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Mango Thai Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce

mango thai chicken salad

 

I used to be a plain salad, same salad kind of girl. I would get your standard mixed green or Ceasar Salad.  Then I began eating more protein and produce and before I found all that variety had to offer I got stuck in the same salad rut.  Funny enough my husband who is a same meal kind of guy. Like when I met him he would only eat “American” food defined by him as Hamburgers, Spaghetti (Technically not American) and Fried Chicken.  Anyways, he introduced me to adding fruit into my salad. He used to put strawberries, grapes, blackberries, apples and I thought “Eew, how gross” well you know the adage-Don’t knock it till you try it. Well I was pleasantly surprised. Now I am livening my salads up with different types of nuts, cheese, fruits, and dressings. I especially love homemade dressings I feel they have more flavor and can be fun and inspiring to make.  So, usually I make my own dressings.

Peanut Dressing

This weekend I was inspired by a salad I had picked up from Wawa. (Wawa is a NJ/East Coast convenient store chain that offers some made to order meals and express salads, etc.) We were busy, busy and the snacks I had brought were gone. We were still running errands and was starving.  I had my husband stop at Wawa and chose a not-great-for-you but better-than-a-fast-food-meal, salad.  It was pretty good but I knew I could do better and I did.  Got home, did some digging on Pinterest and found a good base for my Spicy Peanut Dressing. As with most recipes I find I reinvented it and made a much healthier option.  I wanted a dressing that was Sugar Free (of course) and I used Coconut Oil because it’s a healthier fat then most of the other dressing recipes I found.  I also kind of made up the salad as I went along because honestly anyone can throw a salad together. Grilled some chicken with my amazing 5-Spice Season and Ta-Da! This was one of those meals you kind of hum as you took each bite. Yes, that good! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did since I am a little bias.

Do you like fruit in your salad? What’s your favorite salad topping?

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:20]

Meal Time Monday

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Dinner Family Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten Free Chicken Parmesean

Gluten (2)

Gluten-Free made easy

When I first went gluten free I thought, “this is going to be a chore.” Things are not going to taste good and I am going to miss a lot of my favorite meals.  I proved myself so wrong over the last few months. Now, I didn’t go gluten free because that is the cool thing to do lately. I went gluten free because I honestly was tired of my stomach hating me after every meal.  I have a wheat allergy that I have known about since I was 16 but could have cared less. I like all things whole wheat and everything has it in it. It felt like a losing battle. The digestive pains, literal pains that I had including: bloating, lethargy, headaches,sinus issues, and post nasal drip one day just made me go to the doctor. Ruling out a few things like celiacs and adding a few things like lactose intolerant and after taking another allergy test. I was once again diagnosed with wheat allergy (I was hoping I would grow out of). My doctor said, “you can continue to complain about your stomach issues or you can stop eating the things that don’t agree with your digestive system. It’s up to you.” I hate it when people tell me what to do, especially when I want to do differently.

After Diagnosis

I went home and went shopping. Bought all kinds of gluten free nastiness, like seriously some of the things out there for gluten free I think is supply and demand. Because there is a demand they supply you with the tasteless, dry, nastiness. It really doesn’t have to be like that. You can eat gluten free and eat delicious food. If I couldn’t eat delicious food I don’t think I could live happily. Food is somethings I enjoy too much. It’s in my top pleasures like sometimes breathing and food are competing (just kidding-well not when my mouth is full). So, I had to come up with a solution.

First, half of that gluten free stuff is processed food which I was eliminating from my diet. I had to figure out how to eat clean and wheat free. I changed the flours I used from whole wheat and all purpose to oat, almond, coconut (not as much it’s kind of pricey) and brown rice. I use for certain textured things like cornbread-brown rice flour is great for cornbread perfect texture.   I also have to consider price. I make my own oat and brown rice flour and I use it mostly.  I buy it in bulk,gluten free and then I just grind it in the bullet for like 2-5 minutes and ta-da, oat and brown rice flour. So easy and so much cheaper than buying some well known companies.   Then I cook as normal or bake as normal only having to adjust things like baking soda, baking powder, sometimes moisture,etc. After some experimenting I have pretty much swapped wheat for other things and make gluten free yumminess.

Clarity

Now let me clarify I am not celiac or gluten intolerant but because of my wheat allergy it’s easier to go gluten free because gluten is a protein found in wheat and related grains. If it’s gluten free it’s wheat free and my digestion is free. Chicken Parmesan is a easy, before Bible Study meal or 30 minutes or less that I go to every few weeks in meal planning and a family favorite. I used to make myself separate meals but now I have gotten to the point either my family is used to it, really hungry or my food really does taste good. I often bring gluten free things to potlucks and never get complaints or get surprised reactions that it was gluten free. My brownies are still to die for without the gluten. I hope you test this recipe out and have the same positive reactions. What’s one of your family favorite meals?

Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan Tenders

Gluten Free Chicken Tender Prep finished chicken tenders

 

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:13]

 

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Dessert Gluten Free Recipes

Pecan Chai Date Bars

 

Pecan Date Bar

Today is National Pie Day and I have a great recipe for a yummy, healthier version of pecan pie.  Once you’ve had this you won’t miss that sweet confection. When I went gluten/wheat free a few months ago I felt like I was going to miss out on all the goodness that gluten provides.  I had tried a few store bought cookies and items and was very disappointed with the lack of moisture, weird after taste and all together lack of flavor.  Like everything now I had to go gluten/wheat free and start making things from scratch. If you have read previous “Mealtime Monday’s” you know that I am always experimenting. This time I wanted to use up the last of the Medjool dates that I had.  I recently started baking with Medjool dates and they are a great sweet alternative to refined white sugar.  My family is starting to really become a fan and the baby loves these as a treat now so I have to keep them hidden.

While scrolling through Pinterest I came across a Oat Date bar that of course had whole wheat flour and it was just Oats and Dates which seemed a little boring to me. So, after some adjustments I came up with this really yummy gluten free alternative.  There really moist, just enough sweetness and will have you wanting more.  I added Pecans because I thought it would be a welcomed flavor and came up with these magical bars.  I would say if there is someone with a nut allergy just omit the Pecans and you’re good to go. These bars are a great source for natural energy too and add in some dried fruit, chocolate chips and give yourself even more variety. One tip, store these in a Air Tight Container and keep cool. The coconut oil will make these really soft if left out too long.

I am so glad that there are so many alternative flours you can use now other than whole wheat.  I know going from what you are used to and changing up your diet can be really stressful and hard but here I am a few months later and I am not missing my wheat.  Sometimes it’s hard to eat out but for the most part I find it a pretty easy transition.  If you’re making the switch to gluten free hang in there you will get used to it soon! If you’ve been living this life not as a fad diet but as an actual health issue for many years and just need another tasty to add to your repertoire, well here you go! Either way, I hope you enjoy!

What’ s your favorite pie?

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:21]

 

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Dessert Gluten Free

ProYo Banana Pudding Yogurt Cakes

I am one who firmly believes that other than your birthday it should only be an adults right to have cake for breakfast. Unless, they are frozen yogurt cakes. Frozen yogurt cakes are yummy single serve frozen yogurts that you can load with toppings, cookies, or whatever on the bottom and and add yogurt for the “cake” flip it over and it’s a Upside Down Frozen Yogurt Treat!  It’s hard to find a good frozen yogurt like everything something that was supposed to be a healthier alternative can now be considered as sugary over indulgence. I’ve stumbled upon a Yummy Protein Frozen Yogurt that will meat your ice cream craving.

ProYo is a new yummy treat that my family cannot get enough! Before ProYo came to my house they would go through quart after quart of ice cream.  I say they because I couldn’t eat it with my dairy sensitivities BUT then there came ProYo and now I can indulge too.  When I say indulge it really isn’t a guilty pleasure because it’s actually pretty nutrient dense for a frozen treat; containing cultured probiotics, 15 g of Carbs, 20g of Protein and 2 g of fat! They are junk free treats which is very important to me Soy Free, Gluten Free, GMO free, Yep! These bad boys totally fit into my macros seamlessly.  They also have are diabetic friendly testing at a glycemic level of 27 and taste like creamy homemade ice cream. They are so good. I have had protein frozen yogurt that has that weird protein taste and not with these. You wouldn’t even know there was protein in them.

I like to try new things so I saw someone make a “yogurt cake” on IG and I of course went to waste time on Pinterest.  After many variations and sips of water to ward off the craving I decided to give it a try with my ProYo for a  different dessert! THEN I had a brilliant idea to try these yummy raw cookies that I make from my favorite Sweets in the Raw by Laura Marquis. It’s a no sugar added, sugar free, raw sweets cookbook of really easy delicious recipes with affordable ingredients.  So, I made the Chocolate Chip Cookies and the Vanilla Bean Macaroons to place on the bottom and they turned out amazing. The Banana takes like Banana Pudding which is a favorite treat of mine and also the recipe. You can have this for Breakfast, Snack or dessert and you are going to be getting the Protein, Fiber, Pre and Probiotics that your tummy needs to start or end your day.  ProYo just in the tube is great for post workout snack.  If you want to find ProYo at your local grocers check it out here and let me know what you think?

This year I have made it a goal to show people that you can live, indulge and enjoy on healthy food that taste good and ProYo got all those and then some covered. We want to have to a try too so we are giving away now- January 21, 2016 some ProYo swag. Just enter to win here:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:40]

 

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Recipes

Super Easy Gluten Free Tomato Soup

Meal Time Monday [Autosaved]

Easy Tomato Soup

Did you get to experience the “Blizzard of 2016”? I am in New Jersey so we finally got some snow and social media had a frenzy. The meme’s, jokes, complaints, rejoicing, and pictures. And yes, I took part of it all. I had prepared for this storm way beforehand.  Bought my girls snow pants, snow boots, warm gloves and was all set as of October, but no snow. When it came time for this snow storm, I was excited to get use out of my investment.  Bundled the girls up and set out to play in the snow. The only one I hadn’t prepared for was myself. I had no snow pants, no snow boots, a hat and my husbands warm gloves-mental note: get me some snow boots. My girls set out for a great adventure we were to build a snow hill complete with a tunnel in our driveway. I love my neighborhood because the kids are all the same age and play together, so with an army of kids and a few of their crazy parents we designated my driveway to hold the snow day play spot.

All hands on deck we started shoveling and piling snow. I was gun hoe for a good 45 minutes until my lack of proper snow gear began to get the best of me. My hands, heads, legs and arms were good but my toes-“Oh my toes.” If you played out in the snow without the proper snow gear you know exactly what I am talking about. That feeling that your toes might just turn black at any moment and break off like icicles, which ended my contribution to the snow “mountain,” I tapped out and went inside.

When I got inside and painfully thawed out, the nostalgia of childhood set in and I wanted a childhood favorite “Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich.” Nothing, says snow day than that combination. I had another problem, no bread (I went to the store and missed out on the bread rush) and no canned soup. I had banned canned goods from my house months before. So, off to Pinterest I went to find a Easy Tomato Soup recipe. I made some adjustments to accommodate my newly discovered wheat allergy and made a grown-up rendition of my childhood fave.  Tomato Tumeric Soup with Cloud Bread Grilled Cheese.

I have been on a Cardamom and Turmeric kick lately. Anything that I can find to put in it I will. Turmeric has so many health benefits and has a very mild taste so its easy to slip into any recipe.  I found 10 Benefits on the authority of Nutrition that made me want to add this little spice to everything. By-the-way the snow “mountain” ended up being pretty cool or “epic” as my soon to be 8 year old said. It was definitely a memorable snow storm in my house that my girls will remember for years to come.

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:8]

 

Tomato Soup

 

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