Herbs

Cooking with fresh herbs is a must!~

I am very excited about my up-cycled herb drying decor. 

I processed these today. One week from my original post. I enjoyed adding them to my spice collection. I need to cook with these ingredients more. I am most excited about trimming and drying more tomorrow. 

Paleo Crockpot Jambalaya

Paleo Crockpot Jambalaya Soup

• 5 c. chicken stock. 
• 4 peppers – any color you want, chopped 
• 1 large onion, chopped 
• 1 large can of organic diced tomatoes (leave the juice) 
• 2 cloves garlic, diced 
• 2 bay leafs 
• 1 lb large shrimp, raw and de-veined. 
• 4 oz. chicken, diced 
• 2 turkey sausages 
• 1/2-1 head of cauliflower 
• 2 c. okra (optional) 
• 3 tbsp Cajun Seasoning* (see below for how-to or use your own) 
• 1/4 c. Frank’s Red Hot (or hot sauce of your choice)

*How to Make Your Own Cajun Seasoning (from Emeril!):

• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika 
• 2 tablespoons salt 
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder 
• 1 tablespoon black pepper 
• 1 tablespoon onion powder 
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano 
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme 
• (Yields about 2/3 c.) 

Directions

1. Put the chopped peppers, onions, garlic, chicken, cajun seasoning, Red Hot, and bay leafs in the crockpot with the chicken stock. 
2. I grabbed a container of my homemade stock directly from the freezer and threw it in. Set on low for 6 hours. 
3. About 30 minutes before it’s finished, toss in the cut up sausages. 
4. While this is cooking quickly make cauliflower rice by pulsing raw cauliflower in the food processor until it resembles rice. 
5. For the last 20 minutes, add in the cauliflower rice and the raw shrimp.
   
   Note: You can choose to quickly steam the cauliflower rice in the microwave and serve the jambalaya OVER it as well. 

Enjoy clear sinuses!!

Quinoa Stuffed Portabella with Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Quinoa Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms

• 1/3 cup dry quinoa, pre-rinsed
• 2/3 cup chick broth 
• 2 large portobello mushrooms, caps removed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 onion
• 1/2 bell pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Parsley for garnish 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees f.
2. Add quinoa and water to a medium pot, cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low-boil and cook until quinoa has absorbed most of the water, approximately 12-15 minutes. Add red pepper flake, diced onion & diced bell pepper to quinoea. Simmer on low. Stir occasional to avoid burning at the bottom.
3. While quinoa is cooking, remove mushroom gills & stem. Place mushrooms gill (open side) up on a cookie sheet. Brush mushrooms with olive oil and evenly drizzle with balsamic vinegar.
4. Cook mushrooms 10 minutes. Drain excess liquid from mushrooms.
5. Remove mushrooms from oven and evenly divide quinoa mixture, approximately 1/2 cup, into each mushroom. Bake 12 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and cheese is melted. Eat immediately or allow to cool slightly.

Cauliflower mashed potatoes

1. Steam cauliflower. If you do not have a steamer, fill a pot with 1/4 of water. Find a glass Pyrex that barely fits on top of the the pot but allows the steam to escape. 
2. Cover pot with lid.  
3. Boil for 10 minutes or until tender.
4. Add steamed cauliflower to food processor or blender. 
5. Add a clove of garlic, black pepper and a little bit of milk. 
6. Viola-cauliflower mashed potatoes.

This meal was super good. I actually couldn't even eat the salad. I saved it for lunch the next day.

Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup
8 Servings

• 2-3 frozen chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 cup diced carrot
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 7 cups of homemade chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon of thyme
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2-3 handfuls of your fav pasta (optional)
• 1 can or cup of fresh corn (optional)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in crock pot for 6-8 hours.
2. Add a couple handfuls your fav pasta or rice in the last 30 minutes.

This was super easy and it tasted really good.  Easy to make & eat if you are sick.  I have made this many times now.  It is always inexpensive & easy.  It never goes to waste.

Crockpot Lemon Chicken

Crockpot Lemon Chicken 

Serves 4

• (3 lb) broiler-fryer chickens(whole or pieces)
• 1 teaspoon crumbled dry oregano
• 1⁄2 teaspoon crumbled dried rosemary
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄4 cup sherry wine or 1⁄4 cup chicken broth
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Wash chicken; pat dry; 
2. season chicken generously with salt and pepper; 
3. sprinkle half of oregano, rosemary and garlic inside cavity of chicken; 
4. transfer to slow cooker or crock pot; 
5. sprinkle with remaining oregano, rosemary and garlic; add sherry to crockpot.
6. Cover, cook on LOW (200 degrees) for 7 hours; 
7. add lemon juice and cook 1 more hour (total of 8).

This was good.  I will make it again.  Everything in the crock pot turns out good.  Crock pot chicken is easier to process for leftovers and broth.

Crockpot Chicken Broth 

1. Put chicken carcass back in crock pot.  
2. Add veggie scraps, dash of salt and pepper.  
3. Add Bay leaf. 
4. Fill with water. Cook on low over night.  
5. In the morning you will have the best chicken broth money can't by for your recipes.

Fried Honey Bannanas

1 Banana Sliced

1 tablespoon of honey

Cinnamon 

coconut oil

Melt coconut oil on med heat.  Add bananas.  Flip to brown on both sides.  Whisk honey with half tablespoon of water.  Pour honey mixture over bananas.  Enjoy!!  These were so good, I forgot to take a picture. 

Sweet Potato Waffles

I have been into the waffle maker lately, as I have been trying out homemade workout nutrition.

Makes one Waffle

2 sweet potatoes  (remove the skins)
1 egg
splash of vanilla
pinch of cinnamon
handful of raisins
handful of chopped almonds
1 tablespoon of Chia seeds

Mash sweet potatoes and combine the rest of ingredients.

Spray waffle maker with Pan.  Cook for 15 minutes.

These were amazing!!!!

Chicken Salad-no mayo

Use left over chicken from whole chicken dinner.

Chop chicken into small bites

Dice half onion and a few celery stalks

Mix together a few tablespoons of nonfat yogurt, teaspoon of Dijon mustard, half teasoon of honey. Add teaspoon of pepper and Old Bay seasoning. Pour over veggies and chicken. 

Stir

I couldn't even tell he difference.