Author: Stephanie

Spicy Tuna and “Tempura” Shrimp Sushi Burrito

Spicy Tuna and “Tempura” Shrimp Sushi Burrito

Two of the best things on this planet – burritos and sushi.  BOOM!  It’s like eating your favorite roll, but bigger!  This used to be one of the things my eating partner/coworker/friend (shout out to Elena!) ate on a regular basis at a little place…

Healthy Pancake Parfait

Healthy Pancake Parfait

Who doesn’t love pancakes?  Best. Breakfast. Ever!  I’m not going to lie, there were times when I was younger that I would eat them for like a week straight.  My mom can attest to this.  Pancake binges y’all! When you’re trying to keep it healthy…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes

We’re going to tap into our inner child for a moment for this tasty treat.  The unbeatable combination of chocolate and peanut butter joined into a scrumptious molten lava cake.  I’ll give you (and me) a second to take that in.

A molten lava cake with rich fudgy dark chocolate on the outside, and when you dip your spoon in for your first bite you get an oozing of delicious melty peanut butter.  Top it off with some ice cream and you have yourself a happy mouth and tummy.

dairy free, gluten free chocolate peanut butter lava cakes

My little guy quite literally yells at me between bites because I can’t get the spoon to his mouth fast enough.  It’s amusing and makes it worth every minute it takes making these, which is not many.

One may not believe that such a decedent dessert can be free from gluten and dairy, but I’ll have you know it absolutely can.  Just be careful not to overcook these or you’ll miss out on that pudding-like cake consistency and the melty peanut butter.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes

  • Servings: 4
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Ingredients

  • 1/3 cups stevia, coconut sugar, xylitol, or sweetener of choice
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 9 oz vegan dark chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil, or oil of choice
  • 8 tablespoons peanut butter (any nut or seed butter will work)
  • 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Dairy-free ice cream, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350⁰
  2. Lightly grease each ramekin and add about ¼ teaspoon of cocoa powder into each and swirl to cover bottom and sides.
  3. In a medium bowl mix together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
  4. In a microwave safe bowl add the chocolate chips and oil and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir then microwave in intervals of 10-15 seconds until completely melted, stirring between each interval.
  5. Add the chocolate to the egg mixture and stir to combine. It will become a consistency that resembles pudding.
  6. Add about 1/3 cup chocolate to each ramekin.
  7. Add 2 tablespoons of cold peanut butter to the center of each ramekin.
  8. Divide remaining chocolate to cover the peanut butter in each ramekin.
  9. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. Cakes should rise, but will look slightly undercooked in the center.
  10. Let cool slightly for 3-5 minutes then place small plate over top of the ramekin, and using a dish towel to hold the hot ramekin, flip it over and shake slightly to help work the cake out.
  11. Top with ice cream and dig in!

Firecracker Chicken Wings

Firecracker Chicken Wings

Wings are a favorite for me.  Buffalo wings, boneless wings, you name it, I can’t get enough wings.  These wings in particular though are THE favorite.  That’s how good they are. It took me a bit to get the sauce just right adding things here…

Perfect Garlic Sage Chicken

Perfect Garlic Sage Chicken

If you’re in search of the PERFECT chicken, look no further.  For real.  This chicken is so juicy and flavorful with a crisp skin, it’s an unbeatable combo.  I honestly can’t find any other word to describe it except for freaking perfect! I’m a big…

Butternut Squash and Fried Sage Cauliflower Rice Risotto

Butternut Squash and Fried Sage Cauliflower Rice Risotto

Risotto is decadent and rich.  It’s a hard dish to recreate without rice and butter to get a nice creaminess.  I had come to terms that risotto was just one of those dishes I’d have to indulge in on a rare occasion.  But why?!  There must be another way. Well, have no fear!  We’ve begun a successful endeavor down the road to a healthier and creamy risotto with…vegetables? 

If you like butternut squash ravioli with a brown butter sage sauce, you will like this risotto.  Add some shrimp, scallops, or chicken to the dish and you have yourself a dinner no one will complain about.  It’s easy enough to make on a weeknight, but fancy enough to impress guests.

This one screams fall food.  It begs to be eaten on a chilly evening when the leaves have changed.  Or, a rainy evening while you curl up next to the fireplace.  Stop making it scream and beg and just make it already.

Butternut Squash Mushroom Sage Cauliflower Rice Risotto

  • Servings: 4-6
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Ingredients

  • 1-pound shrimp, peeled and deveined (scallops or chicken would also work well)
  • 4 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 butternut squash or about 15 oz, ½ inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage, sliced thin
  • Whole sage leaves for garnish
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 shallots, sliced thin
  • 8 oz button mushrooms, sliced thin
  • 2 medium heads of cauliflower, riced, or 24 oz of cauliflower rice
  • ½ cup dry white wine, optional
  • 1 cup pureed butternut squash or pumpkin
  • 1 to 1 and ½ cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 2-3 tablespoons plain dairy-free yogurt
  • ½ cup vegan parmesan or grated manchego
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ tablespoon + ½ teaspoon Pink Himalayan salt, or to taste
  • ½ tablespoon + ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • Crushed and toasted nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds would all work well), optional

Instructions

If you are making your own cauliflower rice, you can grate with a box grater or place in a food processor in batches until a rice consistency is achieved.

  1. Preheat oven to 425⁰F
  2. Lightly season shrimp with salt and pepper.
  3. On a baking sheet drizzle oil over butternut squash cubes, season with ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper, or to taste. Sprinkle thinly sliced sage over squash. Set aside.
  4. In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil on medium-high until hot but not smoking to fry the whole sage leaves. Oil is hot enough if it sizzles when the leaf touches it.  Add in 2-3 whole sage leaves at a time and cook about 20 seconds on each side.  Remove to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
  5. In the same pan used for the sage, reduce heat to medium and add the shallots and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes until fragrant and shallots are slightly browned.
  6. Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook 3-4 minutes.
  7. Add the cauliflower rice to the pan. Season with salt and pepper.  Cook 3-4 minutes.
  8. While the rice cooks, add the butternut squash to the oven and roast 12-15 minutes.
  9. Add the white wine, if using, to the pan with the cauliflower rice. Let cook 3-4 minutes or until the liquid has reduced slightly.  If not using the wine, use broth in it’s place.
  10. Stir in the butternut squash or pumpkin puree and ½ cup of broth. Cook stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes being sure to add additional broth ½ cup at a time as needed.  You’re looking for the rice to become soft but not mushy.
  11. While the rice cooks, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a sauté pan on medium-high until hot but not smoking.
  12. Once pan is hot, add shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and add the lemon juice, set aside.
  13. Once the rice has absorbed majority of the liquid, stir in the yogurt and cheese.
  14. Fold in the roasted butternut squash and sage.
  15. Season to taste with salt and pepper
  16. Plate and top with the shrimp, fried sage leaves, and toasted nuts if using.