A Calculated Whisk - Page 3 of 34 - Creative paleo and gluten-free recipes

Peppermint Blondies (Grain free, Dairy free)

December 20, 2018 By Becky 2 Comments

Peppermint Blondies (Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy free)

These gluten-free peppermint blondies taste like peppermint bark on top of the richest, chewiest blondies. They’re grain free, dairy free, and easy to make with just one bowl.

I’m sneaking in with one more recipe before Christmas! The other day I had the idea to make a peppermint version of my olive oil blondies, and I had to make it happen right away. The olive oil blondies have been my go-to party/potluck dessert for several years now. They’re always a hit and I always get lots of requests for the recipe. And no one has ever been able to taste the olive oil! (Although if you prefer, you can make them with avocado oil instead).

Building an Easy Winter Cheeseboard + Beaujolais Wine

December 10, 2018 By Becky Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Discover Beaujolais.

An Easy Winter Cheeseboard + Beaujolais Wine

This easy winter cheeseboard paired with Beaujolais wine makes holiday entertaining a snap. Plus, there’s a recipe for a five-minute pomegranate chèvre cheeseball!

Want to know the secret to super easy holiday entertaining that looks and tastes fancy and will impress all your guests? Here its is: wine and an epic cheeseboard. This is so simple to put together, but everyone loves it. Best of all, there’s no cooking required! I’ve teamed up with Discover Beaujolais to bring you this easy winter cheeseboard that pairs perfectly with their Moulin-à-Vent red wine.

Beaujolais is a region of France north of Lyon that produces red and white wines as well as rosé. The soil there has pink granite in it with streaks of manganese, which gives the grapes and thus the wine a special flavor. I would love to go see this gorgeous region for myself, but for now, I’ll be imagining it while I snack on this cheeseboard and sip on glass of Moulin-à-Vent red.

Chocolate Almond Butter Thumbprints with Maple Caramel (Gluten free, Grain free)

December 6, 2018 By Becky Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by ALDI USA.

Who’s ready to make some cookies to share with Santa (or keep for yourself)? These chocolate almond butter thumbprints are easy to make and filled with a salty-sweet maple caramel. They’re perfect for sharing with loved ones who are following a grain-free or paleo diet!

Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Pie (Gluten-free, No-bake)

November 19, 2018 By Becky 8 Comments

This pumpkin caramel cheesecake pie requires no cooking, and all the layers are made in the food processor with no need to wash it in between. It’s the perfect last-minute Thanksgiving dessert! This pie was originally published in fall of 2013. I’ve tweaked the recipe and updated the photos.

This pie is so easy, and so good! If you already have your caramel sauce made (try salted caramel, salted maple caramel, or even store-bought), there is no cooking required–just a few rounds of food processing. And, in case you need another reason to make this, there’s pumpkin involved! There’s also caramel, whipped cream, and a delicious two-ingredient crust. The cheesecake layer is rich, but not overpowering–I think even people who don’t love cheesecake will probably love this.

Second Trimester Recap

November 12, 2018 By Becky 2 Comments

This is actually me at 34 weeks, but I was running low on images! Photos by Lindsey Lowe Photography.

I’m already well into the third trimester now, and I can’t believe it! (I wrote this post several weeks ago, when the second trimester was nice and fresh in my mind, but am just getting around to posting it now.) Time moved slowly at the beginning of my pregnancy, but seems to have been gradually picking up speed. Our little girl is due in just 6 weeks, and of course, she could come before then, too! With our December 23rd due date I’m hoping she’ll arrive a few days before Christmas so we can avoid spending the holidays in the hospital, but of course, she’ll come when she’s ready. Whenever that is will be the very best time.

Chicken Tikka Masala

October 29, 2018 By Becky Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Pomì.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken tikka masala is a favorite at Indian restaurants, but it’s even more delicious when made at home! Try it with my paleo flatbread.

Who else is a huge fan of Indian food? I think if I had to pick just one cuisine as my very favorite, Indian would be it. I just can’t pass up all the layers of spice and flavor! And while it’s great to go out and enjoy dinner at an Indian restaurant, it’s even more fun (and even tastier) to make it yourself at home. Plus, your house will smell amazing!

Gluten-free Pumpkin Sheet Cake

October 26, 2018 By Becky 2 Comments

This easy gluten-free pumpkin sheet cake with whipped cream frosting is the ideal dessert to feed a crowd at Halloween or Thanksgiving.

My most perpetual pregnancy craving has been and continues to be cake. Last week I was desperate for some, and became fixated on making a sheet cake. Sheet cakes are really the best kind when you’re baking to satisfy a craving. Why? They’re huge and fast. There’s no need to prep more than one pan or stack and fill layers. It’s a snap to make them look nice with no piping. They also bake and cool super quickly because they just have one relatively thin layer.

Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu

September 28, 2018 By Becky 18 Comments

This post is sponsored by Pomì.

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!

Easy Grain-free Skillet Cookie

September 8, 2018 By Becky 14 Comments

Easy Grain-free Skillet Cookie

This gooey grain-free skillet cookie is super easy to mix up right in the pan–no bowl required! What are you waiting for?

Something about September makes me crave chocolate chip cookies. It still feels a bit early for apples and pumpkins, but something warm and sweet and chocolatey sounds about right. If you feel the same way, this easy grain-free skillet cookie will be just the ticket.

The best thing about this skillet cookie, other than how wonderful it tastes (especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top), is how simple it is to make. You don’t even need a bowl–we’re doing everything right in the skillet, with one spatula or mixing implement of your choice.

First Trimester Recap

August 24, 2018 By Becky 6 Comments

Can you tell I’m excited to dress this little girl? Also, narwhals are the new unicorns.

At the end of my lengthy post on getting pregnant after an infertility diagnosis, I promised a recap of my first trimester. Here it is!

After getting a positive pregnancy test on a Sunday morning in mid-April, I called my reproductive endocrinologist’s office first thing on Monday morning. When my hormones were tested a couple of months before getting pregnant my progesterone was extremely low, and adequate levels of progesterone are necessary to sustain a pregnancy. They had me come right in for a blood test measuring HcG (the hormone that confirms you’re pregnant) and progesterone. The results came back later that day: my HcG was 330 (pretty much any level of HcG means you’re pregnant) and my progesterone was 8. The nurse explained that my progesterone level was on the lower end of the normal range, so they wanted to supplement just in case. I was prescribed progesterone pills that I took until I was about 10 weeks, when the doctor said the placenta takes over progesterone production.

Peach Nectar

August 20, 2018 By Becky Leave a Comment

This peach nectar recipe is an easy and delicious way to sip on summer’s best peaches. If it’s a special occasion, add some prosecco and make it a bellini!

Here it is: the essence of summer peaches in drinkable form! This peach nectar is so simple to make and so, so good. Basically we’re blending fresh peaches with a little bit of lemon and honey to balance their flavors, plus a hint of salt and vanilla to round things out. I was going to call this a peach agua fresca, but it’s thicker than that and almost creamy (in the most delicious way possible).