Tag: recipe

Huge Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs RECIPE (Slow-Cooker) Oozing With Melty Cheese (Gluten-Free Option)

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl (Slow-Cooker)

 

I have a special recipe to share with you all today! This past weekend I invited my mom over for a special Sunday dinner. I love having family over and preparing a tasty dish for them. So today I am sharing my Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs recipe to my loyal readers. This recipe is a family favorite and this meal will surely fill you up! These meatballs are stuffed with oozy mozzarella cheese pearls and they are mighty huge meatballs! This Italian meatball recipe might just become a family favorite in your home too. There is a gluten-free option for my gluten-free readers.

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl
Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs RECIPE

This mozzarella stuffed meatball recipe is the perfect meal to whip up in your slow-cooker. Once you do all of the work to prepare the meatballs it is smooth sailing after that. The meatballs should take about 15-20 minutes to create. I have also included a pasta sauce recipe for these mozzarella stuffed meatballs, but you can feel free to skip that part and use the pasta sauce of your choice. I often avoid the jarred pasta sauces and create my own sauce with some crushed tomatoes.

If you want a great jarred pasta sauce I highly recommend Rao’s. They make an excellent marinara and if you like bit of heat in your sauce, Rao’s has a fabulous Arrabiata Sauce.


The pasta!

The best pasta to go with these mozzarella stuffed meatballs is the spaghetti noodle. You can go thick or you can go thin. We went thick!


The Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs homemade sauce

You have to have a great pasta sauce to go with your mozzarella stuffed meatballs. I have included a great pasta sauce recipe to go with the meatballs. The pasta sauce is simple and easy to create. If you want a sauce that tastes great you have to use good tomatoes. I used DeLallo’s crushed tomatoes and they were some of the best I ever had. Muir Glen is also another great brand to go with.

And a blend of ground beef and ground Italian sausage is essential to this dish. The mix of meats is going to give you a flavorful, zesty meatball. Ground Italian sausage always lends awesome flavor to Italian pasta sauces.


Gluten-Free Options

If you are following a gluten-free diet and still would like to enjoy this mozzarella stuffed meatballs recipe, simply swap the breadcrumbs out for some gluten-free breadcrumbs. You would then serve the meatballs over the gluten-free pasta of your choice.



Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs (With Gluten-Free Option)

This recipe is for my famous mozzarella-stuffed meatballs… a family favorite! These hearty meatballs are stuffed with mozzarella pearls. When you dig into these meatballs you will love the oozing melty cheese! This is a slow-cooker recipe that serves approximately 8 people. Serve with the pasta of your choice. We love spaghetti noodles with this recipe!

Meatballs

  • 1 pound Ground beef (I use grass fed beef)
  • 1 pound Ground Italian sausage
  • Mozzarella pearls (You can stuff each meatball with 1 or 2 pearls (depending on how large you make the meatballs))
  • 1 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs (Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if you are gluten-free)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons Minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup Milk
  • 1/2 tablespoon Garlic powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon Onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil

Pasta Sauce

  • 28 ounce Can of crushed tomatoes (I used DeLallo)
  • 6 ounce Can of tomato paste (I used Muir Glen)
  • 2 tablespoons Minced garlic
  • 2 Shallots (Diced)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • Salt (To Taste)
  • Black pepper (To Taste)
  • 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil

Meatballs

  1. Use a large mixing bowl for the meatballs. Place all ingredients (except for the olive oil) for the meatballs into a large mixing bowl. Use clean hands to mix and incorporate all of the ingredients. 

  2. Form large balls (approx 2 – 2 1/2 inches across) and stuff the meatballs with either one or two mozzarella pearls. Make sure the meatballs are tightly formed so the cheese does not melt out of them. Set aside the meatballs on a large cookie sheet.

  3. Warm two tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan. Once the oil has warmed place the meatballs in the pan and brown all sides of the meatballs.

  4. Set aside the meatballs while you prepare the pasta sauce in the next step.

Pasta Sauce

  1. Warm a bit of olive oil in a saute pan and then add your minced garlic and diced shallots. Cook until translucent and fragrant. Add to the slow-cooker.

  2. Add the rest of the pasta sauce ingredients to your slow-cooker. Stir well.

  3. Place the meatballs in the slow-cooker and cook on low for 4 hours.

Final preparations

  1. Prepare the pasta of your choice. Spaghetti noodles work best with meatballs.

  2. Serve, eat, and enjoy your meatballs!

If you are gluten-free, sub the Italian breadcrumbs for a gluten-free breadcrumb. Serve over gluten-free pasta.

A big plate of mozzarella stuffed meatballs served over spaghetti noodles
A big plate of mozzarella stuffed meatballs served over spaghetti noodles
Mozzarella stuffed meatballs oozing melty cheese!
Mozzarella stuffed meatballs oozing melty cheese!



RELATED:

Zesty Spaghetti Sauce RECIPE With Ancient Harvest Pasta, Bell Peppers, & Italian Sausage

Final thoughts about the mozzarella stuffed meatballs recipe

These mozzarella stuffed meatballs were loved and enjoyed by all of us at the dinner table! You just can’t go wrong with a recipe like this. This recipe is a keeper! This is a fabulous meal to create when you have guests over for dinner. Because you use two pounds of meat to make the mozzarella stuffed meatballs there is a lot of food to go around! And these meatballs are huge! I could only pack in two of these gigantic mozzarella stuffed meatballs. How many will you eat? 3 might just be the limit with this dish. A lot of meat!

 

Question Time! Do you have a family favorite recipe that you would like to share? I would love to hear all about your family favorite meal!

 

Other posts that you might enjoy at Give It A Whirl Girl

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Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl (Slow-Cooker)
Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl (Slow-Cooker)

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8

MengK 1500W High-Speed Professional Blender REVIEW & A Dragon Fruit Smoothie RECIPE

MENGK BLENDER REVIEW & A Dragon Fruit Smoothie RECIPE by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL

Today I would love to share my experience with you that I recently had with my new blender in this MengK blender review. This blender is quite simple to use and it is built like a professional blender. When I received my blender I was astonished by how professional the model looked and I was excited to give it a whirl with a dragon fruit smoothie bowl recipe. My hopes for this blender were that it would be capable of blending up frozen fruit because I am a huge smoothie fan and every blender I have ever owned prior was a big letdown to me. Keep reading this MengK blender review to find out how it performed in my test.

First impression of the MengK 1500W blender

Let’s kick off this MengK blender review with my first thoughts when I unboxed the blender. My first impression with this blender was the massive footprint it has on my countertop! This blender is a beast! Now, this can either be a positive or a negative for you. If you don’t have much storage space in your kitchen or home this blender might be an issue. This MengK blender couldn’t be any simpler to use either! If you look at the blender you will see one dial on the face of the blender and this determines the speed at which you will operate your blender. Big tasks call for dialing up on the knob for more power and speed.

Professional Blender MengK 2000W Peak Horsepower Electric High Speed Blender REVIEW
Professional Blender 1500W MengK 2000W Peak Horsepower Electric High-Speed Blender

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission from items purchased through these links with no extra cost to you.


What can the MengK blender do?

If you are in the market for a blender that is versatile, MengK has you covered with this blender! You can use it for smoothies, nice creams, soups, milkshakes, hummus, alcoholic beverages, homemade nut butter, baby foods, and more. This MengK blender features a very well-constructed 67oz professional blender jar. Please note that this blender jar is not a glass blending jar, it is made out of some very heavy duty, thick, plastic. The blending jar for the MengK blender is BPA-free.

MengK blender motor

The MengK blender has a whopping 2.6 HP-2000 watt motor, and this commercial blender can reach a rotational speed of up to 27,000 r/min. This powerful motor makes it possible to crush ice, fruits, and vegetables.

The controls on the MengK blender are simple
The controls on the MengK blender are simple

You might also enjoy this post: Mindblowing Smart Home Products For Your Kitchen

The MengK blades

This powerful blender features 6 stainless steel, sharp blades for maximum blending power. The MengK blender crushing blades make it possible and perfect for ice crushing, blending, pureeing, and controlled processing.

The 6 blades on the MengK blender are razor sharp
The 6 blades on the MengK blender are razor sharp

My experience with the MengK blender

The first experiment with this high-speed blender was to see how well it would process and blend frozen fruit. I placed two frozen bananas, a cup of frozen dragon fruit, and a bit of milk in the blending cup. I was really excited to try this out because I have not had much success with frozen fruit in any blender I have ever owned.

The capability of blending frozen fruit is top priority to me. I need a blender that can do this.

I turned the blender onto medium with the dial. I then turned it on. The blender was loud and I could tell it had a powerful motor. The blades efficiently chopped up my frozen fruit and blended it up with the almond milk. After a few short moments, I had a delicious smoothie bowl waiting for me.

I performed one other smoothie test with my MengK blender. For that test, I used a fresh banana, frozen dragon fruit, and frozen mango with a splash of some unsweetened nut milk. The blender performed wonderfully and as expected. In a very short time, without any hesitation, I had a delicious, tall smoothie waiting for me!

Overall, I am quite pleased with this MengK blender and I am excited to try more smoothie recipes with it.

A dragon fruit & mango smoothie drink
A dragon fruit & mango smoothie drink


The MengK blender is simple to clean

Cleaning the MengK blender is simple and easy to do! All you need to do is add a bit of soap and warm water to the blending cup. Turn the blender onto a mid-high speed and it 30-60 seconds the cup and blades will be clean. Rinse after cleaning and carefully dry.

Satisfaction guaranteed from MengK

If for any reason you are not satisfied with your MengK blender purchases, MengK offers a money back guarantee and a warranty on their product.

3-month warranty on commercial Cups and a 6-month warranty on household cups, unified TWO years warranty about this pedestal, and 30-day refund guarantee.

Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl

Take a trip to paradise with this dragon fruit smoothie bowl. You will feel like you are transported to a tropical place with this exotic fruit smoothie bowl recipe.

  • 2 Bananas (Frozen and chopped)
  • 1 cup Dragon Fruit chunks (Frozen of fresh)
  • 1 Kiwi Fruit (Sliced)
  • 1 Star Fruit (Sliced and seeds removed)
  • 2/3 cup Unsweetened nut milk of choice

  1. Place the frozen bananas, dragon fruit, and milk in the blender and process until smooth.

  2. Pour the smoothie mixture into two bowls.

  3. Top the smoothie with fresh sliced kiwi fruit and star fruit.

  4. Serve, eat, and enjoy!


Dragon Fruit Smoothies created with the MengK Blender
Dragon Fruit Smoothies created with the MengK Blender
Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowls topped with kiwi fruit and star fruit
Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowls topped with kiwi fruit and star fruit

MengK 1400W Blender

If you want to get yourself a MengK blender that is a little more friendly on your budget there is a 1400W model on Amazon.

There is also a clippable coupon to save on this model!

MengK 1500W Blender

The blender that I reviewed is currently available on Amazon.

 

Final thoughts

The MengK blender is a lot of bang for your buck! For this price point, you are getting quite the powerful blender. I am hoping that this MengK blender will stand the test of time. I have a great feeling that it will be outperforming the last blender that I owned prior to this one. I took a chance with this off-brand name and I am very pleased with it.

It is not a Vitamix or a Blendtec but for the price you are paying for this one you are getting a powerhouse blender. If you are like me and dream of owning a fancy blender like a Vitamix, this blender makes a great clone of one and you will save yourself a ton of money going with the MengK.

The MengK blender makes a delicious smoothie in seconds!
The MengK blender makes a delicious smoothie in seconds!

Question Time! What will you be using the MengK blender for first? What will you create with this powerful blender?

 


Find out more about MengK and their other products

MENGK BLENDER REVIEW & A Dragon Fruit Smoothie RECIPE by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL

Disclosure: I was sent this product in exchange for a review. All opinions stated here are my own.

 

Other posts at Give It A Whirl Girl that you might enjoy!

 


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9

Zesty Spaghetti Sauce RECIPE With Ancient Harvest Pasta, Tri-Color Peppers, Ground Beef, & Italian Sausage (Slow-Cooker)

Zesty Spaghetti Sauce RECIPE With Ancient Harvest, Tri-Color Pepper, Ground Beef, & Italian Sausage - Slow-Cooker by Give It A Whirl Girl

I am just going to come out and say it… this is some thick ass sauce right here y’all! This zesty spaghetti sauce recipe with Ancient Harvest pasta is nowhere near being skimpy and naked. We got it all going on over here with grass-fed ground beef, ground Italian sausage, three colors of bell peppers, oodles of minced garlic, half an onion, and a whole lot of basil and oregano! How does that sound? Keep reading to find out how I made this set-it-and-forget-it sauce. I will also talk about the Ancient Harvest gluten-free pasta that I used with this zesty spaghetti sauce recipe. I tried them out for Tried It Out Tuesday!

Tri-Color Pepper, Ground Beef, and Italian Sausage Spaghetti With Ancient Harvest Pasta
Tri-Color Peppers, Ground Beef, and Italian Sausage Spaghetti With Ancient Harvest Pasta – A very zesty spaghetti sauce recipe that you will love!

This zesty spaghetti sauce recipe does require a little bit of prep but it is essential. You can’t just toss raw ground meat products into your slow-cooker and expect good results. You gotta brown that meat. Next you are also going to want to saute your onions and garlic until they achieve a translucent appearance and become aromatic and fragrant. I also take the time to soften up the three peppers.

Continue reading “Zesty Spaghetti Sauce RECIPE With Ancient Harvest Pasta, Tri-Color Peppers, Ground Beef, & Italian Sausage (Slow-Cooker)” →

2

Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast RECIPE (Gluten-Free, Slow-Cooker)

Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl (Slow-Cooker, Gluten-Free)

I think you are all going to fall in love with this simple and easy slow-cooker paleo root vegetable pot roast recipe! This is pure comfort food right over here! This dish was created with a chuck roast, carrots, parsnips, and one really huge turnip! This paleo pot roast gets its fabulous flavor from one of my favorite seasonings, Herbs de Provence. Not only is this meal pure comfort food on a plate, but this paleo & gluten-free dinner is simple to create at home.

Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl
Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast

Roast preparations

First things first though. Let’s discuss this Root Vegetable Pot Roast from the beginning. The meat is the highlight of the meal after all. The first thing I do for a slow-cooker roast is salt and pepper that slab of meat, throw it on a hot saute pan with olive oil, let it sizzle and brown. When you brown your meat you lock in the juice of the meat and your meat will be so tender when dinner time rolls around. I used a small 2 pound roast for this recipe but I believe you could use any chuck roast up to three pounds. If you are looking for a great deal on a chuck roast, I have had great success with shopping at Kroger.

Chuck roast for the paleo pot roast with root vegetables
Chuck roast for the paleo pot roast with root vegetables


Soften & season up the vegetables

Once you get a beautiful sear on all sides of the meat it is time to soften and season veggies. This recipe includes carrots, parsnips, and a turnip. What you need to do is slice the carrots and the parsnips. With the turnip, you are going to chop it up into little square or rectangular pieces.

Root vegetables in my paleo pot roast
Root vegetables in my paleo pot roast
My huge turnip for the paleo root vegetable pot roast
My huge turnip for the paleo root vegetable pot roast


Season it up with Herbs de Provence

This paleo root vegetable pot roast was seasoned with Herbs de Provence from Spice Islands. I honestly do not know what the exact ingredients are in this blend. It only says “spices & lavender” on the back label. No clue on why it is so top secret but it is. I wish I could fill you in on the exact seasonings that go into this blend. I read the label on another Herbs de Provence label and it had the following ingredients: marjoram, savory, thyme, rosemary, basil, fennel, sage, lavender.

This is a very fragrant and aromatic spice. It is not a seasoning that I use often but I do enjoy seasoning a big hunk of meat with this.

Herbs de Provence for the pot roast
Herbs de Provence for the pot roast

The Instant Pot Aura

This paleo pot roast can be cooked with a regular slow-cooker but I would love to let you know exactly how I cooked my meal. I just recently gave the Instant Pot Aura a whirl and published a review on my blog. I have been using this small appliance in my kitchen for about one month and I am head over heels in love with it! The Instant Pot Aura is a 6-quart multicooker that is a 10-in-1 small appliance for your kitchen. Instead of using a saute pan AND a slow-cooker the Instant Pot Aura is capable of both browning the meat AND slow-cooking it.

Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl
Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast in the slow-cooker after prepping

 

You might also enjoy

Why Your Kitchen Needs The Instant Pot Aura Multicooker REVIEW & RECIPE For Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce

Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast
Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast

Final thoughts on this Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast

If you are looking for great comfort food, this Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast recipe will hit the spot! My little family of three chowed down and there were some mmm’s and ahh’s going on at the dinner table! Not only is this slow-cooker pot roast recipe simple but it is very healthy as well! You will not find any gluten lurking around in this paleo recipe… just savory meat and vegetables. This is a meal that you can feel good about eating and you can enjoy this paleo meal without all the guilt!

 

Question Time! What are your favorite ingredients in a pot roast? Leave me a comment and let me know what ingredients you enjoy in yours! 

 

Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast For Your Slow-Cooker (Gluten-Free)

This paleo root vegetable pot roast recipe is a simple and easy recipe for your slow-cooker. This dish is pure comfort food and this meal is also gluten-free.

  • 2 pound Chuck roast (You can use slightly larger)
  • 3 Carrots (Sliced)
  • 2 Parsnips (Sliced)
  • 1 Turnip (Diced)
  • 14.5 ounces Fire Roasted Tomatoes (Drained)
  • 2 tablespoons Minced Garlic
  • 2 Shallots (Slivered)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Herbs de Provence
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 2 tablespooons Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt (To taste)
  • Pepper (To taste)

  1. Slice and dice your vegetables.

  2. Warm the olive oil in a saute pan. Salt and pepper the meat. Place the meat in the saute pan and brown the meat on all sides to get a browned crust on the outside of the beef.

  3. Add in the garlic and shallots and cook until translucent.

  4. Add in the vegetables (carrots, parsnips, and turnip). Saute until slightly softened.

  5. Place the meat and vegetables into the slow-cooker. Add in one can drained diced fire roasted tomatoes.

  6. Add in your bay leaf and herbs de provence. Stir until well incorporated. Salt and pepper the mixture. 

  7. Place the slow-cooker on low for 5-6 hours.

  8. Once 5-6 hours have passed you can remove your meat and cut into small chunks. Place it back in the slow-cooker and give it a good stir.

  9. Serve, eat, and enjoy.

It is best to go light on the salt and pepper and season to taste depending on the size of your chuck roast. You can always add more as time goes on.

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Paleo Root Vegetable Pot Roast RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl (Slow-Cooker, Gluten-Free)

 

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4

Greek Caulipower Pizza RECIPE With Primal Kitchen (Gluten-Free, Vegetarian)

Greek Caulipower Pizza RECIPE Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

If you are not a fan of garlic it might just be time to walk away from this post. Today I will tell you how I created a Garlicky Greek Caulipower Pizza using a blank Caulipower crust and some Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette. You can adjust this recipe to your taste with the garlic but the amount that is noted in here is for garlic lovers only. This is, believe it or not, my first time ever having a Greek pizza. I love Greek food so I kind of had an idea in my mind that everything would turn out wonderful to me. Guess what? I nailed it and that is why I am sharing this recipe to you for my Greek Caulipower Pizza! This pizza does not contain any meat so it a vegetarian pizza and would be perfect for any veggie lover. I have a feeling that you will love this Caulipower Pizza recipe that I am sharing with you today!

Garlicky Greek Caulipower Pizza With Primal Kitchen
Garlicky Greek Caulipower Pizza With Primal Kitchen

Caulipower Crust – The Caulipower Greek Pizza All Starts Here

If you are looking at my post and my photos here and are drooling a bit and craving this Greek Caulipower Pizza then you are going to need your base to start with. This was my second time trying the Caulipower crust. I bought a veggie Caulipower pizza not too long ago and dressed it up with some additional toppings. This time I wanted to be the artist and the chef and create my own on a blank slate. The blank Caulipower crust pack contains two crusts and if you want you can double this recipe so that you have two Greek Caulipower Pizzas. The recipe has enough servings and slices for two people. That is of course unless you have a huge appetite and can eat an entire pizza by yourself.

The Power of the Caulipower

Let’s talk a bit about why I love this Caulipower crust so much.

First of all, it is paleo friendly. If you do not add any cheese this pizza will fulfill your paleo diet needs.

Secondly, we all know that cauliflower crust is all the rage these days because it is low-carb. A cauliflower crust pizza is leaning in the guilt-free direction of things. You can take a peek at the nutrition facts below (source). A serving size is considered 1/3 of the pizza and considering this is pizza it only comes in at 26 grams of carbs (with net carbs it is lower). A regular pizza is at least twice that amount and averages about 36 grams of carbs for just one slice!

Nutrition Facts for Caulipower Crust
Nutrition Facts for Caulipower Crust (source)

 

And third, this Caulipower crust is nice and crisp! Often times a cauliflower crust can result in sogginess from the moisture that can be found in cauliflower. If you ever make your own crust you really have to squeeze the moisture out. I made my own cauliflower crust last year and while it was good, the texture of it was mushy. I did not get enough of the moisture out. Caulipower takes the frustration out of cauliflower crust. These blank crusts have endless possibilities.


Ingredients used for Greek Caulipower Pizza recipe
Ingredients used for Greek Caulipower Pizza recipe

Primal Kitchen Greek Marinade/Salad Dressing

This pizza uses Primal Kitchen’s Greek Marinade/Salad Dressing for the sauce. I am pretty confident that most other greek salad dressings will work for the Greek garlic sauce but Primal Kitchen is the brand that I use because I am a huge fan of all of their products. This dressing is made with only the finest all-natural ingredients. When an item is Whole-30 approved, you know it is going to be a healthy element in your dish.


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Garlic! Garlic! And More Garlic!

There. I said it three times so you get the point. This Greek Caulipower Pizza recipe is chock full of garlic. I put three heaping tablespoons of it in the blender with my Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette. When I need minced garlic I skip the knifework and I grab my Spice World Minced Garlic. My knife skills suck if I am going to be honest here and minced garlic can be tricky. I really need to improve in the knife department. Spice World does all of the work for you and they are my go-to brand. They do also have an organic minced garlic available and I often try to use that but my Kroger was out the last time I shopped so I just went with regular.

Bring On The Cheese Please!

A Greek Caulipower Pizza would not be Greek if it was not for the feta cheese! No Greek pizza is complete without feta. For this recipe, I went with a blend of feta and mozzarella. I used one small container of Kroger’s Simple Truth Feta Cheese and I used a handful of Tillamook mozzarella, which is my favorite shredded mozzarella cheese.

Greek Toppings

For the rest of the toppings on this Greek Caulipower Pizza, I used cherry tomatoes, sliced kalamata olives, pepperoncinis, and half of a slivered and sliced shallot. Next time I make a Greek pizza I am going to add some sliced beets to it. I think beets would have been awesome on this pizza, so now you know! You might just want to add them to yours.


Garlicky Greek Caulipower Pizza With Primal Kitchen
Garlicky Greek Caulipower Pizza With Primal Kitchen

Final Thoughts on this Greek Caulipower Pizza recipe

I would love for you to know exactly what came out of my daughter’s mouth when she hesitantly took her first bite of this pizza. I did not think she would agree with it because of the potent taste of feta cheese BUT the first thing she said was,

Wow! Mom! This pizza has sooooooo much flavor!

It does have quite a potent garlic flavor so just scale back a tablespoon if three is too intense for you.

We were both impressed with the crisp texture of this Caulipower Crust! Could it be magic? I do not know how they do it but it sure turns out crisp after 13 minutes baking in the oven! It is very impressive to me that Caulipower has the power to transform cauliflower into a pizza crust that does disappoint. This Caulipower Pizza recipe might just be one of your recipes that are in regular rotation! Love it!

Garlicky Greek Caulipower Pizza With Primal Kitchen
Garlicky Greek Caulipower Pizza With Primal Kitchen

Would love to hear from you!
Will you be giving Caulipower Pizza recipe a whirl? How will you dress your pizza up? Leave me a comment and let me know.

 


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Greek Caulipower Pizza RECIPE Gluten-Free, Vegetarian GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL

 

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14
Nino Salvaggio & A Passion Fruit Guava Smoothie Bowl RECIPE

Let’s kick things off here by just admitting that I feel so very blessed to live in close proximity to Nino Salvaggio in St. Clair Shores. I have been visiting Nino Salvaggio’s for as long as I can remember. My mom used to go shopping here all the time and my mind was always blown by the beautiful, colorful fruit and vegetable displays there. It is sort of like a work of art… an installation of the prettiest produce your eyes have seen. Nino Salvaggio takes pride in the products that they sell, and it shows! This store is absolutely stunning and you can see that they pay attention to detail.

Today I will also be sharing a recipe for an exotic fruit smoothie bowl that I created with passion fruit and guava. Passion fruit is one of my favorite fruits and I love the sweet and sour taste of it. Guava is another favorite exotic fruit of mine and I don’t get a chance to enjoy it very often. I could not resist buying one from Nino Salvaggio.

Produce section of Nino Salvaggio - Isn't it just spectacular?
Produce section of Nino Salvaggio – Isn’t it just spectacular?

About Nino Salvaggio

Nino Salvaggio is the go-to place in the area if you want some perfect and flawless ingredients in your food. It’s not just fruits and veggies though! Nino Salvaggio also has a deli and meat counter. They also have a great little grocery section with some very cool, unusual ingredients. And you just have to see the gorgeous bakery at Nino Salvaggio. I get my chocolate cassata birthday cake from Nino Salvaggio every single year. And speaking of birthdays, mine is next month and I will be enjoying that cake soon! Yippee!

Nino Salvaggio has four convenient locations in Michigan to serve you. They are located in St. Clair Shores, Troy, Clinton Township, and Bloomfield Township. You can find out more about Nino Salvaggio and their mission HERE. This is a store that is highly committed to providing high quality foods.

I visited Nino Salvaggio this past weekend to pick up some exotic fruits. I knew ahead of time that I wanted to pick up a couple passion fruits (one of my all-time favorite fruits). The dilemma was that I really was not quite sure what I wanted to combine it with for my smoothie bowl. Then I saw the guava and I knew that would pair well with the passion fruit so I took home one of those.

Gorgeous produce at Nino Salvaggio's
Gorgeous produce at Nino Salvaggio’s

"<yoastmark

Exotic fruits that intrigued me at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

The exotic fruits section at Nino Salvaggio is the most interesting place to shop, for me anyway! This is the spot in the store where you can get brave and muster up the strength to try something new!

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Passion Fruit

So this is the fruit that I was really going after with my trip to Nino Salvaggio. Passion fruit just might be one of my all-time favorite fruits to chow down on. With the passion fruit, you get the wonderful combination of sweet & sour. If you don’t like the texture of tapioca you probably won’t like this. It does, to me, have a tapioca texture. It is slimy and seedy but the taste blows my mind. Using this as the star of my smoothie bowl was a wise choice!

Passion fruit is a nutrient-dense fruit that has a great amount of Vitamin C in it and it is great for the immune system. The passion fruit also has some fiber, Vitamin A, potassium, and a bit of iron. It is a small fruit and contains around 17 calories per serving. You can learn all about the health benefits of the passion fruit HERE.

Passion Fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Passion Fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Guava

Guava is the second fruit that I ended up going with for my smoothie bowl. These guavas are oh so yummy but they are pricey! I only took home one small guava. One turned out to be just enough for the flavor that I was going after.

As far as nutrition goes with the guava fruit, you are going to find some antioxidants, Vitamin C, fiber, and beta carotene in the fruit. There are 8 wonderful health benefits of the guava fruit and you can feed your brain with knowledge over here.

Guava at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Guava at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Rambutan

Now here is an interesting piece of fruit! This is a rambutan and it sort of reminds me of lychee fruit. I was really tempted to get more of these but the steep price deterred me and I only purchased one! Me and my daughter, Chloe, split the rambutan in half and we each tried a small piece. It definitely does have a taste reminiscent of lychee. The flesh was soft and also reminded me of grapes. I would give this a whirl again. We really enjoyed the experience of trying this unique fruit.

Rambutan fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Rambutan fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Rambutan fruit from Nino Salvaggio
Rambutan fruit from Nino Salvaggio

Quince

Quince is a new-to-me fruit too. Never ever had one in my life had quince! These tart fruits are grown in Chile and you can eat them raw, but it is advised to cook these if you want the best flavor to come through.

Quince at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Quince at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Ya Ya Pear

The ya ya pear is a pear that originates from China. This white pear’s flavor can best be described as a cross between a rose and a pineapple. The ya ya pear is crisp and sweet, but not overly sweet. Just the right amount of sweetness!

Yaya Pear at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Yaya Pear at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Passion Fruit / Guava Smoothie Bowl RECIPE

For this Passion Fruit/ Guava smoothie bowl I used two frozen bananas, two passion fruits, one guava, coconut milk, chia seeds, and coconut flakes. This tropical smoothie bowl makes a fantastic treat for breakfast!

Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl

Want a smoothie bowl with exotic flavor? 

Give this tropical passion fruit and guava smoothie bowl a whirl!

  • 2 Bananas (Frozen)
  • 1/4 cup Full fat coconut milk
  • 2 Passion Fruit
  • 1 Guava
  • 2 tbsp Coconut flakes
  • 1 tbsp Chia seeds

  1. Place two frozen bananas, 1 passion fruit, 1 guava, and 1/4 cup of coconut milk in the blender. Use your smoothie mode if your blender has one.

  2. Once blended up pour the smoothie mixture into a large bowl. Soup bowls work well. 

  3. Top your smoothie bowl with some shredded coconut flake and chia seeds. And now you can use your other passion fruit to top the smoothie.

  4. Eat and enjoy! Hope you love it!


Fruits that I used in my Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
Fruits that I used in my Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
Close-up of the passion fruit and the guava
Close-up of the passion fruit and the guava
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl topped with coconut and black chia seeds
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl topped with coconut and black chia seeds
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
A spoonful of Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
TALK ABOUT YUM! Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl


Final thoughts

Sounds strange (maybe??) but I sure do get excited about taking a little trip to my favorite fruit & veggie store- Nino Salvaggio! If you are looking for top-notch produce you will find whatever it is you are looking for at Nino Salvaggio. Definitely make sure you visit the exotic fruit section of the store. What you need to do next is get brave and try some of these unusual fruits and vegetables. My blog is all about trying new things and eating with an open mind. I hope this inspires you to eat with an open mind. There is an entire universe full of unusual food and it is just waiting for you to give it a whirl!

Question time! Have you ever been to Nino Salvaggio? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about this incredible place to shop!

 

Find out more about Nino Salvaggio

Related posts:

 

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS (no extra cost to you). ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.


12

GIVEAWAY – CHOCOLATE – Happy Holidays and Thank You

Chocolate Giveaway at Give It A Whirl Girl

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CONCLUDED. Thank you all for your participation. More giveaways soon!

I would love to wish all of my readers happy holidays and a huge thank you to all who take a moment out of their day to read my blog. I just recently hit the 6-month mark of blogging so YIPPEE and HOORAY! As a thank you I would love to gift one person ten pieces of gluten-free, organic chocolate from a wide variety of different brands. I am hosting this chocolate giveaway as a thank you to my loyal readers that have followed along on my blogging journey.

One lucky reader will receive ten scrumptious chocolate candies

I gotta say that so far the 6 months have been quite the journey. Blogging is always an uphill battle to get better and better at it. There is always something new to learn and this information helps me improve upon myself. I learn something new about blogging every single day and I am constantly feeding my brain these tips and tricks. I have a voice when I create a post and I wish and hope for that voice to be heard. That is why I am so thankful for those who read, comment and share my blog posts.

 

I am very very very thankful for each and everyone of you!

I am so excited to share this special giveaway with my audience. I hope that this chocolate brightens up the winner’s day. I know I would be flipping thrilled to win a prize pack like this.

 

CHOCOLATE GIVES ME LIFE.

I have carefully selected these brands of chocolate confections because I hold their products near and dear to my heart. I’m not the type of person to pick up a Hershey Bar. I always long for something better. The ten brands of chocolate products represented here all strive for quality and they use wholesome ingredients to produce their products.

Winner will receive one product (one piece) from each of the following brands:

  1. Alternative Baking Company – Colossal Chocolate Chip Cookie
  2. Lily’s 40% Chocolate, Salted Almond & Milk
  3. Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups, Dark Chocolate
  4. Enjoy Life Boom Choco Boom Dark Chocolate
  5. Theo Cranberry Orange Dark Chocolate
  6. Eating Evolved Classic Coconut Butter Cups, Dark Chocolate
  7. Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Cranberries & Orange & Cinnamon
  8. Alter Eco Chocolate Bar Dark Super Blackout Organic
  9. Newman’s Own Organics 70% Cocoa Chocolate, Super Dark
  10. Heavenly Organics Honey Patties, Chocolate Mint

These ten brands can all be found on Amazon and many ship with Amazon Prime. If you are not yet a Prime member you can sign up for a free 30-day trial.

The chocolate giveaway

Alternative Baking Company

I am giving away one chocolate chip cookie from Alternative Baking Company. This cookie is gluten-free and vegan. They offer a wide variety of cookies to choose from and they come in 12 different flavors. You can find out more in their online store.

Alternative Baking Company Chocolate Chip Cookies
Alternative Baking Company Chocolate Chip Cookies

Lily’s Sweets

The winner of my giveaway will receive one Salted Almond & Milk chocolate bar from Lily’s Sweets. Lily’s chocolate bars are sweetened with Stevia and they do not contain any added sugars. The chocolate is also free of GMOs and is vegan-friendly. These bars are wonderful for those of us who are watching our sugar intake. If you are curious about these chocolate bars why not pick up a variety pack on Amazon with 6 fun flavors!

Lily' Sweets Salted Almond & Milk Chocolate Bar
Lily’ Sweets Salted Almond & Milk Chocolate Bar

Justin’s Organic

The winner of my chocolate giveaway will receive one package of dark chocolate peanut butter cups from Justin’s. If you love the combination of dark chocolate with peanut butter you will be swooning over these with your first bite. These taste 10x better than your average Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and they are only made with all-natural, organic ingredients. These peanut butter cups are also available in milk chocolate.

And I just discovered that these peanut butter candy cups are available in white chocolate as well. So something for everyone!

Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Enjoy Life Foods

Enjoy Life Foods is one of my favorite brands and I love their vegan and gluten-free chocolate with all of my heart. The winner of this giveaway will receive one Dark Chocolate Boom Choco Boom bar. This brand makes the most incredible chocolate chips and chocolate chip cookies.

Enjoy Life Foods Boom Choco Boom Dark Chocolate
Enjoy Life Foods Boom Choco Boom Dark Chocolate

Theo Chocolate

I love the gourmet flavor of a Theo Chocolate bar. The winner will receive one Cranberry Orange bar from Theo Chocolate. Here is a variety pack of holiday flavors available on Amazon. Make sure you check out their 12-bar variety pack also.

Theo Chocolate Holiday Chocolate Bar Variety Pack
Theo Chocolate Holiday Chocolate Bar Variety Pack

Eating Evolved

Eating Evolved makes primal and paleo products that are gluten-free and vegan. They only use all-natural ingredients to create their mouthwatering treats. I am giving away one Dark Chocolate Classic Coconut Butter Cup to one lucky reader of my blog. If you want to try three different flavors of these Eating Evolved Coconut Butter Cups there is a 12-count variety pack available on Amazon.

Eating Evolved Classic Coconut Butter Cups, Dark Chocolate
Eating Evolved Classic Coconut Butter Cups, Dark Chocolate

Endangered Species Chocolate

Amazon offers a variety pack of several different flavors of Endangered Species Chocolate. The winner of my giveaway will receive one bar from this brand and it will be Cranberry Orange flavor. What I love about this brand of chocolate is that they give back to the environment. Endangered Species Chocolate has donated $1.4 million towards conservation efforts of endangered animals.

Endangered Species Chocolate Bars Variety Pack
Endangered Species Chocolate Bars Variety Pack

Alter Eco

This Super Blackout Bar from Alter Eco is not for the faint of heart. This chocolate bar is for the real, true chocolate lover out there. This bar is super dark and one lucky reader of my blog will get to give this bar a whirl. I love this bar paired with a glass of port wine. Alter Eco also produces a variety of decadent chocolate truffles.

Alter Eco Super Blackout Chocolate Bar
Alter Eco Super Blackout Chocolate Bar

Newman’s Own Organics

This is another brand that gives back. Newman’s Own contributes 100% of their profits to charity organizations. You can read more about their mission statement on their website. The winner of my giveaway will receive one 70% chocolate bar from Newman’s Own. This bar is organic and made with wholesome ingredients and love.

 

Newman's Own Organics 70% Chocolate Bar
Newman’s Own Organics 70% Chocolate Bar

Heavenly Organics

These Chocolate Mint Honey Patties from Heavenly Organics are gluten-free and made with only three natural ingredients: chocolate, raw white honey, and peppermint oil. The winner of my giveaway will win one package to try out.

Heavenly Organics Honey Patties, Chocolate Mint
Heavenly Organics Honey Patties, Chocolate Mint


 

Here are some of my blog highlights that feature chocolate I would love to share:

Paleo & Vegan Cookie Dough Cheesecake Recipe

Slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

This recipe turned out quite fabulous and I am really proud of this one and had to share it here on my blog! I am a lover of pretty much anything this is cookie dough. This was a delectable treat that truly pleased my palate. This recipe is perfect for anyone that loves to indulge in chocolate.

Paleo & Vegan Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Recipe

A nice slice of the Vegan Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
A nice slice of the Vegan Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Ahhh yes… we have another cheesecake recipe that I would love to share with my readers. So yeah I am a big time cookie dough lover but you want to know what else I love? The combination of dark chocolate and raspberry. Pure bliss! This is another recipe for the chocolate lovers out there. I am quite obsessed with all of these paleo and vegan cheesecake recipes. It is nice to know and reassuring that those of us who need to opt for a gluten-free diet have a wide variety of things to choose from nowadays.

Paleo Chocolate & Matcha Cheesecake

Paleo Chocolate & Matcha Cheesecake
Paleo Chocolate & Matcha Cheesecake

One more cheesecake recipe. This recipe is paleo friendly. I could have made it vegan-friendly as well but silly me decided that sweetening this up with honey was a great idea. Great idea, yes, but not friendly for the vegan readers. This chocolate and matcha combination had a very unique flavor.

So tell me… what is the first product that you are going to give a whirl if you win my chocolate giveaway? Leave a comment below and make sure you enter the giveaway. Good luck to all!

Give It A Whirl Girl CHOCOLATE GIVEAWAY
Give It A Whirl Girl CHOCOLATE GIVEAWAY

Enter the chocolate giveaway through the entry form below.

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS (no extra cost to you). ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.
111

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake RECIPE (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake RECIPE (gluten-free, vegan)

Saturdays are my favorite days of the week to get in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen and whip up a tasty treat for my family to enjoy. This weekend I created a vegan and gluten-free, no-bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake. Is there anything in this world better than edible chocolate chip cookie dough? Hell no! This Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake is completely safe to indulge in and does not contain any eggs which are typically found in cookies. The filling is of this cheesecake mimics the real deal quite well and my little family of 3 absolutely loved this faux cheesecake recipe.

I think that it is a universal idea that raw cookie dough is the bomb! When I was a little girl and my mom whipped up a batch of cookies I always had to have a taste of the cookie dough on the spatula. I would give it a good lick and the taste of raw cookie dough is pure, straight up comfort food! Am I right?

Raw cookie dough almost always has eggs in it, and let’s face it… raw eggs can get you sick with salmonella nowadays and that is the last thing in the world that anyone needs. This recipe is perfect for those that admire that taste of raw cookie dough. If you don’t feel like creating an entire cheesecake with this recipe, go ahead and just create the filling and indulge in that with a spoon or use something to dip in it. The filling on its own makes a great dip!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Vegan-friendly and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Vegan-friendly and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Creating the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

This cheesecake has a very rich taste thanks to the 4th & Heart ghee that I used. If you are able to get hour hands on the 4th & Heart vanilla ghee I am sure that would be fantastic in this recipe as well. In my cheesecakes, I always go with coconut oil but for this one, I swapped that out for ghee since chocolate chip cookies are full of butter. The ghee turned out the be a wise choice. When I took that first bite of this cheesecake I knew that using ghee in this recipe was a smart decision. I used coconut oil a couple months ago to make a cookie dough cheesecake, and while it was delicious this recipe with the ghee knocked it out of the park!

It may seem as though this recipe has a lot of ingredients. If you have a well-stocked pantry, chances are you already have most of the items on the ingredient list. There are also some kitchen items, such as a good-sized food processor, that you will need. A springform pan is essential as well in order to create a cheesecake. A standard 8-inch size will do. If you use anything larger you will have to increase the amount of the ingredients in the chocolate ganache topping.

Most of the ingredients
Most of the ingredients

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake crust

The first step of this recipe is to create the crust of the cheesecake. For the crust of this cookie dough cheesecake, I used a mix of Medjool dates, raw almonds, almond flour, finely shredded coconut, maple syrup, cacao powder, ghee, and some pure vanilla extract. This results in a chocolatey crust due to the added cacao powder. If you do not want a chocolate crust, simply just omit the cacao powder. The crust is gluten and grain-free. The crust has a nutty texture (from the almonds) and the perfect amount of chocolate flavor.

Crust ingredients in the food processor
Crust ingredients in the food processor

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough chocolate crust pressed into a springform pan
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough chocolate crust pressed into a springform pan

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake filling

The filling is composed of raw cashews, almond flour, coconut flour, ghee, maple syrup, lemon juice, coconut sugar, and vegan dark chocolate chips. This is the part of cheesecake that is all about that edible cookie dough flavor. The soaked cashews mixed with that little bit of lemon juice, believe it or not, are going to imitate a cheesecake. This type of formula with the cashews and lemon juice is very versatile and you can totally get creative here with your non-dairy, vegan cheesecake. I posted some other recipes for cheesecakes at the bottom of this post.


Filling made... just need to stir in some chocolate chips
Filling made… just need to stir in some chocolate chips

Filling smoothed out over the crust. Just needs a chocolate ganche topping.
Filling smoothed out over the crust. Just needs a chocolate ganche topping.

Close up of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Close up of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake topping

For this Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake, we are going to top it off with a simple chocolate ganache that is only 2 ingredients: vegan dark chocolate chips (from Enjoy Life Foods) and just a dab of coconut oil to smooth it all out. This is my daughter’s favorite part of any cheesecake that I create. Gee, I wonder why? Could it be because she is a chocolate lover like myself? This is the first part that she always goes for when I cut her a slice.

Melting down some dark chocolate chips for the topping
Melting down some dark chocolate chips for the topping

Slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Continue reading “Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake RECIPE (Vegan, Gluten-Free)” →

1

Paleo Matcha & Chocolate Cheesecake – RECIPE – Gluten-Free

Matcha & Chocolate Vegan Cheesecake

Let it be known that making these cheesecakes are one of my favorite things to do in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. These desserts are rich, flavorful, and actually quite nutritious. They are a much better alternative to regular cheesecake. The basic ingredients in these are fruit (medjool dates) and a variety of different nuts (mostly cashews). I am not going to lie, sometimes I even sneak in a slice for a filling breakfast. This matcha chocolate cheesecake dessert is unique in its flavor. If you are a fan of matcha (green tea) this recipe for a matcha chocolate cheesecake might just be perfect for you. I love everything about this particular one: the crust, the filling, and the chocolate ganache on top. It all marries together harmoniously to make one hell of an awesome cheesecake.

Matcha & Chocolate Vegan Cheesecake
Matcha & Chocolate Cheesecake

This almost-paleo matcha chocolate cheesecake requires several different components to make it all come together. I broke it down into sections for you. I suggest gathering up all of your ingredients first so you can breeze through this recipe with ease.

Continue reading “Paleo Matcha & Chocolate Cheesecake – RECIPE – Gluten-Free” →

6

Paleo Mississippi Roast Melt In Your Mouth Meat Recipe (Slow-Cooker) (Gluten-Free)

PALEO MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST RECIPE by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL - GLUTEN-FREE

Meat so tender and juicy it just melts in your mouth. Mmmm! This is what I will be discussing today… my Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast recipe! I will fill you in on how I made a gluten-free Mississippi Pot Roast without any seasoning packets. We DIY over here! I included my recipe for both the seasoning and the roast. This slow-cooker recipe requires minimal prep and then you load the meat into your slow-cooker and it does all of the work for you… set it and forget it! This is a simple way to ensure that you will have a mouthwatering meal waiting for you after a long, busy day at work.

PALEO MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST RECIPE by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL - GLUTEN-FREE
PALEO MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST RECIPE

Skip the ranch seasoning packet and make your own ranch seasoning!
Paleo-friendly recipe right here!

If you are a seasoned cook (pun intended) you should already have all, if not most, of these ingredients, stashed away in your pantry for this Paleo Mississippi Roast. I had everything on hand so I experimented here and created this ranch-flavored seasoning to coat my meat with.

Ingredients for ranch seasoning:

Directions for ranch seasoning:

Simply mix all of these ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside. You will rub this completely on your roast. You likely will not need all of it but at least half and the other half can be reserved for a future use. Keep reading to see how I used the rest of my seasoning.

Homemade paleo friendly ranch seasoning for Mississippi Roast

Ingredients for Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast
Ingredients for Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast

Ranch rub for Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast
Ranch rub for Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast

 

Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast recipe

This recipe will feed 4-5 people if you go with a 2 1/2 lb roast like I did. If you need to feed more, simply purchase a larger roast.

Ingredients for roast:

  • You will need a good sized chuck roast or any other roast of your choosing. I used a 2 1/2 pound chuck roast
  • Homemade ranch seasoning (recipe above)
  • Pepperoncinis (as many as your heart desires)
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 5 tablespoons ghee – (2 tablespoons for browning meat and 3 tablespoons to top the roast with)

Directions for roast:

  1. Rub your roast with the ranch seasoning that you created.
  2. Warm 2 tablespoons of ghee in a large skillet or frying pan. When the pan is warm and ghee is melted place your roast in there and brown on all sides.
  3. Once meat is browned place in slow-cooker.
  4. Add two tablespoons of minced garlic
  5. Add one cup of beef broth to slow-cooker.
  6. Top meat with 3 tablespoons of ghee. It will melt down on the meat and infuse it with flavor and juiciness.
  7. Top the roast with pepperoncinis. I ended up using half a jar.
  8. Cook on low for 6 hours.
  9. Remove meat from slow-cooker and place on platter to slice and serve.
  10. Eat and enjoy! Serve with your favorite side-dish or use my suggestion below for roasted ranch potatoes.

 

 

Brown your Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast with 2 tablespoons of ghee
Brown your Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast with 2 tablespoons of ghee


DeLallo Pepperoncinis for Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast
DeLallo Pepperoncinis for Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast


Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast topped with Organic Valley Ghee and DeLallo Pepperoncinis
Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast topped with Organic Valley Ghee and DeLallo Pepperoncinis

Looking for a way to use up that ranch seasoning that you created?

I had quite a bit of ranch seasoning leftover so what I did was tossed some potatoes with some extra virgin olive oil and coated them with the ranch seasoning. I roasted these potato halves in the oven at 400-degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes and they came out fork-tender. This potato medley is the perfect accompaniment to your Mississippi Pot Roast. If you want to keep your meal totally paleo be sure to use roasted sweet potatoes since those fall within paleo guidelines. In the photo below, I used one small bag of multi-colored mini potatoes and fingerlings. I sliced them all down the middle for quicker roasting.

Use the remainder of your ranch seasoning to roast a big batch of potatoes
Use the remainder of your ranch seasoning to roast a big batch of potatoes

Tender & juicy Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast ready for serving
Tender & juicy Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast ready for serving

Tender & juicy Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast ready for serving along with a roasted medley on potatoes
Tender & juicy Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast ready for serving along with a roasted medley on potatoes

 

Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast made with a BUTCHERBOX Chuck Roast
Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast made with a BUTCHERBOX Chuck Roast

 

Mississippi Pot Roast (Paleo and Gluten-Free) made with a BUTCHERBOX Chuck Roast
Mississippi Pot Roast (Paleo and Gluten-Free) made with a BUTCHERBOX Chuck Roast

 

 

Tender & juicy Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast along with a roasted medley of potatoes
Tender & juicy Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast along with a roasted medley of potatoes

 

Mississippi Roast (Paleo, Gluten-Free) Chuck Roast From My ButcherBox
Mississippi Roast (Paleo, Gluten-Free)

 

 

 

 

Skip the butter and go with Fourth & Heart Ghee. Shop on Amazon. This is one of my go-to brands of ghee.



My mother and step-dad stopped over for dinner last night and this was what I served. We sure polished this meal off. There was nothing left and we all joined the Clean Plate Club. This is the type of dinner that I love to serve to guests of my home. It is great comfort food and it is a filling dish. We all had to leave some room for dessert though! I created a vegan matcha and chocolate cheesecake and that was our dessert. I am currently working on a recipe post for that and hope to post it soon.

Does this look like a recipe that your family would enjoy? If you do decide to make this dish let me know how you like it. Leave me a comment and let me know.

Related post:

WHEN COMFORT & SIMPLICITY COLLIDE – PALEO POT ROAST WITH PARSNIPS (GLUTEN-FREE, SLOW-COOKER)

PALEO ROOT VEGETABLE POT ROAST RECIPE (Slow-Cooker)

Paleo Pot Roast With Parsnips (Gluten-Free, Slow-Cooker)
Paleo Pot Roast With Parsnips (Gluten-Free, Slow-Cooker)

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS. THIS HELPS MAKE FOR A BETTER BLOG EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF MY READERS. ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS MAKING IMPROVEMENTS ON THIS BLOG.

 









4

Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa RECIPE – Gluten-Free – One Last Summer Meal

Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa - Gluten-Free

Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa - Gluten-Free - RECIPE
Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa – Gluten-Free – RECIPE

It really is starting to feel like autumn now and I have been craving this Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken dish all summer and I finally got around to whipping this dish up a couple nights ago. I created a pineapple dish with a sweet honey teriyaki sauce (the sauce is paleo compliant) with chicken breast and some ginger & orange quinoa. My daughter, Chloe, was super duper excited to chow down on this dish. It is so fun to eat your food out of a pineapple, right? This dish is gluten-free and will also be paleo if you just leave out the ginger/orange quinoa.

Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa - Gluten-Free
Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa – Gluten-Free

Dishes served like this are always memorable. It’s not too often that the opportunity arises to eat your meal out of a pineapple. I truly get joy out of preparing meals like this for my family. Not only is this dish super cool but it is also healthy and nutritious, most importantly!

Create something amazing and memorable for your family to enjoy! This dish will make you feel like you are swept away to an exotic tropical location.

Continue reading “Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa RECIPE – Gluten-Free – One Last Summer Meal” →

6

Cactus Pear Nice Cream RECIPE With Pomegranate & Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites – (Vegan and Gluten-Free)

Cactus Pear Nice Cream RECIPE with Pomegranate and Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites

Wondering how I naturally obtained this lovely shade of hot pink in my bowl of nice-cream (vegan ice-cream)?? Easy! I owe it all to the cactus pear, also known as the prickly pear. The flesh of a cactus pear, when combined with a banana, will give you this gorgeous magenta hue. This cactus pear nice cream recipe is a healthy dessert that will most definitely make your child excited for a yummy treat that is naturally sweet from nature with no added sugars. Other ingredients in this frozen treat are frozen pomegranate, two frozen bananas, some coconut milk and Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bites. This is a much healthier alternative to traditional ice-cream and I always enjoy creating this and serving it at home. Super simple and easy to do too!

Nice-cream is the vegan and paleo version of ice-cream. It is dairy-free and lactose-free.

Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream
Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission if items are purchased through these links with no extra cost to you.

A good food processor comes in handy for making vegan nice-creams at home. You will also want to prepare in advance for making this by freezing two sliced up bananas overnight. Also, chill a can of full-fat coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight for best results. If you have a can of coconut cream on-hand that makes for even better results, a lot more creamy, but coconut cream is usually around $4 a can and coconut milk works just fine.

The Enjoy Life Foods Dark Raspberry Protein Bites were a wise choice here as a nice-cream topping. I chopped them up small and placed them on top. The dark raspberry flavor is actually my favorite flavor of all the Protein Bites and it paired nicely with the flavors of the cactus pear and pomegranate. It also gave this bowl of nice-cream a boost in protein, which is always welcome, especially if you are following a vegan diet.


Ingredients used to make Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream
Ingredients used to make Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream (Protein Bites not shown in this photo)

Cactus Pear Nice Cream Recipe

Cactus Pear Nice Cream RECIPE With Pomegranate & Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites

This simple and easy to do gluten-free and vegan nice cream recipe results in the prettiest of pink nice creams you have ever seen.

  • 2 Bananas (Frozen)
  • 1 Cactus Pear
  • 1/2 cup Pomegranate (Frozen)
  • 6 Enjoy Life Foods Dark Raspberry Protein Bites
  • 1/2 cup Full-fat organic coconut milk (Chilled overnight in fridge)

  1. Place the frozen bananas, cactus pear, pomegranate, and chilled coconut in the food processor.

  2. Blend until smooth.

  3. Remove cactus pear nice-cream from food processor bowl.

  4. To the nice cream with small chunks of Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites. I used the Dark Raspberry.

  5. Divide into two bowls. 

    Serve, eat. and enjoy!


Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream in the food processor. Do not add Protein Bites at this time!
Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream in the food processor. Do not add Protein Bites at this time!

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Enjoy Life Foods Dark Raspberry Protein Bites chopped into small pieces

Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream
Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream

Final thoughts on the cactus pear nice cream recipe

I do believe that you will love this hot-pink cactus pear nice cream recipe if you do decide to give it a whirl. It is super unique in its flavor and unlike anything I have ever tried! I am extremely happy with the results of mixing these ingredients together. I was not sure what the outcome would be, but I got brave in the kitchen and I have no regrets!

If you are looking for a healthier alternative to ice-cream that is dairy-free and contains no added sugars, you should try making vegan and glutern-free nice creams at home. They are very versatile and you can get creative by whipping them up and experimenting with different ingredients. As a base, I usually use two frozen bananas and make sure I have a can of chilled coconut milk (it must be full-fat and not light coconut milk) on-hand to make this. This will result in approximately 2-3 servings. Most often it is just my daughter and I sharing but sometimes my hubby wants some too.

You can read more about the Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites on a previous blog post:

HERE

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Have you ever tried vegan nice cream? How do you like to create yours? Leave me a comment and let me know.

 

Here are some other posts you will enjoy!

 

Want to find out more about Enjoy Life Foods?

 

 

 

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8

Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili – Gluten-Free – A Healthier Approach To Chili

Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili simmering in the Staub
Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili simmering in the Staub

It seems a bit early in the year still for chili but temps are cooling down a bit here in Michigan and I so ready to make my first batch on Sunday night. This version that I created was totally paleo (gluten-free) and this time around to keep it paleo I avoided kidney beans, which I usually do love to use in my chili. I also usually use ground beef and I switched it up and went for a lean ground turkey. I had a craving for some paleo turkey chili and I had to make it to satisfy my craving! The added turmeric was a nice touch as well. My husband and I reveled in this bowl of comforting chili. There is just something so comforting about eating chili. It is always satisfying and it is also so simple to make!


How I created this paleo turkey chili

This chili will make quite a few servings. I would say anywhere from 4-6 servings, depending on how much you place into your bowl. It started off with garlic and onion sauteed in the Staub until it reached a nice translucent, golden color. You will need a large pot to prepare the chili in. I love to use my Staub dutch oven for meals like this. The Staub is a heavy-duty piece of cooking equipment. It is very durable and built to last a lifetime. I always enjoy cooking with it.

Then came the lean ground turkey. I broke that up with a wooden spoon and continued to brown it. I seasoned the turkey with some organic chili powder, turmeric, cumin, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. This was my first time using turmeric in my chili so I was not sure how we were going to like it.

While the meat was browning I also added in some diced red and green bell peppers. Every chili needs to be chock full of peppers for me. Peppers in every bite! For this chili, I also decided to add some chopped zucchini pieces.

Once the meat was cooked and browned I added in an entire can of Muir Glen Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes. This is my favorite brand of tomato products that I currently use. Muir Glen is an organic line of tomato products and they always lend an extraordinary flavor to the dish I am preparing. You can read more about Muir Glen HERE and their principles as a company. They are outstanding!

I allowed this chili to simmer for a couple of hours. This can also be prepared in a slow-cooker and simmer all day in there. Just be sure to brown/cook the meat before putting it in there.

Continue reading “Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili – Gluten-Free – A Healthier Approach To Chili” →

0

RECIPE – Devil’s Food Vegan & Gluten Free Donuts – To Die For Goodness

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to my donut pan! I picked one up last weekend at Mile’s Cake and Candy Supplies in Clinton Township and I am so glad that I did. It is so much fun to work in the kitchen with my daughter making these healthy-ish gluten-free baked donuts. I went with a 6-cavity donut pan from Wilton. Wilton is a trusted source when it comes to baking supplies so I felt very confident purchasing this pan for the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. I did not use this pan for the recipe below but it would be best going with this pan. I used a flexible heart-shaped silicone mold with the donuts in the recipe and they were difficult to remove from the mold. So trust me here, go with a Wilton pan. You will thank me later. The cooking times are the same for either pan.

Wilton 6-cavity donut pan

We went a little overboard decorating these devil’s food donuts. We gave these donuts a generous sprinkling from 3 different jars of rainbow sprinkles. Why? Because variety is the spice of life. Gotta have my sprinkles right?!! We did not eat these sugar skulls, they were just for decoration.

Instead of using an actual egg we created our own “eggs” with ground flaxseed. For these you place 4 tablespoons of flax in a coffee grinder and grind them up. When these 4 tablespoons of ground flax are married to a half-cup of water this results in an egg-like mixture. Just whisk away and wallahh… flax eggs! They are vegan and paleo friendly. You can also do the same with chia seeds. So if you are ever out of eggs just bust out your flax or your chia and make your own eggs!

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Devil’s Food Chocolate Vegan & Gluten Free Donuts

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Some of the ingredients I used and also a heart-shaped donut pan from FoodStirs

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup coconut flour (I used Arrowhead Mills)
  • 1/2 cup cacao powder (I used Livfit)
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • Sprinkle Himalayan salt
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil (I used Spectrum)
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup (I used Simple Truth)
  • 4 tablespoons flax seed (I used Arrowhead Mills)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegan dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil.

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Your flax “egg” will have an egg-like consistency after soaking in water a few minutes.

Recipe:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. While oven is heating up prepare your flax “eggs”. Place 4 tablespoons of flaxseed into a coffee grinder and grind them up. Place grounded up flax into a bowl and add 1/2 cup water. Whisk it up. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and it will get an egg-like texture.
  3. Work on dry ingredients first. Place coconut flour, cacao powder, baking soda, and salt into your stand mixer and mix until well combined.
  4. Now for the wet ingredients… add your flax “egg” mixture, coconut oil (1/3 cup), and maple syrup. Mix until well incorporated.
  5. Fill donut pan cavities up 2/3 of a way to the top of the mold. They will puff up while baking in the oven.
  6. Bake for 16-18 minutes at 350 degrees.
  7. Remove donuts from the oven and allow to cool.
  8. Prepare your chocolate glaze by placing 1/2 cups of chocolate chip and 1 tablespoon of coconut into a bowl. Microwave in 15-second increments. Continue stirring the chocolate and oil until completely melted.
  9. Dip your donut in the glaze. Allow it to see a few minutes for the glaze to set up.
  10. Eat and enjoy!

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Devil’s Food Chocolate Vegan & Gluten Free Donuts

Have you ever made your own homemade baked donuts? How do you enjoy yours? Do you think this is something you would like to try? Leave me a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from you!

If you are interested in creating your donuts you can pick them up at Amazon.

Wilton 6 Cavity Donut Pan

Wilton 6 Cavity Donut Pan 2 Pack

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS. ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.

 

 

 

 

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4

RECIPE -Cinnamon Churro SmashMallow Stuffed Plantain

You all know me! Trying out new foods all the time. This time around I had the chance to try out a plantain for the first time, AKA the “ugly bananas”! I ran into Kroger with my daughter to pick up some ingredients for some homemade popsicles that I will be creating this week. We were checking out the exotic fruits and a big plantain made its way into my shopping basket. I only purchased one. I had no clue what I was going to do with it but I wanted to bring it home anyway. I got home and did a bit of research on plantains. You do not want to eat these things raw. I did discover that these are best prepared cooked because if you bite into a raw one you are going to experience a bitter taste. You will not get sick eating a raw one but you will likely regret the taste in your mouth! I needed to figure out a plan of action with the plantain. I was sent a variety pack of SmashMallows to review. I already have a special recipe post drafted up for National S’mores Day (August 10th) featuring these yummy marshmallows. So I figured I could somehow incorporate the Cinnamon Churro flavor with the plantain. I made a roasted s’mores banana earlier this year and it turned out fantastic! I had the idea to use my plantain with the SmashMallows and roast it all up. I sprinkled some unsweetened coconut on it and a bit of cinnamon and cardamom.

I could not wait to tear into this when it popped out of the oven! I really enjoyed the taste of the plantain combined with the SmashMallows. After roasting the plantain for 13 minutes it had softened and was the perfect texture to eat.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 plantain
  • 6-8 Cinnamon Churro SmashMallows (or as many as you can cram inside!)
  • Tablespoon of unsweetened coconut
  • Sprinkle of cinnamon
  • Sprinkle of cardamom

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  2. Slice the plantain down the middle but not completely. Leave a little space at top & bottom.
  3. Stuff the plantain with the SmashMallows. I used a teaspoon along the sides to spread it open.
  4. Top with unsweetened coconut, cinnamon, and cardamom.
  5. Place the stuffed plantain onto a baking sheet or pan and wrap it up with foil, leaving an opening at the top.
  6. Roast for 13 minutes (or until the SmashMallows get a golden crust on them).
  7. Enjoy!

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Cinnamon Churro SmashMallow Stuffed Plantain before roasting

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Cinnamon Churro SmashMallow Stuffed Plantain after roasting

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Cinnamon Churro SmashMallow Stuffed Plantain after roasting

This sure was a great dessert for my daughter and me to share. Of course, she loved the ooey, gooey toasted marshmallow part the most. I ended up being the one to eat most of the plantain. That was perfectly fine with me. I am really happy that I finally gave the “ugly banana” a whirl. I have seen those plantains around for ages and have always been so curious about them.

Tidbits of information on the plantain:

  • 1 medium cooked plantain contains approximately 230 calories.
  • 1 medium plantain has appx. 4.6 grams of fiber.
  • Plantains are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium.
  • Plantains come from several parts of the world: West & Central Africa, the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and coastal parts of South America.
  • If you are following a paleo diet plantains are ok to eat. They are starchy but considered a good source of carbohydrates.
  • When the plantain gets brown/black it is at its peak stage of ripeness. This is when it is the most sweet.

Tidbits of information on SmashMallows:

You can find the Cinnamon Churro SmashMallows on Amazon:

Or why not try a variety pack?!!

 

Have you ever tried a plantain? How do you like to serve yours? Leave me a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from you!

 

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS. ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.

6

Cactus Pear Smoothie RECIPE With Raspberries- Tried It Out Tuesday

Cactus Pear Smoothie RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl

I went shopping at Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace this past weekend and that is my go-to place for unusual fruits and vegetables. They carry the mainstream and also the more obscure. If you are looking for beautiful produce, Nino’s is the place to be. You can tell that they are super picky about what kind of produce is allowed to hit the shelves because it all looks beautiful and perfect! This past weekend we went to the exotic fruit section and decided on bringing home a couple cactus pears, also known as a prickly pear cactus. Imagine my surprise when I sliced into it and discovered that it is a vibrant hot-pink, magenta color. I had no idea this cactus pear had such a gorgeous interior! I was thinking hmmm maybe cactus pear smoothie? Keep reading to find out how you can make this delightful pink drink with my cactus pear smoothie recipe!

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Nino Salvaggio’s

This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a commission from items purchased through these links with no extra cost to you.

I did a bit of research before eating the cactus pear. I sliced the skin off and I noticed that it had quite a few hard seeds inside. They are not something you can bite into but they are safe to swallow. When I blended this up in a smoothie the seeds got ground up in the blender.

So the taste? Super sweet like candy, a cross between juicy watermelon and bubble gum!

Here is a recipe for a cactus pear smoothie that you can have all to yourself or share with a loved one! I shared mine with my adventurous eater, Chloe Pearl, who is 8 years old and loves trying new things with me.


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Cactus Pear Smoothie

Cactus Pear Smoothie Recipe

cactus pear
cactus pear diced

 

banana
fresh raspberries
unsweetened almond milk

Cactus Pear Smoothie Recipe With Raspberries

This delightful hot pink smoothie drink not only looks incredible but it tastes great too and it is a healthy choice to make!

  • 2 Cactus pears (Peeled)
  • 1 Frozen banana
  • 1 handful Raspberries
  • 1/3 cup Unsweetened almond milk

  1. Place all of the ingredients in your blender.

  2. Blend until smooth.

  3. Serve, eat, and enjoy!

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Cactus Pear Raspberry Smoothie

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Chloe enjoying her cactus pear smoothie

 

Tidbits of info on the cactus pear:

  • Cactus pears grow on the Nepales Cacti and these plants can be found in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Egypt, and Morrocco
  • Cactus pears contain potassium, calcium, vitamin C, iron, and beta carotene.
  • Cactus pears can be used to make smoothies, candy, syrups, jams/jellies, wine, juice, pies, and more! Get creative!
  • They have anti-inflammatory benefits and also have anti-viral perks
  • High in fiber and rich in antioxidants
  • Can be used to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetics
  • They can help strengthen hair and nails
  • The average cactus pear has 60 calories, 14 g of carbohydrates, and 5 grams of fiber.
  • The fiber in the cactus pear can help with weight loss since the fiber makes you feel full longer.
  • Do not consume large amounts at first. They have been known to have side effects so please research before consuming large amounts. This does not affect everyone but some may get side effects.
  • Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Please do research on how this may benefit or impact you.

I hope that this cactus pear smoothie recipe will inspire you to give it a whirl! This hot pink concoction is simple and easy to do with your blender and home and it is a fantastic smoothie recipe that you will want to incorporate into your morning smoothie regimen.

 

 

So have you ever tried a cactus pear? How did you eat yours? If you have not tried it yet does this look like something you would try? Leave me a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

You might also enjoy these posts:

 


 

 

 

2

Infuse Your Salad With The Superfood- Hemp Oil

I received a bottle of artisan cold-pressed Hemp Oil from Foods Alive to try out. The wheels in my brain were turning and I came up with a delicious salad dressing. This recipe will give you 2-3 servings of this tasty dressing. So simple to make and it has plenty of health benefits too, so it is a win-win situation!

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Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup of hemp oil (I used Foods Alive)
  • 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar (I used Star Fine Foods)
  • 1 tablespoon of minced garlic (I hate mincing garlic so I use Spice World)
  • A splash of lemon juice (I used DeLallo)

Instructions:

Pour the hemp oil, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, and lemon juice into a bowl. Start whisking until the ingredients are well incorporated. I let my dressing sit in the refrigerator for a few hours so the flavors would be infused more.

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How I created my salad

I am a really big fan of Kroger’s Simple Truth line of prewashed, organic salad mixes. They are my absolute favorite to work with. I used a mix of their Power Greens and Spring Mix. I used Perdue grilled chicken along with a variety of peppers (green, red, orange, and yellow), and I also used some sliced red onion. Oh gosh and how could I forget the pepperoncini??!  This was my first time using them in a salad like this. I usually like to include them in my cold pasta salads. It all came together wonderfully with the hemp oil dressing that I created. If it is worthy of a blog post then I can assure you that it is great!

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What are some of your favorite salad dressings? Let me know in the comments below! 

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0

Almond Butter and Triple Berry (Raspberry, Blueberry, Blackberry) Chia Jam Overnight Oats: (RECIPE)

This is one of my favorite breakfast recipes. I love the taste of peanut butter and jelly. It is a taste that takes me back to my childhood. PB&J is such a nostalgic flavor. This recipe will create 2 servings (or one very large serving) of overnight oats topped with naturally sweetened chia jam and almond butter. You will not have to use all of the jam and almond butter in your overnight oats. You can store those items and save them for future use.

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This recipe requires a few different components. You will be creating your own sugar-free jam. This is simple and easy to make. It gets the sweetness right from the fruit and the raw honey.

Triple Berry Chia Jam

You will also be creating an almond butter. Let’s face it… nut butters can carry a hefty price tag. It is quite simple to make your own if you have the patience to get it properly blended up. The easiness of this step will rely heavily on the quality of your food processor. For me, it took a few minutes to get mine smooth and I also had to take a moment from processing to scrape the sides of the bowl and mix it up.

Your homemade almond butter can keep in the fridge for several weeks in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to four months. Once the almond butter is refrigerated you may need to warm it up a bit to get it to soften.

Almond Butter

The overnight oats step in the recipe is the most simple. You will want to do this recipe the night before you plan on enjoying it. The oats need time to absorb the milk & maple syrup. They also need to soften up.

Ingredients for the oats:

  • 1 cup of gluten-free oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill Quick Cooking Oats)
  • 1 cup of dairy-free milk (I used Pacific Organics Unsweetened Vanilla Hemp Milk)
  • 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup

Ingredients for the jam:

  • 1 1/2 cups fresh berries (I used raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries)
  • 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
  • 1 tablespoon of raw honey
  • splash of fresh lemon juice

Ingredients for the almond butter:

Instructions:

  1. Let’s start off with the oats. This step is simple in easy. I use 1 cup of oats and place them in a Mason jar. Pour in the milk and the maple syrup. Give it a good stir. Allow this to chill in the fridge for a few hours so it can soften.
  2. Next step is to wash your fruit and place in a small saucepan with 1 tablespoon of raw honey and a splash of lemon juice. Use a medium heat setting.
  3. Warm the fruit up for a few minutes until it starts to break down easily and you can mash it up with a wooden spoon.
  4. Add in 2 tablespoons of chia seeds and stir until well incorporated.
  5. Continue cooking until this reduces down into a jam-like consistency.
  6. Allow the jam to cool in the fridge for an hour
  7. Now onto the almond butter! To make the nut butter you roast 1 1/2 cups of raw almonds in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
  8. Allow the nuts to cool after they come out of the oven and then place them in a food processor with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon of raw honey, and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
  9. Use the high setting on your food processor and be patient during this step. It may take awhile to get the nuts creamy and smooth. If you need to add more coconut oil to the mixture do so with just a tiny bit.
  10. Your nut butter will start to ball up when it is ready. Give it a good stir to make sure it is well incorporated.
  11. After the oats have chilled and soften, top it with your homemade jam and almond butter. Enjoy!

If you are in a hurry and do not have time to make your own almond butter at home I would highly suggest opting for something that is low in sugars. Justin’s Classic Almond Butter has only 1 gram of sugar per serving. Maranatha is also a great go-to brand. Their almond butter has 3 grams of sugar per serving.

Hope you enjoyed this recipe! Let me know what you think in the comments below if you decide to give it a try.

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Have you ever made overnight oats? Let me know in the comments!

 

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I do receive a small commission if items are purchased through these links. All opinions stated here are my own.

Marley Spoon

0

Simple, Easy Vegan and Paleo NICE Cream: RECIPE that anyone can do!

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Simple! Easy! Healthy! Vegan + paleo friendly nice cream! This is naturally sweet and does not contain any added sugars!
It is so simple to whip up your own small batch of ice-cream at home that is healthy and good for you! This ice-cream has the consistency of soft serve and will make about 2-3 servings.

You will need:

  • 2 frozen bananas
  • 1 chilled overnight can of cream of coconut or full-fat coconut milk (the cream of coconut will be creamier)
  • 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • and any toppings you desire.
  • a food processor of blender

Place your frozen bananas in a food processor or blender along with the cream of coconut or coconut milk (CAUTION: do not use any liquid from the can just the coconut), and a teaspoon of vanilla. Blend this up completely. This may take awhile with the frozen banana chunks. Also serve immediately. If you decide to freeze your batch the texture will get a bit icy so I prefer to serve right away.

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Here I have my vanilla nice-cream topped with a blackberry & wine reduction sauce. You can find the recipe on my blog (just swap out the raspberries for blackberries).

Other examples of what you can do with this recipe are shown below. Get creative!

If you have a craving for chocolate use some about 1 tablespoon of cacao powder.

Fruit craving? No problem! Add any fruit you desire. In the photo below I used fresh strawberries. My favorite fruit mix in is dragon fruit (also known as pitaya. Those fruits can get a bit pricey so try a powder. A little bit goes a long way and still has incredible health benefits.

Does your diet need a boost in fiber? Try chia seeds in your next batch of nice cream.

Wanna pack in some protein? Top it with a nut butter. Try this one from Nuttzo.

You can add in any other mix-ins you want and top it any way that you want. The possibilities are endless here! Enjoy! Please be sure to share this post with your friends and let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this recipe.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I do receive a small commission if items are purchased through these links. All opinions stated here are my own.

1

Almond Joy (Coconut, Chocolate, and Almonds) Smoothie Bowl – RECIPE

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I love to start my day with a nutritious and filling breakfast. This one is naturally sweetened and has no added sugar. If you love the Almond Joy chocolate bar you gotta give this smoothie bowl a whirl! This a great, healthier alternative.

Ingredients:

  • 2 sliced and frozen bananas
  • 1 cup Trader Joe’s Just Coconut Chunks
  • 3/4 cup Thai Kitchen full fat coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil (I use Nature’s Way coconut oil)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (I use Simple Truth organic from Kroger)
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds (I use Simple Truth organic)
  • Small handful of Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips or make it a large handful if you love lots of chocolate!

Recipe: 

  1. Place the 2 frozen bananas, coconut chunks , and coconut milk into the blender. Blend on smoothie mode until ingredients are well blended. Add more coconut milk if necessary.
  2. In a saute pan melt down the coconut oil. Place the coconut flakes in the pan once the coconut is melted. Use a medium heat setting for this. Continue to warm up the flakes until they are nicely toasted and have a golden color.
  3. Remove the banana and coconut mixture from the blender cup and place in a bowl.
  4. Top your smoothie bowl with the toasted coconut flakes, slivered almonds, and the chocolate chips.
  5. Enjoy your Almond Joy smoothie bowl without too much guilt! Makes 1-2 servings so you can enjoy it all by your sweet self or share with a loved one.

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What kind of breakfast do you like to enjoy in the morning? Sweet or savory? 

Let me know in the comments.

Disclaimer:

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I do receive a small commission if products are purchased through those links.

Marley Spoon

2

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