Butternut Squash Soup For some reason, my garden was kind of a dud this year. The tomatoes were stubborn, the kale was cranky. And don't even get me started on the cucumbers. ugh. But the butternut squash? They must've known the other vegetables were slacking off because they kicked it into high gear this summer. I have two boxes filled with big, beautiful butternut squash. If you're just not that into squash, I totally get it. I was once a card carrying member to Squash Haters Anonymous, but I am slowly coming around to its charms. Butternut is a great place to start. It's sweet and firm and mellow and friendly. Simply roasting little cubes Keep Reading
Pumpkin Quinoa Breakfast Bowl (a gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)
Pumpkin Quinoa Breakfast Bowl This recipe was featured several years ago in the Oregonian Foodday. I love the short ingredient list and the fact that it combines pumpkin puree + cooked quinoa, two ingredients I almost always have in my pantry or freezer. Add a swirl of maple syrup, splash of milk, and pinch of spice before sliding it into the microwave. In about 2 minutes, you'll be holding a warm, filling breakfast bowl. Add any toppings your little heart desires to take it over the top. My favorite combination is sliced bananas, toasted almonds, and plain yogurt. Pumpkin is high in fiber, vitamin-A and C, antioxidants, and potassium. Quinoa is Keep Reading
Healthy Coconut Chicken Soup recipe (Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)
Coconut Chicken Soup My friend Rebecca has been raving about this Coconut Chicken Soup for years. I couldn't take it any longer. Friends don't let friends describe delicious food without inviting themselves to dinner, so naturally I suggested she make it for me. Last month, she did just that. I ate one bowl and decided she was definitely onto something. Then I ate a second bowl just to be sure. My husband was equally as thorough in his taste testing. Instead of dropping by for dinner each month, I decided it was time to learn how to make it myself. This healthy soup is creamy and flavorful, thanks to the base which combines chicken broth, Keep Reading
Carrot cake baked oatmeal (gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal Because I know you need something exciting, today we're talking about carrots and oatmeal! Buckle up. Now, I'm not a licensed counselor or anything, but I think there's something to be said for being stuck in a rut. I mean, I wouldn't recommend it for one's career or relationships. But breakfast? I live in Rutsville, where the local diner serves eggs + toast or yogurt + granola every single morning. And I really like it that way. If something unexpected like French Toast happens, I'll eat my standard breakfast for lunch. If the whole family wants muffins, we do muffins, but the whole time I feel like I'm skipping out Keep Reading
N’oatmeal Cookies (a gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)
N'Oatmeal Cookies - Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are not my idea of a good time, but these cookies are different. You'll just have to trust me on this one. Don't let their healthy appearance fool you. They are crazy addictive, and somehow you feel almost virtuous eating them. Sweetened with maple syrup and loaded with good stuff, N'oatmeal Cookies are the Paleo answer to the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie dilemma. They are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, with sweet & salty pops of flavor. Instead of oats, the recipe calls for a combination of almond and flax meal. Packed with coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, Keep Reading
Breakfast fried rice (gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)
Breakfast Fried Rice I love breakfast food. I could eat it morning, noon, and night. Our family has shifted from sweet to savory, eating fewer scones and muffins and more eggs and oatmeal. Let's start with fried rice! Which might seem like an odd place to start for breakfast, but I promise it is a good one. I once read that fried rice is like the Asian spin on casserole. You're using up bits of leftovers to create a new dish that blends all the flavors together. And as an added bonus, it all comes together quickly in one skillet. You saute some vegetables, crack in a few eggs and scramble them right in the pan, then add the rice and meat, and Keep Reading
Cowboy Caviar (a gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)
Cowboy Caviar The first time I ate Cowboy Caviar was with Herman the Sturgeon. My friend Rebecca and I had just finished hiking back to Wahclella Falls with our crew of little people. We drove over to Bonneville Dam and spread our picnic blanket under the trees next to Herman's tank. The kids bounced around on the grass while we ate lunch together. I quickly ditched my trusty pb&j's and started shoveling Rebecca's Cowboy Caviar in my mouth instead. It was the perfect lunch for hungry hikers and a sunny afternoon. You can whip this delicious concoction together in less than 10 minutes. Pop the lid on the container, grab a bag of tortilla chips, Keep Reading