Super Seedy and Nutty Granola

January 8, 2017 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Super Seedy Granola

Seeds, seeds, and more seeds. Chia. Hemp. Watermelon. Flax. And nuts, nuts, and more nuts. Almonds. Cashews. Pistachios. Walnuts. That’s what you’ll find in this super seedy and nutty granola! I wanted to throw together an oatmeal-free granola, that was low in carbs, and high in healthy fats with a good amount of protein. Even though oatmeal is technically gluten free since it’s just rolled oats, they are typically processed on the same equipment as the gluten grains and therefore cross contaminated. I know you can find certified gluten free brands on the market as well, but I just wanted to eliminate them altogether….

Gluten Free Carrot Cake Waffles

January 7, 2017 By Natasha 2 Comments

Gluten Free Carrot Cake Waffles

This recipe is in partnership with Simple Mills. All opinions are my own!

Waffles. Who doesn’t love them?

I love a good waffle from time to time, but let’s be real for a minute… I don’t bake very well. And by bake, I mean make something from scratch that requires sciency stuff to happen. This leaves me few options when looking for a pancake/waffle mix at the store because I really don’t do great with all the gluten free starches and flours in most of them. I was super excited when I came across Simple Mills brand of mixed because they are super clean and in addition to being gluten free, they are also grain free using almond and coconut flours!…

Sun-Dried Tomato Vodka Sauce

January 6, 2017 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Sun-Dried Tomato Vodka Sauce

This recipe was in partnership with Amore Brand. All opinions are my own.

Sun-dried tomatoes + vodka + raw heavy cream equals a recipe for some serious deliciousness, don’t you think?! Plus, I AM part Ukranian, and, well… vodka, duh.

Okay, pasta isn’t something that I eat on the regular, and actually, if I’m being honest, I’ve only eaten it a few times over the past handful of years. Why? Well because I just don’t love any of the gluten free products very much when it comes to pastas. BUT, I do have a carb loving, gluten-eating husband who enjoys his pasta very much. And for myself, I just simply substitute in some zucchini noodles or enjoy my sauces served over a bed of steamed veggies. That’s just how I like things….

Low Carb Mexican Style Shepherd’s Pie

January 6, 2017 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Low Carb Mexican Style Shepherd’s Pie

It’s creamy. It’s delicious. It’s hecka nutritious. It’s a Mexican version of the comfort dish, Shepherd’s Pie. Traditionally, this recipe would use a mixture of meat and veggies with mashed potatoes as the “crust” for the top. When using beef, it’s called “cottage pie,’ and when using lamb, it’s called “shepherd’s pie.” My rendition uses grass fed ground beef and whipped cauli mash, and I still called it a shepherd’s pie, why? Because I’m a rebel at heart and like to break the rules! That’s why. Actually, I’m a total rule breaker when it comes to cooking, amongst other things <insert feisty smirk face.>…

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

January 4, 2017 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

So, Happy 2017 and all that stuff! Hope you guys had an amazing holiday season like I did! I can’t believe it’s already January. Like WHOA, where did the time go?

So, about carnitas. Ask my family and they’ll tell you that pork carnitas are my absolute FAV thing to order at Mexican restaurants. I mean, FAVORITE. It’s the thing that I get all judgy on when I go to new restaurants. If their carnitas are good, the restaurant gets a thumbs up from me. Oh, and I’m pretty judgy about the chips and salsa too, not gonna lie….

Superfood Hot Chocolate Three Ways

December 18, 2016 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Superfood Hot Chocolate Three Ways

I’ve always been a chocolate lover, but as I’ve gotten older and my palate has changed, I’ve leaned less toward the super sweet milk chocolate and more toward the rich, decadent, dark chocolate. I look for chocolate with a minimum of 70% cacao, very little added sugars and junk. My chocolate of choice is 85% cacao. But I digress. This post is not really about chocolate bars at all. It’s about a super creamy, hot cuppa chocolate, with superfood powers. None of that artificial flavor, GMO, corn syrupy junk in the store. Ew….

Jalapeno Cranberry Salsa

December 16, 2016 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Jalapeno Cranberry Salsa

This jalapeno cranberry salsa was such a huge hit at our Thanksgiving dinner this year, that we’re making again for Christmas. I wasn’t able to get my shit together until now to post this recipe for you guys, but I guess better late than never, yeah?

This versatile salsa is great as an appetizer served with your favorite cheese spread and chips or crackers. My mom makes her famous cheese platter with dried fruit, ALL the cheeses- think goat cheese, brie, cream cheese, etc, persimmons, and nuts. We also served it alongside the cooked cranberry sauce as another option with the roasted turkey, and it was amaze! I wonder how it would be with some pork tenderloins??…

Rosemary and Vanilla Bourbon Spiked Nuts

December 11, 2016 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Rosemary and Vanilla Bourbon Spiked Nuts

These rosemary and vanilla spiked nuts are a great snack and would make a nice homemade edible gift for the holidays. I love the flavor profile with hints of bourbon and a perfect balance of sweet and salty from the sea salt and maple and vanilla. I think I’ll try making my next batch with some chipotle powder to spice things up a bit!…

Bourbon Baked Chicken Thighs

December 9, 2016 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Bourbon Baked Chicken Thighs

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Thighs > Boobs. Chicken thighs, come on you guys! Okay, okay… I love some crispy chicken skin and these bourbon baked chicken thighs are delish! You’ll need a few hours of marinade time, so plan ahead and make sure you have everything you’ll need. You may even want to throw these bad boys in the marinade before you leave for work, so when you get home, you’ll have a killer dinner on the table in about 30 minutes!…

Boozy Maple Bourbon Marshmallows

December 3, 2016 By Natasha Leave a Comment

Boozy Maple Bourbon Marshmallows

I love me a good Old Fashioned drink, and so these boozy, adulty marshmallows were born. Bourbon is kinda my jam right now. And by kinda, I mean I’m literally bourboning ALL the things lately… I made bourbon baked chicken thighs, rosemary and vanilla bourbon spiked nuts, and these boozy maple bourbon marshmallows. And I probably won’t stop here!

I had to test these several times until I got it right, and third time was a charm. First I cooked the bourbon in the maple/water mixture and I couldn’t taste any booziness in the marshmallows. Next, I added the bourbon to the mixing bowl while the marshmallows were whipping. Big mistake. The taste was there, but they totally fell flat and wouldn’t whip. Finally, my friend Nichole told me I should bloom the gelatin IN the bourbon. DUH! These came out PERFECT!…