No Noodle Lasagna

 

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     How does the idea of a No Noodle Lasagna appeal to you!?  Let me stop you right there, because I like the idea and I don’t want you to harsh my mellow.  That being said, you gotta try it before you knock it.  It’s interesting how when you add all the spice, it covers the loss of the pasta (I’m being serious).  So this is basically a deconstructed Italian Dish, void of flour.  Once you experience my homemade roasted Red Sauce, there will be no more complaining.  #promise Once you mix this with ground Beef and serve with Cottage Cheese, there will only be smiles at the end of your fork!😉

Ingredients for 8 servings~

10 on the vine Tomatoes

1 chopped Onion

2-3 large Carrots, trimmed and diced (sub with Baby Carrots, and adjust quantity to taste)

1 diced seeded jalapeño or dash of Cayenne Pepper (optional)

2 Tablespoons chopped Garlic

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil (more to taste)

Handful of fresh Basil Leaves (more to taste)

Salt, optional

2 pounds 96% lean Ground Beef

2-3 large heads Broccoli trimmed and diced

2-3 Tablespoons Water

Cottage Cheese

     Dice Tomatoes and add to parchment lined pan, along with half the Onion, Carrots, half the Garlic and Jalapeño or Cayenne Pepper, toss with Olive Oil.  Bake at 425 for one hour.  Meanwhile, add Beef to skillet with remaining Onion and Garlic til well browned and crumbled, drain any excess fat.  Add Broccoli and Water to microwave safe bowl, and heat according to your microwave, usually 5-10 minutes depending on how much you have.  When Tomatoes are done roasting, remove from oven, cool slightly and add to heavy duty blender along with desired amount of Basil, reserve some for garnish if desired.  Next, pour Tomato Sauce into Beef and stir til well combined, season with Salt if desired.  Serve with Cottage Cheese and Steamed Broccoli for a high protein, completely satisfying meal.  Ciao 🇮🇹

Coconut Aminos Chicken

 

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     Raise your hand if you love one pan dishes!?  Tricked ya…I already know the answer!!!  Well you are gunna really be happy about this beaut, cause not only will clean up be easy, but it’s off the charts D-Lish!  And to make life even better this is so simple with minimal ingredients, and comes together in a flash.  So far, I can’t think of one single reason not to try it…can you!?  So put this in your rotation, and watch the smiles spread across your families faces…(or just forget them and have it for lunches all week like me).😉  PS. Thank you Becca for the inspiration, I am grateful when people share their ideas!♥️

Ingredients for 6-8 servings~

3 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs 

1 chopped Onion

1/4 cup Coconut Aminos (sub with Lite Soy Sauce)

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

2-4 cans of Green Beans (according to desire)

Wild mixed Rice, prepared according to directions, if desired (I cook mine in Bouillon and chopped Onion)

     Add Chicken to parchment lined pan and top with Onion, Aminos and Garlic, stir to incorporate.  If the pan you are using does not have sides, then stir in a bowl, then transfer to pan.  Bake for 20 minutes at 400, remove and add drained Green Beans to pan, return to oven for another 15-20 minutes.  Check Chicken to make sure it’s done.  Serve with Rice and Salad if desired.  Enjoy ☺️ 

Weeklong Salad

 

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     For those that know me well, it is no surprise that I am a freak when it comes to food prep.  Organization is my best friend, and the number one thing I do to keep myself safe when it comes to health, and quite frankly a gift in every area of my life!  One of my non negotiables is keeping a daily prepared salad on hand...you know why!?...because they get consumed if they are prepped and ready, duh!  There ain't no way I am going to that much trouble and expense to let one little leaf go to waste!... and they really aren't that much trouble, I was just being dramatic.  #shocker (Hot Tip:  To make the taste a breeze, try and multitask by catching up on your latest Netflix guilty pleasure, or the latest episode of the Real Food Recovery Podcast while chopping!) 🥗

Ingredients for 7 one pound Salads~ (or about that)

1 large head Romaine, chopped

10-16oz chopped Kale

2-3 large heads of fresh chopped Broccoli, including the stems (the best part)

2 pounds Carrots, trimmed, shaved and diced

3 Bell Peppers (I like to do a mix of colors, and reserve one to cut up for the last two days of Salads)

12-16oz container of Cherry Tomatoes

7 glass containers with BPA free lids (please avoid plastic if possible)

Note: feel free to add or subtract any of these ingredients, however, these are tried and true when withstanding the test of time in the fridge, non of these get soft or wilt in a week.  With exception of the Bell Pepper, which is why I wait to cut the last Bell Pepper for Days 6 and 7.

     Clean and chop Romaine, place equally in glass containers, do the same with the Kale.  Next clean, trim and chop Broccoli heads, BUT reserve the stems, place Broccoli pieces equally in each of the containers.  Now, for the fun part, finely chop each of the Broccoli stems (they are the best part, love me some crunch), and distribute equally among containers.  Finish by trimming and chopping Carrots and 2 of the  Peppers, distribute evenly.  Reserve last Bell Pepper to add to Salads 6 and 7 on the last two days of the week. Add lids to each container, store in fridge for 7 days.  You will be amazed that your Salads will be as fresh on the last day as the first.  Enjoy ;)  😉 

Very Berry Ice Cream

 

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     Don’t you love when you feel like you are getting something for nothing!?  Such is the case with my Very Berry Ice Cream!  I love that I never feel deprived, and it’s because Mother Nature gives me all I need now!  For example, with summer fun right around the corner, I whipped up this easy Ice Cream, (or keep it refrigerated for a lovely Berry Yogurt, I might like it even better this way…don’t tell my grandkids).  This is such a simple dessert that you can easily get the kiddos involved in the making, and they are so much more likely to eat better if you get them involved in the process.  Super fast guilt free, give this one a try!😋

Ingredients for four servings~

16oz container of Cottage Cheese

1-2 cups mixed Berries according to taste (sub with preferred fruit)

Nuts for garnish, as desired

     Add Cottage Cheese and Berries to heavy duty blender and whip til smooth, pour equally into four single serving containers. (I like the single serving better than one big dish because it is so much easier to defrost) Top with nuts, or any extra fruit.  Freeze for approximately 4 hours or til set, or leave refrigerated for a Yogurt feel.  When ready defrost for approximately 30 minutes before consuming, or use the microwave if necessary. Enjoy ☺️ 

Butternut Butter Bean Soup

 

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     The hardest thing about this recipe will be saying Butternut Butter Bean Soup three times in a row!  Other than that, this is definitely in the must try category.  And the biggest perk besides the flavor is that it is a ONE POT MEAL!!!  Nothing gets a ladies attention faster than when you hear there is only a single dish to clean.  There are more ingredients than in my usual recipes, but they all play a role in bringing this symphony to a crescendo.  This makes a big hearty pot, so invite your friends and make it an official party! 🎉 

Ingredients for 8 two cup servings~

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 chopped Onion

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

1 hunk skinned and diced fresh Ginger

1 Tablespoon Curry Powder

1 Tablespoon Garam Masala

Dash Cayenne (as desired)

2-3 cups diced Broccoli

1 diced Red Bell Pepper

12oz/3 cups diced Butternut Squash

2 cans Petite Diced Tomatoes (I use no salt added)

13.5oz Can Coconut Milk

2 cups Chicken Broth

2 Chicken Breasts

2 drained cans Butter Beans

     Add Olive Oil to a large stock pot, along with Onion, Garlic, Curry Powder, Garam Marsala and Cayenne til Onions start to softened, then stir in Broccoli and Bell Pepper til crisp tender.  Next add Squash, Tomatoes, Milk, Broth and Chicken and bring to a simmer for about 40 minutes or til Squash is fork tender and Chicken shreds easily with a fork.  When ready, shred Chicken in pot with two forks, and stir in Beans til warmed through.  Enjoy ☺️