Tag: primal

Parmesan Pork Nuggets (air fryer, keto, carnivore)
August 21, 2023

Parmesan Pork Nuggets (air fryer, keto, carnivore)

This is one of my new favorite recipes! It’s so fast and easy and everyone absolutely loves it! The recipe is really flexible too. You can use a variety of seasonings to yield very different results. Or you can keep it basic with salt and …

What We Ate Last Week
August 17, 2023

What We Ate Last Week

Shall I be ambitious and say that I am going to start posting twice a week? My homeschooled daughter has started classes (some at home and others at community college) and we are about to move my son into college so I really don’t have …

Keto Carnivore Chicken Tenders
May 1, 2023

Keto Carnivore Chicken Tenders

When most people start a new eating plan, they are so enthusiastic and motivated that they can be successful with very simple meals. But after a while, boredom starts to creep in. If you’re not careful, this is when that desired eating plan can go right out the window.

For example, I’ve been eating carnivore for a few weeks. I haven’t been 100% carnivore, but close enough to notice that I feel really, really good when I eat strictly animal foods, mostly grass-fed beef and fish. But I do get bored with food very easily and absolutely must eat other things. And my family prefers that as well. I’ve had to figure out how to make meals that will satisfy myself and my family, adding in enough variety to keep me going.

This keto carnivore chicken tender recipe is really simple, it’s really fast and it’s just a tiny diversion from straight carnivore, yet it feels like a treat when you’ve been eating just a few simple foods.

What makes these chicken tenders extra special is really the sauce. You don’t have to make the sauce pictured here, but some sort of condiment will be delicious and make this even more of a special treat.

I recently heard some friends discussing Raising Canes chicken and their yummy sauce. We don’t have that restaurant where I live, so I looked up copycat recipes and made my own version to go along with these chicken tenders. Here’s the sauce I mixed up:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (I used homemade avocado oil mayonnaise)
  • 1/3 cup Heinze no high fructose corn syrup ketchup
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • dash garlic powder
  • dash onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper – yes, that’s a lot of pepper so feel free to adjust these amounts to your taste

To make this sauce, combine all the ingredients in a bowl, give it a whisk and store in the fridge until ready to eat. Whenever I make a sauce like this, I start with the mayo and ketchup, then add in the seasonings a little at a time. I suggest you do the same so you get the flavor your family likes best. This might be a little too peppery for some.

Honey mustard would also be delicious with these chicken tenders. For that one, just mix mayonnaise, mustard, a little pepper and onion powder and a drop or two of liquid stevia. It will be sweet like regular honey mustard, but without any sugar.

I hope you enjoy this quick and easy recipe that doesn’t feel at all like diet food!

Keto Carnivore Chicken Tenders

Delicious, fast and easy!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American, Comfort Food

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup pork rind dust (pork rinds ground in food processor)
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese optional, can leave out for dairy free
  • 1/2 tsp. himalayan or Redmon Real Salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper or to taste
  • additional spices: garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, Redmon seasoning salt optional

Instructions
 

  • If using an air fryer, prep chicken first and then turn on air fryer. If using the oven, heat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cut chicken into desired strips or nuggets.
  • Beat eggs in a shallow dish, such as a pie pan. Place chicken pieces in the beaten egg and coat thoroughly.
  • In a separate dish, bowl or zip top bag, add the pork rind dust, almond flour, Parmesan cheese and seasonings. Mix well.
  • Pick up each piece of chicken, allow excess egg to drip off and coat thoroughly in the crumb mixture, pressing lightly to help the crumbs adhere to the chicken.
  • Lay chicken in a single layer, either in the air fryer basket/tray or on the baking tray. Spray tops with avocado or coconut oil spray. If using an air fryer, you will likely need to work in batches.
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes in the oven, flipping once, until golden brown and cooked through. If using air fryer, cook at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, flipping once. Depending on the size of your pieces of chicken, you may need to cook these for more or less time. Just check on them throughout the cooking process. Chicken should have zero pink inside when done or use a meat thermometer and look for a reading of 165 degrees F.
Keyword anti-inflammatory diet, Carnivore, Gluten Free, keto, Primal, pro-metabolic diet
Italian Meatballs (Gluten free, Dairy free option)
January 30, 2023

Italian Meatballs (Gluten free, Dairy free option)

Who doesn’t love a meatball? On top of spaghetti (sing along with me now…), in a crusty hoagie roll (yes, there are gluten free ones in the grocery store now), on the ends of little toothpicks with a yummy sauce at your party. Meatballs are …

New and Improved Raspberry Almond Bars
December 12, 2022

New and Improved Raspberry Almond Bars

Many years ago, I was in a meal exchange group. This was an amazing gift for a mom of little, little kids. There were eight of us and we would each make eight recipes of our chosen dish for the month and then pass them …

Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole
December 5, 2022

Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole

Ah, the holiday staple, green bean casserole. I admit that I was never a huge fan of this dish. What I did love were those crispy onions that I could eat by the can full if allowed! But because those onions and that gloopy soup from a can don’t fit with my gluten free and mostly paleo diet, it’s been quite a number of years since I’ve enjoyed this dish.

Last year, I discovered Mom’s Place Gluten Free (not sponsored) and ordered a bunch of different items to try. There are all sorts of breads and bread-like items and most of those are just ok, in my opinion. But what I really do love are their soup mixes. They make cream of mushroom (used here), cream of celery, cream of chicken and onion soup mix. These mixes are not paleo because they do contain some grain flours and many also contain milk powder, but they are certified gluten free and add so much flavor to many dishes. With these little packets of seasoning in my cupboard, I often add a teaspoon or two to recipes that I think just need a little something extra.

The mushroom soup does come in a dairy free version if you prefer that. And if you don’t have time to place an order, but you do have a Trader Joe’s nearby, they offer a Umami Seasoning Blend that would make a good substitute. Perhaps there are other versions of that seasoning blend at your grocery story, but I don’t know of any. If you do, please leave a comment and let us know!

If you’ve been missing green bean casserole since changing your diet, I hope this recipe will bring back great memories and satisfy that craving!

Green Bean Casserole

So much better than the version with the gloopy soup from a can!
Print Recipe
Course Side Dish, vegetable
Cuisine American, Comfort Food, Holiday

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs. green beans cleaned and trimmed
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
  • 8 oz. cremini mushrooms sliced
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepepr
  • 1 lb. bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 3 Tbsp. reserved bacon fat
  • 6 Tbsp. Mom's Place Gluten Free Cream of Mushroom Soup Mix see note
  • 2 cups almond milk or other dairy free milk of your choice
  • 1 cup chicken broth

Topping

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
  • 2 medium shallots

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to boil, add your green beans and cook about 10 minutes, or until bright green. Remove from the boiling water and plunge beans into a bowl of ice water. Once cool, drain and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Heat the 2 Tbsp. of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook until the mushrooms are soft and have given up much of their liquid.
  • While the beans and mushrooms are cooking, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain and crumble it and set aside. Reserve the drippings for making the sauce.
  • Once the mushrooms are soft, remove them from the skillet, add to the bowl with the drained green beans.
  • To the skillet, add the bacon grease and melt. Add the soup seasoning and whisk. This will make a thick roux. Once that mixture bubbles, slowly begin adding the milk and broth, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low and simmer for a couple minutes.
  • Mix the sauce in with the mushrooms and green beans. Pour into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
  • Bake casserole for 45 minutes. While the casserole is baking, prepare the shallot topping by heating the remaining tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Thinly slice the shallots and cook, stirring constantly, until shallots are crisp, but not burned. Remove from the heat and set aside. Combine with the crumbled bacon.
  • After 45 minutes of baking, remove the casserole from the oven, top with shallots and bacon and return to oven for 15 more minutes or until ready to serve.
  • This casserole can be baked at slightly different temperatures and for a little more or less time. It's very flexible so works well with a big holiday feast!

Notes

I use this powdered soup mix in this recipe:
https://momsplaceglutenfree.com/products/gluten-free-cream-of-mushroom-soup-mix?_pos=1&_sid=c1b744498&_ss=r
Mom’s Place also has a dairy free version:
https://momsplaceglutenfree.com/products/gluten-free-dairy-free-cream-of-mushroom-soup?_pos=2&_sid=c1b744498&_ss=r
The flavor in these mixes is outstanding and way better than the canned cream of mushroom soups I’ve tried. If you don’t have time to order these mixes, but have a Trader Joe’s nearby, they have a Umami Seasoning Blend that is a good substitute. 
Keyword Dairy Free, Gluten Free
Jalapeño Popper Pork Loin
November 28, 2022

Jalapeño Popper Pork Loin

This dish is decadent and rich and oh, so yummy! I make this for a regular, old Wednesday night, but it would be perfect for a special occasion meal or a family, holiday get-together. The red bacon and green jalapeños do have a certain Christmasy-ness …