Recipes

Instant Pot Turkey and Dumplings – Gluten & Dairy free

November 30, 2017
Course
Equipment
Instant Pot

Talk about comfort food! Chicken and Dumplings is always a go-to! During the fall and winter months, everyone has lots of turkey leftovers OR there’s a bunch on sale at the grocery store! However, you could definitely use chicken, if you prefer.

I had to do an Instant Pot recipe right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday – SO MANY Instant Pots were just bought…and so many of them won’t be opened for months, believe it or not. I’m trying to change that! Don’t be afraid. Open it and make this! It’s so easy and you’ll be so impressed! If you don’t have one, put your shoes on and go straight to Walmart or Target and get one! …Or stay comfy and grab one off of Amazon. I have the 8-qt. one and have SERIOUSLY considered getting the new mini. I just don’t know if I really need it…but, don’t you worry, I’m trying to convince myself that I do. 😉

Anyways, I could go on and on about how much I love the IP. I’m not the only one, either. There’s a whole community on Facebook of crazies! It has tons of tips and recipes, plus you can always ask questions there – or simply, search a question and almost always find the answer!

This soup cooks in less than 15 minutes. (plus 10-15 minutes of coming to pressure) Most of that time, you can be doing other things. That’s one of the huge benefits to the Instant Pot! Just set it and forget about it!

If you have any questions about this recipe or how to work your pot, feel free to email me! I’d love to help out! 🙂

Print Recipe
Instant Pot Turkey and Dumplings Soup - Gluten & Dairy Free
Course Dinner, Lunch
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Course Dinner, Lunch
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Instructions
  1. Press the "Saute" button and cook the ghee, onions, carrots, and celery until the onions become slightly translucent. This takes about 3-5 minutes, depending on how hot you have the pot set at - I use "Normal".
  2. Add your garlic and cook for 30 seconds or so - then add all of your spices! (i.e. pepper, seasoned salt, onion powder, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves)
  3. Add your shredded turkey meat, broth, and coconut milk to the pot.
  4. Stir everything up, close the lid, seal the pot (you don't want it to vent), press the soup button, and adjust the time to 8 Minutes on High Pressure.
  5. While that's cooking, make your dumplings!
  6. In a bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot powder, eggs, oil, and salt. You should end up with a sticky dough, but not runny. If your dumpling mixture seems to wet, add a tablespoon or two more of arrowroot to it - that should do the trick!
  7. When the timer goes off, do a Quick Release (QR) and drop your dumplings into the pot. I make mine about the size of 2 tablespoons or so. They don't have to be perfect!
  8. Close the lid, seal, and set the timer for 2 more minutes at HP.
  9. Once the timer goes off, do another QR and you're finished! You could always add a thickening agent, like a slurry of arrowroot and water, to thicken it up - whatever your preference! ENJOY!!

Strawberry Shortcake Drop Cookies

November 29, 2017
Prep time
5m
Cook Time
15m

**Gluten, Grain, and Dairy FREE!**

Cookies are a wonderful thing, aren’t they? They’re even better when they’re quick, yummy, and made with organic ingredients that your body knows how to process! These Strawberry Shortcake cookies give you a guilt-free taste of summer! They have that same spongy texture and tart strawberry bite… just like the original dessert!

I’m purposely posting these in the middle of holiday baking because at some point, someone’s going to want to be different and NOT make another sugar cookie or gingerbread. Those recipes will be coming soon too, though! Don’t. You. Fret.

These are so, so simple to make. Personally, drop cookies are my favorite, because…when it comes to cookies, I want to eat them as soon as possible. Pretty cookies are great and all, and if I’m trying to be fancy and bring these to a party, I’d definitely take an extra minute to shape them nicely, but, EH, NOT TODAY! You can mix these up, bake them, and have them cooled in under 30 minutes. That’s a win in my book! Try these for yourself. You really can’t mess them up!

Print Recipe
Strawberry Shortcake Drop Cookies
Servings
Servings

Crispy Sweet Potato Fritters

November 21, 2017
Course
Prep time
5m
Cook Time
15m

I’m always trying to find new ways to use sweet potatoes – or basically remake everything I would normally make with white potatoes, but swapping them out for their sweet, orange cousins. Sweet taters are just soooo much better for you! They have so many more vitamins packed into each one. White potatoes aren’t bad – just eat them in moderation, and keep those skins on! That is where tons of those nutrients are!

Besides mashed, I always want my potatoes to be CRISPY! I’d prefer them more on the burnt side than soggy. It takes practice, a good pan, and patience to get good, homemade, crispy fries. No matter what you’ve read…they’re just not THAT easy to pull off. They’re worth it when you do, definitely, BUT … you just don’t always have the time.

Instead of grabbing a bag of processed fries from the frozen section, take a minute, grate a sweet potato and try these! You won’t be disappointed! I like to dip mine in homemade BBQ Ranch dressing or just BBQ. SOOO GOOD!

Print Recipe
Crispy Sweet Potato Fritters
Course side dishes
Servings
Course side dishes
Servings

Tzatziki Sauce (Dairy-free)

November 19, 2017
Cuisine
Equipment
Food Processor
Prep time
5m

This sauce is pure deliciousness. It’s refreshing, creamy, and can double for a dressing or a dip! You can’t go wrong! It’s made with coconut milk, but I promise you, you’d never know it!

Print Recipe
Tzatziki Sauce (Dairy-free)
Cuisine Greek
Servings
Cuisine Greek
Servings

Roasted Cauliflower and Ham Soup

November 19, 2017
Course

It isn’t much of a secret that I am obsessed with soup. Who else decides where they’re going to eat out at based on what soup they have that day? Or is that just me? 🙂

I try to turn every meal into some type of soup. (or a casserole. I have a problem.) I wasn’t sure what I was going to make when I started chopping up the cauliflower…but I have to say, it turned into something really good!

I looked over and saw a jalapeño on the counter, so that guy ended up in this pot as well! I usually get a response like, “that shouldn’t be a question, honey,” whenever I ask my husband if I should put jalapeños in something. So, if I think for a second, that I should put one in there, I usually do! If they’re not your thing, just skip that part! It doesn’t add much heat once you remove the seeds, but it gives it a nice charred pepper flavor (because I roast it!) which is delicious.

There’s just something about sitting down with a bowl of creamy soup that soothes the soul. At least that’s what soothes my soul. Again, I have an obsession with soup. How could I not, though? SOUP IS LYYFEE. Growing up, whenever you’d get sick, mom would make you soup. You’d ALWAYS feel better. There’s just something so comforting about that bowl of goodness. FYI, there’s actually some medicinal properties involved in that homemade chicken noodle soup. It heals if it’s made properly! BONE BROTHHH!!!

Alright, enough already…recipe time!

Just kidding, P.S. You may want to double this recipe if you’re cooking for more than 2 people or want leftovers.

P.P.S. You could totally make this in your Instant Pot! Follow the same directions, but once you add the milk and broth, set your IP to High Pressure and cook it for 5-8 minutes, or so. It’ll cook FAST! Once it’s finished, stir in your arrowroot slurry to thicken it up!

Print Recipe
Roasted Cauliflower and Ham Soup
Course Dinner, Lunch
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Dinner, Lunch
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
  2. Bake chopped cauliflower and jalapeño on a greased/lined baking sheet for 10-15 minutes or until the edges start to char.
  3. While the veggies are roasting, begin to sauté the ham, onion, and ghee in a large soup pot over medium heat.
  4. After 10 minutes or so, remove your veggies from the oven. (and turn your oven off! I'm bad about that!) Your cauliflower and jalapeño should have some good char on them. You can leave them in there a few minutes longer to get even more char. All of those charred little bits adds tons of good flavor! Whatever you like! Be sure to watch them, though. They can burn fast at this temperature!
  5. Slice your jalapeño in half, remove the seeds*, and dice.*The seeds come out SUPER easy after you've roasted it. If you prefer to do it before roasting, have at it!
  6. Add the cauliflower and jalapeño to your ham and onions.
  7. Add all of your spices to your soup pot, stir, and sauté it all for a couple minutes. I can still smell that smoky paprika cooking. Seriously, invest in that stuff. It's so good!
  8. Next, add 2 cups of your broth (set aside 1/2 cup), coconut milk, and bay leaves. Simmer for 15-30 over medium/medium low heat - the longer the better. Soup only gets better as it cooks away on the stove. I'm just impatient and need to eat it as soon as possible!
  9. Taste test! Now is the time to add more salt or pepper!
  10. After simmering for some time (or however long you can wait!), combine the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken broth and arrowroot powder to create a slurry. Add the mixture to your soup and stir* for a minute. This will begin to thicken everything up. *Make sure to stir from the bottom. Sometimes, the slurry will fall towards the bottom of the pot and thicken everything much faster down there. Then your soup will have gravy-like chunks in it. No good. ...well, gravy-like clumps don't sound all that bad to me. Remember, though, I like my gravy! Anyways, STIR IT GOOD!
  11. There you have it! Scoop yourself a bowl, top with some chopped green onions, and go get cozy! You mood will INSTANTLY improve!

Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies

November 18, 2017
Prep time
45m
Cook Time
10m

These cookies have a couple extra steps than other cookie recipes, but I promise that they’re worth it! Besides being perfectly moist and chewy, they’re filled with healthy fats from the avocado oil, antioxidants from the cacao powder, protein from the almond butter, and nutrients that promote gut health from the coconut. You can’t go wrong! …Sounds like a delicious cookie, right? Probably not after I listed all of that health-nut junk. 😉 But seriously, they’re yummy! Give them a try!

Now, I’m not saying that’s it’s ok to have a diet full of cookies. (I know, I know… I wish, too.) However, there is no guilt involved in eating a few of these. Your body will actually know what to do with the ingredients and benefit from it! No one will guess that they’re actually good for you!

 

Print Recipe
Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies
Servings
Servings

Almond Flour Tortillas

November 15, 2017
Prep time
3m
Cook Time
15m

I’ve experimented a TON with tortillas, and will probably continue! These are my favorite so far! They are fluffy and delicious! You could do so many things with them besides make tacos!

Check out my Beef Enchilada Bake for a healthy take on a Mexican dish!

Print Recipe
Almond Flour Tortillas
Servings
Servings

Enchilada Sauce

November 14, 2017
Cook Time
10m

I like knowing exactly what goes into my foods. It was hard to find an organic enchilada sauce that didn’t have a bunch of junk in it. So, I set out to make my own. It was so simple and quick! I’ll never buy canned enchilada sauce again!

Print Recipe
Enchilada Sauce
Servings
Servings

Beef Enchilada Bake (with dairy-free option)

November 14, 2017
Cuisine
Serves 4
Prep time
10m
Cook Time
30m

In our house, mexican food is a food that we NEVER get sick of eating. However, these days, it’s highly-processed and it’s nutrient value is lacking. This casserole is far from that!

If you have enchilada sauce and tortillas already made or bought, this dish comes together in minutes! Making these two ingredients from scratch is not necessary, however, I like knowing EXACTLY what goes into the dishes that I create. Therefore, I like to make these myself. PLUS it’s hard to find these things without so many of the ingredients that I like to avoid. In other words, things that you don’t have a clue what they are as soon as you read them. I like to avoid those! I like my ingredients to be simple and known. 🙂 If making it all from scratch, this recipe does take a bit of time. However, it’s worth it!

Here are links to my enchilada sauce and tortillas. I promise, they are NOT difficult to make at all. Try  them out for yourself!

Almond Flour Tortillas

Enchilada Sauce


Print Recipe
Beef Enchilada Bake (with dairy-free option)
Cuisine Mexican
Servings
Cuisine Mexican
Servings

Mom’s Traditional Meatloaf (Gluten & Dairy Free)

November 7, 2017
Cuisine
Course
Prep time
10m
Cook Time
35m

Meatloaf is always a go-to when I need a feel-good meal! If you’ve ever heard people talk about how dry a meatloaf is, you might be scared to make it. Meatloaf is notorious for coming out dry and just, kind of, bland. I’m here to tell you, that is not the case with the meatloaf my mom always made! This paleo version of it does NOT disappoint in any category! It still has all of the comforting flavors that my mom’s meatloaf has, minus the typical breadcrumbs. If you aren’t paleo or gluten free, feel free to sub breadcrumbs in for the almond flour and flax meal. It will still turn out delicious!

Don’t be afraid to give meatloaf a try! This recipe is plenty moist and still holds up nicely when sliced. Hopefully, you have some leftovers too…because the slices make great sandwiches the next day!

Print Recipe
Traditional Meatloaf
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Comfort Food
Servings
Ingredients
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Comfort Food
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. If you're choosing to omit the onions skip this step. (I'll try not to judge you...even though, I, too, HATED onions growing up) Add the ghee or oil along with the chopped onions to a saucepan. Cook them over medium heat for approximately 5 min or until they start to turn brown around the edges.
  3. While the onions are sautéing, combine* the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl. *Make sure you REALLY mix everything up. You shouldn't be able to see where the meat ends and the egg or flour begins. That won't make for the best meatloaf.
  4. I like to test the seasoning level as I go. Now's a great time to do that! Grab a little bit of the meat mixture and sauté it in a pan. It will cook up fast...barely a minute for each side. If it's not salty enough, add some more salt!
  5. Once you've got the mixture salted to your liking, add your sautéed onions. Mix to combine.
  6. Pour your mixture into a large baking dish. I'm using a 13X9. This is important so the fat and juices have room to cook out a little bit...and your meatloaf isn't just sitting in a pond of all that. I like to shape mine on the flatter side. It helps it cook up faster.
  7. Bake the meatloaf for 25 min. After that time, remove the meatloaf and turn the heat up to 450 degrees. While your oven is heating up, remove the fat that has cooked out of your meatloaf...looks super appetizing, eh?
  8. Once the oven has reached 450 degrees, cook your meatloaf for another 10-12 minutes (or until an internal temp of 160 degrees has been reached.) During this time, even more fat will cook out. You might start to smell some of it burning towards the end of its cooking time. However, this time is key. You want a nice crust to form on the top of your meatloaf!
  9. Remove your meatloaf from the oven. Trim the excess fat away, once again, and transfer the meatloaf to another dish. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes. This will help you to slice it much easier for serving.*
  10. ENJOY!
Recipe Notes

*Personally, I love to slice it and pan-sear it for a minute or two on each side. It adds a smoky, grilled flavor to the meatloaf that I can't get enough of.I place a couple slices in a non-stick pan that I've sprayed with some coconut/avocado oil. The oil helps it to crisp up fast. Searing your slices is ESPECIALLY good when you're using them in leftover meatloaf sandwiches!