Tuna Salad Veggie Rolls

November 13, 2013November 13, 2013Leave a comment

So, I have been listening to Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover audio book. You can thank my sweet boyfriend {who has told me almost every weekend to listen to it} for that. But, to my surprise, I am actually enjoying listening to it. Dave Ramsey for president! Anyone?

Really – if you want to plan for your future, you may want to check it out. I like the audio book. But, you can read it too if you are book lover.

One thing I cannot get past is spending my precious lunch money on the work cafeteria. I mean, can I really justify $6 for a salad when I can make my own at home for a dime?

I can buy a six pack of romaine lettuce at Costco and eat salads for more than a week for next to nothing. So, that is my new challenge – I am taking my homemade lunch to work.

Check out these awesome Tuna Salad Veggie Rolls that I made last night (pictured in the post.) And, I used the leftovers for a salad at work today. Score! Gluten free, healthy and cheap. This tuna salad was quick and easy to make, and I used the lettuce leaves as bread!

You will need: 1 can of light tuna in water, 2 cage free hardboiled eggs, 2 tbsp. light mayo and one handful of shredded cheese.

Simply drain the tuna and dump it in a bowl. Peel hardboiled eggs and use an egg cutter to dice them up in pieces. Add to tuna mixture. Scoop out the mayo and add it to the bowl. Stir this up and sprinkle in the cheese last.

Pluck off three big leaves of romaine lettuce and fill them with tuna salad. Your dinner is served.

Oh, I also sprinkled some olive oil dressing on top of the leaves. I used the left over oil from Trader Joe’s Marinated Mozzarella Cheese. This is another way to save a buck – just added the oil to a little glass canister. Yum.

Gluten Free Chicken Tortilla Soup

November 12, 20131 Comment

On cold nights the thing that warms me up the fastest is a big bowl of soup. Being from Texas, anything spicy is near and dear to my heart. And, us Texan women, are taught from birth basically, the joys of whipping up some zesty meals.

Last night, I was in the mood for Chicken Tortilla Soup. My mom used to make this dish a lot in the winter. It simply just warms your soul and senses. The rich avocado and toasty tortilla chips add that extra crunch and savory pop.

You will need: 3 chicken breasts (chopped), 1 quart gluten free chicken broth, ½ onion, 3 cloves garlic, olive oil, 1 can hominy, 1 avocado, 2 tbsp. cumin, 1 tbsp. chili powder, ½ tsp. red pepper, tortilla chips, 1 handful shredded cheese, 1 tbsp. low fat sour cream, salt and pepper taste.

First, bake your chicken in the oven for about 10-15 minutes at 375. (I used pieces of precooked rotisserie chicken for my soup!) But, you can totally bake your own chicken. I was simply being frugal by using what I had in my fridge. When the chicken is done – chop it up in small pieces and set aside in a smaller bowl.

In a frying pan, pour in a splash of olive oil – then your chopped onion and garlic. Sauté these for a bit until lightly brown.

In a separate pan on the stove top (set on high), pour in your chicken broth. Then add in your little garlic onion sauté mix to the pot. Add in the spices – cumin, chili powder and red pepper. Stir. Then add in the hominy. Let this cook for about 20 minutes.

Add in the sour cream and cheese last and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the soup in bowls – and add crushed up chips to the top if the soup. For a garnish, cut up an avocado and sprinkle pieces on top of the bowl along with some shredded cheese.

You are ready for a cozy, yummy night – Texas style!

Baked Honey Cinnamon Apples

November 11, 2013November 11, 20131 Comment

Breakfast is one of the hardest meals of the day for me to remember to eat. Usually, I am scrambling in my apartment looking for clothes, jumping in the shower and straightening my hair – so food really is the last thing on my mind.

However, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Skipping breakfast is strongly linked to the development of obesity. Studies show that overweight and obese children, adolescents, and adults are less likely to break the fast each morning than their thinner counterparts.

Studies show that skipping this meal can make weight control more difficult.

You really are not doing yourself a favor if you skip this meal on purpose or even when you forget or just are too busy. These baked cinnamon apples are great. They are quick and easy to make. This is something you can do in the morning while getting ready for work.

You will need: 1 apple, 1 tbsp. cinnamon, 2 tbsp. honey (maybe a little more) and a pinch of brown sugar.

First, I cored the apple – creating about 6 little apple pieces. Place the apples in a bowl and dump in the cinnamon, honey and sugar on top. Stir until all the apples are covered with this glaze goodness.

Preheat the oven to 375. Place the apple pieces on a cookie sheet. I lined my cookie sheet with foil. And bake for about 10 minutes.

Pull the apples out and enjoy this quick, delicious breakfast! And score – it’s gluten free.

3 Ingredient Gluten Free Biscuts

November 8, 2013November 26, 20132 Comments

One of my favorite traditions, while growing up, was waking up and helping my dad whip up Christmas morning breakfast.

There is nothing like sitting in your pajamas with a hot cup of coffee smelling the aromas of biscuits, gravy, bacon, hash browns and sausage!

I have a rule – calories don’t count on Christmas. Can I get an amen? I mean, really, please don’t make your life miserable over calorie and fat counting on Christmas Day for heaven’s sake. Take a day off.

However, when you have a food allergy – that still stands, which is so depressing because my favorite thing to eat at breakfast was my dad’s mouthwatering biscuits. Life stinks without the chance to eat biscuits Christmas morning– take my word for it.

But, there is light at the end of the Grinch tunnel, dear gluten free friends – I found an awesome gluten free buttery biscuit that will make you smile from the inside out on Christmas morning. And, better yet, it only has 3 ingredients.

You will need: 1 cup gluten free flour, ½ cup low fat butter and ½ cup low fat sour cream.

Yes, that is all. This yields 6 buttery biscuits. You can double it up for a party of more than just two!

Pour your all purpose gluten free flour into a bowl and add in that low fat sour cream. Melt your butter and pour on top of flour and cream. Stir up well.

Preheat the oven to 400. In a greased muffin tin, fill up six holes with this batter goodness. Let bake for about 13-15 minutes. And you have gluten free biscuits. That simple. Top with butter.

Don’t be depressed on the holidays. Remember there are good gluten free options out there. All you have to do is look around, try and experiment. You are sure to find something that satisfies that craving.

What a sweet dream – wake up to biscuits this Christmas morning!

Loaded Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

November 6, 2013November 6, 2013Leave a comment

Being gluten free – I crave starchy things at times. However, this is really a no-win situation because breads, a bunch of crackers and cereals are off limits. Bummer.

Yet – I have learned the potato is a wonderful food for nights like last night.

I had about 5 red potatoes left over (needed to use them). So – had a thought. How about make some starchy baked potatoes.

This recipe is fantastic. I ate it as a main dish but I think it is perfect for a Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish. People will love it.

You will need: 5 red potatoes (chopped up in smaller pieces), 1 cap of olive oil, 2 tbsp. fat-free sour cream, 1 tbsp. dried chives, 1 tbsp. butter, 1 tbsp. garlic powder, 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

First fill a pot with water – set on stove and boil the potatoes. Cut the potatoes up in chunks and sprinkle in a cap full of olive oil for seasoning.

After the potatoes are soft and cooked, drain the water from the pot and mashed up the potatoes with a big fork. Slowly add in the sour cream, butter, chives, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese. And then sprinkle on salt and pepper to taste!

Fantastico! You are done – and have a big ol’ bowl of loaded garlic potatoes. They are gluten free and should hit the spot for that starchy craving or satisfy the holiday hungry family. Yummy.

Quick, Easy & Healthy After Work Salad

November 4, 2013November 4, 2013Leave a comment

It’s hard to be healthy and gluten free with a demanding job. Sometimes, after work, you just want to reach for something quick and simple opposed to preparing an elaborate meal.

However, that quick and easy meal tends to be unhealthy most of the times.

In comes in – the healthy after-work salad. It requires little to no preparation and incorporates things you may already have in your refrigerator.

You will also have leftovers – to put in a Tupperware container for a work lunch the next day. This is the advantage of making a huge salad – the leftover lunches. Easy to no work for a meal the next day.

I like to make a huge salad and put it in my over-sized Ikea bowl. And no dinner is complete without a little centerpiece of fresh flowers. I love Trader Joe’s for this reason – they always have options of pretty flowers for a great price.

For the salad, you will need: 2 heads of romaine lettuce, 1 generous handful of grape tomatoes, 4 hard-boiled eggs, shredded mozzarella cheese (or Parmesan , chopped chicken (you can either pick the chicken off a rotisserie or baked your own lean chicken in the oven).

All you have to do is chop up the romaine lettuce, cut the grape tomatoes in half, slice up the eggs – in a slicer like this, sprinkle on the low-fat cheese and spread on the chicken. And you are in action. Mix together with some cute wooden tongs.

For an extra crunch add in some gluten free croutons. Then pour on your favorite dressing. I would pick a light vinaigrette. Dinner is served.

Lemon, Cucumber & Ginger Detox Ice Cubes

November 3, 20133 Comments

I used a flower ice cube tray. It was from the Dollar Store! Cheap and Fun.

So, you made it through Halloween – now it may be time for a little candy detox. You gobbled on those sweet treats and they tasted excellent but did not do your body any good.

That’s OK – you can do a quick detox and feel back to a healthy normal. I am not suggesting doing a month of drinking lemon water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper (like Beyonce).

Please don’t do that. You can detox in simple ways that don’t require starvation.

One of my favorite ways to detox – is to just drink a lot of water. Replace all your juices, coffees, sodas, teas…etc for a few days with some detoxifying water.

These sweet little ice cubes are a simple way to add nature’s natural detoxing ingredients to your cup of H20. It will liven you up, cleanse your body and clear your skin.

Buy cute ice cube trays. It will make your detox that much more fun!

All you need to do is combine cucumber, ginger and ½ a lemon in the food processor. You will develop a nice little paste. Add water to this mixture and pour into cute, little ice cubes trays. Once frozen, add to a large cup of water – sip and enjoy.

These ingredients are the top foods for detoxing the body:

Cucumber: this had been called one of the “world’s healthiest foods.” It is a natural anti-inflammatory. It flushes toxins from the body and aids in digestion. It refreshes the mouth and is said to heal diseased gums. It lowers uric acid levels in your system – protecting the kidneys. The minerals in cucumber make your hair and nails stronger and shinier.

Ginger: this wonder root fights germs that cause the cold and flu. It combats tummy aches, fights ovarian and colon cancer cells, strengthens immunity and is a natural pain killer.

Lemon: this fruit will combat acne – it is the best citrus fruit for glowing skin. It is said to have a calming effect and will lower anxiety. It helps eliminate fatigue and stimulates brain activity. The pectin power in lemons along with its other metabolism and circulation boosting nutrients can help lower cholesterol.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Cookies {Gluten Free}

November 1, 2013December 12, 2014Leave a comment

Every once and a while, it is fun to treat yourself to a nice cookie! I mean, the gluten free gals out there will understand me when I say – we really don’t get good cookies that often!

I have always wanted to make a cream filled cookie – but never thought a gluten free one would taste as good as the authentic ones. However, this little treat last night might have taken the cake. It was creamy, hearty, rich and flavorful.

Girls – you can add this to the gluten free dessert list at Thanksgiving. I was shocked that the Gluten Free Apple Butter Bread tasted so good last week. Now these Gluten Free Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Cookies! I am a little overjoyed at the moment.

No skipping dessert this Thanksgiving. That’s the pitts! Everyone is sure to love this delectable cookie.

You will need (for the cookie): 2 cups Gluten-Free All Purpose Four, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, 1/4 cup skim milk, 1 cage free egg, 1 tsp. gluten-free vanilla and 2 cups gluten free oatmeal.

You will need (for the cream filling): 1 (8-ounce) package low fat cream cheese, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1 tsp. gluten-free vanilla, 4 cups powdered sugar

Pair this cookie with coffee in the morning for a sweet escape.

First preheat oven to 350. Combine the gluten free flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt, brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter in large bowl – mix together! Then add in the pumpkin, milk, egg, vanilla and oats in the same bowl and stir.

With a teaspoon place batter onto cookie sheet and bake for about 9-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool the cookies on cookie rack.

For the filling, combine all filling ingredients except powdered sugar in large bowl. I put the filling in the blender (because I don’t have a mixer). Pour icing into a large bowl and gradually add in the 4 cups powdered sugar – one at a time until smooth.

Please wait until the cookies are cool to put filling on them. Spread 2 tsps. filling onto bottom-side of 1 cookie. Top with another cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Store in refrigerator.

Halloween Candy – And 3 Scary Facts About Sugar

October 31, 2013October 31, 2013Leave a comment

Dallas in his pumpkin costume!

It’s Halloween. So this is an obligatory candy post – but it is also very important information for you candy lovers out there.

Tonight is full of sweet treats and chocolate. Once you eat a few, those fun size packs really add up – and the calories and sugar pack on the pounds.

Princesses don’t like extra pounds – their party dresses won’t fit! And sugar is not good for a royal complexion either. So best to crunch on these treats in moderation tonight!

A USA Today article notes that about 4% of all candy consumed in this country occurs on Halloween. If you think about that, it’s a big number.

The Wall Street Journal finds that ‘’the average person consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day, or 355 calories.” Sugar is a diet sabotager y’all – and Halloween is a just a conduit for it.

If you are making a progress on a diet plan and want to steer clear from handing out candy all together, you can hand out little glow sticks to trick-or-treaters. Then you won’t tempt yourself!

FACT 1: Sugar Messes Up Your Skin

So, think about your skin pretty ladies. Sugar enters the blood stream quickly spiking blood sugar levels (that is why we love it). Just like refined carbs and dairy, this causes inflammation that leads to breakouts, rashes and dull skin. We do not love that reaction.

FACT 2: Sugar Can Give You Cavities

One 140-calorie serving of candy corn — 19 pieces — would take 35 minutes to burn off!

Let’s not forget about our pearly whites either. Hard candy is actually one of the worst foods for your teeth. “These sweets pack a double whammy in that they not only stick to the teeth, but they also linger in the mouth for a long time as you wait for them to dissolve.”

FACT 3: Sugar Not Eaten in Moderation Will Pack On Pounds

I am going to be honest with you ladies, candy is not good for you – period. A Buzzfeed article found that Kit Kats, Milky Way, Nerds, Whoppers, Skittles, Butterfinger, and Twizzlers all contain more than 15 ingredients. Gross. I don’t want to put that in my body. Here is a great article about how you can get addicted to sugar – and that addiction is what causes weight gain. It also makes you feel sluggish – so those workouts are extra hard to get up off the couch and do.

Tonight, just remember not to party too hard with the candy. Sugar is good in moderation but can reek havoc on your body if consumed too much. Happy Halloween!

Healthy Baked Garlic Broccoli

October 30, 2013October 30, 2013Leave a comment

Taylor watching football – and eating fresh, baked broccoli!

When you think of football – you usually associate it with hot wings, potato chips, pretzels and beer. I bet you never picture broccoli. However, you should! It’s not good to feed our bodies junk.

You feel like what you eat. That statement is basically a truth. Believe it. So, if you eat junk, you will feel like junk. Plain and simple.

Last weekend, instead of baking potato skins or packaged French fries, I dared to cook something different. Something healthy – and it was delicious. Hints of salt, broccoli and pepper, this oven broccoli was mouth watering good!

It’s so simple to make these little food parcels of goodness. I’ve been missing out – and you are too, if you have yet to try this roasted broccoli. Gluten free, healthy and yummy – a threefold score!

You will need: broccoli, 3 tbsp of olive oil, 2 tbsp. of garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste! You can adjust these ingredients to your taste as well. You may want to add a little more oil – go right ahead!

First, place your broccoli florets in big mixing bowl. Pour in the olive oil and garlic powder. I generally mix the broccoli with the olive oil (make sure it is coated) and then mix in the garlic – making sure every little green tree gets hit with garlic goodness.

Sprinkle salt and pepper on top of your broccoli – and preheat the oven to 375.

I lined a cookie sheet with foil and dumped out my seasoned broccoli on the tray, and just popped them in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. Leave in longer, if you want a crunchier texture.

This is heaven-sent and so good for you. Replace those football snacks with this healthy alternative. Your body will be cheering you on!