Recipes

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars {Vegan, Gluten/Grain Free}

August 23, 2018

Breakfast…dessert…snack…you name it, these bars are it. They’re so good, but so addicting! Beware – they’re probably going to disappear FAST!

These bars are packed with protein, healthy fats, and a sugar level that you can control completely! That’s the best part about making desserts and snacks at home, you CONTROL things like sugar. So often, foods (snacks, in particular) have an unnecessary added amount of sugar.

NO THANKS!

These bars are a snack or treat that you can feel good about eating or feeding your kiddos! You won’t miss any of those processed sugars, grains, or dairy – promise!

Print Recipe
Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Cook Time 15 minutes
Passive Time 1-2 hours of cooling
Servings
bars
Ingredients
Cheesecake filling
Strawberry filling
Cook Time 15 minutes
Passive Time 1-2 hours of cooling
Servings
bars
Ingredients
Cheesecake filling
Strawberry filling
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for sugar cookie crust.
  3. Press dough into a baking dish or bread pan. You can use whatever kind of pan you have on hand though! I like to use the loaf pan. This way, I have enough crust to press it up against the sides to create almost a "U" shape in the pan.
  4. Bake crust for 13-15 minutes until slightly golden on top.
  5. For the cheesecake filling, blend all of the ingredients in a high powdered blender or food processor until completely smooth.
  6. Once the crust has cooked and cooled, add the cheesecake filling to the middle section.
  7. Spread strawberry jam across the middle of the bars and swirl around the cheesecake filling, if desired.
  8. Chill for 1-2 hours until firm.
  9. Slice and devour!
Recipe Notes

*If you can't find canned coconut CREAM, you can use a can of coconut milk. Simply scrape the thick, white cream off the top of the opened can of coconut milk. Save the liquid for smoothies!

** recipe for 3-ingredient Strawberry Jam

3-ingredient Strawberry Jam

August 23, 2018

Homemade jam really couldn’t be easier! You can use any frozen fruit you have on hand or mix a few and make a medley! It’s so good on breads, biscuits, or in my Strawberry Cheesecake Bars!

This 3-ingredient Strawberry Jam cooks up in less than ten minutes and is a easy sub for your go-to store bought jams, when you’re trying to stay away from processed foods. Check out the ingredient label on your jams and jellies – it’s insane how many ingredients are in some brands! You could even do away with the sweetener in this, depending on how sweet your fruit is!

Print Recipe
3-ingredient Strawberry Jam
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings
cup
Ingredients
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings
cup
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook fruit for 5 minutes.
  2. As the fruit is cooking, mash it up with a spoon until a smoother consistency is formed.
  3. Add chia seeds and honey and continue to cook for 3-5 minutes until jam has thickened.
  4. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Hatch Green Chile Chicken Salad {Paleo, Keto, Whole30}

August 15, 2018

Any excuse to make food that is Mexican-inspired, I am down for! I recently purchased a huge bag of fresh hatch green chiles and have been finding different ways to use them beside your typical enchiladas, casseroles, or sauces.

                 

If you don’t have access to fresh hatch green chiles, you could use the canned variety in this recipe. It won’t have as fresh of a taste, but it will still be delicious, nonetheless!

Try this Hatch Green Chile Chicken Salad on a sandwich, with some crackers, on it’s own, or in a wrap like I usually do!

Feel free to use more or less jalapenos in the recipe to adjust to your heat level. We like things on the spicy side, so I tend to go heavier on the jalaps.

In this recipe, I use Primal Kitchen’s Egg-free Mayo, due to my husband’s new egg intolerance. I was super surprised to find that it tastes so much like regular mayo! If you have an egg sensitivity, definitely check this variety of their mayo out!

Balanced Health

          

Balanced Health

 

Print Recipe
Hatch Green Chile Chicken Salad {Paleo, Keto, Whole30}
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Rough chop green chiles and blend in a food processor until minced or almost smooth.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine green chiles, mayo, and seasonings.
  3. Add in the onions, jalapenos, and shredded chicken. Stir to combine.
  4. Serve immediately on a sandwich or in a wrap or refrigerate until ready to eat. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

*Sub 1/4 cup of canned green chiles

Sausage Peppered Gravy {Dairy, Gluten, & Grain Free}

August 14, 2018

3 ingredients…plus water, a few seasonings, and some biscuits and you’ll have one of my favorite meals!

When someone says “comfort food,” sausage gravy and biscuits is one of the first things that comes to my mind. To some of my friends, my mom is still remembered for making them her biscuits n’ gravy. Thankfully, she passed on the knowledge! However, I’ve had to take all of those skills and recipes from her and learn to adapt to the clean-eating lifestyle, which generally, does not include much dairy, gluten, or grains – common things found in comfort foods.

Thankfully, this recipe fits all of those criteria and doesn’t disappoint in the slightest.

Cashews are used in this particular recipe and they offer a creamy, slighty nutty sauce that, when combined with the sausage is deeeelicious! I’ve used both coconut and almond milk in a sausage gravy recipe before and it did the trick when I was craving this kind of dish, however, the cashews definitely win when it comes to my favorite.

This Sausage Peppered Gravy will have you going back for seconds…and thirds! SO BE CAREFUL! 😉

Serve this gravy over a breakfast skillet, chicken cutlets and mashed potatoes, or make a batch of my Easy Vegan (Egg-free) Drop Biscuits for a complete meal!

Print Recipe
Sausage Peppered Gravy {Dairy Free}
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, break up and brown sausage.
  2. While the sausage browns, blend cashews* and water in a high powdered blender or food processor until completely smooth.
  3. Add in 2 tbsp of arrowroot to the mixture and blend for a few more seconds.
  4. Once the sausage has browned, add the cashew sauce, salt, pepper, and sage to the skillet.
  5. Stir and bring the gravy to a simmer.
  6. Cook for 5-10 minutes until gravy has thickened.
  7. If desired, you can add another tablespoon of arrowroot powder to thicken the gravy even more. Simply mix it with 1-2 tbsp of water to create a slurry and add to the gravy.
  8. Serve it over biscuits, potatoes, chicken, or eggs. It's delicious in so many forms!
Recipe Notes

*Soaking cashews for 30 minutes prior will soften them and help the mixture blend faster and easier.

Easy Vegan Drop Biscuits {Gluten & Grain Free}

August 14, 2018

Recently, my husband discovered he was intolerant to eggs. Let me tell ya, we eat A LOT of eggs and that is coming to an end for awhile. This discovery came to our attention through testing that we had done through Balanced Health. We already suspected that he was intolerant to dairy, at least cow’s milk, but eggs just weren’t on our minds! It’s so nice to have some answers and work to eliminate some of his health issues. There were quite a few other things that we discovered through this testing that we never would have guessed! We’re excited to put some things into play and see what comes out of it. I’ll be sharing more details about our experience in a future post.

Balanced Health


Due to this newly discovered egg intolerance, I’m learning to adapt many of recipes to fit into his diet. Most of the baked goods that I make require eggs. There will be lots of experimenting in the near future.

The other night, he requested biscuits and sausage gravy…so I got to work! Surprisingly, he loved the first batch that I made of these and said, “Don’t change a thing!”

These biscuits are moist and perfectly crumbly, but still hold up well like your typical biscuits. They’re made from a mixture of flours and chia seeds, instead of eggs. If you can tolerate eggs, and are not restricted to a vegan diet, you could substitute an egg for the chia seeds and water in this recipe.

These Easy Vegan Drop Biscuits are super simple to make, hence the name, and could pair well with any meal. However, my favorite way to eat biscuits will always be to have them covered in sausage gravy. ALWAYS. Check out my recipe for Sausage Peppered Gravy for a dairy free, paleo take on the classic!



If you’re are interested in getting testing done like we did, you can do so through the link below. We purchased the Full Scan.

https://www.creatingbalancedhealth.com/product/fullscan/?ref=57

Balanced Health

You can receive $20 off any scan by entering “GonePaleo” at checkout. I would highly recommend doing it, if you’re curious at all about how your body is functioning despite having digestion problems or not. Our diet affects so many things in our body, from mood to your skin. If you are having ANY health issues, this test could give you answers or make a great starting point in aiding your health!

The full scan runs your saliva and hair samples (that you send via mail) against 600 factors. It lets you know how different parts of your body are functioning, i.e. your thyroids, liver, blood, digestion, nervous/respiratory system, etc. Such an interesting thing to learn! I will be getting myself tested in the future, as well!

Balanced Health

 

Print Recipe
Easy Vegan Drop Biscuits {Gluten & Grain Free}
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
biscuits
Ingredients
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
biscuits
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a small bowl, mix chia seeds and 1/4 cup of the water and let rest for 3-4 minutes.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine remaining dry ingredients - almond and coconut flour, arrowroot, salt, and baking powder.
  4. Once the chia mixture has thickened and turned into a coagulated, gel-like mixture, add vinegar, avocado oil, and remaining 1/2 cup of water and whisk to combine.
  5. Add the wet ingredients to your mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir just enough to combine.
  6. Onto a greased or lined baking sheet, drop approximately 1/3 cup-sized portions evenly onto the sheet.
  7. Bake for 15-17 minutes until slightly golden and cooked through the center.

Blueberry Cobbler Smoothie {Dairy Free, Paleo, Keto}

August 10, 2018

Smoothies are my favorite way to pack in extra veggies when I’m feeling like a “treat” instead.

Cauliflower is a staple in every smoothie that I make. Any smoothie that calls for ice, I replace it with cauliflower.

I promise, you can’t tell!

Smoothies are a great way to hide veggies from picky kids (and adults!) too. If I have spinach on hand, I’ll throw a little in there too sometimes. Typically, I try to keep my smoothies pretty simple for my digestion’s sake. Too much going on can often lead to discomfort.

My go-to’s are quick and easy and take little thought. I usually grab some frozen cauliflower, some frozen chopped fruit,  yogurt (coconut milk or goat’s milk), cashews for extra creaminess and lots of ceylon cinnamon.

SIMPLE AND EASY!

The cauliflower that I use is either the bagged variety from the freezer aisle in my grocery store or fresh cauliflower that I’ve steamed and then frozen. The latter method helps with digestion, and I always try to do it when I remember. Sometimes, raw veggies can cause bloating and discomfort as well. Everyone is different!

This Blueberry Cobbler Smoothie tastes like dessert and the sweetness level is totally up to you! A few pinches of extra spices totally make this smoothie hit the spot! It tastes like more of a “treat” than a meal or snack, but it’s completely guilt free!

You have fiber from the cauliflower, antioxidants from the blueberries, fat from the cashews and yogurt (plus probiotics!), and anti-inflammatory properties with the ceylon cinnamon. Lots of the goods in this bowl!

Try it without adding anything else sweet and see how you like it!

Usually a few extra blueberries on top and some added granola is plenty sweetness for me!


Print Recipe
Blueberry Cobbler Smoothie
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a blender, add yogurt and coconut milk first.
  2. Follow by adding the remaining ingredients.
  3. Beginning at the lowest setting and working your way up, blend until smooth.
  4. Add additional milk or water, as needed to blend.
  5. Top with desired toppings such as, granola or frozen fruit.

Garlic & Herb “Pasta” Salad {Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Low-Carb}

August 7, 2018

This. Salad.

It’s perfect for those summertime cookouts or whenever you are trying to stay far away from the oven or cooking over a stove!

Pair it with almost anything, or eat it all on it’s own!

This Garlic & Herb “Pasta” Salad is refreshing and packed with flavor.

It’s great on those hot summer days when you just don’t feel like eating anything heavy.

…the best part, it takes less than 5 minutes to whip up!

 

Print Recipe
Garlic & Herb "Pasta" Salad {Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Low-Carb}
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Prepare the garlic and herb dressing according to the recipe.
  2. Slice pepperoni into 1/4-1/2" strips.
  3. Slice tomatoes in half, if desired. This makes them easier to eat with a fork!
  4. Chop the cucumber into bite sized pieces. I do this by slicing it in half, longways first - then slicing each half longways again. Finally, I chop each "strip" into 1/2" pieces.
  5. In a large bowl, toss zucchini, pepperoni, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and dressing until combined.
  6. Let the salad rest in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Sometimes, excess liquid will come off of the veggies and the dressing will settle on the bottom. Make sure to toss the salad immediately before serving.

Creamy Garlic & Herb Dressing {Dairy Free}

August 7, 2018

This dressing couldn’t be anymore simple! It comes together in just a minute and is so tasty!

Make this Creamy Garlic & Herb Dressing and use it as a dip for veggies or toss it in a pasta!

Feel free to add fresh herbs, instead of dried, if you have those handy!

Check out the recipe for my Garlic & Herb “Pasta” Salad for a low-carb side dish to pour this dressing over!

Print Recipe
Creamy Garlic & Herb Dressing {Dairy Free}
Servings
Ingredients
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a bowl, whisk all the ingredients together until combined.
  2. Start with 1 tbsp of minced garlic (or 1 tsp of garlic powder) and add more, if desired.
  3. Finally, add more salt, if desired, as well.