Tipsy Tuesday – Wine & Gravy

Yes, you can put wine in gravy and it tastes delicious! Try this recipe out next time you have mashed potatoes with poultry for dinner. It really seems to add a more gourmet dimension to your typical chicken gravy.

Chardonnay Mushroom Gravy

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 1-3/4 cups chicken broth
• 2-3 Tablespoons Chardonnay
• 2 Tablespoons green onions or leeks, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

In a medium skillet, melt butter. Add mushrooms and cook 3-4 minutes or until softened, stirring often. Mix in cornstarch, stirring continuously until  incorporated. Add in chicken broth, wine, green onions, salt and pepper. Cook, continuing to stir, until thickened, about 3-4 more minutes.

Serve hot with mashed potatoes.

Meatless Monday – Pineapple Fried Rice

Recently my husband and I went to a cool sushi bar called Buddha Sky Bar in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. If you are ever in the South Florida area this is definitely a restaurant you should make an effort to visit. It is small and decorated very nicely, with superb food and service as well as a nice view over Atlantic Avenue, the main attraction.

During our visit we had the most delicious Pineapple Fried Rice that i just had to try and duplicate it. And I have to say, it came out pretty well. If you get all the ingredients cut up and separated ahead of time it is really quick and easy to make. Hint: Make the rice the day before and put it in your refrigerator overnight.

Pineapple Fried Rice

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked jasmine rice
• 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped fine
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 Tablespoon white wine or chicken stock (if not going meatless)
• 2 eggs
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1/2-3/4 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup pineapple chunks, chopped
• 1/2 cup roasted cashews, chopped
• 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons Thai red curry powder (although I used the paste)
• 2 green onions, slice thin
• 1/4 bunch cilantro, chopped

Directions:

Cook rice according to directions. This recipe works best if the rice is cooked the day before so it dries out slightly. If cooking the same day, cook earlier in the day and place in refrigerator without a lid so it dries more quickly.

When ready to assemble ingredients:

Place onion, garlic and red pepper flakes together in bowl.

Place carrots & peas in a second bowl.

Place rice mixed with 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil, pineapple chunks and cashews in another bowl.

Mix soy sauce and Thai curry paste together and set aside.

To cook: Heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion mixture from the first bowl and stir-fry for about 1 minutes. If pan becomes a little dry add a little chicken stock or white wine. Add the 2 eggs and scramble quickly mixing in with onion mixture. Add the carrots and peas from second bowl and stir-fry another minute or two.

Now add the rice mixture to the pan along with the soy sauce/curry paste and stir-fry about 5-8 minutes. They usually say to cook until you hear the rice making popping sounds.

Place into serving bowl and garnish with green onion and cilantro.

Serves 4.

Note: This recipe is gluten-free if you use both gluten free soy sauce and brown rice or a jasmine rice that has not been over processed.  For a meatier option, add shrimp or chicken .

Wine Pairing:  A white wine with a little citrus flavor blends well with the pineapple in this dish. Try a Pouilly-Fuisse, Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc although some Chardonnays will work here as well.

Kid Friendly, Mother Approved

Having a picky eater always makes dinner a challenge.  To make tonight’s dinner ‘kid friendly’ I took the traditional meatloaf and turned them into ‘mini meatloaves’ and added some ranch smashed potatoes that anyone would love.  Coupled with a ham & cucumber salad, the dinner turned out to be a success!  Oh, and it’s gluten-free too! 🙂  Win-Win!

Mini Meatloaves

Yields: 12 mini meatloaves

Ingredients:

• 1.5 grass-fed, organic ground beef
• 1/2 large while onion, finely chopped or grated
• 1 carrot, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup gluten-free bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp. honey
• Dash of hot sauce, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450ºF.  Spray muffin tin with gluten-free non-stick cooking spray.

Place ground beef in large mixing bowl.  Add in grated onion, carrot, & garlic and mix.  Add in salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs, and egg.  Mix with hands until blended well.  Portion mixture into muffin pan evenly.

In small bowl, mix together ketchup, honey, a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce (if desired).  Spoon on top of each mini loaf and bake for 18-20 minutes.

Ranch Smashed Potatoes

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
• 1/2 cup dairy free milk of choice
• 1/2 packet Hidden Valley GF Original Ranch Salad Dressing Mix
• 2 tbsp. dairy free butter substitute
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions:

Scrub potatoes with vegetable brush and cut into 1″ chunks.  Add potatoes to large pot of salted water, cover, and bring to a boil.  Cook until tender – approximately 15 minutes.

Drain potatoes and return to hot pot.  Smash potatoes with a potato masher and add in milk , ranch mix, and butter.  Continue mashing until all ingredients are mixed well.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Cucumber Ham Salad

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers, peeled and sliced thin
• 1/2 medium sweet onion, sliced thin
• 8 oz diced ham
• 3/4 Greek vinaigrette dressing

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in medium-sized bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 25 minutes.  Stir well prior to serving.

Gluten-Free Silver Dollar Pancakes

Saturday mornings are my favorite!  Sleeping in (well as much as you can with a toddler), staying in your pj’s, and serving up a creative & fun breakfast for the entire family.  This past weekend, my husband took the reigns and made us our first batch of gluten-free pancakes.  What a treat!  Serve these with your favorite fruit or sweeten them up for special occasions with chocolate chips & whipped cream.

If you extra pancakes left over let them cool, wrap them in plastic, and freeze.  To reheat just pop in the toaster or microwave for 30-60 seconds!

Gluten-Free Silver Dollar Pancakes

Bobby Flay Pancake Pan

Yields: 20 pancakes

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup gluten-free pancake mix
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp. water

Directions:

Combine all ingredients together and mix until smooth.  Preheat pan over medium-low heat.  We used the silver dollar pan by Bobby Flay, but any pan will do.  Lightly spray non-stick cooking spray on pan and pour in batter.  Cook on one side until you see small bubbles forming on the edges.  Flip once and continue cooking until golden brown.

Our Cookbook is Here!!

We did it!   After a year of hard work, determination, and a LOT of cooking – our cookbook is finally here!  Introducing the 2 Cookin’ Mamas first ever cookbook: The Pregnancy Cookbook.

Available on Kindle & Kindle Readers Now!

Only $5.99!

Click HERE to purchase.

Not pregnant?  That’s OK!  It’s a heart-healthy cookbook for everyone!

We’ll be launching our Kickstarter campaign soon so we can complete our android & apple cookbook app, get hard copies printed, and publish the e-book on Nook & iBooks readers.  Stay tuned for that information and if you purchase our cookbook – please share your thoughts with us.  We would LOVE to hear what you think of our recipes!

Thank you!

Meatless Monday – A Savory Sweet Potato Side Dish

I love sweet potatoes and I will try just about any recipe that comes my way. It is also nice to know how good they are for you so you don’t have to feel guilty eating this sweet side dish.

Sweet Potatoes are one of the best vegetables you can eat. They are full of carotenoids, a plant pigment that the body can turn into Vitamin A, and are a great source of antioxidants that may help prevent certain cancers and heart disease as well as strengthen your immune system. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of Vitamin C, potassium and fiber. Convinced? If you are, here is an easy recipe that lends a bit of sweet onion flavor to the mix.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Onion

Ingredients:

• 1 medium peeled sweet potato, cut in large chunks
• 1/2 medium sweet onion (Vidalia), cut in ¼” thick rings
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon seasoned pepper blend
• 1/8-1/4 garlic powder
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place sweet potatoes, onions rings that have been cut in half and remaining ingredients in 8” square baking dish and stir to make sure all potatoes and onion pieces are well coated. Vary quantity of spices to your liking. I like to use the full amount of seasoned pepper and garlic powder but did cut the salt to 1/8 teaspoon.

Bake for 40 minutes, stirring half way through cooking time.

Serves 2.

Spice up your Health

Want to add a little zest to your dish?  Check out these 5 spices that are calorie-free and full of phynutrients!

1. Oregano – 1 tsp. contains 6 micrograms of vitamin K and the same amount of antioxidants as 3 cups of spinach!  Stir in soup, shake on pizza, or add to your favorite pasta sauce.
2. Cinnamon – The antioxidant compounds in cinnamon help prevent hunger cravings by improving the way your cells metabolize glucose.  Add a dash of cinnamon to your sweet potatoes, coffee, or water.
3. Cayenne Pepper – This spice contains Capsaicin, which helps turn up your body’s thermostat & revs up your metabolism to help burn extra calories.  Stir in to your favorite guacamole recipe, hummus, or shake on popcorn.
4. Ginger – This awesome spice helps settle upset stomachs and can also lessen workout-induced soreness.  Add 1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger to pancake batter, peanut butter, or sprinkle over vanilla frozen yogurt.
5. Nutmeg – Nutmeg can help prevent cavities.  Add 1/4 tsp to ground coffee for a hint of sweetness.

Oregano Salad Dressing  

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. olive oil
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. oregano

Directions:

Heat olive oil, red pepper flakes, and oregano in small sauce pan over medium-low heat for 2 minutes or until fragrant.

Breakfast Frittata

I am a huge lover of breakfast and eggs are always on the menu.  To change things up a bit – try this Salmon Frittata recipe…all the yummy goodness of quiche without the crust!

Salmon Frittata

Total TIme: 25 minutes – Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 6 oz fresh asparagus tips
• 4 oz package of smoked salmon
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cups homestyle sliced potatoes
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup swiss cheese, shredded or Manchego cheese
• 1/4 cup dried tarragon

Directions:

Preheat large sauce pan on medium-high heat for 3 minutes.  While heating, cut asparagus into bite-sized pieces.  Remove skin from salmon and cut into bite-sized pieces.  Place butter in saucepan, along with potatoes, onions, asparagus and salt.  Cover and cook for 5 minutes.  Stir often.  Add salmon and cover.  Cook for 5 more minutes or until potatoes are tender and browned, stirring as needed.

Pour eggs evenly over salmon mixture.  Sprinkle tarragon and cheese on top, but do not stir.  Cover and reduce heat to low and cook 8-10 minutes.  Frittata is done when eggs are puffy and bottom is golden brown.  Serve immediately.

Go Gluten-Free with Almond Flour Waffles

Christina, the other cookin’ mama, is going to start a gluten-free diet come August and has done quite a bit of research on the best foods to eat and where to purchase them. It is amazing how much is done to the foods we buy everyday without our even being aware of it. Did you know that much of the gluten-free foods on the shelves in your local grocery store contain highly processed and starchy ingredients like potato starch, corn and soy ingredients, rice flours, and refined sugars! This recipe is both a gluten-free and paleo recipe for waffles that is much more tasty than the mixes or even homemade wheat or regular flour varieties. It was a surprise to my husband just how much better they tasted.

My tip today has to be that less processed foods without all the carbs of wheat and white flour are so much better for you and not a hard change to make at all!

Almond Flour Waffles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup almond flour or almond meal (meal is just a little grainier so I prefer the flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, depending on your taste
• Pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/8 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Non-stick spray or coconut oil

Directions:

Mix all dry ingredients together in medium bowl. Whisk together the eggs, honey and vanilla extract and add to the dry mixture, stirring well.

Heat waffle maker and spray with non-stick spray. Drop about 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot iron. Cook until browned then top with real maple syrup or yogurt with fruit.

Serves 2.

White Lasagna for National Lasagna Day

It’s National Lasagna Day so what better dish to write about than a delicious vegetable or chicken lasagna. It can be a low-fat dinner using chicken or a nice vegetarian meal using zucchini noodles and mushrooms in place of chicken.  You’ll want to be sure to make enough as this always goes fast in our house.

White Chicken/Vegetable Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 9 whole wheat lasagna noodles or thinly sliced zucchini
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 onion, minced
• 2 heaping teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cups chicken broth or white wine
• 1-3/4 cups low fat milk or plain almond milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 4 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
• 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped or can use mushrooms if want to leave meat out altogether
• 1 cup part-skim ricotta
• 1 9-oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 12-oz box frozen mashed squash, thawed

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13″ x 9″ baking dish with Pam or other non-stick spray.

Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. When done, rinse well with cold water and set aside. If using zucchini strips, cut into 1/8″ thick long strips, lightly salt, and let sit for 15 minutes. Lightly dab with paper towel to help get rid of excess moisture. On a grill or under broiler, cook zucchini strips for 1-2 minutes per side then place on paper towels to drain.

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic (and mushrooms if using them to replace chicken) then cook for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add flour and stir well, cooking for about 1 minute. Add chicken broth or white wine slowly, stirring constantly to avoid lumps forming. Add milk, salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, basil and oregano. Set cheese mixture aside.

Lay out remaining ingredients – mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, cooked chicken (if using), spinach (that has been squeezed to get out all liquid) and squash.

Begin assembling lasagna by putting a small amount of cheese sauce in the casserole dish and spreading to cover bottom. Place 3 lasagna noodles/zucchini strips on top of sauce forming the first layer. Place 1/2 of the remaining cheese sauce on top of noodles/zucchini strips, 1/2 of the chicken (ignore if omitting chicken) and then spread ricotta cheese on top. Layer 3 more noodles/zucchini strips. Spread remaining cheese sauce on top of noodles and top with chicken (if using), spinach and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Add last layer of pasta/zucchini strips and spread butternut squash over the top. Add remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and allow cheese to brown, about 15 minutes. If cheese is still not browning, turn on the broiler and watch carefully until browned.

Tip: If you let the lasagna cool for about 10-15 minutes it will be easier to cut and serve.

Note: You can prepare ahead of time, up to the covering with foil then store in refrigerator until ready for dinner. You may need to cook it slightly longer since the casserole will be cold.

Serves 6-8.

Wine Pairing: Choose a wine that will compliment the cheeses such as a Sauvignon Blanc or one that will suit the spinach and squash as well like a nice oaked Chardonnay or a Viognier.