ELENA MCCOWN
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Living Life Balanced Blog

Christmas Cookie Decorating Virtual Cooking Class

11/24/2020

1 Comment

 
Christmas Cookie Decorating Virtual Cooking Class: a charcuterie, old fashioned, christmas cookie, frosting and decorating class with gluten free and dairy free recipes by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Christmas Cookie Decorating Virtual Cooking Class: a charcuterie, old fashioned, christmas cookie, frosting and decorating class with gluten free and dairy free recipes by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Christmas Cookie Decorating Virtual Cooking Class: a charcuterie, old fashioned, christmas cookie, frosting and decorating class with gluten free and dairy free recipes by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
This year has been ONE TOUGH COOKIE. While we might not all get to be together like we hoped for this Christmas...we are going to still celebrate in the best way we know how!

Life is what you BAKE it after all!

Join us on Saturday, December 12 at 5:00pm (CT) via Zoom to enjoy all of our favorite Christmas festivities together (with us and your loved ones) - eating, enjoying a good drink and baking up some cookies and then decorating them!


We will be making:
Charcuterie Tray - I'll show you a simple way to make your board look beautiful and taste great - perfect to snack on while drinking our cocktails and frosting some cookies! Can be made gluten-free and dairy-free.
Holiday Old Fashioned - a Christmas spin on this ol' classic! Mocktail version available.
Oatmeal Rolled Sugar Cookies with Frosting - Delicious, unique, tastier cousin to the sugar cookie. We will cut these out in our favorite Christmas shapes and top them with a creamy frosting and sprinkles. Can be made gluten-free and dairy-free.

Please keep in mind, this is not Holiday Baking Championship and I will not be showing you how to professionally decorate your cookies, it is all just for fun. The cookie recipe is on me, but the decorating is all on you and your family ;) While I will show you how to do some piping, I emphasize that I will NOT be showing you how to do perfectly decorated cookies. This is more of a homestyle, old fashioned type of frosting and decorating - all in good fun with sprinkles galore. 

This is a perfect event for a fun date night, a kid-friendly family affair, or just as a way to connect with others! This class will be a little different from the ones in the past since there won't be as much cooking...which means more time for mingling (if you want)!

This class will also come with a Spotify playlist of Christmas songs to get us all in the spirit! Dress festively and be prepared to have fun! 


$20 per household. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for event invites to each cooking class.

Sign-up today to secure your spot by clicking on the Options button below.

After you register, the week before class starts, you will receive an e-mail with a list of ingredients so you can buy your groceries and prepare ahead of time! You will receive your Zoom meeting information 15 minutes before class begins. See you then!

Register for this class by selecting Christmas Cookie Decorating and then Add to Cart. By clicking Add to Cart you agree to the Agreement, Waiver and Release below. For information and to register for other classes, click here.
Options
Hold Harmless Agreement, Waiver and Release

In consideration of being permitted by Elena McCown, LLC to participate in a virtual cooking class, I hereby waive, release and discharge any and all claims for damages or personal injury, death, or property damage which I may have or which may hereafter accrue as a result of my participation in said activity. This release is intended to discharge, in advance, Elena McCown, LLC, its officers, directors, members and managers, and all other members of its virtual cooking school staff whether contracted, employed or related, from and against any and all liability arising out of or connected to in any way with any participation in said activity. I understand that the activity that I am participating in may be of a hazardous nature and/or include physical and/or strenuous activity, that serious accidents occasionally occur during the said activity; and that participants in the said activity can occasionally sustain personal injuries as a consequence thereof. I also recognize that all people react to food differently and I will avoid the foods that I know I am allergic to and will ask for substitutions when necessary. Knowing the risks involved, nevertheless, I have voluntarily applied to participate in said activity, and I hereby agree to assume any and all risks of injury or death and to release and hold harmless Elena McCown, LLC, its officers, directors, members and managers, and all other members of its cooking school staff whether contracted or employed, or related, who might otherwise be liable to me. I further understand and agree that this waiver, release and assumption of risks is to be binding on my heirs and assigns. I hereby grant Elena McCown, LLC all rights and consent to copyright, use, re‐use, publish or re‐publish, copy, exhibit or distribute all photographs I have posted of the food I created to be used for Elena McCown, LLC website, social media, and any educational, training or promotional electronic or printed material without restriction as to frequency or duration of usage and without compensation. By agreeing to this waiver by clicking BuyNow, I acknowledge that I have carefully read this Hold Harmless Agreement, Waiver and Release and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and Elena McCown, LLC and any staff member of cooking class whether contracted or employed, or related.
1 Comment

Vegan Queso

11/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Oh. My. Goodness. I am so excited about this recipe. I wanted to make nachos the other day and I had everything I needed except the cheese. I decided to try a spinoff of the sauce I used in my Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta and I accidentally created the best vegan queso ever! Now, I have had some delicious vegan quesos BUT I feel like they normally are made out of nuts (yet another thing that my stomach sometimes seems to struggle with sometimes) and are very heavy and dense. I wanted to create something lighter, that I could have more than 1-2 Tbsp of as a serving...and then this vegan queso was born. Enjoy. Tell everyone about it. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, delicious.
Vegan Queso; gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan recipes by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 6-8
 
Ingredients
  • 6 Tbsp olive oil
  • 5 Tbsp gluten-free all purpose flour (I used this)
  • 4 cups unsweetened plain Ripple pea milk
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (I used this)
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp ground mustard seed
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup salsa
 
Directions
  1. Add the 6 Tbsp olive oil to a large pot on the stove and turn to medium high heat.
  2. Add the flour and quickly mix while whisking pretty vigorously.
  3. Add in the pea milk and continue to whisk, breaking up any clumps. Continue to cook until sauce starts to boil and thicken.
  4. Once it reaches your desired thickness remove from the heat and stir in the mustard, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard seed, paprika, pepper and salt. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
  5. Add a little more milk and whisk if it needs to thin out a bit.
  6. Add salsa and stir (this will thin it out a bit more as well).

​If you like this recipe, download the Prepear app for more of my recipes (plus thousands of others), meal planning, grocery list creating AND grocery ordering from Walmart!
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Stir-Fry

11/20/2020

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Stir-fry is one of those impressive meals that you can throw together quickly from pantry/fridge/freezer staples. Add whatever veggies you have on hand (we usually have a bag or two of frozen mixed stir-fry veggies like broccoli, carrots and water chestnuts), a protein (we also usually have frozen shrimp on hand but anything else would work), a carb/starch (noodles, quinoa, rice, potatoes, etc), and a sauce (we like the peanut butter sauce to add some healthy fat) and BOOM a fantastic meal appears! Try this the next time you are craving some stir-fry and it won't disappoint! Bonus: it can be gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan...or not! It's a meal everyone can enjoy.
Stir-Fry, gluten-free and dairy-free recipes by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce, low-sodium (I like using coconut aminos)
  • 4 tbsp sweet chili sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (or 2)
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 4 cups stir fry vegetables, frozen
  • 16 oz peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 1 cup dried quinoa (or 4 servings)
  • 2 cups blackberries
 
Directions
  1. Cook the quinoa according to the directions on the package.
  2. Grab a large bowl and mix the peanut butter, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce and water until it is nice and creamy.
  3. Heat oil in a large wok or pan on medium-high heat until it starts smoking.
  4. Add the garlic and frozen veggies and stir until heated through.
  5. Reduce the heat a little and add the sauce and shrimp and cook until opaque.
  6. Add a little more water to make the sauce creamier (if necessary) and let simmer for 3-5 minutes.
  7. Serve over quinoa.
  8. ​Serve with 1/2 cup blackberries each.

​If you like this recipe, download the Prepear app for more of my recipes (plus thousands of others), meal planning, grocery list creating AND grocery ordering from Walmart!
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Quesadillas

11/18/2020

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Growing up in Texas, we ate Mexican food allll the time. So for me, comfort food = Mexican food. Anyone else? While I love the authentic stuff, I also enjoy making different versions of my favorite meals at home. This is mainly because I can't eat certain ingredients at restaurants. Quesadillas used to be one of my favorite things to order so I wanted to make a quick, healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian recipe! This recipe is something you can throw together in no-time....plus, it's cheap and doesn't use that many ingredients! I used beans because they are an affordable alternative to meat and they still make the quesadillas taste delicious! If you don't have any food allergies then you can still make this with whole wheat  flour tortillas and regular cheese. Enjoy!
Quesadillas: gluten-free, dairy-free and sometimes vegan/vegetarian recipes by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 8 gluten free corn tortillas (or plain gluten-free)
  • 15 oz can black beans (low sodium) (rinsed and drained and smashed to make refried beans)
  • 1 cup vegan mozzarella cheese (or vegan cheddar - I love Miyokos Farmhouse Cheddar)
  • 2 cups spinach, chopped
  • 1 can chopped green chilies
  • 4 green onions, sliced
  • 4 tbsp salsa
  • 4 apples
 
Directions
  1. On one tortilla, spread refried beans to within 1/2 in. of edges. Sprinkle with cheese; top with chilies, spinach, onions, another sprinkle of cheese and top with another tortilla. Repeat for the remaining 3 quesadillas.
  2. On a lightly greased griddle, cook quesadillas individually over medium heat for 2-4 minutes on each side or until browned and cheese is melted. Cut into wedges. Serve with salsa and 1 apple each.

​If you like this recipe, download the Prepear app for more of my recipes (plus thousands of others), meal planning, grocery list creating AND grocery ordering from Walmart!
0 Comments

Comfort Classics Virtual Cooking Class

11/4/2020

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Comfort Classics Virtual Cooking Class; virtual cooking classes with gluten free and dairy free recipes with alcohol by Elena McCown, LLC a health coach in Franklin, TN
Feeling FOWL? Cheer up by getting warm and cozy by making your favorite classic comfort food...chicken pot pie!

Join us on Saturday, November 21 from 5:00pm - 6:30pm (CT) via Zoom to slow down and enjoy making a comforting, warming, fall meal before all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins!

We will be making:
Chicken Pot Pie - a quick homemade biscuit mix topping stuffed with veggies and an already cooked rotisserie chicken as a nice little short-cut! (can be made gluten-free, dairy-free and/or vegan)
Red Apple Cider Sangria - a red wine based, fruity, yet not too sweet cocktail, spiked with a little something extra special
Cinnamon Apples - sautéed spiced apples - easy to make, healthy to eat, yet tastes like dessert! 

$20 per household. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for event invites to each cooking class.

Sign-up today to secure your spot by clicking on the Options button below.

After you register, the week before class starts, you will receive an e-mail with a list of ingredients so you can buy your groceries and prepare ahead of time! You will receive your Zoom meeting information 15 minutes before class begins. See you then!

Register for this class by selecting Classic Comforts and then Add to Cart. By clicking Add to Cart you agree to the Agreement, Waiver and Release below. For information and to register for other classes, click here.
Options
Hold Harmless Agreement, Waiver and Release

In consideration of being permitted by Elena McCown, LLC to participate in a virtual cooking class, I hereby waive, release and discharge any and all claims for damages or personal injury, death, or property damage which I may have or which may hereafter accrue as a result of my participation in said activity. This release is intended to discharge, in advance, Elena McCown, LLC, its officers, directors, members and managers, and all other members of its virtual cooking school staff whether contracted, employed or related, from and against any and all liability arising out of or connected to in any way with any participation in said activity. I understand that the activity that I am participating in may be of a hazardous nature and/or include physical and/or strenuous activity, that serious accidents occasionally occur during the said activity; and that participants in the said activity can occasionally sustain personal injuries as a consequence thereof. I also recognize that all people react to food differently and I will avoid the foods that I know I am allergic to and will ask for substitutions when necessary. Knowing the risks involved, nevertheless, I have voluntarily applied to participate in said activity, and I hereby agree to assume any and all risks of injury or death and to release and hold harmless Elena McCown, LLC, its officers, directors, members and managers, and all other members of its cooking school staff whether contracted or employed, or related, who might otherwise be liable to me. I further understand and agree that this waiver, release and assumption of risks is to be binding on my heirs and assigns. I hereby grant Elena McCown, LLC all rights and consent to copyright, use, re‐use, publish or re‐publish, copy, exhibit or distribute all photographs I have posted of the food I created to be used for Elena McCown, LLC website, social media, and any educational, training or promotional electronic or printed material without restriction as to frequency or duration of usage and without compensation. By agreeing to this waiver by clicking BuyNow, I acknowledge that I have carefully read this Hold Harmless Agreement, Waiver and Release and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and Elena McCown, LLC and any staff member of cooking class whether contracted or employed, or related.
0 Comments
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    Elena McCown, LLC Health Coach in Franklin, TN

    About Me

    I am a food loving, activity seeking health coach who resides in Franklin, TN with my husband and two sweet dogs (Lola & Penny).
    ​

    Allergies

    I believe everyone should eat balanced and not cut food groups if you don't medically need to. All foods can fit in a healthy diet. Unfortunately, I have to avoid gluten and also limit myself with dairy, so my goal is to provide healthy, gluten-free/dairy-free recipes so EVERYONE can enjoy all foods, even if you do have to cut out certain food groups. My recipes are encouraged for everyone to eat, not just for those with sensitivities/allergies! Most of my recipes can be easily converted by using real dairy and whole-wheat in place of my allergy-free substitutes. 

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Elena McCown, LLC Health Coach in Franklin, TN
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Shop My Favorites
  • Blog
  • Recipes
    • Prepear App
    • Appetizers
    • Baked Goods
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Meals and Sides
    • Smoothies
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Salads
  • Life
    • My Life
    • Programs
    • Workouts and Exercises
    • Wellness Information and Tips
    • Williamson County, TN Paths, Trails and Parks
  • Disclaimer/Privacy Policy/Terms of Service