Downstairs For Dinner Cristina Stephenson

Do you use a secret ingredient in one of your meals to make it taste fantastic or to add nutrients? In today's episode I talk about one of my secret ingredients for my homemade tomato sauce. It is the one, the only...drumroll please....THE CARROT! 

I use carrots for 3 reasons: 


to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes
to add a natural sweetness instead of using sugar
to sneakily add extra veggies to my kids dietary repertoire

Growing up with an Italian mother, purchasing jarred sauce was a BIG SIN in my family (LOL) so I have never done that. I have always made my own.  If you would like my recipe, click here to see the video or if you don't like videos, I have posted it below.  

INGREDIENTS: 


Three 28oz cans Italian plum tomatoes
Garlic, chopped (never let anyone tell you how much garlic to use...even me!) 
Two or three Tablespoons olive oil 
One small carrot, grated on a plane grater (not shredded, minced, chopped, sliced or diced.  GRATED, I mean it!) 
Fresh basil, chopped, or about 2 teaspoons dried herbs of your choice 
Salt and pepper to taste  

METHOD: 


In a large pan on medium heat, saute garlic in olive oil just until fragrant (about 30 seconds) 
Pour in tomatoes with juice
Add in grated carrot 
Add dried herbs if using (if using fresh basil, wait until the end) 
Stir and mash up tomatoes with masher or back of a fork (alternatively you can run them through the blender BEFORE cooking)
Cover pot and bring to boil  
Bring heat to low, take the cover half off of the pot and let simmer about 30-40 minutes until the sauce thickens to your preference. 
Add fresh basil and serve

Makes a healthy amount of sauce, but if it's too much, freeze it.  Keeps in the freezer for 6 months. When ready, either thaw or pop it frozen in a covered pot on low heat. Stir occasionally and serve when hot. 


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downstairsfordinner/support

What is your favorite cookbook these days and why? 

I have many and the one that I share today is one that I have used over and over again for the last 10 years. It is called "The Best Homemade Kids Snacks On The Planet" but Laura Fuentes. It's great if you have kids AND great if you don't.  

What I love about this lady (she wrote 4 cookbooks and I have all of them) is that she actually tries the recipes multiple times before she posts them.  Her handle on social media is www.momables.com or www.laurafuentes.com.   I love how she provides options for nut free, dairy free, egg free, and grain free. Her recipes are easy to follow, don't require one million ingredients and she is very budget friendly.   

Some of my favorite recipes in her book that I highlight here in my episode are her pancakes, kitchen sink muffins, breakfast cookies, DIY taco seasoning, fried rice, fruit leather, chocolate syrup, flourless chocolate cookies, and more.  

These links are NOT affiliate links. I just wanted you to know about them just because.  

In my episode I mention a video I made about homemade pie crust. Click here to see it. 

If you are looking for 5 GREAT chocolate recipes for you or your family that are easy to make click here. 

Downstairs For Dinner relies on the support of listeners like you. If you are loving the content, rate the show, share it with a friend and feel free to Buy Me A Coffee! 

Host Cristina Stephenson is a half Italian firecracker who is married to a sweet and feisty Alabama country boy. She has three shin kickers who give her gray hair and indigestion.  As a young child, Cristina lived in the upstairs apartment of a two-story home.  She went downstairs for dinner to her Nonna’s apartment every Sunday for an Italian feast.  These meals had a profound impact on her life.  This is a podcast about building connections through food.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downstairsfordinner/support

What is your favorite cookbook these days and why. I have many and the one that I share today is one that I have used over and over again for the last 10 years. It is called "The Best Homemade Kids Lunches On The Planet" but Laura Fuentes. It's great if you have kids AND great if you don't.  What I love about this lady (she wrote 4 cookbooks and I have all of them) is that she actually tries the recipes multiple times before she posts them.  Her handle on social media is www.momables.com or www.laurafuentes.com.   I love how she provides options for nut free, dairy free, egg free, and grain free. Her recipes are easy to follow, don't require one million ingredients and she is very budget friendly.   Some of my favorite recipes tin her book that I highlight here in my episode are her pancakes, kitchen sink muffins, breakfast cookies, DIY taco seasoning, fried rice, fruit leather, chocolate syrup, flourless chocolate cookies, and more.  These links are NOT affiliate links. I just wanted you to know about them just because.  If you feel inspired to support my channel, click here.  Host Cristina Stephenson is a half Italian firecracker who is married to a sweet and feisty Alabama country boy. She has three shin kickers who give her gray hair and indigestion.  As a young child, Cristina lived in the upstairs apartment of a two-story home.  She went downstairs for dinner to her Nonna’s apartment every Sunday for an Italian feast.  These meals had a profound impact on her life.  This is a podcast about building connections through food.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downstairsfordinner/support

Hi spaghetti head! Do you ever wish you could make your baked goods healthier for you or your family but don’t know how? I have some ideas that I share with you in this episode. I made banana bread, peanut butter bread and chocolate cake this past weekend for my kids’ lunchboxes. I used the following ingredients to make these treats a wee bit more healthy: 

1) flax eggs  - my son has an egg allergy so these do the trick. 1 Tablespoon + 3 Tablespoons warm water = 1 egg

2) coconut oil - I use this instead of butter because my daughter has a dairy allergy. Substitute 1:1 ratio butter to coconut oil. You can use refined (does NOT taste like coconut) or unrefined (DOES taste like coconut). 

3) collagen peptide powder (or protein powder). The protein helps mitigate blood sugar spikes from the carbohydrates. 

4) Monkfruit - a plant based sugar which doesn't spike blood sugar levels like regular cane sugar. You can also try using date sugar, coconut sugar, real maple syrup or honey. Experiment with amounts and see which one you like the best. 

I would love to know what ingredients you use to make your baked goods healthier! Drop me an email at info@downstairs for dinner or you can text me at 518-360-1676.  

https://cristinastephenson.bio.link/




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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downstairsfordinner/support

This bonus episode is in direct response to recent news articles regarding the FDA cautioning people to avoid three powdered baby formulas;  Similac, Alimentum and EleCare  If you are feeding your baby these formulas and find yourself in a panic, I want to extinguish your fear and present you with options.  Ten years ago I was not physically capable of nursing directly and I figured out how to make a dairy free baby formula for my first born child due to her severe milk protein allergy.  I did this at a time when no one was doing this and gave it to all three of my children as they were born. They are all healthy and thriving.  In this episode I talk about the story behind my homemade dairy free baby formula and how not to fear it.   If you would like the ingredients and method, I have listed them in my podcast video show notes, found on my youtube channel.  Be sure to click on the notes BELOW the video to view the recipe.  Also, between time stamp 14:02-15:40 I added some photos of my kids before and after I gave them the formula so you can see their progress.  This recipe is adapted from Nourishing Traditions, Weston A. Price foundation. The original recipe calls for whey, but as my daughter has a whey allergy, I eliminated it.

Learn how to master your confidence, self esteem and knowledge in the kitchen, improve your relationship with food and with your kids, transform your health and shine like a disco ball while momming. Join host, coach, author and mom Cristina Stephenson as she helps women feel more optimistic, inspired and fulfilled in their kitchen and with their kids through food trainings, on-air coaching calls and expert interviews.

Did someone say free? You’re darn tootin! Cristina is here to help with a few free tools to help jumpstart your health and maintain it for the long haul. Click the links to start your healthy adventure.


Guide To Alternative Sweeteners
Retro Meal Planner & Shopping List Template
Internal Temperature Guide for Meat/Fish/Poultry/Bread

Let's stay in touch:


You can find me and all the good stuff here: http://cristinastephenson.bio.link
Text me your tricky food questions at 770-609-4963, or just text me and tell me how you are and what you want to know more about! I love hearing from you.

"I love Cristina and Outlets of Joy!"  If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, move toward a life of feeling more inspired, healthy and fulfilled.  Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with five stars and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode.

Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast.  I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and if you are not following, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now!

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downstairsfordinner/support

Find out how this Army veteran military police officer, bomb and drug dog handler, master military working dog trainer, pet photographer, and mom shares several ways of how she finds her shimmer while momming.  From not knowing how to do something but taking a chance on something new, my darling friend Melissa, hopes to inspire other women to take on an activity that interests them, even when they don't know the first thing about it. Her courage and persistence will no doubt inspire you to take action in your life too. 

You can find Melissa here:


Beauty: https://www.instagram.com/cea.beauty.creations/
Pet Photography: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_bonar_photography/
Dog Powered Sports: https://www.instagram.com/tennessee_urban_mushing/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissabonarphotography

Learn how to master your confidence, self esteem and knowledge in the kitchen, improve your relationship with food and with your kids, transform your health and shine like a disco ball while momming. Join host, coach, author and mom Cristina Stephenson as she helps women feel more optimistic, inspired and fulfilled in their kitchen and with their kids through food trainings, on-air coaching calls and expert interviews.

Did someone say free? You’re darn tootin! Cristina is here to help with a few free tools to help jumpstart your health and maintain it for the long haul. Click the links to start your healthy adventure.


Guide To Alternative Sweeteners
Retro Meal Planner & Shopping List Template
Internal Temperature Guide for Meat/Fish/Poultry/Bread

Let's stay in touch:


You can find me and all the good stuff here: http://cristinastephenson.bio.link
Text me your tricky food questions at 770-609-4963, or just text me and tell me how you are and what you want to know more about! I love hearing from you.

"I love Cristina and Outlets of Joy!"  If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, move toward a life of feeling more inspired, healthy and fulfilled.  Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with five stars and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode.

Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast.  I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and if you are not following, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now!

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.




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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downstairsfordinner/support