Italian Sausage & Peppers (Paleo)

There's something about Italian food that gives me that 'comfort' feeling.  It's hearty, filling, and always hits the spot.  Of course, it also typically includes gluten, grains, or cheese of some sort that's going to make me feel guilty (not to mention lethargic & bloated) the next day.

In comes one of my favorite dishes I've been making forever:  "Sausage & Peppers".  It's an Italian-American classic that is obviously delicious on toasted bread with melted cheese on top, but is equally tasty eaten straight from the bowl.

Paleo Pizookie

After completing my second round of Whole30, and successfully avoiding sweets & treats of any kind for thirty days, it feels good to be back with a new Paleo dessert recipe!

This one started off as a new cookie recipe I wanted to test out during one of my "Sunday recipe testing" days.  I soon realized, however, that the cookie "dough" I had whipped up was just not firm enough to scoop into cookies that would hold a good shape.  So, I changed plans and decided to turn it into a giant cookie.  

My inspiration was the much loved "pizookie" from BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse.  If you haven't had one before, it's basically a giant, warm, deliciously gooey chocolate chip cookie baked in a pizza dish & made for sharing.  I thought this could be a Paleo answer to that famous dessert- and it worked out perfectly!

Friday Five: Whole30 Dinners You Must Try!

Hi there!

It's been busy 'round here... hence the lack of posts.  But don't you worry~ new recipes are on their way!  I've got a list as long as my arm of posts just waiting to be written, and lots of ideas for new things I'd like to make & share.  So, thank you for being patient with me!

Today I thought I would get back in my blogging 'groove' with a Friday Five post.  & Since I recently completed round 2 of Whole30, a top five dinner suggestions post seemed fitting.

Each of these recipes made it into rotation while on my Whole30 challenge, and have stuck around since completing it.  So, whether you're Whole30-ing it or not, give these a try!  They're some of my favorite comfort-food dishes done Paleo style (& clean enough to be Whole30 compliant).

Paleo Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Once upon a time, I tried some raw cashew butter on my sliced apples... and I hated it.  The end.  :)

Ha- seriously though, it just had an odd flavor to me in comparison to my beloved almond butter.  I felt like it had too much of a "cheesy" flavor which was not my favorite for a sweet snack.  But- ever since then, I have been wanting to play with cashew butter a bit more.  I figured that cheesy, creamy flavor could be put to good use in some type of sauce or dip.

My first cashew butter creation happened last weekend, and I could not be happier with it!  I made my own cashew butter by blending the nuts with coconut milk (for extra creaminess) and chicken bone broth (for a savory flavor & bonus nutrients).  The result was a thick, creamy sauce that I knew would be the perfect base for an Alfredo sauce.

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do... It's truly worth the extra effort!

Wild Salmon Cakes

Do any of you watch the show "Chopped" on Food Network as much as I do?  Random oddball ingredients & 30 minutes or less to create a judge-worthy dish... I feel like that's me on a Sunday when we need to go grocery shopping.  ;)  I often think that I could totally win that show... unless my basket contained silken tofu or chickens' feet.

Last weekend my Sunday lunch challenge led me to create these salmon cakes, and the head judge (Dathan) approved!  

I decided to put the wild-caught Alaskan canned salmon I had been hoarding in the cupboard to good use, and tossed in a few other ingredients to create the perfect no-fuss meal.  No one would have guessed that we had an empty fridge!

These salmon cakes are light, crispy, & packed with savory, melt-in-your-mouth flavor.  They are also Whole30 & 21 Day Sugar Detox compliant!