yummy casserole

BEST TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE RECIPE

by with No Comment fitnessfoodhealth

Yup I said it! This recipe IS the best! It’s Corrine friendly (it’s gluten-free), super nutritious (that’s for you, carb conscious ones), and it’s super delicious! It has that nice crunch on the top layer, that ooey gooey comfort of the cream and cheese, a sweet lil kick from the peas, and a spicy lil kick from the peppers!

yummy casserole
I got the recipe from one of my favorite blogs, posted by fitness extraordinaire Sarah Bowmar! I tweaked the recipe just a bit to meet Corrine’s dietary restrictions and walaaaa! Here you go! The taste of home in less than 30 minutes! . . . Well minus the prep 😉
Ingredients:
6 oz pasta (I used 4 oz of quinoa elbow pasta and 2 oz of GF spaghetti noodles – for texture!)
1 1/2 tbsp grass-fed butter
1 medium onion finely chopped
3 TBSP gluten-free flour
1 1/2 cup water (or you can use broth like the original recipe calls for)
1 1/4 cup almond milk
2 cups peas
2 cans of tuna – drained
1 clove crushed garlic
shredded cheese (I used what cheese we had left of the Trader Joe’s lite 3 cheese blend)
salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes – to taste

Method:
Cook the noodles as directed, I used two kinds of GF pastas because I’m a texture girl and no matter what anyone says, quinoa pasta still tastes different to me. The GF spaghetti noodles (cut into pieces) added a lil normalcy to my life.

While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter and carmelize the onions and garlic in a separate pan. Then salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red-pepper flake that to taste. Wisk in the flour for a few minutes until it starts to brown (creates the thickness).  Then stir in the water (or broth) and bring that to a boil. Add in the milk and peas. Let that simmer together for a few minutes, drool over how yummy it smells, and then add in the tuna. Mix it around to break the tuna up and evenly disperse it throughout the pan and then remove it from heat.

Toss in your cheese and blend together until melted. Add in your noodles. Stir this pot of happiness until everything is nicely combined and coated.

Spritz your pan with some coconut oil spray and pour in your casserole. Bake this for 20-25 minutes (depending on how you like your crispy) at 375 degrees and NOM NOM NOM! If you love cheese like we do, sprinkle in the remaining cheese on top before baking so you get that crispy melty goodness!

I’ve linked the original recipe above so if you’d like a non gf recipe (but still really healthy one) than you can try that one out too!

Take it from someone who eats gluten and loves regular glutenous pasta – with this recipe you won’t be able to tell the difference! Even Joe was happy! We’ve been getting all beach-season ready over here so this healthy take on the traditional dish is such a comfort food! It’s been a lot of chicken and broccoli in my house. I of course, drizzled my portion with sriracha sauce and was quite sad when it was all gone.

This recipe makes a nice huge pan worth so we’ll be enjoying this tomorrow too hallelu!

TAG us on Twitter or Instagram when you make this and let me know if you alter it so I can try!

Hugs for a beautiful week!

Jess Lizama

 

Strawberry Almond Salad

STRAWBERRY ALMOND TRUFFLE SALAD

by with No Comment foodholidayslifestyle
  • Summer is fast approaching and between the warmer weather and the ToneItUp bikini series that we started, this salad has been a staple in our meals this past week. It’s easy to make, super refreshing, and SUPER delicious!I took a homemade truffle dressing recipe from my friend Linz, altered it by an ingredient so that my vegan child could enjoy  it also, tossed in some almonds for crunch, and fresh strawberry slices for an extra kick! For some more protein I also added in some shredded chicken in my bowl!

    delicious healthy salad
    Ingredients: 

  • baby kale
  • arugula
  • Blue Diamond sliced almonds
  • fresh strawberries
    Truffle Dressing- 
  • 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 tsp white truffle oil
  • 1 1/2 chopped fresh chives
  • 1 1/2 tsp Annie’s organic dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp sherry vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    Optional:
  • blueberries
  • shredded parmesan cheese
  • shredded chickenMethod: 
  • Put the salad into a large bowl
  • Combine the ingredients for the truffle dressing in a different bowl and then combine the two and toss
  • Add in the optional ingredients if you choose
  • ENJOY!!!!!fresh salad yaasss!

And tadaaa! There you have it! Try this out and let me know how you like it and leave it in the comments any alterations you make to the recipe so I can try them too!

Hugs!!!

 

xoxo – Jess

 

Abbott Kinney

TRAVEL: A DAY ON ABBOTT KINNEY

by with No Comment adventurecommunityfoodlifestyletravel

 

We recently spent a day at Abbot Kinney street in Venice, California, and strolled about and explored. This is what we found:

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When we had worked up an appetite, we stopped at a place called 3 Square Cafe. Here, we ordered a quinoa burger with shoestring fries and a strawberry lemonade. It was absolutely delicious! When we finished, we were delighted by a little box of complimentary lemon meringue pie, it was divine.

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If you’ve ever been to Abbot, then you know there is an endless variety of specialty stores, florists, cute little nooks and small, adorable shops to stop into. On our little journey we found this absolutely incredible, to-die-for pomegranate currant candle.

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As always, more retail therapy was sought, and the day ended with a happy tummy and not so happy wallet, but happy nonetheless!

Happy explorations to you!

– C

four daughters

BEST BRUNCH IN THE SOUTH BAY: FOUR DAUGHTERS

by with No Comment adventurecommunityfoodtravel

I’m one of those people who can have waffles and bacon any time of the day because breakfast is probably my most favorite meal of the day. Brunch is a happy medium with its breakfast options and early lunch specials! Four Daughters in Manhattan Beach offers up the yummiest quinoa bowl with potatoes and egg – the Porto Bowl. Where you can substitute anything into the bowl you’d like and trust me when I say to order a second side of the salsa it comes with! It’s delicious and fresh!

Four Daughters

Four Daughters has an ocean view,  outside seating if you bring your pet or want to enjoy the beautiful weather, and there is also a ton of street parking available.

Four Daughters
THAT is the view from the sidewalk ….. just breathtaking

Four Daughters
I met with my friend Miya and we chatted  all things blogging and enjoyed their happy hour which is also incredible, with half off appetizers and drinks. I ordered the sliders – 2 BBQ pork and an angus slider on Hawaiian sweet rolls and comes topped with cheese and special 4DK sauce! Corrine ordered the signature fish tacos which were gluten-free, and of course we HAD to get their bread pudding which tasted like banana cream amazingness!

Four Daughters
They also make homemade sangria! If you’re feeling the caffeine craze, grab a latte, they’re rich and creamy!

Four Daughters
Some other perks Four Daughters has to offer is free wifi and for you parents out there, there is a clean changing table in the ladies bathroom! Double points!

Four Daughters
Check them out if you’re in the area, their price points are $$ so they’re extremely reasonable, and they get 5 out of 5 happy faces  for their menu, their views, and their food!

What’s your favorite brunch place?! Do share!

Have a great weekend!!!

xoxo- Jess

Snookie's Cookies

BEST DESSERT ON THE NORTHSIDE – LOS ANGELES

by with No Comment adventurefoodreviews

It’s up for debate what the best pizza spots are, where your favorite burger joint is . . . to list in categories all of your ‘favorites’ when it comes to the city you live in. In today’s post I’m giving you my favorite dessert on the northside. Are you sweet or savory? Do you grab or ice cream or chocolate chip cookies? Personally, I grab for sweet, warm, baked, homemade cookies!

best cookies ever
If you love chocolate chip cookies the way mom used to make them AND nostalgia, you’ll love Snookie’s Cookies! Serving up warm homemade cookies for over 30 years, Snookie’s is charming and delicious!Snookie's Cookies
When you go in, ask for Denise, she is the warmest and most inviting person you’ll ever meet! She knows everything about this city and we bonded immediately over our love for macadamia nut cookies! I had one of each to be exact and the peanut butter, macadamia nut, and snickerdoodles continue to be my favorites.

Dessert Menu
Snookie’s is best known for their famous giant hot air balloon baskets, where you can mix and match your favorite sweets, from cookies to cupcakes, and they now carry the New Orleans Sno-Ball! This island girl opted for ‘Tiger’s Blood’, a strawberry coconut flavor and it did not disappoint!

Tiger's Blood
Whether you’re craving a fresh homemade style of treat, or a refreshing sno-ball to cool down your day, check out Snookie’s in Glendale, and give Denise a hug from me!

Love Snookies!

Leave me a sweet comment and tell me what your favorite dessert spot is so I can go try them out! I love desserts, I’m a ‘dessert before meals’ kinda girl 😉

Have a beautiful week sweets!

xoxo- Jess

Exploring Pasadena

800 Degree Pizza And Posing…Lots Of Posing

by with 4 Comments adventureartcommunityfoodtravel

Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to explore new sights, sometimes they’re just a hop and a skip away. This hop and skip was a quick 20 minute drive East, to Old Pasadena. The main street is full of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. It was the perfect change of scenery to round out the weekend!

800 Degree Pizza

First stop after walking around for a bit was 800 Degrees – offering up Neapolitan style hand tossed pizzas, drizzled in extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkled with imported Italian tomatoes. Perfect if you’re looking for a sit down pizzeria that features gourmet ingredients. Oh and it was sooo delicious! Crispy, cheesy, and their truffle pizza with mushrooms and arugula on top (featured above) is on my top 10 list of best pizzas ever!

Root Beer!
Of course Corrine got her favorite Root Beer, old fashioned and bubbly!

Yummy Letti Macarons
After lunch we walked around a bit, walking off the pizza and root beer, and found room for dessert of course! Lette’s Macarons drew us in with it’s sweet aroma of the classic almond treat. We got an assorted hand picked box and couldn’t have been more happy with the flavors! Chewy and just the right amount of sweet and savory. Of course we took a ton of pictures along the way….posing, always posing!

Artsy us

If you’re looking for a quick change of pace and are in the L.A. area, take a trip out to Old Pasadena, so many hidden treasures, shops, and old fashioned eateries. If you’re coming to L.A. I’d say make this one of the places you see before you leave!

I hope your weekend was awesome, let me know what kind of adventures you went on!

xo- Jess and Corrine

Romantic Metallic Macaroons

The Romantic Metallic Macaron

by with No Comment bakingDIYfoodholidaysspecial occassions

Macarons can totally be romantic right?! You bet! These babies were a labor of LOVE!!! These sweet treats make a perfect dessert or gift idea for this Valentine’s day- for your loved ones and friends! These are salted caramel metallic gold and silver macarons and I get it now why these crunchy, chewy, sweet, and savory treats can be so expensive. This photo was taken this morning after:

  • two trips to Bed Bath & Beyond
  • two trips to my local grocery store (in sweats and tear streaked cheeks)
  • an impromptu trip to Target at 10PM
  • a trip to Michael’s
  • and dumping the entire first batch to start again from scratch at 11PM

macaron love

Let me tell ya, if you’ve mastered the art of making macarons than you’ve mastered an art. Below is a recipe I got from two different places EatLiveTravelWrite and HowToCookThat blogs.

I’ve linked you to the two original recipes if you want to follow their method, HowToCookThat’s blog, saved me from breakdown number two! I won’t list the step by step here since she so adequately displays the ‘how to’s’ over there. Instead I’ll show you what I learned along the way to get these fluffy, chewy, and delicious macarons…..errr take two!

sift it real good!
First sift your dry ingredients once twice….trust me on this. And set aside.

I took my egg whites out for about 2 hours before I whipped them into a fluffy mound. Just when you think it’s ready, it’s not…keep on whisking folks! It took me about 15 minutes by hand to achieve what 2 minutes of an electric mixer did.

goldennnn
I wanted a golden macaron to fit in with the theme of metallic salted caramel, so I mixed in 10 drops of yellow food coloring with 2 drops of red food coloring.

fold, press, turn, repeat
Then I added it into my dry ingredients and folded, press, turn….that’s the method. Fold, press, turn, repeat. Until your mixture flows like lava!

look at the 2 love birds
I piped my ‘rows’ of batter into an odd zig zag pattern for some reason, also they were huge like loving lil cookies, some even touching. They will spread so don’t over pipe them out like I did.

those pretty feet though!
Allow them to rest on the counter for about 30 minutes after racking them to release air pockets. This is the time to set your oven to 300 degrees and sprinkle a bit of coarse salt on top of each of them.

tadaaa!
Then pipe out some homemade Dulce de Leche in the centers and sandwhich with another macaron.

metallic gold and silver salted caramel macarons!

I also got inspired by my friend’s birthday macaroons that were bright gold, so I picked up some cake spray paint in metallic gold and silver and when the macaroons were set, I sprayed them down and above is what I got!

I took a ton of photos with them and then allowed my family to devour them, they were soooo delicious!!! They are chewy and fluffy, they’re delicious and delightful, try them out!

I love to bake but I’d give these a sold 7 in difficulty level haha. Try them out and tag me in your yummy posts! You can make them for events, holidays, and gifts! Happy love day to you and yours!!!
xoxo- Jess

 

Bison Burgers

Game day bison burgers and buffalo chicken dip!

by with No Comment foodsports

It’s super bowl Sunday!!! Cheers to your home team, your parties and all the celebrations! Make these dishes for your party and they’re sure to be crowd pleasers! Here are two of the most loved dishes of the day…of any game day really; the burger and the dip! [this is a tee shirt slogan in the making]

So I took the traditional burger recipe and teamed it up with a recipe I got off of self.com- threw in some secret ingredients of my own, and created a “stacked bison burger atop a toasted brioche bun, and layered with spicy aioli and smoked bacon”!!! Now THAT’S the right way to burger!

Game Day

I added in some fresh cilantro, avocado slices, and pepper jack cheese!

But wait, there’s more! I didn’t stop at the bison burger, oh no… I took it further and stepped up my dip making game! I tried (for the 3rd time) to make my friend Michelle’s famous buffalo chicken dip! It’s delicious, it’s delicious, it’s…. delicious!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

I don’t know if you can tell from the photo, but that red layer you see on top is Frank’s Red Hot! It MAKES the dip! I totally evened out the healthy to unhealthy ratio by using organic tortilla chips also!

For the bison burger you’ll need:

  • 1 pound of ground bison meat (I used grass fed bison from Wholefoods)
  • half of a medium white onion- finely chopped
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • fresh ground pepper
  • 4 brioche buns (or opt for your favorite low carb bread)
  • spicy aioli (recipe to follow)
  • avocado
  • pepper jack cheese
  • uncured, nitrate free, smoked bacon

The method:
In one skillet cook your bacon slices. In another skillet heat up the coconut oil and saute the onions. Toss the onions in with the bison meat, along with the ginger, soy sauce, ground pepper, garlic powder, and roll into patties. Cook to your liking on an un-greased skillet and set aside.

Melt some grass fed butter on a pan and place the brioche buns face down on the pan until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove and top with spicy aioli, the bison burger, bacon, cilantro, avocado and cheese! Enjoy!

For the aioli:

  • 1/3 cup mayo (I used the Ojai Cook brand made with cage free eggs, free of hydrogenated oils, and organic)
  • 1-2 teaspoons sriracha sauce or your favorite hot sauce (depending on how hot you want it)
  • garlic powder to taste
  • Mix it all together in a small bowl and serve it up on your toasted brioche buns!

Michelle’s famous buffalo chicken dip!
What you’ll need:

  • 1 1/2 cup cubed chicken
  • 9-12 oz Franks Red Hot (psst, this is a hot sauce NOT a sausage brand….errr I made this mistake on try 1)
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped celery
  • 2 (8oz) cream cheese – cubed
  • 1 cup bleu cheese dressing
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

The method:
Cook the chicken and add in the red hot sauce, remove from heat and toss in the celery, cream cheese, bleu cheese, and pour into a 9×13 in. pan. Top with the cheddar cheese and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chip!

buffalo chicken dip cheddar

I hope you enjoy your game day and tag me in any food posts so I can see what you’re making for your party! Cheers to winning! We.are.all.winners.here.

xoxo- Jess

yummy chewy cookie

The Cookie Butter Nutella – cookie sandwich

by with No Comment bakingfood

Please do not try to adjust your screen, you read that correctly. Behold! The cookie butter Nutella cookie…sandwich!

Imagine a Nutella cookie smeared with chunky, crunchy cookie butter, and then sandwiched with ANOTHER Nutella cookie! Oh it happened! Here’s how!

nutella nomsFirst let me preface this by saying that this is NOT exactly the healthiest of recipes, but it’s one of the YUMMIEST! I love cooking and baking in healthy ways, but sometimes you just need a ‘good ol’ chewy goodness’ kind of cookie!

Here’s what you’ll need:

    1. 1 cup of Nutella (you won’t regret it..just scoop it out of the tub with your eyes closed)
    2. 1 egg
    3. 1 cup of flour
    4. 2 tablespoons of sugar
    5. sea salt if you like sweet and savory!
    6. cookie butter if you wanna live a lil! (ps cookie butter changes everything!!!)


The method:
In a bowl combine all of the ingredients together except for the salt and cookie butter
Spoon rounded tablespoons of the cookie dough onto an un-greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart
Bake for 8-10 minutes until the cookies are set
Allow them to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack
Sprinkle with sea salt or smother cookie butter in between two of them and enjoy!!!!

Nutella Cookies!All the credit and love goes to @lina_fit who posted this yummy little number on Instagram sans the cookie butter. I fell instantly in love with the recipe…it had me at Nutella.

Try these out, tag Lina and I on Instagram when you’ve regained consciousness from all of the goodness, and have a rockin’ rest of your weekend!

xo-

Jess