Tag: low sodium

Chicken Shawarma Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Shawarma Lettuce Wraps

After many small moments of chaos last weekend, like the brakes not working properly on our moving truck (kind of a big deal), and then having the electricity taken out by a careless driver running into one of the poles and knocking down the transformer, we finally got moved in.  Normally, 

Carrot Cupcakes

Carrot Cupcakes

So. Tired. Of. Packing. I’m living among mountains of boxes and can’t find anything I want/need at any point of time. Sigh. After this weekend we will be completely moved to the new house and then I will hopefully have some time to organize, organize 

Strawberry Yogurt Bites

Strawberry Yogurt Bites

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After a stressful morning yesterday, we pulled it off and closed on our new house!!  It was a beautiful day to CELEBRATE!!!!!   Now it’s on to more packing as we have about two weeks to slowly move to the new place before we close on our current home.  I’m fairly certain that the things in my house keep multiplying after I pack a box as I just keep finding more things to pack.  Ugh. On the positive,  I guess it’s a great excuse to purge both pantry and other items that are no longer being used.  Unfortunately this purging also means I have less items to cook and create with.  No worries, these three ingredient strawberry yogurt bites, though simple, are super delicious.

My kiddos have decided that these are the most perfect after school snack.  With a small paring knife, hull the strawberries and slice off the very bottom so that they will sit flat on a plate.  Next, spoon vanilla Greek yogurt into the “bowl” of the strawberry. I used a coconut milk dairy free yogurt (or try vanilla quark cheese which is less sweet). Then just sprinkle with fresh chopped mint.  So simple!

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They’d also make a great appetizer or dessert!  And now that I’m thinking about dessert, try dipping the base of these in melted dark chocolate and letting them set before filling with the yogurt and you’ve suddenly got gourmet treats!

Strawberry Yogurt Bites
 
Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizers
Cuisine: paleo
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 pint fresh strawberries
  • 6 oz container vanilla Greek yogurt (dairy or non dairy, or try vanilla quark)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped mint leaves
Instructions
  1. Hull the strawberries to make a little bowl and slice the base of each so they are flat on the bottom and will stand up on their own.
  2. Fill each strawberry with yogurt.
  3. Top with a sprinkle of fresh chopped mint!
Notes
These would also be divine with the base of the strawberries dipped in melted dark chocolate.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 35 Fat: 0g Carbohydrates: 5g Sodium: 14mg Fiber: 0g Protein: 4g

 

 

Roasted Carrots and Radish with Harissa Sauce

Roasted Carrots and Radish with Harissa Sauce

One week to go until we close on our new house and the process is finally going smoothly so we’re now expecting to close on time. Wheeee!!  I may actually get to plant a garden this year and that makes me VERY happy.  Vacations also make me happy.  This 

Porchetta Seasoned Pork Tenderloin

Porchetta Seasoned Pork Tenderloin

Two weeks to go until we are supposed to close on our new house and the appraisal isn’t scheduled until next week which means we may not close on time and we need to close by the end of May.  If we can’t, we then 

A Better Benedict

A Better Benedict

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Serving up deliciousness, right here, right now.  And maybe if I’m lucky, my husband will make this for me for mother’s day brunch.  I mean, I deserve to have him slaving away whisking this creamy savory hollandaise while I kick back with a cup of joe relaxing on Sunday morning.  Am I right? or am I right?  Truth be told, this recipe for a better for you, healthy eggs benedict (a better benedict!) requires very little slaving.  Each piece is fast and easy to prepare.  Yes, even the poached eggs.  Though if poaching isn’t your game, just fry the eggs over easy and slide them on top. I won’t tell, and it’ll be equally delightful!

I stacked this better benedict to look like a cute flower with spinach petals fanned out on the bottom, then added a shredded sweet potato hash brown topped with Canadian bacon, a poached egg and drizzled with hollandaise. Sprinkle with chives and you’ll be serving up a gorgeous brunch.  I’m 100 percent positive that if you make this for that special mom in your life, she’ll be one happy gal!

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A Better Benedict
 
Prep time
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Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cuisine: paleo, glutenfree
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup spinach
  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • 8 slices Canadian bacon*
  • chives for garnish
  • HOLLANDAISE:
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • ⅛ teaspoon pink himalayan salt (optional)
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
Instructions
  1. Peel and finely shred the sweet potato and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Fry the bacon in a medium frying pan until lightly browned on each side. Remove from pan and keep warm on a covered plate.
  3. In the same frying pan (keep the grease), form sweet potato into 4 circular patties. The potatoes will hold together when they start to cook. Fry 2-3 minutes on each side (flip gently) just until they start to crisp.
  4. POACHED EGGS: In a 12" fry pan or shallow dish, let 3" of water come to a simmer (not boiling or it'll break apart your eggs). Add a splash of vinegar to the water. Crack each egg into a teacup or custard cup. Gently but quickly pour each egg into the simmering water and do not disturb. Let it poach for 5 minutes and then lift out with a slotted spoon. Place egg on a clean tea towel to dry off the excess water before plating.
  5. HOLLANDAISE: Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened. Whisk constantly, about 5 minutes.
  6. ASSEMBLY: Fan out spinach on plate. Place a sweet potato hashbrown on top of spinach. Place two slices Canadian bacon on hashbrown. Top with a poached egg and drizzle of hollandaise. Sprinkle with chives.
Notes
* For low sodium, omit the salt, use only 1 slice of canadian bacon per serving instead of 2 and use unsalted butter to = 124mg per serving
Nutrition Information
Calories: 264 Fat: 21g Carbohydrates: 11g Sodium: 261mg* Fiber: 2g Protein: 9g

 

 

Pico de Gallo, a Garden Fresh Salsa

Pico de Gallo, a Garden Fresh Salsa

Mayday, mayday!  Stress overload during this first week of May and it’s not about to get better so apologies in advance for any one-and-lonely posts in the weeks to come.  In a whirlwind of house touring last week, we did find the perfect house to move into, 

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken

Nothing beats a flavorful grilled steak or chicken.  Especially when it’s had a nice long marinade in an Indian spiced yogurt mixture overnight to let the flavors soak in and soften the meat to pure tender perfection.  Don’t let this tandoori chicken intimidate you.  It looks challenging and has many ingredients but 

Triple Berry Banana Crepes

Triple Berry Banana Crepes

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You guys!!! It’s warm out and maybe, just possibly, actually the start of Spring!!   Plus,  I made these triple berry banana crepes!!!  With a super yummy vanilla bean custard to smear inside and drizzle on top.  These are quite a treat and can be made for either breakfast or dessert. Did I mention the banana crepes are actually easy to make?  Think of them as a thin pancake but made in a frying pan.

You’ll need 1 ripe banana which we’re going to do something a little crazy with. We’re gonna roast it. Yes, like in the oven.  Of course, if you’re short on time go ahead and skip this part, the crepes will still be rockin’ awesome.   The roasting gives the banana a little bit of a caramel-ly sweet flavor that ups the delicious factor so give it a try if you have time!   Place the banana on a baking sheet and roast it for about 20 minutes until the peel turns totally brown.  Let it cool and then peel it and combine the banana with eggs and tapioca flour in a blender and blend until smooth.  It should be fairly runny.

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Next, grab your frying pan and heat it up with a dollop of coconut oil on medium low heat until the oil is hot.  It’s very important to have a hot pan before you start pouring in batter and also important to have it oiled well or they will stick.  You’ll then end up with little scrambled crepes rather than cute ones that can be filled with awesome yumminess, so keep it well greased.  When your pan and oil are hot, pour about 1/4 cup batter into the pan and immediately swirl the pan to distribute the batter into a thin circular crepe.  Let this cook for 3-4 minutes until the top appears dry.  It is very important to be patient. If it doesn’t look dry, don’t try to flip it or it’ll fall apart. Just let it cook a little longer. With a thin spatula, flip the crepe over and let the other side cook 2-3 minutes.  Lift out onto a plate and let cool while you make the rest with the same method.  You will most likely need to add more oil between each crepe for them to not stick to the pan. You can make the crepes ahead of time and keep them in a sealed container after they have cooled or freeze them with layers of parchment in between.

Now, it’s creamy dreamy custard time. Add all the custard ingredients into a small saucepan. Over medium heat, boil while whisking constantly until it’s thickened, about 5 minutes.  I used something called vanilla bean paste which is a scraped vanilla bean in a paste so it doesn’t thin your batter and it’s so tasty in all kinds of baked goods.   Go ahead and sub vanilla extract if you prefer.  You can easily make this ahead of time as well and store it in a sealed container in the fridge. It’ll last a good week.

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The last thing to do is to plate and fill crepes with custard and berries.  Fold them up in a little roll and top with more custard.  I also topped these with a spoonful of coconut milk yogurt and more berries.  You can also add chopped toasted nuts for a banana bread type flavor!

Triple Berry Banana Crepes
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cuisine: paleo, vegetarian
Serves: 5 crepes
Ingredients
  • CREPES:
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
  • pinch of salt (optional)
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • CUSTARD:
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ½ cup coconut milk (full fat works best)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
  • TOPPINGS: berries of any kind, more custard, coconut yogurt, nuts, anything else delicious!
Instructions
  1. CREPES:
  2. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Place whole unpeeled banana on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes until peel is brown all over. Let cool.
  4. Peel banana and add all remaining crepe ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
  5. Over medium low heat, heat up a frying pan or crepe pan with 1 tablespoon coconut oil.
  6. Once pan and oil are hot, pour ¼ cup batter into pan and immediately swirl pan to distribute batter into a thin circle.
  7. Cook about 3-4 minutes until top looks dry.
  8. Carefully flip crepe and cook on other side 2-3 minutes.
  9. Lift onto a place to cool and repeat for rest of crepes.
  10. CUSTARD:
  11. Add all custard ingredients to small saucepan.
  12. Whisking constantly, heat until boiling and let cook about 5 minutes until thickened.
  13. To assemble crepes, place crepe on a plate, fill with a tablespoon or two of custard, add berries and fold sides of crepe over. Top with more custard and berries!
Notes
Both the crepes and custard can be made ahead, cooled, and kept in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to serve.
You can also freeze the crepes by layering parchment paper between them in a freezer proof container.
If you're short on time, skip the banana roasting and just use a really ripe banana.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 crepe Calories: 132 Fat: 7g Carbohydrates: 13g Sodium: 35mg Fiber: 1g Protein: 4g

 

 

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

My oldest daughter is turning eight tomorrow. I know it’s cliché to say that they grow up so fast but it’s true.  Time seems to move exponentially faster once you have kids and some days I wish I could just play freeze tag with time