Wholesome Dinner Tonight

Grilled Vegetable, Black Bean & Rice Skillet {Vegetarian, Gluten Free}

2019-04-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

This is a hearty and tasty dinner and perfect for everyone to customize to their liking. Add in your favorite in-season vegetables and make it your own. We used Jasmine rice but it would also be great with brown rice or quinoa. Topped with fresh, bright, cilantro and creamy avocado this dish is filled with great flavor. It was fun to eat with a corn tortilla as our spoon. Enjoy!

Recipe: Serves 4
Ingredients

1 cup uncooked rice or quinoa, prepared per package instructions
olive oil
8-10 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 organic zucchini, cubed
1 clove garlic, finely diced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 can organic black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup organic frozen corn kernals (or of course fresh corn if it's in season)

Garnish options:
fresh cilantro, chopped
avocado
jack cheese, shredded
your favorite spicy taco sauce
corn tortillas

Directions:
1. Prepare rice or quinoa with water per package instructions
2. Add a light drizzle of olive oil or vegetable broth around a large saute pan, add in mushrooms, zucchini and bell pepper and saute over medium high heat for about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add in garlic, cumin and chili powder, still until well combined and saute another 2-3 minutes until all vegetables are tender and fragrant.
4. Add in beans and corn, stir to combine and lower heat to low.
5. Once rice is cooked through, add rice to bean and vegetable mixture and stir to combine. Serve hot in shallow bowls topped with cilantro, avocado slices, jack cheese and taco sauce with a warm corn tortilla to scoop and dip with.

Southwest Quinoa {Gluten-free, Vegetarian, Vegan}

2019-02-10T10:37:00.000-05:00

High in protein and fiber, quinoa is a great alternative to rice, and it cooks much faster! This dish brings together all my favorite southwest flavors. Try it in place of Spanish rice as a fun alternative. Click over to www.type2diabetes.com for my recipe. Enjoy!

Hearty Vegan Chili {gluten-free, soups, dairy-free, vegan}

2018-10-18T10:25:00.000-04:00

I love Fall with it's cooler temperatures and amazing changing colors! This chili is hearty, delicious and full of fiber. It has all the colors and flavors of fall. You can always add your favorite meat if you prefer. I prep and chop my veggies ahead (either the night before or in the afternoon the day of) then give this chili 10 minutes of your attention and let the stove-top do the rest. It fills the house with yummy aromas just as everyone is getting home from school and work. Click over to type2diabetes.com to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Chopped Salad in a Jar {Mason Jar Meals, salads}

2018-10-08T12:01:00.000-04:00

Are you looking a fresh idea for lunches this week? I just love Mason jars! They are durable, versatile, inexpensive and cute, what more can you ask for. Not only do I drink water out of them all day long but I like to make and store all kinds of foods, including salads. They keep salads super fresh without crushing the lettuce and veggies like plastic bags do and a Mason jar salad is easy to tote and doubles as your bowl when you're ready to eat. Just grab a tiny 1/2 pint Mason jar for your dressing and you're ready to go! Click over to www.type2diabetes.com to see my recipe for this exact chopped salad.

Tofu Scramble {breakfast, vegan, gluten-free}

2018-09-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

This is for those looking for something new to fix for breakfast. Truthfully, I don't eat tofu or soy very often but I do love it for an occasional swap out. I think it's delish in spicy Pad Thai or here as a substitute for eggs. Click here for the recipe. Enjoy!

Overnight Vanilla Chia Pudding {easy, gluten-free, breakfast, snack}

2018-09-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

I was SO skeptical that I would even like this. I was pleasantly surprised and I really love it! It's really tasty! It took me a fair amount of trial and error to find the right ratio for the perfect creamy pudding texture. Also, be sure to wait the 5 minutes and give it a good shake to help distribute the chia seeds evenly, it makes all the difference! We drink Organic unsweetened almond milk so that's what I used, but cow's milk or any other non-dairy milk substitutes, such as oat milk, rice milk or soy milk, would work also. Click over to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Eggplant Ragu over Spaghetti Squash {Gluten-free, Low-Carb, Paleo, Grain-free, Vegetarian}

2018-09-07T10:31:00.000-04:00

Eggplant and mushrooms are the perfect vegetables to sub in place of meat. They are hearty, hold up in cooking and both have a rich, savory flavor. This is a really light and lean recipe when you are craving some Clean Eating after the weekend. Spaghetti squash is really easy to prepare and lends itself to any sauce with it's mild flavor. Click over to www.type2diabetes.com for my recipe. Enjoy!

*Note: You can swap in Nutritional Yeast instead of the Parmesan and this dish is Vegan!

Kale Greek Salad {Gluten-free}

2018-08-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

This is super duper simple and delicious! Don't be afraid of baby kale, it's really very similar to spinach and makes a great base for all the zippy flavors of this salad. Add some grilled chicken to bump this up to an entree. Click over to type2diabetes.com to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Toasted Cauliflower Rice {Gluten-free, Vegan}

2018-07-26T17:07:00.000-04:00

Cauliflower makes a delicious side dish and is a great substitute for rice or pasta when you're looking to eat less carbohydrates. It's full of nutrients and fiber too! Mushrooms add great savory flavor so you won't miss the meat. More serving suggestions, nutrition facts and my recipe can be found at type2diabetes.com. Enjoy!

Baked Potato Cauliflower Soup {Gluten-free, Dairy-free}

2018-07-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Looking for a "warm you up" dinner this Monday? This is a delicious and light take on traditional potato soup and you won't even miss the heavy cream. Cauliflower lights the carb load and brings in a great mild flavor. Top it off with your favorite fixings allowing everyone in the family to personalize their own! Click over to type2diabetes.com to see my recipe.

Cinnamon Walnut Steel Cut Oats

2017-11-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

Delicious, nutty, and full of nutrition, steel cut oats are a great option for breakfast! These are oats that have not been rolled into flakes so they do take a bit longer to cook but it's worth it. They are perfect for a slow weekend morning breakfast when you have more time or take advantage of the weekend and make a big batch to enjoy throughout the week to turn a frazzled Monday morning right around! Click over to www.type2diabetes.com to find my recipe. Enjoy!

Amazingly Delicious Pancakes {allergy-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, breakfast}

2016-11-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

They're here! Finally, I'm publishing my hubby's amazing pancake recipe. These are a family favorite on the weekends around our house. He even included the specific ingredient brands we use and love for those who are interested. We served these for breakfast recently when we had overnight guests and everyone was surprised to learn they were allergy-friendly!! We top them with real maple syrup, fresh fruit, powdered sugar or jam, you name it, it's delish. Make a double batch and keep them in the fridge (or freezer) to enjoy throughout the week! Enjoy!

Ingredients: (makes approx. 30 pancakes)
Dry Ingredients:
1/2 cup quick cook oats (Gluten-free if needed)

1/3 cup almond flour (we use: Anthony's Almond Flour Blanched, Certified Gluten-free)

1/2 cup tapioca flour (we use: Organic Tapioca Flour / Starch by Anthony's, Certified Gluten-free & Non-GMO)
1/2 cup rice flour (we use: Bob's Red Mill White Rice Flour, Organic)

1 3/4 cup millet flour (we use: Great River Organic Milling, Organic Specialty Millet Flour)

3/4 tsp sea salt

3 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp chia meal* (see note below)

1 Tbsp modified tapioca starch (we use: 4mular Ultratex 3 Tapioca Starch Modified Food Additives)

1 tsp xanthan gum

Wet Ingredients:

2 tbsp agave nectar (can probably sub sugar or honey for this)

4 tbsp avocado oil or favorite flavorless cooking oil, melted butter, etc. (we use: Chosen Foods 100% pure Avocado Oil from Costco)

4 cups of warm water

Butter or oil to grease griddle pan

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

2. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add in wet ingredients: agave nectar, avocado oil and warm water and whisk all together until well combined.

3. Preheat flat griddle over medium heat.

4. Grease griddle with a small amount of butter or oil each time and pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake

5. When pancakes begins to bubble along the edges, flip and continue cooking until golden brown.

6. Keep warm by covering until ready to serve. Serve hot with with your favorite toppings. These can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen, sealed in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Note:

*Chia Meal Directions: In a blender or dedicated food mill, blend/pulse approx 1/2 cup Organic whole chia seeds until they reach a powder consistency otherwise known as "meal". Store chia meal in an air tight container in the pantry for easy use in future recipes.

Chicken Vegetable Soup {Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Easy}

2016-11-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Full of tasty veggies and shredded rotisserie chicken, this soup is big on flavor, fiber and still quick and easy. Substitute in whatever veggies and beans you love or have in your pantry and make it your own. Love these vibrant colors! Serve this with Gluten-free Grain-free biscuits, Gluten-free cornbread or your favorite crusty French bread. Click over to typediabetes.com to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Cauliflower Thyme Shepherd's Pie {Gluten-free, Low-Carb, Dairy-Free}

2016-10-27T11:17:00.000-04:00

Here's a lower carbohydrate version of the more traditional Shepherd's Pie. Cauliflower steamed and blended to a deliciously smooth consistency is a great potato alternative. I bumped up the savory by using grass-fed ground beef and lots of aromatic seasonings. A great option for dinner any time of year, but especially on a chilly Fall or Winter evening. Click over to type2diabetes for the recipe. Enjoy!

Chicken Sausage Breakfast Patties {gluten-free, breakfast}

2016-09-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

I struggle with breakfast most days. My hubby typically makes breakfast for the kids or helps them make their own before he leaves for work. Awesome, I know! I'm usually just grabbing whatever is leftover, some cereal or a Greek yogurt. These sausage patties are an easy go-to and they are high in protein and big on flavor. Because you make them yourself and can control what's in them, they are a healthier alternative to store-bought patties. Make a big batch and freeze them. Click here for my recipe. Enjoy!

Artichoke Lemon Chicken Soup {Gluten-free, Dairy-free}

2016-09-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! I have a tasty soup to share today. This is perfect for any time of year, but I particularly love it when anyone in my house is feeling under the weather. The bright lemony flavor, zippy artichoke and savory chicken is a great combo. You can make this with or without the rice, depending on your preference. Click here to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs {How-to}

2016-09-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

My kids love hard boiled eggs and they are perfect for school lunch or snack! They help fill my boys up, which is sometimes hard to do. I make at least 6 at a time and store them in the fridge to grab when needed. Click over to read my article The Truth About Eggs and see my recipe for the perfect hard boiled egg. Spoiler alert: the recipe is super easy and foolproof! It's a winner for me. Enjoy!

School Lunch Inspiration {Re-post}

2016-09-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Some of you may already have started back to school but school starts next week for us and I'm having mixed emotions. I love summer. The warmth (especially appreciate this now that we live in a snowy winter climate), fun, laid back routines, lazy mornings, lazy afternoons, swimming, exploring, flip flops, shorts, evening walks by the lake, late night sunsets, lots of time with friends and lots of time with my boys... While I'm excited for them to start back to school, I'm dragging my feet a bit during these last days of summer.

I've had several people ask me about school lunches so I thought this was a perfect time to repost these ideas. I wrote this back when we had just moved cross-country and were homeschooling. Here's to another new season! Let's start strong with our lunch game mamas and dads and make it great! I'll be a little more intentional with my grocery run this weekend as I meal plan for lunches and Our Weekly Menu. Planning ahead feels like more work up front but it REALLY pays off. Click over to see my kid-friendly lunch ideas and please share your lunch secrets! I'm always looking for new ideas too! Happy start of school friends.

Baked Pesto Chicken {Gluten-free, Chicken, Easy, Low-Carb}

2016-08-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

This is an easy way to give chicken a new flavor. I used kale, but spinach leaves will work as well. It's great as a stand alone with roasted veggies or delicious sliced on top of a salad! Click over to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Our Weekly Menu {Gluten-Free} 8.21.16

2016-08-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Our Weekly Menu! I haven't done one of these posts in forever. Never fear though, we've still been menu planning each week. Even if our little homemade board says, "leftovers, snacky dinner (aka: clean out the fridge) and take out" I still write something on there. I love the piece of mind it gives me to not stress over dinner at 5pm.

Only two more weeks of summer for us. I'm a little sad but also looking forward to the routine of school. We'll be out and about most of the day this Thursday, so a slow cooker meal is in order. If any night is going particularly crazy, you rest assured I'll be calling in that "once-a-week-take-out" card for my awesome hubby to pick up food on his way home from work. That's another perk to menu planning, you can always switch it around as needed.

SUNDAY: Lettuce-Wrap Burgers and Potato Chips at the lake. Whenever we're home and it's not storming, we head to our beach for dinner at the lake. It's one of my most favorite summer traditions!

MONDAY: Bruchetta Chicken with Spinach Salad and Garlic Bread

TUESDAY: Flank Steak Salad with Strawberry Watermelon Salsa

WEDNESDAY: Turkey Taco Lettuce Cups

THURSDAY: Slow Cooker Mushroom Honey-Mustard Chicken with Steamed Broccoli

FRIDAY: take out! Yeah baby!

SATURDAY: Sushi night! Avocado-Cucumber and Chicken Teriyaki rolls

Check out all Our Weekly Menu posts for more ideas and inspiration.

Follow Wholesome Dinner Tonight on Pinterest where you can eat with your eyes!

Strawberry Almond Butter Toast {Easy Peasy}

2016-08-15T09:53:00.000-04:00

This is hardly a recipe but more of an inspiration. As I try to cut back on my sugar intake I've been experimenting with adding fresh fruit to my toast instead of sugary jam or jelly. This is seriously so yummy and sweet. Delicious with more vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and way less sugar. Give it a try. Also super tasty with raspberries and blackberries! Click here to see the details. Enjoy!

Lettuce-Wrap Burgers and Baked Sweet Potato Fries {Gluten-free, Beef, Grilling}

2016-08-11T17:00:00.000-04:00

This is a two-for-one recipe! My hubby's deliciously simple grass-fed beef burgers wrapped in crisp lettuce AND sweet and savory, baked sweet potato fries! You can absolutely add your favorite bun or roll for the burger if you prefer, but crunchy lettuce is a really tasty compliment. Sometimes I just put my burger over a giant green salad and it's wonderful. Click here for Lettuce-Wrap Burgers and here for my Baked Sweet Potato Fries recipe. Enjoy!

Turkey Taco Lettuce Cups {Gluten-free, Low-carb}

2016-08-06T16:07:00.001-04:00

Tacos are a favorite in our house! This is a fun and lighter way to enjoy all the delicious taco fillings in a crisp, crunchy lettuce cup. They taste great anytime, but I especially love them on a warm summer evening. The beauty of make-your-own tacos is everyone can customize their own! Click over to type2diabetes.com to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas {Gluten-free, Crock Pot}

2016-03-29T10:40:00.004-04:00

It's Tuesday! That means you can make tonight TACO TUESDAY! Okay, so they are fajitas technically but they're served in a soft taco tortilla so basically the same as tacos. If you're looking for a new and delicious option that's a bargain, these tasty fajitas are perfect. I buy beef stew meat in bulk, portion it out and freeze it. Stew meat is lean and can be stringy and tough if not cooked properly. Fortunately, it lends itself perfectly to slow cooker preparation and comes out tender and full of flavor. Click over here to see my recipe. Enjoy!

Chicken Taco Soup {Gluten-free, Dairy-free}

2016-03-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

This is an easy recipe for a tasty dinner. I love the lean shredded chicken in this for something different. The kids love personalizing their toppings! Try topping this with fresh avocado slices, diced red onion, broken tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. Delicious! Click over here to see my recipe. Enjoy!