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Greek Souvlaki Chicken Wings {Paleo, Keto, Whole30} – Gas Grill, Traeger and Oven Options
Marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and oregano, these delicious crispy Greek Souvlaki Chicken Wings are grilled until gently charred, while they still stay juicy and tender. Don’t skip the re-sauce and the final step for extra crispy and flavorful wings. We serve ours with a homemade tzatziki sauce on the side, which makes the perfect cooling, dipping sauce. This recipe includes instructions for a gas grill, a Traeger Wood-Fired Grill or the oven.
We made these delicious Greek Souvlaki Chicken Wings on our new Traeger Wood-Fired Grill, which has absolutely changed our grilling game and most especially it’s taken our already amazing wing game to another level. With real smoke coming from wood pellets and no fear of flare ups, it’s been incredible for grilling. In many ways for the purpose of this recipe, it’s just the same concept as Mark’s patented in-direct grilling method that he developed for our gas grill which we have shared here before, however the Traeger brings a delicious wood fired flavor we have never gotten with the gas grill. Mark’s method for indirect heat makes for THE BEST and most crispy chicken wings you will ever make on the grill. EVER! Either way, on a Traeger or not, give these chicken wings some time, it’s all about the low and slow and then give them that last round of heat, with the “re-sauce” – you will fall in love with the crisp factor. The instructions below are for a gas grill and for my Traeger Nation folks, below that you will find the instructions for your Traeger. Read the rest of this entry »
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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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Lemon Basil Vinaigrette {paleo, keto, vegan, AIP, Whole30}
This Lemon Basil Vinaigrette is the key to take any dish from ‘meh’ to “HELL YEAH”! This aromatic, bright, fresh dressing is super versatile, it’s keto, paleo, vegan, Whole30 and AIP compliant and a must to have on hand!
The secret to tasty home cooking is little more than understanding how to properly and season even the most basic foods. Salt and pepper, garlic and acid, fresh herbs – it’s all so simple and so impactful. This simple vinaigrette combines all of that into one tasty dressing, sauce or finishing move!
To know me is to know that I live for a daily Big F*ckin’ Salad and roasted veggies are my favorite thing ever. This Lemon Basil Vinaigrette is perfect on these, drizzled over cauliflower rice, on top of roasted chicken or steak, drizzled over a frittata or eggs, over your favorite fish and so much more.
This recipe was originally shared as part of this delicious Mixed Green Salad with Steam Fried Veggies and has since turned into a staple around here. It’s like a chimichurri of sorts.
This Lemon Basil Vinaigrette comes together in just about 5 minutes and you can store it for up to 7 days in the refrigerator, but I promise it won’t last that long.
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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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Keto Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps {Paleo, Whole30} + Video
These simple Keto Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a tasty, one pan meal that is a restaurant-classic reimagined. Ready in no-time, these paleo and Whole30 lettuce cups pack a flavor punch.
Earlier last year, I think it was in the late spring, I had the pleasure of attending another amazing event at 1440 Multiversity. During this short wellness event they actually had my lovely friend Michelle from Nom Nom Paleo as a guest teaching an amazing cooking demo for all of us. So fun to watch her cook and create in the kitchen. Michelle made her delicious, popular Potsticker Stir-Fry and that was all it took. One quick sample and I was obsessed, not just in how it tasted but also both in how simple it was and how versatile.
I started making it at home, once a week, most times without the original recipe and as these things do, it slowly morphed into a dish of it’s own in my kitchen. I often would replace the ground pork with ground dark meat chicken, sometimes turkey. I sometimes added the cabbage, but not always. I added bell pepper for the flavor and color and many times I will add water chestnuts at the end, cuz I really love that fresh crunch.
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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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Keto Chocolate Avocado Pudding {Paleo, Vegan}
This rich, decadent, smooth Keto Chocolate Avocado Pudding has become a favorite treat around our house. It’s decadent, creamy and so so easy. Ready in just a few minutes, with just 5-ingredients!
You all know from following me, I am not a big treats and sweets gal. I just don’t crave sweets these days and I generally prefer to avoid the keto-fied treats loaded with suspect sweeteners. I generally just stick to my daily dark chocolate. A square or two of 85-100% dark chocolate and I am a very happy girl. Chocolate truly is my love language.
Hubby is a little bit different than me. The man grew up on sweets. The really sweet sweets! They are his comfort food, so I am always looking for ways to please both our palates.
This Keto Chocolate Avocado Pudding is a creamy, whipped mousse-like dessert that comes together quickly and it really hits the spot. The best part, as like most recipes you’ll find here on Tasty Yummies, SO many fun flavor options. Add in a little nut butter and some sea salt and it’s delightful. Bump up the coconut flavor with shredded coconut, toasted coconut flakes or maybe a little coconut extract. Mint Chocolate pudding is nice, add a little mint extract and/or fresh mint leaves. Try adding some cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne for a spicy Mexican Chocolate pudding. Lastly a little espresso powder is also really really nice. Read the rest of this entry »
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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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Grain-free Salmon Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe
This Grain-free Salmon Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe will make you the most popular dog parent around. This DIY treat has just 5 simple ingredients that are loaded with nutrients for your furry baby and they are cost-effective, too!
If you’ve been following along with me on Instagram, then you know all about Uncle Larry.
If you don’t, let me fill you in. Uncle Larry is the rescue pup who came into our lives back in November. During the midst of the horrible Woolsey fires in Malibu, I was feeling helpless being so close, yet so far away, down here in Long Beach.
In the early days of the fire, as the devastation mounted, I felt like I needed to do something, but I didn’t know what exactly. As I was thumbing through my Instagram stories I saw the calls for help for displaced animals, both from the families evacuated under emergency circumstance from their homes and the animals from shelters in the fire zones, also being evacuated. There just wasn’t enough room for all of them and with the threat of euthanasia looming there was a desperate need for foster families.
For the first time ever, without hesitation I said to Mark “we need to foster a dog”. I say for the first time ever, because while we have considered it a million times over, it’s not a decision to take lightly when you already have pets, when you travel a fair amount and you know yourselves well enough to know there is a high probability that any animal you take in, may never leave.
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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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Healing Golden Bone Broth Latte
This Healing Golden Bone Broth Latte is an inflammation-fighting, immune system boosting, super drink and it’s full of comforting, healthful goodness!
Part of living life to it’s fullest and getting out there to travel and experience the world – is being exposed to things. Foods, illnesses, germs, bacteria, toxins – it can definitely take it’s toll on your immune system. I am proud that despite having several autoimmune diseases, my tireless work to maintain my health and vitality, along with how I’ve worked hard train my immune system and it’s little warriors to do their job and do it well – it’s all working! I feel great, I beat illnesses swiftly, if they do take hold and I am not knocked on my ass with every little life shift, stress or travel – which, truthfully, is basically what the majority of the first 30 years of my life was all about. The fight of one illness right to another, bronchitis, swine flu, respiratory infections, every stomach virus or flu around, I had chronic allergies and all the other usual signs of a compromised immune system.
(From September ’17) I can always tell, with loads of travel and eating a bit differently that I traditionally would at home when I am on the road, later nights and longer days – that I have definitely asked a lot of my little immune system army in a short amount of time. And while they’ve been keeping up with their end of the deal to keep me well, I can certainly feel that my body is definitely working overtime right now to keep it that way. I love that I can chill and know that all of my hard work protecting my immune system was important and now I sit back and let it do it’s work.
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Cast Iron Skillet Crispy Kale
Cast Iron Skillet Crispy Kale is a favorite easy weeknight side dish for us. Cast Iron Skillet Crispy Kale is ready in under 10 minutes, under 5 if you are in a rush and don’t care about the crispiness factor. Best part, kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, so this Cast Iron Skillet Crispy Kale tastes great and it’s great for you, too! WIN WIN!
I am all about the simple, easy, weeknight dishes but I especially love nutrient-dense, brain-boosting foods that are easy to prepare and include in the weekly repertoire.
One of the world’s most nutrient dense foods, kale is an inexpensive way to load up on important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Kale is incredibly rich in Vitamin C (more than 4.5 times what you can find in spinach and 1 cup of raw kale has more vitamins C than a whole orange). Kale is also one of the world’s best sources of Vitamin K, with 1 cup of raw kale containing more than 7 times the recommended daily amount, Vitamin K is an important nutrient involved in blood clotting.
Kale is also a great source of B6 and other B Vitamins. Kale like other leafy greens is a rich source of antioxidants, specifically Beta-Cerotene, an antioxidant the body can turn into Vitamin A, along with various polyphenols and flavonoids, including two flavonoids, quercetin and kaempferol known for being heart protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and so much more. Kale actually contains over 45 different flavonoids! WOAH!
Lutein and zeaxanthin, catenoid antioxidants these are the nutrients that give kale its deep, dark green coloring and they are protective against macular degeneration and cataracts. Kale is also high in many minerals people are often deficient in, some of the minerals found in kale include calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iron, to name a few.
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5 Ways to Embrace the Fall Vibes
Happy Fall Everyone. I am so excited we are finally in my favorite season of the year. To me, THIS is most wonderful time of the year. Cooler temperatures, darker days, comfort food, sweaters and snuggling up while we watch Sunday football. Who is with me?
Living in Southern California, summoning those Autumnal vibes can be a bit of challenge, as you can imagine, with the summer heat lingering on just a bit longer than we’d like, the sunshine and the palm trees (no, I am NOT complaining) we just have to get a little more creative here!
I am a huge fan of tradition, especially the seasonal ones, so today I am sharing 5 of my favorite simple ways to embrace the fall vibes so you don’t let this amazing season pass you by!
5 Ways to Embrace the Fall Vibes
1) Get yourself that Pumpkin Spiced Latte. Better yet, make one yourself at home without any weird ingredients. There’s nothing quite like the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg, that feeling of a warm mug in your hands. I make my own pumpkin spice blend every year and I insist that my PSL have actual pumpkin in them. It’s my favorite. If you aren’t one for coffee, maybe aan adult beverage like a Pumpkin Spiced Martini will do ya? Or how about some easy to make Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter or Maple Glazed Pumpkin Spice Almonds.
2) Embrace the scents of fall, turn your home into an aromatic autumnal haven. I love to diffuse these 100% pure essential oil blends in this Autumn Treasure set from Plant Therapy throughout our entire house. It’s an incredible way to shift your home from summer into fall. The natural warming, gently spiced aromas instantly gets you in the mindset of all things fall, the comfort, the coziness, the feel goodness. If you are anything like me, scents are a HUGE memory trigger and these blends have transported me back to update New York where I grew up, every time I diffuse them. I can feel smell the woodsy vibes as if the leaves were crunching right under my boots, I can smell my mom’s apple crisp bubbling over in the oven. Besides diffusing these scents you can also use them in DIY projects, I recently added the Spiced Orange to a homemade wreath I made. These essential oil blends are the perfect way to instantly get yourself into the fall mood and even better they are 100% PURE no synthetic fragrances, no concern for sourcing and no buying from reps with this family-owned and run business.
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for a super special offer from Plant Therapy. But, don’t wait, it’s only good until September 25.
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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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Easy Roasted Chicken
Easy Roasted Chicken is a staple meal, that guarantees meal prepping and meal planning success! This no-fail, foolproof approach to Roasted Chicken takes just a few ingredients and a thermometer, for you to master. Grab the recipe for my Easy Roasted Chicken and enter to win a set of Copper Chef Wonder Cooker pans.
There is nothing quite like an impressive meal that requires very little fuss. There is also something to be said for those cozy, beloved meals that bring comfort, despite how basic they may be.
An easy roasted chicken has the power to comfort. Read on for not only my simple technique for roasted chicken but also for an amazing giveaway for this beautiful, versatile Copper Chef Wonder Cooker.
I am super excited about this new Copper Chef Wonder Cooker that I have had the pleasure of experimenting and playing with over the last week. This 14-in-1 multi-cooker set is not only impressive in the many ways that you can use it, but it’s a stunner, a perfect addition to any foodie’s kitchen collection.
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Keto Chocolate Muffins {gluten-free, paleo}
These Keto Chocolate Muffins are a simple, low carb, sweet treat that are so easy to make and loaded with rich chocolatey flavor. This low carb chocolate muffin recipe comes with alternative sweetener options as well, so if you aren’t doing the super low carb thing or if you just want to make these Keto Chocolate Muffins ASAP with pantry staples you already have on hand you can get on in right away.
These Keto Chocolate Muffins are little bit different of a recipe for me. I am not big on baking or sweets and I am also not generally one for using alternative sweeteners, not that there is anything wrong with some of them, necessarily, but it’s just not my scene. Most of the time, if and when I am going to have a little something sweet, I will use a very small amount of maple syrup or honey or a little coconut sugar. We’re talking a small amount, because it’s totally fine and I will be fine and honey and a little sugar won’t kill me.
When I developed this particular Keto Chocolate Muffins recipe, however, I wanted to make a low carb muffin recipe that would be versatile for my different readers and their different needs. I know for many folks eating keto or a low carb diet, they find themselves there due to diabetes or a metabolic condition of some sort where tracking their blood sugar becomes of high importance, so they do have to be more mindful and aware then those of us just choosing this lifestyle to feel good. Having several people in my life, close to me, that are diabetic, I love creating recipes that I know they can enjoy, too and I can feel good knowing they aren’t shoving those super scary artificial sweeteners into their bodies (splenda and the like).
These Keto Chocolate Muffins can be made several different ways. To be fully low carb and low glycemic, I tested the recipe with this Monkfruit Maple Flavored Syrup, which I have found is a nice replacement for baking recipes that use maple syrup or honey. There is a very subtle maple flavor, however, so you are aware, but I find that flavor pairs so nicely with these muffins. It’s not too distinguishable in this recipe, but in other recipes it can be more prevalent.
By using the monkfruit, these Keto Chocolate Muffins (by my calculations) clock in just over 5 net carbs per muffin! Not too shabby. Read the rest of this entry »
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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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Paleo Baklava Shortbread Cookie Bars {Gluten-free}
A twist on traditional baklava these Paleo Baklava Shortbread Cookie Bars bring the classic flavors of this popular Greek pastry, I grew up on without flour or gluten. Luscious butter, comforting, aromatic spices, a hint of citrus, a blend of spiced nuts and a sweet honey syrup. Mmmmmm!
I am sorry, I have been holding onto this recipe for sometime now. I usually work several months out on my content, I create and test recipes several times over to get them right, then I make them for the final shoot, I style the food, shoot and edit all the photos, I write up the post and recipe and put it into the content calendar. I move my content around to keep it fresh, I base it on what’s in season, holidays and what you all are wanting most. For me, baked goods aren’t always a priority, I don’t love to bake and I don’t generally care about sweets so the baked goods always get pushed down in the queue.I created the recipe for these Paleo Baklava Shortbread Cookie Bars after a trip back home to Buffalo to see my family this past April. My trips home always inspire so many recipe ideas, often new ways to create family or local classics that I didn’t even know I missed so much. The day I made this recipe for the very first time, the smell in my kitchen reminded me of home, of my mom and my dad, my Yia Yias. The first bite I took of this Paleo Baklava, I actually cried. A full on dessert-induced cry.
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Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip aka “Htipiti” (Gluten-free)
I can say that in more ways than one – I truly am my father’s daughter. My love for food, eating and talking about both (or in general) – most definitely all come from my dad! Though I may not always like to admit it, I can be his clone in many ways!
As a Greek girl, (also from my dad) who has been gluten-free for nearly 10 years, one of the saddest things I have had to endure is saying good-bye to sooo many of my favorite classic Greek dishes – spanokopita, taramasalata, baklava, pita, gyro wraps, moussaka, pastitsio, melomakarono, loukamathes – oh my gosh I could go on and on and on (and now I am super hungry). Thankfully, a couple of these dishes can be made gluten-free, so I haven’t had to let go completely.
This dip isn’t something I grew up, like many of those aforementioned dishes, but rather it was a dish my dad had somewhere along the line at a restaurant and became obsessed with recreating. Since he perfected his recipe a few years ago, he has pretty much brought this dip to nearly every get-together and everyone that has ever tasted it – soon becomes obsessed, too! I myself am one of those people and I’ve taken to altering his recipe slightly and making it for my own dinner parties and other get-togethers. Since we moved out west from New York to California in 2013, this dip has been a nice way to savor some of those flavors of home.
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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!!
