Italian Seasoning Mix

Seasoning mixes are a great way to add flavor to your recipe quickly.  Unfortunately, many premixed spices contain gluten, MSG, and other additives.  Making your own mix keeps your spices “clean” as well as saves you money.  I buy my herbs in bulk from Sam’s and Costco. 

This is my favorite Italian Seasoning mix.  I found it on Food.com back in the old days when it was called Recipezaar.  I use it in Spaghetti Zucchini Boats and Italian Sausage and Summer Squash Skillet.

 

Ingredients:

  • 3Tbsp Dried Basil
  • 3 Tbsp Dried Oregano
  • 3 Tbsp Dried Parsley
  • 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tbsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 1 tsp Dried Rosemary
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

 

Directions:

  1. Measure all ingredients into a small container with an air tight lid. 
  2. Close the lid and shake well.

You may also enjoy Taco Seasoning and 5 Jars of Spaghetti Sauce in 5 Minutes for $3.

Photo Credit: enigmachck1

Spaghetti Zucchini Boats

Tonight we tried our zucchini boats with spaghetti sauce.  I found the spaghetti boats to be more flavorful than the cheeseburger boats.  My kids couldn’t decide which recipe they preferred.  Which recipe should you prepare?  I guess whatever floats your boat!

Ingredients:

  • 6 small, 4 large or 2 overgrown Zucchini Squash
  • 1 small Onion, diced
  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 1 – 1 1/2 cups Spaghetti Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • Daiya or Mozzarella Cheese.

Directions:

  1. Put a stock pot full of water on the stove and bring to a boil.  Meanwhile, cut the ends off the zucchini and slice lengthwise. Halve the zucchini if necessary.
  2. Add the zucchini to the boiling water and cook 10 minutes or until tender.
  3. In a skillet, brown ground beef and onions.  Add spaghetti sauce and seasoning. 
  4. Remove the zucchini from the water.  When cool enough to handle, scoop the inside of the zucchinis into the ground beef mixture and stir well.
  5. Arrange the zucchini on a baking tray and fill with ground beef mixture.  Top with cheese.
  6. Bake until cheese is melted.

You may also enjoy Italian Sausage and Summer Squash Skillet and Summer Squash and Chicken Skillet.

How to Get Your Kids to Eat Zucchini: Cheeseburger Zucchini Boats

Getting children to eat green and slimy vegetables can be a challenge.  Sometimes all you need is a toothpick and a piece of paper to build enthusiasm.  My little ones were actually excited to try these.  They got 2 thumbs up from everyone but the youngest.  She was able to eat them once we covered them with ketchup.

This recipe comes from Laura at Heavenly Homemakers.  This week I’m going to make it with Italian seasoning or possibly spaghetti sauce.  I’ll let you know how it works out.

Update: We tried spaghetti sauce!  Check out our spaghetti zucchini boats here.

Ingredients:

  • 4 large Zucchini
  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 1 small Onion, diced
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Cheddar or Daiya Cheese

Directions:

  1. Put a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil.  Cut the ends off the zucchini and slice lengthwise.  Halve the zucchini if necessary.  Boil the zucchini for about 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef and onions and season with garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper.
  3. Scoop the “meat” out of the zucchini and into the beef.  Stir well.
  4. Fill the zucchini with hamburger mixture and top with cheese.  Bake until cheese is melted.

You may also enjoy Italian Sausage and Summer Squash Skillet and Summer Squash and Chicken Skillet.

This post is part of  Monday Mania,  Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival, Made By You Monday, Hearth and Soul Hop, Made From Scratch Tuesday,  Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tuesday Night Supper ClubTuesdays at the Table, $5 Dinner Challenge, Tip Me Tuesday, Tasty Tuesdays, Totally Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Domestically Divine, Tackle it Tuesday, {TITUS 2}SDAYS, Delicious Dishes, show me what ya got, Tuesday Time Out Link Up, What’s on the Menu, Made it on Monday, Whatcha Makin’ Wednesdays, Gluten Free Wednesdays, Real Food Wednesdays, What’s on Your PlateWhat’s Cooking Wednesday, What We’re Eating Wednesday, Show and Tell,  Works for Me Wednesday, This Chick Cooks, Creative Juice, Foodie Wednesday, Healthy 2day, Full Plate Thursday, Pennywise Platter Thursday,  Tip Day Thursday, Real Food Weekly, Simple Lives Thursday, It’s a Keeper Thursdays, Strut Your Stuff, Thrilling Thursday , Recipe Swap Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, Hookin Up with HoH, Food Trip Friday, Friday Potluck, Foodie Friday,  Friday Favorites, Fresh Bites Friday, Show and Tell Friday, Allergy Friendly Friday, I’m Lovin It Fridays!, Fun with Food Friday, Fight Back Friday, Fat Camp Friday, Foodie Friday, Fresh, Clean and Pure Friday, GCC Recipe Swap, Food on Friday, Finer Things FridayFriday Food Linky, Friday FlairParty Mindie Style, http://www.stayathomenation.blogspot.com, Friday Food Fight, Show and Tell Saturday, The Lady Bloggers Tea Party, Nifty Thrifty SundayCookbook Sunday, Sundae Scoop, The Sunday Showcase, Savory Sunday, Potluck Sunday, Simply Delish

Menu Plan Monday – July 11

I thought I’d try a new feature.  It’s called Menu Plan Monday. Every Monday I will share what we plan to eat for the week. 

I made four loaves of bread today so we can eat lots of sandwiches for lunch.  I also made a double batch of chocolate chip cookies so Bella will have a special treat at VBS this week. 

Here’s what we are planning for dinner:

Monday –  Burrito Night (Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning Recipe)

Tuesday Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Wednesday Rotisserie Chicken in the CrockPot

Thursday Zucchini Boats

Friday –  Chicken Fried Rice

Saturday – My stepsister and family are coming in town so we will likely be eating at my parents.

Sunday – We have a potluck dinner at Bible study.  I’ll likely take some fruit and whatever else the host requests.

What do you think? Is this helpful?

This post is part of Menu Plan Monday.

Free Shipping, Coupons and Samples

Tropical Traditionsis offering free shipping, through July 11!  I am often asked where I purchase my palm shortening, coconut flour, coconut oil and coconut oil soap. This is the place! Currently, their coconut flour is on sale at $9.99 for 2.2 pounds and their organic lip moisturizers are 2 for $3.50.  Thanks Heavenly Homemakers!

Carrington Farms Organic Flax is offering a free sample when you register on their site.  They also have a printable $1/1 Carrington Farms Flax Paks coupon. Thanks Organic Deals!

Print a coupon for $1/1 Maple Grove Farms Salad Dressing, Syrup, Pancake or Baking MixThanks Organic Deals!

Amazon Deals: Organic Coconut Milk $1.76/can and 8 oz Chocolate Soy Milk $.73/carton

It’s no secret I love coconut milk.  I cook with it.  I put it in my coffee.  I make smoothies with it.  I am thrilled to find organic coconut milk at this price.  It’s less than I was paying for non-organic coconut milk at the store.  This will be great to use in Dairy-Free Caramel Dip/Sauce.

Native Forest Organic Classic Coconut Milk, 13.5-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12)is $21.11 through Subscribe and Save (see notes below).  That’s $1.76 per can!

 

If you drink soy milk, check out this deal on Silk Chocolate Soymilk Natural, 8-Ounce Aseptic Cartons (Pack of 24)for $17.57!  That’s $.73 per carton!

*About Subscribe and Save:

When you select subscribe and save you not only get a discount but you also get FREE shipping! If you decide you don’t want to have the item automatically shipped to you, you can cancel at any time. Simply log into Amazon, go to “My Account,” click “manage subscribe and save items” and cancel the subscription. I have been known to sign up for the discount and cancel my subscription the day my order ships.

Real Food, Allergy Free Featured

Around My Family Table
Special thanks to Wendy at Around My Table for featuring Real Food, Allergy Free today in her Turning the Table Thursday post.  Around My Table is where I found the patriotic fruit kabob recipe idea that my kids made and loved on the Fourth of July.  Check out her blog here.

Why the Rise in Food Allergies?

Wow!  I just watched this talk by Robyn O’Brien and I am fired up.  She is speaking my language!  Want to know why there is such a rise in food allergies?  Robyn O’Brien has some ideas.  From You Tube:

Robyn shares her personal story and how it inspired her current path as a “Real Food” evangelist. Grounded in a successful Wall Street career that was more interested in food as good business than good-for-you, this mother of four was shaken awake by the dangerous allergic reaction of one of her children to a “typical” breakfast. Her mission to unearth the cause revealed more about the food industry than she could stomach, and impelled her to share her findings with others. Informative and inspiring.

Fun and Fast 4th of July Breakfast

Check out this fun 4th of July breakfast idea!  Bella loves toasted oat bread for breakfast.  I love that this will take practically no time to throw together.  Thanks Emily Henson for sharing!

Chicken Fajitas

Who can resist the sound of sizzling fajitas being carried to your table at your favorite Mexican restaurant?  Fixing fajitas at home may not be as much fun but they are easy and just as tasty!  I usually use leftover chicken (Ginger-Lime Chicken is my favorite!) but it doesn’t take much more time to cook some chopped chicken in a hot, oiled skillet before you add the veggies.  Serve with rice and beans.  You can buy rice or corn tortillas but Bella likes to eat her fajita on a plate with a fork.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp Palm Shortening or oil of your choice
  • 2 Onions, sliced
  • Green Pepper, sliced
  • Red Pepper, sliced
  • 1 Tbsp Taco Seasoning (Gluten-Free Recipe Here)
  • 1 Tbsp Lime Juice
  • Salt and Pepper

 

Topping Options:

  • Lettuce
  • Tomato
  • Salsa
  • Guacamole
  • Daiya Cheese

Directions:

  1. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat.  Add onions.  Cook until soft, stirring often.
  2. Add red and green peppers, taco seasoning, lime juice and salt and pepper to skillet.  Cook just until peppers are soft, stirring often.
  3. Transfer peppers and onions to plate.
  4. Add remaining ingredients to the skillet.  Cook until liquid is almost gone.  Serve immediately.

 You may also enjoy Taco Potato.

This post is part of Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Hunk of Meat Monday, Monday Mania, Make a Food”e” Friend, Mingle Monday, Mangia Monday, Sugar Free Sunday, Seasonal Sunday, Nifty Thrifty Sunday, Savory Sunday

Photo Credit: gkdavie