About Me

My name is Denise and I have an autoimmune condition of the thyroid called Hashimoto's Disease. This diagnosis brings a different set of challenges for each patient although most of us have to make major changes in our diet. Until recently, my diet was high in gluten, dairy, soy and corn. In fact, I didn't even know the names of 75% of the items in the fresh food isle! That's been the biggest obstacle on my quest to wellness. It is the reason I started this blog; to find and share recipes without those inflammatory ingredients. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! If you have a favorite recipe of your own to share, please drop me a note via email or through my facebook page. Thanks for checking out the blog -- I look forward to hearing from you!


Sunday, May 24, 2015

Marinara Chicken & Quinoa

OK... so, I have to confess that I didn't actually cook the chicken in this recipe!  I bought an organic rotisserie chicken from the whole food store.  But you could grill some chicken and flavor it up the way you like.  My husband usually cooks on the grill but the weather hasn't been bbq friendly lately.  If you're pressed for time or don't own a grill, the rotisserie choice is the best option anyway.

Ingredients:
Small rotisserie chicken, plain
1 jar marinara sauce, organic
1 cup quinoa
1 oz chicken broth, organic
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
Optional:
vegetables (peas, carrots, zucchini)


Directions:  
1. Prepare quinoa as directed on the package; however, replace 1 oz of water with 1 oz of organic chicken broth.  Add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.  
2. Dice the boneless, skinless chicken into bite size pieces.  Place in a large casserole dish.
3. Add the cooked quinoa to the casserole dish.
4. Pour in the marinara sauce and the italian seasoning.
5. Add vegetables as desired.
6. Cook in covered dish for 25 minutes at 350*.

This really turned out good; my husband thinks the kids would even like it with a little parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.  

Remember, quinoa is a seed that's high in protein -- it's not a grain.  It cooks up just like rice; the box I bought even has directions to cook it in a rice cooker.  During the warm months, we'll set it outside in a rice cooker and cook the chicken on the grill!  

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1