Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

  • home
  • about
    • contact
    • media kit
    • link parties
    • privacy policy
    • where you’ve seen me
  • food
    • easy weeknight meals
  • life
  • frugality
    • Printables Library
  • teaching
  • blogging

Low Carb Jalapeño Popper Bites

June 28, 2018 by Abby

A creamy, cheesy, spicy Low Carb Jalapeño Popper Bites recipe that is just as pleasing to regular eaters as it is to low carb folks. It’s simple to make and gluten-free, too!

A creamy, cheesy, spicy Low Carb Jalapeño Popper Bites recipe that is just as pleasing to regular eaters as it is to low carb folks. It's simple to make and gluten-free, too!

One night in March of 2010, I was feeling off. I was tired and a little crampy, but I was always pretty “regular,” so I figured I knew what was up. I stopped by the grocery store after work to grab frozen jalapeño poppers, tampons and, on a whim, a pregnancy test. Once home, I tossed the poppers in the oven and headed to the bathroom to take the test.

It was positive! Nine months later, G was born. So basically, for me, jalapeño poppers are more than just crunchy, cheesy, creamy bites of spicy goodness. They’re a fun reminder of those few minutes I jumped up and down the hall of the first home we bought together, our giant black lab bounding along behind me.

While these Low Carb Jalapeño Popper Bites didn’t accompany a positive pregnancy test (or a negative one), they are certainly memorable.

A creamy, cheesy, spicy Low Carb Jalapeño Popper Bites recipe that is just as pleasing to regular eaters as it is to low carb folks. It's simple to make and gluten-free, too!

My main goal in creating low carb recipes is that each one doesn’t seem diet-y at all. I want them to be just as appealing to my non-low carb eating friends and family as they are to those who are eating like I am. This recipe totally delivers. They’re wonderfully creamy and smooth on the inside, with a delightfully flavorful crunch on the outside.

No one who eats these Low Carb Jalapeño Popper Bites will feel deprived in any way. There are no wacky substitutions here, just bite after bite of spicy and cheesy goodness.

A creamy, cheesy, spicy Low Carb Jalapeño Popper Bites recipe that is just as pleasing to regular eaters as it is to low carb folks. It's simple to make and gluten-free, too!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: food, Gluten-Free, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, snack — Tagged With: appetizer, cheddar, cream cheese, jalapenos, low carb, mozzarella, pork rinds, recipe, recipes, snack

Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

June 21, 2018 by Abby

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

For about the first 10 years of our relationship, J only ate pepperoni pizza. I can’t blame him for loving it; it’s a classic for a reason. But with so many possible options, I knew he was missing out.

I don’t remember the circumstances that led to him first trying chicken bacon ranch pizza, but to say it changed his life would not be overstating things. A whole new world of pizza options was opened to him, and he now has a new go-to order.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

All that is great until you start to eat low carb. While there are several different crust alternatives out there, several of which we’ve tried, none were as big a hit with J as this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza.

The secret to this beauty is that the chicken is in the crust. Yup. The base of this pizza is a mixture of ground chicken and shredded cheese. It’s a flavorful alternative to the other dough replacements out there, some of which I find a little too rich. The ranch dressing on top is perfectly creamy, while the pepper jack cheese and crumbled bacon add just the right amount of heat and salt.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: dinner, food, Gluten-Free, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, supper — Tagged With: bacon, cheese, chicken, dinner, low carb, pepper jack cheese, pizza, ranch, recipe, recipes, supper

Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

June 14, 2018 by Abby

Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

I bake a lot of sweets. That’s probably immediately clear to anyone who spends half a second on this site because I have a ton of dessert recipes. I do sell or give away a lot of what I make, so other than the necessary taste test here or there, I’m not actually eating too much of what I bake.

Let me be clear, though: I do have a killer sweet tooth. If things like nutrition and calories didn’t matter, I would live on desserts. But they do, so I make sure to whip up recipes like this Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette. It only takes a few minutes to put together, and it features some of my favorite vegetables.

Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

Cucumbers don’t get enough credit. I can see why they may come across as slimy or flavorless, but I love them. They’re the perfect vegetable to carry this salad, and they’re a wonderful complement to the juicy tomatoes and the strong onions. Throw in a chunks of mild avocado, toss the whole thing in a tart homemade dressing, and you’ve got yourself an easy side dish that pairs well with just about any entree.

Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: dinner, food, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, snack, supper — Tagged With: avocado, cucumber, homemade, low carb, onion, onions, recipe, recipes, salad, tomato, tomatoes

Sausage-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers

June 7, 2018 by Abby

Looking for a snack that’s satisfying to low carb eaters and non-low carb eaters alike? These spicy, cheesy, and perfectly crunchy Low Carb Sausage-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers will have everyone coming back for more.

Looking for a snack that's satisfying to low carb eaters and non-low carb eaters alike? These spicy, cheesy, and perfectly crunchy Low Carb Sausage-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers will have everyone coming back for more.

I took my oldest child and my only son, G, grocery shopping with me the other day. He doesn’t usually care to go, but this time he was eager. He was so helpful during the whole trip. G insisted on carrying the list, reading me the items, and checking them off when we put them in the cart.

I kept marveling at home sweet he was being and how much I was enjoying our time together. Until . . . We passed by the clothing section, and I stopped to admire a really cute top. I asked if he thought it was cute and, without hesitation, he replied, “I think it’s halfway to being cute.”

At least he’s tactful? I got a good laugh from his comment, and then we continued on to get the rest of the items on our list. Those items included everything necessary to make these Low Carb Sausage-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers. Y’all, these things are so good. I originally saw the recipe shared in a low carb Facebook group I’ve in, and I knew right away I had to make them, with my own spin, of course.

Low Carb Sausage-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers are the perfect example of a recipe that doesn’t feel like a “diet” recipe. How could it when it’s packed with cream cheese, pepperjack cheese, and sausage? These little bites are wonderful as an appetizer or a snack, and I think they’d be great as a side for dinner, too.

Looking for a snack that's satisfying to low carb eaters and non-low carb eaters alike? These spicy, cheesy, and perfectly crunchy Low Carb Sausage-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers will have everyone coming back for more.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: food, Gluten-Free, Health, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, snack — Tagged With: appetizer, cheese, low carb, peppers, recipe, recipes, sausage, snack

Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken

February 22, 2018 by Abby

Did you know you can make Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken? It’s great for eating as-is, but it’s also wonderful for using in recipes or freezing for later!

Did you know you can make Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken? It's great for eating as-is, but it's also wonderful for using in recipes or freezing for later!

It took me a long time — like, nearly a year — to really find a groove with my Instant Pot. I just didn’t take the time to figure it out. Even during that time, though, I was still using it regularly to make chicken.

We eat a lot of shredded chicken. While we rarely have it as a main dish, I use it often as a condiment of sorts, an ingredient in our meal, like these Baked Green Chile Chicken Taquitos. You’ll almost always find a container of seasoned shredded chicken in our fridge for use in recipes or just for whipping up a chicken and cheese quesadilla.

You might also like: Honey Balsamic Chicken Marinade

In the last year, all of that chicken has been prepared in the Instant Pot. Here’s the beauty of Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken: it’s easy (I know, I said that already), it’s flavorful, it’s fast, and it’s totally customizable. I love that I don’t have to tend the chicken like I would if it was cooking on the stovetop, and it’s ready much faster than if I baked it. The pressure-cooking of the Instant Pot seals in the flavor, and I swap out spices to develop any profile I’d like.

Did you know you can make Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken? It's great for eating as-is, but it's also wonderful for using in recipes or freezing for later!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: dinner, food, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, supper — Tagged With: chicken, dinner, easy, easy weeknight meal, instant pot, low carb, recipe, recipes, supper

Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos

January 4, 2018 by Abby

For an easy weeknight meal that’s low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

For an easy weeknight meal that's low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

I’ve been eating low carb for a few months now and, I have to say, the only thing that eases the pain of giving up bread is the promise of all the cheese I can eat. I’ve developed some outstanding recipes lately, but I’ve also eaten a lot of iterations of the chicken and cheese combo. One of my favorite way to showcase those two staples is alongside poblano peppers (you might remember Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip or Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce). Considering my love for poblanos, stuffing them with a filling mixture of cheese, chicken, spices, and cheese is a natural fit.

Sometimes it feels like eating healthier means spending a ton of extra time in the kitchen, which is why these effortless Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos are especially popular in my house. They’re easy enough to throw together for lunch, but hearty enough to make a satisfying supper. Add to that the endless filling possibilities, and you’ve got a recipe that’s likely to snag a regular spot in your dinner rotation.

For an easy weeknight meal that's low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: dinner, food, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, supper — Tagged With: cheese, chicken, dinner, low carb, poblanos, recipe, recipes, roasted peppers, supper

Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip

October 16, 2017 by Abby

Loaded with three cheeses, shredded chicken, and pops of roasted poblano peppers, Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip is the perfect crowd-pleaser for any get-together.

Loaded with three cheeses, shredded chicken, and pops of roasted poblano peppers, Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip is the perfect crowd-pleaser for any get-together.

My love affair with poblano peppers continues. It began with Roasted and Poblano and Onion Quesadillas, and then it heightened with Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce. Now things are really ramping up with this Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip. Let’s be real here: you just cannot go wrong with a good dip recipe, especially as college football season heats up. But when that dip comes packed with three kinds of cheese, hearty shredded chicken, and the mild flavor of roasted poblanos? Then it becomes irresistible.

The dip is baked, which results in a dish of creamy, melty goodness. Once the dip is warmed through, you fire up the broiler to get the cheese on top especially gooey and golden. It’s awesome served warm immediately after baking, but you can also refrigerate it, either before or after baking. Whether you’re preparing it in advance or baking immediately, this Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip will be the recipe your friends and family can’t get enough of.

Loaded with three cheeses, shredded chicken, and pops of roasted poblano peppers, Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip is the perfect crowd-pleaser for any get-together.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: food, Gluten-Free, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, snack — Tagged With: appetizer, baked, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, low carb, pepper jack cheese, peppers, poblanos, recipe, recipes, snack

Two Ingredient Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse

August 31, 2017 by Abby

With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

Since my gluten-free experiment morphed into low-carb eating (it seemed to make the most sense), I haven’t had too much trouble curbing my sweet tooth. That’s not to say I haven’t craved sweets at all because, well, duh. Clearly I love chocolate. My solution to the need for chocolate? This stuff right here.

When we were in Oregon over the summer, my sister-in-law requested a low carb/ketogenic dessert to celebrate her birthday, so I made this Two Ingredient Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse. To make it a little more special, I turned the mousse into parfaits. I layered it with sliced strawberries and topped it off with homemade whipped cream that I made using the leftover cream and a little sweetener (I used a sugar alternative, but I can’t remember which one).

It was a huge hit, even with those of us who were still regularly indulging our sweet tooths (sweet teeth?). The mousse was so good that I made it again during that visit, and now I’m making it at home. This mousse is the perfect evening treat to keep in the fridge. A little goes a long way due to its richness, so a batch lasts me about a week.

With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: food, Health, in the kitchen, low carb, recipes, snack, sweets — Tagged With: chocolate, dessert, five ingredients or less, gluten free, heavy cream, low carb, mousse, no-bake, recipe, recipes, sweets

logo
Food Advertisements by

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

* indicates required
Daily Boutique Deals
Crazy 8
logo
Food Advertisements by
logo

Food Advertisements by

Copyright © 2023 · Designed by Beautiful Dawn Designs