We're Parents

How to Make Avocado Dip

by

Learn how to make avocado dip in this easy avocado recipe! This avocado dip is perfect for dunking chips, spreading on burgers or the perfect avocado sauce for fish tacos! Try making this avocado dip today!

How to Make Avocado Dip

I have a confession. Before Andrew and I met, I had never tried an avocado by itself before. I’d had guacamole, but that’s it. I didn’t realize the avocados potential.  Luckily, he came into my life and saved me from that atrocity. Since he’s Jamaican, avocados were a staple in his house growing up.

Funny fact: One day his mom asked me hand her a pear.  I looked all over the kitchen for it. By the time I gave up, I realized that everyone was laughing at me. Jamaicans called avocados pears or avocado pear, so she was looking for an avocado but that’s what she calls it. I’ve never made that mistake again.

how to make dip from avocado

I’ll admit I wasn’t a huge fan at first.  It doesn’t have a ton of flavor.  I could never figure out when the perfect time to cut it open was (it was alwayssss over ripe). But then….then, I starting getting more adventurous in the kitchen and the avocado became a go-to game changer. Any time we are having tacos or other spicy dishes, I have to have avocado on the side. I learned that it’s delicious in making a smoothie insanely creamy, and I’ve learned how to maximize it’s full flavor potential.

avocado dip recipe

What’s the difference between guacamole and avocado dip?

Great question! I’m sure you’re wondering.  Guacamole traditionally has diced tomatoes, chopped onions, jalapenos, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and cayenne pepper. Avocado dip is very similar but there’s is no diced tomatoes or onions. It’s still just as amazing, but if you are a fan of tomatoes this could be the perfect alternative for you.

how to make avocado dip recipe

avocado spread

What do you use avocado dip for?

This avocado dip recipe can be used in chips but also as an avocado spread on toast or bagels. Alternatively, you could use this as an avocado sauce for fish tacos or as an avocado dip for quesadillas. We also loving using it as an avocado spread for our black bean burgers!

avocado sauce for fish tacos

Grab our fish tacos using avocado dip!

avocado sauce for burgers

Grab our Black Bean Burger recipe and spread avocado dip all over!

How do I make avocado dip?

0 from 0 votes
Print
Avocado Dip Recipe
Prep Time
8 mins
Total Time
8 mins
 

Learn how to make avocado dip in this easy avocado recipe! This avocado dip is perfect for dunking chips, spreading on burgers or the perfect avocado sauce for fish tacos! Try making this avocado dip today!

Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Mexican, Spanish
Servings: 4
Calories: 236 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2 avocados
  • 2 limes zest of one, juice of both
  • 2 cloves garlic *TIP: Even if you LOVE garlic, don't add more than this
  • 1/2 cup cilantro stems and leaves
  • pink salt ,to taste
  • pepper ,to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne
Instructions

  1. In a food processor add all ingredients and blend well. 


  2. Scrap down sides if needed and blend again.

  3. Use immediately or store in air-tight container for 3 days.

Recipe Notes

Tip: If you want a sauce that you can drizzle instead of spread, add avocado oil or water, 1/2 tbsp at a time until consistency is reached.

Nutrition Facts
Avocado Dip Recipe
Amount Per Serving (0.25 cup)
Calories 236 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Sodium 9mg 0%
Potassium 532mg 15%
Total Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 7g 28%
Sugars 1g
Protein 2g 4%
Vitamin A 6.4%
Vitamin C 25.2%
Calcium 2.6%
Iron 5.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

PIN THIS AVOCADO DIP FOR LATER!

Easy Homemade Avocado Dip Recipe

How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning

by

This DIY Taco Seasoning will show you exactly what is in taco seasoning. As well as, how to make homemade taco seasoning with ingredients you likely already have in your spice cabinet!

how to make homemade taco seasoning

Why in the world would someone want to make their own homemade taco seasoning? I mean really what is the point?  You can walk into pretty much any store that sells food and get a packet for under $1. Who needs to waste their time mixing together seasonings in their spice cabinets when they can just rip open the packet and pour into their skillet?

Did you know that the average taco seasoning packet has 12-15 ingredients and only one of them says spices? It’s true.  Most taco seasoning mix packets that you find in the store list “spices” for all the spices included. The remaining ingredients are preservatives, colorings, and more that simply aren’t needed. It’s actually insanely easy for you to make your own taco seasoning and you can double, triple…shoot, you can unvigintuple (that’s really a word – it means 21x) this recipe! We usually make 3-4 times the recipe and store it in an empty spice container and just use as needed.

how to make taco seasoning

What spices are in taco seasoning?

If you are wanting to know how to make taco seasoning, you need a few spices that you likely already have in your spice cabinet. The main spice in taco seasoning is chili powder. The other spices you will need are cumin, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning (or just oregano).

That’s it.  That’s literally all you need to make homemade taco meat seasoning or anything else that you make want to use a spice combination like this. We have used this DIY taco seasoning on hamburger meat, chicken, potatoes, scrambled eggs, stuffed peppers, and more. There’s so many ways beyond just tacos.

diy taco seasoning

We think this is the best homemade taco seasoning recipe that you’re going to find and we hope you love it just as much as we do!

0 from 0 votes
Print
How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

This DIY Taco Seasoning will show you exactly what is in taco seasoning. As well as, how to make homemade taco seasoning with ingredients you likely already have in your spice cabinet!

Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Mexican, Spanish
Servings: 2 packets
Calories: 26 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning (Oregano only would be fine as a substitute)
Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a container and shake well. 

  2. Use immediately or store in an air tight container for up to 3 months

Recipe Notes

Use half of this recipe in place of a standard taco seasoning packet. Save the remaining half for another recipe or add a little more of this recipe if you like more spice. 

Nutrition Facts
How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
Amount Per Serving (2 g)
Calories 26 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Sodium 74mg 3%
Potassium 113mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 1g 2%
Vitamin A 30.6%
Calcium 3.2%
Iron 12.3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Now that you know how to make your own taco seasoning, check out this easy Homemade Baked Taco Casserole! It’s one of our favorite dishes!

Homemade Easy Baked Taco Casserole

Pin this Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe for later: 

homemade taco seasoning recipe

Chicken Quinoa Bowl

by

This Chicken Quinoa Bowl is a healthy alternative to rice bowls and a great, protein packed dinner option!

Disclosure: This Chicken Quinoa Bowl shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Mazola® Corn Oil. All opinions are mine alone. #SimpleSwap #CollectiveBias

chicken quinoa bowl

Since having kids, our life has been all “semicrunchyish”. It’s where we are working to make small changes one at a time to live a better and healthier life. This lifestyle is also teaching our children to make healthier choices from the start. One easy swap we made was to stop deep frying things and using butter so often. When cooking chicken like in this chicken quinoa bowl, we use an oil, like Mazola® Corn Oil, for grilling indoors. You only need a small amount. A clinical study showed Mazola Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, see Mazola.com.

Another easy swap came a few years ago when Larisha told me she was making quinoa for dinner. Keen-What? She was all, “Don’t worry, it’s fine.” Whenever she says that, I know to worry. Dinner is usually going to end up being eggs or a smoothie because she’s experimenting and well, I don’t like experiments. Surprisingly, this “keen-wha” turned out delicious.

We’ve been eating quinoa for awhile now since then and we actually prefer it to other starches. It was one of the first changes that we made to living a less indulgent life and it’s completely stuck with us. What we’ve found works best is to make small changes and swaps one by one instead of drastic shifts. This helps to get used to things gradually instead of suddenly so much and it becoming overwhelming.

cooking healthier meals

How Long Does It Take To Cook Quinoa?

One of the reasons we love this chicken quinoa bowl we’re sharing with you today is because you can cook it fast. Traditionally, rice takes upwards of 40 minutes. However, quinoa can be ready in as little as 15 minutes. You always want to rinse quinoa to remove the coating. The coating can make quinoa taste soapy or sometimes bitter depending on your taste buds and no one wants that. Then, you have two options:

how to make a quinoa bowl

  1. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa to 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Then, let cook for 15-20 minutes (until no liquid is remaining).
  2. Our preferred method is to toast the quinoa and add some flavor. Using a bit of oil, like Mazola Corn Oil, sauté onions and garlic for 2 minutes. Add in the rinsed quinoa and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Then, add chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. And let cook for 15-20 minutes (until no liquid is remaining).

easy chicken quinoa bowl

Chicken Quinoa Bowl

This recipe is a great way to make a better-for-you dish this New Year. Perfectly cooked quinoa is topped with chicken seasoned and grilled in corn oil. Paired alongside are black beans, your favorite fresh slaw recipe, corn salsa, avocado, and cilantro. To top it off, a few fresh squeezes of lime juice to have the absolutely perfect dish. Quinoa boosts higher dietary fiber and protein than white or brown rice making it healthier for you. Using a low-sodium chicken broth to cook the quinoa adds in flavor with the added salt content.   Additionally, cooking the chicken in a bit of corn oil versus butter or another fat and grilling instead of frying yields a healthier meal all around.

simple chicken quinoa bowl recipe

0 from 0 votes
Print
Chicken Quinoa Bowl
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp Mazola® Corn Oil divided
  • 1/2 cup sweet onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 lb chicken breasts cubed or small slices
  • 1 tbsp chicken rub seasoning
  • Optional Toppings: corn salsa fresh slaw, avocado slices, black beans, chopped red pepper, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, lime wedges, corn vinaigrette or dressing
Instructions
  1. In a sauce pan, add 1 tbsp corn oil on medium heat.
  2. Add in the onion and garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
  3. Add in the rinsed quinoa and stir constantly to toast for 2 more minutes.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
  5. Add lid and reduce heat to simmer for 15-20 minutes until no cooking liquid remains.
  6. While quinoa is cooking, season cut chicken breasts with chicken rub seasoning.
  7. In a grill pan, heat remaining tbsp of corn oil on medium heat.
  8. Add chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes or until chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165.
To Assemble Your Chicken Quinoa Bowl
  1. First layer quinoa on the bottom of your bowl.
  2. Then, add your chicken.
  3. Next, add your desired toppings. In the photos shown, we used a fresh broccoli slaw, corn salsa, black beans, cilantro, avocado slices, and topped with lime juice and a sweet corn vinaigrette.

Mazola® Corn Oil can be found nationwide. It’s made of 100% pure oil with no additives. It’s also cholesterol free making it better-for-you. One of the best things about using a cooking oil is that its smoke point is 450°F. This mean that it’s great for high heat applications like stir-fry or sautéing. The 40 oz. bottle can be found in most major grocery stores, so head to your local store and grab a bottle today.

chicken quinoa bowl with mazola

How to Make Chicken Stock in a Crock Pot

by

Skip store-bought! How to make chicken stock in a crock pot is simple, delicious, and you will never want to purchase another carton again!

how to make chicken in a crock pot

Growing up, my mom made whole chickens in the crock pot. Every time that she made them the house would smell so delicious.  And, I knew one of my favorite meals were coming. Chicken and biscuits with homemade gravy. It was one of my favorite meals (and one of the only ones she created from scratch). It wasn’t until years later that I realized you could create chicken stock in the crock pot after you pulled all the meat off the chicken.

So picture this, you found this whole chicken on sale for about $6. You get a ton of meat off the chicken. for us, a whole chicken can feed our family of four for two dinners and sometimes one or two lunches. And now you can make 6 quarts of stock using the same remains you already have. Stock cartons usually cost about $2 per carton. So you’re getting more than $12 worth of stock in addition to the meat, all for the prices of chicken and a few vegetables and spices. It’s definitely a huge win!

Can you make stock in a crock pot?

The answer is a resounding yes.  Not only can you, but it’s even easier because you throw everything inside of the crock pot and you get to forget about it until it’s done. The even better new is that you can repeat the process multiple times. We reuse the same bones and vegetables up to three times, just changing out the water each time. At the end of the third process, you will have 6 quarts of chicken stock.

How to Make Chicken Stock in a Crock Pot

The first step we recommend is to make a whole chicken in a crock pot. Once you have a whole chicken, you want to separate the meat from bones, fat, and any vegetables you were using. Strain out any stock that was in the crockpot after cooking the whole chicken.  This is the best stock.  If not using it immediately to make gravy, store it in a mason jar and it will turn gelatinous and full of rich antibodies and immune benefits.

how to remove meat from chicken bones

It’s okay if there’s a little meat left on the bones here. But ideally, you are just looking to separate the white and dark meat chicken from everything else that was in your crockpot.

homemade chicken broth

Now that everything is separated, you are going to add it all back into the crockpot. The bones, the fat, the vegetables.

homemade bone broth from chicken

Add 8 cups of water to the mixture. Put the lid on and cook on low for at least 8 hours.

how to make homemade chicken stock

Once the 8 hours is up, strain the stock from the bone and vegetable mixture.

can you make chicken stock in a crock pot

This mixture, when chilled, will have a gelatinous texture.

Why is my chicken stock gelatinous? 

First, this is an amazing thing and you actually want to see this Jell-O like substance when your stock is chilled. What happens is that you have extracted collagen from the bones. Literally, you’ve made gelatin. This only happens when you make a rich stock and you will never see this in store-bought chicken stock cartons.  When heated, it will liquify again.

This is actually why chicken soup is supposed to be great for cold and flu season. Because this is how our grandparents would make chicken soup.  Besides the comfort of warmed soup, canned soups on the market today don’t have the same health benefits.

The benefits of this gelatinous mixture including joint protection, boosting your digestive and immune systems, giving you healthier hair, nails, and skin, and more.

 

why is my chicken stock gelatinous

Once you have strained the liquid from the bones and vegetables you can repeat the process using the same bones and vegetables two more times, just adding an additional 8 cups of water each time.  The mixture from the last two runs won’t gel, but they will still have an amazing flavor that’s better than any store bought brand.

Each time you process the color will get lighter and lighter, but never as light as you would see from a store carton of chicken stock.

0 from 0 votes
Print
How to Make Chicken Stock in a Crock Pot

Skip store-bought! How to make chicken stock in a crock pot is simple, delicious, and you will never want to purchase another carton again!

Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 chicken carcass
  • 4 large stalks of celery
  • 6 large carrots
  • 1 large sweet onion
  • 10 cloves of garlic peeled
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 8 cups water
Instructions
  1. *Please see notes below for tips
  2. Put all ingredients inside a crockpot.
  3. Pour in water.
  4. Heat on low for 8 hours.
  5. Strain chicken stock from ingredients into two quart sized mason jars.
  6. Store in fridge and use within 7 days or freeze up to 6 months.
  7. Repeat process using same bones and vegetables two more times.
Recipe Notes

If you are using our How to Cook a Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot recipe, then you don't need to start with new vegetables. Just use the same ones. You can do this a total of three times, using the same bones and vegetables and adding new water each time.

pinterest how to make chicken stock in a crockpot

These products may help you make this recipe:


Easy Alaska Salmon Burgers Recipe

by

This Easy Salmon Burgers Recipe will have you feeling like it’s summer outside all year round.  Super simple and easy salmon recipe that’s sure to impress. 

This post was sponsored by Alaska Seafood as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Salmon Burgers Recipe

We eat Alaska salmon weekly around here.  Admittedly, sometimes it’s been more than once a week.  We just love the lightness of salmon and the versatility of the meat to be transformed in so many ways. Plus, it’s recommended that the average Americans consumes 8 ounces of seafood per week. However, we typically tend to fall back on a handful of recipes, like our Honey Citrus Salmon.

It’s really important that you get Alaska salmon. Why? Because all Alaska salmon is wild-caught.  You want to make sure that you are not buying farmed salmon. Don’t worry, this isn’t difficult. We’ve found frozen Alaska salmon everywhere from Aldi to Target, but a quality fish market will have Alaska salmon too!

how to shred salmon

We’ve been wanting to switch up some dishes for the new year and what better way than to make it into a burger. Salmon Burgers are easy to make and not something to be fearful off.  If you successfully make other burgers, than you can make this too.

salmon burgers    alaska salmon recipes

How do you cook salmon burgers?

Just like any other burger, with salmon burgers you want to flavor the meat with a variety of seasonings, as well as eggs and breadcrumbs for your binding. This easy salmon burgers recipe has just 10 ingredients, so it’s super fast to make and combine together.

Once your mixture is combined, you separate into equal portion sizes.  These would be so fun as mini sliders too! Then you toss on the grill or a skillet on the stove and bake them for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side.  As with all fish, you are going to an internal temperature of 145 degrees.

salmon burger sauce

While this easy salmon burgers recipe is very easy to make, you do want to be mindful of cooking.  Exposing salmon burgers to unnecessary heat for an extended amount of time could cause the burger to actually be dry.  And no one likes a dry burger. 

how do you cook salmon burgers

What do you eat on a salmon burger?

It’s a burger! You top it with whatever you want! But in all seriousness, we went for really simple but impactful ingredient toppings for our salmon burgers.  Tomato, lettuce, and a cool lime sauce (recipe below). Truth moment: my kid asked for ketchup on it and I obliged b/c no one has time for arguing with a tiny dictator.  

what do you eat on a salmon burger

I’d also recommend red onions, mashed avocado, or cabbage. There are so many possibilities.

Pin it for later! Just hover over the Easy Salmon Burgers recipe image below and click Pin!

easy way to make salmon burgers

0 from 0 votes
Print
Easy Salmon Burgers Recipe
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Alaska salmon
  • 3/4 cup Panko crumbs
  • 1/2 cup red pepper finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • * 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • salt pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 burger buns
  • Optional toppings: lettuce tomato, red onion, avocado, lime sauce (1/4 cup plain greek yogurt + 1 lime - recipe below)
Instructions
  1. Remove skin, if any, from salmon.
  2. Using two forks, shred the salmon apart into pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, add salmon pieces, panko crumbs, red pepper, parmesan cheese, egg, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  4. Combine really well.
  5. Separate the mixture into 4 equal parts and form into patty shape.
  6. Let patties sit for 10 minutes.
  7. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium low heat.
  8. Depending on skillet size, add burgers all at once or in batches, making sure not to overcrowd burgers.
  9. Cook for 4 minutes on each side.
  10. Remove and add desired toppings to patties.
  11. For lime sauce - combine 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt with zest and juice of one lime. Stir until combined. Use immediately or store in air tight container for up to 3 days.

These products may help you with this recipe:


VISIT WWW.WILDALASKASEAFOOD.COM FOR EVEN MORE RECIPES! 

Then head out to the store and look for Alaska on your packaging!

where to find wild caught salmon

Visit Alaska Seafood Online:

How To Slow Cook A Whole Chicken

by

If you’ve ever wondered how to slow cook a whole chicken, we’ve got the answers here for you today.

how to slow cook a whole chicken

*Disclosure: Affiliate links contained in this post. We receive a small commission for purchases and thank you for helping us continue to run our site.

Ever since I became a mom, my daily goal is to work smarter, not harder.  I want our days to be easy. As often as I can remember, I throw meals together in our slow cooker. My mom did this growing up and now I love doing it too. One of the best things to make in the slow cooker is a whole chicken. It’s an easy way to get protein for multiple meals cooked up and who doesn’t love the taste of a slow cooked chicken.

For us, a slow cooked chicken is enough for two dinners and usually lunch two times for one of us. Plus, we reuse the bones to make bone broth. It’s a win win at such a low cost. If you are looking for a low cost meal to stretch your budget, this is it.

can you slow cook a whole chicken

How long does it take to cook a whole chicken in a crock pot?

You can cook a whole chicken in a crock pot on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Personally, we prefer the lower, longer method because we feel like the chicken is really able to absorb more flavor. As with everything, your exact cooking time with vary on how large of a chicken you purchased. Chicken should reach an internal temperature in the breast of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

how long does it take to cook a whole chicken in a crockpot

How do you slow cook chicken?

It’s so easy. Stuff the inside of the chicken with garlic, onions, celery, and carrots. Then use a mixture of seasonings and rub the chicken. Place the raw chicken inside of a slow cooker and cook 4-8 hours until your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

how do you slow cook a whole chicken

what do you use to slow cook a whole chicken

whole chicken recipe

0 from 0 votes
Print
How To Slow Cook A Whole Chicken
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 Whole Chicken roughly 2.5-4lbs
  • 4 large stalks of celery
  • 6 large carrots
  • 1 large sweet onion
  • 10 cloves of garlic peeled
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp chili powder
Instructions
  1. In a bowl, mix together the paprika, italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and chili powder.
  2. Evenly rub the spice blend on both sides and in the inside of the chicken.
  3. Place chicken into the slow cooker.
  4. Roughly chop all the vegetables.
  5. Stuff a variety of all the vegetables into the chicken and place any remaining vegetables into the slow cooker. Add bay leaves.
  6. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
  7. Chicken should be at least 165 degrees F to eat.
  8. Serve & enjoy!

slow cooker chicken

How do you use slow cooked chicken?

After the chicken is cooked you can do a number of things with it.  Growing up, my mom would shred the chicken, use the broth to make gravy and pour it all over biscuits.
Pro Tip: Use two forks and pull away from each other to shred the chicken easier. 
 I love doing that, but I also love adding it into salads, making chicken salad, pulled BBQ chicken, and so much more! Because the chicken is so soft, it’s also amazing in quesadillas or tacos.
easy whole chicken recipes
 **The pictures below were the original pictures for this How to Slow Cook a Whole Chicken recipe, posted on 9/17/2014, which you may have seen floating around Pinterest.  It’s the same recipe, we’ve just gotten a lot better at photography! crockpot chicken slow cooker chicken
how to use chicken from whole chicken recipe

 

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Sausage and Apples (Vegan Option Included)

by

Delicious Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with “Sausage” and Apples is a perfect option for lunch, dinner, or brunches!
Disclosure: This Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Sausage and Apples was originally sponsored by Morningstar Farms. 

twice baked sweet potatoes

I think for the first year ever, I actually met all my wellness goals this year.  Every year seems to be a struggle after the first month or two, but not this year.  This year, I actually did it.  It was a lot of work and maybe a little pouting. Larisha would probably say a lot of pouting. But, it all paid off.  I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been and it feels amazing.

How and Now What?

As we go into the New Year, it’s time to set new goals. I did two things differently this year that I think really adding to me keeping on track.

  1. I shifted my mindset.
    • Every time that I thought I wanted something bad to eat, I told myself I had to eat nuts or a fruit first.  If I couldn’t do that, I was just bored and needed to go do something else.
  2. I allowed myself a cheat day.
    • Every Saturday I was allowed to eat whatever I wanted. We typically ordered out or made a heavier meal that we didn’t have during the week.

These two little things greatly changed how I took on this year and lead me to the healthiest year I’ve ever had as an adult. Eating healthier versus an exercise focus really helped also. Now, for this year, I really want to focus on portion control and working towards a more plant-based diet. However, I’m not ready to give up that taste of meat in meals just yet.

Starting the Day off Right

Over the years of my journey to being healthier, I’ve consistently done one thing: ate breakfast. It starts your day off on the right foot and kickstarts your energy in the right direction.  On my journey now towards a more plant-based diet, I’ve found MorningStar Farms® Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches. They are great for on the go and they are kid-approved too. It’s a simple swap that keeps me on the right track.

morning star farms products

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Sausage and Apples

One thing that helps stay on track is meal planning and meal prepping.  With these Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Sausage and Apples, you can make them on the weekend and eat them over the next few days. I’ve swapped traditional sausage for MorningStar Farms® Original Sausage Patties and loaded in more fruits and vegetables. Bonus: It’s vegan and vegetarian friendly!

vegan twice baked potatoes

It’s really a super simple recipe. Bake the sweet potatoes until fork tender. While that is happening, cook the filling mixture. Then, slice and remove the sweet potato. Combine the sweet potato with the filling mixture.

twice baked potatoes recipe

Then, you fill the sweet potato shells back up with the filling mixture and then cook for 15 minutes more.

how to make twice baked potatoes

Then end result is a flavor packed meal. MorningStar Farms® veggie sausage is packed with plant protein power is the perfect way to start your morning off right. And while this is a great breakfast, it’s definitely doable for lunch or dinner too. As a meat lover, I’m here to tell you that this meal is for everyone! You have to taste it to believe it.

how do you make twice baked sweet potatoes

0 from 0 votes
Print
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Sausage and Apples
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 4 sweet potatoes washed
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil divided.
  • 1/3 cup sweet onions diced
  • 2/3 cup mixed bell peppers diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 sprigs of fresh sage 4-6 leaves
  • 2 cups apples diced (I used fiji and )
  • 5 MorningStar Farms® Original Sausage Patties (If vegan, use 8oz browned vegan sausage)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
  1. Heat an oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Using a fork, poke holes throughout the sweet potatoes.
  3. Cook sweet potatoes on a baking sheet for 45-60 minutes or until a fork easily pierces through them.
  4. While that is cooking, in a large skillet on medium heat, add 2 tbsp coconut oil.
  5. Once melted, add in onions and peppers.
  6. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
  7. Add remaining 2 tbsp of coconut oil, garlic, paprika, red pepper flakes, sage, apples, and MorningStar Farms® Original Sausage Patties.
  8. Reduce to medium low heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
  9. Flip the sausage patties over and cook for another 5 minutes, still stirring often.
  10. Add in 2 table maple syrup.
  11. Remove from heat and place into a large bowl.
  12. Cut the sausage patties into pieces.
  13. Once the sweet potatoes have finished cooking, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
  14. Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees.
  15. Slice length wise.
  16. Carefully remove the sweet potatoes from skin and put into bowl with sausage mixture.
  17. Gently mash the sweet potatoes (it's okay is some smaller chunks remain) and then combine well the sausage mixture.
  18. Add the mixture back to the sweet potato skins and cook again at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
  19. Remove and serve. Can stay refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Enjoy!

thanksgiving twice baked sweet potatoes

You can find the MorningStar Farms® Original Sausage Patties and breakfast sandwiches that I featured in this post and other great veggie products at your local Walmart in the frozen section.

Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad

by

This Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad is a delicious and light salad meal that pear well with a Citrus Vinaigrette.

Disclosure: This Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DonVictorHoney #HappyHealthyHoney #CollectiveBias

pear pomegranate and honeycomb salad

My biggest goal in life is showing my girls how to live a great life. How to make the best choices and always feel a sense of pride when you complete your goals. Shortly before we had our first daughter, I was diagnosed with pre-hypertension. I felt at first like I was doomed. Then, we had our daughter and I knew I had to fight harder than I ever had before. I was prescribed a medication for my condition, but I knew pretty early on in this journey, that I wanted to come off that medication. I was advised that weight loss, exercise, and better eating habits could all aid in that dream becoming reality.

Fast forward, and we now have a five and a two year old. I’m no longer on that medication. At the start of 2016, I vowed to do even better. Get even healthier. Show my girls what great exercise and eating habits looked like.

Turning a New Page

We’re heading into 2018 and I’m determined to live an even more amazing lifestyle. Larisha and I’s journey has always been about small changes to get to a healthier life versus drastic all at once.  We know that we are more likely to maintain our goals if we accomplish them this way. I’m successfully at a point where I’m happy with the way I look and feel and now it’s just about maintaining my current lifestyle while implementing more small changes to get even healthier.

Looking for small, better-for-me changes

One thing that I started doing about mid-year is eating a salad for dinner one night a week.  Typically, I’ve always just done lettuce, cheese, sunflower seeds, and croutons. It’s not really unhealthy, but it’s not really providing me with any benefits either.  Larisha and I began playing around with flavor combinations and I’m loving this Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad. It’s delicious and wholesome, as well as the crunch that I’d typically search for from croutons.

how do you use honeycomb

We’ve been using raw, natural honey for a while now, but never actually eaten the honeycomb. Now, it’s easily available at your local Walmart with Don Victor® Orange Blossom Comb Honey Globe Jar. Honeycomb is a guilt-free sweet and with Don Victor® Honey, you can get the superior taste at a cost affordable price.

spring salad ideas

0 from 0 votes
Print
Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

This Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad is a delicious vegetarian main dish salad recipe. It uniquely features honeycomb for an added crunch. 

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 242 kcal
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Pull the honeycomb out of the Don Victor® honey jar.
  2. Chop 1/2 of the honeycomb into pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, chopped honeycomb, pomegranate, feta and pears.
  4. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of honey.
  5. Store leftover Don Victor® honey in a cool, dry place.
  6. Serve alongside a citrus vinaigrette or your other favorite dressing.
Nutrition Facts
Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad
Amount Per Serving (3.5 cups)
Calories 242 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 466mg 19%
Potassium 439mg 13%
Total Carbohydrates 39g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 32g
Protein 7g 14%
Vitamin A 115.7%
Vitamin C 24.1%
Calcium 25.1%
Iron 11.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

summer salad recipes

Don Victor® Honey is raw, filtered honey, and not heated or processed in any other way. Learn more by following along on Facebook and Pinterest.

can you eat honeycomb

In addition to our salad, you can spread honeycomb on toast, pancakes, biscuits and more. Heating will make it soft to spread along the bread even though it doesn’t melt. You will love the aroma from the honey. Don Victor® honey is the perfect complement to new and more conscious recipes for the New Year. Buy one for yourself and buy one for someone else. Don Victor® Honey is found at Walmart in the Hispanic aisle. Head to your local store to grab today. We look forward to creating a more wholesome journey with you in the New Year!

Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki Sauce

by

Disclosure: This Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki Sauce shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeasonYourHolidays #CollectiveBias

Contrary to what Larisha might tell you, I’m actually the better of us in the kitchen. Just because I don’t do it often, I blame work, I can actually make my way around the kitchen really well.  And just an aside, the kids think my cooking is better too, but hey, we don’t have to agree or anything on that either.  Let me stop before I have to sleep on the couch for the next few nights.

We were recently discussing what to take to our holiday get together in a few weeks and decided that we would make Coconut Shrimp with sweet teriyaki sauce.  Whenever we see family for the holidays, there’s always an abundance of food for dinner, but when you get there a few hours early, some appetizers are nice to have on hand. I mean, a man is hungry and the smell of dinner has my belly making flips. Feed me!

A spin on coconut shrimp. 

Typically, we’re always given a pina colada sauce with coconut shrimp, but one time at a restaurant, Larisha accidentally dipped her coconut shrimp in the teriyaki sauce and fell in love.  Ever sense, she loves the combination together. The deep soy sauce flavor with garlic mixed in with the sweet bits of coconut just add a great flavor combination. Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki sauce is the perfect dish for whatever the occasion.

For this recipe, we start by heading to our local Walmart and grabbing Kikkoman® Less Sodium soy sauce for a healthier recipe and Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumbs (Japanese Style).  These are a must if you are making this recipe. Don’t worry the Less Sodium variety doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor, it’s still amazing.  Kikkoman® also has a variety of Gluten-Free products certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). You’ll be able to find the Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumbs in the breading aisle (usually next to the spices) rather than an Asian section that your store may have.

Once we’re home, it’s time to put everything together.  The sweet coconut fried with the crunch of the bread crumbs and then dipped in the sweet teriyaki sauce is just enough to make my mouth water thinking about the holidays coming up when I can have them again.  They are the perfect appetizer to take with your or even a great dish for a brunch this holiday season.  Grab the recipe below!

0 from 0 votes
Print
Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki Sauce
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
For Shrimp
  • 2-3 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 cup Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumb
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 20 large shrimp pre-cooked
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Pinch pink salt
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs beaten
For Sweet Teriyaki Sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp ginger minced
  • 1/2 cup Kikkoman® Less Sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tea cornstarch mixed w/ 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp ACV
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
Instructions
For Shrimp
  1. In a flat baking dish, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and pink salt. Stir to combine.
  2. In another flat baking dish, combine Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumbs and coconut.
  3. In a third dish or bowl, beat the eggs.
  4. One at a time, dredge shrimp first in the flour mixture, then into the beaten eggs, and lastly into the coconut mixture.
  5. Place on a plate. Repeat with each shrimp.
  6. Place the vegetable oil In a medium size pot, over medium high heat.
  7. Once it's hot enough to fry, add shrimp and fry until evenly golden brown. 2-4 minutes.
  8. Transfer to a plate lined with a towel to soak up any remaining grease.
  9. Repeat until all the shrimp have been cooking.
For Sauce
  1. Add all sauce ingredients to a small pot.
  2. Bring to boil.
  3. Turn to low and simmer for 8 minutes.
  4. Add cornstarch and water mixture and stir to combine.
  5. Let heat through for 1-2 minutes and then remove from heat.
  6. Serve with finished coconut shrimp.

For all your holiday entertaining needs, keep Kikkoman® in mind.  There are currently Ibotta deals for $.50 of Kikkoman® Soy Sauce or Kikkoman® Panko bread crumbs available now.  Love our coconut shrimp with sweet teriyaki sauce and now need even more holiday inspiration?  Check our other Kikkoman® inspired holiday creations.

Chicken and Goat Cheese Tart

by

Disclosure: We were sent products to try in exchange for creating this recipe.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. 

If we’re being honest with each other here (which I hope by now we can be), then you know as much as I love cooking that even I don’t get a wholesome dinner on the table every single night.  Some nights I just don’t feel like cooking.  Other nights we just get home too late. And of course there’s the nights where the meat doesn’t thaw by the time I need to start cooking, I forgot to plug in the crockpot, or we aren’t hungry for a full meal.  It’s happened to the best of us, multiple times.

My quest for wholesome meals that are quick and easy to make.

I’ve recently started working on a list of meals that I can get on the table rather quickly, even if we need to eat dinner in 30-40 minutes.  When I thought of this meal, I wasn’t sure if the family would go for it…specifically, Andrew.  He’s so picky that sometimes it’s hard. The verdict: it’s a win!

This specific dish is amazing for those nights that maybe you had a late lunch and everyone just wants a little something or even perfect for a lunch. Additionally, with the holiday season approaching, it would make an amazing appetizer or even a dish for brunch.

This chicken and goat cheese tart comes with fresh basil, garlic, arugula, tomatoes, and balsamic ANDD it’s amazing! 

Part of the reason it’s so good is the fresh arugula and basil from Bowery.  Imagine that you could have local, farm fresh produce in the middle of winter in New York City.  With Bowery, you can. Bowery is a modern farming company that grows all products inside in a controlled environment using 95% less water and zero pesticides. It’s located just 8 miles outside of NYC. They are 100x more productive than traditional agriculture on the same amount of land because they grow vertically indoors.  Currently Bowery produce is available at select Whole Foods and Foragers in the NY Tristate area.

I’m obsessed with #EatCleanGreens because zero pesticides means my family is healthier. 

0 from 0 votes
Print
Chicken and Goat Cheese Tart
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 puff pastry tart
  • 4 oz goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 lb pre-cooked grilled chicken cubed
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
  • 10-15 cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/2 cup Bowery fresh basil chopped
  • 1 cup Bowery arugula
  • Fresh cracked black pepper and pink salt
Instructions
  1. Thaw out and cook 1 sleeve puff pastry tart according to packaging.
  2. While it's cooking, in a bowl mix together the goat cheese and whole milk until well combined.
  3. In a separate bowl combine garlic, balsamic vinegar, cherry tomatoes, and basil.
  4. Pull out tart and let cool for 5 minutes.
  5. Carefully spread goat cheese mixture on top of tart.
  6. Then spread chicken evenly across.
  7. Next add the arugula and then the basil and tomato mixture.
  8. Top with salt and pepper to taste, as well as additional balsamic vinegar if needed.

 

***Giveaway!***

If you live in the NY Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT) and would like to try some of the freshest produce you’ve ever had, enter our giveaway below.  Please note you MUST live in the NY Tristate area as that is all Bowery is currently shipping too at this time. Must be 18+ to enter.  Giveaway ends 11/22/2017 at 11:59pm EST. 

VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY

Even More Recent Posts

We’re Parents is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com