Category: Recipes

Vegan Family Classics with Barilla Chickpea Pasta

Post author By De
Post date January 30, 2019
19 Comments on Vegan Family Classics with Barilla Chickpea Pasta

Reminiscing over a bowl of Pasta

As my daughters’ approaches fifteen I have been reminiscing. When looking back, we always associate memories with food. There are two meals that I think I will forever treasure. Every time I make these meals. It takes me back to a time before three kids. When I was a new mom to this new little girl and full of hope, fear, and love. It’s funny how vividly you remember your first. I can honestly say that I may not recall as detailed with my other two daughters. I guess you always remember your first time.

Meals that come with Memories

I remember coming home from the hospital eager to introduce our new baby girl to her nursery. As I walked in the door. My mother was in the kitchen making one of my childhood favorite meals. Beef Stroganoff wafting in my nose as I began the daunting new life with this new child. I cannot explain the gratitude to coming home to that meal. I no longer associate it with childhood memories of my siblings, and I seated around the table for that yummy pasta dinner. Now its a fond memory of the beginning of motherhood.

Vegan “Beef” Stroganoff

My “Beef” Stroganoff is nothing like my mom’s. It’s now a dairy-free & meat free adaptation of my childhood favorite. I also have found out that I am allergic to wheat within the last three years. So, other than the name, Everything in my “Beef” Stroganoff recipe is different.

Some may say it’s a healthier version, but I don’t skimp out on the taste. Gluten Free pasta has come a long way. My family has always used Barilla Pasta. It’s one of th4 best pastas cooking to al dente perfect in 7-9 minutes and it tastes good every time.

I find with other gluten-free pasta their either have too much rice making them mushy or overcooked. They also may have too much corn making leftovers a gritty mess. Barilla gluten free pasta has always been my favorite until I found their Barilla Chickpea Pasta .

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Tasty Gluten Free Pasta

Then I came across a new find! Have you heard of Barilla Chick Pea Pasta? I was skeptical at first until I tried the Barilla Chickpea Gluten free pasta! It’s perfect! Not mushy and hello it is packed with protein. Adding extra protein boost and fiber to my diet was a second benefit. I usually get Barilla Gluten Free pasta and saw the new box in the aisle. Fiber and plant-based protein is an excellent addition to your meal. I love that there is one ingredient nothing is enriched; It’s merely chickpea flour.

“Sausage” Pesto Pasta

Another dish that reminds me of my oldest daughter is Sausage Pesto Pasta. It’s an effortless very delicious meal that I found years ago. I love to make it for New Mom’s families because it’s easy and tastes like love. At least that’s what I have been told. Anytime I ask my family, “What do you want for dinner?” Kyhia always requests Sausage Pesto Pasta, and it’s never rejected by other family members. I can safely say it’s one of her favorites. This dish is easily switched from dairy-free to dairy with a swap of two ingredients.

“Sausage” Pesto Pasta Recipe

10 oz. Gosh! Vegan Sausage
8 oz. Container Kite Hill Almond Cream Cheese
8 oz Package Earth Grown Mozzarella Shreds
5 oz. bag of Spinach
1 jar Barilla Pesto
2 cloves garlic.minced
1/2 onion, grated
Salt & Pepper To taste
8oz. Barilla Chick Pea Pasta

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Mix Cream Cheese, Spinach, Barilla pesto,garlic and onion
Add Warm Barilla Chick Pea Pasta and Mix.
Add Don Lee Farms Sausage and Mozzarella Shreds
Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until shreds are melted.
Enjoy the deliciousness.

Food Sensitivities and Allergies

As Kyhia is getting older, we realize that like her Mama she has food sensitivities. It’s nice to have a Gluten Free, Lactose-Free Pasta to make her favorite meal. There are so many dairy substitutes that will never taste like dairy products but are similar enough alternative.

According to the American Nutrition Association,” 70,000,000 people every day suffer from some form of digestive issues.” Growing up I never had food allergies. It wasn’t until I was in my teens I had mild reactions to certain foods when tested like wheat and peas.

After I had my second daughter things changed. I began having stomach aches & migraine headaches almost immediately after I ate. It would also cause extreme gas and bloating. When it came to the point where I didn’t want to eat because it was so painful. I decided to go to the Doctor to see what was wrong.

I had the blood test done testing for Celiacs Sprux, Bacterium and H.pylori. All came back negative, but that didn’t make stomach pains go away. We did an elimination diet eliminating dairy first which relieved some of the pain, but I still would continuously have an itchy throat, always clearing my throat, migraines, running or clogged nose. Never associating it with the things I was eating. I also was trying to eat healthily and was eating whole wheat.

After continued issues I finally got an allergy test. Through testing I discovered that my healthy choices were causing me what seemed like indoor/outdoor allergy symptoms and digestive issues. My allergy test concluded that I was allergic to certain strains of pollen that can be found in wheat, legumes, and citrus fruits like pineapple. Little did I know that the daily allergy suffering that I thought was from outdoor/indoor pollen were actually from wheat found in the food, skincare, and other products.

Alternatives to Family Classics

Much like myself, my daughter is sensitive to dairy but has no food allergies but a few sensitivities. We still eat gluten-free in my home because it’s easier than making two meals and cross contamination. Often I make a dairy-free alternative when it comes to dinner. Barilla pasta has always been a family favorite and has been able to transition with my family and as we discover options to your traditional pasta like Barilla ChickPea Pasta. Things have changed on the dinner plate, but when you have the right ingredients, the food will taste good no matter if it is gluten or not.

My Kyhia will be leaving me soon, and I know this won’t be in the dinner rotation as often. I will savor these yummy meal time request. You have to try the Sausage Pesto Pasta. Tell me what you think? You’re welcome in advance.

Do you have a meal that brings back memories?

My blog is in partnership with Barilla Pasta through Linqia. I make a commission off the affiliates links, but that does not affect my opinion. I chose these brands because I believe in the product and what they stand for. My Full Disclosure Policy

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Tags Chickpea pasta, gluten free, lentil pasta, non gmo, plant based protein

Mealtime Monday Product Review Product Reviews Recipes

Say ‘Yes’ to Healthy Tricks and Treats with PlateJoy

Post author By De
Post date October 9, 2018
No Comments on Say ‘Yes’ to Healthy Tricks and Treats with PlateJoy

October is such a fun month. It truly starts feeling like fall, spooky decorations come out, haunted houses go up, kids in cute costumes, and just all the Halloween fun in general.

However, with all the great things that come with Halloween, there’s also the processed candy and temptation to indulge that sweet tooth with unhealthy sweets. Instead, say ‘YES’ to healthy tricks and treats this year with good habits and a balanced diet. Sugar can cause havoc on the body; causing fatigue, weight gain, and headaches. Too much sugar can also increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you keep an eye on your sugar intake. Not to say that you shouldn’t treat yourself with low-sugar snacks to satisfy those cravings. It’s all about balance.

While it’s easy to cut out obvious sugar-packed treats and other foods, it’ good to be aware of hidden sugars in other everyday foods. For a better idea, check out the infographic below about how hidden sugars can add up fast!

With all that said, if you need help creating these healthy eating habits and understanding better choices without breaking the bank and stress – PlateJoy can help! The ultimate meal subscription plan, PlateJoy offers flexibility and tailored meal plans for your lifestyle. With each plan, you will receive recipes and grocery lists that give you more control over your custom plan. Also, PlateJoy cares about the environment and doesn’t pack boxes with dry ice and plastic containers like other meal subscriptions. They go beyond the food and stay green with special features like their Digital Pantry to prevent food waste.

Try out PlateJoy and learn more about their plans like Clean Eating or Paleo. With their wide range of options, finding the right plan for you should be super easy. Speaking of easy, PlateJoy‘s partnership with InstaCart takes things to the next level.

InstaCart is a grocery delivery service that offers same-day delivery in over 200 cities. They have thousands of products you already love at stores you already shop at. No need to find time to go to the store and figuring out what you need, PlateJoy and InstaCart have everything covered for you. Plus, you get $20 OFF your first Instacart order + FREE delivery when you sign up with PlateJoy. Get an extra $10 off your PlateJoy Sign-up with promo code “FAITH10”

So, let PlateJoy help you start making easy and healthy habits and put your focus on your amazing Halloween costume this year instead!

Simply take their personalized quiz to start your FREE Trial and Get Started Today!

Want to learn more of that PlateJoy has to offer? Find out more at PlateJoy.com.

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Breakfast Recipes

Protein Pancakes

This is a sponsored post. I received this product in exchange for a review there are also affiliate links that I make a commission. I make a commission off the links in this post and am a Nuzest USA Ambassador. I’d tell you if I didn’t like it and why. My Full Disclosure Policy

Pancakes, Bacon, and Eggs are like our Sunday morning go-to. I usually make a double batch on the weekend and freeze them for the lil diva’s breakfast during the week. I place each one in between parchment paper, so they are easy to pull out and toast just like your convenient frozen pancakes already made in the store. It allows me time in the morning to provide them with a homemade breakfast in minutes.

I have never really liked pancakes, but my daughters do. After flipping pancake after pancake and not being able to indulge in anything with wheat, guess what I want, crave, obsess? Yes, pancakes. You always want what you can’t have well not anymore. These pancakes are so easy to make, delicious and don’t add extra time and a whole lot of ingredients to your regular breakfast routine. I even had the kid and husband approved, and they gave it a two thumbs up. Since finding out about my wheat allergy, I have been making a conscious effort to eliminate wheat in my diet. I just feel so much better and can get the full benefit of living a healthy lifestyle.

These pancakes are a great alternative to your traditional pancakes. Its a very simple easy recipe to follow and most people have the ingredients. I prefer to use plant-based protein powder, I use Nuzest Vanilla because I don’t do well with Whey because of my lactose intolerant and prefer not to have soy products. Nuzest Protein is more does not have lots of the artificial junk that can be found in most protein powders. Just as a personal preference. Like I said, these pancakes taste like the real deal. You can top them with your favorite fruit, nuts and I used Lakanto Maple Pancake Syrup, which is Sugar-Free, Calorie Free and tasted pretty decent its junk free made of Monk Fruit Sweetener. I have had sugar free pancake syrup before, and this is the best one yet.

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Tags breakfast, mealtime monday, pancakes, protein pancakes, protein powder, sugar free

Dessert Fitness and Health Gluten Free Recipes

Lemon Protein Mug Cake

If you love Lemons you will love this Lemon Protein Mug Cake! I love lemon! I have so many Lemon Recipes on my blog it has to be kind of apparent. For the last three years, I have asked for a Meyer’s Lemon Tree for my Birthday to no avail maybe this will be the year I get it-hint hint fam! But even if I don’t fresh lemons will always be in my kitchen available to make a yummy treat and so many other benefits!

Lemon water is a popular fitness trend but do you know why?

Benefits of Lemons you may not have heard

There are lots of benefits to lemons but here are a few that people don’t often mention:

1.Great for Digestion-

That’s why the Lemon Water Trend began in America we are always looking for a solution to our digestive issues. According to Fox News Health, About 74% of Americans experience daily Gastrointestinal Discomfort. Some people are now looking for natural remedies and adding lemon- even if it’s in the form of Lemon Water to your diet can help aid your digestion. Lemons are an excellent source of soluble fiber which especially in the form of pectin which is a soluble fiber that helps slow down the digestion of sugar and starches meanwhile reducing your blood sugar levels. You need to ingest a lot of lemon pulp and skin to get the fiber benefits lemons to offer. That is why most people use juiced lemon to help increase their lemon pulp intake. Although, that is the theory most people don’t juice the required amount of lemons to help improve gut health if they did they would help with their digestion.

2. Great Anemia protection-

Any fruit that contains Vitamin C and Citric Acid is a great addition to someone who is trying to absorb iron that occurs in plant foods. Helping people absorb more iron from their foods can be helpful for those who are Iron deficient. Veggies rich in Iron like Kale, Greens, Broccoli coupled with lemons can be a powerhouse in getting helping with iron absorption from plants instead of animal sources of iron.

Adding more lemon to your diet will help you get the absorption from plant sources that is harder for us to absorb than animal sources of iron. Helping add protection against anemia.

3. Great to prevent kidney stones-

According to News Medical Life Science, “They noted that there was an over four times rise of kidney stones among women and the incidence had doubled among men over these three decades.” Mostly because of the overprocessed American diet and our body and the lack of water and overconsumption of oxalates in our foods.

Lemons are a great natural remedy for chronic kidney stones. Studies have concluded that the high levels of citric acid found in lemons help to increase urine volume and pH which makes it less likely for kidney stones to form. Consuming a minimum of half a cup of lemon juice daily can have these positive preventative effects on kidney stones.

4. Great for weight loss

This is probably the most common reason I found people drinking lemon water because they believe it helps them lose weight. It does but not to the extent that you think. Studies have revealed Lemons have polyphenols (which I have written about before) that helps you lose weight but a healthy diet and exercise is necessary to achieve quantifiable results.

5. Great for your teeth

Studies have shown, The chemical properties of lemon are great for tooth pain, cleaning and cleaning your mouth naturally. Seek a toothpaste with lemon in it or add a drop to your mouthwash routine. It’s great to eliminate the bacteria in your mouth and neutralizes bad breath.

6. Great for Internal Bleeding

This is something that really surprised me in my research. Lemons contain an antiseptic and coagulant effects that have helped stop internal bleeding. Some people use it as a remedy for things like nosebleeds because of the coagulant effect. Put some lemon juice on a cotton ball and apply to a nosebleed and watch it magically stop.

7. Soothes Respiratory Disorders

Lemons are a rich source of Vitamin C which makes them great to combat respiratory issues and breathing problems. Drinking lemon juice in water, diffusing Lemon essential oils can help assist with breathing and respiratory disorders.

Not only does lemon have all these and so many more benefits but they taste great too! Give this 90-second mug cake a try next time you are looking for a delicious lemon treat.

Were there any facts that surprised you about lemons?

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Tags eggless lemon cake in microwave, gluten free baking, gluten free mug cake, grain free cake, lemon, lemon cake, lemon curd mug cake, lemon mug cake keto, lemon mug cake no egg, lemon mug cake with lemon extract, meyer lemon mug cake, mug cake, nuzest baking, nuzest protein powder, plant based protein, protein baking, protein powder

Recipes

2 Minute Avocado Mug Cake

This is a sponsored post. I received this product in exchange for a review there are also affiliate links that I make a commission. Although I have received this product from Lakanto it does not affect my opinion. I’d tell you if I didn’t like it and why. My Full Disclosure Policy

Super Easy Mug Cake

It takes you longer to gather all of the ingredients than it does to make the cake. This is something I found watching the PopSugar Channel made some adaptations because I didn’t have the ingredients and I wanted to try it with Nuzest Protein Powder that I love to bake and my tweaks were a success. I like this because unlike most mug cakes that can be kind of springy or dense this one is creamy and more cake like because of the avocado. The original recipe called for limes and I used lemons because I prefer them over limes. I also swapped out the sugar for a healthier option.

The Best Sugar Replacement

Monk Fruit Sweetener from which I met while I was at IdeaWorld and I have been obsessed with their sweeteners ever since. If you have gone through my Sugar Detox and Devotion Program, then you know that I try to avoid sugar in cooking, baking, and eating. Until now I have used date paste mostly as my sweetener, but sometimes you need powdery sugar like substance especially for cookies. I also love that Sweetener has two ingredients, and you know that I am an ingredient snob, but the benefits of Monk Fruit Sweetener are also a great reason to replace your sugar substitutes.

Why is Monk Fruit Sweetener?

Monk Fruit is known as the immortal fruit in traditional eastern herbalism it is used to increase chi and well being. It is now becoming more popular because it is an alternative sweetener that “is natural, contains zero calories and is 100–250 times sweeter than sugar. It is also thought to have antioxidant properties;” according to Healthline. Monk Fruit is a small melon like the fruit they are grown in Southeast Asia. It has natural fructose and glucose which makes things sweet but the reason that monk fruit is 200 times sweeter than sugar is mogroside. Mogroside is incredibly sweet but has a zero to low glycemic index it also has:

our bodies metabolize it as an herb,
anti-oxidants effects,
anti-inflammatory properties,
anti-cancer properties,
anti-diabetic properties,

There is the unknown fact of how much you need to consume to get these amazing benefits overall Monk Fruit Sweetener is considered a safe sugar alternative. I like it because it doesn’t have that nasty aftertaste of stevia or other sweeteners. It has no aftertaste at all. One thing I did have to get used to is how sweet it is I found it very very sweet and usually add half the amount of sugar required. Another thing you will find with Monk Fruit Sweetener is that they are packaged with Erythritol (a sugar alcohol) or inulin to cut down on the sweetness. Brought it home to the family and it has replaced all of our sweeteners I’m glad I found this before the Holiday Season and think I am going to do a few other experiments. They have a Golden that is similar to brown, drops, powdered so many awesome options so that you don’t have to worry about your baking needs. If you’re out of Protein Powder or want to try here is a coupon from me!