‘Paleo’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: Falafel Spiced Turkey Burgers {Whole30}

February 18, 2020 · Narrative, Whole30

Those hints of falafel seasoning mixed with ground turkey serves up one delicious bite after another – let’s make Falafel Spiced Turkey Burgers!

I love falafel, and its seasoning, so when I saw Molly Yeh make these Falafel-Spiced Turkey Burgers on a recent episode of Girl Meets Farm on Food Network, I made a mental note to go look up the recipe. There was only one problem … I was doing a round of Whole30, and her recipe wasn’t completely Whole30-compliant. A couple small tweaks and changes and here we are … a crazy delicious Turkey Burger recipe that is packed with flavor and kid-approved! My oldest loved them, and some mornings, I even crumbled a few pieces into my scrambled eggs. So freaking good, guilt-free, quick, and healthy. I loved them so much I actually made the recipe four times over the course of ten days! Winner, winner, turkey dinner!

…

Recipe: Triple Veggie Skillet {Whole30, Paleo}

February 3, 2020 · Narrative, Whole30

Healthy, filled with vegetables, and a delicious way to start your day. Let’s make this Triple Veggie Skillet.

I did my sixth round of Whole30 (where you give up dairy, alcohol, grains, legumes, and sugar for thirty days) last month, and even though it’s over, I’m still going strong with most of the guidelines. To be honest, I just feel better when I do, and although I’ve brought back my coffee light and sweet, I’m just going to keep on keeping on. Feed yourself good food, and you feel good. Sometimes it really is that simple.

So with that in mind, I spend a few hours on the weekend to prep food and meals for the week. It’s a huge key to my success on Whole30, and just sets me up for a much easier week food-wise.

Yesterday afternoon, I made this Triple Veggie Skillet for breakfasts this week. This morning I paired it with two eggs up and avocado, and it truly was one of the most satisfying breakfasts I’ve had in a long time. I made mine with tomatoes, potatoes, and spinach, but you could certainly mix-and-match the vegetables with others. Super simple to make, using basic ingredients, I just don’t think you can go wrong with food cooked in bacon grease. Am I right? ;)

…

Recipe: Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise {Whole30}

January 10, 2020 · Narrative

The smell is heavenly, the taste is light, let’s make some Roasted Garlic Mayo!

You likely have heard me extol the virtues of homemade mayonnaise before … it’s so light and lemony and downright delicious that after the first time I made it, I never had store-bought again. Plus it’s so much healthier! Since you’re making it yourself, you KNOW the ingredients that are going in it, and it’s clean eating at its finest, and Whole30 and Paleo to boot. Now we’re “kicking it up a notch,” as Emeril used to say (is he still around and cooking?), with this divine Roasted Garlic Mayo.

First let’s talk about the health benefits of roasted garlic all on its own … to name a few, it’s nutritious, has been shown to reduce blood pressure, it can reduce the length of the common cold, lowers the risk of heart disease, and improves bone health (and so much more!).

Oftentimes, if the oven is going to be on for half an hour, I’ll pop in a bulb of garlic to roast, squeeze out the roasted cloves and keep it in a container in the fridge so I always have some on hand (put in small container and cover with olive oil and they’ll be preserved for about two weeks). You can spread some with butter or ghee on a toasted baguette, add to a veggie stir fry, and pop into the mayo recipe below. I also sometimes it eat just straight up! I used to frequest a restaurant (and even got engaged there!) called The Garlic Rose. Garlic was, as you can imagine, infused in some way into every dish they served and it was as amazing as it sounds. What YOUR favorite way to use roasted garlic?

…

Recipe: Sweet Potato Egg Casserole

October 13, 2019 · Narrative

Super simple and crazy delicious, this Sweet Potato Egg Casserole is a great way to start your day.

For the past few months, I have been trying to do some big batch cooking on the weekends to set our household up for a slightly easier week. I have been sort of successful. I say “sort of,” because no matter how much prep I do on the weekends, one or both of my children will undoubtedly throw open the refrigerator that is seriously packed to the gills and ask, “do we have anything to eat?” Followed by them closing it, grabbing pretzels, and declaring that we have “NOTHING to eat.”

#reallife

You can make this in about half an hour, including baking time, and you’re rewarded with something that tastes like it’s good for you … because it is. As I described it in a recent Instastory (are you following me?), when you take a bite, you just know you’re doing something good for you body.

Whether you’re following a Paleo lifestyle, doing a round of Whole30, or just want a guilt-free breakfast that is hearty enough to keep you going until lunch time, this is it.

…

Recipe: Tahini Lemon Dressing {Whole30}

April 8, 2018 · Narrative

The best way to get vegetables into someone’s mouth is to serve them up with a delicious dressing or dipping sauce … let’s talk about this Tahini Lemon Dressing!

I eat a ridiculous amount of vegetables, whether or not I’m doing Whole30, and there are very few that I don’t like. I think kale is actually the only one.

I know! A food blogger that doesn’t like kale … what the?!

I like to change up how I’m making my vegetables on a regular basis with different cooking methods, seasonings, dressings, and dipping sauces. Although both of my kids LOVE roasted broccoli, they don’t love it steamed. But I happen to think that steamed broccoli is the perfect way to eat up this lemony tahini dressing.

But, truth be told, there are a million delicious ways to eat it. I mean, I even drizzled it over my omelet the next day.

Yes, it’s THAT good.

And better still … it takes just a couple seconds in your blender or mini food processor, and a handful of ingredients, and you’ll be diving face first into this deliciousness right along with me.

The main ingredient is, of course, tahini, which, if you’re not familiar with it, is a sesame seed paste, and an ingredient that’s often found in hummus recipes. I buy my tahini at a local Indian grocery store because it’s heaps cheaper there than at a traditional grocery store (same goes for many herbs, spices, and vegetables as well).

Beyond the steamed broccoli, I also dipped grape tomatoes in the dressing and drizzled it over grilled chicken. I made another batch and added a touch of peanut butter and a touch more coconut aminos for a slightly different and equally yummy version. You basically can’t go wrong!

Hungry for more dressings and sauces?
It’s not Whole30-compliant, but this Bleu Cheese dressing is seriously amazing.
And the Caesar dressing I shared here is lick-the-plate-good.
My all-time-favorite Whole30 condiment is this Buffalo Aioli. When I’m on Whole30, there is always a jar in my fridge.

…

Recipe: Japanese Zucchini & Onions {Whole30}

March 4, 2018 · Narrative, Whole30

A very simple and quick side dish that is packed with flavor and Whole30 compliant. Let’s dig in to Japanese Zucchini and Onions!

My go-to method of having zucchini is usually making them into zucchini noodles (aka zoodles), but to be honest, zucchini is usually a take-it-or-leave-it vegetable for me. I don’t mind it and will eat it, but I don’t really crave it, so sometimes you want to change it up a bit, and here we are. This dish seriously takes less than ten minutes to make and was so packed with flavor, I may or may not have licked the plate when I was done.

True story.

I also made it two more times that week.

Yes. It’s that good.

A simple slicing of the zucchini to make bite-size strips, thin slicing of the onions and mushrooms, add in some seasonings, stir fry it, and devour.

And if you happen to be following Whole30, paleo, or just like to eat clean, this recipe hits all those marks. I served it alongside some lemon grilled chicken, but it would be equally delicious with some fish or a host of other main entrees.

And, tbh, I just ate a small plate of it for lunch one day as well.

Hungry for more zucchini recipes?
This recipe for Zucchini and Carrot Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce isn’t Whole30, but it’s still fresh and delicious.
Baked Zucchini Fries are a perfect side dish to hamburgers.
If I’m in the mood for zucchini noodles, this recipe is one of my favorites.

…

Recipe: Homemade Ketchup {Whole30}

February 12, 2018 · Narrative

Ketchup that tastes the way it should … like tomatoes! Read on for a super simple recipe that will hook you from the very first taste.

If you’ve ever done a round or 5 of Whole30, you know that you become a voracious label reader. After the first week or so, it no longer feels like a chore. It starts to feel like empowerment. They put WHAT in my ketchup?! They use WHAT to make my bacon?!

And the more you learn, the more you want to take control of what you put in your body, and make better decisions for you and your family.

I am seriously a condiment queen. I really don’t think there’s any I don’t like, and whether it’s being slathered on a burger or as a dipping sauce for my roasted potatoes, I’m all about it. But … when you’re doing Whole30, you quickly learn that you can’t have some of your usual suspects when it comes to condiments.

Mostly because of the added sugar, and all the unpronounceable garbage they put into it.

In previous rounds of Whole30, I started making my own mayonnaise (and have ever since, whether I’m on Whole30 or not), and I discovered the most delicious buffalo aioli ever. I also started making my own ketchup, although it took getting to my third round of Whole30 to actually blog about it.

#reallifeproblems

If you read the labels of most ketchup bottles, you will find sugar listed in some form or fashion. Whether it’s listed as straight up sugar or high fructose corn syrup, or more subtly mentioned as a form of sucralose, it’s most definitely there, and usually along with several other ingredients that are not Whole30-compliant.

What to do?

That’s when you start making it yourself.

Like, seriously, if you open up my refrigerator you’ll routinely see an assortment of home bottled goodies, everything from mayo and ranch to ketchup and avocado dressings.

#CondimentQueen

When you take your first taste of homemade ketchup, the first thing you’ll notice is that it tastes suspiciously like tomatoes. IMAGINE THAT. Tomatoes is totally what ketchup is SUPPOSED to taste like! And if you do a side-by-side taste test, and taste an off-the-shelf version compared to your homemade batch, you’ll all the sudden see how sweet the store-bought version tastes.

Blech.

As long as you have a can of tomato paste in your pantry, you likely have the rest of the basic ingredients you need to whip up a batch of homemade ketchup. It takes literally just a few minutes to whir all the ingredients together in your little food processor (I’m partial to this one and use it ALL.THE.TIME), and you’ll have a nice little quantity to last you for several weeks.

Whether you’re on Whole30 or not, I encourage you to give the homemade version a try. I made some for a fellow Whole30 friend a few weeks ago. She doesn’t like ketchup, but LOVES the homemade version.

Now it’s your turn.

Hungry for more Whole30 recipes?
These Key Lime Energy Bites are the perfect little thing when you’re craving something sweet.
These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are a favorite. I just made a double batch to bring to a bingo event last week.
I need to update the picture of this Chili, but don’t let that deter you. I make it at least 2 or 3 times a month. So good, Whole30 or not!
Nothing like warm, buttery Avocado Fries!
Cracklin’ Chicken is guilt-free fried chicken (and kid-approved!).
You’ll find yourself making this Madras Chicken Salad again and again.

PS That cute jar I use for my condiments is this one from The Container Store.

…

Recipe: {Whole30} Coconut Lime Energy Balls

February 5, 2018 · Narrative

If you’re looking for a tasty sweet treat that you can pop into your mouth guilt-free, look no further. These Coconut Lime Energy Balls are just the ticket.

If you know about Whole30, you likely know that snacking is strongly discouraged. And, of course, the best way to guarantee your success whilst doing a round of Whole30 is to be an ardent rule follower.

That being said, there are times when you’re on the go and need to pack a few grab-and-go edible things to keep hunger at bay … or those times when you’re hungry, but just not hungry enough for a full meal.

That’s when these tasty little energy balls would come in handy.

With just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, you can whip these up in nothing flat. A friend and I trade Whole30 food every Sunday night, so I split this batch with her, and I think it netted about 12 energy balls for each of us.

Somehow, despite the fact that there is zero sugar added, one bite and you’ll instantly taste something that is reminiscent of Key Lime Pie. If Key Lime flavors aren’t your thing (surprisingly, it’s not a usual go-to for me either!), a quick google search will present you with tons more flavor possibilities. I spied a Mocha one that is totally on my list for next time.

Hungry for more Whole30 recipes?
During this round of Whole30, these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs emerged as my favorite recipe.
Broccoli Bacon Salad is a delicious light side dish recipe.
Nothing like warm, buttery Avocado Fries!
Cracklin’ Chicken is guilt-free fried chicken (and kid-approved!).
You’ll find yourself making this Madras Chicken Salad again and again.

…

Recipe: One Pan Steak and Roasted Vegetables

March 26, 2017 · Narrative

A simple and delicious dinner that is whole family-approved.

Although I mostly work from home these days, that still hasn’t resulted in having scads of “free” time, surprisingly enough. So when I can make a dinner that is a one dish meal, which means less work and less dishes, well, I’m a happy camper.

My kids are pretty fickle about steak. Sometimes they’ll seriously inhale it, and sometimes they’ll swear up and down how much they hate it. Frustrating for sure, and that basically means I’m rolling the dice any time I’m making steak for dinner.

And here I am, rolling the dice.

Although I think I overcooked the meat by a minute or two (I tend to like it more on the pink side), they surprisingly ate it. They didn’t want to see it the next day, but, well, that’s the breaks.

Because you are basically throwing everything onto a pan and letting the oven do most of the work for you, this is a crazy simple recipe to make, and bonus points for not requiring any hunt-all-over-town ingredients. And I’ll tell you, the marinade … it’s seriously slurpable. Like I would totally make it just to roast the vegetables alone with it next time. It’s making my mouth water just thinking about it, so even if you’re vegetarian, skip the steak and make the rest of the recipe just to get your taste buds on the marinade.

Yeah, it’s that good.

…

Recipe: Broccoli & Bacon Salad {#Whole30 Approved}

February 17, 2017 · Narrative

A crisp fresh broccoli salad that is Whole30 and paleo approved? Yes please!

Broccoli salad is nothing new. I bet with a quick Google search, we’ll find it dates back to the 70s. Various iterations exist, and our favorite go-to is this one with cranberries. Some people add grapes. Personally I don’t like sweet items in my salad for the most part, but Broccoli Salad is one of those few exceptions. It just works.

It makes a big batch and I love having a healthy grab-and-go option for during the week. But recently I made a different version of the recipe.

Very pared down in terms of ingredients (although the original doesn’t have THAT long of an ingredient list), and I nixed the sugar, which means this version is now Whole30-compliant. The original recipe calls for a quarter cup of sugar and, while that’s not a huge amount, I’ve found that you really don’t need it with the touch of sweetness you’re getting from the raisins.

If you ARE on Whole30, make your own bacon for this recipe or find a store-bought one that does not have sugar in it. The same goes for the mayonnaise. Ever since my first round of Whole30 in last year, I make my own mayo all the time. It tastes so much better, and it’s just better for you.

With the Spring season coming, this is a nice light dish to bring to potluck or make for an easy weeknight dinner alongside a stack of grilled burgers or chicken.

…

Recipe: Madras Chicken Salad

October 12, 2016 · Narrative

Flavored with curry powder and apple pieces, this Madras Chicken Salad is unusual but will keep you coming back for more.

I’m doing another round of Whole30 right now, and I’m currently on Day 10. My migraines have gotten a bit worse over the past few months, as has my sleep, and I remember when I did Whole30 last year that both of those issues were vastly improved while I was on it.

So, of course, I’m doing it again.

Beyond those two perks, it’s also a good reset for your body and an excellent reminder about eating the right things. Now that I’m firmly passed the sugar withdrawal, and the hangriness of Days Four through Seven, I’ve settled in nicely and am quite enjoying my meals and positive effects from it. It really kind of rewires your brain a bit while you’re on it. As the creator said at an event last week, during the first week, all you’re doing is thinking about food … what you can and can’t have, where you can eat out, how to live within the confines of the restrictions, and once you’re nearing the end (or, for me, week two), you’re in that nice rote pattern of everything being routine.

You’re no longer THINKING about it, you’re just DOING it.

You’re remembering how much your body loves food that is good FOR you.

It’s a nice place to be.

When I was meal planning a few days ago, I wanted to prep a few things to have on hand for quick lunches or light dinners, so I didn’t get derailed if I ran short of time, and that’s where this Madras Chicken Salad came in. I found the recipe in the Nom Nom Paleo cookbook, which is one of my favorite cookbooks, and it was super simple to make, especially if you used a rotisserie chicken.

I will be honest. I hate apples, unless they’re as a vehicle to get this dip into my mouth, or unless they’re baked. So the fact that I loved them in this recipe should tell you something. Secondly, you really have to like curry powder because it is very apparent in this recipe. If you don’t, swap it out and make an herb mayo or garlic mayo, and it is sure to be just as good.

The first day, I just ate it as is, right from the plate. The second day, I scooped some into avocado halves, and it was delish. I shared some of this salad with a friend who is also on Whole30, and she went out and bought the ingredients to make it the next day.

Yes, it’s THAT GOOD.

…

Recipe: Cracklin’ Chicken

July 6, 2015 · Narrative

A healthy, super delicious two ingredient dinner that you can get on the table in fifteen minutes? YES, a thousand times yes.

When you find yourself making the same recipe twice in less than seven days, you know it’s a winner.

This is that.

I originally discovered it in the Nom Nom Paleo cookbook some months back, and finally got around to making it. I’m not even sure why it took me so long … oh, right. Too many recipes, not enough time. But now that I have, and again a second time, it is guaranteed to be in heavy rotation.

Because two ingredients (I’m not counting spices from your cabinet) and it’s both healthy AND delicious?

Yes, please.

Bonus points for being kid-approved.

And it fits so many eating plans … Whole30, Paleo, Primal, clean eating… everything except vegetarian. Natch.

It calls for cooking the chicken thighs in ghee. Ghee is something I’ve been cooking with since I did my first round of Whole30 some months back. It’s clarified butter, which means it is butter without the dairy. You can definitely make it on your own, but, for now, I’ve just been buying it at the Indian grocery store. It’s super cheap there.

The recipe suggests buying a splatter guard, and although I hate have extra items in my kitchen, after making it twice already, I think I’m going to add one to my wish list. It’s not terrible without it, it would just save a few minutes of extra clean-up from the splatter.

Because you’re pounding the chicken so it’s very flat, which allows for even cooking, this cooks up in nothing flat. The ghee gives the skin a nice extra crispy coating. Almost like fried chicken, but not.

I cut the skin off Nick’s pieces, because he’s in a I-don’t-like-chicken-skin-phase, which was fine because it made the dogs happy.

Skin weirdness notwithstanding, it’s a meal that we all can agree on and love.

Make it; you won’t be disappointed.

*last night, I served it with Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Tots and homemade mayo. Last week, as shown in the first photo, it was a side of zucchini noodles with Parmesan

…