Veggie-Lovers Rejoice: Create Delicious Meatless Meals with These Easy Steps

June 22, 2025 Looking for the Light6 Comments

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, or just trying to reduce your meat intake, you know how hard it can be to come up with tasty and creative meatless meals. But don’t despair! With a few easy steps, you can make delicious and nutritious meals without worrying about hurting any animals in the process. Whether you prefer something simple and savory, or something more exotic, these tips will help make your next meat-free meal absolutely scrumptious!

Get creative

Now that you have the basics covered, it’s time to get creative! Start by looking up vegetarian and vegan recipes online or in cookbooks for inspiration. From there, you can customize any recipe with your favorite ingredients, herbs, and spices to make it truly unique. You can even modify traditional dishes like lasagna or chili to make them meatless without losing their flavor.

For a quick and easy meal consider making a veggie-loaded wrap; all you need is a whole wheat tortilla plus whatever vegetables and condiments you have on hand. If you’re having guests over, try making an appetizing roasted vegetable platter accompanied by hummus or tzatziki dip. And don’t limit yourself to recipes – you can also have fun creating your own dishes by experimenting with new flavor combinations.

Try New Recipes

Trying new recipes is a great way to expand your culinary knowledge and creativity when it comes to cooking meatless meals. With vegan and vegetarian cuisine becoming increasingly popular, there’s no shortage of exciting recipes out there waiting to be discovered. To liven up your meal routine, try looking for recipes from around the world — like vegan tacos with sautéed veggies and black beans, Thai stir-fries, or Mediterranean salads — as these dishes are often packed with flavor and nutrition.

When trying something new, it’s important to read the recipe carefully so that you have all the necessary ingredients on hand. In addition, pay attention to details such as how long certain ingredients need to cook or how much seasoning should be used. If possible, watch a video of someone else making the recipe first as this can help you better understand the steps involved in making the dish. It may also be helpful to make notes of any changes you may want to make next time such as increasing spices or adding more vegetables for extra flavor.

Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself if the recipe doesn’t turn out exactly as planned! Cooking is an art form and even experienced chefs have mishaps from time to time. Making mistakes is part of the learning process and can lead to some amazing discoveries along the way! So don’t be afraid to get creative with your cooking and enjoy exploring new flavors!

In conclusion, meatless meals can be both delicious and nutritious. By following the steps outlined above you will be well on your way to creating flavorful, satisfying dishes that even meat-eaters would enjoy. So get cooking and start exploring a whole world of exciting meatless options!

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Dietary Changes That Can Help Reduce Inflammation and Ease Chronic Pain

April 7, 2025 Looking for the Light7 Comments

The benefits of changing your diet when living with chronic pain have long been debated. But while a diet full of processed and high sugar foods isn’t great for everyone in general, is there actually any truth in a diet curing chronic pain?

While changing your diet can eradicate your pain levels and cure you, there is some truth in looking at what you eat and how you can greatly impact your pain levels. However, because everyone experiences pain differently and lives different lifestyles, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to using diet to manage health conditions and pain. All you can do is an experiment and see what works for you if anything does at all. That being said, there have been numerous studies into an anti-inflammatory diet improving symptoms and pain levels in fibromyalgia patients, meaning they can improve their quality of life by making some easy dietary changes.

Take It Slowly

The main thing to remember when making any dietary changes is that it can take time and patience to find what works for you. For example, cutting out many food groups won’t alert you of anything specific instead, it will further restrict your diet.

So try removing one food group at a time and see if it makes any difference before trying something else.

Best Foods For Inflammation

If you want to try some foods linked to good health, you can find some recommended foods for people with chronic pain. But doing your research into what works for you, especially if you lead an active lifestyle, can give you a better understanding of the nutrients you need to support your body the way it needs it.

Peas and other plant foods that include a pod, including beans and garbanzos (also known as chickpeas), white beans (also known as navy or cannellini beans), and hummus are examples of great foods for people with chronic pain.

Nuts and seeds are further examples of foods that fall into this category. Nuts include walnuts, almonds, pecans, and peanuts, along with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts. Peas and soybeans are a type of plant known as a “legume,” which is produced in a pod. Sugar snap peas, ordinary peas, roasted soy nuts, edamame, and any form of tofu are all acceptable options.

Berries, pomegranates, and cherries are examples of dark-colored fruits, which are beneficial in the prevention of inflammation. Drinking fruit juice should be avoided, or a small glass should be consumed and mixed with equal water. Fruit juice contains a high concentration of sugar, which exacerbates inflammation.

Yellow, orange, and red peppers, as well as tomatoes, are examples of vegetables. Arugula (rocket or roquette) and a variety of mixed greens, particularly dark leafy greens, such as spinach, chard, and kale, as well as leaf lettuce and romaine lettuce. Purple and green cabbage, onions, garlic, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are among the vegetables you should try along with radishes, cucumbers, green beans, and green onions too.

When it comes to changing your diet to reduce inflammation, you need to experiment with what world for you and allow your body time to adjust to the changes and rid itself of any irritants to fully benefit from the changes.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

10 Most Popular Superfoods

April 5, 2025 Looking for the Light9 Comments

Over the years, you might have heard the term ‘superfood’ used increasingly. But what really does it mean? Well, in simple terms, these are foods that are packed with nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, and so are associated with positive impacts on your health. But how do you know what superfoods to eat then?

The thing is, you may currently include a good number of superfoods in your diet without even knowing, so this list of the 10 most popular superfoods has been put together so that you are made away of well-known superfoods, as well as to inform you about some superfoods that you may not be familiar with.

1. Eggs

Eggs are one of those foods that have stood the test of both time and criticism. No doubt, they are pretty healthy and come loaded with very high-quality proteins. More than that, eggs contain a plethora of minerals and vitamins, some of which include vitamin A, B vitamins, choline, and iron. They also contain two very powerful antioxidants, namely zeaxanthin and lutein, which are known for protecting vision and boosting eyesight. That being said, if you are having issues with your vision, don’t hesitate to visit https://eyeglasses.com for some more information.

2. Dark leafy greens

A lot of people aren’t fans of dark leafy greens, but they’re one of the best superfoods to exist. These types of greens contain several nutrients that the body needs to heal, including zinc, iron, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin C. More so, dark leafy greens have earned their place in the superfoods hall of fame. They might also help reduce your risks of suffering from chronic illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Some examples of these dark leafy greens are kale, spinach, collard greens, and Swiss chard which can be incorporated into your diet via smoothies, soups, and salads.

3. Berries

Many of us who love berries are unaware of the amazing effects that eating them have on the body. For one, berries are very rich in vitamins and minerals as well as certain antioxidants. In fact, berries are particularly effective when it comes to treating digestive issues and are often used in modern medical therapies. Examples of these fruits include blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. You can eat them as they are, or add them to smoothies and desserts.

4. Avocado

Simply put, avocados are great. Yes, they’re good for guacamole, but more than that, this superfood is very rich in healthy fats that keep you feeling full for longer. It also comes packed with antioxidants and fiber that all work to protect against heart diseases. Additionally, this food is can be eaten even on a diet and is even recommended on the Keto diet. Delicious ways to incorporate avocado in your diet include serving it on your morning toast to adding it as an essential ingredient to smoothies and salads.

5. Chia seeds

Chia seeds are tiny, black seeds that have taken the health industry by storm over the past few years. No doubt, these seeds pack a powerful punch when it comes to nutrition. Firstly, they contain pretty much all the essential minerals including calcium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. In addition, vitamin B1, B2, and B3 are also available in abundance. More so, 28 grams of chia seeds contain 11 grams of fiber and just one gram of digestible carbohydrates, making it one of the most suitable foods out there for a low carb diet.

6. Coconut

When it comes to versatile foods, coconuts are out there at the top. They can be consumed as coconut water, coconut oil, coconut flour, coconut flakes, and even just coconut meat. More so, this super food can easily be incorporated into your diet without any headache.

That said, in terms of what makes it so ‘super’ coconut oil especially contains medium-chain triglycerides, which are used as a source of energy once in the body. Furthermore, coconut water is high in vitamins and minerals including potassium, magnesium, sodium, and vitamin C.On top of this, coconut flour is low in gluten and carbs and can be used for baking and desserts.

7. Flax seeds

Flax seeds are one of those foods that didn’t become popular until recently. These seeds contribute towards a healthy heart as they come packed with omega 3 fatty acids that work as anti-inflammatory agents. More som flax seeds can be added to your salads and smoothies by grinding them into a semi fine powder. That being said, they do have other uses apart from consumption. In fact, flax seeds also come in handy as a home remedy for hair growth.

8. Hemp seeds

Yet another super seed is hemp seed. This is a great source of healthy proteins and contains omega 3 and omega 3 fats; both of which work together to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the body. More recent studies also associate hemp seeds with relieving the symptoms of menopause in women. For consumption, these seeds are typically toasted lightly and then added to foods like salads, oatmeal, and cereal.

9. Salmon

When next you go grocery shopping, be sure to pick up some salmon. This fish is rich in healthy oils that are a great source of energy and contains inflammation reducing omega 3 fats. More so, this fish is packed with wildly sourced protein that can provide you with almost 60 percent of your daily recommended protein intake. It also contains vitamin D as well as bioactive peptides that help in collagen production.

10. Cocoa nibs

Cocoa nibs are essentially just healthier chocolates. These foods range from really sweet to very bitter, so you get to choose just how you like it. More so, it is a great source of fiber and it also contains a good amount of iron and magnesium. More than that, research has shown that eating cocoa nibs can help elevate your mood and brain activity. As for preparation, they can be used in desserts, smoothie bowls, or just on their own as a nice snack.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing

Nana Kay’s Gluten- Free Banana Bread

April 3, 2025 Looking for the Light7 Comments

From the book Gluten Freedom

By Shelly Gannan

We replace the flour in this recipe with Pamela’s gluten-free baking mix. Pamela’s baking mix includes xanthan gum, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. you have to add these ingredients if you are using plain gluten-free flour that does not already have them added.

Ingredients:

3 cups gluten-free flour*

2 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups mashed bananas (3-4 very ripe bananas)

2 cups of sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 bag of chocolate chips

*Or use Pamela’s baking mix and eliminate the next four ingredients.

Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease bottoms of two 9x5x3 loaf pans. If not using a premade baking mix, combine flour, xanthan gum, cider vinegar, baking soda, and salt in mixing bowl; blend well with an electric mixer on low speed. Beat bananas separately in a large mixing bowl, then add all the ingredients except chocolate chips to the bananas and beat on low speed for 1 minute.

Fold in chocolate chips and pour mixture evenly into pans. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes then remove from pans to cool completely. If you are making muffins, bake for 20 minutes, testing doneness with a toothpick.

Makes two loaves or 12 muffins.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Turmeric Lemon Anti-inflammatory Smoothie

April 2, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

Turmeric is incredible for the immune system.

Ingredients

1 frozen banana

1/4 cup cauliflower florets

1 tsp. ground turmeric

Juice of 1 medium lemon

1 tsp. raw honey

1 cup almond milk or full-fat coconut milk

1/4 tsp. ground ginger, or 1 1/4 inch thick slice of fresh ginger peeled

Bee pollen, for serving

How To Make

In a high-powered blender, combine the banana, cauliflower, turmeric, lemon juice, honey, almond milk, and ginger.

Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute

Pour the smoothie into a tall glass and sprinkle bee pollen over the top.

Serves 1

Enjoy.

Melinda

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Gluten-Free Tahini-Spiced Hot Cocoa-Sounds So Good!

March 31, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups almond milk

2 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tb. raw cacao powder

1 1/2 tsp. raw honey

3 tsp. tahini

In a small saucepan, warm the almond milk over medium-high heat until it simmers, 5 minutes.

Pour the warm milk into a high-powered blender and add the vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa powder, honey, and tahini.

Blend on high speed until the cocoa is smooth and frothy, 1 minute.

Serves 1

Double the recipe to make two cups.

Enjoy.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

From Family Cookbook-Aunt Dorthy’s Nut Rolls With Filling

March 31, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The family cookbook contains recipes my Granies & Gramps used often, and is the type of food I grew up on. Many with veggies and tomatoes from the garden. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.

This is from my husband’s Aunt Dorthy’s recipes, who writes BEST at the top of the card.

Recipe

1 package yeast in 1/4 cup warm water and 1 TSP sugar

Let stand for 5 minutes

Sift 4 cups flour, 4 TBS sugar, and 3/4 TSP salt

Melt 1/2 TBS of butter

Add in 1 cup of canned milk

4 egg yolks beaten

Pour over flour

Add yeast

Knead

Cover

Place in refrigerator overnight or for 5 hours

Divide into 4 sections on a lightly floured surface to approx 10″x13″

Size to fill

Roll up

Let rise

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

Filling

Beat 4 egg whites with 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup ground walnuts

Okay, from here, I guess you get an icing tube, add the filling insert into the roll, and squeeze until you see the filling has spread in the roll.

This sounds great because I like walnuts, which are so good for you. I’ll have to try this one.

If you make the recipe, please provide feedback on your thoughts or what the recipe brings to mind.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Trying to Form New Diet Habits? Here’s How Long It May Take

March 6, 2025 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Making changes to your diet can be challenging, but many people give up before they’ve given their new lifestyle choices enough time to become a habit.

Many find it hard to make changes to their diet, giving up soon after starting.
However, nutrition experts say it takes time for new habits to form.
Breaking things into smaller steps will give you a better chance of achieving your goals.
Finding motivation and support are also important for success.

You know that making better choices like eating better and moving more can help you feel better and live a longer life.

Maybe you even set a New Year’s resolution for yourself to improve your diet and get more exercise. But here you are, a few weeks into your new lifestyle, and your resolve is already wavering.

Change is hard; there’s no doubt about it.

However, experts tell us that there are things we can do to improve our chances of making real, lasting changes. One is being aware that it takes time for your new behaviors to become habits.

Give your new eating style enough time to become a habit

Marie Kanagie-McAleese, MD, from the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, explained: “Some perspectives suggest it takes 21 days to create a new habit. ResearchTrusted Source on behavior change shows an average of 66 days for a behavior change to become a habit, with a range of 2-8 months.”

Kanagie-McAleese went on to say that the specific amount of time is really dependent on the individual as well as the changes that they are trying to make.

Other factors to consider are whether the changes are new to the individual or are simply building on existing behaviors.

“For example,” she said, “drinking more water each day will likely become a habit faster than incorporating a regular exercise routine.”

Kanagie-McAleese also pointed out that it probably took years for you to create your current pattern of eating habits.

“It will take longer than a month to rewrite those old habit pathways in a person’s brain,” she said, “but it helps to break big change down into smaller, more manageable steps.”

Break your changes in eating habits into manageable steps

Brittany Placencia, a Nutritionist and founder of Simple Plate Nutrition, advises that the best way to make changes in your eating habits is to tackle one change at a time.

“When you have success with one change, you get a boost of confidence in tackling the next change,” she said. “It is not realistic to change your entire diet all at once and think it will stick long-term.”

One way to do this is to adopt an “addition mindset” rather than a “restriction mindset.”

“You want to figure out what you can add to your current diet to start a healthier path rather than cutting out foods altogether,” she stated.

“For example, begin with aiming to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. That’s it. Don’t worry about other aspects of your eating yet. This is adding nutritious foods to your diet instead of a heavy focus on restricting foods,” she explained.

Placencia said that having an addition mindset can be helpful because you don’t feel like you are doing something wrong, which eliminates one of the common challenges that people face when trying to change their diet.

“Once your diet is balanced with more nutritious foods, it becomes easier and easier to enjoy less nutrient-dense foods like sweets occasionally,” she added, “as you have never felt restricted by them, and you can tell a difference in how your body feels after eating more nutritious versus less nutritious foods.”

Kanagie-McAleese further suggests setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Realistic, and Time-based).

“Instead of saying your goal is simply to snack on more fruit, a SMART goal would be ‘I will choose an apple for my 3 pm afternoon snack on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week instead of a bag of chips, starting next Monday,” she explained.

Tips for success when changing your eating habits

In addition to setting SMART goals, Kanagie-McAleese offered three other tips for successfully changing your eating habits.

Identify your “why“

“If you can connect your goals to deeper motivations, it becomes easier to stick with them,” she remarked. “For instance, eating healthier to prevent diabetes so you can live longer and enjoy your grandkids is more motivating than fitting into a pair of skinny jeans.”

Make it part of your identity

“Linking new, healthy changes to your identity makes the change more intuitive,” said Kanagie-Aleese. “If you want to eat healthy and improve your family’s health, it becomes easier when you identify as someone who prioritizes health and is a good role model for your children.”

Find your community

“It helps to have others that are interested in creating similar habits or who can support you and help to hold you accountable,” she said, adding that working with a certified health and wellness coach for a few weeks or months is one good way to do this.

Takeaway

Eating better can help us feel better and live longer.

However, making changes to our diet can be hard, leading many to quit after a few weeks.

Nutrition experts say it is important to give your new way of eating enough time to become a habit. On average, it takes about 66 days to form a new habit, but it can take up to 8 months, research suggests.

Breaking things into small, manageable goals makes it easier to create lasting changes.

Knowing your why, making your new eating habits part of your identity, and finding your community can also help.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/trying-to-form-new-diet-habits-heres-how-long-it-may-take?utm_term=roundup&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=fibro&utm_content=2025-03-04&apid=36735751&rvid=7f053d6ecf820dccd09e4914833cbd49bdfe95bb517404ee9b41601767d1bace#Tips-for-success-when-changing-your-eating-habits

Celebrate Life · DIY · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Masala Chia Blend & Chia Latte

January 25, 2025 Looking for the Light2 Comments

From Willow & Sage by Stampington

Masala Chia Blend

Yields 16 servings

8 tsp. ginger rhizome powder

4 tsp. cinnamon bark powder

4 tsp. cardamon seed powder

2 tsp. black pepper fruit powder

1/4 tsp. clove fruit powder

Chia Latte

You Will Need

Yields 2 servings

Small saucepan

2 cups water

2 1/2 tsp. masala chia blend

2 tbs. cut, torn & curled black Assam tea/looseleaf black tea/ tulsi leaf

1 1/2 cups full-fat milk

Strainer

Sweetener to taste

Caramon

To Make

In a small saucepan, add the water and masala chia blend, and bring to a boil. Add the black tea, cover, and remove from heat. Steep for three to five minutes. Add the milk. Bring to the edge of boiling but watch carefully so the milk doesn’t boil over.

Remove from the heat. Optionally, step for one or two minutes. Strain out the leaves, add a sweetener as desired, dust with a pinch of cardamon, and sip!

Enjoy.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

What Are Glutens And How To Start A Gluten-Free Lifestyle?

January 15, 2025 Looking for the Light10 Comments

It’s important to understand what gluten is and where to look to establish a gluten-free lifestyle. As more people are diagnosed gluten intolerant more pre-made products will become available making choices much easier. Below is a short list of items and ingredients you can eat living a Gluten-Free lifestyle.

Gluten is found in common foods such as breads, cereals, baked goods, and pasta. Because it’s used in processed foods as an additive or preservative, gluten is also found in a wide variety of foods and nonfood items from prescription medications to Play-Doh. If you are a food shopper in the family, you must learn to read labels very carefully to comply with a gluten-free diet.

Things You Can Eat on the Gluten-Free Diet

Gluten-Free Grains, Flours, Seeds and Starches

Amaranth
Arrowroot
Buckwheat
Cassava
Corn
Flaxseed
Nut Flours
Millet
Montina
Gluten-Free Oats
Quinoa
Rice
Sago
Sorghum
Tapioca
Teff
Wild rice

Safe Ingredients List

Vinegar except for malt vinegar
Distilled alcohol
Carmel color
Citric acid
Spices
Monosodium glutamate
Maltodextrin
Mono- and diglycerides
Artificial flavor and color
Natural flavor and color

I think there’s a ramp-up in going gluten-free, cold turkey may be too much at one time, go at your own pace. Going Gluten Free is a lifestyle change.

Melinda

Reference:

Gluten Freedom by Alessio Fasano, MD. Founder and Director of the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School.

Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Coffee Kick Smoothie

January 8, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s book True Comfort.

This smoothie sounds so good I’ll have to try it. I like how easy it is to make and you can double the recipe to make two lattes.

1 tbs. ground coffee or instant coffee granules

1 tbs. raw cacao powder

1 tbs. coconut cream

1 cup frozen cauliflower florets

1 1/2 cups almond milk

1 frozen banana

Serves 1

Place the coffee, cacao powder, coconut cream, cauliflower, almond milk, and a banana in a high-powered blender and blend until well combined, about 1 minute.

Pour and enjoy!

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Tahini-Spiced Hot Cocoa-Sounds So Good!

January 7, 2025 Looking for the Light9 Comments

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups almond milk

2 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tb. raw cacao powder

1 1/2 tsp. raw honey

3 tsp. tahini

How To Make

In a small saucepan, warm the almond milk over medium-high heat until it simmers, 5 minutes.

Pour the warm milk into a high-powered blender and add the vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa powder, honey, and tahini.

Blend on high speed until the cocoa is smooth and frothy, 1 minute.

Serves 1

Double the recipe to make two cups.

Enjoy.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Fan Favorite! Gluten Free Coffee Energy Bites

December 29, 2024 Looking for the Light2 Comments

“These are great for a morning or afternoon snack when you just need a little pick me up. I like to take them to the office with me.” Kristin Cavallari from her cookbook True Comfort.

All recipes are Gluten-Free and free of Refined sugar.

Makes 14

1/4 cup finely chopped raw almonds

2/3 cup almond flour

1/2 cup creamy raw almond butter

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

1/4 cup vanilla protein powder

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 to 2 teaspoons almond milk

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

To Make

In a large bowl, combine the almonds, almond flour, almond butter, coffee granules, protein powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and almond milk.

Roll the dough into golf ball size balls and place them on a baking sheet.

Place the shredded coconut in a shallow dish.

Roll each ball into the coconut and then return to the baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour for the bites to firm up before you eat.

These bites keep well in a ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 14 days.

Here’s a great Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. My archives contain many Gluten Free recipes.

Enjoy!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Recharge Smoothie

December 28, 2024 Looking for the Light2 Comments

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

I am so impressed with her cookbook, she covers every meal, snack, and smoothie. You don’t have to be living a Gluten-Free life to enjoy the recipes, they sound delicious. Several followers have made comments about how good the recipe was.

Ingredients

1/2 avocado

1 tbs raw honey

1 cup almond milk

2 tbs raw cacao nibs

1 cup frozen cauliflower florets

1 big handful of fresh spinach

1 tsp brain octane oil (she likes Bulletproof)

1 tbs bee pollen

1 tbs hemp seeds

1/4 cup chopped or sliced blueberries and blackberry

How to make

Place the avocado, honey, almond milk, cacao nibs, cauliflower florets, spinach, and brain octane oil (if using) in a high-powered blender and blend until well combined, about one minute.

Pour into glass and top with the bee pollen, hemp seeds, and berries.

Enjoy right away.

Serves 1

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Peppermint Mocha

December 27, 2024 Looking for the Light6 Comments

Coffee drinks give me a chance to stop & relax.

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

What you need

1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk

1-2 shots of expresso

1 TB raw cacao powder

1 TS pure maple syrup

1/4 TS teaspoon peppermint extract

How to make

Warm the coconut milk to your desired temperature over medium to high heat in a small saucepan.

Pour the warmed milk into a high-powered blender and add the espresso, cacao powder, maple syrup, and peppermint.

Blend until the drink is combined and slightly frothy, about 1 minute.

Pour into a mug and enjoy it immediately.

Serves 1

Double the recipe to make 2 servings.

Enjoy

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

From Family Cookbook-Rocky Road Fudge

December 25, 2024December 25, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The family cookbook contains recipes my Gramps and Granny used often. It is the type of food I grew up on: good ole Southern food, from my Gramps’ dumplings to Granny’s pecan pie.

This recipe is a keeper! My brother and I would beg Granny to make it.

What You Need

1 can condensed milk

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup peanut chips

2 cups tiny marshmallows

2 cups chopped nuts

How To Make

Stir and melt chips and milk over medium heat, don’t scorch

Stir all the time and fold in marshmallows and nuts

Spread on buttered oblong pan and cool.

It is worth forgetting about the calorie count.

Melinda

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From Family Cookbook-Oat Meal Lace Cookies

December 24, 2024 Looking for the Light4 Comments

The family cookbook contains recipes, my Grandparents used often and is the type of food I grew up on. Good ole Southern food like dumplings, and pecan pie. Some recipes have been passed down or from other family members recipe.

Ingredients

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup quick oatmeal

1 egg

2 tb. vanilla

2 tsp. flour

1 cup finely chopped pecans

Cookie sheet

How To Make

Cream butter and sugar until combined

Add egg, and vanilla, and blend.

Add oatmeal, flour, and nuts, and mix until combined

Use a teaspoon to measure with

Drop mixture 2 inches apart on a folded lined cookie sheet

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.

Cool and slide off the foil

Store in an airtight container

This recipe was a favorite of Granny’s.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

From Family Cookbook-Syrup For Candied Sweet Potatoes

December 23, 2024 Looking for the Light2 Comments

The family cookbook contains recipes that my Grandparents used often and is the type of food I grew up on. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.

What You Need

3 or 4 cups sugar

1 cup water

Half a stick of butter

Medium pot

How To Make

Cook until butter is melted

Cook at 400 degrees until brown.

Pour over potatoes

Melinda

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From Our Family Cookbook-Pecan Pie

December 17, 2024 Looking for the Light9 Comments

The family cookbook contains recipes my Grandparents used and the type of food I grew up on: good ole Southern food like dumplings and pecan pie.

Pecan Pie

What You Need

1/4 ts. vanilla

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

3 tbs. flour

1/2 stick butter or margarine

3/4 cup white Karo

1 cup pecan’s chopped

How To Make

Sprinkle pecans in the bottom of unbaked pie crust

Add filling

Bake at 300 degrees for about an hour

In a bowl add together all of the ingredients except for chopped pecans. Let the butter/margarine get soft before adding

Sprinkle pecans in the bottom of unbaked pie crust

Add filling

Bake at 300 degrees for about an hour

One of the most important things is not to overcook. Take the pie out when there is only a small part in the middle that shakes

I’ve made this Pecan Pie so many times, it’s easy and delicious.

This is a great pie year-round, but it was always on the table at the holidays.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Fan Favorite Creamy No-Dairy Tricks

December 17, 2024 Looking for the Light7 Comments

If you crave creamy foods but don’t care for or can’t eat dairy, these vegan substitutes for heavy cream will help.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Elizabeth Shaw

Cashew Cream

“Cashews are frequently used in dairy-free products because they provide a texture similar to dairy without tasting like a nut,” Shaw says. “Cashew cream can easily be made with cashews, water, and salt.” If you can’t eat nuts, pureed white beans work similarly.

Best In: sauces, mousses, salad dressings

Dairy-Free Milk + Olive Oil

Once blended, this combo mimics the higher fat content that gives heavy cream its thick, silky texture and taste. Shaw says-but it’s not a one-for-one substitute, so you’ll have to add it in stages until you get the consistency you’re looking for.

Best In: sauces, soups, stews

Coconut Cream

It’s like a thicker, creamier coconut milk, and you’ll want to buy it sweetened or unsweetened depending on what you are using it for. If you can’t find it or already have full-fat coconut milk on hand, you can DIY it. “Place the coconut milk can upside down in the fridge overnight, then drain to remove the milk solids. Place the solids in a chilled bowl and whip with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy.” Shaw says.

Best In: mousses, whipped cream, sauces, curries

Silkin Tofu + Plant Milk

“This combination is a great alternative and can be made by blending equal parts of each-plus, it boosts the protein of your recipe,” saw Shaw. It’s also lower in fat than heavy cream but still delivers the vibe you’re looking for.

Best In: sauces, dressings, smoothies, puddings

Enjoy!

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Health and Wellbeing · Holiday · Men & Womens Health

Let’s Celebrate Thanksgiving Tomorrow

November 27, 2024 Looking for the Light20 Comments

Thanksgiving at its core, is a celebration of the Pilgrims’ first harvest. The day was filled with joy for the achievements in the field and the opportunity to share a meal with others including Native Americans.

I’m having a commercially made Thanksgiving dinner for which the sweat equity is picking it up but there is so much to be grateful for. Regardless of the setbacks and we all have them, I’m thankful for each day I wake up with my husband and dogs surrounding me.

Many of you are traveling for the holiday, and the weather is atrocious on both coasts. Take your time and plan for delays, even cancellations. The holidays are a great time to see family, but the weather can play center stage. Be safe.

I’m also thankful for you, the conversations, and laughs we’ve had are priceless.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

From Family Cookbook-Dumplings

November 25, 2024 Looking for the Light5 Comments

The family cookbook contains recipes my Gramma and Grannies used often. It is the type of food I grew up on good ole Southern food, from Granny’s roast to my Gramp’s dumplings.

This is one of Gramp’s favorites. He loved them so much that he carried the recipe in his wallet.

What You Need

1 1/2 cups white flour

1/2 ts baking powder

1/4 ts salt

1/4 cup shortening

How To Make

Sift flour, baking, and salt together

Crumble in the shortening with your fingers

Add just enough milk to make a very stiff dough

Using a spoon to mix

Roll out the dough on a well-floured board until it’s very thin

Cut 1/8 thick

Cut into strips and lay into 3-quart post-medium chicken

1 1/2 broth into until boiling stock

Lower heat and cook slowly for almost 20 minutes

Do not take off the lid

Gramps loved dumplings

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

From Family Cookbook-Pecan Pie

November 5, 2024 Looking for the Light8 Comments

The Family Cookbook contains recipes my Grandparents used and the type of food I grew up on. Good ole Southern food like dumplings and pecan pie.

What You Need

1/4 ts. vanilla

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

3 tbs. flour

1/2 stick butter or margarine

3/4 cup white Karo

1 cup pecan’s chopped

How To Make

Sprinkle pecans in the bottom of unbaked pie crust

Add filling

Bake at 300 degrees for about an hour

In a bowl add together all of the ingredients except for chopped pecans. Let the butter/margarine get soft before adding.

Sprinkle pecans in the bottom of unbaked pie crust

Add filling

Bake at 300 degrees for about an hour

Since these are family recipes the complete cooking instructions are missing because they knew from memory. My Gramps was the master of Pecan Pies in our family.

I’ve made this Pecan Pie so many times, it’s easy and delicious.

This is a great pie year-round but at holidays, it was always on the table.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

From Family Cookbook- Pralenes

November 3, 2024 Looking for the Light3 Comments

The family cookbook contains recipes, my Gramps & Granny used often and is the type of food I grew up on. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.

What You Need

1/4 cup water

2 cups light brown sugar

1/3 cup margarine

1 1/2 cups pecans

How To Make

Boil water and ingredients and boil for 5 more minutes

Take off stove

Beat for one minute

Drop on wax paper or foil and cool

Remove after it hardens

These are out of this world! We all looked forward to her Pralenes.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · DIY · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-A Day in the Life of a Latvian Mom

October 7, 2024October 8, 2024 Looking for the Light4 Comments

Pardon the mess WordPress made out of the alignment. It looks fine in Editor but when reviewed it’s a complete mess. No surprise. Let’s put the frustration aside and enjoy reading about Ilze’s blog.

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog A Day in the Life of a Latvian Mom. Ilze and I haven’t followed each other long but you would never know it. We became fast friends and now we talk almost every day. She is inspirational, logical with a touch of whimsy, and I can’t forget to say what a great photographer she is.

A Day in the Life of a Latvian Mom

by Ilze

Hello! I’m Ilze, a mom of three wonderful kids who arrived in quick succession. This beautiful chaos led me to step away from my IT career to embrace motherhood fully.

Before becoming a mom, I built a career in IT, earning degrees in Programming and Computer Science. Almost two years ago, I accepted a position at a dream company after months of consideration, and I haven’t looked back since!

My blogging journey began with greeting card making, which eventually led to opening a photo studio to spend more time with my family. However, I soon realized I needed a change and discovered my love for making beeswax candles, experimenting with sweet aromas like green tea and lemon.

A couple of recent posts I particularly enjoyed:

Sunday: Finding the Light in One of Many Tunnels

One thing I admire about Ilze is she can multitask until bone tired and still find humor in the day. What a blessing. The greatest lesson I took away from the posts is there is Physics to everything and life is how we look at it. This is a photo of her husband on a Zoom call with colleagues in Canada while he’s holding the water over the outdoor shower so Ilze can take her shower. Life can’t get much funnier!

2023 Physics plays a role in everyday life!

Ilze is a devoted cook and has an archive full of delicious recipes to try your hand at. I saw this post and had to stop, drool, and think of how good it tasted. As my backing skills improve I will definitely try this cake. She has the ingredients and instructions laid out nicely so it is easy to follow.

I asked Ilze two questions:

What type of music she likes, why, and how has it changed her life? Her reply.

A song that’s close to me is “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin. There’s something so powerful and soulful about the way she sings it. The song reminds me of the importance of authenticity and emotional connection, both in my personal life and in my work. It’s uplifting and grounding at the same time, and it always inspires me to embrace who I am and what I do. What a great song of liberty!

Aretha Franklin – (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

The second question:

Tell me about your favorite job and what she learned from it, here’s her reply.

My favorite job is the one I’m currently in, which I started almost two years ago in client support. I enjoy it because it challenges me to think creatively and come up with solutions that aren’t always straightforward. I work with managers and stakeholders, helping them use the report-managing app eazyBI, which is a rewarding experience. What I’ve learned most from this job is how to assist with different management questions and how to build reports that are valuable for decision-making. Even when the work becomes overwhelming, I’m fortunate to have a great mentor and a supportive team, which has taught me the importance of collaboration and asking for guidance when needed.

Ilze is a multitasker to the nth degree, and she does it effortlessly, always with a good sense of humor, grounded in nature, and good manners, and being kind to all is not act! In her career, she’s been a professional photographer, had her own studio, and loves working in IT.

You are short-changing yourself if you don’t stop by and say hello, you’ll make a fast friend and her archives are a walk through nature, life, cooking, foraging, and remodeling an 1880 derelict house by hand.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Photography · Travel

Blogger Highlight-Everyday Lillie

September 9, 2024 Looking for the Light1 Comment

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight Everyday Lillie. We have followed each other for some time now and her posts never disappoint. Her posts with recipes are carefully explained and photos are taken along the process of making. Her travel posts are a deep dive accompanied by great photos and they make me want to visit. Lillie enjoys living life to the fullest and it shows through in her blog.

Everyday Lillie

Everyday Lillie is my platform to share my passion for family, cooking, travel, and DIY projects, and to inspire others to embrace these aspects of life. As a wife and mom of many young adults and a Canadian, I’m passionate about exploring the unique experiences and issues that come with family life, retirement and living in Canada.

My content is always authentic, relatable, and honest. I believe in sharing my struggles and successes to help others on their own journey. From easy-to-follow recipes to easy DIY projects, my goal is to provide you with inspiration and ideas that you can use in your everyday life.

My family shares a passion for preparing and enjoying food together. Our recipes range from my husband’s authentic and classic meals, our chef daughter’s beautifully plated vegan preparations, to preserves, and home made pasta – all fit to please a large family.

We are also avid travelers. My husband and I just like to get in the car and go! I believe that travel is an essential aspect of life, and I’m dedicated to sharing my experiences and tips to help you plan your own adventures.

Clearing Brush and Eating an Elephant is a recent favorite post, sounds like way too much work yet the payoff is tenfold.

I asked Lillie for two of her favorite posts.

My favourite post is about our Cottage Memories: https://everydaylillie.com/2024/05/16/cottage-memories/ because it’s about memories of going to summer cottages growing up – it brings out warm emotions in me!

My favourite travel picture is from our trip across Canada – https://everydaylillie.com/2020/07/25/canadian-road-trip-day-3-regina-to-calgary/ – I loved the scenery of Dinosaur Provincial Park – but there is one photo of my children in the distance misbehaving at the Dinosaur Park.

Please stop by and tell Lillie hello, pull up a chair, and enjoy reading through her archives, you’ll be glad you did.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

From Family Cookbook-Jeff Davis Pie

August 4, 2024 Looking for the Light10 Comments

The family cookbook contains recipes, my Granny’s & Gramps used often and is the type of food I grew up on. Many with veggies and tomatoes from their garden. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.

I don’t know who Jeff David was but know that he was related to Granny’s mother, Carrie Bell whose maiden name was Davis. The pie sounds yummy with its 3 cups of sugar!

What you need

3 cups Imperial sugar

1 cup butter

2 TBS flour

1/4 TSP salt

1 TSP vanilla

4 eggs beaten lightly

1 cup milk

How to make

Cream sugar and butter

Blend flour, salt, and vanilla into the mixture and beat well

Add eggs then stir in milk into the mixture

Line 2 9-inch pie pans with pie crust

Pour the filling and bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes

Then reduce heat to 350 degrees for another 30 minutes or until pie filling is firm

I bet it tastes even better with some homemade vanilla ice cream on top.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Wordless Wednesday-Red Roses In Antique Ball Canning Jar

July 31, 2024 Looking for the Light7 Comments

I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.

This was one of my Grandparent’s canning jars and it’s the perfect size for flowers. I have all of their canning jars even though we have done very little canning. There’s something special about them, they hold memories of my canning green beans with my Gramps and of course, eating out of the jars year round. They also canned lots of tomatoes, okra with tomatoes and jelly. There is no comparison to the taste of food out of a canning jar, a can food will never measure up.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

From Family Cookbook-Saucy Beef Over Rice

July 29, 2024 Looking for the Light5 Comments

The family cookbook contains recipes, my Granny’s & Gramps used often and is the type of food I grew up on. Many with veggies and tomatoes from the garden. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.

This recipe was a staple on the days Granny worked. She cleaned new houses with her Sister-in-law for construction companies. Granny did it to buy me clothes that were more in line with what my classmates were wearing until I could work myself to pay for my clothes. She would leave early in the morning and arrive back home in time to make the dish for supper.

What you need

Reynold’s Wrap Oven Bag Large size 14X20

2 TBS flour

1 can 14 1/2 oz stewed tomatoes

1 envelop of onion soup

1/2 cup water

1/4 TSP pepper

1 pound beef sirloin steak, cut into thin strips

2 cups hot cooked rice

Set oven to 350 degrees

How to make

Shake flour in a bag and place it in a 13x9x2 inch baking pan

Add undrained tomatoes, soup mix, water, and pepper.

Squiggle bag to stir all ingredients

Add beef strips to bags

Arrange the beef strips and ingredients evenly on the pan

Close the bag with a nylon tie

Cut 6 slits in the top of the bag

Bake for 40-45 minutes until tender and serve over rice

Yummy!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Family Cookbook · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Photography

Apricot Fruit and Chamomile Infused Custard Clafoutis By Guest Blogger The Sifted Field

July 27, 2024 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Yummy!

A summertime indulgence, filled with fresh fruit and flavors of fragrant vanilla and calming chamomile, this clafoutis dessert is a French country classic! Bake this up tonight for a simple and sweet ending to a summer meal. Click thru to try this inspired dessert tonight….