Pistachio, Almond, & Cashew Butter in My Vitamix

I have been making my own nut & seed butters for a while since I have had my Vitamix. It is easier to control the amount of salt & sugar in my nut & seed butters this way. Commercial Brands almost always add sodium and some type of sweetener. I do not add any sodium as the nuts I am using for this recipe here have already been roasted & lightly salted. Even when I use roasted & unsalted nuts I do not add any salt at all. Although I do sometimes add a sweetener and maybe an extract flavor depending on what type of nut butter I am making.

1 Vitamix

1. 1/4 - 1/2 Cup Canola Oil
2. 8 Oz/1 Cup  Shelled Pistachios
3. 16 Oz/2 Cups Mixture of Roasted Cashew Slices & Whole Almonds
4. 1 TSP Vanilla Extract
5. 1/4 - 1/2 TSP Sweetener of Your Choice

Add All Items In The Order Listed Above And Follow Instructions In Your Vitamix For Processing

Last for 3-4 Weeks or Longer In The Refrigerator

Potato & Onion Pierogies With Spinach, Tomato, Garlic, Mushroom, & Sauce

1 Large Oven Safe Casserole Dish

Fat Free Cooking Spray

1 16 Oz Box of of Mrs Ts Frozen Potato & Onion Pierogies 

http://www.pierogies.com/retail/products.asp?ProdID=2# Or Other Like Brand

1 LB Low Fat Isernios Ground Chicken Italian Sausage Or Like Brand

2 TBSP Roasted Minced Garlic

1 14.5 Oz Can No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes

10 Oz Frozen Chopped Spinach, Cooked & Patted Very Dry

15 Oz. Classico Alfredo Mushroom Sauce or The Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce

Spray Casserole Dish

Evenly Spread Out Pierogies On Bottom of Dish

Add in Ground Chicken Italian Sausage

Add in Tomatoes

Add in Spinach

Top With sauce

Bake 350 For 40-50 Minutes

Ready for Sauce

Add Sauce & Bake

Ready to Eat

For Variation You Can Use Broccoli, Asparagus, Green Beans, etc. 

Cereal, Bananas & Chocolate

Everything Always Taste Better With Chocolate

1 Microwave Safe Bowl & 1 Serving Bowl

1. 1/4 Cup Kashi Heart To Heart Cereal
2. 1 Small Ripe Banana
3. 2-3 Hershey's Kisses

Microwave All 3 Items Till Chocolate is Melted 

Could be a Few Seconds To 1-2 Minutes Depending on Your Microwave 

Mine is Very Old & Low Power SO it Takes a while.

Empty Mixture into Bowl & Enjoy

Potato, Lentil, Brown Rice, & Pea Curry in Dutch Oven

1 5 Quart Dutch Oven
2 Cups Very Low Sodium Organic Chicken Stock or Use Your Own Homemade
1 Cup Water
13.66 Ounces of Lite Coconut Milk
3-4 Washed & Cubed Yukon Gold Potatoes, Leave Skins On
1/2 Cup Dried French Green Lentils
1/2 Cup Brown Rice
12 Oz Frozen Green Peas
1 14.5 Oz, Can NO Salt Added Tomatoes
2 Onions Diced
2 TBSP Minced Garlic
1 TBSP Ground Ginger
1 TBSP Ground Cinnamon
1 TBSP Garam Masala
1 TBSP Curry Powder
1 TSP Dill
1 TSP Ancho Chili Powder
1 TSP Ground Cumin
1 TBSP Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
1 TBSP Splenda
1 TBSP Minced Red Jalapeños From Jar If Fresh Use 1/4 TSP

Add All Items To Dutch Oven In Order Listed.
Mix And Cook Until Done With Lid On.
Cook Time 2-3 Hours

Cooking

Done

Potato & Onion Pierogies With Peppers, Spinach, Ground Chicken Italian Sausage & Cheddar Cheese

With The Weather Being Hot One Day & Freezing The Next I AM Still In My Winter One Pot Dish Mode
To Be Honest A One Pot Dish Is Good Anytime of The Year

1 Large Oven Safe Casserole Dish
Fat Free Cooking Spray
1 16 Oz Box of of Mrs T's Frozen Potato & Onion Pierogies
http://www.pierogies.com/retail/products.asp?ProdID=2# Or Other Like Brand
1 Orange Bell Pepper Cubed
1 Red Bell Pepper Cubed
1 14.5 Oz Can No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes
1 Small Bottle Classico Organic Spinach Marina Sauce
1 LB Low Fat Isernios Ground Chicken Italian Sausage Or Like Brand
2 - 3 Slice Soy Cheddar Cheese Slices Torn Up

Spray Casserole Dish
Evenly Spread Out Pierogies On Bottom of Dish
Add in Peppers
Add in Sauce
Add in Ground Chicken Italian Sausage

Bake at 350 For 45-50 Minutes
Tear Up Cheese  Bake Another 4-5 Minutes

Read To Bake

Add Cheese & Melt

Stir & Ready To Serve & Eat

Baked Petite Sirloin Steak For Nachos, Fajitas, Salads, or Omelette's

1. 2 Pounds Of Petite Sirloin Steak Cut Into Cubes
2. 2 Red Bell Peppers Cut Into Cubes
3. 1 Medium Onion Diced
4. 2 TSP of Minced Garlic
5. 1/2 Cup Lime Juice
6. 2 TBSP The Spice Hunter Salt Free Fajita Seasoning or Other Salt-Free Brand
7. 1 Bowl for Marinating
8. 1 Reynold's Hot Bags Extra Heavy Duty Foil Bag
9. 1 Large Baking Sheet or Jellyroll Pan

Optional Add 2 Ounces of Mexican Beer To Your Marinade

Add Items 1-6 Into Bowl And Marinate For 1 Hour
Added All Items Into 1 Reynold's Hot Bags Extra Heavy Duty Foil Bag
Add 1 TBSP of Flour Into Bag And Shake
Then Put Bag On Top Of Large Jellyroll Pan
Bake at 350 for 45 Minutes1 Hour Depending on How Done You Like Your Steak.

NOTE: I Used 1 Reynold's Hot Bags Extra Heavy Duty Foil Bag and I still have 2 more at home. My way of using the bag steams all the food instead of frying all the food with oil which adds extra fat. That being said I have not seen these at the store for a while, so you might have to make your own version of a hot bag by lining your baking pan with the heavy duty foil wrap and then completely sealing everything with another layer of the heavy duty foil wrap over all the food so nothing leaks out.

You can serve this inside a corn or flour tortilla, over a salad, in an omelet or on top of tortilla strips with cheese and guacamole as I have done here for a healthier version of nachos.

Inside Bag Ready To Seal And Bake

Sealed Bag

Ready To Eat

You can serve this inside a corn or flour tortilla, over a salad, in an omelet or on top of tortilla strips with cheese and guacamole as I have done here for a healthier version of nachos.

For Nachos 

I Put Two 0.5 Oz. Packages of Tri-Color Tortilla Strips On a Plate

Topped Tri-Color Tortilla Strips With Steak Fajitas

Add 1 Slice of Soy Cheddar Cheese Or Other Type

Add 1 Package of Guacamole

Finished And Yummy Nachos

Rachel's Vanilla Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats in Crockpot All Day or Overnight

I only have one size Crockpot which requires me to have it half full to cook items for a long period of time.
If you have a small Crockpot then use half the oats, milk, & water for this recipe. Steel Cut Oats have a completely different texture then regular rolled oats. Some folks like their oats very chewy and plain, while others like their oats more creamy with the consistency of a porridge. You might have to play around with the cooking time based on the individual brand of Crockpot that you have, some run really hot when cooking on low and some do not seem to get hot enough on high.

1. 4 Cups Water
2. 4 Cups Soymilk or Rice Milk
3. 1/4 - 1/2 Cup Splenda (Depends on Your Preferred Level of Sweetness)
4. 1/8 TSP Sea Salt
5. 1 TBSP Vanilla Extract
6. 1 TBSP Ground Cinnamon
7. 1 TBSP Smart Balance Heart Healthy Butter Blend
8. 2 Cups Irish Steel Cut Oats

Fat Free Cooking Spray
1 Programmable Crock Pot

Spray Crockpot bottom and sides with cooking spray as some crockpots tend to run hotter and you can have sticking of the oats on the sides or bottom. I have found spraying makes my Crockpot much easier to clean out.

Add items in the order listed above and mix.
For my Crockpot it takes exactly 7.5 Hours on High to cook the perfect consistency for me. This makes over a week's worth  of Steel Cut Oats if you only have 1/4 cup a time which is the recommended serving size on McCann's Irish Steel Cut Oats Can. I put my Oats in the refrigerator after cooling for an hour and then microwave everyday for my breakfast. I add in some fruit and Ground Flax Seed after my oats have been warmed up.

I like my Oat texture more on the chewier side them creamy.

All New Recipes Coming Soon

My laptop was sick for a week at the repair shop so I have not been able to post anything at all. The library and the PC at the wellness center block out this site as being malicious. I have a great deal of recipes that are going to be posted as well as PIC's from my digital camera. To be honest I have probably over a hundred of my own recipes that will take me about a year to get them all on here. If I posted 1 a day I would get done in 3 1/2 months. Unfortunately when you have Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue, CIDP, and a host of other health issues as I do, it becomes difficult to do posting all the time.

I only post recipes when I feel good, although I am constantly taking PIC's of my food to post for the future. I originally started posting family recipes so I would remember them in the future. It was not until years later when my Allergist diagnosed me with allergies that I modified both my grandmother's and my mother's recipes. Then when I started to encounter additional health challenges I started to eat more simple foods and cook with much less fat, sodium, sugar, cholesterol, etc.

Another reason I post recipes is to take my mind of all the negativity going on in the world as well as in my own life.

Happy Mother's Day.

Peach Puree Muffins

2-3 Cups Eagle Mills Ultragrain Flour or Whole Wheat
2 TBSp Ground Flax
1 1/4 TS Baking Powder
1 TSP Baking Soda
1 TBSP Cream of Tartar
2 Egg Whites
1 TBSP Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup Splenda
1/2 TSp Agave Nectar
4 Oz Unsweetened Applesauce
12 Prunes
1/4 - 1/2 Cup Vanilla Soymilk
14-15 Oz Can No Sugar Added Peaches
Large Mixing Bowl
Hand Blender
Spray Muffin Pans With Flour Spray
This Will Make Either 12 or 18 Muffins Depending on How Much Flour or Milk You Use

Add All Dry Items To Bowl
Add All Wet Items & Fruit To Bowl
Blend Until Well Mixed
Bake 350 For 35-45 Minutes

Ready To Bake

Finished
Muffins Can Be Frozen For 3-4 Months

Roasted Rosemary Bell Peppers, Yukon Potatoes, & Onions

3-4 Yukon Gold Potatoes Cleaned Then Sliced With Vidalia Chop Wizzard
1 Onion Sliced With Vidalia Chop Wizzard
1 Red & 1 Orange Bell Pepper
1/4 - 1/2 TSP Sea Salt
1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 TBSP Fresh Rosemary Leaves
https://www.chopwizard.com/
1 Oven Casserole Dish

Add Oil To Dish, Add Potatoes, Add Peppers, Add Salt, Add Rosemary & Mix

Bake 350 for 45 Minutes to an Hour

Ready to Bake

Finished

Balsamic Lime Tilapia

1 LB Tilapia (Equals 6 Fillets)
Fresh Juice of 1/2 Cutie Mandarin Orange
1 TBSP Lime Juice
Spice Hunter Salt Free Seafood Grill & Broil Seasoning or other Brand
Smart Balance Spray
Sesame Seeds
Balsamic Vinegar
Fat Free Cooking Spray
Tinfoil
1 Large Broiler Pan

Line Pan With Tinfoil
Spray Tinfoil
Place Fish In Pan
Squeeze Mandarin Juice Over Each Fillet
Sprinkle Sesame Seeds Over Each Fillet
Sprinkle Balsamic Over Each Fillet
Sprinkle Lime Juice Over Each Fillet
Spray Smart Balance Spray Over Each Fillet
Sprinkle Spice Hunter Salt Free Seafood Grill & Broil Seasoning Over Each Fillet

Broil On High Till Fish Flakes Easily.
Time Can Be 3-4 Minutes per Side or 10-15 Minutes. This is All Based on The Thin/Thickness of Fillet

Ready To Cook

Sliced & Ready For Salsa

Pineapple Cilantro Mint Salsa

1. 16 Oz Frozen Pineapple Chunks Thawed
2. 1 TBSP Minced Garlic
3. 1/2 Cup Diced Onion
4. 2 TBSP Red Chopped Jalapeños From Jar
5. 2 TBSP Finely Chopped Cilantro
6. 2 TBSP Lime Juice
7. 2-3 Cuties Mandarin Orange Freshly Squeezed
8. 10 Mint Leaves Finely Chopped

1 Bowl

Empty Pineapple in Bowl, Then Add In Items 2-8 And Mix
Chill For 30 Minutes And Then Serve As a Topping For Fish, Chicken, Pork or Use With Tortilla Chips

Quick Sofritas With Chili & Guacamole

21 Days of Rain in Illinois Has Triggered Another One of My Fibromyalgia & Arthritis Pain Flare-Ups.
My Recent Recipes Are All Made Using Prepared Products That Are Still 98% Healthy. No Subs for That.

1 24 Oz. Package Refrigerated Jaxon Corn Meal Mush or Refrigerated Polenta
Granulated Garlic For Sprinkling
1 15 Oz Can Kumer's Chili Beans No Salt Added or Other No Salt Added Brand, Rinsed & Drained
1 7 Oz Container Athenos Original Humus or other Brand
1 TBSP Cilantro
1 TSP Chopped Red Jalapeños From Jar
1 TSP Frontier Fajita Seasoning Blend or Other Salt Free Blend
2 100 Calorie Packages of Wholly Guacamole or 4 Oz of Another Low Cal Brand
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Masher
Tinfoil
1 Large Pan Broiler Safe

Line Pan With Tinfoil
Slice Cornmeal Into 15 Slices And Place Onto Foil Lined Pan 3 To a Row
Add Rinsed Chili Beans, Humus, Cilantro, Jalapeños, Fajita Seasoning to Bowl & Mix
Use A Masher To Mash Everything In Bowl Till Chili Beans Are Semi-Mashed, Set Aside
Broil Cornmeal on High for 10-12 Minutes, Remove And Set Aside For a Few Minutes
Spread Bean Mixture Onto Each Cornmeal Slice
Spread Guacamole On Top Of Bean Mixture

Slice Into 15 Slices

Sprinkle Granulated Garlic Over Slices

Ready For Bean Spread

Rinse of Seasoning & Drain

Bean Spread

Bean Spread Over Broiled Cornmeal

Just Peel And Use
Buy a Box On Sale & Use a Coupon
Freeze The Whole Box
Take Down One As Needed

Spread With Guacamole
Ready To Eat As a Meal or Canapé
Leftovers Can Be Eaten Cold Or Warm
Or You Could Blend All This For a Soup in Vitamix/Blender

Santa Fe Meat Free Chick'N Scallopini With Bell Peppers, Cilantro, Corn & Cheese

1. 2 Gardein Scallopini (Drained, Cooked, &; Cubed) 
2. You Could Sub Canned Tuna In Garlic & Oil
3. 1 Cup Leftover Roasted Bell Peppers (Cubed)
4. 6 Oz Frozen or Fire-Roasted Corn (Drained & Cooked)
5. 1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro Finely Chopped
6. 1 Container NEW Philadelphia Sante Fe Cooking Creme
7. 1 Large Bowl

 Add Items 1-5 Into Bowl And Mix

Ready To Eat

Salmon Sandwich

Use My Salmon Burger, My Salmon Pattie Recipe
2 Slices 15 Grain Bread
1 Slice Soy Cheddar or Rice Cheese or Other
1 TSP Your Own Tartar Sauce or Storebought
Serve With My Recipe For Rosemary, Sea Salt & Olive Oil Yukon Gold Potato Slices

Fresh Made Mocha Latte for Coffee At Home

1 Hershey's Chocalate Kiss
1/8 TSP Freshly Grated Nutmeg

Add coffee to large glass, add sweetener, add milk foam, add cinnamon
top with 1 grated Hershey's kiss, and nutmeg.

Nutmeg & Hershey's Kiss

Microplane Grater

Shredded Nutmeg & Chocolate

Delish Finished Mocha Latte

Quick Roasted Bell Peppers

With 21 Days of Rain During April That Illinois Received Along With Iffy Weather The Only Roasting of Peppers to Be Done Is Indoors On My Stove Cooktop.

1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Pepper
1 Orange Bell Pepper
1 TBSP Minced Garlic
1-2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil Only if You Want To Save Your Peppers For Future Uses
1 Long Handled Pair of Tongs
1 Bowl
Saran Wrap
1 Container To Refrigerate Your Peppers

Place 1 Whole Bell Pepper At A Time On Its Side On Your Cooktop On The Grate (Not In ANY PAN)
Turn Your Fire On
Cook Pepper On Each Side Till The Outside is Charred And Skin is Slightly Blistered, You Will Hear Pops
Remove each roasted pepper and place into bowl, immediately cover bowl with saran wrap
This will allow steam to soften peppers. Let steam for 5-10 minutes
Then remove each pepper and peel off the skin of the peppers
Slice peppers and place in container with garlic & oil and mix together
Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.