Sam Eats Her Nutrients

Nourishing Winter Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Lemon Vinaigrette, A Symphony of Flavors

January 23, 2024
Sandra Shields, Healthy Food and Wellness Blogger, Health Coach, Balanced Living, Clean Beauty Consultant
2 comments
eat, Eat the Rainbow, Flavorful Feast, Foodie Adventures, Fresh and Colorful, Healthy Eats, Mediterranean Flavors, Nourishing Bowl, Nutrient Rich, Nutrition, Quinoa Bowls, Recipes, Winter Cravings, Winter Wellness

There is something about winter where our bodies intuitively crave colorful, fresh food, or is it just me? This Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl has hearty, warming quinoa and an array of colorful, flavorful fresh food and textures that will nourish you! From creamy avocado, to crunchy peppers and omega rich hemp seeds, it will make you feel satisfied and is bursting with flavor.

Winter cravings often whisper the desire for warmth and color on our plates. If you’ve ever found yourself yearning for a burst of freshness amid the chilly season, you’re not alone. Embrace the winter palette with this vibrant Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl — a symphony of hearty quinoa, succulent chicken, and an orchestra of colorful, nutrient-packed ingredients.

Picture this: a bowl brimming with fluffy quinoa, perfectly cooked chicken tenderloins, and an array of vibrant vegetables dancing in a melody of textures. From the creamy embrace of avocado to the crisp crunch of bell peppers, each bite is a celebration of flavors. As you savor the omega-rich hemp seeds, the bowl transforms into a winter feast that satisfies both the body and the soul.

Quinoa adds a comforting, healthy base to your colorful masterpiece.

Juicy chicken tenderloins are protein packed to elevate your bowl.

Creamy avocado adds a luscious richness that complements the other textures and adds healthy fat.

Bell Peppers, Cucumber, Shredded Carrot: A trio of colors and crunch, these vegetables bring freshness and vibrancy to every spoonful.

Hemp Hearts: A sprinkle of omega-rich goodness, adding a delightful nuttiness to your bowl.

Red Cabbage: Vibrant and crunchy, red cabbage not only adds color but also a boost of antioxidants.

Green Onion, Fresh Cilantro or Parsley: These herbs provide a refreshing aroma and a burst of flavor, enhancing the overall experience.

Here’s the ingredients to put together your bowls. You can have these all on hand and pre-prepared in your kitchen and refrigerator to grab and assemble quickly.

Ingredients:

Cooked Quinoa, I used sprouted and cooked mine in a small rice cooker

Cooked Chicken Tenderloins, I baked mine with olive oil, a little Djon mustard, salt and pepper whisked and brushed over them.

Avocado, sliced

Bell Peppers, chopped….any color you like

Cucumber, sliced

Shredded Carrot

Hemp Hearts (I like these)

Red Cabbage, shredded or chopped

Green Onion, sliced

Fresh Cilantro or Parsley

Lemon Vinaigrette:

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and maple syrup.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble your bowls by placing a scoop of cooked quinoa in the center of the bowl and building the rest of the ingredients around it. Finally sprinkle with fresh herbs, hemp hearts and drizzle with the vinaigrette.

Let me know if you made this in the comments. I always love to hear from you!

5 Small Steps That Lead to a Healthier You

We all want to feel good, have the energy we desire, to do the things we need to do, with enough steam after meeting life’s busy demands to do what we enjoy.

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but here are some tips to incorporate into your routine that can help you on your way to a healthier you. Whether you need a reminder, or are looking for a complete overhaul in your health habits, these tips will help you refocus or get you on your way.

Deprivation and depriving yourself of everything you enjoy eating is not proven to be a good tactic to becoming healthier. Crowding out the foods that don’t serve your body well is key. When you eat the rainbow and add a variety of colorful foods into your diet, you can actually reduce cravings, because your body is getting loads of nutrients and diversity instead of processed or sugar laden foods that just increase cravings, sluggishness, belly fat and low energy. Think of food like berries, red, yellow and green peppers, tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, red cabbage, quinoa, nuts, seeds, black beans, cannellini beans, leafy greens, mango, pineapple, apples, grapefruit, onions, garlic and oranges. There are so many. Make a grain bowl with quinoa or brown rice, add a rainbow of vegetables (cooked and raw), top it with a sunny side up egg, and sliced avocado or hummus, drizzle it with an easy homemade honey mustard, ranch or hot sauce, and a side of fresh fruit. That is a powerhouse of nutrition without the refined carbohydrates or processed sugar that will have you in a slump after a few hours with a blood sugar dip.

There are so many benefits to movement throughout the day. Setting a goal to exercise and move more doesn’t really work if you dread what you are going to do. Do you like to work out solo, or do you stay more motivated with a buddy who keeps you accountable? Having a walking partner can help you both get your walks in. If you have a sedentary job, find a quick ten minutes to do an arm workout or a bun workout. Lifting some weights helps maintain muscle mass and keeps you strong. If you feel you don’t thrive on lots of cardio or weight lifting, Pilates can keep you very toned, fit and strong. Yoga is a very misunderstood practice. You can get very strong and toned with a regular yoga routine, increase focus, and reduce stress all at the same time. If you like to play like a kid, shoot hoops, jump rope, jump on a trampoline, find some workouts that use a big inflatable ball, do a total body tubing workout. The bottom line is, if you like the workout, you will do it often. If you dread it, it is harder to be consistent. After working out consistently for at least 21 days, and seeing and feeling the results, most likely you will be hooked.

Now that we have covered eating well and movement, let talk about happiness hormones and mood. Dopamine and Serotonin are chemicals in your body that you can increase with things like listening to music, getting sunlight, learning something new, feeling wonder, and getting quality sleep, completing a task (which activates your brains reward signals). Adults tend to lose their sense of wonder. Remember what it was like as a child to be delighted by the simplest things? It is good to experience wonder as often as you can. View art, look at the night sky, learn something new about animals or nature. Watch someone make something mind blowing like blown glass sculptures.

Your final small step is to make it a priority to unwind. This is an important step that helps reduce stress and anxiety by taking time to just be still. Whether it is a hot bath, a good book, coffee with a friend, meditation, reading, cuddling, savoring a cup of hot tea, or napping, activities that help you relax have a downloading effect on the brain that helps you digest better, sleep sounder and reduce stress and anxiety.

Adding or refocusing on these small steps can help you be healthier, happier, focused, fit and get more out of each day.

Sandra Shields, Health Coach

Gingerbread Pumpkin Cups

You are definitely going to want to pop these in! These are a healthier homemade treat with all the flavors of gingerbread and pumpkin! The warming spices and the melty, but chewy texture of these Gingerbread Pumpkin Cups are so delicious and a special way of treating yourself without a lot of added sugar. The flavors are comforting and a perfect treat for fall and winter. The depth of flavor from just a small amount of molasses and the maple sugar makes these next level good! There is real pumpkin in them and also some wonderful, healthy spices.

The primary fat used in this recipe is delicious coconut butter. Coconut butter is a source of healthy fats, primarily saturated fats in the form of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These MCTs are believed to be metabolized differently in the body and can provide a quick source of energy.

There is the perfect amount of sweetness to these Gingerbread Pumpkin Cups using a little maple sugar, which is derived from maple trees and is a natural sweetener with a lower glycemic index than white table sugar, and molasses which is rich in minerals and flavor. Both of these flavors together give these cups a really special, yummy flavor.

There is also pumpkin in these cups to give them a softer texture and a little pumpkin flavor to compliment the spices. Just two teaspoons of ghee gives them the buttery flavor. I like ghee because it is lactose and casein free for those with dairy intolerance, and it is tolerated by many. It is also rich in vitamins. A small amount was used in this recipe. It is a saturated fat, and should be enjoyed in moderation. I do love that ghee contains antioxidants, such as beta-carotene and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which may have various health benefits, including potential anti-inflammatory properties. Ghee has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and Indian cooking. It is often praised for its potential health-promoting qualities. It also has a higher smoke point for cooking, so it is a good choice for roasting vegetables. These cups are gently warmed. I chose the ghee for the flavor in this recipe, and only used 2 teaspoons.

I have been enjoying one or two of these delicious Gingerbread Pumpkin Cups a day. I keep them in the refrigerator. If you want to make them vegan, substitute more coconut butter for the ghee. They will be a little firmer in texture.

Here’s the recipe. This will make ten using mini muffin cup liners. These are about two bites.

Gingerbread Pumpkin Cups

Line a mini muffin pan with ten paper mini liners.

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Butter (my favorite brand)

2 Tablespoons of Canned Pumpkin

2 Tablespoons of Maple Sugar

1 Tablespoon of Blackstrap Molasses

2 Teaspoons of Ghee

1/4 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/8 Teaspoon of Nutmeg

1/8 Teaspoon of Allspice

a pinch of Ground Ginger

a pinch of Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Salt

Directions:

Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan, and warm over low heat, whisking until the coconut butter and ghee is just melted and everything is completely incorporated. You just want to warm and melt the ingredients not bring them to a simmer, because the coconut butter will seize and get hard. Scoop the melted ingredients evenly into the mini muffin cups, tap the pan on the counter to level the cups or smooth gently with a butter knife. Then, refrigerate until firm. Remove the Gingerbread Pumpkin cups from the muffin tin, and store in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

As always, I love to hear from you. Share this recipe with a friend.

Buffalo Chicken Tostadas, Gluten and Grain Free

Buffalo Chicken dishes are a huge fan favorite, and I can say I crave buffalo chicken! When I recently had a company I was unaware of offer to send me samples of their gluten and grain free Rise & Puff Tortillas with only 5 clean ingredients (cassava flour, tapioca flour, pure avocado oil, honey and sea salt) and no preservatives, I said yes, and started brainstorming a delicious recipe to make with them. These are the Rise & Puff Award Winning Tortillas with no added gums and quality ingredients that tasted delicious.

The sky is the limit with these tortillas, and I am so excited to find one on the market that toasted up nicely and remains flexible for folding, or you can toast it longer and it becomes crispy!

Let’s go! This Buffalo Chicken Tostada recipe has shaved purple cabbage and yellow onion for crunch, and Greek yogurt, a healthier alternative to sour cream, and creamy delicious avocado! I always feel like I’ve hit the jackpot when an avocado is perfectly ripe! You are going to love the homemade buffalo sauce that is bursting with flavor, and I used boneless chicken thighs, which are very tender and don’t dry out.

The buffalo chicken is made in a skillet on the stovetop, then you simply toast the tostadas in a pan and assemble them. I love that you can make the buffalo chicken in advance and reheat it when you want to make them. I am all about time saving and ease! It’s a crazy busy world, and this makes it easier to make them quickly with low stress when you have hungry people to feed, including yours truly. Nothing worse than a hangry cook! These are also great to have on hand in the fridge for breakfast tostadas with eggs, taco night, and quesadillas. There are a lot of recipe ideas on their website as well if you’d like more inspiration.

Buffalo Chicken Tostadas, Gluten and Grain Free

This recipe makes 6 to 8 tostadas.

Ingredients:

To Cook the Chicken:

2 Pounds of Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

In a large skillet add 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil, and brown the chicken thighs on each side sprinkling with the salt and pepper. They do not need to be cooked in the center. They will cook as the sauce simmers.

For the Buffalo Sauce:

In a medium bowl, whisk together:

1/3 Cup of Franks Hot Sauce

1/4 Cup of Pure Honey

1/4 Cup of Ghee

2 Tablespoons of Coconut Aminos

1 Tablespoon of Garlic Infused Olive Oil or 1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

To assemble you will need:

1 Package of Rise & Puff Tortillas

Thinly Shaved Red Cabbage

Thinly Sliced Yellow Onion

1 Ripe Avocado, Sliced

Plain Greek Yogurt

Directions:

After you have browned the chicken on both sides and whisked together the sauce ingredients in a bowl, pour the sauce over the chicken in the skillet. Bring the chicken and sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer with the lid 3/4 on, so the steam escapes, for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fork tender. Remove the lid and continue to cook on medium heat until the sauce has evaporated a good bit and is thick. Remove the chicken from the sauce onto a cutting board, and shred or chop. Add the chicken back to the skillet. Now you are ready to toast your tostadas and assemble. In a hot skillet with a little bit of olive oil (I used a coated cast iron skillet) toast the tortillas for 15 second per side, or until they have bubbled and browned. (see the photo)

Remove them from the skilled and assemble the tortillas by adding buffalo chicken to the bottom, following by shaved red cabbage, onion, avocado and Greek yogurt. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper if desired. Enjoy!

I always love to hear from you! Leave a comment for me.

Farmhouse Fennel and Zucchini Frittata with Chicken Apple Sausages & Beautycounter Clean Skincare Holiday Sets Are Here!

Farmhouse Fennel and Zucchini Frittata with Chicken Apple Sausages

Eggs in a skillet with loads of delicious ingredients! Frittatas are the perfect way to use your vegetables, cheese and proteins in the fridge and reduce food waste. They are an easy, all in one skillet to oven meal that makes weeknight dinners easier. I think you are going to love this recipe for Fennel and Zucchini Frittata with fully cooked Chicken Apple Sausages. It’s one pan cooking, and an all in one meal. This would be good with a crisp green side salad. I made it in a heavy cast iron skillet with a ceramic coating inside called ‘The Always Pan’. You will need an approximately 10 1/2 inch skillet for this recipe that is oven safe up to 400 degrees F. If you use a larger skillet, that’s perfectly fine. Just shorten your baking time.

It seems like I am always creating main dish recipes that are fairly quick. That’s because I feel the stress of getting dinner on the table for a family every night, and I think chances are you do too. I like to make homemade meals as much as I can, because they are healthier, and the bonus leftovers help pack lunches the next day. This Frittata is also a great breakfast choice!

You can use this frittata recipe as a template, and substitute equal amounts of other veggies that you have on hand instead too. Frittatas are very versatile, which is another bonus about them. Other suggestions are green, red or yellow peppers, leeks, spinach, kale, mushrooms, broccoli and asparagus.

Here’s how to make it!

Farmhouse Fennel and Zucchini Frittata with Chicken Apple Sausages

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Ingredients:

12 Large Eggs

1 Large Fennel Bulb, diced

1 Medium Yellow Onion, diced

1 Medium Zucchini, diced

1/2 Cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 cup of Grated Irish Aged Cheddar Cheese (I like Kerrygold)

1 Package of Chicken Apple Sausages, or Another Chicken Sausage you like that is Fully Cooked (I used Butcher Box Sausages)

1/4 Cup of Milk of Choice

2 Tablespoon of Garlic Infused Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Butter of Ghee

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt of Pink Salt

1 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

Directions: In your oven safe skillet, add the olive oil and butter or ghee. Chop your fennel, onion and zucchini. Add the fennel and onion to the skillet after the fat has melted and the skillet is hot along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Sautee these two vegetables, stirring occasionally until they are becoming tender. Then, add the chopped zucchini and another 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and cook for five more minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a large bowl, add the milk to the eggs, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper, and fold in the cheese, reserving about 1/4 cup for the top. Smooth the vegetables in the skillet into an even layer. Slice your sausages, and place them in an even layer on top of the sauteed vegetables. Now, gently pour the egg and cheese mixture over the sausages, and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.

Place a baking pan under your skillet to catch any possible drips, and transfer it to your preheated 400 degree F. oven. Bake until golden and puffy and set in the center for 30 to 40 minutes.

This recipes makes 4 large servings or 6 regular serving

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Buffalo Chicken and Ranch Oven Hashbrowns

The official days of Fall are almost here, and it is September, even though it has been pretty darn hot and humid, even up here in Northern Michigan! But that hasn’t stopped me from decorating my home for fall and dreaming up some new recipes for the crisp days coming when the football games start, kids are back to school, it gets more hectic, and we start craving hearty foods and always lots of flavor!

I don’t know about you, but I love a good hashbrown. But, they take so long to make and can be tricky on the stovetop, and by tricky, I mean, you can’t walk away from them. Buffalo chicken, potatoes and ranch all are crave worthy ingredients, and I thought, why not make a recipe using all these delicious foods that I can make quickly. Let’s face it, we are almost all juggling so much nowadays. Some days I feel like my whole day is a race, yet I am responsible for feeding an equally busy, hungry family, and I still want them to tell me how yummy it is. I have never been a “Grab it and Growl person”. My husband had that a lot growing up, and no disrespect to any loving mom. We all want good things for our children. I’m just an overachiever in that department and always have been having been trained by a mom who did mostly scratch cooking.

This recipe uses real food ingredients, and I added a shortcut! You can use a store bought quality rotisserie chicken as an option. (Make sure it’s gluten free if you are eating g/f.) They are very easy to find anymore, and it makes this recipe super quick. Also, if you have an Instant Pot, you can cook a whole seasoned yourself chicken in there during the day and have it ready and warm at dinner and just need to take it off the bone. Or…… cook the chicken the day before, debone and shred it for making this recipe the next day. Didn’t I tell you I have options for ya? I get it! Some days are crazy. I’m right there with you. But, there is nothing better on a crazy day than to make this feel good recipe! I even had leftovers for lunch the next day.

Let’s make Buffalo Chicken and Ranch Oven Hashbrowns!!

Buffalo Chicken and Ranch Oven Hashbrowns

Ingredients:

1 Whole Roasted Chicken, deboned and shredded (however you like to make it. Mine was in the Instant Pot seasoned with salt and pepper)

2 Pounds of Frozen Hashbrowns (I use Cascadian Farms 1 lb bags. I order from Thrive Market here.)

1 Medium Chopped Yellow Onion (omit if Low FodMap and substitute 1 Tablespoon of Garlic Olive Oil for 1 Tablespoon of Ghee)

4 ounces of Romano Cheese, shredded finely

4 Ounces of Asiago Cheese, shredded finely

3 Tablespoons of Butter or Ghee

1/2 Teaspoon of Onion Powder (omit if Low FodMap)

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

For the Sauce:

1/4 Cup of Frank’s Hot Sauce

4 Tablespoons of Butter or Ghee

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

4 Tablespoons of Honey

I use my recipe for Won’t Miss a Think Ranch here. Make this or use your favorite clean ranch dressing.

Fresh minced parsley and basil for the top (optional) plus more hot sauce to drizzle on top if you like extra heat.

Directions:

Shred your chicken. Melt the buffalo sauce ingredients in a saucepan, and pour over the chicken and toss to coat it evenly. Set aside.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Let’s make the easy, crispy and absolutely delicious sheet pan hashbrowns in the oven. I’m getting excited now! 😉 In a large bowl, break up the frozen hash browns with your hands. If they are really frozen, you can use a meat pounder. Isn’t it convenient these are made from frozen and you don’t have to thaw them first? I love that for convenience. Add 3 Tablespoons of melted butter to the hashbrowns along with a medium chopped onion, the onion powder, Romano and Asiago cheeses, salt and pepper. Toss to coat thoroughly. Lay out a large rimmed baking sheet, grease it lightly and then lay a piece of parchment paper on top. Pour your hashbrowns onto the sheet pan and press them firmly down in one even layer. Bake the hashbrowns on the top shelf of your oven for 40 minutes until golden brown with crispy edges. Make sure to check them after 35 minutes as every oven is slightly different. You can make just the hashbrowns too!

When the hashbrowns are golden brown and crispy, pull them out of the oven. Make sure your buffalo chicken is still warm. If not, reheat it in the microwave. Now, dollop the shredded buffalo chicken on top the the hashbrowns as shown, drizzle with ranch and sprinkle with fresh minced parsley and basil and extra hot sauce if desired.

Take it to the table and serve it cut into squares with a large spatula! Can I say yum? It’s so good. I like to serve it with more veggies on the side and a leafy green salad.

Ramekin Baked Eggs with Polenta, Marinara and Cheese

Hello! How are you? I hope you are having a good July. It’s been quite hot here lately in Northern Michigan, and I have been making these little ramekins of goodness that are full of flavor, have a delicious, creamy texture and are nourishing but not over filling or heavy. Since summer can be busy with a lot more outdoor activities, this recipe uses a premade marinara that is convenient whatever time of year. Who am I kidding, life if always busy.

This recipe is naturally gluten free, and I am happy to have expanded the foods I tolerate well to include polenta and aged cheese. This dish has nourishing eggs full of protein, healthy fats and Omega 3. I try to look for local eggs or pastured organic eggs, and I like the ones with the really yellow yolks. The marinara is a good source of lycopene. Cooked tomatoes have a higher amount than fresh. So, that’s a plus, but those fresh tomatoes in summer are really something aren’t they? Rao’s marinara is just about as close as you will get to homemade. I like to keep a couple jars in my pantry at all times to have handy. The aged cheddar is a source of protein and contains very little lactose, so it is easier to digest if you generally don’t tolerate other dairy. It tastes so good, and just an ounce adds so much flavor. Polenta is naturally gluten free and a source of fiber and protein, and it is a wonderful, creamy texture when cooked properly. My dad used to put leftover polenta in a loaf pan and refrigerate it, then slice it the next day, and brown it on the stove in a pan. It was very good leftover like that. I like to cook mine in an instant pot. What a marvelous, time saving invention! The results are successful every time, and I don’t have to watch the pot as it cooks. I find the texture always comes out perfectly. Try this no fail recipe. I use Bob’s Red Mill Polenta.

This is a very versatile dish good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is easily reheatable too. My daughter, who is doing a nursing internship this summer, packs it in her lunch. It is one of those easy recipes that you can effortlessly modify to make more of less.

Here is the recipe. You can make the polenta ahead of time and put these together really quickly. Just reheat the polenta before using. You will only use half the batch in the recipe above to make six ramekins, so you can use the rest for another time or purpose.

Ramekin Baked Eggs with Polenta, Marinara and Cheese

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Cooked Polenta. (See the recipe link above.)

Marinara Sauce (I like Rao’s brand)

6 Ounces of Cubed, Aged Cheddar Cheese

Twelve Quality Eggs

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions:

Grease 6 Ramekins by brushing the insides with olive oil.

Place the ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Spoon in marinara sauce into the bottom of each ramekin. Add a couple large spoonfuls into each. Add 1/4 Cup of warm polenta on top of the marinara sauce and spread it to the edges of the ramekin. Now add about an ounce of cubed cheddar on top of the polenta evenly. Crack two good quality eggs on top of everything and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Bake the eggs in your preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the whites are set and your yolks are how you like them cooked. Remove them from the oven, and cool for about ten minutes before eating.

I always love to hear from you and welcome your comments!

Coconut Flour Cherry Rhubarb Muffins

It’s rhubarb season! I grew up eating rhubarb pies made by my Mom. They were so delicious! My dad grew fresh rhubarb in his garden, and my mom froze it so we could have rhubarb pies all year. It wasn’t until I was grown that I ever tried a strawberry rhubarb pie or rhubarb any other way but straight up!

I’ll admit that an unadulterated just rhubarb pie is my favorite, because it has a lot of sentimental meaning and brings back delightful childhood memories of the gorgeous Michigan summers. But, I have come to appreciate the fact that it compliments other fruit desserts, and that some people appreciate it when it is combined with other berries and stone fruits like this cherry rhubarb muffin recipe I am going to share, which is delicious!

I inherited four of my father’s rhubarb plants from our family homestead, and they are thriving after the second year with big juicy stalks and huge rhubarb leaves. (The leaves are poisonous, so you must discard those). I make sure to amend the plants in the spring with a nice amount of manure and compost blend. Rhubarb is a beautiful plant, and I think it makes a pretty and useful addition to a yardscape.

This recipe is grain free and gluten free. It makes eight delicious, moist muffins with a balance of equal amounts chopped rhubarb and cherries. I hope you enjoy them!

Coconut Flour Cherry Rhubarb Muffins

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

1/3 Cup of Coconut Flour

1/2 teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of salt

a pinch of Nutmeg

Wet Ingredients:

3 Eggs, Whisked

1/4 Cup of Butter, Melted

1/4 Cup of Honey, runny or melted if not runny

2 teaspoons of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Fruit Ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Fresh Rhubarb, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces

1/2 Cup of Frozen or Fresh Cherries, sliced in half (this can be dark cherries or tart or a combination)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Put 8 muffin liners in a muffin tin.

In a bowl, mix together the eggs, melted butter, honey and vanilla extract with a hand held mixer. Don’t mix in the lemon juice yet.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and blend with the hand held mixer. The coconut flour will be runny at first and then thicken as it absorbs the wet ingredients.

Now beat in two teaspoons of lemon juice. This adds a nice tartness and activates the baking soda.

Fold in the chopped rhubarb and sliced cherries. Scoop the batter into eight muffin cups.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until the centers spring back when touched.

**Coconut Flour Cherry Rhubarb Muffin Batter**

These muffins are a healthy way to enjoy rhubarb this summer!

Crustless Quiche Florentine (Spinach Quiche)

Ahhhhh! Spring has arrived in Northern Michigan! or has it? That is always the big question Up North. But oh the beauty of it when it does. Spring up here is fickle. We had glorious days last week with the daffodils blooming and the sunshine so warm on your skin. The weather was nice enough for a picnic outside, and I actually put out my repurposed, hand painted ladder back chair I am using this summer for garden decor with a pot of daffodils. Later I will replace them with petunias. See photo down below. But the snow this morning! It was just a skiff and will be melted by noon.

Nice weather always makes me crave a good quiche! This is a new recipe I have written for Quiche Florentine. It is so light and fluffy, and it popped up in the oven and browned beautifully. I used baby spinach and a good aged cheddar with plenty of pastured local eggs. It is delicious, and I am so glad there is a piece left for me for lunch today!

Crustless Quiche Florentine (SCD, Low FodMap, Grain Free)

Crustless Quiche Lorraine

Preheat your oven to 375 Degrees F.

Ingredients:

10 Ounces of Baby Spinach, sauteed in olive oil and sprinkled in salt

12 Pastured Eggs

4 oz. of aged cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 Cup of Coconut Milk

2 Teaspoons of Dried Chives

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Pepper

a pinch of Nutmeg

Directions: Grease a deep dish pie pan.

Sautee the spinach in a separate pan with a tablespoon of garlic olive oil, set aside.

Whisk the eggs with the coconut milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg and chives. Fold in the cheese. Pour the egg mixture into your prepared deep dish pie pan. Now, take the cooked spinach and using tongs, place it artfully on top of the egg mixture. Place the pan in your preheated 375 degree F. oven for 40 minutes on the middle shelf until the eggs are set and the top is puffed up. The casserole should register 165 degrees F. in the center. Cool ten minutes before slicing.

Let me show you it sliced!

The quiche is SCD Legal, Gluten Free, Grain Free and just delicious, real food ingredients.

This is the chair I repurposed for my garden this summer. What do you think? I found it at a consignment shop where I live and had a hole cut in the base and then primed and painted it in whimsical colors with flowers. We get quite a bit of foot traffic by our house in the spring and summer, so I thought it would be enjoyed by the passerby.

At the end of a long, productive day, I like to take a little me time to unwind, and one of my favorite ways to do that is by reading a good book. I recently discovered Viola Shipmen! I was browsing a local bookstore and found a signed copy of The Heirloom Garden. Oh my gosh! Don’t you get so excited when you find an undiscovered to you new author whose books thoroughly suck you in with strong female characters? Now I am reading The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipmen and have more to look forward to after that, with a new one coming out this Summer.

I find a great way for winding down is a good book and a soak in the tub. I’m using Lemongrass Spa’s new Rejuvenate Bath Soak, the luscious Lemon Sorbet body polish and Cactus & Guava body wash. Lots of lovely aromatherapy!

So how have you been doing? Leave me a comment below on your favorite Spring food. Here’s to a wonderful Spring!

Sandra

Mediterranean Lentils and Cannellini Beans with Sundried Tomatoes, Olives and Peppers, Benefits of Laughter and Lemongrass Gluten Free Lip Products!

**Mediterranean Lentil and Cannellini Bean**

Hi friends! I have so much to share with you today. Let’s start with this new delicious recipe that can be served as a side dish or a main. This combination of brown lentils, cannellini beans and savory sundried tomatoes, peppers and olives is super delicious and nutritious, packable the next day for lunches, and can be prepped in advance. It is great mounded onto a green salad, served alongside chicken and fish, and good hot or cold.

You will cook the lentils first and then pour a flavorful vinaigrette on them while still warm. They soak up all the flavor of the vinaigrette, and then you layer more flavor in with the tangy, savory and salty sundried tomatoes, olives, roasted red peppers and parmesan cheese!

Lentils are a nutritious and an inexpensive way to get in some wonderful nutrients, fiber, and improve gut flora. They are often overlooked, but so delicious! Did you know that a serving of lentils has 90 percent of your RDA of folate? They are also high in polyphenols and are a good source of zinc, B6 and other important vitamins.

I used Cannellini Beans in this recipe because they are a bigger bean and creamy. They are a good source of protein and fiber. You can use any bean in this recipe you like. My favorite brand of beans is Eden Organics because they soak them overnight and that makes them easier to digest.

Mediterranean Lentils and Cannellini Beans with Sundried Tomatoes, Olives and Peppers

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Brown Lentils cooked according to package directions

1 Can of Canned Cannellini Beans (I use this brand because they are soaked)

1/3 Cup of Kalamata Olives, sliced

1/3 Cup of Oil Packed Sundried Tomatoes, finely chopped

1/3 Cup of Roasted Red Peppers, chopped

1/3 Cup of Parmesan Cheese, Grated

Vinaigrette:

2 1/2 Tablespoons of Balsamic Vinegar

1 1/2 Tablespoon of Garlic Infused Olive Oil my favorite brand, or 1 fresh minced clove of garlic

1 Tablespoon of Dried Chives

1 Tablespoon of Dijon Mustard

1/8 Teaspoon of Salt

1/8 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

(Whisk the vinaigrette all together)

Directions: Cook the lentils according to the package directions. Pour over the whisked vinaigrette after they are fully cooked and all the water is absorbed. Set aside.

While the lentils are cooling, chop up your remaining ingredients and drain and rinse your cannellini beans under cold water.

Put the lentils with the vinaigrette into a medium bowl, and add the remaining ingredients except the cheese. After stirring in the vegetables, beans and olives, fold in most of the grated parmesan and keep a little to sprinkle on the top.

You can serve the dish right away while warm, or refrigerate it and serve it cold. It is good either way.

It feels so good to laugh, and there are reasons why. Laughter reduces stress, increases your intake of oxygen, helps deepen bonds with others, reduces anxiety, and helps lower blood pressure. Sounds good, right? Just make sure you aren’t laughing at the expense of others and it’s appropriate laughter. The average 4 year old laughs 300 times a day and the average adult over 40 laughs only 4 times a day. So, because laughter is so good for you here’s a bean joke, which seems appropriate for the theme of this blog post: What’s beans’ favorite hat? A beanie 🙂 Dad joke! So sorry.

**The Benefits of Laughter for your Health**

As my loyal readers know, this is a gluten free blog, because I have gluten intolerance, I write recipes that are gluten free. I also use ONLY gluten free lip and makeup products for the same reason. It is especially important for any lip products! I absolutely love all the Lemongrass Spa makeup and lip products, because they are #1 beautiful, and #2 ALL Gluten Free!!

**Lemongrass Spa Gluten Free Lipstick and Lip Gloss**

What’s really in your lipwear?

Since lipstick, gloss and balm are so readily ingested, it should be as safe as possible. I use Lemongrass Spa Lip products because ALL of their Lipwear is Gluten Free and Organic! They actually list all the allergens on all their products.

When navigating the cosmetic aisle, it’s hard enough to find the perfect shade. It gets harder still when you want to find a safe, non-toxic version of your favorite color! It’s especially important to look for safe lip wear because the lips are a very sensitive part of the body. Everything is gluten free, and the lip glosses, lip oils and lip tints are nut free also!

I trust Lemongrass Spa Organic lip wear in all the attractive, long-lasting shades, glosses and moisturizers!

What do you prefer ?

A) Lip Balm

B ) Lip Gloss

C) Lipstick

D) Lip Oil

E) Tinted Lip Balm