Recently, I have received quite a few questions about where I find recipes, my go-to food bloggers, and the cookbooks I use religiously. Honestly, it’s a little from all of the above. I will often create or search for recipes for foods I already enjoy eating (think Thai, pasta, hearty breakfast hashes, sandwiches and satisfying salads). I am working toward and 80/20 clean eating lifestyle. As I have mentioned before, I have struggled with my relationship with food, and @Whole30 has been my saving grace. It encourages balance, removes the guilt/shame associated with food and encourages me to learn my “worth it” foods. I have also realized that eating clean doesn’t have to be painful, a diet, or lack flavor, which is why I am constantly researching and seeking truly satisfying recipes that not only I enjoy, but my family. I refuse (I wasn’t always this way) to make separate meals for everyone, so it’s crucial for me to find family friendly recipes. In addition to finding great recipes, I can’t stress the importance of learning the fundamentals of cooking. I have included my favorite resources for just that below.
Okay, okay, enough rambling!
Food Bloggers/Influencers:
*I follow all these bloggers on Instagram and find that the best way to learn about new recipes, as well as enjoy their cooking demos in stories.
The Defined Dish: Alex is wonderful! She has a beautiful personality, and is consistently creating satisfying and delicious recipes. Currently, the recipes that are on constant rotation: Sloppy Janes – the boys devour these and there’s nothing better than knowing they’re eating such a healthy take on an old school recipe. Confession: I do pair the boy’s with brioche buns, as they’re not as into sweet potatoes as Roger and myself. Also, her Moo Goo Gai Pan is DELICIOUS! And just what you need when you’re craving Asian take-out. Other favorites: Greek Style Potatoes , Crab Cakes
Healthy Little Peach: She is my girl! She is real, honest and a real honest cook! You will find amazing resources for successfully completing a Whole30, as well as workout routines and delicious recipes. My current favs: Beef Tips and Gravy over Cauliflower Mash, 4 Majestic Whole30 Sauces, *drool, Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders
No Crumbs Left: Think Ina Garten meets Oprah! Her instagram stories are fantastic as well as an amazing resource for cooking tutorials. She also just came out with a cookbook! My favs: Marinated Onions, Spicy Shrimp Guacamole Crisps, Fish Fillet Sandwich and Whole30 Cobb Salad. And honestly, her plating skills are out of this world!
Paleo Running Momma: Her recipes are tried and true! If you’re a huge fan of a delicious breakfasts (I mean, who isn’t), she’s your gal! ! Also, her paleo desserts are pure heaven! My favs: Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage, Apples and Cranberries, Loaded Breakfast Casserole with Hash Brown Crust, Harvest Hash with Bacon and Apple Vinaigrette, Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes, Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet with Coconut Flour.
The Whole Smiths: She’s pretty fabulous! She recently came out with a cookbook, and her Instagram is full of ways to live a clean and balanced life while remaining family friendly. My favs: Spaghetti Squash Tuna Casserole, Banana Eggs (the boys LOVE these).
Paleo Gluten Free Eats: Her Instagram is amazing! You will be bookmarking your little index finger off, FYI.
Against All Grain: The OG mama of Paleo and clean eating. She has multiple cookbooks and her recipes are clean, simple, satisfying and most importantly, delicious.
Nom Nom Paleo: Omg, this Jame Beard Award nominated blogger has absolutely delicious recipes. I LOVE her Paleo Sausage Egg McMuffins!
Julia and Child: She’s fantastic! A Chicago mama who shares her weekly menu and cooks the meals almost daily in her stories. She is also a great resource for other food bloggers, cookbooks, etc.
The Whole30 Recipes Instagram account. This is THE way to stay on the pulse of Whole30 and clean eating food bloggers. Every week they have a new guest host sharing how-tos, their favorite recipes and menu planning, and the cooking demos are my personal fav.
Cookbooks:
Whole30 Cookbooks: I store most of my cookbooks in the office, except for these. These recipes are on rotation enough, that I keep them on the shelf right above the coffee maker!
For me, the OG Whole30 cookbook as a great chapter on the fundamentals of cooking. How to cook a chicken breast, bake salmon, burgers, steak, etc. This was so helpful in improving my basic understanding of cooking techniques.
The Food Lab: This is like the Bible of cooking! It has an A to Z list of the science behind successful cooking. From poached eggs to pan-fried steak, to pancakes and roasted potatoes, this is the ultimate how-to. Definitely worth having on your shelf!
Salt, Fat, Acid Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Other:
Food documentaries (all of the following can be found on Netflix): Chef’s Table, The Paleo Way, Cooked, Million Pound Menu, Ugly Delicious, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Flavorful Origins, Anthony Bourdain (or anything by AB) Parts Unknown, In Defense of Food, Feed Phil, Rotten, The Chef Mind, the list is really endless.
Magazines: The Paleo Magazine, Real Simple, Clean Eating and any random reads I spot at Target or the Whole Foods checkout line.
Master Class: All the fancy chefs teach you their tips and tricks. A worthwhile way to learn and improve your cooking technique.
If you have a family favorite that could do with a bit of tweaking to make it cleaner, just google it! You may be surprised at how simple it is to adjust a recipes, and maintain the flavor. TASTE as you go! Cooking is the not the same as baking, you can adjust the recipe throughout the cooking process, and find that it evolves into something even more delicious.
Happy Cooking & Meal Planning, and be sure to reach out with anything.
Xo,
Karin
