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American Chop Suey

June 7, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

American Chop Suey is a classic comfort food. Because it’s a budget-friendly and adaptable one-pot dish, it’s a popular option for an easy weeknight meal.

This dish goes by so many different names. You may know it by Goulash, Johnny Marzetti, Macaroni Red, Goulash, Johnny Marzetti, Macaroni Red, Slumgullion, Chili Mac, Hamburger Casserole Slumgullion, Chili Mac, Hamburger Casserole or Beefaroni. But whatever you call it, you won’t be disappointed by the abundance of flavors in this beloved American meal!

What’s In American Chop Suey?

The core ingredients consist of ground beef, sautéed onions, a hearty tomato sauce and tender elbow macaroni. However, there are many regional variations. In addition to our favorite blend of ingredients, many choose to add green pepper, mushrooms and even cheese. Since it’s a flexible and forgiving recipe, you have the liberty to add your personal favorites to the base ingredients.

Origin Of The Name?

First of all, this dish has nothing to do with Chinese food in any way. In Cantonese, the character for chop suey is tsaâp suì, meaning “mixed bits.” There is a belief that the take-out dish was invented by a Chinese chef in the United States. Because it’s made out of mixed bits, he named it tsaâp suì. The Cantonese pronunciation was later converted to chop suey by Americans. Eventually, the dish evolved into an Italian-American staple. However, there does not seem to be a consensus on the exact origin of the dish or its name.

American Chop Suey

American Chop Suey is a classic comfort food. Because it's a budget-friendly and adaptable one-pot dish, it's a popular option for an easy weeknight meal.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword american chop suey

Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 lbs ground beef lean
1 tbsp italian seasoning
2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes including liquid
1 cup water
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce optional
salt and pepper to taste (I use about 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper)
3 cups elbow macaroni uncooked

Instructions

According to the directions on the box, cook the elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Brown the ground beef and onion on medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain grease.
Add the garlic and cook over medium heat for about 1 minute.
Stir in the Italian seasoning, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, water, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until the mixture begins to boil. Then simmer for approximately 20 minutes.
Stir in the elbow macaroni to the mixture and serve hot.

Recipe Notes

We prefer to serve with French bread and a side salad.

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How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree With Growing Kit For Under $20

June 5, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

We all love creamy, decadent, delicious avocados. Avocados love us back with loads of healthful nutrients, fiber and the right fatty acids. Wouldn’t it be great to learn how to grow your own avocado tree so you can pick fresh ones every day? A simple solution has become available with the AvoSeedo Avocado Tree Growing Kit.

Now, you can grow your own avocado trees:

Quickly and easily.
Totally indoors.
For less than $20.
With an easy kit that comes with full instructions.

How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

If you’ve ever tried to grow plants from an avocado seed sitting on toothpicks, you know that avocados are easy to grow indoors. Some instructions make it more complicated than it has to be.

With this $20 kit, you don’t need any fancy tools, a green thumb or any gardening knowledge at all. You simply:

Place an avocado pit in the avocado-shaped boat.
Float the boat in a small amount of water.
Wait 3 to 6 weeks for your seeds to sprout.
Once you have full plants, transfer them to a plant pot.

Make Some Family Fun

The kit easy enough for children to do. Gardening with your kids is one of the best things you can do for their emotional and mental health. This kit makes it easy to explore the wonders of gardening even if you live in a high-rise.

Brighten Up

In just a few weeks, your avocado plant will grow strong and healthy. There’s nothing like a live, growing plant to brighten up your home and your mood.

Plants clean the air, add color and can even reduce your stress levels. Avocado trees make lovely houseplants with their dark, glossy leaves.

Get Everything You Need

The AvoSeedo Kit comes with everything you need. You get the avocado boat in your choice of pink, blue or green, the water bowl and the plant pot. It works with any type of avocado seed.

If you love plants and you love avocados, it’s time to get busy growing.

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Piña Colada Sangria

June 1, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. 1 Comment

One sip of Piña Colada Sangria and you’ll be transported to a warm, tropical wonderland! It’s the perfect summertime party drink and it only requires 3 simple ingredients.

Ingredients Needed for a Piña Colada Sangria

Moscato is my preferred choice for wine because of its sweeter taste. I used Middle Sister for this batch. It goes especially well with the sweet pineapple and coconut flavors. But if sweetness isn’t your thing, you may want to use a dryer white wine instead.
Twenty ounces of crushed pineapple from a can (including the juice).
A tropical splash of Coconut Rum adds the finishing touch to this refreshingly delicious cocktail!

Directions for Making a Piña Colada Sangria

Since summers were meant to be carefree and relaxing, I love easy to make drinks that can be made by the pitcher. There’s nothing more to it than mixing all the ingredients in a large pitcher, stirring well, and then refrigerating until chilled. It can’t get much easier than that!

Piña Colada Sangria

One sip of Piña Colada Sangria and you’ll be transported to a warm, tropical wonderland! It’s the perfect summertime party drink and it only requires 3 simple ingredients.

Course Drinks

Keyword pina colada, sangria, moscato, rum, cocktail

Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

2 750 ml bottles moscato
20 oz can crushed pineapple
1 1/2 cups coconut rum
mint, pineapple wedge or maraschino cherries optional garnishes

Instructions

In a large pitcher, combine the Moscato, crushed pineapple and Coconut Rum.
Stir well.
Refrigerate until chilled.
Garnish with mint, a pineapple wedge or with maraschino cherries. (optional)

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Pineberry: Real Strawberry With A Sweet-Tart Pineapple Flavor

May 23, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. 7 Comments

Coming across a white fruit that looks oddly like the standard strawberry will give you pause. Introduce yourself to the pineberry. This fruit looks just like a strawberry, except it has white skin and red seeds.

History of the Pineberry

The Fragaria family includes dozens of different strawberry varieties, including the common red cultivar. A pineberry is a descendant within the strawberry family. It’s believed to come from the North American variety and Chili cultivars.

Pineberries simply evolved over time as more seeds were planted from the Fragaria family. They’re popular in Europe and the United States as more people come to know this non-genetically modified fruit.

How Does a Pineberry Taste?

Taste and smell are linked in the human psyche, so pineberries give you a sensation from both of these perspectives. They have a sugary aroma and a mild taste.

In fact, you might feel like you’re biting into a tiny pineapple. This fruit’s acidic taste, however, is missing from the pineberry. Enjoy the pineapple’s essence without the acidic bite.

Keep in mind that pineapples aren’t related to this fruit at all. It’s simply a natural coincidence.

Exploring the Nutritional Aspects of the Pineberry

There are only 43 calories in 3.5 ounces of pineberries, reports My Fitness Pal. You also gain a few nutrients, such as potassium, calcium, vitamin C and more.

Remember that pineberries are fruits with natural sugars. If you’re trying to cut back on carbohydrates, eating these berries in moderation is key. They’re otherwise healthy additions to your diet.

Growing the Almighty Pineberry

Burpee suggests planting pineberries in loose, well-drained soil. Give each plant about 18 to 24 inches of space around them.

The Fragaria family is known to put out runners or plant extensions. Pineberries will continue to spread through your regularly watered garden.

Grow these plants in pots too. You’ll control the runners with this strategy. Apartment dwellers can enjoy their own fruits as a result.

Give your backyard garden a fruiting jewel with the tasty pineberry. The fruits are decorative and sustainable. You’ll be the talk of the town with these distinct plants in your edible garden.

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Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

May 19, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

Bread and Butter Pudding is a delicious comfort dessert with a creamy-custardy center and a golden-buttery top. It’s so easy to make and the ingredients are cheap and readily available.

How To Make Bread and Butter Pudding

Any type of bread can be used – white, wheat, french, brioche, croissants or even hamburger and hot dog buns. Because it’s better at absorbing liquid ingredients, stale bread is preferred over fresh bread. It’s a great way to get rid of leftover bread instead of letting it go to waste.

First, cut off all crusts on whichever bread you decide to use.

Then spread butter on both sides of each slice of bread.

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Layer the slices of bread into a large ovenproof dish. Scatter the raisins and ¼ cup of sugar between each slice. Altogether you should end up with approximately 3-4 layers of bread. Then beat together the eggs and ¾ cups sugar into a large mixing bowl until combined.

Now heat the milk and cream in a large saucepan until they reach a boil.

Then pour the boiled milk and cream over the egg mixture. Whisk together until smooth.

Slowly pour the mixture over the buttered bread and let it stand for approximately 10 minutes. Bake the mixture in the oven for 40 minutes or until completely set.

Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

Bread and Butter Pudding is a delicious comfort dessert with a creamy-custardy center and a golden-buttery top.

Course Dessert

Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

1 loaf bread any type of bread works, but leftover stale bread works best
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
3/8 cup golden raisins (or sultanas)
1 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup cream

Instructions

Cut off all the bread crusts. Spread butter on both sides of the leftover slices.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Layer the bread in a large ovenproof dish, scattering the drained raisins and ¼ cup of sugar between each layer of bread. Altogether you should end up with about 3 or 4 layers of bread.
Add the eggs and ¾ cups sugar into a large mixing bowl. Beat together until combined.
Heat the milk and cream in a large saucepan until a boil is reached.
Pour the boiled milk and cream over the egg mixture. Whisk together until smooth.
Slowly pour the mixture over the buttered bread and let it stand for approximately 10 minutes.
Bake the mixture in the oven for 40 minutes or until completely set.

Recipe Notes

Optional: Before adding the golden raisins between each layer of bread (Instruction #3), soak them in 3 tbsp of warm brandy or rum. Set aside to cool.

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Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

May 6, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

These Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts are the perfect treat for birthdays or any other special occasion. They are soft, sweet, easy to make, and so delicious! Because they are baked and not fried, they taste more like cake and have more of a dense texture than a fried donut.

How To Make Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

The first step is to beat the eggs, butter, vanilla, and sugar until smooth.

Then in a separate bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, salt, and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture and beat until combined.

Now it’s time to add the milk and mix until smooth.

Then for my favorite part, fold in the rainbow sprinkles. It’s okay to use the little ball sprinkles (nonpareil) on top of the donuts AFTER putting on the glaze. However, do not put these kind of sprinkles directly in the batter. They will bleed into the dough and ruin the color. Instead, use the longer, thicker sprinkles seen below.

Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the pans to cool for a few minutes before removing the donuts and allow them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk until smooth. Add food coloring one drop at a time until the desired color is reached.

Dip the cooled donuts in the glaze and top with additional sprinkles.

Now it’s time to enjoy your fresh Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts filled with sprinkles!

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

These Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts are the perfect treat for birthdays or any other special occasion. They are soft, sweet, easy to make, and so delicious!

Course Dessert

Servings 12 donuts

Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups gluten free baking flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles

For the Glaze

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two six-count donut pans by spraying generously with cooking spray.
Beat the eggs, butter, vanilla, and sugar until smooth.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, salt, and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture and beat until combined.
Add the milk and mix until smooth.
Fold in the rainbow sprinkles.
Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow pans to cool for a few minutes, then remove from pans and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk until smooth. Add food coloring one drop at a time until desired color is reached.
Dip the cooled donuts in the glaze and top with additional sprinkles.

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Coconut Lime Bread

April 26, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

One bite of this Coconut Lime Bread and you’ll be whisked away to a tropical paradise! Moist, soft, and slightly sweet, it’s perfect with coffee or a cup of tea!

This cake-like bread is bursting with coconut goodness and flavors from the tropics. The delicious lime glaze is perfectly balanced between sweet and tart. It’s a great choice for breakfast, brunch or a snack. In fact, it’s a great choice any time of day!

5 from 1 vote

Coconut Lime Bread

One bite of this Coconut Lime Bread and you’ll be whisked away to a tropical paradise! Moist, soft, and slightly sweet, it’s perfect with coffee or a cup of tea!

Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

2 eggs room temperature
1 1/4 cups whole milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
zest from 3 limes
2 1/2 cups flour all-purpose
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut sweetened
1 cup sugar granulated
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon ground
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp butter unsalted, room temperature

Lime Glaze

1 cup sugar confectioners
2-3 tbps lime juice fresh
zest from 1/3 lime

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray 9x5 loaf pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, add the eggs, milk, vanilla extract and lime zest. Mix to combine.
Set aside.
Using a stand-up mixer on low speed, combine the flour, coconut, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
Continuing on low speed, pour in the egg mixture and mix until just combined.
Now add the butter and mix until combined.
Pour the batter into your loaf pan.
Bake for 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Once the bread is cooled, make the lime glaze.

Lime Glaze

In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners sugar and the lime juice.
Drizzle the glaze over the bread.
Sprinkle with the lime zest.

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Honeycrisp Apple Broccoli Salad

April 21, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

This Honeycrisp Apple Broccoli Salad is loaded with crunch and full of healthy ingredients. The delicious, creamy dressing blends the sweet and tangy flavors together. It’s a perfect salad to make ahead of time and great for potlucks, picnics and parties!

What Makes This Honeycrisp Apple Broccoli Salad Special?

One thing I absolutely LOVE about this salad is that it can last for multiple days without getting soggy. I would even argue that the flavor is enhanced as it marinates in the refrigerator for a few days.

I also love the versatility of this salad. Depending on your preferences and/or diet restrictions, you can easily modify the recipe to make it healthier or a little more decadent. For example, you can add crumbled bacon, use maple syrup instead of sugar, or substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise.

About This Apple Broccoli Salad

In my opinion, this salad is the best way to enjoy raw broccoli. The sweetness of the apples and sugar go a long way in balancing out the natural bitterness of the broccoli.

This is my all-time favorite lettuce-free salad. I just love the burst of flavor with each crunchy bite. And best of all, this recipe is super easy to make and full of vitamins and nutrients.

Honeycrisp Apple Broccoli Salad

Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

1 head broccoli prepared (instructions below)
16 oz package fettuccine broken into 2-inch pieces
1 honeycrisp apple washed and chopped
2 large carrots peeled and grated
4 stalks celery washed and sliced
1 small red onion peeled and chopped
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup green onions
12 strips bacon cooled and crumbled (optional)

Dressing Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sugar
5 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice fresh squeezed
1 tsp garlic minced
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Instructions

Broccoli Preparation

With a paring knife, cut the Broccoli crown (that's the fluffy looking bright green part on top) away from the stem. Set stem aside.
Pull the crown florets apart, and then cut the small florets away from the small stems that are holding them, and you should end up with bite size florets.
Take the large stem you set aside, and cut both ends off and discard.
Slice the remaining stem into bite size pieces, and put all the Broccoli, stems and floret pieces, in a colander, and thoroughly wash under cold running water until clean. Let drain in colander.

Salad Instructions

In a medium stock pot filled 3/4 full of hot water, bring the water to a boil, adding a little olive oil or butter and a pinch of salt to the water.
Break the fettuccine into 2 inch pieces. Place in boiling water.
Turn the heat to low and cook for 6 minutes, or until pasta is al dente (done, but still a little firm).
When fully cooked, transfer fettuccine to a dish with a slotted spoon or pasta strainer.
Place broccoli in the same water used to cook the fettuccine. Bring the water to a boil, turn down the heat to low, and cook for two minutes.
Drain broccoli in the colander, and set aside to cool.
While the fettuccine and broccoli are cooling, wash and peel the carrots. Either grate them with a grater or shred them in the food processor.
Wash and slice the celery. Peel and chop the red and green onions.
Place the cooled, drained broccoli and the fettuccine in a serving dish. Add the carrot, celery, and red and green onion. Place dish in the refrigerator.

Dressing Instructions

In a small bowl add the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk all together until well blended and then place in the refrigerator.
Wash and chop the apple and then add to the salad.
Immediately pour the dressing over the salad. Add the raisins and then toss all ingredients together to coat the pasta and vegetables with the dressing.
Place the salad back in the refrigerator.
OPTIONAL: Cook the bacon and drain on paper towels. When bacon has cooled, and right before serving the salad, crumble the bacon over the top of the salad.
Serve as a side dish, on a buffet, or as a starter in place of lettuce salad. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

If possible, add ingredients in the order the recipe states. Make sure you add the apple last and pour the dressing immediately on the salad (the dressing contains lemon juice which helps to keep the apple from turning brown). All apples turn brown after cutting or chopping, but lemon juice will help to retain the natural apple color.

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Avocado Chocolate Mousse

April 20, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

This Avocado Chocolate Mousse is not only a healthy choice for chocolate lovers, but it’s also one of the easiest dessert recipes you’ll ever make! It’s so rich, creamy and chocolaty that you’ll forget it has avocados in it. And for those of you on diet restrictions, it’s good to know that this is a vegan, dairy free, paleo, and gluten free treat!

How Does Avocado Chocolate Mousse Taste?

I am guessing that some of you are skeptical about using avocado in a dessert. Well, to be perfectly honest, I was skeptical myself. After all, we have been conditioned to believe that an avocado is not a versatile fruit. We love it in foods like guacamole and salads, but most of us are not used to adding it to sweets.

Avocados go especially well with chocolate because of their thick, buttery consistency. The creamy texture makes them a perfect match for rich, decadent desserts. Even though medium avocados contain about 29 grams of fat, they are deceptively healthy. This is due to their high concentration of monounsaturated fat, which can lower LDL cholesterol.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can’t taste the avocado. What you will taste instead is a silky smooth mousse that is full of chocolate flavor with just the right amount of natural sweetener.

How To Make Avocado Chocolate Mousse

In a food processor or blender, add the avocados, cocoa powder, coconut milk, honey (or Stevia), vanilla extract, and banana.

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the container. Blend again, making sure all ingredients are blended thoroughly.

Remove the blending container and cover. Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour, until completely cold, before serving. Serve 1/3 cups of Mousse, topped with a sprinkling of chocolate chips and raspberries. Enjoy!

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

2 large avocados ripe
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp coconut milk (or almond milk)
3 tbsp honey
1/3 cup Stevia (optional substitute for honey)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 banana
4 tsp dairy-free chocolate chips
1/2 cups red raspberries

Instructions

In a food processor or blender, add the avocados, cocoa powder, coconut milk, honey (or Stevia), vanilla, and banana.
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Scrape down the sides of the container. Blend again, making sure all ingredients are blended thoroughly.
Remove the blending container and cover. Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour, until completely cold, before serving.
Serve 1/3 cups of Mousse, topped with a sprinkling of chocolate chips and raspberries. Enjoy!

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