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Shamrock Shake Copycat {keto, paleo, Whole30, dairy-free}
No need to randomly hit the McDonald’s drive-thru for that seasonal Shamrock Shake craving, now you can easily make it at home with this Shamrock Shake Copycat recipe that is keto, paleo and Whole30 friendly. This gluten-free, dairy-free shake doesn’t require any ice cream and it’s so basic and simple, you get healthy fats and even some veggies, you could even add a little protein powder and call it breakfast.
If a fast food drive thru is a no-go for you, there is no need to miss out on McDonald’s St. Paddy’s Day special with this healthified paleo and keto shamrock shake! Plus, with no ice cream required, this all-natural breakfast shake is packed with healthy fats, is extra creamy and ultra minty.
Shamrock shakes used to be a favorite growing up, especially on St. Patrick’s Day. There is something about that creamy, sweet, lightly mint flavor that is so refreshing and brings back great memories. As time went on and I looked up the ingredients, there version was no longer appetizing to me. But no reason to go without and miss out on the nostalgia, so, I decided to create my own version with real ingredients that tastes very similar to the original and I’m full of energy after drinking.
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California Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad
This creamy rich, California Avocado ranch chicken salad recipe is a delicious, easy, everyday dairy-free recipe, it is also Paleo, Keto and Whole30 compliant!
When it comes to easy meals on the go, for me, it always starts with quality protein and healthy fat. A meal that starts with these two staple macronutrients means more balanced blood sugar, adequate satiation and satisfaction levels and less of a need for all day snacking.
Whether you follow a paleo approach to your eating, keto or low carb, if you are simply focusing on a balance nutrient-dense, whole foods diet, this simple recipe can be made with leftover batch prepped shredded chicken or a roasted or rotisserie chicken and it’s great for prepping ahead for the week for easy quick lunches or even a quick breakfast option.
Serve on top of your favorite greens in California Avocado boats, on your favorite toasts or with crackers, however you want to enjoy it.
We love chicken salads for easy, fast meals. Most weeks I prep a few pounds of shredded chicken in the Instant Pot or we grab a rotisserie chicken at the market, this makes for fast meals and lots of versatility. You can also buy pre-cooked chicken, or make shredded chicken in a slow cooker with enough chicken broth to cover and cook it for 4 hours on low.
This California Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad features my easy-to-make, dairy-free avocado ranch dressing with California Avocados as the star of the show, bringing rich, creamy goodness without dairy or eggs. Best part, you can use this amazing California Avocado ranch dressing here in the chicken salad, or whip it up quickly and thin it out a bit to dress your favorite salad or leave it on the thicker side for a delicious dip for fresh veggies.
I love how quickly this can get put together with minimal ingredients and so much satiating and flavorful goodness.
California Avocado Ranch Dressing
gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, egg-free, nut-free, whole30, keto, AIPPrint Pin RateIngredients
- makes approx. 8oz dressing
- 1 Fresh California Avocado, seeded
- ¼ - ⅓ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk*
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon chives
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food process or the butcher of a high speed blender. Start with the 1/4 cup of non-dairy milk, continuing to add more as needed to reach your desired consistency, you may want to add upwards of 1/2 cup for a thinner dressing. You can also use a hand-held immersion blender.
- Cover and refrigerate; eat within 3-5 days.
Notes
Recipe notes:
Add as much non-dairy milk or water to thin to your desired consistency
You can use fresh herbs in place of dried, I recommend approximately 1 tablespoon of each of the herbs. 1 small clove of garlic and 2 tablespoons fresh onion
Depending on your dietary preferences, to make your California Avocado Ranch dressing creamy like a traditional ranch dressing you can also add in 1/4 cup greek yogurt or 1/4 cup avocado oil mayonnaise
California Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad
gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIPPrint Pin RateServings: 4 servingsIngredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced, chilled
- ¼ cup diced celery
- ¼ cup dice red onion
- ¾ cup California avocado ranch dressing, more or less to taste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add the chicken, celery and onion to a medium mixing bowl. Add desired amount of avocado ranch and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to eat. Serve in California Avocado, on toast, over a salad or enjoy as is.
- Refrigerate, eat within 3-5 days.
This post is sponsored by the California Avocado Commission but all opinions are my own.
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Bacon and Chive Spaghetti Squash Fritters with California Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce {gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto}
I try very hard to not play favorites with foods, but that’s a lot easier than it sounds. I will always have favorites, not just from a a flavor standpoint, of course there are foods that hold emotional attachments, memories and traditions and as a Holistic Nutritionist, there is a great long list foods I also really love from a functional perspective.
Avocados are one of my favorites that cross all three. There is not a week that goes by that we don’t have avocados available in our home. Besides being totally obsessed with how they taste and how versatile they are, they can go from savory to sweet, with ease, I also love what a functional and healthful food avocados are.
With nearly 20 essential vitamins and nutrients avocado are also a good source of fiber and folate, potassium, vitamin E and B vitamins. As well, as a source of healthy fats, avocados they play a vital role in a balanced, nutrient-dense diet and health fats essentially work as a nutrient-booster enabling fat soluble nutrients in foods eaten alongside the avocado, to become more assimilated and absorbed, nutrients like vitamins A, D, E and K.
I had the pleasure, a couple years back, of visiting a California Avocado grove not too far from my own home and I was so honored to see these beautiful fruits growing in their natural habitat, being cared for and tended to by a family of growers right here in my own state. The lab of love for this fruit, picked by hand by families who have been growing to and tending these trees for years, gave me a new appreciation for one of my favorite foods. Walking the groves I got to, first hand, see the patience, the love, care and craftsmanship and taste the difference and my love grew deeper.
I have a long list of ways that I love to enjoy avocados, but I especially love a delicious sauce like this one, to highlight the flavor of this delicious fruit. These crispy, flavor packed bacon and chive spaghetti squash fritters are taken up a notch thanks to this flavorful, creamy sauce that you are absolutely going to want to put on anything and everything.
With the addition of the lime and a tangy yogurt, besides flavor and a little punch, the acidity also works to prevent the avocado from browning, keeping this delicious dipping sauce, vibrant and fresh.
This California Avocado Lime Dipping sauce is also great as a creamy salad dressing, it’s amazing drizzled over roasted veggies. Use it as a marinade for chicken or as a sauce a top your favorite fish or other protein. It also makes a great veggie dip or a dip for your favorite crackers or chips.
These simple Bacon and Chive Spaghetti Squash Fritters with California Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce is a quick recipe to make and a great option for leftover spaghetti squash. They make a delicious side dish or a super fun starter / appetizer. I think you are really gonna love these.
I like to make the dipping sauce first and place into the fridge to chill while making the fritters.
California Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce {gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto}
gluten-free, keto, paleo, whole30, nut-freePrint Pin RateIngredients
- 2 California avocados
- 4 tablespoons lime juice, from 2 limes
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup yogurt, non-dairy yogurt works just fine here
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste, as needed
- black pepper or red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a high powered blender or food processor and blend until well combined. An immersion blender will also work.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste (just a little at a time), then blend again and taste. Add more salt and pepper, if necessary. Store the sauce in the fridge in an airtight container and give it a good stir before serving. It will keep and stay fresh for upwards of 3 to 4 days.
Bacon and Chive Spaghetti Squash Fritters with California Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce {gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto}
gluten-free, paleo, Whole30, keto, grain-free, dairy-free, nut-freePrint Pin RateServings: 12 frittersIngredients
- 4 cups cooked spaghetti squash threads
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 4-5 slices bacon, cooked, drained of fat, and finely chopped (1/4 cup)
- 2 tablespoon chives, finely minced
- 1-3 tbsp ghee, refined organic coconut oil or preferred cooking fat for frying
Options to add:
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
- Cook in bacon fat for extra flavor
Instructions
- Remove the "spaghetti" from your spaghetti squash with a fork and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the mound of squash to a clean kitchen towel (or a few paper towels) and squeeze out any excess moisture. Really give it some good squeezes. Don’t skip this step, it’s worth it for finished product - you will be surprised how much excess liquid comes out. Add the garlic and onion, power salt, pepper, and coconut flour. Add in the whisked eggs, the bacon and the chives.
- Mix really well with fork until all ingredients are fully combined.
- Using your hands, form into 12 equally sized patties, made with approximately 1/4 cup of the mixture each.
- Flatten and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Continue forming until all are ready to be cooked.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add your ghee or coconut oil. Once the pan is hot, please the fritters in.
- Once they'e browned on one side, flip and brown on the second side.
- Drain on paper towels and continue to fry in batches, as necessary, adding more cooking oil as needed.
- Serve right away with the avocado lime dipping sauce and enjoy!
Notes
Leave out the bacon to make these vegetarian.This post is sponsored by the California Avocado Commission but all opinions are my own.
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Low Carb Chicken Pesto Cast Iron Meatza {Keto, Grain-free w/ easy options for Paleo, Whole30, Dairy-free}
This delicious Low Carb Chicken Pesto Cast Iron Meatza is a really simple recipe that comes together in no time. It brings all the pizza vibes without all the grains and heaviness that some of us can experience as a result of traditional pizza. You can use the base crust recipe for other pizza variations and get creative with your toppings! This recipe is low-carb and keto-friendly and it’s great for those who eat gluten-free or grain-free and easily adaptable to be dairy-free or nut-free.
I remember the first time I hear the word “meatza”, I remember thinking – “Um… that’s weird”. Then I thought about it, people eat meatloafs and meatballs, we make meat patties for burgers – why can’t we make a pizza crust from meat? It’s brilliant. I’d love to take credit for the idea, but I can’t. But I can take credit for making it in a cast iron and dressing it up with a tasty pesto sauce. This meatza crust holds up so well to lots of toppings, you can actually pick it up with one hand or go all in with a fork – that’s up to you and your style. It’s loaded with flavor, it is super satisfying, filling and a breeze to make.
You can certainly shape your crust and make it on a sheet pan or any other baking dish that has sides (since you will have a little grease), if you prefer, but I find making this delicious low carb pizza in a seasoned cast iron skillet makes for a really nice crispy crust. Since cast iron skillets get pretty dang hot and stay hot, it’s just perfect for even cooking and a nice high heat sear. I use a 12-inch cast iron skillet but it would work in any size cast iron pan. Obviously the bigger the pan the thinner the crust, the smaller the pan, the thicker.
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White Chicken Chili {Keto, Paleo, Whole30, Nightshade-free}
This comforting and hearty low carb White Chicken Chili cooks in under 30 minutes and in one pot. It’s perfect for a delicious fall or winter weeknight meal! It’s keto, paleo, whole30 and nightshade-free. With a few simple tweaks, AIP-compliant, too.
It’s about that time of year, soup, stew and chili season. My absolute favorite!!! I adore the comforts of these foods, I crave them. This is the food that makes my soul happy.
I also REALLY love meals that are ready in 30 minutes or less on the stove top, one pot, no special tools or equipment, just a straight-up, easy, hearty meal.
This particular White Chicken Chili recipe is low carb and keto-friendly, it’s paleo, Whole30 compliant and made without any nightshades. With a few minor changes you can also make this White Chicken Chili AIP compliant.
What are Nightshades?
Nightshades are a botanical family of plants, more technically called Solanaceae. The most common nightshades are tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and eggplant. These plants all have certain characteristics in common (like the shape of the flower and how the seed is arranged within the fruit–Wikipedia has a good description). There are more than two thousand plant species in the nightshade family, the vast majority of which are inedible and many of which are highly poisonous (like deadly nightshade and jimsomweed). Tobacco is a nightshade, and is known to cause heart, lung, and circulatory problems, as well as cancer and other health problems (although, clearly some of this has to do with the other toxins in tobacco products derived from the processing.) The reason why nightshades are problematic for many people is due to the glycoalkaloid content. Over-consumption of these edible species can actually be poisonous to anyone, and it is possible that the low-level toxic properties of nightshade vegetables contribute to a variety of health issues over time.1https://www.thepaleomom.com/what-are-nightshades/ Read more here about the potential concerns with nightshades for those with autoimmune disease.
Why Nightshade-free?
While I am not 100% nightshade-free, 100% of the time, I have discovered in this last year that in abundance, nightshades can trigger my autoimmune symptoms and cause noticeable joint pain for me, it can cause migraines and allergy-like symptoms, so, I have been careful about how much I consume them and the amount. If I am struggling with an autoimmune flare-up or digestive flare-ups, I will cut nightshades out completely until things calm down a bit. On the regular, when my autoimmune symptoms are managed, I still prefer to avoid them in whole food form, like tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and eggplants, but usually in pretty small amounts, as a garnish or in spice blends, etc – nightshade do not trigger a noticeable response for me, so I don’t overly concern myself with obsessing over it, in that sense. I know folks who have to be 100% nightshade-free and it can certainly be challenging, in a lot of ways I think even more than having to avoid gluten, since they can hide in spices, seasonings, sauces, etc.
References
1. ↑ https://www.thepaleomom.com/what-are-nightshades/ -
Sheet Pan Greek Chicken Souvlaki with Veggies {Paleo, Keto, Whole30}
This easy Sheet Pan Greek Chicken Souvlaki with Veggies is truly a delicious, one-dish meal packed so much flavor and it’s so simple and fuss-free. With lots of different options it’s easy to make it work for you and your family. It’s one of our favorites and I know you are going to love it, too!
I am a sucker for a sheet pan meal, but as the snobby, recipe-developer / food lover I don’t love the sloppy, unfocused sheet pan meals, like a good part, I believe a good sheet pan meal should have a solid theme!!
This is maybe my favorite sheet pan meal, to date. Greek Souvlaki Chicken and veggies, is, in my opinion, the perfect culmination of the food I grew up on. Fuss-free. No need to get the grill going, no standing over the stove top, just toss it together and throw it into the oven. That sounds aggressive, be gentle, no one wants chicken marinade on the ceiling.
As per usual, with most recipes here on Tasty Yummies, we’ve got lots of options for you with this Sheet Pan Greek Chicken Souvlaki, you can opt for bone-in or boneless chicken. Get a whole chicken and break it down into parts (though, I do recommend halving the breasts the short way, if you are cooking the various parts, so the pieces are similarly sized). You can even make this with wings and drumsticks. It’s so versatile and this way you can make it to your liking.
If you are doing the keto or low carb thing, this go with cauliflower or go half and half if you’ve got a fam and they’ll some want potatoes. I do this often at our house. I have also made this with white sweet potatoes and it’s amazing, too. For dairy-free, paleo or Whole30, simply leave off the feta cheese (or check out this amazing dairy-free feta recipe from my friend Brittany) and opt for a dairy-free tzatziki sauce.
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How to Make Hemp Milk +Video {Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Nut-free, Whole30}
How to Make Hemp Milk. Today I am teaching you to make my super simple homemade hemp milk. No need for soaking or straining, no planning ahead, just two ingredients to super easy homemade non-dairy milk. Plus, a few of my favorite flavor variations, Creamy Strawberry Vanilla Bean and Rich Chocolate Hemp Milks.
I am excited to show you how to make Easy Homemade Hemp Milk. It’s one of my favorite meal prep recipes and it’s great when you are in a pinch. Whether avoiding dairy milk is a priority, preference or necessity, I find homemade non-dairy milks to be the best for taste and cost as well as knowing exactly what is in there.
There are so many reasons to make your own non-dairy milks at home, but if I am being honest, often the time and the planning ahead becomes a big reason why I just don’t do it. I forget to plan ahead to soak the nuts or seeds, then I don’t want to fuss with straining the milk.
This homemade hemp milk is a favorite of mine for those last minute moments when I realize I have nothing on hand and I just want a quick smoothie, post-workout shake or even a tasty latte. Unlike most homemade nut milks or non-dairy milks, there’s no soaking overnight and no straining after you blend, so it’s ready whenever you are. You just need a high speed blender, like a Vitamix and about 2 minutes of your time! That’s literally it.
By not straining your homemade hemp milk, you maximize the nutritional benefits of the hemp seeds (hemp hearts) along with the extra fiber.
You can strain if you want it to be more like commercial non-dairy milks, it’s super easy, with a nut milk bag or cheesecloth, but the best part about not straining, you retain all the amazing benefits of the hemp hearts.
NO SOAKING NECESSARY
Hemp seeds contain no phytic acid, the mineral-binding antinutrient common to most nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes (which we talk about at length in my nut milk how to post and this sprouting tutorial for nuts, seeds, grains and beans).
Nutritional Benefits of Hemp Seeds (Why I Don’t Strain my Hemp Milk)
Hemp seeds (or hemp hearts) are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and they are rich in plant-based essential fatty acids, omega 3s, omega 6s, plus due to the optional ratio of these two EFAs in hemp seeds, it’s a great option for reducing inflammation. Hemp also contains including GLA, Gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA), a necessary building block for some prostaglandins that has been shown to support hormone balance, inflammation and more.
Hemp seeds are also rich in vitamin E which is great for your immune function. As far as minerals, hemp is a great source of manganese and magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, among others. Most excitingly, hemp seeds are a quality complete plant based protein, with all 20 amino acids present, including the 9 essential amino acids our bodies cannot produce – this is CRAZY rare in the plant kingdom, this is part of why I never bother straining them out. Per a 30 gram serving of hemp hearts, (approx. 2 heaping tablespoons) you get 10 grams of protein and 10 grams of Omega 3 + 6s. Hemp seeds are also rich in fiber, which is one of the other reasons why I prefer to leave the whole seeds in my homemade hemp milk.
My Blender of Choice + A Special Offer:
All you need is a good blender! That’s it. I recommend a high speed blender for the very best results for super creamy Homemade Hemp Milk. Vitamix is my preferred high speed blender. Using this link, you, the Tasty Yummies community receives $20 off of your first purchase of an Ascent Series product (featured above) plus FREE SHIPPING.
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Instant Pot Hamburger Soup aka Ground Beef Stew {Paleo, Keto, Whole30}
This Instant Pot Hamburger Soup is a simple, weeknight meal is a breeze to throw together, it’s hearty and budget-friendly. This comforting classic version of a ground beef stew is paleo, Whole30 and keto-friendly.
This simple, humble Instant Pot Hamburger Soup was born accidentally. You see, I had fully meal planned for this week , which is exciting enough when I plan ahead and to that and on the menu I had my Instant Pot Beef Stew, it’s a favorite of mine, it’s pure, cozy comfort food that reminds me of my childhood. I had planned to leave out the white potatoes and mix up the veggies to suit my tastes and needs. I love that this stew recipe is generally affordable as chuck roast or stew meat is often an budget-conscious cut of meat, however I hit up my local grocery store and the grass-fed chuck roast was $12 / pound, EEEEK and no other quality stew meat option. That’s a hard NOPE!! I wasn’t making a stew that cost over $30 in meat. I looked to my left and there I found grass-fe, grass-finished ground beef, $4.99 / pound. Perfect, I thought, I would just make my beef stew with hamburger meat and it would be amazing.
To create this ground beef stew I made a few light changes, I increased the broth, went with less meat, I left out the potatoes and opted to create for more of a soup, then a stew, though it still had those cozy stew vibes with the veggies and the flavors.
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Easy No-Strain Cashew Milk {+ Video} + bonus flavor ideas
Are you curious how-to make delicious cashew milk? While nut milks and other non-dairy milks can seem intimidating and like far more work than they are worth, this definitely doesn’t apply to my Easy No-Strain Cashew Milk. Just two ingredients, a minute or two of blending and that’s it you’re done! Be sure to scroll down for my tasty chocolate cashew milk recipe along with a few other super tasty, fun flavor ideas.
In typical “food blogger” fashion, by way of photos and personal anecdotes it make appear that this recipe is far more complicated than what it actually is. Don’t get it twisted, this is THE MOST simple recipe I may have ever posted. Spoiler alert: to make cashew milk, you need raw cashews and filtered water. THAT’S ABOUT IT! I generally prefer to add a pinch of quality sea salt, sometimes I will sweeten it or add vanilla and I really love my homemade Chocolate Cashew Milk – but in all it’s simple glory you just need water and raw cashews.
I particularly love this cashew milk recipe, because it’s no-strain! No need to fuss with filtered or straining, no nut milk bags. Just blend and enjoy. It’s creamy, rich, silky and super versatile.
You all have known for years that I generally prefer to avoid dairy, I don’t have an intolerance or allergy, I simply feel much better without it. I do OK with some cheeses in small amounts, along with sheep and goat’s milk from time to time, but there is nothing in me that ever feels a desire to sit down with a glass of cold dairy milk. We were never allowed to drink milk as children. My mom was ahead of her time. She knew that dairy can be inflammatory, that the lactose can be troublesome for most folk’s digestion and it can also exasperate respiratory issues.
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Easy Sheet Pan Keto Beef and Broccoli (w/ Stovetop option) {Paleo, Whole30}
This Easy Sheet Pan Keto Beef and Broccoli takes a classic dish and makes it even easier. Cooked on one sheet pan it’s ready in about 15 minutes. Keto, paleo and whole30-friendly it’s a delicious, healthy weeknight meal that is worth adding to the meal plan every week!
With the start of the new year, comes the back-to-reality moments. Back to the easy weeknight meals, meal prepping, batch cooking and coming up with quick and simple ways to make sure you are prepared and ready.
I am a big fan of one pot and one pan meals, recipes I can add to the Instant Pot or Crock Pot. I love meals that come together in 30 minutes. In the cooler months I am especially fond of sheet pan meals. If I can toss everything together on one pan and toss it into the oven, there’s minimal cleanup, little babysitting and I can get dinner on the table in a jiffy. Perfect for those busy weeknights.
This particular recipe, my Easy Sheet Pan Keto Beef and Broccoli, actually evolved from a stove top meal I had been making the last several months, a product of what I had on hand and what we love the most, flavor wise. I don’t know if you are like me, but I tend to find a dish I love and continuously make it so many times until I basically don’t actually want to see it again for 6 months. Then we begin again.
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Smoked Salmon Dip {Paleo, Gluten-free, Keto} + Video
This Paleo Smoked Salmon Dip has become synonymous with party invites for me. Ready in about 5 minutes, with just 4 ingredients, it’s fuss-free at it’s finest. I make with a dairy-free cream cheese, but you can also make with regular cream cheese, as well.
This Paleo Smoked Salmon Dip has turned into a bit of a mainstay when it comes to entertaining, it was my signature move this past holiday season. I’ve literally brought it to every party, event and dinner, from prior to Thanksgiving and including the holiday straight through Christmas and our New Year’s Eve celebrations, too. Over the summer it is a hit at BBQs and picnics, too!
With the classic flavors of smoked salmon with cream cheese, with a couple of additional ingredients to maximize the punch of taste, this is a must for parties and it’ll impress even the non-paleo folks, as well.
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How To Make Cashew Cream {+ Video}
Dairy-free, vegan cashew cream is so wildly versatile, you are gonna love it. Sweet or savory, it’s perfect as a finishing sauce, a dip or even stirred into soups, stews and sauces. Learn how easy it is to make plus grab some of my most favorite cashew cream flavor variations, including a lightly sweetened vanilla bean and a smoky, cheezy, dairy-free chipotle cashew cream and LOADS of recipe ideas. Paleo, keto and Whole30-friendly.
If you’ve been reading Tasty Yummies for some time now, you know my love affair of cashews runs many, many years deep. It all started with a vegan cashew cheesecake I made, probably for the first time, like 10 years ago now and then finally shared here on the website in 2013 and it’s just exploded from there (see the bottom of the post for lots of recipes). Considering I exist somewhere between totally dairy-free and mostly dairy-free, cashews are absolutely heaven sent when it comes to recreating that creamy texture you get from dairy. From sauces to cheesecakes and even an amazing keto nut butter – I am continuously amazed at what I can create with cashews.
While I have LOADS of cashew cream based recipes from the past almost 9 years on Tasty Yummies, I am finally sharing my basic Cashew Cream recipe along with two additional flavor variations that I LOVE and make often. There really are an unending amount of variations of cashew cream depending on how you plan to use it and your taste and you can adjust the thickness and consistency by adding more or less water, plus there are also so many options for other ingredients you can add to adjust the flavors. But, I wanted to give you the basics so you could be on your way to create your own variations, too.
I have made versions of this cashew cream of mine so many times over the years from cooking demos at Whole Foods to private cooking lessons with dairy-free folks and EVERY SINGLE TIME, without fail, people refuse to believe that it’s cashews!!
Cashew cream has a really mild flavor, which I find allows it to be added to just about any type of cuisine or dish. Be sure to use raw unsalted cashews, not roasted, to yield the best texture and flavor. You can find raw organic cashews in the bulk aisle of most grocery stores or online with places like nuts.com, etc.
Be sure to scroll all the way through to get ALL of the many options for flavor options, ideas for how to use your cashew cream, along with some of my favorite cashew cream recipes plus I answer a few Cashew Cream FAQs!
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Chocolate Smarter Smoothie {Keto, Paleo, Vegan-option} + Video
My Chocolate Smarter Smoothie is my most favorite, most often made smoothie. Loaded with flavor and a thick, rich and creamy texture, this blood sugar balancing meal replacement shake gives you enough protein, fat and fiber to keep you full for hours on end and it’s loaded with so much goodness.
In case you missed it over on Instagram, I am calling this week Smoothtember Week and it’s a full week all about the Smarter Smoothies. In addition to sharing the brand new video for my Smarter Smoothies formula, this week I will be sharing three of my personal, MOST favorite Smarter Smoothie recipes. These are my classic go-to smarter smoothies then I come back to, time and time again!
Today, I am sharing my most favorite of all smoothies EVER my Chocolate Smarter Smoothie. As a chocolate lover, through and through, this is one of my absolute favorites. It’s rich, creamy, it has so much flavor and despite tasting like a dream, I don’t have to be worried about consuming a candy-bar worth of sugar at my first meal. This is great when I am looking for a quick and easy post-workout meal or often I will use as my afternoon meal, if I am not looking for a larger meal.
This Chocolate Smarter Smoothie skips out on the fruit and the sweet stuff, so you’ve got all the flavor of a chocolate shake, without a ton of sugar. This recipe uses cauliflower rice to create a delicious creamy texture, but you can also use frozen zucchini If you want additional greens add some baby spinach. If you are looking to add some carbs, try a little frozen butternut squash or a fruit that you love, strawberries or raspberries pair really nice with the chocolate.
Finally, chocolate is an amazing superfood loaded with antioxidants, polyphenol and many minerals, it has been shown to be anti-inflammatory and to support lowering insulin resistance. Read more about the benefits of chocolate here.
As always, this smoothie is creating my Smarter Smoothies formula. If every meal-replacement smoothie that you create has adequate protein, fat and fiber, if you make sure you are getting loads of nutrients from leafy greens, veggies and/or herbs and you add those crunchies on top, so your digestion is working at it’s full potential – you will always be getting everything you need! The fruit and those bonuses/boosts we talk about in the Smarter Smoothies post, those are extras – have fun with those, but don’t make the sugary fruits the shining star!
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Golden Spiced Smarter Smoothie {Keto, Paleo, Vegan-option} + Video
My Golden Spiced Smarter Smoothie is my go-to smoothie when I am looking for a post-workout complete meal and it’s perfect for the fall and winter months, in all it’s cozy aromatic spices. This blood sugar balancing meal replacement shake gives you enough protein, fat and fiber to keep you full for hours on end and it’s loaded with so much goodness.
In case you missed it over on Instagram, I am calling this week Smoothtember Week and it’s a full week all about the Smarter Smoothies. In addition to sharing the brand new video for my Smarter Smoothies formula, this week I will be sharing three of my personal, MOST favorite Smarter Smoothie recipes. These are my classic go-to smarter smoothies!
Next up, I am sharing my Golden Spiced Smarter Smoothie. This smoothie is one of my absolute favorites, when I am looking for a quick and easy post-workout meal, with flavor, vibrant color and lots of healing benefits!
This Golden Spiced Smarter Smoothie is loaded with so much good stuff, it’s crazy! The reason I particularly love this smoothie post workout is the carbohydrates from the butternut squash, while it’s under 12 net carbs (less if you make this two servings), it’s still a bit more than my traditional smoothies, since they tend to be quite low carb. It’s a nice way to replenish, without the crash of many other carbohydrates, it’s especially great after a more intense workout, I will actually add more like 3/4 to 1 cup of the squash if it’s more of a carb-up meal or if I am making servings for two.
The ground turmeric is also a nice addition as it’s a powerful anti-inflammatory that is wonderful for supporting your muscles and joints after a workout – read more about the benefits of turmeric here, (this is the already boosted turmeric powder I use, most times). Obviously more or less turmeric will change the golden color of the smoothie, I recommend going with 1 – 2 teaspoons, based on what you prefer taste wise. But please BE CAREFUL, turmeric will stain your hands, clothes and basically anything it touches. Of course, we are also getting amazing benefits for our muscles and our recovery with the high-quality full amino acid profile protein by way of the grass-fed beef isolate protein (this is the one I prefer), a high-quality protein is necessary for repairing and rebuilding your muscles.
I prefer to use Ceylon cinnamon in my pumpkin pie spice blend, because Ceylon cinnamon has been shown to lower fasting blood glucose levels. Is a little cinnamon in your smoothie gonna cure your diabetes, nuh uh, but it you are in the prediabetic range, adding a little Ceylon cinnamon to your diet every day, may offer some help in your blood sugar management.
Our fat is working to keep us full and satiated, it helps to mitigate blood sugar spikes, and when using MCT oil, you get an easy-to-burn fuel source that brings a nice hit of energy. Of course, the fiber, as usual is great for keeping you full and satiated, as well as feeding your healthy gut microbiome.
As always, this smoothie is creating my Smarter Smoothies formula. If every meal-replacement smoothie that you create has adequate protein, fat and fiber, if you make sure you are getting loads of nutrients from leafy greens, veggies and/or herbs and you add those crunchies on top, so your digestion is working at it’s full potential – you will always be getting everything you need! The fruit and those bonuses/boosts we talk about in the Smarter Smoothies post, those are extras – have fun with those, but don’t make the sugary fruits the shining star!
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Classic Green Smarter Smoothie {Keto, Paleo, Vegan-option} + Video
My Classic Green Smarter Smoothie is a blood sugar balancing meal replacement shake that gives you enough protein, fat and fiber to keep you full for hours on end and it’s loaded with so much goodness.
In case you missed it over on Instagram, I am calling this week Smoothtember Week and it’s a full week all about the Smarter Smoothies. In addition to sharing the brand new video for my Smarter Smoothies formula, this week I will be sharing three of my personal, MOST favorite Smarter Smoothie recipes. These are my classic go-to smarter smoothies!
First up, I am sharing my Classic Green Smarter Smoothie. This is my go-to when I want a vibrant green smoothie, loaded with all the good stuff!
I often notice that folks’ (and especially smoothie and juice shops) their Green Smoothies have so much sugary fruit that while they taste so freakin’ amazing, if you take a look at what’s in there, you are consuming an incredible amount of sugar in one sitting. Oh and newsflash, it’s liquified, so there’s no chewing, there’s no slowing things down, it’s just a straight mainlined shot of sugar (fructose) to the liver.
Yes, I know that sugar from fruit isn’t exactly the same as sugar, it’s not refined. It’s not manmade.
And let me just stop you… absolutely I am 100% aware that fruit has tons of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and loads of benefits – totally! Great, yes, it’s better than a candy bar in that way. But, when we are strictly talking about blood sugar, blood sugar hormones, hunger hormones and all that other stuff going on inside out body, sugar is sugar is sugar. Sorry, but that’s the truth. Want some frui? Eat one single whole piece of in-season fruit, with the fiber in tact. Chew it. Enjoy it. But, it’s best to keep the fruits in your smoothie, to a minimum.
The main reason I care so much when it comes to meal replacement smoothies , is when you craft that Green Smoothie with a ton of sugar, and you aren’t cognizant of the protein or fat that you include, this is why you are hungry in about an hour, reaching for more stuff to give you a quick hit of energy and next thing you know, before lunch you’ve blasted through a ton of calories, sugar and you’re still tired and not satiated.Read more here about the importance of building your meals smarter for a day of lasting energy, so you can avoid that afternoon crash.
This is where my Smarter Smoothies formula comes in super handy. If every meal-replacement smoothie that you create has adequate protein, fat and fiber, if you make sure you are getting loads of nutrients from leafy greens, veggies and herbs and you add those crunchies on top, so your digestion is working at it’s full potential – you will always be getting everything you need! The fruit and those bonuses/boosts we talk about in the Smarter Smoothies post, those are extras – have fun with those, but don’t make the fruit the shining star!
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Low Carb Keto Biscuits {paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free}
These low-carb Keto Biscuits have become a bit of a staple around here. A bit of a legend, if you will. These low carb Keto Biscuits work amazing for savory recipes like breakfast sandwiches or biscuits and gravy or you can easily go sweet with my keto strawberry shortcake or just a smear of homemade berry chia seed jam. However you serve them up, these low carb Keto Biscuits are a breeze to make, whether you eat low carb, or not.
While I’ve personally been eating keto since January 2017, for therapeutic reasons while I seek to get my autoimmune disease into total remission, hubby isn’t necessarily exclusively low-carb all the time – so I am always working on recipes that will please us both. I created these delicious Low Carb Keto Biscuits for my Paleo Biscuits and Gravy Recipe, which also happens to be keto/low-carb, as well. That recipe is already a hit with so many of you, but also a lot of you have simply made just the biscuits just on their own, for epic breakfast sandwiches topped with fried eggs and some sausage or bacon. It’s a favorite around here, for sure. So, I felt these perfect little Low Carb Keto Biscuits deserved their own recipe post.
These low carb biscuits are a really great way to switch up breakfast and get those classic egg sandwich vibes I feel like you might be craving. I know I crave an epic breakfast sando, now and then. Beyond breakfast sandwiches, or a side to a comforting bowl of soup, these Low Carb Keto Biscuits are lovely toasted up and slathered with a little grass-fed butter or homemade ghee, maybe a drizzle or honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon, or just give them a spread with your favorite nut butter or maybe even coconut butter. For a sweeter treat, try my Keto Strawberry Shortcake, they are amazing, you can also top your Keto Biscuits with chia seed jam or honey sweetened marmalade. (obviously this won’t be quite as low carb) Shoot, guys, I feel like you could also smash a fabulous grass-fed burger into your face with one of these biscuits. Just sayin’.
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6-Minute Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon
Much like other staples in our household, shredded chicken, Big F*ckin’ Salads, and hard cooked eggs, this 6-Minute Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon is a weekly mainstay! Here’s the best part, this Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon is ready in six minutes! You heard me – SIX!
If you dare tell me that you don’t have time to make dinner, we will fully get into it. I can promise you that. With delicious, nutrient-dense meals like this, ready in under 10 minutes, there are literally NO excuses. Grab the cast iron skillet, have some high quality, sustainably caught, skin-on salmon on hand, every week, choose some nice organic greens or another fiber-loaded green veggie and BOOM, in under 10 minutes you’ve got dinner. Easy.
Best part, wild caught salmon is an incredible source of quality omega-3 fatty acids. In our household we shoot to eat quality salmon or other omega-3 rich fatty fish, at least 3 times a week, I notice this makes a really big difference in my health, my skin looks better when I am on top of my omega-3 fats and I just feel better. And dang, it is truly so delicious!
As always, I am gonna preach what I always teach and that is quality matters. Seek out a sustainably fished, wild caught salmon. Not only is it better for your health, it’s better for the environment and the earth! Don’t skimp here. And the skin, lots of extra nutrients in there, so not only is it tasty AF, it’s giving you some good stuff, too.
Things I want you to know about my Crispy Skin Cast Iron Salmon:
- It’s basically the only way to eat salmon!
- If you’ve got the time, let the salmon filets rest in the fridge, uncovered, skin side up, to dry out the skin. 15 to 30 minutes ahead of cooking, an hour if you’ve got it. This makes a world of difference. Trust!
- Do not overcook your salmon, dry salmon sucks.
- Cast iron is where it’s at. The cast iron gets hot and stays hot, evenly. I like to turn the heat off for those last couple of minutes of cooking on the other side, so it’s not crazy hot, but there’s no need to move the pan to the oven or broiler.
- Serve your salmon, crispy skin side up. If you take it out of the pan and serve skin side down, you broke it, the skin will lose that amazing crisp.
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Grain-free Thai Beef Bowls {Paleo, Whole30, Keto}
Grain-free Thai Beef Bowls. This is an easy, one-pan meal, ready in just over 15 minutes, and it’s a weeknight staple in our house. Garnish all pretty-like to create colorful masterpiece, serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles or go with regular rice or noodles. This recipe is paleo, whole30 and keto friendly.
I know for many of you with families and busy schedules, though the summer is supposed to be about relaxing and chilling, somehow before you know it, the schedule fills up and you are going non-stop. Dinners are eaten on the run and you are quite literally setting up your digestion for a rough go. While it’s far easier said then done, to slow down, I think much of this action can take place with meal planning and preparing meals that can me made start to finish in under 30 minutes.
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Banh Mi Salad {Keto, Paleo, Whole30}
Banh Mi Salad. This is a delicious take on Vietnamese classic sandwich, the Bánh mì. Keto, paleo, Whole30 and gluten-free, this deconstructed take on one of my favorite sandwiches is loaded with flavor, fresh crunchy vegetables and so much color. I cannot wait for you to try this one.
Alright all my keto, paleo, Whole30 pals, you didn’t think I would leave you hanging on this whole Banh Mi thing, did you? I shared my delicious gluten-free Banh Mi Sandwich a few weeks back, as part of a Sammie Smackdown Contest with Canyon Bakehouse, all for a very good cause, but a lot of you, like me, are generally on that grain-free train. I feel ya, I feel better that way, too! But, there’s no reason we can’t get it on these sammie vibes, in our own way. Enter the Banh Mi Salad, my new favorite thing!
I entered my tasty take on this classic Vietnamese sandwich, the Banh Mi, to try to win $10,000 for my charity, Joyful Heart Foundation. Joyful Heart is a leading national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse and support survivors’ healing. Through healing, education, and advocacy, they are paving the way for innovative approaches to treating trauma, igniting shifts in the way the public views and responds to these horrific acts of violence and reforming legislation to ensure justice for survivors – and ultimately working to end this violence, forever!
Voting is still open. It remains open until August 20th and you can vote up to 3 times a day for my sandwich, with extra votes coming in if you share on social media and sign up through email to win a years worth of gluten-free bread! Head over to the Sammie Smackdown contest on Canyon Bakehouse’s website and help me by voting EVERY SINGLE DAY until the contest ends on 8/20. It would mean the world to me to win this money for this incredible, privately funded organization, doing such important work.
In the meantime, if sandwiches and bread aren’t so much your thing, you need to make this epic salad, inspired by that sandwich. All the flavors, tastes and vibes, without the bread. (And yes, I am aware that Banh Mi literally translates to bread, so this becomes an oxymoron of sorts, but I am OK with that.) If you are following a paleo or keto approach to your eating or maybe just doing a Whole30 and looking to have something fun, this salad is for you!!
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Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl {Paleo, Whole30, AIP-option}
This Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl is a lightly updated version of a classic Hawaiian comfort food. We swap the traditional white rice with cauliflower rice and with flavorful Umami grass-fed beef patty from TRIBALÍ Foods and epic mushroom gravy make this a savory dream come true.
If you haven’t been able to tell by recent recipes here on Tasty Yummies over the last 8 or so months, I was incredibly touched by my two trips to Hawaii in the last year. The food clearly made a major impression on me, among many other things. Beyond the flavors, of course, I love the varying cultures that inspire the cuisine, as well as the locally accessible foods that influence the food.
One dish that continuously peaked my interest (AKA haunted me) on both of my visits to the islands was the Loco Moco bowl. Loco Moco is classic Hawaiian comfort food. Traditionally made with white rice, a burger patty, an over-easy or fried egg, and a generous serving of beef gravy, often with mushrooms, it’s basically a Beth dish, if there ever were one. Savory, unfussy, non-pretentious, comfort food with an undertone of umami. GAH! Dream status. The bad thing, I could never ever ever enjoy one while I was on the Islands, the gravy ALWAYS contained gluten, every single restaurant, I would ask.
So, I creepily creeped on anyone that ordered it near me, took mental notes, maybe drooled a little and couldn’t wait until I could recreate one at home in a way that I could enjoy.
As usual, besides the given of recreating a recipe without gluten, I wanted to created something that was totally grain-free and as always, prioritized quality ingredients, most importantly the beef! You all know how important the quality of my animal proteins are to me. You can read more here about the differences between grass-fed and grain-fed beef and why I choose to make this a focus of my nutrition.
I know prioritizing quality of food can often feel overwhelming, but we cannot afford not to make as many attempts as we can for better quality, our health depends on it. I am also intensely passionate about supporting the companies prioritizing not only better quality but also transparency in their supply chain. TRIBALÍ Foods was created by Holistic Nutritionist, mom and former vegetarian, Angela Bicos Mavridis, who merged her passion for wholesome, nutrient-dense foods with globally-inspired flavors for a delicious, healthy meal option. After meeting with Angela in person and bonding instantly over our Greek heritage, our connection ran even deeper as we shared our health and healing paths and our commitment to high-quality, sustainable foods that actually taste good!! I fell in love instantly with TRIBALÍ and Angela.
TRIBALÍ Foods‘ patties feature 100% organic grass fed and finished, pasture-raised beef and 100% organic free-range, air chilled chicken, all meat is humanely raised on family farms without any added antibiotics or added hormones, and blended with locally sourced herbs and vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, poblanos and fire-roasted garlic. You can buy TRIBALÍ Foods online (use coupon code YUMMY to save 20%), or find them in the freezer section of select Super Targets from coast-to-coast, in Southern California at natural retailers like Bristol Farms, Lassen’s, Lazy Acres, Erewhon and Gelson’s and now all of the Natural Grocers locations across America. I get mine locally at our Whole Foods and you can check out the store locator to find a retailer near you.
The Umami Grass-fed Beef Patties were the perfect choice for these bowls, having fire-roasted garlic, onions, and woodsy Shiitake mushrooms — with a tangy hint of nori seaweed, a dash of Red Boat fish sauce, and umami spices. I love that they are paleo, keto and Whole30 friendly, but they are also AIP compliant. WOAH!
With the umami rich beef gravy the punch of flavor if this comforting Keto Loco Moco Breakfast Bowl is unreal. I cannot wait for you to experience this, too! Breakfast just got a whole lot better and better for you, too! Read the rest of this entry »
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Coconut Vanilla Bean Shaken Hibiscus Iced Tea Latte {Paleo, Keto, Vegan}
This Coconut Vanilla Bean Shaken Hibiscus Iced Tea Latte was initially spawned from from the idea (visual) of the Starbucks Pink Drink. But I call mine the PANK DRANK! But unlike the chain’s version, this one has no sugar, no terrifying fake sugars, it’s made with organic herbal hibiscus tea and it has flecks of real vanilla bean. This millennial pink tinted bevvie has quickly become my afternoon treat, replacing caffeinated beverages and bringing joy all the while.
With nearly 4 weeks without any caffeine at all, I’ve been getting super creative. I have changed my morning rituals, a bit, rather than getting out of bed, grabbing some water and counting down the minutes to coffee, I’ve been leaving my phone off for the first hour I’m awake and instead choosing to meditate. Sometimes I’ll pour a little decaf coffee or some tea before my morning training session, but most mornings, as of recently, I have totally have forgotten about my old morning habit and instead have relished in my new routines.
Read more about my 14 Day Caffeine-Free Challenge and you can request to join the Tasty Yummies Tribe, our private Facebook community, to stay connected with anyone else doing the challenge.
While afternoon coffee wasn’t an everyday thing for me, I often found myself mid-day looking for a little caffeine kick. From coffee or matcha, so I decided in celebration of breaking these habits, that I would create a new afternoon drinkie! This Coconut Vanilla Bean Shaken Hibiscus Iced Tea Latte is bright, refreshing, sweetened to your liking (or not), with a little coconut milk and flecks of vanilla bean – it’s just magical.
I know it’s a little less than ordinary, but you gotta go with me on this one. It’s just the perfect treat.
