Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Ok yea, that title was super corny.

But in all seriousness, this dinner is a winner, at least in our household.

And it is, in fact, corny!

Another thing that is awesome about being dairy and soy free is that I never feel bogged down after eating. Most of the foods I eat leave me feeling light (Literally, I am way under my pre-pregnancy weight) and healthy.

This meal will fill you up, without weighing you down.

Refreshing Southwest Chicken

Ingredients:

For Chicken:

4 Medium Chicken Breasts

4 tsp Chili Powder

2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp black ground pepper

3-4 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Season chicken with all but EVOO and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

(I make the salad during this time)

Heat oil in a skillet on medium heat and cook chicken until fully cooked.

For Salad: (I use organic for all of the following, but it isn't required)

2 cans of Corn- drained

3 TBSB Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped

1/2 Medium Cucumber, peeled and chopped (I quarter it then slice)

1 16 oz can kidney beans, rinsed well

5 TBSP Lime Juice

1/2 tsp Salt

Pepper to taste

Just toss all of the ingredients together. ITS. THAT. EASY.

Put salad on a plate and serve with chicken on top!

YUM!!

Soy & GMOs

I am actually very thankful for my little girl having these allergies.

It caused me to do a lot of research.

Whether you are Dairy and Soy Free or not,

you should watch, "Food, Inc."

It is very eye opening and very scary what we are putting into our bodies.

My little girl's doctor was discussing how he believes that the reason for the rise in dairy and soy resistance are the Genetic Modifications (aka GMO/GMI) that are done.

I mean think about it,

if soy and corn are genetically modified,

and we feed cows these GMIs

OF COURSE their milk will be different.

One thing that scares me that the movie pointed out gave me chills.

When our generation was born there were hardly any genetic modifications done to our food supply. And Now :

Currently, up to 85 percent of U.S. corn is genetically engineered as are 91 percent of soybeans and 88 percent of cotton (cottonseed oil is often used in food products). According to industry, up to 95% of sugar beets are now GE. It has been estimated that upwards of 70 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves–from soda to soup, crackers to condiments–contain genetically engineered ingredients.

Excerpt taken from Center for Food Safety.

Unfortunately many people still believe that eating organic is just a trend.

Hopefully with this information out there, we can change this way of thinking and eating organic can become a way of life.

Maybe one day all of our restaurants and grocery stores will understand the importance and make the change too!

Allergen Free Cookbook!

I am going to have to look into this!

Until I do, I thought I would share just in case anyone else is interested!

Mmmmmm Pancakes!!!!

I thought I would make up for my not so wonderful review of The Pure Pantry chocolate chip cookie review with a review of their Dairy and Soy Free Pancake Mix.

They are delicious!!!

I added chocolate chips to mine,

next time it will be blueberries.

Can you say Pancake Perfection?

I will never go back to Bisquick!

The texture was just as perfect as the taste.

They cooked up perfectly.

I could not ask for a better pancake.

The price isn't bad either, I believe they were around 6 at whole foods!

For those of you super healthy eaters, they also make a buckwheat flax option.

You can use either to make crepes and waffles too!

OH AND FUNNEL CAKE!

Highly Recommended!!

The Pure Pantry: Chocolate Chip Cookie Review

They definitely had their work cut out for them-

making a dairy, soy, gluten, nut, and egg free cookie.

BUT they did it.

The Pure Pantry offers several baking packages to get us allergen people through.

I baked their chocolate chip cookies today and I am trying to decide what I think.

First of all, it is not the texture of your typical chocolate chip cookie... its a little more grainy.

It kind of reminds me of some country cornbread my grandma once made.

It even has a bit of a corn bread flavor...

Maybe its the organic corn flour.

Plus, they are a little dry.

Will I eat the entire 24 cookies?

You bet cha!

Would I ever serve them to friends?

No thanks.

I guess what I am saying is-

If you are in a pinch and the cookie craving hits.

These are good to go in about 15 minutes total time.

Don't get me wrong- I love everything The Pure Pantry is trying to do.

Unfortunately, I am not in love with these cookies.

Shrimp Pasta! So good you will think you are in a restaurant!

1 lb Uncooked Shrimp, peeled & Deveined

1 14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes in Garlic & Olive Oil

1/3 C Olive Oil

3-6 Cloves Minced Garlic (I used about 4)

2 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar

2 TBSP Dried or Fresh Basil (I used Dried)

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/4 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes

1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

Enough Spaghetti for 2 People

In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients but Shrimp and Pasta. Blend until it looks Saucy : )

Pour just enough of the sauce to coat the shrimp in a bowl. Mix the shrimp in and be sure it is fully coated.

Place COVERED in the fridge to marinade for 30min -1 hour.

Put water in a pot on the stove and cook spaghetti. Add 1 T of Salt to the water to flavor the spaghetti.

Drain pasta when fully cooked.

Add remaining sauce to the pasta.

Cook on low while you put the shrimp in s skillet.

Cook on medium heat 3-4 minutes on each side.

Add the Shrimp to the Pasta.

Serve!!!

A Dairy & Soy Free 4th of July BBQ!

I know, its traumatic- dieting on Holidays.

BUT just one meal with D&S can stay in your system for 2 weeks then in baby's an additional 2.

Thats a total of 4 weeks of illness for one bit of temptation.

Kind of daunting isn't it?

With a few modifications, and some label checking,

you can still enjoy the 4th with the rest of em!!

Appetizer

Bacon Wrapped Smokies (See recipe below)

Salad

Romaine Mix with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Main Dish

BBQ Chicken Breast With Sweet Baby Ray's

Sides

Sweet & Spicy Corn (See recipe below)

Roasted Potatoes (See recipe below)

Desert

So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream

*Bacon Wrapped Smokies

These aren't your typical smokies although those are also good too. These disappear sooo fast at every event I bring them to. Ingredients are simple: Package of smokies, 1 lb of Hickory Smoked Bacon, 1 Bag of Brown Sugar. Steps are just as simple: Cut the bacon strips into 3rds. Wrap one piece around a smokie then sit on a baking tray. This can not be a cookie sheet, it needs to have a raised edge to it- a brownie pan works just fine. Once all of the smokies are rolled in bacon, top with 1/2 inch of Brown Sugar. I know, it seems like a lot. Just do it. It melts and caramelizes as it cooks. Bake for about 20-30 minutes- you can tell it is done when the bacon begins to look crisp.

*Sweet & Spicy Corn

4 Ears UN-SHUCKED corn

1 T Olive oil

2 t minced garlic

1 t brown sugar

1/4 t crushed red pepper

1/4 t cayenne pepper

Peel Corn back and pull out all of the hair. Keep enough of the leaves? on to fully cover the entire ear of corn. Mix the rest of the ingredients together. Coat the corn then wrap the leaves back over the ear. Grill.

*Roasted Potatoes

Very, very simple.

Peeled, cubed potatoes, Olive Oil, Seasoned Salt

Wrap the potatoes in foil, coat lightly in olive oil and sprinkle fairly liberally with seasoned salt. Grill until the potatoes look slightly burnt. They will have a little crunch to them and will be very tasty.