Category Archives: Recipes

Paleo Chicken Soup

A few months back we moved from New Orleans to Houston. Life has been so different ever since with very little that seems familiar.

During these months I have been homeschooling my 3 kids, growing a 4th, giving birth to that 4th, adjusting to our new home and city, and trying desperately to make friends. Moving is a hard transition and of everything we miss, we miss our friends the most. After friends, we miss good food.

One day when I was largely pregnant and Brandon was out of town, a new and dear friend Tracey invited the kids and I over to play. Tracey has 6 boys that my kids adore and fit right in with. Seriously, they wouldn’t mind at all if I happened to forget them there for a few years. They love playing and I love getting the much needed fellowship time with another mom.

This particular day, seeing as we had nowhere to be, we stayed for dinner and had a warm, comforting, snuggly blanket-in-a-bowl of chicken soup.

Tracey would humbly say it’s no big deal, her mom gave her the recipe, and it’s just something she threw together. I would say it is filling and cozy, rich yet simple, and full of the perfect amount of flavor. The perfect chicken soup.

So perfect, that I helped myself to 3 bowls. I was pregnant! It was not only wonderful to hang out with friends, but to have such delicious food- both things we have been missing dearly.

Tracey has graciously allowed me to share this recipe with all of you and after a couple of tiny tweaks here it is: “Paleo” Chicken Soup.

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“Shiloh’s Deliciousness-es!”

Shiloh has been begging to be creative in the kitchen. Jeremiah’s been doing such a great job of making up tasty recipes that Shiloh has been really wanting to make one herself. I remember seeing pictures of this scrumptious snack floating around and thought it would be the perfect snack for Shiloh to make.

Not only did she have a great time making them, she was so excited to serve to her brothers. She got a great rating from them! They both said they were so good and asked Shiloh to make them some more. She was so proud.

Check out this smile and check out “Shiloh’s Deliciousness-es”! 

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Whole Family | Granola!

Levi has been reeaallllyyyyy wanting to help me in the kitchen so I thought up the perfect recipe for him to do just that. Granola!

It’s not a messy recipe, for the most part you use a 1/2 cup measuring cup the whole time which makes it very simple. and all the cooking is done in the oven. The perfect recipe for little ones to help with.

Did I mention how incredibly tasty it is?

It is. Incredibly. Tasty.

For real.

Shiloh went on and on about how wonderful it was saying, “This is is the best healthy dessert I have ever had in my entire life!!!” Even the hubs said it was perfect and to not change a thing. He then got seconds. Let me tell you: make this recipe. It is AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!

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Jeremiah’s “Tin Can Chili”

Jeremiah is really starting to like this new found freedom in the kitchen. He’s not liking (go figure) that his little brother and sister want to help him. The life of a chef!

He has been planning this recipe for a while now in his head and now it has finally come to fruition. He opened so many cans while cooking that he broke my can opener and had to run to the neighbor’s to borrow theirs! That’s my boy with his strong muscles. I did a lot of the cutting and he did the opening, measuring and mixing. It was a process that I’m sure will get easier, faster and more creative as we go.

I am planning on making this much easier, so here are some tips:

1. Take an afternoon to cook up a whole lot of chicken, shred it and freeze it. This step would have taken me completely out of the picture and made it a much cleaner and faster prep. (You can always use canned chicken for this which makes it all the more easier, it’s just a bit more pricey and you really need to search out the brands that don’t add extra ingredients in the can. Sam’s brand is a good one.)

2. Dice up a bunch of raw veggies and freeze them in cup servings. This way, either you or your kids can pull the bags out of the freezer and dump them straight into the crockpot or pan without any prep time at all.

Without further adieu: Jeremiah’s “Tin Can Chili”! 

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Jeremiah’s “Crazalad”

Jeremiah is having so much fun in the kitchen lately. Not only is he learning how to cook he’s also learning how to be creative, how math is used in everything, what flavors work well together, why flavors don’t, how to use his reasoning skills, and how to be a great husband who cooks delicious meals for his wife one day.

This is a great starter recipe for your kids in the kitchen. I helped Jeremiah to get all the ingredients prepped and ready so that he could take the reigns in combining and choosing how much of each ingredient to put in. I’ve got to say, I was pretty proud of him. Try a hand at getting your kids in the kitchen. I bet you they will have as great a time as we did.

Today his creative, and somewhat crazy, skills had him making chicken salad which he coined his “Crazalad”. Just think: crazy + salad= crazalad. But no, you cannot say this all sweetly, you need to say it well, like you’re crazy! CRAZALAD!!!! It’s kind of fun to say, isn’t it? It’s even better to eat. 

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Here’s what you need: 

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5 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded (can used canned chicken to make it even easier)

2 cups apples, diced (1 large apple)

1 1/2 cups grapes, halved

1 cup pecans, chopped

1 cup pickles, diced (or relish)

3/4 cup homemade mayo

1/8 cup of raw honey

sea salt and pepper to taste

Here’s what you do: 

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1. Combine chicken, apples, grapes, pecans, and pickles in bowl. Stir.

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2. Add mayo and honey to bowl. Mix well.

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3. Season with sea salt and pepper. Mix again.

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Makes enough for a hungry family of 5.

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Enjoy in a lettuce wrap, on a cut tomato, with celery, avocado or as Jeremiah likes it: with a spoon. However you enjoy it, ENJOY!

From our Whole Family to yours……. 

Jeremiah’s Shark Attack Salad

Jeremiah is developing a love for good food and great flavors. We are excited to let his love for amazing food grow and develop as far as he wants to take it. One of his first and most popular non-cook, easy recipes is this one: Shark Attack Salad.

He is happy to share it here with all of you! IMG_4828

Jeremiah enjoys his Shark Attack Salad simple and easy, but occasionally adds the optional ingredients to liven it up. Either way, it is delicious, takes very little time to make, and is the perfect dish for a young kid to make and be proud of.

Here’s what you need: 

6 cans (4-5 ounce) Tuna, drained

1/2 cup Homemade Mayo

1/3 cup Relish or Diced Pickles

Salt

Pepper

Optional Ingredients: 

3 Boiled Eggs, diced

1 Apple, diced

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Here’s what you do: 

1. Put tuna, mayo, relish and optional ingredients in bowl. Mix well.

2. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Eat with veggies, in a lettuce wrap, or as Jeremiah likes it, with a spoon!

Enjoy…. from Jeremiah! 

Pumpkin Waffle Almond Butter Banana Sandwich

Seriously guys, if the name didn’t get you, I don’t know what will. How amazing is this?! Pumpkin Waffle Almond Butter Banana Sandwich?!?! Yes, please!!!

These “sandwiches” are the perfect breakfast, lunch, snack, treat, or heck- even dinner!

My kids absolutely LOVED them and I know your whole family will too.

IMG_4806Here’s what you need: 

Pumpkin Waffles (or any kind you prefer)

Almond Butter

Bananas, sliced

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Here’s what you do:

1. Cut waffles into fourths, to make triangles.

2. Warm up waffles a bit so they’re warm and the butter is easily spreadable.

3. Spread waffle triangle with almond butter.

4. Place a few banana slices on butter.

5. Top all that with another waffle triangle.

Eat! And then make another one! Oh yeah… and ENJOY!!! 

Whole Family | Paleo Pumpkin Waffles

My kids have been begging me to use the waffle maker that’s been sitting in my cabinet for over a year, still in the box. I finally worked up the nerve to unpack it and get to work on making a delicious, airy, healthy, wheat-free waffle and guys- I believe I did. Check out our whole family recipe for pumpkin waffles! 
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Here’s what you need:

2 cups canned Pumpkin

1 1/4 cup Almond Flour

4 tbsp Butter or Coconut oil, melted

2 tbsp 100% Maple Syrup

1/2 cup Coconut Milk

3 tsp Baking Powder

2 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Nutmeg

2 tsp Cinnamon

8 eggs

8 egg whites (You can use real eggs or from a carton of 100% egg whites)

*Oil or butter to coat waffle maker with.

Here’s what you do: 

1. Combine all ingredients, excluding the egg whites.

2. Beat egg whites with a hand mixer for about 5 minutes, until very light and fluffily.

3. Gently fold egg whites into batter.

4. Preheat waffle maker to high heat. Spray or coat with oil. (The coating helps to make the waffle crispy.)

5. Add 1/2 a cup of batter to waffle maker and cook for 3/1 – 4 minutes.

Waffle is ready when it easily comes away from waffle maker. Makes about 12 large waffles.

Top with Kerrygold butter and 100% pure Maple Syrup.

Enjoy! 

Paleo Crockpot Turkey Chili

I am always looking for easy-peasy recipes that my whole family will enjoy and this is certainly one of them. How much easier can “throw it all in the crockpot and walk away” be? On a cold winter day this is the perfect meal to enjoy together as a family by the fire. 

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Here’s what you need: 

3 pounds of Turkey (or the meat/combo of your choice), cooked and diced or shredded

2 Onions, diced

5 Carrots, diced

(If you have picky eaters try shredding the onions and carrots in the food processor. They’ll never know they’re in there!)

4 cloves of Garlic

4 cans Diced Tomatoes

1 can Tomato Sauce (about 15 oz)

2 tbsp Cumin

1 tsp Chili Powder ( or more if you like it hot!)

Here’s what you do: 

1. Dump all ingredients in your crockpot. Stir and cover.

*If your meat if cooked but frozen, as mine is, throw it in there frozen- works great.

2. Put your crock pot on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hours.

That’s it! Enjoy!

*We topped our chili with a dollop of guacamole and wow, it was all the more tasty. Try it, you’ll like it.

Lemon-Herb Asparagus

These little nutritious trees are so easy and quick (of course) to make, so good for you, and so tasty to eat- you cannot go wrong.

Talk about a kid friendly, finger-food side that hits the tastebud spot every time.

Make some for the whole family and enjoy your asparagus! 

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Here’s what you need: 

1 bunch Asparagus (preferably thin ones as the kids like these better than the thick ones)

1 tbsp Herbs de provence

Salt

Pepper

1 Lemon

2 tbsp coconut oil

Here’s what you do: 

1. Keep the rubber band on the bunch of asparagus and cut the last 1 inch off. Discard.

2. Cut asparagus in half. (this makes it nicer for the kids)

3. Heat 2 tbsp oil in pan on medium heat.

4. Add asparagus to pan. Brown and stir for 10-15 minutes until soft yet still bright in color.

5. Sprinkle with herbs and salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze lemon juice on asparagus.

Plate and enjoy hot! 

 

Herb Crusted Salmon

One our family’s absolute favorites is Salmon!

There are so many ways it can be made and it’s always good. Here’s a simple and flavorful recipe for Herb Crusted Salmon. Enjoy!

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Here’s what you need:

Salmon (as many pieces as you need to feed your tribe)

Herbs de provence

Cayenne pepper

Salt

Pepper

Coconut oil

lemon

Here’s what you do:

1. Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in pan on medium heat.

2. Sprinkle herbs de provence and pepper generously on both sides of salmon and press down to stick to salmon.

3. Sprinkle cayenne and salt lightly on both sides of salmon and press down to stick to salmon.

4. Put salmon in oil and cook for about 7 minutes on each side.

5. Right before you remove the salmon from the pan, squirt generously with lemon.

6. Every time you take salmon out of the pan and add more, add another tbsp coconut oil until all are cooked.

Told you it was simple. This way of cooking will get the outside crispy and the inside flaky and perfectly cooked. We love it!

Enjoy! 

Sausage and Cabbage Delight

My Sausage and Cabbage Delight is a perfectly light and flavorful meal. We have had this meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it has worked perfectly for each of these. You can keep it simple by only using cabbage and sausage or take it up a notch and add the carrots and onions. Totally up to you and great either way. Enjoy!

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Here’s what you need: 

1 head of cabbage, chopped into bite size pieces

4 large carrots, shredded

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 packages smoked sausage (no msg), diced

coconut oil

2 tsp sage

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp salt

2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

……….

Here’s what you do:

1. Heat wok (or any pan) with 2 tbsp coconut oil on med-high heat.

2. Brown sausage and stir for about 15 minutes. Set aside.

3. Heat onions in pan and stir for 5 minutes.

4. Add cabbage, carrots, and seasonings to pan.

5. Stir well and cover.

6. Cook for about 15 minutes until veggies are soft, stirring occasionally and keeping covered.

7. Add sausage back to pan and stir until combined.

Serve and enjoy!

Sawsage-n-Peppas

Like many of my recipes this is a super easy one that I almost feel silly laying out… but then I remember when I first started eating healthy and every molehill seemed like a mountain. I loved checking out even the easiest of recipes for inspiration and new ideas to share with the fam.

This is one of those easy meals and a favorite at our house. Last night we roasted these sausages on our fire pit instead of the normal bowl and fork way and let me tell you… so much better! However you choose to cook this meal, inside or outside, cook it!

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Here’s what you need: 

2 packages smoked sausage (minus the msg), sliced into rounds

2 bell peppers, thinly sliced

2 onions, thinly sliced

1 tbsp cumin

1/2 tbsp garlic powder

salt

pepper

4 tbsp coconut oil, divided

……….

Here’s what you do: 

1. Brown sausage in 2 tbsp coconut oil until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Set aside.

2. Brown onions and bell peppers in same pan with an additional 2 tbsp coconut oil for about 10 minutes.

3. Sprinkle onions and bell peppers with cumin, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir completely.

4. Add sausage back to pan and stir well.

Serve and enjoy!

Paleo Sausage Gumbo

My dear friend Gina gave me her recipe for gumbo and it sounded so good I couldn’t pass up making it. Of course, I took on the challenge of making it a healthy, wheat-free gumbo with plenty of veggies and spice. I believe I was successful! Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement Gina!

Here’s what you need: 

2 bunches of celery, diced

4 onions, diced

3 tbsp minced garlic

About 140 ounces of chicken stock, or 10 cans of low sodium chicken stock

1 cup (or so) almond flour

1 cup light tasting olive oil

1 cup arrowroot flour

4-5 lb thinly sliced smoked sausage

Creole Seasoning 

Salt

Ground file (You can find file on the spice aisle. Don’t skimp on this ingredient!)

Here’s what you do:  Continue reading →

Our Favorite Homemade Mayo

Homemade mayo is so tasty and super easy to make. After we tried homemade mayo there was no going back to store-bought. It’s delicious!

I always have some made in the house to use as a dip or dressing on just about anything. You can add in optional ingredients like lemon and dill or honey and mustard. The mayo really is the starting place, after that the sky’s the limit! We use it all the time in chicken and tuna salad.

 

I am borrowing this recipe from Sarah over at Everyday Paleo. I love her recipe and there is nothing I would change about it, it’s that good. If you click her link she even has a wonderful video demo of how to make the perfect batch of mayo. So go ahead, try it!  Continue reading →

Whole Family | Sweet Potato Cinnamon Hashies

Our family loves sweet potatoes in all forms and fashions. We make sweet potato fries, sweet potato coins, mashed sweet potatoes, cubed sweet potatoes, baked sweet potatoes….you get the point. This morning I was looking for a new way to make sweet potatoes and WOW, did I come up with something spectacular.

Sweet Potato Cinnamon-Hashies! 

Check out my super easy and super tasty recipe. Make sure you make a whole bunch of these, your family won’t be able to get enough!

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Whole Family | Paleo Spicy Coconut Shrimp

I’ve been wanting to make this recipe for a while and finally the stars aligned, the kids cooperated, the kitchen was clean, and mama could make some shrimp.

And make some shrimp I did!!!

Let me tell you, these are the best darn shrimp you will ever have. They really are not spicy, just “well seasoned” as my kids say. If you wanted to spice them up, and what I will most likely do next time, is add a little bit of cayenne pepper. Yay for “well seasoned”!

This recipe is super SIMPLE, super fast, super easy, and super delicious.

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Whole Family | Paleo Breakfast Pizza

What a fun breakfast this is. And so SIMPLE!

You can fancy this up as much as you want or keep it simple. However you make it, you’re going to want to make this breakfast pizza again and again.

Here’s what you need (For 5 people): 

10 eggs

salt and pepper

1/4 pound of chorizo

half an onion, coarsely chopped

handful of grape tomatoes, halved

optional: 1 mango, diced

optional: 2 kiwis, diced Continue reading →

Whole Family | Carne Asada

Another new Mexican recipe that the “Whole Family” LOVES!!! 

Carne Asada!!!

This is such a SIMPLE, flavorful, comfort-foodie, kick up your senses kind of meal. You will want to make it again and again.

So let’s get started.

I started this recipe with a crock-pot pork roast that I seasoned with salt, pepper, comino, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and oregano. After 8 hours of cooking the pork in it’s own juices it was falling apart and was perfect to shred and use for my carne asada.

If you don’t have a roast you can always use the carne asada dressing on raw meat, marinade and then cook or grill. Turns out wonderful!

Here’s what you need: 

Dressing:

2 jalapeños, diced

3 tbsp minced garlic

1 tbsp dried oregano

2 limes, juiced

1 orange, juiced

3 tbsp olive oil

a dash of salt and pepper

……….

1 pound pork (or meat of your choice)

1 onion, sliced

1 bell pepper, sliced

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tomato, diced

1 avocado, sliced

lettuce leaves for tacos

……….

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