Paprika

Cajun Alfredo Sauce (Dairy-Free)

March 15, 2018
Cuisine
Course

Yes, it says dairy-free! I can see your eyes rolling and your head shaking now. I’ve been there! I promise, though, you won’t miss it in this sauce! There is so much flavor that you won’t realize that it’s missing the cheese!

Opting out of dairy in your meals can do so much good on your digestion and your skin! You may not even realize the effects it has on you, until you give it up for a week or so and then go back to it! You’ll notice a difference! Give it a try! There are so many awesome products out there now that can help make the transition so easy! Your gut will thank you!

 

Print Recipe
 Cajun Alfredo Sauce (Dairy-Free)
Course Dinner
Cuisine Cajun
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
cups
Ingredients
Course Dinner
Cuisine Cajun
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
cups
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together cream cheese and butter until melted and combined. This should take 2-3 minutes.
  2. Stir in tomato paste and seasonings and combine.
  3. Add Nutpods, cashew milk, and juice from the lemon and whisk together until well combined. (if you're using it, add nutritional yeast now, as well)
  4. Reduce heat to low and simmer sauce for 5-10 minutes or until ready to serve!
  5. I like to serve this sauce over our favorite pasta and top it with shredded, cajun-seasoned chicken thighs! DELISH!
Recipe Notes

*You can substitute cashew, coconut, or almond milk. The sauce just won't be as rich and creamy. Start with a cup and add more until desired consistency is achieved. You could also add a tablespoon or two more of cream cheese for extra creaminess!

If you tolerate dairy, some quality heavy cream could be used here as well!

**Many people have found that too much nutritional yeast can upset their stomach. So, it's totally optional here. I tend to use it more often in regular alfredo sauces. Taste the sauce before you add it and see if you even need it! Personally, the cajun spices in this recipe add plenty of flavor for me.

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Crispy Potato Wedges

January 28, 2018

I don’t know why I always try to make crispy oven fries and never wedges. Wedges are ALWAYS better! I actually find that they crisp up better and because they’re thicker, they don’t dry out and burn so easily. That happens ALL TOO OFTEN with me!

Honestly, the hardest part of this recipe is remembering to flip these! They are perfectly crunchy and seasoned just right! Beware … this recipe will probably cause you to eat 3 pounds of potatoes yourself. Consider yourself warned. Note the servings I listed. 😉 You might want to double up the recipe if you want to safely feed more than a couple people! These things are just plain addicting!

You’ll find that I like to dip most of my foods, or at least cover them in a sauce or gravy. This recipe is no different! I use my Ranch Seasoning Mix to make homemade ranch dipping sauce and give these babies a good dunk! ……if not, TWO! This seasoning mix would also be a delicious substitute for the seasonings here! It’s quite handy to keep a batch of that mixed up and on the counter! I use it a TON!

Print Recipe
 Crispy Potato Wedges
Servings
Ingredients
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  2. Slice potatoes long ways into slices like you would an apple. I usually get about 8-10 wedges out of each potato. Try to keep them all the same size for even cooking times. The thinner you slice them, the quicker they'll cook and sometimes burn.
  3. In a large bowl or ziploc bag, toss the wedges with the oil and seasonings.
  4. On a large sheet pan, lay out the wedges. Depending on how many wedges you end up with, you'll probably need 2-3 trays. You do not want to overcrowd the pan!
  5. Bake wedges for 15 minutes and flip.
  6. Bake for another 5-15 minutes depending on desired crispiness. Just keep an eye on them! They can burn quick! I like mine CRISPY and burnt around the edges...so they go in for almost a full half hour.
  7. Remove from sheet pans and add extra salt, if desired.
  8. Serve along side your favorite dipping sauce! For me, that's a whole lot of RANCH! Check out my recipe for Ranch Seasoning to make your own at home!
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Boneless Buffalo Wings – Gluten/Grain Free

January 28, 2018
Course

For being as good as these wings are, they’re SO EASY! I have found that buying good quality chicken (and meat, in general) goes a long ways in how tasty a dish is! This isn’t to say that $1.99/lb chicken is terrible. I’ve just found that meat to dry out easily and be a tad bitter tasting. All of this isn’t to say that you can’t use that chicken. Use your own discretion. Personally, I buy the most natural, organic brand of chicken, if possible. I understand, everyone’s budget is different, but shop the sales! They’re out there! Look for words like “cage free” and no hormones, steroids, or antibiotics. You might pay a bit more, but not only is it better for you, there’s a difference in taste! My husband can always tell if I’ve bought a cheaper brand! 😉

Back to these wings! You can choose to sauce them up, like we do, just eat them plain, or dip them in whatever sauce you’d like! They’re tasty in just about any form! I like to dip them in ranch. You can check out my handy Ranch Seasoning Mix and make your own! I mix that into some homemade mayo and a little almond milk and I’m good to go! I always keep a jar of that mixed up! It goes on everything!


Print Recipe
 Boneless Buffalo Wings
Course Appetizers, Dinner
Cook Time 15-20 minutes
Servings
wings
Ingredients
For the wings:
For the buffalo sauce:
Course Appetizers, Dinner
Cook Time 15-20 minutes
Servings
wings
Ingredients
For the wings:
For the buffalo sauce:
Instructions
  1. Combine your butter and hot sauce and set aside. You'll want this ready when the wings are all done.
  2. Cut your chicken in desired size wings. I typically aim for 2-inch chunks. Try to make them all the same size for even cooking time. Remember, the bigger you make them, the longer they'll take to cook.
  3. Over medium high heat in a large pot, heat up the oil. I also like to have my oven heated up to 300 degrees to transfer my cooked wings to while I cook the other batches. This helps them stay crispy!
  4. In one bowl, combine the flours and seasonings.
  5. In another bowl, beat up the eggs. I typically need closer 1 1/2 eggs, so I usually go ahead and beat up 2. If you happen to only have one (that has happened to all of us!), just add a tablespoon or two of water to the one and you'll be just fine!
  6. First dredge your chicken wings in the egg. Be sure to shake off the excess egg so the flour mixture doesn't get too wet. Then dredge the chicken in the flour mixture making sure to press the flour into the chicken to coat well, also shaking off excess.
  7. Place chicken wings in hot oil and cook for about 4 minutes on each side. Don't over crowd your pan! I cook about 8 in each batch. Once the bottom has turned a golden brown - flip!
  8. Cook the remaining side for another 4 minutes and remove from the oil. I place them directly in the oven on a rack over a sheet pan.
  9. Repeat steps 6-8 until all of your chicken is cooked.
  10. In a large bowl, pour your hot sauce mixture over the wings and toss!
  11. EAT IMMEDIATELY! Not that anyone needed directions on that part! 😉
Recipe Notes

*If you cannot find cassava flour, use 1/4 cup more of almond flour (total 1/2 cup) and sub 1/2 cup of arrowroot powder for the cassava.

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Ranch Seasoning Mix (Dairy-Free)

January 15, 2018

Ranch…one of life’s greatest pleasures. 🙂 It’s not just for dressing your salads! Besides putting it on basically any potato out there and being left with something delicious, you can mix it with meat and make a tasty burger (check out my Ranch Turkey Burgers for proof!), or meatloaf for a zesty change on a classic. You can also make a mean pasta/casserole inspired by that yummy condiment. The possibilities are endless, really!!



I don’t know about you, but 9 times out of 10, I always have a side of ranch with whatever I’m eating. Don’t judge. Ranch is pretty much delicious on everything. HANDS DOWN. If it says it’s covered in ranch, I’ll try it. I have a slight obsession, you could say. My obsession is to the point where it was worked into my wedding vows. Sorry, not sorry. My fellow ranch-lovers out there will understand going to certain restaurants JUST BECAUSE their ranch is AMAZING.

Prior to my husband realizing he was lactose-intolerant, our seasoning cabinet always had plenty of those wonderful little ranch seasoning packets. I would mix them into everything! I had to come up with something similar to keep on hair to easily sprinkle over anything and everything when it just needed that extra something – in my mind, that extra something is always ranch!

Here’s what I came up with, minus the milk powder that is typically involved with these types of mixes. Try sprinkling it over some of your dishes and see what you come up with! It’d be great sprinkled over homemade, savory trail mixes or over some oven-roasted potatoes. Use your imagination! 🙂




Print Recipe
 Ranch Seasoning Mix (Dairy-Free)
Servings
Cup
Ingredients
Servings
Cup
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes

Mix 1-2 tbsp into a cup of mayo (or your favorite sour cream/greek yogurt substitute) and a couple tbsp of almond milk for a dipping sauce! ...Or go right ahead and use sour cream, if you can tolerate dairy!

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