Category: Dairy Free

Memphis Style Grilled Ribs

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GetGrillingAmerica #CollectiveBias

Can you believe it is almost Memorial Day? Since the first relatively nice day we had this spring, I’ve been dreaming of warm weather and outdoor grilling; I cannot wait to kick off the unofficial start of summer with a true backyard barbecue! To break in my grill for the season, what better choice than to get some ribs on the grill?

I have a few recipes on my blog for Slow Cooker Ribs, dripping in yummy homemade barbecue sauce. But when it comes to ribs on the grill, I like mine smoky and seasoned with a flavorful dry rub, like this recipe for Memphis Style Grilled Ribs. Grilling ribs takes some time but is a pretty simple process. Cooking them low and slow results in a wonderfully tender meat that is nice and juicy on the inside, with a beautiful crust on the outside.

I picked up a rack of Smithfield Fresh Pork Back Ribs from Walmart, as well as some charcoal, and hickory wood chips. Smithfield Fresh Pork ribs are hand-trimmed and have no added hormones or steroids. They are extra tender and juicy, making them perfect for grilling.

(As a said above, smoky ribs are a favorite of mine!) I love love love the flavor that charcoal imparts on grilled food.

Adding some chips on top of the charcoal adds another level of smoky flavor to the ribs.

So let’s get grilling!

Ingredients:

  • ~3 lbs Smithfield Fresh Pork Back Ribs
  • 1 cup hickory wood chips
  • charcoal

Dry Rub:

  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon cumin
  • 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Mop Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • the juice of 1 orange
  • 2 tablespoons of the dry rub

Continue reading Memphis Style Grilled Ribs

Pork Belly Adobo

I’m fairly certain all avid cooks dream of the day they will receive their first piece of Le Creuset cookware or bakeware. Le Creuset products are also a staple on wedding registries. So when I was contacted to help spread the word that a Le Creuset store was opening in the King of Prussia Mall (outside Philadelphia) I absolutely wanted to get the word out. How exciting! I’m pretty pumped to visit it for the first time. The store is near the Macy’s; you can park and enter through the Orange Garage. (Address: 160 N Gulph Road • Suite C226A • King of Prussia, PA 19406)

To celebrate, the Le Creuset store hosted three separate events this past weekend, including bubbles bites with Yellow Springs Farm, a cooking demonstration with chef Ben Thomas, and sweet treats and coffee with Aux Petites Delices and La Colombe.

 

I was also sent a beautiful Rectangular Dish with Platter Lid, which is great for casseroles as well as for marinating in the dish and using the platter to serve.

To try it out, I decided to make a Filipino recipe I’ve been eyeing up for a while: Pork Belly Adobo. The recipe is pretty simple; you marinate the pork belly in a soy sauce marinade, brown the pork, and simmer in the marinade to finish cooking. But the result is fan-tas-tic.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 5 pounds boneless pork belly, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/3 cup white distilled vinegar
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Continue reading Pork Belly Adobo

Chicken Mango and Pineapple Salad

A while back, I was given the chance to taste test some of the Cheesecake Factory‘s new menu items, which they do twice a year (who knew?) I was able to sample some cocktails and bites from across the menu. I, naturally, also wanted to try to make one of the recipes at home.

Cocktails included:

  • Cucumber Mojito – Gin and St. Germain with cucumber, basil and mint
  • Blood Orange Martini – Vodka, blood orange liqueur and blood orange juice
  • Irish Coffee Manhattan – Jameson Irish coffee served ice cold and straight up
  • Espresso Martini – Vodka with cold brew coffee

Other new menu options included:

  • Korean Fried Cauliflower – crispy cauliflower tossed in a sweet and spice sauce, topped with toasted sesame seeds and green onions
  • Chicken Taquitos – Crispy corn tortillas with grilled chicken, green chile, corn, onion, cilantro and cheese. served with avocado cream and salda verde
  • Skinnylicious Chicken Pot Pie – Sauteed chicken breast, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, peas and carrots in a light cream sauce, topped with puff pastry
  • Chicken Mango and Avocado Salad – Mixed greens, fresh pineapple, tomato, cucumber, red peppers, crispy wontons and almonds
  • Pasta Napoletana – Italian sausage, pepperoni, housemade meatballs, mushrooms, peppers, bacon, onions and garlic in a tomato sauce served over parmesan cream pasta
  • Seared Ahi Tuna – Served over white rice with sriracha aioli, stir-fried vegetables and wasabi butter sauce
  • Truffle-Honey Chicken – Fried chicken breast with truffle-honey, asparagus, and mashed potatoes
  • Chicken Riesling – Chicken breast, mushrooms, bacon, onions and garlic in a white wine Riesling cream sauce with buttered parmesan pasta
  • Carne Asada Steak Medallions – Certified Angus beef with sauteed peppers, onions and cilantro, served with a creamy ranchero sauce, fresh corn and white rice
  • Chicken Parmesan “Pizza Style” – Chicken breast coated with breadcrumbs, covered with marinara sauce and melted cheese. Topped with angel hair pasta in an alfredo cream sauce
  • Crispy Pineapple Chicken and Shrimp – Crispy chicken and shrimp with snow peas, mushrooms, onions, garlic, peppers and cilantro in a sweet and spice sauce, served with white rice

(The lighting in there is very dim so please excuse the quality of these photos)

The Cheesecake Factory has over 250 items on their menu, so there is sure to be something for everyone’s taste buds.

I tried my hand at recreating the salad we were served, with some adjustments to try to make it a bit more “home cook” friendly to make this Chicken Mango and Pineapple Salad.

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce (store bought, or recipe below)
  • 5 oz baby lettuce mix
  • 1/4 cup fresh pineapple chunks
  • 1/4 cup fresh mango, cut into chunks
  • 2 tablespoons julienned carrots
  • 2 tablespoons tortilla strips, plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1/4 cucumber, cut in half lengthwise and sliced thin
  • 1 tablespoon almond slivers, toasted
  • 1/2 tsp black sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon fresh mint, thinly sliced

Dressing

  •  1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • pinch of salt and pepper
  • juice of 1/2 an orange

Teriyaki Sauce (makes 1/2 cup – you’ll need ~1/4 cup for this recipe):

  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water

                                                                  

Continue reading Chicken Mango and Pineapple Salad

Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas

NOTE: I was sent some blood oranges and cara cara oranges from  The Limoneira Company to use in a recipe. All opinions are mine.

It’s pretty obvious that I love citrus, I use the juice and zest of lemons, limes, and oranges in most of my recipes, so I’m excited to share this recipe for Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas.

So when The Limoneira Company contacted me to help spread the word about their new offerings, I jumped at the chance. Limoneira is traditionally known for its lemons, but recently began expanding their orchards to include more specialty citrus, including Cara Cara and Blood Oranges.

Blood Oranges have a slightly less acidic taste than regular oranges, and their bright red color makes for some really beautiful dishes. I wanted to showcase their color, so I decided to make blood orange margaritas.

As much as I am trying to will it to be spring, it is still pretty cold in Philadelphia, so this version has a bit of cinnamon to add a bit of warmth to the flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups ice cubes
  • 1 cup blood orange juice (about 6 blood oranges)
  • the juice of 2 limes
  • 1/4 cup triple sec
  • 1/2  cup tequila
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • sugar, for rimming glasses (optional)
  • lime wedge, for rimming glasses (optional)
  • rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Continue reading Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas

Chicken Yassa (Senegalese Lemon Chicken)

Chicken Yassa is a popular chicken dish originating from Senegal. This meal is the epitome of comfort food: marinated roasted chicken with onions, lemon juice, olives, garlic, and broth served over rice. It has a subtle heat to it as well that really makes for a flavorful meal.

This recipe makes quite a bit of food, a good 8 servings. However, in my house, leftovers this good don’t last very long!

 

Ingredients:

  • 6 cups sliced onion (about 3 pounds)
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 lb chicken drumsticks
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 2 cups thinly sliced carrot
  • 1 1/2 cups less-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed olives
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, pierced with a fork
  • 4 cups hot cooked long-grain rice (optional)

Continue reading Chicken Yassa (Senegalese Lemon Chicken)

Cape Malay Curry

My husband and I (obviously) love trying new and different recipes. Living in Philadelphia, we are lucky enough to have a pretty solid restaurant scene, covering quite a range of cuisines. So my interest is always peaked by a recipe I haven’t tried before that comes from a different part of the world and I can make at home, like this recipe for Cape Malay Curry.

Cape Malay Curry comes from Cape Town, South Africa. Beginning in the 17th century, slaves from Indonesia and Southeast Asia were brought to work the farms of Cape Town, South Africa. Known as Cape Malays, the name “Cape” is derived from the Cape of Good Hope and “Malay” refers to the community’s Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean ancestry.

The Cape Malay community has had a lot of influence on South African foods, particularly with the introduction of certain spices, hot sauces, and curries. This chunky beef stew is a sweet and savory curry dish, which reminds me a bit of my husband’s favorite meal, Slow Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Tagine, so I had a feeling we’d like this recipe.

This is definitely a weekend meal; it simmers on the stove for 2 hours. However, it could easily be multiplied to make a large batch and frozen for future meals.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 pound beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 1/4 cups less-sodium beef broth
  • 1 cup chopped green bell pepper (about 1 medium)
  • 1/3 cup chopped dried apricots
  • 1/3 cup apricot spread
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk (or coconut milk to make dairy-free)
  • 1 cup cooked rice

Continue reading Cape Malay Curry

Cowboy Caviar

Note: I was sent some products from Bob’s Red Mill, including Orca Beans. All opinions are my own.

There are some ingredients that catch your eye, and you just know you have to use them in a recipe. Orca beans are definitely one of those ingredients. Luckily, Bob’s Red Mill sent me a bag of their orca beans, which are grown in Moses Lake, Washington exclusively for the company.

Orca beans, also known as calypso beans, are black and white splattered, and keep their cool coloring even after cooking. This heirloom bean is high in fiber and iron, and work great in any recipe where you would normally use beans.

But. They are so darn pretty I wanted to let them stand out by using them in a very colorful dish.

Cowboy Caviar seemed like the perfect way to show the orca beans off. Typically made with black eyed peas, cowboy caviar is a bean salad / salsa that is great as a party app, on top of  grilled chicken, or just on it’s own!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup dried orca beans
  • 4 cups water, plus more if needed
  • 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup tomatoes, finely diced
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels, defrosted
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 cup scallions, thinly sliced

Dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • the juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Continue reading Cowboy Caviar

Blueberry Almond Flour Muffins

NOTE: I was sent some products from Bob’s Red Mill to make this post. All opinions are my own.

I have a busy week ahead of me, so I wanted to do some food prep this weekend.

Weekday breakfasts for me are typically on-the-go, if I have breakfast at all.

So when I have the chance to make breakfast ahead for the week, I try to make it a healthier option.

Bob’s Red Mill sent me a few of their products recently, including Almond Flour. I love the  subtle flavor almond flour adds to baked goods.

Blueberries are a tasty complement to almonds so I decided to make Gluten-Free Blueberry Almond Flour Muffins for the week. They are topped with Bob’s Red Mill’s Gluten-Free Rolled Oats to add some texture.

Ingredients (makes 9 muffins):

Continue reading Blueberry Almond Flour Muffins

Chimichurri Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Onions

My husband and I just moved into a new home, so I wanted to make one of my first meals here extra homey, and this Chimichurri Roasted Chicken definitely fits the bill!

This recipe for Chimichurri Roasted Chicken is perfect for a Sunday night and is hearty to feed 6 people.

The original recipe for this Chimichurri Roasted Chicken used cilantro in the chimichurri, but I didn’t have any on hand, so I used parsley instead.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 bone-in chicken breasts
  • 3 bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1.5 pounds baby red potatoes
  • 2 small red onions, cut into wedges

Continue reading Chimichurri Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Onions

Slow Cooker Pomegranate Baby Back Ribs

I still have plenty of pomegranate recipes for you, which is great timing because they are in season right now! Here’s a recipe for Slow Cooker Pomegranate Baby Back Ribs!

This recipe for Pomegranate Baby Back Ribs is based on a Martha Stewart Recipe for short ribs. My husband loves baby back ribs, so I decided to adapt the recipe to use them instead. And because I love using my slow cooker, I made it a slow cooker recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 lb baby back ribs, cut to fit in your slow cooker
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 large yellow onion, cut into wedges
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
  • 10 sprigs thyme
  • 3 cups pomegranate juice
  • 1 cup dry red wine, such as Merlot
  • 1/4 cup corn starch, or as needed
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds, for serving

Continue reading Slow Cooker Pomegranate Baby Back Ribs

Fesenjan Persian Chicken Stew with Walnut and Pomegranate Sauce

I am still working through my supply of pomegranates; I’m having so much fun finding different ways to use the arils!

This recipe caught my eye immediately during my search for pomegranate recipes. It uses both pomegranate molasses (made from pomegranate juice) and pomegranate arils.

Fesenjan is a Persian stew made with ground walnuts, pomegranate molasses, and typically chicken.

And, well, it’s not the prettiest dish I’ve ever made but the flavors are absolutely fantastic!

This recipe is from Simply Recipes.

Ingredients:

Chicken Stew:

  • 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 5 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (recipe below)
  • 1/2 pound walnut halves (about 2 cups)
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces,
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Salt
  • 1/2 cup fresh pomegranate seeds, for garnish
  • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Pomegranate Molasses:

  • 2 cups pomegranate juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Continue reading Fesenjan Persian Chicken Stew with Walnut and Pomegranate Sauce

Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce

 

My house is filled with pomegranates and pomegranate arils. Being a food blogger is tough 🙂

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, so I wanted to share a recipe for one of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes: cranberry sauce!

This recipe uses pomegranates two ways: in a pomegranate molasses and as whole arils, or seeds. Pomegranate molasses can be found in well-stocked grocery stores or Middle Eastern food stores. But I also show you how to make it below if you so wish.

Ingredients:

Cranberry Sauce:

  • 1 bag (16 oz.) cranberries, thawed if frozen
  • 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar (or light brown sugar to make less sweet)
  • 4 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (recipe below)
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 containers POM POMS Fresh Arils (about ~1.5 cups)
  • the juice and zest of 1/2 lemon

Pomegranate Molasses:

  • 2 cups pomegranate juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Continue reading Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce

Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans

My slow cooker gets such a workout this time of year. But I’m not willing to fully give up “summer” foods just yet. I had a craving for baked beans recently, so I decided to make a batch in my slow cooker and serve it with a cheeseburger and cornbread. Yum. This recipe is a “Boston Baked Beans” recipe, meaning it uses molasses in the recipe.

This recipe uses bacon that was sent to me by ButcherBox, a company that delivers 100% grass-fed beef and other protein to your door.  The company partners with a collective of small farms to deliver high quality products at an affordable price.

Butcher Box is a subscription service, so the boxes are mailed monthly.

 

The boxes come with 7-10 pounds of meat (20+ servings). There are a bunch of options: All Beef, Beef & Chicken, Beef & Pork, or Mixed (Beef, Chicken & Pork, which is what I received).

The Mixed box includes 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and all-natural pork. Most of the meat comes frozen (the bacon was not), so you can stick it right in your freezer and eat when convenient for you. I’ll have future recipes using the rest of the ingredients in the box, but for now, they are in my freezer.

This recipe also includes the best way to make bacon, in my humble opinion. Making bacon in the oven allows you to make quite a bit at a time, and the bacon doesn’t shrink up as much as it cooks. On to the recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound dry navy beans, soaked in water overnight
  • 10 oz bacon, cooked and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • additional water or beef broth, as needed

Continue reading Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

I am always looking for a new and different slow cooker meal. I personally could eat a tomato-based sauce with meat over rice, pasta, polenta, you-name-it every day. My husband would prefer something new every now and then, which is fair.

So this time, I attempted to make a takeout favorite — Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken!

This recipe is really simple, but it can become a legit salt lick if you aren’t careful about your ingredients. Be sure to use lower sodium soy sauce and unsalted cashews!

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken (breasts and/or thighs)
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or canola oil)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup low sodium soy sauce (use a wheat free soy sauce to make gluten free)
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sweet chili dipping sauce
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cups unsalted cashews

Continue reading Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

Tapenade

Last weekend, friends of mine invited us to an awesome Scotch tasting. They had recently visited Islay and brought back some for us to try as well! Each Scotch was paired with a bite of food to bring out some of the flavors, including oysters, lamb kofta, pheasant sausage and so much more.

I naturally didn’t want to come empty handed so I brought this simple olive tapenade along with me.

Tapenade is a pureed mixture of olives, anchovies, capers and olive oil. Salty foods always pair nicely with spirits, so this recipe was an easy choice to bring to the party.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (9 oz) jar pitted kalamata olives, drained
  • 1 (9 oz) jar pitted green olives, drained
  • 3 anchovy fillets, patted dry
  • 2  garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons capers
  • 3 fresh basil leaves
  • the juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • crusty bread or raw vegetables

Continue reading Tapenade

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