Pineapple Chicken Salad

I saw a chicken salad recipe recently that included pineapple on the ingredient list. I thought this was a fabulous idea. A great way to add a little fruit into a delicious meal or snack. I knew that I had to create a recipe of my own. 

I tend to shy away from chicken salad that has more mayonnaise than chicken. There can be lots of hidden calories in chicken salad that you have to watch out for, Because of this, I like to make my own. 

I wanted to use crushed pineapple for this recipe, but of course they were out at the grocery. I just bought a can of pineapple chunks in 100% juice  and pulsed it in the food processor a few times to get that crushed texture. I then drained the juice and on I went with lunch. 

I used rotisserie chicken breasts for my cooked chicken. As I have mentioned before, this is a huge time saver. Just be sure to ask your grocer for ingredients to double check they are gluten free. 

I use Vegenaise in place of mayo in this recipe because it is free of pretty much every allergy. However, most mayonnaise is gluten free but packs on unwanted calories. If you prefer, substitute olive oil mayonnaise or your favorite type of mayonnaise spread. 

Y'all, this recipe is so good! I am so excited to have a bowl full in my fridge for future lunches/snacks. Hope you're hungry!

Printable recipe here.

Pineapple Chicken Salad

GF/DF

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups cooked shredded chicken (I used all white meat)

1, 8 oz can crushed pineapple in 100% juice, drained

1/4 cup slivered almonds

1/4 cups baby carrots

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup Vegenaise, or other mayo substitute 

1 T Worcestershire sauce 

1/4 t celery salt

1/4 t black pepper

What to do:

Chop your carrots.

Add chicken, green onions, almond, pineapple, and carrots into a large bowl. 

Stir all those goodies together.

Add in Vegenaise.

Stir it together so that the mayo is evenly distributed.

Finally, sprinkle in your celery salt and black pepper.

Stir it one more time and you are done!

Serve your chicken salad with your favorite cracker or wrapped up in a tortilla.

Store in the fridge for about a week. (if it lasts that long)

Thanks Y'all!

-Wise Wife 

Lettuce Wrap Lunch

During the week, I am often searching for healthy lunch options that I can make at home to avoid eating out every day. I have a true love for hummus, so I always have it in the fridge. I am not a real fan of mayonnaise (actually I despise it), so I thought, why couldn't I replace mayo with hummus? Whether  it is homemade or store bought, hummus is a healthier option to give your sandwich (or wrap in this case) a kick. 

What is great about these wraps, you can throw on anything you have in your fridge: Bell peppers, onions, olives, pickles.  I kept mine simple today but feel free to put your own spin on those super easy lettuce wraps!

I used store bought organic hummus because it was on hand and is delicious. Pita Pal is my favorite brand!! You can read about it here!

helpful hint: to easily remove large pieces of iceberg lettuce, simply cut the stem off and remove one layer at a time.

Printable recipe here!!

Hummus Lettuce Wraps

naturally GF/DF 

Ingredients:

Iceberg lettuce 

1 ripe tomato

1 small cucumber

2 T hummus

1/4 cup sliced turkey 

What to do:

First things first, lets get your veggies ready. Wash and slice your cucumber into about 1/4 inch thick pieces.

Remove the core from your tomato and cut into bite sized pieces. 

Grap an iceberg lettuce leaf from the head. Lay out on a plate and cover with a layer of hummus.

Next, add a layer of turkey.

Follow it up with your cucumber, tomato and whatever else you enjoy on your sandwiches. 

Plate an additional lettuce leaf on top of your fixings.

Fold in the sides (like you would a burrito) and roll up the lettuce wrap so that your fixings will stay put inside. If things are falling apart, grab toothpicks and stick one on each end.

Cut your wrap in half and enjoy!

Thanks Y'all!

-Wise Wife

Millet Edamame Salad

I was perusing the gluten free area at the grocery store the other day and came across millet. I honestly had never heard of it so of course I began researching. I came across LOTS of health benefits and is linked to helping migraines, lower risk of heart disease, asthma, and even reducing high blood pressure.  I think I am going to like this stuff. Apparently it is one of the main ingredients in bird seed but is a stable in places such as Asia. So funny story, the Hubs just walked in and asked what I was doing. He saw the bag of millet on the counter and says, hey, that's what doves eat. I just had to laugh because I had just finished typing the previous sentence about bird seed. 

Anyway, on to today's post. I figured it resembled the texture of couscous so I made an edamame salad with it. This will be be go to grain from now on!! This recipe made lots of extras, so I stuck it in the fridge for lunch the next day :)  Hope y'all enjoy!!

Millet Edamame Salad
GF, DF

printable recipe here 

 Ingredients:

1 cup millet

2 cups GF stock, (I used chicken)

1 cup frozen edamame

1/2 red onion

1 cup mini portobella mushrooms
1 t garlic powder
dash salt and pepper
1 1/2 T balsamic
1 T butter substitute

Bring your stock to boil over medium heat.

Stir in your millet and return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer over medium low until the stock is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

 
While your millet is cooking, dice your onion.

Bring 1 T olive oil over medium heat.

Add in your onions and sauté until slightly translucent.

Add in your mushrooms and edamame.

Give it a good stir and sauté for an additional 7 minutes or until the mushrooms begin to soften. Add in your garlic powder, salt, pepper, and balsamic and stir to combine.

Once your millet is completely cooked and all the stock is absorbed, add it straight into the edamame mixture. Add in your butter substitute and stir everything together.

helpful hint: if you cook the millet over high heat, the stock will absorb but the millet will not be completely done. Just add in additional stock and continue cooking. 

That's it!!
Thanks Y'all
-Wise Wife