Category Archives: Uncategorized

Spaghetti Squash Alfredo with Spinach

Posted in “Keto” friendly, Keto, Low Carb, Spaghetti Squash, Uncategorized, Vegetables by

This is so yummy, “keto” friendly and gluten free. Inspired by a TikTok recipe we saw.

Ingredients

  • 1 spaghetti squash halved and seeded
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups shredded pizza cheese blend or mozzarella – 1 cup for the base & 1 cup for on top
  • 1 cup shredded parmesan
  • 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Crushed red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups spinach chiffonade – cut thinly

In a casserole dish place the squash skin side down so the hollowed out center is up. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and equally put the parmesan and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella in each half.

Season the milk or cream with the seasonings and pour half into each squash. Add a cup of spinach to each half and mix with a fork. Top with the rest of the cheese and bake in 400 degree oven covered with tin foil for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake 10-15 more minutes to brown the top. Remove and with a fork scrape the squash into strands while mixing with the cheesy spinach sauce. Enjoy!

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Shrimp Scampi Pizza

Posted in Pizza, Uncategorized by

A delicious pizza, perfect for an appetizer at your next party or a movie night in.

Start by roasting 2 heads of garlic. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the tops off of each garlic head and place on a big piece of tin foil in a baking dish. Drizzle the head of garlic with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and wrap up the tin foil so that are in a pouch. Roast for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Turn oven up to 425 for the pizza.

While the garlic is roasting. Take 1 lb of precooked shrimp, already deveined and tails pulled off. Chop into small pieces and marinate in extra virgin olive oil, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

We use an uncooked pizza dough but you can use a precooked one and skip this next step. If your pizza dough is raw, brush olive oil on a sheet pan and roll your dough out to fit the pan. Brush more olive oil on top, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste and bake in 425 degree oven for about 6-8 minutes.

Take the dough out and squeeze the garlic cloves out of the garlic skins right onto the pizza and spread it out like you would a sauce. Then sprinkle about 1 cup of grated Parmesan on it. Top it with the shrimp and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and cook in a 425 degree oven for about 6-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Remove from the oven and garnish with parsley and the juice of one squeezed fresh lemon.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Posted in Uncategorized by
This is such a yummy recipe! Perfect for
banana bread and chocolate lovers!

Makes two loaves: 3 really ripe bananas. The riper the better. Mash them well in a large mixing bowl. Add two beaten eggs, 1 stick of melted butter slightly cooled so you don’t scramble the eggs! 1 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Combine and then slowly add to combine 2 1/2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips. Then pour into two greased bread pans. Add more chocolate chips on top and some brown sugar and bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes depending on your oven.
The brown sugar and extra chocolate chips on top make it even more delicious!
Alex loves it!

Mussels in White and Garlic

Posted in Uncategorized by
Clean the mussels in cold water and remove any beards. This is 3 lbs of mussels for 4 of us
In a large pot melt one stick of butter with 3 Tbsp of olive oil and sauté 10 cloves of minced garlic and 1 minced onion. Then add the juice of one lemon, a cup of white wine and a cup of chicken broth or fish broth.
Add the mussels and cover to steam until the open. If a mussel doesn’t open discard it.
Once all the mussels open, pour into a bowl and serve immediately with warm bread!

Enjoy!

Sesame Noodles!

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We hope all our readers are well! We now have lots of time to cook with our families and blog. This Sesame Noodle recipe is a family favorite!

Sugar snap peas, sliced red peppers and chopped scallions
Ingredients for the sauce.
Combine 1 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar, 4 Tbsp sesame oil, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 Tbsp honey, 2 Tbsp garlic paste, 2 Tbsp ginger paste, 1 cup creamy peanut butter.
Whisk the sauce to combine. You can add Sriracha sauce if you want it spicy.

Cook, drain and cool 1 lb of thin spaghetti. Add the snap peas and chopped vegetables. Pour the sauce over and mix. Can garnish with toasted sesame seeds and a lime wedge.

Enjoy!

Chicken Marbella…Full of Flavor and Easy to Prepare!

Posted in Chicken Marbella, Chicken recipe, Entertaining, Fall/Cold Weather Recipes, Good for a crowd, Holidays, Recipes, Uncategorized by

  Chicken Marbella is a simple yet delicious recipe that is easy to prepare. It can be made ahead of time so it is great to serve when guests are over. This goes well with fettuccine alfredo, cous cous, rice, potatoes…or a salad.

This is Betsy’s version…. (serves 6-8)

  • 6-8 pounds chicken (I use the thick chicken breasts cut in half) but this can be made with chicken thighs, legs etc…
  • 12 oz bite size Pitted Prunes (if they are large cut them in half)
  • 3.5 ounce jar of capers (drain the liquid before adding it)
  • .5 ounce bottle of oregano (I only had 1/2 bottle and it worked)
  • 6 bay leafs (can use more for decoration)
  • 1 garlic bulb minced (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 cup stuffed Pimento Olives (drain before adding)
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup dry white wine (cooking wine is ok to use)
  • 1/4 cup parsley (optional)
  • 1 table spoon sea salt or kosher salt
  • 2 table spoon pepper

Combine all (except brown sugar, white wine and parsley) in a baking dish and marinade for 8 hours or overnight. Before baking add the white wine, brown sugar and parsley. I had to use 2 baking dishes and I added more red wine, olive oil, white wine and sugar as it did not look as juicy as my moms. I doubled the amount of each…(make sure to add equal amounts to balance the flavor. So 1 cup oil to 1 cup red wine vinegar etc…)

Bring to room temperature and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until chicken is done… enjoy!

SIMPLE & DELICIOUS SUMMER SALADS!

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Tomato & Kale

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Black Bean, Corn & Avocado in Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

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Alexandra’s Simple Summer Salad

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EASY SUMMER SALADS 

These are all delicious served alone or as a side to chicken, fish or meat

Alexandra’s Summer Salad

  • 2 cups Romaine
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 3/4 cups grapes, halved
  • 1/2 an avocado, diced
  • light vinaigrette of 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

  • 1 box orzo, cooked and drained
  • 3/4 cups red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
  • 1/2 capers drained
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup crumbled feta
  • 1/2 basil, chiffonade
  • Balsamic Vinaigrette :  1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 1/4cup extra virgi  olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
  • Cook and drain the orzo.  Toss the orzo in the vinaigrette and set aside to cool for about 15 minutes while you chop the olives and tomatoes.  Then add all the ingredients and toss together.

Tomato and Kale Salad

  • 2 large ripe tomatoes cut into wedges
  • 1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced
  • 3 cups kale,  chiffonade. We like baby kale because it is a little less bitter
  • 2 cups chick peas
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • Red wine vinaigrette : 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
  • Toss all the ingredients together in the red wine vinaigrette

Black Bean and Corn Salad in Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

  • 3 ears of corn, cooked and taken off the cob, about 1 1/2 cups. If you are feeling lazy use 1 can of drained canned corn
  • 1 1/2 cups black beans
  • 2 Red Bell Peppers diced
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 1 cup cilantro chopped
  • mix all of these ingredients together.  Then toss in the juice of 3 limes, 1/2 cup olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, and optional 1/4 teaspoon chili powder for some heat
  • lastly add 1 avocado diced (always toss avocado in last so it doesn’t get really mushy)

Enjoy!

AWESOME IDEAS FOR SUMMER WATERMELON

Posted in Entertaining, Recipes, Recipes Great for Warm Weather, Uncategorized by

watermelon discs watermelon and kiwi watermelon margarita watermelon-blueberry-salad watermelon and feta skewersWatermelon-Slices-Beach

 

WATERMELON is one our favorite Summer treats! 

It is outstanding with Feta, pureed into a yummy frozen drink and delightfully refreshing in a salad.  It is also perfect to slice up, seal in a plastic container, put it in the cooler and take to the beach for a refreshing snack!

Watermelon and Blueberry Salad

  • 1 Tbsp Honey
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh mint
  • 1 cup seedless watermelon, cubed
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup arugula
  • Toss watermelon and blueberries in the honey and lemon juice. Pour over the arugula. Top with chopped mint.

 

Watermelon and Goat Cheese Discs – Rum is optional

  • Cut a seedless watermelon into small round disks about a half inch thick
  • Using a metal round disc/cookie cutter/jigger (shot glass/alcohol measurer) makes cutting the disks very easy
  • RUM IS OPTIONAL – If you are keeping it safe for the little ones – skip this step – Pour rum (I used Captain Morgan) into a shallow dish with sides to hold the liquid, about 1 cup. Place watermelon in the rum and set in the frig for 30 minutes, flipping watermelon half way through so both sides soak. Remove watermelon from the rum
  • Top with goat cheese disk/mound that you press with your finger to make a disk (cold wet hands help)
  • Drizzle with balsamic drizzle
  • Top with chopped fresh mint
  • Refrigerate until ready to enjoy

Watermelon and Feta Skewers

  • cube seedless watermelon and feta into same size cubes
  • top with basil
  • stick a toothpick in it

 Watermelon Margaritas

  • Puree 1 1/2 cups seedless watermelon, 1 cup tequila, 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, 1/2 cup orange liquor or triple sec, 1 Tbsp agave or simple syrup, and 3 cups ice in a blender
  • Pour into 4 glasses and garnish with slice of watermelon and lime wedge
  • Optional salted rim

Watermelon, Kiwi, Feta (Rubik’s Cube)

  • Cut Watermelon, Kiwi and Feta into squares
  • Place 9 squares on bottom (any order you like, but mix it up)
  • Do 2 more layers of this on top so you have 3 layers all together
  • If it is not staying in place you can stick a toothpick through it on one side to keep the shape
  • Garnish with mint or basil (optional)
  • Drizzle with Olive Oil (optional)

Enjoy!

Chic and Carefree Lifestyle

Posted in About us: Our Mission, Uncategorized by

Welcome to Chic and Carefree Lifestyle!

Our mission is very simple, we want to help you live a more chic and carefree life!

We will share our tips on all aspects of home, health, fashion, decor, food, entertaining, well being and inner peace, so you can enjoy all the things life has to offer. Each week we will send you tips on different topics keeping it stress free and budget friendly.

Where will we come up with these fabulous solutions? We will pull from our own experiences and from others.  We will edit the best ideas we find so you don’t have to.  Who has time to read every magazine, blog, post, pin, tweet, etc? We will do it for you and send out the best tips, ideas and solutions.

If you have any ideas to share, we would love to hear from you. If you want to receive our emails please sign up on this blog. Follow us on Twitter @chicandcarefree, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook.

Until next time be as chic and carefree as possible.

Love,

Alison & Lauren

Sisters who keep it “Chic and Carefree”