What We’ve Been Eating

I’ve had very little time to do any writing. Summer is insanely busy for us and this year has proven that the trend is very much still intact. We’ve had some fun travel, first over Memorial Day weekend we went to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware with a group of friends. There were 8 of us and we had such a great time! Then mid-June we traveled to MI for my god-daughter’s high school graduation (and a dr visit for me… more on that later), then we spent 6 days in norther Michigan at the Boyne Mountain Resort. That trip was pure bliss! We had amazing family time and played golf almost every day! It was wonderfully relaxing! If you follow my instastories, you saw the pics and how wonderful both trips were.

As July rolled in, we had our annual July 4th party where 79 attended and had a fantastic and safe time! We are so blessed. The same day as the party, we also had our first house guests of the season arrive. When all is said and done, we will have guests with us for 7 weeks straight (not all the same ones!) Needless to say, it doesn’t leave much time for blogging, but I have been taking photos of what I’ve been making and will share them with you here!

I love this recipe.. it’s the Chickpea “Tuna” Salad from Inspiralized & Beyond. SO. AMAZING. You cannot tell it’s not tuna! I’ve blogged about this before and I will continue to make this one because it never disappoints. I also use Maille Old Style Whole Grain Dijon Mustard in this recipe and it contributes to the texture.

This recipe was Grilled Salmon with Artichoke Tapenade, Lemon Grilled Zucchini from Against All Grain and Roasted Corn with Chimichurri Butter that we made from The Fresh20.

This was Bruschetta & Zucchini Linguine with Grilled Chicken. I did this for a demo for a Pampered Chef virtual party that I did. This is another great recipe for sumer. If your garden is overrun with basil, zucchini and tomatoes, this will become a go-to. Pair it with grilled chicken with the Sweet Basil Rub.

This is another recipe I’ve made more than once. I have a habit of not repeated recipes as there are so many I want to try! This is the Sesame Orange Slow Cooker Chicken from Against All Grain with Cauliflower Rice. The kitchen smells amazing as this cooks and it just melts in your mouth. It’s also quick and easy!

This lovely dinner came from The Fresh 20… Teriyaki Salmon with Broccoli Rice. It was so pretty and perfect for a warm summer evening.

The weekend after July 4th, our neighbors invited us over for a party. A friend of mine on Facebook made this version of a Pineapple Upside Down Cake and when I saw it, I jut HAD to duplicate it! I ended up making it twice that weekend for two different events! Isn’t it pretty?

We had some of Bill’s extended family over for swimming and a cookout so I made this one from Celebrations! It’s on the Father’s Day menu… Grilled Tri-Tip and Veggies. This platter was licked clean!

After my most recent doctor visit, I am focusing more and more on what I put into my body. It’s so hard. I sit and eat salad while I watch others eating cheesy lasagna (that I made!) But I know it’s better for me to eat what I’m eating and possibly I can venture back into the cheesy wheat-filled world again at some point.

The recipe above is Coconut Green Curry from Inspiralized.com. The word that comes to mind for me on this dish is *lovely*. It’s delicate and flavorful and comes together incredibly fast. If you’re a coconut curry fan, be sure to put this into your rotation.

The next day I repurposed it for lunch adding some grill chicken tenderloins. I had them in my refrigerator and needed to use them up. I couldn’t get enough of this recipe!

Last night I made Thai Quinoa and Zucchini Noodle Salad from Inspiralized.com. Another perfect recipe! It has a mild kick from the Sriracha and the peanut sauce has just the right consistency.

For a few years I’ve been wanting to Cook A Book. Now, as some of you know, I work at a financial planning firm in addition to my Pampered Chef business and writing this blog. Now worries, I am not doing anything illegal! I will be cooking my way through a cookbook in the Julie & Julia way. I am not going to put a time limit on the completion… I’m just going to do it as I go. At the moment, I working through the Inspiralized Vegan Meal Plan. When I finish it, I will move on to cooking through Inspiralized & Beyond!

As a result of my most recent dr visit, a thyroidectomy is in my near future. A gluten-free and dairy-free diet is essential until I have the surgery and depending the results, I may or may not venture back into eating gluten and dairy in very limited ways. I had been hesitant to commit to cooking a book because there are so many recipes that I can’t have. So my plan is to start with the ones I can make without any modifications and go from there.

So for the time being, I’m putting writing my own recipes on hold because I just don’t have the time it deserves to do so. I’m disappointed but thinking of fitting that in was stressing me out and that’s definitely not something I can afford to do. Of course, I will be blogging about what I’m making and sharing pictures. Be sure to follow me on Instagram as I will be posting the pics there as I make them and blogging here a recap each week.

Thanks for reading and following my blog! Can’t wait to share my new journey with you too!

SHOP MY KITCHEN!

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Colleen Finley is an independent advanced director for Pampered Chef. She earns a commission by linking to products she uses and trusts. If you purchase a product through her website link, your cost will be the same, and Colleen will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us enrich lives, one meal and one memory at a time!

Lemon Pepper Chicken & Lentil Salad

There is a great little bakery across the street from my office. I was in a pinch for lunch one day so I popped over to see what they had and was so happy to see a few vegan options and a GF breakfast bar. One item they had was a lentil salad and I think I’ve only had them once or twice before. Of course I fell in love with them!

Recently I signed up for a 3 month subscription to EMeals vegan menu for 2. I want to try to incorporate as many vegan meals as I can into my diet to keep my PHI levels from increasing. I adapted this recipe from one of the menus. I had some chicken I had to use so now of course it’s not vegan but is helping me head in the right direction!

Lemon Pepper Chicken & Lentil Salad
Serves 4

4 ounces chicken breast tenderloins
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning (I used this one)
1 cup green lentils
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup white onion, finely diced
1/2 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Place 1 tablespoon olive oil and the lemon pepper seasoning in the bottom of a bowl. Add the chicken tenderloins and toss to coat. Set aside.
Pour the lentils into a saucepan and fill with water to cover by 3 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 15 minutes. Drain and rinse.
Meanwhile, chop the bell pepper and dice the onion. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mix the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, basil, lemon zest, lemon juice and mustard.
Heat a grill pan over high heat for 1 minute. Add the chicken and place a press on top. Grill 4 minutes, turn and grill 4 additional minutes. Remove from the pan and let rest. Then dice.
In a serving bowl, mix the lentils, bell pepper, onion and dressing, tossing to combine.
Portion into serving dishes and top with the diced chicken and additional basil if desired.

Enjoy!

SHOP MY KITCHEN!

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @slicedicedish on Instagram and hashtag it #slicedicedish

Sweet Potato Egg in a Nest

We’ve always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? When I was young, my mother always made us an Egg in a Nest. It was a staple in our home. When I was older, I’d make it for myself as comfort food and always when I was feeling lonely or homesick.

The Egg in a Nest is known by several other names: bullseye eggs, eggs in a frame, egg in a hole, gashouse eggs, gasthaus eggs, hole in one, one-eyed Jack, one-eyed Pete, pirate’s eye, popeye, and spit in the ocean. I had no idea there were so many names!

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Sweet Potato Egg in a Nest
Serves 2

1 cup sweet potato, spiralized
1/2 cup zucchini, spiralized
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
freshly milled pepper

Spiralize the sweet potato and zucchini.
In a medium sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the sweet potato noodles and sauté just until they start to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the zucchini, tossing with the sweet potatoes and sauté 1-2 minutes longer or until the zucchini is soft.
With a scraper, arrange the veggie noodles into two nests with a well in the middle. Crack one egg into each well. Pour the water into the pan and immediately cover with a lid or foil to cook the eggs to the desired consistency.
Remove the nests to serving plates and finish with freshly milled pepper.

Enjoy!

SHOP MY KITCHEN!

Did you make this?
Tag @slicedicedish on Instagram and hashtag it #slicedicedish

This Summer’s Perfect Cocktail

About a month ago when we were at the beach for the weekend, my friend Deb shared her favorite cocktail with me. She always describes it to the bartenders because there isn’t a name for it… until now! We are calling this one *The Deb* of course after my friend Deb.

It’s absolutely perfect. Easy to make and the perfect flavor! I promise it to satisfy on the hottest summer day.

The Deb
Serves 1

ice
1/2 red grapefruit, juiced
1 jigger vodka (we use Tito’s)
1/2 cup tonic water
1/4 lime

Fill a highball glass or stemless wine glass with ice. Using a reamer or juicer, juice the grapefruit half and add it to the ice in the glass. Add the vodka and then fill to the top with tonic water. Squeeze the lime over the top, then drop it into the cocktail.

Enjoy!

SHOP MY KITCHEN

Did you make this?
Tag @slicedicedish on Instagram and hashtag it #slicedicedish

Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies

The other day I tried another recipe from Inspiralized & Beyond… the Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies. Someone made them and posted their review on Facebook so the recipe bumped up higher on my list. And the best part? I already had all of the ingredients! (Don’t you just love when that happens?)

They were very easy to make and I made one simple adjustment… I added a second egg. It helped the ingredients hold together nicely. I packed the ingredients into my Large Scoop and baked them on the Cookie Sheet using the Reversible Silicone Baking Mat.

They were the perfect mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack at my desk! I promise you will be hooked when you make these and they were super, super easy!

Enjoy!

SHOP MY KITCHEN!

Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. Colleen Finley is an independent advanced director for Pampered Chef. She earns a commission by linking to products she uses and trusts. If you purchase a product through her website link, your cost will be the same, and Colleen will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us enrich lives, one meal and one memory at a time!

What is a Pampered Chef Consultant?

Have you ever said to yourself, “I LOVE Pampered Chef!” and then went on to tell everyone what products you love and how you use them? Why not monetize that by becoming a Pampered Chef consultant* yourself?

If you’re new to Pampered Chef and wondering about us…

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Pampered Chef consultants bring people together and show them how the right tools and recipes make everyday cooking simpler, tastier, and more memorable, all while earning a meaningful income. Did I mention you can receive health insurance and IRA benefits as well?

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Build the life you love with the freedom you want. You choose your hours, your goals, and your personal journey. Plus, you decide how you want to earn your income: through cooking parties, virtual parties, individual sales, and more. When you love what you’re selling and sharing, it doesn’t feel like work. Stop wondering if it could be for you and start thinking about who your first few hosts will be.

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How did I stumble upon Pampered Chef? Let’s rewind to 1998 when the Detroit Red Wings were the Stanley Cup Champions and Harrison Ford was People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive… I attended a cooking party with friend of mine. I sounded fun and I loved (and still do) anything for my kitchen. We had a great time at the party and I ordered 3 products… a springform pan, the ever-famous Flan Pan Set and a cutting board. My culinary journey had begun. Well, kind of.

About 9 months later I was downsized at my job. I knew I needed to add some side-hustle to make ends meet. While I was contemplating my options, I picked up the Pampered Chef catalog and decided to give it a try. My biggest concern was hitting sales quotas which I wasn’t a fan of. Thankfully, Pampered Chef’s are very low ($150/month). So I ordered my starter kit!

When I told my family and friends that I had become a consultant, they laughed because I couldn’t cook. At all. I was asked to bring cups to potlucks because everyone knew I could burn water.

The income I earned from Pampered Chef helped fill in the hole in my finances until I changed jobs and went into a corporate position. That job had me working 50-60 hours each week and Pampered Chef became my “fun” job! I was offered a position with a new company, which also meant a move 2000 miles across the country. I decided to take a little time off before starting my new position and went to Michigan to spend time with my parents.

Unfortunately, (or fortunately now that I can look back) in the 3 weeks between jobs, my new position was eliminated. I suddenly found myself unemployed and living with my parents! YIKES! I knew I needed to do something and decided to throw myself into my Pampered Chef business and in a few months, I was earning as much as I had been at my corporate job, but this time working about 15 hours each week vs. 50-60!

Now in my 20 years of being a consultant, I realize what a life saver this job is… both financially and offering the flexibility to work when and where I want. Whoever said, “You can’t have it all…”? I’m guessing they never experienced all that the Pampered Chef has to offer! And by the way, I have become an awesome cook!

So what do you think? Ready to give it a try? Okay… I’m sure you’re still not sure so I’ll make it even easier for you! It takes 2 things to get started… 1st, you’ll select your starter kit. They range $109-$249 in price. 2nd, find 4 friends to be your first hosts and set a date for a cooking party or virtual party. Yes, it’s really that easy!

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For more information, visit my website or contact me directly. We’d love to have you join us!

*This consultant opportunity is available only to US residents 18 years old and older.

Seared Halibut with Zucchini Noodles

I will admit I will use jarred pasta sauces in a pinch. Last night Bill and I returned from a little getaway and I had to go into the office for a few hours. Normally I will make my own from this recipe but will buy this in a pinch.

You won’t need much sauce for the recipe so when you have time, it’s really worth it to make your own and use the extra for other recipes. Next time I make this, I plan to make it a little more mediterranean and add capers and kalamata olives. Be on the lookout for that recipe!

Seared Halibut with Zucchini Noodles
Serves 4

1-1/2 lbs halibut, portioned into 4 pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 medium zucchini
1 cup tomato marinara sauce

Pat the halibut dry and set aside.
Spiralize the zucchini. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat until shimmering.
Add the zucchini noodles and toss lightly for 1 minute. Add the sauce and toss to combine. Cover with the lid and turn the heat to low.
In another skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the halibut and sear on each side for 90 seconds. Return to the first side and cook until flaky, 2-3 minutes, turning once.
Remove the zucchini noodles from the skillet and place on a plate. Lay the seared fish on top and serve.

Enjoy!