Month: November 2015

Thanks Mom! Zucchini Caprese Salad

On November 13, 2015

In Gluten free, Gluten Free Dining, Uncategorized

Moms are great for so many things and my mom certainly was and is a role model to me in so many ways. One thing she can always do is produce an innovative, healthy, delicious meal at what seems to be a blink of an eye (probably because while she’s slaving away in the kitchen, I’m goofing off). I was chatting with her last week and telling her about my new spiralizer and she sent me a great recipe… Which I promptly lost… But I think I’ve got the basic idea… The end result was delicious and this is truly healthy food at its best!!

zucchini caprese salad! yum!

Zucchini Caprese Salad (feeds 6)

16 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into cubes

2 T garlic, chopped

1 large handful of basil leaves, chopped

Pepper

1 can Rotel chopped tomatoes with chilies- mild

4 large or 6 medium zucchini, ends removed and spiralizer with small spiralizer

Almonds, salted, roughly chopped

1 c green olives, chopped

Olive oil

Ok!! Let’s go!

In large bowl, mix

Mozzarella, garlic, basil, 1 T olive oil, pepper and oilves

basic ingredients ready to go!

my kids thought i was trying to sneak in tofu! mozarella !

Spiralize zucchini and then sauté on medium high heat with olive oil and pepper to taste for 3-5 mins

my new toy in action!

beautiful spiralized organic zucchini!

Add tomatoes and cheese mix and toss.

get a little nutty!

Plate and top with almonds.

Enjoy!!!

easy, healthy, fast & delicious!

❤️

Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability and enjoy the process!

Have a wonderful day!

Project- Oasis by the Pool. If I can do it… So can you!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On November 8, 2015

In Home organization, Uncategorized

I love to hang out with my kids in the pool.. And their friends and so on.. For hours and hours. And, as you may know, I’m the “pool gal”. So I deleaf, de green and in general try (sometimes unsuccessfully) to keep my pool beautiful.

I decided that the pool area was missing a little something…. It lacked that feeling of “oasis”. It was plain Jane. Now nothing takes “oasis” from me faster than the thought of paying someone to renovate, so I tried to come up with less expensive concept. I settled on re arranging existing furniture to de clutter the patio and creation of an accent wall with bright paints and Mexican tiles.

Step 1 Choose the Color

I decided to go bright blue… Like the color of painters tape… At first it seemed too drastic, but by morning, I was in love!

Boring! well nothing like a blank canvas to start with!

ok.. it didnt look this blue in the can… iI told myself it would be ok since i live in Miami , and we paint walls lime green here.

one coat done, one to go… at this point i honestly thought i had heatstroke…

Step 2- How do you Tile?

Well I went on line… And as I only wanted an accent line, this was easy. Choose tile, grout and go!

I got beautiful tile from “Direct from Mexico” with free shipping and great customer service.

a 20$ tile cutter will cut tile pretty easily.. if you just need to cut a few

leftover patio tile in the back and the mexican tile in the front

this tile from Direct From Mexico is so pretty!!! happy, happy, happy!

Step 3- Decorate

I repurposed a bench and painted it the same blue as the wall with a little accent paint.

ok… it needs some “refreshing”

i didnt have red or pink paint… but I’m a Florida Gator.. so the orange stays!

I found some large clay pots at HomeDepot for less than 20$ each and added some pretty plants.

big clay pots with the extra tiles stuck to the front

Finally, I moved around the furniture to provide seating in the shady areas around the pool.

comfy, relaxing, practical and ahhhh… it feels like home and I’m happy!

Step 4- celebrate!

It’s time to enjoy the oasis! Little changes can have big effects!

❤️

15 Minutes to Dinner

By GlutenFreeHolly

On November 4, 2015

In Uncategorized

Yep.. Everyday there is a countdown… Work, home, straighten up a bit.. Cook. You know the drill. But the cook part to me is fun. Time to be creative.. Work out a little stress on the dough (I make regular bread for my kids routinely… You can’t really take it out on a gluten free dough… You’ll get trapped like a fly in a spider’s web)

yum!!! gluteny goodness! cant eat it… but I sniff it

A few weeks ago I had the most delicious meal at a restaurant in Miami named, “Love is Blind”. It was “I can’t believe it’s zucchini… Or something like that… Well over the past few weeks I’ve tried slicing, dicing, shredding and peeling zucchini without success… But tonight, TONIGHT… I’ve brought out the BIG GUNS (actually.. I’m against guns in the home)… I got a kitchenaid spiralizer!!!!

fun, fun, fun!!

check out this deliciousness!

A moment on Kitchenaid… My parents have the same mixer they’ve had since they were married…Kitchenaid rebuilt the engine once. I have Always enjoyed cooking and in college when my parents were going to buy me a class ring, I politely requested that they use that money for something I would value and use… A Kitchenaid mixer. No! I’m not kidding. 27 years ago…. Oh my god… Ok, I’m in crisis mode… I cannot possibly be that old…

Well that machine is going strong.. And this week I ordered (with my 20% off coupon) the Kitchenaid spiralizer!!!

LOVE IT!

So the recipe!!

Tomato Sauce

1 onion chopped

1 T garlic

Sauté in 2 T olive oil

Add 1 cup sliced sweet peppers

1 t salt

Pepper to taste

Dash red pepper flakes

2T Italian seasonings