Category: Blog

We all have our favorite Chinese food and for some the owners may even know what you want the minute you walk in to their restaurant or the moment you call to place an order. For others, like myself who truly miss the thought of Chinese food, but can’t necessarily tolerate the added flavoring or the ingredients added to the food itself, my heart goes out to you.

As most of you are well aware by now, I too, am one of those people who cannot tolerate all the above. However, just because I may not be able to enjoy the same food as my husband, it does not mean that I will not occasionally make his ‘favorites’ for him to enjoy. I am not going to lie, although the aroma of the food I am making for him tantalizes my senses, I know the pain that will quickly ensue is not worth the moment of amazing smells period. I have just learned to modify foods I miss to make them tolerable for me and through these modifications I have made some pretty amazing meals if I do say so myself.  My food intolerances were one of the reasons I started my blog to share options with so many others. I wanted to give hope to people that you can still enjoy food, but you will just need to be more aware and vigilant as to how that food is prepared.

Now, this option is something I cannot eat, but my previous blog post on; gluten-free-shrimp-spring-rolls.html using rice wraps is my modified option for my food allergy, intolerance, sensitive friends. You can simply swap out the shrimp for chicken or beef or whatever you prefer.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Won-Ton Wraps (Phyllo Dough) /Rice Wraps
• About a pound of ground pork sausage
• 2-3 stalks of celery
• 3-4 regular sized carrots
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 3-4 green onions (use the entire onion)
• 1 bunch of Bean Sprouts (or use canned bean sprouts)
• 2-3 teaspoons of grated ginger
• 1 container of Oyster Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Olive oil or Sesame Oil

Directions:

1. In a wok or large sauce pan add either olive oil or sesame oil to the pan add chopped celery and carrots and sauté.
2. Add chopped garlic and mix.
3. Add ground pork sausage and cook thoroughly
4. Grate ginger and mix well
5. Add chopped green onions, bean sprouts, and oyster sauce
6. Once cooked and mixed take off the burner and set aside
7. Get Won-Ton wraps, a cutting board or plate, and a separate bowl of plain water
8. Place wrap on cutting board or plate in a diamond shaped to roll the wrap
9. Place a Tablespoon on mixture in the middle of the wrap, fold and wrap ends inward and roll until the inside mixture is safely secure. Use water in the bowl to seal the ends together.
10. **Also, on the won-ton wraps/Phyllo dough there are directions and pictures as to how to wrap them correctly.

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When it comes to summer I think of Italy, Basil, Sun-ripened Tomatoes, and Lemons!  I can’t help it…it’s in my blood!  With Summer unofficially coming to a close over the Labor Day weekend I wanted a last summer-y salad to share before September 22, which is the official first day of fall. 

I will say this: this salad is something you can LITERALLY eat all year long but, when you think of Caprese salads you usually think of warmer weather.

Tomatoes are in season right now and this is another option of getting your vegetables in your diet with a twist.  Instead of using the traditional Mozzarella du Buffalo cheese (mozzarella balls) I swapped the cheese for fresh, creamy avocado with chopped fresh basil and red onion to give the Caprese Salad an additional pop of color!

This super quick and very easy side can be used as a salad or an appetizer!  This is a healthy, easy and always delicious twist to your typical Caprese salad.

Ingredients:

• 2 Regular Tomatoes (adjust depending on occasion)
  
• 1/4 Red Onion
  
• 1 Avocado
  
• 1/4 c. Fresh Basil Leaves

**Optional**You can add lemon/olive herb oil dressing

Directions:

1. Slice Tomatoes, Avacado similar in bite-sizes
   
2. Chop Onion and Basil for garnish
   

Enjoy!

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What are you having for dinner tonight?  Looking for something easy and delicious?  I have the recipe just for you! 

I’m not sure how the weather has been for all of you, but around here the weather seems more chilly than usual for this time of year.  When the weather changes and the temperature slowly dips down to just plain cold outside there is nothing that warms the soul like a bowl of fresh, delicious, hearty, and easy soup to sip and simply enjoy. 

Making soup is easier than you think and soup is amazing to freeze and pull out later for a quick meal.  Which is one of the many reasons why I love soup!!!  Generally, when I make soup I usually make a bit more so that I can freeze it for a later use and more specifically for those brutally cold winter months when you don’t always feel like making something.  Soup is easy to dethaw, heat up and eat within 20-30 minutes.

What are lentils?  Why are they so healthy for you?

Lentils are a legume, along with other types of beans you probably consume on a regular basis.  These little power houses grow in pods about the size of an eraser on a pencil. Lentils can be black, red, yellow, green or brown in color and will retain their shape even after cooking. 

Lentils are high in fiber and protein, not to mention a whole host of other essential vitamins and minerals packed into these tiny little powerhouses, many people from vegan to non-vegetarians can add lentils to any dish giving their meals a boost of nutrition thanks to the mighty lentils versatility in cooking.

Lentils have been in cuisines for centuries and like the Garbanzo bean are a staple in many cultures.  Here is a list of only some of the amazing health benefits lentils provide:

• Reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease:
  • Lentils contain fiber and folate. Research suggests eating high-fiber foods may help decrease the risk for heart disease, while the added benefit of magnesium helps regulate blood circulation.

• Reduces the rate of digestion and sugar absorption:
  • Since lentils are high in fiber this helps slow the rate of digestion. This slower rate leads to a slower absorption of glucose, or sugar, thus helping to control or balance blood sugar levels.

• Can aid in weight loss:
  • Lentils are naturally low in calories, keeping you feeling fuller longer and the more fiber you have generally the more nutrient dense the food is which means you may not be consuming as much food due to the above factors.  When you have the feeling of satiety you generally do not eat as much thus resulting in less calories consumed.

Enjoy!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of dry lentils
• 3-4 carrots (regular not baby carrots)
• 2-3 stalks of celery
• 1 medium white or yellow onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 container of fresh mushrooms
• 1/2-3/4 c. grape sized tomatoes
• 4-6 cups of Vegetable stock or Beef Stock

Directions:

1. Add a 2-3 Tbsp. of olive oil to your soup pot on the stove.
2. Chop celery, carrots, and onions and add them to the pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Turn stove on med to low heat.
3. Dice up garlic and add the garlic so it’s on top of the other ingredients in the pot.  Note that adding your garlic last to sauté will help so it won’t burn.
4. Chop up tomatoes and mushrooms and add to the pot. Stir the mixture as you go so the mushrooms can be steaming.
5. After about a minute add your vegetable stock or beef stock and stir.
6. Turn burner down to medium and add your bag of lentils to the mixture.
7. Cook 20-30 minutes.
8. Enjoy!!!

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