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How-To Make Grain-free Granola {Paleo-friendly}
For my granola loving friends, I am super excited about this how-to and recipe. Most commercial granolas, even when gluten-free, are loaded with gut-upsetting grains, and worse yet – vegetable oils and loads of sugar. After lots of experimenting and playing around, I created the perfect base recipe for this paleo grain-free granola, with two variations. Sweet and Savory.
Using the formula for the base on this paleo recipe, you can get creative there with your favorite nuts and seeds and then when it comes to flavor combinations, the sky is the limit – so get creative and make it your own.
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Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
You guys have probably noticed a lot more simplified, entree-based recipes here on Tasty Yummies over the last few months. Much of this is due in large part to me having more nutrition clients and being able to speak one-on-one to the average, busy working person, who is oftentimes just beyond overwhelmed by the concept of making better choices with their food. This feeling of being unsure and overwhelmed can lead to failing before they even try. I hate hearing and knowing that. I also feel incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to step away from myself and see things from a different perspective. Food is my life but I know for many, even just one home cooked dinner a week is already more than what they are doing!
My first and foremost goal with this website has always been to inspire and empower, in the kitchen and with nutrition. I want everyone to know that eating well and making your health a priority, these things are totally accessible and possible. Read the rest of this entry »
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Grain-free Thai Chicken Meatballs with Coconut Red Curry Sauce {Paleo & Gluten-Free}
This recipe was a hit at our Super Bowl feast this year and while it may have taken me more than a month to get this blog post written up, it wasn’t for lack of loving this recipe.
These Grain-free Thai Chicken Meatballs with Coconut Red Curry Sauce are incredibly simple to pull together and the flavors run deep with this one. The creamy coconut based red curry sauce is thick and luscious, with a hint of very subtle heat from the red curry paste.
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How-to Build an Epic Grain-free Cheese and Charcuterie Board
When it comes to entertaining, boards are the ultimate in wow factor without a ton of fuss. More specifically I am a HUGE fan of cheese and meat boards. Selfishly when entertaining, since I prefer to avoid grains and greasy chips and snacks, cheese and charcuterie boards offer a great, pretty low maintenance way for me to have everything that I want, while still making all of my guests happy.
My cheese and charcuterie boards are generally focused around being totally grain-free and then depending on my guests, I will often have a generous pile of toasted crostini, that I serve to the side, separately for the non gluten-free or grain-free folks. I simple arrange sliced crostini in a single layer on a cookie sheet, brush both sides with olive oil and toss under the broiler for a few minutes on each side. Add a sprinkle of sea salt. It’s the fastest way to lots of toast.
Follow along for all of my tips on How-to Build an Epic Grain-free Cheese and Charcuterie Board.
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Caramelized Onion Jam
Inspired by our travels to England, this Caramelized Onion Jam is the ultimate condiment. Great on burgers or with a cheese board, on your trendy avocado toast or just with veggies.
Part of what I enjoy so much about traveling, is experiencing new and different foods. I love sampling local fare and being inspired by new and unique ways to bring flavors together. On our trip to England this fall, as you can imagine there was a lot of room to be inspired. I was particularly impressed by our time in England, the level of culinary experimentation and creativity, as compared to my trip there 15 years ago.
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Baked Eggs with Spinach, Chorizo and Salsa Macha {Paleo, Keto, Whole30}
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I am having a bit of a moment right now with Salsa Macha. It’s a very deeply rooted love affair and I have no shame in the fact that every single breakfast for the last week has featured it, among other meals and snacks.
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Salsa Macha
We returned home last Monday after spending over a week Loreto, Mexico, in the Baja California Sur, celebrating the nuptials of our very good friends, Debbie and Dan. Since I was coming off a full month + of exceptionally strict eating, since I did Whole30, I was feeling really, really great, but on top of it, I was also several weeks in on experimenting with the ketogenic diet, as an attempt to get my autoimmune kidney disease into remission (more on this soon as I continue to experiment).I had some slight trepidations in spending a week at a resort, both in how hard it would be for me to keep up my preferred way of eating, but also from the standpoint of my actual health and well-being, if 1 week away would ruin 1 month of hard work.
The answer is it wasn’t hard and no it didn’t.
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Lamb Ragù {Paleo and Gluten-free}
The comforts of food and it’s universal ability to connect us, has constantly come up as of recent, reminding me that this is one of the core reasons that I have found such a true and passionate love for cooking, food and more importantly serving the people I love.
This winter in particular I have noticed my cravings and my desires for food have changed quite drastically from previous seasons. I know, in part, some of that comes from the distinct and more winter-like season we have actually been experiencing here in Southern California, complete with rain storms and lots of cool, grey days. But it also occurred to me very suddenly as I was writing this, that in a time when there is so much uncertainty and unrest, so much aggression and fear, we are finding the need and desire for comfort and love wherever we can find it.
I was watching Michael Pollan’s Netflix series, Cooked, the other night, and while I can’t recall which episode in particular, of the four, that I heard this in, he so brilliantly and matter-of-factly said at some point “It’s no longer a given that people will cook.” I had never really thought about that, given the way that I grew up and the lifestyle choices I have made for myself. But, for centuries cooking was a given, it was absolutely obligatory to our survival. We had to cook in order to eat and we need to eat in order to live! I realized as these words touched my ears that this unknowingly is probably the largest part of what I enjoy so much about cooking every day. About cooking for the people I love. It feels like a gift! As a woman that has no children, cooking for other people is my moment to feel as if I am giving the gift of life. Because food IS life. It IS love.
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The Benefits of Wild Caught Fish and How to Source it Sustainably
From both an environmental and a nutritional standpoint, supporting sustainably sourced fish is something that matters a great deal to me. Just like meat that comes from properly raised animals that have access to pasture and sunshine, seafood caught using sustainable practices with an awareness for the environment should be a huge priority. From a nutritional standpoint, wild caught fish offers more benefits, like higher levels of beneficial omega-3 essential fatty acids. Of course, the taste and freshness of wild caught isn’t even comparable. Wild caught fish is in a league of it’s own.
The Benefits of Wild Caught Fish and How to Source it Sustainably
Wild Caught vs. Farmed
The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fat of wild salmon, is far superior to farmed. Farmed salmon has a 1-1 ratio of omega-3s and omega-6s (due to the “junk food diet” they are fed), while the ratio for wild salmon is generally between 6 and 9 to 1, which is a much more ideal and healthful ratio.
Wild salmon swim around in the wild, eating what nature intended them to eat. Therefore, their nutritional profile is more complete, with micronutrients, fats, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants like astaxanthin (which is what gives salmon its pink or red colored, flesh.)
In my opinion, farmed fish are the aquatic equivalent to factory farmed livestock, or confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) animals. Farmed fish generally live in very small, crowded quarters – typically pens or cages submerged in lakes, ponds, and other bodies of salt water, but sometimes on land as well. They also produce toxic waste, and fish of inferior quality. These fish are further contaminated by drugs and genetically engineered corn and soy meal feed, and in the case of salmon, synthetic astaxanthin, which is made from petrochemicals that are not even approved for human consumption. Wild caught fish, on the other hand, are caught by fisherman out in their natural habitat 1http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/15/wild-alaskan-salmon.aspx
References
1. ↑ http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/15/wild-alaskan-salmon.aspx -
Sheet Pan Crustless Quiche with Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese {gluten-free + keto, options for paleo and Whole30}
Sleeping in on the weekend, rolling out of the bed at a leisurely pace and enjoying a feast of a brunch, this is something we all long for.
Inspired by local and seasonal fare, the new Saturday brunch buffet at catalina kitchen, at Terranea Resort, goes beyond bacon and eggs to bring you the ultimate weekend brunch experience. A culinary adventure that is sure to satisfy every palate, the epic spread celebrates the best of what California has to offer, through fresh, inspired dishes.
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Charred Cauliflower with Balsamic Dark Chocolate Sauce and Almonds
If you are like me, there is never a shortage of super dark chocolate in your house. Since I’ve been experimenting and making my own dark chocolate bars the last few weeks, I have had more chocolate in the house than ever! Not at all a problem I am complaining about, but I am finding myself extra inspired by this gorgeous, silky, velvety, homemade dark chocolate.
This unique side dish take classic roasted cauliflower to new levels. Crisp-tender with a smoky char, the cauliflower gets the red carpet treatment with this luxurious, silky sauce, featuring the most unsuspecting of ingredients. Dark chocolate.
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How-to Make Homemade Dark Chocolate and the Many Benefits of Dark Chocolate
This homemade dark chocolate is simple to make and very easy to customize and make it exactly the way you want it, from sweeteners to flavorful add-ins. With constant research showing the many health benefits of dark chocolate, this is one indulgence I plan to never give up. A food that is not only good for your soul, but your mind and body as well?! Yes please. In fact new research has even reported that certain bacteria in the stomach gobble the chocolate and ferment it into anti-inflammatory compounds that are good for the heart 1https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140318154725.htm.
Sadly, not all dark chocolate is created equally. So many of the bars at the store contain soy lecithin, a ridiculous amount of refined sugar, vegetable oils, “natural flavors”, corn syrup and other unnecessary ingredients. Conventional chocolate bars filled with lots of additives will not have the same benefits as clean dark chocolate and are likely to do more harm than good! The closer your cocoa is to its natural raw unrefined state, the higher its nutritional value.
References
1. ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140318154725.htm -
Roasted Beet Cauliflower Hummus {Paleo-friendly}
A bean-free hummus that’s pretty enough to be a work of art? Say what? No seriously, this cauliflower hummus features roasted beets and garlic and it’s about to take your snack game to a whole new level!
After years of working on healing my gut, dealing with a parasite and unhappy gut bacteria, among other things, I am proud to say that my gut and my digestion has never ever been better, I don’t date say that I am cured and everything is perfect, but I feel incredible and that is absolutely something to celebrate.
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Cast Iron Ribeye Steak with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce
Disclosure: Post sponsored by Ralphs, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I have been thinking a lot about this maybe slightly silly day that started as a Hallmark holiday. I don’t totally subscribe to the notion of needing a holiday to shower the people I love with gifts to show my love. To me, sharing your love and gratitude with the people who mean the most to you, this should be every single day, all year long. Jewelry, flowers, chocolates and other gifts, these have always felt trite and unneeded on this one arbitrary day.
But as this year, in it’s infancy, has already had it’s challenges where we’ve sadly witnessed far too much hate and negativity, possibly more than any other year before, this year I am feeling really fond of a day set aside to celebrate love, in all it’s vast variations. Not with gifts and tangible offerings per se, but more acts of love and kindness! Not just for our spouses, partners and family but everyone in our community, locally and globally, in any ways that we can.
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Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Vegetable Soup {Gluten-free, Paleo, Dairy-free}
Having a for-real winter here in Southern California has been especially exciting for many reasons. For the first time since we moved out here from the East Coast 4 years ago, I have been able to really get down with cozy, comforting winter food. Soups, stews, roasts and all the best wintery, soul-warming foods.
Soups have been especially exciting to me this year. This one in particular, this Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Vegetable Soup, has become one of my personal favorites. Reminiscent of a pot-pie filling, with a bit more broth, it’s creamy and rich, without dairy or grains. Best part, it can be made in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker and it’s ready in about 30 minutes, start to finish, but it tastes like it’s simmered away all day. If you want to use already cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken, this soup is ready even quicker. It pressure cooks for just 6 minutes!!
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Gluten-free and Paleo Super Bowl Recipes
Gluten-free and Paleo Super Bowl Recipes
Whether you care about the teams in this year’s Super Bowl or not, this list of over 75+ Gluten-free and Paleo Super Bowl Recipes is sure to make your party a touchdown! Every single recipe here is gluten-free and grain-free, most are Paleo and lots are Whole3o compliant! This round-up of Super Bowl Recipes will ensure that you have a tasty kick-off to your Super Bowl feast! Promise.
Appetizers and Small Bites
- Smoky Shoestring Sweet Potato Fries from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Crispy Chicken Skewers with Mustard Aioli from Tasty Yummies
- Spicy Orange Sriracha Chicken Wings from Tasty Yummies
- Spicy Orange Sriracha Cauliflower Wings from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Salmon Cakes with Old Bay Aioli from Tasty Yummies
- Buffalo Style Loaded Sweet Potato Fries from Tasty Yummies
- Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Sliders from Tasty Yummies
- Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips from Tasty Yummies
- Italian Style Chicken Sliders from Tasty Yummies
- Greek Lamb Meatballs from Tasty Yummies
- Baked Plantain Fries with Garlic Avocado Dipping Sauce from Tasty Yummies
- Perfect Baked French Fries from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Stuffed Mushrooms from Tasty Yummies
- Curry Kale Chips from Tasty Yummies
- Sticky BBQ Korean Chicken Wings from So Let’s Hang Out
- Oven Fries from Balanced Bites
- Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms from Nom Nom Paleo
- Chile Lime Chicken Wings from Nom Nom Paleo
- Baked Saucy Garlic Wings from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
- Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms from Balanced Bites
- Carne Asada Fries from Downshiftology
- Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats from Downshiftology
- Herbed Cassava Flour Tortilla Chips from Downshiftology
- Rosemary and Vanilla Bourbon Spiked Nuts from The Feisty Kitchen
- Bacon Deviled Eggs from The Feisty Kitchen
- Shrimp and Avocado Stuffed Mushrooms from The Feisty Kitchen
- Crispy Paleo Plantain Chips from The Feisty Kitchen
- Paleo Chicken Pineapple Meatballs from Stupid Easy Paleo
Dips and Salsas
- Creamy Dairy Free Spinach Dip from Tasty Yummies
- Chipotle Almond Dip / Spread from Tasty Yummies
- Green Tahini Sauce from Tasty Yummies
- Restaurant Style Salsa from Tasty Yummies
- Roasted Garlic Kale Hummus from Tasty Yummies
- Eggplant and Roasted Red Pepper Dip from Tasty Yummies
- Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip from Tasty Yummies
- Mango Avocado Salsa with Fried Green Plantains from Nom Nom Paleo
- Basic 4 Guacamole from Balanced Bites
- Creamy Cauliflower Hummus from Balanced Bites
- Quick and Easy Homemade Guacamole from So Let’s Hang Out
- Kale, Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Greek Yogurt from So Let’s Hang Out
- Bacon and Beef Liver Pate from So Let’s Hang Out
- Jalapeno Crab Dip from Stupid Easy Paleo
Soups, Stews & Chilis
- Crock Pot Chicken Chili with Squash and Kale from Tasty Yummies
- Grass-fed Beef Chili from Tasty Yummies
- Instant Pot Beef Stew from Tasty Yummies
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Verde from Tasty Yummies
- Game Day White Chicken Chili from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
- Fiesta Chicken Soup from So Let’s Hang Out
- Sweet and Smokey Bacon Chili from The Feisty Kitchen
- Paleo Clam Chowder from Stupid Easy Paleo
- Buffalo Chicken Soup from Predominantly Paleo
Mains
- Greek Lamb Gyro Bowls with Tzatziki from Tasty Yummies
- Cauliflower Sloppy Joes from Tasty Yummies
- Greek Lamb Burgers from Tasty Yummies
- Lettuce Wrapped Grain-free Sweet Potato and Broccoli Veggie Burgers from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Baja Fish Taco Bowls from Tasty Yummies
- Chipotle Barbacoa Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Cauli-Rice from Tasty Yummies
- Salsa Verde Chicken from Balanced Bites
- Slow Cooker Margarita Beef from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Cuban Brisket Taco Bowls from So Let’s Hang Out
- Soy and Ginger Crock Pot Pork Ribs from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Bourbon BBQ Sauce from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Kalua Pork from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas from The Feisty Kitchen
- Shredded Beef and Onions from Stupid Easy Paleo
Sweets
- Dark Chocolate Nut Butter Cups from Tasty Yummies
- Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates from Tasty Yummies
- Dark Chocolate Bark Bites from Tasty Yummies
- Perfect Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Churro Cupcakes from Tasty Yummies
- Salted Caramel Panna Cotta from Tasty Yummies
- Salted S’mores Bites from Downshiftology
- Espresso Candied Pecans from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
- Chocolate Truffles from Nom Nom Paleo
- Dark Chocolate Bark from Stupid Easy Paleo
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Dairy-free Ranch Dressing {Paleo}
This Dairy-free Ranch Dressing is a staple item in our home. It’s ready in just minutes and made with super simple and clean ingredients. You can avoid dairy, sugar and corn syrup, terrible vegetable oils and artificial flavors usually found in most ranch dressings.
Ranch dressing used to be one of my favorites. There was a time in my life where my snack of choice was pretzels with two bowls for dipping. One had yellow mustard, the other, creamy ranch dressing! Ah those were the days.
Nowadays, you know that I prefer to avoid store bought dressings, because most are just loaded with crap (the many offender being vegetable oils), so I choose to make my own. Making your own salad dressings and vinaigrettes is a very simple task, you can control the ingredients, the flavors and the quantity. My dairy-free ranch dressing recipe is a staple food in our house!
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Smoky Shoestring Sweet Potato Fries
You may have noticed that it’s been a bit quiet over here. I have been working on a few bigger projects that are taking up most of my time, but given the current state of the world, I have also needed to just take a big step back, where I can.
It’s strange to feel that I simultaneously have so very much to say, so so much, yet I am constantly finding myself at a loss for words. Dumbfounded. Instead of being glued to my computer and my phone, rather than refreshing my social media feeds minute after minute, I have instead chosen self care and comfort. I’ve chosen to march and to focus on action. I have surrounded myself with others feeling equally as devastated and at a loss, but also very fueled to do something about it. I have been volunteering my time and donating my dollars. I have been cooking for comfort and love rather than just for work. Serving others and nourishing myself. These are the things I can control and while the world is feeling increasingly more out of control, I find myself wanting to focus inward first, to take care of myself, then find ways I can use my voice, my power and my passion in my local community to help how there I can, as well.
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New Year Reset Meal Plan // Week 4
Whether you are starting the year off with the Whole30 or a 21 Day Sugar Detox, maybe you are going paleo or gluten-free for the first time or perhaps you are simply just getting back to your usual mindful-eating ways – we could all use our regular, pre-holiday routines and definitely some healthier eats. I want to make these first weeks of 2017 a breeze for all of you, this is the final week of meal plans all month. I hope it has been helpful. All of the meals featured in the weekly meal plans, throughout this month, are gluten-free and paleo, all of the recipes are free from grains, dairy, legumes and sugar (or have very simple options to make them as such).
New Year Reset Meal Plan // Week 4
Monday: Lettuce-Wrapped Greek Lamb Burgers (for dairy-free, just leave out the optional feta and make dairy-free tzatziki). Serve with a big ‘ol Greek salad and some homemade dressing (skip the feta and the sweetener) and some kalamata olives.
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New Year Reset Meal Plan // Week 3
Whether you are starting the year off with the Whole30 or a 21 Day Sugar Detox, maybe you are going paleo or gluten-free for the first time or perhaps you are simply just getting back to your usual mindful-eating ways – we could all use our regular, pre-holiday routines and definitely some healthier eats. I want to make these first weeks of 2017 a breeze for all of you, so I have meal plans set for every week this month. All of the meals featured in the weekly meal plans, throughout this month, will be gluten-free and paleo, all of the recipes are free from grains, dairy, legumes and sugar (or have very simple options to make them as such).
New Year Reset Meal Plan // Week 3
Monday: Grab a rotisserie chicken or make your own roast chicken in the slow cooker and use the leftovers to whip up this Pot Pie Soup with Grain-free Drop Biscuits (can be made with chicken or turkey). Drop in your favorite veggies and leave off the grain-free, nut-free biscuits, if you prefer.
Tuesday: A seasonally-inspired meal, this Slow Roasted Citrus Fennel King Salmon with Crispy Fried Lentils (leave off the lentils if avoiding legumes) features winter citrus and beautiful, aromatic fennel for any easy but luscious weeknight meal. Serve with your favorite green veggie on the side!
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Crock-Pot® Chicken Chili with Squash and Kale
Disclosure: Post sponsored by Crock-Pot® brand slow cooker & Mirum Shopper, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.
With the new year upon us, for many people this month is about a reset. This can take on so many different faces and applications, depending on the person. Working as a Nutritional Therapist and seeing clients, it is never my job to tell anyone what their diet should be. I work together with each of my clients to devise a plan and a course of action that works for them based on foundational nutritional information and of course, their own health needs. We are all bio-individuals who each need very different things. What I love so much about the work that I do, both here on the website and with my one-on-one nutrition clients, as well as when I am teaching yoga, is the distinct privilege I have in helping to empower people! To educate and provide them with the tools to make the very best choices for themselves, whatever that looks like for them and whatever they are ready for.
Whether it be in the kitchen with cooking, on the mat with their yoga practice or when it comes to making decisions about their health and their highly individualized path to healing, it’s an incredible honor that I never take lightly and am constantly beyond grateful for having the opportunity to share.
