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Dinner Gluten Free Recipes

Hamburger Salad with No Carb Buns

Hamburger Salad is a new take on classic meal

Hamburger Salad is one of those meals that without the bread has no carbs, but the bun is the second best part of the burger, am I right? Why have no carbs and your buns too? Week 2, of Carb Cycling and I have to say it is not going as bad as I had envisioned it before trying out this new way of eating.  It still requires the same amount of planning and prepping as my typical meal plan did. I am still eating lots of yummy food taking in 2300 calories of protein and produce.

Carb Cycling

I have just rearranged my meals to be lower in carbs or no carbs on certain days.  There is only one difference my high carb day is kind of like a “cheat day,” and I don’t believe in cheat days or partake in them. I think in the 80/20 rule and lots of grace. 80% of the time I eat proper portions and types of food and 20% of the time I indulge in a birthday cake, pizza, or a sweet treat that I want.

It’s all about balance when making a lifestyle changing, and when I hear diet, my rebellious nature starts making plans on how to avoid it.  When meal planning this week I thought what can I feed my family and not have to make a huge difference in what I am eating. Also, there has been a horrible lie spread around that healthy food has to be nasty. I am making it a point to prove that appalling myth false.

hamburger salad

Eating Healthy on a Budget HACK

Hamburger salad is a monthly staple and really yummy. It’s on our 30 day favorite meals list which allows my family to basically eat 30 different meals a month. I have managed to make a list of about 30 (actually 43 meals) that my family loves and only one person may complain if I set it on the table. I use this when planning out my meals week-to-week.  I have been meal planning for years because it keeps me sane, I don’t have to worry about what I am making for dinner which is half the battle.

Saves on groceries

It keeps my grocery bill low and on budget by planning out my meals I can utilize what I already have and just get what I need. I am on a mission when I hit the grocery store because it is one of my least favorite chores to do is grocery shop. I like to get in and get done.  It also keeps everyone on one page. I am not the best meal “prep-per” its something that I am working on.

Easy to make

Hamburger Salad is super easy like all my meals. The thing that gives it pizzazz is the super easy sauce. It taste like a classic burger on a bed of lettuce and its a fun healthy way to eat a classic.  I replaced your classic hamburger bun with a Cloud Bread Bun which has less than 1g of carbs making this an excellent meal for a Carb Cycle No Carb day and very filling.  What’s a classic meal with a twist that your family loves?

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Categories
Recipes

Turkey Sausage, Kale & Quinoa Soup

I love soup! I always have and as soon as I feel my first brisk wind, it gives me an excuse to make a pot of soup. I have four soups that I feel like I am the master (actually 5 but I don’t count Chicken Noodle). My favorite soup is probably Vegetable Minestrone and it is so easy! I also am a big fan of Cream of Mushroom and I make it from scratch with a mushroom mix every Thanksgiving.

My top 2 of my four masterpieces is my Butternut Squash Soup and my Turkey Sausage, Kale & Quinoa Soup those I always have a bowl worth in the freezer all winter long. I make them probably every other week. Well, it’s artic in Jersey and soup can be a healthy comfort food. You can make in the Crockpot, Instapot, or pot on the stove. This is a Crockpot recipe but follows the same.  Turkey Sausage, Kale & Quinoa Soup, its super easy, satisfying and healthy.

Another great thing about this is it’s gluten free which as I have blogged about before is a diet that my family is adopting. We;ve noticed improvements in seasonal allergies, skin breakouts and digestion and have pretty much adopted removing wheat from our diet.  It began when I discovered my own wheat allergy (not gluten) from a skin prick allergy test.  As I pursued a gluten free lifestyle I kind of transitioned my family. Now, my two of my girls and my husband will not turn down pizza or gluten when out in about but at home we eat gluten free. I use quinoa often to replace pasta and even for pizza crust!

 

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Also, this year I have a living “spice rack” which I love. All of my spices are doing pretty well except my basil which needed a grow light. It’s a great way to have fresh herbs on hand all winter long. Hope your family enjoys the soups as much as mine does!

What is your favorite quick and easy soup?

Categories
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

 

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