Papa John's Pizza

Did you know that you can order pizza at Papa John's without sauce? If you go onto their new online ordering tool, they give you and option to have extra, regular, light or no sauce! How cool is that?!

Blueberry Bundt Cake

We are getting ready for vacation and I'm trying to whittle away the contents of our fridge so we don't come home to any moldy, science-project-worthy "surprise" when we get back. I had some blueberries left over and decided to make this Blueberry Bundt Cake. I modified the original recipe slightly by using milk (since we're not vegan) and real butter. After mixing up all of the ingredients, the batter was really thick- cookie dough thick- and I was concerned about the end results. However, after putting it into the pan (with some persuasion) and baking it, a nice, fluffy, golden brown cake appeared. Delicious!

(Another) Steel Cut Oatmeal with Apples

After a Valentine's Day weekend binge of all things NOT BOP-safe, I thought I'd share a recipe that IS BOP free AND tasty and healthy to boot! The addition of flax seed and the hearty fiber of steel cut oats, makes this dish warming, filling and full of nutrients. I love that this dish can be thrown into the crock pot the night before and then, when you wake up, you have a hearty breakfast waiting for you.

I've tried a variety of steel cut oatmeal recipes for the crock pot and this one succeeds in not being too mushy and just the right consistency.

Ingredients

• 2 apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (2-1/2 to 3 cups chopped)
• 1-1/2 cups fat-free milk
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked steel-cut oats
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1-1/2 tablespoons butter, cut into 5-6 pieces
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Optional garnishes: chopped nuts, raisins, additional milk or butter

Directions

Coat inside of 3-1/2 quart (or larger) slow cooker with cooking spray. Add all ingredients (except optional toppings) to slow cooker. Stir, cover, and cook on low for 7 hours. Spoon oatmeal into bowls; add optional toppings, if desired. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Freezes well.

To reheat single servings: Put 1-cup cooked oatmeal in microwave proof bowl. Add 1/3 cup fat-free milk. Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. Continue cooking for another minute, or until hot.

Recipe can be doubled in 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Increase cooking time 1 hour.

Banana Bread (that I actually like!)

• I do not like bananas- never have. Yet, while trying to avoid BOP and dealing with my daughter's allergies to eggs, nuts and soy, I've been forced to incorporate more bananas in my baking. We had some nanners that were going to go bad so I decided to make some bread with it. I combined a couple of recipes and come up with this and guess what? I actually liked it! The taste was not overly banana-y and I can appreciate the fact that it has whole wheat flour (and no eggs, nuts or soy) in it. I like to eat this bread with honey spread on top- yum!
• Ingredients:
• 1 cup milk
• 2 mashed bananas
• 1/2 cup butter , softened
• 1/8 cup agave
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:

1. 1
   Blend first five ingredients in large bowl.
2. 2
   Add soda and salt; mix well.
3. 3
   Stir in flour and nuts.
4. 4
   Pour into well-greased 9" or 10" bread pan.
5. 5
   Cover loosely with tin foil, shiny side up, and bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot!
   
   

Halushki Lasagna

I grew up with a Polish dish from Northeast PA called Halushki. It is this combination of cabbage and onions sauteed in butter along with noodles and kielbasa- good, hearty peasant food. I've decided to switch it up a little and turn it into a lasagna- yummy!

Ingredients:

1 lb. kielbasa, diced into bite-sized pieces
1 head cabbage, diced into bite-sized pieces
1 onion, diced into bite-sized pieces
1 lb. lasagna noodles, cooked according to box
1 stick butter
8 potatoes, mashed with butter, milk, salt and pepper to taste

Slowly melt butter in pan. Add onions and saute cabbage until soft and tender. Add kielbasa and cook until warmed throughout. Layer cooked noodles, mashed potatoes and cabbage mixture until you end with noodles. Top with cheddar cheese, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving has come and gone. After getting my hand in pretty good condition, I wanted to be *somewhat* good in order to maintain it.

The following items that I ate were BOP free:

-Turkey

-Stuffing (bread, eggs, potatoes, onions, celery)

-Hard boiled eggs

-Cheese

-Dinner Roll

The next list of items that I ate (it was Thanksgiving, after all!) did have some BOP:

-Sweet Potato casserole (cinnamon)

-Pumpkin Roll (cinnamon)

-Ravioli and Meatballs (tomato sauce)

Like every good holiday meal, I probably ate more than I should, but I definitely enjoyed myself. I only ate a little bit off the "no-no" list and I did not have any alcohol (fermentation process can really bother BOP allergies).

Chinese Take Out

I love Chinese take-out. While not necessarily the most healthy thing in the world to eat, I do love a good General Tso chicken and egg roll. However, add in an allergy to BOP (sodium benzoate is found in soy sauce), and Chinese take-out is off the list. However, I've learned to modify my eating in order to indulge just a little.

You see, when the hubby and I are craving Chinese, he orders whatever he wants (lucky bum!) and I order the steamed chicken and mixed veggies. You can find this under the "diet" section of most Chinese take-out restaurants. They steam the meat and veggies and put the sauce on the SIDE! You get white rice with the meal. So, once you bring the food home, just toss the sauce (that comes separately) and enjoy your rice, chicken and veg! No sodium benzoate, I get to have some Chinese take-out and it's fairly healthy to boot- win-win, if you ask me!