Walnut Butter

Raw walnuts are one of my favorite nuts!  I had never even heard of walnut butter, until recently, and when I ran across this recipe, I was eager to try it!  This walnut butter recipe did not disappoint!  I've enjoyed it on bananas and organic apple slices.  It's even tasty right out of the jar!  Next time, I will probably double the recipe, but other than that, no other adjustments need to be made!

Enjoy!
~Davis

Walnut Butter
(Walnuts.org)
Ingredients:
-raw walnuts
-sea salt
-coconut oil (or walnut oil)
-honey (I used 2 tsp.)
-cinnamon (I used 1/2 tsp, but could have maybe added more)

Mixed Greens, Blueberry & Walnut Salad with Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette

In the latest People magazine (6/3/13), Daphne Oz (Dr. Oz's daughter) shared some recipes, one of which was this delicious Mixed Greens, Blueberry & Walnut Salad with Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette.  It was so refreshing and the prefect summer time dinner!

Enjoy!
~Davis
 

Salad Ingredients:
-mixed greens
-fresh blueberries
-raw chopped walnuts
-sauteed chicken (not in the original recipe, but since we were having this for dinner, I figured I would add some meat, so it would be more filling.  Chicken breasts were seasoned with sea salt, pepper, and garlic power and sauteed in coconut oil)

Dressing Ingredients:
-4 Tbsp. olive oil
-2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
-2 tsp. plain yellow mustard (original recipe calls for Dijon mustard)
-1 clove fresh minced garlic (I omitted this ingredient, as it was listed as optional, and my husband doesn't like fresh garlic in his dressing)
-1 tsp. honey (I put a little more than what the recipe called for)
-1/2 tsp. sea salt
-1 Tbsp. fresh dill or 1 tsp. dried dill

Mix all ingredients before "dressing" your salad.  This was enough dressing for about 4 salads.

Pesto, Pico and Chicken Pasta

So the other night we were low on groceries, so I literally threw dinner together and it turned out to be so tasty!  My husband and I agreed I would need to make this again!  Four main ingredient.....

-100% whole wheat pasta (one ingredient)

-sauteed chicken breasts (chicken seasoned with sea salt, pepper and garlic powder and cooked in coconut oil)

-homemade pesto that I keep in the freezer and use for our homemade pizzas

-pico de gallo that was left over from the Club Spring Rolls.  I can't remember the brand of pico I buy, but it's in the refrigerated section and has no additives or preservatives...just all natural ingredients.

You definitely need to try this dish!

Enjoy!
~Davis

Club Spring Rolls

I made these wraps so that my brother and his girlfriend could take them on the plane with them in case we got too busy talking or playing cards and they didn't have time to eat dinner here at the house.  They ended up having time to eat before heading to the airport and they really seemed to enjoy these wraps.  I thought they were delicious and the homemade guacamole was the perfect touch.

Enjoy!
~Davis


Club Spring Rolls
Ingredients:
-sauteed chicken (chopped chicken breasts seasoned with sea salt and pepper and sauteed in coconut oil)
-fresh cilantro
-lettuce or spinach
-radishes
-nitrate free turkey bacon (ingredients: turkey thighs, water, sea salt, raw sugar, celery powder, paprika, onion powder, spice)
-spring roll skins (ingredients: rice flour, tapioca starch (aka tapioca flour), water, salt)
-homemade guacamole (ingredients: avocados, pico, lime juice, sea salt)
-muenster cheese

Spicy Spaghetti Sauce with Spaghetti Squash

Ok, all that really needs to be said about this is....YUM!!!  It was just as easy to throw together as any other spaghetti recipe and tasted amazing!!!  I will definitely be making this a lot!!

Enjoy!
~Davis


Spicy Spaghetti Sauce with Spaghetti Squash
(Crossfit Huntsville)
Ingredients:
-spaghetti squash
-olive oil
-onion
-fresh garlic
-ground turkey
-organic crushed tomatoes
-organic tomato paste (I omitted this ingredient)
-red wine
-oregano (I used dried oregano)
-crushed red pepper flakes
-parsley (I used dried parsley)
-fresh mushrooms
-Italian Seasoning
-garlic powder*
-sea salt*

*The recipe calls for garlic salt, but I used garlic powder and sea salt.  The garlic salt I found in my pantry has an additive, whereas the garlic powder and sea salt don't.

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cake (Paleo)

My brother and his girlfriend came to visit recently, so I made this delicious (paleo) Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cake.  If you notice below in the ingredient list, it calls for nine eggs and only a little coconut flour, so the texture of the cake isn't bread like, but more sponge like, or egg like.  I served the apple cake with Lemon Chia Seed Muffins and fresh pineapple and raspberries!  All of it was a hit!

Enjoy!
~Davis


Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cake
(Primally Inspired)
Ingredients:
-organic apples
-water
-cinnamon
-vanilla extract
-coconut oil
-eggs (9!!!)
-100% pure maple syrup
-milk (I used organic whole milk)
-coconut flour
-baking soda
-sea salt

Red Wine Pot Roast with Honey and Thyme

I love a good pot roast recipe and I really enjoyed the flavor of this roast recipe, however, I wasn't crazy about the cut of meat that the recipe calls for (bottom round roast).  I threw all the ingredients into my crock pot and cooked it that way instead of in the oven (like the recipe said to do), so that could have made a difference in the cut.  I also cooked the potatoes in the oven (not the crock pot), so we had the roast/onions/carrots served with a baked potato on the side.

I will definitely make this again, as I love the flavor the wine gives the roast.  Also, I will most likely use my crock pot again next time (because crock pots are AWESOME!), however, I will use the cut of meat that I usually use when I make a roast in my crock pot (I can't remember the cut, but if I were at the store I would be able to figure it out!).  :)

~Davis


Red Wine Pot Roast with Honey and Thyme
(Food Network)
Ingredients:
-roast (I will probably try a different cut of meat next time)
-sea salt
-pepper
-oil*
-onions
-fresh garlic
-carrots
-homemade chicken stock
-red wine
-honey
-thyme (I used dried thyme)
-potatoes

*I didn't brown the sides of the meat (lazy, I know!), nor did I saute the vegetables, therefore I omitted this ingredients.  If I hadn't omitted the oil, I would have used coconut oil instead of the vegetable oil.

Honey Orange Basil Chicken and Whole-Wheat Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits

For dinner the other night we had Honey Orange Basil Chicken, roasted brussel sprouts, Whole-Wheat Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits and orange slices for dessert.

The chicken was good.  Next time I will probably do a few things differently with this recipe.  I probably should have used fresh parsley (instead of dried), like the recipes calls for.  Also, our grill isn't working right now, so I sauteed the chicken on the stove in coconut oil and with sliced red bell pepper.  The grill may have made it taste a little better???

As for the biscuits...they were out of this world!!  This is a recipe we will be making over and over!  Just a helpful note:  do as the directions say and simply drop the biscuit dough onto the baking sheet.  I thought they needed a little flattening out before cooking, but they flatten themselves out, so mine turned out looking like pancakes!  Even though they were a little flat (o.k., a lot flat!), they were still so yummy!!!

Enjoy!
~Davis


Honey Orange Basil Chicken
(All Recipes)
Ingredients:
-orange juice
-olive oil (replaced the vegetable oil in recipe)
-honey
-fresh parsley (I used dried parsley, but probably would have tasted better with fresh)
-dried basil
-orange zest
-sea salt
-pepper
-chicken breasts


Whole-Wheat Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits
(100 Days of Real Food)
Ingredients:
-whole-wheat flour
-baking powder
-sea salt
-garlic powder
-grated cheddar cheese
-butter
-milk (I used organic whole milk)

Honey Orange Basil Chicken and Whole-Wheat Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits

Broccoli-Raisin Salad

I made this recipe for a cookout today and I really liked it!  The recipe says to let it refrigerate at least two hours before serving, which I didn't do.  I think it would have made it taste even more delicious if I had started preparing this dish earlier in the day.  What I  really liked about this recipe is that it called for Greek yogurt instead of mayo, which most broccoli salad recipes that I am familiar with include in their ingredients.  I would definitely make this again.

~Davis

Broccoli-Raisin Salad
(This recipe came from Publix's Family Style magazine)
Ingredients:
-6 cups broccoli florets
-1/2 cup raisins
-1/2 cup dry-roasted sunflower kernels (I used raw shelled sunflower seeds instead)
-1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
-1/3 cup olive oil
-1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
-2 Tbsp. honey mustard (I used 1 Tbsp. plain yellow mustard and 1 Tbsp. honey)
-1 clove garlic, minced
-2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
-sea salt, to taste (this is not in the original recipe)

*Lightly steam the broccoli, then transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water.  Drain well.
*In a large bowl mix together the broccoli, raisins, sunflower seed,  and red onion.
*In a separate bowl mix together the remaining ingredients.
*Pour dressing over the broccoli mixture.  Stir so that ingredients are coated well with dressing.
*Refrigerate for 2-24 hours before serving (8 servings).

Broccoli-Raisin Salad

Lemon Chia Seed Muffins

I have been wanting to make these muffins for a while now, as my friend told me they were amazing....and well, she was right!  I don't usually love lemony things, but these were an exception.  I will definitely be making these again!

Enjoy!
~Davis


Lemon Chia Seed Muffins
(Slim Palate)
Ingredients:
-coconut flour
-chia seeds
-baking soda
-lemon zest
-sea salt
-vanilla extract
-lemon juice
-apple cider vinegar
-milk (I used organic whole milk instead of the almond milk that was recommended)
-honey
-eggs
-coconut oil

Lemon Chia Seed Muffins

Overnight No-Cook Refrigerator Oatmeal

Those of you who follow my blog know that I love oatmeal, so when a friend passed this link onto me, I was super excited!  The recipes are really neat, fun and there's no cooking or preparing anything when you wake up!  There are 14 different flavors to make and they all sound great, but so far I have just tried the Apple Cinnamon Refrigerator Oatmeal.  Have fun trying these delicious overnight no-cook refrigerator oatmeal recipes!

~Davis


Apple Cinnamon Refrigerator Oatmeal
(The Yummy Life)
Ingredients:
-old fashioned rolled oats
-milk (I used organic whole milk)
-plain greek yogurt
-chia seeds
-cinnamon
-honey
-unsweetened organic applesauce


five other flavors from The Yummy Life
-Mango Almond
-Blueberry Maple
-Banana Cocoa
-Banana Peanut Butter
-Raspberry Vanilla


eight more flavors from The Yummy Life
-Pineapple Coconut
-Mandarin Orange
-Cherry Garcia
-Peach Melba
-Pumpkin Pie
-Cranberry Pecan
-Apricot Ginger
-Mocha

Apple Cinnamon Refrigerator Oatmeal

Oatmeal

I love oatmeal and not only for breakfast.  I can totally enjoy a big bowl of oatmeal for lunch or dinner too!  Growing up I would eat those instant oatmeal flavored packets.  When I was at the grocery store the other day I looked at the ingredients in several different flavors and they all have sugar as the second ingredient.  Also, most of the flavors I looked at had artificial flavors and colors...yuck!  The way I prepare my oatmeal these days is MUCH better for you, but also so much more tasty!  You can get very creative with your oatmeal, so fix you up a bowl today!  Below are some of my favorite ways to eat oatmeal.

~Davis



*This is my very favorite way to flavor my oatmeal:  oatmeal (oats, water, sea salt), walnuts, mashed banana, vanilla extract, flax seed meal, and maple syrup.

*My second favorite way to  fix my oatmeal: oatmeal (oats, water, sea salt), raisins, homemade peanut butter, maple syrup, flax seed meal and vanilla extract.

*And every so often, for a change, I like to eat it this way: oatmeal (oats, water, sea salt), strawberry honey jam, and flax seed meal.

peanut butter oatmeal

strawberry oatmeal

Whole-Grain Waffles or Pancakes

Here's a delicious and easy waffle or pancake batter that we like to use.  The recipe suggests topping the waffles or pancakes with maple syrup, plain greek yogurt and fresh strawberries, which sound delicious!  However, we used the batter to make pancakes and simply put some homemade peanut butter in between two  pancakes, which makes a delicious and filling breakfast or snack!

Enjoy!
~Davis

Whole-Grain Waffles/Pancakes
(Whole Living)
Ingredients:
-whole-wheat flour
-wheat germ
-maple syrup (this replaced the cane sugar)
-baking powder
-salt
-milk (I used organic whole milk)
-coconut oil (this replaced the canola oil)
-an egg
-pure vanilla extract

Whole-Grain Pancakes

Veggie Enchiladas and Garlic Cilantro Lime Rice

So, we have never eaten such amazing food as we do now since changing to a REAL food diet!  I really hate that I had been missing out of such awesome REAL food recipes for so many years!

These two Mexican dishes as so tasty!  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

~Davis


Veggie Enchiladas
(Jelly Toast Blog)
Sauce Ingredients:
-garlic cloves
-olive oil
-organic tomato sauce
-homemade chicken stock
-cumin
-chili powder
-sea salt
Enchiladas ingredients:
-sprouted grain tortillas (in the frozen section of the grocery store)
-frozen corn
-frozen kale (I have never  seen frozen kale, so I brought some fresh kale and sauted it in coconut oil)
-black beans
-a roasted squah, zucchini and red bell pepper (this is not in the original recipe.  I seasons these vegetables with olive oil, kosher salt and pepper)
-cumin
-sea salt
-pepper
-cheese
-scallions (for garnish)

Garlic Cilantro Lime Rice
(Girl Meets Nourishment)
Ingredients:
-whole grain brown rice
-homemade chicken stock
-lime juice
-cilantro
-garlic cloves
-real butter
-sea salt

Veggie Enchiladas

Veggie Enchilada and Garlic Cilantro Lime Rice

Rosemary-Maple Pork Tenderloin

This was a delicious dinner we had the last two nights and pretty easy to prepare!   I served the pork over  whole grain brown rice that was cooked in homemade chicken stock instead of water.  This meal was even better the second night!  Hope you are able to try this one soon!

Enjoy!
Davis


Rosemary-Maple Pork Tenderloin
(Publix)
Ingredients:
-shallot
-pork tenderloin
-kosher or sea salt
-pepper
-coconut oil (the recipe calls for canola oil, but I recommend you use coconut oil instead)
-Marsala wine (I used Chardonnay instead)
-baby portabellas
-stock (I used homemade chicken stock)
-100% pure maple syrup
-rosemary

Rosemary-Maple Pork Tenderloin

Zesty Quinoa Salad

I had this delicious quinoa dish about a month ago at my sweet friend's house.  She made it for her precious little boy's first birthday party and as soon as I tasted it, I immediately had to get the recipe!  I made it yesterday to take to a Cinco de Mayo neighborhood gathering, and it was such a hit!  It's very easy to make, so yummy, and REAL food! :)

Enjoy!
Davis


Zesty Quinoa Salad
(All Recipes)
Ingredients:
-quinoa
-homemade chicken stock (or water)
-olive oil
-limes
-ground cumin
-salt
-red pepper flakes (I omitted this ingredient)
-cherry tomaotes
-black beans
-green onions
-fresh cilantro
-black pepper

Zesty Quinoa Salad

Spiced Salmon with Mustard Sauce

O.K., so I think we have discovered our favorite salmon recipe!  This took a few minutes to throw together and it was absolutely delicious and as always, we ate our salmon with a side of steamed asparagus!  Yummy dinner!  I doubled the sauce recipe, except I didn't double the amount of ground red pepper....I think that would have been too spicy for us.  Lastly, I baked the fish at 450 for 12 minutes, which is different from what the recipe says to do.  I am sure either way would be just fine.

Enjoy!
Davis


Spiced Salmon with Mustard Sauce
(My Recipes)
Ingredients:
-mustard*
-honey
-ground turmeric
-ground red pepper
-garlic powder
-sea salt
-salmon (remember wild-caught, NOT farm raised!)
-olive oil spritzer

*The recipe calls for whole-grain mustard, but I used yellow mustard.  The reason I made this substitution is because all the whole-grain mustard I found at the grocery store had at least one unrecognizable additive/preservative, whereas the yellow mustard (that I already had at home-another plus) contains: vinegar, water, mustard seed, salt, turmeric, and paprika.  

Spiced Salmon with Mustard Sauce

Quinoa Avocado Tacos and Lettuce Wraps

Last night and tonight we ate these Quinoa Avocado Tacos and they were SO good!!!  I think it was a given that I was going to like this recipe, since it has two of my favorite foods in it: quinoa and avocados!  My husband liked them and even my toddler ate it!   It was easy to prepare, so put this on the menu for this weekend.

Enjoy!
Davis

Quinoa Avocado Tacos
(Food Babe)
Ingredients:
-romaine lettuce
-quinoa (I cooked my quinoa in homemade chicken stock, instead of water.  Also, I doubled the amount of quinoa)
-chili powder
-avocados
-lime juice
-cherry tomatoes
-onion (I used red onion)
-fresh cilantro
-sea salt
-pepper
-garlic clove
-jalapeno (I omitted this ingredient)

Quinoa Avocado Tacos

I had a lot of Romaine lettuce left over from this recipe, so for the next few days, I enjoyed lettuce, red bell pepper  cilantro, avocado, muenster cheese and homemade hummus wraps (using the lettuce as the wrap)!  SO YUM!