Beans Beans....

Today was rather depressing...cold, rainy...uneventful!  So I decided to spice it up a little bit by making chili!  I usually start this process the night before or early in the morning, but I didn't have the urge until almost 4:30, so it didn't simmer as long as I like for it to, but it was great none the less.  I tweak this recipe pretty much every time I make it, so below are ust some general guidelines I use when preparing chili.  Enjoy!

Turkey Chili:
2 lbs Ground Turkey (I try to find the "leanest" turkey I can.  usually about 97%)
2 cans corn
2 cans stewed tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can navy beans
1 can butter beans (these are my favorite!!!!)
1 large can or 2 cans pinto beans
1 large can or 2 cans chili beans
3-4 stalks celery chopped
1 large white onion chopped
1/2 jalepeno or poblano pepper finely diced (chose depending on how spicy you want it...be daring and use a habenero!!)
3 tbs fresh minced garlic (I keep a jar in the fridge)
2 tbs honey
2tbs molasses
salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, and onion powder to taste

Brown the turkey in water and drain.  Add to deep pot with spices beans, corn, and vegetables and cook on medium-high for 30 minutes.  Simmer all day (at least 2 hours) adding more spices, honey and molasses to taste. 
I like to serve my chili with cheese (I use soy cheese now), sour cream (tofutti makes a great dairy free sour cream), white vinegar, and hot sauce.  Corn bread goes well as a side, and I usually do a fruit to balance it all out.  Enjoy. 

Oreo Brownie Surprise!

And the surprise is it's completely dairy free and completely delicious!!!!
I can't take credit for the recipe, it's from Betty Crocker, but since there brownies aren't dairy free, I had to tweak it.  I use Ghirardelli brownies because most of them are dairy free.  Always check the box to be sure. 

Oreo Brownie Surprise:
1 box dairy free brownie mix
10-12 oreos crushed
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
5-7 oreos crushed
1/2 tub vanilla icing (again make sure it's dairy free, I got Pillsbury)

Prepare brownies as directed adding the 10-12 crushed oreos.  Bake like it says on the box.  Cool completely.  You can throw it in the freezer to speed this process up, just don't leave them in there too long.  Then cover with the vanilla icing (I added green food coloring for St. Patty's Day) and top with the crushed oreos!!!  SOOOOO YUMMY!!!!!   if you have trouble with your brownies getting stuck to the pan, someone told me to line it with foil and then spray with grease.  Also, I recently saw "perfect brownie" pans at the store that have individual compartments for each piece.  I can't wait to get one and try it out. 

I DO like Green Eggs and Ham...I DO like them Sam I Am!

I LOVE St. Patty's Day!  It's probably my favorite holiday with the exception of the Religious ones(Easter and Christmas).  Green is my favorite color!  I love me some Irish music!  I love green beer... corned beef and cabbage (which is in the slow cooker right now for life group tonight).  I could eat Irish Soda bread all day long... but this St. Patty's Day I opted for a more kid friendly dinner fare.... Green Eggs and Ham!  And it was a hit.  I couldn't find our book to read before we made it, so I found a reading online.  It was spectatcular.  I'm sure there are a ton of different ways you could prepare it, but here is what I did.

Green Eggs:
I made them two ways: Scarambled and Fried.
To scramble the eggs just add a little bit of green food coloring, milk substitue of your choice, and cracked salt and pepper, whisk while cooking until firm enough for your taste. 
Fried:  I separated the whites and added the food coloring to them before frying. Then added the yoke on top with a little more green food coloring.  (This was pretty tedious, but it does look more like the eggs in the book!)

Green Ham:
I bough some ham off the bone, pre sliced and pre cooked.
Soak in water and green food coloring for about 20-30 minutes.  (If you don't separate the slices, only the edges will turn green).  Then heat a little oil in a frying pan.  Lay the ham down and sprinkle with salt and brown sugar.  Flip and repeat. 

I served this with sprite and a little more green food color....I can't wait to see the contents of Avery's diaper today:) 

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Guacamole...mole...mole!

Avadaco is probably the best food ever!  If I had to pick one thing to eat for the rest of my life, I'm pretty sure that would be it.  It's got enough good fat to keep me going, and it's so yummy and easy to work with!  For those of you whole struggle preparing Avacados, here is my tip:
Take a long, sharp knife and cut around the avacado so it comes apart in half.  One side will be left with the huge seed.  Stick the knife straight down into the seed and twist and pull.  The seed should come right out.  Then using a large table spoon, scoop the flesh of the avacado out.  If you are mashing, you don't need to be careful, but if you want slices, use a little more care when scooping.  Below is my personal favorite way to prepare guacamole.  After many trips to On The Boarder and watching them prepare the Guac Live!  I came up with my own. 

Guacamole (dairy and gluten free)
3-4 medium sized avacados mashed
3 diced tomatoes
1/2 jalepeno pepper finely diced
1/2 white onion chopped
chopped fresh cilantro to taste
garlic and regular salt
fresh squeezed lime

Mash to preferred consistency and enjoy with chips!!!

In a hurry, slice open an avacado and take out the seed, sprinkle with garlic salt and spoon directly into mouth....MMMMMMMM

"Pepsi" Chicken

Disclaimer: Due to recent lawsuits showing that Pepsi Co. uses kidney secreations of aborted babies in the flavor research of their newest drink...I would ask that you use another brand of soda for this recipe!  But for names sake, I will call it "Pepsi" Chicken. 

This is probably my favorite and easiest recipe!  While I can't take full credit for the recipe that was handed down to me from my mother, and to her from a missionary friend, I have made my own tweaks over the years. 

"Pepsi" Chicken (dairy and gluten free)
4 boneless chicken breasts (any piece of chicken will work, frozen or fresh)
1 stick butter alternative (I prefer the ones w/ olive oil)
1 bottle barbeque sauce
1 can soda (I like Dr. Pepper)
2 tbs brown sugar
dash cayenne pepper
Brown rice (or white, Jed like Jasmine...I don't)

Sautee Chicken in a deep pot with butter substitute and brown sugar until browned.  Cover with barbque sauce and soda and bring to a boil.  Let simmer for 30 minutes (or until tender) on low.  Serve over rice (or baked potatoes)  ENJOY!   

In the mood for Mexican!

If you know me, you know I LOVE Mexican food.  This has been problematic since my 15 month old and I went dairy free 2 1/2 months ago for allergy purposes.  But recently I've come up with some AMAZING dairy free recipes to fulfill my cravings for Mexican food.  Here is one I took to Life Group last night, and it was a HIT!
Mexican Cornbread (Dairy Free!!)
1 box Jiffy Cornbread Mix
1 egg
3/4 cup soy milk
2 tbs soy sour cream (I prefer" tofutti")
1/4 cup shredded vegan cheddar substitute (I prefer "Follow Your Heart")
1/4 cup chopped white onion
1/2 can stewed tomatoes (I like the fire roasted)
1/2 jalepeno pepper finely diced
1/4 cup black olives chopped

Mix everything together, batter will be lumpy.  Poor into a greased bread pan or muffin tins.  Bake for 15-25 minutes at 400.  ENJOY!!!