Butternut Squash Black Bean Enchilada Casserole | Vegetarian, Anti-Inflammatory

Kicking off January with a batch of comforting enchiladas – creative, delicious and healthy enchiladas at that!  Butternut Squash Black Bean Enchilada Casserole is great for meal-prep (can be cut into squares and frozen) and suitable for vegetarian diets, gluten-free diets and those following an anti-inflammatory diet.

Butternut Black Bean Enchilada Bake

Read on to get his inspired by the southwest enchilada casserole recipe. Continue reading

Things I’m Doing to Better Take Care of Myself in 2021 (and you can too)!

Wow, 2020 may actually be over by the time you are reading this. What a weird, disheveled, frustrating and sad year it was. Some have lost so much – lives, family members, loved ones, businesses, jobs, justice, hope. . .

Despite the it all, 2020 has also provided shining moments of kindness, support, patience, understanding and love.  So, I plan to kick off 2021 with focus on the shining moments and ways I can be part of the collective positive vibe, not the negative. Positivity starts with self-love and self-care – so I’m sharing a few things I’m in January to take care of myself (so I can better take care of others). Continue reading

Personal-sized Charcuterie Boards in Egg Roll Wrapper Boats

This post is sponsored by JSL foods as part of Twin Dragon Blogger Recipe Challenge Contest — however, all opinions, content and enthusiasm remain my own.

As we roll into the season finale of 2020, I’m kicking back to celebrate at home with a Personal-sized Charcuterie Board & Cheese Tray (served in an edible egg roll wrapper boat). Not only is it a great time to enjoy New Year’s Even appetizers, but also to hit rewind in my mind to revisit the top lessons I’ve learned during this challenging year.

Personal Sized Charcuterie with Edible Egg Roll Wrapper Boat

These lessons would include: 1) Enjoy the moment, 2) Keep the party at home, 3) Make creative use of ingredients on hand, 4) Simple indulgences can lift spirits, and 5) Find fellowship . . . but keep your social distance! And, to that last one, I also respectfully say (even to my own kids), keep your grubby fingers out of my snacks, please. Lol, and in response to all these life lessons is the creation of my individually-portioned meat and cheese “trays” made from egg roll wrappers! Continue reading

Maple Banana Mug Muffin – Gluten-free, No Added Sugar

When you wake up more frazzled than fabulous, you can still make yourself an amazing warm breakfast in minutes and redirect the salvaged time toward getting your life in order for the day. Welcome to my recipe for Maple Banana Mug Muffin, a delicious “hug in a mug” that is designed to both fuel you up properly and minimize morning chaos.

This easy mug muffin cooks up in 1 minute and provides a warm, nourishing breakfast on your busiest days! Gluten-free.

So, don’t even thing about grabbing a bar or eating cereal out of the box– this two-minute mug muffin can be prepped and cooked before your coffee finishes brewing.

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Apple-Pecan Quinoa Oat Breakfast Bake – Gluten-free, Dairy-free

Hello, and welcome to possibly to the one millionth flavor combination of my beloved morning meal — Apple-Pecan Quinoa Oat Breakfast Bake. While it’s a traditional flavor pairing with apples, pecans, raisins, cinnamon, and hints of vanilla, the baked oatmeal base is a bit unique as it co-mingles with the ancient “grain,” quinoa.

apple pecan quinoa oat bake tray meal prep

About 10 years ago, when I discovered that steel cut oats and quinoa cook up to the perfect, soft but slightly toothsome texture in the SAME amount of time, I started making these healthy grain breakfast bakes like an starved and obsessed woman. With every batch, a different combination of flavors (like the last was Pumpkin Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Bake) – always delicious and great to cook ahead to have a balanced breakfast on had for busy mornings. Continue reading