Favorite recipes using only natural ingredients

My2CrazyGirls

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No canned soup, no soup mixes, nothing pre packaged, no food coloring, no artificial stuff. What is your favorite?
 
I like a lot of the recipes on Skinnytaste.com

Most are all natural, though some do use canned tomatoes, canned beans, and occasionally frozen veggies. You can just substitute fresh for all of that like I do (obviously you would need to soak dry beans overnight). Also, the recipes use ingredients like Worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, etc but I have been able to find very natural versions of those.

I also hate all of the processed ingredient recipes!
 
I like a lot of the recipes on Skinnytaste.com

Most are all natural, though some do use canned tomatoes, canned beans, and occasionally frozen veggies. You can just substitute fresh for all of that like I do (obviously you would need to soak dry beans overnight). Also, the recipes use ingredients like Worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, etc but I have been able to find very natural versions of those.

I also hate all of the processed ingredient recipes!

Although I don't make a lot of "fake" recipes with processed cheese, soup mixes, or pre-packeged mixes, canned tomatoes and beans, and frozen vegetables, are very good substitutes for fresh when they aren't in season (just read the label - there isn't anything added). I don't like the texture of most frozen veggies, but I always have frozen peas and carrots to add to recipes.

I just made a lasagna with sauce I made this afternoon from canned tomatoes, fresh onion and garlic. I buy my noodles (gluten free), and I don't make my own mozzarella or ricotta - buy it ready-made.
 
Pot roast in the crockpot. I put fresh carrots and sliced sweet onion on the bottom, then about 1/2 cup of water. Let it cook on low for 6-8 hours.

When it is done, I make mashed potatoes and use the juice from the roast to make gravy.

If you don't want to take the time to make mashed potatoes, the slice the potatoes and put on the bottom with the other vegetables.

No need for soup mix or anything else.

Some folks also put a little salt and pepper on the meat, but I don't think it needs it.
 

I like a lot of the recipes on Skinnytaste.com

Most are all natural, though some do use canned tomatoes, canned beans, and occasionally frozen veggies. You can just substitute fresh for all of that like I do (obviously you would need to soak dry beans overnight). Also, the recipes use ingredients like Worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, etc but I have been able to find very natural versions of those.

I also hate all of the processed ingredient recipes!

OP here, and i agree canned tomatoes and beans are fine as long as they do not have anything artificial added. Frozen veggies are great in a pinch as well. I will say though, for people who think they don't like beans, make them from dried beans and you might love them. I will post my pinto bean recipe later.
 
I like a lot of recipes at Everyday Paleo. Last night we had the Salmon Chowder and it was delicious.
 
chicken breasts with olive oil drizzled on top, garlic, capers and a mix of French seasonings that I have, I can always taste the lavender and it's so good. I bake it in the oven for 20 minutes, flipping twice and then 10 minutes flipping twice again.
 
Here are a few that I have posted over on the WISH BL Healthy dinner thread....

Quinoa with Black Beans


Serving size: 1 cup | Calories: 201 | Previous Points: 4 | Points Plus: 5 | Total Fat: 4 g | Saturated Fats: 0 g | Trans Fats: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 204 mg | Carbohydrates: 33 g | Dietary fiber: 7 g | Sugars: 3 g | Protein: 7 g


Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium sweet onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup quinoa (uncooked), rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)

1/2 teaspoon black pepper Kosher and sea salt to taste

1 (4.5 ounce) can diced green chilis

1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro

1 3/4 cup vegetable broth, low sodium

Directions:

In a large skillet add olive oil, turn to medium-low heat and saute diced onions until tender, about 4 minutes, add garlic and saute one additional minute. Add the remaining ingredients in the order listed above. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low boil and cook 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and allow to sit 5 minutes covered before serving. Fluff quinoa with a large spoon and serve.

Link to website http://skinnyms.com/skinny-quinoa-with-black-beans/


** Here is what I did differently...

I used kidney beans instead of black beans, since that is what I had cooked most recently. NBD. I also added two large ribs of celery, diced, when I put in the onion. I was trying to stretch the recipe a bit more. It was an excellent choice and I will definitely make it that way again... and plan to perhaps add bell peppers next time too.

I've never bought a can of green chilies in my life and don't plan to start now, so of course, I didn't add that.... or the red pepper flakes. I don't do "spicy" as a rule.

I used a can of Rotel diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro, since I didn't have any fresh cilantro on hand. And I used homemade, sodium-free vegetable stock.

*************

I really liked it. The liquid wasn't totally absorbed after the 15 minute cooking time, so I just turned off the heat and let it "glide" to a finish. In about another 10 minutes it was perfect.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Kale and Mushroom soup


1/2 pound of cleaned and chopped raw kale

1.5 - 2 lbs of assorted mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (white button and baby bellas are fine)

2 - 48 oz. cartons of fat-free organic chicken stock

Dash of tumeric and garlic powder

Pam spray


Directions:

Sautee sliced mushrooms in PAM until nicely browned (do in small batches to allow them to brown and for the moisture to evaporate). Meanwhile, place the chicken stock and kale in a large stock/soup pot and bring to a boil.

Add the sauteed mushrooms to the stockpot. Turn down to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes to cook the kale through. Add a dash or two or tumeric and garlic powder. DONE!


**************************************
How easy was that!??

For DH, I added two chopped links of garlic chicken sausage to the bowl.

Can it be made with vegetable stock? Sure.... and I've made it both ways, but I've got to say, I like the taste MUCH BETTER with the chicken stock.

Can you add other veggies? Sure! Next time I am sauteeing some onions along with the mushrooms. Maybe some fresh garlic too.

Where is the salt and pepper? I don't like pepper, so I don't add it, but you certainly can! The stock I used this time was store-bought and as such it had plenty of salt already, but feel free to add it to adjust for your taste.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sweet Autumn Chicken and Vegetables

4 skinless chicken thighs

1 package of Al Fresco sweet apple chicken sausage

assorted fall vegetables (sweet potato, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, onions work best), washed, peeled, cut into 1 inch chunks. (enough to serve at least 4 people)

EVOO

real maple syrup


Prepare a large glass casserole dish with Pam spray. Cut chicken sausage links into 4 pieces each. Lay chicken thighs and sausage in casserole. Surround with veggies. Drizzle with a bit of EVOO. Cover with foil. Bake for about 30 minutes at 375°. Remove foil and drizzle everything lightly with maple syrup. Bake another 5-10 minutes or until chicken is done.

Not sure of points or calories. On WW the chicken thigh would be 3 points each and the chicken sausage is 4 pts per link. This can feed 4 hungry people or 6 less hungry people. You can easily increase or decrease this to feed more or less, of course.

I'm winging it with the times and temps., so keep and eye on it! It is a recipe that my Mom sort of made up, so I don't have it written anywhere.




There are SO MANY good recipes on that thread, but I only posted a few of mine.... didn't feel right sharing other folks recipes. But here is a link to the thread if you want to check out the rest of the recipes!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2447512

Don't forget, most of these recipes can be made a bit healthier using whole wheat flour, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, and organic all-natural ingredients instead of their "traditional" counterparts! Also you can drop the PAM spray and use EVOO or even butter for sauteeing. I choose to use the PAM to reduce the calories, but I totally understand that it is not the healthiest option.

Good luck in your pursuit of healthier eating!.......................P
 
One of my favorites (especially in the summer)... quinoa, sauteed shrimp, cilantro, squeezed lime, chopped avocado, corn, diced tomatoes and black beans. Simple!
 
Last night was baked chicken breasts (breaded with a little sour cream and breadcrumbs aka stale bread debris) with oven roasted potatoes (olive oil, pepper and rosemary)

Chicken breast with a lemon wine sauce is one of my favorites, I make the sauce from white wine (do you consider that pre packaged?), butter, lemon juice and sometimes cream. Depending on my mood I throw in artichokes, green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, bacon, sun dried tomatoes

Beef stew with carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic and what ever else I might have and feel like using

Beef roast which is very similar to the beef stew
 
Last night was baked chicken breasts (breaded with a little sour cream and breadcrumbs aka stale bread debris) with oven roasted potatoes (olive oil, pepper and rosemary)

Chicken breast with a lemon wine sauce is one of my favorites, I make the sauce from white wine (do you consider that pre packaged?), butter, lemon juice and sometimes cream. Depending on my mood I throw in artichokes, green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, bacon, sun dried tomatoes

Beef stew with carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic and what ever else I might have and feel like using

Beef roast which is very similar to the beef stew

Yum, chicken sounds really good, anything with wine is good! Do you sauté or bake?
 














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