Yes, you can roast a whole spaghetti squash without cutting it in half first. Most spaghetti squash recipes call for slicing the squash before baking, but that step can feel intimidating—and even dangerous—without a large, very sharp knife. This easy, hassle-free method shows you how …

I have been making my Mom’s Classic Deviled Eggs for years. Mom would make them for almost every family gathering and party. If people were coming over for Christmas dinner, New Years Day, a Superbowl party, Easter dinner, or a summer barbecue then most likely …

When I did my first Whole30 challenge I wasn’t sure if I would like chili without beans. How silly. Yes, chili tastes just fine without beans! This turkey chili has such a unique flavor profile my husband and my guests rave about it. What’s funny …

This is one of our favorite meals to serve to guests.  I’ve served this hearty salad after-church for a Sunday lunch as well as a weeknight dinner for guests. Actually, this is more than a mere salad. It’s a meat-and-potato salad. This is a meal …

Finally, a whole-food healthy version of nachos. These delightful bites are grain-free and dairy-free. Plus, peppers are a good source of vitamin C. Whether you want to enjoy a nutritious appetizer or introduce others to a healthier option these mini-pepper nachos are easy to make …

I love getting the wonton soup that comes with my dinner at Chinese restaurants. It qualifies as comfort food. If we are honest with ourselves, some wonton soups are better than others. Who knows what’s in the soup from restaurant to restaurant. Does it have …

Leaving behind processed foods and embracing a more whole and real food diet can sometimes be a shock to the wallet. Why is it that food not good for us costs less? Why does eating healthy cost more? Hmm. I’ll have to save that for …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Raise your hand if you’ve had at least one box of “Hamburger Helper” in your lifetime. We all love those one pan meals! Now we can enjoy some nostalgia with a simple low-carb version and stay in ketosis. I’ve made this once a week for …

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 …

If you are one of the many people making low-carb recipes a part of their lifestyle then this recipe might come in handy. I was able to transition from “needing” a bun to just putting the burger on a salad.  This is one of my …

This is one of my favorite tried and true recipes. I’ve been making this recipe for over 10 years and I’ve made it dozens and dozens of times. I make them just for my husband and me. I make them for guests and they love …

I have been on a major frittata kick lately. It seems that between leftovers and the staples I have in my my refrigerator I can make a frittata out of just about anything. The flavor combination of spinach, tomato, and feta makes for an especially …

I don’t know why I have waited so long to blog about this salad. My husband and I have enjoyed this salad for years. We serve it to company. You can serve it family-style, split between six bowls, or split between two bowls. Add some …

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 …

I love making a big pot of chili for dinner. I have made chili with ground beef, chili with ground turkey, and chili with leftover roasted turkey. All of these variations are delicious. I crave them all from time to time. I couldn’t help but …

We love Caesar salad in our house. We make it often. So when we got our new Weber gas grill this summer the very first thing I made was a grilled chicken Caesar salad. By “grilled” I mean grilled chicken, grilled Romaine, grilled baguette slices, …

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. …

This salad is a family favorite. We eat it all the time. My father-in-law recently stayed with us and when I asked him what some of his favorite “bites” were during his stay the first thing he said was “Caesar salad.” Wow. I was surprised…a …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

You know how when you are shopping for a new or used car, and you’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of makes and models, and then you start seeing those cars on the road everywhere? Have you ever had that experience with recipes? …

After making Homemade Beef Stock I ended up with some leftover beef that was perfect for soup. I love it when my cravings go with what I have in the pantry: pearl barley, carrots, celery, onions, diced tomatoes, and homemade beef stock. Soup’s on! One …

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 …

Friends recently came over with a large pot of gumbo in hand. I loved it, and after a brief interview, I began forming this recipe in my mind. My friend used different proteins, but shrimp and sausage gumbo sounded so good to me. However, I …

Spinach salad with leftover turkey coupled with pomegranate seeds is the cure after a couple of days of Thanksgiving leftovers. Soon after the big turkey day, I want a salad. I crave salad. I need a salad. This is a colorful and refreshing concoction items …

Are you wondering what to do with all the Thanksgiving leftovers in the refrigerator right now? This is a great time of year for a Turkey, Spinach, and Cheese Panini. Paninis are grilled Italian sandwiches. They became popular in the 1970s and 1980s in Italy. …

Turkey Chili—Texas Style is Made with leftover Roaster Turkey. The day after Thanksgiving means that people are out shopping, putting up Christmas decorations, working on Christmas cards, looking for leftover turkey recipes, or all of the above.  I typically make soup with my leftovers, like …

This is not-your-ordinary fruit salad because tomatoes, olives, and avocados are not often thought of as fruits. Technically, they are fruits. Add apples to the ingredient list and that makes four fruits in this salad. This salad is a bit like a party in your …

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 …

What should you do when you are craving a hearty chicken soup, but don’t want any grains or higher-carb vegetables involved? That’s how this “Chinese Chicken Soup” recipe was born. I starting thinking about all my favorite chicken soups. When I thought about “wonton” 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 …

I’m not sure where this tradition started, but I’m glad for it. I was introduced to “ham buns” around the first of February last year. The youth group in our church sold them for $2.50 each (and they freeze well). Until that point in my …

Everyone loves my Mom’s potato salad—even when I make it! I have been making my mom’s potato salad for several years, mostly for large gatherings. I’ve made  it for 4th of July parties, potlucks, and even a wedding with hundreds of people. This is one …

One Friday night after a long week at work, I ordered something “new” at a Mexican restaurant called Pollo Nevado. My college education was substantial enough to clue me in this translates as “snow chicken.” I’ve eaten at this restaurant several times since, but now, …

When my husband and I have a busy in our lives we have a tendency to not think about what we eat.  We derail from a health lifestyle – and throw all dietary guidelines out the window, eating whatever we want whenever we want.  When …