Spicy Mango Salad

It's the time of year when I LOVE eating salads for dinner. My husband has finally gotten used to this as an entree, and requests certain salads now that the weather has gotten nice. This has been our favorite salad lately! It's really easy, and so delicious. We ate this 3 times in one week! It's light and healthy but filling.

Spicy Mango Salad

2 chicken breasts
Hawaiian Spicy Mango Marinaide
8 strawberries (cubed)
Mango (cubed)
Swiss cheese (cubed or grated)
Romaine Lettuce (or spinach)
Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Grill the chicken breasts and cube. Place in a bowl and mix in some marinade (more if you like it spice). Place lettuce, fruit, cheese, and chicken in 4 bowls. Top with dressing.


Yields: 4 servings

Herb Bread

This recipe was spawned out of sheer jealously and desperation! I was making my husband and son some bread and was sad I wasn't going to be enjoying it too. So I threw a little of this and that into the mixing bowl and it turned out HEAVENLY! I love how the crust ended up crispy and the hint of herbs. It's also so moist. It makes a fabulous sandwich, grilled cheese or toast.

Herb Bread

3 c brown rice flour mixture

1 1/2 t xanthan gum

1/4 t cream of tartar

2 1/2 t rapid rise yeast

1/2 t salt

1 T oregano

1/2 T thyme

1/2 T rosemary

1 t apple cider vinegar

1/2 T honey

2 large eggs

1 c warm milk (100 degrees)

4 T unsalted butter (melted)

Lightly spray the sides of a bread pan with Pam. Drizzle a little olive oil on the bottom of the pan. Set aside. Place all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and combine. Add honey, eggs, warm milk, and butter. Mix, scrape down the pans and mix for 3 minutes. Pour the dough into the prepared pan, and let rise in a warm place until expanded above the lip of the bread pan.

Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes. The top will be lightly browned. If you like a crispier crust, bake it for a little longer. Enjoy!

Seafood Pot Pie

I had some extra crab in the fridge that needed to be used, so I decided it might go well in a pot pie. I added some shrimp go with it, and it ended up making a fun change to a traditional dish.

You can make a full version of this recipe in a 9 x 11 inch pan, or make a half batch in a 8 x 8 inch pan. A full batch will serve 8 - 9 and a half batch will serve 4 - 5. The recipe is made for a full batch, but it can easily be halved.

Seafood Pot Pie

1 c crab* (cubed)


1 c small shrimps
1 c asparagus (chopped)1 can of corn
1/3 c brown rice flour mixture1/8 t xanthan gum1/4 c onion (chopped)1/4 t pepper1/4 t salt1 3/4 c chicken broth2/3 c milk1/3 c margarine
4 batches pie crust dough


Preheat oven to 425. Melt margarine over low heat. Blend in flour, xanthan gum, onion, salt, pepper, broth, and milk. Heat to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil until mixture thickens (about 1 minute). Pour over crab, shrimp and veggies and gently mix together (in a medium bowl).

Bake bottom crust for 10 minutes. Pour filling into the pan, and top with remaining pie crust. Seal edges and cut slits in the center. Bake for 40 minutes.


* If using imitation crab make sure it's gluten free, some brands are not.

Hearty Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast cookies really have become a staple in our house! They're easy to grab for my husband on his way to work, and my son thinks he's getting away with murder eating cookies for breakfast. My mom sent me this recipe, and it's a fabulously healthy version of our favorite breakfast treats!

Hearty Breakfast Cookies

1 1/2  c oats
1/4 c flax seed meal*
1/4 c finely chopped nuts
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
3 T dried chopped fruit (I use crasins and apricots, mom uses dates)
1/4 c + 2 T yogurt
2 T honey
1 egg

Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowel mix oats, nuts, flax seed meal, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Mix in dried fruit. Mix in oil, honey, yogurt, and eggs. Onto a baking pan lined with parchment paper (or a silicone mat), scoop 1/8 - 1/4 c of the batter. Bake until lightly golden, but still soft (about 16 min). These can be eaten immediately, or frozen for later consumption.


* To make your own flax seed meal, pour some flax into the blender and run it until the flax is ground. Flax can't be ingested unless it's cracked, so this is necessary.