Thursday, February 21, 2013

Vegan Dairy and Egg-Free Strawberry Lime Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Strawberry Lime Coconut Milk Ice Cream (vegan)

 

Mmmm this recipe is to die for!!!  My 3-year old isn't feeling well again and when she doesn't feel well, she doesn't eat.   The only things she'll eat are popsickles and ice cream, so I am always on the look-out for more dairy and egg-free ice cream ideas!!  I came up with this one using about 5 recipes I found online and made them dairy and egg-free so my daughter could enjoy it!

Strawberry Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Ingredients

3 cups full fat coconut milk
3 cups strawberries (You can use frozen)
1 ripe banana
1/4 cup honey
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 tsp lime juice
1 tsp lime zest
Pinch of sea salt
(You can add 2 egg yolks if you don’t need to be egg-free)

Directions
 
Put everything into a blender and blend until well mixed.  Chill mixture in fridge until cold (You can skip this step if using frozen strawberrys!)  Process in an ice cream maker and place into freezer to become more solid.  Takes about 25 minutes.  Enjoy!

Crockpot BBQ Chicken with Homemade Whole Wheat Buns and Coleslaw


For dinner tonight, I'm making an easy recipe using both my slow cooker and bread machine.  I love meals that are completely homemade as well as fast and easy!!! 


 
Zesty Barbecue Chicken in the Crockpot
I love this recipe and use it often.  Find it here.
 
Ingredients
  • 6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1 Large onion, diced
  • 1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
  • 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Directions
  1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the diced onion, barbecue sauce, Italian salad dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
  2. Cover, and cook 3 to 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.
Whole Wheat Rolls in the Bread Machine:
 
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cups warm Milk (I use lactose free or soy milk)
  • 2 Tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 Tablespoons butter or dairy-free margarine, softened
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3/4 cups bread flour
  • 2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons bread machine yeast
  • 2 tablespoons non-dairy margarine, melted
Directions
  1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press start.
  2. When dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out 3/4 inch thick. Cut out rolls with a 3 to 4 inch diameter biscuit cutter or use a 3-4 inch cup. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets; cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes. When rolls are finished baking, brush with melted margarine.
For the side dish tonight, I made french fries in the oven! Much better for you than the deep-fried version.
 
Oven-baked french fries:
 
Ingredients
  • 2 large baking potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  2. Cut potatoes into small wedges or fry shapes. Mix olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder and onion powder together. Coat potatoes with oil/spice mixture and place on a baking sheet.
  3. Bake for 45 minutes in preheated oven.  

I also happened to have a head of cabbage in the fridge that my brother bought by mistake the other day (he thought it was iceberg lettuce)  So I figured I might as well make coleslaw as well. This recipe is NOT dairy and egg-free, I just didn't put it on my daughter's sandwich!

Coleslaw
 
Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard ( I also added a teaspoon of wasabi mustard)
  • 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper (we love black pepper, use less if you prefer)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 large head cabbage, finely shredded or chopped
Directions:
 
Blend mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar and oil. Add onion powder, dry mustard, celery salt, pepper, lemon juice, half-and-half and salt. Stir until smooth. Pour coleslaw dressing over shredded cabbage in a large bowl and toss until cabbage is well coated. Keep coleslaw refrigerated.

Diary and Egg Free Apple Pie

This is my hubby's favorite dessert and I can even make it dairy and egg free so my kids can eat it!
 

Dairy and Egg Apple Pie
 
Ingredients
  • 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie (Recipe Below)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter or dairy free margarine
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 cup water
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 6-8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
  2. Place the bottom crust in your pan. In a large mixing bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice and sugar mixture, reserving about a half cup.  Then, transfer the apple mixture into the pastry lined pie plate.
  3. Cover with a lattice work crust. (Easy How to http://annies-eats.net/2010/11/19/how-to-make-a-lattice-pie-crust/)  Gently pour or brush the reserved sugar and butter mixture over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
  4. Bake 15 minutes on the bottom rack of the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.   It helps to tent with foil when browned nicely to keep from over browning.
Pie Crust
 
Ingredients
 
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup ice cold water
 
Directions
  1. Mix shortening, flour, and salt together with a fork or a pastry blender until very crumbly. Add as much water as needed to hold together, and mix lightly with a fork.
  2. Roll gently on a floured pastry cloth to about an inch larger than pie plate. Fold carefully in half, lift to pie plate, and unfold. Press into pan. For a single-crust pie, trim with a small knife to about 1/2 inch beyond rim. Fold up, and pinch so edge of pie is raised from rim.
(Helps to put bowl and pastry blender in freezer ahead of time.  Everything needs to be COLD for a good crust!)

Dairy and Egg-Free Blueberry Pancakes

Dairy and Egg-Free Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup flour (can use whole wheat)
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons salt
3 Tablespoons canola oil
2 Tablespoons Applesauce
1 1/3 cup almond milk (can sub soy milk or regular milk if no allergies) I've also made it when I am completely out of milk, with 1 cup of water and 1 T dairy-free margarine and it tuned out great!
1/2 cup fresh blueberrys

Directions

1.  Mix first 4 ingredients with a whisk until well combined. Add remaining wet ingredients and stir just until moistened and large lumps are broken up.  Fold in the blueberrys.

2.  Preheat an electric griddle or pan over medium heat until hot.  Brush lightly with canola oil. 

3.  Pour batter onto hot pan to form small pancakes.  Cook until bubbly and edges look dry.  Flip with spatula and cook until the underside is golden.  Keep warm in oven until ready to serve.

Oven Baked Bacon

Oven Baked Bacon

Once you try baking bacon, you will never ever go back to microwaving or pan frying!!!  The texture of the bacon is just so much better when it's baked and if you do it on foil, it makes clean-up a breeze!!!  Try it, you will be so glad you did!!!  I put a little fresh ground black pepper on the bacon because I was using it for a savory dish.  If I'm using it for breakfast, I sometimes like to brush a little pure maple syrup on the bacon before cooking... It will carmelize and makes the bacon taste soooo yummy!!




Directions

1.  Line a baking sheet with foil. This will make cleanup easier later.
2.  Arrange bacon slices on the foil and place the baking sheet on the center rack of a cold oven. Turn oven on to 400°F (No need to pre-heat)
3.  Cook for about 17 to 20 minutes. As soon as the bacon is golden brown, but not excessively crisp, it's done. The exact time will depend on the thickness of the bacon.

4.  Let the bacon grease cool and harden, then you can just fold it up and throw in the trash can!! No need for a can of grease to dispose of!!
Strawberry Crepes with Whipped Cream Cheese Filling


Strawberry Sauce
1 qt sliced strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp cornstarch
Zest of one lemon
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Add all ingredients to a saucepan. Cook over low heat until sauce thickens
 
Whipped Cream Cheese Filling
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
3/4 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1.      In a small bowl beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form; set aside.
2.      In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then fold in whipped cream. 
 
For the Crepes
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
2 Tbsp melted butter
1.      In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, flour sugar and salt until smooth. (You can also put all ingredients in your blender and pulse until mixed)
2.      Heat a medium-sized skillet or crepe pan over medium heat. Grease pan with a small amount of butter or oil applied with a brush or paper towel. Using a serving spoon or small ladle, spoon about 3 tablespoons crepe batter into hot pan, tilting the pan so that bottom surface is evenly coated. Cook over medium heat, 1 to 2 minutes on a side, or until golden brown.
To assemble each crepe, spoon on some of the whipped cream cheese filling and top with strawberry sauce.  Roll crepes and top with more strawberries and cream cheese (you can also top with fresh strawberrys as well)


Friday, February 15, 2013

Crockpot White Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients

1 1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken
2 (15 ounce) cans great northern beans
1 (15 ounce) can white corn
1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope taco seasoning (Or use homemade seasoning, see recipe below)
1 (4 1/2 ounce) can of chopped green chilies
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1/2 cup sour cream
chopped green onion (optional)
monterey jack cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. Place chicken in a 4 quart slow cooker.
2. Top with beans and corn.
3. In a medium bowl, combine taco seasoning, chiles, condensed soup, and chicken broth. Pour over top of ingredients in the crock pot.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
5. Before serving, stir gently to break up chicken, then stir in the sour cream.
6. Serve topped with green onions and jack cheese, if desired.

Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Mix all ingredients together and store in air tight container.  I usually double or triple the recipe and store in a ziplock bag.  Use 2 Tablespoons instead of store bought taco seasoning envelope.  I use 3 Tablespoons in the soup! See original recipe here.