The Best Meal I Ever Made

There is something about snow days that makes me want to cook! So after the latest storm dumped 15+ inches in our area, I headed to the kitchen.  One of the best things about cooking, as opposed to baking, is the fact that you seldom need a recipe.  Often, I apply this philosophy to my baking adventures, with disastrous consequences.  But on Wednesday I made the EASIEST AND MOST DELICIOUS MEAL I HAVE EVER MADE! 

Sunflower seed butter has become a staple in my kitchen.  It satisfies my peanut butter cravings (it has a surprisingly similar taste) and provides Layla with the fat and protein that is hard to get due to her allergies and pickiness.

Here is my Asian-inspired recipe:

Orange-Soy Drumsticks:

Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1/2 cup of soy sauce (I used a low sodium soy sauce) 1/2 cup of orange juice and 1 tsp of garlic powder.  Place drumsticks in a greased baking pan.  Pour marinade over drumsticks and bake in a 425 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees, turn chicken and bake an additional 30 minutes.

Linguine with Sunflower Seed Butter Sauce:

Cook linguine according to package's instructions.   Place shredded carrots in colander and pour pasta over to gently steam.  In a bowl, toss carrots and pasta with 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter and 1/4 cup of soy sauce.  Top with scallions and serve!  This would be delicious with a salad tossed with sesame ginger dressing and mandarin orange slices.



Layla loved this dish and even had seconds!

Another Fall Favorite - Chili!

Even though the weather has felt more like summer than fall, I decided to make one of my favorite cold-weather dishes. Chili is such a perfect dinner - it's quick to make, easy to store, and very filling!

1lb ground turkey + 1 can kidney beans (drained) + one package of El Paso chili seasoning + 2 cans of tomato sauce

I made my own tortilla chips by brushing wheat tortilla wraps, cut into eighths, with olive oil and baking for 10 minutes.

Add a side of corn and voila! Quick and easy dinner! Layla LOVED it (even without the cheddar cheese and sour cream).

Oatmeal Apple Crisp

The traditional recipe calls for butter, but I found that if you use an equal amount of oil (I used canola), it comes out just as delicious.

WARNING: Contains Wheat

Ingredients:
4-5 large apples, cored and peeled
1/3 cup flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup oil

Cut apples into bite-sized pieces and place in a baking dish. In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add oil and mix until crumbly. Pour mixture over apples. Bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees (apples will be soft and the crust will be golden brown).

Depending on the kind of apples you use, the sugar is optional. I include it when I use very tart apples, such as Granny Smith. You can also substitute brown sugar.