"Cheesy" Chicken and Rice So Good it Will Make Your Cheese Cry!

Are you addicted to Pinterest? Ummmm....hello, talk about daily inspiration! It's like inspiration overload! I was getting so hooked, I had to regulate myself with a few self-imposed Pinterest rules. Rule #1 - you may not pin indefinitely. There must be actual creation in conjunction with pinning. I decided that until I'd created, implemented, cooked, tied, smeared, dipped, glittered, mod-podged, or worn at least one item from each of my boards, I would take a pinning hiatus. Yep, that motivated me to get moving! I choose this little cutie from my "holiday decorating" board. This cute, easy, inexpensive Lima bean wreath took me two hours and ten dollars. Incidentally, I also discovered why in the world God made Lima beans. Turns out they're for wreaths, ahhhh, no wonder (never been a Lima-lover! Gag.)

OK, on to cheese, well sort of. Tonight's recipe will be photo-less, because it was inhaled before I could snap a shot (always a good sign!). This "cheese" recipe is flat delish and even the pickiest cheese sauce lover would be hard pressed to detect that there is not a lick of cheese or dairy in it. So good it will make your real cheese cry! I use it for a lot of different recipes, pour it over chips for nachos, thin it out for broccoli cheese soup, pour it over enchiladas, and more.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice

"Cheese" Sauce  (adapted from Vitamix)

1/3 cup raw cashews

1 cup unsweetened almond milk (whatever non-dairy milk you prefer)

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp arrowroot powder

3 tbsp nutritional yeast

2 tsp lemon juice

3/4 tsp salt

Blend VERY well in Vitamix (or good blender) until completely smooth. Pour into a sauce pan over low/medium heat. Whisk constantly to desired thickness (it will be really runny and then all of a sudden get thick, don't stress). For this recipe, once thick and smooth, add 1/4 cup (or more if you like) sun dried tomatoes and stir into sauce.

Combine brown rice, chopped chicken, steamed broccoli, and sun dried tomato cheese sauce together and serve. Enjoy!

Nearly Sugar-free Peanut Butter Cups in Minutes!

There is one word in my vocabulary that evokes more conflicting emotions than I can number - chocolate. The love-hate relationship I have with chocolate has a plot thick enough to cast an impressive romantic drama. I really do love chocolate, I legitimately enjoy it. I often crave it. I sometimes indulge in it. However, it can also be a huge source of struggle for me. It is, without a doubt, the number one trigger that can lead me to a dangerous place. When you identify that you have an eating disorder, like any addiction, the most effective way to guard yourself from spiraling into an ugly (and sinful) place, it to avoid the source of addiction all together. I have learned about myself that I simply can't handle chocolate. In a few, well structured situations (mostly where there is a limited supply and I'm not alone) I can handle the indulgence. However, I have learned that I am setting myself up for failure if I have it in my house. That said, sometimes you just REALLY want something chocolaty right? Me too, so I've come up with a healthier, safer option that allows me the enjoyment without the risk. These are insanely easy to make and really, really good. I hope you enjoy them!

Nearly Sugar-free Peanut Butter Cups (adapted from a million places, renditions of this recipe are plentiful)

Here's the problem, I always sort of wing this recipe, so quantities will vary from batch to batch. If you desire more (or less) sweetness, adjust the amount of sweetener to your liking!

About 1/4 c coconut oil
About 1/2 c almond or natural peanut butter
About 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably raw cocoa)
About 2 tbsp honey (here's the almost sugar-free part, a little sugar in the honey)
About 2 1/2 - 3 squirts Vanilla Stevia
About 1 tbsp vanilla
(if you want add 2 tbsp real dark chocolate - this will add a little sugar)

*I've played around with flavors too, and would encourage experimentation. I've used orange extract, mint, added instant coffee, coconut extract - all yummy!

Melt all together in a saucepan on low heat until smooth and to taste. Pour into aluminum muffin pan liners. Freeze for as little as 10 minutes or keep in freezer for weeks.

What's for dinner when there's nothing for dinner? Refrigerator dump pizza.

I try to meal plan and most of the time I do a pretty good job. I find that it helps both my sanity and my grocery budget, but every once in a while I run a day or two behind and have to get creative. You know that feeling when it's 5 p.m., everyone is hungry, there's "nothing" in the fridge, and you find yourself standing in the kitchen desperately in need of inspiration and grasping for a dinner idea? That was me last night. Fortunately my desperation produced one of the most successful dinners I've offered my family and will definitely be a frequent "go-to" meal! When I have NO idea of what to make I usually start by inventorying what I DO have. Last night I had loads of veggies that were on the verge of going bad, so I started there. I didn't want to waste them. I also realized that I had a frozen gluten-free (vegan) pizza crust in the freezer from months ago (www.outsidethebreadbox.com) and a leftover chicken breast. Viola - inspiration! Sometimes it's when there's "nothing" for dinner, that you enjoy your greatest cooking triumphs! I hope this inspires you to get creative tonight!

Refrigerator Dump Pizza

• Pizza crust (frozen, fresh, whatever you have, get creative)
• I had a TINY bit of left over spaghetti sauce so I mixed that with a healthy portion of hummus and slathered it on the crust - YUMMY!
• Any and all veggies - I literally used any veggie I had that needed to be eaten. I food processed into thin slices broccoli, zucchini, and spinach. (The beautiful thing was there were extras! I tossed those babies into my eggs the next morning!)
• Then topped with a couple Roma tomatoes, fresh basil that was wilting, arugula, and black olives.
• One thinly sliced chicken breast

Make your own refrigerator dump pizza and let me know how it turns out!

The meal that makes my family do the "happy dance" - bison in a blanket!

The happy dance - you know the one - rapid clapping, quick feet, failing of arms, gleeful sounds of approval. Yep, that's the reward I get every time I serve this meal. It's frequently requested, but I sort of hold it as my ace. To give you an idea of how these are enjoyed in my home - this was my husband's requested birthday meal, I've seen my son inhale three of them, and there was once an "incident" over not having enough to go around for breakfast (yes, breakfast). Let me know if they are equally rejoiced over in your home!

Bison in a Blanket

1 package all natural, nitrate free bison hot dogs (from Costco)

Blanket recipe
2 tbsp ground flax seed
1/2 cup boiling water
6 cups gluten free flour (I usually use a mixture of almond and millet)
2 tsp sea salt
2 eggs
1/4 c honey

Soak flax seed in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Mix all dry ingredients, add wet ingredients. Mix well, then kneed until formed into a firm ball (add more flour if it's sticky, you don't want sticky, it will be impossible to roll the hot dogs). Separate small (about 2 or 3 inch) balls and roll them between two pieces of parchment paper to form a tortilla shape. Place one uncooked (but defrosted) bison dog at one end of the dough and roll it up to completely cover it. Secure ends by pushing gaps together. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 400 for about 15 minutes or until the dough is golden brown and crispy to the tap. I served these with carrot fries and a side salad. Enjoy!

Random Inspiration and Why Pomegranates are Like Pregnancy

What's inspiring me this week? Wowing my kids for a $1, protein packed & low sugar "fudge", seaweed for snacks, and pomegranates. Read on....
Inspiration #1: I saw this idea on Pinterest (considering Pinterest Anonymous, do you need it too?). I picked up a tube of glow sticks from the dollar rack at Target, cracked them all and tossed them into the tub while my kids waited for the "surprise" bath night. Oh my successfulness, you would have thought they just saw Santa. Seriously, I may never win Mom of the Year, but these little gems won we Mom of the night! Try it!

Inspiration #2: Low sugar, high protein, yumma-licious fudge.You have no idea how much I wish I could claim this BRILLIANT recipe as my own. I can't, but I can share it with you. It's so easy. I made this today in the time it took my little one to "do his business" - now that's efficient (am I the only one using serious restraint to withhold fudge jokes?). If you can get past that last comment, this gooey concoction is flat delish. Try it too!
(from iseefitpeople-everywhere.blogspot.com)
1/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/4 cup Chocolate Protein Powder (I used vanilla)
1/4 cup Natural Peanut Butter (I used almond butter)
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Melt all together in a pan, poured the mixture into 1/4 of the 9×13 glass dish sprayed with a bit of baking spray. Refrigerate several hours. Enjoy!!

Inspiration #3: Seaweed. Yes, seaweed. I am beginning to understand the aptly named snack. Worth checking out. They're an odd experience!

http://www.seasnax.com/

Inspiration #4: Pomegranates. Don't you want to love them? They're gorgeous, healthy, delicious, all things good. I cursed a little under my breath last night as I stood determined to serve my little ones a bowl of juicy seeds. However, as I pried, popped, and dodged squirts of red juice, I realized that they remind me of pregnancy. You forget how much work it is until you're laboring! No matter how much the shiny little brochure tries to convince me that they are easy to prepare, I know better! And yet, somehow every year I experience pomegranate amnesia and buy them again. Like pregnancy I know that at the end there is a sweet, beautiful reward, but there is a LOT of labor first.

What inspired you today?

Caution! This recipe may cause the decking of halls - Gingerbread Waffles!

I am definitely NOT one of those people who skips right past Thanksgiving and starts celebrating Christmas in November (random side note, have you seen the Nordstrom's sign? Love it, Google it if you haven't seen it!). That said, I have been thinking about Christmas morning waffles. Our Christmas morning tradition is a waffle bar. I make homemade waffles and everyone decorates their own with a wide selection of yummy toppings. It's fun. I have been loving all things gingerbread and experimented with these gingerbread waffles yesterday morning to be sure they'd be yummy for the more important Christmas breakfast. Oh man, these were a hit. I should have doubled the recipe. Honestly, I just ate mine plain, nothing on it. I just really liked the flavor. These will definitely be our Christmas morning waffles. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did. What are your Christmas morning traditions? I'd love to hear your comments! (Speaking of Christmas, don't forget to send your peeps to my blog, and have them enter your name in the comments section so I can give you $25 for Christmas shopping!)

Gingerbread Waffles

2 c almond flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 c honey
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground or fresh ginger
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 c almond milk
4 tbsp grapeseed oil
2 eggs (these could be made vegan by subbing 2 tbsp flax with 3 extra tbsp milk, or with applesauce)
3 tbsp molasses
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients until well combined and a spreadable batter consistency. Coat waffle iron with non-stick spray and cook per iron instructions. I served these with a little almond butter, sliced strawberries and of course a little pure maple syrup for the kiddos. Enjoy!

I want to give you $25 for Christmas!

I would LOVE to give you a $25 gift card to Target just in time for Christmas shopping! Here's how to get it. If you're enjoying Home Health and Things of Heaven, tell your friends and family about it. Ask them to submit their email address to subscribe by email (not become a follower) and like my Facebook page. Then, after they've subscribed, *be sure to tell them to enter YOUR name in the comments section at the bottom of my blog*. The person who's name appears the most times between now and Thanksgiving Day will get a $25 Target gift card from yours truly. Ready, set, GO!