Overnight Faux-Rina 

One of my favorite winter breakfasts as a kid was forina, aka Uncle Ben’s Cream of Wheat. I loved mine with a dash of chocolate.

This, surprisingly, tastes a bunch like forina – it has a nice hearty texture, a really light sweetness, and feels stick-to-your-ribs. I’m willing to bet it’s even great warm and with a little cacao.

Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto, vegetarian & vegan with substitutions


Overnight Faux-Rina 

1/4 c. chia seeds
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
10 drops stevia
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. sunflower seed butter (no sugar FTW!)
1 c. almond milk
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. flaxseed meal
1 scoop protein powder (I use beef collagen) 

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar or blender. Shake or blend. Let sit in the fridge overnight.

Serves 1 – 2 depending upon how starving you are 

One Pan Chinese Style Chicken

This is another quick and easy one sheet pan meal that you can throw in the oven and eat over multiple nights for dinner.

Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto


One Pan Chinese Style Chicken

1 lb. chicken thighs
2 big handfuls green beans
1 red bell pepper
4 Tbsp. sesame oil
4 Tbsp. tamari or coconut aminos
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. ground ginger
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
Sesame seeds

Combine all the wet ingredients and spices in a large bowl or ziploc. 

Chop the chicken into bite size pieces and add to the marinade. Let sit 4 – 8 hours.

When it’s time to cook, heat your oven to 375F. Chop the pepper and green beans into bite sized pieces. Add to a baking sheet with the chicken. Toss to coat in the marinade.

Bake 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, checking about halfway through and stirring. 

Top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve.

Serves 4

Thai Inspired Pork Bowl

This dinner is quick to throw together and makes a bunch – perfect for batch cooking.

Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto


Thai Inspired Pork Bowl

1 lb. ground pork
1 red bell pepper
15oz. bag riced broccoli or cauliflower
2 cloves garlic
1 onion
4 Tbsp. sesame oil, divided
2 Tbsp. no sugar added sunflower butter
4 Tbsp. tamari or coconut aminos
Juice of 1 lime
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 egg per serving (optional)

Heat 2 Tbsp. sesame oil in a work or your largest pan over high heat. Add the pork and stir fry until just browning. 

While the pork is browning, thinly slice the onion and chop the garlic and pepper. Add to the pan with the riced broccoli and cook, stirring frequently, until the pepper and broccoli has softened and the onion is cooked through.

In a separate bowl, whisk the sunbutter, tamari, lime juice, fish sauce and remaining sesame oil. 

Add the sauce to the pan of pork & veggies and stir well to combine. Let cook an additional 2 – 3 minutes to let the flavors marry.

Top each serving with a fried egg seasoned with a sprinkle of tamari and fish sauce if desired.

Serves 4 – 6

Spanish Chicken & Chorizo

This quick and easy one sheet pan meal is keto-friendly, paleo, and takes minutes to throw together. Plus: one sheet pan! Which you can cover with foil! For no dishes!

gluten-free, paleo, keto


Spanish Chicken & Chorizo

2 lb chicken thighs (I prefer boneless skinless for this recipe)
1 lb. Spanish style chorizo
1 onion
2 medium red bell peppers
2 Tbsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. dried oregano
Juice and zest of 1 orange
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. oil of choice (I used coconut)
1/4 c. bone broth or stock (I used chicken but veggie would be great here too)
Salt & pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 425 F and prep your baking sheet or dish.

Chop your chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the prepared pan.

Slice your chorizo into bite-sized chunks and add to the pan with the chicken.

Slice your onion into thin half-moons and chop your peppers. Add to the pan.

Melt your butter and oil – add the spices + zest + stock and stir. Pour over the chicken mixture.

Juice the orange over the chicken mixture and toss well to coat.

Season with salt & pepper.

Bake 20 minutes, stir, and bake an additional 20 – 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Serves 4 – 6 for dinners, depending on what you serve it with – I’ve served with roasted okra like in the picture, roasted broccoli, and cauliflower mash and all three were delicious

Low Carb Japanese Peanut Butter Beef

Another gem inspired by my Japanese food YouTube obsession. Delicious, delicious obsession.

I’ve made this version low carb. The original recipe used oyster sauce in place of hoisin (I happened to have hoisin on hand – Chinese, I know) and udon in place of spaghetti squash.

I also turned around and had this for dinner a second night in a row – with added roasted brussels sprouts – and it was magical.

gluten-free, keto, paleo-ish


Low Carb Japanese Peanut Butter Beef

150g ground beef
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1 Tbsp. peanut butter (check your label!)
1 tsp. hoisin or oyster sauce (check your label!)
1 Tbsp. sake or rice wine
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos or tamari
1/2 cup cooked spaghetti squash

Heat a medium pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until just browned. Add the liquids, peanut butter and hoisin/oyster sauce and stir quickly to combine completely. Add the spaghetti squash and scallions and stir well to combine.

Serves 1 for dinner

Instant Keto No-atmeal

I got the idea for this quick breakfast from Reddit. Go, Reddit.

I’m not a huge fan of regular oatmeal unless I’m starving to death and *need* something that is going to sit in my stomach like a rock for hours. This is not quite that, but it’s filling.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan with substitutions, paleo with substitutions, keto


Instant Keto No-atmeal

2 Tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
2 Tbsp. flaxseed meal
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
2 dashes cinnamon
1 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce or 1/4 cup blackberries
2 Tbsp. heavy cream or non-dairy substitute
Pinch salt
1/2 cup boiling water.

Combine the coconut, flax and chia seeds in a bowl. Add the boiling water, stir well and let sit 5 or so minutes until the chia seeds have bloomed. Stir in your add-ins and enjoy.

Serves 1 for breakfast

Estimated: 467 calories, 36 grams fat, 6 grams net carbs, 13 grams protein

Sesame Brussels (keto)

This is a delicious little side dish to serve with pretty much everything – you could turn it into a stir-fry by adding some chicken or beef cubes (or some ground meat), it would go well alongside a burger patty, fish would be good – as would steak. This goes with everything.

gluten-free, vegetarian, paleo, keto, Whole30


Sesame Brussels

2 c. shredded brussels sprouts
2 Tbsp. unsalted grass fed butter
4 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
2 Tbsp. fish sauce (Red Boat is W30 compliant)
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos (also W30 compliant)
Pinch red pepper flakes
Pinch salt
Black pepper

In your largest skillet, heat the butter and sesame oil over medium-high. Add the garlic and fry until browned.

Add the brussels sprouts, fish sauce & coconut aminos and stir to combine.

Add the sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper to taste and keep stir-frying until the brussels are wilted and turning brown in spots.

Serves 2

Nutrition: 273.5 calories, 7.58 grams net carbs, 4.5 grams protein, 24 grams fat

Cauliflower Rice Pilaf (keto)

This side dish is decadent and delicious. It makes a fantastic accompaniment to a lighter protein like a nice piece of fish or some simple baked chicken.

gluten-free, vegetarian, paleo (watch your oils), keto, Whole30 (watch your oils)


Cauliflower Rice Pilaf

1 head cauliflower
4 Tbsp + 2 Tbsp. unsalted grass fed butter
2 Tbsp. fat of choice (I used olive oil)
1 shallot
4 cloves garlic
16 ounces bone broth (I used chicken)
1/2 cup almonds
Salt & pepper
Hand full parsley (optional)

Chop the almonds and dry toast in your biggest pan over medium-high heat. Remove and set aside.

While the almonds are toasting, chop the garlic and shallot.

Add 4 Tbsp. of the butter + the fat to the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and melt. Add the shallot & garlic when melted and cook until translucent.

While the aromatics are working, rice your cauliflower.

Add the cauliflower to the pan when done, along with 2 big pinches salt and some pepper. Add the bone broth and stir. Cook until all the liquid has been absorbed.

To serve, finish with the rest of the butter, the almonds and a hand full of chopped parsley if desired.

Serves 6

Nutrition: 259.33 calories, 7.11 grams net carbs, 4.60 grams protein, 21.46 grams fat

Japanese Sesame Greens

This quick and easy side dish makes a great light dinner with a little protein. Inspired by a recipe made on one of my favorite YouTube channels: Texan In Tokyo (RIP).

gluten-free, paleo, whole30, keto, vegetarian, vegan


Japanese Sesame Greens

1 bunch bok choy (about 1 cup chopped)
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
3 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 Tbsp. coconut aminos
2 drops stevia

In a medium pan, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat. Add the bok choy and cook, stirring frequently, until softened.

Meanwhile, bash the sesame all to hell in a mortar & pestle until it resembles sand.

When the sesame is done, add the coconut aminos & stevia and stir to combine. Let cook a minute or so. Add the bashed sesame seeds, stir to combine, and pull off the heat.

Serves 1 as a side dish

Nutritional Breakout: 430 calories, 7 grams net carbs, 8 grams protein, 40 grams fat

Keto Holiday Leftovers Hash

One of my favorite things about a nice big holiday meal is the leftovers. I love taking little bits of this and that and creating either a buffet plate, a hugely messy sandwich, or a one-skillet meal from what’s there.

This year, since we’ve been experimenting with keto – I thought I’d whip up a low carb version of one of my very favorite dishes — hash. Seriously, I could eat hash every day (and have – that was my #1 bachelorette food).

gluten-free, paleo, keto


Keto Holiday Leftovers Hash

Leftover holiday meat (I used 2 ounces turkey in mine, and 3 ounces turkey in my DH’s)
1 cup steamed cauliflower bits (make these about half-inch size)
1/2 cup leftover broiled green beans
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 – 2 slices leftover bacon per person
1 – 2 eggs per person
2 Tbsp. fat of choice (I used bacon drippings)
Palm full chopped fresh rosemary + sage
Salt & pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes

First, get your cauliflower going. You want to crumble about half a head cauliflower into roughly half-inch sized pieces. These are going to serve as your “potatoes” so you want a little heft to them (but not so much it’s like chawing down on a hunk of naked cauliflower).

Place in a pot, put an inch or so water in, turn the burner to high, and add a few liberal pinches salt. Boil, covered, 5 – 8 minutes or until soft. Drain.

Heat the fat of choice in your largest pan. Add the cauliflower. Chop the green beans roughly and add. Hit with a big pinch salt and a few grinds pepper.

While the veggies are cooking, start your eggs in a small pan on low heat. Add the butter, wait until it melts, then gently cook your eggs until your desired yolks have been met (I like over medium). Remove to a plate when done (save the butter!).

When the eggs are done, add your meat (turkey) to the pan and sautee until warmed and maybe even crispy.

Mince the herbs and add to the veggie skillet. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Add half the veggies + your portion of meat + your eggs to a bowl and top with red pepper flakes. Repeat for the other bowl.

Serves 2