Pomegranate-Orange Sparkler

I love this cocktail. It’s easy, refreshing and can very easily be made into a mocktail for anyone going alcohol free. On the subject of alcohol, it’s always worth it to spend a little more on a high quality vodka. You’ll definitely notice a difference in the taste of your cocktail. I really like Grey Goose or Chopin vodka but I always keep Tito’s on-hand for my gluten free friends. I also like ginger beer with a good bite. If I can find it, I buy the Q Light Ginger Beer or the Fever Tree Ginger Beer, whichever one is readily available. I also prefer ginger beer over ginger ale because it holds up a little better in a cocktail and you get more ginger flavor.

If you’re having friends over, it’s nice to serve cocktails in a fun glass. Presentation is always a key component when I entertain so I always have a small stock of pretty glasses in my cabinet for such occasions. I really like the selection from Anthropologie because they are affordable and always changing it up.

I like to garnish with a little mint and give it a quick twist to release some mint flavor in the drink. You can also take a small handfull of mint leaves a muddle them in the glass before you make the drink for a bigger punch of mint flavor.

Pomegranate-Orange Sparkler

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Author: Hope Recupero

Prep time: 5 MinTotal time: 5 Min

A delicious and refreshing cocktail with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce of high quality vodka
• 1/2 teaspoon of orange zest
• Juice of 1/2 a large orange
• 4 ounces of pomegranate juice
• Ginger beer
• Fresh mint for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a 12 ounce cocktail glass about 3/4 of the way with ice
2. Add vodka
3. Add zest
4. Add pomegranate juice
5. Top off with ginger beer
6. Garnish with mint

Fall "No Chop" Tossed Salad With Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

Yes, you heard that right, this salad requires NO chopping. It’s super easy to make and so delicious. You can also swap and substitute many of the ingredients depending on your tastes and what you have at home. I have made so many different version of this salad but thought it might be nice to share one that is really easy and quick to put together for nights when you don’t have much time to get dinner on the table.

I have so much nostalgia when it comes to this salad. When I was just dating my husband we went to a new restaurant just outside of Boston and it had a salad very similar to this one. It was baby spinach, gorgonzola, cranberries, candied pecans and delicious vinaigrette. It was the first ever trying a salad with those flavors and it was so good. I tried recreating this delicious salad at home and soon came up with so many different versions.

Swaps and Substitutions

There so many variations on this salad. You can swap the butter lettuce for either baby spinach or arugula. You can also add or swap out fruit. Chopped apples, pear and pomegranate seeds are delicious. You can do a different nut like walnuts or almonds or seeds like sunflower seeds or pepitas. For cheese, you can do crumbled goat cheese. The key, it so get that combination of sweet, salty and nutty. However, you want to make that happen is up to your preferences or maybe what you have hanging around your fridge or pantry. This recipe is specifically designed to be quick and easy to pull together on a busy night.

Fall "No Chop" Salad With Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

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Yield: 4

Author: Hope Recupero

Prep time: 5 MinTotal time: 5 Min

An easy and tasty salad you can make in a pinch.

Ingredients

Salad

• A 5 oz. package of baby butter lettuce
• 1/2 cup of crumbled gorgonzola
• 1/3 cup of dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup of toasted pecans

Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Salad

1. Put all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss.

Dressing

1. Pour all ingredients into a jar, cover and shake until blended.

Healthier Gluten Free Crunchy Snacks I’m Loving

Updated From A Previous Post on 9/2019

Honestly, who doesn’t love a crunchy snack? I, personally, need a little crunch especially in the afternoon or during movie night. Certain members of my family love digging into snacks late at night. While we all know that whole foods are the best foods, sometimes carrots sticks and salted nuts just will not cut it. That’s okay as long as we are not indulging ALL the time! Having teenagers in the house also means compromising from time to time and letting them have their favorite snacks too (yes, that means things like Cheez-Its, potato chips and Doritos). As a general rule, though, my goal is to find that balance between healthy and tasty and that’s not always easy, but it is getting easier. Innovative snack companies are getting very creative with healthier ingredients and I’m always game for trying the newest product. Added bonus: All of my suggestions are gluten free! If you love to spend time in the kitchen, there are tons of recipes for homemade snacks and the beauty is that YOU get to choose and control the ingredients. Just think of all the things you can do with popcorn alone? For ideas check out this fun list of snack recipes from Eating Well.

Healthier Gluten Free Crunchy Snacks I’m Loving

Siete Dairy Free Nacho Grain Free Chips - Siete has to be one of my favorite (newish) snack companies and these chips are at the top of my list. They are so light and crispy and I can’t even tell they are dairy free. The ingredients are simple and easy to recognize. I love Siete because they are allergy conscious but they also like to make sure they’re products taste good. You can by through Whole Foods or directly from the Siete website.

Siete Churro Strips - If you’re looking for a sweet, light and crispy instead of salty these are the way to go. That classic combination of cinnamon and sugar is so comforting and satisfying. Siete also adds a touch of vanilla bean for maximum yumminess. They stick to their classic grain-free recipe so gluten sensitive or allergic individuals can enjoy too! Eat out of the bag or dip in caramel or chocolate sauce. Wow!! Buy directly from the Siete website or from other health food retailers like Whole Foods.

Terra BBQ Sweet Potato Chips - Terra is one of my favorite brands for root vegetable chips. I’ve been eating their salted sweet potato chips for years but I bought the BBQ version just to try and loved them! It definitely satisfies that sweet and salty craving and you still get that hearty flavor of the sweet potato coming through. A winner for sure! You can buy on Amazon or look for them in your own local grocery store.

Vegan Rob’s Dragon Puffs - If you like spicy and crunchy then this is your snack! I like these a lot; they strike that perfect balance between spicy, sweet and salty. The texture is light and crispy. They are fully gluten free and, of course, vegan. I’m relatively new to the Vegan Rob’s brand and I am looking forward to trying some of the other products they offer including their popcorn, crisps and other puff flavors! I found these at my local supermarket but you can also buy online.

Simple Mills Crunchy Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies - I’m a sucker for a cookie especially warm and gooey right out of the oven. Cookies are my weakness. Nope, these are not those kind of cookies but when I want a sweet treat, these definitely help satisfy my sweet tooth. They have a very nice crunchy texture and are not overly sweet. I like that they’re made with a special nut and seed blend flour and other simple ingredients. Look for Simple Mills in your local grocery store or buy directly from them online.

Simple Mills Farmhouse Cheddar Almond Crackers - Okay, there is no replacement for Cheez-Its but if you’re looking for a healthier, grain and gluten free version of a cheese cracker these might be your thing. They are good alone or with a dip or topping (more cheese?). Made with Simple Mills nut and seed blend flour along with other simple ingredients. I’ve found all Simple Mills products at Whole Foods but you can also buy directly from them online.

Quinn Gluten Free Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels - Pretzels and peanut butter all wrapped into one. Need I say more? These are delicious and gluten free with a blend of sorghum and cassava flour instead of wheat flour. I like these because they are very satisfying and you don’t have to eat too many to fill you up. Buy online or use the Quinn Snacks website to find a local retailer.