Quinoa Lasagna

This is amazing! So many flavors! On a side note: I choose to use all organic & natural ingredients & minimally processed which I think contributes to the amazing flavors!
Ingredients:
2 c water
1 c quinoa
2 tbsp olive oil
1 c chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
2 c tomato sauce
2 c cottage cheese
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 c grated parmesan
2 tbsp dried oregano
2 c sliced zucchini
2 c packed fresh spinach
1 1/2 c shredded mozzarella

Prep:
1. 9x13 baking dish, coat with organic olive oil spray
2. Combine water & quinoa in sauce pan & bring to a boil. Cover & simmer x 15 min. Fluff with fork. Evenly spread quinoa in prepped baking dish
3. Preheat oven to 350
4. Add oil to saucepan over medium heat. Add onion & cook until transparent (5-6 min) add garlic & sauce. Stir until hot. Remo e from heat.
5. Combine cottage cheese and egg in bowl. Mix well. Stir in parmesan, basil, & oregano.
6. Spread 1/3 sauce over quinoa, make layer of zucchini, then add cheese mixture, then remaining sauce, then all spinach. Finish with remaining sauce & spread mozzarella on top.
7. Bake until hot & cheese is melted. 35-40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Simple, quick, super delicious!

Free range chicken tenders (antibiotic free)
   -seasoned with pepper & lawrys seasoned salt
   - add 1/2 c h2o to skillet
   - cook over heat, continuously turning until cooked completely

Organic broccoli, cauliflower, carrots
    - 1 c organic coconut oil melted
    - add veggies & mix until cooked.completely

Oh my goodness! More.yummy goodness!

First, I need to thank.Lori Lober for this excellent book! So many great recipes! I for sure can't wait to make the gf tortilla wraps!
2.5 tsp yeast
1 3/4 c lukewarm water
2 tbsp sunflower oil
3 1/4 c gf flour
1.5 tsp xanthan gum
2 tbsp cilantro
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
Salt & pepper
Mix yeast, water, oil & let stand x 20 min
Sift gf flour, xanthan gum, add yeast mixture with cilantro & red pepper. Mix and form sticky dough
Invert onto gf floured surface and knead, divide into 8-10 small balls
Cut out 8in circle parchment paper, roll out each ball under it (the thinner the better)
Place a nonstick skillet in medium heat, add tortillas one at a time with parchment underneath & cook 2-3 minutes. Flip, repeat
Serve hot or cold with favorite fillings.

Finally, a yummy Allergen free shake!

I am so excited about this! I have so many friends with food allergies that don't get to enjoy the gluten free shakes that I love and enjoy every day! Soy free, gluten free, dairy free, and super healthy! You can even freeze them.into popsicles & know your kiddos are getting all of the nutrients they need. It's super high in protein which is fantastic too! For more information you can go to Srhew.isagenix.com & look at the products tab. You will find a list of ingredients there as well ! Finally, a solution for more people! Enjoy!

Quinoa salad! Yum!

Such an amazing salad, loaded with protein & veggies! I make it on my.own but this particular one is from the Start Restaurant in Dallas. They offer tons of gf options as well as all organic options!

Perfectly balanced, perfectly yummy

Grilled broccoli sauteed in coconut oil, quinoa salad, & lean/clean hamburger meat. Great hit tonight! Even the puppy got.some veggies!

No time to cook dinner? Try this Quick & Yummy meal!

1 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 - 24oz container of spaghetti sauce
1 - package of Ricotta Cheese

Place chicken in the bottom of the crock pot, cover with spaghetti sauce and sprinkle Ricotta cheese over the top. For fast meal, leave on high for 3-4 hours. For while you are at work cooking, place on low for 8 hours. Once done, either eat chicken as is or you can shred it in container. Picture to follow :-) 
Bon Appetite!

The Best of ALL Worlds!

As many of you may know, trying to make sense of the whole "Gluten Free" concept can be a long journey. I have not posted for a while, but this is because I have been on my own journey to improve my health. While it is true that I have always been a "bean pole", not having to do much to stay skinny, I have made terrible choices on what to feed my body in the past. Well, today is a new day! I have been focusing on getting healthier for several months now.

Someone who cared about me shared some gluten free products with me that have changed my life! In 2011 around the holidays I began only eating organic products and less processed foods. I liked the changes I noticed in my health, but there was no way that I could eat enough food to REALLY provide my body the nutrients it needed. So when I looked into the Isagenix products I was excited to not only have a gluten free product, but also organic and all natural with no fillers or additives. This is when I really started to notice a difference in my health! I now am full of so much energy, my body is actually getting all of the important minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and active enzymes to drive it into my cells that I need. I have never felt better. This is me just using their shakes, which actually taste delicious by the way. Imagine my excitement when I cleansed for the first time. Now, this is not a "sit on the toilet all day" cleanse ;-) We are talking about a cellular cleanse. By cleansing out these toxins your body is able to start releasing fat and building lean muscle. I cannot believe how amazing I feel.

Isagenix products have helped me so much that I feel it would be wrong if I didn't share these amazing product with others. I have always tried to find easy and delicious foods to share with my followers and I have discovered the jack pot on this one! There is a great movie called "Are you Toxic" that really explains how these products work better than I can. Isagenix products are not medications and don't claim to cure anything, but they sure have helped me to feel great!

This is a solution based company so if you are having a problem, they may have the answer. It is for EVERYONE! Weight loss, Athletic Performance, Energy, Supplements, and much more! One of my favorite things about this company is that they back their products up because if you don't like something they have a 30 day 100% money back guarantee. How many companies do that?

Hope this post finds it's way to many people looking for solutions :-)  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information & I would be happy to get you to the right spot. God Bless!

Gluten Free? I THINK NOT!

So, We tried out Heartland Gluten free/Wheat Free Penne Pasta tonight. Let's just say that I blew up like a balloon, looking at least 4 months pregnant now in a matter of minutes. My son, also GF, is curled up in the other room with his old complaints "post meals" when he indgested gluten. I guess I got kind of lazy on my label reading because low and behold, there on the side it states that it is processed in a facility that processes wheat products. Not ok if you cannot have gluten. Cross contamination is a big issue. I went to the website and they have under frequently asked questions that they do clean their equipment according to "government standards" and do periodic tests to make sure that there is not more than 20 ppm levels on the equipment.

So, here is my warning...for all of those who might start getting comfortable with the products they are using, especially with those that advertise that they are gluten free. Continue to read and investigate before using product. Even Walmart is very guilty about slapping "gluten free" on their products, but noting that they are processed in facilities processing wheat. Perhaps more education needs to be out there for the manufactures as well as FDA concerning Celiac Disease and what Gluten Actually does to a person. I just want to make sure the warning is out there! We are busy people, so sometimes we take the label's word for it. Just take an extra second for your health.

Another Quick but Yummy Dinner

This is a recipe found in Incredible Edible Gluten Free Food for kids, by Sheri L. Sanderson. We make two pies and they don't last long at all. It is an incredibly yummy recipe & I hope you'll give it a try. It is also incredibly easy. When I throw it together, I typically leave out the onion & green pepper. Also, note for step #8; try to picture your spaghetti needs to look like a pie crust, and shape it accordingly. I will post pics to this next time I cook it. Enjoy!

Spaghetti Pie

Ingredients

• 4 oz rice or corn spaghetti
• 1/2 lb ground beef, turkey, sausage, or combo
• 1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper (1/2 medium)
• 3/4 cup spaghetti or pizza sauce (15 oz)
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (1&1/3 oz)
• 1 TBSP butter or margarine, melted
• 1 cup cottage cheese (8 oz)
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (2 oz)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain well. Return to pan.
• Meanwhile, in a frying pan, saute the ground meat, onions, & bell pepper until the meat is browned & the onions are translucent. Drain fats.
  
• Add spaghetti or pizza sauce & stir to combine. Set aside.
• In a bowl, beat one egg.
  
• Add the Parmesan cheese & melted butter, & mix well to combine.
  
• Add hot pasta & toss until combined.
  
• In a well-greased 9-inch pie pan, spread the spaghetti mixture with a spoon across the bottom & up the sides to form a crust. (or you can cover the mixture with plastic wrap & smooth with hands, then remove plastic wrap)
  
• Beat the remaining egg in a small bowl
• Drain the cottage cheese, and combine with beaten egg
• Spread over the bottom of the "spaghetti crust"
  
• Spoon the meat mixture over the cottage cheese mixture.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes & then remove from oven
• Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of the pie & return the pie to the oven for another 5-8 minutes more, or until cheese melts & "crust" sets.
  
• Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing into wedges.
  

Mmmmm, Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Nope, I didn't disappear. I have been extremely busy with classes, so my apologizes for the lack of blogging. :-)

So, this is an absolutely delicious recipe. I found this recipe on the Martha Stewart website and have brought it to several family functions. It has actually been a big hit. We just serve it with tortilla chips and "Presto!" fabulous meal, with very little effort.


INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Course salt and ground pepper
• 5 unpeeled garlic cloves
• 2 jars (16 oz each) medium salsa
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 12 corn tortillas (6-inch)
• 12 ounces Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 cup fresh, chopped cilantro

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, place with garlic on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until an baking thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast registers 165 degrees (25-30 minutes)
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine salsa and cream
4. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Once chicken is cool enough to handle, shred meat.
5. Peel and chop garlic
6. In a large bowl, combine chicken, garlic, and 1/2 cup salsa mixture
7. Stack tortillas flat, and wrap in damp paper towels. Microwave on high for 1 minute to soften.
8. Working with one tortilla at a time, dip in salsa mixture, lay flat, and fill with 1/3 cup chicken mixture.
9. Roll up and arrange, seam side down, 8 enchiladas lengthwise and 4 crosswise in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
10. Top with remaining salsa mixture, then cheese.
11. Bake until cheese is browned and salsa is bubbling (40-45 minutes)
12. Let rest for 10 minutes
13. Serve, sprinkled with cilantro

The Best Homemade Gluten Free Pizza!

This is the best homemade gluten free pizza recipe EVER! Anytime we get a pizza craving around here, this certainly satisfies it. I recommend it to anyone, gluten free or not. Try it out! I found this recipe on Recipezaar.com

Amazing Gluten Free Pizza Crust

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp gluten free rapid rise yeast
  
• 2/3 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 2 Tbsp dry milk powder
  
• 2 teaspoons xantham gum
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin powder
• 1&1/2 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
• 2/3 cup warm water (105 degrees)
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cider vinager

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. In a medium mixing bowl blend yeast, flours, dry milk powder, xantham gum, salt, gelatin powder, sugar, and italian herb seasoning on a low speed with regular beaters.
3. Add warm water, olive oil, and cider vinager.
4. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes (if mixer bounces around bowl, the dough is too stiff so add water one teaspoon at a time until it does not resist beaters.) The dough will resemble soft bread dough.
5. Spray pan with gluten free cooking spray. Put mixture in the center of a 12-inch pizza pan or baking sheet.
6. Spray one side of a piece of saran wrap with the cooking spray and use that side to flatten and shape the dough in the pan.
7. Bake the crust for 10 minutes and remove from oven.
8. Cover pizza crust with sauce and desired toppings. Place back in oven for about another 20 minutes or until nicely browned on top.

Enjoy! :-D

Beef Stroganoff ~ Yum-Yum

Alicia (and her baby) were craving her dad's beef stroganoff, so she graciously adjusted the recipe to be gluten free to accommode the Celiac group at the Treece house. It was absolutely delicious! This beef stroganoff tastes great either topped on noodles, or just over a baked potato.

Beef Stroganoff (with either noodles or baked potatoes)

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1/2 of an onion
• 1 can Progresso Creamy Mushroom Soup
• 2 teaspoons of Argo Cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 6 oz. can of Jolly Green Giant Mushrooms
• 8 oz. of Daisy Sour Cream
• 1 bag of gluten free noodles (spiral, penne, etc.) or baked potatoes

Directions

1. Follow instructions on box for the noodles.
   
2. Brown beef and onion together with the butter. Drain and rinse.
3. Return to skillet, then add cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic, and mushrooms.
4. Heat slightly, then add cream of mushroom soup.
5. Heat on medium/low until it comes to a simmer.
6. Add sour cream, and heat to a simmer.
7. Pour over cooked noodles or baked potatoes.