Tag Archives: food

A Healthy Cayenne Dill Dip & The Next “Breaking Bad”

Whether sweet or savory, I love having a good dip around. In the savory department, I make an easy and healthy cayenne dill dip that always satisfies my cravings.

Cayenne Dill Dip on Arugula

Store bought dips and spreads are typically loaded with ingredients you need a dictionary (or Google) to figure out what they are, and they definitely are NOT found in the common kitchen. If more people would just read the ingredients list on things they buy, maybe it would act as a deterrent. Or maybe not, but who wants eat something full of chemicals made in a science lab?

Speaking of labs, I think Going Mom and I found our new “Breaking Bad”; “The Walking Dead”. We’ve heard all good things about it and one of my co-workers (when I worked) let me borrow the first season twice but we never watched a minute.

Ever since finishing the awesomeness that is Breaking Bad last year, we haven’t found a good replacement. We found and quickly went through the first and only season of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in just 2 weeks, and just watched the first season of The Walking Dead this weekend. Us = hooked.

But that poor horse at the end of the first episode! He was promised a safer place in Atlanta only to be eaten by zombies. That’s beyond a broken promise!

Just like our Breaking Bad experience, watching shows is difficult with a kid. Last year we had to hold Avery and dance around the living room or rock her in her swing as we subjected her to the show. At nighttime, the volume was so low you couldn’t chew snacks without missing what someone said.

Had to make sure Breaking Bad was paused for the pic!
Had to make sure Breaking Bad was paused for the pic!

Now that Avery is older, we only have nighttime to watch something, and with her resistance to sleep and Kelley falling asleep when nursing her most of the time, things are still difficult.

We are not TV-watching people; we pay $5/month for the basic of basic plans, and hardly, if ever, turn the TV on during the week. Since my wife is the worker bee in the family, I respect her need to sleep, so no Walking Dead marathons are in our future, but we’re gunning for at least one episode per night.

Hope this works out, cliff-hangers drive us crazy!

Anyway, I might talk more about what we see as we encounter Rick fighting his way through zombie land, but for now, how about a spicy recipe?

Hey, nothing like watching quality TV with a good dip and something to dip with, right? Use any raw veggie or even homemade beer bread to dip or spread this on and you’re set.

Healthy Cayenne Dill Dip

by RC Liley

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup Plain, Non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 ½ T dill
  • 1/2 T cumin
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder (not the salt!)
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl (I used the half empty cottage cheese container so I could just keep everything inside for no cleanup) and mix well. Let flavors marry in the fridge for at least 2 hours. After sitting overnight the flavors only get better.

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If you’re wondering, we did exactly nothing for Easter. We usually go to see family like last year, but just kept it low key by staying home and listening to Avery talk to herself instead of take a nap.

Do you enjoy a good dip?

Would you rather have something sweet like this peanut butter pumpkin dip or savory like the above?

How was your Easter?

 

The Frittata Recipe I Never Made + WIAW #6

Isn’t it funny how something with a unique sounding name has most people thinking it’s something hard to make or requires time they don’t have? The frittata being one of them, is really just a crustless quiche. Oops, another uncommon name!

Okay, instead of quiche, how about an open-faced omelette? I mean, c’mon, an omelette you don’t have to try and fold over? Score! The frittata is just that, and it can be as elaborate or simple as you want with 12 different mix-ins, or just a single ingredient.

That’s what I love about them, their versatility. Everything you like on a pizza can be used in a frittata. And, just like pizzas can be savory as you usually see, frittatas can also become a sweet treat for late-night snacking or tasty breakfast. Or hell, why not both?

I have yet to do it, but think taking a ripe banana, slicing it into quarter-inch circles and using them for a sweet frittata with nut butter would be nothing short of spectacular! Plus, I see kids easily asking to have more after devouring what you thought was your breakfast.

Here’s my (not) tried and true recipe for a banana bliss frittata..

Ingredients

  • 1 medium ripe banana, sliced into quarter-inch circles
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp nut butter of choice; my go-to fav is NuttZo
  • Cinnamon to taste; I like A LOT
  • Optional: liquid or powder stevia or 1 tbsp honey for extra sweetness

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
  2. Whisk eggs with nut butter, cinnamon, and optional sweetener and set aside
  3. Add coconut oil to skillet on med-high heat and tilt to coat
  4. Saute banana slices for 2-3 minutes or until you see them caramelizing
  5. Pour egg mixture over banana slices in skillet and let set, lifting the edges to allow egg on the top to run below.
  6. After about 2 minutes, finish off by placing in the middle rack of your oven for 3 minutes.
  7. Remove and let sit 10 minutes to cool and pull away from the sides.

Now, you either love me for the idea, or hate me for not actually creating this dish and taking pictures. Maybe both? I know, I’m sorry, and if you don’t do it soon, maybe I’ll have a real pic to share next week.

I do, however, have a savory frittata I recently made and can even share a pic or two. In the mix, I had a plethora of veggies including peas and carrots (ha ha, that’s for Jenn, the host of WIAW!), onions, green beans, swiss chard, corn, and canned diced tomatoes.

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After sauteing everything and letting the excess liquid evaporate, I added 4 whisked eggs, let it sit, and then finished off in the oven. It was a hit for my mom, Avery’s G-Ma, and wife!

If you’re wondering, the point of this post is simply to proclaim my love of frittatas. It has been waayyyyy too long since making them and hopefully the spell has been broken.

With that, let us move on to the main attraction, WIAW! Thanks to Jenn from Peas and Crayons, for creating this fun link-up for foodies everywhere!

what I ate wednesday, WIAW

 

The day started with my usual truckload of coffee. I picked up this cold brew at Trader Joe’s and it’s about the only thing I’m really liking from the place.

trader joe's cold brew coffee

Then it was time for overnight oats with NuttZo and a smiling toddler!

After working out, Avery and I tried my newest microwave omelette maker bread creations with NuttZo on top.

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The verdict? They were all a hit with our little toddler as well as myself! Go me!

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Lunch was spaghetti squash with grass-fed ground beef with lots of mushrooms and brussels sprouts. The picture sucks, the meal was wonderful!

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Although I probably should have, I didn’t eat anything again until dinner. I was hungry, and that frittata hit the spot!

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Do you love frittatas?

What other creations have an intimidating name that sound hard to make but are really simple?

Have you ever had a sweet frittata like the banana and nut butter one I mentioned?

Before I’m done, just want to mention I love NuttZo and you MUST try it at least once forever! Plus, if you go to their website and enter code liley15, you can save 15% off your order. 😉

Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com

Sweet & Spicy NuttZo Carrot Dip Recipe + WIAW #5

NuttZo is mentioned on here quite often, huh? Besides that fact that I’m a proud NuttZo Ambassador, it’s just that good that I have to talk about and share it frequently. Is that such a bad thing? Didn’t think so.

Today I have an easy and delicious NuttZo recipe to share. No baking, rolling anything into balls, or waiting for hours, just a few simple ingredients and a quick blend is all you need. It’s a super versatile sweet and spicy NuttZo carrot dip!

We’re already having temps in the mid-80’s here in Texas, so avoiding the oven makes sense. The only heat you need is the microwave or stove-top for steaming purposes, but then no more cooking! This recipe can be easily customized into only sweet or only spicy, so have fun and get your NuttZo on!

Sweet and/or Spicy NuttZo Carrot Dip

NuttZo Carrot Dip

Ingredients

1 15oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup steamed carrots; Use pumpkin puree if you don’t have or don’t want to use carrots
1/4 tsp cayenne powder
1/4 cup smooth NuttZo Original or Power Fuel (You can use crunchy if you don’t mind a little crunch in your dip. Actually sounds pretty good!)
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon; plus more to sprinkle on top (I love the spice from cinnamon!)
Pinch of pure stevia or 2 packets of stevia (I use Pyure Sweet); can also use 2-4 Tbsp honey, but I haven’t tried to verify

Easiest instructions EVER

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth; scrape down the sides once or twice to get everything.

NuttZo Carrot Dip

If you have more of a sweet tooth, nix the cayenne and either add another pinch or packet of stevia or leave as is. Conversely, omit the stevia and add a tiny bit more cayenne to turn up the heat! This would make a perfect game day dip to serve with veggies.

Feel like having something chocolaty? Sub in Dark Chocolate NuttZo for the original, add a 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, and leave out the cayenne and viola!

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No matter how you make it, this NuttZo dip is sure to please, and it’s okay to just eat from the spoon, I do all the time. Oh, and so does Avery. Speaking of, this “dip” can easily become healthy baby/toddler/anyone food.

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The evidence is on her chin!

Go ahead, leave your computer/tablet/phone and go make this NOW! Then come back to see WIAW. Thanks to Jenn from Peas and Crayons, for creating this fun link-up for foodies everywhere!

what I ate wednesday, WIAW

This week the party is being hosted at Sprint 2 the Table, so click on over and join in on the fun!

The morning started with, surprise surprise, homemade chocolate banana NuttZo bread with more NuttZo on top and the extra free “refill” coffee I got at Starbucks. Yep, still loving that Gold Card!

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As usual, I didn’t have much to eat until I completed my workout for the day. Today was leg day with heavy dead lifts and squats in my Soft Star Shoes followed by a core routine and walking with Avery to the playground.

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Oops, sorry, that’s not food!

Before lunch, I finished the rest of my kombucha from the day before and added a little apple cider vinegar.

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Lunch was spaghetti squash with grilled salmon and egg, steamed brussels sprouts and broccoli, and black beans. That hit the spot!

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I snacked on a few pieces of homemade beer bread with butter and black garlic spread on top to hold me over for dinner. The sweetness of black garlic paired with bread and butter is AMAZING!

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Dinner was something I haven’t made in a looonnggg time and need to be sure I make it again soon. Slow-cooker pot roast with grass-fed sirlion, red potatoes covered in the red lentil sauce from the crock-pot, and steamed broccoli. My favorite ladies both agreed this needs to happen again very soon.

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Naturally, I followed up with a cup full of sweet NuttZo carrot dip and a spoon. Nothing else needed!

Hope you give the carrot dip a try and have a great rest of the week! Happy Hump Day!Linking to the HOST

Are you a fan of dips or like using your fingers for snacking?

What do you think of using steamed carrots for dip?

Have you ever “baked” bread in the microwave?

Before I’m done, just want to mention I love NuttZo and you MUST try it at least once forever! Plus, if you go to their website and enter code liley15, you can save 15% off your order. 😉

Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com