YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST GLUTEN FREE PASTA BRANDS | Home with Willow | by Katie Emmitt

 

     If you’re just stepping into a healthier lifestyle and diet, or cutting out gluten/grains, you may be missing a lot of your old favorites! Dishes like spaghetti, fettuccini alfredo, macaroni and cheese, etc. And let’s face it – pasta is amazing! It’s a staple comfort food!  Luckily for us, in the past few years many alternative pasta brands have been cropping up at the grocery store – and they aren’t half bad! In this blog post, I’m going to share my favorites (because I’ve tried A LOT), and where to buy them. Consider this your guide to the best gluten free pasta brands!

Easy Watermelon Sorbet Recipe | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

 

     Summer is definitely the best time for fresh fruits & veggies! There’s nothing better than a big fresh, juicy watermelon cut up in the fridge to snack on all day, make smoothies out of, and freeze to make watermelon sorbet! Not only is watermelon delicious, it also has some great health benefits. In honor of National Watermelon Day (August 3rd), I’m sharing my Easy Watermelon Sorbet Recipe!

     Homemade watermelon sorbet is so easy to make and only requires two ingredients. It makes a fantastic snack, dessert, or breakfast! No ice cream maker needed! Scroll down to get the recipe.

Herbal Spotlight: Chamomile Health Benefits | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

 

     Chamomile (Chamomile recutita) is an aromatic annual plant native to Europe. There are two kinds – mostly used interchangeably: Roman & German.

     Chamomile health benefits include: anti anxiety, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antispasmodic properties. Read on to discover more about this amazing herb, its health benefits, where to purchase it, and how to use it!

Herbal Spotlight: Chamomile Health Benefits | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

Easy Vegan Dinner Recipe: White Beans and Kale Over Quinoa | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

     Looking for a quick two pot plant based dinner? Say no more! This white beans & kale over quinoa easy vegan dinner recipe is just what you’re looking for!

     In this easy vegan dinner recipe, we’re going to be using kale, onions, leeks, and white beans. I served this over red quinoa, but you can easily put it with roasted potatoes, over pasta, or over couscous!

Grocery Shopping as a Vegan: The Beginners Guide to a Vegan Kitchen | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

     

     One of the most important things you can do when starting to eat a plant based or vegan diet, is to become extremely familiar with all of your local grocery stores. Grocery shopping as a vegan is a little bit different than how the average American shops. There are a lot of unique ingredients, things in strange places – and what about that ‘hippie foods’ section of the grocery store?

     Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll be diving in to the logistics of shopping as a vegan; what stores you can rely on to have different ingredients, where you can find the best prices, and navigating different types of supermarkets.

Continue reading “GROCERY SHOPPING AS A VEGAN: A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO A VEGAN KITCHEN”

Sweet & Salty Healthy Dessert Bars - Plant Based Dessert Recipe | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

     Get ready for one of the most delicious plant based dessert bars you’ll ever make! These amazing Sweet & Salty Healthy Dessert Bars will satisfy any craving! They are gluten free, sweetened with dates & maple syrup, and plant based.

Best Eco Friendly Kitchen Products | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

     Over the past two years, I have been working diligently to make my kitchen more eco friendly. Some things were easy fixes – like switching from paper towels to reusable cloth rags. Other things I really struggled to find good options for – like dishwasher detergent that actually worked! In these last two years, I have tried a lot of products. I wanted to share with you my absolute favorites – so you can try them too! Here are the Best Eco Friendly Kitchen Products I’ve found and come to love!

Continue reading “Best Eco Friendly Kitchen Products”

Simple Coconut Rice | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

Simple Coconut Rice – easy to make, delicious, and the perfect pair for Thai, Indian, Hawaiian, and several other  cuisines! 

 

 

 

 

Simple Coconut Rice | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

What kind of coconut milk should I use?

     My personal favorite, is homemade coconut milk. Homemade coconut milk is a little bit lighter and has a fresher flavor than canned. Additionally, its less expensive, has no additives or thickeners, and you don’t have to worry about cans with BPA (something I am sensitive to). Also, if you shop bulk, you can cut down on waste too! Check out our easy recipe for DIY homemade coconut milk. If you do decide to make your own coconut milk, you don’t need to strain it for this particular recipe! So you can very quickly add hot water to your flaked coconut, blend, and add it right to your rice to cook in less than five minutes.

     However, you can easily use canned coconut milk with this recipe, too. If I am going to buy canned coconut milk, I like to buy this Native Forest brand. Its organic, BPA free, and well priced. 

Coconut Quinoa Oat Bowl - Easy Plant Based Breakfast | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

     Looking for a way to make that boring bowl of oatmeal a little more special? Or maybe you’re looking for breakfast ideas for a plant based diet, but you’re tired of seeing smoothies everywhere! (Let’s face it – sometimes its really nice to have something warm & hearty for breakfast!) If that is the case, then try out our Coconut Quinoa Oat Bowl! Its an easy plant based breakfast that is chock full of healthy plant based protein and fiber! 

How to Make Your Own Coconut Milk | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

How to Make your own coconut milk at home –
DIY Kitchen Basics

How to Make Your Own Coconut Milk | Home with Willow | Katie Emmitt

Making your own coconut milk might seem like a daunting task, but it is actually surprisingly easy, and only requires two ingredients – hot water, and unsweetened shredded coconut! Additionally, you can make 2 cups of coconut milk for about $1.20 (or even less if purchased in bulk at the grocery store). Compare that to a can of organic coconut milk for $3+ and you can really rack up the savings!

Another great benefit to making your own – no additives, preservatives, thickeners, or worrying about BPA lining in cans (something I have a sensitivity to)! Continue reading “HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN COCONUT MILK”