Foods High In Iron

I was recently served this delicious vegetarian ( and of course gluten free) casserole at my friend Melissa's house that knocked my socks off! As soon as I saw it, it screamed Thanksgiving. As soon as I tasted it, I was in love and knew it would be part of my vegetarian/vegan Thanksgiving Dinner plan for 2016! Not only was the presentation sensational, but all 8 adults at the dinner party raved about it. Thanksgiving was on my mind because I had been trying to plan my menu. Maybe it was the scattered toasted sunflower seeds neatly arranged across the top, the creamy texture of the spinach and rice on the inside, or the brown crusty edges stuck to the four corners. Regardless, I know I couldn't help myself from taking a second helping and eventually asking for the recipe! I was delighted to see how easy it was to make, and I couldn't wait to share it with you on my blog. Melissa is an amazing cook and a thoughtful gracious host. To accommodate my vegetarian and gluten free e...

Still looking for a healthy Thanksgiving side dish ? You might be interested in this low calorie- low carbohydrate delicious, easy to make, casserole for as part of your feast!  It's made from "cauliflower rice", spinach, and pecans! I think we all are a little concerned about packing on extra pounds during the holidays. With this recipe, you can indulge and enjoy all the flavor without carbs. It's quick and easy to make too, and it can be made in advance and just warmed up before eating. It never ceases to amaze me how many different ways one can use cauliflower- It certainly is the great impostor. In the past I've made cauliflower rice pizza crusts , cauliflower rice bread sticks , and cauliflower rice snow patties. This recipe is no different- the cauliflower rice gives the impression that it is actually rice!! How did it come out? Fabulous!! Same delicious flavor without the carbs-  This is a must for Thanksgiving- Author: Judee Algazi @ Gluten Free A-Z Blo...

Tis the season to be experimenting with a variety of butternut squash recipe s. One of my favorites is this medley of roasted butternut squash cubes,  pecans, and dried cranberries in a maple syrup sauce that are dusted with cinnamon and vanilla. Can you imagine??? There is something about pecans that I just love, especially when they are added to a casserole. The pecans in this dish are candied, which adds a extra sweetness to the entire dish. Paired with the tart cranberries and lots of cinnamon, the flavors are heavenly.  This could be a perfect recipe for Thanksgiving since it tastes as good at room temperature as it does out of the oven. My good friend Laura always reminds me that dishes that can be eaten at room temperature work best for entertaining since it frees up the host and the oven.  I know the holiday is still six weeks away, but it's good to start planning in advance.  This recipe was given to me by My daughter -in- law Wendy  who does a lot wit...

Crazy about Quinoa ? You can turn a pot of basic quinoa into a more flavorful side dish in one easy step !  This is a simple recipe that can be enjoyed by your family any night of the week or it can be proudly served to guests for holidays or parties! I thought I knew quinoa until I tasted my friend Noreen's orange cranberry quinoa. It was exceptional and an interesting side for her recent dinner party. Noreen, like most of us, want healthy tasty dishes that can be made quickly and easily! This is it. It cooks in one pot, in one step, and is no fuss. It can be served hot, or as my dear friend Laura likes her food for entertaining, at room temperature. Laura ( co-author of Food No Matter What   )_  explains that preparing dishes that also work well at room temperature makes entertaining easier. It frees up both the oven and the host/hostess. All ingredients in the recipe are real food, gluten free, vegan, easy and delicious! It's good anytime of the year, but it would...

This is a perfect cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or Christmas . It is a mixture of tart cranberries, sweet apple, walnuts and tangy citrus. Fresh cranberries cook very quickly ( under 15 minutes), so it is easy to make this delicious seasonal sauce. It is a quick recipe that tastes exceptional and needs only about 5-10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes to cook. Can be and should be made in the day before which frees you up Thanksgiving day. Fresh Cranberries are tart. Many recipes call for a significant amount of white sugar to overpower the tart cranberries. This recipe has no added sugar and uses fruit and honey to sweeten up the recipe. The final product is a rich warm red color that looks very inviting and tastes delicious. In addition , i added some chopped walnuts for some little bit of crunch and to take away from the sweetness. Judee Algazi from Gluten Free A-Z Blog Prep Time: 5-10 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 1 12 ounce bag of organic cranberries 2 cups of orga...

  Can you imagine Thanksgiving without all of the FABULOUS seasonal sides made from sweet potatoes, string beans , potatoes, stuffing, roasted vegetables, pumpkin pie,cranberry sauce, soup etc. ? This is a collection of healthy real food recipes  ( gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan ) I love Thanksgiving and the beauty and richness of the season! I try to make my recipes as easy as possible. I hope you find some recipes in this collection that you can try for this year's celebration Healthy Thanksgiving Sides ( Gluten Free and Vegan)  Stuffed Berry Acorn Squas h-      A WOW presentation- acorn squash halves stuffed with an apple and berry filling. Looks as good as it tastes! Cider Glazed Butternut Squash   - This is one of my favorites for many reasons. It's an easy recipe that is naturally sweet and flavorful.  In addition it is low in calories, making it only 1 point plus on WW. Easy and tastes great! Carameliz ed Onion and Butternut Squas...

Looking for a quick and easy homemade soup?  Creamy Potato Leek is an all time healthy favorite. I used organic red potatoes, organic onions and organic leeks in this filling, satisfying, and soothing soup . It's a perfect choice for these chilly nights. Serve it with a salad, some cheese, or an entree. Would I make this soup for Thanksgiving?   Why not? It's delicious, gluten free and vegan-  If you are having guests, chances are that someone has special eating needs and can't eat this or that. This soup meets most allergy needs. ( GF, DF, Nut Free, egg free, vegan). It is a good standby, I used a combination of leeks and onions in this recipe . Leeks add a rich flavor to the soup and make it taste extra special. However, leeks can also be pricy. So, if you want to cut down on the price ( and don't mind sacrificing a little of the flavor ) , you can just use an additional large onion to the recipe and skip the leek! If you are not ready to make it- don't forget to...

      Squash Skewers are a simple, yet clever, way of serving butternut squash especially for the fall holidays. It makes a great appetizer and eating the squash off a skewer is fun and easy to eat. My friend Laura mentioned to me that she likes holiday recipes that can be eaten at room temperature so she doesn't have to keep heating and reheating to try to get the timing right for the meal. Roasted butternut squash tastes great at any temperature. Whether served hot out of the oven, eaten an hour later at room temperature, or finished off the next day cold right out of the refrigerator, it's always delicious! I bought my wooden skewers at my local supermarket ( they came in two sizes and were inexpensive- about $1.59) and roasted the winter squash first and then slid the roasted squash cubes on the skewers. My photo shows the basic idea, yet you could serve it with many variations. Some additional ideas to assemble the skewers Some additional ideas to assemble the skewe...