Recipes – Page 7

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts

December 10, 2015 by Danielle 3 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SamsClubMag #CollectiveBias

As the seasons change and winter draws closer, I am still dreaming about pumpkin goodies. I’ve made quite a few delicious foods with pumpkin before and love what a great alternative it is to oils and butter in my recipes (although I’m not one to knock oil or butter!). It just brings a richness to certain dishes and a delicious flavor. Plus it’s full of fiber and vitamins! One thing I’ve missed since changing to a LCHF lifestyle, are the pumpkin muffins, waffles, and donuts I make every year.

I decided to jump in and start recreating my favorite high carb pumpkin recipes into a lower carb option. I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with the results! While these donuts are a little dense, they have the pumpkin flavor I’ve been craving and pair perfectly with a cup of coffee! I could eat them with or without the frosting. And if you’re not a fan of salty with your sweet, omit the pumpkin seeds on top or chop them smaller!

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts

Serves 8 | Calories: 116 Carbs: 5 Fat: 9 Protein: 5 Fiber: 2

Ingredients

For the donuts:

1 1/2 cup almond flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar free granular baking sweetener
2 large eggs
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting (not included in nutritional info as portions vary):

1 ounce softened butter
1 ounce softened cream cheese
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon sugar free maple syrup
pumpkin seeds (optional)

1. Plug in your donut maker to preheat. Mix together the donut ingredients until well incorporated. Batter will be a little thick.

2. Pour or spoon in batter into each well of the donut maker per your donut maker’s guidelines, don’t overfill!

3. Let bake until slightly golden and done inside.

4. While donuts are baking, whip up the frosting by adding all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisking together until incorporated.

5. When donuts are done, dunk them upside down into the frosting bowl. Place right side up onto a plate and top with pumpkin seeds.

And you’re done! Enjoy.

Looking for more great recipe ideas? Check out these Healthy Living recipes here! You can find lighter versions of your favorite dishes and don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on anything. Plus you can find everything you need for a lighter holiday at Sam’s Club! We were able to find all of our ingredients in the baking aisle.

How do you lighten up your recipes during the holidays?

Filed Under: Baking, Breakfast, In the Kitchen, LCHF, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: breakfast recipe, Donuts, Keto, Keto Friendly, LCHF, Low Carb, Low Carb Recipes, Recipes

9 Amazingly Delectable Gingerbread Recipes for the Holidays

December 6, 2015 by Danielle 1 Comment

I have a confession to make. I’m a bit obsessed right now. Obsessed about gingerbread! And not just the classic cookies and houses (although I have a recipe for those that I share below). I’m talking gingerbread cakes, gingerbread casseroles, and gingerbread bread puddings!

Have a piqued your interest yet? If so, read below to find some deliciously tasty gingerbread recipes from some of my favorite bloggers!

9 Amazingly Delectable Gingerbread Recipes for the Holidays

1. As I mentioned previously, I have a stellar gingerbread cookie recipe that can be used any time of the year. And you don’t just have to make gingerbread men (and women) if you don’t like! This is great for ornament cookies, various shapes, etc. And the results are a fabulously soft and chewy cookie that’s amazing. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!

2. Sometimes the classic recipes are the ones we start to crave. Grandma’s cookies. This old fashioned gingerbread recipe from Vintage Recipe Project is definitely one of those. You can find it by visiting their site here.

3. But enough about the classics. Bring on some new, innovating gingerbread! That’s exactly what Betsy of BetsyLife did in this gingerbread pineapple upside down cake recipe. OMG! Seriously… how good does this sound? I cannot wait to make it this weekend for the family.

4. And then there are the cute, mini gingerbread cakes from Made With Happy. Just thinking of them makes me happy! So festive and perfect for parties. The drizzle of icing makes them even more irresistible.

5. What isn’t better with banana? Living Sweet Moments paired it up with gingerbread wonderfully in this banana gingerbread recipe with brown butter glaze. Sounds just as good as it looks!

6. I love a recipe that can also serve as decor as well. And who wouldn’t want these cookies perched on the edge of a mug or added to a place card. These olive oil gingerbread cookies from Family Spice are a bit different than the traditional gingerbread recipe but the results? Well… they’re worth it!

7. One of my favorite things to make for guests when they come to visit for brunch is french toast casserole. Not only is it super simple to make, but it uses up the leftover bread I might have around that won’t get eaten. How awesome is that? Now this gingerbread french toast casserole from BetsyLife is the perfect spin on this classic crowd pleaser for the holidays. Great for Christmas breakfast!

8. I can honestly say that I’ve never had gingerbread pudding. But Texas Type A Mom makes it look so good in this pumpkin gingerbread pudding recipe. What kid would say no to that?

9. To round out our 9 delectable gingerbread recipes is my favorite one of all. My gingerbread cake recipe. Not only is this amazing cake easy to make, it’s also perfect for breakfast OR dessert and pairs well with coffee, ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream. Now it isn’t overly sweet, so if you prefer something on the sweet side, I suggest whipping up some cream cheese frosting.

What’s your favorite way to incorporate gingerbread into the holidays?

Filed Under: Baking, Breakfast, Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: breakfast casseroles, casserole, casseroles, Dessert, desserts, gingerbread, gingerbread men, holiday baking

Cranberry Mustard Sauce Paired With Crispy Chicken Strips

November 25, 2015 by Danielle

We’re enjoying some delicious crispy chicken strips, provided by our sponsor Tyson®, with our cranberry mustard sauce recipe.

My son. He’s addicted to chicken strips. Has been since he was younger. It’s the one thing he asks for in restaurants, something I always know he’ll eat when we are hosting an event, and is something I make for him when we eat lunch together on the weekends. But sometimes plain crispy chicken strips – while great for him – are just boring for me.

So I wanted to try something new to spruce them up. And in the spirit of the holidays, I decided to mix a classic Thanksgiving flavor with dijon mustard to create a cranberry mustard dipping sauce. Not only is it flavorful and pairs perfectly with chicken strips, it’s also a great spread for sandwiches and burgers as well!

We whipped this up before we headed off to watch a screening of The Peanuts Movie. We’d already primed them by watching some classic Peanuts movies we had in the house but to be honest I think we were more excited to see the movie than they were. I’ve been waiting for this release for a while!

Tyson® crispy chicken strips are so awesome for a quick pre-movie meal. They’re easy to make and take no time to bake in the oven. And paired with the cranberry mustard sauce, we made the kids lunch something even the adults could enjoy. It was the perfect lunch for the whole family and the kids loved chatting about what we were going to see before heading off to the theater.

Cranberry Mustard Sauce

1/2 cup Cranberry Sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Tyson® Crispy Chicken Strips to use to dip

Combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl, whisking until smooth. Serve as a dip withTyson® crispy chicken strips or use as a spread on your next turkey or chicken sandwich!

I picked up theTyson® Crispy Chicken Strips at Sam’s Club during my last haul and I’m so glad I did. With a 3lb bag filled with all natural ingredients and 15 grams of protein I can feed my whole gang. Plus they’re fully cooked! Easy.

How are you gearing up for the new Peanuts movie?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Condiments, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: cranberry, dips, mustard, sauces

Thanksgiving Tips and Tricks: Party Like A Pro

November 24, 2015 by Danielle

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sam’s Club. The opinions and text are all mine.

Ahhh… turkey day is nearly upon us and, if you’re like me, you’re about to lose your mind due to the long list of things you need to get done before the big day. Not to mention Christmas right around the corner! Well, in an effort to ease my mind and give myself a bit of time to prep I decided to head out to Sam’s Club® and search for great tips and tricks for planning the perfect Thanksgiving party.

Holiday entertaining can be the ultimate challenge. But with affordable, gourmet selections from Sam’s Club®, you’ll be party planning like a pro for the best holiday season ever. Get started at FoodNetwork.com/party, your one-stop source for great tips, recipes and behind the-scenes videos with Sam’s Club® Members.

You can also get tips directly from the pros! Check out Chef Robert Irvine, host of Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible Ambush as he ambushes an unsuspecting Sam’s Club member to help solve problems and party plan like a pro. In this video, Robert provides his ideas for the perfect center plate protein to make sure your next dinner party is a smash!

In addition to great food from Sam’s Club, I’ve also asked bloggers what their favorite ways to help save them time (and sometimes money!) when hosting or attending a Thanksgiving party. If you’re like me and need a game plan to keep your mind at ease, read along to find out all of the great tips I discovered.

1. Create a checklist

One of the easiest ways for me to stay on track with big meals or events is to have a checklist. A place I can put everything I need to do and have the satisfaction of checking off each little box as I go along. Luckily, Tonya Staab wrote a Thanksgiving checklist featured on Blissfully Domestic that should help each of us prep and plan for this Thanksgiving.

2. Prep ahead

One of the easiest things to do when prepping for Thanksgiving is to do things in advance. Rachael Nash Wunderlich of Adventures in Wunderland suggests to make pies and put together casseroles the day before, then on thanksgiving day you just rotate the casseroles in to bake and all you really have to worry about is the turkey and potatoes.

Need help on those potatoes? Check out these mashed potato tips from Dish over Dinner. Or do what I do and make a twice baked potato casserole (recipe coming soon!) that you can prep in advance.

Prepping doesn’t stop with food. Consider setting up the buffet with dishes and decor while placing post its and labels to indicate where dishes should go on the big day. Put out anything you can in advance so you aren’t rushing to put things together on the day of the party. We also set the table a few days before too.

3. Keep drinks and dessert simple

One of the easiest ways to reduce stress is to keep it simple. Delegate some items so that you aren’t burdened with many different dishes. One tip Joann Wooley of Sign4Baby thinks helps a lot is to have your guests be in charge of dessert and beverages.

Now if you really love to bake and that’s your thing then consider delegating out some side dishes instead. Consider this chocolate espresso pecan pie from Baby Birds Farm for your main dessert and then have guests bring other pies to add to the mix. That way you can spend more time on other aspects of the meal.

And drinks can be kept super easy. Ask guests to bring their favorite bottle of wine and then for the kids make this easy crock pot apple caramel cider featured on Catching Up With Kate.

4. Remember food allergies

Its important to remember that not all guests can eat everything on the table. Try to accommodate guests food allergies says Melonie Gallegos. It may be a small change you make to a recipe or simply preparing a dish without one ingredient but your guests will sure appreciate it!

Know of a guest who’s gluten or dairy free? Try this delicious pumpkin pie I made with coconut milk. Cook it up in a dairy-free, gluten-free crust and you have an allergy friendly dessert!

5. Make sure to think of the leftovers

No one wants to miss out on the delicious left overs so consider buying 2 turkeys if you are hosting a big family gathering suggests Joann Wooley. Or plan to make a double batch of that favorite casserole everyone loves. And make sure to pick up plenty of goodie bags and dishes from Sam’s Club so you can send leftovers home with your guest. The one thing I always regret each year is not taking enough leftovers home!

7. Don’t Overcook the Bird!

Now I’ve only cooked two turkeys in my life. One with a brine, the other without. And the only thing I was concerned about was dry turkey. So I did a bit of research and found that cooking the turkey with it’s breast down for half of the cooking time allows the bird to cook evenly without overcooking the white meat. By flipping it back over 1/2 way through I can still get that gorgeous golden brown crisp skin everyone loves.

8. Keep it Simple

I had to laugh when a fellow blogger suggested to simply purchase everything already made. Heather Delaney Reese of It’s A Lovely Life mentioned that her best Thanksgiving ever was the year they bought everything at Sam’s Club (and split the cost with friends). Sam’s Club has a truly impressive array of holiday foods from the entire meal-in-a-frozen-box to just the sides (fresh or frozen) to just the ingredients for a homemade feast. Now I’m all about home cooking 99% of the time but when it comes to these giant meals for parties keeping it simple just makes it easier on everyone.

9. Entertain your Guests

There really can be too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to prepping Thanksgiving parties. So make sure you have something for your guests to do (or eat) while you’re finishing up.

Make sure there’s a ball game on for the guys and the black Friday ads out for those who shop early. Some bloggers may have mentioned getting into arguments with their mother-in-law. Jillian Warner of Mommy Testers tip is one we should keep at heart – keep your mother-in-law out of the kitchen! Or simply give her all of the salad fixings and set her at the table to get to work.

10. Enjoy yourself!

With all of the prep and work that goes into a Thanksgiving meal, remember to enjoy yourself and the time you have with your family. Don’t sweat it if something goes wrong. Because you’re with people who you care about and just want to have a good time. Plus… if dinner is a huge disaster there’s always dessert!

How do you keep Thanksgiving stress-free?

Don’t forget to enter the “Holiday Party Planning” sweepstakes running from 10/22 – 12/31/15 and make the holidays just a little brighter! The Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 gift card and 1 year Plus membership ($100 value). 5 1st Place winners will receive a 1 year Prime membership ($100 value). 5 2nd Place winners will receive a Wolfgang Puck 10 piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set ($29.99 value). And 10 3rd Place winners will receive a Kitchen Aid 3pc Chef Knife Set ($15.98 value).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 21 years or older. Ends 12/31/15. To enter and for complete details and odds, visitwww.foodnetwork.com/party.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sam’s Club. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Holidays, In the Kitchen, Party Ideas, Recipes, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized Tagged With: holiday tips, Meal Prep, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving tips, Tips

Entertaining During The Holidays: Homemade Pudding Parfait with Cookie Crumble

November 24, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidayPairings #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

Ah… the holidays are here! And now is the time for holiday cheer… right? One thing I LOVE about the holidays is unexpected guests. Whether it’s friends stopping by to drop something off, family members coming to catch up, or a random neighbor who shows up at your door as you’re sitting down to eat dinner. I’m not joking either. My house may be a mess, my kids may need baths, but I will always have room in my home for our family and friends. Now I would love a little heads up call ahead of time so that I can pretend to pick up before guests arrive.

One of the reasons why unexpected guests don’t stress me out, especially around dinnertime, is that I keep a well stocked pantry and fridge. On any given time I can whip out some Pepperidge Farm crackers to pair with cheese and fruit to keep the guests busy while I prepare dinner. And dinner can be as simple or elaborate as I want. I can whip up a delicious pasta dish in less than 30 minutes. Give me 30 more minutes and I’ll have some homemade pudding to make individual pudding parfaits. Sometimes I just keep it basic and put a spread of Pepperidge Farm cookies out. It’s good to keep a box of their Classic Cookie Collection on hand just in case. But don’t think you’ll be getting any of the Milanos out of that package if you’re near my husband. He’ll snag them before you even notice they’re gone!

The Cracker Trio pairs well with a variety of cheeses. I love the classics – brie, sharp cheddar, and a salami mozzarella roll sliced up. And since we usually have grapes and some sort of berry on hand, we can put out a simple spread to keep appetites satiated. Plus busting out the Robert Mondavi wines helps too. My favorite? The pinot noir.

The pinot noir also tastes amazing in this pasta dish I just made recently. I grabbed some Barilla Pronto spaghetti and was intrigued at it’s claims to be ready in minutes. With my newly inherited electric range, I can’t get pasta to boil in less than 30 minutes! So frustrating. But after sauteing some onions and browning some steak, then de-glazing the pan with a little wine, I removed everything from the pan and added the pasta. Covered with 3 cups of water and cooked it on high for 10 minutes.

About 20 seconds till the end of that 10 minutes I had a skillet filled with fully cooked pasta. Amazing. All I had to do was toss the onions and beef in with the pasta and sprinkle with some parmesan to create a delicious one-skillet pasta dish in less than 30 minutes from getting out the ingredients to putting the skillet on the table for dinner.

In between cooking the onions, steak, and pasta, I whipped up a chocolate pudding from scratch. It would be the perfect light dessert to end our meal. Plus it was a great way to enjoy our favorite cookies. Pudding is not that hard to make. With a few simple ingredients I can make a silky pudding that can cool and set while we eat dinner. Sometimes I even make an avocado pudding. Interesting AND delicious with it’s greenish tint.

Homemade Chocolate Pudding Parfait

2 cups whole milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup corn starch
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a heavy saucepan, heat milk to warm, not boiling. Set aside.

Add sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch into a small bowl and mix to combine.

Pour 1 cup of the warm milk into the bowl with the chocolate mixture and whisk.

Pour chocolate mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk, slowly whisking to incorporate together.

Heat over medium high heat whisking frequently until mixture starts to boil and thicken. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Pour pudding into individual dishes, or one large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap so that a skin doesn’t form on the top of the pudding. Chill at least 1 hour to cool.

Homemade Pudding Parfait with Cookie Crumble

What you need:

milk frother
heavy whipping cream
1 batch chocolate pudding (see above)
Pepperidge Farm cookies of your choice, crumbled
small glass bowls or cups

What you do:

1. Using the milk frother, thicken the heavy whipping cream. You don’t want it super thick but thick enough to form a layer between the pudding.

2. Grab a glass cup and pour in about 1/4 cup chocolate pudding.

3. Top with whipped cream.

4. Add cookie crumbles. I used two types from the Pepperidge Farm Classic Cookie Collection.

5. Repeat once again.

6. Top with a pirouette or other cookie of choice and serve with a spoon!

Make sure to visit the Simple Entertaining hub to learn more about the upcoming wine tastings as well as Barilla & Pepperidge Farm demos at select Walmart Stores in November and December. You can find the products I featured above at your local Walmart.

How do you keep entertaining easy during the holidays?

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized

Keto Friendly Side Dish: Mashed Cauliflower

November 20, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

I haven’t really mentioned it but after chatting about my new LCHF way of eating, I decided to start a blog solely dedicated to the recipes I try, restaurants I enjoy, and our monthly date nights and how I navigate through the food menus while out and about in San Diego. One recipe I’ve become a bit obsessed with on this way of eating is mashed cauliflower. Now you may be thinking why oh why would you want mashed cauliflower when you can have the real thing? Well on this WOE, a starchy potato loses to cauliflower any day! Plus? I can add tons of fats to this dish to help me meet my macros for the day (I struggle with eating enough fat). Real butter. Heavy whipping cream. And a sprinkle of salt and pepper. That’s all it takes to make this deliciously silky, smooth mashed cauliflower dish.

You can find the recipe, and my new blog by heading over to Low Carb San Diego here.

Like what you see? Follow me on my new social channels at @LowCarbSanDiego on Twitter and on Facebook and see what I’m eating, how I’m doing, and how easy it is to follow a LCHF diet!

What do you love to mix in your mashed cauliflower?

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegetarian Tagged With: cauliflower, Keto, LCHF, Low Carb, Low Carb San DIego, Recipes, Side Dishes, vegetarian

Keto Friendly Grilling Meals: Hatch Green Chile Chicken Drumsticks

November 13, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LegendaryTailgate #CollectiveBias

So it’s been a little over a month since I’ve switched over to a low carb high fat lifestyle (LCHF) and I’m starting to get the hang of things. I’m a bit obsessed with experimenting in the kitchen and love to find great meals that I can tweak. One of my favorite recipes to make over and over again is mashed cauliflower. I don’t know why… maybe it’s the heavy whipping cream and butter? Yeah, it’s definitely the heavy whipping cream and butter!

But I can’t just eat mashed cauliflower for dinner. Or serve it to the family. They might riot.

This weekend I was doing my grocery run sans kids (yay!) with coffee in hand (double yay!) and I headed down the marinade and sauces aisle. It’s one of my favorite aisles to peruse for help for dinner. Not only are there plenty of lower carb/sugar options, but they help make tasty meals in little to no time. This time around I found a delicious green chile marinade in Stubbs Anytime Sauces. Paired with the Foster Farms drumsticks I picked up on sale, I was ready for grilling!

One thing I love about grilling, even in November, is that I can prepare just about anything on the grill. What’s not to love about a full meal being cooked outside while I don’t have to dirty up the kitchen? Less dishes in my sink. With the help of some foil, I was able to cook up the asparagus and the cauliflower right on the grill along side the drumsticks as they cooked.

And? It’s perfect for tailgating meals too. When we head out to watch our team play on the field when they’re here in town we love enjoying a meal on the grill before heading into the stadium. Or when we’re hosting family over to watch the game on TV. Grilling makes it easier for us to host our family and enjoy time with them while they’re visiting with us.

Hatch Green Chile Chicken Drumsticks

1 jar Stubb’s Anytime Sauces in Green Chile
1 package (24oz) Foster Farms Fresh & Natural Chicken Drumsticks
Olive Oil

Place the drumsticks in a 9×13 baking dish. Pour Stubbs Anytime Sauces over chicken. Cover dish with saran wrap or lid and marinate for 4-24 hours.

Preheat grill. Grab a paper towel and blot with olive oil. Rub on grates to prevent meat from sticking.

Once grill is heated, add drumsticks to the grill. Barbecue for 30-35 minutes or until completely cooked.

Let rest for 5 minutes and serve with veggies.

Serves 8 | Nutritional Info: 123 calories, 2 Net Carbs, 2g Carbs, 5g Fat, 16g Protein, 0g Fiber

What’s your favorite thing to grill on the barbecue?

Looking to make grill time easier? Check out Stubbs anytime sauces at Vons! I found mine in the BBQ Sauce and Vinegar aisle.

When you’re in the store, check for an Instant Redeemable Coupon that can be found in-store on the Foster Farms chicken packaging for a discount on Stubbs BBQ sauce so you can save instantly. The coupons expire on 12/31/15.

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, Dinner, In the Kitchen, LCHF, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: grilling recipes, Keto Friendly, LCHF, vegetables

Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna

November 4, 2015 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Finding an alternative to comfort foods has never been easier. I’m getting creative with making my favorite dishes with help from our sponsor Foster Farms and their Sauté Ready chicken like this Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna recipe.

For months I’ve felt trapped in my post partum body. While I knew having a third baby would change me yet again, I didn’t realize how much harder I’d have to work after my c-section to get my body back. And when I was finally ready to tackle my weight once Norah turned 6 months old, I got hit with a gallbladder attack and my interest in starting a LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) way of eating was curbed. High fat isn’t good when your gallbladder is full of stones. I’d much rather wait it out than feel the wrath of another gallbladder attack.

However I did finally have it removed and felt amazing afterwards. After having my gallbladder removed I was finally able to hop on board and start eating healthier. While I was twiddling my thumbs waiting until my surgery, I read everything I could about keto friendly diets and why butter and cream are actually good for me. During my pregnancy I didn’t care much for sweets. In fact, they made me feel sick. After I had Norah, that didn’t go away. Anytime I ate sweets or carbs I would feel gross and sluggish. So when I finished reading this book, I was able to change my way of thinking and have laid off the carbs and increased my fat intake. Boy does my body prefer this way of eating!

I stay focused and on plan with the help of planning. I keep a simple list of foods that I call my “go-to” menu stocked up in the pantry, fridge, and freezer to stick with a keto friendly diet. And with Foster Farms Sauté Ready Chicken in my freezer I can make a delicious dinner that’s on plan while still appeasing my family. They’re the perfect high-protein (21g protein/serving) option to keep on hand for quick, healthy mid-week meals. Plus the chicken is 100% natural and cooks in about 10 minutes with no thawing required. Talk about a time saver! And it takes the guesswork out of dinner – it’s homemade made easy.

But when cravings hit and all I want is comfort food, I don’t mind taking a little more time to create a delicious dish. And this Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna sure does hit the spot! All of the flavors of my favorite chicken lasagna with a considerable decrease in carbs. Plus, it’s something the kids would actually try. Like one bite. Hey! It’s better then them turning their noses up, telling me that it’s gross, and then demanding that dad go take them to get chicken nuggets. Yes… that has happened. And yes, dad did give in.

What I love about this recipe is that it really isn’t that difficult. It just has a few extra steps. But if you aren’t watching your carbs you could totally use jarred marinara to make it easier. It’s protein packed, delicious, and full of cheesy goodness. Exactly what I was hoping for when I started cooking. And since I only use 1/2 of the spaghetti squash in this dish, I have more for other recipes throughout the week.

Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna

1 spaghetti squash
1 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper
1 15 ounce can of Italian diced tomatoes
1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 cup whole milk mozzarella
1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning plus more for sprinkling
6 ounces Foster Farms Sauté Ready Garlic Herb Marinated chicken

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Grab your spaghetti squash, a cutting board, a large knife and your muscles (depending on the squash). Cut your squash in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds (toss or save a few to plant in the garden next year). Put the squash on the foil flesh side down. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until squash is cooked.

While squash is cooking, take 1/2 of the tomatoes and blend until pureed. Set aside. Mix together the ricotta and cottage cheese with the Italian seasoning. Grate the mozzarella.

Once the squash is done, remove from oven and turn around. Reduce heat to 375 degrees. Grab one half of the squash and, while using a fork, scrape out the “noodles” into a bowl. Mix in butter and salt and pepper into the squash.

Add back in 1/2 of the squash. Cover with 1/2 the ricotta/cottage cheese mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of mozzarella. Pour some of the tomato sauce over the cheese and sprinkle with diced tomatoes. Add the chicken. Repeat and cover with remaining mozarella. Sprinkle with Iralian seasoning and bake for 20 minutes.

Serves 4 | Nutritional Info: 309 calories, 8 Net Carbs, 9g Carbs, 19g Fat, 25g Protein, 1g Fiber

Looking to save a little on dinner? Simply download and print the coupon you can find here to get $1 off any 1 ONE (1) package of Foster Farms Sauté Ready, or share the coupon with a friend (via Facebook, Twitter or email) for get $2 off any ONE (1) package of Foster Farms Sauté Ready.

What’s your comfort food?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Foster Forms.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: chicken, Foster Farms, Keto Friendly, lasagna, Low Carb, spaghetti squash

Party On A Ritz: Carnitas Street Taco Bites

November 3, 2015 by Danielle 5 Comments

These carnitas street taco bites featuring our love of travel and food are brought to you by our sponsor, Ritz, . Read ahead to find out how to marry your favorite destinations all on one tablescape!

I’m planning a fall harvest party for my family and cannot wait to share a few of the recipes I’ll be serving at the party. With the help of Ritz, I’ve created two delicious destination dishes that include one inspired by local foods here in San Diego, and another dish inspired by a Southwest Airlines destination I’m dying to travel to.

One thing these recipes have in common are that they’re both very simple to put together and the dessert can be made ahead for easy serving at the party. I love make ahead dishes! Not only do they make planning easier, timing is also easier with a few make ahead dishes at the party.

I’ve also submitted both of these recipes to be featured on LuvRitz.com in a contest they’re hosting with Southwest Airlines. I have a chance to win a $500 Southwest Airlines voucher if I receive the most votes on my recipes! How awesome is that? Read ahead to check out my recipes and don’t forget to vote for me:

I’ve lived in San Diego all my life. Born and raised with deep roots in this city. I’m 3rd generation San Diegan and my husband is 4th generation. It’s pretty rare to find one of us around town and we’re pretty proud of the city we live in. One thing I absolutely love about this city is the copious amounts of good mexican food available around town. From our favorite taco shops, to our go-to mexican sit down restaurants, whenever I have a craving for the food I love, I am always close by.

I don’t just head out for mexican food either. Being raised by a dad who’s half mexican and half english rubs off on you, even if that means eating tortillas and drinking tea for breakfast. And some of my relatives make the best carne asada and mexican rice out there. I remember my dad’s stories of his father making fresh tortillas for him and his siblings and how he wished he had a chance to learn how to make them too.

Needless to say, I enjoy preparing mexican inspired dishes in my own home today. And that includes street tacos! But when I’m serving food at a party I love making things bite size. So for our upcoming fall harvest party I decided to miniaturize our favorite street tacos and put all of our favorite flavors on a Ritz. All of the deliciousness of carnitas street tacos in one bite!

Carnitas Street Taco Bites

Ritz crackers
Carnitas, shredded
Guacamole
Onions/cilantro

Grab a Ritz, top with shredded carnitas, guacamole, and onion/cilantro mixture. Place in mouth, chew, and enjoy!

Carnitas Street Taco Bites

Ritz crackers
Carnitas (shredded)
Guacamole
Onions/cilantro

Grab a Ritz, top with shredded carnitas, guacamole, and onion/cilantro mixture. Repeat on as many crackers as you’d like. Place in mouth, chew, and enjoy!

Stay tuned to see more of my fall harvest party next week! In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of the tablescape I’m planning.

What are your favorite bite-size meals for parties?

Love this recipe and want more? Here are some great dips to dip your Ritz into!

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Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, Desserts, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Party Ideas, Recipes, Thanksgiving Tagged With: appetizers, bites, carnitas, pecan pie, Ritz, Southwest Airlines, Thanksgiving

Simple Holiday Bento Box Ideas

November 2, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

My kids have fallen in love with bento boxes (affiliate link). I started making them when I started packing my lunch (even though I work from home) and they look forward to seeing what I’m going to pack them next. Gone are the days of wanting the same thing for lunch every.single.day like before.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t do elaborate bento boxes for my kids lunches. Instead, I choose one thing to make special or cut up and then the rest just goes with the theme of the bento I’m doing. And I always include foods my kids will actually eat. Because even if the baby eats seaweed, the big kids refuse it.

Luckily coming up with simple holiday bento box ideas isn’t difficult. And when you really get down to basics like I do, you can turn just about any classic lunch into a cute bento idea. Just grab a protein, a snack, some fruit and a few veggies and you’re on your way to an awesome bento lunch for your kids.

You can find these simple ideas featured today on Bentgo’s blog.

How do you add a little holiday cheer to your bento box?

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Kids Health, Lunch, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bentgo, bento box, bento box ideas, kids lunches, Lunch, lunch for kids, Lunch Ideas, Thanksgiving, Turkey

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