recipe Archives - Page 13 of 33 - A Calculated Whisk

Slow-Cooker Cuban Short Ribs

February 19, 2016 By Becky 20 Comments

These slow-cooker Cuban short ribs are rubbed with an irresistible mojo, cooked to fall-apart perfection, and then served with fried green plantains, rice, and avocado. Thank you so much to ButcherBox for sending me a box of amazing grass-fed meat for this post!

Here’s part three of my ongoing love letter to short ribs, which will forever be my favorite cut of beef (you can see part one, kratiem prik thai short ribs, here, and part two, slow-cooker short ribs, here). Up until a couple of years ago, I assumed short ribs were a cut of pork, perhaps a less lengthy version of spareribs, and had never thought to give them a try. As soon as I did, I was all in. Slow-cooked short ribs are beef at its very best: meltingly tender morsels with little crunchy bits, all of which are infused with spot-on savory flavor. I do love a good steak, but I’d choose short ribs instead any day of the week, and these slow-cooker Cuban short ribs are my new absolute favorite.

That’s why I was so excited to find short ribs included in the box of grass-fed meat I got from ButcherBox, a new company that delivers carefully curated boxes of meat straight to your door. I am beyond excited about their boxes, and really think you’ll love them. The mission of ButcherBox is to make grass-fed meat available to everyone, and they’ve taken all the work out of getting a wide selection of delicious and sustainably raised meats to cook with. You can choose how frequently you’d like a box delivered, and can also pick from the all-beef box, a beef & pork box, a beef & chicken box, or a mixed box containing all three. Each box contains 6-10 pounds of meat (enough for 15-20 individual meals at a portion size of 6-8 ounces per meal). The cuts are individually packed so it’s easy to defrost just one short rib or steak at a time or all of them, depending on your cooking plans.

Here’s what was in the all-beef box I got (the contents change from month to month, but always include two pounds of ground beef and several other cuts as well): two pounds of ground beef in one-pound packages, four boneless short ribs packaged individually (two pounds total), four top sirloin steaks packaged individually (about one and a half pounds total), and two pounds of stew beef. (Oh, and a package of sugar-free, Whole30-approved paleo bacon! If you order a box through this link, you’ll get a free package of paleo bacon, too!) The box also contains cards explaining what each cut of meat is and how to best prepare it, with a tried and true recipe using that cut on the other side.

Blood Orange Curd (Dairy free)

February 12, 2016 By Becky 7 Comments

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

This dairy free blood orange curd is sweetened with honey and tastes amazing on its own, on ice cream, with chocolate cake, or on top of pancakes.

At the risk of having someone say that there are too many curd recipes on my site, I’m bringing you a dairy-free, honey-sweetened blood orange curd today. The very first recipe I ever posted here on A Calculated Whisk was for a classic lemon curd, and I also have ones for strawberry curd and dairy-free lemon curd. Oh, and there’s a paleo lemon curd in my cookbook, Paleo Planet.

Why more curd? The short answer: because blood oranges (see Exhibit A below–how can anyone resist?). The longer answer is that I wanted to see how simple and wholesome a citrus curd could get by using a base of just freshly-squeezed juices, eggs, and honey. There are two more ingredients–a tiny splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt–to help the orange flavor pop a little more, but that’s all you need to make this blood orange curd. It’s simple and it’s real food, but it tastes like the melted creamsicle sauce of your dreams.

If you can’t find blood oranges, you can use regular ones. The color will of course be different, but the curd will still be scrumptious. If you find Cara Cara oranges, those would be a nice compromise–I recently ate one that was darker in color than some of the blood oranges I used to make this curd.

In case you’re not entirely sure what a citrus curd is, I’ll tell you: it’s like a cross between a jam and a custard but it’s better than both, and it’s traditionally served with scones and clotted cream for high tea in England. Lemon curd is the standard, but curd can be made with any kind of citrus, or with citrus and a variety of other fruits. The basic formula is lemon juice, egg, sugar, and butter, but here I’ve omitted the butter and used raw, local honey instead of sugar without making any sacrifices in flavor or texture. This curd does come out a little thinner than other curds I’ve made because of those changes, but that actually makes it perfect for how I prefer to use it: as a sauce to elevate all manner of grain-free desserts and breakfasts from good to just ridiculous.

Instant Pot Chicken Stock (Bone Broth)

February 1, 2016 By Becky 43 Comments

Instant Pot chicken stock is so much easier and faster than the stovetop version! The finished stock is wonderful on its own or in any number of paleo soups, sauces, and braises.

Looking for more Instant Pot recipes? Check out my easy mashed potatoes, ropa vieja, and five-ingredient carnitas (or see them all here).

I’ve been talking about my weekly routine of roasting a whole chicken ever since the first wisp of cool air blew into Chattanooga in the fall, and I’m still going strong. Since buying myself an Instant Pot on Black Friday, though, the process of making the chicken bones into stock has gotten so much faster and more flexible.

I used to have to set aside a whole morning or evening at home to make stock since it needs to simmer on the stove for such a long time, but I can make Instant Pot chicken stock, start to finish, in less than two hours. (In case you haven’t had the pleasure of using one yet, and Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that cooks food extremely fast, and can replace both your rice cooker and your slow cooker. It’s so much fun!)

Instant pot chicken stock is more delicious, too–pressure cooking condenses all the wonderful flavors and aromatics perfectly. (And by the way, this is bone broth! The only reason I didn’t name the recipe Instant Pot Bone Broth is that I don’t really like the way the phrase “bone broth” sounds. But bone broth is really just amped-up stock with a large ratio of bones to other ingredients, and this definitely fits the bill. It also gels up wonderfully in the fridge, so there’s plenty of collagen in it!)

Here’s the before and after of all the bones, aromatics, and seasonings in the Instant Pot. I used carrot, celery, shallot, leek, parsley, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. If you’re missing one or two of the vegetables, you can definitely still make a nice stock.

You can also use a small onion if you don’t have shallots and leeks, but I love the extra-savory richness that they give to chicken stock!

I’ve played around with also adding one or two smashed cloves of garlic, but have decided I prefer my stock without. This is in part because I like to have a steaming mug of it first thing in the morning when it’s chilly out, and I’m just not ready for garlic at breakfast time. Of course, if you want some in there, go ahead and add it! You can also play around with adding a little bit of rosemary and thyme along with or instead of the parsley.

Samosa Bites with Paleo Raita

January 27, 2016 By Becky 2 Comments

This post is sponsored by the U.S. Potato Board in collaboration with Honest Cooking.

These samosa bites showcase the best part of the classic Indian appetizer—the perfectly spiced potato filling! They’re baked, not fried, and are served with a cooling cucumber raita.

I love Indian food, and am a huge fan of going to Indian buffets for lunch. I actually find it pretty easy to follow a primal diet there–I avoid the breads, of course, but many of the curries, chutneys, and tandoori meats are fine. Indian food uses so many great spices and flavor-packed vegetables like ginger, garlic, and chiles that I never feel like I’m missing out on anything.

Samosas, though, have always been a sticking point. The potato filling is so delicious, especially with some raita on top, but I’ve never been a fan of the heavy, gluten-laden, deep-fried wrappers. Since it’s a little bit uncouth and definitely not in the spirit of paleo to go to a buffet and unwrap a samosa and eat only the insides, I decided to take matters into my own kitchen.

Potatoes are a nutrient-dense food and a great source of healthy carbohydrates since they’re naturally gluten free. They have more potassium than bananas, and a serving of potatoes also gives you almost half of the Vitamin C you need for the day (for more info, check out the Potato Board’s nutritional facts page here). Most people now consider potatoes an integral part of a paleo diet, and as of July of 2014, they’re even Whole30 compliant! (You should have seen how happy I was the day that change was announced. There may or may not have been some dancing involved.)

Cider-Glazed Chicken with Roasted Cauliflower Rice

January 25, 2016 By Becky 20 Comments

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

This cider-glazed chicken with roasted cauliflower rice is an easy but gourmet paleo meal that comes together quickly. It’s also Whole30-compliant!

I’ve had a jug of local cider in the fridge since Christmas, and have been wanting to reduce it into some kind of sauce for a savory dish. The idea got stuck in my head right away, so even though I love to have a glass of cider on its own, I’ve pretty much just been saving it, biding my time until a great idea for something savory with cider sauce came along.

Serendipitously, I found the idea as soon as I started exploring Erin’s blog, The Spiffy Cookie, which was my assignment for this month’s Secret Recipe Club reveal. Erin has an index of all her gluten-free recipes, which made it really easy to find good candidates for me to adapt into paleo-friendly dishes. (I had to avert my eyes from all of her ridiculously good-looking desserts, but will be back to browse those once my Whole30 is over!) Before the gluten-free recipes page had even fully loaded, Erin’s cider-glazed chicken with browned-butter pecan rice caught my eye.

Vanilla Chai Nut Butter (Guest Post on Cook It Up Paleo)

January 21, 2016 By Becky 2 Comments

Roasted almonds and cashews with vanilla and chai spices make for an irresistible nut butter that’s vegan, paleo, and Whole30 compliant. You won’t miss the sugar that most flavored nut butters have!

This vanilla chai nut butter is my new favorite snack. It’s creamy, naturally sweet without any added sweeteners, and perfumed with the irresistible combination of vanilla and cardamom. It’s basically the vegan, Whole30-compliant, no sugar added, not-a-cookie version of my grain-free spiced shortbread. (Okay, maybe they’re not that similar after all! They do have the same enticing aroma and toasty vanilla and spice flavors, though.)

It’s amazing on dates, apple slices, carrot sticks, and spoons. Life is good and possibilities are endless when you have a jar of this stuff in the fridge!

I’m sharing the recipe for this vanilla chai nut butter over on Cook It Up Paleo this week. Heather of Cook It Up Paleo is an eighteen-year-old who develops all kinds of scrumptious and inventive recipes that make my teenage self look like such a slacker in retrospect. If you haven’t already visited her site, go right now! There is a chicken broccoli alfredo pizza on there that will be haunting my dreams until I make it the second my Whole30 is over…

Get the vanilla chai nut butter recipe right here!

Spinach and Bacon Soufflé from Paleo Planet

January 18, 2016 By Becky 10 Comments

Did you know you can make an amazing soufflé without cheese? This spinach and bacon soufflé is gluten free, paleo, Whole30-compliant, and an ideal way to treat yourself to a decadent breakfast or brunch that’s still super healthy.

Big news! Paleo Planet was nominated for Best New Specialty Cookbook as part of Paleo Magazine’s Best of 2015 awards! I’m so happy and excited to be nominated, and so grateful for all your amazing support. If you’re a fan of Paleo Planet, would you take a minute to cast your vote for the book here? Voting is open until January 31st, it’s super quick (you only have to vote in the categories you want to vote in, so you won’t be forced to choose if there’s a category you don’t have an opinion on), and there’s a special discount on the magazine as a reward for taking the survey in case you’re interested in becoming a subscriber.

The nomination is actually perfect timing because I was already planning to share a recipe from Paleo Planet with you today, along with a free download of a special table of contents I put together that lists all the Whole30-compliant recipes in the book (there are over 80 of them!).

So today I’m sharing one of my favorite recipes from the Breakfast & Brunch chapter: Spinach and Bacon Soufflé. Soufflés are notorious for being kind of a pain to make, but I disagree with that: I think they’re relatively easy, super fun, and so worth it.

If you haven’t tried one, you need to add it to your list: the fluffy, airy texture is like nothing else. Plus, this one is packed with spinach and bacon–how can you go wrong?

My first time ever making a soufflé was in April of 2013, and it was actually one of the very first recipes I posted on this site, back in the days when I spent 2 minutes on each photo shoot and hadn’t discovered paleo yet. (If you want to see it, here it is, but you have to promise not to judge!) That one had spinach and parmesan in it, and planted the inspirational seeds for the paleo spinach and bacon soufflé I’m sharing today. I also shared a pumpkin and pecorino soufflé later that year that’s gluten free and grain free but still contains cheese.

When I was developing recipes for Paleo Planet, I challenged myself to make a delicious soufflé with no dairy other than ghee, and lucky for me, it was quite easy! A bit of nutritional yeast provides a hint of cheesy flavor, and bits of bacon interspersed throughout ensure that each bite has textural interest, too. It’s a perfect breakfast or brunch to make when you want to treat yourself to something fancy and a little off the beaten path but still really nutritious.

Pork Chops with Cranberry-Apple Compote (#30MinuteMondays)

January 11, 2016 By Becky 4 Comments

These paleo, Whole30-compliant pork chops with cranberry-apple compote are made for nights when you come home already hungry: they’re easy, satisfying, and fast. They can be ready in 30 minutes, and there’s a shortcut version that’s even faster!

I’m on Day 11 of my Whole30 and, at the risk of jinxing myself, it’s been smooth sailing so far! I’ve been drinking my coffee with homemade almond milk most days and occasionally making it into a chai ghee “latte” when I want something a little more indulgent.

I’ve gotten a little tired of having eggs for breakfast, but mixing in the occasional dinner for breakfast has helped make eggs seem appealing again the next day. And I’ve done a pretty good job of making big batches of meals like bacon and sweet potato chili and cracklin’ chicken so that I can have leftovers for the next day.

I’m not quite as on top of my meal planning game as I’d like to be, though, so there have been several nights when I left work already hungry and didn’t have any leftovers ready to just heat up when I got home. That’s where these seared pork chops with cranberry-apple compote come in.

This whole recipe takes less than thirty minutes, and there’s even an abridged version where the compote is stripped down to its most essential ingredient. That version is in the recipe notes and can be accomplished in 15 minutes flat if you work efficiently.

Since they’re coated in a delicious dry rub made from the spices pictured above, these pork chops are also great on their own. Ben always has his plain because he’s averse to the texture of cooked apples (I’m all about that because it means more compote for me!).

The dry rub gets smokiness and a little heat from the paprika and savory earthiness from the cumin and garlic. There’s also sea salt, pepper, and just a tiny bit of cinnamon as a nod to the apples that are in these pork chops’ future.

Top 15 Paleo Recipes of 2015 (Whole30)

January 1, 2016 By Becky 10 Comments

Here’s a roundup of the top 15 paleo recipes published on A Calculated Whisk in 2015 that are also Whole30-compliant.

Happy New Year! I hope your 2016 is full of happiness, love, and plenty of food that’s fun, gorgeous, and good for you.

Do you set New Year’s resolutions? I don’t always, but this year I have a big, simple one: to take better care of myself. There are so many things I want and love to do, but I can’t do any of them well if I’m not happy, well rested, and well fed.

This past year was a hectic one for me. At the tail end of 2014, just over a year ago, Ben and I got engaged. In the first few months of 2015, I finished up the last few photographs and edits for my cookbook, which came out in November. At the end of August I completed my master’s program in speech and language pathology. One week later we got in the car (well, I got in the car and Ben and Smitty got in a U-haul truck) and drove from Boston to Chattanooga, and one week after getting here I started my new job. I’m doing speech and language therapy with kids four (extra long!) days per week, and for the other three days I’m doing as much recipe development, food photography, and writing as I can. I love both of my jobs, but they sure don’t leave me with a lot of down time. (In case you’re wondering how much wedding planning I’ve managed to squeeze in so far, the answer is none at all!)

I have a counterproductive tendency to be harder than usual on myself when there’s a lot that I need to get done. Of course, it would make much more sense to up my self-care game when the going gets tough, so that’s what I’m aiming to do in 2016. I’m starting with doing a Whole30 (read all about it here if you’re not familiar), trying to spend time exercising outside three days a week, and continuing to work on eating more vegetables (like these ones from my Big Sycamore Farm winter CSA).

If you feel like sharing, I’d love to hear about your resolutions in the comments! And if you’re doing a January Whole30, too, I’d love to connect so we can give each other moral support.

To celebrate the end of 2015 and get pumped about cooking even more healthy food at home, I dug into Google Analytics to see which of my paleo recipes from last year were the most popular. Since I’m on Day 1 of a Whole30, though, I turned a blind eye to all of the desserts and any other recipes with added sweeteners or off-plan ingredients. (Of course, you can still find all the desserts I’ve ever posted over in the recipe index–I just didn’t feel right sharing photos of treats on the first day of a squeaky-clean challenge!) This year’s roundup includes only recipes that comply with the Whole30 rules, but make sure to read the recipes carefully for notes about details like sugar-free bacon. Also, some recipes list two ingredient options, one that’s not Whole30-approved and one that is (for example, heavy cream or coconut milk).

Without further ado, here are the recipes. Happy cooking!

Roasted Jerk Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes

Okay, you caught me: this recipe was actually published in 2014, but it came out in December so it didn’t have a chance to make it into last year’s roundup. Plus, it’s my most popular paleo recipe of all time! It’s perfect for winter nights and is the cheapest replacement I’ve found for a Caribbean vacation.

Grain-free Spiced Shortbread

December 23, 2015 By Becky 9 Comments

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

This grain-free shortbread is easy to make in just one bowl without getting out the mixer. The cookies are addictively crunchy around the edges and chewy in the middle, and their subtly spiced flavor is perfect for the holidays.

My mom sent our Christmas presents down early and told us we didn’t have to wait until the big day to open them. Mine was a copy of Ruth Reichl’s newest book, My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes that Saved My Life, which centers around what Reichl cooked after the sudden closure of Gourmet magazine.

I was only about 3 pages in when I felt tears welling up in my eyes. When Ben asked what was wrong, at the time I had to admit that I was crying over the end of a magazine that I had subscribed to for just under 12 months, during its very last year in 2009.

In retrospect, it probably wasn’t just that. There’s something about the holidays that brings my natural tendency toward nostalgia right to the surface. I think I was really crying because change is hard, and the book reminded me of that fact in a sudden and poignant way. I love being here in Chattanooga, but wish I could simultaneously be in Massachusetts and see my family for the holidays.

Reichl says in her book that “when you pay attention, cooking becomes a kind of meditation.” That’s definitely how it feels for me whenever I can manage not to rush.

Winter Vegetable Gratin

December 7, 2015 By Becky 10 Comments

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

This gluten-free winter vegetable gratin is a show-stopping side dish for holiday meals or any special occasion.

I had dinner with Mary of Chattavore the other night, and we were talking about how much we hate winter, even here in the Mid-South where we barely have one to speak of. She mentioned disliking the early sunsets, so I told her an optimistic tidbit that I learned online the other day: despite the fact that the winter solstice isn’t until December 21st, the earliest sunset of the year is often much sooner. In fact, here in Chattanooga, it’s today!

The sun set at 5:29 in Chattanooga today, and will set at about the same time tomorrow and the next day. After that, it will begin to set later and later. (The days will continue to get shorter because the sun will be rising later in the morning, but if you’re anything like me and Mary, that doesn’t bother you quite as much as the early nightfall.)

The winter solstice has always been a nice turning point for me in my thinking–almost like it’s the very first sign of spring. Even in Boston when the worst of winter doesn’t come until January, knowing that each day we were gaining minutes of daylight made me feel optimistic. Thanks to my new knowledge about the earliest sunset preceding the solstice by several weeks, I’m going to go ahead and start with all that positive thinking today!

Simple Roast Chicken with Carrot Top-Kale Pesto

November 20, 2015 By Becky 12 Comments

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

This simple roast chicken with carrot top-kale pesto is paleo, gluten free, Whole 30 compliant, and just the thing for chilly weekends.

Meet my new favorite weekend tradition: simple roast chicken with carrot top-kale pesto.

The routine goes like this: buy a local, free-range chicken and some fresh produce on Friday, roast the chicken with root vegetables and blend the greens into a pesto on Saturday, and make homemade chicken stock on Sunday. (Of course, you can start the routine any day of the week–that’s just what works best for me since I’m at work all day Monday through Thursday.)

I’ve been carrying out this roast chicken tradition pretty much every other weekend. I love every part of the process: buying what I need at the farmers market, roasting the chicken and vegetables, preparing the pesto, making the broth, and of course, eating what I’ve made (and sometimes even sharing it).

Since moving down to Tennessee and joining a winter CSA from Big Sycamore Farm, I’ve become even more obsessed with cooking with local ingredients and trying all different kinds of vegetables. So when I got a gorgeous bunch of carrots with all their vibrant greens still attached, I was determined to use the tops. I knew I’d read about carrot top pesto somewhere, and a quick search reminded me that the recipe is from Diane Morgan’s cookbook Roots (and is also available online via Culinate).