Lemon curd is a delicious addition to tarts (see here for crust recipe and meringue recipe here, cookies, bars (see lemon raspberry bars recipe here), cakes, pancakes, crepes … or just simply, and liberally, spread on toast with a cup of tea (if your lucky, lying in bed with your significant other eating the lemon curd on toast, or what have you, without any kids screaming and jumping on the bed).
Blood Orange and Fennel Salad
This may be exactly what one needs after indulging on Super Bowl Sunday. And that one is me. If you over-indulged like I did, this one’s for you – not exactly a detox salad, but close.
Even me, who is not big on football, enjoys watching the game (what a close game it was!) so long as there is plenty of guacamole, chips, and pretzels … food I brought over to our friend’s house (who happens to have a huge TV, perfect for watching a bunch of guys tackle each other, don’t you think?) just in case there may not be anything my family can eat. So, to prevent any awkwardness I usually bring gluten/dairy/soy free food everyone can enjoy … the funny thing is nobody notices it’s gf/df/sf most of the time, they just eat. “Mangia, mangia!”
Chinese Chicken Salad
I adapted this Chinese Chicken Salad for dinner last night. I had the “original” (minus the noodles) while out with a friend at this popular pizza chain restaurant last week. As I’m eating, I thought: “Why not make this salad for dinner? … something light after all the sweets we have been eating since Thanksgiving”. Not that that’s all I have been feeding my brood, but it kinda feels that way. A light, easy dinner is just what we needed.
Sweet Potato Kimchi Hash for brunch…
Easy Beef Stew {gluten free, dairy free, soy free, paleo}
With the beginning of the cool season I like to make stew – making use of those “what do I make with this?” cuts in my freezer. What is fall with a comforting stew?
For my beef stew recipe, I chose three cuts – eye of round, chuck, and shank cross-cut, all moderately priced cuts that go well in stews. I braise the meat after coated in coconut flour (recipe is paleo), then it all simmers in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. What you get from these very chewy cuts is the most tender meat that pulls apart without a knife. Did I mention how easy this stew recipe is? Or how you can freeze half of it? Oh yes. I know you have a lot to do. And Halloween is coming up…
Cabbage Salad with Peanut Chili Maple Dressing
My favorite thing to order at Real Food Daily, a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, is the yin yang salad. We are not vegan, but we go to vegan restaurants because we know there won’t be any issue with dairy accidentally getting into my children’s food. Living allergen-free and going out to eat don’t always work out well, so places like this are safer for us to go to. Most vegan restaurants have gluten free options. I know it can be confusing sometimes when I say dairy free and then post a chicken recipe. With some of my meatless recipes being egg-free I can share recipes with my vegan friends 🙂
Butternut Squash
As busy as life is, I still make time to cook – well I have to with the twins allergies. Sometimes I wish I could just get takeout but then I think what a blessing it is that my whole family eats wholesome foods and we are so much healthier because of it. It just takes a little more organization on my part, it’s a good thing I am a planner. Because I don’t really have that simple luxury of picking up something for dinner I make extra of a dish then freeze half of it. This is one of my “freezes well” recipes, which also can be made a few days in advance and still taste like you just prepared it. It’s a simple yet delicious recipe featuring the sweet flavor of butternut squash. I LOVE squash, all squashes.
Lamb with butternut squash and asparagus for dinner (gluten free, dairy free)
The Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, begins at sundown tomorrow night. A time when those who observe the holiday will fast until sundown the following night. Though we are not orthodox we still fast. I usually prepare foods that are on the sweeter side and foods that are not salty or acidic like deli style or marinated foods for the meal before the fast. This year I made a boneless leg of lamb with pan roasted butternut squash with raisins and oven-roasted asparagus that makes a delicious dinner anytime. I served it along with chicken soup with dumplings as the hot dishes.
Olive Chickpea Salad
Here is an olive chickpea salad that I just kind of throw together with whatever I have in the pantry. A huge hit around here with the Mediterranean flavors from the chickpeas and olives. We love simple salads. I don’t prepare many savory dishes based on a recipe, it’s more like whatever is in season or what I have in the fridge or pantry. The nice thing about living in California is that we have farmer’s markets every week with a wide selection of fresh seasonal produce. I use canned beans just because it’s so much easier. I envy those with the time to soak beans. This salad is satisfying on it’s own or as a side to anything really. Also really yummy in the summer as an oven-free meal. Enjoy!
Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons
These little bite size coconut macaroons hit just the right spot when you want something sweet without a load of calories. And they are so simple to make, and up to 3 days in advance before serving. A simple, flexible macaroon recipe that will please everyone. I dip the bottom in dark chocolate because I love the flavor combination of coconut and chocolate, but that is completely optional, the lighter version is certainly without. These refrigerate and freeze well. Enjoy!