February Giveaway: $400 Gift Card!

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Amazon Gift Card Giveaway | @VeggieConverter

It’s another month, so it’s time for another giveaway, this time it’s a $400 Amazon Gift Card!

Good luck to all of you!

How to Enter for Your Chance to Win: 

1. Check out your prize Click Here. (Then come back and finish steps 2 and 3!)

2. Subscribe to VeggieConverter’s newsletter highlighting the latest posts and health tips from me!

(If you’re already a subscriber just continue to step 3…)



3. Leave a comment letting us know what you would purchase with your prize!

4. Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post to confirm these entries and unlock more!

***For more ways to win, be sure to visit all the blogs responsible for this giveaway!***

Let me know what you would buy with the gift card in the comments. I’d love to know!

Giveaway will run until February 28 12 a.m. EST
a Rafflecopter giveaway

A winner will be chosen via random.org. We will announce the lucky winner on Friday, March 1, 2014. The winner will have 48 hours to contact host by email with his/her full name, address, and phone number. There is no purchase necessary to win. This giveaway is open to everyone!

Pin it, please!

February Giveaway | @VeggieConverter

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Copycat Julius Paleo Kid-Friendly Orange Smoothies!

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Copycat Orange Julius Smoothie | @VeggieConverter allergyfree paleo

We’re falling in love with smoothies and both of my girls have long been addicted to all things orange. So these orange smoothies—an allergy-free kid-friendly Copycat Orange Julius recipe—were a massive hit at our house. It’s an amazing treat for breakfast or after-school snack.

We used to make all of our smoothies with homemade yogurt. But since Goose’s milk allergy developed, we make them with coconut milk. We make this version allergy-free with coconut milk and we make it in our high-powered blender, but it can easily be made in a standard blender if you don’t have one of these lovely ladies. If you don’t have allergies, feel free to make this with whole milk.

It tastes so much like the original (not that the girls have every had one) and we absolutely loved it, as did a few guests we had over. Try this delicious, creamy, fresh smoothie with your littles today.

Copycat Julius Orange Smoothies

Serves 5

Ingredients

1 cup coconut milk
15 ounces mandarin oranges
1 1/2 cups ice cubes
2 cups orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons gelatin powder (optional, leave out for vegetarian/vegan)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Method

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Serve.

For 1 large serving (about 12 ounces) use these amounts:

1/3 cup coconut milk
5 ounces mandarin oranges
1/2 cup ice cubes
2/3 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon gelatin powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Love the recipe? Pin it, please!

Copycat Orange Julius Smoothie | @VeggieConverter allergyfree paleo

Related on VeggieConverter:

Banana Almond Butter Coconut Smoothies

All Natural Pink Lemonade Recipe

Homemade Fresh Limeade

Smoothies from My Friends:

Blueberry Pie Smoothies

Super K2 Smoothie

Peach Blueberry Cobbler Smoothies

I hope your kids enjoy smoothies as much as mine. What’s your favorite smoothie recipe?

 
Copycat Orange Julius Smoothies
Serves 5
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Ingredients
  1. 1 cup coconut milk
  2. 15 ounces mandarin oranges
  3. 1 1/2 cups ice cubes
  4. 2 cups orange juice
  5. 2 tablespoons honey
  6. 3 tablespoons gelatin powder (optional, leave out for vegetarian/vegan)
  7. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Serve.
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Candy Bacon: Irresistible and Paleo!

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Candy Bacon | @VeggieConverter paleo glutenfree

Do you love bacon? I do, I call it my gateway meat. It’s the one meat I always liked.  We buy some amazing smoked bacon locally from Heywood’s Provisions. It’s incredible, they dry rub and smoke it over hickory. Yum!

Do you also love honey? This delicious oven-baked candy bacon combines honey granules with bacon and bakes it into candied bacon goodness. It is INCREDIBLE. You can leave the honey granules off and just bake your bacon this way for regular bacon, too. It is the best way to make extra crispy bacon, just the way I like it. Enjoy!

Candy Bacon

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound thick-cut bacon
honey granules, sprinkle until coated (maple 2-3 tablespoons per pound of bacon)

Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lay your bacon flat on a cookie sheet.

Sprinkle honey granules over one side of your bacon.

Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes (for thin-cut check it at 15 minutes). Drain the grease into a grease keeper every 5 minutes to keep the bacon’s edges from burning. If you’d rather not drain the grease, you can place an oven-safe rack on top of your cookie sheet and let the bacon drain as it bakes.

Remove your bacon from the oven and try really hard to wait a few minutes so it doesn’t burn your tongue. Then enjoy. We eat it literally like candy. Pile your candy bacon up on a plate and munch away. It’ll be amazing in sandwiches and in bacon dips as well I’m sure. That is, if it ever survives the day to make it into anything other than delicious sticks of munchable candy bacon. :)

Enjoy!

Love the recipe? Pin it, please!

Candy Bacon | @VeggieConverter paleo glutenfree

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Candy Bacon

Ingredients

  • 1 pound thick-cut bacon
  • honey granules, sprinkle until coated (maple 2-3 tablespoons per pound of bacon)

Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lay your bacon flat on a cookie sheet.

Sprinkle honey granules over one side of your bacon.

Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes (for thin-cut check it at 15 minutes). Drain the grease into a grease keeper every 5 minutes to keep the bacon's edges from burning. If you'd rather not drain the grease, you can place an oven-safe rack on top of your cookie sheet and let the bacon drain as it bakes.

Remove your bacon from the oven and try really hard to wait a few minutes so it doesn't burn your tongue. Then enjoy. We eat it literally like candy. Pile your candy bacon up on a plate and munch away. It'll be amazing in sandwiches and in bacon dips as well I'm sure. That is, if it ever survives the day to make it into anything other than delicious sticks of munchable candy bacon. :)

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Bacon Carbonara

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Bacon Carbonara | @VeggieConverter glutenfree

My husband, Mr. Meaty, makes a mean Bacon Carbonara. It’s one of the first things he made me for dinner when we were dating. And it is delicious. Bacon has always been my meat weakness. And now that I’m a chicken-and-baconatarian, I am enjoying the flexibility of bacon. Since I’m unfortunately gluten-free as well, we had to come up with a noodles option for me. We went with flat rice noodles and it worked fabulously. The rest of the family has theirs with spaghetti noodles.

The crispy bacon, combined with the salty Parmesan and eggs really make this dish delicious. Enjoy!

Bacon Carbonara

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound flat rice noodles
5 eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan (optional, we leave this out of Goose’s portion)
1/2 pound to 1 pound bacon (based on desired meatiness)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon oregano

Method

Cook your bacon and cut it into 1-inch pieces. We do ours in the oven, but frying is fine, too.

Boil noodles.

Beat eggs. Mix in cheese and spices.

Once noodles are cooked and drained, mix into egg mixture to fully coat. Toss into a pan at medium-high heat and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until eggs are set.

Love it? Pin it, please!

Bacon Carbonara | @VeggieConverter glutenfree

Kristi on Google+

Dairy-Free Snow Ice Cream!

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Snow Ice Cream | @VeggieConverter

I LOVE snow ice cream. I lived in Denver when I was a kid and we had it many, many times a year. We absolutely LOVED it. And it was so simple. I think we used evaporated milk in our recipe. But, since Goose is dairy allergic and I’m off dairy due to health concerns (I’m trying a Paleo diet for my autoimmune condition), I need to make ours dairy free for this amazing 3-inch snowfall in ATLANTA!

I still can’t believe we could scoop 8 CUPS of snow off just the corner of our patio table. Awesome!

So, here it goes. It. Is. Delicious! If you’re a snow ice cream virgin living in the South, you must try it. The kids will think you’re so cool!

Snow Ice Cream

Serves 4

Ingredients

8 cups snow
1 cup coconut milk, chilled (I buy it here)
1/2 cup sucanat (or your preferred sweetener)
2 teaspoons vanilla

Method

Mix it all up and serve. Make sure whatever milk you use is cold! And if you use honey or any other liquid sweetener, you may want to increase your snow or reduce your milk to get the consistency right.

It turns out a bit like a shaved ice snow cone. The kids went absolutely insane for it. And the great news is, since it hasn’t heated up as much as they suspected today, we may be able to have a couple more batches of deliciousness!

YUM! I hope you love this recipe as much as our family does. If you do, pin it, please!

Snow Ice Cream | @VeggieConverter

Kristi on Google+

I’m 36 and I Still Have Zits: DIY Homemade Acne Treatment (Zit Zapper) Spray

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Acne Zapper | @VeggieConverter

I’m 36 years old and, from some ironic miracle of hormones, I still have pimples. It’s ridiculous, right? It runs in the family, even in our 50s and 60s our ladies get zits. Lame. So, what to do? Well, use natural essential oils as a zit zapper, of course.

My acne is mostly on my chin. I hear that means it’s a hormonal imbalance thing. But, whatever the cause, they’re annoying. Post babies, you’re supposed to be able to revel in the bliss of zitlessness and clear, glowing skin, right? Or even suffer from dry skin. I’m sure that sucks, too. But today I’d take it. Not only are zits annoying, they usually hurt. Uncomfortable little nasty-looking things on your face, not cool. So, I turn to nature, since well, the sciency creams and stuff scare me a little with all their side effects. You know the kind:

“Warning: This heartburn treatment medication may cause anal leakage. Or, in rare instances, death.”

Um, No Thanks. So, enter lavender and Melrose.

Lavender is one of the most valuable oils for acne. It inhibits the bacteria that cause the skin infection and helps rebalance the over-secretion of sebum, which the bacteria thrive on. It can also reduce scarring.

And then there’s Melrose blend. The major bonus of Melrose is the tea tree, or melaleuca oil. But the blend can cleanse and heal scrapes, cuts, wounds and insect bites. The blend  of oils are antiseptic and all support the body’s ability to attack bacteria and fungus. On top of the tea tree oil, Melrose also has Melaleuca quinquenervia, rosemary, and clove essential oils.

If you want to learn more about essential oils or want to create your own, healthy and natural home “medicine kit” check out my post on saving 24% off retail oil prices. Get yourself the Premier Starter Kit and a bottle of Melrose and you’ll be set for a while!

Homemade Lavender-Melrose
Acne Treatment (Zit Zapper) Spray

Ingredients

10 drops Melrose essential oil
10 drops Lavender essential oil
witch hazel

Method

Use a dropper to put oils into a 2 ounce glass spray bottle. Fill remainder with witch hazel.

To use, spritz your problem areas (for me it’s my chin) with the zip zapper once in the morning and once at night.

Both oils have healing properties and are antiseptics. Plus, witch hazel is an astringent. So, combined, this formula should zap your zits.

Love this Homemade Beauty Tip? Pin it, Please!

Acne Zapper | @VeggieConverter

 

Kristi on Google+

Paleo Pumpkin Custard Recipe: Pumpkin Season Never Has to End…Right?

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Paleo Pumpkin Custard | @VeggieConverter

Maybe you don’t know this, but I LOVE pumpkin. My husband’s not a huge fan. But when he tasted this, he went in for seconds! Of pumpkin! WHAT? So, I knew it was a hit. And, in spite of pumpkin season being long over, we’ve made it twice since. Love, love, love it. And all the kids love it, too (ours and a friend’s boys). It’s so simple you won’t believe it and it is incredibly delicious. Plus, since it’s pretty much pumpkin pie without the crust and processed sugar, it’s pretty healthy, too!

Enjoy!

Paleo Pumpkin Custard

Serves 12

Ingredients
30 ounces pumpkin puree
4 eggs
15 ounces full-fat coconut milk (or evaporated milk)
1 cup honey
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup sucanat
1/2 cup crushed pecans or walnuts (optional)


Method

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Put everything up to sea salt in your stand mixer and mix away!

Pour into ramekins (about 12, 6 ounce). Top with remaining ingredients.  Bake at 350 F about 30-40 minutes or until set and bruleed a bit on the top.

You can check with a knife, if it comes out clean your custard is set.

This was a absolutely HUGE hit with guests, adults and kids. I’ve made it twice more (once messing it up because I tried to thicken thin milk…sigh) and we just love it. What’s your favorite dessert? Now that I can’t have gluten and Goose can’t have dairy, this fantastic pumpkin custard might just be mine!

If you love the recipe, Pin it please!

Pumpkin Custard | @VeggieConverter

 

Kristi on Google+

Game Day: 27 Healthy Game Day Snacks!

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Game Day Snacks

So, we know who is slated to play. But do you know what you’re going to serve at your Big Game Party?? Well, you’re in luck because I have a lot of awesome blogging friends with amazing snack recipes that are perfect for the Seahawks vs. Broncos Superbowl matchup February 2!

Fill your party (or your family watch party) with healthy vegetarian or paleo/primal snacks this year to stay healthy and feeling great on the big game day! What are your favorite game day snacks? Here are 26 of my favorites. The most important part is to have fun and enjoy the game (or the commercials) so take it easy and make what you love!

 

 

 

[one_half last="no"]

Vegetarian

Avocado & Fig Salsa
White Pizza Dip
Babaganoush
Marinated Olives
Pesto Artichoke Dip
Zesty Marinated Olives
Loaded Guacamole
Easy Homemade Hummus
Garlic Cheesesticks
Vegan CrockPot Chili
Chickpea Nuggets
Texas Caviar

Primal/Paleo

Popcorn Chicken Nuggets
Buffalo Ranch Stuffed Peppers
Grain Free Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pie
Chicken Dippers
Orange Ginger Chicken Wings
Pineapple Bacon Poppers
Loaded Sweet Potato Bites
Kebabs & Cucumber Yogurt Dip
Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs
Boneless Buffalo Wings
Asian Meatballs
Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Atomic Buffalo Turds
Smoked Salmon Frittata
Bacon Cheddar Jalapeno Dip
[/one_half]

I hope these recipes are a hit for your family or your big party! Have fun and enjoy your treats (oh, and the game, too)!

Want more super bowl snack ideas? Check out my Game Day Pinterest Board!

Kristi on Google+

Cumin Paleo Cauliflower Rice

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Paleo Cauliflower Rice | VeggieConverter

While white rice is sometimes acceptable for Paleo(ish) diets, cauliflower rice  is really a go-to for those who want to stay totally grain free. I adapted this recipe a bit to suit our tastes. We <3 cumin. But you can really season it however you like! That’s the beauty of this recipe.

Cauliflower is so good for you. And, for me, as long as it’s cooked it’s great in spite of my thyroid issues. If you hate cauliflower, try it roasted. Just like brussels sprouts, roasting brings out the cauliflower’s sugars and makes it extra delicious!

Paleo Cumin Cauliflower ‘Rice’

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound head cauliflower, broken into florets
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup vegetable or bone broth

Method

Shred florets in a food processor to turn them into a rice-like consistency.

Melt the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and seasonings. Cook for 5 minutes or until onion is tender.

Stir in cauliflower and broth. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender.

Serve.

This recipe is adapted from an eMeals.com recipe.

We had ours with our Paleo Coconut Orange Chicken and Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Mr. Meaty and I loved the cauliflower rice but the kids poo-pooed it. They prefer their cauliflower raw or, if it’s cooked, they like it roasted instead. Next time I might try roasting the cauliflower before making it into rice. I bet that would be fantastic!

 

Do you love this recipe? Pin it, please!

Paleo Cauliflower Rice | VeggieConverter

Kristi on Google+

Bacony Bolognese & Zucchini Noodles

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Bacony Bolognese

I’ve been experimenting with flexitarianism in an attempt to try out a Paleo diet, and eventually an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Paleo diet. So far, I’ve had success with chicken, and really crispy bacon. This recipe incorporates a new favorite of mine, zucchini noodles, and crispy bacon.

This recipe is adapted from an eMeals.com recipe.

It is fantastic. And the bacon was actually pretty tasty. The noodles were amazing and so much healthier than white flour noodles. Delicious. A definite winner and repeat.

Bacony Bolognese & Zucchini Noodles

Serves 4

Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon, chopped
4 carrots, minced
1 small red onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup red wine
28 ounces diced tomatoes
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/2 pounds small zucchini
3 tablespoons  olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped shallot
salt and pepper, to taste

Method

Cook chopped bacon in a deep skillet medium heat until crisp; drain, reserving  drippings in pan. Saute carrots, onion and garlic in hot drippings until tender. Stir occasionally. Add wine, tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Bring to a simmer; cook 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add coconut milk; return to a simmer, and cook 10 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon.

Turn zucchini into noodles with a spiralizer or julienne peeler. Combine oil, lemon juice, shallot, salt and pepper in a large bowl; add zucchini, and toss to coat. Let stand at least 10 minutes before serving.

Serve Zucchini ”Pasta” with Bacon Bolognese.

We absolutely LOVED this recipe. A definite repeat. The kids were also HUGE fans. Delicious!

Kristi on Google+