by Kami | Jun 4, 2015 | Chicken, Gluten-Free, Recipes
We have a fabulous little hole-in-the-wall Thai place right around the corner from our home. I’m embarrassed to admit how often I think of their coconut chicken curry. I want to call up and request just a tall glass of their coconut curry sauce. Mmmmm Mmm. I could just drink it! Since I can only tame that temptation for so long, I have been in the kitchen tweaking and playing with this coconut chicken curry recipe for awhile now. FINALLY I can now daydream about my own coconut curry recipe. One of the most common questions I get about coconut milk is whether I use the canned or carton kind. Well… it depends on the recipe, and I’ll make sure to specify when I mean the canned coconut milk. For coconut chicken curry, definitely use the canned kind. Coconut milk is loaded with fat! Don’t be scared though, my friend, this fat actually helps with weight loss, reduces heart disease, and does many many more wonderful things for you. When purchasing coconut milk, purchase the full fat and NOT the light. The only difference is light canned coconut milk has added water which dilutes the coconut meat. It’s a waste of money, doesn’t taste as great, and this is one cream you can totally indulge in. I have 2 kids. I have busy days. Some days I don’t want to cook. Am I alone? I’m betting not. This is now one of my quick, go-to dinners. I start preparing the dish while the rice is cooking and everything is usually done at the same time. 30 minutes in. 30 minutes out. I have lots...
by Kami | Jun 1, 2015 | Chicken, Pasta, Recipes
Sometimes I want something light for dinner. And by light, I mean no heavy sauce but still rockin’ with flavor and satisfying. I played around with this light olive oil sauce a couple times until my husband actually requested it! Totally caught me by surprise since my steak-and-potato man usually doesn’t enjoy lighter dishes…. shows how amazingly tasty my garlic chicken pasta recipe turned out. Have you heard about the controversy between real and fake olive oil? Apparently the Mob or some really scary rich people have been producing olive oil for 20 plus years with less quality oils (canola, sunflower seed, etc.) and claiming it’s 100% olive oil. They might as well take out their huge wallets and smack us across the face! There are home taste tests, refrigerator tests, and other purity tests which can help you determine whether or not the brand of olive oil you’re using is the real deal. AND there’s also controversy within the controversy. So… what do I do with all the conflicting info? My best research and stick with a brand I feel is legit. Unless you want to spend $54 for a small bottle of the most expensive pure olive oil (I looked it up), here are four brands that have passed the standards established by the International Olive Council. Since I love my Costco, I usually go with Kirkland. You may have noticed that I’m a big fan of dinners that combine chicken and vegetables like my Chicken Fiesta Soup, Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice, and my Pasta Primivera recipes. I’m not against side dishes. Especially if the side dish is asparagus with coconut oil. However, I love the combination...
by Kami | May 18, 2015 | Chicken, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Slow Cooker, Snacks
Yes. I realize these healthy nachos are missing a fundamental ingredient… cheese. However, just because your eyes are missing it doesn’t mean your mouth will. The juicy chicken, soft avocado, cherry tomatoes, and black beans combined with crunchy tortilla chips will make you wonder why we even add cheese to begin with! Do you remember me sharing my sad, sad story about getting migraines from dairy in my 3 ingredient ice cream post? Well, there’s nothing that makes you take a good look at life like ripping away one of your favorite food groups. However, let’s be honest. Us Americans eat WAY too much dairy. We throw butter, cheese, and milk in everything. It’s the American way. Let me grab your hand and walk you in a healthier direction… like straight towards these cheese-less healthy nachos. Come on. I know you want to ask. What’s my source of calcium if I don’t eat dairy? I’m pretty sure my mother has lost sleep over this very question. Since I’m the one cookin’, my family is mostly dairy-free now. My husband cannot abandon his lifelong relationship with cheese though. It’s just too painful to say good-bye. Since I love my family and their bones, I have found several ways to make sure we have plenty of calcium. First, I’m the daily vitamin tyrant. You know the crazy wife in pajamas running down the street with no shoes or makeup on? It was probably me running after my husband trying to catch him before he left without his vitamin. If somehow I forget, my 3 year is on it. She asks for her vitamin at...
by Kami | May 12, 2015 | Chicken, Recipes, Slow Cooker
If you need a guaranteed recipe that will be loved by all, Mango Chicken Tacos are THE only way to go (well, my Baked Burritos are similar and pretty awesome too). They are quick, healthy, SUPER tasty, and foolproof. People rave about this recipe each time and make me feel like a celebrity chef! I really should feel guilty about all the praise since the hardest part is putting the lid on the slow cooker. BUT who am I to correct someone when the juicy mango chicken DOES taste like I’ve slaved away for hours in the kitchen? #lovemyslowcooker Last weekend, My husband and I went shopping with our kids. The Nike Outlet had a 30% off your total purchase coupon that could NOT be passed up. Anyway, we spent too much time oohing and aahing over sale prices and needed to grab something to eat quick since bedtime was rapidly approaching. We quickly scanned the restaurant options and chose a random Mexican place. When I say it was the worst Mexican we’ve ever eaten, I seriously mean Taco Bell is gourmet compared to this place. From rubber tortillas, shredded chicken from a can, and mystery guacamole, it was disgusting! When we left, I almost felt it my civic duty to camp outside and warn fellow innocent families of the horrifying food that waited them inside. Well, I had to make these mango chicken tacos within a couple days to remind us how great Mexican can taste. Come close. I’m going to share my secret on how to make each healthy recipe a yummy success. Ready? Purchase quality ingredients! When you have quality ingredients, the flavors automatically make everything taste exceptional. Quality...
by Kami | Apr 30, 2015 | Chicken, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Slow Cooker, Soups
I try not to play favorites. I really do. BUT it’s hard not to favor the spicy tender chicken with zucchini, summer squash, and sweet corn. No matter if I crank up the heat by adding 2 jalapenos or tone it down by omitting that awesome little green pepper, it’s a fav! When I think of slow cooker, I usually think ‘I need to get that baby prepared and cookin’ first thing in the morning or it won’t be done by dinnertime.’ Right? That’s the benefit and disadvantage of slow cookers. Well, good news to my fellow dinner-making procrastinators! You only need this to cook 2 to 3 hours on HIGH or 3 to 4 hours on LOW. Any longer and your zucchini will go from crispy-tender to yucky-mush. Remember how we said au revoir to miserable, overcooked asparagus? Let’s give our zucchini the same fighting chance! Yes… I know how ridiculous I am. Whenever my large family (I’m the youngest of 7) gets together, they can’t resist teasing me. Usually it has to do with healthy eating. My brother will sympathetically put a hand on my husband’s shoulder and ask if he needs a pizza. They chuckle as my ‘deprived’ 3 year old daughter spits out Root Beer because she doesn’t like the ‘sparkley’ drink. Oh, they like to mock. BUT guess who they want bringing the main dish when it’s potluck time? This girl! This Chicken Fiesta Soup or my Classic Spaghetti or my Baked Burritos are among the most requested. AND they’re health punked each and every time. To be fair, my sisters and sister-in-laws are pretty healthy eaters and big fans of my recipes. And when I say big...
