Light Salad with Meal prep.

Meal prep… it’s hard to get excited about meal prep. All the chopping and peeling and washing…. but since I’ve had to change up my eating habits, it’s made meal prep a lot more colourful.

This time my meal prep is not vegan. I picked up a rotisserie chicken and plated all the meat together while I made a quick snack for my husband. Jalapeño filled with cream cheese and topped with prosciutto. Once the jalapeños were done, I put the bacon in the oven. Needless to say my kitchen smells heavenly!

Beans are washed and the cucumber is chopped. I’m getting hungry washing the blueberries and peppers so I need something nice and light to eat..

It’s going to be supper and then bedtime so I don’t want anything heavy or full of carbs..

I get my other cucumber and peel it. Cucumber noodles!

Top that off with pieces of chicken, bacon and green beans. And voila! Easy, quick, and I’m continuing my meal prep without regrets.

Now I get to think of ideas for next week, plan the meals, and make things interesting!

Starting Dairy free and Egg free

It’s been about 4 months since my last post. Many things have happened since then. I’ve gone through some health issues and found out about some allergies that I didn’t know about. I am allergic to the protein in milk, (no it’s not lactose intolerant) and I’m also allergic to egg. This has made for some difficulties when preparing food and getting excited in the kitchen again.. I will be honest… I cried for 3 days as I’ve always had these things with every meal, butter, cheese, milk, cakes, eggs, yogurt, etc… you get the point.

I’m now at the point where I’m enjoying my food again and I’ll make little surprises for my husband, who has also had to go cold turkey from my allergies… it’s not easy to make these changes, but I have to put my health first.. I have to say.. my husband has been absolutely amazing with all of the changes and being supportive..

I’m here to declare! I’m getting back in the kitchen!

Recipes that will be showed will have no dairy and no egg.. some will be vegan.. some will not…

I’m finding my passion for the kitchen again… I’ve missed it!

IM BACK!

Any recipe ideas or suggestions please let me know!!!!!

Must try snack!

I have searched for a healthy snack to eat when I’m craving cheese and have now found a great one to try!

Long story short I have recently found out that I am allergic to milk. Finding replacements is very difficult. This means no milk, no butter, no cheese.. you get the picture….

What you need :

2 medium potatoes (scrubbed and chopped)

3 large carrots (scrubbed and chopped)

1/2 cup Nutritional Yeast

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup water

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 & 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1) steam the potatoes and carrots until soft

2) Blend all the ingredients together until smooth and creamy

3) Optional: add in jalapeño at the end for a little kick

You can use this for chips and dip or with veggies. I added it onto a sand which instead of mayo. It’s healthy and tasty.

Try it and let me know!!

White Chocolate Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Having a wonderful time with my favorite ladies I started to get snackish. I wanted anything and everything. We decided to start baking and make something scrumptious. One of these recipes is the White Chocolate Pumpkin Snickerdoodles… yummy..

It’s easy to make and sooooo delicious.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar (divided)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

6 tbsp pumpkin purée

1 + 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking Soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon (divided)

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Directions

1) Melt butter in microwave

2) In a med bowl whisk the melted butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup of sugar together until no brown sugar lumps remain. Wisk in the vanilla and pumpkin until smooth. Set aside.

3) In a large bowl toss together flour, salt, baking powder, baking Soda, pumpkin pie spice and 1 + 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

4) Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix together with a large spoon or spatula.

5) Fold In white chocolate chips

6) Cover dough and chill in fridge 30 mins (up to 3 days max) chilling in necessary

7) Take dough out of fridge, preheat oven 350° and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper

8) Roll dough into balls about 1.5 tbsp each

9) Mix together last of the 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon

10) Roll each of the dough balls generously through the sugar mix and put on cookie sheet

11) Slightly flatten the dough balls

12) Bake 8-10 mins ( may look slightly undercooked)

13) Remove from oven, press a couple more white chocolate chips on top

14) Let cookies cool 10 mins On cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks

Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Chicken

Eating supper on time!

Thank goodness for slow cookers. Night time is crazy but dinner doesn’t have to be.

There are many different options and ways to add to this, but if your looking for a quick and easy recipe this is a great start.

Ingredients

Chicken

Medium Salsa

Red Onion

Pasta

Cheese

Water

Directions

1) Put chicken in slow cooker

2) Top Chicken with Salsa and Red Onion

3) Put on low for 8-9 hours

4) When chicken is complete cook pasta as per normal

5) Plate the pasta, top with chicken. Dribble some extra Salsa and top with cheese

ENJOY!!!!

Baked Potato with Steak

One of the easiest last minute before I walk out the door options I did today.

I knew today I wouldn’t feel like cooking after work and needed something to put in my belly.

Baked Potato topped with cheese, green onion, bbq steak and sour cream. All done in the slow cooker while I work.

Ingredients

Potatoes

Olive Oil

Steak

BBQ sauce

Red onion

Cheese

Green onion

Sour cream

Steps

1) Wash Potatoes and dry completely

2) Poke holes in potatoes and drizzle with olive oil

3) Wrap in tinfoil and place in slow cooker on low 8-10 hours

4) Cut steak in strips and put in 2nd slow cooker

5) Cut red onion in strips and put with steak

6) Cover both onion and steak in BBQ sauce

7) Put on Low 8 hours

8) When complete place Potato on plate , cut in half and fluff the inside

9) shred some cheese on top and lightly top with green onion

10) Cut up Steak and place on top

11) Sour Cream on the side or on top whatever makes you happiest

ENJOY!!!!!!!! So delicious!!!

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe is from https://www.jocooks.com/desserts-2/cinnabons-cinnamon-rolls/

This was such a wonderful find and sooooooo yummy that I had 2 when it was done.

Even if you don’t like Cinnamon Rolls….. this Cream Cheese is Awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast or instant yeast

• 1 cup milk lukewarm

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter softened, or margarine

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 eggs

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

Filling

• 1 cup brown sugar packed

• 3 tbsp cinnamon

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter softened, or margarine

Cream cheese icing

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter softened, or margarine

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar also known as icing sugar, or confectioner’s sugar

• 1/4 cup cream cheese at room temperature

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

1 For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. If the yeast is good, it will start to froth up.

2 To the bowl of your mixer add the sugar, butter or margarine, salt, eggs, and flour and mix until well incorporated.

3 Pour the milk/yeast mixture over the flour mixture and using the dough hook, mix well until well incorporated.

4 Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

5 Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

6 Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.

7 Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approximately 16 inches long by 12 inches wide. It should be approximately 1/4 inch in thickness.

8 Spread the 1/3 cup of butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle with the sugar evenly over the surface of the dough.

9 Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge.

10 Cut the dough into 1 1/2 inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan. You can also use floss to cut into slices, as seen in the video. Place the cut rolls in the prepared pan. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rise for another 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

11 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

12. Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cooking time can vary greatly!

13. While the rolls are baking make the icing buy mixing all the icing ingredients and beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth.

14. When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing.

Apple Crisp

This yummy recipe was given to me from my wonderful mother in law.

It’s quick, it’s easy and I love it. You can’t get much better than that.

Ingredients:

– 4-6 Apples (Sliced and Cut up)

– 1/2 Cup Flour

– 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats

– 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

-1/2 Cup Melted Butter

– Lemon Juice

– Cinnamon

Directions:

A) Preheat Oven 375°

1) Put Apples in bottom of baking dish

2) Sprinkle with lemon juice and Cinnamon

3) In a bowl combine Butter, Sugar, Rolled Oats And Flour

4) Put the combination on top of the Apples

4) Bake 30-40 mins

SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!! So easy!

Try it out and tell me what you think!!!!!!!

Homemade Rolls…. Yes Please

These Rolls are so yummy and easy!

I found this recipe from Pinterest … my Favorite searching site.

Taken from :https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/the-very-best.html

I’ve copied their recipe and it’s so light and fluffy.. I used less flour but still had wonderful results.

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Warm Water

3 and 1/4 cups White Flour

1/4 cup Sugar

1 Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast

1 Egg

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 Teaspoon Salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Combine all ingredients EXCEPT for 1 cup of flour

2) Continue mixing while gradually adding in the last cup of flour

3) Dough will be soft and just slightly sticky

4) Turn out dough onto floured surface and knead 2-3 times

5) Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise 60-90 mins (until doubled)

6) Turn onto a floured surface and divide into 16 pieces

7) Shape into balls, placed in greased 9×13 pan and cover with towel.

8) Allow to rise 45 mins until puffed

9) Bake at 350 Degrees for 15-20 mins until tops are golden brown

3rd Recipe of the New Year

I’ve taken this recipe from http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/easy-enchilada-cups

I found this page on Pinterest and these are fabulous and easy. You can make this as an appetizer or as a meal, depending how many you eat.. hahaha I have just copied from the site so that you get the real deal. However the picture is of my outcome.

EASY ENCHILADA CUPS

These Easy Enchilada Cups are quick and simple to make, easy to customize with your favorite enchilada ingredients, and totally delicious!

TOTAL TIME: 35 MINS PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 20 MINS

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (10-count) package Old El Paso Small Flour Tortillas

• 1 (10-ounce) can Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce (or you can use my homemade enchilada sauce)

• 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 (4-ounce) can Old El Paso chopped green chiles

• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (*or other desired filling, see options below)

• ½ cup whole-kernel corn

• 1 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese

• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

• ¼ cup thinly-sliced green onions

DIRECTIONS:

1 Heat oven to 350°F

2 Tuck each of the tortillas into the cups of a standard-sized muffin pan, gently pleating the edges of the tortillas so that they fit snugly inside each cup, careful not to let the tortillas fold too closely into the middle (since we’ll need an opening for the filling later).  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the tortilla cups have hardened slightly on all sides.  Remove and set aside.

3 While the tortillas are baking, combine the enchilada sauce, black beans, green chiles, chicken, and corn together in a large mixing bowl.  Toss until the ingredients are evenly combined.

4 Once the tortilla cups are ready, carefully spoon the filling into each cup until it is filled nearly to the brim.  Place a pinch of cheese on top of each tortilla cup.  Then return the pan to the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the filling is warmed through.

5 Remove from the oven, and sprinkle the top of each cup evenly with cilantro and green onions.  Serve warm.