Homemade Taco Sauce

 Have you ever thought about making your own taco sauce instead of buying from the store?  It's super easy. And way...WAY healthier. Have you checked out the ingredients from a store bought bottle? Let me help you with that....

This is the Taco Bell brand. Let's look at Sodium Benzoate as a preservative. Some may not realize this but it has the ability to deprive the cells of oxygen, break down the immune system and cause cancer. It's found its way into thousands of products, even foods that are labeled as all natural. But don't be fooled. While benzoic acid is found naturally in low levels in many fruits, the sodium benzoate listed on a product's label is synthesized in a lab.

So why is it in our food? Simple. It's the cheapest mold inhibitor on the market and extends shelf life. Learn more at Natural News

Want to make your own? This is what you need:

1 can of Organic Tomato Paste
2 teaspoon Arrowroot (I use this instead of corn starch)
1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon  Cayenne (add more if you like really spicy sauce)
4 teaspoons Chili Powder
1 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

Here's what you do:
Dissolve arrowroot in 3 cups of water in a medium sauce pan. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins. Allow to cool before pouring into bowl/bottle.
Can keep for up to a week in the refrigerator, shake well before each use.

I didn't have anything to store my sauce in, so I was using a bowl (this recipe makes a lot). And then my kiddo said "Let's use my lemonade bottle." Hello recycling and reusing. Works perfectly!

Enjoy.....

Paleo Chili Y'all

Who doesn't love a big ole' pot of chili? Especially on a cold snowy day...which is what we've been having here lately in good ole' Arkansas. One day it's spring, the next it's snow. Hey, I'm not complaining though! My husband and I love chili, LOVE. But, we wanted a healthier version...so here we are. This recipe is super easy and super super DELISH.

Here's what you need:

2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil 
2 Yellow Onions (or 1 large)1 bulb of Garlic ( not sure how to peel it? check out this tutorial )
Himalayan Pink Salt (optional - see directions)
1 lb. Bison
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 can of Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
1 can of Organic Tomato Paste
1 3/4 cup of Chicken Broth

Spices to be added after meat cooks:
1 teaspoon Granulated Garlic
2 tablespoons of Organic Chili Powder 
1 1/2 tablespoons of Organic Cocoa Powder
1/2 + 1/4 teaspoons of Organic Cayenne


Now let's cook:
Chop onion and mince garlic. On medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and then add onion and garlic. Cook for about 5-7 mins, stir to prevent sticking. Next add your meat of choice. You can use any meat of your choice, we love Bison, so we always try to include it!

While meat is cooking you're going to mix your spices. Now, for the 1/2 + 1/4 Cayenne...my hubby loves spicy foods. I can do spicy (with a glass of almond milk nearby....lol) but not super spicy. So we made this batch of chili a few times until we found a happy medium on how much Cayenne to use. Obviously you can use more or less.

Once the meat is cooked, stir seasoning mix in. After you've mixed the seasoning, add tomato paste and stir for about 2 mins. Next, add can of fire roasted tomatoes with their juice and chicken broth. Now, some recipes for chili that I've seen that call for broth, call for beef broth. The first time we made this, all I had was chicken broth so that's what we used. Don't worry...it turns out amazing! 

Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer.
*most recipes I've seen say to simmer for a couple of hours. However, we've not made it early enough to let it simmer that long. Plus, we're too impatient to wait because it's so yummy!

How do you like your chili? In a bowl? Chili dogs? Chili dogs are my favorite and for the longest was the only way I would eat chili. Here are the toppings we use for our chili dogs (minus the mustard for the hubs) and we use GF/DF buns:

My idea of the PERFECT chili dog! :)

Hope y'all enjoy as much as we do! :)

God Bless!

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

Are you a lover of mashed potatoes like me? Do you want a healthier and just as tasty alternative? Then you'll LOVE this new recipe! This is super easy to make and so yummy!

Ingredients Needed:

1 Head of Cauliflower - break down to bite size pieces, check out this helpful tutorial if you haven't worked with cauliflower before.
1 bulb of Garlic - peeled
2 Tablespoons of Earth Balance Butter
1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

Ready to Cook?

Once you have your cauliflower broke down and garlic peeled, place in steamer basket over boiling water, cover and steam until very tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

 After it's cooked, place in food processor. I used my Ninja Kitchen System Pulse. Add your butter and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer to serving bowl.
Serve hot.

I had chicken and corn with my garlic mashed cauliflower, topped with a bit of pepper! Yummy!
Hope you enjoy as much as I did! :)

Healthy Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry

I've done it again. I came up with a new recipe and I LOVE it! Hope you do too! It's super easy to make and very yummy! 

 Ingredients Needed:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - thawed, if using frozen (I used about a pound)

1 12 oz Bag of Broccoli Slaw

1 Package of Sliced Mushrooms (forgot to take a picture, but any kind of mushrooms will work)

2 Yellow Onions - Chopped

1 Clove of Garlic - Minced

Less Sodium Soy Sauce (amount used is based on preference. I used about a tablespoon)

McCormick Mesquite Seasoning (optional if you want spicy stir-fry)

1 Tablespoon of Earth Balance Butter (or whatever butter you would like)

Ready to Cook?

Cut your chicken into bite size pieces and cook on medium heat. While your chicken is cooking, chop your onion and mince your garlic. Here is a helpful tutorial on how to peel garlic, if you aren't sure how. Once your chicken is done cooking, set it aside. Now you are going to saute your mushrooms, onion, garlic and broccoli slaw with your 1 tablespoon of Earth Balance Butter (or whatever butter you use). After about 3 minutes add your soy sauce and mix. Then you are going to add your chicken and McCormick Mesquite Seasoning. I used about a half of package, it really depends on how spicy you would like it! Mix well and let it cook for about 3-5 minutes.

You're ready to eat! 

Yummy Yummy!! This is really good with grape tomatoes on the side!
Hope you enjoy as much as I did! :)

Spicy Broccoli and Cheese Soup

It's starting to get cold out and that's my favorite time of the year. I love fall. I love the cold. And I love being able to make my broccoli and cheese soup.

This is super easy to make and super yummy to eat!

Ingredients Needed:

1 Chopped Yellow Onion
1 Clove of Garlic - Minced
1 Tablespoon of Earth Balance Butter (or whatever butter you would like)
3 Cups of Fat Free, Less Sodium Chicken Broth
1 (16 ounce) Bag of Broccoli Florets
2 1/2 Cups of Milk - I use Soy Milk
1/3 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
8 ounces 2% Milk Velveeta Cheese, cubed.
McCormicks Mesquite Seasoning (optional)

Ready to Cook?

Chop your yellow onion and mince your garlic. Heat a large sauce pan on medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon butter in sauce pan with onions and garlic. Saute for about 3 mins or until tender. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. After that, add chicken broth and broccoli, bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and cook for 10 mins.

Mix flour and milk in bowl, stirring until well blended. Once your broccoli has finished cooking for the 10 mins., add your milk/flour mixture and cook for another 5 mins or until slightly thick. Stir constantly or it will stick. Stir in your pepper. Add your cubed cheese and stir until melted. If you are using the McCormicks Mesquite Seasoning, add 1/2 - 1 package of seasoning, just depends on how spicy you want it. *This is optional, if you want your soup spicy.

Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan and stir together.

Allow to cool and then you are ready to eat. I hope you enjoy this lovely, yummy fall dish.

Ground Turkey and Rice Casserole

My newest creation, Ground Turkey and Rice Casserole. I usually make Chicken and Rice Casserole, but wanted to change things up. I've mentioned before and probably will mention it many more times....the thing I love about recipes is that you can always change things up and make it your own. The possibilities are endless when it comes to cooking and that's what I love.

Ingredients Needed:
2 Cups of Minute Rice (uncooked)
1 Cup of Water
2 Cans of Broccoli Cheese Condensed Soup
1 Can of Mild Diced Tomatoes and Chilies
1 Small Yellow Onion
1 Jumbo Garlic (optional)
1 lb Ground Turkey
Bacon - Cut into bite size pieces (as many slices as you would like)
1 Package of McCormick Mesquite Seasoning

Let's Get to Cooking:
Preheat over to 350 degrees.

First you're going to cook your bacon, using as many pieces as you want. I used about 8 pieces. While your bacon is cooking, chop your onion, peel and mince your garlic - I use a Food Chopper to mince the garlic. If you aren't sure how to peel your garlic, this is a great tutorial to show you how. Once my bacon was done cooking, I sauteed the onion and garlic in the yumminess the bacon left behind. After a few minutes, add your turkey meat.

While your turkey is cooking, mix together in your casserole dish (I use a glass 14 x 9.5) your 2 Cups of Rice, 1 Cup of Water, 2 Cans of Broccoli and Cheese Condensed Soup, 1 Can of Mild Diced Tomatoes and Chilies, Bite Size Pieces of Bacon and McCormick Mesquite Seasoning. With the seasoning, use as little or as much as you would like. It just depends on how spicy you would like it. Once your turkey/onion/garlic is done cooking, add to the mixture in your casserole dish and mix together.

Bake for 30-45 minutes.

I hope you enjoy this dish as much as I did. The hubs is stationed in Turkey right now, so he'll have to try it on his mid tour! :)