Lilac City Momma

Recipes

3 Creative Recipes for Spiralized Vegetables or Fruit

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Along with the newly risen awareness of healthy eating came a bunch of kitchen devices to help us prepare colourful and fun recipes. With Paleo and Keto on the rise, the top rated vegetable spiralizer transforms boring everyday fruits and vegetables into long veggie noodles or appetizing fruit desserts. The top rated vegatable spiralizers are devices that are normally able to not only produce one kind of spiral, but many different kinds due to interchangeable blades. Such as the “Brieftons 5 blade spiralizer” that not only got the highest rating, but also offers great value for the money. It offers the possibility to five different vegetable spirales and has a costumer-friendly desgin. A bit cheaper, but also delivered with five blades, is the much smaller “SimpleTaste Spiral Slicer”. This vegetable spiralizer is much more simple than a lot of kitchen appliances but very handy. Additionally: most spiralizers don’t cost more than $30 and you will use these devices for years to come and can help with many fun and healthy mommy recipes!

Once you see what great recipes can be composed – you’ll be happy to invest the money! All recipes are for two adults, so adjust the amounts based on the servings you need.

1. Everyone’s staple: low-carb zucchini pasta with traditional Italian sauce
One of the most popular recipes out there – and so simple it’s a shame you haven’t tried it before!

Ingredients: 

3 large zucchinis – yellow or green
fresh or dried basil (10 leaves or 1tbsp)
1 tbsp of nutritional yeast
1 small onion
12 ounces of sleved tomatoes
1tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions: 

Wash and clean the zucchini of any soil, then use a small to medium blade in your spiralizer and slice zucchini into long crunchy raw noodles. You will want to stop from time to time and cut through the spiral as it might be hard to eat the dish otherwise. Once your zucchinis are done you prepare the sauce.

Peel and cut the small onion and put it into a small pan together with the olive oil. Fry for a short period. Add the tomatoes, the nutritional yeast, salt and pepper as well as the basil. Cook for five minutes. Add additional water if needed.
Arrange the zucchini pasta and serve with the hot pasta sauce!

2. So pretty: colourful Indian summer beetroot salad

Ingredients:

4 raw beetroots (medium to large)
1 medium parsnip
1 medium carrot
2 medium oranges
1 cup of cashews
1 small lemon
4 tbsp of white vinegar
a hand full of fresh rucola
pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions: 

Peel beetroots, parsnip and carrot and use spiralizer with a small blade to cut into spirals. Peel and cut oranges and slice them into thin pieces. For the dressing use a blender and add cashews, the juice of one lemon as well as the vinegar and salt and pepper. Blend into a creamy dressing. Wash the rucola. Arrange the colourful noodles first, put the oranges second, top with rucola and finally sprincle on the dressing to your liking.

3. Spiralized cinnamon apples with vanilla ice cream

Ingredients: 

4 medium apples
1 tbsp of cinnamon
1 tbsp of maple syrup
1 ounce of vanilla icream
2-4 fresh
mint leaves to decorate

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Peel apples and use medium to large blade to spiralize the apples. Mix spiralized apples with cinnamon and maple syrup and bake for ten to fifteen minutes. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some fresh mint leaves on top. Enjoy!

5 Kids’ Lunch Ideas for Home and School

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Kids are very picky when it comes to food. If it were up to them, they would eat mac and cheese all day long and every day. However, a mother’s concern never goes away and that’s why most of them are always busy in the kitchen trying to whip up something good when those little monsters in the belly start screaming. Whether they are at school or at home, lunch time calls for something yummy that can be eaten quickly and is still fulfilling. So, here are 5 lunch ideas that you can try to please your kid’s palette:

Recipe 1

BBQ Chicken Sandwich with Pickled Cucumber

Ingredients

  • Small white onion: ¼ cup finely chopped
  • Small seedless cucumber: 1
  • Rice wine vinegar: ¼ cup
  • Rotisserie or boiled chicken: 1 bowl
  • Kosher salt: ¼ teaspoon
  • BBQ sauce: ½ cup
  • Country bread: 4 slices
  • Copious amount of ketchup (necessary)
  • Potato chips

Preparation

  • In a bowl, add rice vinegar and salt, and toss in the cucumber and onion.
  • Let it sit for 15 minutes, tossing it occasionally.
  • Meanwhile, shred the chicken.
  • Spread the BBQ sauce on the bread, place the chicken and toss the pickled cucumber and onion.

Note: If your kids like their sandwich with ketchup and crunchy, you can use any kind of potato chips.

Recipe 2

English Muffin Pizza

Ingredients

  • Whole grain English muffins: 2
  • Homemade or store bought tomato sauce: 1 cup
  • Slices of pepperoni: 4
  • Mozzarella slices: 4 (¼ inch thick)
  • Salt
  • Dried oregano

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Toast the muffins for 4 minutes until they turn brown.
  • Spread tomato sauce and pepperoni on the muffin and then top it with the cheese slice.
  • Sprinkle some salt and oregano and place it in the oven.
  • Bake for 4 minutes until cheese has melted.

Recipe 3

Ham and Cheese Quesadillas

 

Ingredients

  • Whole wheat tortilla: 4
  • Jarlsberg cheese: 4 triangle slices, ¼ inch thick
  • Ham: 8 thin slices
  • Baby spinach leaves
  • Mayonnaise: 1 tablespoon
  • Mustard: 1 tablespoon

Preparation

  • Cut two tortillas into half and open them.
  • Mix mustard and mayonnaise together and spread it inside the tortilla.
  • Create two layers by placing one slice of cheese and two slices of ham.
  • Top with baby spinach leaves and fold it into a triangle.
  • Place it in a Panini press and cook it until the cheese melts and the tortilla turns golden.

Recipe 4

Peanut Butter and Jam Bars

Ingredients

  • All purpose flour: 3 cups
  • Large egg: 1
  • Butter: 1 cup
  • Sugar: 1 cup
  • Creamy peanut butter: ½ cup
  • Strawberry or grape jam: 1 cup
  • Salted roasted peanuts: 1 cup

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a bowl, beat sugar and butter until fluffy and light.
  • On low speed, add in the egg and peanut butter.
  • Now, add the flour in small amounts until a dough forms.
  • Finally, mix in the peanuts.
  • Divide the dough equally and hand press one layer on a greased foil pan.
  • Spread the peanut butter and put the second layer of dough above.
  • Now, spread the jam.
  • Bake for 50 minutes and cool it on a wire rack.
  • Place it on a cutting board and cut into strips.

Recipe 5

Spiced Chocolate-Banana Muffins

Ingredients

  • Old-fashioned oats: 2 cups
  • Brown sugar: ½ cup
  • Whole wheat flour: 1¼ cups
  • Large beaten egg: 1
  • Baking powder: 2 teaspoon
  • Chia seeds: 2 tablespoon
  • Salt: ½ teaspoon
  • Ground ginger: ¼ teaspoon
  • Baking soda: ¾ teaspoon
  • Ground cinnamon: ½ teaspoon
  • Mashed banana: 1¼ cups
  • Bittersweet chocolate: 2 oz
  • Vegetable oil: 2 tablespoon
  • Low-fat buttermilk: 1 cup

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • In a bowl, beat sugar, oats, flour, baking soda, Chiaseeds, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and ginger.
  • In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, oil and mashed bananas.
  • Fold the banana mixture in the flour mixture.
  • Divide into the muffin tray and bake for 25 minutes.
  • Drizzle the top with chocolate when the muffins are hot.

You can pack these easy recipes in your kid’s lunch box, so that they can share it with their friends or you can serve them piping hot in the evening.

 

5 Crock Pot Meals for Busy Moms

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Some people say that motherhood mellows them out. The “partying out late at night”, “getting drunk” and indulging into other shenanigans gets replaced with filling milk bottles, cleaning nappies and trying to shush a crying baby, while trying to sleep. It’s funny how life changes in a matter of days.

While a crying baby is hard to handle, a five year old who runs away every time you set the table is even harder. As a working mom, the struggle is real. Recently, the USDA changed their food pyramid and introduced MyPlate. This plate says that every meal should include veggies, fruits, a grain and protein. There goes your hope of trying to feed your kid. The moment you put some veggies on their plate, you will hear only one word, “yuck”! So, if you don’t have time in your hectic schedule to whip up something fancy, go for these five easy crock pot meals that we assure you your kids will love:

Recipe #1

Mac & Cheese

What is the one combination that kids love? Macaroni + Cheese. This recipe takes just one hour and doesn’t require you to check on it constantly.

Ingredients

  • Cheddar cheese soup: 1 can
  • Milk: 1 ½ cups
  • Macaroni elbows: 8 oz (1/2 bag)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese: 2 cups
  • Sour cream: 1 ½ cups

Preparation

  • Boil macaroni for 3 minutes.
  • Drain macaroni and add it to the crock pot along with cheddar cheese soup, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.
  • Cook for 30 mins.
  • Add milk and then cook for 30 mins more.
  • Your crock pot mac and cheese is ready.

Recipe #2

Slow-Cooker Lasagna

Here’s another gooey cheesy delight that your kids will gobble down in minutes and ask for more. This recipe makes 10 servings and takes about 4 hours to cook.

Ingredients

  • Uncooked lasagna strips: 6
  • Ground beef: 1 lb
  • Diced white onion: 1 cup
  • Pastas sauce: 1 jar
  • Water: 1 cup
  • Minced garlic: 1 teaspoon
  • Ricotta cheese: 15 oz
  • Mozzarella cheese: 2 cups
  • Grated parmesan cheese: ¼ cup
  • Egg: 1
  • Fresh parsley: 2 tablespoons

Preparation

  • In a skillet, add onion and beef. Let it cook until the color turns brown. Add garlic for taste and let it simmer for one more minute.
  • Add water and spaghetti sauce and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Mix ricotta, 2 tablespoons parmesan, 1 ½ cups mozzarella, parsley and egg.
  • Create layers with the lasagna strips by alternating between the cheese sauce and the spaghetti meat sauce.
  • Let it cook for 4 hours. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan and mozzarella and let it melt. Serve after ten minutes.

Recipe #3

3 Ingredient Meatballs

 

Ingredients

  • Frozen meatballs: 2 lb
  • Grape jam: 12 oz
  • BBQ sauce: 12 oz

Preparation

  • Place the meatballs in the crock pot.
  • Mix together BBQ sauce and grape jelly and pour it over the meatballs.
  • Cook for 2 to 4 hours.
  • Serve it with dinner rolls, rice or mashed potatoes.

Recipe #4

Beef Stew

 

Ingredients

  • Beef chuck roast: 5 pounds
  • Chopped potatoes: 1 cup
  • Diced white onion: 1
  • Sliced carrots: 4
  • Frozen corn: 1 cup
  • Sliced mushrooms: 8 ounces
  • Condensed cream of mushroom soup: 1 can
  • Onion soup mix: 1 packet

Preparation

  • Line the bottom of the crock pot with the roast.
  • Add in mushrooms, frozen corn, carrots, potatoes and onions.
  • Cover the vegetables with the condensed cream of mushroom soup.
  • Sprinkle onion soup mix on top.
  • Let it cook for 7 to 8 hours.
  • Stir before serving.

Recipe #5

Taco Chicken Bowls

 

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts: 1½ lbs
  • Salsa: 16 oz jar
  • Drained black beans: 15 oz can
  • Frozen corn: ½ lb
  • Chili powder: 1 Tbsp
  • Cumin: ½ Tbsp
  • Minced garlic: ½ Tbsp
  • Dried oregano: ½ tsp
  • Cayenne pepper: ¼ tsp
  • Salt and pepper: ¼ tsp
  • Dry ice: 2 cups
  • Shredded cheddar: 8 oz
  • Boiled rice: 1 dish

Preparation

  • Add everything in the crock pot with ¼ cup water except for cheese and rice.
  • Cook for 8 hours.
  • Shred chicken with a fork in the pot
  • Place some rice in a bowl, top it with the taco mix and sprinkle some cheese on the top.

Try these easy recipes at home without slaving hours near the stove. Just sit back and relax until those hours are up and it’s time to serve.