‘Whole30’ Articles at Sweetnicks, Page 2

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.

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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.

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Recipe: Filipino-Style Torta

January 19, 2018 · Narrative

A super pretty, very delicious Filipino-Style Torta that is hearty enough to keep you full until lunch … and it’s Whole30 approved!

If you’ve done a Whole30 round before, you know that you might find yourself eating a lot of eggs. Not because you HAVE TO, but just because they’re an easy breakfast option, and even a fail-safe go-to for a quick and easy dinner. So knowing that, I wanted to make sure to keep an eye out for recipes that may feature eggs, but were slightly different enough to keep things interesting, and this Torta delivered.

I spied the recipe in an issue of People magazine of all places, and with minor tweaks, I could make it be Whole30 compliant. The recipe notes that it’s ready in twenty minutes, and, well, I beg to differ. Closer to 40 minutes seemed a little more accurate, but it is still simple to make, and totally worth it.

The wedges, once sliced, are filling enough to keep you satiated through the morning with just a little fresh fruit on the side. And what I also loved about it is I could warm up a slice and wrap it in a napkin for an easy grab-and-go breakfast. You could easily swap out the ground beef and use sausage instead, or skip meat entirely and make an all-vegetable version. I made my layers fairly wide, which made for some interesting maneuvers when it came time to flip it, and ended up with five layers. You could make your layers smaller, and then you’d have a higher stack, or do two smaller stacks. Whatever you do, you can’t mess this one up.

Hungry for more Whole30 recipes?
With the Super Bowl coming up, you can have these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and still stay on course.
Everything is better with bacon, and this Broccoli & Bacon Salad is no exception.
Avocado Fries are soooo good, and on my list for this weekend.

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Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs {Whole30}

January 8, 2018 · Narrative

You don’t have to give up ALL your favorite foods when you’re on Whole30, you might just need to tweak a few. Like these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.

If you follow me on Instagram (cateomalley), you might have noticed I’m doing another round of Whole30. This is the third time I’m doing it, and it’s a little bit different this time. Because there are about 40 of my friends doing it too, so we’re all in a private facebook group posting recipes, sharing grocery store finds, and cheering each other on. Doing it with others makes such a big difference. We’re all holding each other accountable, supporting each other, and commiserating as we pass up our favorite non-compliant beverages. #teamwork

When I was married, my (then) husband was all about buffalo wings. And me? Well, wings didn’t do anything for me, nor the “buffalo” flavoring either. Flash forward a few years, and, well, I’m all about buffalo anything. This is dip is a favorite time of ours, and I even have two Pinterest boards dedicated to buffalo-themed recipes, one specifically chicken, and one not.

So when I spied a recipe for Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, you know I was going to make it. Sooooo simple to throw together. Mix a few basic ingredients in a bowl, use a mini cookie scooper to form your meatballs, bake, and devour.

And devour I did.

Nick didn’t love them – the texture of ground chicken threw him off a bit. But that just left some for me for lunch the next day. I used coconut flour instead of almond, because I happened to have it on hand (and you can’t taste the coconut), and I used Primal Kitchen’s chipotle lime mayo for dipping (a Whole30 compliant ranch would be good as well (and I used that for the next day). I think the next time I make them, I would mix a little ghee and hot sauce and slather them with it after baking. I did miss my usual bleu cheese, but for now, this will do the trick.

Whether you’re on Whole30, or just want a healthier version of an old favorite, dig into these.

Hungry for more buffalo-flavored recipes? I’ve got you covered.
This Buffalo Aioli is Whole30-approved and one of my favorite dipping sauces.
Buffalo Chicken Salad is one of my all-time favorite recipes.
Buffalo Chicken Bake is teenager-approved.
And this Bleu Cheese Stuffed Crust Buffalo Chicken Pizza I created for Pillsbury is a delicious easy dinner.

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Recipe: Cauliflower “Fried” Rice with Diced Ham

May 10, 2017 · Clean Eating, Narrative

A super healthy side dish that will fool even the most ardent cauliflower-haters.

My kids won’t eat cauliflower. Neither of them like it, no matter how I prepare it.

Until this dish.

My daughter wouldn’t touch it, and my son kept asking me what kind of rice I used, but he ended up eating it all. So I consider that a win.

As for me? I don’t hate cauliflower. I’m very firmly in a take-it-or-leave it camp, but loved this version of a healthier version of fried rice.

I taught a cooking class last week and had leftover carrots, scallions, garlic, and sesame oil, and with a bag of Trader Joe’s riced cauliflower in the freezer, I happily had all the ingredients on hand to make this.

I started with a recipe I found from Skinnytaste (you can find the original here), but made a few changes along the way, based on preference and what I had on hand. It comes together very quickly, particularly if you use a bag of riced cauliflower, instead of starting with a head of cauliflower, and makes a tasty side dish for one of the kids and an actual full meal for me. I think this is a great recipe to use as a guideline to customize as your own taste buds see fit. Adding in some grilled shrimp or chicken would make this an even more complete meal, and perfect for days when you want to get in and out of the kitchen, or want something a bit lighter to eat.

As a side note, Trader Joe’s actually limit the amount of bags of riced cauliflower you can buy to two at a time because customers go crazy for it. Out of the past 7 or so times I’ve visited TJ’s, this is actually the first time I’ve seen it in stock because they sell out mid-morning. At only $1.99 a bag, and saving quite a bit of time and mess, it’s no wonder!

Hungry for more cauliflower recipes?
There are hundreds of recipes for cauliflower pizza crust, but this one is one of my favorites.
This Loaded Fake-Out Baked Potato Casserole lets you indulge without the guilt.
Visit Flavortown with this recipe for Sesame Glazed Cauliflower.
Cauliflower Fritters. Kind of like a fried latke. But not.
These Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Tots from Kalyn’s Kitchen were fun little bites to pop in your mouth.
If you haven’t made this ridiculously simple Three Ingredient Cauliflower Soup, you are seriously missing out.
This Buffalo-Style Roasted Cauliflower is one I keep going back to. So good and so easy.
This Roasted Cauliflower Spread is a riff off one that Sarah and I enjoyed at Tom Douglas’ Lola in Seattle.
Visually, this Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower is a showstopper, and I made it for a cooking challenge at the CIA.
If you haven’t had this Cauliflower Steak with Homemade Caesar Dressing, I don’t know how to help you.
This super simple Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a great comfort food spin when you’re craving carbs and cheese.
These Cauliflower Bread Sticks were another great riff, and delish!
This Mock Shrimp Risotto was almost as good as the real deal.
And lastly, Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes will satisfy your comfort food craving.

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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.

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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.

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Recipe: Rustic Tomato Soup

February 2, 2017 · Narrative

A clean-eating, tummy-warming soup that is a perfect lunch or, when coupled with grilled cheese, a comfort food-style dinner. This Rustic Tomato Soup has been making repeat rotations in our kitchen.

I was at Costco a few weeks ago, and spied Oprah’s new cookbook, Food, Health & Happiness. They’re not really her recipes, but rather recipes from her favorite six chefs and, since she’s on Weight Watchers right now, they are, of course, all Weight Watchers friendly.

I am not on Weight Watchers, and have seriously pared down my once-crazy cookbook collection, but despite this, the cookbook ended up coming home with me nonetheless.

Apparently resistance is futile.

It was hard not to be drawn in by the photography, the smell of the printed page (some paper used for printing have a distinct smell), and the rustic theme of the recipes. Also, after a quick scan of the various dishes throughout the book, I noticed that I could make many of them Whole30 or clean-eating friendly, which is kind of what sold me, because that’s where I’m at these days.

Focusing on continued clean eating with the occasional treat day.

And so here we are with this Rustic Tomato Soup. So simple to make, and so good for you. It’s absolutely the way tomato soup should taste. Like the tomato soup of your dreams. Now if you’re not eating clean, this begs to be topped with thick cut crispy croutons or eaten with grilled cheese dippers. Just sayin’.

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Review: Hoboken Farms Tomato Sauce

November 16, 2016 · Narrative

A delicious, robust, and good-for-you line of tomato sauces … what more could you ask for?

In 2010, I started eating clean. Which means basically trying to eat whole foods, foods that don’t have ingredients in them.

O hoboken-farms range and asparagus are whole foods.

Oreos are not.

And then last year, I did a round of Whole30, and I did another one last month.

And Whole30, if you’re not familiar with it, is like clean eating … jacked up.

Like 1000% more.

And whether you’re eating clean or following Whole30 or another nutritional lifestyle, one thing you learn quickly is the importance of reading labels.

Any time I’m buying something new, the label is the first thing I look for.

I want to know what’s inside my food. And namely, what was put inside my food that really has no place there.

And the more labels you read, the more you see how sugar sneaks in EVERYWHERE.

In bacon.

In ketchup.

In beef jerky.

And in other weird, random places where you wouldn’t think it would be.

In tomato sauces.

And that’s one of the reasons I make a lot of things myself … bacon, ketchup, tomato sauce … and more.

It’s easy to control what goes in, and what stays out.

But sometimes, although I have both a long, time-consuming recipe, and a short version, sometimes I just don’t have time to make my own tomato sauce.

So I would love to have a brand that I can count on.

A brand that doesn’t have all sorts of unpronounceable junk in it.

A tomato sauce that doesn’t have sugar in it.

So when a case of sauce from the folks at Hoboken Farms arrived, right dab in the middle of my second round of Whole30, I was pretty stoked to read their ingredient list.

The ingredient list for their marinara sauce?

Whole Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Fresh onion, basil, garlic and spices.

THAT’S IT.

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Recipe: Asparagus with Warm Tarragon Vinaigrette and Homemade Crispy Bacon, Topped with a Runny Egg

November 2, 2016 · Narrative

Longest title ever, but every word of it produced a lick-your-bowl clean recipe.

So yesterday was my first official day off Whole30. But despite that fact, I plan to stay mostly Whole30-ish, aside from the occasional “worth it” treat meal.

Which is to say that this dish is completely Whole30, but whether or not you’re following that particular program, it doesn’t really matter.

Because it is THAT GOOD.

Like, no joke, I licked my plate when I was done.

I found the original recipe in an issue of Cooking Light magazine, but tweaked it a little to make it Whole30-approved. It’s super quick to make, twenty minutes start to finish, and the CL recipe serves 8 as a side dish. Since it was just for me, and a whole meal as opposed to a side dish, I halved it and topped it with a runny egg.

It was just begging for it.

That, and after a month of Whole30, my brain is just wired to think all eggs, all the time. I saved half of it for lunch today and it was just as good then as it was last night when I made it.

Super light, super healthy, and, most of all, super delicious.

MAKE IT.

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Recipe: Two Ingredient Pancakes {Whole30}

October 20, 2016 · Breakfast, Narrative

Two ingredient pancakes that come together lickety-split AND are super healthy? I’ve got you covered.

Even though I make pancakes for my kids fairly often, I’ll be the first to admit it … I don’t really like pancakes. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had pancakes over the past ten years, and I’d still have fingers leftover.

Just not my thing.

But what IS my thing is changing up breakfast a little bit, especially while doing Whole30, so it’s not eggs every day.

Because a person can only eat so many eggs.

So when I spied a mention for two ingredients pancakes, I was intrigued.

Eggs.

Bananas.

That’s it.

They take just a minute or two to mash and mix, and before you know it, you’re already putting them on your hot griddle to cook.

Sidebar: If you’re doing Whole30, you’ll want to use ghee or coconut oil in your pan, to keep compliant. Everyone else can use straight-up butter.

Because these pancakes don’t have the heaviness of their flour-filled counterparts, they cook up super quick. Like, just a minute or so on each side and you’ll be digging into a heaping plate of pancakes in no time flat.

And the taste?

Delish. I know it sounds weird, but they kind of taste like they have maple syrup inside them. Which, of course, they don’t.

They’re slightly sweet, and moist, and tender, and the perfect thing for when you just can’t look at another egg breakfast.

And because they have just two ingredients, they also satisfy the requirements if you are paleo, gluten-free, dairy free, grain free, or sugar-free.

Dig in.

Hungry for more breakfast ideas?
This Egg and Kale Breakfast Quiche is perfect when you’re looking for something a little heartier.
This Danish recipe that I created for Pillsbury is amazeballs.
Cinnamon Roll Muffins are a tasty, sweet bite that is perfect to pop into your mouth as you head out the door.
And these Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins will always be my kids’ favorite weekday breakfast.

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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.

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