Basil and Dill Pesto Crusted Baked Salmon is a healthy and delicious dinner recipe, suitable for a special occasion but easy enough for any busy weeknight or a Sunday supper! #GloriaFerrer #CLVR #ad

You never know when a spontaneous celebration and a congratulatory toast might be needed! Such was the case this past weekend I had invited my sister and her adorable twin almost 8 month old twin boys over to spend Sunday afternoon with us and then have dinner too! As always, Sunday supper was at my parent’s house and I had planned on cooking salmon. We all love salmon and it is soooo good for us too Mom had a basil plant that desperately needed harvesting, so I was thinking a pesto…

We had a lovely afternoon of the babies all playing Baby girl is so fascinated by the boys now and you can just tell that she can’t wait to be big enough to really play with them and do everything that they can do!! Right before I was going to start preparing dinner, my sister got a phone call from her husband with some great news!! It was unexpected and exciting and I knew right then that it was time to celebrate!

I quickly grabbed this Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine that I happened to have chilling in the refrigerator!

And this Brut Rosé too!! These sparkling wines come from the Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards which is Carneros’ original sparkling wine house. It is owned and founded by the Ferrer family of Spain. Named for José Ferrer’s wife, Gloria, the winery opened in 1986 in the breezy, now-famous region in southernmost Sonoma County.

Gloria Ferrer is not only the first sparkling wine house in Sonoma Carneros, but also the first to bring back clones from France to plant their vineyard. I thought the Blanc de Blancs, which is made exclusively from hand-harvested chardonnay grapes and is creamy, clean and refreshing would pair beautifully with salmon! Mom and Amy are chardonnay fans, so I knew they would enjoy the Blanc de Blanc for our celebratory toast!

We raised a glass to Amy’s good news! The Blanc de Blancs did not disappoint, it was delicious! I can certainly see why Gloria Ferrer wines have earned over 500 gold medals and 50 90+ scores in the last 5 years!! You are going to want to check out all of their offerings and learn more about the vineyard and their winemaking process by visiting their website

Ok, time for some food This Basil and Dill Pesto Crusted Baked Salmon recipe was inspired by my Easiest Baked Salmon with Fresh Herbs, which is a family favorite! I decided to take it to the next level and really elevate this dish by creating a pesto with both basil and dill AND adding a parmesan and whole wheat bread crumb topping! YUM!!

The result was “The best salmon recipe that you have ever made!” That is an actual quote from my dad This is coming from a guy that thought he hated salmon until a couple of years ago when I finally got him to try my salmon! So that compliment really made me smile

Here is your recipe for Basil and Dill Pesto Crusted Baked Salmon:

Basil and Dill Pesto Crusted Baked Salmon

 

Save Print

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

45 mins

 

Author: Becky's Best Bites

Serves: 6

Ingredients

FOR THE BASIL AND DILL PESTO

• 3-4 cloves garlic
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• ⅓ cup fresh dill
• ½ cup parmesan cheese
• ½ cup pecans (or other nut of choice)
• zest and juice of one lemon
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil (a bit more or less may be needed)
• sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

FOR THE SALMON

• ½ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 lbs. salmon
• Basil and Dill Pesto (from above)

Instructions

FOR THE BASIL AND DILL PESTO

1. Places the cloves of garlic in an empty food processor bowl. Process garlic by itself to finely chop. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
2. Add basil, dill, parmesan, pecans, lemon zest and lemon juice to the food processor and turn on.
3. While the food processor is on, stream in the olive oil to create a smooth, spreadable paste.
4. Set aside

FOR THE SALMON

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine breadcrumbs and parmesan. Set aside.
3. Place salmon (either leave whole or cut into serving side pieces) in a large casserole dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
4. Spread pesto on the salmon, reserving about ⅓ of it for serving.
5. Add breadcrumb/parmesan mixture over top of the pesto on the salmon.
6. Place salmon in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through and breadcrumbs are golden brown. The salmon should be just opaque all the way through, flaky and still moist.
7. Serve over brown rice or quinoa and top with reserved pesto.

3.5.3226

We ended up enjoying both the Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blanc & Brut Rosé with my Basil and Dill Pesto Crusted Baked Salmon! The Brut Rosé, which is a combination of hand-harvested pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, paired nicely with the salmon as well! It is an exceptionally versatile wine and will pair with most cuisines.

So tell me…when was the last time you had a spontaneous celebration? How did you celebrate?

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

The post Basil and Dill Pesto Crusted Baked Salmon appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

I Know the Key to Finding Workplace Happiness! Discover your personal brand and personality compatibility with the fun quizzes on the Good&Co career app. #ad #knowyourself | beckysbestbites.com

Not too long ago if you would have asked me if I could tell you the key to finding workplace happiness, I would have had to say that I wasn’t sure. I definitely don’t think I could have written a blog post on the subject. See I had always had good jobs that I liked, paid the bills and I was content with them, but the passion wasn’t there. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my daughter that I realized that I needed to wake up each morning and do something everyday that fueled my passions…and being a work-at-home mom is it for me

I wish I had learned about the Good&Co career app earlier so I could have discovered by unique strengths and found my passion much sooner. However I certainly don’t regret the career path that I took, and I believe with all of my heart that path is what led me to being a full time mom and blogger today!

There is an app for everything these days, right? You will want to download the Good&Co app, like I did, and take their fun quizzes to discover your own unique strengths, grow personally and professionally and ultimately find get on your journey to professional happiness!

I also learned how I come across to others

My spirit animal is a deer! I think it fits me pretty well, especially now that I am a mama

I found out what kind of coworker I am…although my only coworker right now is my 3 month old daughter. There is no telling her to “bring her own sandwich, buddy!” LOL Her meals come first!!

Solo projects! Yep, that is me!! I guess that works with being a full time blogger

As you progress through the fun quizzes on the Good&Co app you will learn more and more about what makes you unique and special! The key to workplace happiness is finding a culture fit for your personal brand! I found that my persona changed as I completed more of the quizzes and the app learned more about me!

Here are my final results:

I think the Good&Co app, unlocked my personality pretty well If I was in the market for a job and seeking workplace happiness, I would need to find a company and a position where these unique strengths would shine. You can explore various employers on the app as well. I didn’t dive into that since I wasn’t really looking for a job right now, but I can see where it would be very helpful.

You can also find out your FitScore or personality fit with friends. As you connect your social media channels, you can invite friends to take the quizzes too! It is fun to see how good or not so good of a fit you are with them

Download the Good&Co app today, take the first quiz as your first step toward finding workplace happiness!

Once you have completed the quiz, you will unlock your unique strength card! What are your unique strengths? Please share them with me in the comments or let’s find out our FitScore on the app! See you there

The post I Know the Key to Finding Workplace Happiness appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

Vegan French Onion Dip with Dill {Gluten Free & Paleo Friendly} is a healthy, whole food version of the classic appetizer/snack recipe perfect to take and share at any of your summer gatherings.

Who’s excited that it is Memorial Day weekend? Do you have big plans or just relaxing at home? The hubs is working (like always) so there will be no beach or lake for us this holiday weekend. That’s okay though, we will try to make the best of it and fire up the grill over at my parent’s house.

The boys have been on a french onion dip and chips kick recently so I decided to try to make a healthier, whole foods version for them. I came up this Vegan French Onion Dip that is also gluten free and paleo friendly. I am pairing my vegan french onion dip with a much healthier chip too, Jackson’s Honest Purple Heirloom Potato Chips!

What I love about these purple beauties is that they are made with only 3 ingredients: Non-GMO Project Verified domestic potatoes, organic coconut oil and sea salt! Really…that’s it! And another added bonus is that the purple heirloom potatoes have four times the antioxidants as white potatoes! I can feel so good about serving them to my family!

I decided to keep the ingredients for my Vegan French Onion Dip simple and clean to match theJackson’s Honest Purple Heirloom Potato Chips

The sweet Vidalia onions getting tender and caramelized in coconut oil – YUM Keep that heat low to cook them nice and slow to develop that deep caramel color! Did you know that coconut oil is nature’s most saturated fat? It is actually the most nutritionally stable plant-based oil on earth! AND coconut oil is an ancestral superfood that has been consumed for 4000+ years!!

You might not think that avocado would work in a vegan french onion dip recipe (and I was skeptical at first too), but it really does! The avocado gives the dip a nice creamy consistency without having to use any dairy, keeping this dip vegan.

Dill and lemon keep the dip fresh and bright!

The subtle green color of this vegan french onion dip pairs beautifully with the bright, vibrant purple of the Jackson’s Honest Chips, don’t you think? Not only will this dish be a healthful addition to your Memorial Day celebrations but a yummy and pretty one too

Here is your recipe for Vegan French Onion Dip with Dill {Gluten Free & Paleo Friendly}:

4.7 from 6 reviews

Vegan French Onion Dip with Dill

 

Save Print

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

1 hour

 

Author: Becky's Best Bites

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. coconut oil
• 2 large sweet onions (Vidalia), sliced
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• ¼ cup vegetable broth (as needed)
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 avocado
• Zest and juice of one lemon
• 1 tbsp. fresh dill, minced

Instructions

1. Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Once hot and oil is melted, add sliced onions and garlic to the pan. Stir to coat the garlic and onions evenly with coconut oil.
3. Cook, stirring frequently, for 30-40 minutes or until the onions have caramelized. Add vegetable broth as needed during the cooking process to ensure that the onions don't get too dry.
4. Once the onions have caramelized, add salt and pepper and apple cider vinegar to the pan. Stir to combine and cook for a minute or two longer.
5. Remove from heat and let onions cool.
6. Add onions to the bowl of a food processor.
7. Add avocado, lemon juice and zest and dill to food processor.
8. Process until smooth and creamy.
9. Adjust salt and pepper, if necessary.
10. Transfer to an airtight container and chill at least 2 hours before serving.
11. Serve chilled with Jackson's Honest Purple Heirloom Potato Chips and additional minced dill as garnish, if desired.

3.5.3226

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jackson’s Honest. The opinions and text are all mine.

Need more healthy snack or appetizer ideas? You might want to check out these recipes too:

• Tropical Cowboy Caviar

• Southwest Black Bean and Corn Salad / Salsa

• Summer Garden Fresh Cantaloupe Salsa

• Cilantro Edamame Hummus {no oil or tahini}

What are your plans this Memorial Day weekend?

The post Vegan French Onion Dip with Dill {Gluten Free & Paleo Friendly} appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

Yummy and Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos is a fun and festive recipe for Cinco de Mayo or the perfect everyday meal solution using TortillaLand® uncooked flour tortillas from @Costco! #ad #GoTortillaLand

I have always loved using my slow cooker for quick and easy family meals. Living in the south, it is HOT and HUMID most of the year, so it is very convenient to utilize the slow cooker for cooking dinner. That way I don’t have to either A. Stand in front of a hot stove or B. Heat up the whole house even more by cranking up the oven. Add to those reasons, I now have a three month old in the house which means sleep deprivation and utter exhaustion!! Now I absolutely NEED simple meals for my family to keep my sanity… cue my new love —> Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos

Carnitas or “little meats” is a traditionally a Mexican dish made by braising or simmering large pieces of pork in lard until tender and juicy. Then the heat is turned up so the edges of the pork get a bit crispy and caramelized.  These are the basis of a lot of the Mexican Street Tacos from food trucks that are so trendy right now. I wanted to try to recreate that taste at home but the total cooking time usually takes 3-4 hours on the stove and I certainly don’t have the time or patience for that.  I thought why not try to achieve a similar but healthier and way easier result in my good buddy, Mr. Slow Cooker

To really achieve that authentic Mexican flavor in our Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos, you need a high quality and fresh tortilla.  I have found tortillas that fit the bill with TortillaLand® uncooked flour tortillas! I picked up these gems at my last shopping trip to Costco in the refrigerated section. Click HERE to find a Costco club near you that carries TortillaLand® tortillas. You can also save some money and earn $3.50 when you purchase TortillaLand® corn and flour tortillas with the free Ibotta app.

A quick look at the label on these TortillaLand® uncooked flour tortillas and I found that they are made with only 5 simple ingredients – wheat flour, water, canola oil, salt and sugar – and they cook in only 60 seconds. I had never used uncooked tortillas but now I am a convert! It was so quick and easy to take the step of cooking the tortillas!! The freshness of the tortillas is unbeatable and I loved getting the little crispy edges taking my carnitas to the next level!

I made a double batch of these Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos because I was feeding a crowd! I actually had two slow cookers jammed packed with a HUGE pork shoulder that I picked up at Costco too! It was just a great value and I was able to feed everyone without cleaning out my wallet in the process.  It was a busy weekend and I wanted to treat my family, my parents, my sister’s family and her in-laws that were in town to help them with some home renovations so that they can get there house on the market. My sister has 7 month old twin boys and they have outgrown their little house and need something bigger for their growing family.

One of the key components to get great flavor in my Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos is the sweet and spicy rub that I coated the pork shoulder with before cooking. It is a yummy combination of brown sugar, sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ancho chili powder and chipotle chili powder.

And we are keeping our carnitas nice and juicy by letting them take a bath in a tasty combination of beer, orange juice, liquid smoke and tomato paste while slow cooking!

You will want to have a variety of fresh and yummy toppings for your crowd to choose from! I offered cilantro, avocado, jalapeno, tomatoes, black beans and fresh lime wedges (to squeeze on top). I also had some sour cream and shredded Mexican cheese for those that wanted those options as well.

I can’t wait to make these yummy and easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos again for our upcoming summer celebrations!! I know they will be a real crowd pleaser  And… I will be adding them to the everyday dinner rotations and game day line-ups as well!!

Here is your recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos:

5.0 from 25 reviews

Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos

 

Save Print

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

6 hours

Total time

6 hours 20 mins

 

Author: Becky's Best Bites

Serves: 18 to 24

Ingredients

• 4-5 lbs. pork shoulder/pork butt, trimmed of excess fat
• 1 large yellow or red onion, sliced
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 1 red or green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, sliced
• ½ bottle (6 oz.) of your favorite beer (stock can be substituted if desired)
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 1 tsp. liquid smoke
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 18 to 24 TortillaLand® Flour Tortillas, cooked according to package instructions

FOR THE SPICE RUB

• ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tbsp. sea salt
• 1 tbsp. fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tbsp. ground cumin
• 1 tbsp. dried oregano
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 tsp. ancho chili powder, or to taste
• 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder, or to taste

TOPPINGS

• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Avocado, pitted and chopped
• Fresh jalapeno
• Fresh tomatoes, chopped
• Fresh lime juice
• Black beans (I used canned to keep it easy and then rinsed and drained them)
• Sour cream
• Mexican shredded cheese

Instructions

1. Place a slow cooker liner in the bowl of the slow cooker or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper slices to the bottom of the bowl.
3. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for the spice rub and mix to combine.
4. Massage the spice rub evenly over all sides of the pork and then transfer to the slow cooker.
5. Add beer, orange juice, liquid smoke and tomato paste to the slow cooker.
6. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours or until the pork literally falls apart and easily shreds with a fork.
7. Remove the lid of the slow cooker and shred the pork with a couple of forks, Stir to combine with the juices.
8. Leaving the lid off of the slow cooker, turn it up to high and let cook for 20-30 minutes to let all the flavors come together.
9. Serve warm wrapped up in freshly cooked TortillaLand® tortillas and the toppings you desire. Enjoy!!

3.5.3226

TortillaLand $25 Costco Cash Card Giveaway
This post is written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Acorn Influence, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
Giveaways

The post Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

How I Wine Down, While My Family Golfs! Learn how to enjoy a $25 credit on a round of golf at major golf courses nationwide & enter to win a year of FREE GOLF courtesy of Concha y Toro Gran Reserva Wines. #GranReservaGolf #ad

Most of you that have been reading my blog (and thank you so much for your support) know that hubs is an avid golfer. It is his way to wine down after the long hours that he puts in at the restaurant. Now lil man has gotten old enough that he can enjoy going to the golf course with his dad. I fully support this time together so they can have some special father/son bonding time. I used to go with hubs to the golf course on occasion and drive the golf cart (and maybe hit a few) but now with baby girl, I can’t really go between naps, feedings and playtime with an infant. So now I just send the boys on their way and I head next door to my parent’s house to wine down for the afternoon on their back porch Luckily my parents have turned one of their spare bedrooms into a nursery for their grandkids, so baby girl can nap there with ease while Grammy and I are within earshot on the porch.

This particular afternoon just happened to also be Mother’s Day so I picked myself up the perfect present to celebrate my first Mother’s Day, a lovely bottle of Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Mom is more of a white wine gal, so I picked her up a bottle of Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc It was part of her Mother’s Day present and she was very appreciative Now that I am a full time mom and know just how much hard work goes into each and every day, I wanted to show her just how grateful I am for everything that she has and continues to do for my sisters and I!

My mom and I enjoyed some much needed wine down time on the porch with a glass of Gran Reserva wine! Baby girl took a nice long nap for me in their nursery (HELLO…I think it was her Mother’s Day present to me and it was perfect! I LOVED IT…just what I needed!) We kicked up our feet, watched a little HGTV and Food Network (our favs to zone out to) and Dad grilled up some surf and turf for us It was an absolutely perfect way to wine down!!

We both thoroughly enjoyed our Gran Reserva wines! Since our dinner was surf and turf, both the red and white paired nicely I also wanted to share with y’all that Gran Reserva is giving you two more reasons to enjoy their fine wines right now!!

1. Enjoy a $25 credit on a round of golf at major golf courses nationwide courtesy of Concha y Toro Gran Reserva. Find a specially marked bottle necker where you buy wine.

2. And you can also enter a great sweepstakes to win – one year of free golf. Check it out: http://clvr.li/2nLqvdg 

Be sure to check it out ASAP!! I’ll have my fingers crossed for you that you win  So tell me, what are your favorite ways to wine down?

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

The post How I Wine Down, While My Family Golfs appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

Carb Conscious Lettuce Wraps with Roasted Garlic Homemade Hummus and Fresh Veggies are a quick, easy and nutritious lunch recipe using wholesome HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® lunchmeat for a clean eating meal idea.

My life now revolves around 3 hour time blocks. Why 3 hours? Well… my 10-week-old daughter is a very good eater and she “demands” to be fed about every three hours She eats, plays for a little while and then naps. The cycle repeats like that throughout the day. Her nights are a little bit of a longer stretch and of course, we eliminate the play time This is the schedule that she is on for now and we are working toward longer cycles (especially at night) as she gets older. I have very little time to prepare meals within those parameters but I am also working toward getting my body back into shape after pregnancy. I am proud to say that at 5 weeks postpartum, I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight!! I have done this by choosing wholesome, nutritious and mostly clean foods to incorporate into my diet.

The other day when I was grocery shopping, I found HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® lunchmeats.

A quick scan of the packaging and I found that they are:

• 100% natural, no artificial ingredients and minimally processed
• No nitrates or no nitrates added (except for those naturally occurring in cultured celery and cherry powder)
• The turkey and pork are raised without added hormones (federal regulations prohibits the use of hormones in poultry and pork)

Also and big for me with a new baby and all the added expenses that come with her: they are affordable! Their lunchmeat costs the same amount as the un-natural stuff, making them a real winner for this frugal mama.

I picked up the HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Honey Ham and the HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Applewood Smoked Turkey to make a Carb Conscious Lettuce Wrap with Roasted Garlic Homemade Hummus and Fresh Veggies. It is a quick, easy and nutritious lunch recipe and has been my go-to meal over the past few weeks.

The key to a carb conscious lettuce wrap is prepping ahead all of the ingredients needed and storing them in the refrigerator for the week. You don’t actually assemble the wraps until you are ready to eat because the lettuce will get soggy and gross – I found that one out the hard way I usually prep my ingredients either during a very good nap (read: long nap) or when the hubs is home and he can be on baby duty. I also love that a carb conscious lettuce wrap is very versatile and customizable. The ingredients that I have listed in the “recipe” below are just ideas. If you don’t have something that I mention, then substitute what you do have on hand. Of course we are trying to keep these as clean as possible, so try to choose the most wholesome ingredients. However if you are a new mom, like me, then sometimes you just have to make do

The Roasted Garlic Homemade Hummus is the “glue” that holds the wrap together. It is also a much better option for you than mayo or another dressing. Making the hummus at home is quick and easy! The oven does the work on roasting the garlic for you. I used canned chickpeas in my hummus because of the ease factor, but you could use dried ones and cook them, if desired.

This Carb Conscious Lettuce Wrap with Roasted Garlic Homemade Hummus and Fresh Veggies literally takes less than 5 minutes to put together if you have all of the ingredients ready and waiting on you in the refrigerator. So once I finally have her down for her mid-afternoon nap, I can whip up a quick lunch for me that will fill me up and keep me on track to getting my body back in shape. Learn more about HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE®  products and why I have switched to their lunchmeats by visiting their by visiting their website or find them on Facebook, Pinterest or YouTube.

Here is your recipe for Carb Conscious Lettuce Wrap with Roasted Garlic Homemade Hummus and Fresh Veggies:

5.0 from 29 reviews

Carb Conscious Lettuce Wrap

 

Save Print

Prep time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

Author: Becky's Best Bites

Serves: 6

Ingredients

FOR THE HUMMUS

• 1 head garlic
• 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 can (15 oz.) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• ⅓ cup tahini
• Juice of one lemon
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

FOR THE CARB CONSCIOUS LETTUCE WRAP

• 1 head butter lettuce, rinsed and separated into individual leaves
• Roasted Garlic Hummus (from above)
• 1 package (8 oz.) HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Honey Ham
• 1 package (8 oz.) HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Applewood Smoked Turkey
• 1 english cucumber, chopped into matchsticks
• 10 assorted mini bell peppers, ribs and seeds removed and chopped into matchsticks
• 1 cup matchstick carrots
• 1 avocado, pit and skin removed and sliced into long strips

Instructions

Preparing the roasted garlic hummus.

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cut the top of the head of garlic to expose the bulbs. Place garlic in aluminum foil. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and cover tightly with aluminum foil to seal.
3. Roast garlic for 30 minutes. Remove and let cool.
4. Place the chickpeas, tahini and lemon juice in a food processor. Add 3-4 cloves of the roasted garlic by gently squeezing them out of the head of garlic.
5. Place the lid on the food processor and turn on. Stream in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for until needed.

Assembling the lettuce wrap

1. Spread a teaspoon of hummus on a lettuce leaf
2. Top with a slice of each of the HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Honey Ham and HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Applewood Smoked Turkey
3. Spread another teaspoon of hummus on top of the lunchmeat
4. Top with a few pieces of cucumber, bell peppers, carrots and avocado
5. Roll up burrito style and secure with toothpick
6. Enjoy!

3.5.3226

Entry Instructions:

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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#Sweeps” and “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from SheKnows via the sweeps@sheknows.com. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

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Be sure to visit the brand page on Sheknowsmedia.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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The post Carb Conscious Lettuce Wraps with Roasted Garlic Homemade Hummus and Fresh Veggies appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

So now that I am a stay-at-home-mommy/blogger, I find myself watching more TV during the day. Even if I am working and baby girl is napping, I find that I need it in the background so it isn’t soooo quiet. I tend to watch the Food Network a lot because I feel that I can justify it. I mean I am doing research on new recipes and learning cooking techniques and tips for upcoming blog posts, right The only problem is that it makes me constantly hungry and that can’t be good for getting my post baby body back, but oh well. Just give me this one, alright??

Any-who, the other day I was watching the Food Network (as usual), and the Pioneer Woman was on. She was cooking her Beef Stroganoff and it caught my attention. She mentioned that it is actually a Russian dish, not an American comfort food dish which I didn’t know (see I do learn something from my TV watching and thought I would share it with you). I thought that I could try to give it a healthier spin for the blog and I set out to create my Lean Ground Beef Stroganoff.

Beef Stroganoff typically uses sirloin steak for the beef component, but we didn’t have any… We did have some lean ground beef in the freezer that needed to be used, so I thought why not! So I got started by browning lean ground beef (after it had thawed, of course) and boiling some water for the egg noodles. The egg noodles are another healthy swap that I made. They have whole grain egg white noodles now!! Here is the kind that I tried and liked (but NO this ISN’T an affiliate link, just informative) –> NOODLES.

Now it is veggie time! Note that I added carrots to the mix. Ree (The Pioneer Woman) added it in her dish and I thought it was a great add!! We had a half of a bag of frozen carrots in the freezer, but you could totally use fresh if you would rather Anyway to get more veggies in, am I right?

Red Wine (heck ya), beef stock and dijon mustard come together to create a rich sauce with layers of flavor! I really loved the addition of the dijon mustard!! Then comes the greek yogurt, instead of sour cream, for the “better-for-you” creaminess  with added protein (BONUS!!).

Here is the finished sauce for this Lean Ground Beef Stroganoff! Doesn’t it look amazing???

I went ahead and mixed the Lean Ground Beef Stroganoff sauce with the whole grain egg white noodles, but if you prefer, you could just pile the sauce on top of the noodles. It is your call

Here is your recipe for Lean Ground Beef Stroganoff:

Lean Ground Beef Stroganoff

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Author: Becky's Best Bites

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 bag (12 oz.) Whole Grain Extra Broad Egg White Noodles
• 1.5 lbs. lean ground beef
• 1 sweet yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 1 cup (8 oz.) fresh or frozen carrots, chopped
• 1 cup (8 oz.) cremini or baby bella mushrooms, sliced
• ½ cup dry red wine
• 2 cups reduced sodium beef stock
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 tbsp. dijon mustard
• 1 small container (5.3 oz.) nonfat greek yogurt
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp. parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions to al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain, return to pot and keep warm.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and brown the meat.
3. Once the meat is browned, add onion, garlic, carrots and mushrooms.
4. Cook the vegetables until tender and golden brown, approximately 5 minutes.
5. Deglaze the pan with the red wine, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan and reducing the wine by half.
6. Combine a couple of splashes of the beef broth with the cornstarch in a small ramekin and set aside.
7. Pour the remaining beef broth in the skillet, stir to combine and cook down for 3-4 minutes to reduce by about ⅓.
8. Pour the cornstarch/beef broth mixture in the pan and stir to combine.
9. Continue to cook for a couple of minutes and the sauce will begin to thicken.
10. Add greek yogurt and dijon mustard and stir to combine.
11. Season with salt and pepper.
12. Add meat mixture to noodles with just enough of the starchy cooking water to achieve a creamy sauce consistency (I used about ½ cup).
13. Portion into bowls and garnish with parsley. Enjoy!!

3.5.3226

Here are a few more weeknight winner dinner recipes that you might want to try:

• Weeknight Chicken Divan with Rice
• Kale, Mushroom and Beef Ragu with Super Greens Rotini
• Spinach Alfredo Pasta Bake with Sausage
• 15 Minute Italian Chicken Skillet with Kale

The post Lean Ground Beef Stroganoff appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

The heat is on here in South Georgia and even though it may not technically be summer yet, it sure feels like it! When we were grilling these Chipotle Lime Turkey Kabobs on our deck yesterday, it was 87 degrees with high humidity!! We have even had days that the temperatures have reached the low to mid 90’s and we are only at the beginning of May! I can’t even think about how hot it is going to be in July and August…

I have to admit that the hubs is the grill master of our family. I tend to burn myself just about every time that I try to use the outdoor grill! If I use the stove or oven I am fine. But if I use the grill, I end up with a nasty burn every time! So I asked the hubs to help out with these Chipotle Lime Turkey Kabobs. He said, “Turkey on the grill? You mean like the whole bird?” I laughed and said that we would be using turkey tenderloins. I then explained that many retail stores carry turkey cuts, packaged individually and sized right for everyday meals. I wanted to try turkey for something different and is as easy to prepare and serve as any other poultry or meat.

As we were grilling up these Chipotle Lime Turkey Kabobs, the hubs and I chatted and I asked him for some grilling tips. The first one that he shared was that instead of using those grilling sprays that can flare up so that the food doesn’t stick to the grill, he likes to use good ‘ol canola oil. Just grab a clean kitchen towel and dip it in canola oil then using your tongs wipe the racks.  He also shared that when flipping whatever you are grilling, never put it back in the exact same spot. That spot will be a different temperature and you want the food to cook at a consistent temperature. Smart, huh?

The countdown is on for our annual summer lake vacation and that means that I will be wearing a bathing suit post baby! Urg!!! So that means that I need keep my diet in check for sure! I was excited to try turkey in this recipe because it is naturally low in fat and provides immune-boosting nutrients like iron, zinc and potassium. It’s also packed with lean protein that keeps me feeling full longer and satisfies my appetite for health and fitness.

Turkey is also a very versatile protein since it soaks up all the flavor of whatever seasonings or marinades you use. The marinade for these Chipotle Lime Turkey Kabobs is the key to their deliciousness! It is a quick 30 minute marinade that is a combination of lime, garlic, chipotle in adobo sauce, honey, cilantro and cumin. So it is spicy, sweet and smoky all at the same time!! Although I used turkey tenderloins, the dark meat (like turkey thighs) which is especially succulent and flavorful, would work great in this recipe too!

I paired my Chipotle Lime Turkey Kabobs with a quick and easy Chipotle Cilantro Rice! I combined instant brown rice with the chipotle in adobo sauce and cilantro that I used in the marinade. The result was a flavorful rice that paired beautifully with the turkey kabobs. If you would like to this grilling meal low carb, then you could try cauliflower rice instead of the brown rice.

Here is your recipe for Chipotle Lime Turkey Kabobs and Chipotle Cilantro Rice:

The post Chipotle Lime Turkey Kabobs appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

I can’t believe that it is already May!! I mean, really, when did that happen?!? Yesterday it happened, if I am being quite literal Ha ha!! The past few months have been a whirlwind with having a newborn and all that entails. I do have to say that we are very blessed with our baby girl. She is a good sleeper, rarely fussy (unless she is hungry, just like her daddy and me) and has a very sweet disposition I really can’t believe that she nearly 2 1/2 months old!!

But it is May and Cinco de Mayo is this Friday, so I thought it would be fun to create a new recipe to celebrate!  We love Cowboy Caviar and I have shared my go-to recipe for it with you HERE on the blog. It is a more traditional version but would be equally delicious for your Cinco de Mayo celebrations…maybe with an ice cold margarita This Tropical Cowboy Caviar is a little bit sweet thanks to the tropical fruits, a little spicy thanks to the jalapeños and cilantro, creamy thanks to the avocado and all kinds of savory thanks to these lovely little Orca beans!

Aren’t they cute? And the name is perfect because their black and white coloring really does remind me of an Orca’s! Maybe they should call them “Shamu beans” but they are actually also known as Calypso beans All joking aside, I had never heard of Orca beans until I happened to notice them on the clearance table at the grocery store. They caught my attention because of the gorgeous colors but also because they were half off (being the frugal, aka cheap, girl that I am). I picked them up and learned from the packaging that they are heirloom beans grown in the Pacific Northwest, that they are high in fiber and iron and contain 10 grams of protein per serving. Yay!! I bought this brand (NOT an affiliate link) and they were very good.

Sadly I had forgotten about these little babies…they were lost in the depths of my pantry, but I happened upon them yesterday and decided to put them to good use in this Tropical Cowboy Caviar. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am (there is still a bowl of it in my frig that I am munching on)

Here is your recipe for Tropical Cowboy Caviar:

5.0 from 1 reviews

Tropical Cowboy Caviar

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 20 mins

 

Author: Becky's Best Bites

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups Orca Beans
• 4 cups Water
• 8 oz. pineapple chunks
• 8 oz. mandarin orange pieces
• 1 medium jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 1 avocado, pit, skin removed and chopped
• 2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
• Zest and juice of one lime
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Sort and rinse beans.
2. Place beans in a medium saucepan and cover with water.
3. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
4. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, approximately 1 hour. Be sure to check the water level throughout the cooking process and add additional water if needed to keep the beans covered.
5. Drain and rinse with cold water.
6. Chill until completely cooled.
7. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked beans, pineapple, mandarin oranges, jalapeno, avocado, cilantro, lime zest and juice, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
8. Serve chilled with tortilla chips, as a topping for tacos, burritos, fajitas, etc. or eat alone for a great snack!

3.5.3226

The post Tropical Cowboy Caviar appeared first on Becky's Best Bites.

Sweet Corn and Spring Vegetable Pasta is a healthy vegetarian main dish or hearty side dish that pairs perfectly with grilled meats. Bright, colorful and packed with vitamins and nutrients from all those veggies, this pasta salad is a real winner! #SunshineSweetcorn #IC #ad

Most of y’all know that I live in Southern Georgia, less than 30 miles from the Florida border in fact. We live on land where my great grandparents farmed and raised chickens before I was born. It is not a working farm any longer, but we usually do plant a small garden. I love everything about living in the south!! The heat and humidity does get a little extreme in summer, but I would take that anyday over snow and ice. And as the weather warms and we get into April, I start keeping a lookout at the grocery store for my fav spring/summer veggie, CORN!!

I remember picking ears right out of the garden when I was a child. We would fill up buckets of corn and then head to my granny’s porch, sit down in her rocking chairs, shuck the corn and cream the corn! That fresh creamed corn was the best thing that I ever tasted!! We don’t grow corn anymore, but luckily right down the road in Florida, Sunshine Sweet Corn is grown, so I can enjoy corn NOW and not have to wait until summer! This makes it an easy addition to my spring meals!! And that makes me one happy girl

I love that I can trust Sunshine Sweet Corn since it is non-GMO, extra tender, and regulated for quality control. It really is the cream of the crop!! When you are purchasing corn in April and May, it really is your best choice for delicious, sweet tasting corn – once you taste it, you will be hooked!!

Have you tried this trick for cutting corn kernels off the cob? It makes it so much easier and a lot less messier Who else has ended up with more corn on the floor when trying to cut it off the cob? Try this method next time: place a smaller bowl upside down inside of a larger bowl. Place the ear of corn on the smaller bowl and cut off the kernels. The kernels will fall nicely into the larger bowl.

You should have seen the smile on my face the other day when I saw fresh corn in the produce section of my local grocer for the first time this season I immediately grabbed a bunch of ears and headed home to find a recipe to make with my corn. I jumped on the Sunshine Sweet Corn website and was drawn to this Sweet Corn and Spring Vegetable Pasta. I loved all the fresh veggies that were included and that it would make perfect lunches for me but also work well has a side dish to go along side of whatever the hubs is throwing on the grill for dinner.

Here is your recipe for Sweet Corn and Spring Vegetable Pasta:

Sweet Corn and Spring Vegetable Pasta

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Author: Becky's Best Bites

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 8 oz. whole wheat rotini pasta (or other short pasta of choice)
• 3 ears Sunshine Sweet Corn, husked
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 8 oz. cremini or white mushrooms, sliced or chopped
• 1 large shallot, chopped (3 cloves garlic can be substituted)
• 1 lb. (approximately 6 spears) asparagus, sliced at an angle into 1 inch pieces
• ¾ cup green peas, fresh or frozen
• ¼ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
• 1 tbsp. fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions in a large pot, reserving ½ cup of the starchy cooking water once pasta is tender. Drain and set aside.
2. While pasta is cooking, cut corn kernels off the cob and set aside.
3. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat until bubbly.
4. Add mushrooms and shallots or garlic to the pan and saute for about 3 minutes or until the mushrooms have browned and give off their juices.
5. Add the asparagus, peas and corn to the pan and continue to cook until heated through and crisp tender, approximately 3 minutes.
6. Add cooked veggies and cheese to the cooked pasta.
7. Stir to combine and slowly add the starchy cooking water, as needed, to create a creamy sauce.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Pour into a large serving bowl and sprinkle with thyme.

3.5.3226

This post was sponsored by Sunshine Sweet Corn as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

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