Today I’m sharing a paleo and low carb trail mix that makes a great portable snack. With the warmer weather it’s a great time to go hiking or spend some time outside. Recently, I took a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and whenever I travel I like to take healthy snacks…
Easy Weeknight Meatballs (Paleo and Low Carb)
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a blog post, not because I’ve given up on low carb/paleo eating, but because life changes have limited my space (and natural light) to take food photos. I used to have a photography “studio” (really it was just an extra bedroom) with plenty of space to have all my photography…
Chocolate Orange Layer Cake (Grain Free)
I just absolutely love chocolate cake, but when you change your diet it can be hard to recreate a grain free or low carb version. You may remember my Grain Free Chocolate Cake Roll recipe. When I made that recipe the texture of the cake reminded me of sponge cake and I knew I wanted…
Asian Lettuce Wraps (Paleo and Low Carb)
I’m so excited about growing a garden this spring/summer! Normally I don’t have a green thumb and end up killing everything I try and grow. This year I decided to get a Tower Garden and try it out. I like to think of the Tower Garden as “brown thumb” proof because it steps you through the whole…
Chocolate and Candied Orange Peel Ice Cream
In April I attended Paleo f(x) in Austin, TX. It was a great opportunity to listen to leading experts, doctors, and scientists in the paleo and low carb communities. Plus I got to meet and spend time with some amazing blogger friends. Austin is also a major foodie city and one of the things we…
Goji Berry and Cream Popsicles (Low Carb and Dairy Free)
How’s the weather in your area? It’s really starting to heat up here in South Carolina, so it’s nice to have a cold treat to enjoy on those hot Spring (or what feels like Summer already) days. You’ve probably heard of goji berries before…they were one of those superfood buzz words awhile back. But it’s…
Mediterranean Spiced Carrots
It’s always nice to have a handful of homemade spice mixtures on hand to jazz up the typical veggie side dishes I eat. Making your own spice mixtures ensure that there are no added fillers, preservatives, or sugar. This Mediterranean spice mixture has a lot of the flavors of the Mediterranean and is versatile for many…
Chocolate Cake Roll (Grain Free)
I just got back from the Paleo f(x) conference in Austin, TX. What a wonderful long weekend filled with lots of paleo information, friendly people, and delicious food. After going out to eat and having a lot of samples from the various vendors that were there I am officially tired of eating treats…back to my…
Carolina BBQ Chicken Wings (Paleo and Low Carb)
Living in South Carolina means lots of BBQ…it’s a pretty big deal here. What makes barbecue different in South Carolina is that the sauce is mustard based instead of ketchup based. I love it so much better! The problem is that most commercial Carolina barbecue sauces are usually filled with high fructose corn syrup, tons of sugar,…
Grain Free Swirl Brownies (Paleo)
My friend Carol wrote this fabulous ebook called, Indulge. It has delicious grain free dessert recipes and one of my favorites is a flourless brownie recipe. I wanted to change it up a bit, by making it with carob powder (a chocolate substitute) and swirling in some almond butter. It was a delicious! I served…
Instant Carob (or Chocolate) Pudding (Dairy Free and Paleo)
So what exactly is carob? Carob powder is made from the dried pods of the carob tree and is a substitute for chocolate. It has a rich chocolate like flavor. Chocolate is high in histamines and I am trying to eat a low histamine diet to help control and heal my skin and Rosacea symptoms. When…
Parmesan Herb Chicken (Grain Free and Low Carb)
Chicken is one of my favorite things to eat. These days I usually opt for the bone-in, skin on chicken since that is what comes in my monthly meat share….and most importantly it tastes so much better. When I do end up eating boneless, skinless chicken breast I have to find some ways to give…
No Bake Caramel Cheesecake (Grain Free)
When I made my Caramel Nut Butter Bars, I absolutely loved the caramel sauce and wanted to use it in other desserts. One of my favorite desserts to make is no bake cheesecake since it’s so easy to whip up. The caramel sauce pairs nicely with the slightly tart cheesecake. Other No Bake Cheesecake Recipes:…
Lobster Fettuccine Alfredo from Make It Paleo II
When I received Make it Paleo II in mail, I immediately flipped through it to check out the gorgeous pictures. I ended up showing my Mom and she rattled off a list of recipes she wanted to make from the book (the list was rather long…lol). Some of the recipes on the list were Orange Chicken,…
Italian Noodle Soup (Paleo and Gluten Free)
In the last year or two my Dad had been trying to eat better and lose some weight. I had asked him several times to try going gluten/grain free for 30 days to see what effect it would have on his psoriasis. He eventually got on board and started to notice his skin was clearing…
Coconut Cinnamon Cereal from Paleo Eats Cookbook
My friend Kelly created her amazing cookbook, Paleo Eats to help share delicious recipes with those that are trying to make the transition to a grain free, real food diet. Kelly’s creativity in the kitchen shines through as she creates Paleo friendly versions of Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Southern Fried Chicken, Lamb Gyro Burgers, Cherry Toaster…
Pesto Burgers (Paleo, Low Carb, and Low FODMAP)
I have lettuce wrapped burgers pretty often since they make such an easy dinner. And although I’m a creature of habit and could eat the same thing for dinner over and over again, I do eventually get bored with the same ole thing. Pesto is usually reserved for zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash, but the other…
Mashed Rutabaga (Paleo and Low FODMAP)
I have used this time during our 30-Day Clean Eating Challenge to experiment with different veggies. Because of SIBO, I’ve had to adjust my diet to eliminate vegetables that are high in FODMAPs. The normal veggies I love were causing me to have digestive distress particularly in the form of bloating. I have been branching…
Roasted Spiced Radishes (Paleo and Low Carb)
When I first changed my diet I started by lowering my carbs and one of the best substitutes for potatoes was radishes. At first I wasn’t going to try it because most of my experience with radishes was in raw form in salads. Yuck! I definitely wasn’t a fan of raw radishes, but I decided to…
Herb Crusted Pork Loin (Low Carb and Paleo)
I usually get all my meat from a local farm that has grassfed beef plus pastured chicken, pork, and turkey. It’s so convenient to be a part of the “meat share” and each month and I pick up the meat at the farmer’s market once a month. It’s already packaged and I store it in…
Spiced Chicken Wings (Low Carb and Paleo)
Today is Day 8 of our 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge. So far so good for me and while my diet normal consists of clean low carb and paleo eating, I had indulged on a little too many grain free treats over the holidays. Plus I’m trying to get rid of SIBO so it’s best for me…
Taco Lettuce Wraps (Paleo and Low FODMAP)
So you may be thinking that the little packet of seasoning you usually buy for tacos can’t be all that bad for you. Have you flipped over the package and read through the ingredients? Store bought taco seasoning contains ingredients that are far from real food and add unnecessary carbs and sugar to the mix….
Clean Eating Side Dish: Carrot Purée
It’s always nice to have some different veggie options to turn to when you’re wanting something a little different. When I first started posting recipes with carrots most people were shocked because they aren’t considered “low carb” (at least not very low carb). One thing I have learned over the years is that you have…
Bacon Wrapped Smokies (Low Carb and Paleo)
Yesterday was my 3 year blogiversary! Wow, it’s so hard to believe that over 3 years ago I started my journey to health and then decided to document my recipes and journey through this blog. What started out as a little hobby to fill some free time and to have a place to store recipes ended…
Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies (Grain Free and Low Carb)
If you’re still trying to finalize your holiday dessert selection these Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies may be the perfect choice. They are simple to make..just whip up and bake the cookies, let them cool, and fill them with a cheesecake like filling. You get some of the classic flavors of the holidays in an easy to…
Mini Cheese Ball Appetizer (Low Carb and Grain Free)
With the holiday season in full swing there are lots of parties and celebrations going on. It’s always fun to share homemade recipes with family and friends..especially to let people know that going grain free (low carb and/or primal/paleo) doesn’t have to be tasteless. Most of the recipes filling my newsfeed are for sweet treats…
Caramel Pecan Clusters (Paleo and Low Carb Option)
With the holiday season upon us traditional desserts are popping up everyone. Caramel Pecan Clusters (aka Turtles) are very popular during the holidays, but it’s one dessert I haven’t had in awhile. I decided to create a paleo version to share with my family so that they can realize that healthy doesn’t have to be tasteless….
No Bake Cranberry Cheesecakes (Grain Free)
When I think of Thanksgiving cranberries are always a part of the food celebration. As I kid, I remember opening the can of gelled cranberry sauce. When I think about it now, it’s kinda a gross, but I loved the taste of it. Making cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries is so easy and it tastes…
Ginger Snap Cookies (Grain Free)
It’s nice to have a few different options for holiday desserts. Some people like the traditional pies that are usually served during the holidays, but some people (like me) love cookies. Cookies make a great addition to the holiday table, especially with the seasonal flavors like ginger and cinnamon. And the good news is that…
20 Thanksgiving Desserts (Paleo and/or Low Carb)
A big part of Thanksgiving dinner is the dessert. Before I changed my diet the only foods I liked during Thanksgiving dinner were the turkey and the dessert. 🙂 The traditional Thanksgiving sides never really appealed to me. Of course now I love real food sides like these so that makes a great addition, but…
Thanksgiving Side Dishes (Low Carb and Grain Free)
As Thanksgiving approaches we start to put together our meal plans. For some of you it will be a little different this year because you decided to make a change to your diet and you want to continue with a delicious healthy meal on your Thanksgiving table. What you might not realize is that there…
Hungarian Goulash (Paleo and Low Carb)
Earlier this year I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Hungary. During my time there I got to experience several festivals and the food culture. The food stands were filled with lots of different types of meat preparations. Soup was a big part of the food experience…particularly Goulash. When I was a child my Mom used…
Chocolate Custard (Paleo or Low Carb)
After making the Crème Caramel from the Mediterranean Paleo Cooking cookbook I was inspired to make some more custard this time with chocolate. Yum! I find it’s so easy to make custard and it’s delicious. The good news is that the Chocolate Custard only has 5 ingredients! I love dessert recipes that aren’t overly complicated or have…
Braised Short Ribs (Paleo and Low Carb)
As you may know, I’m currently working on getting rid of SIBO. Having SIBO effects digestion which in turn can effect nutrient absorption, weight loss/gain, etc. Needless to say it’s not fun and I’m really glad I found a Naturopath to help me get back on track. I’ve had to adjust my diet because foods…
Crème Caramel and a Review of Mediterranean Paleo Cooking
My friend Caitlin Weeks, from Grass Fed Girl, has been working for years to bring her vision to life. Countless hours of recipe testing, photography, editing, etc. has led to the wonderful book, Mediterranean Paleo Cooking. Caitlin, a Nutrition Consultant, teamed up with her husband Nabil, who is a chef to create delicious, paleo versions…
Flourless Chocolate Peppermint Cake (Paleo and Low Carb)
I’m trying to be prepared and get a head start on planning. So I wanted to put together some ideas for tasty paleo desserts for the holidays. One of my favorite “food groups” is chocolate. 🙂 Ok so it’s not a food group, but a little dark chocolate isn’t so bad around the holidays. I…
Mashed Celery Root (Paleo, Low Carb, Low FODMAP, SCD)
Good ole celeriac, aka celery root. It’s the ugly duckling of the vegetable world. Its weird looking exterior makes people pass right by it in the grocery store. A lot of people have no clue how to prepare a celery root. Luckily, a few years ago I decided to try celery root for the first…
Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies (Paleo and Low Carb)
Last week we had a few days of cooler weather to usher in the Fall season. To celebrate, I wanted to savor the flavors of Fall with some cranberry and orange. I ended up making some Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies. For the month of October, one of the freebie essential oils is Orange (also Cinnamon…
5 Ingredient Grain Free Desserts
I’m happy to announce my new eCookbook, 5 Ingredient Grain Free Desserts! If you’re anything like me you may be a reformed dessert-oholic and even though you’ve changed your diet you still like the occasional dessert made from natural ingredients and free of grains and refined sugar. Also, even though I love spending time in…
Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies (Paleo and Low Carb)
Hazelnuts have been gaining popularity over the last few years, but it’s one nut that I honestly never really used much. I guess I was always a little intimidated by hazelnuts. When I was in Europe last month, on a work trip, hazelnuts were all over the place and I fell in love with the taste. Once I…
Grain Free Chicken Tenders (Paleo and Low Carb)
I’m always looking for easy dinner recipes and usually it consists of a piece of grilled or roasted meat with lots of veggies on the side. It’s easy, it’s tasty, and it works, but every once in awhile I like to have something different. The good news is that these Grain Free Chicken Tenders are…
Chocolate Orange Magic Shell (Paleo and Low Carb)
After what feels like weeks of rain, yesterday was actually a sunny day, but it was HOT. Ok maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but I had gotten used to the cooler temperatures and I was all set for Fall. The warmer weather inspired me to make a delicious ice cream topping to help beat the…
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette (Paleo and Low Carb)
One of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is to make my own salad dressing. It’s so easy to throw the ingredients in a mason jar and shake it all together. Make the salad dressing fresh like that makes it easy to experiment with different flavors. I use this Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette for…
BLT Wraps (Grain Free and Low Carb)
After making the Blueberry Breakfast Wraps I wanted to come up with a savory version of the wrap. It was nice to be able to add some variety to my breakfast and now it was time to do the same for lunch and/or dinner. BLT’s are my favorite way to enjoy bacon…especially when it’s tomato…
Cauliflower and Leek Mash + The Paleo Foodie Cookbook
Cauliflower mash is one of my favorite side dishes. It’s so easy to make so I end up making it all the time. I was started to get board with my usually cauliflower mash and was browsing through The Paleo Foodie Cookbook to get some side dish inspiration. I stumbled upon the Cauliflower and Leek…
Blueberry Breakfast Wraps (Low carb and Grain Free)
When it’s blueberry season I like add some fresh blueberries to my breakfast. I came across these Cream Cheese Pancakes from my friend Mellissa from I Breathe…I’m Hungry and I knew I could tweak the recipe a little bit to incorporate the blueberries and create a portable breakfast option. I like to fill the wraps…
Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs (Paleo and Low Carb)
This past weekend I made this Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs and I loved them so much. The flavor was incredible! Chicken has always been my favorite protein so I’m always looking for new ways to add some flavor. The Dijon Rosemary sauce was kind of like a homemade mustard based barbecue sauce (which is popular…
Tuna Melt Bites (Primal and Low Carb)
When I first changed my diet I quickly found my love for cooking and I usually don’t mind cooking most of my meals. Every once in awhile life gets too hectic and I love easy meals that are ready in minutes. These Tuna Melt Bites are just the thing! I quickly prepared some tuna salad…
Frozen Hot Chocolate (Paleo and Low Carb)
I’m so ready for cooler weather and flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon, and hot chocolate. There’s just no way for me to enjoy hot chocolate right now. The weather is hot and humid here in S.C. and there’s no sign of cooler weather for many months. I’m sure I’ll still be wearing shorts and a t-shirt…
Watermelon & Cream Popsicles (Paleo and Dairy Free)
The other week my CSA came with a deliciously ripe Watermelon. I don’t usually eat very much fruit, except for the occasional berry, but the watermelon was perfectly ripe and was just begging to be used. The good thing about in-season fruit is that you don’t have to add any sweetener to it…it’s already sweet…
Lemon Cheesecake Popsicles (Low Carb and Dairy Free option)
It’s hard to believe that summer is winding down, but I’m so excited for cooler temperatures and football!!! Ok, so football starts in a couple of weeks, but cooler temperatures are still many months away for me here in South Carolina. I’m sure I’ll still be wearing shorts and a t-shirt at Christmas time. The…
Chocolate Drizzled Cream Cheese Cookies (Grain Free and Low Carb)
Back before I changed my diet I used to be a serious baker. I was always baking and trying out new recipes. Once I changed my diet, my tastes changed and I didn’t really crave sweets as much. I ended up finding my love for cooking. I like creating meals and getting to experiment with different…
Basil and Sun-Dried Tomato Compound Butter
I’ve been keeping my meals super simple because it’s summertime and the delicious vegetables and pastured meat this time of year are just so good on their own. Last week I wanted to add a little excitement to my usual butter (or ghee) topped meat and veggies by adding some flavoring. I found some sun-dried…
Lemon Cheesecake Cupcakes (Grain Free and Low Carb)
For some reason there is something about summer that just makes me obsessed with lemon. The bright, citrus flavor is just great during the summer. I decided to make a lemon cheesecake frosting for cupcakes….the perfect summer dessert! The cupcakes act like the crust of the cheesecake so they make a great pairing. Not a…
Cucumber “Pasta” Salad (Low Carb and Paleo)
Happy August! As August is upon us there is usually a big push to get back on track with health goals as we approach the holiday season. I know a lot of folks are starting on a Whole30 or the 21-Day Sugar Detox to eat squeaky clean after straying a little during the summer. One of my…
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars (Grain Free and Low Carb)
Did you know that today is National Cheesecake Day? Did you also know that today is my birthday? Yay! There’s no better way to celebrate both my birthday and National Cheesecake Day than with Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars. The bars have a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough on the bottom and topped with a cheesecake layer all baked…
Mojito & Cream Popsicles (Paleo and Low Carb)
When I made lime curd for the Raspberry and Lime Parfaits I knew it would make a great popsicle. Popsicles come in handy during these warm summer months! Since the curd are already had the lime flavor and I had just gotten my hands on some Spearmint Essential Oil, mojito instantly came to mind! Also, I…
Grain Free Ice Cream Sandwiches (Paleo and Low Carb)
You all know I’ve been obsessed with ice cream this summer. It’s been such a great relief from the heat and it’s easy to make your own ice cream. Well, one day I felt like making cookies so when we were having a “cold” front I decided it was time to turn on the oven…
Raspberry & Lime Parfaits (Paleo and Low Carb)
Raspberries are in season right now in South Carolina so when the raspberries showed up in my CSA I wanted to make an easy summer dessert that was light and refreshing. Earlier this year I made yummy Lemon Meringue Cookies made with Lemon Curd so naturally I needed to make a Lime Curd this summer….
Paleo Strawberry Shortcake Waffles (Low Carb)
I wanted to make an easy breakfast recipe using the fresh summer berries from my CSA so I decided to switch out the Pumpkin in my Pumpkin Waffles with strawberries. It worked great! The Strawberry Shortcake Waffles make a great breakfast or an easy, no bake summer dessert. I topped the waffles with whipped coconut…
Glazed Chocolate Zucchini Muffins (Paleo and Low Carb)
Zucchini is starting to show up in my CSA each week and although it’s one of my favorite vegetables I wanted to use it in a sweet recipe. As you may know, I’ve been trying to implement a low histamine diet (in addition to my usual low carb paleo diet). So what’s the hardest part…
Paleo Cantaloupe Custard
Last week I picked up my usual bag of veggies and as I was driving home I could smell the sweet scent of cantaloupe. In addition to my veggies, I had gotten a perfectly ripe cantaloupe in my CSA bag and I knew I had to use it right away. I had made cantaloupe sorbet…
Orange & Cream Ice Cream (Low Carb and Paleo)
So you’ve probably notice I’ve been into essential oils lately. I was chatting with the Holistically Engineered Essential Oils Facebook community about my reasons for getting into essential oils which was because of the gut healing and hormone balancing support and to also replace some of the toxic beauty and cleaning products I was using….
Grain Free No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Bites
I’ve been obsessed with cheesecake lately…it’s so rich and creamy! Plus when it’s paired with fresh summer berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries it makes a delicious dessert. It’s definitely a perfect combination! For this recipe I ended up using blueberries, but raspberries or chopped strawberries would work great in this recipe too. I wanted…
Red, White, and Blue Parfaits (Low Carb and Paleo Fourth of July Dessert)
Every year I like to celebrate Fourth of July with a fun red, white, and blue dessert. This year I wanted to keep it simple and I wanted it to be a no bake Fourth of July dessert. I’m definitely not turning on my oven in this heat! It’s a great way to enjoy the delicious…
Strawberry Lemon Sherbet (Paleo and Low Carb)
When I posted my latest giveaway the other day, you probably thought “Lemon Essential Oil and an Ice Cream Maker…that’s on odd combination!” Well, hopefully this latest recipe helps explain it. For awhile now, I have been looking for natural flavorings that I could add to recipes that would still be low carb, but were also…
Lemon Basil Grilled Chicken (Paleo and Low Carb)
I love making my own salad dressings. Ever since I stopped eating store bought mayonnaise because it’s full of canola oil and/or soybean oil and I got tired of many, many, many failed attempts at a homemade paleo mayo that actually tastes good (well good enough for my beloved Ranch seasoning). So I had to turn to…
Almond Joy Ice Cream Bites (Paleo and Low Carb)
It’s official…we totally skipped Spring here in South Carolina. I went out of town for a week and when I got back it was in the upper 90’s F with 100% humidity…in the beginning of June. Grrreat….if you need me I’ll be hibernating indoors or in the pool for the rest of the summer. So…
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream (Low Carb)
It was such a great opportunity to meet Maria on the Low Carb Cruise. I’ve been a fan of her blog and recipes for a long time so I’m grateful for the chance to do a guest post on her site. Strawberry season is in full swing and so is the warm summer-like weather. Normally…
How To Use a Whole Coconut + $100 Gift Card to MightyNest Giveaway
I’ll admit it, the thought of handling a whole coconut is a little daunting. Where do you start? The good news is that it’s actually pretty easy and a great way to Savor the Summer! School’s out! It’s time to focus on enjoying the long days of summer with family and friends. Barefoot temps, fresh…
Benefits of Vanilla Beans and Floating Islands a Guest Post by Maria Emmerich
Today’s blog post is a guest post from Maria Emmerich of Maria’s Mind Body Health Blog. Maria is sharing with us the benefits of vanilla beans as well as a delicious recipe for Floating Islands. Floating Island is traditionally a French dessert made from meringue and a vanilla custard. Maria tops her Floating Islands with…
Green Fries (Low Carb and Paleo)
This past weekend, my family and I were in Connecticut visiting with some of our other family. It was so nice to get to visit with everyone especially since we don’t get to see them very often. So what does this have to do with Green Fries? Well, while we were in Connecticut my Mom and I…
Lemon Vanilla Coconut Butter Cups
Homemade coconut butter is one of my favorite snacks to make. It’s an easy way to make homemade candy without needing to add extra sugar. You’ve probably seen my video on how to make Toasted Coconut Butter and my recipe for making Toasted Coconut Butter Cups. Those are usually my favorite ways to enjoy coconut butter,…
Easy Homemade Ketchup (Paleo, Whole30, No Sweetener Added)
Easy Homemade Paleo Ketchup Recipe Summertime usually means lots of burgers on the grill. When you are eating a bun-less burger it’s important to have lots of flavoring and usually that’s through the use of condiments. Store bought ketchup is full of sugar and when going low carb the first reaction is to reach for…
BLT Gazpacho Soup (Paleo and Dairy Free)
As the weather warms up, I end up turning on my oven less and less. Usually I like to have some fresh, no cook meals like salads, but cold soup also makes a great option. Gazpacho is a cold soup with usually a tomato base and sometimes has added bread blending in. Of course, I wanted…
Grilled Caprese Salad
Tomato season is quickly approaching and before long I will have tons of tomatoes in my CSA each week. One of my favorite was to eat tomatoes is by quickly grilling them and then sprinkling them with some Real Salt and black pepper. It brings out the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and pairs well…
Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers
Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers Recipe I know I missed Cinco de Mayo and didn’t post this recipe in time, but Chicken Fajitas all great all the time. These stuffed peppers have all of the flavors of chicken fajitas with none of the grains. I used my Homemade Fajita Seasoning which is easy to throw together…
Cinnamon “Rice” Breakfast Pudding
Grain Free Cinnamon “Rice” Breakfast Pudding I’ve talked a lot about how I don’t eat eggs for breakfast and it’s not because I don’t think eggs are a superfood with lots of nutritional value. It’s simply because 1) I hate the taste of eggs…no matter how many different ways I’ve tried them 2) I think…
Dairy Free Coconut Pudding
I love making gelatin desserts! It’s so easy to throw together an easy dessert while getting all of the wonderful gut healing benefits of gelatin. I’ve talked for awhile about how I’m on a journey to help heal the lining of my gut after years of off and on antibiotics and my latest bout with…
Grain Free No Bake Double Chocolate Cheesecake
So for the last few days I’ve been in Hungary for a work trip and I have to say that it has been such a wonderful trip! I’ve been getting so much inspiration for dishes to make when I get back to the states so definitely stay tuned! So what does this have to do…
Grain Free Chicken Pot Pies
After making a super easy creamy cauliflower sauce I ended up having some leftovers and I knew it would be perfect in a casserole type dish without adding a ton of dairy. I had a huge craving for Chicken Pot Pie so of course I had to make a grain free and paleo version to…
Creamy Zucchini Noodles with Bacon (Dairy Free)
So lately I’ve had an obsession with mashed cauliflower since it’s such an easy side dish. I usually steam some frozen organic cauliflower (or fresh if I have some hand), add some ghee, salt, and pepper. Then I just buzz it with my immersion blender until it’s smooth. So perfectly easy and delicious! Well, I…
Bacon and Spinach Egg Waffle–Breakfast on the Go!
I personally don’t eat eggs for breakfast, but I get lots of requests from blog followers for easy low carb and paleo breakfast options. When I ran across an article about different things that can be cooked in a waffle iron I was surprised to see eggs on the list. Low carb/paleo folks typically eat…
Grain Free No Bake Lemon Cheesecakes
Recently I’ve had an obsession with No Bake Cheesecake. It’s so easy to make with a grain free crust and I even like to eat the filling without a crust. Yum! I’ve mentioned this before, but I am so ready for Spring to be in full effect with warmer weather, spring veggies, and lots of…
Paleo Almond Butter Eggs
Paleo Almond Butter Eggs One of my favorite things to eat during Easter season used to be peanut butter eggs. Seriously when I would see them on store selves I would stock up and eat them for weeks months. For whatever reason they were so much better than regular peanut cups….obviously it had to be…
Paleo Greek Chicken
I have to admit that I’m so ready for warm weather and the bright flavors of Springtime food. I was so excited to see asparagus and strawberries in my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) veggies this week. Spring is here in S.C….the weather was even warm! So, inspired by fresh flavors I ended up making this Paleo…
Grain Free Almond Joy Cookies
Do you remember back a couple of weeks ago when I posted my recipe for Grain Free German Chocolate Cake Cookies? No? Well if not you should definitely go check out the recipe….good ahead….I’ll wait! (cue the Jeopardy theme music) Anyway, I have been obsessed with the chocolate cookie as a base for delicious toppings….
Cheesy Grain Free Garlic Bread
Did you know cauliflower is supposed to be a trendy food in 2014? Well that’s totally fine with me because I love cauliflower. It’s an awesome veggie that makes eating paleo and low carb easy. Cauliflower is so versatile! You can use it as a substitute for rice, potatoes, or even pizza. My latest adventure…
Grain Free Salted Caramel Mug Cakes
I’m obsessed with desserts in a mug lately. Everything from Muffins in a Minute to cookies. Seriously, have you tried my Grain Free Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Minute? It’s fabulous! Today’s recipe also ties in a popular food trend of salted caramel. I’ve seen it all over the place…especially Pinterest so naturally I needed to…
Gut Healing, Egg Free Paleo, and Sugar Detox Tips on the Health Nuts Podcast
Last week I had the great opportunity to chat with my friends Caitlin Weeks (aka Grass Fed Girl) and Mary Vance (of MaryVanceNC.com) on their Health Nuts Podcast. Mary and Caitlin are certified holistic nutrition consultants with a goal is to dispel mainstream nutrition myths and bring you the best in holistic health & real…
Grain Free Taco Shells (Naturally Low Carb)
I normally eat my tacos in lettuce wraps or just over a bed of lettuce. It works just great and satisfies my taco cravings, but I know sometimes it’s great to have a crunchy shell that you can easily pick up with your hands…just like regular grain filled shells. These cheesy taco shells are a…
How to Make Coconut Flour
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make coconut flour? The other day I showed you how easy it is to make homemade coconut milk (check it out here if you missed it) without any guar gum or other added preservatives. After making the coconut milk, the coconut pulp is leftover and can be…
How To Make Coconut Milk
Today we are learning how to make coconut milk. Canned coconut milk is definitely convenient, but unfortunately canned coconut milk often contains guar gum in order to help thicken the milk. Guar gum can be hard to digest for some people since it is derived from legumes. Since I’m trying to heal my digestion it’s…
Flourless Banana Bread Cookies
I don’t often eat bananas because they are pretty starchy and my desk job doesn’t really make me need to replenish my glycogen stores…i.e. I’m not doing a lot of heavy exercise (a big topic at Primal Con Tulum). Recently I had some banana and noticed I didn’t get a huge blood sugar spike or…
Grain Free German Chocolate Cake Cookies
Back in a day I used to make a lot of cakes. Baking was one of my favorite things to do and I even got into cake decorating. These days I prefer to make portioned treats like cookies and cupcakes. This allows me to either freeze the extras or easily give them away to family…
The Dangers of H. Pylori and How I Got Rid of It
Last year I was suffering from unexplained weight gain, fatigue, and digestive distressed. I ended up working with a holistic nutritionalist to figure out what was wrong with me. One of the tests I took revealed that I had H. Pylori. I had H. Pylori in the past and went through an antibiotic treatment to…
Grain Free No Bake Individual Cheesecakes
Normally I try not to eat dairy because even though my tolerance of dairy had greatly improved since I went grain free and dairy free, I still don’t think I have completely healed. I have to admit though….occasionally I still eat some dairy. Butter definitely tops the list, but sometimes it’s the occasional cheese or…
Grain Free Thin Mint Mini Cupcakes
This time of year is the season of Girl Scout cookies and probably over indulging in those cookies. It’s so easy to overeat them. The good news is that you can support your local Girl Scouts without giving into the temptation of eating the cookies. Wouldn’t you love a grain free thin mint? Next time…
Why You Should Limit Your Nut Intake
Many of us turn to nuts as quick snack or replacement for flour in desserts. They nourish us, distribute protein to the cells, and can add texture to many prepared dishes. They definitely help make the transition to low carb and/or paleo much easier. However, nuts do have some drawbacks that you should be aware…
Grain Free Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Minute
I have to admit I’ve been craving some grain chocolate chip cookies for awhile now. I’ve been hesitant simply because I knew I would probably want to devour all of the cookies in a typical batch of cookies. Sure I could freeze them or give them away, but who can resist a warm cookie fresh…
Grain Free Irish Soda Bread Biscuits
I’m continuing my St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with some Grain Free Irish Soda Bread Biscuits. As a kid I remember helping my mom make Irish Soda Bread every year for St. Patrick’s Day. It was a recipe passed down to her and I loved to help make it…even if I didn’t like the taste of…
Dairy Free Shamrock Shake
As the end of February quickly approaches that means St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. Since I’m part Irish, St. Patrick’s Day has always been a big deal and a great time for my family to celebrate our Irish heritage. What better way to celebrate than with a festive, naturally green, Dairy Free…
Why Eat Bone Broth?
I use bone broth in a lot of my recipes and I often get questions about what’s so great about bone broth. Bone broth has exploded in popularity in the real food world over the last few years as more people learn the value of bone broth. It’s a key component in many modern recipes,…
How To Make Grain Free “Rice” (Video)
It’s always nice to have grain free substitutes for some of my favorite dishes. I have been using Cauliflower “Rice” for years, but lately I’ve been experimenting with using other vegetables as “rice.” Check out the videos below to learn how to make both Cauliflower “Rice” and Celery Root “Rice.” Also don’t miss the list…
Grain Free Instant “Brown Sugar” N’oatmeal
Looking for a grain free instant oatmeal? My recipe for Instant Cinnamon “Oatmeal” is one of the most popular recipes on my site and for good reason…..it’s delicious! I ended up coming up with some other flavor combinations: 1) Raspberries and Cream “Oatmeal” which is in my ebook, Awaken (check it out here) and the recipe…
30+ of The BEST Grain Free Pizza Recipes
Everywhere I look on social media lately people are talking about pizza. It must be that time of year when people are craving pizza or are looking for a little excitement out of the diet changes they made at the start of the new year. I wanted to put together a resources of the BEST…
Paleo Chocolate Soufflé…a Guest Post from Gutsy by Nature
I’m currently doing a sugar detox so making desserts for the blog just isn’t in the cards for me right now, but I wanted to make sure you had a delicious option for Valentine’s Day, or any day you are craving some delicious chocolate. This recipe is a Paleo version of Chocolate Souffle. Today’s guest…
How To Make Toasted Coconut Butter (Video)
On my post for Chocolate and Toasted Coconut Swirl Cups I’ve received several comments from people that tried making Toasted Coconut Butter and it did not work from them. People were reporting that it ended up as shredded coconut instead of coconut butter. I normally make toasted coconut butter in my Vitamix so I decided…
10 Low Carb and Paleo Kitchen Tips and Tricks
There are several ingredients that are classic low carb and paleo ingredients that most people use all the time. It’s always nice to have some tips and tricks up your sleeve to be able to handle these ingredients quickly and easily. Today I am sharing 10 of the best low carb and paleo kitchen tips…
Is Sugar Hiding In Your Food? Learn About Hidden Sugar in Your Food
Most of us easily cut out table sugar from our diets since it was so obvious to remove, but did you know there is hidden sugar in most packages foods. In a perfect world, we would make everything homemade and control every ingredient we use, but let’s be honest we’re all busy and life gets…
WINNER: Vitamix Professional Series Blender–$600 value
Time to announce the February giveaway! The February giveaway was a Vitamix…valued at $600. I love hosting giveaways to pay back for all of the support I receive from all of you. Every month I like to give away an item that has personally helped me on my low carb paleo journey.
How to Make Brussels Sprout Chips
I was so excited when I received a dehydrator for Christmas. I couldn’t wait to dive in and start using it! I ended up having brussels sprouts in my weekly vegetable CSA and wasn’t sure what to do with them since I’m not really a fan of brussels sprouts. After looking around YouTube for inspiration,…
20 Egg and Grain Free Breakfast Recipes
Yes, an egg-free breakfast is possible. If you’re cutting out eggs because you’re allergic/have a sensitivity or if you are just tired of eggs for breakfast, fear not–there are still opportunities for making a delicious breakfast, both savory and sweet alike. If you are looking for more egg free breakfast ideas, check out my ebook…
Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Onion Gravy
One of my favorite things to do for dinner on a Sunday is to throw something in the slow cooker while I work on getting ready for the start of the workweek and the enjoy the last bit of my weekend. A few weeks ago, I was going through my freezer and noticed a pork…
The Most Important “Supplement” for Your Health
The more I study health, the more I have come to appreciate how crucially important the bacteria in your gut are to your health. The website Green Med Info has assembled an amazing list of more than 200 studies, which together explore more than 170 diseases which can be helped or treated with probiotics. The…
25 Grain Free Substitutes for Bread, Pasta, and Rice
One of the great things about going grain free is that my cravings for bread, pasta, and rice have definitely went away. I don’t even miss it anymore, but I do like to have some grain free substitutes in my back pocket so I don’t feel like I’m missing out. The good news is that…
Make Ahead Slow Cooker Mashed Cauliflower
Slow Cooker Mashed Cauliflower One of my favorite side dishes is Mashed Cauliflower. It makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes…you won’t even miss them! Mashed Cauliflower is easy to make the night of for dinner, but I always like to have some meal options made ahead of time so I have healthy choices on…
What is Paleo? And Why You Should Care
When I first started my health journey my main goal was weight loss. I followed the Atkins diet and lost 85 lbs. I had lost weight, but I still suffered from digestive issues, allergies, high blood pressure and cholesterol so I wanted to get to the root cause of those issues. I did experience a…
How To Make Spaghetti Squash…without Losing a Finger
It wasn’t long ago that I tried spaghetti squash for the first time and was learning how to make spaghetti squash. I had heard that cutting it in half and roasting it was the best method. I grabbed my trusty knife so I could try to cut it in half and attempted to cut through…
5 Low Carb Mistakes to Avoid
The new year usually brings along more people to a low carb diet. Usually people jump right in and get rid of bread and pasta because they are trying to lose a few pounds. I myself started with a low carb diet, but quickly learn more and more about the Paleo diet and the importance…
Addicted to Sugar? Learn How Sugar Affects the Brain
You’ve probably heard that sugar can cause weight gain and you probably generally avoid it so you don’t pack on the pounds, but the reality is that sugar affects more than just your waistline. Sugar is now being linked to affecting the brain and neurological diseases like: ADHD Anxiety Epilepsy Alzhimer’s Mood Disorders
Make Ahead Freezer Meatballs
The 30-Day Squeaky Clean Eating Challenge started on Monday so to prepare last weekend I made some make ahead meals so after a long day of work I could mindlessly make dinner without have to think about it much. One of the dishes I made was Italian Meatballs, which are great for those doing a…
How to Make a DIY Treadmill Desk in 5 Easy Steps
The good news is that this DIY treadmill desk doesn’t require any tools, cost me less than $50, and it can be finished in less than an hour! I have been wanting a treadmill desk for awhile now since my day job has me sitting behind a desk all day. Unfortunately buying a treadmill desk…
25+ Clean Eating Recipes and Resources
The new year brings the desire to go back to clean eating. Often times that is accomplished with a reduction of carbs, a Whole30, or 21 Day Sugar Detox. In order to help with all of those trying to eat clean after the holidays I have put together a list of 25+ clean eating recipes and resources. These…
5 Tips for Reaching Your Health Goals and My New Years Resolutions
My New Years Resolutions usually include losing weight and while I wouldn’t mind losing a few pounds my goals for 2014 are more focused on specific health issues. Why choosing Andarine? Andarine works by binding to androgen receptors, selectively choosing muscle and bone, instead of attacking sex organs like anabolic steroids will. Andarine can be…
Grain Free Mozzarella Sticks
With New Years and the end of football season parties it’s always nice to have a few healthy options available to munch on. I had been wanting to make my own Mozzerella Sticks for awhile, but I hadn’t gotten around to it since I usually like to stay away from dairy so I don’t have…
Five Ingredient Friday: Chocolate and Toasted Coconut Butter Swirl Cups
Today I have a quick treat for when you you want to make something easy. I first fell in love with Toasted Coconut Butter when I made it for a guest post a few month ago. Now I make it all the time because it’s so easy to make. I either eat by the spoonful…
Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites
Today I’m sharing a guest post I did for Kyndra over at Peace, Love, and Low Carb. I created a super easy no bake dessert that would make a great dessert any time of year, but especially for the holidays. I didn’t get a chance to try it, but if you need a dairy free…
Five Ingredient Friday: Balsamic Brown “Sugar” Chicken
It’s always nice to have a “fancy dinner” that is actually pretty easy to prepare. This Balsamic “Brown Sugar” Chicken only requires a few ingredients and bakes in the oven so there is no need to fuss over it. Let’s face it…we’re all busy. Making good decisions in regards to our diets can often be…
Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Meringue Cookies
Making meringue cookies only requires a handful of ingredients and they’re really easy to make. The great thing about meringue cookies is that they look really fancy. It almost looks like it took a lot of effort to make. These Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Meringue cookies will definitely impress your guests this holiday season. You can…
Lemon Meringue Cookies
For the holidays I wanted to make some meringue cookies, but plain meringue cookies seemed a little boring. I also wanted to have a try for those that don’t care for chocolate could also enjoy. Not like chocolate? That’s crazy talk! Alright, I know some people do not like chocolate and that’s perfectly normal. Lemon…
No Bake Grain Free Chocolate Haystack Cookies
I recently had a request for a grain free version of the no bake haystack cookies that are usually made with oats. My first thought was that coconut would be a great substitute for the oats. I decided to use a combination of the shredded coconut and the flakes to give it more of the…
Toasted Coconut Muddy Buddies
One of my all time favorite desserts around the holidays is Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow. If you’re not familiar with Muddy Buddies/Puppy Chow it’s a recipe that covers Chex Cereal with cocolate and peanut butter and then coats it in powdered sugar. Of course I needed to lower the carbs on this holiday treat. …
Pumpkin Spice Muffin in a Minute
I like to make quick desserts, especially those that only have a couple of servings so I don’t go overboard. Since the holidays are upon us I have been craving pumpkin and wanted to create a dessert muffin that would feature the iconic flavors of the holidays. These muffins are also great for breakfast! I…
7 Ways to Use Up Thanksgiving Leftovers
Thanksgiving is a holiday were food is a major part of the festivities. People usually go all out for Thanksgiving, which means lots of delicious leftovers to munch on the rest of the week. I decided to put together a round up of low carb and paleo friendly recipes to help you use up all…
Paleo Pumpkin Waffles
After awhile, every time I would make waffles in my previous waffle iron it would never bake evenly and would end up as a mushy mess. So for months I have been looking at all of these beautiful grain free waffle recipes on Pinterest and debating whether or not to buy a new Belgian Waffle…
Five Ingredient Friday: Paleo Dairy Free Yogurt
This is my new favorite breakfast at the moment. I am in the process of healing my gut and part of that includes getting in lots of good probiotics. I’ve been meaning to try making dairy free yogurt for awhile, but was always afraid it would taste weird. I can’t believe I waited so long…
Pizza Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Pizza Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe So the other day my mom shared a recipe on Facebook that was a pizza spaghetti bake that used pasta as the main ingredient. My mom usually does a good job of reducing carbs because she loves the results she gets when she leaves them out of her diet, but…
Paleo Green Bean Casserole
For most people the holidays wouldn’t be complete without Green Bean Casserole. I have say that I never really liked Green Bean Casserole, but ever since I discovered my love for onions this summer I decided to try my hand at a Paleo Green Bean Casserole. I ended up using fresh green beans from my…
Five Ingredient Friday: Magic Shell
When I made my Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream I thought that the creamy pumpkin would pair well with some dark chocolate. I thought back to the old days when I would top my ice cream with “magic shell,” but now that isn’t an option since it’s full of sugar and other unnecessary ingredients. The good…
Almond Butter Balls
One of my favorite recipes is No Bake Almond Butter Bars. This time I wanted to go closer to the original recipe that uses graham cracker crumbs and use some of my Homemade Grain-Free Graham Cracker Crumbs. If you make up the graham cracker crumbs ahead of time you can easily whip the Almond Butter…
Grain Free Graham Crackers and Graham Cracker Crumbs
I used to eat graham crackers all the time. I’d either slather them with peanut butter (hey I didn’t even know almond butter existed) or dip them in milk. It was always a nice treat! Well, since I cut out the grains I needed a subsitute that would hold up to the original and I…
Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
Pumpkin is a very popular ingredient in November and makes an appearance at many Thanksgiving tables. For dessert, my family would always serve many different pies and would always have ice cream on the side. I figured serving Paleo Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream would make a great Thanksgiving dessert without needing the normal pies for…
Five Ingredient Friday: Slow Cooker Ghee (aka Clarified Butter)
I’ve had a dairy sensitivity for years and even though changing my diet has helped improve my symptoms I still like to limit my dairy. With ghee, the butter is being clarified and the milk solids are removed, making it easier to digest (lactose and casein free). I try and have lots of ghee on…
Broccoli and “Rice” Casserole
I’m always trying to come up with different side dishes to go along with dinner. One of my favorite things to do is to take a regular dish that’s not low carb or paleo and turn it into a dish I can actually eat. The other week I saw a recipe on TV for a…
Primal Pit Paste Giveaway Winner + Coupon Code for 20% Off
Last week I hosted a giveaway for Primal Pit Paste Natural Deodorant. I was excited to have this giveaway because over the summer I made the switch to Primal Pit Paste and have loved it! It is so nice knowing that my deodorant isn’t full of toxic parabens and aluminum and that it’s so natural…it’s…
Five Ingredient Friday: How to Make Cauliflower Rice
One of the first lessons in my grain-free kitchen was about how to make Cauliflower Rice. One of my favorite low carb and grain free substitutes to use is cauliflower in place of rice. It’s very easy to whip up a batch of cauliflower rice and it works well in most recipes. Cauliflower rice is…
October Giveaway: Spiral Vegetable Slicer
___________________________ And the winner is….. #6295: Linda K. Not the winner? Pick up your spiral vegetable slicer here (while it’s on sale) ___________________________________ Who’s ready for the October GIVEAWAY??? I wanted to share a great prize that will hopefully help you on your low carb or paleo journey. I use my Spiral Vegetable Slicer all…
Toasted Coconut Pancakes
So I told you last week that I was obsessed with the Toasted Coconut Butter I made, so naturally I had to make another recipe featuring my new favorite “nut” butter. I’ve been known to eat regular coconut butter by the spoonful, but it’s not my favorite. I prefer something a little sweeter since I…
Paleo Fried Green Tomatoes (Low Carb)
As soon as I saw the the green tomatoes in my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box, I just knew I needed to make fried green tomatoes. I have to admit that it has been weird seeing tomatoes in the house after going off and on with avoiding nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant potatoes, etc.) to see…
Grain Free Instant Cinnamon “Oatmeal” (Low Carb)
Grain Free Instant Cinnamon “Oatmeal” Recipe In the mornings I’m always dragging myself out of bed late so I don’t have much time to eat breakfast before I leave the house. I usually pack up a breakfast skillet or leftovers from the night before and enjoy that for breakfast at work. Lately I’ve noticed a…
February Favorites
Can you believe February is over? This year is really flying by so quickly. I wanted to end the month by putting together a list of things that I loved in February. Of course, what I loved most about February was that my ebook “Awaken: 30+ Egg Free and Grain Free Breakfasts” came out. I…
Wellness Bundle (#Paleo and #LowCarb Friendly)
In the past 2 months, Todd Dosenberry (also known as Primal Toad) emailed more than a few dozen well-known bloggers to see if they wanted to be part of an epic wellness sale. Thankfully, 25 unique authors (including himself) said yes to contributing their ebook(s) into what is now the Toadally Primal Wellness Bundle. All…
