I love a good meal with lots of flavor!  I also like to be able to stand and walk away from the dinner table when I'm done eating, and not feel heavy or tired.  These recipes are all dairy and gluten free.  They are relatively healthy and don't require many obscure ingredients, just the right ones!  Buy organic or non- GMO wherever you can, you end up with a better finished plate.    

Slow Cooker Carolina BBQ Chicken

This chicken recipe offers a lite, flavorful sauce that is easy to make.  I usually have all these ingredients on hand, which makes it easy to put together in the middle of the day.  If I have 4 hours or less to have dinner ready, I put the Crock Pot on high.  If I make it 6 hours before dinner, the low setting works just right.

6+ organic boneless skinless chicken legs
1 C catsup
1/2 C chicken stock
3 TB apple cider vinegar
2 TB worcestershire sauce
2 TB brown sugar
1 TB Bragg's Aminos or gf soy sauce
1 1/2 TB honey
1 TB sriracha 
1 TB mustard
1 1/2 TB onion powder 
1 TB garlic
salt to taste

Keep the chicken aside while you whisk all the ingredients together in your slow cooker.  Press the chicken into the slow cooker, covering it or at least coating it in the sauce.   If you use chicken breasts, pull the meat apart after a few hours so the sauce can saturate it.  

Black Pepper and apple cole slaw

This is a great side dish to accompany the chicken.  Be sure to grate extra black pepper for a nice zing!  These measurements are estimated.  Add what what you like to get desired spicy or sweet flavor.

5 C grated green cabbage
2 C matchstick carrots
1 bushel chopped scallion
1+ finely diced apple
organic mayo, enough to coat everything
2 TB fresh lemon juice
good amount of salt
lots of fresh grated black pepper

Homemade Sloppy Joe

This beef dish is easily cooked in a pan.  Mix your ingredients together with out the beef and taste it to see if it has the flavor you want.  I always add more garlic, onion, salt and pepper to get a great flavor.  To cook, start the mixture in the pan to soften the onions, then add the beef cook like taco meat.  Goes well with or on a salad, steamed broccoli and small baked potato.  

1 lb organic grass fed beef
1 chopped onion
2 chopped jalapeños 
1  6oz can tomato paste 
1 TB chili powder
1 tsp liquid smoke or bbq powder
1 TB honey
1 TB mustard
2 tsp garlic powder
 salt and pepper

Party Antipasto

This is a terrific dish to bring to a party.  It's easy to see what's in it and is delicious!  Since many of the ingredients are canned, I get them at Whole Foods.   This way, I know I'm minimizing preservatives and chemical colors and dyes.  You can taste the difference too... more vegetable and less of a strong vinegar flavor.  Just chop everything and throw it into a medium sized salad bowl.  Add more of whatever ingredient you like to get the salad you're looking for.

1/2 jar chopped banana pepper rings
1 can chickpeas
1 C chopped marinated mushrooms
2 C chopped fresh tomato
1 can halved olives
1 package of diced genoa salami or nitrate free salami
1 can chopped artichokes
​mix
Italian dressing, sprinkled on so you get a little in every bite