Lemon Rosemary Quinoa (with Broccoli & Mushrooms)

This dish was actually a cheap dinner idea I thought up on the fly one day. I had lemons and quinoa already on hand when I was planning out my grocery list for the week, so I wanted to try and think of something that I could use those in before going to the store. You know, try to save a little money by having to buy less for dinner. ;)

Then I thought, why not put them together? I thought it would be a great combination with some herbs, and maybe some other vegetables. I decided to use rosemary this time, but I think I may experiment in the future with other herbs, too!

The quinoa itself was quite tasty. Light and fluffy with a tangy lemon flavor and the wonderful rosemary aroma. I think this dish would go great as a rice substitute to serve with your favorite fish dish. I decided to add some broccoli and mushrooms to mine to make the dish feel more like a meal than a side, and it was actually quite filling! If serving as a side, you can omit the vegetables all together if you prefer, although the broccoli makes it especially tasty.

Chocolate Swirled Banana Bread

Okay, so my husband has been asking me for weeks to make him some banana bread, but we've been eating so many bananas lately that they never got ripe enough to work with! I just noticed yesterday that there were 3 overly ripe bananas that needed to be used, so I figured banana bread would be the perfect way to do it!

I tried to switch it up by adding two different flavors swirled together; one chocolate and the other cinnamon. I didn't exactly get the swirled effect I was hoping for, but you can sort of tell there are two different flavors in there...anyway it still tastes good, and that's what matters anyway! It is also quite fluffy for a coconut flour loaf. It is a little dry, but I found it went very well with some fresh banana slices and a glass of milk!

The version I made is mix-in free, but I think it would be lovely with some walnuts or raisins mixed in. I'd also like to note that I prefer a slightly bitter taste to my chocolate, so if you have a sweet tooth you may want to add in some extra honey. Adjust the recipe to fit your personal preference, there's no rules in the kitchen. :)

Chocolate Pomegranate Cake with Coconut Caramel Icing

So when browsing the grocery store a couple days ago I saw that pomegranates were on sale. Believe it or not, I had never actually had a pomegranate before now. I've had the juice before, so I had a pretty good idea of what they tasted like. But WOW! I never would have guessed the seeds would be so juicy and delicious. They just release a wonderful burst of flavor in your mouth when you bite down on one. Oh yes, and they are definitely a wonderful compliment to caramel and chocolate (but then again what doesn't compliment chocolate??)

Since this was my first pomegranate experience, I actually had no idea how to prepare one! So, after doing some research online, I found several people suggesting the best way to prepare them is by scooping out the seeds under water. How cool is that? I read several pages talking about how the seeds badly stain clothes and counter tops, so I am glad I researched it before diving right in!!

You'll see in the recipe below I also used some of the water from soaking the pomegranate seeds in my cake and icing. It didn't make a whole lot of difference flavor wise, so feel free to use regular water if you prepare your pomegranates using a different method, or if you buy pomegranate seeds alone.

And for those of you who may be wondering, this cake is actually not as dense as most coconut flour cakes. It is lighter than a pound cake, but heavier than an angel food cake. Its a very nice weight and tastes decadent and moist.

 I really had a lot of fun with this recipe! As you may be able to tell from all of the pictures in this post...I just couldn't help myself. Pomegranate seeds are just so lovely, almost like tiny rubies! They are so fun to decorate with, and definitely fun to eat. :)

Caramel Pear Chocolates

Believe it or not, this recipe was actually a mistake. I tell you, if all my mistakes were this wonderful I wouldn't have any problems at all!

I was actually making the chocolate sauce for something else and ended up only using about half of it (don't worry, I already halved the original recipe for this post). I figured I should try to come up with an idea to use the rest, because I know much better than to waste chocolate. I didn't want to put it in the fridge for later because I knew it would solidify and be difficult to work with. Then I thought, why not make mini chocolates with it and THEN let it harden!

So, I opened the fridge and cabinets to try and figure out what I could use. I saw there was half of a pear in the fridge from earlier that day and immediately knew that is what I wanted to use. But was pear chocolate going to be enough? I'm sure it would be perfectly tasty, but I wanted something more.

Then I saw the dates, and I knew a caramel topping was the way to go! And believe me, it did not disappoint. The pears added a nice juiciness to the chocolate and the caramel made me feel like I was eating a decadent dessert. Definitely a perfect match. :)

Lemon-Lime Chicken with Mushrooms and Onions

For some reason I have become slightly obsessed with lemons lately. Although I have been using them most often in desserts, and with my beloved avocados (of course!). I always tend to associate lemons with sweet things, but I thought why not try them out with a more savory dish instead?

Well, I had some chicken breasts on hand and I was trying to think of some new way to cook them. usually I just saute them up with some peppers, onions, and mushrooms...but that gets boring after a while. I had some extra lemons on hand so I thought, why not! I've heard of lemon chicken before, I've just never actually made it myself. I was sure it would be delicious, and while I was at it, I figured why not throw in some lime for good measure?

I am happy to announce it was a success! The chicken was actually really moist, and the sweet and sour tang from the lemons and limes went together really good with the mushrooms and onions. My husband loved it as well, which is a little rare when trying out new things. :)

Almond Flour Mushrooms with Chunky Marinara

I have always been a huge fan of Italian food, specifically pizza and pasta. I remember as a child spaghetti and meatballs was always my favorite dish (and still to this day is one of the best)!

But lately my husband and I have been trying to stay away from having too much gluten products, so spaghetti was a no-no. However, there's no gluten in the sauce! I've come to realize that most of my favorite Italian foods are based around the marinara anyway. I never did like Alfredo sauce, and I can't say I know a whole lot about the rest of the Italian cuisine...

So the question was, what could I serve with marinara?

Mushrooms of course! They are low fat, low in carbohydrates, high in vitamins B and D, and just so delicious and juicy when baked. Not to mention me and my husband are both big mushroom fans. They are just so versatile, and seem to go good with almost any dish.

Mushroom Serrano Burgers

 I was looking for Jalapeno peppers in the store the other day when I came across a pepper I had never tried before. The "Serrano" pepper. Its shape and color is quite similar to that of a Jalapeno, only smaller. Usually smaller peppers mean they are spicier (I love spicy!), so I was eager to give this pepper a try.

I was surprised when I discovered it was actually a much milder pepper. It does have a similar flavor to the Jalapeno, it just doesn't pack as much heat. It was actually rather tasty though. It was especially good paired with the mushrooms and garlic in these burgers. :)