Quick Healthy Snack Ideas

January 4, 2016 Red Rose & HoneyLeave a comment

The holiday season is over and it’s back to work this week! I generally eat very healthy all year round, but even I can’t avoid the temptations of sweets between Thanksgiving and New Years. Christmas week was especially hard because I took the week off. I definitely got off my schedules. Yes, schedules. My sleeping, eating and exercising habits are very methodical. I can tell my body is a little out of whack, so I am looking forward to getting back on track. I always eat two snacks a day. One between breakfast and lunch then one between lunch and dinner. Here are some of my favorite snacks to pack for work.

-Celery and 1-2 TBSP almond butter (MaraNatha No Stir Almond Butter is my favorite brand)

-Small apple and 1-2 TSP almond or peanut butter

-1/2 cup cottage cheese and fruit (I buy full fat cottage cheese because it usually has less ingredients. The Breakstone brand has been my favorite with fresh pineapple).

-1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese with a dash of vanilla extract and cinnamon (I LOVE this snack. It’s so creamy and delicious; almost like a dessert. Ricotta cheese is a great source of whey protein – from what I’ve read. It is also much, much lower in sodium than cottage cheese. I like Sorrento full fat ricotta cheese; I think this brand has a good texture)

-A handful of walnuts with about 3 prunes

-Mini carrots with Holy Guacamole or Hannah’s Organic Hummus (both come in snack size and are available at Costco)

–SoDelicious Greek Style Coconut Milk (dairy free) Yogurt

–Boom Chicka Pop or Skinny Pop Popcorn

What you your favorite healthy snacks?

xo Miss Alyss

Rocky Road Sea Salt Bark

January 3, 2016 Red Rose & HoneyLeave a comment

If baking up a storm in the kitchen isn’t your thing than I have the dessert for you. This Rocky Road Sea Salt Bark is quick and super easy. You can use any toppings or chocolate you like, but I think this is a great combo. It’s a great dish to serve at parties and it’s also gluten-free!

Ingredients

Hersey’s Special Dark Chocolate Chips (12oz)

Approx. 1 cup of mini-marshmallows

Approx. 1/2 cup of sliced almonds

Sea salt

Directions

Spray a small baking sheet with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. This will help keep the parchment paper in place. Next, spray the top of the parchment paper which will allow you to easily remove your bark.

Fill a medium sized pot a quarter of the way up with water over low heat. Place a heavy metal or glass bowl on top. The bowl should not touch the water. Add the chocolate chips to the bowl, stirring occasionally. Remember the bowl will become very hot, so use an oven mit. The chips will melt quickly (about 5-10 minutes). It’s important that the water does not touch the melting chocolate or it will seize. Be careful that the steam escaping from beneath the bowl does not come into contact with the chocolate (or you).

Once all of the chips are melted removed the bowl from the heat. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the chocolate to your lined baking sheet. Next, use a flat edge spatula to evenly spread the chocolate. Then, add the marshmallows, almonds and sea salt. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for at least an hour allowing the chocolate to harden. When ready to serve, use a butter knife to break the bark into jagged pieces. Since you used cooking spray and parchment paper, you can use a good knife to cut even shapes too.

Enjoy!

xo Miss Alyss

Hostess with the Mostest: Guests with Food Allergies

January 1, 2016 Red Rose & Honey2 Comments

As the holiday season comes to a close, I have been thinking more about my experiences as a dinner guest and host. I know that a food allergy or food intolerance can be stressful. It’s normal for me to put extra effort into a dinner reservation. My gluten-free life style has made dinning at restaurants a bit of a hassle. I never eat at a new restaurant spur of the moment (I always call ahead), I review the menu and search for reviews online before arriving for dinner.

On the flip side, when I’m eating at a friend or family member’s house the last thing I want to worry about is if I’m going be be able to eat. I have put this blog together to give you a few easy tips on entertaining guests with gluten-free allergies, so you can make sure all of your guests have a great time.

Think About Your Guest List

If you are hosting get-together at your house, I will venture to guess you know your guests pretty well. Before planning your menu think about your guest’s eating preferences and consider allergies. Peanut, diary, gluten and wheat allergies are very common these days. It is also important to consider vegetarian and vegan guests.

Plan Your Menu

Once you have reviewed your guest list, plan out your meals around food allergies. Try to serve dishes that don’t incorporate any common allergens, such as fruit and veggie platters for an appetizer. When preparing a salad, keep croutons, nuts and cheeses in separate bowls, so guests can choose their own toppings. This will provide your “special guests” with a safe options. At a minimum, you should make sure your all guests can eat something during each of your courses. If you are really unsure of what to make, it’s okay to ask your guests for input or ask them to bring a dish to share (this goes for guests too. If you have a food allergy and you love dessert, offer to bring a dessert).

It’s also important to pay attention to the ingredients of pre-made and packaged food. Review the ingredient labels, so you know ahead of time if something contains a common allergen. For gluten allergies, avoid packaged marinades, sauces, dressings and dips which may contain wheat and gluten. Below are some of my allergy friendly suggestions.

Veggie Platter (GF & V)
Meat & Cheese Platter – (GF – if good quality products are used. Boars Head is GF.)
Smokey Spinach & Artichoke Dip – (GF & V – Serve with Fresh Toasted Corn Tortillas)
Fresh Salsa and Guacamole – (GF & V – Serve with Fresh Toasted Corn Tortillas)
Italian Antipasto
Meat, Chicken & Seafood Main Courses – (GF – Avoid store bought marinades for your main course. Stick to olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs. Nix the bread crumb and flour)
Fruit Platters GF & V)
Homemade Ice Cream (GF & V) – (Talenti Gelato is a great store bought dessert option because this brand only contains a few ingredients)

Hope you picked up some entertaining tips!

xo Miss Alyss