Buffalo Cauliflower Taquitos

March 4, 2016March 4, 2016 / ktbuchs87 / 1 Comment

Buffalo Cauliflower Taquitos | Life Healthfully Lived Fun fact: I’ve never had taquitos. Ok, that isn’t really a fun fact but it is a fact. I’ve never had fresh taquitos, I’ve never had them from the frozen food section, and I’ve never thought, “Man, I could really go for a nice taquito right now.” Then as I was roaming around the internet I saw a few recipes for taquitos and they looked really good and simple to make.

And they are good and simple to make. Really good. Like so good I seriously thought about eating leftover taquitos for breakfast the next day. And if the taquitos were delicious, the dip I used was heaven. I could have stuck a straw in it and had that alone. Not even exaggerating. Buffalo Cauliflower Taquitos | Life Healthfully Lived

You busy people out there are going to like these too because you can make a big batch and then freeze them. Now you have a quick dinner ready to go on a busy night. Just take them out of the freezer and heat them up in the oven. Boom! Healthy dinner.

If you have time, you can make the filling beforehand and then when you’re ready to make the taquitos all you have to do is fill, roll, and bake. That sounds like a new dance craze that all the younguns will be into next week. Just remember, I started it here first.

Buffalo Cauliflower Taquitos

1 large head of cauliflower
1/4 cup of my buffalo sauce or your favorite brand
1 cup butternut squash puree, you can also use sweet potato or canned pumpkin
1 package of small tortillas, I used corn but you can use flour shells or a paleo version
1 batch of my dairy-free ranch with a few changes, recipe below
optional: guacamole, salsa, regular ranch or bleu cheese dressing

Preheat the oven to 325. Remove the leaves from the cauliflower and cut into florets removing as much of the stem from each floret as possible.
Place the cut cauliflower into a food processor or blender and pulse a few times until the cauliflower looks like rice. Scoop it out and place it into a bowl
Add the butternut squash to the cauliflower rice and stir so everything is coated. Heat a little (like about 1 tsp) olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Put the cauliflower into the skillet and saute for about 10 minutes. Add the 1/4 cup of buffalo sauce and stir to combine everything. You can add a little more buffalo sauce if the cauliflower doesn’t look like it’s coated enough.
Cook this for another five minutes and then turn the heat to low and cover the skillet. Let this sit for 5 minutes and then move to a large bowl.
Put a little skillet (about the size of your tortilla shells) over low heat. Don’t add any oil, you’re just using this to heat up the tortilla shells so the roll easily.
Heat the shells about 15 to 20 seconds on each side then add a large spoonful of filling and roll the tortilla up. Place it seam side down on a large baking sheet. Do this until you’ve used up all the filling.
Bake for 20 minutes, checking towards the end to make sure the tortilla edges aren’t burning. Remove from the oven and let cool then serve with fancy ranch (that’s what I’m calling it), salsa, and guacamole!

Fancy Ranch

1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup cashews, soaked overnight or in boiling water for 15 minutes
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp roasted garlic
2 tsp ranch seasoning
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin

Blend everything together and taste to see if you need to add salt or pepper. This will thicken up even more in the fridge so don’t worry if it’s a little soupy.

Creamy Broccoli Spinach Soup

February 26, 2016February 25, 2016 / ktbuchs87

Creamy Broccoli Spinach Soup | Life Healthfully Lived I have been living off of this soup for the past few weeks, it’s that good. It’s hearty enough to make a good meal but not so heavy that you feel like taking a nap after you’re done. I feel like that’s a good judge of a meal. Do you feel like laying in bed for six hours when you’re done? Nope? Then you should eat this meal again or try harder next time.

This winter we haven’t had many days where you just want to wrap your body around a bowl of soup and swim in a giant mug of hot chocolate. I’m not complaining, but I do enjoy those super cold nights where a warm meal is the only way to feel comfortable. I’m probably the only weirdo like that.

On the nights that it is frigid out, try this super simple soup. It’s stuffed full of vegetables and then blended to make it creamy and delicious. No dairy, no cheese, and yet it’s still smooth and wonderful. That’s my kind of soup. Creamy Broccoli Spinach Soup | Life Healthfully Lived

What do you guys have planned for your weekend? I’m on my own this Saturday and I’ll probably end up running a few errands and catching up on some work. I know, wild and crazy over here. But that also means that I’ll spend a good portion of my day in the kitchen coming up with yummy things for you. Any suggestions?

My suggestion to you? Make a big batch of this soup on Sunday night and have lunches or dinners set for the rest of the week. Your future self will thank me!

Creamy Broccoli Spinach Soup

1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced
1 cup celery, sliced
2/3 cup onion, diced
3 cups broccoli, cut into florets (you can also use frozen, just make sure it’s completely thawed)
1 cup roasted red or orange bell peppers
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 to 4 cups spinach, tightly packed (I used a whole 8 oz bag for reference)
4 to 5 cups vegetable broth or water
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste

To roast your bell peppers: Preheat the oven to 400 and cut the tops off of the peppers. Remove all seeds and place the whole peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast for about 30 minutes, turning the peppers over half-way through. Take the peppers out of the oven and place them on a cutting board and place a large glass bowl over them so the steam will loosen the skins. After 15 minutes, remove the bowl, slip off the skins, and dice the peppers. FYI: you can do this a few days ahead of time so you don’t have to do it right before you make your soup.
For the soup: Heat a large dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil and add in the carrots, celery, and onion. Saute them for about 8 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
Add the minced garlic, roasted bell peppers, and broccoli florets. Stir everything together and sprinkle with a little salt. Saute for a few minutes.
Pour in the vegetable broth or water. You want the broth to cover all the vegetables and about 1/2 inch above. Turn your heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Add all of the seasonings and stir to combine.
Once the soup is boiling, add the spinach and cover the pot. Turn the heat to low and simmer the soup for 15 minutes, stirring once.
After 15 minutes, remove the lid and using an immersion blender, blend everything until it is smooth and creamy. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can work in batches with your regular blender. Just return everything to the pot when you’re done.

The best thing about this soup? It tastes AMAZING with a healthy dollop (read: massive spoonful) of my cheesy garlic spread. Yum!

DIY Wednesday: Paleo Porridge

February 24, 2016February 23, 2016 / ktbuchs87 / 2 Comments

DIY Wednesday: Paleo Porridge | Life Healthfully Lived Doesn’t the word porridge always conjure up old-timey meals like in Oliver Twist? Or at the very least make you think of Goldilocks and the only three bears on the planet that prefer a hot breakfast over raw carcass?

Just me? Cool.

Porridge is actually any type of oatmeal, grain, or cereal that is cooked with boiling water or milk. Most people go for oatmeal because it’s the most readily available but you can make porridge out of a lot of different things. But for the most part it’s usually made out of some kind of grain and if you happen to be following the paleo diet, grains are a no-go. So does that mean you can never enjoy a warm bowl of porridge on a cold winter morning again? DIY Wednesday: Paleo Porridge | Life Healthfully Lived

Of course not! Not when you’ve got me around.

Not only can you make porridge out of cereals or grains, you can also make it out of meals (as in ground up stuff) and that includes nut meals. Finely ground nuts make a great base for porridge and it is entirely paleo-approved! I decided to go with almond meal because it can be made savory or sweet and it’s what I had on hand. Also, almond meal is fairly easy to find so you won’t have to hunt through a specialty store to make your own paleo porridge.

I have a recipe for a sweet porridge and a savory porridge, both are essentially same, but the seasonings and liquid choices are a bit different. If you’ve been missing your morning bowl of warm, cozy porridge try this easy grain-free version!

Paleo Porridge- Makes two servings

Sweet Porridge

2/3 + 2 tbsp almond meal (go for meal instead of flour because you don’t want it too finely ground)
1 cup almond milk or any other non-dairy milk you prefer
1 tbsp honey, maple syrup, or coconut nectar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt

Savory Porridge

2/3 + 2 tbsp almond meal
1 cup vegetable broth or water
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
salt to taste

No matter what version you make, the directions are going to be the same. In a medium saucepan, bring the liquid to a boil.
Whisk in the almond meal and turn the heat to low. Keep whisking as the almond meal thickens. This will take about 5 to 8 minutes.
Add in the sweetener (if making the sweet version) and seasonings as you keep whisking. Once you’re porridge has reached your desired thickness, pour into a bowl and finish it with your favorite toppings.

If you’re porridge is too thin add more almond meal, one tablespoon at a time. If it’s too thick add more liquid, one tablespoon at a time. As for topping ideas? How about:

any kind of berry
raisins
bananas or any fruit
cacao nibs
pumpkin seeds
hemp seeds
flax or chia seeds
chopped nuts
nut or seed butter
herbs like parsley or cilantro
salsa
roasted squash
poached egg
mushrooms
heck, you could even add cooked meat or fish to your savory bowl!

There you have it! Porridge two ways for all you grain-free people out there!

Flashback Friday Recipes

January 29, 2016January 29, 2016 / ktbuchs87

There are two reasons that I’m doing this post:

Winter lighting in my apartment is KILLING me and my ability to get some good pictures

AND

2. I have to relearn picture stuff.

Don’t you hate it when you finally have something down that you used to be really crappy at and then something beyond your control makes you crappy again? Yeah, me too.

Recently I had to get a whole new photo editing program and I feel like I am back at square one with my pictures. I have to go back and relearn everything that I already knew how to do in my old program with this new one. Which is super frustrating because I felt like I had finally gotten into the swing of things when it came to food pictures. Taking good pictures has been a weakness of mine and I keep trying to improve so that my blog can look all pretty for you guys. Now I have to take some time and get back to where I was.

In the same vein, I’m battling some pretty bad light here in my apartment. I live on the interior of my building which means that I have two windows both of which face brick walls and get no direct sunlight. It’s kind of like living in a cave, especially in the winter when the light is already scarce. That means natural light (a food blogger’s best friend) is very hard to come by here at Casa Dawson.

What is the point of all this rambling? To tell you there is no brand new recipe for today. I’m teaching myself some new photo stuff and doing everything I can to get as much good light as I can on the recipes I do have to share. But fear not, I’m not leaving you totally recipe-less. I thought it would be fun to bring back some old recipes from when I first started this blog. It’s kind of fun to see where I came from and where I am now. For the most part, the recipes are delicious and the pictures are horrendous. But it’s all about improving right?

At least I don’t take pictures for the blog with my iPhone anymore….

Anyways, here are some Flashback Friday recipes for you and I promise I’ll be back with more new stuff next week!

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

Stir Fry With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Eggplant Lasagna

Baked Falafel with Tahini Sauce

Turmeric Scented Mushrooms and Brown Rice Noodles

Crispy Coconut Avocado Fries

Healthy Brownie Bites

Creamy Avocado Fettuccine

January 22, 2016January 22, 2016 / ktbuchs87

I am really into avocados lately. I buy a big bag at the beginning of the week and add them to my smoothies and soups and anywhere else I can squeeze them in. They make things creamy and delicious. Plus they are full of good for you stuff. Creamy Avocado Fettuccine | Life Healthfully Lived

People sometimes shy away from avocados because of the fat content, even though I think most understand it’s good fat. Fat still scares people because it just makes sense that fat would make you fat. Don’t worry, I get it. You want to eat the best food for your body as possible and you don’t want to gain weight. Don’t fear fat. Trust me, fat is good and it will help you reach your goals all while being super tasty.

Now, don’t go hog wild on fat. Too much of anything, even a good thing like fat is a bad thing. But start including it in your diet and don’t feel guilty or worry. And if you’re looking for a new way to use avocados other than guacamole, try this creamy avocado fettuccine.

It’s a great weeknight dinner because it comes together in less than 20 minutes. And it’s good enough that no one will realize that there is no dairy in the sauce. You can even make it paleo and serve it over vegetable noodles instead of brown rice ones. It tastes good both ways, trust me, I tried it.

Creamy Avocado Fettuccine

2 Hass avocados
2 tbsp cheesy garlic spread
juice of half a lime
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder OR 3 to 4 fresh chipotle chili’s
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 can full-fat coconut milk
1 package brown rice fettuccine OR spiralized vegetable noodles (butternut squash & sweet potato work really well)
2 to 3 tbsp fresh cilantro

Cook the fettuccine according to the directions on the package, drain, and set aside. Or if you’re using vegetable noodles, prepare those by cooking on a large baking sheet at 400 for 8 to 10 minutes or sauteing in a large pan with a lid until soft.
Meanwhile, slice the avocados in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh into a blender. Add the rest of the ingredients except the coconut milk. Pulse a few times until everything is pretty mixed together.
Add the coconut milk a few tablespoons at a time until you reach your desired consistency. I ended up using about 1/3 cup for a fairly thick but still pourable sauce.
Once your sauce is at the right consistency and the noodles are done, add them back to the pot they cooked in and pour all the sauce on top. Stir everything together until all the noodles are coated.
Sprinkle in the cilantro and stir just to combine. Serve it up and enjoy!

This recipe is probably going to make it into the regular rotation because it’s quick, healthy, and tastes so darned good! Creamy Avocado Fettuccine | Life Healthfully Lived