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Delicious and Simple Recipe for Pimento Cheese

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Pimento Cheese Recipe

Pimento Cheese

Two of my favorite things in the world of food are cheese and mayonnaise (preferably Duke’s), so it’s only natural that I love Pimento Cheese like a sailor loves the sea. When I had to give up gluten/wheat (health reasons), I lost the world of pimento cheese sandwiches because, no matter what anyone may try to tell you, gluten-free bread simply is not the same. If you toast it, it is more than serviceable, but straight out of the bag… no thank you, I’d rather dance alone.

Fortunately, I’ve found that pimento cheese is just as delicious on chips, romaine lettuce, or gluten-free crackers.

If you’re able to eat bread, then by all means do so!

The following is my “go to” for pimento cheese – it’s simple and delicious, as well as very spreadable and dippable.

Delicious Idea: This particular approach to pimento cheese is pretty savory – if you want to add a bit of sweetness, add a little softened cream cheese along with the other ingredients…. OR, if some people in your family prefer savory and others prefer sweetness, do what I like to do: Make the savory version of the pimento cheese. When someone who prefers a little sweetness wants a sandwich, spread some cream cheese on the inside of one of the slices of bread (kind of like mayo with a sweet tooth). This is an especially delicious trick when you toast the bread.


Review: New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka HoneyNew Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

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New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

Are you familiar with Manuka honey? If you’re as obsessed with honey (and for that matter, bees) as I am, I’m sure you have heard of this delectable honey before – whether you’ve had the opportunity to try it or not.

When I was contacted about reviewing Manuka Honey from the New Zealand Honey Co. in exchange for telling my readers all about it, I absolutely jumped at the change, with my cup of tea in hand. I use honey many ways in my kitchen (literally every day) and stirring it into a cup of hot tea is one of my favorite ways to enjoy it. I also combine it with my chocolate obsession on the daily as well – more about that in a minute.

The New Zealand Honey Co. is a wellness company that considers my beloved worker bees a key asset to their company. Manuka Honey is so rare, it is only able to be harvested for two to eight weeks each year!  In fact, The Manuka Honey UMF™ 26 is considered one of the rarest superfoods in the world.

You can absolutely taste the exclusive goodness.

From New Zealand Honey Co.

The brand has a complete line of Manuka Honey, a complex and high-strength raw honey from the native New Zealand Manuka tree. As the bees gather nectar from the tree’s flowers, they’re helping bring a vital superfood  to the lives of thousands who love what goes into their bodies to boost immunity and overall wellness. Plus, it tastes sweetly delicious!

The result is an end product bringing pure goodness to consumers worldwide. It tastes great, is a terrific natural sugar alternative, and delivers amazing health benefits (gastrointestinal, immune support, skincare, haircare, first-aid, wound care, and oral health). Even dogs and other animals benefit from Manuka Honey.

(Review Continued Below…)

Manuka Honey and Giant Sunflower

New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

The Manuka Honey I was sent to sample is pictured here (with tea, chocolate, and one of my beloved “giant sunflowers” from my sunflower bed this summer… the jar of honey is not small, the flower is simply enormous) and I can 100 percent say this about it: It is extraordinarily delicious and so completely unlike any honey you will find in the store. Not only in taste, but in nutritional value as well.

Health Benefits of Manuka Honey

Manuka honey has far superior antibacterial strength than other honeys. While honey is a healthy food, when it’s Manuka honey, it’s basically a superhero. Manuka honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant superpowers.

People actually use manuka honey to treat wounds, it’s that potent. It’s also said to improve your oral health, soothe a sore throat and treat ulcers. I used some a few days ago when allergies had given me a sort of annoying cough. Just half a teaspoon of the deliciousness chased the ticklish cough away faster and more effectively than any cough drop.

Manuka honey is also a natural source of energy.. and who couldn’t use a little more energy in their days (says a MiMi to three boys all under 5 years old!). For more health benefits of Mauka Honey, as well as MANY creative and wonderful ways to use it, please see New Zealand Honey Co.’s excellent resource, 176 Ways to Use Manuka Honey.

(Review Concluded Below…)

New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka Honey and Chocolate and Ghee

New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka Honey and Chocolate and Ghee

How I’ve Been Enjoying Manuka Honey:

  • Even a tiny amount stirred in hot tea is excellent. It pairs especially well with citrus tea!
  • I’ve been using it as part of one of my favorite “good fat” treats. I take a square of dark chocolate and add a little great-quality ghee (Ancient Organics Ghee is BY FAR the best I’ve ever had), a little honey, and either flaky sea salt or pink Himalayan salt on top. The combination of flavors will blow your mind.
  • Another healthy snack I’ve always loved is a sliced banana, topped with either peanut butter or almond butter with a drizzle of honey. Manuka brings even more flavor and health benefits than my regular “go to” honey.
  • I’ve also enjoyed a little manuka honey added to Vanilla Greek Yogurt.
  • I love to add a little, along with butter, to my gluten-free oatmeal.
  • 176 Ways to Use Manuka Honey has many, many, many other uses and recipes… easy homemade beauty products, recipes, pet uses, hair masks, throat lozenges made with manuka honey (saving this one for cold and flu season, y’all).

Yes, Manuka honey is more expensive than regular honey – but, the good thing is, you can taste the difference and it is absolutely worth it.

For more information, please visit their wonderful website: New Zealand Honey Co. When you arrive on the website, you’ll even be given a chance to receive a discount on their extraordinary products. This wonderful honey would make a VERY thoughtful gift idea this Christmas!

Manuka Honey

Manuka Honey

Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder: Delicious, Nutritious, and So Easy to Enjoy (Review)

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Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder Review Pic

Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder

I have an extraordinary new discovery in my world of smoothies, shakes, and smoothie bowls, but first a few words about why this “world” exists in the first place. I have always loved smoothies – even BEFORE “green smoothies” became a thing. When smoothies took off in popularity years back, I kept thinking, “What? Y’all are just now discovering smoothies? Where have you been?”

I can be pretty judgmental when it comes to such things.

For as long as I can remember, a smoothie is as big a part of my mornings as coffee and cats. I love the convenience, the taste, and the ease of digestion after my digestive tract’s long night off. With both Celiac and a hiatal hernia, I like to make things as simple on my insides as possible. Keeps all of us happy.

I made a few adjustments to my smoothie ingredients a few years back when a little thing called a pandemic blindsided all of us and reminded us that our health is not something to be taken for granted or something to be taken lightly.

Yes… absolutely anyone can get covid (or the flu or cancer…) BUT the healthier we are going IN greatly determines the story we have to tell when we come OUT. Healthier individuals and those with their weight under control simply fare better with diseases – in fact, many diseases won’t even show up on their doorstep. I switched from regular milk to using either almond or coconut milk and began experimenting with healthier forms of sweetening. I also began adding healthy ingredients into the smoothie and found that flaxseed and chia seeds are as delicious as they are healthy.

Not even diseases, truth be told. How about falls and other injuries? I hate to brag but I’m a ridiculously accident-prone individual. My best guess is that it’s because I mind and feet go 99 mph, regardless of the speed zone. Last summer, on a rainy afternoon, I fell on a slope while feeding my outside cats. I happened to fall on my ribs on the edge of a steel bowl. The bowl didn’t give an inch and one of my sons-in-law and I could literally HEAR my ribs crack.

Accidents happen all the time in life (I mean, I don’t hog ALL of them), and like facing down diseases from the common cold to cancer, the odds of winning GREATLY swing in our favor when we are as close to “fighting shape” as we can get.

We’re all human, we can all get sick – even athletes get sick – but think of it as a zombie attack. If zombies attack a particular town (before you laugh, consider the news headlines we read every day!), who are the individuals that stand the best chance of surviving?

The ones who can run away (preferably without falling and cracking their ribs)! If thinking about diseases and falls don’t inspire you, maybe the brain eaters will. I’ll try anything to keep you healthy.

When I was contacted about trying one of the Naked Shake Vegan Protein Powders in exchange for telling y’all about it, I jumped at the chance (and, no, I didn’t fall down).  As a card-carrying chocoholic, I chose the chocolate flavor to review.

(Review Continued Below…)

Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder Smoothie with Oat Milk

Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder Smoothie with Oat Milk

I have enjoyed using Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder in smoothies and smoothie bowls (simply thicker versions of smoothies with your nuts, fruit, and seeds alongside the goodness rather than blended in). I’ve used coconut milk, almond milk, and oat milk and honestly can’t decide which one is best.

While 12 oz of the milk of your choice and one scoop of the protein powder is easy enough in a blender, it’s especially simple if you have a blender bottle (Amazon link) – I mean, really, does it get any simpler than pouring in the milk, adding a scoop of chocolate goodness, shaking it like you’re on American Bandstand (just aged myself, didn’t I??), and getting on with your day?

If you go the blender route, you’ll find that it’s a lot of fun experimenting with ingredients – though, make NO mistake about it, there’s plenty of chocolate deliciousness without adding anything. I love adding a tablespoon of almond butter or peanut butter, especially when I’m making smoothie bowls.

(Review Wrapped Up Below…)

Blender Bottle

Blender Bottle

While, as a cook and foodie, I’m concentrating primarily on the fun and deliciousness of the Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder, I do want to emphasize the best thing about this product is the fact that it contains ONLY the necessary ingredients – simple ingredients. Pure ingredients. Healthy ingredients. There are no artificial sweeteners or additives. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy free, and vegan… so it is about as easy to digest as it gets.

I could go into further detail about the purity of the ingredients and the health benefits of Naked Nutrition products, but frankly.. I’d rather get you on their website for yourself! I very much want you to see their story and to see how they can greatly benefit your story.

Where can you buy Naked Shake?

You can find the wonderful Naked Shake products (as well as all of the Naked Nutrition products) on their website, in many stores (including Wal-Mart and Target), and Amazon (Amazon link).

Here are a few pages of their website I know you’ll especially enjoy:

Naked Shake Smoothie Bowl Recipes

Foods that Naturally Increase Collagen (because we all want to look good, right??)

Keto Friendly Collagen Coffee Cake Recipe

Naked Shake Supplements

You’ll find so much information, great articles, and amazing recipes on their website, I hope you’ll visit them right away. And don’t forget to check out my new obsession… the Naked Shake Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder!

**** I’m happily experimenting with different smoothies and smoothie bowl recipes and will add them to the food blog as I hit upon my favorite combinations!


Rule Breaker Blueberry Lemonade Bites: Plant Based Snack Full of Flavor

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Rule Breaker Blueberry Lemonade Bites

If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout for healthier snacks, not just for the children in your life, but for yourself and other adults as well. Unfortunately, it can be a bit of a challenge finding snacks that are guilt-free and healthy, without tons of sugar, salt or other ingredients synonymous with snacks. Snacks you WANT to eat, ENJOY eating, and actually look forward to having again.

The frustrating thing is the addictive snacks (the ones we enjoy so much and look forward to again and again) usually have addictive ingredients like sugar and/salt. Sure, healthy snacks without tons of sugar and salt exist, but they’re usually are SO lacking in flavor that you don’t want anything to do with them. In fact, they’re often so bad, you worry that they’ll turn the kids in your life completely against “healthy food” all together!

When I was asked if I’d like to sample the healthier snack alternative, Rule Breaker, in exchange for telling my food blog readers about it, I jumped at the chance. I’m always interested in healthy snacks for myself AND even more so, for my three grandbabies.

I believe that one of the biggest reasons we have such a problem with diabetes and with overweight children and adults in America can be traced back to most of us developing somewhat of a sugar addiction very early in life. That’s why I want so VERY much for my grandbabies to start eating healthy snacks today so they’ll enjoy them tomorrow.

When bags of Rule Breaker Blueberry Lemonade Bites came in the mail, I anxiously tried one. After all, the flavor combination is one I’ve been hooked on for ages – blueberry/lemon tea, blueberry muffins with lemon zest, blueberry/lemon smoothies, etc.

The first bite was a knockout of flavor – the lemon and blueberries battled one another for dominance and it was a pleasure to be caught in the middle.

  • These would make ideal snacks for kids to take to school with them.
  • Perfect for the office – they don’t need refrigeration. Simply keep them handy for a quick bite whenever the need arises.
  • Great, healthy afterschool snacks.
  • Great for kids to take to band practice, sports activities.. anyplace a healthy boost could serve them well.

The next day, I anxiously gave one to each of the two grandbabies who were with me (Jacoby, 2, and Maddox, 4). I’ll be completely honest with you (as always)… the four year old, at first, refused to take a bite. When I convinced him to at least try one, he wasn’t a fan. In all fairness, though, he can be a really particular eater.  He loves blueberries and the taste of lemon, however, so I thought he might buy into these.

So far not only has he not bought into them, he won’t eve lease one! I plan to try again really soon. I think he may have been expecting more of a blueberry muffin and it simply isn’t muffin-like.

His little brother Jacoby, however, loves them! He ate the one I gave him, the other half of Maddox’s, and then asked for more. He wasn’t expecting a muffin, so I think that worked to his advantage.

The flavor is a perfect 10, even if their appearance isn’t lmao… they simply aren’t terribly yummy-looking. The texture and “mouthfeel” are different from most things kids are used to (I really think this is where Maddox got tripped up), but if we can get kids to become more familiar with healthier food, these things won’t seem so unusual to them.

That’s the mission!

There are other flavors and varieties of Rule Breaker Snacks on Amazon (Amazon link) and I think most of them would be a big hit with kids (though I’m absolutely sure most adults will love these Blueberry Lemonade Bites as much as me and the two year old do!) and adults. Chocolate, Birthday Cake, Pumpkin Spice, Mint Chocolate Brownie, and Chocolate Chunk Brownie are the exciting flavors. All are wonderfully gluten-free and vegan.

True story: Jacoby just walked up to me at the computer while I was working on this review. He looked at the picture below, recognized the bag, and said, “My want some, MiMi!”

So… MiMi is off to give her adorable Jacoby a snack we both feel good about. I think I’ll even see if Mr. Picky Pants will give them another try!

Rule Breaker Blueberry Lemonade Bites

Rule Breaker Blueberry Lemonade Bites

Feeling ALL Kinds of Salty: Why You Need Cornish Sea Salt Company Salts in Your Life

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Freshly Cut Avocado with Cornish Lemon & Thyme Sea Salt 

My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I am an Amazon addict. Not complaining. Not bragging. Certainly NOT looking for intervention… just merely and merrily stating a fact. There are many reasons for this happy addiction (I love buying things for my large family, I’m an avid reader, I collect old movies on dvd…) but the main thing I use Amazon for these days – as in right up there with books – is for salts, seasonings, and other food items I can’t get in stores.

Seriously, using Amazon for food-related goodies is one of the absolutely most enjoyable rabbit holes you’ll ever find.

It’s all in keeping with something I’ve always preached, to be a good cook…

  • You need a passion for it.
  • You need to practice regularly – and, not only with food(s) you’ve never made before, but with those you regularly make. You can always find new tricks, tweaks, and tools to make regular meals more enjoyable and maybe EVEN tastier.
  • Get creative! Never be as boring, predictable, or stale and for crying out loud, never be average.
  • Your food will only be as good as the tools you surround yourself with. Make sure your knives, pans, pots, blenders, mixers, etc are all in tip top shape.
  • Use the best ingredients you can afford. Some items are simply WORTH paying more for – garlic powder and vanilla come to mind.
  • Life (and a kitchen) without seasoning and spice is BORING!

The outrageously delicious and crazy fun salts I want to tell you about today tick off quite a few of the aforementioned requirements. They’re also very affordable and, if I can get super girly for a hot minute, they look amazing sitting on the counter.

Well, they do.

Using different salts, peppers, seasonings, oils, vinegars, and sauces is a huge passion (obsession) of mine. I just counted and we currently have 12 salts in our kitchen. TWELVE! If I were to use full disclosure, there are about to be thirteen (more about the one on the way in a minute).

I recently came across a company who really knows their salt and they have a fan for life. I first spied the Cornish Sea Salt Company on Amazon about a month ago when I was (as I can often be found doing) shopping for fun salt blends.

(Salty Conversation Continued Below…)

Cornish Sea Salt And Pepper Pinch Salt

Cornish Sea Salt Company Salt & Peppery Blend

The first one of their blends I saw and ordered is pictured above, the Salt & Peppery blend (Amazon link). The Cornish sea salt is accompanied by four wonderful peppers and the result is a beautiful and delicious thing. I’ve used (and loved) this blend on burgers, eggs, bacon, chicken, baked potatoes, fried potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, pinto beans… basically anyplace I’d add regular salt and pepper together, this allows me to add them at once in a knock-out blend that brings even more flavor to the moment. Used as a finishing touch, it adds a great deal to the food’s presentation – in addition to tasting fantastic.

When I saw that they had another blend, Fresh & Zesty: Lemon, Thyme & Cornish Sea Salt (Amazon link), I ordered a tub immediately.

The tubs may look small, but these salt blends last a really long time. The flavor is so concentrated, it hardly takes any at all to make a big impact.

I knew the minute I smelled the Lemon, Thyme & Cornish Sea Salt blend that I had another winner on my hands. I’ve used this one on pasta, garlic toast, hummus, salmon (it’s amazing in salmon patties!), shrimp, and other fish. One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is also one of the simplest, on freshly cut avocado. The flavors it brings to the avocado party are unbelievable.

Remember when I said I currently had 12 different salts in my kitchen and they were about to be joined by salt number 13? Well, we can blame the Cornish Sea Salt Company for this one, too! They have another blend that sounds as wonderful as these two… Cornish Roasted Garlic Sea Salt (Amazon link) and it is sitting in my Amazon cart as we speak. 

I honestly cannot wait to get creative with this one. I mean, are you kidding me? Garlic!? The possibilities are endless.

I hope you’ll give these salts a try – they’re outstanding! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Cornish Sea Salt Fresh and Zesty on Avocado

Fresh & Zesty: Lemon, Thyme & Cornish Sea Salt (Amazon link)


Kentucky Pimento Cheese: Budget-Friendly, Easy, and Delicious!

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Pimento Cheese Makings

Pimento Cheese, Fixing to Happen

Okay, so why do I call this Kentucky Pimento Cheese?? Well…

  1. It’s Pimento Cheese
  2. I live in Kentucky

Mystery solved! Actually, I thought the words Pimento Cheese looked kind of lonely and wanted to give them a friend.

This is my go-to recipe for pimento cheese because it’s easy, simple, and (most importantly) delicious. It’s creamy and a little sweet (thanks for all you do for me, cream cheese). You can add a little jalapeno and/or cayenne pepper (just a little, don’t get crazy with it) to it if you’d like to balance the sweetness, but as a true southerner, sweetness floats my boat, so I take him as he is.

A few quick notes…

  • Make this your own by adding more cheese if you like, as much salt and pepper as you prefer, and adjusting the mayo to fit your personal tastes.
  • It’s always a great idea (with any food, actually) to shred your own cheese rather than buying it shredded. It simply tastes a lot better. A LOT better.

Kentucky Pimento Cheese on Bread


A Simple and Delicious Summer Salad that Begins with Prosciutto & Mozzarella Rolls

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Prosciutto Rolls Salad

Prosciutto Rolls Salad

I’m working on adding more really quick, simple, and summer-friendly meals and dishes to the blog – after all, when the weather is gorgeous OUTSIDE, who wants to be INSIDE any more than they have to!?!

Meal prep is a dream come true, not only for those who work outside of the home, but for anyone who wants to maximize their time without compromising healthy food that that tastes great.

So, you’ll be seeing a lot more meal ideas and recipes with all of this in mind. Actually, many won’t even be recipes as much as they’ll be ideas. The one I want to share with you today is delicious and couldn’t possibly be simpler. I got the idea for this simple summer salad from one of my favorite fast food “sandwiches” the Vito Unwich from Jimmy John’s. Italian meat, veggies, cheese, and a dressing in a lettuce wrap… it’s more delicious than you can imagine.

Which is why I wanted to incorporate the flavors at home, in a nice simple salad.

First, you’ll need a package of Prosciutto & Mozzarella Rolls (most grocery stores sell these little roll ups in the refrigerated deli department). You could, of course, buy the Italian meat(s) and mozzarella and make your own rolls, but we’re aiming for simplicity, here!

Second, buy premade packaged greens all gussied up and ready for salads OR buy your own favorite greens and make your own. We’re a romaine lettuce kind of family, so I always have crunchy romaine on hand.  For most summer salads, I like a mixture of my favorite greens (arugula, romaine, iceberg, spinach, red leaf…) but for this particular salad, I always go with romaine exclusively – it’s simply better that way.

As far as other vegetables go, by all means add your personal favorites: tomatoes (when in season), sweet onion, green onion, etc. If you want to include others, such as cucumbers, carrots, celery, or broccoli, I think it’s best to simply put them to the side. This simple salad is its best when it adheres to the word simple.

Dressing? You can go with your favorite homemade Italian dressing or use your favorite bottled dressing. I normally make my own dressing, but this particular time (when these photos were taken), I was battling seasonal allergies and the zombie-brain-inducing medicines that come with them and wanted sweet simplicity. I used the wonderful Olive Garden Dressing (Amazon link) I always have on hand for such emergencies. This dressing is fantastic and I wouldn’t dream of ever running out of it.

Prosciutto Rolls Salad

Prosciutto Rolls Salad


Super Sauce for Salmon Patties and Salmon Burgers… So Long, Tarter Sauce

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Super Sauce for Salmon Patties

Super Sauce for Salmon Patties & Salmon Burgers

I make salmon patties or salmon burgers at least once a week. To keep them from becoming tiresome, I often mix up what I put in them and usually change up the sauce I prepare to go on top. Sometimes I add just onions, sometimes onion and celery… sometimes bell pepper and/or garlic. You get the idea.

I’ve come across a sauce, by trial and error, that I love on top of salmon patties so much that I might not be switching up the sauce any time soon.

I call this “Super Sauce” for a few reasons:

  1. My 4 year old grandbaby has started using the word “super” like its his job. Things are often “super” rare, “super” fun, “super” old (I always duck when he uses this one because someone in their 50s undoubtedly seems SUPER old to a 4 year old!).. so, naturally, if I associate a word with someone who has my whole heart, it becomes one of my favorite words.
  2. It’s super. Plain and simple. It’s super.


Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese…. Delicious!

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Stouffer's Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese

Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese

While it’s no big secret that homemade macaroni and cheese is superior to anything out of a box (if, that is, the cook is good at what they do), many times you simply want a fast, easy, simple way to add macaroni and cheese to your day. It’s times like these, I’m thankful for quite a few really good gluten-free macaroni and cheese brands on the market. When it comes to box varieties, Annie’s (Amazon link) and Kraft (Amazon link) make outstanding gluten-free macaroni and cheese.

I recently saw something in the frozen food aisle that jumped out at me… it jumped with such precision that it landed right in my cart… Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese. I have to admit, while I was anxious to try it, I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it is. Another brand (one that makes MANY outstanding frozen gluten-free products) has a gluten-free macaroni and cheese on the market and it is ghastly.

I’m very pleased to say that Stouffer’s Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese isn’t the least bit ghastly – what it is is extraordinary. I have already bought more. They make for a delicious (and quick and easy) side for just about anything.

I’ve been known to simply slice a tomato and have this macaroni and cheese as my entire lunch. When a co-star is this good, it slides over from the role of side, right into the spotlight.

A Greta Garbo move if I ever saw one.

If you’re unable to find this deliciousness in your local supermarket (or Wal-Mart, Target…), you might check Amazon. They carry so many grocery products these days, they may just have it.


Easy, Lemon-y Hummus with Enough Garlic EVEN For My Husband!

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Easy Hummus

Easy Hummus Recipe: Garlic and Lemon Make it Happen!

When it comes to hummus, like quite a few things actually, my husband and I have very different tastes. His favorite hummus ingredient, and the flavor he wants to dominate, is garlic. Mine? Lemon…. most definitely lemon.

This particular hummus recipe is one that keeps us both happily dipping our crackers, toast triangles, and veggies.

1/2 cup tahini
1/4 + 1 TBS for drizzling cup extra virgin olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves, mashed and chopped finely (no big clumps!)
2 (15 oz) cans of chickpeas, drained
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water

Combine the tahini and olive oil well – if possible, use a food processor and process until smooth. A blender also works in a pinch. Add the garlic, garbanzo beans, lemon juice, water, and salt. Combine until smooth.

Taste and add more lemon juice or salt if needed.

When serving, I like to add a little drizzle of extra olive oil and a bit of coarse sea salt. Looks pretty and adds a little more flavor.

Easy Hummus

Hummus and Gluten-Free Crackers