Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
Summer is coming, and with it, strawberry season. Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-picked berries. And since summertime also means warmer weather, I like to have a few dessert recipes on hand that don’t require heating up the kitchen with the oven. That’s one of the reasons I created these chocolate coconut no-bake cookies. This …
I really love the ease of cooking a whole chicken. Sometimes I cook it in the slow-cooker, and other times I make a rotisserie-style chicken. And I always use the bones to make really good broth for soups. But on days when I have a little more time, I like to use chicken breasts to …
I’ve picked up some of my favorite recipes while traveling. I tried strawberry gelato in Europe and had to try making it when I got home. I first encountered boba tea, also called bubble tea, last year while traveling and was immediately intrigued by the idea. Despite what the bubbly name might imply, this isn’t …
In my college days, I loved eating Chinese food. Once I switched to a wellness lifestyle and realized what was in most restaurant foods, I stopped eating regular Chinese food. I decided to recreate some of the same flavors with real food ingredients. Sweet and sour chicken was one of my favorites, so I decided to come …
Having some Louisiana roots, Cajun Gumbalaya (also spelled gumbolaya) is a family favorite around here. It combines the flavors of gumbo and jambalaya for an intensely flavorful recipe. As they say: “Laissez les bons temps rouler” (Let the good times roll!). What Is Gumbalaya? I’ve also always been somewhat of a rule-breaker, so while gumbo …
New muffin recipe time! My kids love muffins. After a while, they get tired of eggs for breakfast and are always excited for muffins. And they love them at all times of the day. They make a great snack mid-morning, after school, or after sports. Apple cinnamon muffins are a fall favorite, but when spring rolls around, …
Most of my younger years were spent in Texas, where I developed a love for all things Mexican food. Even now I often make Mexican recipes and Tex-Mex food for my family that feature healthier ingredients, like my homemade taco seasoning. This gluten-free version of homemade enchilada sauce tastes great on enchiladas (and a lot of other things!) and is the …
I love the ease of making stir-frys for dinner. This Chinese chicken stir-fry recipe is one of those that makes life easier on a busy night. With just a few ingredients and only one pan, it can be on the table in half an hour. Although I try my best to meal plan, it’s always …
This is probably my favorite Crock Pot experiment so far. I decided to try it when someone posted a recipe on Pinterest, but the link was broken so I had to try to figure it out myself. Once the idea was in my head it was too intriguing to let go of and I knew I had to …
Call me unromantic, but I’m not a big fan of going out on Valentine’s Day. Babysitters can be tough to find, and most restaurants are packed since it’s one of the most popular days of the year to go out with your significant other. Personally, it is much more relaxing to cook a healthy romantic …
I love cooking pork tenderloins. I was looking through the recipes on the site recently and realized that I don’t have any recipes for pork tenderloin on here. Crazy! I’ve done smothered pork chops and tacos al pastor with pork roast, but never a tenderloin recipe. Well, better late than never. This roasted and stuffed pork tenderloin is one …
It’s coffee shop drink makeover time! I always feel so satisfied when I come up with a delicious recipe for a coffee shop favorite. I find it so rewarding to know that I can make something just as tasty using wholesome ingredients for a fraction of the price. My salted caramel latte is one of my favorites, …
Our metabolism helps control how we use energy, and when it’s slow, we can feel sluggish and weighed down. Nutrients like selenium are important for a healthy metabolism. This metabolism-boosting tea recipe is another healthy (and delicious!) way to support our energy burners. What Is Metabolism? According to Harvard, metabolism is how our body uses …
I love the flavor of rotisserie-style chicken from the store, but it’s hard to find organic or free-range chicken cooked rotisserie-style. It was such a time saver to buy a couple of rotisserie chicken every couple of weeks and use the meat to make chicken salad, casseroles, and the bones to make soup and broth. But I didn’t like …
This quick and easy breakfast pizza recipe was born one morning when the kids couldn’t decide between bacon and sausage. They were also tired of our basic scrambled eggs and veggies. I decided to use the same basic breakfast ingredients but serve them in a more fun way. Since then, this has become a Saturday morning …
I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. When I want something sweet, I’ll eat a piece of fruit or add a little honey to my tea. Another option is this berry crisp as it has both fruit and honey, and is delicious without being too sweet. When it comes to holidays or other special days, …
New chicken recipes are always welcome, right? I feel like every family has their favorites (pad krapow gai is ours), but at the same time, it’s nice to try something new every once in a while. This honey mustard chicken with mushrooms was the result of that try-something-new urge. It turned out great! Honey Mustard …
My name is Katie and I love cabbage. I never really thought I’d say that. I’m not a huge fan of coleslaw. In fact, I usually use broccoli instead of cabbage when making it. However, I’ve learned that if I don’t like something, sometimes I just need to either try making it myself or try a completely …
Winter squashes are, to me, the chicken of the vegetable world. They’ve got a nice flavor but are a mostly blank slate that is delicious with different seasonings and preparations. They can be sweet, savory, or spicy. They can be diced and roasted, added to soups and pureed, and baked into desserts. As an added …
Ever heard the saying “A bowl of garlic soup a day keeps the doctor away”? Ok, maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes, but in my book, this garlic soup is one case where good health and good taste unite! Garlic is a wonderful herb and culinary ingredient that I always keep in the kitchen in …
I’ve always let my kids help out in the kitchen when I’m cooking. It was important to me that they be confident in their ability to cook their own healthy meals. The extra spills and messes that I dealt with when they were young were a completely worthwhile price to pay for the proficiency they …
What would Thanksgiving (or fall!) be without something pumpkin? Whether it is a spiced pumpkin latte or pumpkin pie, the taste and scent of pumpkin are the perfect companions to cool fall weather. I was never actually a big pumpkin pie fan in the past. But in the past couple of years, I’ve fallen in love with …
Since I discovered truly natural, non-toxic wine, I feel better about enjoying a glass in the evenings to wind down sometimes. There’s a way to make wine taste even better though and up the health benefits. Mulled wine, like mulled cider, is simmered with aromatic spices for a delicious, warming drink. Curl Up With a …
Shirred eggs and eggs Benedict are my two favorite egg-based breakfast foods. It is also probably one of my top 5 favorite recipes I’ve posted so far. I certainly don’t make it every day. It is a lot more time-consuming than regular bacon and eggs. But it is a delicious weekend treat! Eggs Benedict Wellness Mama …
