Tag: Whole30

Chicken with Raisin Oil

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This recipe is based on a show-stopper in a cookbook from one of my absolute favorite chefs in Miami.

This version incorporates chicken thighs and stovetop cooking – I don’t currently own a pan that can go in the oven; and the whole chickens looked kinda sketch at the store the day I shopped for this meal, so modifications it was!

If you can, check out Michael’s Genuine Food: Down-To-Earth Cooking for People Who Love To Eat by Chef Michael Schwartz. Where he excels, and what makes his Miami restaurant(s) so successful, is taking a few good ingredients, treating them with love and not much else, and turning them into something that sounds dead-easy but tastes special.

Michael’s Genuine (and later the pizza restaurant Harry’s) were two of our favorite go-tos while living in Miami and places we could visit often, get something we would never order (like chicken that sounds kinda boring on paper), and have it be an experience we talked about for weeks after.

This recipe takes the spirit and the general flavors of one of our ‘company is coming’ go-tos from that cookbook, and makes the technique more approachable for where we are currently and the tools we have to work with.

Note: What’s up with raisin oil? It’s delicious! This dish was the first we’d encountered it, and while it is definitely a delicate taste – it adds a little somethin’ to this dish that helps it stand out. Want more? This recipe from the NYT also helped when coming up with this (super-simplified) dish.

Gluten-free, paleo

Chicken with Raisin Oil

8 chicken thighs
1/3 cup raisins (mixed golden and black is my fav)
1/2 cup + 3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 rosemary sprig
4 sprigs lemon thyme (or regular)
Wine
Salt & pepper

First, make the raisin oil by simmering the raisins and rosemary with a Tablespoon of water in the 1/2 cup olive oil about :30 or until the raisins have plumped.

I left my heat up long enough to fry the rosemary leaves a bit for an added garnish.

Set aside.

For the chicken, heat your largest skillet over medium-high. Add 3 Tbsp. oil. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and arrange in a single layer in the pan skin side down. Salt & pepper liberally and sear until golden.

Flip, salt & pepper, and brown the other side.

Add the thyme sprigs and a few good glugs wine (dry white would be best but I only had some aging White Zinfandel). Cover, knock the heat back to low, and cook 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.

Make sure to check your chicken at the halfway point, baste, and make sure anything isn’t drying out. If it is, add a little extra wine or water.

If you’re inclined, this would be a great time to make a pan sauce with the raisin oil and/or a thickener. Despite the instructions being really clear on how to accomplish this feat in the cookbook, at this point in the evening while already branching out on my own with the cooking method (and having a glass or two of adult beverage under my belt), I didn’t want to mess with it.

So I served mine with a little raisin oil drizzled over top and it was delicious. I’ve made the pan sauce in the past and it was also delicious.

I have also found over the years that I like a hand full of fresh parsley over top (not pictured), and some times I hit the dish with a little lemon juice at the end of cooking for a bright little punch if I’m feeling saucy.

A Standard Southern Slaw

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This year for his birthday, DH requested a Southern-style feast to go with games and an ice cream cake.

Southern, I can do – no problem. The ice cream cake was a stretch (shudder remembering all the terrible ice cream cakes I had growing up and the disappointment that they still had icing), but it went over well – as did my backup lactose-free salted caramel ice cream stuffed red velvet cupcakes.

This simple slaw I made so we’d have a (non-fried) veggie (the fried okra I made was a big hit as well), and something with a little crunch. Lactose-free mac-n-cheese that certainly didn’t taste it and pulled pork with ENC style sauce rounded out the day.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

A Standard Southern Slaw

About 2 cups shredded red cabbage
About 2 cups shredded green cabbage
1 Granny Smith Apple, chopped
1/4 white onion, minced
1/2 cup your favorite mayo or mayo substitute
1 Tbsp. Apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. your favorite mustard
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
Liberal salt & black pepper

In a large bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients (mayo and below).

Add the fruit & veggies and mix with your hands, massaging the dressing into the cabbage. Liberally salt & pepper.

Let sit in the fridge a couple hours to marinate and serve.

Serves enough for a party

Roasted Carrot & Onion Salad

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It was a roasted veggie kind of holiday around here. This one I initially served lukewarm with a rib roast and killer lactose-free potatoes au gratin, but I’m happy to report that it makes a killer hot hash the next day with eggs and chunks of beef. 🤤

Next time I may either not share with friends, or make more: this dish turned out really well.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, Whole30

Roasted Carrot & Onion Salad

2 lbs. carrots
1 – 2 fennel bulbs
2 large red onions
Neutral oil for roasting
4 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. pepitas
2 tsp. sweet paprika
2 tsp. smoky chili powder
2 tsp. ground coriander
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Small hand full fresh mint, chopped
Salt & pepper

In a 200-ish C (around 425F) oven, bake your fennel & onion which you’ve sliced into thin wedges, arranged with plenty of space on a baking sheet, drizzled with oil and sprinkled with salt & pepper. Bake 25 minutes.

On a separate baking sheet, add the carrots which you’ve cut into 3-ish inch chunks, oiled & seasoned. Bake 25 minutes or until everything is well browned and almost burnt in spots.

Actually, if the onion is a bit crispy, it’s even better.

Toss the rest of the ingredients together in a large bowl to form a vinaigrette.

Add the veggies & toss again.

Serves a bunch

Orange Beet Salad

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This dish made a nice light little punch of vegetable brightness for a holiday potluck.

Hence the fake picture.

I’ll insert the real and terrible pic I took after the recipe – suffice it to say, wine + taking pictures basically in the dark is not a great combo.

gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, Whole30

Orange Beet Salad

5 roasted and de-skinned beets
1 small head roasted cauliflower (toast until deeply browned)
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. hazelnuts
4 small oranges (not naval – something tastier)
1 shallot (about 3 T when minced)
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsp. pomegranate molasses
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley
4 – 5 Tbsp. fresh tarragon
Salt & pepper

Add your cauliflower to a large bowl. Chop the beets and add. Peel, segment, de-seed and halve the oranges minus one half.

Squeeze that last half orange into a small bowl (about 2 Tbsp. juice). Add the lemon juice, olive oil, molasses, vinegar and spices. Chop and add the parsley. Mince and add the shallot. Add salt & pepper.

Pour over the salad and toss.

In a dry pan, toast the hazelnuts. Chop and toss on the top of the salad with the chopped tarragon.

Serves a party

Coconut Chicken Chili

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This dish is a light but comforting bowl of goodness.

Gluten-free, paleo, keto

Coconut Chicken Chili

1 lb. ground chicken

2 small bell peppers, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 jalapeños, chopped and separated

1/2 large onion, chopped

1/2 small bag frozen spinach

1/2 small bag frozen broccoli

1 chicken bouillon cube

1 can coconut milk

2 bay leaves

2 Tbsp. chili powder

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. ghee

Salt & pepper

Toppers:

Hand full chopped cilantro

The second jalapeño

Juice of 2 limes

2 chopped green onions

First, prep your onions & garlic and sautée in the ghee until beginning to brown.

While that’s working, prep the rest of your ingredients.

When done, add to the bowl of an electric pressure cooker with the chicken. When the garlic & onions are done, add. Add all the other ingredients but the toppers + 1-2 cans water.

Set the cooker to “stew” and let go.

When time is done, open and taste for seasoning. Add more salt & pepper if needed. Add the toppers and stir.

Serves 4

Smothered Butternut Squash

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The sauce on this recipe is addicting. So much so, I’ve managed to eat half a squash today and want more sauce.

What is it with me and raw garlic? I can’t get enough.

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

Smothered Butternut Squash

1 smallish butternut squash
8-10 cloves garlic
1/2 – 2/3 c. olive oil
2 Tbsp. grainy mustard
4 tsp. sweet paprika
Generous salt
Generous pepper

First, preheat your oven to 200C and prep a baking tray with tinfoil.

Cut the stem ends off your squash, and halve down the middle lengthwise. Scoop the seeds and discard.

Now make your dressing by whizzing all the remaining ingredients.

Spoon a generous amount over each cut half of squash and arrange face up on the sheet.

Bake 25 – 35 minutes or until the thickest part is soft.

To serve, you can either scoop out of the skin in the kitchen, table side, or eat the skins. Whatever your fancy.

Serve with the rest of the sauce drizzled over top (or in my case, slathered).

Should serve 4 with a small squash

Pear + Radish Salad

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It’s the season of potlucks – or one of them, at least, and as such I’ve been in my typical ‘vegan veggie things in a bowl with zero gluten – but nuts, so no suitable for almost but not quite everyone’ mode.

This salad as written makes a ton. Like 2 trays full, which is overkill for a 10-person potluck. Hopefully, more will turn up – or everyone comes hungry. I’ve got too many party leftovers at my house.

Gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan

Pear + Radish Salad

A crapton shredded kale (I used something like 6 – 8 cups because that was the size of my package – this dictated the size of my salad because I didn’t want leftovers)
2-3 cups chopped red cabbage
6 smallish pears, chopped
20 radishes (I used English Breakfast, but watermelon or another peppery variety would be even better)
2 hand fulls slivered almonds
1 hand full raw pepitas
2 hands full pine nuts
1 bunch snipped chives

For the dressing

Note: I doubled this recipe to get the amount of dressing I wanted

1/4 c. lemon juice
4 cloves garlic
1.5 Tbsp. date molasses
4-5 glugs or turns around the mixer olive oil
Hand full parsley
4 sprigs thyme
1/4 c. tahini
1/4 c. water
1 Tbsp. grainy mustard (if you’ve been reading awhile, you’ll know by this I always mean Maille Wholegrain because it’s my 😍)
1 green onion
Generous salt & pepper

Prep all salad ingredients and add to a vessel of some sort. Whiz the dressing together in your food processor and pour over the salad. Massage with your hands to combine and work into the kale.

Serves a party

Yogurt Leeks & Eggs

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I *think* I remember seeing a dish along these lines in the pages of one of Ottolenghi’s cookbooks – or somewhere on a Lebanese menu, and I got a craving.

Plus, I found leeks at the local grocery – Whoo hoo!

Gluten-free, paleo, (lacto ovo) vegetarian, keto

Yogurt Leeks & Eggs

4 oz. sliced button mushrooms
2 leeks
1-2 Tbsp. ghee
2 eggs per person
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. your favorite curry powder
Salt & pepper
Hand full fresh herbs (I had parsley & chives)
Yogurt (I used non-dairy)
Lemon powder (or sumac)

Chop your mushrooms, wash your leeks and slice into thin moons, chop your herbs.

In a large pan, heat the ghee over medium – medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and sautée 3-5 minutes or until no longer dry and starting to soften. Salt & pepper.

Add the leeks and spices, stir, and sautée 15-20 minutes or until the desired doneness is reached. Top with the fresh herbs, taste for seasoning, and give one last stir.

Make a well in the leeks for each egg, crack the eggs into the depressions, salt & pepper, cover and cook until the eggs are to your liking.

Serve each portion with a Tablespoon or two of yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon lemon powder for garnish.

Serves 2 for lunch

Eggplant Pizza Boats

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The idea for this low carb, Keto-friendly dinner came from a good friend who was looking for something tasty to eat while on a Whole30 – and started making stuffed zucchini pizzas.

I had eggplant and went a little nuts in the veggie aisle. Yum.

Also: I found a fantastic lactose-free sharp cheddar cheese that doesn’t kill my stomach. Win-freaking-win, and I’m happy it costs an arm and a leg, so I won’t be buying it every week!

gluten-free, paleo, Keto-ish

Eggplant Pizza Boats

1 large Italian (dark purple) eggplant
1 lb. ground beef
4 oz. crimini mushrooms, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2-1 c. marinara
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. onion powder
4 tsp. dried oregano
4 inches 2 in. diameter stick style pepperoni, chopped
2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast (optional)
Hand full green olives, chopped
Double hand full lactose free cheese, shredded
Salt & pepper
1 Tbsp. fat of choice
Green onion, chopped (optional topper)
Parsley, chopped (optional topper)
Big pinch red pepper flakes

Preheat your oven to 200C while you prep all your veggies.

Halve the eggplant lengthwise, scoop out a fair amount of the middles (reserve middles, chop & add to veggies), and bake 20 minutes or until mostly soft.

While the eggplant boats are baking, make the stuffing by sautéing the mushrooms, onion, pepper, and garlic in the fat until soft. Salt & pepper as you go. When desired doneness is achieved, remove from pan and reserve.

Put the pan back on the heat and add the pepperoni. Give that a couple minutes to start rendering and add the beef. Brown, adding the spices a half at a time and tasting as you go. You want this mix to be a hair salty.

When your desired brownness is reached, add the marinara, nutritional yeast and olives and stir to combine. Add the veggies back in. Taste. Season more if needed.

Pile into the boats and top with shredded cheese.

Bake 20-30 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Top with chopped parsley & green onion if desired.

Serves 4 for dinner/lunch

Lazy Brunch Pumpkin Fritters

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Is there anything more relaxing than a lazy brunch? I made this fall-inspired treat on a rainy Sunday, and it hit the spot – even for DH, and he’s not a huge fan of zucchini.

Serve with your favorite toppings – creme fraiche, smoked salmon, fluffy eggs, bacon, pico – whatever you have in hand that needs to be used up.

Gluten-free, Paleo, low carb, Whole30

Lazy Brunch Pumpkin Fritters

2c. shredded zucchini
6T. canned pumpkin purée (the 100% pumpkin kind, not the one that’s pre-spiced for pie)
1T. garlic powder
1T. onion powder
1t. curry powder
1T. fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2c. almond flour
1/3-1/2c. coconut flour
1 egg
Ghee for cooking

Toppers – I served with smoked salmon and soft scrambled chive eggs

Shred your zucchini, lay on a towel or paper towels, and press the water out.

Add to a large bowl with the rest of the critter ingredients. Stir to combine.

Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add a couple Tablespoons ghee.

Form the critters into palm-sized patties as you go. Brown, flip, remove to a plate until everything is finished.

Serve with toppers.

Serves 2-3 for breakfast