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!

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

Green Tomato Salad

This quick salad makes use of some batch cooked eggplant and deli rotisserie chicken for a light meal that comes together in a flash.

gluten-free, paleo, low carb

Green Tomato Salad

4 oz rotisserie chicken

1 green tomato

5 sundried tomato halves (or roasted red pepper pieces)

1/2 c sautéed eggplant cubes

Squeeze lemon juice

Flake salt & pepper

Warm the chicken & eggplant. While that heats, chop the tomatoes (both kinds). Add to the eggplant chicken, dress with a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of salt and a few cracks black pepper and serve.

Serves 1 for a light dinner

Dilly Bacon & Eggs Potato Salad

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? I’ve been wholly uninspired in the kitchen lately, opting for simple meals from batch-cooked protein + veg – or relying much too heavily on grab-n-go dinners.

Hoping brain is turning a corner there.

This was a quick & tasty lunch I batch prepped on Monday and had a couple times this week. Simple, fresh tasting and quick.

gluten-free, paleo

Dilly Bacon & Eggs Potato Salad

1/2 (ish) cup roasted mixed potatoes

2 hard boiled eggs

2 slices bacon

1-2 Tbsp mayo

Generous squeeze lemon

2 Tbsp chopped dill

Add the potatoes to a bowl. Chop the bacon and add. Reheat. While that is working, chop the dill and eggs.

Add the dill & eggs to the potato mixture and stir. Add the mayo and a generous squeeze lemon and stir again to combine well.

Serves 1 for lunch

Green Bowl Of (Salmon) Power

This is a killer low carb bowl of Summery sushi-esque goodness.

gluten-free, paleo, low-carb, keto, pescatarian

Green Bowl of (Salmon) Power

1 salmon fillet, boned and skinned

1 Tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos

1 Tbsp sesame oil

1 Tbsp garlic powder

2 tsp black pepper

Cucumber, chopped – measure with your heart

1/2 avocado

2 Tbsp basil, chopped

1 scallion, chopped

1 Tbsp pickled ginger, chopped

Spicy mayo

Togarishi

Sesame seeds

Preheat your air fryer to 400C.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder and black pepper.

Cut the salmon into bite-sized pieces and add to the sauce. Coat well.

Add the salmon to the preheated air fryer and set for 4 mins. Cook, shaking a couple times.

While the salmon is working, chop the cucumber, avocado, scallions and ginger. Add to a bowl. Add the salmon and top with the spicy mayo, togarishi and sesame seeds.

Serves 1

Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad

This is a bright, fresh salad. A touch salty as written, but pairs perfectly with an added protein – which balances.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan

Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water + your favorite stock situation

2 tsp olive oil

2 mandarin oranges, segmented and chopped

1 large carrot, diced

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1 large scallion, chopped

Hand full salted peanuts

6 leaves basil, chopped

1 Tbsp peanut butter

2 Tbsp soy sauce or aminos

1 Tbsp sesame oil

2 Tbsp lime juice

1.5 tsp coconut syrup

1 Tbsp garlic powder

To make the quinoa, add the quinoa, stock/water, olive oil and a few grinds salt to a rice cooker. Cook on the rice setting until finished.

While that works, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, coconut syrup and garlic powder to form a dressing.

In a large bowl, add the rest of the ingredients. Toss with the cooked quinoa and dressing. Sprinkle the peanuts over to serve.

Serves 3-4 with a protein

Thai Smoothie

Another kinda-weird sounding smoothie that works. I will be making riffs on this one for months to come.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo

Thai Smoothie

6 leaves fresh basil (Thai would be best, but Italian is fine)

1 Tbsp lime juice

Big hand full spinach

1 scoop unflavored protein powder

1/2 apple

1/2 avocado

1-2 tsp fresh ginger

100ml pineapple juice

Fill the blender cup up with pineapple 1/2 – 1c chunks

Blend to combine.

Serves 1

Salad Smoothie

This is exactly what it sounds like. I wanted to see if I could just drink a salad for breakfast – and I’m happy to report, this wasn’t half bad. It’s by no means sweet, but has a nice spice that woke me right up.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo

Salad Smoothie

1/2 Persian cucumber

Big hand lettuce

1/2 jalapeño

3 Tbsp fresh parsley

1 Tbsp pepitas

1/2 tsp dried dill

2 Tbsp chives

3 Tbsp yogurt (I used vegan Skyr style)

1/2 avocado

1 scoop unflavored protein powder

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 small nectarine

Few cracks salt & pepper

3/4 cup water

Blend to combine.

Serves 1