Modern Table meals are one of the products that you just have to shout, “YES!” when you find them. For many, myself included, cooking a big beautiful dinner on busy weeknights can be a challenge. While it is tough, we don’t want to sacrifice nutrition and quality just to be able to have the convenience of going through a drive-thru and getting a junky meal for the whole family or ordering greasy, gluten-free pizza that has little nutritional value and breaks the bank. This is where Modern Table meals come in. These meals are SO easy to prepare and are full of quality, gluten-free ingredients that make you and your family feel like they are getting a meal made from scratch. The best part? They don’t have a bunch of chemical ridden preservatives and “fake” ingredient. I love that the ingredients are things I know and that the ingredient list is minimal. I also love that the pasta is something different then just the traditional brown rice or corn gluten-free pastas you often find on the market. These lentil and bean pastas are nutrient dense, full of flavor and an excellent addition of fiber in your diet. They are also a great addition of plant based protein (like 12-20 grams of protein per serving…whoa!) and are full of vitamins your body needs. Beans are very cost effective in a budget friendly kitchen so these meals won’t deplete your pocketbook.

Featured below are the southwest and the Italian meals. The southwest was more on the spicy side (which I loved!) but can easily be toned down with a touch of sour cream or bumped up in heat with the extra seasoning packet. The Italian was full of flavor and had my little boys asking for more. The chicken was an excellent addition to this however, sausage would have been great as well.

While these meals can be enjoyed just as they arrive, they are also a great canvas for those evenings when you still have some creative juices left and want to get just a little creative in the kitchen. My hubby loves to grill so we grilled up some chicken and shredded it in the rotini pasta and left full grilled tenderloins on the penne pasta. You can also bump up the veggies by adding some chopped zucchini, grilled onions or peppers and even fresh spinach. Try adding some sliced chicken sausage or grilled halibut as well. Modern Table meals come in a variety of gluten-free flavors including:

• Italian Red Lentil Penne
• Mediterranean Green Lentil Rotini
• Southwest Red Lentil Rotini

Some great new flavors launched at Expo West this year and as one of the first to taste them, let me just say that they are fantastic! I can’t wait to see them hit grocery store shelves soon. Homestyle Mac & Cheese and Pesto Bean Pasta kits are two of the new flavors that will have the whole family begging for more.

Be sure to visit Modern Table on Instagram: https://instagram.com/moderntablemeals/, Twitter: @moderntablemeal or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderntablemeals and be sure to enter to win some Modern Table meals all for yourself below!

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*I was provided with product and monetary compensation for this feature. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my opinions and I do really enjoy these meals and would buy them at the store with my own money.

I decided to combine two of my favorite summer foods into one easy recipe. So what do you get when you combine all the best flavors of a cheeseburger with Cascadian Farms™ crispy little Spud Puppies™? Cheeseburger tots!! This is an easy meal that the whole family with love. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend long summer days slaving away in a hot kitchen. For this reason, we like to grill but let’s be honest, grilled chicken and hamburgers can only happen so many times before you are ready for a change. Our cheeseburger tots will only have you in the kitchen for a minimal amount of time and will deliver a tasty summer meal. I chose Cascadian Farms™ brand tots because they are organically grown and gluten-free. As you can see, my family all likes different toppings and I am sure yours does too. The great thing about this meal is that everyones serving can be topped to their liking just like a cheeseburger.

Cheeseburger Tots

• 2 bags of Cascadian Farms™ Spud Puppies™
• 1 lb. grass-fed ground beef
• 2 C cheddar or pepperjack cheese, shredded
• cherry tomatoes, halved
• pickles, chopped
• shredded lettuce
• gluten-free ketchup & mustard

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread the Spud Puppies™ out on a baking sheet and bake according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Cover Spud Puppies™ with ground beef and cheese and bake 5 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and top with toppings of your choice. Enjoy!

Since starting Whole30 (one week ago), I feel fantastic! I love the fresh approach to eating that it provides. Since the plan doesn’t include grains, I got creative with the ingredients in these crab cakes so that they both taste fantastic and hold up. I used red peppers and celery as well as lime juice because they were what I had. Feel free to venture out of your comfort zone and try chopping up any vegetables you like to make your crab cakes unique.

Gluten-Free Crab Cakes

• 1 can Crown Prince wild caught crab
• 2 T. homemade Whole30 mayo or Primal Mayo
• 1/4 C chopped raw veggies (I used celery and red pepper)
• 2 T almond flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 lime juiced
• 1/2 tsp. Real Salt
• 1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
• 1 T dried parsley
• coconut oil for frying

Drain the crab and flake it using a fork. Add all ingredients and form into patties. Add additional almond flour as needed to keep your patties together. Dust both sides of the crab cakes with more almond flour and fry 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Enjoy with more fresh squeezed citrus juice and a vibrant salad. We also love serving this island meal with coconut oil fried banana slices…yum!

When it comes to dinners in a flash, rice is a great base. We love making homemade fried rice but we don’t always have ham on hand. My hubby got creative tonight by using the gluten-free Aidells chicken meatballs we had on hand to take our traditional fried rice up a notch. This semi-homemade meal is sure to please your whole family. Feel free to use any flavor you like but double check to make sure the one you choose is gluten-free (the teriyaki is definitely not at the time of this post). What are your favorite fried rice mix-ins?

The post Gluten-Free Thai Chicken Meatball Fried Rice appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

I just love seafood and this gluten-free coconut popcorn shrimp is making my palate so happy! A while back we bought a deep fryer because we love making homemade french fries. We made the investment (which was kind of a big one) and filled it with really good quality coconut oil. While we know fried food isn’t always the best option, we liked the idea of our homemade fried dishes, being healthier by using a great oil. We turn our fryer down and cook it for a little longer at a lower temperature since coconut oil has very low smoke point. I will tell you, the investment was worth it! We deep fry something at least twice a month and the taste is fantastic (which can be hard to say for deep fried foods). My husband doesn’t really enjoy seafood but he will happily eat breaded shrimp. Coconut is one of my favorite flavors so adding it to the batter then cooking in coconut oil, just seemed to make sense. These slightly sweet gluten-free coconut shrimp pair so well with a bit spicier sauce. I like that the whole meal, including the spicy mayo, is so easy to prepare. It takes only three ingredients to make a great accompaniment to the shrimp. I hope you enjoy these savory morsels as much as we do.

The post Gluten-Free Coconut Shrimp w/ Spicy Mayo appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

It’s almost turkey day and I want to make sure you are all set on how to use all those Thanksgiving leftovers. Turkey seems to be hanging around long after all the other leftovers have made their way into meals following the big day. One of my favorite ways to use turkey leftovers is in a big ol’ flavor packed sandwich. Keep it fresh with ingredients like the ones in these photos. Crisp cucumber, lettuce & pickle plus tomato, creamy Just Mayo chipotle mayo, robust cheese and soft gluten-free bread make one amazing sandwich. Not in the mood for fresh yet? Get comfy again with Thanksgiving flavors like cranberry sauce, gluten-free stuffing and mashed potatoes. Yes, you can totally stack those leftovers into a sandwich! Add a gluten-free gravy soaked slice of bread to the middle of the sandwich for a “moist maker” just like the one featured in the Thanksgiving episode of Friends. Just make sure that it is labeled really well if you decide to take it to work or you may have a Ross like reaction when someone “accidentally” mistakes it for their own sandwich then only eats half.

Whatever sandwich toppings you choose, make sure the flavors are big and bold. Sandwiches are not an excuse for boring, bland food. I am loving the Just Mayo products to amp up my sammies. Four great flavors like chipotle, Sriracha, garlic and regular give you lots of versatility to create a sandwich that everyone will love. Did you know that you can get two big, family size jars for around $5 at Costco? Smokin’ deal! It isn’t just for sandwiches either. It also works great in recipes just like my mom’s famous cheeseball that we make every Thanksgiving. One really cool thing about the Just Mayo brand is that they are literally changing the face of mayonnaise. So much so in fact, that some of the “big dogs” of the mayo industry tried to get them to change their name. Why you might ask? Because Just Mayo contains NO eggs. Cool right? It takes and looks just like mayonnaise (much better I think) but those who can’t have eggs can enjoy. I know many who love this! My family can enjoy eggs and we actually buy Just Mayo often from our local Costco. It is great for much more then just sandwiches.

So are you ready to win some Just Mayo products all for yourself?! Enter below & visit Just Mayo by Hampton Creek on FB, Instagram & Twitter as well.

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*Thank you to Hampton Creek/Just Mayo for sponsoring this post. I received monetary compensation and products for review however, I already bought this product regularly before this sponsored post opportunity came about. We love these products and all opinions are my own.

The post Let’s Talk Turkey… Gluten-Free Sandwiches That Is {PLUS a Just Mayo Giveaway!} appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

Funeral Potatoes & BBQ Chicken are easy to make and a real crowd pleasing recipe. This family favorite meal is one we have been enjoying for generations. As Mormon’s we love making casseroles. From funeral luncheons at our local church (likely where the name came from) to baby showers and Sunday dinner, this potato “casserole” is almost always on the menu. The creamy, cheesiness of potatoes seasoned just right with Real Salt, pepper and onion is something so delicious you just can’t get enough! Pair it with perfectly seasoned barbecue chicken and you have a dinner the entire family will enjoy.

While this potato casserole recipe has always been a favorite of mine, I had to convert it to gluten-free after being diagnosed with celiac disease. Thanks to great brands like Pacific Foods, I can now do this easily do this using their gluten-free cream of chicken soup. For those wanting to make a homemade gluten-free cream of chicken soup, we have a great recipe in the book my mom and I wrote, Gluten-Free on a Budget. We hope you enjoy these recipes as much as our family does. 

Look at this picture I took years ago when this recipe first posted January 25, 2012. Thank you for your patience in my updating the photos.

*This great recipe was featured on http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/01/gluten-free-wednesdays-1-25-12/

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that for purchases made using my links, I get a small compensation. This helps keep my site up and running. These are my opinions and my opinions alone.

The post Funeral Potatoes & BBQ Chicken {Gluten-Free} appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

This easy bruschetta chicken is definitely a go-to dinner recipe for our family. I don’t know about all of you, but life over here is busy! Between kids lessons, homework, travel and everything else, our schedule is very tight. In fact, some nights I feel like I am literally in the chopped kitchen. “Ok, I have chicken sausage, some tomatoes, mustard, cinnamon, oranges and maple syrup. What can I make in 15 minutes?!” Anyone else feel like that?  The great thing about this recipe is that it is so easy to prepare and is very robust in flavor. Between the fresh tomatoes & basil as well as the grilled chicken, it is a dish that marries perfectly. You can serve is on it’s own with fresh sliced mozzarella or over gluten-free pasta that has been tossed in butter or olive oil and parmesan. Be sure to top with more fresh basil for that extra pop of flavor and color on the plate.

I also love that this recipe is so great for serving when basil and tomatoes are fresh in the summer. It can be enjoyed poolside without feeling too heavy. (These s’mores cupcakes would make a nice summer dessert too.) Double or triple the recipe to feed a bigger crowd as this recipe is just for two.

 This recipe was originally posted September 19, 2011 as Josh’s Bruschetta Chicken. My hubby was the one who came up with this recipe and it was so delicious that I just had to update the photos. He also created this amazing 15-minutes hash recipe as well. He continually amazes me with his talents in the kitchen! I hope you enjoy our easy bruschetta chicken as much as we do.

Check out this picture that was first pictured with this recipe in 2011…

The post Easy Bruschetta Chicken {Gluten-Free} appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

This easy acai bowl can be put together in minutes and tastes so delicious! Since my hubby lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a couple of years he is the biggest acai fan I know and not just because it’s trendy but because he genuinely fell for this power house fruit. I had the great honor of joining him on a visit back to Rio a few years after we got married (about 6 years ago now). While there, I too got to experience an authentic acai bowl in Brazil. Let me just tell you, it was incredible! Since then, I have been trying to recreate the authentic version here at home.

Like a smoothie bowl, this complete breakfast or snack is smooth and sweet yet tart and tasty. It’s gluten-free and of course, so yummy. My hubby likes to add protein powder in for a post workout boost but I prefer it without. Either way, it is still a great way to start the day or recover after a great workout. One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it is so versatile. You can top it off with anything from bananas and blueberries to granola and nuts. If you are looking for more healthy breakfasts, our paleo fauxtmeal is so tasty! There are original & strawberries & cream flavor.

*There may also be affiliate links in this post. That simply means that when something is purchased using my links, I receive a commission. This helps me maintain the site. You do not pay anything extra. 

The post Easy Acai Bowl {Gluten-Free} appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

Ok you guys, these candied bacon fried apples are SUPER easy and couldn’t be more tasty. I love that they work well as a quick and tasty breakfast or make a great snack. The bacon gives them that delicious smoky flavor while the apples are tart and a bit crisp. The cinnamon and sugar warms this dish and makes it feel like the perfect end to any meal or start to any day.

This candied bacon fried apples recipe came about because I remembered the delicious warm, fried apples my mom used to make for me. I always thought it was a fun breakfast when my mom made them. By adding the candied bacon, I thought this dish would become a bit more refined and suit both the kiddos needs and make mama’s tastebuds dance. It definitely did! You can even take it up another notch by using this maple bacon recipe. What is a breakfast you remember from your childhood?

The post Candied Bacon Fried Apples appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

This pizza in a bag recipe is so simple and such a fun way to enjoy all your favorite pizza flavors!
Do you love pizza? I LOVE pizza and literally can’t get enough. It is still one of my all time favorite meals so I am continually trying to find new ways to incorporate it into my daily life. Which is why I created pizza in a bag. I fell in love with these Enjoy Life Foods margherita pizza Plentils the moment I tried them and knew they would be the star of the recipe!

Remember those pizza chips back in the 90’s that were all the rage? I always begged my mom to buy them for me when we were at the store. Sadly, they no longer make them but these pizza Plentils are an amazing replacement for a nostalgic food I loved as a kid. The great thing about these is that they are also top 8 allergen free.

When it comes to ease in creating a tasty dish, these pizza in a bag couldn’t be easier. Literally you just toss all your favorite pizza toppings in, shake and enjoy! You can get as creative as you do when making traditional pizza. The flavor possibilities are truly endless! I love that you can even drizzle in some pizza sauce for an extra punch of pizza flavor.

My hubby literally asked me for weeks straight when he could FINALLY eat these bags of Plentils. I always put products I am going to do something special with on the top shelf. Usually he doesn’t mind too much but with these, he already knew how great they were and NEEDED to eat them. When I finally got them down to make pizza in a bag, he was ecstatic!

Isn’t he just the cutest?! I love that not only was our pizza in a bag delicious, but it was also fun for everybody to make and customize for their own unique tastes. If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all our other pizza recipes including our vegan pizza salad made with these Plentils.

What are your favorite toppings? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Easy Pizza In A Bag with Enjoy Life Foods appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

This caprese roasted tomato soup is topped with delicious Freschetta gluten-free cheese pizza for one tasty dinner!
Dinner doesn’t have to take all night to cook. Semi-homemade meals are great because you can take a fantastic product like Freschetta pizza and elevate it even more.

My favorite food of all time is pizza. I can never get enough of it! Freschetta gluten-free pizza is truly an amazing pizza option for those avoiding gluten. I love that they have both cheese and pepperoni varieties. Personally, I love adding extra veggies on top of my pizza and enjoy dipping it in our homemade ranch. While I do love pizza, I am always wanting an extra boost of veggies when I have it which is why this caprese roasted tomato soup is perfect!

I figured it would be great to top the soup with mini slices of Freschetta gluten-free cheese pizza as a crostini of sorts. It worked great! My hubby said it reminded him of a grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. The thing I love most about the caprese roasted tomato soup is that it is SUPER easy to make. It tastes like it came from a quaint cafe in Italy but little will your guests know, it took you only minutes to put together. The key to this recipe is roasting on the vine tomatoes.

I had bought this freshly picked towel a while back but was waiting for the perfect time to feature it here on the blog. Since we use on the vine tomatoes in this recipe and the reds of the tomatoes and towel match, it seemed like the perfect time. 

Freschetta gluten-free pizza is not only delicious but it is celiac safe. It even has the stamp pf approval from the Celiac Sprue Association. Taste definitely isn’t sacrificed with this pizza. For example, the four cheese medley pizza uses only 100% real mozzarella, savory asiago, rich fontina and hearty parmesan all atop a thin crust. Whether you enjoy it on it’s own or paired with our caprese roasted tomato soup; it is definitely a crowd pleasing dinner.

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This post is sponsored. This means that I received products and payment from a brand, Freschetta. All opinions are my own and I only work with brands I personally enjoy and would recommend to others.

The post Caprese Roasted Tomato Soup with Freschetta Cheese Pizza Crostini & GIVEAWAY appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

Not all holidays need a big fancy party that takes hours to prepare. A simple, spooky Halloween tablescape will really bring the holiday to life for your family.

An easy & eerie Halloween tablescape calls for a themed meal. Our monster taco salad can be prepared in under 5 minutes and tastes fantastic!

The first thing you want to do whenever you start a tablescape is come up with the color palette. I went with black, gold, white plus some little pops of orange and purple.

For this specific set up, we started with a basic black tablecloth. Next, we laid down some white and gold placemats. In keeping with the color theme we used gold chargers and festive tea towels. You don’t want everything to be completely symmetrical. I decided to use a grey and black striped towel on one charger. For the other, a plain black one to change up the look of each.

We topped each tea towel with plain white plates and black and white paper straws. On each paper straw, we stuck a Loralee Lewis Halloween sticker. Next to each plate we had black spider stamped glasses that even had gold spiderwebs on the back side. I found them at HomeGoods and they couldn’t have been more perfect for our color scheme!

These fabric pumpkins are my absolute favorite Halloween and Thanksgiving decor. They are classy and fun with all the warm tones of the autumn season. They even have real twig “stems”. I decided to use them to be my centerpiece for this table.

Recently my dad sent me vintage white milk glass salt and pepper shakers. He and I both love antiquing. When I opened the package that also had some vintage Fireking jadeite mixing bowls, I almost cried. They were so pretty! I just had to include them on this Halloween tablescape. The white really pops against the black shredded tablecloth.

For your own quick and easy Halloween tablescape, just keep it simple & classy. You can also try to use things you already have. Remember that not everything has to be symmetrical. For your centerpiece, keep the rule of three in mind.
This monster taco salad is an annual tradition in October here at our house. The kids especially love how creepy cool it is. We like to serve this ghoulish meal with an even more spooky, yet sweet, dessert. Our mini no bake cookie ghosts or witches finger cookies are the perfect ending to this Halloween dinner. For another main dish to serve with your Monster taco salad, try our ghostly shepherds pie but whatever you do, keep it fun. We love listening to Halloween music or eating on a blanket together while watching our favorite Halloween movie.

What are some of your favorite Halloween dishes and traditions?

The post Halloween Tablescape & Monster Taco Salad appeared first on Gluten Free Frenzy.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is sure to please the entire family.Your heart will love you even more thanks to this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl.

Any good breakfast should be both pleasing to the eye and delicious. This blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is so easy to make and will definitely entice you to dig right in.

While these flowers really are just for aesthetic, you can definitely get edible flowers to enjoy with your smoothie bowl if you’d like. It may sound a little fancy but fancy is ok once in a while. Imagine the surprise on your sweetheart or kids face when you present this delicious breakfast bowl with edible flowers. I know my kids would think I went to a lot of effort when in reality it only took a few minutes.
I’m not a morning person so coming up with breakfasts that I can make in under 15 minutes can be hard. I’d make oatmeal more often but my kids really don’t like that so I’ve had to get creative. Smoothie bowls are great because they are quick to make and look really beautiful. If you need protein at breakfast, just had a scoop of vanilla protein powder to yours. Or you could give our paleo fauxtmeal a try.
The best part about this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is that it is packed full of nutrient dense ingredients like hemp hearts, flaxseed, unsweetened coconut and antioxidant rich blueberries.

It is sweetened by the Incredible Foods Perfectly Free blueberry vanilla non-dairy frozen bites. They work great because they are easy to pop out and use in place of more than half the ice cubes and all traditional sweeteners. The creamy non-dairy center gives a great milky taste while the blueberry shell pairs perfectly with fresh blueberries.This blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is so versatile and can easily have other fruits, and nuts added. Get creative and throw in some of your favorite flavors!

However you decide to serve it, this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl will likely become a new family favorite. Looking for more easy ideas for healthy snacks? These strawberry banana snakes and cheese umbrellas are great for grown ups and kids. 

*Thank you to Incredible Foods Perfectly Free for sponsoring this post. I was provided with monetary compensation and products. Opinions are all my own and truly reflective of how we feel about these products. They make great afternoon snacks! This post may contain affiliate links.

The post Blueberry Heart Smart Smoothie Bowl appeared first on This Vivacious Life.

What if I told you you can enjoy this big, buff & cheesy gluten-free sandwich while also providing a noble charity with $10,000 in the process?

This big, buff & cheesy gluten-free sandwich is filling and delicious. It will definitely give you the energy you need to continue fighting for great things like the people behind Operation Underground Railroad do every day.

VOTE FOR OUR SANDWICH NOW

The reason for sandwich dreams all started after I was chosen to be one of four awesome bloggers competing for $10,000 on behalf of a charity of our choice. That’s right, Canyon Bakehouse is giving $10,000 to the charity of choosing by the blogger with the winning sandwich!

You may remember but I was the sammie building queen at the Canyon Bakehouse booth at Expo West this year. Three other bloggers and I competed in a challenge to see who could build the tallest gluten-free sandwich with their new wide heritage loaves the fastest. So when it came time for their annual Sammie SmackDown they wanted to see what I could do with their loves this time around. I couldn’t disappoint…
This pregnancy my number one craving has been sandwiches. I just can’t get enough of their deliciousness and have one almost every single day for lunch. I change it up between using the Canyon Bakehouse wide heritage loaves bread or there gluten-free everything bagel. Both make fantastic sandwiches! Mine are always loaded high with lots of delicious meat so it seemed only fitting that I add those to my sandwich creation. And what goes better with meat than cheese right?

VOTE FOR OUR SANDWICH NOW

Since being founded in December 2013, we’ve gathered the world’s experts in extraction operations and in anti-child trafficking efforts to bring an end to child slavery. O.U.R.’s Underground Jump Team consists of former CIA, Navy SEALs, and Special Ops operatives that lead coordinated identification and extraction efforts. These operations are always in conjunction with law enforcement throughout the world.

Once victims are rescued, a comprehensive process involving justice for the perpetrators and recovery and rehabilitation for the survivors begins.

After seeing their movie, The Abolitionists, I knew I have to do something to make a difference and help them in their courageous mission.

I cried as I heard them say that little ones as young as 10-years old were forced into this lifestyle. Not only were they forced into it, some were even pregnant because of it. As a mom of three little ones myself this was appalling. I couldn’t imagine such darkness in the world. However, I was I am so grateful for the men and women who fight every day to bring them home and help rehabilitate them.

The men and women involved in extracting these children, risk their lives to save the lives of others everyday. Because Operation Underground Railroad is smaller, they don’t receive the national funds like many of the larger charities do. But that doesn’t stop them, they continue to fight for their cause every day. I can’t imagine a more deserving charity than this one…

Print

Big, Buff & Cheesy Gluten-Free Sandwich

Yield: 3 sandwiches

Ingredients

• 6 slices Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style Whole Grain bread
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 4 T butter, divided
• 3 T parmesan, plus more for sprinkling
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 9 slices Boars Head cracked pepper mill smoked turkey breast
• 9 slices Boars Head beechwood smoked black forrest ham
• 9 slices of bacon
• 3 slices pepper jack cheese
• 12 slices thinly cut cucumbers
• 6 leaves of butter lettuce

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Place bacon on a baking sheet and cook 12-15 minutes or until cooked through and slightly crispy
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine cream cheese, 2 T butter, 3 T parmesan and 1/4 tsp. garlic salt and cook over low to medium heat until soft and spreadable
4. Make sure to stir it often while it is cooking
5. Spread the cream cheese mixture over 3 slices of Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style Whole Grain bread
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes
7. Remove from the oven and immediately top each cream cheese toast with 3 slices of each turkey & ham then one slice of pepperjack cheese
8. Place 3 slices of hot bacon on top of the pepperjack cheese
9. Top the bacon with 4 slices of cucumber and 2 leaves of butter lettuce
10. Place the last three slices of bread on the top of each sandwich
11. Heat remaining 2 T of butter in the microwave and brush on the top slices of bread
12. Sprinkle with parmesan and garlic salt and enjoy sandwich hot

3.1

http://www.thisvivaciouslife.com/2017/08/big-buff-cheesy-gluten-free-sandwich.html

Be sure to check out our turkey…gluten-free sandwich, our spider sandwiches and a fantastic Starbucks gluten-free sandwich.

*Thank you to Canyon Bakehouse for sponsoring this post. I was provided with monetary and product compensation. All opinions are my own.

The post Big, Buff & Cheesy Gluten-Free Sandwich appeared first on This Vivacious Life.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is sure to please the entire family.Your heart will love you even more thanks to this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl.

Any good breakfast should be both pleasing to the eye and delicious. This blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is so easy to make and will definitely entice you to dig right in.

While these flowers really are just for aesthetic, you can definitely get edible flowers to enjoy with your smoothie bowl if you’d like. It may sound a little fancy but fancy is ok once in a while. Imagine the surprise on your sweetheart or kids face when you present this delicious breakfast bowl with edible flowers. I know my kids would think I went to a lot of effort when in reality it only took a few minutes.
I’m not a morning person so coming up with breakfasts that I can make in under 15 minutes can be hard. I’d make oatmeal more often but my kids really don’t like that so I’ve had to get creative. Smoothie bowls are great because they are quick to make and look really beautiful. If you need protein at breakfast, just had a scoop of vanilla protein powder to yours. Or you could give our paleo fauxtmeal a try.
The best part about this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is that it is packed full of nutrient dense ingredients like hemp hearts, flaxseed, unsweetened coconut and antioxidant rich blueberries.

It is sweetened by the Incredible Foods Perfectly Free blueberry vanilla non-dairy frozen bites. They work great because they are easy to pop out and use in place of more than half the ice cubes and all traditional sweeteners. The creamy non-dairy center gives a great milky taste while the blueberry shell pairs perfectly with fresh blueberries.This blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl is so versatile and can easily have other fruits, and nuts added. Get creative and throw in some of your favorite flavors!

However you decide to serve it, this blueberry heart smart smoothie bowl will likely become a new family favorite. Looking for more easy ideas for healthy snacks? These strawberry banana snakes and cheese umbrellas are great for grown ups and kids. 

*Thank you to Incredible Foods Perfectly Free for sponsoring this post. I was provided with monetary compensation and products. Opinions are all my own and truly reflective of how we feel about these products. They make great afternoon snacks! This post may contain affiliate links.

The post Blueberry Heart Smart Smoothie Bowl appeared first on This Vivacious Life.

What if I told you you can enjoy this big, buff & cheesy gluten-free sandwich while also providing a noble charity with $10,000 in the process?

This big, buff & cheesy gluten-free sandwich is filling and delicious. It will definitely give you the energy you need to continue fighting for great things like the people behind Operation Underground Railroad do every day.

VOTE FOR OUR SANDWICH NOW

The reason for sandwich dreams all started after I was chosen to be one of four awesome bloggers competing for $10,000 on behalf of a charity of our choice. That’s right, Canyon Bakehouse is giving $10,000 to the charity of choosing by the blogger with the winning sandwich!

You may remember but I was the sammie building queen at the Canyon Bakehouse booth at Expo West this year. Three other bloggers and I competed in a challenge to see who could build the tallest gluten-free sandwich with their new wide heritage loaves the fastest. So when it came time for their annual Sammie SmackDown they wanted to see what I could do with their loves this time around. I couldn’t disappoint…
This pregnancy my number one craving has been sandwiches. I just can’t get enough of their deliciousness and have one almost every single day for lunch. I change it up between using the Canyon Bakehouse wide heritage loaves bread or there gluten-free everything bagel. Both make fantastic sandwiches! Mine are always loaded high with lots of delicious meat so it seemed only fitting that I add those to my sandwich creation. And what goes better with meat than cheese right?

VOTE FOR OUR SANDWICH NOW

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Big, Buff & Cheesy Gluten-Free Sandwich

Yield: 3 sandwiches

Ingredients

• 6 slices Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style Whole Grain bread
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 4 T butter, divided
• 3 T parmesan, plus more for sprinkling
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 9 slices Boars Head cracked pepper mill smoked turkey breast
• 9 slices Boars Head beechwood smoked black forrest ham
• 9 slices of bacon
• 3 slices pepper jack cheese
• 12 slices thinly cut cucumbers
• 6 leaves of butter lettuce

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Place bacon on a baking sheet and cook 12-15 minutes or until cooked through and slightly crispy
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine cream cheese, 2 T butter, 3 T parmesan and 1/4 tsp. garlic salt and cook over low to medium heat until soft and spreadable
4. Make sure to stir it often while it is cooking
5. Spread the cream cheese mixture over 3 slices of Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style Whole Grain bread
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes
7. Remove from the oven and immediately top each cream cheese toast with 3 slices of each turkey & ham then one slice of pepperjack cheese
8. Place 3 slices of hot bacon on top of the pepperjack cheese
9. Top the bacon with 4 slices of cucumber and 2 leaves of butter lettuce
10. Place the last three slices of bread on the top of each sandwich
11. Heat remaining 2 T of butter in the microwave and brush on the top slices of bread
12. Sprinkle with parmesan and garlic salt and enjoy sandwich hot

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Be sure to check out our turkey…gluten-free sandwich, our spider sandwiches and a fantastic Starbucks gluten-free sandwich.

*Thank you to Canyon Bakehouse for sponsoring this post. I was provided with monetary and product compensation. All opinions are my own.

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This gluten-free coconut popcorn shrimp recipe is so delicious! It is crispy, full of delicious coconut flavor and perfect as an appetizer or dinner.
I love this gluten-free coconut popcorn shrimp recipe because even my no seafood fan hubby requests it.

I just love seafood and this gluten-free coconut popcorn shrimp is making my palate so happy! A while back we bought a deep fryer because we love making homemade french fries. We made the investment (which was kind of a big one) and filled it with really good quality coconut oil.

While we know fried food isn’t always the best option, we liked the idea of our homemade fried dishes, being healthier by using a great oil. We turn our fryer down and cook it for a little longer at a lower temperature since coconut oil has very low smoke point. I will tell you, the investment was worth it! We deep fry something at least twice a month and the taste is fantastic (which can be hard to say for deep fried foods).

My husband doesn’t really enjoy seafood but he will happily eat breaded shrimp. Coconut is one of my favorite flavors so adding it to the batter then cooking in coconut oil, just seemed to make sense. These slightly sweet gluten-free coconut popcorn shrimp pair so well with a bit spicier sauce. I like that the whole meal, including the spicy mayo, is so easy to prepare. It takes only three ingredients to make a great accompaniment to the shrimp. I hope you enjoy these savory morsels as much as we do.

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The post Gluten-Free Coconut Popcorn Shrimp w/ Spicy Mayo appeared first on This Vivacious Life.

This Instant Pot gluten-free spaghetti recipe can be made in 10 minutes and will be a dinner the whole family will love! If you love delicious recipes then you are going to love this Instant Pot gluten-free spaghetti. It is full of robust Italian flavor.

We love this Instant Pot gluten-free spaghetti because it is so quick to make. It is also a great family friendly recipe that even the kiddos will love. I am so excited to share it because the recipe comes from my mother in law who has been making it for over 30 years.

Like I said, this yummy recipe came from my mother in law Debbie. The only difference is that she cooks hers all day on the stovetop. While I adore her recipe and method (and so does my hubby) I just don’t always have the time to make it. I thought it would be fun to recreate it in the Instant Pot. This Instant Pot gluten-free spaghetti recipe turned out great and can be made in minutes. This one pot dish was a dish I know we will be making again and again.

I also love to make her delicious hamburger soup so we updated that for an Instant Pot hamburger soup recipe as well. I think you guys will love it also!

The great thing about this recipe is that it can be made for a crowd so fast. Just think, only one pot dirtied and you have a fabulous meal to serve everyone at your table. This recipe goes great with a fresh green side salad.

If you like this recipe, you are going to love these…

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This is the BEST gluten-free meatloaf around. It is so simple to prepare and the whole family will love it.  I love this best gluten-free meatloaf because it is a quick and easy dinner that is also delicious.

This is the best gluten-free meatloaf out there and it can be made in a snap. I’ve always really enjoyed meatloaf since I was little girl. However, my mom despised it so wasn’t a meal we got often. I’m not complaining though she’s made tons of other meals that we all loved. I knew though that when I became a mother, I would include meatloaf in the dinners I made, even if it was only a couple times a year.

There are so many varieties of meatloaf out there now including bacon wrapped and spiced. I like the classic homemade flavor of this best gluten-free meatloaf though. It is loaded with delicious herbs like parsley, oregano and basil. I also love using dried onion because it lends great flavor without having to chop those darn onions. To me, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce are meant to be in meatloaf. A nice broiled layer of ketchup on top is another key for me in a delicious meatloaf.

The wholesome aspect of this meatloaf comes from Bakery on Main’s Organic Creamy Hot Breakfast. I chose to use the quinoa multgrain variety but they also have an amaranth multigrain. It is non-GMO project verified and kosher as well as full of lots of whole grains like brown rice, flax and the ancient grain quinoa. It’s also an excellent source of ALA and fiber. I love that it’s pretty smooth making for a very nice texture in our meatloaf.

I that with this best gluten-free meatloaf recipe, your family will never know it’s a more wholesome version! Serve it up with piping hot mashed potatoes topped with a pad of real butter and you have a homestyle meal that is also good for your body.

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*Thanks to Bakery on Main for sponsoring this post. I was provided with monetary and product compensation. All opinions are my own.

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