FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

Loaded Nachos with Avocado Cream

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This avocado cream loaded nacho post is sponsored by FAGE Total Greek yogurt. All opinions included within this post are my own and based on my own experience.

Ever since Greek yogurt made an appearance on grocery store shelves, I’ve been a fan. Seriously, who can turn down thick, creamy, low-sugar yogurt? And it wasn’t much long after discovering Greek yogurt that I began using it as a substitution everywhere and anywhere. FAGE Total Greek yogurt was and is my go-to brand. The texture and flavor of FAGE is top notch and, beyond that, you can’t beat the simple, non-GMO ingredient list.

One of the easiest substitutions to make is replacing traditional sour cream withFAGE Total Greek yogurt. I’ve always used FAGE Total 2%, but love that FAGE Total comes in 5% {I’m all about good fat!}. It’s such a simple switch and, I find that, Greek yogurt has many more uses than sour cream so it’s always in my fridge. Nachos tonight, breakfast parfait tomorrow morning!

After years of sour cream swapping, I decided to get even more creative with Greek yogurt for savory dishes. Remember how I love good fat? Well I decided to add even more good fat to FAGE Total 2% by mixing it with avocados to create avocado cream {recipe below}. Avocado cream can be enjoyed solo as a chip or veggie dip or used to make nachos and quesadillas extra special.

My husband and daughter are now the biggest avocado cream fans. And my husband was super impressed with a dip/topping having so much protein and probiotics from the live active yogurt cultures. By the end of our loaded nacho dinner, he was already thinking of what we could make to incorporate avocado cream again.

I also enjoy getting our entire family’s input on ingredients for loaded nachos because they come out so much more impressive than when I make them on my own. My husband loves black olives and green onions and my step-daughter loves tomatoes – I’m typically a nacho purist and would have totally skipped over these ingredients!

Our loaded nachos ended up including: tortilla chips, Monterey jack cheese, cheddar cheese, black beans, black olives, tomatoes, green onions, pickled jalapeños, cilantro, and avocado cream. My biggest nacho tip is to take the extra time to create one layer of chips, add layers of all of your toppings, and repeat until you reach your desired quantity/height. I layered all of the ingredients except for the cilantro and avocado cream and put the nachos in a 400 degree oven for approximately five minutes, until the cheese was melted and the chips were warm.

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Memorial Day Hot Dogs

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This Memorial Day hot dog post is sponsored by Whole Foods Market 365.

I wish I could say that I have years and years of grilling experience. But the truth is, I’m fairly new at grilling. And that means I typically learn a new trick each time I’m manning the grill, which has made grilling over the past year extra exciting. When making these BLT and BBQ hot dogs for Memorial Day, I used a combo of both new and tried and true tricks. If you’re already a grilling expert, scroll on down to the bottom of this post for your new favorite hot dog recipes.

One of the things I’ve gotten exponentially better at is packing our “grill bag”. If you live in an apartment or condo building, I’m certain you’re familiar with the frustration of forgetting that thing back in your kitchen. Below is my go-to list of stuff to bring with you to the grill.

  • Baking sheet with seasoned/prepped raw meat
  • Clean baking sheet for cooked meat
  • Metal tongs
  • Oven mit
  • Reusable plastic plates, cups, and utensils
  • Cloth napkins or paper towels
  • Large reusable water bottle {filled}
  • Condiments {ketchup, mustard, mayo, bbq sauce, steak sauce}
  • Seasoning {if needed}
  • Steak knife {if needed}
  • Spray oil {if needed}

A new trick I tested out and will always take the time to do in the future is making small slices across each hot dog {see above}. The tiny slices not only create dozens of crispy edges and spaces for condiments to fill, but they make for a picture perfect hot dog {see below}.

 

And something else I will definitely do when grilling hot dogs in the future is purchase quality hot dog buns. I’ve never paid much attention to hot dog buns {gasp!} and have typically purchased what seemed like the only hot dog bun available. But after trying Whole Foods Market 365’s Euro Classic Brioche Hot Dog Buns, I’m a believer that a hot dog bun can make all the difference in the world. I loved how soft and buttery these brioche hot dog buns were. And they were flavorful enough to make a traditional ketchup and mustard hot dog taste extra special.

BBQ Hot Dog

Grilled Hot Dog

Warmed Euro Classic Hot Dog Bun

Your Favorite Coleslaw

Whole Foods Market 365 BBQ Sauce

Directions: Place hot dog in hot dog bun, top with coleslaw, and drizzle with bbq sauce.

 

BLT Hot Dog

Hot Dog

Slice of Bacon

Warmed Euro Classic Brioche Hot Dog Bun

Green Leaf Lettuce

Chopped Tomato

Whole Foods Market 365 Mayonnaise

Directions: Wrap uncooked hot dog with slice of bacon, securing at each end with a toothpick {bacon will shrink}. Grill until bacon is cooked through. Place hot dog in green leaf lettuce and then place both into the warmed bun. Top with chopped tomatoes and drizzle with mayonnaise.

Once again, I was super impressed with how many Whole Foods Market 365 brand items were available and how affordable they were. It’s been a year since the Cedar Park store opened and it’s still super clean, super tidy, and a super pleasant shopping experience. And for those of you that haven’t been, the Whole Foods Market 365 in Cedar Park collaborates with local companies like Juiceland {cold pressed juice to order}, Easy Tiger {freshly baked breads}, and Snap Kitchen {healthy eats to go}. I highly recommend checking this store out!

This Memorial Day hot dog post is sponsored by Whole Foods Market 365.

 

Quick, Veggie-Filled Macaroni And Cheese

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with compensation from Annie’s . As always, all opinions are my own.

Macaroni and cheese has been at the top of my favorite foods list for as long as I’ve been able to request macaroni and cheese. And even though it was a very long time ago, I’m certain that I fell in love at the time of my very first, cheesy bite.

 

But because it was a known thing in our house that a meal wasn’t a meal without a green vegetable, veggie-filled macaroni and cheese quickly became a top requested dinner. As an adult not much has changed except for the available brand options for boxed macaroni and cheese. Because Annie’s Homegrown products are made without artificial flavors, synthetic colors, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup, they are the only brand of macaroni and cheese that we keep in our pantry.

I’ve since passed down my love of veggie-filled macaroni and cheese to my boyfriend’s three year old. This dish has been a total life-saver on school nights and plan-packed weekends. I always have a bag of organic green veggies on hand, whether it be in the refrigerator or freezer. And it’s a simple, no-fuss meal that I feel good about feeding the entire family.

We rotate green veggies as well as white cheddar shells, yellow cheddar shells, and traditional elbow noodles to keep things interesting. And we also keep Annie’s Homegrown’s sweet and savory bunny snacks on hand for an on-the-go treat.

Our H-E-B has a giant selection of Annie’s Homegrown products that are ALL buy 2, get 1 free until 8/22/17. The yellow coupon can be found in-store or online here. If you have any questions about H-E-B’s coupon policy, you can find the website information here.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with compensation from Annie’s . As always, all opinions are my own.
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Ancient Grains Poké

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I’m always on the hunt for dishes where I can incorporate quinoa. Quinoa sushi, quinoa granola, quinoa with shrimp & kale – the FoodFash archives are filled with this protein and fiber packed grain. So when I received a shipment of Village Harvest’s Organic Benefit Blends, I couldn’t wait to dream up another quinoa dish that was special enough for one of these blends.

The perfect recipe came to mind after having poké bowls twice in one week {one on a bed of greens and the other on a bed of rice}. Why not recreate this classic Hawaiian dish at home with the Ancient Grains blend? Fresh seafood, raw veggies, and a blend of quinoa, millet, and buckwheat sounded like an incredibly refreshing, feel-good meal for the peak of summer.

An added bonus is that knowing Village Harvest’s background will also make you feel good. As a company, they define social sustainability to not only mean caring for our planet, but also their employees.

  • Village Harvest has pledged 1% of their profits to run programs that give back to the farmers and local communities from which they source their products.

  • Village Harvest has pledged to donate 1% of their employees’ time to charitable causes and sustainability efforts.

How wonderful is that!

I used the Ancient Grains blend for this recipe, but I’m willing to bet that the Antioxidant and Protein blends would be delicious in this recipe as well.

If you’re interested in these products and they aren’t available at your local store, please use this link to fill out a product request. Otherwise, all of the Organic Benefit Blends can be found at Village Harvest’s online shop. And shipping is free when you order eight bags.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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