Mint and Vegetable Chia Pasta

I am always on the hunt for new recipes and new products that will help me lead a healthy and active lifestyle. I believe that I can stay healthier through the foods I eat and the exercise I am able to get.

 

Try Seeds of Wellness Chia Pasta

I was introduced to chia seeds years ago and have used them in recipes for years. Recently I learned about Seeds of Wellness and Chia Pasta. I enjoy chia pasta! I started by swapping 1/2 of the pasta I prepared with Chia Pasta and have progressed to preparing pasta dishes that are entirely Chia Pasta. 

 

The images shown in this post depict a 1/2 Chia Pasta to 1/2 another brand of gluten free pasta. 

Why Choose Chia Pasta

Chia is an ancient grain that provides antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Chia also contains Omega-3 fatty acids which are not plentiful in many people's daily diets. 

 

Mint and Vegetable Chia Pasta

Ingredients (serves 2)

• Olive Ol or Chia Oil (just enough so nothing sticks to the pan)
• 2 large cloves of garlic (crushed and diced)
• 1/4 cup of onion diced
• 2 cups frozen peas 1/4 cup vegetable broth 
• 1/2 cup diced zucchini
  
• 1 tsp ground pepper
  
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup mint leaves diced 
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Vegan alternative
• 1 cup dry pasta (gluten free pasta or pasta of your choice)
• 1 cup Seeds of Wellness Chia Pasta

NOTE: I like to keep "shape" of pasta similar for visual continuity

 

Instructions:

• Sautee onion and garlic in a pan until translucent
• Add peas
• Once peas begin to soften add 1/2 of the mint and broth
• While the peas are cooking until the water is reduced, boil water for the pasta
• When the water is almost gone, add the pasta with 95% of the water drained
• Stir the pasta into the peas and reduce the liquid
• Add the cheese, pepper, and the rest of the mint. Stir to combine
• Serve ... add a wedge of gluten free bread if you wish. Sprinkle Chia Oil as a finishing touch if you wish.
  

 

Pasta with Red Wine Sauce

I am trying to use up ingredients in the house and try new recipes while the stay at home order is in place. Since all of the groceries that I normally purchase are not available, I am making the best with what I have.

Today I made a pasta sauce with some left over red wine. The last time we had someone over for dinner. the bottle was opened. That was a while ago. Today I turned the leftover wine into a sauce ... one that colored the meal red too!

Sauce Ingredients (Pasta for 2):

2 cups red wine
6 cloves of garlic
olive oil
1/2 TBSP oregano  (sub basil of you wish)
1 TBSP red pepper flakes

Pasta Ingredients:

1/2 cup diced sweet onion
1 zucchini diced into small pieces
1 yellow squash diced into small pieces
olive oil
2 cups (dry) gluten free pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (or vegan alternative)

Sauce Instructions (can be made ahead of time ... takes about 30 minutes):

Dice the garlic and sautee in a pot with olive oil (just enough so nothing sticks/burns)
Add the red pepper flakes, wine, and oregano and bring to a boil
Reduce heat and reduce in 1/2

Pasta Instructions:

• Dice the onion and veggies and add to a pan with olive oil (just enough)  
• Sautee until onions are translucent
• While the vegetables are cooking boil water and prepare the pasta ... slightly el dente
• Drain 95% of the water from the pasta
• Add the cooked pasta to the vegetables, add the reduced sauce, and cook until the liquid is almost completely absorbed
• Serve with Parmesan cheese or vegan alternative

 

Blueberry Crumble Muffins

Blueberry Crumble Muffins

Muffins with morning sun coming in through the blinds. 

What a sight to wake up to on a weekend morning!

The  blank canvas I started with today was Mom's Place Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins w/ Crumble Topping. I love customizing a packaged product to create something unique. The muffins themselves without the changes taste great, just like homemade. The muffins with the modifications add a kick of flavor.

I modified the package directions and added the following to the mix:

• 1/3 cup oil
• 2 flax eggs
• 1 cup plain Greek Yogurt *See NOTE
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup ground flax seeds
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup diced fresh ginger 

NOTE: to make vegan ... soak 1 cup of cashews in water overnight and blend

The taste and texture calls you back for more!

I followed the package directions for the following:

• I added 2 melted tbsp unsalted butter to the crumble mixture NOTE: add coconut butter to make vegan. Next time I will add 1/2 the crumble as it is a sweeter topping than I normally use. I will also add 1/4 cup of oats. I will save the other 1/2 for another batch at a later time.
• I used large muffin tins and filled them 1/2 full of the muffin batter and topped them with the crumble mixture. 
• I sprayed the muffin tin rather than use a liner as the packaged suggested. Next time, I will use a liner for ease in clean up and storage.  

Granola Simple and Sweet

I love making homemade granola using my GRANOLA MADE SIMPLE RECIPE/FORMULA. Today I made a sweeter variation than I usually do. I omitted the dried fruit and added mini chocolate chips.

Granola Formula

Oats + Ancient Grains + Seeds + Flavor + Oil + Honey + OPTIONS

Sweet Start Variation

• 4 cups gluten free oats  
• 1 cup seeds ... pepitas + sunflower seeds
• 2 TBSP almond flavoring  
• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup honey (use agave to make vegan)
• 3/4 cup  Enjoy Life Foods Mini Chips in my recipe for a sweet treat
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 cup ground flax seeds

Each batch of granola I make just a bit different ... after all, variety is the spice of life!

Cauliflower Soup

On my first trip to Europe I was served soup to start each lunch or dinner. The weather was cold and the warm broth was not only tasty but also comforting. Since that experience I have started to make sure to have soup on hand when the weather turns chilly. Soup is a satisfying comfort food that can be a main dish, side dish, or an appetizer depending on the recipe and your level of hunger.

Cauliflower soup is easy to make

STEP ONE

To make a pot of cauliflower soup all you need to add the following ingredients to a soup pot:

• 2 cups water
• 1 stalk celery- diced
• 1 large onion - diced
• 1 medium head cauliflower - diced

Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Once the water begins to boil, reduce heat to medium and continue to cook for 10 minutes.

NOTE: I let my soup cool enough to blend in my VITAMIX. (I have found that if I add it right away the VITAMIX stalls.) An immersion blender can be used right away if time is of the essence. 

STEP TWO

Gather the following ingredients:

• 2 TBSP flour - I use gluten free flour (Bob's Red Mill 1-1)
• 2 TBSP butter or vegan alternative
• 1 cup broth - I use low sodium vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup milk of choice - I use almond milk

Remove the ingredients from the pot and blend in VitaMix.
Melt the butter in the pot then add the flour and mix until thickened.
Add the broth and stir until combined/flour dissolves and rolling bubbles begin to form.
Add soup mixture to rue and stir to combine.
Add milk and stir

Serve ... garnish with salt, pepper, nutmeg to taste
Options: add seeds or bread crumbs ( I use gluten free) to the top for additional texture 

Cauliflower soup does not take much time

You can complete the dish in less than 30 minutes ...  or more ...  if you wait to let the mixture cool. 

This recipe is versatile

I use this recipe for Broccoli Soup too!

No Waste

It is important to make the soup without WASTE. If your cauliflower head has green leaves still attached, remove the leaves and use them in another dish like a stir fry.

Granola Made Simple

I love making granola so I can control the sugar in my diet. When I first needed to eat a gluten free diet, I had a difficult time finding cereal that was not loaded with sugars. (The options are much better now). I got in the habit of making my own cereal and have not looked back!

Making homemade granola does not take a long time and will cost you less than the packaged granola in the stores. I purchase my supplies when they are on sale and stock up (not too much as I do not have much storage) to keep the cost down. Many of the items I get in bins in the store which helps reduce packaging waste.

The granola is cooked for 20-30 minutes depending on the temperature of your oven and the texture you prefer. Once the granola is cool, you can store it in an airtight container for a month.

Time Savers:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 when you start assembling your granola
2. Line a cookie sheet with non stick aluminum foil ... the granola slides off and clean up is minimal (just the bowl you used for assembling the granola)

Granola Formula

Oats + Ancient Grains + Seeds + Flavor + Oil + Honey + OPTIONS

I usually use this ratio:

• 3 cups Gluten Free Oats
• 1 cup ancient grains (quinoa or millet)
• 1 cup of seeds (sunflower, pepitas, hemp, flax)
• 1-2 TBSP flavor ...vanilla, almond, maple, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or coconut (you decide the intensity)
• 3/4 cup oil (I usually use coconut oil)
• 3/4 cup honey (substitute Agave for Vegan option)

I combine until mixed and add in options such as:

• 1 cup ground flax seeds
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut (you could add sweetened if you wish a sweeter granola)
• 1 cup dried fruit
• 1 cup diced nuts

The beauty of this recipe is you can control the quantity you make, the flavor, and the ingredients. You can cook it a bit longer for a dry and crunchy cereal or a bit less for a chewy texture.

Gluten Free Vegetarian Pizza Featuring Caulipower Crust

I love to create my own Gluten Free Pizza using Caulipower Crust. The crust is the blank canvas upon which I create my masterpiece.

So Many Choices...Where Do I Start?
When I create a gluten free pizza one of the first things that goes through my mind is deciding whether I will make a vegan, vegetarian, or  meat included pizza. The pizzas I create have toppings in heaping portions compared to the manufactured pizzas. The amount of cheese (regular or vegan) that I use is less than a packaged pizza.

Now That I have Chosen My Pizza Style, What Do I Do?
The second thought that goes through my mind is flavor profile. I decide with what I will line the crust and build my base from there.  Options I use quite a bit include pasta/pizza red sauce, olive oil, hummus, crushed white beans, and pesto.

Flavors Decided. Then What?
After I have made the decision on the type of pizza and flavor, I must decide how to flavor it. I pick vibrant colors so that the pizza not only looks appetizing (since we eat with our eyes first) but also provides me with a variety of nutrients.

Now, It's Time To Prepare ... Have Patience ... And ENJOY!

Today I decided to create GLUTEN FREE VEGETARIAN PIZZA. A swap for vegan cheese would have made this a GLUTEN FREE VEGAN recipe.

Ingredients:
1 Caulipower Pizza Crust
1/4 cup roasted red pepper hummus to line the crust
Sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes
3 cloves of garlic (diced)
1/4 cup onion (diced thin)
1 orange bell pepper (sliced into even long slivers)
1/2 cup yellow squash (sliced into tiny slivers)
1/2 cup Italian Cheese blend or combination of Parmesan and Mozzarella

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425
Line the crust with hummus and sprinkle with the crushed red pepper flakes
Prepare the onion and garlic then sprinkle evenly over the crust
Prepare the bell pepper and squash. Decorate the crust with the bell pepper sliced in a radial pattern and add the squash between the pepper slices.
Top with the cheese and cook about 15 minutes or until cheese melts and edges of crust start to tan.

Pasta Variations featuring Explore Cuisine

I love using Edamame Pasta from Explore Cuisine as it is naturally high in protein and fiber, two things I seek out in my meals. Due to the protein in the pasta, it can be prepared for a gluten free, vegan, or vegetarian meal; you decide each time you use it!

I believe life is a blank canvas; a masterpiece waiting to be created through food, fitness, family, and friends. My blank canvas for this meal was Explore Cuisine Gluten Free Edamame and Mung Bean Fettuccine. I coupled the pasta with some great produce from the farmer's market and created a meal.

One thing I go for when using a variety of vegetables in a dish is COLOR. I like to include as many colors in the rainbow in my meal to ensure I am getting a variety of nutrients.


Ingredients: (Serves Two)
1.5 cups Explore Cuisine Gluten Free Edamame and Mung Bean Fettuccine
HINT: I purchase my Explore Cuisine products from the Gluten-Free Mall for Gluten-Free Foods
2 cups of diced fresh vegetables (diced into uniform sizes if possible for even cooking purposes)
1 TBSP butter (no salt)
6 cloves of garlic
Oilve oil to sautee vegetables
4 TBSP squeezed lemon (careful not to add seeds) or lemon juice
1 cup of diced cooked shrimp, chicken, garbanzo beans, or tofu (if desired)
1-2 tsp crushed red pepper if you wish extra spice

Instructions:

• Dice and sautee vegetables in olive oil and garlic
• OPTIONAL: add reduced sodium vegetable broth for added flavor (1/4 cup)
• When the vegetables are almost done, prepare the water to cook the pasta
• Cook the pasta to el dente, just short of package instructions
• Drain 90% of the water
• Add the pasta and remaining water to the vegetables  
• When the water is almost absorbed, add the butter and lemon
• Add the additional protein if desired

Serve in a bowl and garnish with fresh basil, rosemary, or shredded Parmesan cheese if you desire