Mashed Potatoes without wheat or dairy???

Yep!!!
It can be done a couple ways and you're family will always be happy!
First of all, mashed potatoes are a wonderful tradition and what's a holiday without them? How frustrating to have to skip that big bowl of creamy mashed potatoes with the potential for the potato and gravy volcano!
Here are a couple solutions that should make your meals exploded again:

Start all versions by boiling your favorite kind of potatoes in water to a soft centered consistency.

Here's the difference
*one, you can literally take the potatoes out of the water, put them in the mixing bowl, add salt (about 1 TBS), margarine (about 1/4 c.), and enough water that the potatoes were boiled in to make the consistency you are looking for. Mix well and serve!
*two, you can take the potatoes out of the water, put them in the mixer, add salt and margarine and this time add either soy milk or lactose free milk or your favorite replacement "milk" until you get the consistency you are looking for.

Either way, mashed potatoes don't have to be eliminated. Yeah! All lactose free dieters can still make volcanoes to their hearts' delight.
That's not too much to ask, is it?

A Week on the Move

We can do this even on the run!
*Tacos
Corn tortillas, diced boiled eggs, hamburger with taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and salsa or pico de gallo
*Rice with pork chops and cut up watermellon
*Chicken Thighs with mashed potatoes and cut up cantelope
*Spagetti
rice pasta with marinara sauce and a salad
*Roasted chickens, rice, and cut up fruit
*Pico de gallo with black beans and sweet corn with tortilla chips
*Roast with potatoes, carrots, onions and broccoli

Beware

Strawberry Season!!

Love this time of year with all of the fresh fruits and veggies in season. It's particularly great to have so much to chose from so that not eating breads is even easier for us.
My sister just sent this very informative link:
http://www.calgiant.com/products/strawberries.asp
Time for some strawberry pie!

Homemade Salsa-roasted

You won't believe how easy!!!
I saw this on TV and tried it just from sight.
Get out a good size cookie sheet and spread some olive oil on it.
Heat your oven to about 400 degrees.
Slice about 9 Roma tomatoes and not necessarily thin
Cut or slice about 1/2 of a large yellow onion or whatever floats your boat
slice a Jalapeno Pepper in half seeds and all
Lay out these items on your cookie sheet and put it in the oven until they are toasted a bit
Then pour them into your blender with the juices
and add
about 1/2 of a bunch of chopped Cilantro

turn on your blender for a bit and Voila!! You can add your favorites to this like corn or even increase one of the above items to suit your taste. Did you ever think it was so easy? (and now cheap!)
My 4 teenagers gobbled it up.
My husband and I got in on the chip dipping action, too.
Yummy!

Ham Bone Soup

This was first given to me by my neighbor, Barbara. She just verbally gave it to me. That's how simple it is. There are a couple variations so that the family won't get tired of it! Just remember to never throw that Easter, Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Ham Bone away every again. Freeze it for a yummy meal!

Ham bone
1 can of corn
2 cups uncooked pasta (brown rice pasta in our house)
1 cup diced celery
1 large can of crushed tomatoes

OR

Ham Bone
1 can of corn
8 cubed peeled potatoes
1 cup diced celery
optional
1 large can of crushed tomatoes

Take a yummy ham bone and put it in a pot. Fill the pot with water to cover the ham. Add Celery. Boil for about 1/2 hour. Remove ham bone to cool. Add all of the other ingredients and any ham pieces you can get from the ham bone and cook until pasta or potatoes are completely cooked. If I do the potato version, I smash the potatoes in the soup. This recipe can feed 8-10 people.

*You could also add peas, beans of any kind, rice, etc. There are really a lot of versions of the same idea.

Broccoli Salad

1 Bunch of Broccoli (equal to the amount of the Cauliflower)
1 crown of Cauliflower
6 Tomatoes, diced
6 Boiled Eggs, diced
1 Cup of Mayonaise
1/4 Cup of Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Vinegar
Optional items:
1/2 Cup of cubed or sliced ham
or 1/4 Cup of bacon bits
or 1/4 Cup of chopped nuts

Cut and dice the first 4 items. Then add the Mayo, Sugar, and vinegar and mix in well. Add any of the optional items and stir in. Let chill for about 30 minutes and serve. Watch out! It's addictive! ;) It can serve 6 people more or less (I have 3 teenage boys, so less)
The nice thing about this recipe is that you can make it your own by adding some of your favorite ingredients.