Making Recipies Our Own

 Tips:

* I used medium green chili...if your family isn't used to spice I would recommend using mild or cutting down on the amount by half!  Also, if you purchase the chili in the store instead of using fresh chili they often season it for you.  Make sure you read the bottle and exclude the garlic powder from the recipe.

* I used fresh spinach, but I cooked it before adding it to the pot so that I could have it drained well.  If you or your children don't like spinach this is a great recipe to use.  You get the nutrients but no taste of spinach!

*Kids often times look at food and snub their noses before they even give things a chance.  I have found that toppings and allowing them to build their meals helps with this.  These toppings are favorites for a lot of our dishes and they say that cheese makes everything better :)

* If the heat is to much for your little ones place a little honey over the dish and it will cut the heat for them!

 Don't you just love one pot or pan dishes!!

 Years ago my Aunt Shonda made this meal while I was living with her sweet family.  She shared the recipe with me and over the years I have played with it a lot.  I think that as we become more acquainted with spices and our palates we are able to take a core recipe and make it our own.  My Aunt's recipe is great and I encourage you all to not only enjoy it, but create something from it that is your very own :)

Kid Friendly Red Lentils & Brown Rice

Tips:

* Kids love cheese!  We topped this with cheese and chicken tonight.
* Kids love to dip!!  Tortilla Chips are perfect for this dish.
* Be willing to change things for your pallet, make it your own!!
* Wash the rice and lentils before you cook them :)
* We use Organic Rice, Broth, Olive Oil, Peppers and Onions all from Costco!  Makes it cheaper :)

Happiness is Never Having to Say "Finish Your Oatmeal Again"!!!

Tips and tricks...
*You can use this same pancake recipe with regular flour, milk, oil and baking powder!
*This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free :)
*Strawberries are the worst food when it comes to pesticides.  The strawberries seeds absorb the pesticides and take them to the core of the fruit.  If possible purchase organic or pesticide free strawberries.
* When buying coconut oil make sure it is unrefined
*Agave Nectar is a great natural sweetener that does not affect your glucose level!

Double Shredded Zucchini Bread

Banana Bread

Can I Have Your Recipe?

Friends, acquaintances and even family have asked me to share my recipes with them over the years, my problem in most cases has been that I don't follow very many recipes!  I usually just toss a few things together hoping things turn out!  Sometime they do and sometimes my family can't wait to get up from the table and find something else to fill themselves with! Starting the Gluten and Dairy free diet we often times have even more of these meals as of late!!

  My family however does have a few tried and true recipes that are worth sharing and I hope to not only share them with you as I create them, but I will attempt to measure and write as I cook dinner to preserve my or revisit a few of my better dinner creations!!  

  I can't say that I am cooking my way through Julia's cookbook, but hopefully I might give a few tips or tricks that will keep ya coming back for more :)