Blog — Broke and Cooking

Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the amazing health benefits of chia seeds. Chia seeds come from the desert plant Salvia hispanica. In the past few years they have gained popularity because they are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid. They also provide about 10 grams of fiber per oz. They contain protein, antioxidants, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. Chia seeds are also gluten free! 

This jam is simple.. organic strawberries, a little agave or organic honey, and chia seeds. Normally, when cooking jam, pectin is necessary to enable the jam to gel. In this case, since the chia seeds bulk up and gel naturally, they easily thicken your jam without any additives. It’s really delicious. Not too sweet, and such a fun texture that is great for spreading on any multitude of things. Enough talking, let’s cook

Hot Caprese Dip

Hot Caprese Dip

Summer is approaching, and that means tons of entertaining - whether it be throwing a bbq, attending a party, or having last minute, drop-in guests over. This is a delicious three (YES, THREE) ingredient dip that is quick, easy, and oozing with flavor.
Serve it with a variety of dipping vessels. I like Stacy’s Pita Chips, especially the Simply Naked Pita Chips. They are baked to perfection, Non-GMO, and are also Kosher. I also suggest Diamond Almond Nut Thins. They’re light and crispy, and Gluten Free! They pair perfectly with the creaminess of the mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and slight peppery flavor of the basil.

Gluten Free Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Gluten Free Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Warm weather is approaching and we’ve all got the beach on our minds. Whether it be ditching work to lay out, festival season, slimming down for the summer, or cooking lighter meals, we are all looking for ways to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather. These Stuffed Zucchini Boats are simple, packed with flavor, and an easy way to get some veggies into your families’ tummies. They can be Gluten Free and are Paleo if you leave out the cheese! :) They are also beautiful for entertaining and are easy on the wallet. 

Raspberry Cream Cheese Cinnamon Crescents

Raspberry Cream Cheese Cinnamon Crescents

Surprise Mom with these delicious pastries that are completely customizable and easy for little ones to make! No need to mess around with puff pastry - crescent roll dough make these treats super accessible. I thought that the slight tang of raspberry jam would pair nicely with sweetened cream cheese, but you can use anything you wish! Apple pie filling, ripe peaches, strawberry preserves, chocolate, or even go the savory route and pair regular cream cheese with salsa and jalapeños. 

Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots

Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots

It’s Cinco De Mayo, and what better to celebrate with than Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots? One thing I hate about jello shots is loosening the jello up with your finger, and then trying to get it all out of the tiny little cup. Call me lazy, but I wanted to get around this. Solution? Make the jello shots in fresh strawberries :) 

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner, and that got me thinking about a ton of fun recipes for this weekend! Colorful, fresh ingredients make for delicious and vibrant looking meals. 

Trader Joe’s has a great Cilantro Lime dressing that is super tasty…but take one look at the nutrition facts and it’ll make you put it back on the shelf. How to get around this problem? Make it at home! 

My original intention for this vinaigrette was for crispy fish tacos (that’s up next!)…but it turned out so tasty that I've been dipping everything in it. Yum. Here we go! Super easy :) 

Baked Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Baked Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Warm white corn tortillas filled to the brim with wonderfully crisp-edged, tender tilapia, fresh mango salsa, and zesty cilantro-lime vinaigrette are the perfect Cinco De Mayo meal. Let's get cookin!