Category: Paleo

Basil Pesto (Dairy Free)

Basil Pesto (Dairy Free)

Can you make pesto without cheese? Yes! The last time I went to the store they had large tubs of basil and I couldn’t resist. The weather is good enough to grill now and basil screams summer to me. I love pesto with pasta, of 

Tomato and Zucchini Frittata (Dairy Free)

Tomato and Zucchini Frittata (Dairy Free)

I love my original Zucchini Frittata recipe. However, many people can’t have cheese or choose not to have cheese if they are doing a 30-day elimination diet. So, I altered my original recipe to create this dairy free version. The main difference is this frittata 

Roasted Broccoli with Lemon-Garlic Gremolata

Roasted Broccoli with Lemon-Garlic Gremolata

We all know that broccoli is good for us. Why exactly? It provides vitamin K, vitamin C, a variety of B vitamins, calcium, potassium, loads of amino acids, and fiber. Not to mention broccoli contains cancer-fighting antioxidants and feeds your gut microbiome.  Until recently, I’ve 

Hamburger Salad with Bacon and Onion Relish and Sweet Potato Croutons

Hamburger Salad with Bacon and Onion Relish and Sweet Potato Croutons

If you are carb conscious one of the very first things you learn is skip the bun on a burger and swap it for a lettuce wrap, or have the burger with a side salad. That’s why I love Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. They have 

Spicy Sweet Potato Home Fries

Spicy Sweet Potato Home Fries

Doing a Whole30 challenge brought sweet potatoes back into my life. I shunned all potatoes, fruit, and starchy vegetables for far too long. I put them in a “bad food” category. I’m recovered from that thinking. I now know that they are good for me 

Mom’s Hamburger Gravy (Makeover)

Mom’s Hamburger Gravy (Makeover)

Hamburger gravy is something that my Mom made often when I was growing up. It was one of my favorites. I decided it was time to give mom’s recipe a make over in order to replace that beloved can of cream of mushroom soup with 

Homemade Chicken Stock (Stove Top, Pressure Cooker, and Slow Cooker Methods)

Homemade Chicken Stock (Stove Top, Pressure Cooker, and Slow Cooker Methods)

I have been making homemade chicken stock for years. I started making stock from scratch because I wanted to know exactly what I was eating, and I thought it would taste better. It does taste better! A lot better as a matter of fact. Years 

Housemade Southwest Seasoning

Housemade Southwest Seasoning

When my husband and I lived in Michigan there was an Outback Steakhouse right down the street. We often would “belly-up” to the bar and order wings for an appetizer. If we didn’t get steak for our entrees we would order salmon or pork. The 

Smashed Cauliflower “Potatoes” (3 Ways)

Smashed Cauliflower “Potatoes” (3 Ways)

I originally posted this recipe in 2009. Since then it’s received over 30,000 views. I would love to think that I’ve helped families embrace cauliflower and not be so dependent on potatoes for every meal. Don’t get me wrong. I love potatoes and believe they 

Sweet Potato Hash with Chorizo, Onion, and Asparagus

Sweet Potato Hash with Chorizo, Onion, and Asparagus

I have been aware of the term Whole30 for awhile. Someone I knew did a Whole30 challenge about a year ago and I could tell she lost weight. Recently, another friend on Facebook posted a picture after completing the challenge so I visited Whole30.com to 

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Balsamic, and Dried Cherries

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Balsamic, and Dried Cherries

Brussels sprouts weren’t on my radar. I don’t remember the first time I had them. I don’t remember my mom making them. My best guess is that I was at a restaurant that served them roasted. I was probably at a steak place with friends 

Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Flat iron steak is my new favorite steak for two main reasons. One, it tends to be a bit less expensive than flank steak. Two, it’s easy to cut into even portions which is perfect for entertaining. The other day I bought a 1.5 pound 

Simple Chimichurri Sauce

Simple Chimichurri Sauce

Chimichurri is a sauce or marinade for grilled meats and vegetables. The main ingredients are parsley, olive oil and a little acid. The sauce can very greatly from recipe to recipe. Personally, I don’t like too much vinegar or acid. Also, I don’t like it 

Brisket in Half the Time [Gas-Grilled and Oven-Finished]

Brisket in Half the Time [Gas-Grilled and Oven-Finished]

When you don’t have time (or a smoker) you can make brisket in half the time using a gas grill and finish it in the oven. For the last three years my husband and I have bought a half side of beef. It’s an amazing 

Summer Garden Vegetable Bolognese in a Slow Cooker

Summer Garden Vegetable Bolognese in a Slow Cooker

Whether you are enjoying the bountiful abundance of vegetables from the produce section of your grocery store, your local farmer’s market, or your own garden this is a delicious way to infuse more veggies in an otherwise traditional pasta sauce. Pasta used to be a 

Tuscan Lemon and Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken on a Gas Grill

Tuscan Lemon and Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken on a Gas Grill

I love to grill chicken as long as the temperature is warm enough. I plan on doing as much outdoor grilling as possible. Two of my favorite things about grilling: That open-flame flavor (especially if I add wood chips on the grill). A clean kitchen 

Gas-Grilled Chicken Thighs with an Asian Flair

Gas-Grilled Chicken Thighs with an Asian Flair

I thought I bought three packs of chicken breasts. But, no, turns out I bought boneless skinless chicken thighs. I must say that thighs are not my favorite. As a matter of fact, it’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve started liking 

Bacon and Onion Relish (Perfect for a Burger Bar)

Bacon and Onion Relish (Perfect for a Burger Bar)

Recently, friends invited my husband and I to a dinner party where the theme was “burgers.”  Everyone was supposed to bring a burger condiment as well as a side dish or dessert.  I decided to bring a bacon and onion relish. It was a huge 

How to Cook Thick-Cut Pork Chops with Pan Sauce

How to Cook Thick-Cut Pork Chops with Pan Sauce

Thick bone-in pork chops start in the oven, sear in a pan to finish so they don’t get dried out, and are topped with a quick pan sauce.

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce leaves make a great vehicle for low carb meals and snacks. Recently, I was craving an egg salad sandwich, but I didn’t want to have the added carbs with this particular meal. I thought why not put it in a lettuce leaf. This seems 

Braised Carnitas (Easily Adapted for a Crowd)

Braised Carnitas (Easily Adapted for a Crowd)

I’ve made “Pulled Pork” for sandwiches a few times. The spices that I use in that recipe are great for roasts and sandwiches, but not so much for Tex-Mex applications.  I love the pork served at Chipotle and wondered if I could even come close. 

Salsa – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Salsa – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

In full disclosure this is a semi-homemade salsa because this recipe uses canned tomatoes. Someday if I run across amazing tomatoes from a farmer’s market, or if I grow my own then I’ll make a 100% homemade version. That said, this salsa tastes so fresh 

Shredded Chicken Tostadas on Home-Baked Flour Tortillas

Shredded Chicken Tostadas on Home-Baked Flour Tortillas

Fresh, light, and filling are words my husband used to describe one of our new favorite weeknight dinners. These tostadas are a great use of the “Mexican Shredded Chicken” from my previous post. Dinner can be on the table in 30 minutes. Using fresh salsa, 

Mexican Shredded Chicken in a Crock Pot

Mexican Shredded Chicken in a Crock Pot

Have you ever gone to the store and seen chicken on sale because the “sell by” date is in the next day or two? Or, maybe chicken is on sale “just because.” A few days ago I saw boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for 

Buffalo Wings – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Buffalo Wings – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

I am a Buffalo Wing snob and this recipe is inspired by Outback’s Kookaburra Wings. I won’t go as far to call these a copycat. However, my husband and I agree they are so much better than wings we’ve had at many restaurants. We have 

Mom’s Oven-Roasted Barbecued Ribs

Mom’s Oven-Roasted Barbecued Ribs

Recently someone asked my husband who makes his favorite barbecued ribs. I was so proud when he said, “my mother-in-law.” My mom does make the best ribs. The ribs she makes are the bar by which I judge all other ribs. I grew up on 

Grated Zucchini Pancakes – 3 Ways

Grated Zucchini Pancakes – 3 Ways

When I find myself in an abundance of zucchini I turn to this Zucchini Frittata recipe or this dairy free Tomato and Zucchini Frittata. But, one day I wanted to do something different and I did have plenty of zucchini in the fridge. After a 

Cinnamon Tea (Iced or Hot)

Cinnamon Tea (Iced or Hot)

My husband and I had the privilege to vacation in Costa Rica a couple of months ago. One of many activities that we enjoyed was going to Rainforest Spices. Of all the things people can do on vacation you probably wouldn’t think that going to 

Fresh and Simple Guacamole

Fresh and Simple Guacamole

I have to confess that I’ve made this guacamole recipe a few times. The problem is that I’m usually whipping it up so fast I forget to take pictures of all the steps. Now, I think I have enough pictures to piece together for a 

Homemade Beef Stock (Crock Pot or Stove Top)

Homemade Beef Stock (Crock Pot or Stove Top)

Soup is still on the menu at our house since the weather has been running hot and cold for the past few weeks.  I’ve made plenty of chicken stock based soups but I was craving something hearty with beef. The first time I attempted homemade 

Oven-Broiled Peel-and-Eat Shrimp with Garlic-Butter Zip Sauce

Oven-Broiled Peel-and-Eat Shrimp with Garlic-Butter Zip Sauce

This Oven-Roasted Peel-and-Eat Shrimp can be prepped in advance and broiled in minutes. The garlic-butter zip sauce from this recipe exists in my refrigerator as a staple, so I’m always looking for creative ways to use it. The inspiration for this recipe is from a 

Fresh Fruit Platter for a Crowd

Fresh Fruit Platter for a Crowd

When recently volunteering to prepare fresh fruit for 50 people, at first I thought I would create  a couple of  extra large fruit salad bowls similar to my “Strawberry, Orange, and Grape Salad with Basil” post.  After doing some shopping and seeing what looked fresh, 

Pan-Seared Oven-Finished Salt and Pepper Rack of Lamb with Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus

Pan-Seared Oven-Finished Salt and Pepper Rack of Lamb with Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus

It was the day before Easter and I still didn’t know what to make for our Easter dinner.  This year it was going to be dinner for two, my husband and me. This was good news since “life” had been busy lately. I had already 

Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Sauce

Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Sauce

One of my favorite appetizers is a classic shrimp cocktail. If shrimp cocktail is on our menu, it’s probably a special occasion.To be honest, I’ve always bought frozen or thawed precooked shrimp; I have yet to buy raw shrimp and boil it myself for shrimp 

Oven-Roasted Green Chilies

Oven-Roasted Green Chilies

Now you can make your own Oven-Roasted Green Chilies. They are fresh tasting and you can make a big batch for less money then buying them in cans. I love certain convenience foods. Don’t get me wrong. Canned soups, beans, and green chilies out of 

Homemade Turkey Gravy (Large Batch)

Homemade Turkey Gravy (Large Batch)

Homemade Turkey Gravy is the “Thanksgiving Sauce” that brings everything together on the plate. It’s notorious for helping to hide overcooked and dry turkey breast meat. But, made with quality ingredients can be intensely infused with the best savory Thanksgiving flavor—the turkey neck, defatted drippings, 

Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes – Restaurant Style

Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes – Restaurant Style

I remember being surprised the first time I ordered chicken in a restaurant and there was 1/2 of a chicken on my plate. I’m calling this Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes “restaurant style” because I’ve left the chicken cut in half like you get at 

Pan-seared Oven-finished Salmon with Barbecue Sauce

Pan-seared Oven-finished Salmon with Barbecue Sauce

Salmon was an acquired taste for me. I finally started liking it in my twenties. Up to that point the only salmon I ate was my Mom’s salmon patties with ketchup. One night when I was out to dinner with a few coworkers on a 

Grandma’s Polish Kapusta with Pork Spare Ribs

Grandma’s Polish Kapusta with Pork Spare Ribs

Writing about this recipe is a little surreal because I didn’t know this Grandma. I never met her. I think she died before I was even born. You see, my dad is the youngest of ten kids and he loved this meal so much that 

Mostly Vegetable and Turkey Soup

Mostly Vegetable and Turkey Soup

Recently, my husband and I entertained another family for dinner. Our guests were unexpectedly surprised with a menu that was Thanksgiving part II. We did the whole thing all over again: roaster turkey, crock pot mashed potatoes, classic turkey stuffing, etc. We were all happily 

Chicken Shish Kebab

Chicken Shish Kebab

Chicken Shish Kebab is a classic example of Mediterranean food which I love. I might go as far as saying that it is my favorite type of food. However, I would like to travel extensively all over the Mediterranean just to make sure! Mediterranean food 

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Now I know what the fuss is all about. I think everyone knew about kale chips except for me. Several months ago I saw an episode of Down Home with the Neely’s on Food Network. When I finally got around to making these and tasting 


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