Weeknight Beef Stew

Slow cooked style beef stew – on a Monday – a quick sautée, a sear & a bath in the Instant Pot. What more could you want out of your meat box subscription beef cubes?

gluten-free, paleo, low carb

Weeknight Beef Stew

4 cloves minced garlic

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 Tbsp oil of choice

1 pound cubed beef (stew meat or top sirloin cut into 1-inch pieces) 

1 large or 2 medium potatoes, chopped (optional but gives body to the dish if you’re not serving with a side of carbs)

2 stalks celery, chopped

3 large carrots, chopped

1/4 c caramelized onions (optional but a good flavor boost)

4 cups beef broth (I use stock starter)

¼ cup worcestershire sauce

2 Tbsp mushroom powder (optional but gives an extra umami kick)

2 Tbsp fish sauce 

2 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano, cumin & sweet paprika 

2-3 tsp salt – or to taste, keeping in mind you’ll probably want to finish with flake salt

¼ cup cold water 

3 Tbsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch

20 grinds black pepper

Optional serving: precooked rice, mashed potatoes, sautéed cabbage strips or egg noodles

Prep your veggies and set aside.

Set your Instant Pot to sauté and add the oil.

Sauté the garlic & onions until you get a little color. Remove. Add the beef and sear.

Add all the ingredients but the starch + water and your optional side and set to cook for 45 minutes.

When done and the pot has de-pressurized, remove the stew from the pot, keeping the liquid back.

Make a slurry out of the starch + water. Add to the pot and set to sauté. Stir until the broth is thicker. Add back to your stew and serve.

Serves 4-6 depending upon whether you serve with a side

1 Week of ‘Girl Dinners’ for Lunch

I’m yet again on a health journey – will fill you in later – and my doctor has suggested: a return to paleo eating, a supplement regimen and not eating leftovers as we attempt to fix my gut.

This is proving difficult. Paleo is fine – no worries there – but wrapping my brain around not only not batch cooking but aiming for no leftovers is doing my head in.

How am I supposed to cook recipes if I’m only cooking 2 portions? Or not even 2 sometimes – 1?

My solution for now: smoothies for breakfast, ‘girl dinner’ charcuterie plates for lunch & dinners of simple veg (maybe) & a single serving protein like steak or salmon.

Here is the breakdown of a whole week’s worth of my charcuterie lunches. If you’ve got any suggestions for paleo-friendly additions, let me know!

gluten-free, paleo, vegetables, meat

Monday

Hand fulls of cherries, blue berries and dill pickle flavored cashews; 4 radishes; 1/4 red bell pepper: 3 Tbsp garlic hummus; 2 oz smoked deli turkey; 3 oz steak (this was a cheat and a leftover, but come on … I wasn’t wasting steak)

Tuesday

Hand fulls of blueberries, cherry tomatoes, cherries & trail mix; almost double hand full of carrot coins; 3 Tbsp garlic hummus with chili crisp; 1/4 red pepper; 3 radishes; 4 oz smoked turkey

Wednesday

Hand full: sugar snap peas, carrot coins, blueberries & cherries; 4 radishes; 1/4 red bell pepper; 3oz smoked turkey; 3 oz turkey kielbasa; vegan yogurt with ranch powder

Thursday

Hand full: carrots, sugar snap peas; hand & a half (the rest of) the blueberries & cherries, 1/4 red pepper, 5oz turkey kielbasa with a blob of English mustard; soy yogurt with ranch powder; salad chips

Friday

Big hand fulls of: carrot coins, sugar snap peas & cherry tomatoes; soy yogurt ranch; the rest of the Salad chips; 5oz turkey kielbasa with 2 bread + butter pickle slices and British mustard

And that’s the week. I think it was a success. I suppose I technically ate leftovers, since the yogurt carried on and the meats were repeated, but I don’t think it’s practical to have a no-leftover life unless you’re relying on premade foods.

I think I’ll carry this experiment on as I’ve rather enjoyed having nibble plates for lunch.

Let me know what you’d put in yours!

Meddy Air Fryer Chicken Salad

Simple Mediterranean-inspired chicken salad prepped in the air fryer.

gluten-free, paleo

Meddy Air Fryer Chicken Salad

500g boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 smallish cucumber
Hand full snipped chives
1 small red onion
3 heaping Tbsp vegan Greek-style yogurt (I use Al-Pro, because that’s what is available where I live. Go for something unsweetened and thick)
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp sweet paprika

Salt & pepper to taste

Spray avocado oil

Your favorite wrap (mine is a cassava blend)

Preheat your air fryer on 400F for 3 mins. Blast the basket with avocado oil. Salt and pepper your chicken and add to the basket. Blast again with oil.

Cook 10-ish mins or until cooked through but still juicy. Let rest until cool and shred with forks.

While the chicken is chickening, dice the onion and cucumber – add to a large bowl with the remaining ingredients.

Add the chicken when ready and toss to coat. Taste for seasoning and add more acid or salt to taste.

Serve in a wrap for a light lunch, or straight out of the bowl for one that’s even easier.

Serves 2-3

Air Fryer Dilled Salmon

Another quick n dirty air fryer salmon recipe I’ve been making on repeat lately. Fantastic served with last week’s recipe for carrot salad with pistachios.

gluten-free, paleo, pescatarian

Air Fryer Dilled Salmon

Salmon – however many servings you’d like

Spreadable mustard – my love isn’t quite right here, so I used my second favorite: Chinese-style spicy mustard

Fresh dill

Salt & pepper

Spray oil – I use either avocado or garlic flavored olive

Lay your salmon out and pat dry. Top with a generous slather mustard, a bunch of fresh chopped dill, sprinkle of salt & few cracks pepper.

Let sit for an hour or two in the fridge.

When it’s time for dinner, preheat your air fryer to 400F for 3 mins.

Spray the grate with oil and lay your salmon down, toppings side up.

Air fry 6-ish mins or until done to your liking.

Remove carefully and serve with your salad.

Serves 2-4

Carrot Pistachio Salad

A quick salad to serve with Air Fryer Dilled Salmon (recipe to come), for a light dinner.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

Carrot Pistachio Salad

1-2c Carrot coins

1 Tbsp Date molasses 

3 cloves garlic, Crushed

2-3 glugs Olive oil 

Salt & pepper

2 Tbsp Tahini 

Juice & zest 1 lemon

1/2 tsp Sumac 

1/2 tsp Cumin 

Big sprinkle Red pepper 

1/2 tsp Paprika 

Big handful Scallions or chives 

Big handful Pistachios 

Big sprinkle Sesame seeds 

In a large bowl, whisk together: date molasses, lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, crushed garlic and the spices. Taste. Adjust as needed. Add salt & pepper.

Slice carrot coins and add to the bowl. Add the scallions & pistachios; toss. Top with sesame seeds.

Serves 2 – 4

Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Bok Choy

Quick & easy, air fryer salmon is now an absolute staple in this house.

gluten-free, keto, pescatarian, paleo

Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Bok Choy

Salmon – however many servings – frozen or fresh

1 package bok choy, chopped roughly

Avocado oil

3 cloves garlic, pressed

Juice & zest of 1 lemon

1 tsp honey

1 Tbsp coconut aminos

Big handful sliced almonds

Salt & pepper

Lemon salt or flake salt (optional but awesome)

Chili crisp (also optional but awesome)

Preheat your air fryer on 400 for 3 mins. Lightly oil one side of the salmon, lay in the tray & lightly oil the top.

If frozen or really thick, cook 8 mins. If fresh or not particularly thick, cook 6. Done.

While the salmon works, rough chop the bok choy and sautee until browned in spots in a Tablespoon or two of avocado oil. Remove to a large bowl.

Chuck the almonds in the pan and toast. Set aside.

To make the dressing, whisk together the garlic, lemon juice + zest, honey, salt & pepper and coconut aminos.

Toss the bok choy in the dressing and top with almonds.

To serve, if you’ve be got it, a sprinkle of lemon salt or flake salt goes nicely on the salmon. Top with chili crisp if you want a little spice.

Serves 2-4, depending on how much salmon you’re making and whether you have a carby other side

Pickled Dill Cucumber Salad

A smart little salad perfect for serving with all of Summers’ goodness – or alone.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, Whole30, paleo, keto

Pickled Dill Cucumber Salad

2-3 medium cucumbers, sliced fairly thinly 

1 Tbsp capers

1 Tbsp coconut vinegar (ACV with a sprinkle of red chili flakes will do in a pinch)

2 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

Salt & pepper

3 Tbsp mayo (my current fav is Dutch Zaanse, but Japanese Kewpie is a close second) – swap for vegan if desired

2 Tbsp shallots, thinly sliced into half moons

Drizzle honey or pinch sugar 

2 tsp stone ground mustard (Maille FTW – if you’ve been around long enough for my lament against whomever stopped importing my favorite mustard, I’m happy to report that it’s back on shelves – at least for now – hold please: I need to stock up)

Thinly slice the cucumbers and let dry on paper towels.

Thinly slice the shallots, run a knife through the capers, mince the garlic, and chop the dill; adding to a large bowl as you go.

Add the vinegar, honey, salt & pepper, mustard and mayo. Stir to combine.

Add the cucumbers and toss really well to incorporate fully.

Let sit for an hour or so to marinate and serve.

Serves 2 – 4 as a side, depending on how large your cucumbers are

Instant Pot Sous Vide Steak

I *finally* bit the bullet and after 7+ years, bought another Instant Pot. It’s not like I haven’t missed mine – I have – but it just wasn’t available here for years and I found workarounds.

I’m so happy I have an Instant Pot again – and un upgrades at that! We opted for the Duo – mainly because we already have an air fryer and this model has a Sous vide function.

This past week I hit a sale on tenderloin – under $10 a kilo! After doing a little dance, what else was there but to christen my Sous vide?

gluten-free, paleo, keto

Instant Pot Sous Vide Steak

Steaks – I used roughly an inch thick tenderloin slices but other steaks would work the same

Seasoning – I used a combo of Lowry’s Seasoning Salt and Worcestershire Sauce

Fat of choice – I happened to have bacon fat, which was amazing

Portion your steaks, season as desired, and place into baggies with the air squeezed out (or vacuum seal bags).

Fill the Instant Pot halfway full with water, place the steamer trivet in the bottom as a precaution, and lay your steaks in the bath.

Set the Instant Pot to Sous Vide and set to 2 hours. Close and let go.

When done, remove from the bath and sear with a little fat for a little extra color & taste.

Serves however many steaks you make, but I found 3 steaks to be the max amount for my pot

Crayfish & Egg Scramble

I’ve mentioned to y’all that finding ingredients familiar to my life in the States where I live can be a bit hit-and-miss. This is an example. Substitutions given.

gluten-free, paleo, keto, whole30

Crayfish & Egg Scramble

2 Duck eggs – sub large or XL chicken eggs

3 oz crayfish, cooked & peeled – shrimp was what I originally wanted, crayfish was what they had

Hand full thinly sliced green onions

White pepper & salt

Sesame oil

Magic sarap – sub chicken broth granules

Prep your ingredients: slice the green onions, crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk, gather everything else and have on hand.

Over low to medium-low heat, add a little bit of sesame oil to a pan.

After the oil warms and starts to be fragrant, add the beaten eggs. Let the bottom of the eggs firm up before running your spatula through them to create soft folds.

While the eggs are still liquidy on top, add the green onions, crayfish, salt, pepper & a sprinkle of magic sarap/bouillon granules.

Let cool until your desired doneness is reached.

Serves 1 for a decadent breakfast or light lunch

Salmon & Apple Salad

A quick little salmon salad for lunch that packs in a respectable 23g protein.

Gluten-free, paleo, pescatarian

Salmon & Apple Salad

8 oz. salmon

1/2 bunch celery, ~ 3/4c. when chopped fine

1 Granny Smith Apple

2 Tbsp. capers

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1.5 Tbsp. pickled ginger

Small red onion

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. caraway seeds

1 tsp. dill seeds (2T fresh would be amazing but I couldn’t find fresh this week)

Enough mayo or the like to bind

Salt & white pepper

Preheat your air fryer for 3 mins; hit the salmon with a blast or 2 of avocado oil and cook at 400 degrees for 6 mins. De-skin and set aside to cool.

Finely chop the celery, apple and onion.

Add to a large bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

Toss to coat. Add the salmon, flaking as you do. Toss carefully, adding more mayo if necessary.

Finish with flake salt and maybe a little Togarishi or your favorite heat if desired.

Serves 2 for lunch