Recipes | SoCal Savvy Mom

Mar 20
2014

Vegan Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is really one of my favorite meals to make at home, maybe because I’m part Italian who knows. Recently my hubby and I became vegan to support my mother who is going through chemotherapy. I was worried I couldn’t make lasagna anymore mainly because of the vegan cheese. We have tried a few different types, Dayia and the store brand from Trader Joe’s. Dayia has a better taste, but the Trader Joe’s brand melts a lot better. Below you will find my recipe for a delicious vegan lasagna, I purchased everything from Trader Joe’s.

Needed: Vegan cheese, beef-less ground beef, no-boil lasagna noodles, organic spaghetti sauce, organic onion, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

Saute’ medium onion 5-6 minutes
In a large bowl poor some of the spaghetti sauce to dip the noodles in before putting in the baking dish
Cover lasagna noodle with spaghetti sauce and place in dish
1 tbsp onion on top of noodle
2 tbsp beef-less ground beef on top of onion
2 tbsp spaghetti sauce, or enough to cover entire noodle
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
A dash of salt & pepper
Repeat steps 3 -8 until near the top of baking dish
Put in oven at 350 for 40 minutes
Remove from oven
1/4 cup of vegan cheese, sprinkle on top
Place back in oven for a few minutes until the cheese has melted (depending on your oven it may only need 2 min)

Dec 14
2013

Cheese, desserts, more cheese and wine… Heaven.. close it is Whole Foods!

by Nicole Connerley

Incase you missed it let me fill you in on what was going on at Whole Foods Encinitas on Thursday at their Dressing Rehearsal. We arrived right at 6 because we didn’t want to miss out on any of the yummy tastings they had to offer. Our first stop was at Jackie’s Jams for a jample and it was pretty much the best jam I’ve ever had. Jackie’s Jams are made locally in San Diego and my favorite thing is they never use high fructose, corn syrup, coloring or flavoring.

If you are going to a holiday party and would like to bring a little something sweet Whole Foods has you covered! Tons of options and all decorated for the holiday season, with prices starting at only $2.99 you will be sure to find something amazing!

I am not going to lie my favorite stop on our sampling tour was in the wine department (shocking I know!) but the main reason is Steve! We were sampling 3 different Cabernet Sauvignon from 3 different price-points. The first was in the $10-$15 range and was nice and sweet, the next was in the $20-$25 range and was a smoother, and then the winner of course was the $30-$40 wine. Steve is so knowledgeable about every single wine in the store because he personally has hand-picked every bottle! I was able to tell him what type of wine I was looking for and he found me the most amazing bottle normally $40 on sale for $25, I grabbed that bottle of wine quick!

Whole Foods has literally everything you will need this holiday season whether you are hosting a party or going to a party and need to bring something. The pre-paid food items are not only delicious but made fresh everyday! Do yourself a favor and ‘Like’ Whole Foods Encinitas on Facebook, they post one-day sale items on the Facebook page that you will not want to miss! Happy Holidays!

Dec 9
2013

Giveaway $50 to Whole Foods – Special Dressing Rehearsal in Encinitas 12/12/13

by Nicole Connerley

Join us at Whole Foods Encinitas this Thursday 12/12/13 from 6-8 pm. for a special event to get ready for the holidays! The event will host beer & wine parings and sampling, yes sampling! Whole Foods will also show off some of the amazing premier party dips with more samples! My favorite I already know is going to be the holiday cheese board and how to create a perfect one for your holiday party. There will also be coffee and seasonal treats as well, I almost died and went to heaven looking at the holiday treats in-store today!

Whole Foods asked me to share one of my favorite holiday recipes with all my items from my shopping trip today. I decided to make my goat cheese endive spears, always a HUGE hit at my parties. The recipe is very simple and so delicious everyone will think you spend hours preparing it.

4 oz. goat cheese
1 tbsp. honey
1/2 ts. black pepper
1/4 ts. thyme (fresh or dried)
2 heads endive
1/4 cup walnuts
On a baking sheet sprinkle walnuts and roast for 10 min at 350 in the oven. Once goat cheese is softened mix with honey, pepper, and thyme. Let the cheese sit in the refrigerator for 30-40 minutes. Once cheese has chilled spoon onto the endive spears and add a toasted walnut on top.

Incase you are wondering what exactly is an endive spear and what it looks like…
Love that you can buy nuts in BULK!

All of the ingredients needed to make the goat cheese endive spears.

The finished product!

Why I love Whole Foods…let me count the ways… there is an organic option for nearly every single item you can imagine, love the huge selection of items that you can’t find at most stores. My favorite thing about Whole Foods would have to be the staff, the staff that goes over and above any other store I go to. Everyone is so friendly, not to mention ready and willing to help you with anything. I always lose count of how many times I was asked “may I help you find something?” simply amazing!

Whole Foods has you covered if you are going to a holiday party and want to pick up a nice bottle of wine…There is a top ten list of wines all for under $25! Don’t forget to pick up some tonic and sparkling water to mix your drinks with as well!

I thought you mentioned a $50 Whole Foods Gift Certificate? Yes, yes I’m getting to that! To enter for the Whole Foods $50 gift certificate simply leave a comment on this post why Whole Foods is your favorite store!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for Whole Foods Encinitas, all thoughts expressed are my own.

May 7
2013

Skinny Orange Chicken Recipe

by Nicole Connerley

Last time I made this it was a big hit with my 6-year-old. My son has an issue with trying anything new, and I really do mean anything. He will not even try sweets he hasn’t had before without some pleading. I was a little worried last time I made this that he may not like it, but I’ve found if he helps me prepare the meal he wants to try it. There are less than 8 ingredients in this dish and I was happily surprised I had all of them without having to run to the store. This meal was a big hit with my son, and my hubby!

2 Chicken Breasts cut into pieces
1 Large Orange (zest & juice)
1 Zucchini chopped (add while cooking)
Mushrooms (add while cooking)
1 Carrot chopped (add while cooking)
3 tbsp Sesame Oil (1 tbsp is for cooking)
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
3 tbsp Agave

Combine all ingredients (aside from the vegetables) into a large freezer bag. Orange zest, orange juice, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp agave, then add the chicken. If the marinade does not cover all of the chicken add some water (1/4 cup) to ensure the marinade is surrounding the chicken. Place the bag into the fridge for at least an hour, it can marinate all day.

When ready to cook add 1 tbsp sesame oil to a large skillet over medium heat, use tongs and add chicken to the skillet. Make sure to add some of the marinade while cooking the chicken. Add the vegetables and let cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Use tongs to flip chicken and cover skilled for 4-5 minutes or until chicken and vegetables are cooked. Once fully cooked serve with orange slices, green onions or scallions as garnish and enjoy!

May 1
2013

Skinny buffalo turkey lettuce wraps delicious and low fat

by Nicole Connerley

This is a great recipe for those who like me love buffalo wings, but know that bikini season is right around the corner. Before I go into detail about how delicious and amazing this dish is I have to give a big thanks to my best-friend Lauren who shared it with me. Actually she came to my house and made it for me once, yes, she is that awesome! Okay back to the buffalo lettuce turkey wraps… The recipe is extremely easy to make and with Franks Buffalo Sauce its like you are eating real buffalo wings! I’ve made this recipe a few other times but only when my hubby was away for business thinking he would never like them. Tonight I made them and he said okay I’ll try them, to my surprise he loved them! Once I heard that I knew I had to share! I took a few pictures tonight while cooking with my phone so sorry the photos are not top notch!

1 pound ground turkey (I used lean ground turkey but you don’t have to)
1 medium onion chopped
1-2 cloves garlic minced (use two if you love garlic like me)
1 cup Franks Buffalo Sauce (half to cook with half to drizzle on top)
1 tsp olive oil

Romain Lettuce Hearts (Trader Joes)
4 Celery sticks chopped
2 carrots – slivers (I used a potato peeler)
Blue Cheese Crumbles
Ranch Dressing

Add olive oil to a skillet, wait for it to heat up, add the chopped onion, and cook about 5-7 minutes or until you can see through the cooked onion. Add the garlic cook a few minutes, add ground turkey. Once ground turkey is cooked add 1/2 cup of Franks Buffalo sauce and stir together for a few minutes.

Add cooked turkey onto lettuce, add celery, carrot slivers, blue cheese crumbles, and ranch dressing and enjoy!

Apr 15
2013

Chicken Tortilla Soup – Crock Pot Recipe

by Nicole Connerley

Today seems like a perfect day for soup so I’m making my chicken tortilla soup for dinner in my crock pot. My house smells so good right now because of this soup! I don’t use my crock pot that often, but this is so easy and delicious I may start using it more!

All of the ingredients I purchased are from Trader Joe’s so some of the items are kind of specific, of course you can add or substitute as needed.

4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
30 oz. Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 Green Onions chopped
1 Small Can Tomato Sauce (or if you only have large can just use half of it)
1 Small Can Fire Roasted Diced Green Chiles
1 Can Whole Kernel Corn
1 Can Diced Tomatoes
1 Can Organic Black Beans
1 Package Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning Mix
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tablespoon Trader Joe’s Crushed Garlic

Combine all ingredients into your crock pot (except the black beans, add the beans when only 2 hours left) Set the cook time on low for 6-7 hours, after 3-4 hours shred chicken.

Once finished add cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream. Add a lime for garnish and Enjoy!