Cooking, eating, and recipes!

A friend of mine recently asked if I am still posting recipes...I haven't been obviously...but I need to!  I have tried so many fabulous new recipes the last year or so. Like these paleo blueberry scones (I used the new cashew meal from Trader Joes instead of grinding my own)-

And one that we have repeated over and over is a fabulous recipe from my friend Deborah-
Buffalo Turkey Sloppy Joes (which we eat in lettuce wraps instead of bread-scroll down for the recipe). We had them with some roasted brussels sprouts and blue cheese crumbles in this photo (the kids love this meal, too!):

I love cooking but I find that the recipes I make need to be quicker and easier these days! I am also trying really hard to feed us healthy, clean, fresh foods.  We try to avoid any convenience foods.  We use lots and lots of fresh veggies (I really don't like frozen or canned! Well, except Trader Joe's frozen green beans...the skinny ones...they are awesome and convenient!)  I have also been eating gluten free for about a year and a half and have a tendency toward "paleo" meals.  I'm not strict with the paleo thing...I just more use it as a guide to remember to eat lots of fruits, veggies and lean proteins.  We eat some grains but try to limit them. 

So anyway...I rambled on about that long enough!  I will try to start sharing more of the yummy meals we make.  unfortunately, they tend to be less like "recipes" in the traditional sense and more like methods of preparation for the fresh foods we eat. Does that make any sense?  When I do look for recipes, I love to try new ones from some of these sites-
www.inspiralized.com (LOVE my spiralizer!)
www.paleomg.com
www.againstallgrain.com
www.civilizedcavemancooking.com

And here's a new recipe for you to try.  This is great as leftovers.  We have also had it on top of cauliflower "rice" and it's delicious. Hubs and I always add extra hot sauce to our servings.  
Buffalo Turkey "Sloppy Joe" Lettuce Wraps:
(Serve on buns as Sloppy Joes if you prefer)
1-2 lbs. extra-lean ground turkey
4 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup hot sauce (we like the Frank's buffalo wing sauce)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 oz.) crumbled blue cheese, optional
Lots of lettuce to scoop up the meat to eat! The kids totally dig loading up their own leaves.

Directions:
Cook the first five ingredients in a Dutch oven over medium heat until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, hot sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and pepper; heat through. Serve on buns; sprinkle with cheese if desired.

Well, my friends, I hope you give one of these recipes a try.  I promise to share more soon.  I feel like besides scrapping and running the kids around, all I do is go to the gym and cook (and EAT!).  So I have loads to share with you all.

Chat soon!
Stacey

PS Leave me some comments about what you would love to see or read about!! I would be so grateful!

Chicken Parmesan (healthy!)

We have made this many times and it is excellent!  The kids love it.  I love it.  Hubby loves it.  You need to try it so you can love it, too!

Chicken Parmigiana

(makes 4 servings)
1 lb uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly pounded (4- 4 oz pieces)
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
½ cup dried bread crumbs (premade or grind a couple of slices of bread to a fine consistency.)
1 TBS Italian seasoning (more or less to your taste)
½ tsp salt
1 tsp olive oil
1 ½ cups spaghetti sauce (whatever kind you like!  Homemade, jarred, etc. or even just spiced up tomato sauce)
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 TBS grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray.

Place egg whites in a shallow bowl. Combine bread crumbs with Italian seasoning and salt; pour into another shallow bowl. Dip chicken in egg whites; turn to coat. Dip chicken in bread crumb mixture; turn to thoroughly coat.

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and add oil; heat over medium-high heat. When hot, add chicken and cook until lightly browned and no longer pink in center, about 4 minutes per side.
Pour 1/2 cup of sauce into prepared baking dish; place chicken in dish and pour remaining sauce evenly over chicken. Sprinkle with cheeses and bake until chicken is cooked through and cheese is bubbly, about 25 minutes.

**I like to have this with just a big salad.  It would be great with pasta as well.  I usually double this since we love it and the leftovers are great as well.

Cauliflower rice!

I can't believe I haven't tried this earlier...so good and healthy! Even my six year old liked it (and he was quite against "cauliflower rice" at first.) I have seen several recipes for this rice substitute around Pinterest.  Here is what I did:

Cauliflower "Rice"
Ingredients:
1/2- whole head of washed and dried cauliflower
A handful of diced onion
a clove of garlic (minced)
*(Next time, I think I might try just some garlic and onion powder to see if I like it without the chunks of onion.  But it was really good this way, too!)
Cooking spray

Directions:
~Pulse cauliflower in a food processor until about the consistency of rice (actually, it's more like couscous). Make sure your cauliflower is good and dry!  Do not add any water at any point.
~Put "rice" into a microsafe bowl and lightly cover (don't seal it tightly) with wax paper or lid. ~Microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring halfway. (Again, do not add water!)
~Saute your onions and garlic with a bit of cooking spray in a large non-stick skillet.  Add your rice and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently.
~Serve as you would rice and enjoy far less calories!!!
(We had this with Kielbasa and black beans...can't wait to try it with an Asian dish!)