Dairy free lightened up rice pudding

I didn't get a picture of this because everyone ate it too fast but thought I would post it anyway. Next time I make it I will be sure to snap one quickly.

Ingredients

3 cups cooked white (brown would probably work too) rice

3 cups vanilla almond milk

2 tablespoons brown sugar

3 egg whites

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves (to taste)

teaspoon of vanilla

Directions

In sauce pan add rice, egg whites, milk, sugar, spices, vanilla and stir well

Over med heat bring up to a boil add raisins

reduce heat to simmer and simmer until thickens (about 15-20 minutes)

Damn good Salmon

This is a version of a dish called profanity salmon. I got told since I changed it so much I should rename it and make it my own so I am just going to call it Damn Good!

Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1 teaspoon sraraci hot sauce

1 (1 1/2 pound) salmon fillet

salt and pepper to taste

1 green and 1 red bell pepper, sliced

1 onion, finely chopped
Phylo dough (2 sheets per fillet)
olive oil

Preheat oven to 375
Clean and prepare your fish. I kept the skin on but I would probably remove it next time because the dough on the bottom is inedible unless you like fish skin which I don't.

Make your sauce by combining hot sauce, terriaki sauce and mayo

Slice your peppers and onions

It's important to have everything ready before opening your dough as it dries out quickly. Cover any you are not using with a slightly damn tea towel or paper towel helps prevent this.

Lay one sheet of phylo dough on the counter top. If your dough is sticky lay it on a sheet of parchment or wax paper. With a pastry brush lightly brush sheet with oil. You don't need very much. Layer a second sheet on top the first.

Lay your salmon fillet in the middle of the sheet, top with 2-3 spoonfuls of your sauce, top with peppers and onions and fold your dough around it into a pocket. Don't worry if you rip the dough its forgiving once its baked.

Gently transfer to a parchment lined bake sheet (or lightly grease your sheet)

Bake for 25 minutes

Almost non-dairy strawberry cupcakes

Ingredients (this makes 2 dozen so for 1 dozen half everything)

4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup vanilla almond milk (the sweetened kind if using unsweetened add 1/2 of sugar more you could also use normal milk if you want a dairy version)

1/2 cup olive oil (or cooking i prefer olive though)

1/2 cup strawberry yogurt (any would do really)

2 eggs + 4 whites (I use egg beaters egg whites if you just want to use eggs just use 4)

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup diced fresh strawberries

pink or red food coloring (optional) - I have to admit I added it because the olive oil and the yogurt gave them a greenish color if your okay with that omit.

In large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking baking powder, salt - mix well

In smaller bowl add milk, olive oil, strawberry yogurt, eggs, vanilla and strawberries and stir well.

Add wet to dry and mix only until combined.. try not to over mix.

Pour into lined or greased muffin tins - I filled mine right to the top and had enough mix.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean)

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Mango chicken with cilantro lime rice

I love when I have ingredients I need to use up and my experiment works. This was one of those nights with an almost over ripe mango. I have never made mango chicken before but I was pleasantly surprised.

Mango sauce

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small fine diced red onion
3 cloves of garlic diced
1 small finger of ginger grated
1/2 cup apple juice (orange would have worked too)
Juice from 1 small lime
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sriracha hot sauce (the one with the roaster on it)
1/2 teaspoon garlic and red pepper flakes paste
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cracked blacked pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 ripe mango peeled and diced


Directions

In a small sauce pan add oil, onions, garlic and ginger. Saute until onions start to go clear.
Add all other ingredients and bring to a soft boil. Reduce heat and simmer

Chicken

8-10 skinless drumsticks (really any chicken would work)
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

While sauce is simmering prepare chicken by removing skin (if not already). Place in bottom of dish.

In a small dish combine your spices. Sprinkle over top chicken, flip and sprinkle over the other side.

Add diced peppers on top of the chicken

Pour sauce on top of the chicken and bake in a preheated 375 oven for about 45 minutes or until juices from chicken run clear. (Boneless chicken will take less time 30-40 minutes)

*If you do not seem to have enough sauce add 1/4 cup water on top, more or less depending on how much chicken you use I judged it at the end after I poured the sauce it on top the chicken.

Not the prettiest looking meal but it sure was tasty

Here is how to make cilantro rice as well. This is not an original method I think Chipolte's restaurant has a version. I have never tried it but I heard its good.

2 cups uncooked rice (any kind I used Calrose, my favorite is jasmine though :)
4 cups water

I use a rice cooker but stove method would also work.

Cook until rice is almost done, add 1 cup diced fresh cilantro and the juice from 1/2 a lime.

Simple huh?

Adventures in lamb

Greek *inspired oven roasted spring lamb

*meaning I have no idea what actually would have been on Greek lamb LOL




Ingredients

• 1-2 racks of lamb - or pork would be good too
• Extra virgin olive oil
• nutmeg
• cinnamon
• basil
• parsley
• rosemarie
• ground black pepper
• ground sea salt (or reg salt)
  
• honey
• one eager toddler

Directions

• Take your meat and place it in a pan for marinating
• In a bowl mix a few tablespoons of EVOO and honey in equal parts
  
• Add in your spices - I like to grind mine together first but your choice

Or call in your eager Toddler to smash them to bits in the mortar and pestle

• "Paint" your meat with the spice mixture
  

Again an eager toddler helps :)

• Let meat marinate in the fridge for a few hours. Mine was in there about 6 or so. About 10ish minutes before cooking bring out of fridge and let the meat get to room temperature
  

• In an oven safe pan heat a few tablespoons of EVOO - When the pan is HOT .. (touch one side of meat to pan and if it sizzles its nice and hot and read) drop in meat. Let sear on both sides until it is nice and caramelized and browned.
  

• Place pan in a preheated 450 oven

• Cooking time with vary depending on the meat you used but for this I kept it at 450 for about 10 minutes then turned it down to 375 for another 15ish or until the juices ran fairly clear. I like my meat med-well so you can cook it less if you want it more pink
• Remove from oven and let meat 'rest' for about 5-10 minutes

• Cut and EAT :)

Bread baking

I did not use my own recipe for this so I am just going to do a link to the site. I added raisins, cinnamon and brown sugar to the one after I rolled it flat then rolled it up and baked (before the second rising)

Honey Whole Wheat bread

Here is how mine turned out

School days again ~ Granola bars

Homemade granola bars

I love these because they are FILLING - not full of puffed rice like the ones in the stores and not $4 a box .. I have never calculated what they cost me but I would say $1-2 dollars for 12 if I had to guess. Oh and my kids LOVE them.. I have to hide them or they will eat the whole pan in a day LOL

- I like to do two batches at once so just start with two bowls. If you notice my photos seem to swap out ingredients that is why. I made a raisin chocolate chip batch and a peanut butter chocolate chip batch at the same time.

Ingredients
4 cups oats - mine were honestly no-name quick oats (yeup I am a mom on a budget)
1 cup flour
1tsp baking soda
2/3 cup butter
1/3 cup brownsugar
1/2 cup honey (or corn syrup works too)

2.5 cups 'other ingredients' - these are the fun stuff. You can be creative and add what you like. Here are some ideas: Raisins, chocolate chips, craisons, nuts, sunflower seeds, peanut butter (don't use a whole 2.5 cups only like 1 cup max), dried fruit.

Directions

• Add all dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add butter and mix (with hands works best) until completely blended.
  

• Add in your "extras" and honey and mix again. I usually use a spoon then finish it again with my hands because I hate being sticky.
  

• Press mixture into lightly buttered pan

• Bake in 375 oven for 10 minutes then pull out and using a spatula press firmly down into the pan. I cannot stress this part enough because your bars WILL puff up when you bake and if you want them to stay together you need to squish them down.

This is before I pressed them down completely, see how puffed up it is.
I had pressed half of the raisin ones down you can see how much flatter the top half the pan is.

• After pressing down return to oven for another 10 minutes. Remove and once more press down as hard as you can with the spatula.
  

• Let cool for 20 minutes then slice in the pan. Once sliced leave them to cool completely before removing. Two hours or so.
  

NOTES: I think in my new oven I would cut the baking time down to 7 and 7 minutes since they got a bit browner then I like but still good!