I Cook Free » Side Dish

Spinach, Bacon and Apple Salad

Sarah — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:30:16 +0000

This simple salad is a staple at our house whenever we have leftover bacon. I will say that there is rarely an occasion when we have leftover bacon but it does happen. I also love to make it for potlucks and when we are having dinner guests. It looks beautiful, tastes great, and everyone loves it.

Recipe: Spinach, Bacon and Apple Salad

Ingredients

6-8 slices bacon, finely chopped
1 large apple, sliced thinly
Spinach
Balsamic vinegar
Olive Oil

Instructions

Place washed spinach in a serving bowl.
Top with apples and bacon.
Toss with a vinaigrette that is equal parts balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Serve to happy bacon loving people.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free, Paleo, Whole 30

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Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash

Sarah — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:38:39 +0000

As we are eating more vegetables, I am working on adding some variety. I could and do eat carrots, onions, and peppers every day but I know that I am missing some great nutrient powerhouses. Squash is something that I have tried many different ways and never really had a taste for. It isn’t bad but I wouldn’t go for an extra helping. Even smothered in butter and brown sugar, it just hasn’t drawn me in.

But I was determined this time. I wanted to like it and I wanted to want it again. I created a recipe that even curbs a little of the sweet tooth that was creeping in today. I ate seconds and thirds.

Recipe: Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash

Ingredients

1/2 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1″squares
1 apple, diced
1/4 cup apple juice
3 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup almonds, chopped

Instructions

Preheat over to 400 degrees.
Place squash and apple pieces in a baking dish so they are all exposed. Bake for 20 minutes.
Mix juice, oil, and cinnamon. Pour over squash.
Top with almonds and return to oven.
Cook for 15 more minutes or until squash is tender.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free, Whole 30, Paleo

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Roasted Cauliflower in Garlic Sauce

Sarah — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:48:56 +0000

As we are adding more and more veggies, we want to try fun and exciting new ways to prepare them. We do love a good steamed veggie but it is always nice to spice it up a bit. We received a yummy head of cauliflower in our CSA box this week along with the idea for this recipe. The original called for lemon juice but I’m just not a big lemon person so I adapted. We used the sauce as a dip and also roasted some broccolettes to go with it. Yummy.

Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower in Garlic Sauce

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower, cleaned and cut into bite sized florets
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
8 cloves garlic
1 cup olive or melted coconut oil, 2 egg whites, cold
2 tsp sea salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400.
Toss cauliflower with 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Place on a large cookie sheet with enough room to roast the florets evenly. Roast until florets begin to brown, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, sauté garlic in 1 Tbsp oil over low heat until garlic is soft and slightly translucent.
Place garlic in a dish and refrigerate to cool quickly (colder ingredients will emulsify more easily when creating sauces).
When garlic is cold, place in food processor and blend. Add 1/4 cup of oil to food processor.
As the oil emulsifies, continue to add the rest of oil slowly until only 1 Tbsp remains.
Add egg whites and remaining oil along with the salt. Blend to a smooth consistency. Do not over mix.
Remove cauliflower from oven once browned. Cover in garlic sauce or serve the sauce on the side as a dip.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Paleo, Whole 30

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Island Pork Loin and Salad with Cumin Vinaigrette

Sarah — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:44:53 +0000

This was a very easy quick meat to make. It can be served over a nice salad or next to some steamed veggies. I’m going to add the salad we ate it over in this post as I thought it was very complemtary. Don’t be scared that it is cabbage and spinach (I was) as it is very tasty.

Recipe: Island Pork Loin

Ingredients

16oz pork tenderloin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 Tbsp Franks Red Hot or other hot sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and cinnamon, then coat pork with spice rub.
Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillt over medium high heat and brown pork on all sides.
Place pork in a roasting pan.
Stir together garlic, brown sugar (optional) and hot sauce, pat over top of tenderloin.
Place pork in oven for 20 minutes.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free, Paleo, Whole 30

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Recipe: Island Pork Salad with Cumin Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 orange, peeled and sliced
2 cups fresh spinach
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
2 Tbsp golden raisins
2 cups Nap cabbage, shredded
Sliced Island Pork Loin
Cumin Vinaigrette
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 Tbsp orange juice
1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Toss all salad ingredients together and place on plates.
Mix all vinaigrette ingredients and shake.
Drizzle 2 Tbsp on each salad.
Top with Island Pork Loin.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy Free, Egg free, Paleo, Whole 30

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Yam Fries

Sarah — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:23:03 +0000

Recipe: Yam Fries

Ingredients

1-3lbs of Sweet potatoes/Yams, peeled and thinly sliced into a classic fry shape
Olive or coconut oil
Salt

Instructions

Peel and cut up yams into French fries.
Preheat oven to 400.
Coat fries in oil and place on cookie sheet.
Bake 15 min and then turn and bake for 15 min more depending on the thickness.
Watch then closely because they will burn.
Salt to taste.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free, Paleo, Whole 30

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Cinnamon Apples

Sarah — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:10:04 +0000

Looking for a super simple, super tasty treat? Apple slices are a sweet and easy snack. But does the thought of eating more browned apple slices less that thrill you? Here is a way to make those apple slices a little more tasty with no extra work. And this way, they are pre-browned. You’ll won’t even be able to tell that they were sliced early.

Recipe: Cinnamon Apples

Ingredients

1 Apple (We like the tart/sweet variety)
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Slice the apple. Toss with cinnamon. I told you it was easy.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free, Raw

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Apple Chicken Salad

Sarah — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:13:40 +0000

Recipe: Apple Chicken Salad

Ingredients

3 chicken breast, cooked and cubed
1 medium apple, diced
1/4 cup crushed or sliced almonds
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
Salad greens
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Mix chicken, apple, and almonds in a medium bowl.
Mix vinegar and oil together.
Serve over salad greens dressed with vinegar and oil mixture.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free, Paleo, Whole 30 Challenge

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Cornbread Stuffing

Sarah — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:02:35 +0000

Recipe: Cornbread Dressing/Stuffing

Ingredients

1 already prepared recipe of your favorite cornbread (Bob’s Red Mill GF Cornbread is the brand we used)
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 tsp salt
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/8 tsp sage
1/2 tsp pepper
2-4 cups chicken stock

Instructions

Grease 9×13 pan. Preheat oven to 350 degress.
Over medium high heat, saute onion, bellpepper, and celery in coconut oil until tender.
While sauteing, crumble cornbread into a large bowl.
Add vegetables and spices to cornbread. Stir gently to combine. Add chicken broth until very moist and almost soupy. How much stock you need will depend on your cornbread.
Pour into prepared pan. Bake 40-45 minutes or until browned and the center is done.

Quick Notes:

This recipe got great reviews from my husband, our friends, and myself. I am not normally a stuffing eater but this was delicious. I liked the crusty exterior and amazing flavor.

This recipe is adapted from Kerry Ann Foster’s at www.cookingtf.com.

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Oven Fries

Sarah — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:16:32 +0000

Recipe: Oven Fries

Ingredients

5 Potatoes, Yukon, Russet, Red, Purple, or a Combination of them all.
2-3 Garnet Yams/Sweet Potatoes
2-3 tsp Parsley Flakes
1-2 tsp Chili Powder
1-2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
2-3 cloves Garlic, minced

Instructions

Cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes and place in large mixing bowl.
Add oil and seasonings and mix well. I tend to use the high end of all the seasonings but adjust to your taste.
Bake in 400 degree oven for 45 minutes or until soft.

Quick Notes

In a time pinch, I put the fries in at 400 for as much time as I have and then switch it to broil for the last 5-10 minutes or so. You have to watch them closely to make sure they don’t burn but that is often easier dealing then hungry, whiny children.

Diet (other): Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free

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