All posts filed under: Recipes

Low Carb Keto Lamburgers, T2T Original

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One of Mark Hyman’s original cookbooks is still one of my favorites. The Ultra-Metabolism Cookbook (scroll down for link and image) has lots of amazing healthy recipes. I’ve taken the recipe for lamburgers and added my twist, subtracted what I didn’t like and violá! So, let’s get on with it. Keto/Low Carb Lamburgers Ingredients: serves 4-6 | *optional | printable recipe w/o pics here 1 lb. organically fed ground lamb, locally sourced if possible 2 roasted red peppers, skin removed, chopped fine (I use ones that come in a jar) 1 bunch mint, stems removed 1 bunch cilantro*, chopped fine stems okay (see below how I use food processor) 12 leaves basil, stems removed and cleaned 5 stalks fresh parsley, stems removed and cleaned 1-2 large fennel pieces, chopped into quarters 1 large slice red onion (see photo), chopped 1 teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon cumin, ground 2 teaspoons ground coriander 4-5 “grinds” black pepper, preferably freshly ground 1 tsp aleppo pepper, if you have it (or you can use red pepper …

Easy Chicken Soup

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Today we went down to make lunch and we had two chicken breasts that we had baked yesterday. I try and buy the ones with the bone in and the skin on so that they have a bit more flavor than the ubiquitous boneless skinless chicken breast. Which reminds me of the time our middle son, as a toddler, asked me at dinner “Mom, how did they get the bones in this chicken?”  Do you think we’d had boneless skinless too much?  Eeek!  We burst out laughing.  Those were the days when chicken fat was evil. Not any more.  My husband looked at me and said “it’s too cold to have chicken salad” which is our go-to lunch for cooked chicken. He asked if there was anyway we could have soup, and since I love making soup, we gave it a try.  He is my sous chef and chopper, so I am lucky! This recipe literally came out of my head and my fridge but it turned out so good I thought I would post …

Rebecca Katz’ Cozy Lentil Squash Soup

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I LOVE Rebecca Katz.  Ever since I “met” her cooking (and her!) at Food as Medicine in 2010, I’ve followed her blog, read and bought her cookbooks and tried to cook “more like Rebecca”.  She is a culinary rock star, and so I am sharing her new fall soup.  I happened to have everything it called for:  green lentils, a new organic delicata squash, and kale.  (full disclosure:  someone at my house claims to HATE kale, but when I call it greens, sliver it cooked in soup, it gets eaten!  LOL).  I also LOVE the spice combinations in this, they feel a bit Moroccan to me! Read her post here:  Rebecca’s Cozy Lentil Soup with Squash PRINT the recipe here. MAKES 6 SERVINGS • PREP TIME: 20 minutes • COOK TIME: 35 minutes Rebecca states:  “Silicon Valley has promised us that, someday, little nanobots will act like tiny microprocessors in our brains, helping to make us smarter. I say, Why wait? We already have a teensy food that does that. It’s the lentil, the vegetable …

Beets 101

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A lot of people don’t know how to cook beets correctly, so they end up being tasteless blobs that turn your fingers red. This is a short, simple post on how to cook them correctly, which I learned from the PBS Victory Garden cookbook — which is one of the most comprehensive cookbooks on vegetables. Unfortunately I think it’s out of print. 😞 Here’s how to make beets so that they are not only completely tender, but extremely sweet. Cooking them slowly at low heat caramelizes the sugar in them and makes them taste almost like dessert. Roasted Beets This works for any amount of beets.  Our favorite are the golden beets. (yellow) Preheat your oven to 275º (yes, not a typo, only 275) I take a shallow pan, I use a ceramic one, and I cut the stems off the ends and trim any extra stuff. Do not peel them. Place them in the pan, and drizzle about 3 tablespoons of olive oil on top of them, I shake the pan around a bit …

Kale and Fennel Gratin Casserole

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My husband hates kale.  Almost all kinds.  But he thought this was good. That should tell you this isn’t your average kale recipe!  I adapted this from my local organic farm CSA, and it was a hit at our house.  You can make it dairy free without the cheese, it just won’t be as thick.  Enjoy, it’s like a great spinach quiche sans crust. Fennel, Kale and Rice Gratin Gluten free, Low Carb, (can be dairy free, see below) Serves 4-6 click here for a PRINTABLE RECIPE large bunch kale, stemmed and washed (you can use curly kale, like above OR lacinto kale, which looks more like a flat big leaf  spinach, either one works.  I like the flat one best) 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped 2 medium bulbs fennel, trimmed, quartered, cored and chopped (about 2 cups chopped) Freshly ground pepper to taste 2 large garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup chopped fresh dill  (or 1½ T dried dill) 4 eggs ½ cup coconut milk (the kind in …

Healthy EASY Coleslaw

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Steve’s Healthy Coleslaw Just in time for 4th of July! My husband has become vigilant in helping find healthy recipes and he loves coleslaw, so here is our version of the summer favorite!  If you like less dressing, use less, or make more dressing if you like your coleslaw “wetter”.  This is WAY better than the pre-made ones full of preservatives and chemicals!   Ingredients: 1 cup Vegenaise:  healthy alternative to mass produced mayonnaise, in frig section at most large stores, or you can use Olive Oil Mayo or best yet, your own homemade mayo! 2 tbl Dijon mustard 4 tbl apple cider vinegar 1 tbl pickle juice ¾ tsp kosher salt 1 tsp onion powder 2 tsp celery seed 16 oz organic coleslaw mix OR 1 medium cabbage shredded and 2 organic carrots shredded (or purple cabbage or any combo thereof) optional:  garnish with cilantro or even add some in Mix all ingredients and combine well, refrigerate for an hour.  Best made ahead, always a good thing!  Happy 4th of July!

Roasted Root Vegetables

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Now that it is autumn, nothing is in season more than root vegetables.  They are a GREAT accompaniment to any meat/fish or poultry. Roasted Root Vegetables are easy to make, healthy to eat, and flexible, in that you can use almost any root vegetable.  Here’s how I make them, and people can’t believe they’re eating something so healthy! Take any favorite root vegetables: Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Turnips Parsnips Carrots Beets (if you do beets, keep them in a separate bag or you’ll have pink veggies!  LOL) add other favorites:  small halved Brussels sprouts, diced onion, rutabaga I use a chopper that makes small squares.  They are available online and most kitchen stores.  Here’s an example of one. I use the larger setting to make even sized squares.  I put them all in a ziploc bag with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary.  Shake it up.  Thyme is another spice that works really well with these combos.  Use paprika or pepper if you want.  Add garlic.  There is no wrong way to season, use what you …

Low Carb Shepherd’s Pie

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I am fortunate to have a spouse who has been willing to “eat clean” the way I need to.  This has been a godsend, as I don’t have to come up with two dinners each night!  Last week, we were in a rut of what to do with our grass fed hamburger, and he came up with this, combining an old favorite with new “go to” replacements for our carbs.  Specifically, cauliflower mash for potatoes, and green beans for peas.  It was a hit!  We made a double recipe and then didn’t have to cook for a few nights.  WIN-WIN! Steve’s Low Carb Shepherd’s Pie  (printable copy here) 1 Lbs grass fed ground beef or ground lamb 1 Tbl Oil 2 cloves chopped garlic 1 chopped green onion 1 medium chopped yellow onion 1 Tbl arrowroot (you can use cornstarch, but it adds carbs) 1 tsp Salt ¼ tsp Thyme 1 tsp Pepper (black, or aleppo, both work well) 1 cup Water 1 T organic tomato paste 2 T organic fresh parsley 1 cup steamed …

Chicken Kebabs

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Chicken Keema Kebabs Healthy doesn’t have to be bland.  These Pakistani inspired Chicken Kebabs are an example of healthy and delicious.  “Keema” is somewhat of a catch-all in South Asian cooking for most ground meat mixtures. Spices and meats can vary wildly from one keema to the next, and then they can be prepared in many different ways, including stewing, pan frying, or skewering and grilling.  We grill this recipe, but you could also use the broiler or a stove top cast iron grill.  Create your own version by experimenting with spices! Prep Time: 20 Minutes (with 20 more optional for frig/freezer time) Cook Time: 12 Minutes Total Time: approximately 1 hour Yield: 4 kebabs (feeds 2-4 based on side dishes) Ingredients 1 teaspoon cumin seed 1 teaspoon coriander seed 1 pound ground chicken breasts or thighs 2 tablespoons finely grated onion 1½ tablespoons fresh garlic, minced (2 large or 2-4 small cloves) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 2 teaspoons finely diced Thai green chilies or jalapeno if you can’t find Thai 1 ½ teaspoons …

Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Grain Free T2T Buns

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No Grain Time2Thrive Buns: First, these are so easy to make, but getting consistent results can be tricky.  I tried to make these at my son’s house over Christmas, and used a substitution for the apple cider vinegar. They were like hockey pucks. But, I made them again today and I think I’ve got the recipe down, so I’m going to tell you EXACTLY what I use so if you decide to try them, you have a chance of them working!  I would not alter ingredients (or possibly even the brands) at all. If they work, your family will not know that they are not eating bread, they are that good! The baseline recipe for these is from Leanne Vogel, and Keto Diet Blog.  Leanne is a nutritionist who writes a food blog, and this is my adaptation of their recipe (see her sloppy joe recipe at the bottom). When I do these, it makes 14. Mix together in a bowl the following dry ingredients: 1 ½ cup almond flour (Honeyville almond flour is brand …

Low Carb Stuffing

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Cauliflower is becoming a miracle vegetable in our house.  We’ve made pizza dough, mashed potatoes, cheese bread and now stuffing out of it!  This recipe is from Delish, a website devoted to recipes.  I have the link at the end, but their site doesn’t include the nutrition info I’ve posted below.  We LOVE this recipe! Ingredients 4 tbsp. butter (preferably pasture butter — butter from grass fed cows) 1 onion, chopped 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped or thinly sliced 1 small head cauliflower, chopped 1 c. chopped mushrooms kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper ¼ c. Freshly Chopped Parsley 2 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1 tbsp. chopped fresh sage or 1 tsp. ground sage ½ c. vegetable or chicken broth (we use chicken) Directions In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté until soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Add cauliflower and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook until tender, 5 to 10 minutes more. Add parsley, rosemary, and sage and …

T2T’s Falafel

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This is absolutely my take on falafel.  Falafel is a vegetarian patty originally made with either chickpeas, fava beans or a combination of both.  Mine is made with chickpeas and is gluten free. Falafel has been around for centuries, and with good reason.  High in protein and economical to make, falafel is a great staple to add to your culinary arsenal.  Yes, it has carbs, but is high in fiber, and has tons of good vitamins and minerals, especially if you use fresh spices. Common in the middle east, falafel is now international, and can be found in almost any major city in all countries.  Note you have to soak beans overnight, so start this a day ahead.  And don’t think you can used canned ones, it will not work… T2T’s Falafel see below for nutrition info 2 cups dried chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, stems removed ¼ cup fresh cilantro (if you hate cilantro, skip it and double the parsley) ¼ cup fresh mint leaves 3 cloves …