The only thing better than sundried tomatoes and pasta, is how fast this meal comes together!  So let’s not waste anymore time!  You need to make this NOW!   Sundried Tomato Pasta Ingredients: Pasta – your choice.  I used Linguini because it is what I had in the pantry. 5-6 Sundried Tomatoes, plus 1 T of their oil A nice handful of raw cashews 1 T Nutritional Yeast 1 T Tomato Paste 1 1/4 c Vegetable Broth Directions: In a pot, boil the water for your pasta. In a blender, add the sundried tomatoes and oil, cashews, nutritional yeast, tomato paste and broth.  Blend on high until completely pureed and you…

This was my first time ever having (or cooking with) Kimchi.  Years ago when I first asked someone what Kimchi was, I was told that it was “rotten cabbage” and that it was disgusting.  I never asked again, nor did I ever have the desire to try it.  Fast forward to a point in my life where I finally learned to do my own research when it comes to food.  I learned that Kimchi is not rotten cabbage. Kimchi is actually fermented cabbage along with other vegetables, a big difference.  It has a very unique flavor profile since it contains a variety of seasonings like garlic, ginger and chili flakes.   Original…

We may not be getting all of the snow down south here that our northern and western friends and family are getting, but there is no shortage of chilly, rainy days!  The chillier and rainier the weather, the better a nice pot of homemade soup on the stove sounds! Non dairy doesn’t mean you have to give up the creaminess and thickness of dairy based soups.  There are several ways to retain that creaminess, but raw cashews are my go-to. Here is my recipe for a delicious (and nutritious) pot of creamy potato soup that is loaded with flavor!  Even dairy lovers will likely agree that it is hard to…

The time for Christmas basket baking was here before we knew it this year.  I had hoped to get a lot of new recipes in the baskets this year, but our year had other plans.  While there always seem to be treats that get requested each year from previous years, I had hoped to try out a lot of new additions.  Time got away from us though, and we didn’t add much new this time.  In addition, jellies, jams and other canned goods did not get added.  In spite of of all of this, the baskets remained a hit amongst their recipients, and we were quite happy with the way…

The creamy texture of pudding.  The sweet taste of chocolate and strawberry.  The health benefits of Chia seeds!  All of these come together to make a great breakfast, snack or dessert! Chia seeds come from a plant in the mint family.  They are tiny little black, or grey, seeds that when placed in liquid, soak up the liquid and form a gel-like coating.  They are not, however, the same seeds that are sold with the Chia Pets that are seen on television and in stores. So if you are thinking of running out and buying a Chia Pet to harvest your own chia seeds, it’s probably not a good idea.…

This past Christmas we received a mini DASH waffle maker, and I am in love. What is a DASH? What is a DASH you ask?  DASH is a line of mini kitchen appliances designed for small spaces as well as small batch cooking.  There are quite a few appliances available, and they all come in really fun colors!  They are very affordable, easy to use, and equally important – easy to clean! Since receiving our DASH waffle maker, I am seeing them advertised everywhere.  Some of my go-to sites and magazines for healthy cooking, are even jumping on the DASH waffle trend with lots of interesting, healthy recipes! While you…

  This years Christmas baskets have been made, assembled and sent out! The Baskets Every year we change up the type of “basket” the goodies will go in, and this year was a homemade basket. Crocheted slouch baskets served as the main basket for the baked goodies, while the heavier canned goods were placed in gift bags.  The baskets themselves can be used for any number of things, long after the goodies are gone – a place to store throw blankets, dog toys, stuffed animals, magazines – really anything you want to use it for. The Goodies Each year we get requests for repeats of items- whether baked goods or…

Power bowls have become a trendy menu item that are not only easy to make, but are as delicious as they are packed full of nutrients!  The best thing about them, is that you can design them any way you want!  Not a meat eater?  Leave the meat out and sub in another form of protein like beans or tofu.   Not a fan of kale?  Leave out the kale, and sub in a different leafy green, like baby spinach.  The idea, is to build your bowl full of foods that you enjoy, that will provide you with the nourishment you need to fuel your body! To get the most out…

  It is that time of year again, when we start getting all of our goodies together to fill our Christmas baskets.  The months of October and November, are filled with cooking, canning, baking, sewing, and this year, crocheting.  I’m not sure where this year has gone, but the closer we get to the holidays, the faster it is going! (and since it has taken me so long to finish this post, it is REALLY going fast now)! Last year, I decided to start adding a blog post to include the contents and recipes of what goes into our Christmas Baskets each year.  While some goodies will stay the same…

  Eastern Tennessee, in the Smoky Mountains in October.  It had been raining for what felt like a month, and we were finally getting a much needed break from it.  I pulled on my rain boots, put a light jacket on, and headed down the long, muddy dirt road that would lead me deep into the woods. It was quiet, except for the splashing of my boots through the puddles, and the sound of frogs, crickets and other little creatures running through the leaves and brush in the woods all around me.  Off in the distance I could hear the creek as it made its way over the rocks and…