
Day 4: Tilapia with capers, roasted Brussels sprouts, baked sweet potato

Day 5: Turkey Burgers, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and mashed parsnips

Day 6: Salmon with Broccoli & Carrots (steak and potatoes for the hubby)

Day 7: Leftovers

Brown Sugar Dijon Glaze

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons coconut oil

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard 

2 Tablespoons maple syrup

1 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Bake pre-cooked ham at 325F for 15 minutes per pound of ham (ham should be 140 in the center). 

Combine ingredients in saucepan and heat on medium heat until it starts to simmer. Pour over ham and serve. 

Yield: enough to cover 8-10 lbs of ham. 

Toffee Butter Crunch

I made this with unsalted butter and it was definitely missing something. Also, make sure you store it in an airtight container or your chocolate will end up looking like this. 

Ingredients:

1 cup salted butter

1 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons water

1 Tablespoon light corn syrup

3/4 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips

1/2 finely chopped pecans or toasted almonds (optional)

Directions:

Line a 9x13 pan with foil and set aside. Butter sides of a heavy 2 quart saucepan. In pan melt 1 cup butter over low heat. Stir in sugar, water, and corn syrup. Cook over medium-high heat to boiling stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar. This should take about 4 minutes. Avoid splashing sides of pan with mixture. Clip candy thermometer to side of pan. 

Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until thermometer reaches 290 F - soft crack stage. Watch thermometer very closely once it it reaches 280. 

Remove pan from heat. Remove thermometer. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate pieces. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes until chocolate looks softer. Spread softened chocolate across toffee mixture. Sprinkle with nuts and press nuts lightly into chocolate. Chill until firm. Break into pieces and store tightly covered. 

Yield: 1.5 lbs

Jessica's Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups flour
3 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2 cups pumpkin

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Sift dry ingredients in bowl. Make well in center. Add oil, eggs, & pumpkin. Beat well. Pour in well greased bread pans. Bake 50-60 min for standard loaf pans or 45 minutes for small pans.

Zucchini Herb Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cup cooked brown rice (i cook mine with chicken broth for additional flavor)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound zucchini, cubed

1 cup sliced green onions

3 clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 teaspoons italian seasoning

1 teaspoon paprika

3 large roma tomatoes, chopped tomatoes

1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese,

divided (optional)

Directions:

Heat the oil in a skillet/wok over medium heat, and cook the zucchini, green onions, and garlic 5 minutes, or until tender. Season with salt, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Mix in the cooked rice, tomatoes, and 1 cup cheese. Continue to cook and stir until heated through. 

I found this recipe on Allrecipes and followed the comments section recommendations by made a few tweaks so it would be faster to make. I served it with Costco Rotisserie chicken. Instead of making a casserole, I just served it right out of the pan. Also, I didn't have time to make rice, so I used 1 bag of Trader Joe's frozen brown rice and added 2 Trader Joe's liquid chicken bullion packets directly to the wok.

Gluten-Free Chicken Roll-ups

This is an adaptation from a recipe I loved before going gluten-free.

Filling Ingredients: 


2 cups cubed chicken (boiled)
1 8 oz package light cream cheese
1 stalk celery (finely chopped)
1 tsp poultry seasoning


Crescent Rolls Ingredients (I doubled the recipe): 


1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups small curd cottage cheese, do not use low-fat
2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon gluten free baking powder
4 teaspoons sugar


Bread-crumb topping: 

1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup gluten-free Italian bread crumbs



Directions:

• Use an electric mixer or blender to mix together the butter and cottage or ricotta cheese. Mix well. Add the dry ingredients and mix until a dough ball forms. Wrap the dough in cling wrap and chill for two to three hours.
• In medium bowl, mix together chicken, cream cheese, celery, and poultry seasoning until well combined.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle GF all-purpose or rice flour onto your work surface and roll half the dough into a 14 inch circle. You may find it easier to roll the dough between two layers of good quality baking paper or cling wrap. Cut the dough into 8 triangles.
• Divide filling into 16 servings. Place one serving of chicken at the widest part of the triangle and roll each triangle from the wide end to the tip. Roll crescent in butter and then Italian bread crumbs. Repeat for 2nd batch of dough. 
• Place the rolled crescents on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes, until golden. 

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash with Hazelnut Crusted Salmon

I picked up fresh hazelnut salmon from Trader Joe's and pan fried it, sprinkled it with a little lemon juice and then served it with the squash.

Adapted from this recipe: 

Ingredients: 



4 small acorn squash, halved and seeds removed
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
4 oz herbed goat cheese, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup roasted, salted pistachios, chopped
1 teaspoons red-wine vinegar
Pinch red-pepper flakes


Directions: 

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Brush squash with 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast cut side down on two baking sheets until tender and caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring quinoa and 2 cups water to a boil in a small pot. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until tender and water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Let cool, then fluff with a fork. In a large bowl, combine quinoa, basil, goat cheese, pistachios, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and vinegar. Season with salt and red-pepper flakes. Divide filling among squash.

Corn Chowder

Now for the soup on the right. My roommate made this delicious summer corn chowder, but I wanted to find a way to make it allergy-free.

Ingredients: 

2 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch dice (1 c.)

2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2 inch dice (3/4 c.)

8 sprigs thyme (FYI 1 sprig is not a leaf but an entire stem)

Salt and Pepper

3 cups chicken broth

2 cups frozen corn 

5 small fingerling potatoes, cut into 1/2 in. thick slices

1/2 poblano chile, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch dice

1 can coconut milk

Directions: 

• Add oil, onions, celery, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste to stockpot. Cook over medium-low heat until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 15 minutes.
• Add corn, potatoes, and chile; cook until potatoes are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and discard thyme. Add coconut milk and simmer until soup is hot.

The recipe calls for crumbled bacon as a garnish, but I left it out because the soup was already so hearty.

Hydrangea Cupcakes

I found the idea for these cupcakes here. However, I found that her recipe was too soft and the frosting couldn't hold it's shape. Next time around I'll try this with standard butter cream frosting. 

Spicy Thai Soup

I stumbled upon this recipe on the Thai Cooking channel on my Roku. I made 2 soups at the same time, this is for the soup on the left. The recipe calls for chicken, but I used potatoes instead of chicken. 

Ingredients: 

3 lemongrass stalks, bottom two-thirds of tender inner bulbs only, thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 (4 inch) piece fresh ginger root, chopped

4 cups chicken broth

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

7 baby red potatoes quartered

12 ounces fresh white mushrooms, quartered

2 teaspoons red curry paste

3 tablespoons fish sauce

1 lime, juiced

2 (14 ounce) cans coconut milk

1 red onion, sliced

1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped

1 lime, cut into wedges, for serving

1 fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced into rings

Directions:

• Stir lemon grass, garlic, and ginger together in a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Strain chicken broth and set aside. Discard lemon grass, garlic, and ginger.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; Stir in chicken; cook and stir for 5 minutes.
• Stir in mushrooms and cook for 5 more minutes.
• Stir in red curry paste, fish sauce, and lime juice until combined. Stir in chicken broth and coconut milk; return to a simmer and cook on low for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Skim off any excess oil and fat that rises to the top and discard.
• Stir red onion into the chicken mixture; cook and stir until onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add about 1/2 the cilantro.
• Serve with plates of cilantro, lime wedges, and fresh sliced jalapenos.

This can easily be made vegan with the following substitutions: 

• potatoes for chicken
• vegetable broth for chicken broth
• soy sauce for fish sauce

Easy Butter Cream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter

16oz powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon milk

blend it all together and walla!

Spicy Spinach Risotto

The original recipe called for chicken, but I skipped the chicken and used this as a side dish instead.

Modified from this recipe 

Ingredients

Rice: 

2 cups Arborio rice

1 tablespoon oil

4 cups chicken (or vegetable) broth

Seasoning: 

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (more to make it spicier)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

2 cups fresh spinach leaves

grated Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)

Directions

1. Place oil in large glass bowl and microwave for 15 seconds. Pour rice into bowl and stir, coating rice with oil. Heat rice for 90 seconds. Pour 4 cups of chicken stock into bowl. Microwave rice for 9 minutes (on high). Stir rice. Microwave for 9 more minutes. 

2. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the garlic and red pepper 1 minute, until garlic is golden brown. Mix in the parsley and cooked rice. Place spinach in the skillet. Continue cooking 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

Fruit Tart

Recipe found here 

Before I put the filling on the crust, I used a pastry brush and brushed melted semi-sweet chocolate chips on the crust so it wouldn't get soggy.

Cakes

It's been quite some time since I posted anything, but that doesn't mean I haven't been baking. Here's what I've been up to: 

I got the idea for a chocolate ombre cake here

Polar bear cupcakes (I think the little ones could pass for puppies though). I got the recipe here, be warned, this is not a work/nap friendly site - they play video ads, very loudly, automatically.

Thai Lime Coconut Chicken (or vegetables)

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes (see below for vegetarian substitution)
1 TBSP olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
1 tsp curry powder
1 14 oz can light or regular coconut milk
Zest and juice of 1/2 lime (use a 1/4 lime zest and hand squeeze half a lime, otherwise it's too limey)
1/4 cup green onion, chopped (optional)
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the chicken, garlic, and onion and cook chicken until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the curry powder and cook, stirring for 1 minute, until it is fragrant. Add the coconut milk, lime juice and zest, bring to a simmer, and simmer until the chicken is just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, stir in the green onions and cilantro.  Serve over rice.

For vegetarian/vegan, replace the chicken with the following:
10 baby golden yukon potatoes, cut in 1-inch cubes
12 baby carrots, sliced

adapted from this recipe

Rice Salad with Cannellini Beans & Olives

 

Ingredients:

1 cup jasmine rice

2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth

1 – 15 oz can, rinsed and drained, black olives, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons capers

1/2 cup garlic stuffed green olives, roughly chopped

1 – 15 oz can, rinsed and drained Cannellini beans

a large bunch of green onions, sliced

a large bunch of fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

2 cups grape tomatoes, halved (optional)

2 – 3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions: 

1. Place chicken stalk and rice in rice cooker and cook until done (about 35 minutes).

2. Add black olives, capers, pimento stuffed olives, Cannellini beans, spring onions, parsley, grape tomatoes, to a large bowl.  Drizzle with olive oil. Serve warm, or room temperature.

adapted from this recipe

Goat Cheese Zucchini Rolls

Ingredients:

2 oz goat cheese w/herbs (chevre w/ herbs)

1/2 tsp lemon juice

1 tbsp chopped Italian parsley

2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced, lengthwise

10-20 small basil leaves

10-20 baby spinach leaves

1 tsp oil

salt & pepper

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix cheese, lemon juice and Italian parsley. Set aside. Slice zucchini lengthwise. Brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill for 2 minutes on each side. Place teaspoon size amount of cheese at the top of the zucchini, place 1-2 leaves of basil and 1/2 leaves of spinach on the cheese and roll.

video found here

Empty the Fridge Pasta Salad (vegan)

I've been working crazy hours at work so I haven't been able to cook as much as I like. The produce I purchased 4th of July weekend really needed to be used, so, inspired by my friend Becki's pasta salad, I made this:

(sorry for the ghetto picture, this is 2nd day pasta salad I had for lunch at work today)

Really, you could use any vegetables you have on hand - the most important veggies are the onions and garlic since they give the most flavor.

Ingredients:

1/2 package of twirly brown rice pasta

1 tbsp olive oil

1 clove chopped garlic

1 pkg asparagus

1/2 package crimini mushrooms

1 small onion diced

3 zucchinis

1 cube vegetable bullion

Dressing:

1/4 tsp seasoning (lemon pepper, Spike, or TJ's Everyday Seasoning)

1/2 tsp rice vinegar (or more to taste)

1 tsp olive oil (or more to taste)

Boil rice pasta for 7 minutes, drain and set aside in a medium bowl. Add olive oil, garlic, and asparagus to frying pan, saute for 3 minutes on medium heat. Add remaining vegetables and bullion to pan and saute until onions are translucent and vegetables are tender (about 3 minutes). Stir vegetables and seasoning into pasta. Add 1/4 tsp rice vinegar and 1/2 tsp olive oil to bowl and stir. Taste pasta and add remaining olive oil and vinegar (or more) if needed.