Recipes Archives - Page 5 of 13 -

Green Egg Avocado Stuffed Muffins

on March 16, 2016April 28, 2021 By Kelley 2 Comments

These Green Egg Avocado Stuffed Muffins make the perfect weekday on-the-go breakfast! They are healthy, packed with protein and nutrients, and so very yummy! And they are green, thanks to some nutritious veggies! Don’t worry you can’t taste the greens, but you can taste the yummy avocado surprise in the middle, along with the ooey gooey melty cheese! Easy, simple and delicious, these egg muffins will be your new favorite breakfast!

So I wanted to make something green today. St. Patrick’s Day is later this week and I just couldn’t think of the appropriate dish to celebrate. I thought about desserts with mint, Irish soda bread, cookies shaped like four leaf clovers, but nothing really stuck. When I set out to create something I have to be super excited about it, and these weren’t doing it for me. I was prepared to go through St. Patrick’s Day without any celebratory creations, that is until this morning when an awesome GREEN idea came over me….

Most mornings I have a fried egg and a side of sautéed greens, usually kale or spinach. This morning I set out to make my usual, then it dawned on me, why don’t I combine the two and make green eggs? And make them in a convenient muffin tin? And stuff them with avocado and cheese??

YES! This is it! Green. Festive. Very healthy. AND YUMMY!

And of course Cricket got out of bed to have a taste of what was cookin’. She got up from her dog bed (which is ON the couch lol), stretched all her legs in her usually morning routine and then scarfed down 3 of these! She approves and I’m sure you will too!

There is nothing better than avocado, eggs and cheese for a savory breakfast!

Here is a great article on The Health Benefits of Avocados.

Green Egg Avocado Stuffed Muffins

4 pasture-raised eggs
3 tablespoons unflavored/unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
1/3-1/2 cup of kale or spinach (or both)
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon of grass-fed butter (ghee, or oil of choice to grease muffin tin)
1/2 avocado (cut into 1″ cubes)
1/4 cup of cheese of choice (preferably organic grass-fed, for paleo omit cheese)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a muffin tin with the butter or oil.
Blend the eggs, milk, greens, salt and pepper in a high speed blender until smooth.
Pour the green mixture into each muffin compartment. (fill compartments 3/4 full)
Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Place an avocado cube into each half-baked egg muffin and place cheese on top.
Bake for an additional 10 minutes, then remove and let cool before using a knife to dislodge them from the tin.

NY Style Thin Crust PIZZA {Easy, 4 Ingredient Veggie-Based Crust}

on March 14, 2016December 22, 2020 By Kelley 31 Comments

I made a pizza yesterday. Like, A REAL Thin Crust PIZZA! With one bite I died and went to pizza heaven. Seriously, it blew away all expectations I had for this pizza. It is that good! And EASY! And VEGGIE-BASED (no cauliflower:))! Only 4 INGREDIENTS! Seriously! Can you tell how excited I am? This pizza is for everyone. Your traditional eaters will LOVE it, I swear. Best of all this thin pizza crust secretly is grain and gluten-free, paleo, vegan, dairy-free and healthy. No eggs. No yeast. You’re gonna love it!

What is your all-time favorite pizza? I originally hail from the NYC area (CT to be exact) and NY pizza was where it’s at. I mean it’s world famous right? But I happen to love a little pizzeria in New Haven, CT the most! I’ll get to that in a sec….

As a child I wasn’t much of a pizza fan. I’ve always had a hot and steamy love affair with fresh bread so at the many pizza parties of my youth you could find me peeling off the cheese and eating the bread and crust alone! My friends, on the other hand, would peel off the cheese, and eat that all alone! Haha. The cheese was always so greasy and when the pizza wasn’t super hot and fresh from the oven, the cheese would be a solid gummy and chewy mess, yuck!

Then one day I discovered New Haven pizza- the famous Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana. Now this was the real deal! The crust is intoxicating. The sauce is flavorful and fresh and topped with just a bit of the perfect kind of cheese for the ultimate flavor. Check out their website and if you happen to be in the New Haven area, do yourself a favor and stop (if you can eat wheat occasionally of course), but if you can’t for dietary reasons that is A-OK because I have the perfect grain and gluten-free alternative for you!!

This crust is just like the authentic Italian thin crust pizza. It’s crispy, light, flaky, and has a nice bit of chewiness. Even Cricket, who isn’t a big fan of baked goods (she prefers her meat served straight-up, no fillers!), likes this crust. She stood at attention in front of the oven while it was baking, the wonderful smells wafting in her direction. Unfortunately it was so good I could only sacrifice a small crumb, which she swallowed without chewing and glared at me as to say “where’s the rest mom!?”

When you make the dough it will be sticky, and that is ok! It should look something like this:

And I’ve added a personal-size crust option too in the recipe!

So the main ingredient in this pizza crust is yuca, aka cassava. It’s a starchy root veggie that happens to be the star of this crust. And it’s also healthy, packed with vitamin C and has a low glycemic index of 46 (a white potato is 85). Best of all, cassava bakes up light and crispy, but still has a wonderful chew. You can even fold your slices just like real pizza!

NY Style Thin Crust PIZZA {Easy, 4 Ingredient Veggie-Base Crust}

This AMAZING crisp, flaky, light and chewy NY Style Thin Crust Pizza is intoxicatingly delcious! And it’s super EASY! And VEGGIE-BASED (no cauliflower:))! Only 4 INGREDIENTS! Seriously! Can you tell how excited I am? This pizza is for everyone. Your traditional eaters will LOVE it, I swear. Best of all this thin pizza crust secretly grain and gluten-free, paleo, vegan, dairy-free and healthy. No eggs. No yeast. You’re gonna love it!

LARGE PIZZA CRUST:

1 cup yuca (cassava, boiled and mashed)
¼ cup light olive oil
1/8 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon coconut flour (sifted)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

PERSONAL PIZZA CRUST:

1/2 cup yuca (cassava, boiled and mashed)
2 tablespoons light olive oil
dash of sea salt (optional)
2 teaspoons coconut flour (sifted)
1/8 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F,
Peel the yuca and cut into chunks.
Boil the yuca for 15-20 minutes, or until very fork tender.**
Mash the yuca in a bowl with the olive oil, use a hand blender or food processor for best consistency (should be smooth and sticky, no lumps).
In a small bowl mix the coconut flour, baking soda and salt.
Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly into the mashed yuca and form a ball (will be sticky!).
Place the ball of dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and place another piece of parchment on top.
Use your hands to smooth out the dough until it’s about 1/8″ think or less. (very important to get it very thin to ensure crispiness. Dough should be somewhat transparent when it’s thin enough.)
Remove the top sheet of parchment and place in the oven.
The large crust will cook for 15-20 minutes and the personal-sized crust for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown. I baked it on the middle rack then moved it one rack lower the last few minutes.
Remove the crust, add toppings such as tomato sauce, pastured-raised cheese (if you eat dairy), veggies and/or meat.
Place back into the oven for a few minutes until toppings are cooked to desired temperature.
**note: make sure to drain yuca well before mashing to ensure dough isn’t too wet, and mash while it’s hot otherwise dough isn’t easy to work with.

Toasted Sesame Noodles {Under 15 Minutes, Grain-Free/Paleo Option}

on March 6, 2016December 22, 2020 By Kelley 1 Comment

I am so excited to bring this awesome Toasted Sesame Noodle recipe to you guys today AND announce the release of my ASIAN NOODLE BOWLS e-cookbook complete with VIDEOS! The popularity of my noodle recipes have blown away any expectations I had, so thank you all for loving them so much! The ASIAN NOODLE BOWLS e-cookbook is a collection of 12 easy, 15-minute, single-serving, healthy, and delicious recipes that have options for every popular diet restriction (grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan). In fact, the book actually has the potential for over 64+ different variations (given you can top the noodle bowls with various proteins including chicken, pork, beef, tofu, and you can swap out the zoodles/noodles and use rice or cauliflower rice in place.) Really the options are endless! In addition, there is a video for every recipe with complete ingredients so you can cook your noodles right from the video, easy-peasy!

CLICK HERE to ORDER Your ASIAN NOODLE e-Cookbook with VIDEOS for only $2.99!

So these Toasted Sesame Noodles are a little peak inside the book :). These noodles are easy, tasty and addictive! Be sure to eat them with chopsticks to slow you down a bit. Fork= shoveling noodles into my mouth….Haha.

These Toasted Sesame Noodles are a flavor explosion of nutty, buttery, rich goodness! And they are so very, very addictive! The toasted sesame seeds are the highlight of this dish with a rich nutty flavor, and the noodles are saturated with a light flavorful sauce making an amazing flavor combination. Best of all the dish is crazy simple and quick to make. It just takes a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes or less! There is a recipe adaptation for every diet including traditional, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, pegan and vegan! Everyone can partake in noodle joy!!

When I make these noodles, I actually use zoodles most of the time, you know zucchini noodles made using a spiralizer. (You can find one here– it’s a must have!) Zoodles make an awesome super healthy and grain-free stand-in for noodles. They happily take on whatever flavor you subject them to 🙂 (These pictures were taken with quinoa noodles by Ancient Harvest which make an excellent gluten-free option if you don’t want zoodles.)

I’ve been zoodle crazy at my house cooking up all these noodle recipes! I’ve even tried spiraling carrots and cucumbers, which, I must say, are AWESOME as well! This recipe would also be amazing with chilled cucumber noodles. Just let the sauce cool and toss them in with “cucoodles,” you know- cucumber-noodles. Hehe.

Cricket has even gotten in on all the noodle action. She’ll happily slurps them from her bowl, as long at they are coated in some yummy sauce 🙂 Today I served her up some noodles a la chicken broth and she was smitten! Remember that scene in Lady and the Tramp where the lovebird pups slurp the same noodle over a spaghetti supper? Well, I think Cricket would make the perfect “Lady!” Here we are practicing the scene for her someday debut:

And if you love noodles, be sure to check out my other popular noodle recipes:

PEANUT NOODLES STICKY GARLIC NOODLES

Ok, ok, I know your probably very hungry….I won’t make you wait any longer, here it is!

Toasted Sesame Noodles {Under 15 Minutes, Grain-Free/Paleo Option}

These Toasted Sesame Noodles are a flavor explosion of nutty, buttery, rich goodness! And they are so very, very addictive! The toasted sesame seeds are the highlight of this dish with a deep, nutty, and complex flavor, and the noodles are saturated with a buttery, yet light, sauce making an amazing flavor combination. Best of all the dish is crazy simple and quick to make. It just takes a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes or less! There is a recipe adaption for every diet including traditional, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, pegan and vegan! Everyone can partake in noodle joy!!

3 cups of noodles or zoodles (spiralizer for zoodles)
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons broth (veggie or chicken)
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut aminos (or tamari or soy sauce)
2 teaspoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha
2 teaspoons almond butter (or peanut butter)
2 teaspoons coconut sugar
1 tablespoon green onion (chopped for garnish)

Spiralize your zucchini to make your zoodles and set aside, making about 3 cups. Or boil your gluten-free noodles according to the box’s direction.
Over medium-high heat, dry roast the sesame seeds until golden. (Alternatively you can add 1/4 t of butter, ghee, or oil of choice to add a bit more flavor to them.)
In a saucepan over medium-high heat combine the sesame oil, broth, tamari, rice vinegar, sriracha, almond butter, and coconut sugar. Mix thoroughly and let simmer for 30 seconds. (If using toasted sesame oil add it at the end once you remove the sauce from the heat.)
Toss the noodles with the sauce, plate and garnish with fresh green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Maple Almond Butter and Chocolate Cups

on March 5, 2016August 13, 2021 By Kelley 7 Comments

These tasty melt-in-your-mouth cups are for all you Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup lovers out there. The super creamy almond butter pairs perfectly with the rich dark chocolate shell making a flavor explosion that will satisfy your deepest chocolate desires. Best of all they are GOOD for YOU! Dairy-free, paleo, gluten-free and grain free. They are super easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients!

I know it’s not October, not even close, but I often find myself thinking about Halloween. I think about what costume Cricket should wear, that of course has to be compatible with mine. Like Shaggy and Scooby Doo or Bo Peep and her one black (and white) sheep. (The later actually would be a throw back to my younger years circa 6 years old when I was Bo Peep and my younger sisters served as my “flock” of sheep.lol.) Cricket often looks like a baby lamb when she’s sleeping all curled up in a ball. 🙂

If you guys have any other ideas I’d love for you to share them, please! I only have, well let’s see 9 months! Lol. So besides the costumes, what’s the next best part of Halloween? Yes, I think I heard you say “Peanut Butter Cups?” Yes! You’re right. The biggest goal of Halloween, besides finding an epic costume of you and your dog, is to hoard as many peanut butter cups as possible… and then eat every single last one.

I discovered a fantastic way to make my own almond butter cups, which upstage peanut butter cups, really! They are super simple and easy to make and they are actually good for you! The almond butter is creamy, nutty and has a hint of maple. The dark chocolate blankets the gooey middle perfectly and melts in your mouth upon contact.

There is a simple hack to get these cup-shaped chocolates…. a mini cupcake tin. It makes the perfectly sized Maple Almond Butter Cups! They pop right out and then POP them right into your mouth. Swoon!

If you love these, which I am sure you will, try these Peppermint Crunch Cups….

Maple Almond Butter and Chocolate Cups

1 1/4 cups chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand)
2 tablespoon coconut oil plus 1 teaspoon for greasing muffin tin
3/4 cup almond butter
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Melt the chocolate chips plus 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat.
Grease the mini muffin tin with coconut oil.
Pour a teaspoon of melted chocolate into each compartment. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes.
Melt the almond butter, maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat.
Spoon a heaping teaspoon of almond butter mixture into each compartment.
Spoon the remaining chocolate on top of the almond butter layer and chill in the fridge until set, about 1/2 hour in the fridge or 10-15 minutes in the freezer.
Carefully pop the cups out of the tray using a fork or butter knife.

Banh Mi Chicken Tacos {Slow Cooker}

on February 25, 2016January 28, 2021 By Kelley 4 Comments

These tasty Banh Mi Chicken Tacos are packed with fresh and bright flavor. They make the perfect healthy weekday dinner. All you got to do is just set it and forget it in the slow cooker and your Bahn Mi tacos will be ready by dinner time! This recipe is super easy, and only uses a few simple ingredients but packs a ton of flavor. Add these tacos into your weekly dinner rotation, you will not be disappointed! {Gluten-free, Grain-free, Paleo, Pegan}

Banh Mi sandwiches seem to be popping up everywhere lately! Have you tried one yet? If not, you should definitely jump on it! This Vietnamese sandwich is layered with tender marinated pork, pickled carrots and radishes, sliced fresh cucumbers and drizzled with a tangy mayo. The term “Banh Mi” actually means bread, as this sandwich is usually made on a crusty baguette, but today I’ve transformed this amazing sandwich into a healthy, flavor-packed taco!

Best of all it’s made in the slow cooker, which is my all-time favorite appliance lately. I can plop some ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning and by dinner time the kitchen is smelling mouthwateringly delicious and dinner is ready to go! This recipe is simple and easy, with no crazy ingredients. The pickled veggies make these tacos! They are the perfect combination of sweet and tangy sour and along with the cilantro they brighten up this dish so much you’ll feel the joy at first bite! The spicy mayo marries all the flavors and rounds out the flavor explosion.

These tacos were a big hit with my family and Cricket got to sample the goods as well! The shredded chicken is pup friendly if your willing to share 🙂 When Cricket’s nose gets the best of her in the kitchen she has a unique way of getting what she wants. Instead of begging like most ordinary dogs do, she pouts! Yep, she lays down (somewhere in the way so I have to step over her- yes, that’s intentional!) and puts a sad face on. Eventually I feel badly, and give her some of the yummies! You don’t believe me that she is that manipulative? Well, here is the proof:

No she’s not sleeping……She’s working me over! lol

Now for taco assembly…..You can use purple cabbage for the taco shells which is a super healthy, flavorful, and eye-catching option. Did you know veggies with deep colors are the healthiest for you? You can read more about that HERE if you’re interested! You can also use Boston Bibb lettuce, or hard or soft taco shells. The choice is yours! Enjoy.

Banh Mi Chicken Tacos {Slow Cooker}

These tasty Banh Mi Chicken Tacos are packed with fresh and bright flavor. They make the perfect healthy weekday dinner. All you got to do is just set it and forget it in the SLOW COOKER and your Banh Mi tacos will be ready by dinner time! This recipe is super easy, and only uses a few simple ingredients but packs a ton of flavor. Add these tacos into your weekly dinner rotation, you will not be disappointed! {Grain-free, Gluten-free, Paleo, Pegan}

BANH MI CHICKEN:

1 lb chicken (1 large chicken breast)
½ cup chicken broth
1 garlic clove (minced)
2 green onions (chopped)
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons tamari (or soy sauce or coconut aminos)
1 tablespoon coconut sugar (or maple syrup)
1 teaspoon sriracha (or more if you’d like it spicy)
½ tablespoon coconut oil
6 large leaves of cabbage or lettuce to serve as taco shells
Recommended Garnish: pickled veggies (chopped jalapeños, cilantro, and spicy mayo)

SPICY “MAYO”:

1/2 cup raw cashews (soaked in water for at least 2 hours, then drained and rinsed)
2-3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sriracha
dash sea salt

PICKLED VEGGIES:

1/2 cup matchstick carrots
1/2 cup radish (preferably diakon radish)
1/2 cup thin sliced english cucumbers
1/2 cup rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
3 tablespoons water
¼ cup coconut sugar

In your slow cooker combine the chicken breast, broth, garlic, green onions, lime juice, sesame oil, tamari, coconut sugar, sriracha and coconut oil. Set on high for 4 hours or low for 6+ hours.
Next soak you cashews and leave them in the fridge for a few hours.
For the pickled veggies combine the rice vinegar, water and sugar in a saucepan over high heat. Let it boil for about 30-45 seconds, then pour over the carrots, radishes and cucumbers. Let marinate for a few hours.
When the chicken is done use a fork to shred the meat and mix with the sauce in the slow cooker.
Drain the liquid from the cashews and pickled veggies.
Combine the spicy mayo ingredients in a high speed blender on high until smooth.
Prepare the cabbage leaves or taco shells, fill with Banh Mi chicken, then top with pickled veggies, cilantro, jalapeños, and spicy mayo.

Chocolate-Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies {Video!}

on February 21, 2016August 13, 2021 By Kelley 2 Comments

This is the my ALL TIME FAVORITE secretly healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe.These Chocolate-Dipped Chocolate Chip cookies taste like the real thing. In fact, they are so much better (and better for you)! They are soft and moist on the inside thanks to a combination of ingredients that allow them to stay plump and thick. They melt right in your mouth! The best part is that they are dipped in chocolate, because the only thing better than a chocolate chip cookie is a chocolate chip cookie with EXTRA Chocolate, right? {Grain-free, Gluten-free, Paleo, Pegan}

My love for cookies, chocolate chip cookies that is, goes way back. They have always been a long time favorite of mine and I have been testing up so many batches of cookies lately to find the perfect one. One that reminds me of my childhood. It has to be crisp on the outside, soft, moist and crumbly on the inside. It needs to be plump, as I am not a fan of the flat-as-a-pancake cookies. I like them to be fat and plump. And finally, this cookie is studded with dark chocolate chips and then DIPPED in rich dark chocolate.

It’s amazing. It’s pure joy at first bite. Heavenly.

Cricket has been right by my side baking up these cookies with me. She even got to sample the dough before I added the chocolate chips (no chocolate for dogs;)), and she has officially approved these cookies 🙂

The dough is actually good for you as it’s made with almonds, coconut, palm shortening and grass-fed butter. Not that they are low cal, but they are made with whole food ingredients that are dense with nutrients. When you eat these babies they leave you feeling full and satisfied. There is no sugar crash because there is little sugar in these beauties, just some coconut sugar and maple syrup. (You can read about why coconut sugar is a better sweetener option HERE.)

I used to be all about low cal foods, focusing on low fat specifically. I thought that if I ate low fat foods I would not gain fat, but now I know eating fat doesn’t equal a tire around my mid section. The days of low cal/low fat are over. There I said it. They are over. I am proof that you can increase the amount of healthy fats (think avocado, coconut, almonds, some grass-fed butter) in your diet and boost your metabolism. I must tell you it took me so long to jump onto this bandwagon. It really did. I had read other peoples stories about eating high fat and losing weight and I thought: “No way, how can that be?” and “Maybe that works for some, but it won’t for me…” But I was wrong. Eating more healthy fats has lead me to decrease my sugar intake, as my once out of control sugar cravings have now subsided to a healthier level. Healthy fats stoke my metabolism and leave me feeling energized and then I burn more calories throughout the day. I feel great, and that is what is most important above all!

Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies {Video!}

These Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip cookies taste like the real thing, in fact, they are so much better (and better for you)! They are soft and moist on the inside thanks to a combination of ingredients that allow them to stay plump and extra thick. They melt right in your mouth! The best part is that they are dipped in chocolate, because the only thing better than a chocolate chip cookie is a chocolate chip cookie with EXTRA Chocolate, right? {Grain-free, Gluten-free, Paleo, Pegan}

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 1/2 tablespoons of coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1 pasture-raised egg (or flax egg)
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons grass-fed butter (or sub for 2 T palm shortening, softened)
2 tablespoons palm shortening
1/3 cup of chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand)
additional 1/2 cup chocolate chips for dipping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl: almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda and salt.
Make a well in the middle of the dry mixture and add the egg, vanilla, coconut sugar, maple syrup, butter and shortening; mix well until the dough is uniform.
Add the 1/3 cup chocolate chips and mix.
Place a heaping tablespoon of dough per cookie spaced about 2″ apart on a cookie sheet.
Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees F or until just slightly golden.
Remove and let cool (or cool in the fridge for a few minutes).
Melt the 1/2 cup chocolate chips over low heat in a small saucepan.
Pour the melted chocolate into a small bowl and dip each chilled cookie into the chocolate and place onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Place back into the fridge until chocolate is hardened, about 10 minutes.
Enjoy!

Yuca Crisps

on February 17, 2016March 11, 2021 By Kelley 3 Comments

These Yuca Crisps have the perfect combination of crunchy and salty goodness. They make an excellent stand-in for potato or corn chips and you can make them easily in your own oven!

Have you not tried yuca yet? It’s becoming more and more popular and I see it now at most grocery stores in the produce section. Yes, it’s ugly! It’s a large tuberous root with a hard dark brown bark on the exterior, but inside the ugly exterior is a beautiful white slightly sweet and potato-like flesh.

A few week ago I stumbled upon a fellow food blogger’s post on Yuca Fries….Did she say FRIES!? OMG, just that word F.R.I.E.S. makes me want to run to the closest McDonalds and order up some of those salty and greasy sticks of awesomeness! So that was it. With one word she won me over and I was on a mission to find the YUCA.

I must admit I was overwhelmed when I found it in the grocery store! Yuca is also known as Cassava. This is what this thing looks like when you buy it:

Yikes! What am I suppose to do with that? Well, I am here to calm your fears. It’s not as bad as it looks, and it is so very worth it. Crisps, fries, mashed, whatever you want to make with it you will not be let down. And it’s gluten-free and an acceptable starch for paleo-ians.

So when you get your wonderful large and overwhelmingly tough-looking root home, break out your best pairing knife. Unless you have an industrial strength potato peeler you are not going to make much progress un-barking the exterior! They usually have a protective wax coating, so don’t freak out if you see that….. It’s ok!

Use you pairing knife to trim off the ends, then trim off the bark, leaving only the white interior. Please be careful with your knife wielding!

Next you want to cut it into “chips.” This is best accomplished with a mandolin, but you can use a knife as well. Just try to get them as thin as possible. Now you’re ready to cook!!

I have two recipes where I utilize this awesome root….The ULTIMATE Nachos….

And Smoked Salmon Bites that are on of crispy “smashed” yuca:

And Cricket wanted me to remind you not to forget your furry family members! One of her favorite crunchy snacks are these Chicken Jerky Treats. They are very easy to make. So when you make your Yuca Crisps, be sure to bake up some jerky for your pup! Hey, dogs like to snack too ya know!

Yuca Chips

These Yuca Crisps have the perfect combination of crunchy and salty goodness. They make an excellent stand-in for potato or corn chips and you can make them easily in your own oven!

1 yuca/ cassava root
2 tablespoons of oil of your choice (olive oil, ghee etc.)
1 + teaspoon Himalayan or sea salt (s)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Peel and cut the yuca according to the directions above in the post.
Place the yuca rounds in a bowl and coat evenly with oil or use a oil spray to coat both sides of the rounds and place them on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes, then flip the rounds and bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. If they are browning too quickly, or not browning at all, adjust the temperature of your oven. I did end up turning my oven up the last 5 minutes to 425 degrees F to get the golden edges.

Heart-Shaped Eggs {and Egg Sandwich!}

on February 10, 2016April 28, 2021 By Kelley 2 Comments

These cute and festive heart-shaped scrambled eggs are fluffy and almost too cute to eat! There is a easy and unique way to prepare these lovable eggs and I am so excited to share them with you today!{Paleo, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free}

What is your favorite fast food breakfast? For me it’s hands-down the Egg McMuffin ala Micky D’s! So simple, but so good, when I’m on the go I order one of these through the take out window, remove the muffin (no wheat for me), and down it in 3-4 bites. Upon closer inspection, there isn’t any complicated or fancy stuff going on in the McMuffin, but it’s just so darn good! Are you with me?

I FINALLY made my own home-made Egg McMuffin copycat! It happens to be paleo and grain-free/gluten-free too! The english muffin is full of nooks and crannies and toasts up beautifully to get those nice crisp edges, while still soft and squishy in the middle. Thanks to Lexi’s Clean Kitchen (one of my favorite bloggers) for this recipe. The only thing I did differently is that I used the lids from a few mason jars in place of the “rounds” (that Lexi’s uses) to hold the batter in place on the cookie sheet. The resulting muffin is perfectly shaped and sized! Thanks Lexi!

I came up with the idea to make the eggs (and turkey) heart-shaped because Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. If you want somethin’ a little savory for V-Day breakfast this recipe is a great option. If you’ve got a sweet tooth like mine, you are likely to fill your quota on sweets relatively quickly on this holiday, so mix it up with a savory breakfast. It’s just as festive thanks to the cute heart shapes, and oh so yummy!

These scrambled eggs are extra fluffy because they are mixed in a blender. This ensured they are uniformly mixed and the blender introduces air into the egg mixture so they bake up light and fluffy!

The key to making egg heart shapes is to cook the scrambled eggs in an 8″x 8″ pan, that is greased on the bottom and sides. The eggs bake up fluffy and even. Once they are done, let them cool a little, then use a cookie cutter to make the heart-shaped eggs! Easy! You can do the same for the meat. Just use the cookie cutter (pressing down firmly and giving it a little wiggle) to cut a heart shaped piece of turkey or ham. Be sure to fry it up to get those crispy edges!

Stack it all together and take a bite!

If you LOVE pasture-raised eggs like I do, and eat them all the time (like I do) here is another awesome recipe: Sweet Potato Fry Skillet

Heart-Shaped Eggs {and Egg McMuffin Sandwich!}

Heart-Shaped Eggs:

6 pasture-raised eggs
1/4 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened/unflavored almond milk)
2 teaspoons oil of choice (or ghee for paleo, grass-fed butter)
pinch of salt and pepper

Egg Sandwich:

Paleo Sandwich Rolls/ English Muffin by Lexi
1 avocado (sliced)
2-3 sliced of turkey or ham

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare the sandwich rolls, aka english muffins, according to Lexi’s directions (I used the lids from mason jars as my “rounds.” If you do this make sure you grease the rings so the bread is easily removed.)
In a blender add the 6 eggs, milk, salt and pepper and blend on high for 30 sections.
Grease the bottom and sides of a 8″x 8″ pan.
Pour the egg mixture into the pan and place in the oven.
Bake at 350 degree F for about 18 minutes, or until fully cooked through.
Remove and let cool slightly.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out heart-shaped eggs. Make sure to press down and wiggle to ensure a clean cut then use a fork to lift the heart-shaped egg cut-out.
Next use the cookie cutter to cut out heart-shapes from the slices of turkey or ham, then pan fry until golden.
Cut the english muffin in half and toast it up.
Arrange the sandwich, served open-faced to show off your hearts!

Strawberry Frosting Shots

on February 9, 2016August 13, 2021 By Kelley 3 Comments

These Strawberry Frosting shots are sweet and berry-ful, and will surely satisfy your sweet tooth. They taste just like creamy and rich strawberry frosting, but they happen to be healthy, so have a few! Made with only 3 simple ingredients, you can whip these up in 5 minutes! They are dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo.

Are you the kinda person who eats the cake or the frosting? I’ve always been a frosting gal. I’d rather lick all the frosting off a cupcake than eat the cupcake itself. Remember those birthday cakes our parents used to get us from the grocery store? The ones with the giant frosting roses or rainbows? Yes, those ones! The cake was always subpar, but the sugary creamy frosting was pure awesomeness. I would request a corner piece (extra frosting because you got 2 exterior sides, duh!) and a large frosting rose on top. The largest rose on the cake. Then I would pretty much eat all the frosting and leave the cake behind. Haha. Sooooo Gooooood….

If you are looking for a chocolate version, Chocolate Cover Katie has got that one for you! Maybe you can make a frosting shot swirl- chocolate and strawberry! Yum!

So I’ve figured out a healthy way to get my frosting fix, with only 3 ingredients and you’ll have frosting ready in under 5 minutes! No way you say?? Yes way! Your going to love them and the best part is you don’t have to feel bad about eating them!

The frosting shots are made with coconut milk/cream, which gives them the rich creamy texture. No funky additives, no strange ingredients, and they are low low low in sugar. Have one, have two, heck have THREE! Make them for a party. There sure to be a big hit.

And if you love strawberries you must try these Stuffed Chocolate Covered Strawberries complete with “Fluffy” Dip:

And wash is all down with this Red Velvet Hot Chocolate!

**If you want a more INTENSE strawberry flavor you can use this Natural Strawberry Flavor 1 Ounce by LorAnn Oils. It’s great for all sorts of things like homemade fruit chews, baked goods, and shakes. (Affiliate link)

Strawberry Frosting Shots

1 can of coconut milk or coconut cream (full fat, chilled)
6 frozen strawberries (fresh would work as well, thawed)
10-12 drops of stevia or 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup (or more to your liking)
optional: 1/2 teaspoon natural strawberry extract and Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips (for more intense flavor, see link above for the one I recommend)

Place the strawberries in a bowl and mash with a fork.
Add stevia and/or maple syrup and extract, mix.
Scoop the coconut cream from the can (leaving the liquid behind) into the bowl. (The can should be refrigerated overnight.)
Beat with an immersion blender until silky smooth.
Use a frosting piping bag to pipe frosting into plastic shot glasses.
Serve immediate or keep in the refrigerator.

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate {Dairy-Free}

on February 6, 2016August 13, 2021 By Kelley 3 Comments

This Red Velvet Hot Chocolate is amazingly rich, silky, and decadent. It’s the perfect beverage to warm you up on a cold winter’s night! Best part about it is that it tastes like it must be bad for you, but it’s not. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free and paleo, really!

I love dessert of all kinds, especially chocolate! I am definitely a chocoholic, are you? I especially like desserts you can drink, like this Red Velvet Hot Chocolate. Drinkable desserts give you an excuse to enjoy two dessert at once, one you drink AND one you eat. Haha! You gotta have a little somethin’ else to go along with hot chocolate, like my Marshmallow Stuffed Chocolate Covered Strawberry Hearts! This pair makes the perfect, easy, breathtakingly beautiful, and SECRETLY healthy Valentine’s Day dessert pairing!

So I got a little bit creative in the making of this drinkable dessert. I wanted it to be red, and chocolatey, but Houston we have a PROBLEM! The chocolate always masked the vibrant red hue and then it no longer was a “Red Velvet” Hot Chocolate. 🙁 So here’s what I did… I decided to pour the chocolate sauce into the bottom of the glass and then pour the velvety, silky, rich and RED concoction on top. It made a beautiful layered beverage. You MUST have glass coffee mugs to show this beauty off.

Give it a stir and drink! YUM!

You can also get fancy and dip the rim of the glass into the chocolate sauce and dust some red and pink sprinkles if you eat that kinda thing 😉 For those of you who don’t do sprinkles, you can add some fine chopped chocolate slivers or coconut shreds (blended to be extra fine) for a fancy touch.

So while I was making this delicious beverage I caught something else in my eye that was red and I wanted to share the beauty with you….

Gorgeous, huh? A little bit of spring in my kitchen on a cold winter’s day.

This Red Velvet Hot Chocolate. A good book. These gorgeous tulips. Flickering candles. Sounds good to me!

And don’t forget your pup this Valentine’s Day- treat them too with these easy Heart Shaped Cookies!

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate {Dairy-Free}

This Red Velvet Hot Chocolate is amazingly rich, silky, and decadent. It’s the perfect beverage to warm you up on a cold winter’s night! Best part about it is even though it tastes like it must be bad for you, it’s not. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free and paleo, really!

1 1/2 cups cashew milk or almond milk
1 tablespoon of coconut sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4-5 drops of India Tree Natural Food Coloring (or here’s a few recipes to make your own natural coloring

Chocolate Sauce:

1 tablespoon cocoa
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1-2 tablespoons maple syrup (depending on how sweet you want it)
Optional: coconut whip cream and sprinkles/shaved chocolate or coconut flakes on top

To make the chocolate sauce:
Over medium heat, combine the coconut oil, cocoa and maple syrup in a saucepan, and mix until smooth.
Dip the rim of the glass into the chocolate sauce, then pour the remaining sauce into the bottom of the glass mug.
Rinse out the sauce pan, then over medium heat combine and mix the cashew/almond milk, coconut sugar and red coloring.
Once it’s hot remove from the heat and mix in the vanilla.
Pour it carefully into the glass mug, letting it run down the inside of the glass so it rests on top of the chocolate sauce, creating the layer effect.
Top with coconut whip cream and sprinkles or alternative.