Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut with Cilantro Cream Sauce

Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut with Cilantro Cream Sauce

Ingredients: serves 2-4 depending on how big the fillets are

2 Halibut fillets

1 cup  raw unsalted macadamia nuts crushed or pulsed to fine pieces

1TBS of flour ( I use coconut flour)

1 cup cilantro

1 cup ( half can) of pure coconut milk

1-2 garlic cloves

salt & pepper

cooking spray ( I use Organic Coconut Oil Cooking Spray by : Spectrum Organics)

Oven proof skillet

Turn oven to broil

The sauce: blend in food processor or blender: cilantro, garlic, and coconut milk.  ( I have a tiny magic bullet that I use…just easier than the giant blender.  Pour sauce into a small pan and simmer for a few minutes till warm and creamy and garlic infuses with the coconut milk and cilantro.

The Halibut:

Place macadamia nuts and 1 TBS of flour in a bowl and mix.  Set aside

Get the Halibut fillets and spray them with cooking spray, season with sea salt & pepper.

Place the Halibut fillets in the nuts and firmly press them into the fish.  The cooking spray helps to make it stick.

Spray your skillet with oil, place fillets in hot  pan a sear them till the nuts start to brown, turn making sure skin side is down and place into the bottom rack of your oven under BROIL.  Keep the door cracked, it will only take about a minute or two for the fish to cook through depending on the thickness of the fillets.  Once it looks white and flakey, its done.  Be careful not to burn yourself.  USE OVEN MITTS to take the pan out of the oven.

pulsed nuts

Cilantro Cream Sauce

Browned Halibut

My plate.  Extra Broccoli and extra sauce. Yum!

If you like cilantro, this is the best sauce.  I dip my veggies into it and also use it as a salad dressing.  I double my batch and keep it in the fridge for several days.

• Health benefits of cilantro:  
• rich in antioxidants
• dietary fiber
• source of minerals such as: potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium
• rich in vitamins such as: riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-A, beta carotene, and vitamin-C.
• one of the richest sources of vitamin-K

In addition, Omega-3s are important for your body to run efficiently.  These important fatty acids are a key component to a health & vitality so try to get some in from natural sources.  Halibut is a great source.  It is light, flakey, and does not have any fishy taste at all.  It is delicious. 

FYI:    

• Omega-3s reduce inflammation, which is a key component in the process that turn cholesterol into artery-clogging plaques. It reduces blood pressure, prevents arthritis and promotes healthy brain function. Consumption of fatty fish provides major protection against renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer. 

so go ahead and serve it up…for YOUR vital life!

Coconut & Sweet Potato Crusted Chicken With Peanut Sauce

Ingredients: 
 Organic chicken breast strips or cut up breasts
2 cups of Sweet potato Chips crushed or food processed ( I use Terra chips)
1 cup shredded coconut
1-2 beaten eggs

Peanut Sauce:
1 TBS red curry paste
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup organic peanut butter
1 small lime juiced
1-2 cloves garlic
2-3 TBS honey to taste
blend in blender till smooth and creamy

Angel hair pasta  of choice ( I use Gluten free pasta here or you can serve on a salad)


For the chicken:

mix sweet potato chips &  coconut ( I pulse in my food processor but putting it in a plastic baggie is fine to combine it)

place coconut mixture in a bowl

place beaten eggs in a bowl

Dredge chicken in the the egg, then coconut mixture and press firmly to coat.

Place chicken in a heated skillet with oil. ( I use coconut oil).  brown the chicken on both sides about 3 -4 minutes per side till brown and crispy.


Peanut Sauce:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend.  Adjust seasonings to taste.  I make Gluten free angel hair pasta  to place the chicken on and drizzle the sauce all over the noodles.  This is a great kid friendly recipe too!

Brownie meets Blondie

Gluten Free, Grain Free, & Super Low Sugar


Brownie Meets Blondie

Oh what a treat Ava got for her 10th birthday.  I decided to go off the normal path and combine a Blondie and Brownie mixed together.  I wasn't sure how this would go over with the kids since it has no ingredients that resemble traditional brownies.  But the verdict came in and it was a hit. It is  a denser version of brownies with a slight undertone of vanilla and cinnamon. They are unique yet tasty little treasures.

Ingredients          Turn oven to 350º


Brownie Chocolate layer
1 can no salt added Black Beans
2 TSP vanilla extract
10-15 plus drops of liquid Stevia ( use more for sweeter brownies, I like mine less sweet)
1/2 TSP cinnamon
2 TBS melted coconut oil
1/2 cup apple sauce ( I just use pre-portioned individual cups of applesauce no sugar added)
3 eggs
3 heaping TBS pure unsweetened Coco Powder
1/4 cup almond meal ( almond flour)
1/4 cup pure raw cane sugar  ( I usually omit this and just add more Stevia  or honey but most people like the taste of  sugar.  So you can try it either way)

place all ingredients in food processor and blend till completely smooth.

Blended Brownie and poured into the 8x8 pan

Grease an 8x8 pan or whatever size you have  9x12 would work too they would just be thinner.

Pour Brownie into pan.  Then clean food processor and make Blondie.

Blondie Vanilla Layer
(Can follow recipe above just omit coco powder and use white beans and add coconut flour)

1 can no salt added Navy beans or Great Northern Beans.
2 TSP Vanilla extract
10-15 plus drops liquid Stevia
1/2 Tsp cinnamon
2 TBS melted coconut oil
1/2 cup applesauce (individual cup no sugar added applesauce)
3 eggs
ADD 1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup almond meal
1/4 cup pure cane sugar ( or more ***stevia and make them sugar free too)

***( I don't really like to add sugar so I normally just use Stevia and adjust the sweetness as I go.  Stevia is an all natural herbal sweetener that does not affect  glycemic index.  Not to mention, it comes from a herb…not man made in a laboratory)


Put all ingredients in food processor and blend till smooth.

see the navy beans! 

vanilla blondie layer

I add some white chocolate chocolate chips on top of the brownie layer before adding the vanilla layer

adding Blondie on top

Pour the brownie in a greased pan.  Then have Blondie meet Brownie.  Pour over the top and then swirl around and pull some of the brown dough up with a spoon in several areas and swirl.  I then sprinkle them with chocolate chips and place in a 350º oven .  I bake for 30-45 minutes or till my toothpick comes out clean.  Just make sure to check it around 30 minutes to see.  I live in high altitude so my baking times vary from most.

I use these chips

and  these chocolate chips

swirling the chocolate and vanilla together

swirled and toped with chocolate chips ready for oven

You know you wanna eat me! This treat is awesome served warm with some homemade ice cream!

 Ava loved her 10th birthday cake! Brownie meets Blondie.  I served it up with some homemade chocolate ice cream.  The kids cleaned their plates.  I mean literally, they were licking the plate clean.

This was after having seconds!

They were so cute trying to eat every last bite.  I normally don't think its good manners for them to lick their plates, but this was so darn cute.  I feel good when they enjoy their food, especially when I know there is some good nutritional value to it.

Give this a try.  These fiber rich tasty treats are a healthy alternative to the traditional sugar infested, sodium loaded, processed brownies that come out of a box.  That should not be considered real food in my opinion.  My recipe for Brownie meets Blondie are made from real food.  Yes, the texture isn't  exactly the  same  but they taste  just as good.  Eating healthy alternatives can change your taste for processed food.  The more real food you eat, the less you want processed food.  It's that simple.  So give them a try.  Jump outside your box once in a while and try something healthy, you might just like it!

Crispy Pork Chops

Crispy Pork Chops

For those meat lovers, this is a quick and easy way to make juicy pork chops.  

Ingredients: ( serves 4-5) 

4 Pork chops ( bone in or boneless), bone in are more juicy.

2 eggs

about 1 cup Gluten free flour ( I use rice flour or almond meal) or use your own regular flour

2 TSP garlic powder 

2 TSP onion powder

Sea salt and pepper

I  beat the 2 eggs in a large bowl , set aside.

I have a second bowl with my flour mix that I add the garlic powder, onion powder, and salt & pepper.

First dredge the chops in the egg mixture.  Then dredge into the flour mixture and coat both sides.  Once they are all ready to go, I  transfer to a heated skillet with some heated coconut oil in the pan.  (Make sure your pan is hot and sizzles before adding pork.  Just shake a few flour bits into the oil and see if it sizzles)

***This is where I love my George Foreman Grill.  It heats up fast and cooks both sides with little oil.  I spray some coconut oil from a can.  It's just like "Pam" only better.  Or you can use Olive oil.

All lined up on my George Foreman Grill.  They cook in about 8 minutes.  I check them and spray a bit more oil if needed.

If you are not on a Gluten free diet, I recommend using unbleached whole wheat flour.  It is so much better for you.  Just like the name, bleached white flour is bleached! I can't say that is very healthy for your body to consume bleached food!  I'm not a huge fan of processed foods in general, For the most part, like to use almond flour.  It is just ground up almonds.  You can use any nuts and put them in your food processor and use them as bread crumbs.  It's a great healthy alternative.

I serve this up with sweet potato fries and roasted veggies.  YUM!
Try this out and see how you like it. 

Roasted Beets with Orange Balsamic Glaze

 Roasted Beets With Orange Balsamic Glaze

If you have never tried beets, they are delicious.  I used to turn my nose up at them big time.  I finally tried them again and fell in love.  They are so healthy and good for you, they are worth trying.   I like to eat mine shredded raw in salads or roasted like in this recipe.

Ingredients:  (Serves 2-4)

I used 3 large beets, stems removed.

1 orange & zest of the orange only about 2-3 TSP

4-5 TBS balsamic vinegar

TBS honey

sprinkle of salt

I peel and cut the stem and leaves off, then quarter them and place on the cooking sheet in foil.  I cover them and roast in the oven at 400º for 40 minutes or till you can pierce with a fork.

Balsamic Sauce

Pour the balsamic vinegar into the pan.  I pour between 4-5 turns of the pan equivalent to 4-5 TBS. Start to simmer it until it reduces a bit and then add the zest from your orange, then cut and squeeze the orange juice in the pan.  I simmer this together then add the honey.  Add more honey to your liking.  If it's too tart, add a few TBS of water , more juice or more honey.  I adjust it till I like the taste.  

Zest of my orange

I then take the roasted beets out and toss them in my sauce and sprinkle with salt. ( I use Celtic Sea Salt) and then serve them up!  I love these sitting on top of my salad.  I like them hot to wilt my lettuce a bit.  You can serve them cold or room temp.  However you like them.  It's simple, easy, and super healthy.

Beautiful by themselves!

This was my dinner .  I put them with lettuce, olives, and sweet peppers.   No need for salad dressing for me, the sauce from the beets was flavor enough for me.  So go ahead, serve it up…Lizzy Style!
 

Goody Goody Green Lemonade

Goody Goody Green Lemonade recipe follows.  But first, a little something I want to share.

This is my favorite thing my girlfriend Jan printed for me. I just wanted to share it because I love reading this everyday.  I have it in my kitchen where I spend most of my time and it makes me giggle out loud.  I snapped a picture of this while I made my goody goody green lemonade.  It is right next to my Juicer.
 Thank you Jan, love supportive friends!  Now to the lemonade.

This is the beautiful produce that goes into my juice.

Fruit and veggies are so important!  Do not underestimate the power of phytonutrients and antioxidants.  You can not get these powerful nutrients from milk, yogurt, cheese, or any kind of meat, much less processed food.  They come from fruits and veggies.  Think before you eat.  It's that simple.

Ingredients: (Serves 1-2)

2 fresh apples.  I used Gala apples

1 inch piece of fresh Ginger

4-5 leaves fresh Romaine lettuce

large handful of spinach and kale leaves

1 large lemon

Add all ingredients to the juicer.  No need to peel the lemon or apples  just put it in whole.  The skin of the lemon cuts the green produce taste out.  If it taste to bitter, I add several drops of liquid Stevia to sweeten it up a bit for my picky one.  Or I add another apple or a pear if I have it on hand.  The juicer takes away all the fibrous content and leaves behind the straight nutrients of the produce.  If you don't have one, I suggest you getting one.  There is nothing like fresh juice.  I try to use it daily.

I have the Breville Fountain Plus juicer.    

All juiced and ready to go.  This is the froth separator.  It keeps all the foamy froth out of your juice.

Remember my picky eater that will not eat anything green or even consider trying it?
I told him this was sweet lemonade and he agreed to try it out.  He wasn't to sure about it at first since it was green and all.  He finally took a sip and said "yum".  I about fell on the floor since it has so much green produce in it.
The apples sweeten this up just enough.   Ya see,  he has such a sweet tooth that he couldn't resist.  I'm more than thrilled to get some veggies in him.  I was jumping up and down saying "Goody Goody he likes it"  This Lemonade is my go to for quick nutrition. 

Ava and Clayton drinking their juice.  Steven drank his so fast I didn't get a chance to take a picture of him!

Look at me! I love it!  Goody, Goody, Goody!

Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken with Zucchini Spaghetti. Plus BONUS leftovers!

Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken

What is Lizzy Style?  Well it's a way to eat that my body understands.  Most people don't really understand the impact of food and what we put into our bodies these days.  Most people think fried chicken fingers, pizza and coke are healthy.  I just want to share my ideas and recipes so you can understand there is a healthier alternative to mainstream ways.  Lizzy style is my way, a way I found to feel better about what I put into my body, it is a different way to cook than I was brought up eating. ( My mom is a fantastic cook by the way)  Unfortunately, my parents didn't know the dangers associated with all the pre-packaged and processed foods that they put in the pantry for me and my sister.   It was the thing to do 20 years ago.  I ate my share of processed foods not having a clue what I was doing to myself.  I have become my own health advocate and have made conscious choices and appreciate real food.   It's eating fresh organic foods that our bodies understand.  It's eating fresh foods thats our bodies know how to process and our bodies know how to utilize.  I have always colored outside of the lines and have continued to do so when it comes to cooking.  My strange  health issues forced me to look outside the box.   I realized food was a big contributor to my health problems and now look at food in a different light.  Food is meant to heal, protect, and nourish our bodies.   This  Tuscan chicken dish is fresh, all natural, and easy to make.  I like to keep my ingredients as fresh and simple as possible.  Our bodies like fresh food, not things that come from packages.   I do know these recipes are different than the traditional way of cooking, i.e, with tons of oil, soup mixes, and processed packaged rice and sides.  Think about what you put in your grocery cart at the store.  Is it real food or in a package?

After all, what is MSG anyway?  It is a chemical that our bodies don't know what to do with.  It is a food enhancer found in popular processed foods that causes the appetite regulation center in the brain, the hypothalamus, to stop regulating your fullness meter!  Your satisfaction and gratification sensory is diminished when you consume MSG!   Other hidden names for MSG are: Gelatin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), and Malted Barley.   So read your packages people.  This is not something I ever cook with.  I avoid it at all cost for me and my family!  I'm just saying!  I know lots of people that  wonder why they work out so hard and can't lose a pound.  From my personal experience,  it's not how hard one works out but it's the quality of food one puts into their bodies.  I strongly believe in the 80/20 rule.  It's 80% diet and 20% exercise.  So check out this healthy recipe and serve it up...Lizzy Style!

Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken  (Serves 4+)

• 4 organic chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup red wine ( you can add more , I usually wind up adding a splash or two extra)
• 1//4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 5-6 cloves crushed garlic
• 5-6 fresh basil leaves chopped
• 5-7 Roma tomatoes sliced
• Bragg Organic Sprinkle Seasoning , several shakes in the pot {optional} ( I like this because it's low in sodium and has 24 herbs & spices) 
• small organic tomato paste
• small can organic tomato sauce

Place all ingredients in slow cooker.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Let cook on low for 4-6 hours. Once it's cooked and the tomatoes are all soft and tender, I scoop out all the chicken, set aside and put all the sauce and tomatoes in the blender and pulse it up.  Once blended, I add a small 8oz can of organic tomato paste and a small can of organic tomato sauce to thicken the sauce a bit.  Add half the paste and see if you need the whole can.  You may not need it depending on the thickness and taste.  Once the sauce is blended and seasoned to taste, pour it over your noodles and top with the chicken.

All the ingredients added to the crock pot.
FRESH INGREDIENTS!

The cooked sauce added to the blender.

Zucchini & Squash Spaghetti

Zucchini Spaghetti ( Serves 4-6)

• 2-3 large zucchini peeled 
• 2-3 large Yellow squash peeled

I use 1-2  Zucchini and Yellow Squash peeled and sliced into match sticks.  I have a mandolin slicer that works great to slice the squash into these tiny strands that resemble spaghetti noodles.  You can steam the noodles to soften them, which I do for the family, but I like mine raw…Lizzy style!  I try to eat as much raw food as I can so I keep about a cup aside just for me.  You should try this out, it's so much better for you than processed traditional pasta.  
*** If you like regular spaghetti and don't think your family will go for the zucchini spaghetti, then just use regular old pasta.  I'm just tying to give you healthier versions.  As you will see, my littlest one wasn't fooled by the noodles, he had a break down and wanted his chicken without noodles.  He is hard to fool. The rest of the family was more than happy to eat the healthier version.

Little Steven always has a smile!

Clayton wasn't gonna have it! No zucchini for him.  Do you see why I hide spinach in his smoothies!

Steven is a picky eater too but he cleaned his plate.

Ava and her hat! She enjoyed the noodles and chicken.

See that big fat artichoke heart?  I love artichokes!  I keep them on hand and eat them with lots of dishes.  

Artichokes are the perfect marriage to this dish. 

 Artichokes are high in fiber,

 potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus. 

(YES you can get your calcium from things other than milk!)

They are high in antioxidants such as quercertin, rutin, anthocyanins, cynarin, luteolin, and silymarin.  Antioxidants guard your body against cancer.

These little gems are so good for you! ry them out.  Cook them in the sauce if you want, they are amazing.

** If you like parmesan cheese, this would be a great dish to sprinkle it on.  

Bonus:  The leftover sauce makes an awesome meat sauce!

I always have lots of extra sauce from the previous dish.  I save it and use it later in the week for spaghetti with meat sauce.  I use ground sirloin and  season it with garlic, salt and pepper and add the left over sauce and let it simmer.  It melds together like you have slow cooked it all day.  The sauce is so much better a few days later!  My kids love this meal.

I use Gluten Free Pasta if I'm eating  it.  This is the best one I have tried made from Quinoa, which is a super grain.

 Meat sauce

 with parmesan

Just a side note.  I keep various things in my freezer to add to sauces, mainly to sneak in some veggies that Clayton won't see.  In this Tuscan dish, I added 2-3 cubes of frozen red pepper puree that I had frozen in ice cube trays and put in the freezer.  It will not make or break your sauce but it does add another layer of yummy flavor to the sauce not to mention vitamins and carotenoids. 

I put the red bell pepper puree in the ice cube trays and then pop them out and put them in freezer bags.  I take out cubes and add them to chili, tomato sauces, and soups.

I have cut up onions, green onions, garlic, celery, and other various things I use on a daily basis cut and ready to go in the freezer.  I buy it all at once, clean it, chop it,  and store it so it's ready when I am.

Happy cooking…Lizzy Style!