Adopt a Gluten-Free Blogger is hosted by Sea of Book of Yum this month.  This is my first time participating, and I have chosen the perfect blogger to adopt, considering that I’ve been eating deliciously clean foods all month. I’ve adopted Hallie of Daily Bites, because her recipes are exactly what I need right now. They’re wholesome, gluten-free, dairy-free, and utterly delicious! Hallie is a certified Nutrition Educator who creates fresh, seasonal dishes as well as healthy alternatives to common comfort-foods.  If you haven’t visited Hallie’s blog, you must, but let me first give you a sample of the culinary delights that you’ll find once you’re there.

Hallie’s Roasted Squash and White Bean Skillet was first on my list of seasonal dishes to try. It was so delicious that I didn’t just make it once.  It was in such high demand that we needed a second round.  This butternut squash, kale, carrot, and cannellini bean dish is made in a skillet, so the naturally sweet vegetables, the caramelized onions, and the raisins all blend together to create a sweet, savory experience.  It’s satisfying enough to stand alone as a main entree, or you can serve it as a side dish with a simple piece of baked chicken.

We’ve been smoothie crazy this month, so I was excited to try Hallie’s Green “Creamsicle” Smoothie.  It was creamy, packed with nutrients, and jaw-droppingly delectable.  Was this really dinner, or did we skip right to dessert?  With spinach, avocado, mango, cucumber, and banana, it was a combination of the two, but even more than the incredible taste, I was impressed by two things.  The texture was like silk, and the satisfaction factor scored a ten out of ten.  Do you ever make a smoothie and then end up hungry a few hours later? If so, you know that you skimped on your nutrients, possibly your healthy fats.  With this “Creamsicle” you will definitely be satisfied until you next meal.

Hallie also introduced me to something that I didn’t even know existed.

I had never even heard of red rice until I made Hallie’s Red Rice, Cucumber, and Avocado Salad.  This is a cold salad with a light, crisp taste.  It would be perfect on a hot summer evening, but even in the winter it made a refreshing lunch.  The spicy red onions and the tangy lemon zest enhanced the flavors of the cucumbers and avocado, while the roasted pumpkin seeds and red rice gave the dish depth.

I still have several other recipes from Hallie that I’m dying to try.  (Remember those healthy versions of comfort food that I mentioned?)  Check out Hallie’s blog called Daily Bites and choose a few of your own!

You can find all of January’s Adopt A Gluten-Free Blogger posts in early February on Sea’s blog Book of Yum.  It will be a wonderful round up that you won’t want to miss.

Enjoy!