Tag Archives: gluten-free

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Chicken Lasagna Florentine

A creamy, cheesy, chicken dish with spinach.  You could serve this over pasta of some kind or zoodles, if you desire but we just eat it the way it is. Good served with broccoli, to share some of that yummy sauce.

Well, Tiffany and I dropped the ball yesterday. I was working on my dad’s final dessert completing his Christmas present from last year, so Tiffany began working on dinner, which was this recipe. Well, since I was dealing with a bad recipe, I didn’t remind her to take pictures. Then when I finished what I was doing and helped prep the ingredients she needed, I was so frustrated with my recipe flop that I didn’t even think about the pictures again.

So, she finished layering the ingredients and put it in the oven and that is when I remembered. Crazy! Consequently I tried to figure out something else I could share but I just couldn’t come up with anything else. Thus I’m sharing this recipe without procedural pictures. Sorry guys!

First you cut up the chicken into bite-size pieces and cook in a skillet with a little bit of oil.

Cook Chicken ~ Lifeofjoy.meNext prepare the alfredo sauce. Melt one tablespoon of butter in a pot and add a clove of garlic, minced, cooking for about 30 seconds or so.

Making the sauce ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Then add  one and a half cups of heavy cream and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Alfredo Sauce ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Then add 1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese and 2 ounces of cream cheese.

Alfredo Sauce continued ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Combine well. Simmer the sauce on low for about 10-15 minutes. This is important because the sauce will thicken during this time.

Meanwhile, prep remaining ingredients (I don’t have all of the spinach pictured here.)

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Preheat the oven to 350º.

Add the chicken to the sauce.

Chicken alfredo ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Now it’s time to layer it into a 9×9 or similar pan. (Pictures show an 8×11 pan.)

Chicken sauce,

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me

spinach, which we like to give a rough chop,

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.memozzarella

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me

And repeat chicken sauce, spinach, mozzarella, parmesan.

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Bake for about 20 minutes, uncovered. Can broil for a few minutes to brown the top a bit at the end.

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Let it stand for about 10 minutes, if you can, and the cheese will stiffen up a bit and make it easier to serve and look less like soup. As you can tell in this picture, we didn’t wait. ;)

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Chicken Lasagna Florentine

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 cups mozzarella, shredded
  • 2 cups spinach, I slice mine into ribbons
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan, shredded

Instructions

  1. Cut the chicken breast into bite-size pieces and brown in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
  2. Melt butter in pot and saute garlic for about 30 seconds.
  3. Add heavy whipping cream and simmer 5 minutes.
  4. Add cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, Whisk to combine.
  5. Simmer 10-15 minutes on low to allow the sauce to thicken up a bit.
  6. Preheat oven to 350º
  7. Add chicken to sauce.
  8. Layer ingredients into 9x9 pan:
  9. chicken sauce, spinach, mozzarella
  10. chicken sauce, spinach, mozzarella, Parmesan
  11. Bake about 20 minutes.
  12. (Can broil for a few minutes at the end to brown the top a bit.)
  13. Let sit for a few minutes when it is finished to allow the cheese to set just a bit and make it easier to serve. 😉
https://lifeofjoy.me/chicken-lasagna-florentine/

Good served with even more spinach underneath individual servings or with a side of broccoli.

Chicken Lasagna Florentine ~ Lifeofjoy.me(Updated 1/30/17: Added pictures for each step and changed featured image.)

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Seasoned Green Beans ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Seasoned Green Beans

Green Beans, regular cut or french cut, seasoned with ham and minced onion. If slow cooked, you might even think they were from Cracker Barrel. ;)

Are your green beans boring? Here’s how to make delicious green beans. All it takes is some canned green beans, bacon or other ham pieces, onion powder or minced onion, salt and pepper. You could use fresh or frozen green beans but you’d have to cook them a LOT longer.

Empty a can of green beans into a pot, french cut style or regular cut style. Pour out some of the liquid, about half of what is in it.

Seasoned Green Beans ~ Lifeofjoy.meThen add a piece or two of bacon (or ham of some sort), depending on how thick it is. I used one piece of turkey bacon.

Seasoned Green Beans ~ Lifeofjoy.meSeasoned Green Beans ~ Lifeofjoy.meAdd a sprinkling of dried minced onion, onion powder, or a bit of fresh minced onion. I used dried minced onion last night.

Seasoned Green Beans ~ Lifeofjoy.meBring it to a simmer and cover. Simmer for a bit. You can serve them as soon as they are hot, if you used onion powder. Otherwise, cook for about a half an hour. You can also put this in a slow cooker and cook for several hours.

Seasoned Green Beans ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Seasoned Green Beans

Ingredients

  • Canned green beans
  • minced onion
  • piece of turkey bacon
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in pot or slow cooker.
  2. Simmer on stove for about 30 minutes or several hours in slow cooker.
https://lifeofjoy.me/seasoned-green-beans/

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Spaghetti ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Spaghetti

A tomato-based meat sauce with some of the acidity removed.

I’m going to share my “recipe” for spaghetti today. It’s one of those, not-really-a-recipe, kind of recipes though. My mom taught me to make this and she never used a recipe either.

Actually, I use this same sauce, with only slight changes, for lasagna too. Don’t be scared off by the zoodles (the green strands). This is my normal spaghetti sauce that I serve over angel hair pasta but since I’m on keto right now, we are having it over the strips of sauteed zucchini.

So this is super simple. Start by browning one pound of ground meat. I use ground turkey right now. Season with some salt and pepper. Add one 6 ounce can of tomato paste. Then fill the empty can with water and add it as well; add one more can of water and combine.

Spaghetti ~ Lifeofjoy.meMix it in well and add 16 ounces of plain tomato sauce.

Spaghetti ~ Lifeofjoy.meAdd a sprinkling of onion powder and a dash of garlic powder. Simmer.

Now the important thing is to add about 1/8th of a teaspoon of baking soda. Stir it around. It will bubble up and remove some of the acidicness. (Yeah, that’s probably not even a word. ;) ) If you cook this in a cast iron skillet like I did, don’t let it simmer very long with the baking soda in it or it will darken on top. It doesn’t do this in any other skillet or pan that I know of.

Serve over pasta or zoodles or whatever you choose. :)

Spaghetti ~ Lifeofjoy.meHere I added some sauted onions, peppers, and mushrooms on top, as well as shredded cheese. Once stirred altogether, it looks like this.

Spaghetti ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Spaghetti

Ingredients

  • 1# ground meat
  • onion powder
  • garlic powder
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • 16 ounces canned tomato sauce
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • Shredded cheese or Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 1/3 cup diced green, red, orange, or yellow pepper (optional)
  • 1/3 cup diced onion (optional)
  • 1/2 cup diced mushrooms (optional)

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground meat. (Can add the veggies to cook with the meat or saute separately.)
  2. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Add tomato paste. Fill empty can with water (two times) and add to meat and tomato paste.
  4. Add tomato sauce.
  5. Sprinkle with onion powder and dash with garlic powder.
  6. Bring to a simmer.
  7. Add the baking soda.
  8. Serve over zoodles or pasta.
https://lifeofjoy.me/spaghetti/

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Mug Bread (Gluten-Free)

A bread made from egg, almond flour, flax (flour), quickly made in the microwave.

From time to time I need to have a “bread” that is not really a bread, if you know what I mean. I’ve been doing the keto diet for the past month or so and finally got to the point I “needed” some bread.Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Thankfully this is not a new scenario for me and I was able to go and dig into my hCG recipes for this, very simple, quick and easy bread that is made in the microwave in just 70 seconds. :)

I have a friend that needs this right now too, so I’m sharing it here for her future reference, as well as my own. ;)

You need just a few ingredients. If you make anything gluten-free from scratch, you probably already have some of these items.

Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.meCombine all ingredients in a mini food processor, magic bullet, blender, or mix in the actual baking container with either a immersion blender or your own arm power and a whisk. Tiffany chooses the later but I go ahead and get out the mini processor.

Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.me Transfer to your mug or english muffin-sized bowl. I used this small soup bowl.

Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.mePop it into the microwave for 70 seconds. (I go through spells where I don’t use the microwave for long spells and then want it again for a few things. I have not figured out how to make this without using the microwave, although I figure it’s got to work in the oven; I just don’t know how long it would need to cook.)

Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.meAnd it’s done.

Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.meI loosen it around the sides with a small rubber spatula/scraper and turn it out onto a plat or cutting board.

Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.meWhen cut in half horizontally, this makes two rather thick pieces of “bread”; so I cut it into three slices. Then I love to make a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich with two of the slices and a piece of toast with the last. :)

Mug Bread ~ Lifeofjoy.me

I like to toast it.

Mug Bread (Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 1 Tablespoon flax meal
  • 2 teaspoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 Tablespoon water

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients well. (I use a mini food processor)
  2. Pour into mug or other suitable microwavable container
  3. Microwave for 70 seconds.
  4. Remove from microwave and from baking container.
  5. Slice in 2-3 pieces and enjoy!
https://lifeofjoy.me/mug-bread-gluten-free/

I hope you enjoy this. We sure have. :)

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Zoodles ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Zoodles

Julienned strips of small zucchini, sautéed in oil or butter.

Today’s recipe is so simple that it isn’t really a recipe. ;)

This is made from zucchini but I think you could use yellow squash too.

I wish I had one of those spiral veggie slicers because it seems like it would be a bit easier than the julienne peeler I have.

Basically, all you need to do is wash the zucchini and then slice.

Zoodles ~ Lifeofjoy.meUnfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of the next steps. You could steam it or boil it, which I have tried and did not like. What we have found we do like though is to season it with salt and cook it in a skillet with butter or coconut oil, until it is done to your liking.

See? It’s that simple. Serve with your choice of sauce. We’ve had this with Meatballs Parmesan, Pesto Meatballs, and pictured here with Spaghetti sauce.

Zoodles ~ Lifeofjoy.me

We have found that we prefer to use the smaller, thinner zucchini rather than the larger, fatter ones. Michael had liked these every time I made them except this last time when I used the larger zucchini; he said it had a stronger taste that he did not like. So be forewarned. ;)

Zoodles

Ingredients

  • zucchini
  • tablespoon of oil or butter
  • salt

Instructions

  1. Julienne the zucchini.
  2. Heat a drizzle of oil into a skillet.
  3. Add zucchini
  4. Salt, as desired, (this helps it cook quicker)
  5. Serve in place of spaghetti.
https://lifeofjoy.me/zoodles/

Enjoy!

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza

If I eat this whole pizza, I’m full for several hours. Breakfast sausage is great on it, as is bacon.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meThis is a good, filling breakfast or lunch; well actually, it could be eaten for any meal of the day. :) The toppings are completely up to you. On this one, I put pepperoni on all of it and canned mushrooms on half of it. It is a very simple recipe. I recommend that you get your toppings ready before you start to cook the “crust” so that you don’t overcook it.

Let’s get started.

Beat two eggs until frothy. I like to use my immersion blender and it is done extremely quickly. :)

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meBreakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meBreakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meAdd 1 tablespoon almond flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste).

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meAnd one tablespoon nutritional yeast or grated Parmesan cheese. I used the nutritional yeast. We cannot tell it is even in there. Supposedly, it adds a cheesy flavor but is very good for you.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meBreakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meAnd blend away.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meHeat a medium size skillet, one that can go under the broiler. I use my cast iron skillet. I actually used my fajita pan today. Heat with your choice of oil, butter, or spray oil (like Pam).

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meAdd egg mixture. Cook until nearly dry on top and flip.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meBreakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meAt this point, I turn off the heat and add the toppings. Today I just used a plain canned tomato sauce.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meAdd about 1/3 cup of shredded cheese of your choosing. I used mild cheddar.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meI shredded it very fine, so there seems to be a bit more than 1/3 cup.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meI add the toppings on top of the cheese so that they get heated under the broiler before the cheese gets too done. Today I used pepperoni and some canned mushrooms. Use whatever you like. You could use sausage and bacon or ham. Really, use whatever you like. Although if you are considering veggies, I recommend sauteing them first, unless you want them nearly raw. ;)

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.mePut it under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meIf you eat the whole thing, it will keep you full for hours. If you share it with someone, you’ll be ready when lunch time rolls around. ;)

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.meBreakfast/Brunch Pizza ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Breakfast/Brunch Pizza

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon almond flour
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, or grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • spray oil, butter, or other oil of your choosing
  • 2-4 Tablespoons tomato sauce, green taco sauce, pesto, garlic sauce, or alfredo
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheese
  • toppings (I used pepperoni and canned mushroom)

Instructions

  1. Beat eggs until frothy.
  2. Add almond flour and nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese and salt.
  3. Blend again
  4. Add oil to oven safe skillet over medium high heat.
  5. Pour in egg mixture.
  6. When the top is nearly dry, flip and turn off heat.
  7. Add sauce, cheese, and toppings.
  8. Place under broiler until cheese is melted and toppings are heated through.
  9. Cut and eat. 🙂
https://lifeofjoy.me/breakfastbrunch-pizza/

Oh, I almost forgot! I give credit where credit is due. I got this from GinnysLowCarbKitchen.blogspot.com and adapted it to suit our tastes.

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Keto Chocolate Mousse

Avocado, yes avocado, makes this mouse really good for you and you cannot tell it is there.

My family craves sweets. I haven’t for quite some time now; I think it must be the chelated magnesium I have been taking for the last four or five years. I really don’t crave anything but that does not mean that I done desire to have certain foods at times . . . those creamy foods or pizza get me in the end. ;)

Anyway, we have been doing the ketogenic diet for the past several weeks and I have loved it. I get to eat protein and fat and cheese! :) However, my family has not been cravings free. Tiffany’s sweet tooth has pushed her to try things she wouldn’t normally try. I’ve already shared the picture of the cupcakes she made, but I’ll share it here again. ;)

Zucchini Chocolate Cupcake ~ Lifeofjoy.meThey were pretty good. I especially like them because they are not too sweet. :)

The recipe I’m sharing today is one way outside of Tiffany’s comfort zone. It is chocolate mousse but the main ingredient is avocados and she does not like avocados . . . until now. ;)

Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meShe has made this a couple of times now, once with overly ripe avocados and once with near perfectly ripened ones. She did not feel that they were quite ripe enough but I think they were great. At any rate, here’s the procedure.

We are currently without a good food processor. I’ve begun saving my money to get a good one. I love my Kitchenaid mixer, so I’m saving to get a food processor I’ll enjoy as much. :)

We make the whole thing in the mixer. Consequently, the cream needs to be whipped first. So pour a cup of heavy whipping cream in the bowl, add some sweetener (we use 1 teaspoon Swerve) and whisk away. :)

Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meKeto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meRemove it to another bowl until we are ready to add it back in.

If you have a food processor or immersion blender, you can use that. Tiffany mashes the avocados up a bit and then adds the other ingredients. She just may use the immersion blender we have next time she makes this, now that I’ve mentioned it to her. ;)Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meWe use a Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa, so it’s probably a bit stronger than the original recipe.

Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meWe also use coconut oil and find we need to melt it first so that it combines better.

Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meAfter it is thoroughly blended, then fold in the whipped cream.

Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meWe have found that a few dashes of salt enhance the flavor.

Keto Chocolate Mousse ~ Lifeofjoy.meIt is rich and not real sweet. I tried adding a few drops of chocolate stevia but it didn’t do too good. I’ll try adding some of my stevia glycerite next time. It is filling and good for you, so enjoy.

This recipe was adapted from I Breathe I’m Hungry.

Keto Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (melting optional)
  • 1/2 cup Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa
  • couple of dashes of sea salt
  • 4 tablespoons sugar free chocolate syrup (I'm still looking for a different one)
  • 1 teaspoon Swerve
  • 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  1. Whip the cream with the swerve, until stiff peaks form; set aside.
  2. Either put the rest of the ingredients in a blender or use an immersion blender
  3. OR
  4. Mash the avocado with a fork and combine the rest of the ingredients (except the whipped cream) and blend away, until thoroughly combined.
  5. Fold in the whipped cream.
  6. Enjoy!
https://lifeofjoy.me/keto-chocolate-mousse/

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Spinach Omelet

Cheesy scrambled eggs with spinach , simple but yummy. Easily customized to what you like or have on hand.

This week’s is a recipe that I’ve been making for Mike and Sean for the past week or so. They are really enjoying it. You can pretty much change this to suit what you like. It is extremely versatile. Of course, since this is a spinach omelet, we are using spinach. I know, shocking, right? :D My guys like some green onion in theirs as well. We have also added some cooked chicken breast and cheese at times.

Start by cracking three eggs into a medium-size bowl. I use my 4-cup measuring cup.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meNext add about one tablespoon of heavy whipping cream (or evaporated milk or just regular milk or even half and half).

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meI use a fork and combine these a bit. Next, cut the green onion or use scissors to snip it right into the measuring cup or bowl of beaten eggs.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meI really shouldn’t have used the green cutting board! It really gave these pictures an odd look!

Next grab a handful of spinach and chop it into thin pieces.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meAdd both of these to the eggs and combine. :) You can add a bit of shredded cheese if you like. I have found that I really don’t taste the cheese mixed into the eggs and opt to just melt it on top for mine.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meMeanwhile, if you are watching your fat intake, spray your pan, very well, with oil. If not, heat half a tablespoon each of butter and coconut oil (or simply one whole tablespoon of one of them).

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.me(I’d already used this pan to make this twice today and didn’t realize I was going to need pictures, thus the egg bits still in the pan.)

I like to stir together the two oils as they melt, before I pour in my omelet mixture. When the oil is hot, add the egg mixture and if your add-ins get all lumped together, spread them out a bit.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meAs it starts to solidify, mix it up a bit, so all the egg gets thoroughly cooked.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meMy family likes theirs a little bit crispy. (I know real omelets are thinner and rolled but I don’t know what else to call these delicious eggs.) When one side is done to your liking and is nearly cooked through, flip to finish cooking the other side. This is when I add my cheese. We are using a mild cheddar here but use what you like.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.meServe as soon as the cheese is melted.

Spinach Omelet ~ Lifeofjoy.me

I hope you like this ‘recipe’. Use whatever veggies or meats you like.

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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The Key to a Good Salad ~ Lifeofjoy.me

Dressing and The Key to a Good Salad

 

Ramp up the flavor of your regular salad with this secret ingredient.

The Key to a Good Salad ~ Lifeofjoy.meUntil recently, I have not been a fan of salads. You know, the normal kind with mostly vegetables. I thought the reason I really liked salad wraps was because of the bread but then one day I realized that I add salt and pepper to the veggies on my wraps. So I tried an experiment: on my next salad I added salt and pepper. I was amazed at the difference it made! Honestly.

I have rarely seen anyone add salt and pepper to their salads before. It really ramps up the flavor, making it taste so much better. If you don’t already do this, you really must give it a try. That is my BIG key to a good salad.

The other key to a good salad is lots of veggies, as in variety. It doesn’t matter if you really care for that veggie by itself, a little bit of it in amongst all that greenery and other varied veggies and such will hardly be noticed. ;)

IMG_3600For this salad I had about 2 cups of green leaf lettuce and spinach combined. Then I added a small tomato diced, about an inch of a cucumber sliced, about an eighth of a cup of diced green pepper, half of an avocado diced, about an ounce of cheddar cheese cubed, some bits of zucchini I had left over from the other night’s dinner, a few sprinkles of feta cheese, and some sunflower seeds.

I seasoned it with some sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and some homemade dressing. Several years ago I got this dressing bottle that has several dressing recipes on it. We chose the one made with balsamic vinegar, but we changed it from what it said because it called for 6 ounces of balsamic vinegar! Yep! Six ounces. We are not that big of fans of any vinegar. It only called for three tablespoons of olive oil. Well, that will never do.

It also called for ground thyme which is not a flavor we like, so we simply omitted it. It also required ground oregano but we did not have that, so we used the dried instead.

The funny thing about this dressing is that even though I shake it a lot, there still ends up being a lot of herbs and vinegar at the bottom. So I just add more olive oil and shake, shake, shake. :)

The Key to a Good Salad ~ Lifeofjoy.me

I’ll include the recipe in the ziplist form for future easy reference. :)

Balsamic Vinegar/Italian Herb Dressing

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 3 teaspoons basil
  • 3 teaspoons ground oregano (we used dried instead)
  • salt and pepper
  • about 6 ounces olive oil

Instructions

  1. Put it all in a bottle or jar and shake, shake, shake.
  2. Do NOT store this in the refrigerator or it will solidify.
https://lifeofjoy.me/the-key-to-a-good-salad/

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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Coleslaw

Creamy coleslaw with just the right amount of liquid and tang but won’t make you pucker.

Coleslaw ~lifeofjoy.meColeslaw is one of those things that I didn’t make much of in the past. In the last few months, I have learned that this is one of Mike’s favorite side dishes, especially when paired with hamburgers or hot dogs and baked beans.

I have bought more cabbage in the last few years, since learning to make egg rolls than I had in many of the previous years added together. But that means that I frequently have cabbage in my refrigerator. Making egg rolls takes a bit of time, so I procrastinate making them. One day I needed a quick side dish and decided to make coleslaw. I didn’t use any measurements, just did like I saw my mom do.

The other day when made this, I measured ingredients before adding them to the bowl so I could share it here.

I started by weighing the piece of cabbage that I had left from other uses. I shredded the 1-pound cabbage on the large grater. I used to slice it on my mandolin but found I preferred a more chopped texture. (Don’t grate the core.)

Coleslaw ~ Lifeofjoy.meGrate a medium carrot.

Coleslaw ~ Lifeofjoy.meAdd 1/2 cup mayo. (I’d prefer to use Miracle Whip because then I probably wouldn’t need the vinegar and sugar but Michael prefers mayonnaise, so that is what I used.)

Coleslaw ~ Lifeofjoy.meNext include 4 teaspoons – 2 tablespoons white vinegar (not apple cider vinegar), 1 -2 tablespoons sugar (or sugar substitute), and 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream or evaporated canned milk and combine. I almost forgot to take a picture of the finished dish. We ate half of it. :)

Coleslaw ~ Lifeofjoy.meThis is the first time I have made this and it didn’t turn out soupy. :)

Coleslaw

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cabbage
  • 1 medium carrot
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 teaspoons - 2 Tablespoons vinegar
  • 1-2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream or evaporated canned milk

Instructions

  1. Shred cabbage and carrot on large holes of box grater.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and combine well.
https://lifeofjoy.me/coleslaw/

Enjoy!

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº

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