What To Do With Your Herbs- Part 4-Pesto

Creamy Italian Pesto

My herbs are growing like crazy that I can barely keep up with them! My tomato plant is massive, yet I haven’t actually gotten a tomato to eat! I have this mama squirrel that has an obsession with my deck/apartment. She has tried on more than one occasion to get inside. I haven’t seen her as much since I got Henley but while at work yesterday, mama squirrel got into the tomato plant and destroyed most of the tomatoes. Revenge I believe

At least I have my basil which was growing out of C.O.N.T.R.O.L.!!! So what’s an Italian girl to do??? Make pesto!

What You Need: 

•4 cups of basil

•1/2-1 cup of olive oil

•1/3 cup of pine nuts

•1/2 cup Parma cheese

•3-4 cloves of garlic

What To Do:  

•Put all your ingredients in a food processor or blender (food processor works better but I’ve done the wooden spoon trick in the blender many times).

•Blend together until smooth by adding 1/4 cup of olive oil at a time.

•I like to combine my pesto with pasta or over chicken! Xoxo

 

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken with Creamy Tzatziki Sauce

<<• First of all, I have to apologize. I haven’t posted in months and there were many things that happened and I couldn’t keep up. I am sorry!

<<• Secondly, I want to thank you! Thank you for following my journey whether you just subscribed or have been with me since day one! I appreciate each one of you!

<<• Thirdly, I promised that I would share the good, the bad, and the ugly. Working full time, going to school at night full time, and expanding my wine biz, it’s been a lot. Plus I was in the hospital for a week and was diagnosed with my 6th autoimmune disease. I know, another one.

<<• So right now, I want to keep my life more zen. I’m not taking any classes this summer, so I want to dedicate my time, doing the things I love. Like this 🙂

<<• I know, I know… you’re asking where is that recipe? Why is there all this writing before the recipe? Can I just have the recipe?? Haha

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken with Creamy Tzatziki Sauce

What You Need:

• Free Range, Organic Chicken

•Greek Spice Mixture

•Fresh Lemon Juice

•Olive Oil

•Greek Yogurt

•Cucumber

• 2 Large Garic Cloves, minced

•Salt and Pepper

What To Do:

1. Prepare the chicken to marinate for two hours (at least). In a ziplock baggie (gallon), throw in your chicken, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, a dash of salt, and the Greek spices.

2. Wash and shred your cucumber. Place them between paper towels to get out the extra moisture out. Let that sit for an hour.

3. Make your Tzatziki Sauce. In a large bowl, combine a container of Greek yogurt, juice from half of a lemon, cucumbers, garlic, and salt to taste.

4. Let the Tzatziki Sauce chill in the fridge until it is time to eat.

5. Grill your chicken and eat with the Tzatziki Sauce!

Enjoy xoxo

Vegan Pasta with Butternut Squash “Cheese”

So this delicious recipe was actually a mistake. I wanted to make cubed butternut squash, roasted in the oven but it was way too hot in my apartment to turn the oven on. So in skillet, I added the butternut squash with vegan butter. The butternut squash did not hold its shape but instead it started to become mushy. I went with it and added in some frozen broccoli. After tossing it in the pasta, it had a very similar texture to macaroni and cheese. So it felt like I was eating mac n cheese but really was eating butternut squash. This recipe is a must try!

 

What You Need:

Cubed, Butternut Squash

1/2 stick of Vegan Butter

Salt

Pepper

1 Tablespoon Dried, Crushed Garlic (can use less but I really enjoy it)

1 Teaspoon Dried Ginger

1/2 cup of Soy Milk

Lentil Pasta (you can use any kind you like)

What To Do:

In a skillet pan, add 1/2 the amount of vegan butter in to melt. Place in butternut squash and season with salt and pepper. Place a cover on top and stir every so often. Add in other seasonings. When the squash gets soft, it will start to fall apart. Continue to mash it until it is completely cooked. Add in 1/2 bag of frozen broccoli and cook until soft. Toss with pasta and serve warm.

Enjoy xoxo!

Buffalo Garlic Hot Wings

I finally unpacked enough kitchen stuff and used my oven for the first time! So what to cook???? Hmm…. well
hot wings are my favorite!!! Except that when you order them at a restaurant, often times they are rolled in flour first. These are my version of gluten free baked not rolled in flour and fried, wings.

What You Need:

Chicken Wings

Salt and Pepper

Crushed, dried Garlic

Hot Sauce (I like Franks Red Hot Sauce)

Honey

Cornstarch

What To Do:

Salt and pepper chicken wings and put on a cookie sheet. Cook at 425 degrees for 20 minutes, turn them over and cook for about 20 more. They should be crispy looking on the outside when they are done.
For the sauce, any type of gluten free hot sauce. Everyone has their preference! I like to add a squeeze of honey and 1 tbsp of the crushed, dried garlic. If you like a thicker sauce, add a little bit of cornstarch (1/2 tsp) to the hot sauce (1/2-3/4 c)  Cook on low. When the wings are done, mix them with the sauce. Grab your favorite gluten free dressing and enjoy!

 

Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Sea Scallops

I love, love, love seafood! Thankfully, it is not something that I am allergic to. One of the best parts about living downtown on the water is that there is a surplus of fresh seafood that is harvested locally. I will walk to one of the many seafood shops and get whatever I am in the mood for that day.

 

Scallops are one of my favorite types of seafood. Scallops are a great source of protein, packing in over 80 percent. They are also high in magnesium and potassium. Potassium is crucial to the health of our bodies. It boosts the nervous system, prevents muscle cramps, and improves bone health and muscle growth. Potassium also reduces anxiety and stress!

 

What You Need:

Scallops

1/2 Lemon

Olive Oil

Pepper

Salt

Garlic Flakes

What To Do:

Season the sea scallops with salt, pepper and garlic flakes. In a preheated, hot pan, drizzle a bit of olive oil. Carefully add in sea scallops and leave them! You want them to get a nice crust on them and if you keep touching them, they will start to fall apart. You want to cook the scallops for 1-½ minutes per side. When the scallops are cooked, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top and enjoy!

Buffalo Cauliflower

I love anything that is made with buffalo sauce, especially chicken wings. I’ve heard that people have used cauliflower instead of chicken to lighten up the recipe. This recipe is simple to make and equally as delicious!

What You Need:

1 Head of Cauliflower, chopped

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Gluten Free Bread Crumbs

Buffalo Sauce

What To Do:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and drizzle a little bit of olive oil on a cookie sheet. Toss the cauliflower in the oil with salt and pepper. Top with a sprinkle of bread crumbs, (I used about 1/4 of a cup). Cook for about 40-50 minutes, flipping once, until the cauliflower is soft.

In a sauce pan, heat up the buffalo sauce and add the cauliflower in. Mix until all the cauliflower is covered in sauce. I love hot sauce so I used more but start with 1/4 cup and add more until you get the desired taste you want. If the buffalo sauce is too spicy for you, add in some local honey before you add get cauliflower. Enjoy!!

Creamy Vegan Avocado Basil Gluten Free Pasta

What a mouthful haha but this creamy vegan pasta is amazing! You have just the right amount of healthy fats without all the bad junk. With a hint of lemon and a kick of crushed red pepper, you can’t go wrong.

What You Need: 

2 Ripe Avocados

1/2 cup Fresh Basil Leaves

2 Whole Garlic Cloves, peeled

1/2 lemon, squeezed

1/3 cup Olive Oil

1/3-1/2 cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk

Salt and Pepper to taste

Pinch of Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Broccoli, florets (2 small heads)

10 Cherry Tomatoes, sliced in half

Gluten Free Pasta

What To Do:

In a pasta pot, boil water and cook gluten free pasta.

In a skillet, add a drizzle of olive oil with the broccoli and season with salt and pepper. Cook until it is soft but still a little crunchy.

In a food processor (or blender), add the avocados, basil, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, coconut milk, and spices. Blend until all the ingredients are smooth and silky.

In the skillet pan, add the broccoli, pasta, and sauce. Heat until all the ingredients are warm and incorporated together. Top with the sliced cherry tomatoes.

Enjoy xoxo

Whole Roasted Chicken

Not going to lie… I have had this recipe sitting in my blog for weeks now.  This was the last meal that I made with my mom before she passed.  My mom used to joke when we would cook together that I was the cook and she was the cleaner.  She would walk around the kitchen following me as I cooked, cleaning. I think that this recipe holds a lot of sentimental feelings and it was hard for me to post it.  It was like reliving the last few weeks with her before we found out she had cancer and was in a coma. All the good memories that now are mixed with the bad.  Sometimes those bad memories out weigh the good ones. It takes on a darker meaning to the point of wanting it just to stop. So, I have to just put one foot in front of the other. Find joy in the memories of my beautiful mother and the time we spent together. To let the bad memories have a space but not consume my life.

Here is the original post… hope you enjoy xo

I love roasting chicken!!! It is easier than you think and it is one of those meals that you can just put in the oven and leave for a couple hours. I like to pair mine with veggies that roast with the chicken in the oven. It is a great meal for a group of people or a Sunday dinner.

 

What You Need:

Whole Chicken (antibiotic free, no hormone chicken)

Whole Onion

Two Lemons (cut in quarters)

Mushrooms (cut in half and save for later)

6 Large Carrots, sliced long way

Butter

Fresh Herb Mix for Poultry

Salt and Pepper

What To Do:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place your chicken in a roasting pan. Run your fingers under the chicken skin to loosen it from the meat. Under the skin, rub a generous amount of butter on the meat.

Take the onion and place inside the cavity as well as one half of the lemon. Squeeze the rest of the lemons on top of the chicken and sprinkle salt and pepper all over. Place the carrots around the chicken.

Take half the fresh poultry seasoning and place all over the top of the chicken. Divide the other half and put one part into the cavity of the chicken and the other part around the carrots. Take the squeezed lemons and place with carrots.

Cook for an hour and then add the mushrooms around the chicken. Total cooking time is typically about 20 minutes per pound. The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 185 degrees F.

Shrimp Tacos with Mango Slaw

Just in time for Taco Tuesday and the Cinco de Mayo!!! 

OH MY GOODNESS!!! These were sooooo good!!! It’s the perfect touch of spice with creamy slaw. The mango takes it to a whole new level. I like to experiment with different flavors of spicy and sweet. This is the perfect combination, if you ask me!

 

What You Need:

Raw Shrimp (peeled and deveined)

Drizzle of Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

1 Clove of Crushed Garlic

2 teaspoons Crushed Red Pepper

Corn Tortillas

Salsa

Guacamole

What You Need for the Slaw:

1 cup Shredded Cabbage

1 cup Shredded Purple Cabbage

½ cup Shredded Carrots

¼ cup Olive Oil

¼ cup Water

¼ cup Apple Cider Vinegar

2 Cloves of Crushed Garlic

½ cup Plain Greek Yogurt

Juice of Two Limes

Salt and Pepper

2 Mangos, sliced and diced

What You Need To Do:

Make the slaw ahead of time and let it sit for at least an hour in the refrigerator before serving. In a large bowl, add both cabbages and carrots. In a small bowl, mix together the wet ingredients with the spices and garlic. Once incorporated, pour into the large bowl and mix together. Add in the mangos and stir again. Let the slaw sit in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Drizzle a light coat of olive oil on a baking pan. Place peeled shrimp, garlic, and spices on the baking pan. Mix and cook in oven for about 8 minutes (depending on the size of your shrimp). You will know they are cooked when the shrimp turn pink and curl a bit. If they curl too much, they will be over cooked. Let the shrimp cool for a minute.

Take a warm corn tortilla and fill the bottom with shrimp. Layer on guacamole and salsa (if you like). Top with the mango slaw and enjoy! xoxo

“Takeout” Style Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli

Sometimes I have cravings for Chinese takeout but being a Celiac and having many food allergies, Chinese really isn’t an option. This is my version of Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli. I paired it with white rice but using brown rice is just as good.

 

What You Need:

1 Chicken Breast, cut into cubes (sprinkled with pepper)

Sesame Oil

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1/4 cup Braggs Liquid Aminos

1/8 cup Water

2 tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar

2 Garlic Cloves, chopped

1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger, chopped

1/2-1 tablespoon Cornstarch

2 Heads of Broccoli, chopped

Rice

What To Do:

In a bowl, prep your sauce. Mix together brown sugar, Liquid Aminos, water, rice wine vinegar, garlic, ginger and cornstarch.

Cook the rice according to the directions. While the rice is cooking, in a sauté pan, drizzle a light coating of sesame oil. Be careful! This oil is powerful! Add in chicken pieces and cook.

In a separate pan, drizzle a little bit of sesame oil and add in broccoli. Mix around occasionally and when the broccoli starts to get soft, take it off of the heat. Add the broccoli to the chicken. Pour in the sauce and let the flavors incorporate.

The sauce will start to thicken up. Once the sauce is your desired consistency, pair it with the rice and enjoy!