Yummy Dinners!

  I am so glad I have Pinterest in my life. I have learned how to cook, and I've found a plethora of wonderful recipes that my husband and I love. Our latest favorites include Gluten free Blackberry Cobbler, General Tso's Chickpeas (vegetarian version of General Tso's chicken), Teriyaki Salmon, and Taco Salad. The taco salad is a simple recipe that I came up with on my own. But the other two are from Pinterest.
  Here's the recipe for Blackberry cobbler:
  https://glutenfreemakeover.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/gluten-free-blackberry-cobbler/
  I think of it more as a Blackberry cake, and it is delicious. I use dairy free butter, and unsweetened almond milk. But I'm sure it's just as good with regular butter.

  Here's the recipe for General Tso's chickpeas:
  http://yupitsvegan.com/2015/04/25/general-tsos-chickpeas/
  I adore this recipe. It's so good and so filling! We use Tamari soy sauce because it's gluten free. I also use apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar. I sometimes use different veggies than it calls for. Last night I used peppers, onions, mushrooms, and corn. Last time I used peppers, onions, and cauliflower. For the peanut butter, I use fresh ground natural sugar free peanut butter from the bulk food section at winco. It adds a tasty, Earthy side to the sauce. I also use beef broth instead of vegetable broth and it tastes much better. No sodium beef broth. Topped with green onions and sesame seeds. I've also been known to toss a small handful of green onions in with the onions and garlic before adding the other veggies.
 
  Here's the recipe for my Taco Salad:
  Ingredients:
  Spring greens (baby spinach, arugula, or whatever you like. Make sure they're deep green. Iceburg lettuce is basically just crunchy water. Not much nutritional value.)
  Black olives
  Avocado
  Tomato
  Black beans, cooked and rinsed
  Corn (frozen corn actually has more nutrients than fresh or canned.)
  Ground beef or turkey
  Taco seasoning
  1 tsp coconut oil
  bell peppers
  1 tiny can chopped green chiles
  sour cream/ shredded cheese, if desired.
 
  Cook the meat by putting 1 tsp of coconut oil in a frying pan. Warm up the oil until melted, then add the thawed meat. Cook until halfway browned. Add taco seasoning and chopped green chiles. Brown the meat, drain any fat or juices. Let cool.
  Combine all ingredients in a salad bowl.
  That's literally it. Very healthy and tasty. A quick dinner for a night when you don't feel like actually cooking much.


  Also, I thought I would address something I'm fairly passionate about. I am very into nutrition. I took Nutrition150 this past Fall, and learned a lot. For example, frozen vegetables often contain the most of the vegetable's nutrients. The nutrients keep even better than fresh produce.
  Something I've learned too is that organic food, especially produce tastes so much better and is really actually better for you. I was raised believing that the label "organic" is just so that the company can make an extra dollar or too off of suckers who believe it means something. But since eating healthier the past couple years, and changing most of our produce to organic labels, I notice an actual difference in taste and in how I feel after eating it. The thing about organic food is that you should make sure it is USDA certified organic, otherwise you really are just a sucker paying an extra dollar for nothing but a word.