Epicurean Narrative

A gluten-free journey

Gluten Free

Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna

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Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna This yummy Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna dish is one of my favorite healthy recipes that I LOVE making for my entire family and my friends. Zucchini is an excellent gluten-free alternative to pasta.  The layers of zucchini, ooey-gooey blend of melted cheese, and chunks of delicious meat sauce sings comfort food with nutritious yum. My little-one can eat two or three of these mini lasagnas-no problem. I love knowing that my family is eating nourishing food like this. It makes my heart sing.  This dish is easy to make and even easier to serve. Just prep, sauté, assemble, and bake. Bam! A tin of a dozen TASTY and adorable Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagnas at your fingertips. You can make it for lunch, dinner, or a soiree! And... I always double this recipe and freeze the leftovers.  Buon appetito! 
Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna

Mini Gluten Free Zucchini Lasagna

Mini Gluten Free Zucchini Lasagna Here are the ingredients for the Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna. I substitute ricotta for cottage cheese and parmesan in this dish. Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna A tin full of Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna A bite-size Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna. Buono Appetito!
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Gluten Free Mini Zucchini Lasagna Cups
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Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
This Mini Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna recipe is nutritious and tasty and a great alternative to pasta!
Ingredients
  • 1 zucchini, spiralized or sliced
  • 1 carrot, shredded
  • 1 tsp. of olive oil
  • 1 tsp. of salt
  • 1 onion, diced
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 2 cups of cottage cheese
  • ½ cup of parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup of mozzarella cheese
  • 1 25 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease the muffin tin with olive oil.
  2. Heat a skillet on medium heat, add olive oil, reduce heat and sauté onion for two minutes.
  3. Add garlic, and continue to sauté until onion is translucent.
  4. Brown the ground beef, add sauce and carrots and cook for 10 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, In a mixing bowl, add cottage cheese and parmesan cheese.
  6. Sauté the zucchini, add a pinch of salt to taste.
  7. Layer the tin with zucchini, meat sauce, cottage cheese mixture, mozzarella, and repeat two more times.
  8. Bake for 30 minutes.
  9. Cool for 10 minutes.
  10. Serve!

 

Superfood Breakfast Smoothie

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There’s nothing like having a nourishing and refreshing Superfood Breakfast Smoothie on a hot summer day. A week ago my hubby wanted to take us out for breakfast which normally I am all about especially on a Saturday morning. But after having a record high of 100 degrees in Santa Barbara we decided to keep our breakfast choice healthy & cool. So we stayed inside!

So here is my concoction I created last week from what I foraged in our kitchen. This lovely Superfood Breakfast Smoothie is made with all organic ingredients including blueberries, bananas, raspberries, coconut milk, strawberries, chia seeds, and maca powder. And a whole lot-a-love! I added the chia seeds to add extra protein to the smoothie to help sustain my little son and my hubby at least ’til snack time.

It was so delicious that we are now making this Superfood Breakfast Smoothie a new family favorite.


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Superfood Breakfast Smoothie
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Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
This is a delicious Superfood Breakfast Smoothie that will cool you down on a hot summer day!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 banana (I prefer frozen bananas)
  • 1 cup of raspberries
  • 1 cup of blackberries
  • 1 cup of strawberries
  • 2 tsp. of chia seeds
  • 1 tsp. of maca powder
  • 3 cups of coconut milk
Instructions
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender
  2. Blend all the ingredients until frothy
  3. Serve immediately

 

Microgreens & Baby Kale Salad

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Micro Green and Baby Kale Salad

I LOVE this tasty Microgreen and Baby Kale Salad! First of all, it’s bright, cheery, and full of nutritious superfoods. Channeling love and happiness when making this dish was so worth it because my happy-love light glowed whilst eating this dish with my hubby & Sky Bear (my toddler). They are my official recipe testers and my hubby concluded that this salad was the best salad he has ever eaten. I seconded it.

This Microgreen and Baby Salad is a delicious blend of supergreens, superfruits, nuts, seeds and granola. I added pumpkin seeds, pistachios, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, gluten free granola, sprouted broccoli, baby kale, micro broccoli greens, and micro kale greens and each bite has the perfect amount of crunch and flavor.  The mandarin & apple cider vinaigrette dressing has a a nice blend of citrus and tang.

Every time I eat a delicious salad I am reminded of how easy it is to add more superfoods in our family’s everyday diet. Not only are these superfoods good for you but they taste amazing too. How does it get any better than this?

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Micro Greens & Baby Kale Salad
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup Baby Kale
  • ½ cup Kale Micro Greens
  • ½ cup Broccoli Micro Greens
  • ½ cup Sprouted Broccoli
  • ¼ cup of pistachios
  • ¼ cup of pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup of strawberries
  • 1 cup of halved grapes
  • ½ cup of blueberries
  • 1 cup of gluten free granola
  • ¼ cup of fresh mandarin juice
  • 2 TBSP Apple cider vinaigrette
  • 1 TBSP of Honey
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Instructions
  1. Measure all the ingredients
  2. Rinse all the greens separately and set aside.
  3. Rinse and cut the grapes and strawberres in half and set aside in separate bowls.
  4. Rinse the blueberries and set aside
  5. In a 1 large serving bowl or 4 smaller serving bowls divide the first 10 ingredients in each dish as desired.
  6. In a small bowl, add the freshly squeezed mandarin juice apple cider vinaigrette, honey, salt, and pepper.
  7. Drizzle the vinaigrette dressing evenly over each salad.
  8. Enjoy your creation!
  9. Tips: You can substitute mandarin for freshly squeezed oranges or orange juice.

 

 

Blueberry Orange Paletas

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Blue Orange PaletaBlueberry Orange Paletas are a refreshing and healthy alternative to eating store bought ice-cream. Paletas are a Mexican fruit pop that is either milk or fruit based. This fruit based paleta recipe only has 2 ingredients, blueberry’s and orange juice.

I have been making fruit based paletas all summer long for my hardworking hubby and my sweet little one. My ultimate goal is to limit sugar intake and at the same time not deprive my family of their special desserts. My husband has a sweet tooth beyond measure and my little one now has one too. So as a Mama Bear I want to protect their teeth, there hearts, and their sugar intake. So this conscious choice of eating healthy desserts was my remedy to their exciting nightly desserts.

So as you can imagine I have been really enjoying making these healthy paletas for my family. This Blueberry Orange Paleta recipe is a tasty, healthy, and kid-friendly dessert alternative. I can serve these paletas guilt free! Especially if they want seconds!

If your looking for another wonderful paleta recipes try this!
Mango Orange Paletas 

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Blueberry Orange Paletas
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of orange juice
  • 1 cup of blueberries
Instructions
  1. In a blender add 2 cups of orange juice and blueberries
  2. Blend for 1 minute
  3. Pour into popsicle molds
  4. Freeze for 6 hours

 

Blue Orange Paleta

 

 

Blue Orange Paleta

Chicken and Broccoli Quinoa Risotto

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Chicken and Broccoli Quinoa Risotto is a super tasty dish and it’s gluten free! I used my Staub Paella pan which is not just for paella. This beautiful heavyweight enameled cast iron skillet is great for making a lot of amazing savory meals. The next savory meal that I wanted to create in my Staub Paella pan for my blog was risotto. This gluten free risotto is one of our favorite family quinoa dishes. I wanted to serve up a healthy protein rich dinner for my family this weekend. I have been making this chicken and broccoli quinoa risotto a lot lately. It’s just so tasty!  So naturally I am excited to share this special recipe with you.

Quinoa Chicken and Broccoli Risotto

I shopped for most of my ingredients at Traders Joes. I purchased organic chicken thighs, Trader Joe’s Organic Tri-Color Quinoa, and Organic Chicken Broth.

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