Chicken Schwarma + Coconut Basmati + Cucumber Salad + Cauliflower Chickpea Curry

Here's a meal that you cannot forget. You know the ones... they stick with you. The smells, the textures, the memories. It has all the qualities of warmth, love, nostalgia even. It may just for me because it does remind me of my time of living overseas in Israel. It also reminds me of friends I have eaten it with. It is the kind of meal that you make for a crowd and sit around the table for hours and laugh and tell stories. So I shared this meal with a group of lovely women I cooked for at the most recent Women's Wellness Retreat. I got to share a piece of my story and my heart with these beautiful brave women. And now, I am sharing this meal with you. I hope you give a try and recreate this same nourishing and loving meal for all of your people.  It is the kind of meal that offers space for CONNECTION, LOVE and a shared LIFE together. ENJOY!

Chicken Schwarma Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, sugar and nut-free}

2-3 pounds of chicken thighs (I search down local, organic or all-natural meat for cooking)
2-3 TB of olive oil
2 fresh lemons-squeezed for 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice
2-3 fresh garlic cloves finely minced
1-2 ts. of sea salt
1 ts. of ground black pepper
1 ts. of ground cumin
1 ts. of ground coriander
1 ts. of ground turmeric
1 ts. of ground paprika
1 ts. of ground cardamon
1/2 ts. of ground cloves
1/2 ts. of ground cinnamon
1/4 ts. of cayenne pepper

In a 9x13 Pyrex baking dish spread out the raw chicken thighs, drizzle some olive oil and lemon juice and sprinkle all the spices and salt and pepper over. Then use a fork or your hands to massage the spices into the meat. Then cover with foil and let it chill in the fridge over night or at least for an hour. Then bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes covered and 15-20 minutes uncovered until it is fully cooked. Let cool for a minute and then you can either serve as is or slice each piece into a few pieces and make it more easy to serve on rice or pita.

The meat is super flavorful, juicy, tender and full of goodness. I like how it has it's own sauce and can be easily put over rice, lettuce, in pita or on a flat bread. A flawless chicken dish!

Cucumber Salad or Israeli Salad
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, sugar and nut-free}
4 English cucumbers, sliced, quartered and halved again (1/8th of a circle piece)
2-4 small campari, cherry or Roma tomatoes (basically need 1/2 cup of tomatoes, diced)
1/3 cup of finely chopped onion, I used red onion for this recipe
1/2 cup of fresh finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup of fresh finely chopped mint
2 lemons squeezed for juice (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup of olive oil
big pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper

Chop all of the above in a large bowl and drizzle in the lemon and olive oil and herbs and viola, it is that easy. You can add more or less of all of the ingredients depending on what you got on hand or growing fresh or your preferences. It is a simple, but absolutely perfect salad. Crisp and cooling- delicious!

I make this curry recipe as a meat-alternative to this meal, but also it is good all mixed in with the meat and over the rice because it not only has all of the same spices but add textures and flavors you can not plan more perfectly! The recipe is here- Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry, but I will also put it below just to have them all in the same place :)


Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, and sugar-free, vegan if you use vegetable stock}

2 TB of avocado oil for sauteing
1 large onion finely chopped
4-5 garlic cloves finely minced
1-2 TB of finely grated fresh ginger*
1-2 TB of finely grated fresh turmeric*

2 cups of raw washed, cut into bite sized pieces, cauliflower
2 cups of pealed and cut and cubed pieces of sweet potato

1 14 ounce can of diced organic tomatoes
1 can of full-fat coconut milk
2-3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 14 ounce can of organic pre-cooked garbanzo beans
1 ts. of curry powder
1 ts. of ground paprika
1 ts. of ground cumin
1 ts. of ground coriander
1/2 ts. of ground cinnamon
pinch of cayenne
pinch of cloves
1 ts. of sea salt
hearty pinch of fresh ground black pepper
optional: 1-2 TB of tahini, or a nut butter like almond or peanut for extra thickness and flavor

2 cups of fresh finely chopped greens (spinach, kale or chard)
handful of fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 cup of raisins (I like a mix with golden raisins included ;)

for serving:
serve over prepared basmati or jasmine rice (or quinoa)
limes juice and wedges
sprinkle of fresh cilantro or parsley

In a large pot, saute the onion, garlic, turmeric, ginger with the oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, when it cooks down, add in the bite-sized cauliflower, sweet potato and spices and cook for another 5 minutes, then add in the coconut milk, tomatoes, beans and broth. Let cook, bubbling and covered for 15- 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft and the broth reduced. Then add in the raisins, fresh greens and herbs and let those get soft. It is ready for serving now, or you can turn off the heat and let it sit and cool a bit and thicken up. Then serve with prepared basmati rice. With a slice of lime and a sprinkle of some fresh herbs too. 

*If you do not have access to fresh ginger or turmeric root, then you can for sure used dried spices. I would start at 1 ts. each and add in more if you desire a little more punch...

And lastly I will give my instructions for the BEST coconut oil infused basmati rice and the steps to make it flawless each and every time!

Coconut Basmati Rice 
{gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed and soy-free}

2 TB of coconut oil
3 cups of basmati rice
6 cups of pure water
hearty pinch of sea salt

So this recipe depends on how much rice you want to make I would suggest to make at least 6 cups of cooked rice for 4 people- so that would be about 3 cups of dry rice. You can make more or less of that amount. The key is to always have double the water for the amount of rice you have. 

So first step is to melt coconut oil in a medium to large pot. Once the oil is melted over the heat, add in the dry rice and let it toast and saute for a few minutes. It will start to give off an amazing aroma and you will look to see it has almost changed it color to look more toasted. Then add in all the water and the hearty pinch of sea salt and cover. Let the water come to a boil and then turn off the heat to a low simmer. You will have to watch this so that the water does not overflow. Once you start the simmer it will cook for about 10-15 minutes and will start to soak up all the water and you will see little poke holes formed. When you see this- turn off the heat and let it continue its cook in the pot, covered but no more flame. In about 10 minutes it will be ready to removed the cover and fluff up. It will be just about PERFECT- not too sticky or wet! and the subtle sweetness from the coconut oil and sea salt is just the perfect touch for any curry dish!

Layer all of the above recipes to create the most perfect of meals! I hope you recreate this lovely meal and share in CONNECTION, LOVE and LIFE.

Much love as always, xoxo

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

This is a little nugget of a recipe I have been making for a few years now. It isn't rocket science, and there are many easy peasy recipes for this out there in world wide web land and Pinterest... buuuutttt, I thought I would share my version anyways because I use a few substituted ingredients to help with yeast overgrowth in the gut.

This is the recipe I was inspired by years ago...
Shannon Martin's Recipe

I switch out white sugar and white vinegar for coconut palm sugar and apple cider vinegar. It's minor but for me and how I am conscience of the over use of vinegar in dressings and such. I always choose apple cider vinegar over any edible vinegar because I have found it to be not as aggravating to candida and high histamine issues I have had over the years. But I guess this is no surprise I use these ingredients in all my baking and they are staples in my pantry.

A wonderful gift in August in the large amounts of fresh fruit, veggies and herbs you can find at your local farmer's market, backyard or road side stands. I bought the above produce at my local farmer's market for a whopping total of TWO dollars. I am sure you could even find it cheaper or maybe you have a garden or access to a friends or family member's garden too. These are so easy and cheap to find right now. So basically you can make this whole quart of pickles for around 2 dollars- what a fun fresh bargain to enjoy this season!

Steph's Version of Refrigerator Dill Pickle Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, nut, seed and refined-sugars-free}

2 TB of coconut palm sugar
1 TB of sea salt
1 ts. of whole black peppercorns
1/2 ts. of dry mustard powder (or whole seeds)
4 fresh garlic cloves chopped
1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
3 cups of pure water
1 handful of fresh dill roughly chopped
1 quart small cucumbers

In a quart sized Ball jar put in the coconut palm sugar, salt, pepper, mustard, chopped garlic and vinegar and fresh dill. Stir if need be so that the sugar and salt dissolve into the vinegar. Then wash and slice up the cucs and layer them in the jar. When up to the top, stop and fill with pure water to cover all of the cucs. I usually give a little shake to let the fluids evenly cover all through the jar. Screw on a top and put in the fridge. I think they taste best after 24 hours and then you can keep them in the fridge for up to two weeks for best tastes in my opinion.

Hope you are enjoying the fresh summer produce from your garden and markets. Much love to you as always and let's enjoy these last few weeks of summer shall we?!? xoxo

Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower with Dairy Free Ranch

Everyone needs a fun and easy app recipe in their back pocket when it comes to summer gatherings and picnic parties and such. I love the vibrant color and flavors of this dish and is a crowd-pleaser among most foodies :)

This recipe was inspired by Against All Grain's buffalo chicken wings and dairy free ranch. But I wanted to make a few substitutions- one of them being to make the "wings" out of cauliflower and not chicken :) And the other way using a vegan mayo so that it didn't have any eggs in it, so my following recipes reflect those options.

I made this appetizer for a gathering recently and explained how simply I made it because because I used a few already prepared sauces and spreads to make it easy. If I have some extra time up my sleeve in a month or so when eggplant and peppers come into season- I am going to make a spread of my own out of roasted eggplant and peppers. But the Trader Joe's spread is a great option and is made with clean ingredients and easy to use in a variety of ways. Check it out!

 

Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, seed, nut, soy and refined-sugar-free}

1 large head of fresh cauliflower washed, and chopped up in easy to pick up pieces
1/3 cup of avocado (or olive) oil
1/2 cup of Trader Joe's Red Pepper Spread with eggplant and garlic
1 TB of apple cider vinegar
1 TB of maple syrup or honey
1 lemon squeezed and drizzled over
1/2 ts. of ground paprika
1/2 ts. of dried granulated garlic
1 ts. of sea salt
black pepper to taste

optional to make it spicy hot:
1 TB Arizona Pepper's Organic Harvest Hot Sauce 

Wash and chop the cauliflower and let it dry weel. Then in a large bowl mix the rest of the ingredeitns with the cauliflower and make sure each piece is spread well with the mixture. Then spread out each piece of cauliflower on a parchment papered baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes until the pieces get a bit soft and crispy. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and put on your serving dish ready to serve. Serve with hot sauce on the side and fresh celery sticks and some of the dairy-free ranch dip below....


Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing or Dip Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, nut, seed, and refined -sugar-free}

1 cup Hampton Creek Just Mayo
1/2 cup coconut milk beverage
1/2 cup of fresh parsley leaves
1/2 ts. of dried chives (you can use fresh (1 TB) if you got it)
1/2 ts. of dried dill (you can use fresh (1 TB) if you got it)
1 ts. of dried Italian herb blend
1/2 -1 ts. of sea salt
1/4- 1/2 ts. of crack black pepper
1 ts. of dried garlic
1/2 ts. of dried onion
1 lemon juiced (1/4 cup) add some of the zest if you want


In a high powered blender, mix up the above ingredients for a few pulses, being carful to not overly blend so that the parley stays just finely chopped. Pour into a Ball jar and have it ready to dip veggies, cauliflower wings, and pour over salads. 

There you have it- I hope you give it a try if you are looking for a new fun appetizer!

Fresh Herb Garden Pasta Salad

This is a salad I start making almost every summer about this time. The fresh herbs and produce you can find at the farmer's market is a part the inspiration- not to mention an easy dish to pass at a gathering, pack up for a picnic, and serve from the fridge when it's super hot and sweaty.

It's not overly difficult and you can switch out different veggies for what you got available. It is a great "detox" summer meal because of the fresh herbs and veggies and with the GF pasta it is a great allergy-free option as well. Also, it can easily be vegan- but if you want to add some parmesean or motzarella cheese it would be that much more fabulous too. I have also added organic chicken sausages and those not only had flavor but added protein too. So it can be made a few ways, but if you make it the fresh herbs in the dressing is what makes the difference in my opinion. The dressing is super fresh, green and wonderful!

Hope you give this super easy and fabulous summer salad a try!
Much love and light to you xoxo

Fresh Herb Garden Pasta Salad Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed and sugar-free}

1 cup of cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup of chopped sweet bell peppers
1 cup of sliced and quartered cucumbers
1/2 cup of thinly sliced and cubed radishes
1/4-1/3 cup of thinkly sliced and chunked red onion

1 12 ounce package of GF pasta (my favs include brown rice, or a rice and quinoa mix option. I avoid the GF pastas with corn because of digestion issues and they get too mushyin my opinion)

Herb Pesto Dressing Recipe
1 cup of fresh parsley
1 cup of fresh cilantro
(if you got other fresh herbs growing I sometimes add a handful of fresh basil, chives, oregano or thyme too...)
1/3 cup of quality California olive oil
1/3 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice
lemon zest from squeezed lemon
1-2 ts. of dried italian herb blend
1 ts. of dried garlic
pinch of dried onion
big pinch sea salt and black pepper
optional: add in a drizzle of honey or maple syrup before blending

Blend all of the above in a high powered blender to emosify and be a creamy green dressing. I sometimes double or triple this recipe above and make it available in the fridge to marinate meat, pour over salads and just have available to flavor rice, quinoa, or whatever other summer salad you got going. It's an added treat to just about anything savory!

Cook your GF pasta in boiling water and drain when it is AL DENTE! Then rise with a little cool water and pour into a large bowl with all the added veggies (and sausage if you are adding that) and then mix well together with the dressing and viola you got yourself a salad! If you are adding any cheeses or extra chopped herbs do that after it is all mixed well. Serve warm, or chilled, or however you damn please ;)

Hope you are well and enjoying the season of summer! Much love xoxo

Basil Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Sooooooo, it's been a dream 10 years in the making, but I finally can say I am a proud owner of a Vitamix. It came last week. I opened the giant box, unwrapped each piece and almost had tears in my eyes. Like a kid on Christmas morning. I have waited so long for one of these. I had been saving and it always seemed like I found another reason to spend the money, but the time had finally come.

It feels magical. Like I manifested some kind of magic in the world to make this dream finally come true. Makes me feel like I should start writing down and manifesting other dreams and ideas I feel that are way out of reach at this point. The feeling of waiting for something, dreaming about something, and seeing it through is incredible.

Also, if you were wondering if dreams do come true- sometimes... they really do ;)

So far so good- I have made a handful of smoothie creations, ground up many GF flours, and made some ice cream :) To say the least this Vitamix has found a place in our happy home and I cannot believe it took so long to get her.

Last week I made this ice cream combo because of a fresh basil plant on had on hand and was inspired to try a little basil in my ice cream. I know... it was much more green on the front end but maybe not so much in the pictures. You can add more or less of the basil if you desire a more or less green color and herby flavor. You can also do this recipe in a regular blender or even if you have an immersion blender. I just have been excited to try out some of these ideas in my new Vitamix- so I'm sorry for gushing :)

Basil Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
gluten, dairy, soy, nut, seed and egg-free, vegan  

2 cans of canned coconut milk, just scoop out the cream and save or discard the water
1/4 ts. of sea salt
squeeze of fresh lime (1 TB)
1/3 cup of maple syrup
2 TB of tapioca flour/starch
1/4- 1/2 ts. of peppermint oil flavoring

Whisk all of the above ingredients in a small sauce pan over a medium heat until it is warmed and blended good. The tapioca will thicken the milk a bit once the mixture starts to heat up. Be careful not to boil, just warm and whisk together and then turn off the heat once the mixture starts to thicken. Then transfer the warm mixture to your high powered blender and add....

1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves
(more or less depending on your preference)

And then blend on high for 1 minute until frothy and then let it cool down completely and then add in the chocolate chips.... you can either just fold them in, or you can also blend for 5 seconds and have the chocolate chips get mixed in a bit. Then immediately transfer the mixture into a well covered container and transfer to the fridge for a few hours or even over night.

1/2-3/4 cup of dairy-free chocolate chips

Then after the mixture has been sitting together for more than a few hours, transfer the mixture to a ready to use ice cream maker. I own the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker and have to chill the container in my deep freezer for over 24 hours- so you have to think ahead for this version of ice cream making and make sure you have the maker's part freezing and getting ready. After all that prep, just pour the mixture into the maker and within 20-30 minutes you will have perfect ice cream. We ate some right after it was done. But I also pour the rest of the ice cream in a leftover ice cream plastic container to serve more later and it worked amazing- it was ready made, ready to scoop ice cream, ready in the freezer.

If you do not own a ice cream maker- then after blending in the high powered blender, pour into a container that can be covered and pour in and let freeze in the freezer for at least 4 hours- then you can use an ice cream scoop and form ice cream balls from yoru scoop and it is just about as perfect too. 

Best part is that it is vegan and fresh tasting and no fillers and no refined sugars- you can control the sweetness and you could even add a few dates or a banana in place of the maple syrup and before blending :) 

This delicious vegan ice cream is so decadent and fabulous- I may never make another baked dessert ;) OK we all know that is not true- but this one is a special treat- especially as summer rolls around and starting up the oven is a lot more heat and work in the summer- and with this treat- a little goes a LONG way. I hope you give it a try- and ENJOY! 

Much love as always xoxo

Green Apple-Kale-Avocado Slaw

It's almost time for the school year to close and official summer to commence. The coming Memorial Day weekend has people sprucing up their yards and venturing to the farmer's market looking for fresh greens and plants.  It's time to pull out the grill and have the friends and family over, and time to cook up a few great salads and grill the rest. And maybe an adventurous, but simple fresh kale slaw could catch your attention...

I was making a kale slaw I loved for years- my Tangy Kale Slaw- but then discovered a little avocado in place of some of the nuts and seeds was just the right move to try something a little different.

This is a bunch of curly kale, but you could use some lacinato kale too for this recipe. Both work great and you'll find that you like one variety over the other. Or perhaps you have some growing in the yard and if you do, you usually have TONS of it as it grows and need a little inspiration to keep up :)

I used some crunchy sweet and tart green apples in this slaw and if you cut them small and thin, they are the perfect match to the soft kale after its been rubbed with the sweet lime dressing. This recipe is ridiculously simple- so you can add or take away from it depending what is fresh that week in your garden or what you got on hand before a last minute cook-out. I hope you give it a try and seek a little green crunchy (maybe said at one point to be odd), but wonderful fresh and tasty kale slaw.

Green Apple-Kale-Avocado Slaw Recipe
gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed and soy-free

1 (1pound) bunch of fresh kale (washed, dried and finely chopped)
2 small green tart apples, finely chopped
2 very ripe avocados, finely chopped in chunks
1/3 cup of organic raisins
1/3 cup of finely sliced red or sweet onion
1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro or basil or a combo

sweet lime dressing
2 TB olive or avocado oil
1 fresh lime squeezed (2 TB's juice)
1 TB of red wine vinegar
1 TB of Dijon mustard
1-2 TB of maple syrup
healthy pinch of salt and pepper

In a large mixing bowl, mix by hand the kale and herbs and apples and half of the avocado. In a small Ball jar, mix and shake up all of the dressing ingredients and then pour over the slaw and use your hands to massage well into the finely chopped leaves. Then top with the rest of the avocado, and raisins and optional onions. You can add more or less of the dressing if needs more and you can half or double this recipe depending on your group size.

Happy chopping, and ENJOY xoxo

Hawaiian Pineapple Pepper Crockpot Chicken and Coconut Basmati Rice

So this is the kind of dinner that comes out of cleaning out my freezer space. I had leftover frozen pineapple from Easter-week, a lost lone bag of roasted red peppers and some frozen chicken. I thawed all out over night and put them in the crockpot the next morning with a few other staples to flavor and when 4-5 o'clock rolled around- dinner was ready and it was easy to feel like a queen being served dinner with no effort. Which after days of needing to cook and bake from scratch and keep up with all the food allergies, it is always a treat to have the crockpot do most of the work :) And it gets me ready after cleaning the fridge and freezer out to do a big trip of grocery shopping the next day.

I love when something is thrown together out of leftover ingredients and it turns out so great you start thinking how you would actually need to buy the actual ingredients to make it again next time. This recipe is also somehting you can find done a multitude of ways depending on your preferences. I just used what I had and made it work. Now if only I could get my kids more excited about it... they are picky about just about everything. They did give it a try though and the sweetness and rice made it worth it :) Hope you give it a try or at the least go into your freezer space and find what kind of ingredients you need to use up and clean out. Happy cooking, xoxo

Hawaiian Pineapple Pepper Crockpot Chicken Recipe

{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, nut and seed-free} 

2 lbs of thawed or raw chicken 

(use what you got or what your preference is...if I was to choose I would do a mix of white and dark meat to keep the best flavor and moisture from the chicken)

1 10 ounce bag of roasted or grilled red peppers (I thawed beforehand)

1 medium red onion thinly sliced and chopped

4 garlic cloves minced or finely grated

2 inches of fresh ginger finely grated

2 ts of sea salt (more or less)

1/2- 1 ts. of black pepper

2 cups of fresh or frozen pineapple, thawed to have at least 1/2 cup of juices

drizzle of olive or avocado oil

1/4 cup of maple syrup

1/4 cup of coconut aminos (or sub a soy-sauce or aminos-sauce)

1/4 cup of coconut palm sugar 

1/4 cup of tapioca flour

In your crock pot dump and mix all of the above ingredients and cook at the medium or low 6-8 hour time. I put the chicken in first and sprinkled in the spices and onion and stired to move all around and then added in the pineapple and peppers and made sure the suaces also got evenly mixed around too. I sprinkeld the tapioca flour last over the wet liquids and used a spoon to kinda mix in and make sure it was evenly dissolved in. Then I covered and set the heat and let it cook all day. When it was in there 6 hours it was done and the chicken could probably be easily shred up if you wanted to make tacos or fajitas out of the meat, but the chicken can be scooped out too in whole pieces and placed over the rice. 

Coconut Basmati Rice Recipe

2 TB of coconut oil

2 cups of basmati rice

3 cups of water

1 cup of coconut milk beverage

1 ts. of sea salt

In a medium saucepan, warm up some coconut oil and cook the rice in the oil for a few minutes while it gets toasted. Then add in the water and coconut milk and salt. Cook on medium to high heat until it is bubbling and then I turn the heat to low until the water is cooked in and then I turn off the heat completely and cover with a top and let it sit for 10-20 minutes for it to further the cooking process with no heat. Then I open up and fluff up and it is ready to serve. 

I topped this dish with fresh chopped cilantro, but green onions might also work. Like I said, whatever you got is what to go with ;) Some fresh lime or sea salt might be a nice finishing touch too if it needs it. 

Hope you get inspired to clean up the fridge and freezer and make something fabulous. Happy cooking and much love, xoxo

Blueberry Lavendar Chocolate Cupcakes

It seems like I can't go more than a few days without having the joy of baking a GF baked goodie for someone. Whether it be for someone in my family or for someone that we are bringing or sharing food with. I have been known to always offer dessert and I am ok with that :) Even if some weeks I make a resolve to not bake any sweet treats this week- it usually un-does itself within a few days because of the need and desire to love people with gluten-free and allergy-free treats.

These little cupcakes were whipped up on a whim a few weeks ago when we were having a little spring birthday celebration. They were a fab flavor combo and would be a great addition to any spring gathering or Easter celebration.

The combo reminds me of a ice cream from a local ice cream parlor (LOVE's) that makes the best ice cream in my city. They make so many fun and adventurous combos, but more importantly for my family they make coconut ice cream with no dairy or egg ingredients. So this means that my allergy-prone kids can actually enjoy going out for ice cream every now and again and we can feel half-normal as a family. Our favorite flavor is one called Blueberry Lavendar Vegan Gelato and we call it 'superman' for the reason you might guess. Yes, it is because it is the closest thing you'll find to all-natural blue ice cream ;)

But this combo of blueberry, lavenadar and chocolate really knows how to bring me tears of joy. I truly stop each time I taste this combo and slow down and actually close my eyes and enjoy it. This combo truly is my go to when looking for a chcolate-fruit mix and adding in the flowery flavor of lavendar is calming and brings out a whole aromatic experience. Happy baking and ENJOY xoxo

Blueberry Lavendar Chocoalte Cupcake Recipe

{gluten, dairy, soy, nut, seed, egg, and refined-sugar-free, vegan} this recipe is derived from my chocolate vegan cupcake recipe...

3/4 cup of finely fresh ground GF oat flour

1 cup of coconut palm sugar

1/2 cup of organic cocoa or cacao powder

1/3 cup of rice flour

1/3 cup of tapioca flour

1/3 cup of potato starch

2 ts. of baking powder

1 ts. of baking soda

1 ts. of sea salt

1/4 cup of applesauce

1/4 cup of pure maple syrup

1 ts. of pure vanilla

1/2 ts of pure lavendar flavoring  or use a culinary grade lavendar oil (4-6 drops)

1/2 cup of coconut milk beverage (or other plant-based milk)

2 TB of fresh squeezed lemon mixed into the milk beverage to make 'buttermilk type mixture' if you do not have fresh lemon you can use apple cider vinegar to do the same thing

1 heaping cup of fresh or frozen blueberries

First, mix all of the dry ingredients in one large bowl, then in a measuring cup or glass mix the coconut milk beverage with the lemon juice and let it curdle for a few minutes. Then add that and all the rest of the wet ingredients to the mixing bowl mix well. Then fold in the blueberries and the mix may even get stiff as the coconut oil cools down from the cool berries. It may also look more like a brownie batter. Use an oiled 1/3 cup scoop to spoon the batter into the cupcake tins in the pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-22 minutes until stiff and no more gooey center. 

Let the cupcakes cool well and then frost with this little treasure frosting below...

Blueberry Lavendar Dairy-Free Frosting
In a small saucepan, cook down 1/4 cup of frozen blueberries with 2 TB of maple syrup to make a thick blueberry sauce. let it cool and then mix it in 1 TB of the sauce with the following.... or can add more or less for color and wet-ness of frosting....

1/2 cup of Spectrum Organic Palm Oil Shortening
1/4 cup of very soft coconut oil
1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup
1/2 ts of pure lavendar flavoring  or use a culinary grade lavendar oil (2-4 drops)
1/3-1/2 cup of organic corn-free powdered sugar
(I like Wholesome brand)
pinch of sea salt

Use a hand-held high powered mixer to whip up the frosting to become a thick and creamy frosting without clumps. You may need to mix for a few minutes to get it to the texture you want. 

In the photos of the cupcakes I added the chocolate shavings to the tops of the cupcakes, but you can also add a sprinkle of culinary grade lavendar blossoms or dried tea lavender for an extra touch of aroma and sweetness.

Much love, as always, xoxo

Kale Pear Quinoa Salad

This quinoa salad is your new best friend. Once you learn the ways of quinoa and buy the bulk bag at Costco- you and quinoa will be BFF's for life. You can make a quinoa salad in a variety of ways, but I always come back to adding fresh greens, herbs, and sneaking in a fresh fruit and finishing it off with a little crunch of seeds, nuts or maybe even some crispy chickpeas. These are my quinoa salad guides- learn it's ways and you will be forever be inspired by how to mix it up.

It's true- a great earthy, spring salad like this will carry you through till summer. Also once you make a quinoa dish like this, it is easy to see how you can make this same salad a hundred times with mixing in and out whatever fresh or dried ingredients you have on hand. I do this throughout the whole summer with whatever lovely and fresh produce and veg I can scrounge up at the market that week.  Let this recipe be your teacher and before long you will be the master of the quinoa salad.

Kale Pear Quinoa Salad Recipe
{gluten, egg, and soy-free, can be made without nuts, seeds and dairy as well}
1/2 cup of minced red onion
3 grated cloves of garlic
2 TB of olive oil
2 cups of dry quinoa
1 ts. of sea salt
pinch of fresh ground black pepper
4 cups of water

In a medium pot saute 1/2 cup of red onion with 3 grated garlic cloves in olive oil until they get soft and then mix in the dry quinoa and stir around for a minute or two, then add in the water and let it cook until it boils. Then turn down the heat, half cover the pot and let it cook until the water is cooked in. Then when you see no more water, turn off the heat, and cover the pot to let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then add in the following...

1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh parsley
(more or less of the above according to your taste...)

The warm quinoa will help wilt the herbs and cooked quinoa will soak in it's flavor. Let it sit for another few minutes and then pour into your serving bowl and mix in the following...

1 heaping cup of finely chopped lacinato kale
1/4 cup of finely minced fresh red onion
1 fresh bartlet pear cubed, about 1 cup's worth
handful of dried cranberries (or cherries)
handful of crushed pecan (or pumpkin seeds)
diced ripe avocado

Toss all ove the above together and then the following you can add as much or as little as you want...

Sweet Lemon Dressing
1 fresh lemon squeezed
1/3 cup of California olive oil
1/4 cup of pure honey or maple syrup
1-2 TB of apple cider vinegar
pinch of sea salt
pinch of black pepper
pinch or dried Italian blend herbs

Put all of the above in a small 1/2 pint jar and shake up until it is all well mixed and emolsified. Then you can pour over the salad or just have available to drizzling over as an option for your guests. 

Also, it is also a great touch to rub the dressing into the fresh chopped kale leaves before mixing as well- it helps the leaves soften and even taste less bitter too.

Also, if you are going to serve and eat right away, finely dice up a ripe avocado to top with as well. Or if you are going to chill and then serve, cover with fresh avocado when you are ready to serve so that avocado stays green and fresh.

optional addition of goat cheese sprinkles over top is a great touch if you can tolerate dairy

Serve warm just like this or if you want this salad can be easily stored in the fridge to pull out as a chilled salad for any gathering. It is a great side dish or could also be the main course- especially if you add some nuts, or you could even add some garbanzo beans for more protein and substance. It is also a great salad to make ahead of time for lunches on the go or for a picnic dinner at the park. It truly is a versitle protein packed delicious meal. 

Much love to you friends, xoxo

Good Ol' Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul

I felt it coming on last week. A sniffle...which led to a stuffed nose... which led to a slight headache... and I knew exactly what I was dealing with. I started drinking fresh grated ginger tea and some elderberry syrup and decided it was the perfect day to make a pot of soup to remedy the situation (and the soul, really!) Why does it do the soul good anyways? Why does it make one feel so warm and comforted? I'm not sure if I know the perfect answer to that, but there is something about 'chicken noodle soup' that presses all the right buttons when your feeling under the weather...

Well, I guess you can 'google' reasons of how the nutrient-dense and well-balanced chicken-noodle-soup triggers an anti-inflammatory immune system migration of the cells in the mucus membranes that need the immune response. Or something like that ;) So there is actual research and science backing it up. Which I just think is so amazing and hilarious at the same time because there is also the part beyond the research that the soup just is that.... a warm, comfort medicine for the soul and body when one's feeling low and grey. I don't know if I actually need the research here, and maybe it is just nostalgia for nourishing food while sick, but I would say that there is something the body does indeed love about the combination of the broth, herbs, chicken, veggies and noodles. It's just nourishing...magic.

My secrets to a good pot of chicken noodle soup include:

-Big chunks of carrots and chicken. I like a 'meaty' chunk of carrot and a hearty bite of chicken. Ones that you can easily scoop out of the broth so you can get a perfect bite. I even shop at the market and grocery store for carrots imagining how they would look in soup. No itty bitty chunks here. Good big-full-mouthful chunks, baby.

-Fresh herbs! This seems like it might not matter. But I am telling you- it really does! I use not so traditional herbs for chicken noodle soup too because I love them so much. I chop fresh sage, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, fresh parsley and fresh leeks. I really think it makes it better. I also grate in fresh juicy tumeric, ginger and garlic. These add so much color and flavor as well. The kind of juicy flavor you sometimes miss in dried spices and herbs. Obviously, if I don't have fresh in the kitchen while I am stirring up a pot, I improvise with what I got and it's usually a mix of whatever herbs I can find in the fridge, freezer or pantry. But I know- if I really want to do it well. Fresh herbs just make it.

-Bone broth. Here is where you can pack nutrient dense collagen and proteins to help the immune system jump back faster after it has been challenged. And the flavor...it is where it's at when it comes to equal flavors of chicken and salt and depth of deliciousness. I make my own usually whenever I have extra meat bones and leftover veggies and greens. So I have a few jars stashed away in the fridge and freezer. I have also found that organic Costco chicken stock is a super great easy alternative if you don't have bone broth.

Stephanie's Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
{gluten, dairy, nut, seed, egg, sugar and soy-free}

1 large onion finely chopped
1 cup of celery finely chopped, about 6 stalks
1 bunch of green onion or leeks, finely chopped
2 inches of fresh turmeric, finely grated, about 1 heaping TB
1 inch of fresh ginger, finely grated, almost a TB's worth
6 large garlic cloves finely grated, about 2 TB's worth of garlic
2-3 TB of avocado or olive oil
sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper (1/2 ts. of each)

In an 5-6 quart pot, saute the above ingredients to get your soup base cooking. Saute until everything starts cooking down and getting soft and coming together. Then add the...

2 cups of chopped carrots, about 6 large carrots
8 cups of broth (bone, veggie, chicken)
possible additional water if you want the soup a little more soupy or brothy

After you add the carrots, let them cook into the saute mix, then after a few minutes... add the broth. This is usually when you need to wait a little bit for the broth to cook with the carrots and get the heat back up to a boil temp. Keep cooking and you may need to turn down the heat if it starts boiling too crazy...and thats when you can add in the fresh herbs and greens. Pour them all in and keep stirring. Let sit and simmer for another 30 or so minutes after that...

fresh sage, 1-2 TB finely chopped
fresh rosemary, 1-2 TB finely chopped
fresh thyme, 1-2 TB finely chopped
1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup of finely chopped lacinato kale

While the soup is cooking ands simmering you can bake the thawed out or fresh chicken in the oven and then cut up into big chunks to then pour into the simmering soup not long after you add the greens....

2 pounds of chicken tenders/breasts pre-baked in salt/pepper and olive oil and a little broth then chopped in chunks to pour into soup

Add a sprinkle more of sea salt and black pepper here. Not too much- just a pinch really.

Then lastly you can either add your noodles 2 ways: 
You can  pre-cook your noodles and only add them in when you serve ups bowl to avoid them getting mushy in the soup over time. Or if you do not mind your noodles being cooked in the soup you can add about 8 ounces of your favorite GF pasta to the soup right after the chicken was added and all the carrots are soft. You could even turn off the heat here because the noodles will just soften in the boiling broth and be fully cooked within 10-15 minutes. I use usually a spiral or tube brown rice noodle... but have also used macaroni or spaghetti or whatever noodle I have on hand... 

You can see from my pictures (take on day 2 ;) that  the noodle have broken up a bit. I don't mind the broken thick noodles too much, but if you do... I would suggest just keeping them separate and adding them in whenever you serve up the steamy hot soup...

After all the parts come together, give a good stir to the pot and get ready to serve. I serve with a good hearty slice of my bread... or rolls....and a large soup spoon to do some slurping on ;)

I hope you are not under the weather and wishing someone would make you some soup- I hope that you maybe give this soup a try without the sickies connected to it. But if some some reason you feel that sniffle coming on- I hope you have enough strength to make a big pot of chicken noodle soup to get you through it.

Much love and light to you, xoxo

Homemade Pizza Crust {gluten, dairy, egg and yeast-free}

Pizza... either you dream of it or despise it in your newly made gluten-free life. I understand. Mostly I miss the convenience of just ordering a pizza like it's no thang. The nostalgia....oh and so easy.... and loved by most. And let's be honest... pizza and your favorite drink of bubbly [mine currently is grape kombucha ;)] is just the BEST home-date-night food with your love [and holey comfy clothes, faithful couch and your favorite show]!  Plus, I love the creativity of colors, flavors and textures of making homemade pizzas. I grew up on making homemade pizza dough weekly and that's why I probably ached to find a recipe to start making for my own little family. Friday night is now known as pizza night in our house... and my son reminds me most nights of the week how many days till Friday because of it ;)

Although I am just sharing, I actually have been making this dough for years. It is based on 'my bread' recipe with a few adjustments that I have developed over the years to make it a crispy crust and a softer-chewier center and all around great crust. It also has no yeast- or eggs- so it is VERY allergy friendly, not to mention wonderful to not have to wait for anything yeast-rising or proofing. It is just ready to go after you whip it up and roll it out. Like magic ;)

The recipe makes 4 personal-sized pizza doughs, or 2 large, or 3 mediums. I usually end up making 3 different pizzas in our house. One for the dairy-lover, one for the dairy-free and even one for the just sauce and toppings and no cheese/cheeze too. So yes, we have our fair share of allergies and opinions around these parts. Which makes creating your own personal pizza that more fun. They also freeze GREAT- so roll out and bake an extra, then freeze to be ready to just pull out and top with your toppings and bake- its the closest thing to frozen pizza if you ask me :)

The beauty of pizza is that you can make it what you like. Oh the toppings and combos I have made over the years! Some of my favorites have included using a hot pepper jelly, cilantro, leftover BBQ shredded chicken, with fresh herbs and a possible sprinkle of goat cheese ;) I love the sweet, spicy combo almost always and so having a fruit (apples, pineapple, pears, raisins) addition is totally my favorite. Another great topping was caramelized onions and apples over a pizza with BBQ chicken and forgo the cheese option altogether.  That is fab too. My go-to, have in the fridge already combo is peppers, onions, kale, sausage, and herbs and cheese option (Daiya is pictured, but we have used goat, organic mozzarella and other local farm cheese combos). We have one child with severe dairy allergies in the house, and a child that can tolerate and LOVES cheese, so I am NON-judgmental when it comes to whatever kind of cheese or no cheese you add to a pizza. It really is what you make it and I have had some great pizzas with and without it too. So don't let the cheese discourage you from making a pizza.....pile it high with veggies, slaw, saute, more sauce or whatever makes you happy and your body can still feel great too.

Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe
{gluten, yeast, dairy, egg, nut, seed, soy and sugar-free}

4 TB of psyllium husk powder
1 cup of pure water
3/4 cup of non-dairy milk (I used coconut milk beverage) Or even add more water
1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
2 TB of honey
2 TB of olive oil

In a large mixing bowl, whisk up the above well until it starts to thicken and make sure NO clumps. Then add in the following dry ingredients...

1 1/2 cup of finely ground certified GF oat flour (I ground GF rolled oats to make flour)
1 cup of white rice flour* (plus 1/2 cup more for kneading and rolling out)
1/3 cup of potato starch
1/3 cup of tapioca flour
2 ts. of baking powder
1 ts. of sea salt
1 ts. of baking soda

Use a spatula to first mix up the wet and dry together well. Then start to use your hands to knead and roll the dough into a large ball. Use a sprinkle of more rice flour if it is sticky when you knead to get a nice large ball of dough. If you are making personal pizzas.... cut the ball into 4 quarters. Otherwise, break up the big lump into 2-3 pieces and place each ball onto a parchment paper with a sprinkle of rice flour. Roll out with a rolling pin into a 6x6 inch for personal circle and then to get perfect edges, cut with a clean pizza cutter roller and make the sharp edge. Use the remaining dough cut off in another lump of dough until you are done.

Then bake the crusts first before adding toppings in a 375-400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. I left a range for tempts and times because each person varies on whether they like crispy/crunchy  or a softer crust. That is up to you ;) Bake and let sit for 15 minutes before adding toppings or let cool completely and have ready for the dinner hour, or wrap up and put in the freezer. 

*You can also sub in different flours for the oat, and rice. If you are trying to avoid those grains, you can sub buckwheat for the oats, millet for the rice and quinoa to cover the rest. That is a protein rich combo as well. It is a bit more earthy tasting and perhaps a little more "healthy granola crunchy" tasting. But still does the job if you have been on a strict grain-free diet- it is a good starting place to add in the easier digesting grains or some even call them seed grains because they are much more commonly digested like seeds over grains. 

After your crusts are ready, add your favorite sauce and toppings and bake for another 15-20 minutes in a 375-400 degree oven. I have found that baking at a higher tempt with shorter time gets the toppings right where I like them, but also a slower bake works too.... Another thing based on preference. So just watch it carefully so that you don't burn. I have also found baking closest to the middle section of any oven proves the best results. 

Now it's time to settle in and ENJOY! I love pizza night just as much as the kids, so I guess I shouldn't blame it all on them that it stuck :) It is such a great family night and a way to add some traditions and routine into our home. I hope you give this recipe a try and find your own groove with it and enjoy it as much as us. Much love as always. xoxo

Turkey Sausage, Kale and Cherry Stuffing

This has been my stuffing recipe for the past 4 years and I have never shared it with you. I've thought through why this hasn't happened and I guess it is just because it always gets eaten so fast after the holidays that I don't have time to take pictures and document it. Also things are always so busy in the kitchen around the holidays that it just hasn't been a recipe I have taken the time to write down and make into something to share. I know- it seems a bit complicated because of a few steps, but it is relatively easy after you bake and dry out the bread. And if you have made my bread before and have become a master at it yourself then you are more than half-way there. I think my bread is what makes it special. It's hearty and thick and gets all perfect with the other soaked flavors. I know Martha Stewart makes a versions of this type of stuffing with her own regular bread- so there's that- but, this one is special because of my bread. There are so many stuffing recipes out there and some have very passionate opinions when it comes to stuffing- but let me tell you- this recipe will forever change your mind about stuffing. And as I finally served it to some of my closest friends over last Thanksgiving- they declared it was their favorite dish I EVER made. That seems quite the exaggeration if you ask me :) Because we all know that I make a lot of food- and these friends have probably had 100's of my recipes- but they fell in love and when you fall in love- you say crazy things :)

Turkey Sausage Kale Cherry Stuffing Recipe
{gluten, dairy, soy, nut, seed and refined sugar-free}

2 loaves of bread- this BREAD RECIPE doubled
after baking the bread, cooling it and letting dry-out- cut each loaf into slices and then cube up each slice to come up with a 11x15 baking sheet worth of bread cube crumbs. 

Then bake and dry out in a 300 degree oven for 20-30 minutes and then check and toss through and then bake again for 20-30 minutes until the bread cubes are like croutons and hard and very crunchy. The timing on this may vary with each oven, but basically you have to keep checking on them to make sure they are getting dried how and crunchy and not burned. 

2 pounds of raw turkey sausage 
(I buy mine at a local farm at the farmer's market- it is actually a "breakfast" sausage blend, but it is just seasoned with paprika, herbs, sugar, and a little black pepper and salt. Any favorite turkey sausage or even pork sausage will do the trick- just make sure it is raw so you can ground it up with all the seasonings. I buy mine frozen, so I thaw it out for 12 hours and then toss in a large 8 quart pot and ground up and brown into chunks. Then pour our of the pot while you sauce up the rest of the veggies and then you can add in back in before you add the broth. 

2 TB of olive oil for sautéing
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1 whole bunch of celery, finely chopped
6 garlic cloves finely chopped and minced
1/2-1 cup of chopped poultry blend fresh herbs (sage, thyme, rosemary)
1/2 cup of fresh chopped parsley
1 1/2 cups of finely chopped lacinato kale

Sauté on medium heat the above veggies and herbs for 5-10 minutes to get the onion and garlic soft, then add back the browned sausage, and then add the apples, cherries and broth.

1-2 small peeled and finely chopped apples
12 or 16 ounces of organic dried cherries
4 cups of organic chicken broth

Cook in the broth and let it come to a boil and then pour the bread cubes in the huge pot and turn off the heat. Toss and mix as quickly as you can so that the broth evenly distributes itself over all the bread cubes and then very quickly pour into a large 11x15 Pyrex dish, or even a 9x13 work for it to have it in a pile in the middle, or you can use a 9x9 to use up the rest of the mixture. Or if you have a special glass (oven OK dish) that would fit the whole mixture. Then use foil to cover it- let it sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours, but it can be over night. I have also froze it at this stage and pulled it our the day of the dinner. Then, the day of the meal, bake off in a 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes. For the first 30 minutes with the foil on, and then the last 20 with the foil off to get some crispy tops of the bread pieces. If you don't like or what crispy edges, and prefer a more moist finish, then go ahead and keep the foil on. Make sure the middle is HOT before you totally pull from oven. Then let cool for a few minutes before serving with the rest of the feast and fixings.

This is a perfect Thanksgiving stuffing- but also has been eaten as a cozy comfort meal through out the winter months. It would pair well with a roast or ham as well for Christmas. There is no going back after you have tried it- so let it be known I have warned you :)

Much love xoxo