dinner Archives - Page 2 of 10 - A Calculated Whisk

Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu

September 28, 2018 By Becky 18 Comments

This post is sponsored by .

This easy Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu is packed with rich, hearty flavor and is perfect for cool fall nights. Enjoy it with pasta, spiralized veggies, or polenta.

It’s officially fall, which means it’s time for warming comfort food dishes like this Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu. This meaty sauce gets its flavor from organic, 100% Italian Pomì strained tomatoes, a classic soffritto of onion, celery, and carrot, and of course, the short ribs themselves. If you haven’t tried short ribs before, you are in for a treat: after being seared and then pressure cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot, they shred into the most tender morsels of beef you’ve ever tasted. The sauce is finished with a handful of fresh basil for freshness, and a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk for creaminess if you’re so inclined.

Instant Pot Bacon and Sweet Potato Chili

September 21, 2018 By Becky 8 Comments

Instant Pot Bacon & Sweet Potato Chili (Paleo, Whole30)

This paleo & Whole30-compliant Instant Pot bacon and sweet potato chili is an old favorite made twice as fast in the pressure cooker. Make a big batch and freeze some for later!

I’m kind of a chili purist. I don’t like beans in my chili and I don’t want any tomatoes in there, either. I also don’t like it to be too soupy. Over the years I’ve tried many chili recipes, but my bacon and sweet potato chili is the only one I come back to again and again. Many of my friend have made it, too, and it’s always a hit. It freezes really well, so it’s a perfect make-ahead meal. I’m definitely planning to stock my freezer with some to have on hand once our baby arrives!

Orange Chicken Skewers from Made Whole

July 30, 2018 By Becky Leave a Comment

These orange chicken skewers are packed with flavor and easy to throw together. They’re great on a salad or alongside grilled veggies!

I’m so excited to be sharing an easy and delicious recipe today from Cristina Curp’s brand new cookbook, Made Whole! The book has over 145 recipes that are all anti-inflammatory, paleo, and keto friendly. In addition to plenty of main dishes and several scrumptious-looking desserts, it has a big chapter of staples, sauces, and dressings that includes a couple of awesome paleo cheese recipes. If you’ve visited Cristina’s blog, The Castaway Kitchen, then you know she comes up with tons of creative low-carb recipes, many of which are Whole30 friendly, too.

Baba Ganoush with Spiced Lamb & Mint

July 16, 2018 By Becky 8 Comments

Turn silky smooth eggplant dip into a meal by adding a pile of fragrant meat on top! This baba ganoush with spiced lamb & mint will quickly become a summer favorite.

In case you missed my subtle Instagram announcements, I’m pregnant! For a few more hours, you can catch a glimpse of the growing bump in my stories. We’re expecting a baby girl right around Christmas, and both Ben and I are so excited.

This pregnancy is part of the reason I’ve been posting so infrequently the last few months. Even before I realized I was pregnant, I was hit with terrible exhaustion that lasted all of the first trimester and a few weeks into the second. Now, at 17 weeks, I finally feel like some of my energy has returned within the last four or five days.

It’s funny because I fully expected to have morning sickness, but didn’t at all–I got off scot-free with no nausea–but was completely unprepared for how tired I’d be. I’ve never experienced exhaustion anything like it in my whole life! No matter how much I slept, I’d wake up still tired, and only become less energetic over the course of the day.

I’ve never been a napper unless I’m really sick, but these past few months, I have napped like a champion. On days spent at home, I could nap from about 2-5, and still go to bed again around 10 pm and sleep through until 7 or 8.

Grilled Lemon Chicken Kebabs

March 26, 2018 By Becky 26 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

These grilled lemon chicken kebabs are packed with flavor, easy to make, and paleo/Whole30 compliant. They’ll be a huge hit at summer BBQs!

Who’s ready for spring? I certainly am! After a tease of gorgeous spring weather here in Chattanooga at the end of February, it’s been downright dismal for most of March. Despite the gloomy weather, I lugged the grill out of the garage and made these grilled lemon chicken kebabs. Perhaps by grilling, I can encourage spring to make a true and lasting appearance soon!

Instant Pot Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken)

January 5, 2018 By Becky 104 Comments

This post is being rewritten. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts in the comments. To learn more about fesenjan, please see this post by Shahab Shabani and this recipe from Persian Mama.

32 Paleo Comfort Food Recipes for Winter

December 11, 2017 By Becky 26 Comments

This collection of paleo comfort food recipes will keep you warm and nourished all winter long!

Looking for more delicious paleo recipes? Check out my roundups of Whole30 Instant Pot recipes and Whole30 sheet pan dinners.

Raise your hand if you could use some comfort food right about now! Between the cold weather and the seemingly incessant parade of Christmas treats, I’ve been craving healthy, hearty, hot dinners. In case you have been, too, I put together this collection of my very best and favorite paleo comfort food recipes.

Between all the cookies and the shopping and whatever else you’re up to, I hope you can find time to share some of these dishes with your family (or just make them for yourself!). Many of these recipes are great to make ahead and/or Whole30 compliant, so I’ve noted details like that below. Which one will you try first?

Here’s to a healthy and happy holiday season filled with plenty of satisfying meals!

Instant Pot Meatballs

November 28, 2017 By Becky 29 Comments

These Instant Pot meatballs are so easy and quick to make–no stove or oven required–and are the ideal paleo & Whole30 comfort food.

How was your Thanksgiving?? Mine was pretty good. I made an apple galette first thing in the morning and we left for Atlanta around 11 to go to a big family Thanksgiving at Ben’s cousin’s house. Amazingly enough, traffic from Chattanooga to the ATL was very light, and we made it in under two hours. I managed to eat only a relatively appropriate amount of dessert and even brought some galette back home, which made a perfect Black Friday breakfast.

6 Ways to Top Roasted Sweet Potatoes

November 22, 2017 By Becky 22 Comments

This post is sponsored by the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission.

With these six ways to top roasted sweet potatoes, everyone will be sure to find something they love. Pick one or two to make for dinner or go all out and try all six!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I’m here today to tell you about a delicious meal idea that, while not necessarily meant for Turkey Day itself, is certainly perfect for any busy night (or day or even morning) of the year when you need some fast and healthy grub.

Pinchos de Pollo from Latin American Paleo Cooking + Giveaway

September 5, 2017 By Becky 17 Comments

These pinchos de pollo (Puerto Rican chicken skewers) from Latin American Paleo Cooking are a snap to make, packed with flavor, and super healthy.

So, hi! I’m back from what I think was my longest blogging hiatus ever, and I have really missed you. I have a post coming up soon with details on what I’ve been up to in case you’re interested (spoiler alert: planning our wedding and lots of freelance work!). From now on I’ll be sharing recipes more regularly again, and am really excited to get back in the game with this amazing and super simple recipe from Amanda Torres’ new cookbook, Latin American Paleo Cooking. Amanda is the brilliant recipe developer and writer behind the blog The Curious Coconut, and she wrote the cookbook with her mother in law, Milagros Torres, who grew up in Puerto Rico and has been cooking since she was ten.

The book is full of tempting recipes for family dinners, party food, quick and easy meals, sides, cooking essentials like sauces, and desserts from many different Latin American countries. Since I’m trying to slim down for my wedding (it’s in less than two weeks!), I have not even looked at the dessert chapter. However, I’ve been poring over everything else and have a huge list of what I want to make. Empanadas are at the very top of my list (and the top of the cover of the book–don’t they look amazing?)!

Bolognese Stuffed Zucchini with Pesto

June 14, 2017 By Becky 36 Comments

This post is sponsored by .

These bolognese stuffed zucchini with pesto are a satisfying and summery Whole30 meal made with organic tomato basil sauce, ground beef, and plenty of fresh pesto on top.

How is summer treating you so far? Here in Chattanooga it’s been nice and hot (just the way I like it!) and we’ve been getting in a lot of swimming. I’ve also been working on my tan while doing my farm share work, and loving the first rounds of summer produce showing up, like zucchini, basil, and even a few tomatoes.

I used my early squash to make these bolognese stuffed zucchini with pesto, which combine seasonal vegetables and a few pantry staples to make an easy but hearty paleo dinner.

And no, I’m not suggesting you make a true bolognese sauce that needs to simmer away for hours in this heat. This is a bit of a cheater’s bolognese, because we’re letting Uncle Steve’s do the hard work for us. Their organic tomato basil sauce is so flavorful that all we have to do is brown the ground beef with a little onion, and stir in the sauce. The resulting filling will fool all your lucky dinner companions into thinking you worked all day to handcraft an authentic Italian sauce.

Paleo Pork Scaloppine with Caper Butter Sauce

April 3, 2017 By Becky 49 Comments

This paleo pork scaloppine with caper butter sauce is like chicken piccata, but better. It comes together in half an hour so you can enjoy it on busy weeknights!

Monday has reared its ugly head once again. If you’ve got a case of the blues, I have just the thing for you: paleo pork scaloppine. In a mere half an hour, you’ll get to work out your aggression pounding pork chops thin, hear the satisfying sizzle of the meat hitting the pan, pour an irresistible caper butter sauce over a platter of golden brown cutlets, and then dig in. I know I couldn’t ask for a better form of Monday therapy!

To make the breading for this paleo version of pork scaloppine as close as possible to the real thing, we’re using Otto’s Cassava Flour (that’s an affiliate link–I love their product and accept no substitutes!). It’s the best one-to-one replacement for wheat flour that I’ve found, and while I used to have to order it online, this past weekend I spotted it at the Chattanooga Whole Foods! To celebrate, I whipped up a big batch of this paleo pork scaloppine.