I have been obsessing a bit lately on how easy a tater tot casserole is to put together and the endless possibilities. It seems tater tots delight the young and old alike based on how my family’s eyes light up when I put this one on the table. A BBQ pork tater tot casserole is a delicious and comforting dish that combines the savory flavors of barbecue pork with the crispy texture of tater tots, all baked together in a casserole.
BBQ Shredded Pork and Tater Tot Casserole Weeknight Yum!
Who doesn’t like shredded barbecued pork? The BBQ sauce adds a sweet and tangy flavor that complements the savory pork. There is also a layer of creamy refried beans before the tater tots, and it’s all topped with good aged cheddar cheese and takes only 30 minutes to bake in the oven. The contrast between the crispy tater tots and the creamy cheese makes for a satisfying texture. Another bonus is this can be made ahead and also frozen in advance. If you are looking for time saving tips, I recommend making two and freezing one for a night when you don’t have time or are too tired to cook. I’m raising my hand here. 🙂
Two Large Jarred Roasted Red Peppers (I used Thrive Market Organic) Diced
1 Bag of Tater Tots
10 Ounces of Shredded Aged Cheddar
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 glass casserole dish. Toss together the shredded pork and barbecue sauce adding enough sauce to make a nice saucy, juicy mixture.
Stir the refried beans in a bowl with a fork to loosen them up. If they are not spreadable, warm them in the microwave for one minute. Then, spread a layer of refried beans evenly over the shredded pork. Sprinkle the tangy salty capers evenly over the beans and 3/4 cup of sliced scallions.
Now, dump the frozen tater tots on top of the beans, and spread them out evenly. Top with the diced roasted red peppers, then the shredded cheddar. Bake in your preheated oven for 30 minutes. Then, when the tater tots are golden brown and the casserole is bubbly, remove it from the oven and sprinkle it with the remaining sliced green onions.
Serve! You can provide additional toppings like hot sauces and ranch. Tip: Add jalapeños or use a spicy BBQ sauce for some heat. Serve with a fresh salad, coleslaw, or roasted vegetables.
This casserole is great for family dinners, potlucks, or casual gatherings. It’s easy to prepare in advance and can be a crowd-pleaser due to its hearty and flavorful nature.
A BBQ pork tater tot casserole is a versatile and enjoyable dish that brings together familiar flavors in a comforting and satisfying way.
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.
Buffalo Chicken Tostadas, Gluten and Grain Free
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.
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
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.
Farmhouse Fennel and Zucchini Frittata with Chicken Apple Sausages
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
I’m so excited about these new safer beauty launches. What we put on our skin (our largest organ) absorbs into our bodies! Beautycounter’s 2023 Holiday Assortment has arrived! Yes, I am a consultant and use, trust and love them so much!
Beautycounter’s Holiday Sets are Here! Clean, Gorgeous, Highly Effective Skincare and Makeup.
Need a Fall Beauty Refresh? I do! Our Limited Edition Holiday Sets (14 sets!) include new formulas, new scents, new shades and a new category! It’s time to start your holiday shopping! You may not be in the holiday shopping mood yet, but we can always use some self care! So, go ahead and shop for yourself, you’re worth it!!
**Keep in mind that these are limited edition sets and when they are gone, they are gone for good!! We have fewer sets this year, so this is your warning to shop early!!! But, you can get their amazing skin, body and lip care year round. These sets are always pretty special.
Beautycounter’s Main Squeeze Lip Jellies are Gluten Free and High Shine in a Beautiful Hot Pink Box!Beautycounter Main Squeeze Lip Jellies in their exclusive Holiday Release are High Gloss and Gluten Free!
I am so excited about so many of these sets! A few of my must haves is the Main Squeeze Lip Jellies in 5 shades. They are pocket sized and are ultra glossy in different flavors. I stock up every year. The Shimmer & Glow Makeup Duo has a gorgeous, talc free bronzing highlighter and a golden Lid Glow Shadow in a new shade! The Sugar and Silk Body Set (it smells AMAZING) and for all you Countermatch users, we finally have the travel size set!! There are 14 sets, so make sure you go check them all out!
Polish and Plump with this Beautycounter Holiday Face Set!
If you have wanted to give your skin extra glow, hydration and smoothness, this set has it all in one! This is the Polish and Plump Face Set! It’s Gorgeous for gifting and a wonderful skincare gift for yourself! This includes an entire smaller sized regimen. The Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm (I love this so much!) is multipurpose! —a hydrating cleanser that moonlights as an overnight facial mask, made with a soothing blend of lotus extract, jojoba seed oil, and avocado seed oil. For softer, smoother, radiant-looking skin in just 10 minutes, also included is our Mini Reflect Effect AHA Smoothing Facial Mask—This makes your skin as smooth as a babies butt! No kidding! It’s an exfoliating formula clinically proven to improve skin texture, tone, and radiance.* and to moisturize…Then the last step is, getting plumped up with the Mini Mighty Plump Ceramide Water Cream! It’s made with two forms of hydrating hyaluronic acid plus barrier-protecting ceramide! This formula works like filler and feels like skin care and delivers real results, real fast. It’s very lightweight.
All the holiday sets are packaged beautifully and the value is very good. For instance this set contains $116 worth of products, but is only $89 for three smaller but still generous sizes.
Good Scents Hand Cream Trio for Smooth, Soft Hands is Beautycounter Holiday Pretty Set
This is the hand cream trio in one of the 14 holiday gift sets. They are exclusive scents in a beautiful gift box. Beautycounter hand creams are wonderful year after year, and this is a set that *always* sells out. Aren’t they pretty?
Benefits:
Lightweight, yet hydrating, non-greasy formula.
Softens and moisturizes hands.
Comes in three limited-edition scents: Coriander & Cucumber, Jasmine & Citrus, and Bergamot & Cedarwood.
Featured Ingredients:
Squalane: Derived from olives, it draws moisture into skin to replenish and condition.
Grapeseed Oil: Fast-absorbing and helps maintain moisture.
Jojoba Seed Oil: Works to soothe and moisturize skin.
Shea Butter: Helps hydrate and condition skin.
If you are a first time Beautycounter customer or have a new email you can use code CLEANFORALL20 and receive 20% off your first purchase, including holiday sets. Too busy to shop? I have included a checklist PDF in the photos below, just screen shot it and check off the sets you want, send it back to me, and I will send you a link to a shopping cart already ready for you to just check out. Happy shopping! I have had the opportunity to try all these sets in advance, and they are amazing and so gorgeous to gift!!
Have a happy, health day!
Beautycounter’s Safer Skincare Holiday Sets for 2023
Apple bread is obviously good all year round, but it is especially enticing during the fall when apples are available locally and the leaves are changing color and crunchy beneath our feet, and we start thinking about bringing out the buffalo plaid, flannel and light scarves and vests when we go outside
I am particularly fond of seasonal food. It gives us a reason to celebrate every season as it comes and goes. This apple cake uses grated apple, so there is apple throughout without the big chunks, and there is a scrumptious streusel topping. I’m telling you the wonderful aroma in the kitchen whilst it is baking will make your family happy with anticipation.
Here’s the recipe:
Gluten Free Apple Bread with Streusel Topping
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan well.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 Cup of Gluten Free Flour Blend with Xanthan Gum (I use King Arthur Measure for Measure)
1/2 Cup of Apple Butter
1/2 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt
3 Large Eggs
1 Cup of Peeled and Grated Apple (about 1 large apple)
1/3 Cup of Cane Sugar
1/4 Cup of Olive Oil
1 1/2 Teaspoons of Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
1/8 Teaspoon of Nutmeg
1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For Streusel Topping:
2 Tablespoons of Butter, melted
3 Tablespoons of Gluten Free Flour Blend
1 Tablespoon of Light Brown Sugar
1/8 Teaspoon of Salt
1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
a pinch of Nutmeg
Directions:
Grate your apple and set aside.
Mix together the crumb topping ingredients in a bowl with a fork, and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs, yogurt, apple butter, vanilla, sugar and olive oil.
In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients you just blended. Fold in the grated apple, and then add the batter to your prepared loaf pan. Smooth the batter evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle the top with your streusel mixture. Bake in your preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, run a knife around the pan before removing the loaf to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Changing leaves, cooler weather, cozy sweaters, and this time of year makes me start baking things like these maple pecan scones. They are the perfect bit of sweet with a biscuit texture and buttery maple pecan flavor. It’s just the bit of comfort and homey cheer that says relax and put up your feet for a bit and savor the moment. I personally can’t think of scones without also thinking of a cup of tea to go with it. But that’s entirely up to you and maybe your jam is coffee or just eating it over the kitchen sink. We have family members known to do that….never me. 😉 What is your favorite tea to drink with something like a scone?
In this recipe, I used maple sugar, real butter, some natural maple flavor extract instead of vanilla and toasted pecans. They are a delicious way to treat yourself. A wonderful thing about scones is you can prep them all the way up to the point they are ready to pop into the oven and freeze some for later so you have fresh scones at your fingertips. This has come in very handy for me over the years. This recipe makes 24 scones, so you can bake them all at once, or freeze some for later. Just increase your baking time by about ten minutes from frozen.
Let’s make scones together, shall we?
Maple Pecan Scones, Gluten Free
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. and lay out two parchment lined baking sheets.
Ingredients:
3 Cups of Gluten Free Flour Blend with Xanthun Gum (I use Measure for Measure) Scooped and Leveled
2 Sticks of Cold Butter
1 Cup of Coconut Milk or Heavy Cream
4 Large Eggs
1 Cup of Toasted Pecans (toast in the oven for approximately 7 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and chop)
Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon of water for brushing the tops)
Directions:
Toast the pecans first at 350 degrees F. for seven minutes. Remove them from the oven and set aside to cool. Now, reset your oven to 400 degrees F. for the scones.
In a food processor with a blade, add your flour, maple sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pulse until combined. Cut the cold butter into chunks and add it to your food processor. Pulse the processor until you have fine pea size crumbs. Whisk together in a separate bowl the coconut milk or heavy cream, eggs, and maple extract. Add the beaten egg mixture to the flour mixture and pulse until combined evenly. You will need to remove the top a couple of times to scrape the sides. Dump the mixture into a mixing bowl and fold in the pecans evenly. Dump the scone dough onto a floured surface, and roll out until it is a 12 inch by 8 inch rectangle and the scones are 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut the dough into 12 squares with a sharp knife. Wipe the knife as you go if you get dough stuck to it for a cleaner cut. Now cut your twelve squares into triangles by cutting them in half on an angle. Place the scones on two baking trays spaced evenly about two inches apart. Brush the scones with egg wash and sprinkle with some additional maple sugar or cane sugar.
Bake in your preheated 400 degree F. oven for 16 minutes until golden brown on the edges. Cool.
These are delightful, and I hope you love the recipe! Happy baking!!
Hello! I am Sam. I am a foodie, baker and a Health Coach who likes being in the kitchen making food. My recipes are all gluten free and there are recipes for different food intolerances as well. If you are looking to incorporate healthier eating habits and live a more balanced life, I hope to inspire you. I have had an obsession with baking since I was ten! I started this blog to share recipes I was making for myself after finding out I had gluten sensitivity and other food intolerances which I have mostly healed, but will always be sensitive to gluten. I went to school for Health Coaching as a second career at Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Nutrient dense food gives the body the best fuel and building blocks to be vibrant, healthy, prevent disease, and maintain great energy as well as heal. I am excited to share delicious food recipes, tips, baking and treats too!
This is the Polish and Plump Face Set! It’s Gorgeous for gifting and a wonderful skincare gift for yourself! This includes an entire smaller sized regimen. The Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm (I love this so much!) 
is multipurpose! —a hydrating cleanser that moonlights as an overnight facial mask, made with a soothing blend of lotus extract, jojoba seed oil, and avocado seed oil. For softer, smoother, radiant-looking skin in just 10 minutes, also included is our Mini Reflect Effect AHA Smoothing Facial Mask—This makes your skin as smooth as a babies butt! No kidding! It’s an exfoliating formula clinically proven to improve skin texture, tone, and radiance.* and to moisturize…Then the last step is, getting plumped up with the Mini Mighty Plump Ceramide Water Cream! It’s made with two forms of hydrating hyaluronic acid plus barrier-protecting ceramide! This formula works like filler and feels like skin care and delivers real results, real fast. It’s very lightweight.
Sam Eats Her Nutrients 
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