Recipe: Baked Bolognese Risotto (Gluten Free!)

Hello from a very gloomy, rainy, cold and locked down Sydney. Yep, we're in lockdown thanks to the Deltra strain of COVID-19....

We started our weekend with a COVID test (Jesse - thankfully he had my cold and not COVID) and by Saturday afternoon we found out we'd be spending the next 2 weeks in lockdown - and by Tuesday Jesse was thankfully working from home too.

There's no toilet paper on the grocery store shelves, but it seems people have learnt a little bit from the earlier panic buying because I was actually able to get everything on my grocery list yesterday (woohoo!). 

At our house, lockdown looks like working from home, heaters running constantly (it is SO cold!) , warm lunches and hot chocolate breaks.... and I thought I'd share one of our current favourite lunch/dinners with you in case you're craving some warm, easy comfort food.

This Bolognese Risotto is SO easy to make (no hours of stirring at the stovetop) and seriously delicious too.

So let me share the recipe with you >> 

Recipe: Mediterranean Quinoa (Gluten Free & Vegan)

Full of Mediterranean flavour and made in minutes, this Vegan Mediterranean Quinoa Recipe is full of vegetables and healthy ingredients but so delicious even the fussiest kid will love it! A real family favourite that is gluten free, vegan, nut free, dairy free and so easy.

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Life has been busy lately.

We're back to hectic work schedules, our free time is full of appointments with kitchen and tradespeople to work out our first stage of renos, our weekends are full of gardening and projects and we're trying to squeeze in time for family and friends too.

For me, busy times call for smart meal choices - so I've been making lots of quick and easy meals that can be made in big batches and frozen for an even quicker lunch or dinner later on.

This has been one of those meals that I can't get enough of. It's quick, easy and packed full of flavour.

So let me tell you more about it >> 

Recipe: Falafel Waffles (Gluten Free & Vegan)

Gluten Free & Vegan Falafel Waffles Recipe

Crispy and crunchy, this Falafel Waffle Recipe is the perfect meal prep recipe. Enjoyed for lunch, dinner or a snack, these waffles are gluten free, vegan, egg free, high protein, clean eating friendly, healthy, high protein and SO easy!

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Today's my birthday and I'll make Falafel Waffles if I want to.

You see, whilst I haven't been baking that much lately (but I am making The Best Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe today to share with our bible study group tonight), I have been meal prepping like a boss and making different things to eat for lunch.

And these Falafel Waffles were one of those recipe ideas that randomly popped into my head.

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I decided that I wanted to make some savoury waffles - but then I had a bunch of cans of chickpeas in the cupboard and I wanted something packed with protein.

So why not combine two delicious things? Falafel, meet the waffle iron.

These falafel waffles are SO good. They're crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, packed with protein and full of flavour.

You may never want to eat anything else for lunch ever again 😜

So let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Recipe: Easy Italian Bean Salad (Vegan)

Easy Gluten Free Italian Bean Salad Recipe - The easiest salad recipe, this impressive side dish is perfect for sharing with friends. Enjoyed warm or cold, this salad includes four bean mix (or whatever beans you have on hand), celery, garlic, onion, chilli, bell pepper/capsicum, tomatoes, parsley and more. Simple, easy, healthy and SO delicious! Gluten free, vegan, nut free, clean eating friendly and grain free.

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I am all about simple and easy recipes, and this Italian Bean Salad definitely ticks those boxes. 

Impressive enough to share with friends but easy enough to enjoy for lunch or a weekday meal, I’ve been making up a batch on the weekends for a quick and easy lunch during the week.

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It’s packed full of flavour and nutrients and tastes anything but healthy.

Gluten free and vegan, it’s also the perfect recipe to shares with friends as it can be adapted to suit just about anyone’s dietary needs. 

So let me share the recipe with you >> 

Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese Slice (Gluten Free)

Easy Creamy Mac and Cheese Slice Recipe - The perfect meal prep recipe, this make ahead Mac and Cheese slice is packed full of protein and flavour. Cottage cheese and eggs add creaminess and protein to this lunch slice, whilst reducing the fat content. Gluten free, nut free, high protein, clean eating friendly and the perfect work lunch or lunchbox recipe.

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Life has been a little bit crazy lately. I feel like I should have all this extra time (maybe because it seems like everyone else does) but instead I've been chasing my tail just trying to keep up. 

Meal prep has been one thing that's keeping me somewhat sane though. Each weekend you'll find me in the kitchen making baked oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches, frittatas or some kind of baked option for breakfasts and lunches during the week. 

It might take an hour or so out of my weekend, but it saves me so much time during the week.

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This Mac and Cheese Slice (along with this Bacon Mac and Cheese Slice Recipe) is one of our go-tos because it's quick and easy to make and can be frozen to reheat and eat later on. 

We've been loading ours with extra veggies and a vitamin packed secret ingredient to make what seems like an indulgent lunch option even healthier.

Because who said Mac and Cheese can't be healthy? 

This Mac and Cheese Slice is loaded with protein and an easy way to sneak in some extra veggies. I freeze ours in individual slices to defrost in the fridge the night before and then reheat at work. 

So let me share the recipe with you >> 

Recipe: Tater Tot Crusted Quiche (Gluten Free!)

Gluten Free Tater Tot Crusted Quiche Recipe - Tater Tots/Potato Gems form a hash brown crust for this delicious egg casserole recipe. Perfect for meal prep, this healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner option is the perfect way to pack in extra veggies in a dish kids and adults will love. High protein, low fat, gluten free, nut free and so delicious!

Life is weird right now. Almost everyone is at home, so many people have lost their jobs either permanently or indefinitely, kids are doing school from home and everyone is stuck inside. 

But some things still remain the same. You still have to eat and you've still got to work out what you have to eat. 

And I'm hear to provide you with new ideas! 

This Hash Brown Crusted Quiche is one of our current favourites - and Jesse's go-to lunch.

It's super simple to make and packed full of veggies without feeling "healthy" or boring. I make a batch almost every week, freezing individual slices for a quick and easy lunch.

And I mean... can you go wrong with potato gems/tater tots?!

Here's what's in the recipe >> 

Recipe: Pizza Frittata (Gluten Free & Freezer Friendly!)

The perfect meal prep recipe, this healthy "pizza" frittata recipe combines everything you love about a pizza with a protein packed frittata. Perfect for work lunches or school lunchboxes, this recipe is gluten free, low carb, high protein, low fat, clean eating friendly, freezer friendly and so easy to make. Bell peppers/capsicum, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and tomatoes give all of the pizza flavour with zero fuss.

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I'll be totally honest with you. When I first set out to make this recipe, Jesse thought I was ridiculous.... and I didn't really know if it would work out...

But I stuck with it, and as soon as it started baking in the oven, I could tell it was going to be delicious.

This is the kind of recipe that you make and people know you're cooking something delicious before they even get through your front door.

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It might not be a pizza, but it certainly smells like one - and it's one of our all time favourite frittatas.

We've been making a big batch every couple of weeks to slice and freeze for a quick and easy work lunch or dinner option when we're rushing from place to place. 

But let me tell you what you'll need to make it! >> 

Recipe: Bacon Mac and Cheese Slice

Easy Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese Slice Recipe - The perfect meal prep recipe, this make ahead Mac and cheese slice is packed full of protein and flavour. Gluten free, high protein, nut free, clean eating friendly and the perfect work lunch or lunchbox recipe. 

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I feel like mac and cheese is one of those universally liked foods.

I mean, what's not to love. You've got creamy cheese and pasta, all wrapped up in a warm and comforting package.

... and if you're talking about this recipe, that package is a portable one, with the added flavour bonus of bacon.

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This Bacon Mac and Cheese Slice has become one of our favourite meal prep and work lunch recipes. It's super easy to make and seriously delicious to make. 

I make a huge batch every few weeks (alongside my Fried Rice Slice Recipe, Spanish Impossible Pie Recipe and other meal prep faves) to slice and freeze in individual portions. That way, all we have to do is pop a slice into a container, take it to work and reheat at lunch time. 

In just a few minutes, you have warm mac and cheese that's actually so much healthier than you'd expect.

So let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Recipe: Easy Spanish Style Impossible Pie (Gluten Free!)

Easy Gluten Free Spanish Style Impossible Pie Recipe | The perfect healthy meal prep recipe, this Spanish Impossible Pie recipe is a quick and easy breakfast, lunch or dinner option. Combining chorizo, spanish onion, peas, red capsicum/bell peppers and feta cheese, this flavourful dish will become a staple addition to your menu plan. Freezer friendly and a perfect make ahead meal.

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Life has been a little bit crazy lately. 

My calendar has been completely full for weeks - and it's completely full for the rest of the month. I've been running around like a headless chook, often finding myself sitting down only if I'm in the car, on the train or finally collapsing into a heap on the couch at night after a day or running from one place to the next. 

And when life gets crazy, I just don't really have time to think about what to cook.

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When my brain has an overflowing to-do list constantly running through it, my kitchen creativity is at an all time low and I can often be found in the supermarket staring blankly at vegetables wondering what on earth I should cook for dinner.

But that's where meal prep comes in handy. 

So let me tell you about one of our current favourite meal prep recipes! >> 

Recipe: Baked Fried Rice Slice (Gluten Free)

Gluten Free Fried Rice Slice Recipe - Taking all the flavour of fried rice and turning it into a delicious work lunch idea and lunchbox recipe, this baked fried rice recipe is full of vegetables and can be customised to suit your tastes. Healthy, gluten free, clean eating friendly, sugar free and seriously delicious.

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I don't know about you, but I often find myself eating the same thing for lunch over and over and over again.

Maybe it's habit, maybe it's laziness - but I easily find myself stuck in a rut of boring lunches.

But this year, I'm on a mission to change that. With a little bit of meal prep on the weekends and a freezer full of delicious make ahead meals, my lunches have been looking better than ever - and this recipe is one of my new lunch faves.

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The perfect healthy work lunch idea or gluten free lunch box recipe, this Fried Rice Slice combines everything you love about fried rice into a simple easy to make slice.

I've been making up a batch on the weekend, slicing it into pieces and either freezing it to defrost and eat later or keeping slices in the fridge in an airtight container for a quick meal option during the week.

So let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Recipe: Spanish Style Frittata with Potato, Capsicum, Peas and Feta

Easy Spanish Style Frittata Recipe | Inspired by a Spanish Potato Tortilla Recipe (Tortilla Española), this frittata recipe combines potatoes, capsicum/bell peppers, peas and creamy feta cheese to create a delicious vegetarian frittata that is a great healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Perfect for meal prep days, this make-ahead frittata can be frozen to defrost, heat and eat later.

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This time of year is the busiest social time of the year for me - and probably for you too.

Friends and family have time off work, there’s an endless string of barbecues and get togethers and your calendar seems to be totally full.

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For me, it’s also the time of year where I find myself in the kitchen less, but still needing to eat - so meal prep is a must! 

Being a coeliac means I can’t just eat anywhere, anytime like other people - so recipes like this make it easier for me to grab a quick lunch or dinner before heading out, or is something I can easily bake and take with me to share with friends for a lunch or brunch event. 

Read more and get the recipe here >> 

Recipe: Easy Tomato Basil Rice (Gluten Free & Vegan)

Easy One Pot Tomato Basil Rice Recipe - This gluten free and vegan side dish is so easy to make. A copycat version of Uncle Ben’s Tomato Basil Rice, this delicious side dish is healthy, gluten free, low fat, sugar free and clean eating friendly. A great meal prep recipe and lunch or dinner addition.

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I don’t know about you, but I often find myself at about 3pm, struggling to work out what to make for dinner.

No one tells you when you’re a kid that when you grow up, you’ll spend 35938423498237492835982 hours of your life thinking about and then cooking dinner.

I try not to cook the same things over and over again because they get boring fast, so I am always coming up with new quick and easy dinner ideas.

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Quick and easy is key here, because after a day of work, there is no way I’m spending more than 30 minutes cooking dinner because all I want to do is sit and relax 😛 

This Tomato Basil Rice makes a great dinner side, or even a lunch option. Whether you serve it with grilled chicken or fish, a nice steak or your favourite veggies, the options are pretty much endless - but always delicious. 

So let me share the recipe with you >> 

Recipe: Easy Red Beans and Rice (Gluten Free!)

Easy Red Beans and Rice Recipe - This classic Southern recipe gets a healthy and gluten free makeover with this quick and easy 30 minute stove top dinner. Served over steamed rice, it’s pure comfort food. Includes tips for making it with sausage if you’re in Australia/overseas and can’t find andouille sausage.

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I've always loved cooking - and I've always loved experimenting with different cuisines. 

One of the first dishes I decided to make completely by myself was paella. I'd seen it on TV, but had never eaten it or seen it in person - so I decided to make it myself.

I certainly wasn't Spanish, had no idea what a paella should taste like.. or even what the cooking process looked like beyond the snippets I saw on Masterchef - but I decided I needed to learn.

That's kind of the attitude I have with all food. So naturally, when I married a guy from Louisiana, I needed to learn how to cook Southern food.

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Whilst I very early on learnt how to make fluffy gluten free cornbread, jambalaya, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, Red Beans and Rice has only been a recent addition to our dinner menu and we are OBSESSED.

You see, every time we're in Louisiana, Jesse will eat red beans and rice at least once - but I didn't think I'd be able to make it here in Australia as we couldn't find the same andouille sausage.... but I found the perfect alternative. 

This red beans and rice recipe is super simple and takes just minutes to make. 

So let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Recipe: Muffin Tin Spaghetti Pies (Gluten Free)

Traditional Spaghetti Bolognese gets a modern makeover with these Muffin Tin Spaghetti Pies. Gluten free and so easy to make, these spaghetti muffins are kid friendly and perfect for lunch, dinners, meal prep or a potluck or party addition. Topped with cheese and with crispy crunchy edges, you won’t be able to stop at one! Healthy and delicious. 

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Jesse thinks I should have been Italian - and he tells me all the time. 

I talk with my hands (even when I'm on the phone and the other person can't see), I could eat pasta all day every day for the rest of my life, I can be very loud and animated when I want to be and I love feeding people.

And the only reason I agree that I should have been Italian would be because I desperately want my own Italian Nonna to cook me delicious Italian food and feed me til I'm completely stuffed. 

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But alas, I'm not Italian. I'm Australian (with a whole hodge-podge of English/European heritage), married to an American who officially becomes an Australian tomorrow night (!!!!!).

Luckily, I grew up with Italian friends, learnt Italian at school and have spent the last 10 or so years perfecting my Italian cooking.... and today I'm undoing all of that because an Italian Nonna would probably yell/shake a rolling pin at me if she found out I was baking spaghetti in a muffin tin.. 

But I promise you, this recipe is goooooddd. If I wasn't typing right now, I'd totally be telling you with exaggerated hand gestures. That good, friends.

You get all of the traditional flavour with added cheesy goodness and a crispy, crunchy bite sized piece. Yum. 

So let me share the recipe with you! >>