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Showing posts from 2018

Paleo Breakfast Casserole

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Paleo Breakfast Casserole 1/2 pounds sausage (can use Italian sausage or make your own) 5 slices bacon, cut into small pieces 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped 1 large or two small sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded (I use the food processor for this) 10 eggs 1/2 cup coconut milk Set the instant pot to saute and put on the medium setting.  Add the sausage, bacon, and peppers and cook until sausage is no longer pink.  While this is cooking, mix eggs and milk in a large bowl and use a hand held mixer or immersion blender to beat up well.  With coconut oil, grease a 2 quart round casserole dish that will fit into your instant pot.  When meat is done, drain if needed/desired.  Add meat mixture and shredded sweet potatoes to eggs and stir to combine.  Pour into prepared dish and cover with aluminum foil.  Place 1 1/2 cups water (or whatever is the required minimum amount for your instant pot) into the bottom of your instant pot crock.  (I

Scotcheroos

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Sometimes the best recipes happen a little by accident.  In my family, my grandma was legendary for having to make substitutions in recipes because she was out of something.  Once when making jam, she didn't have enough wild grape juice or sand hill plum juice left to make a batch of jelly.  She and my brother decided to combine the remaining juices together to make one last batch.  They called it "grum," and it was a family favorite. Another time, when making a chocolate pie, she had to improvise.  She always said that it was the best pie she ever made.  The problem was, she couldn't remember what she had done differently, so she was never able to recreate it. Fast forward several years to my kitchen. . . My husband was getting ready to take my older kids in to the high school basketball games one night.  My oldest son, ever the sweets connoisseur, happened to mention, "They have the best scotcheroos there.  And they're really big!" My husban

Instant Pot Sesame Chicken

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This is one of my favorite go-to weekday lunches!  It's fast, easy, and full of flavor.  It also makes me nostalgic, because when I was pregnant, I used to crave Chinese food.  This dish doesn't rival an all-you-can eat Chinese buffet (I may have needed a few of those for each pregnancy!), but it comes close. Instant Pot Sesame Chicken  (adapted from this recipe) 2 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (I use four ounce chicken breasts from Schwan's, partially frozen) 1/2 C. coconut aminos or soy sauce 1/2 C.  honey 1/2 C. Water 2 T sesame oil 1/4 C. Tomato sauce 2 cloves garlic if desired Red pepper flakes, if desired Salt and pepper to taste 2 T. Tapioca starch or cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 C. cold water Sesame seeds for garnish if desired Place chicken in instant pot liner and season with salt and pepper (I probably use about 1/4 teaspoon of each).  Whisk next five ingredients together and add garlic cloves and a few shakes of red pepper flakes if desired.  Pour

Our Favorite Granola Bars

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I have made this recipe so many times that I have it memorized!  The kids love these granola bars, and they are relatively easy.  I have adapted the recipe to make a large batch so that it lasts at least a week in my house.  You can halve it for a 9 by 13 sized pan or quarter it for an 8 by 8. Our Favorite Granola Bars (adapted from this recipe ) 2 cups honey 3 cups creamy peanut butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 8 cups quick oats 6 cups rice crispies or Cheerios or a combination of both 1/2 to 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips, place in freezer preferably the night before (use Enjoy Life brand to keep dairy free) Combine honey, peanut butter, and brown sugar in a large microwave--safe bowl or pitcher.  Microwave for two minutes, stir, then microwave 2 minutes again and stir to combine.  (My microwave is 900 watts, so you may need to adjust your microwave times.  You want a nice, consistent mixture with the sugar dissolved.).  Stir in vanilla. While your mixture i

Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

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So I kept seeing recipes on Pinterest using an Instant Pot.  I thought I didn't need one.  But, finally, this Christmas, I got one.  And. . . I love it!  I use it almost every day, and I'm wondering how I ever did without it. If you are like some people that I know, you may have an Instant Pot sitting in your closet because you are intimidated to use it.  My advice--don't be!  Just pop that thing out and get cooking!  An easy recipe to start with would be hard boiled eggs. One of the reasons I wanted the Instant Pot was because my friend Keara told me how easy mashed potatoes were to make in it.  My kiddos love mashed potatoes, and I make them fairly often.  However, I really dislike having the potatoes boiling on the stove and then having to drain them with little ones at my feet.  Enter the Instant Pot, and mashed potatoes are on the menu a lot more at our house!  Happy Mommy and happy kids!  Plus, you can make them an hour or so ahead, put the Instant Pot on &quo