Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken + Zucchini Bake

Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken + Zucchini Bake

This is such an easy recipe, and perfect for a weeknight at the end of Summer; especially when you have lots of zucchini left over! This Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken and Zucchini Bake features chicken breasts seasoned with garlic, basil, Trader Joe’s Italian Soffrito, salt and pepper.

Prep the Chicken and zucchini

Then drizzled with melted butter (or ghee) and Basil Parmesan olive oil (I love Harry and David’s brand!) and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese over the top.

Baked Chicken + Zucchini

The chicken is roasted together in one pan with chunks of zucchini that get super tender and caramelized in the oven, especially with the baked crunchy Parmesan cheese on top. You guys… this recipe is soooo good…and it’s healthy, #lowcarb and gluten-free too…(bonus!)

Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken + Zucchini Bake

To serve, I topped the chicken and zucchini with some fresh parsley, red pepper flakes (optional) and a squeeze of lemon juice to give the dish bright, tangy flavors with a little extra heat just before serving.

Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken + Zucchini Bake

It’s perfect served with some crusty bread, mashed potatoes or cauliflower, or pasta to soak up the savory juices, (but just as good served alone!) and you’ve got a delicious end-of-Summer meal that’s fresh, full of flavor and super easy to make!

Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken + Zucchini Bake

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 4

This is such an easy recipe, and perfect for a weeknight at the end of Summer; especially when you have lots of zucchini left over! This Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken and Zucchini Bake features chicken breasts seasoned with garlic, basil, Italian soffrito and Parmesan cheese, drizzled with melted butter and Basil Parmesan olive oil and topped with Parmesan cheese; which are roasted with chunks of tender caramelized zucchini.

Ingredients

  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 medium zucchini, sliced into 1-inch chunks
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon Trader Joe’s Italian Style Soffrito Seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons Harry and David Basil Parmesan olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter or ghee
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup torn fresh parsley, for serving
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, for serving
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Pat chicken dry with paper towels, and season all over with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place zucchini on a rimmed baking pan, and season with a little more salt and pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, combine garlic, dried basil and Italian Soffrito.
  3. Place chicken on the baking pan with the zucchini pieces and brush the melted butter/ghee and olive oil over the top. Sprinkle evenly with garlic, basil, soffrito mixture then top with Parmesan cheese.
  4. Roast in the oven until chicken is cooked through and zucchini is browned and caramelized, 30 to 40 minutes.
  5. Remove the pan from the oven, and drizzle lemon juice on top. Garnish with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes.

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs if you wish and also do bone-in chicken, adding an extra 10 minutes to the cooking time.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2021/09/garlic-basil-parmesan-chicken-zucchini-bake/

This recipe serves four people, so just double the ingredients for a larger crowd (making it on two sheet trays instead of one). Feel free to use chicken thighs if you prefer, or bone-in chicken (just add a little extra cooking time to the recipe). 

Garlic Basil Parmesan Chicken + Zucchini Bake

Adios Summer, Hello Fall! Enjoy 🙂

Hearty Beef Vegetable Soup

Beef Vegetable Soup

Beef Vegetable Soup

Fall is finally upon us and its my favorite time of year! I especially love cozy soups and stews when it starts to get chilly outside. One of my favorites is this lovely Beef Vegetable Soup made with chunks of beef roast and tons of healthy and colorful veggies like carrots, onions, celery, garlic, zucchini, tomatoes and baby peas cooked in a flavorful beef broth with a hint of red wine vinegar and fresh herbs that will fill your belly and warm your toes.

First sear the beef in a large pot over high heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven for a few minutes. Remove the beef to a large plate, then add the veggies and fresh herbs and sauté them for about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and cook a few more minutes. Then pour in the beef stock, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cover, and let it bubble and simmer for about an hour and a half on low heat until the meat and veggies are meltingly tender and all the flavors meld together into a big pot of savory, delicious goodness.

Add zucchini and peas

Add the pre-cooked zucchini and frozen baby peas in the pot the last 10 minutes of cooking (so they don’t get too mushy. Look at all the goodness going on in there!

 

Serve the soup with some garlic butter Texas toast for dipping along with a glass of red wine for double coziness and maximum comfort.

Beef Veggie Soup

Enjoy!

Hearty Beef Vegetable Soup

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Yield: 10

Serving Size: Approx. 1 cup

Calories per serving: 209

Fat per serving: 7g

This Beef Vegetable soup is super healthy and filling and perfect for Fall. Chock full of veggies like onions, garlic, carrots, zucchini, peas and celery cooked with chunks of chuck beef roast, tomatoes and tomato sauce and beef broth. Great served with fresh parsley and a side of garlic butter Texas Toast for dipping!

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or grapeseed oil
  • 2 3/4 pounds stew beef or chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt
  • 2 cups yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cups celery, chopped or thinly sliced
  • 2 cups carrot, chopped or sliced
  • 1 cup zucchini, sliced and halved
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 4 1/2 cups beef broth (or more for thinner soup)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium tomato sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup frozen baby peas
  • Fresh Italian parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Garlic Butter Texas Toast, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over high heat. Season beef with pepper and 1 teaspoon of salt, and add half of the beef, sautéing until browned on all sides but still pink in the center; transfer to a plate or bowl. Add additional tablespoon of oil to the pot and repeat with the rest of the beef.
  2. Reduce heat to medium-high and heat additional tablespoon of oil. Saute the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini and garlic until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon salt, dried oregano, fresh thyme and 1/4 teaspoon of seasoned salt and cook for another minute. Remove zucchini and set aside to add back in later.
  3. Add red wine vinegar and cook over medium-high for another 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
  4. Add beef broth, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and cover the pot, letting the soup simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the meat is cooked through and tender. Add frozen baby peas and sautéed zucchini in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking.
  5. Garnish with fresh parsley and garlic butter Texas toast for serving. Goes great with a glass of dry red wine like Merlot of Cabernet.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2020/09/hearty-beef-vegetable-soup/

Other Beef Veggie soup recipes you might enjoy: 

Vegetable-Beef Soup, NY Times

Hearty Beef Vegetable Soup, Taste of Home

Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup, Southern Living

Keto/Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup

Keto Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup

Today I present to you the easiest, cheesiest, most delicious #soup ever, and the perfect remedy for a chilly Winter day – Keto/Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup.

Keto Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup

It’s made with ground beef, bacons, sautéed onions, garlic and zucchini with lots of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese (YAY!), cream and beef broth. That’s it!

Saute onions, garlic and zucchini

First, cook the ground beef until no longer pink, drain. Cook the bacon until crispy, drain on paper towels and set aside while you sauté the onions, garlic and zucchini.

Add ground beef

Add the cooked ground beef back in to the pot and stir together.

Pour in the broth, cream and seasonings

Pour in the beef broth and cream and seasonings and stir together.

Bring soup to a boil

Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes over medium-low heat.

Stir in the cheese

Add the shredded cheese in one cup at a time, stirring constantly to melt the cheese into the creamy broth, beef and veggies mixture.

Serve immediately and DEVOUR.

Let the soup cook on low heat for another 5 minutes or so until the cheese is completely melted, add a little no starch thickener or corn starch to thicken it up to your liking. Serve hot, immediately and DEVOUR.

Keto Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup

It’s super creamy and cheesy and there’s no guilt because it’s super low carb/high fat which of course is great on #Keto and #Atkins and all the other #LCHF diets out there. This my friends, is Winter Comfort Food in a bowl…filling, satisfying and absolutely deeee-lissshh!

Keto Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup

Keto/Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 6-8

Serving Size: 1 cup

This Keto/Low Carb Cheeseburger soup is the perfect Winter remedy - made with ground beef, bacons, sautéed onions, garlic and zucchini with lots of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese (YAY!), cream and beef broth. Delish!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 3-4 slices of bacon
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 zucchini, thin sliced into quarter moons
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups shredded cheese (Cheddar and Monterey Jack)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Everglades Heat or Tony Chaceres Creole seasoning
  • Pink Himalayan sea salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon No Starch Thickener (or corn starch)

Instructions

  1. Brown ground beef until cooked through, drain and set aside.
  2. Cook bacon slices until crispy, drain and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat and saute onions, garlic and zucchini about 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent.
  4. Add cooked ground beef, bacon, beef broth, cream and dried spices and salt and pepper.
  5. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
  6. Add the shredded cheese into the soup one cup at a time, stirring often to melt into the soup.
  7. Once cheese is thoroughly melted, add the No Starch thickener or corn starch into the soup and cook a few more minutes until thickened to your liking.
  8. Serve hot immediately, and devour!

Notes

Note: If you're not on a low carb or keto diet you can always add some pasta or rice or orzo to it, or serve it with a slice of crusty bread to mop up the cheesy delicious soup which would make it over the top awesome too. Or throw in some other veggies to mix it up like sautéed bell peppers or mushrooms or corn. You could even take it a step further and add some hot sauce, mustard and pickles to it and some potatoes or hash browns to the mix if you're really craving a fully loaded cheeseburger in soup form.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2019/01/keto-low-carb-cheeseburger-soup/

Note: If you’re not on a low carb or keto diet you can always add some pasta or rice or orzo to it, or serve it with a slice of crusty bread to mop up the cheesy delicious soup which would make it over the top awesome too. Or throw in some other veggies to mix it up like sautéed bell peppers or mushrooms or corn. You could even take it a step further and add some hot sauce, mustard and pickles to it and some potatoes or hash browns to the mix if you’re really craving a fully loaded cheeseburger in soup form.

Whatever your heart desires, it’s the weekend. Enjoy! xx, Kristen

Low Carb Keto Cheeseburger Soup

Parisian Pasta w/ Ham, Gruyere + Caramelized Onions

Parisian Pasta with Ham + Caramelized Onions

I was invited to participate in the Frick’s Quality Meats Blogger Recipe Challenge this year and decided to make this delicious Parisian Pasta with Ham, Gruyere and Caramelized Onions. 

Parisian Pasta with Ham + Caramelized Onions

This is a heavenly Parisian-style baked pasta dish made with a cheesy creamy Mornay sauce (a béchamel made with melted Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses), sweet caramelized onions, and delicious Frick’s Hickory Smoked Sliced Gourmet Ham, all baked into a pot of melty goodness, then topped with crunchy browned croissants and fresh chives and parsley.

Frick's Gourmet Ham

Frick’s Quality Meats chooses only the finest handpicked cuts of meat, cured with real cane sugar which are slow-roasted in small batches over American hardwood to lock in their sweet, smoky flavor. They have a great selection of delicious products including Bone-in Half Ham, Sliced Applewood Quarter Ham, Gourmet Sliced Boneless Ham, Shingled (sliced) Ham, Bologna, Sausages, Smoked Meat and Turkey Drums – delivering a full range of delicious flavors that can transform any recipe into an extravagant dish.

Cook Pasta

First cook your pasta according to package directions (about 1-2 mins less than recommended cooking time, al dente). Drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking, and set aside.

Saute onions

Next, caramelize your onions by sautéing them in butter until golden,

Caramelized sweet onions

then add a pinch of salt and pepper and let them cook on low heat for about 30 minutes until caramelized, sweet and golden brown.

Frick's Gourmet Ham

Cut the ham into medium size lardons.

Shred cheeses

Shred the Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses.

make roux

Make your mornay sauce by first cooking some flour in butter and add milk, whisking in to make your roux.

Add cheeses

Add the Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses, some French grey sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, and whisk together until you get a luscious creamy cheese sauce.

baked Parisian pasta

Spray a casserole dish with some cooking spray and start layering the pasta with caramelized onions and ham. Pour the cheese sauce over the casserole and mix together so sauce coats the pasta evenly, top with additional Gruyere and Parmesan cheese. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Top with croissants and broil

Top with torn croissants, turn the oven up to a high broil and cook for about 2 minutes until the croissants are crunchy and browned (being careful not to burn!)

Parisian Pasta with Gruyere + Caramelized Onions

Top with minced chives and parsley, serve immediately. Pair this luscious baked dish with a light white crisp wine (Sauvignon or Sancerre) and a mixed greens salad with a Champagne-Dijon vinaigrette dressing. Perfect for brunch or a cozy Fall dinner!

Parisian Pasta with Gruyere and Caramelized Onions

Bon Appetit!

Parisian Pasta Bake w/ Ham, Gruyere + Caramelized Onions

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Serving Size: 1 cup

This is a heavenly Parisian-style baked pasta dish made with a cheesy creamy mornay sauce, sweet caramelized onions, and delicious Frick's cooked ham, baked into a pot of melty goodness, then topped with crunchy browned croissants and fresh chives and parsley. Perfectly paired with a light white crisp wine (Sauvignon or Sancerre) and a mixed greens salad with a champagne-dijon vinaigrette dressing.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces dried pasta (Trivelle, Rotini, Campanelle, or Cavatappi)
  • MORNAY SAUCE:
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted premium butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (or Fontina, Comte, Emmental)
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon French grey sea salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • CARAMELIZED ONIONS:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion, sliced thin
  • Pinch of French grey sea salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • ---
  • 1 cup Frick's Cooked Ham, chopped into small lardons
  • 1 large croissant, torn
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley and chives, minced

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water for 8 minutes (cook 1-2 minutes less than recommended package directions, al dente), drain, toss with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil and set aside).
  3. Make the Mornay Sauce:
  4. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for about 1 minute to make a roux, being careful not to burn or brown.
  5. Slowly add the milk, whisking occasionally, until you get a smooth sauce consistency.
  6. Add the garlic and simmer for about 5 minutes, remove smashed garlic clove.
  7. Stir in both of the cheeses, whisk until melted and you get a thick, creamy cheese sauce. Add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to get a thinner sauce until thickness and consistency is to liking. You can also add more butter and flour (equal parts) to make the sauce thicker. Season with grey sea salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and reduce heat to low.
  8. Make the caramelized onions:
  9. Melt butter in a small saute pan over medium heat.
  10. Add the onions and cook until lightly browned, then turn the heat down to low, add salt and pepper, and slowly cook onions for about 30 minutes, until sweet and caramelized.
  11. Make the casserole:
  12. Grease a medium casserole dish with oil spray or butter.
  13. Add cooked pasta, top with cooked Frick's ham, caramelized onions and Mornay sauce. Stir together until sauce is coating all the pasta.
  14. Top with additional shredded Gruyere and Parmesan cheese and bake for 15-17 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  15. Turn oven up to a broil, add the torn croissants on top of the casserole, and broil on high for about 2 minutes until the croissants are browned and crunchy (be careful not to burn!)
  16. Remove casserole from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes on a trivet. Add the fresh chives and parsley, serve immediately.

Notes

I used Gruyere and Parmigaino-Reggiano cheese in this pasta dish but you can also substitute any good melty cheeses such as Comte, Fontina, Emmental or Edam, or White Cheddar. Serve with a mixed greens salad with a Champagne-Dijon vinaigrette dressing and a crisp French white wine like Sauvignon or Sancerre.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2018/10/parisian-pasta-w-ham-gruyere-caramelized-onions/

For more information on Frick’s Gourmet Ham, check out their website, Facebook, or Instagram

#fricks #smokedmeats #itsfrickingood

Note: This is a sponsored post in which I received product samples from the sponsor (Frick’s Quality Meats) in order to create an original recipe and blog post for the Blogger Challenge. All photos, recipes, text and opinions are my own.

Parisian Pasta with Ham + Caramelized Onions

Fig, Almond + Orange Vanilla Tart

Fig Vanilla Almond Tart 3

Fig Almond Vanilla Tart

So Fall is here – I know, I know, aren’t we all excited?! It’s definitely been a super hot Summer and I am in full baking and cooking mode with some new Fall recipes up my sleeve!

Fig Almond Vanilla Tart 2

I was invited to participate in the Keystone Pantry Allulose Blogger Recipe Challenge this year and decided to make a lovely Fig, Almond and Orange Vanilla Tart. It’s probably the most delightful thing I have ever made, tasted or set my eyes upon – why?

Fig Vanilla Almond Tart 3

Because, FIGS. Fresh ones. Nestled into a silky mascarpone and vanilla almond layer of creamy goodness with a hint of orange, spread on top of crunchy, light, buttery puff pastry. And topped with a few dollops and drizzles of orange fig jam and crushed almonds just to make life and this tart that much sweeter. (no pun intended)

Keystone Pantry Allulose

The good news is, the pastry cream is lower in sugar and calories because I substituted Allulose in place of honey and regular table sugar. Allulose is a rare natural sugar found in very small quantities in dates, dried figs, raisins and wheat, and also in other brown caramelized products such as caramel sauce, maple syrup and brown sugar.  It has the same chemical formula as fructose but because it isn’t metabolized by the body, it does not raise blood sugar or insulin levels (and studies show it can reduce blood sugar levels!) and has zero net carbs and only 21 calories per teaspoon.

It provides a taste and texture similar to sugar, and doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste like most non-sugar sweeteners. But, you will need to use a little more than regular sugar because it isn’t as sweet. It does have the same volume and browning characteristics as white sugar when used in baking, but browns faster than regular sugar so it may require a slightly lower temperature when cooking with it. It also comes in powdered/crystalline forms or as a liquid syrup.

Fig Vanilla Almond Tart 4

This recipe could absolutely be made with any other fruit you like that’s in season – maybe plums? or apricots? or berries? But there’s something so good about the sweet and tart figs mixed with the almond, vanilla and orange flavors that make this a harmonious dessert, perfect for brunch or to top off a weeknight Fall dinner.

Prepare puff pastry

First, defrost your puff pastry (if frozen, I use Dufour brand which is super light and crispy and buttery and delicious) and roll it out into a 9×13 inch rectangle (or any shape you like but about 1/2 inch thick). Sprinkle with a little flour on both sides on a silicone mat or parchment paper. Then score an edge around the pastry (or roll it over to create a rustic looking edge), and brush the edges with an egg white and water mixture to give the crust a lovely sheen.  Bake the pastry for about 20-25 minutes at 400 and let it cool on a wire baking rack while you make the Almond Vanilla Cream. 

ingredients

Mix all the ingredients (mascarpone cheese, almond paste, Allulose, agave, orange flower water and vanilla) in the bowl of a food processor,

ingredients mixed

until the mixture is blended smooth and creamy. 

spread cream on pastry

Spread the Vanilla Almond Cream on the baked puff pastry evenly with a spatula. 

add fresh cut figs

Top the pastry with quartered fresh figs,

add fig jam and crushed almonds

a few drizzles and dollops of orange fig jam, and crushed almonds. Cut into squares and serve immediately. 

Finished Tart

Devour. Repeat. 

Fig, Almond + Vanilla Orange Tart

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: Serves 8.

Serving Size: 1 square slice (1/8 of tart)

A gorgeous Fall dessert made with puff pastry, fresh figs, almonds layered in a vanilla orange almond pastry cream made with Keystone Pantry Allulose, for a lighter and less sweet treat.

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet of puff pastry (if frozen - defrosted, Dufour brand)
  • 3 1/2 ounces almond paste, cut into small pieces
  • 2/3 cup mascarpone cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Keystone Pantry Allulose
  • 1 tablespoon agave syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon orange flower water
  • 7-8 fresh figs (quartered, stems removed)
  • 4 tablespoons orange fig jam, for garnish
  • 1/2 cup crushed almonds, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Unwrap defrosted puff pastry sheet on a floured surface. Unfold, remove inner parchment papers and dust both sides lightly with flour.
  3. Score a 1-inch border on inner edges of pastry sheet or roll edges in to create a border. Brush border with egg wash and prick holes in the center of the pastry sheet with a fork. Place on a silicone mat on a baking sheet (or parchment paper).
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and flaky. Let cool on a wire rack to the side while you make your pastry cream.
  5. In the bowl of a food processor, add all the ingredients (almond paste, mascarpone, Allulose, agave, vanilla, orange flower water) and blitz on high for about a minute or so. Scrape the sides and process again, until the mixture is blended well and creamy.
  6. With a spatula, spread a generous amount of the pastry cream on the cooled puff pastry.
  7. Top with fresh quartered figs in a rustic pattern on top of the cream.
  8. Dollop or drizzle the orange fig jam on top of the figs. Top with crushed (or sliced) almonds.
  9. Serve immediately.

Notes

You can also substitute other fruit to top this tart with (berries, apricots, plums,). Delicious for brunch or a weeknight dinner dessert.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2018/09/fig-almond-orange-vanilla-tart/

Fig Almond Vanilla Tart 4

For more inspiration and information about Allulose, check out Lang’s Chocolate and Keystone Pantry products on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Pinterest#Keystonepantry #Alluloserecipe

 

Pork Chops w/ Caramelized Pear & Ginger Sauce

Pork Chops w/ Caramelized Pear + Ginger Sauce

Hey guys! I’m so excited that Fall is finally here! I absolutely love Summer, but Fall cooking is one of my favorites with all the gorgeous produce, herbs, spices and warm flavors that come along with the season. 

Ingredients

I was invited to participate in the Keystone Pantry Allulose Blogger Recipe Challenge this year and decided to make a gorgeous recipe for Pork Chops with Caramelized Pear and Ginger Sauce.  

Pork Chops

I used some boneless pork chops which were sautéed in a skillet until lightly browned.

Caramel Sauce in the making

Then I made a simple caramel sauce using some Banyuls vinegar and Allulose (in place of regular white sugar) until it was a dark amber caramel color,

Pour in wine and broth

and added some white wine and chicken broth to make the base for the sauce.

Stir in ginger and cinnamon and pears

Next I simmered the sliced pears and ginger in the broth with a dash of cinnamon until they were soft and tender,Stir in cornstarch slurryand stirred in a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce and added a few sprigs of thyme for some fresh herb flavors. Pork Chops in Pear Ginger SauceAs a complimentary side dish, I sautéed butternut squash noodles with fresh garlic in some butter with a dash of lemon juice to serve with the pork chops and then drizzled the sauce over the top of the dish. OMG – it was absolutely delicious! (And sugar-free and low-carb to boot!)

Pork Chops with Caramelized Pear + Ginger Sauce

So what exactly is Allulose anyways? It is a rare natural sugar found in very small quantities in dates, dried figs, raisins and wheat, and also in other brown caramelized products such as caramel sauce, maple syrup and brown sugar. 

Keystone Pantry Allulose

It’s better for you than regular sugar and is a very low-calorie natural sweetener that is Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and works with Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo and Vegan diets. 

Allulose has the same chemical formula as fructose but because it isn’t metabolized by the body, it does not raise blood sugar or insulin levels (and studies show it can reduce blood sugar levels!) and has zero net carbs and only 21 calories per teaspoon.

It provides a taste and texture similar to sugar, and doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste like most non-sugar sweeteners. But, you will need to use a little more than regular sugar because it isn’t as sweet. It does have the same volume and browning characteristics as white sugar when used in baking, but browns faster than regular sugar so it may require a slightly lower temperature when cooking with it. It also comes in powdered/crystalline forms or as a liquid syrup.

For more inspiration and information about Allulose, check out Lang’s Chocolate and Keystone Pantry products on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Pinterest.  #Keystonepantry #Alluloserecipe

Pork Chops w/ Caramelized Pear + Ginger Sauce

Pork Chops w/ Caramelized Pear & Ginger Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 1 pork chop with 1/4 pear ginger sauce

A gorgeous Fall dish of sautéed pork chops in a caramelized pear and ginger sauce is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. Made with Keystone Pantry Allulose in place of regular sugar, this meal is gluten free, Paleo and low carb/Keto friendly and healthy.

Ingredients

  • 4 (4 ounce) boneless pork chops, 1 inch thick, trimmed
  • Garlic salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons Banyuls vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 3 tablespoons Keystone Pantry Allulose
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 firm ripe pear (Bosc or Anjou), cored and cut into eighths
  • 1/4 cup fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin julienne strips
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons water (to make slurry)
  • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme, plus extra chopped for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork chops with garlic salt and pepper and cook until browned and slightly cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm with tented foil.
  2. Add the vinegar and Allulose to the skillet and stir to dissolve. Continue to cook over medium-high heat until a syrup forms and turns a dark caramel amber color, about 10-15 seconds (be careful not to burn!)
  3. Pour in the wine and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Add the chicken broth, pears, ginger and cinnamon and cook uncovered for about 5 minutes at a steady simmer until the pears are soft and tender.
  4. Add the cornstarch slurry mixture and stir, cooking for another few minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Add the fresh thyme sprigs and reduce to the heat to low.
  5. Return the cooked pork chops to the pan (along with any juices) and toss with the sauce in the pan.
  6. Serve with the pear and ginger sauce on top of the pork chops alongside a vegetable dish and garnish with additional fresh thyme if desired.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2018/09/pork-chops-w-caramelized-pear-ginger-sauce/

Pork Chops with Caramelized Pears + Ginger Sauce

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

It’s a cold, rainy Fall day in NYC, and what better than to make a big pot of cozy comfort food for the soul?

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free / TresOmega Pasta}

I was invited to join the TresOmega Blogger Recipe Challenge and I thought my One Pot Chili Mac Soup recipe would be the perfect thing to make with their gluten free pasta incorporated. This recipe is a cross between chili, tacos, mac and cheese and soup – all mixed together into a delicious pot of goodness..trust me, you’re gonna love this!!!

TresOmega Gluten Free Pasta

TresOmega Gluten Free Quinoa Elbows Pasta is made with a unique blend of Organic Royal Bolivian Quinoa – a nutrient packed superfood, organic amaranth, an ancient grain rich is vitamins and minerals, and organic white rice. The pasta is gluten-free, corn-free and certified organic and GMO-free, and has 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein in each serving.

Tresomega Pasta + Coconut Oil

First I cooked the pasta and tossed it in some TresOmega Virgin Coconut oil  to add to the soup later.

Brown beef, garlic and onions

Next I browned the ground beef, garlic and onions in a little more coconut oil and added some taco seasoning to the mixture in a large dutch oven.

Add veggies and beans and chiles to the pot

Then I added all the delicious veggies to the pot – corn, three types of beans, tomatoes, and chiles, and mixed it all together with the ranch seasoning. Just cover the pot and let simmer on low for about an hour, adding the cooked pasta in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Guys, this is so easy..and soooo good!

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

You can top this soup with whatever your heart desires – sour cream, jalapeños, shredded Mexican cheese, green onions, corn chips, maybe even a little parsley or cilantro for some extra green…go nuts!

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

This one-pot recipe is so simple to make and so delicious and best of all gluten free! So you can have a big pot of comfort food without all the guilt and feeling weighted down. Although on a cold rainy day like today, it might just warrant taking a nice nap afterwards. Enjoy 😉

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

One Pot Chili Mac Soup

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Yield: 1 bowl

Serving Size: 6-8

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Tresomega Virgin Coconut oil, divided
  • 2 pounds ground beef or turkey
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • One 15 1/2-ounce can pinto beans
  • One 15 1/2-ounce can black beans
  • One 15 1/2-ounce can kidney beans
  • One 8.75-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
  • One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • One 14 1/2-ounce can tomatoes with chiles
  • Two 4 1/2-ounce cans diced green chiles
  • One 1 1/4-ounce package taco seasoning mix
  • One 1-ounce package ranch salad dressing mix
  • One package Tresomega Gluten Free Elbows
  • Corn chips, for garnish
  • Sour cream, for garnish
  • Shredded Mexican cheese blend, for garnish
  • Chopped green onions, for garnish
  • Pickled jalapenos, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat one tablespoon of Tresomega Coconut Oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Add the ground beef, onions and garlic and brown for about 5-7 minutes; drain the excess fat. Transfer the mixture to a large stockpot or Dutch oven, stir in taco seasoning.
  2. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles and ranch dressing mix, and simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in the pot on the stove.
  3. Meanwhile, cook Tresomega Elbows according to package directions, drain, toss with a tablespoon of Tresomega Coconut Oil and set aside.
  4. Add cooked pasta to the pot in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
  5. To serve, ladle soup into bowls. Top with corn chips, sour cream, shredded Mexican cheese, green onions and jalapenos.

Notes

Note - you can also cook the soup in a slow cooker over low heat for 6-8 hours.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2017/11/one-pot-chili-mac-soup-gluten-free/

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

To find out more info and purchase Tresomega Nutrition products, visit their website or visit them on social media:

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

You can also purchase their products at: Sams.com, Amazon.com and Walmart.com”

#TookTheChallenge #Tresomega #OrganicsForLife

#glutenfree #HealthyFood

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by TresOmega Nutrition as part of their Blogger Recipe Challenge. I did not receive compensation for this post but did receive products to develop this recipe and all opinions, recipes, photos and text are my own. Please do not use any images without my granted permission. Do feel free to share this post on social media with a link back to the original post and credit to Kristen Hess/The Artful Gourmet. 

One Pot Chili Mac Soup {Gluten Free}

Kung Pao Beef w/ Cauliflower Rice (Sugar + Gluten Free)

Kung Pao Beef

Kung Pao Beef w/ Cauliflower Rice

I recently was approached by Steviva to compete in the Sweetin It-Up Blogger Recipe Challenge and decided to make a sugar free, gluten free Kung Pao Beef with Cauliflower Rice. I love Asian food, but oftentimes it has many hidden sugars in the sauce, so I thought it would be cool to make this savory dish for the challenge.

Steviva Recipe Ingredients

Steviva has a wide range of stevia-based products and I chose to use Nectevia and Erysweet for my recipe to replace the normal sugar in the sauce. Erysweet is a pure, non-GMO erythritol that is naturally derived and can be substituted cup-for-cup for sugar in recipes. Nectevia is an organic blue agave nectar infused with premium 100% pure stevia extract – and has only 1/4 the calories, carbs and sugars of regular agave, or table sugar with a warm honey flavor.

Kung Pao Beef w/ Cauliflower Rice

Kung Pao is made with chicken or beef marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine, which is then sautéed in a wok on high heat with crunchy bell peppers, water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, green onions and hot chilies.

Kung Pao Beef w/ Cauliflower Rice

I made a sweet and spicy sauce made with more soy sauce, rice wine, Chinese black vinegar, chicken broth, Erysweet and Nectevia in the pan with the cooked meat and veggies and tossed in some spicy peanuts, which was thickened into a luscious sweet/spicy/savory pot of yum. To serve, I topped the dish with fresh cilantro and more crunchy peanuts along with some yellow cauliflower rice sautéed with soy sauce and sesame oil and some fresh cilantro tossed in to keep it gluten free.  Absolutely delicious without all the sugar and carbs!

Kung Pao Beef w/ Cauliflower Rice (Sugar + Gluten Free)

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Serving Size: 1 cup

Ingredients

  • MARINADE:
  • 1 3/4 pounds boneless beef sirloin
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine
  • 1 egg white, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • KUNG PAO:
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 4-6 dried red chilies
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tablespoon ginger, grated (or ginger paste)
  • 1 teaspoon red chile flakes
  • 3 scallions, sliced on the bias, 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
  • 1 can water chestnuts, sliced in half
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar (or balsamic)
  • 2 tablespoons Nectevia Original
  • 2 teaspoons Erysweet
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
  • 3/4 cup roasted spicy peanuts
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • Cauliflower rice sautéed with soy sauce, sesame oil and cilantro

Instructions

  1. MARINADE:
  2. Trim the fat from the steak all over and cut into 1-inch cubes. Combine the marinade ingredients in a large bowl and mix in the beef. Stir together to coat well, and place covered in the fridge for at least an hour to overnight.
  3. KUNG PAO:
  4. Heat the peanut oil in a wok or large sauce pan over medium heat, add chilies and cook for a minute until they begin to brown. Add garlic, ginger and cook for another minute. Turn heat up to high and add scallions, peppers, water chestnuts and chile flakes; saute for about 5 minutes until they begin to get soft and lightly browned. Add steak (remove from marinade and discard excess) and cook for about 3 minutes or so until beef begins to brown. Add soy sauce, rice wine, Chinese vinegar, Erysweet, Nectevia and chicken broth. Mix in the cornstarch, stirring well, to thicken the sauce. Toss in the roasted peanuts and serve over cauliflower rice with chopped cilantro, additional peanuts if desired.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2017/10/kung-pao-beef-w-cauliflower-rice-sugar-gluten-free/

Kung Pao Beef w/ Cauliflower Rice

Hope you enjoy making this recipe – please let me know what you think if you made it in the comments below! And feel free to share this post on social media tagging #theartfulgourmet and #steviva with a link back to the original post on this blog.

For more info on Steviva products, check them out online and social media:

Website: https://www.steviva.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steviva

Twitter: https://twitter.com/steviva

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevivabrands/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stevivabrands/

Disclaimer: This was a sponsored post by Steviva Brands and I received products to create recipes and photos for this post. All opinions, images, and text are my own. 

Porcini Linguine w/ Spicy Beef + Mushroom Ragu

Porcini Pasta

So Fall is finally here guys! My absolute favorite time of the year – cooler temperatures, the leaves changing, sweaters, jeans and boots, leather jackets, crickets late in the day along with spectacular sunsets… and especially the FOOD!

Porcini Pasta

I had some gorgeous porcini linguine that I bought at the Rochester Downtown Farmer’s Market on hand, and thought a Spicy Beef and Mushroom Ragu sauce would be the perfect compliment for a savory tasty Fall pasta dish.

Porcini Pasta

I added some Crushed Hot Chili Pepper Spread  to the beef and mushroom mixture sautéed with shallots and garlic, which took the flavor and heat up just a notch…then added a little spicy marinara sauce, but not too much…

Porcini Pasta

After I cooked the pasta, I mixed the beef and mushroom ragu back into the pot, and tossed it all together with some of the reserved pasta water and  lots of parmesan cheese, just because.

Porcini Pasta

Of course I topped it all of with a generous sprinkle of fresh parsley and torn mozzarella cheese, salt and pepper… and it happily made my day.

Porcini Linguine w/ Zesty Beef + Mushroom Ragu

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 4-6

This pasta dish has a savory umami flavor from the porcini mushroom linguine, along with a spicy beef and mushroom ragu zested up with some red chile pepper paste, shallots and garlic. Super healthy and delicious with some crusty Italian bread and olive oil and a glass of red wine.

Ingredients

  • * 1 pound porcini mushroom linguine
  • * 2 tbsp olive oil
  • * 3/4 pound ground beef
  • * 6-8 baby bella mushrooms, sliced
  • * 2 shallots, sliced thin
  • * 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • * 2 tablespoons spicy hot chili pepper paste (Colavita)
  • * 3/4 cup marinara sauce
  • * 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • * Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • * 2-3 slices fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into pieces
  • * 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water for about 9-10 minutes until al dente, drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat, cook the ground beef, about 5-7 minutes, drain and set aside.
  3. Add the additional tablespoon of olive oil and cook garlic, mushrooms and shallots for another 5 minutes or so until soft and cooked through. Mix into the cooked ground beef mixture and add spicy chili pepper paste and marinara sauce with some of the reserved pasta water until it's soft and mixes together into a sauce (but not overly saucy). Feel free to add more sauce and water to your liking for the desired consistency and thickness / thinness of the sauce.
  4. Toss the meat ragu in with the cooked pasta, add parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Serve pasta with fresh torn mozzarella and chopped fresh parsley.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2017/09/porcini-linguine-w-spicy-beef-mushroom-ragu/

Porcini Pasta

So easy and delicious with all the flavors of Fall. Enjoy!