Sunday, March 23, 2014

Creamy Tomato Curry Sauce with Sausage - Gluten-Free

Ever have seriously crazy ideas....that you're incredibly nervous about?!  I do.  All the time.  Sometimes when I create recipes, and I'm concerned about whether it's going to turn out or not, I'm in knots all day!  This was one of those times.  Was the money I spent on everything that went into my slow cooker going to be a waste, or was it going to be a success?!  I prayed for success......and I got it!!!

This sauce turned out JUST as I had hoped and prayed it would!  It was light, creamy, flavorful and yummy!  All the ingredients are lighter versions of any other "creamy" sauce you might have used int he past, but I promise you, you won't miss the calories!

This is a QUICK and EASY dinner to throw together!  You can use whatever type of noodles you would like to serve this over.  I used spaghetti squash the first night and Thai rice noodles the second night.  Both were delicious!


Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
6 oz. can tomato paste
13.66 oz. can lite coconut milk
1 cup chopped onion
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 cup chicken broth
1 lb. ground turkey sausage

Directions: (Use a 3-5 quart slow cooker for this recipe)
In your crock, place the diced tomatoes, tomato paste and coconut milk.

Add in the onion, pepper, salt, garlic powder, curry powder, turmeric and chicken broth.


Next, crumble in the turkey sausage.
 And give it a quick stir.

Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-3.5 hours.

ENJOY!
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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Disney On Ice is Coming to the Palace of Auburn Hills March 19 through 23

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS LET’S CELEBRATE!
IS COMING TO THE PALACE OF AUBURN HILLS,
MARCH 19-23, 2014

 Make an ordinary day extraordinary when Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! brings more than 50 Disney characters to The Palace of Auburn Hills, March 19-23, 2014 for one colossal party on ice!  This action-packed, all-new show features a magical montage of celebrations and is set to a blend of contemporary music and favorite Disney songs.

Ticket Prices: $20, $26, $50, $65
Tickets are available for purchase at The Palace Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Show Times:
·       Wednesday, March 19 @ 7:30 PM
·       Thursday, March 20 @ 7:30 PM
·       Friday, March 21 @ 11:00 AM & 7:30 PM
·       Saturday, March 22 @ 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM
·       Sunday, March 23 @ 11:30 AM & 3:30 PM

To discover more about Disney On Ice, go to www.disneyonice.com, or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.

*Disclaimer: I am being given tickets in exchange for this post.  All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.
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Moist Turkey and Chicken Loaf - Gluten-Free

It's been FOREVER since I've made meatloaf.  I'm not sure why exactly!  Maybe because I got in the habit of using Italian seasoned bread crumbs and I can no longer use them because I'm gluten-free.  I honestly think the last time I made a meatloaf was when I was making the meatloaf that's in my cookbook!  I used quinoa for my binder instead of bread crumbs.  It was moist and delicious.

My one complaint about meatloaf is, there's never enough of it!  (I bet you weren't expecting that answer!)  Seriously!  Meatloaf is SO good!  I always want seconds, but I always feel selfish because there has to be enough for everyone else.  And then, there are of course, never any leftovers :(  Boo!  Not this time!  I bought ground turkey and chicken at a great price this week!  It made a nice GIANT meatloaf that gave us enough for 2 dinners with very generous portions!

This meatloaf was EXCELLENT!  The first night, we ate it just as is and it was moist and delicious.  The second night, my husband got dinner ready for us, so there was salsa over the top of our meatloaf and melted mozzarella cheese on top!  WOW!  Even more excellent!!!!  (He likes to "fatten" things up a bit! LOL!)


Servings: 8-10

Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 lb. ground chicken
2 eggs
1 1/2-2 cups gluten-free pankow 
1 1/2 tsp. minced onion
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 cup salsa 

Directions: (Use a 5 quart or larger slow cooker for this)
In a bowl, place the ground turkey and chicken.

Add in the eggs and pankow.

Add in the minced onion, cumin and basil.

Add in the salsa, then mix.


Spray your crock with non-stick spray.  I used a slow cooker liner (which makes it SUPER easy to remove and serve your meatloaf! I HIGHLY recommend them!)  and sprayed that with non-stick spray.  Evenly spread your meatloaf mixture in the bottom of your crock.

Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 2.5-3 hours.
Remove the meatloaf from your crock is you used a liner like this:
then cut and serve.  Or, if you didn't use a liner and cooked directly in your crock, slice while still in the crock and serve from there.

Enjoy!
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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Cute Spring Snack Ideas from FamilyFun Magazine!

Check out these SUPER cute snack ideas for the Spring!!!

How about these adorable Leprechaun hats for St. Patricks' Day?!

Leprechaun Hats

Ingredients
English cucumber
Sliced cheese
Hummus

Directions
Celebrate Saint Pat’s with a crunchy cucumber treat. Cut 1-inch sections of an English cucumber. Halve them lengthwise and lay the pieces flat on a plate, as shown. Trim a cucumber brim for each hat and set it in place. Finish with a sliced cheese band and buckle, attached with dots of hummus or dip.

And how about these BEYOND cute Leprechaun Doughnuts to leave to "trap" yourself a Leprechaun?!

Leprechaun Doughnuts

Ingredients
Chocolate sprinkle:
O-shaped cereal
Dark or white chocolate
Colored sprinkles

Cinnamon sugar:
O-shaped cereal
Sugar
Cinnamon sugar

Directions
Lure wee visitors this Saint Patrick’s Day with O-shaped cereal disguised as tiny doughnuts. Prepare each variety following the steps at right and let dry on waxed paper. Add to the fun by placing them in a miniature box (get our template at familyfunmag.com/printables).

Chocolate sprinkle:
Dip the tops of O-shaped cereal into melted dark or white chocolate (the tines of a fork work well for this) and cover with sprinkles.

Cinnamon sugar:
Over medium-high heat, dissolve ½ cup sugar in ½ cup water. Let it cool. Dip the O’s, a few at a time, in the syrup, then toss them in a small bowl of cinnamon sugar.

These Little Lamb Sandwiches are SURE to make your little one smile!

Little Lambwich

Ingredients
Sliced cheese
Mini bagels
Mustard
Ham slice
Black olives
Shredded cheese

Directions
Two types of cheese give this savory, open-faced sandwich its sweet-as-can-be look. Trim a piece of sliced cheese to fit atop one half of a mini bagel. Cut a round muzzle and a pair of half-circle ears from more sliced cheese, then attach them with mustard or mayonnaise. Add a nose cut from a ham slice, plus a mouth and a pair of eyes trimmed from black olives. Finish with a sprinkle of shredded cheese between the ears.



*Disclaimer: I am not being compensated in any way for this post.  All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.

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Run or Dye is Coming to Detroit!!!!!

Run or Dye, the world's most colorful 5K, is coming to Hazel Park Harness Raceway on 
Saturday, May 10th 2014

Bring all your friends and run a color-blasted 5K, where you get showered in safe, eco-friendly, plant-based cornstarch dye every kilometer.  Then enjoy our world-famous Dye Festival afterward, where you can Tie-Dye the Sky (not to mention all your friends!) in this ultimate celebration of life, friendship, fitness, and fun.Create a team and save, then use the code: DETROITRUN to save another $10.

Run or dye is for absolutely everyone! Whether you're a recovering couch potato or an avid marathon runner, you'll love the atmosphere 

Want to WIN 2 Free Vouchers to this event?!!!
Enter Here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#RunOrDyeDetroit
http://runordye.tumblr.com/

*Disclaimer:  I am being compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may differ from others'.
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Sunday, March 9, 2014

Salsa Chicken with White Beans - Gluten-Free

One of the most popular recipes on my blog to date is my Salsa Ranch Chicken with Black Beans.  I even made a gluten-free version in my cookbook that remains just as popular.  The original version contains cream of chicken soup, which you and I know isn't that good for you.  My cookbook version contains a homemade version of cream of chicken soup, which is FAR better for you than the canned variety (and gluten-free) but THIS recipe, is my "play" on my original recipe, with FAR less calories and fat! In a way, I'd like to think of this recipe as a sister recipe to my Salsa Ranch Chicken with Black Beans recipe. ;)

My husband is a HUGE fan of my original recipe, so when I told him I "healthified" it, he said "Oh, great!"......in a VERY sarcastic tone.  LOL.  So, I seriously prayed this would taste JUST as good so I could hear him take it back!  LOL  The verdict?!  He ate his words.....no, seriously.  He ate this and LOVED it!  He said "Honey!  This is seriously delicious!  What did you do different than the original recipe?"  SCORE!  Whoo hoo!  

Now, I used white beans in this recipe instead of black beans.  It's all I had.  LOL  So, if you want it to be even more like the original recipe, insert black beans instead of white beans.  You can eat this over a salad like I did, or on nachos (like we did the second night) or even in taco shells or a burrito.  There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy this recipe!


Servings: 6-10

Ingredients:
2.5-3 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1  1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 tsp. salt
15.5 oz. can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups salsa
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt.

Directions:
Place your chicken breasts, along with the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and salt in your crock.

Add in the cannelloni beans.

Add in the salsa and chicken broth

Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-3.5 hours.
Shred the chicken, add in the Greek yogurt and stir back through the "sauce."

Serve in the way of your choosing and ENJOY!
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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Delightful Chocolate Mousse - Gluten-Free and Healthy

I don't know about you, but I need chocolate.  I never used to.  My mom and sister would RAID the house for chocolate around "that time of the month," but me?  I would go for the lemon drops.  (Those were my FAVORITE!  Sour and Sweet!  YUM!)  Nowadays, I need chocolate.  Probably as much as my sister and mom did, but I kind of like it ALL the time.  LOL  So, I had to come up with some sort of "alternative" way to eat it, other than grabbing a candy bar. (Because have you tried the Snickers Peanut Butter?!!!!  Oh. Em. GEE!!!!!  Don't get me started!)

So, one night, in desperation for my dark chocolate fix, I started throwing stuff together.  I have PERFECTED this recipe I tell ya!  I've probably been making it for the past 3 months, but haven't shared it with you because something was "off" (but notice, I still ate it?!!!! LOL)  This whips together VERY quickly and you may even have all the ingredients in your pantry.

Ok, ok, ok.....I wipe your drool already!  I'm getting to it!  I'm getting to it!



Servings: 1

Ingredients:
1/3 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
3/4 tsp. natural peanut butter
1 tsp. organic maple syrup
1 1/4 tsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs

Directions:
In a bowl, add the yogurt, peanut butter and maple syrup.

Add the cocoa powder, then stir.


Next, add the dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs and stir it up.

ENJOY EVERY LAST BITE!!!!  YUM!

I gave this recipe to my good friend Maria to try....(just to be sure it passed) and here's a beautiful photo she took!


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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Creamy Tomato and Lentil Soup

It's no secret I love lentils.  I grew up eating Mjadra because my aunt is Lebanese.  In fact, I grew up eating a lot of Mediterranean dishes and I have a great passion for them.   A couple weeks ago, my daughter Ella and I made our almost weekly trip to Costco to pick up a few things, and  to get "examples" as my daughter calls them....of course, she means samples!  LOL  Well, we tried many fabulous things, as always, while we were there.  BUT, we came across a Creamy Tomato Lentil Soup that was DELICIOUS!  Ella raved about how good it was and I really enjoyed it too!  Then came the "can we get some Mom?!" question.  Buy some, when I can make it homemade?!  Nah!  I told Ella we'd make some very soon....and that we did.

The creamy, tomatoey, lentily goodness!  Mmmmmmmm!!!  This soup had the same flavor as the soup I tasted in Costco we enjoyed so much!  Best of all, it was not only super cheap to make, but super easy to make as well.  Not only that, my version was most likely healthier as well since I used unsweetened almond milk to make it "creamy" instead of cream.  Delish!  I can't wait for you to try it!


Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:
2 cups red lentils
15.5 oz. can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
16 oz. can tomato sauce
2 cups red onion, minced
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 1/2 tsp. paprika
5 cups vegetable broth
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
non-fat Greek yogurt

Directions: (Use a 4 quart or larger slow cooker for this recipe)
Pour the lentils and beans into your crock.
Add in the onions.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, cumin and paprika.
Add in the vegetable broth and give it a quick stir.

Cook on LOW for 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 hours.
At this point, you have the choice of making your soup a bit smoother by using an immersion blender and pureeing it for a bit, or you can leave it the way it is.  It's up to you.
You will then pour the 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk in a mixing bowl and slowly add in about 2 cups of the lentil soup while stirring constantly.  This is your way of tempering the almond milk so it does not curdle.

Pour this mixture back into your soup and then cook on LOW for about 15-30 mins, so the temperature warms back up a bit.

Serve with a dollop of non-fat Greek yogurt and enjoy!



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