The Best Fudgy Brownies recipe with a creamy cream cheese swirl. The only brownie recipe you’ll ever need in your life. The perfect combination a brownie requires: Fudgy, Chocolaty, and Moist. The way a brownie should be. {Gluten-Free with Dairy-Free Option}

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The Best Fudgy Brownies Recipe

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Don’t get me wrong, Black Bean Brownies have a proper time and place. However, when you are craving that deep, dark and fudgy brownie goodness with perhaps a massive scoop of honey ice cream on it, there is no denying that craving.

You’ll be glad you didn’t deny that craving, believeeee me. It is happiness and all chocolate heaven in your mouth.

Say hello to your new best brownie friends. These gluten-free fudgy brownies will not disappoint.  R is generally the resident brownie-monster and demolishes any brownies baked on site. However, I confess, I turned into a brownie-monster with these.

Two batches made, two batches consumed. All by me. // #oops #sorrynotsorry #likereallynotsorry

My effort to work out at least once a day has its downfalls. For one, I crave chocolate more. But isn’t that the whole reason we work out? So we can eat more food? . . . Wait, is that just me?

I mean, exercise is good for my heart, muscles, and overall brain and body health (blah, blah), but I burned calories so I get to eat brownies, right?

As I write this, I am down in Ohio for the weekend, sitting in a coffee shop drinking a green tea. It’s a girl’s weekend at Cedar Point where we ran a 5k through the amusement park and then got to ride lots of wicked roller coasters. Oh, and there is a medal involved. I only enter races when there is some awesome swag.

Super fun.

There was, however, a point where I got super hangry and overheated.

I’m pretty sure these brownies would’ve fixed both of those problems.

Brownies have super-powers, right?

Back at home, R is working on putting my office back together while I’m away. You can see the studio wide open spaces and all the room for super fun activities to come on our first Facebook Live Video! You can also see it on Snapchat! (username: veggiebalance)

Every time I walk down into that spacious studio, I can’t help but quote Step Brothers.

(There may even have been a re-enactment of this entire scene at one point.)

There won’t be karate, aerobics, or calisthenics (or maybe there will be). Regardless, there will be a super awesome Veggie Balance studio to make and take more awesome fudgy brownies pictures.

If you haven’t shared and entered into the opportunity to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, go check out our first Facebook Live Video and enter in!

We need to reach 3,000 followers on Facebook in order to pick the winner, so share away with your friends and family. (We are almost halfway there!)

We’ve also created a super fun Veggie Balance VIP group on Facebook !! It’ll be the first to know all, the first inside look of the the office remodel, the first to know when a new recipe goes live. Need to clean out your email inbox but still want notifications when a recipe goes live? // Here is the solution! Join the Veggie Balance VIP group.

On a side note: You guys are so amazing, hearing your kind and sweet words lately makes it that much more enjoyable to do what I do. Thank you so much everyone.

As a token of my appreciation, I bring you the best fudgy brownies made gluten-free AND dairy-free. You are welcome.

The Best Fudgy Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

45 mins

 

The Best Fudgy Brownies recipe with a creamy cream cheese swirl. The only brownie recipe you'll ever need in your life. The perfect combination a brownie requires: Fudgy, Chocolaty, and Moist. The way a brownie should be. {Gluten-Free with Dairy-Free Option}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 20-25 brownies

Ingredients

• 1½ cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup butter (or dairy-free butter option)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ cup gluten-free baking flour (my total favorite kind)

Cream Cheese Swirl

• 4 ounces cream cheese (or dairy-free cream cheese option works), softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon cane sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Prepare 9x13 pan with parchment paper
3. In a microwave friendly bowl add 1 cup chocolate chips and butter. Heat for 20 seconds, stir and continue these steps until chocolate is fully melted.
4. In another large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar.
5. Whisk in cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
6. Slowly whisk in gluten-free baking flour. Fold in remaining chocolate chips.
7. Pour batter into prepare 9x13 pan.
8. In a small bowl, Whisk together cream cheese, vanilla extract and sugar.
9. Spoon 4 lines across brownie batter, with a toothpick drag lines through to create the swirl. (See Video)
10. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
11. Allow brownies to cool before slicing.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

The post The Best Fudgy Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Easy Hamburger Casserole recipe made in less than 30 minutes with just 10-Ingredients to create the perfect go-to meal for the work week. The only hamburger ‘n pasta recipe you need. Doesn’t get any better than this.  {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

PIN this recipe to make it for later!

Recipe was first posted as a guest post over at EazyPeazyMealz.com

Easy Hamburger Casserole

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For someone who cooks and bakes for a living, this should not be a thought that goes through my head. Sadly, it happens all the time.

No worries though; this Easy Hamburger Casserole has us covered. And man oh man, does it deliver! It’s everything your heart and mouth desires. BURGERS!!

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, when I was vegetarian (in an effort to take my health back by eating cleaner), burgers were always missed. I mean, always!

Yeah, I could make black bean burgers and spinach burgers, but it just didn’t satisfy that craving. Say hello to the easiest weeknight meal: Hello Hamburger Casserole!

Now, this isn’t made with the questionable and flavorless box ingredients that we all grew up with.

Those should not be named (sorry), but as cheap as those helper meals are, we have them beat with this homemade hamburger casserole made in less than 30 minutes with just 10 super simple ingredients! // #microphone drops

This creamy and flavorful hamburger casserole has gotten me through MANY weeknight meals.

You know, those days when it is 6PM, you’re just finishing up work, and somehow there is supposed to be food on the table by 7PM??

I mean, you would think that because I work from home there would be a meal planned and ready every night. Nope.

Who just had potatoes for dinner last night? // Yeah, that would be me.

So let’s talk about the key ingredient in this dish and something you should have in your fridge. Mustard!

In my expert (yet humble) opinion, the more mustard in this, the better. The tangy mustard goes perfectly with the crunch of the pickles, the sweetness of the tomatoes, and the kick of the onions. Really, it’s hamburger heaven. Just in casserole form.

Made with gluten-free pasta using my favorite gluten-free pasta trick–as I shared over at this Italian Pasta Salad post.

Made naturally dairy-free, if you omit the cheese on top. If you can handle cheese in moderation, add some extra sharp cheddar cheese and we are in business!

TIP: Top with quick pickled onions. Your taste buds will not be disappointed. 

This hamburger casserole is the base of all things great about a hamburger, but the really fun part is totally up to you; namely, adding your absolute favorite toppings.

• More Mustard // (seriously, something about this tangy condiment just brings hamburger casserole heaven upon us)
• Chopped Pickles
• Chopped Tomatoes
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Quick Pickled Onions

Seriously, whatever your heart desires!

Now, go! We have been saved from another “What are we having for dinner tonight?” moment by this Easy Hamburger Casserole.

Easy Hamburger Casserole

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Easy Hamburger Casserole recipe made in less than 30 minutes with just 10-Ingredients to create the perfect go-to meal for the work week. The only hamburger ‘n pasta recipe you need. Doesn't get any better than this. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dinner

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 small white onions, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 8 ounces tomato paste
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 3-4 cups corn pasta, cooked and drained (any small pasta variety will work: Lasagna Cuts, Fusilli or Macaroni: Can use any kind of pasta your diet needs also.)
• 2-4 Tablespoons yellow mustard
• Pinch Salt and Pepper

Optional

• ¼ cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan on medium heat, add olive oil, brown onion and garlic then add ground beef. Cook ground beef fully.
2. Drain grease from beef.
3. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, cooked pasta, stir until mixed and heated through.
4. Sir in mustard, cheese (optional), salt and pepper.
5. Serve immediately with your favorite hamburger toppings!

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy weeknight dinner recipes:

• Chicken Parmesan Casserole
• Grilled Summer Vegetables in Buffalo Sauce
• Dairy-Free Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon using this rockin’ dairy-free Alfredo Sauce

The post Easy Hamburger Casserole appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Healthy Coleslaw Recipe with a creamy homemade mayo and an added boost of healthy with chopped kale and extra red cabbage to make it a summer salad your family can’t resist. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, High Fiber, Vegan Friendly}

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Healthy Coleslaw Recipe

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I am beautiful. I am creamy. I am the best darn coleslaw salad ever. // Hello Healthy Coleslaw.

I didn’t even think that this could be a reality. Am I the only one that just lovesssss coleslaw?

It’s sweet. It’s creamy. It’s tangy. And generally it looks, well . . . pretty blah. All white, no shred of nutrition screaming at you from the bowl. What green? That’s right, that dark leafy green goodness is non-existent in a traditional coleslaw salad.

Which, knowing what I now know about my body, that is a no buenooooo. (I’ll explain more about that later.)

What handles dressing and maintains that perfect crunch? Why Kale!

Hello beautiful.

We’ve established my former hatred for kale and how this green goodness has been growing on me this year. It is the perfect accomplice to this healthy coleslaw salad. We’ve also added extra red cabbage and taken the mayonnaise situation into our own hands–Homemade Mayonnaise style.

I’ve perfected and mastered mayonnaise at home. It’s in my Gluten-Free Party Food cookbook, but lucky for you it’s the one recipe out of the book that I share right here on VB! If you really don’t feel like making it yourself, there are some more natural mayo options, or simple swap out the mayo with Greek yogurt!

I personally prefer homemade mayonnaise. It mimics that perfect flavor I enjoyed as a kid, sitting on the deck eating a hot dog and coleslaw. // Fellow coleslaw lovers, I know you feel me.

TIP: Throw all those fresh, green crispy ingredients together into one large bowl. Add some salt and a little bit of sugar. Allow them to become friends and rinse the coleslaw mix well. Like realllllllly well, otherwise you’ll end up with very sweet and very salty coleslaw mix. No bueno. While our three veggies are mingling and becoming friends in the salty sweet brine, you’ll want to get working on the mayonnaise.

Once you thoroughly wash off your coleslaw mix, pat with paper towel to rid of any extra water. If you have a salad spinner, now is the time to use it. I’m a minimalist and refuse to buy a salad spinner, even though I know it’ll be a tool I’ll use frequently. // I have issues, I know.

My technique for the non-salad-spinner-owners: Strain coleslaw mix under water 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently to wash off salt and sugar. With paper towel press coleslaw mix until no water strains out. Place paper towel on the counter, spread the coleslaw over towel, and blot off any excess water.

After you have put all the dried coleslaw back into a bowl, NOW is the time to complete our healthy coleslaw salad. // GET IN MY BELLY. 

It’s a beautiful thing to eat spoonful after spoonful of your childhood favorite dish with a healthy twist. Good job kale; you yet again impress me with your deliciousness and versatility.

So, if you have gotten this far into the post, good job. Now I will explain what I meant earlier about knowing what my body needs.

A couple months back I found out I have a MTHFR genetic mutation.

(Wellness Mama probably explains the best in simple terms what MTHFR is.)

Pretty much my body can’t handle synthetic folic acid (added to many breads, rice, pasta, and vitamins // WTH food system). It also inhibits the ability to effectively remove toxins from my body (environmental toxins, metals, alcohol).

Which, if you haven’t noticed, my favorite heavy cast iron pan has lost its spot in the house and in photo shoots. My iron levels were wayyyyy too high. // Good to know.

Iron Pans + MTHFR = No Bueno

Dark Leafy Greens to the rescue. They contain the folate my body can use and needs to function. Lots and Lots (and lots) of organic Dark Leafy Greens.

So with all that fun new knowledge, I wanted to share this for those still suffering or still on the path to wellness. I cut out 99.5% of my suffering when gluten was eliminated from my diet. Just goes to show though that gluten is not the solution to all health problems (which I find mainstream media likes to say it is).You can be on a 100% gluten-free diet, but still eating all the gluten-free cookies, breads, and crackers in the world. // WE NEED GREENS!

Just going gluten-free is not going to solve all the health problems. We still need to eat cleaner and healthier! // Even the non-MTHFR mutated people.  

Alright, I’m coming down from my soapbox. It’s been something I’ve wanted to say for a while now.

We need variety. We need vegetables. And more importantly, we need kale in our healthy coleslaw salad! Lets get to it. 

Healthy Coleslaw Salad

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

Healthy Coleslaw Recipe with a creamy homemade mayo and an added boost of healthy with chopped kale and extra red cabbage to make it a summer salad your family can't resist. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, High Fiber, Vegan Friendly}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Salad

Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 4½ cups coleslaw mix
• 2 cups curly kale, finely chopped
• ½ cup red cabbage
• ⅛ cane sugar
• ⅛ cup salt

Slaw Dressing

• ⅔ cup mayonnaise (You can find the homemade mayonnaise recipe on this post)
• 2 Tablespoons cane sugar
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ½ Tablespoon dried parsley
• Large pinch of black pepper.

Instructions

1. Combine coleslaw mix, kale, and red cabbage in a large bowl. Sprinkle with sugar, salt, toss to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes, then thoroughly rinse under cold water.
2. Transfer rinsed coleslaw to a salad spinner to dry or press any extra water out by spreading out onto paper towels, pat coleslaw dry. Return slaw back to large bowl.
3. In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, parsley and pepper.
4. Pour dressing over coleslaw and toss until fully coated. Add additional pepper, sugar or vinegar to taste if desired.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy summer salad recipes:

• Healthy Italian Pasta Salad
• Kale Lemon Parmesan Salad with Golden Raisins
• Cucumber Strawberry Salad

The post Healthy Coleslaw Recipe appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Simple Taco Pasta Salad recipe made in just 15 minutes. So easy to make with healthy, all-natural ingredients. In no-time you’ll have the perfect Easy Cold Taco Pasta Salad for the cookout. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, All-Natural}

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Taco Pasta Salad Recipe

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This easy Taco Pasta Salad is going to knock your socks off.

Lover of Mexican food? // I mean, everyone is obsessed with Mexican food, right? Good.

This cold pasta salad takes form for yet another way to stuff my face with yet another Mexican dish. Life is good.

So we will now be switching from taco salads to taco pasta salads on a weekly basis, mmk? Sounds good.

This pasta salad does not have one ounce of processed ingredients in it. It is made with those beautiful babies above. // To people who can eat cherry tomatoes whole: You are amazing.

I just can’t. I’ve tried many times. However, add them sliced into a saucy homemade taco sauce and we are in business.

Taco sauce pretty much completes any Mexican dish. This Taco Pasta Salad is no exception.

It is made with my homemade Ortega Copycat Taco Sauce (such an oldie but goodie recipe). Thousands of people come to this recipe every week. The reason is, well, it’s delicious and void of processed ingredients.

Pretty much, she is the star. Want to hear the coolest thing about this salad?? This dish is entirely gluten-free and dairy-free!

If your body can tolerate it, you are more than welcome to add a little cheese and sour cream to your bowl before serving. If not, no worries; it’s still seriously and deliciously epic.

TIP: Make sure you thoroughly rinse pasta after cooking to avoid pasta glob, We discussed this tip over in our Italian Pasta Salad recipe.

Excuse me while I shovel spoonful after spoonful of this cold Taco Pasta Salad into my mouth. All things are right with the world when there is a huge bowl of this in front of me.

Easy Cold Taco Pasta Salad Made Healthy!

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Taco Pasta Salad recipe made in just 15 minutes. So easy to make with healthy, all-natural ingredients. In no-time you'll have the perfect Easy Cold Taco Pasta Salad for the cookout. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, All-Natural}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Salad

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked rotini pasta, rinsed (SEE TIP)
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 (15 oz) can corn
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed
• 4-5 scallions, chopped
• 1 cup chunky salsa
• ¾ cup taco sauce (this is the recipe I use on a daily basis)
• ½ Tablespoon onion powder
• ½ Tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. In a large bowl add cooked pasta, tomatoes, corn, black beans, scallions, salsa, taco sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder and cayenne pepper.
2. Toss together until pasta and veggies are fully coated in sauce.
3. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.
4. Optional: Garnish with sour cream, cheese, extra scallions, if desired.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy pasta and salad recipes:

• Healthy Italian Pasta Salad
• Lemon Tuna Olive Oil Pasta
• Healthy Broccoli Salad

The post Taco Pasta Salad Made Healthy appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Edible Cookie Dough recipe and How-To Make it Healthy, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Lower-sugar! Made edible and egg-less with just 7 simple ingredients! Dreams do come true. 

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Edible Cookie Dough Recipe

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It is a good day because we have cookie dough! I mean, there are few things better than cookies, brownies and pies, but what is the very best thing about all of them?

That raw dough (and licking the bowl clean) is the highlight of my baking. Now, I know you aren’t supposed to consume raw eggs; I know this, but that dough is just too darn good!

Plus, let’s be honest here; it’s blasphemy to let cookie dough go to waste on that spoon! // If I see you wash off a spoon chock full of leftover cookie dough, we cannot be friends.

I’m kidding . . . Sort of.

As you place the cookies on the baking sheet, want to erase the fear of getting sick after realizing you ate a total of 3 cookies of dough? // There is a possibility that this happened.

Have a craving to eat a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough?

Edible Cookie Dough to the rescue!

I’ll break this down for you.

One night, after a very long day, R was out of town and the house was super quiet. There was a glass of wine consumed along with 4 consecutive episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.

I began dreaming of the countless chocolate chip cookie batches made earlier that week.

What I really wanted though, was that dang dough. I didn’t want to bake it (psh, we don’t need that); I just want to eat that amazing cookie dough!

Voila! That is how this edible chocolate chip cookie dough was born.

What followed after that? Another 3-4 episodes of Grey’s. 

That is how I roll when the house is all to myself.

Productive? No. Relaxing? Heckssssss yes.

I’ve come to the conclusion that is how most ‘eating-raw-cookie-dough-out-of-the-tube’ scenarios begin.

The best part? These are gluten-free, dairy-free and made lower-sugar! So wayyyyyy better then store bought cookie dough. Seriously, dreams really do come true. // Would it be weird that I actually have dreamed about eating cookie dough? Yeah? Ok, never mind then.

You have a couple options in shoveling this delicious egg-less and edible cookie dough into your mouth:

Option A: Sit there with with the entire bowl and eat with a spoon. 

Option B: Roll into tiny little delicious cookie dough balls. Then devour.

Both are effective methods.

Whatever you choose, both are acceptable.

Sitting with the entire bowl? I think that calls for an extremely rough day. The edible cookie dough balls are more for those days when you just need some cookie dough in your life.

Once rolled into those perfect bites, you can grab one, eat it, then decide you need another. Then this cycle continues until they are all gone. // Not speaking from personal experience or anything.

So whether it’s been a rough day, or a day you just need some comfort cookie dough, speaking from experience, this chocolate chip egg-less edible cookie dough will solve those problems.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Edible Cookie Dough

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

Edible Cookie Dough recipe and How-To Make it Healthy, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Lower-sugar! Made edible and egg-less with just 7 simple ingredients! Dreams do come true.

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: Apprx 2 cups

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter or dairy-free butter option, softened
• ⅛ cup cane sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1½ cup gluten-free baking flour
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
• 2 Tablespoons chocolate chunks

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, cream together butter, cane sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
2. Add sea salt and stir in flour.
3. Fold in chocolate chips
4. Best if stored in the fridge in an airtight container.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy no-bake recipes:

• Strawberry Cream Cheese Truffles
• Healthy Chocolate Truffles
• No-Bake Energy Bites

The post Edible Cookie Dough appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Thank you Casal Garcia for sponsoring this post. For more information on sponsored posts and how they are helping Veggie Balance run: Click Here.

Wine Spritzer recipe with blueberries and lemon takes your summer drinks to the next level with an easy homemade blueberry simple syrup. Made in minutes, you have a refreshing drink to celebrate the summer.

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Wine Spritzer with Blueberry Simple Syrup

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And just in time . . . it has been sooo hottt the past couple weeks. Here in Michigan we don’t just get the heat; we get the humidity on top of it.

Humidity that just hangs on every movement you make outside. Humidity so high you feel like you’ve taken a shower by merely walking to your mailbox. And it’s not a refreshing, cooling shower. // Oh I wish. No, it’s hot, muggy, and feels like you’ve gained twenty pounds.

Cold, refreshing drinks are a must to get through this. Oh, and spending every waking hour at the beach to get an actual breeze to cool down. // I really do love summers.

Last week I spent most of my time on water. This week, it’s back to reality. Back to reality and back to suffering in this sweltering hot, humid weather.

Does this sound like you, too? Gosh, I’m glad I’m not the only one. Let’s make something delicious, sweet, refreshing, cooling, and perfectly fizzy to help with getting back into reality.

Plus, we only have so many weeks of summer left. Wine Spritzers are just not the same with a foot of snow outside. Summer wine spritzers are where it is at!

First things first, there is a blueberry simple syrup you can make with just TWO-Ingredients. It will knock your socks off how easy and how much flavor (not to mention beautiful color) it adds to your wine spritzer.

Add: Blueberries, Water, Sugar.

Boil them together, and the magic will happen in front of your eyes. Blueberries will break down, their beautiful color will come forth, and you are left with a sweet simple syrup. #ItsThatEasyNow you can strain this blueberry simply syrup (liquid gold) to rid it of the leftover blueberries. I personally keep them in there–love chowing them down after I finish my drink.

We can’t waste blueberries. Especially Michigan blueberries. Michigan blueberries are by far the best in the states. // Yes, I live here and am totally biased.

Once you have your liquid blueberry simple syrup gold, you need three more simple ingredients: White Wine, Soda Water, and Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice.

Voila! Let’s finish off this summer RIGHT.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Blueberry Wine Spritzer

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

4 mins

Total time

14 mins

 

Wine Spritzer recipe with blueberries and lemon takes your summer drinks to the next level with an easy homemade blueberry simple syrup. Made in minutes, you have a refreshing drink to celebrate the summer.

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Drink

Serves: 1 drink

Ingredients

• ½ cup ice cubes
• 2 ounces blueberry simple syrup
• 2 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 4 ounces carbonated soda water
• 5 ounces chilled white wine

Creating Blueberry Simple Syrup

• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• ½ cup water

Instructions

1. To create blueberry simple syrup, add blueberries, sugar, water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until blueberries break down. About 2-4 minutes.
2. You can strain out blueberries through a strainer OR keep them in there. **
3. Allow blueberry simple syrup to fully cool.
4. In a 13 ounce glass add ice, blueberry simple syrup, lemon juice, club soda and white wine. Garnish with additional lemon slice, fresh blueberries; serve immediately.

Notes

** I personally keep the broken down blueberries to use in my drink. Your choice.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these delicious drink recipes:

• Fresh Low-Sugar Strawberry Lemonade
• Homemade Orange Juice
• Hot Chocolate Toddy with Peppermint 

Check out another delicious recipe that pairs perfectly with Casal Garcia Wines.

The post Blueberry Wine Spritzer appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Gluten-Free Banana Muffins recipe made healthy and so easy to whip up on a Saturday morning. Low-Sugar, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Only 105 calories per muffin! #BreakfastWin

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Gluten-Free Banana Muffins

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Muffin Happy Land Definition: Happily devouring muffin after muffin in total and complete bliss.

Yep, that sounds about right.

Let me help take you to muffin happy land with these perfectly delectable gluten-free banana muffins. 

First things first, we need bananas!! The riper, the better.

Why? The riper a banana becomes, the more the sugar content rises. However, if you need to watch your sugar levels, then the bananas below will be a better option.

So . . . the riper the banana, the more sweet your gluten-free banana muffins will be.

One morning during the week, I found these very ripe bananas that R must have forgotten about. (The man often loses track of his food. Many times I find myself either throwing away the week old pasta I told him to eat for a meal while I’m away, or I try to make use of it!)

Isn’t that the best thing about banana muffins, banana breads, and really any baked good with banana in it? You didn’t eat that banana?? No problem. We’ll make a delicious sweet treat out of it! // I CALL THAT A WIN.

These moist, fluffy, and scrumptious gluten-free banana muffins are also dairy-free, low-sugar and seriously, I didn’t realize how much I had been missing banana muffins.

I happily baked these lower-sugar muffins again for R, thinking he’d be so happy to have a treat to take to work the next morning.

Guys, I ate them all.

Before I knew it, I had devoured three muffins in a matter of seconds. The rest followed into my very happy tummy before he even got home.

Now, in my defense, the man works 10 hour days and has a 2.5 hour drive each day. So technically I ate them all within 12 hours.

Yeah, that makes me feel better. One thing is for sure, I was definitely in muffin happy land.

Want to go there, too? Together, we can happily eat 12 muffins in under 12 hours.  

Gluten-Free Banana Muffins

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

18 mins

Total time

28 mins

 

Gluten-Free Banana Muffins recipe made healthy and so easy to whip up on a Saturday morning. Low-Sugar, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Only 105 calories per muffin! #BreakfastWin

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 12 muffins

Ingredients

• 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 4 Tablespoons butter or df butter option, melted and cooled.
• 1 cup gluten-free baking flour

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Prepare muffin pan with baking cupcake liners.
3. In a medium bowl, mix bananas, egg, vanilla extract, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, seal salt. Mix in slightly cooled melted butter.
4. Slowly whisk in flour.
5. Spoon 2 Tablespoons into each cupcake liner (This works phenomenal).
6. Bake 18-21 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these breakfast muffin recipes:

• Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
• Healthy Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
• Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

The post Gluten-Free Banana Muffins appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes recipe made healthy, dairy-free, and lower-sugar with all the decadent, moist chocolate cupcakes your heart desires, along with a rich swirl of creamy low-sugar buttercream frosting.  +++ WE HAVE A GIVEAWAY !!! (woot woot) See Below.

PIN this recipe to make it for later!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Pin it to your Delicious Dessert board to SAVE it for later!

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I think I have finally taken my fear of gluten-free baking and turned it around! The result? Well, these moist, decadent and secretly healthy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes for one.

I’m a proud cupcake momma.

For almost a year I’ve been trying my hand at real gluten-free baking. Not brownies because, let’s be honest, brownies are so easy to whip together, if they are gooey and chewy, we have a success. // Under baked? Not a problem in my book.

Cookies, again, something I tackled and taught myself how gluten-free flour works with cookies and this was rather simple to accomplish.

Now, here came the fun part. // **Sarcasm.** 

CUPCAKES!!! Cake, cupcakes, I mean, anything with the word cake in it with frosting on top is a total and absolute WIN in my book. // With a scoop of ice cream, too, please and thank you.

They were tricky to get right though! 

I dove head first into all things baking and have been teaching myself everything I could possibly learn these past few years. // Thank you internet.

There have been many baking fails, especially this past year, not to mention countless classic cinnamon roll attempts (to no avail yet), but we press on and the only way to learn is to keep doing it!

So I bring to you my new, soul completing Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes as the product of this hard work! And it’s about time!

TIP: It is important to correctly measure your dry products! Lightly spoon powder and flours into measuring cup until it is overflowing. Then drag the backside of a knife across the top to level it off.

Growing up, I was always the one who plunged the measuring cups head first into a bag of flour, calling that good. Can’t say this method didn’t follow me into adulthood.

Measuring is important! Doing that ‘measuring-cup-dive’ method can accumulate up to 1.5 times MORE flour than you need. // With gluten-free baking, this is a huge no bueno.

Measuring correctly ensures you will have moist, airy chocolate cupcakes that everyone will love to devour. #CupcakeMasteringSkillz

TIP: You can make this recipe with Special Dark Cocoa powder if you are looking for some ULTRA dark chocolate cupcake flavor. My preference, but for most it’s not. // You super 88% dark chocolate lovers out there, I know you’re listening. It actually made them even more moist too!

Top this with my healthier and low-sugar vanilla buttercream frosting and we are in business!

Now, let’s talk about this giveaway!  Want to enter in for a chance to win a KitchenAid Stand Mixer + $100 Gift Card to Sweetapolita AND A Prize Package for Rodelle Vanilla?!  // Pshhh, who wouldn’t!

With your new mixer, you can make a batch of these healthy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes! Well, I’d advise to make these whether you win or not. They will complete you. 

This giveaway is a group project by the following lovely gluten-free bloggers. Please be sure to pay them a visit as well:

Gluten Free Coconut Cake – What The Fork Food Blog | Gluten Free Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes – Gluten-Free Palate | Bourbon Tropical Peach Cocktail – Fearless Dining | Kir Royale Cocktails – The Heritage Cook | Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes – My Gluten Free Miami | Gluten Free Cookie Cake – Flippin’ Delicious | Summer Beer – Vegetarian Mamma | The Best Gluten Free Cake – gfJules  | Gluten Free Coconut Cream Pie Cupcakes – Good Morning Cali | Gluten Free Cookie Cake – A Mind “Full” Mom | Strawberry Lychee Panna Cotta – Brunch-n-Bites | Cucumber Moscow Mule – The Culinary Compass | Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes with Mocha Frosting – Only Taste Matters | Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes – Veggie Balance |  Virgin Watermelon Margarita – Coffee With Us 3 | Elderflower Mojito – Home & Plate | Summertime Lemon Cupcakes – For the Love of Food | Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Stacks – Simply Healthy Family | Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake – Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt | Watermelon Mint Gin Fizz – Frugal Foodie Mama | Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake – Raia’s Recipes |  Tequila Sunrise Cocktail – All Roads Lead to the Kitchen | Grilled Spicy Pineapple Margarita – Lapetitchef | Gluten Free Fresh Apple Cake – My Gluten-free Kitchen

Ready, set, win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

21 mins

Total time

31 mins

 

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes recipe made healthy, dairy-free, and lower-sugar with all the decadent, moist chocolate cupcakes your heart desires, along with a rich swirl of creamy low-sugar buttercream frosting

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons gluten-free baking flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 3 Tablespoons butter or DF option, melted
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Low-Sugar Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Prepare muffin pan with baking cupcake liners.
3. In a small bowl combine almond milk, vinegar.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, brown sugar.
5. Make a well. Add eggs, vanilla extract, butter, and milk/vinegar mixture. Whisk together until fully incorporated.
6. Spoon 2 Tablespoons into each cupcake liner. (This works phenomenally)
7. Bake 21-24 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Allow to fully cool before piping on frosting.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these chocolate dessert recipes:

• Edible Cookie Dough
• Cream Cheese Fudgy Brownies
• Flourless Chocolate Cake

The post Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Caprese Gluten-Free Pasta Salad recipe made with just 4 easy ingredients and in no time you’ll have a fresh gluten-free pasta salad for your next get together.

PIN this recipe to make it for later!

Caprese Gluten-Free Pasta Salad Recipe

Pin it to your Summer Salad board to SAVE it for later!

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There is one thing that is a must in the summer: FRESH BASIL!

Fresh basil right from the garden, dude. I could sit there and smell basil all day err day. Now, I know there are many fabulous and delicious ways to use fresh basil. I’m guilty of using it in one of two ways: Marinara Sauce or Caprese ANYTHING.

Make that caprese pizza, caprese chicken, this caprese gluten-free pasta salad, or just caprese bites!  // I Love Capreseeeeeeeee.

So relieved we got that confession out of the way. To continue, I’ve found many ways to eat this delicious combo of tomato, mozzarella and basil, and this delicious caprese gluten-free pasta salad is no different.

It is an Italian celebration on your taste buds, my friends.

Not to mention that, with such simple ingredients, it’s a celebration for your wallet as well.

4-Ingredients! I mean, 4 healthy ingredients, a couple easy steps, and in under 30 minutes you’ll have a fresh and delicious caprese pasta salad that is also gluten-free! #SCORE

One of those easy ingredients is tiny corn elbow noodles. Now, you are MORE than welcome to use any pasta you like for this gluten-free pasta salad; heck, if you don’t need to be gluten-free, then go for whatever noodle your heart desires.

TIP: The smaller the noodle, the better for a perfect pesto to noodle ratio. Using larger varieties like fusilli or penne can work but not recommended. 

Then let’s not forget another diamond in the garden this time of year: Cherry Tomatoes!

Have I already mentioned I love summer? I mean really, how can you not!?!?

Granted, I know I was complaining about the humidity the other day. // We need refreshing drinks for that.

But with an endless supply of refreshing drinks, summer mornings fishing, and fresh produce growing in the garden, I really don’t have much to complain about.

ALSO – If you haven’t yet joined in the giveaway for a chance to win a KitchenAid stand mixer, I highly recommend entering! You can enter daily for more chances to win.

Go check it out over at our recent Chocolate Cupcakes post. // OMGEEEEEE, they are really good; actually, I’m eating a cupcake right now.

Summer Drinks. Gluten-Free Pasta Salads. Grilled Veggies or Anything Grilled, really. Cupcakes. // In that order. Andddddd Repeat.

Caprese Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Caprese Gluten-Free Pasta Salad recipe made with just 4 easy ingredients and in no time you'll have a fresh gluten-free pasta salad for your next get together.

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Pasta Salad

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 2½ cups gluten-free elbow pasta
• 1¼ cups mozzarella, cubed
• 1¼ cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup pesto( I like this one when I don't feel like making it)

Optional Garnish

• Fresh Chopped Basil

Instructions

1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain well, run under cold water to remove excess starch off gluten-free pasta.
2. Pour into cooled pasta into large mixing bowl, combine mozzarella, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and pesto.
3. Garnish with option fresh chopped basil

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy pasta dish recipes:

• Taco Pasta Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad with homemade dressing
• Chicken Parmesan Casserole

The post Caprese Gluten-Free Pasta Salad appeared first on Veggie Balance.

15 Easy Weeknight Meals recipe compilation to make those weeknights dinner that much easier to get through. All gluten-free dinners, some dairy-free and vegan, but no doubt, every single dish is out of this world easy and delicious. 

PIN this post for to make those crazy weeknight dinners easier!

15 Easy Weeknight Meals

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Follow Veggie Balance for more great tips, ideas and recipes!

Easy Hamburger Casserole 

Made in less than 30 minutes with just 10-Ingredients to create the perfect go-to meal for the work week. The only hamburger ‘n pasta recipe you need. Doesn’t get any better than this. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for Easy Hamburger Casserole Recipe

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken

This creamy sun-dried tomato skillet chicken is a perfect low carb, paleo dinner that’s on the table in under 20 minutes. Easy Weeknight Meal totally made simple. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Recipe by Wholesome Yum

Marinated Shrimp & Summer Vegetable Quinoa Bowls

Ready in less than 30 minutes! Full of zesty, chili lime flavor, the quinoa is piled high with sauteed shrimp, and delicious summer vegetables. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for Shrimp Summer Vegetable Quinoa Bowls Recipe by The Seasoned Mom

Lemon Tuna Olive Oil Pasta

Easy weeknight dish with just 5-Ingredients including solid white albacore tuna, freshly squeezed lemon, and a hearty dose of healthy extra virgin olive oil. Refreshing and Easy elevated  dinner or dish for your next dinner party. { Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free }

Click Here for Lemon Tuna Olive Oil Pasta Recipe

One Pot Shrimp Jambalaya Lentil Bowls

A healthy twist between a classic Jambalaya and shrimp gumbo combined together to make one delicious bowl of southern comfort! Packed full of veggies, lentils and protein for the win. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free }

Click Here for One Pot Shrimp Jambalaya Lentil Bowls Recipe by Cotter Crunch

Buffalo Grilled Summer Vegetables Buddah Bowls

Grilled Summer Vegetables marinated in an easy buffalo sauce, piled into a healthy buddha bowl with a creamy buffalo sauce.Perfect combination of delicious meets healthy. {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Grilled Summer Vegetables Buddah Bowls Recipe

Spicy Chicken Sausage Pasta

This simple spicy chicken sausage pasta with veggies is sure to win your heart for a quick weeknight meal. Made in under 30 minutes! {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Spicy Chicken Sausage Pasta Recipe by Show Me The Yummy

Gluten-Free Meatloaf Muffins

The easiest way to serve this classic delicious dish. Nutritionally boosted with extra green pepper, carrots, and onion. { Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free }

Click Here for Gluten-Free Meatloaf Muffins Recipe

Lentil Pasta with Roasted Garlic, Broccoli and Creamy Red Pepper Sauce

Tender Lentil Pasta tossed with roasted garlic, broccoli and swimming in a homemade Creamy Red Pepper Sauce. A win on so many levels. {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Lentil Pasta in Creamy Red Pepper Sauce Recipe by Watch Learn Eat

One Pot Brazilian Pork Rice with Plantains

One pot Brazilian pork and rice with plantains is full of spices and exotic flavors. This is an easy way to enjoy a quick and easy meal at home. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for One Pot Brazilian Pork Rice Recipe by Brazilian Flair In The USA

Roasted Cilantro Chili Chicken Thighs

This Roasted Cilantro Chili Chicken Thighs and potatoes roasted in a spicy cilantro and coriander chili sauce. All made in One-Pan making this the ultimate weekday dinner recipe. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for Roasted Cilantro Chili Chicken Thighs Recipe by The Flavours Of Kitchen

Easy No Fry Veg Manchurian

Healthier and Easy No Fry Veg Manchurian all in under 30 minutes. All made vegan and swimming in a sweet and sour gravy. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Click Here for Easy No Fry Veg Manchurian Recipe by Carve Your Cravings

Summer Herbed Quinoa Salad

The fresh and healthy Summer Herbed Quinoa Salad protein packed and is made in under 30 minutes. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Click Here for Summer Herbed Quinoa Salad Recipe by Recipes from a Pantry

Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados

Delicious Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados made in under 30 minutes and so unbelievable easy to make making it the perfect weeknight meal. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan Options}

Click Here for Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados Recipe by Live Eat Learn

Spinach Zucchini Lasagna Rolls

All the classic flavors of spinach lasagna rolled up into a healthier spinach zucchini lasagna making it the epitome of a easy weeknight meal. {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Spinach Zucchini Lasagna Rolls Recipe by Cook with Manali

You might also like some of these recipe compilations like this Easy Weeknight Meals:

• Top 5 Best Healthy Cookies
• Top 10 Best Crockpot Meals
• Top 5 Healthy Summer Recipes

The post 15 Easy Weeknight Meals All Gluten-Free appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Pork Stuffed Jalapeños Peppers recipe made with just 3-Ingredients! Take your entertaining to the next level this season with BBQ pulled pork and creamy cream cheese stuffed in spicy jalapeños. There won’t be any left by the end of the night. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Friendly Option}

Pork Stuffed Jalapeños Peppers Recipe

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However, if you put some cooling creamy cream cheese in a jalapeño, then pile on some sweet BBQ pulled pork, well, I’m down.

Oh, Jalapeños. Spicy and oh so full of life, we have to find a way to tame you. // For those pathetic spice intolerant people. (ME)

These Pork Stuffed Jalapeños are just like another entertaining favorite of mine: Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers.

Ooooo baby, I’ll devour these one after another, mouth on fire, feeling the heat just run down into my stomach. #ItsSoWorthIt

TIP: WEAR GLOVES WHILE CLEANING AND DE-SEEDING JALAPEÑOS!  // Needs to be in All Caps for emphasize here.

Unless you grew up on these and eating them whole like R, I don’t recommend dealing with jalapeños without gloves.

If you grew up in a household like mine where spice just simply wasn’t there, you’ll want those gloves.

R has no problem cutting these with his bare hands and washing them. // Sorcery. 

On the other hand, I once did that and three days later I rubbed my eye while sleeping and the jalapeño juices somehow were still on my hands. Oh, the burn!

Learn from my mistake and wear those gloves.

If you want to make these dairy-free, you have two options:

Option One: Replace the cream cheese with a dairy-free cream cheese option. Or even use the dairy-free cheese dip recipe here.

Option Two: Omit the cream cheese completely. This option only works if you have a higher spice tolerance. The cream cheese helps with cooling the dish down, but honestly, these jalapeños are the perfect little vessels to shovel loads of pulled pork into your mouth.

That is the real mission.

You can use this easy wholesome Farm Rich Smokehouse Pulled Pork BBQ as a quick alternative to making it yourself. It’s made with high-quality pork, wood smoked for hours and has no artificial ingredients. We especially love this on days we don’t have time for the meat to de-thaw from the freezer AND cook in the crockpot. 

The struggle is real. We always forget to take the meat out that morning or the night before to de-thaw in time for dinner.

You can find these in the freezer section of your grocery store. This pulled pork goes directly into the oven from the freezer, so no de-thaw time, no nothing. // AMAZING. 

If you do have the time and planned ahead for your party, there are some great recipes in the Gluten-Free Party Food Cookbook, including an easy homemade BBQ sauce.

TIP: Drizzle a little sour cream or ranch dressing over these puppies for some extra cooling effect. //    I told you, I am totally a baby.

No matter what, these are the perfect dish to serve for the dwindling summer day barbecues. // Goodness I don’t want to think about that.

We have a little less than two months before summer ends. Lets celebrate it with with as much hearty and spicy stuffed jalapeños we can muster.

If summer could only last forever.  Keep those spicy and sweet jalapeño vessels coming.

Enter in your own BBQ hack or recipe featuring Farm Rich Smokehouse by using #99DaysofBBQ on social media between May 30th and September 5th to enter in for a years worth of BBQ and BBQ Party Pack!  

Stuffed Jalapeños with Pulled Pork

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

40 mins

 

Pork Stuffed Jalapeños Peppers recipe made with just 3-Ingredients! Take your entertaining to the next level this season with BBQ pulled pork and creamy cream cheese stuffed in spicy jalapeños. There won't be any left by the end of the night. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Friendly Option}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 12 peppers

Ingredients

• 5-6 Jalapeños, halved lengthwise, stems and seeds removed.
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (or dairy-free option)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup pre-cooked Farm Rich SmokeHouse BBQ Pulled Pork

Optional:

• Drizzle extra sour cream or ranch over peppers.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Lightly grease baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl, cream together cream cheese, garlic powder.
4. Spread apprx 1 Tablespoon cream cheese then 1-2 Tablespoons of BBQ pulled pork into the middle of each jalapeño.
5. Place peppers onto baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes.
6. Drizzle extra sour cream or ranch over peppers. Serve immediately.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy finger appetizer recipes:

• Stuffed Mushrooms with Feta and Roasted Tomatoes
• Bacon Wrapped Dates
• Bacon Wrapped Apple Slices

The post Stuffed Jalapeños with Pulled Pork appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Low-Carb Pizza Recipe with sweet pears, salty prosciutto, red onion and tangy balsamic vinegar. Entirely gluten-free crust and sure to complete your Friday pizza night or wow your guests who’ll keep asking for more. {Gluten-Free, Low-Carb}

Low-Carb Pizza Recipe

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Cookies, Cupcakes, Mexican Food . . . along with one amazing combo that is the epitome of a great Friday night: Pizza and a crisp glass of wine. // It doesn’t take much to make me happy.

This Low-Carb Pizza is the only way we make pizza in our house, and for good reason.

It’s naturally gluten-free, it perfectly mimics thin crust pizza, and (most importantly) IT DOESN’T involve cauliflower!

I know, I know, I’m totally going against my mantra, “We need more veggies in our life, etc. etc.”, but hear me out.

Cauliflower crust pizza doesn’t hold together well, and you can’t pick it up and eat it like normal pizza.

While my last experience with it wasn’t positive (i.e., I broke out in hives), honestly, it really doesn’t taste that great either.

On the other hand, the amazing Low-Carb Pizza Crust: Tastes great, flourless, holds together perfectly, can be made with 4-Ingredients, you can pick it up like normal pizza, and it is completely void of cauliflower!

Uhh, yes, please.

One of the huge reasons I love pizza is its versatility.

Feeling traditional today? No problem. Go with pizza sauce, some of your favorite veggies, and you are in business.

Feeling fancy? Take this flavor extravaganza of Pear, Prosciutto, Red Onion, Blue Cheese and Rosemary with a drizzle of quality balsamic vinegar. // OH MY WORD.

This is the dish you want to serve for your next get together. Cut into long slices for those perfect bite size pieces and this pizza will not last long, guys.

Serve with a crisp Chardonnay like Estancia Wines which is handcrafted with great purpose. Great purpose that is to have all the ingredients for an amazing summer night on the back porch with friends and family. Whether or not you are sharing, this low-carb pizza crust is hands down the only crust you need! 

I haven’t needed gluten-free pizza crusts using flours because this recipe is that amazing.

Don’t take my word for it though.

Take those easy 4-Ingredients you probably already have on hand, one bowl, and whip them together yourself.

In 20 minutes you’ll have a low-carb pizza crust coming fresh out of the oven to top with all those fine toppings your heart is calling for. #ItsCallingYourName

#ArtofEntertaining Sweepstakes

What do you like to pair with Cabernet Sauvignon?

Low-Carb Pizza with Pears Prosciutto Red Onion

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

55 mins

 

Low-Carb Pizza Recipe with sweet pears, salty prosciutto, red onion and tangy balsamic vinegar. Entirely gluten-free crust and sure to complete your Friday pizza night or wow your guests who'll keep asking for more. {Gluten-Free, Low-Carb}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 8 large slices

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 2 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 ounce cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning

Pear and Prosciutto Pizza Toppings

• 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½ pear, thinly sliced
• 4-5 thin prosciutto slices
• ½ cup red onion, chopped
• ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
• 3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper. (Anything larger than 9x13 will work)
3. In a medium bowl add cheeses, cream cheese, eggs and Italian seasoning.
4. Stir until fully combined and it forms a cheese-like mixture
5. Spoon mixture onto prepared baking sheet, smooth out to edges of pan with spatula.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
7. Remove parchment paper and pizza crust from baking sheet.
8. Replace baking sheet with fresh piece of parchment paper.
9. Flip crust onto baking sheet with fresh parchment paper
10. Add olive oil, pear, prosciutto, red onion, blue cheese crumbles.
11. Bake for another 10-15 minutes.
12. Serve Immediately.

Notes

I have not tried this with the dairy-free substitution but I am 99% sure it would work. If you try it with this substitution let me know!

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy finger appetizer recipes:

• Stuffed Jalapeños Pulled Pork Poppers
• Bacon Wrapped Dates
• Bacon Wrapped Apple Slices

The post Low-Carb Pizza with Pears Prosciutto Red Onion appeared first on Veggie Balance.

15 Easy Under 30 Minute Salads recipe compilation to make eating healthier that much easier. All gluten-free, some dairy-free and vegan, but no doubt, every single dish is out of this world easy and delicious. 

PIN this post for to make all of these 30 minute salads!

15 Under 30 Minute Salads

Pin it to your Healthy Meals board to SAVE it for later!

Follow Veggie Balance for more great tips, ideas and recipes!

Healthy Italian Pasta Salad

 Healthy Italian Pasta Salad with a fresh and easy homemade Italian dressing! All the amazing fresh summer flavors of an Italian pasta salad. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Click Here for Healthy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Southwest Lentil Pasta Salad

Made in under 20 minutes for the perfect side dish. A sweet and creamy salad with a little bit of spice. Sounds amazing, right?  {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Southwest Lentil Pasta Salad Recipe by Watch Learn Eat

Spinach Strawberry Pistachio Salad

Fresh juicy strawberries topped on a bed of spinach with feta cheese and pistachios to begin with is sweet salad heaven. Toss that all together with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. All in just 10 minutes! { Gluten-Free }

Click Here for Spinach Strawberry Pistachio Salad Recipe

Watermelon Strawberry Feta Salad

All you need is 6 easy ingredients and just 10 minutes to complete this summery and fresh Watermelon, Strawberry Feta Salad.  {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Watermelon Strawberry Feta Salad Recipe by Cooktoria

Italian Flair Bowl

Spiralized Summer Zucchini and Fresh Pesto = SUMMER HEAVEN!  Top it onto a leafy bed of lettuce and we are all set! {Gluten-Free }

Click Here for Italian Flair Bowl Recipe by Mid Life Croissant

Healthy Broccoli Salad

Made with a homemade foolproof mayonnaise, bacon and onions. Made is just under 25 minutes! {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for Healthy Broccoli Salad Recipe

Fresh Spring Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

Light and Healthy Spring Salad with a super easy Orange Vinaigrette dressing you most likely have the ingredients on hand!  {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for Fresh Spring Salad with Orange Vinaigrette Recipe by Curry Trail

Easy Cold Taco Pasta Salad

Simple Taco Pasta Salad made in just 15 minutes!  So easy to make with healthy, all-natural ingredients. In no-time you’ll have the perfect Easy Cold Taco Pasta Salad for the cookout. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Click Here for Easy Cold Taco Pasta Salad Recipe

Loaded Black Bean Salad

So easy, fresh ingredients and a homemade spicy yet sweet dressing. We all know my love for anything Mexican, this is calling my name.  {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Click Here for Loaded Black Bean Salad Recipe by Savory Tooth

Balsamic Chickpea Feta Greek Salad

A simple balsamic chickpea salad full of flavor and a homemade Greek dressing! Made in under 5 minutes! {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Balsamic Chickpea Feta Greek Salad Recipe by Plated Cravings

Broccoli Slaw with Golden Raisins and Walnuts

There is no waste with this Broccoli Slaw Salad by using the entire broccoli. Use this quick and under 35 minutes salad for your next potluck or lunch! {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Click Here for Broccoli Slaw with Golden Raisins and Walnuts Recipe by Vanilla and Bean

Mexican Corn Salad

Using freshly roasted corn, creamy avocado and tons of other fresh ingredients. Hello flavor explosion in my mouth. Made in under 40 minutes!  {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan friendly}

Click Here for Mexican Corn Salad Recipe by Show Me the Yummy

Simple Italian Green Bean Salad

Click Here for Simple Italian Green Bean Salad Recipe by The Seasoned Mom

Mexican Cobb Salad

Delicious Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados made in under 30 minutes and so unbelievable easy to make making it the perfect weeknight meal. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan Options}

Click Here for Mexican Cobb Salad Recipe by A Simple Pantry

Easy Summer Salad with Blueberries

Such a easy and delicious summer salad using those amazing sweet summer blueberries! Made with a homemade blueberry vinaigrette! Um Yum!  {Gluten-Free}

Click Here for Easy Summer Salad with Blueberries Recipe by Family Food on The Table

You might also like some of these recipe compilations like this Easy Summer Salad Meals:

• 15 Easy Weeknight Meals
• Top 5 Healthy Cookies
• Top 5 Healthy Summer Recipes

The post 15 Easy Under 30 Minute Salads appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Pasta Pizza Casserole recipe made healthy with just 4-Ingredients. On top of that, it’s easily made gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan friendly! Toss in your favorite pizza toppings and you are all set! It doesn’t get any easier than this for a weeknight meal. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Pasta Pizza Casserole Recipe

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Comfort Food meets Healthy?? // Life is Amazing.

To name a few other winning attributes: It’s so versatile!  All you need are 4-ingredients for the easy base. Like those versatile epic Zip-Off Leg Cargo Pants (remember those?), but this Pasta Pizza Casserole is much cooler.

You can dress this pizza casserole up into a flavor extravaganza with all your favorite toppings: Pepperoni, Bacon, Sausage, Banana Peppers, Black Olives, Mushrooms, Pineapple.

I mean, really, the sky is the limit, my friends.

After losing ourselves in last week’s Pear and Prosciutto pizza, this week I decided to keep it classic. Black Olives, Pepperoni and Mushrooms. // Hello delicious.

If you need a dairy-free diet, cheese can be omitted completely from the top of the dish and seriously, it is not missed one bit. Or the dairy-free cheese products are always an option as well.

Pack it full of extra veggies and void of any meat and we have ourselves a healthy vegan casserole.

Swap with either corn pasta noodles or normal noodles if you don’t need to be gluten-free.

I told you, this Pasta Pizza Casserole is a versatility wizard.

TIP: If using gluten-free noodles, don’t forget to drain them under running water to rid of extra starch.

That is my trick to keep the noodles from sticking together, learned when I went through my pasta salad summer obsession.

Top this Pizza Casserole with some fresh basil from the garden. // Because all good things end with fresh basil.

I guarantee this will become a weekly addition to the dinner menu.

We’ve definitely come to the conclusion that on weeknights it is difficult to keep on track and eat healthy.

Too often I have those moments where I realize I forgot to de-thaw the meat ahead of time.

That is when I give up on dinner and go with Plan B–Potatoes and spinach salad for dinner it is!

This Pasta Pizza Casserole truly is the answer to my problems.

4-Ingredients and whatever I randomly have in the fridge to throw into this pizza casserole to complete the perfect trifecta.

Comfort Food + Healthy Food + Happy Food = Happy Tummy and Easy Weeknight Dinner solution. // Dreams Do Come True.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53m7yg-mnKE

Pasta Pizza Casserole Made Healthy

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Pasta Pizza Casserole recipe made healthy with just 4-Ingredients. On top of that, it's easily made gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan friendly! Toss in your favorite pizza toppings and you are all set! It doesn't get any easier than this for a weeknight meal. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dinner

Serves: 9-11 servings

Ingredients

• 4-5 cups corn pasta, cooked
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 16 ounces pizza sauce
• 2 cups mushrooms, chopped
• 1 cup pepperoni, chopped
• ½ cup black olives, chopped
• ½ cup shredded white cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In a large saucepan add olive oil, brown onion until just translucent.
3. Add cooked pasta, pizza sauce, mushrooms, pepperoni, and black olives. Stir until mixed together.
4. Add to 8x8 casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until casserole is heated through.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these easy dinner recipes:

• Easy Hamburger Casserole
• Dairy-Free Fettuccine Alfredo
• Chicken Parmesan Casserole

The post Pasta Pizza Casserole Made Healthy appeared first on Veggie Balance.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DairyFree4All #CollectiveBias Thank you So Delicious Dairy Free®

Brownie Bowls recipe for the win! The perfect chocolaty, fudgy vessels to carry your favorite frozen dessert treat. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, lower-sugar, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan friendly. Told you–it’s Brownie Bowls for the WIN! 

Brownie Bowls Recipe

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ERRRRMAAAAAAHHHHGERRRRRRRRDDDDD

Note to Self: Happiness is totally possible when brownies are involved.

I know we’ve all seen these simply made brownie bowls roaming around on the Internet—you know, the ones with just two cupcake pans smushed together. Brilliant? Yes. I have one problem with it, though.

It tells you to use a box of brownie mix. Ummm, OK . . .

But what about people with food allergies? Or people who need lower-sugar? Or those who just want less processed food in their diet; the ones who ask themselves, “wtf, why is that in the ingredients list?!”

Solution: These gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan friendly, lower-sugar brownie bowls.

VOILA!

Hello beautiful.

Now, I figure we need a chewy, gooey and fudgy brownie set-up to make these work. I’ll pass on the cake-like brownies for this one.

Guys, I have just the recipe.

Remember these cream cheese swirled brownies? // Also totally ERMAHGERD status.

Turns out I was right!

Place this brownie goodness into a well-greased muffin pan, bake, and after pulling it out of the oven, grease the bottom (the backside) of an additional muffin pan and press gently until little brownie bowls are born!

TIP: Let them FULLY cool before removing from pan.

Now, if you don’t have two sets of the same muffin pans, a simple drinking glass that is smaller than the diameter of your muffin tins will work.

Now here comes the extremely fun part: Top it with a refreshing and cooling frozen dessert!

So Delicious Dairy Free® is the absolute perfect dairy-free frozen dessert for this extremely hot summer. It’s perfect for those who can’t consume dairy but need to satisfy that frozen treat craving! 

It is also certified vegan, Non-GMO project verified, packed with organic ingredients, and free of artificial colors with no high-fructose corn syrup.

It is not very often that gluten-free frozen desserts have toppings or mix-ins that are also gluten-free (aside from the traditional vanilla, chocolate and mint chocolate. // Those are always my go to.)

So Delicious Dairy Free® has so many delicious flavors, and I love the various dairy-free milk bases they use.

They have a couple delicious options to add to these fudgy brownie bowls: Cashew Milk Salted Caramel Cluster and Almond Milk Chocolate.

Now here comes the extremely fun part.

TOP THAT EPIC FROZEN TREAT ONTO THOSE Decadent BROWNIE BOWLS! 

Happiness. Complete and total bliss.

You can find these So Delicious Dairy Free® frozen treats at your local Walmart.

There is a rule I have with myself.

Walking down the frozen dessert aisle and buying a frozen treat is only allowed in dire circumstances.

For example, it’s too hot, I ran 10 miles that day (that hasn’t happened in a while, #workonit), AND darn it, I just have a craving!

The latter has been more common lately than I care to admit.

Now here is where you have two options. // Two extremely important options.

To warm up your brownie bowl or not–that is the question. 

My professional brownie opinion: Warmed up brownie ALL THE WAY.

Let that perfect combination of cooling frozen treat and warm gooey brownie bowl take you into a new world.

Say Hello to Happy Brownie World.

Brownie Bowls for Frozen Dessert Treats

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Brownie Bowls recipe for the win! The perfect chocolaty, fudgy vessels to carry your favorite frozen dessert treat. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, lower-sugar, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan friendly. Told you--it's Brownie Bowls for the WIN!

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 11-12 Brownie Bowls

Ingredients

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup butter ( or dairy-free butter option)
• 2 eggs (flax eggs for vegan)
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ cup gluten-free flour blend

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Grease muffin pan.
3. In a microwave friendly bowl add chocolate chips and butter. Heat for 20 seconds, stir and continue these steps until chocolate is fully melted.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar.
5. Whisk together cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt.
6. Slowly whisk in gluten-free flour.
7. Pour 2 Tablespoons into each muffin tin.
8. Bake 15-17 minutes.
9. Liberally grease bottom of second muffin tin, once brownie are baked, immediately press second muffin tin into brownies to create bowl shape. Keep tins pressed together until the brownies are fully cooled.
10. Add scoop of frozen dessert to complete!

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these delicious decadent dessert recipes:

• Flourless Chocolate Cake 
• No-Churn Honey Ice Cream
• Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow

The post Brownie Bowls for Frozen Dessert Treats appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken recipe is spicy and healthy, and the perfect choice for shredded buffalo chicken in Buddha Bowls. Made with an easy homemade buffalo sauce and just a few hours in the crockpot. (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)

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Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

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This crockpot buffalo chicken recipe is JUST that, guys.

Throw it in the crockpot, pour in a simple homemade buffalo sauce, add thawed chicken, a couple slices of dairy-free butter (or butter), and FORGET IT.

That is what I am alllll about. Easy.

Maybe that’s why Buddha Bowls are such a favorite in my house. Multiple delicious ingredients piled into a bowl. // Sweet Buddha Bowl Happiness.In this recipe we use simple and delicious crockpot buffalo chicken to take part in this Buddha bowl happiness.

After a couple hours, shred the chicken with a fork and put it back into the buffalo chicken sauce juices.

Add some farm fresh corn, sliced avocado, cilantro rice, and onions.

And of course, throw in some tangy blue cheese crumbles. Need it to be fully dairy-free? No problem, tangy pickled red cabbage will create that perfect flavor replacement.

I personally prefer a little more of a dressing drizzle on my Buddha bowls, like the simple creamy buffalo dressing we made a while back for our grilled potatoes.

By now I think it is pretty evident that we are huge buffalo-anything fans in this household.

We go into buffalo-everything crazes quite often.

Around here, having a jar of pre-made homemade buffalo sauce in the fridge is a must.

Three ingredients are all you need to pull together this easy crockpot buffalo chicken. After that, what you do with these spicy and tender bites of chicken is totally up to you.

We have buffalo chicken tacos. // You know my love for anything Mexican-ish. Always a win.

Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas. // Oh crap, still on the Mexican train.

Then we have these spicy (still kind of Mexican inspired, #dontjudge) Buffalo Chicken Buddha Bowls.

However you choose to devour it, this easy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken recipe has you covered.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Buddha Bowls

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

3 hours

Total time

3 hours 10 mins

 

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken recipe is spicy and healthy, and the perfect choice for shredded buffalo chicken in Buddha Bowls. Made with an easy homemade buffalo sauce and just a few hours in the crockpot. (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dinner

Serves: 5-6 cups shredded chicken

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons butter or dairy-free substitution
• 5 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 2½ cups buffalo sauce (Best homemade recipe ever)

Pickled Red Cabbage

• 2 cups shredded red cabbage
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in crockpot, add butter and pour buffalo sauce over breasts.
2. Cover and cook on Low for 4-5 hours or High for 2-3 hours.
3. Once the chicken is cooked, shred the meat with two forks.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these delicious buffalo recipes:

• Grilled Marinated Vegetables Buddha Bowl
• Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Baked Potato Blue Cheese Fries with Buffalo Dip

The post Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Buddha Bowls appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake recipe. The only chocolate cake recipe you’ll ever need. Chocolate and Peanut Butter is the best combination and that is never truer than with this three layered chocolate cake with creamy peanut butter layers. (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan Friendly)

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Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

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It all started when these gluten-free chocolate cupcakes were revealed to the world.

It’s what triggered my baking addiction. // And I am not sorry about it, we have peanut butter gluten-free chocolate cake.

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know that I go into baking spurts every so often. Well, we are yet again in a full-blown baked goods heaven. // Again, totally not sorry.

I have not had a piece of cake in at least two years.

From memories of my previous gluten days, I remember how a chocolate cake is supposed to taste. Guys, this cake is it. This gluten-free chocolate cake is everything like a ‘normal’ chocolate cake.

Holy crap batman, have I officially figured out gluten-free baking?

Cakes. We need more cakes!

I may need to work on my frosting and decorating skills though. // Yep, we definitely need more cake.

Practice, guys; it’s all for the sake of practice.

TIP: Remember the golden rule to properly measure flour: Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup until it is overflowing. Then drag the backside of a knife across the top to level it off.

I cannot stress this golden rule enough. It is a huge key to successful gluten-free baking.

My birthday is coming up. Words cannot express how much I am looking forward to an actual cake for my birthday!

I’m thinking ice cream cake. Oh boy.

I’ve missed ice cream cakes. Truly, I’ve missed cake with my family’s classic vanilla frosting.

On the bright side, this Low-Sugar Vanilla Buttercream tastes the same, plus it is a little bit healthier and works perfectly for dairy-free, too. This frosting makes this gluten-free chocolate cake a dairy-free cake as well! Double YEAH!

VEGAN OPTION: Replace eggs with flax eggs. The consistency of the cake changes just a bit, but not enough that I wouldn’t recommend it as an option.

So after all is said and done, we end up with moist, decadent and OMG, is this seriously a gluten-free chocolate cake!?!

Yes, yes, my friends it’s gluten-free and you would have no clue if I didn’t tell you.

Now excuse me as I bask in my peanut butter chocolate cake heaven.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

18 mins

Total time

28 mins

 

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake recipe. The only chocolate cake recipe you'll ever need. Chocolate and Peanut Butter is the best combination and that is never truer than with this three layered chocolate cake with creamy peanut butter layers. (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan Friendly)

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 8 inch cake

Ingredients

• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons gluten-free baking flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 3 Tablespoons butter or DF option, melted
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter

Low-Sugar Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Grease the edges of three 8 inch round cake pans.
3. In a small bowl combine almond milk, vinegar.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, brown sugar.
5. Make a well. Add eggs, vanilla extract, butter, and milk/vinegar mixture. Whisk together until fully incorporated.
6. Divide the batter between the 3 cake pans and smooth the tops with a spatula.
7. Bake 15-18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then allow to fully cool on a cooling rack.
9. Place the first layer on the serving plate, flat side up. Evenly spread ½ cup peanut butter on the top of the first layer. Continue this until layers are completed.
10. Frost the top and sides of the chocolate cake with frosting.
11. Decorate as you see fit!

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these delicious chocolate recipes:

• Chocolaty Brownie Bowls for Ice Cream
• The Best Fudgy Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl
• Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache

The post Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Truffles recipe made with 4 natural ingredients. Doesn’t get any easier than this to make these lower-sugar blueberry truffles. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan Subs}

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Blueberry Cream Cheese Truffles

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We buy way too many blueberries every season. I’ll maybe turn into a little blueberry violet from Willy Wonka. It’s OK, I’ll accept that possibility

Gotta use those blueberries!!!

Can’t let blueberries go to waste here. Especially Michigan blueberries. // HEAVENNNNNN.

These Blueberry Cream Cheese Truffles are the perfect recipe to signal the imminent end of summer.

Man, I am totally not ready to admit summer is almost over. But I just typed it and reality has set in.

**TAKES A DEEP BREATH**

No, no I’m not ready. 

We purchased kayaks about a month ago and have been going out on the lake every single weekend. I grimace at the thought that only a couple months from now we’ll be holed up in the house, not daring to even step out into the blistery cold tundra. 

Not ready. 

I cannot wait for the day we live farther south where winter doesn’t last forever. Counting down the days. 

In the meantime, I’ll take my Michigan blueberries, whipping them in the food processor with some delicious cream cheese and sitting on the porch in the heat with a drink in my hand. 

Summer Goodness.

TIP: Cream cheese can easily be swapped for dairy-free and vegan cream cheese substitutes.

Have you made strawberry cream cheese truffles before? These perfect little blueberry treats are a spin-off from those. 

It combines my favorite things–chocolate, cream cheese, and delicious berries! 

I am a berry fiend. I’m not a huge fruit person, but berries are my lifeline in the fruit family. 

We need to complete our summer season with as much ripe fruit, fresh produce, and sunshine that we can get. 

These blueberry cream cheese truffles are an attempt to finish off that delicious fruit coming in by the ten-folds. 

In the meantime, I’ll keep denying summer is ending and spend as many days outside on the Michigan lakes. 

Sounds like a good plan, right? Denial. Total denial. 

Blueberry Cream Cheese Truffles

 

Print

Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Blueberry Cream Cheese Truffles recipe made with 4 natural ingredients. Doesn't get any easier than this to make these lower-sugar blueberry truffles. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan Subs}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 1 dozen

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese (Or DF cream cheese substitution)
• ½ cup blueberries
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 6 ounces dark chocolate

Instructions

1. Take your blueberries, cream cheese, powdered sugar and puree in the food processor.
2. Chill dough for 30 minutes before scooping.
3. Use a cookie scoop and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place baking sheet in freezer for another 30-45 minutes to firm up.
4. Prepare a double boiler system and melt both chocolates together.
5. Using a fork dip truffles into chocolate and place back onto baking sheet.
6. Store in the fridge. Serve chilled.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these delicious chocolate recipes:

• Chocolaty Brownie Bowls for Ice Cream
• Three Layer Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
• Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache

The post Blueberry Cream Cheese Truffles appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Quick Jambalaya Recipe made in under 30 minutes. A non-traditional twist on jambalaya that requires less time in the kitchen to make that perfect weeknight dinner. Packed with green pepper, celery, and Cajun Andouille sausage. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Quick Jambalaya Recipe

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For people who are looking for that classic jambalaya recipe, this recipe is not for you.

Need an easy peasy dinner with fresh ingredients? Packed with veggies? Also, a little bit of filling Andouille Sausage? // YESSSS.

Oh, and no big deal or anything, but it’s made in under 30 minutes.

That is what I call a weeknight dinner successsssss! Especially now that school is back in order. More weeknight rushed dinners in order? Most definitely.

Or make it ahead of time and eat throughout the week.

Have I ever mentioned how horrible I am at making rice? Like, horrible.

It is one extreme to the other for me. Either it’s sticky and gummy orrrrrr I forget about it and half the rice is burned at the bottom of the pan. // Happens way more than I’d like to admit.

That is until Success® Boil-in-Bag Rice hit the shelves. I was so ready to try it. No more trying to clean those pots with rice burned at the bottom? YES, please. // A pan met its demise a while back; it was a lost cause.

Success® Boil-in-Bag rice is the original no measure boil-in-bag rice. It is also gluten-free and non GMO. Within 10 minutes it is perfectly cooked rice every single time. It can be made either on the stovetop or in the microwave. Also, once cooked, it can sit in water for around 30 minutes without losing any quality. 

For those fellow rice inept individuals out there (I know you exist), this rice is our solution to a delicious dinner. It’s foolproof. 

This Quick Jambalaya recipe works perfect with Success® White Rice. They have other varieties and their Whole Grain Brown Rice Boil-in-Bag works great as a substitute, if desired. These come in two different sizes (14oz or 32 oz.) to accommodate larger families.

A traditional jambalaya generally uses a can of tomatoes and 30-45 minutes of simmering.

Our quick jambalaya is a little different. I used fresh tomatoes from the garden. // Seriously, tomatoes are coming out of my ears at this point.

For this dish, tomatoes are added on top as a garnish, totally eliminating the 30 minute simmer from our to-do list. The less work the better, am I right?  Now, R’s favorite part of this dish is the kick!

This quick jambalaya dish is made with a Cajun kick, but a mild kick that even I can handle. // You know me, the girl with pathetic heat tolerance. #WorkingOnIt

You can adjust the hot sauce based on your heat tolerance. If you want it spicy, add that hot sauce with carelessness.

Do it, I dare you. 

Quick Jambalaya Under 30 Minutes

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Quick Jambalaya Recipe made in under 30 minutes. A non-traditional twist on jambalaya that requires less time in the kitchen to make that perfect weeknight dinner. Packed with green pepper, celery, and Cajun Andouille sausage. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Dinner

Serves: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2-3 garlic gloves, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 4 Cajun Andouille sausage links , chopped
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 Success® Boil-in-Bags white rice, cooked ( apprx 3-4 cups cooked rice)
• 1-2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (add more depending on preference)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced

Instructions

1. Place Success® Boil-in-Bags white rice in a microwave save container in water. Microwave for 10 minutes.
2. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic.
3. Stir in green pepper, celery, and Andouille sausage.
4. Add cooked rice, cayenne pepper, onion powder, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Cover with a lid and continue to cook for 10-15 minutes until peppers are cooked and tender.
5. Stir in hot sauce. Top dish with fresh tomatoes.
6. Serve immediately.

3.5.3208

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NUTRITION INFORMATION

You might also like some of these delicious dinner recipes:

• Healthy Pizza Casserole
• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken
• Easy Hamburger Casserole

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own

The post Quick Jambalaya Under 30 Minutes appeared first on Veggie Balance.

Crockpot Baked Beans recipe made with all-natural ingredients! Made healthier, lower-sugar and still with that perfectly smoky and sweet flavor we love with our side of baked beans. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan and Vegetarian friendly}

Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe

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Especially when it’s crockpot baked beans.

Serious question: Why do baked beans seem like only a summer dish to me? I mean, really, they are the most delicious and take me back to extremely happy summer moments.

The best summer moments after spending all day out in the summer sun and coming back to a pile of baked beans, corn on the cob, and a hamburger. #SummerBliss

I realized though, uhhhh, these are delicious, so why don’t we make them year-round!?

We all know my love for crockpot recipes; that is, throw it in, set it and forget it. #CrockpotBliss

Here we go. 

We are all about easy here at VB and these Crockpot Baked Beans fit the bill.

Made with natural ingredients and less sugar than the traditional versions, these are still packed with that sweet and smoky flavor we lovvveeeee about baked beans.

TIP: These can easily be made vegetarian and vegan by subbing out the bacon. The smoky flavor can be added in a few ways. Add 1-2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika or a little liquid smoke to substitute.

Another Note: You can go the extra mile and make your own ketchup. There is a super amazing and easy ketchup recipe in the Gluten-Free Party Food cookbook. Or, this is the store-bought ketchup I like to use in a pinch.  The ingredients are pretty decent for store-bought.

When my mother asked if these baked beans were from scratch, I said “Yeah!” Well, according to my dad, since I used canned beans, it’s not from scratch . . . Hmm. Thoughts?

I personally hate waiting for dried beans to soak. I’m just not patient enough. Are you? If so, go for it. It gives you the same results. 

There were a few goals I wanted to achieve with these crockpot baked beans:

One – Throw everything in and forget it. √

Two – Make these baked beans without molasses.√ // It’s simply something I don’t have on hand in my kitchen and figured there has to be other people without molasses in their kitchens, too!

Three – Avoid those cans of pre-made pork and beans at all costs.√

Success. These crockpot baked beans were out of this world smoky, sweet and that perfect slice of summer (or winter, since these definitely need to made year-round from now on).

Crockpot Baked Beans Made Healthier

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

3 hours

Total time

3 hours 10 mins

 

Crockpot Baked Beans recipe made with all-natural ingredients! Made healthier, lower-sugar options and still with that perfectly smoky and sweet flavor we love with our side of baked beans. {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan and Vegetarian friendly}

Author: Veggie Balance

Recipe type: Crockpot Side

Serves: 9-12 servings

Ingredients

• 4 (15oz) cans small red beans , drained and rinsed
• 6 slices bacon, cooked
• 1 cup onion, finely chopped
• ½ cup green peppper, finely chopped
• 1 cup ketchup
• ¼ -1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (depending on your sweetness preference)
• 2 teaspoons mustard
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 Tablespoons honey ( or maple syrup)
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into crockpot and mix together.
2. Cook on Low for 3 hours or High for 1.5 hours.

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You might also like some of these delicious crockpot recipes:

• Crockpot Italian Meatballs
• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken
• Crockpot 2-Ingredient Shredded Chicken Tacos

The post Crockpot Baked Beans Made Healthier appeared first on Veggie Balance.