Roasted Kabocha Squash, Carrot & Ginger Soup With Lamb Meatballs

So, I haven’t eaten eggs, tomatoes, peppers, white potatoes, eggplant, grains, dairy or nuts in about twelve days.

I’m doing a bit of an elimination diet in order to detect some suspected food allergies. I’m not going to lie to you, it could be easier. In the past twelve days I’ve realized I feel slightly paralyzed without eggs and I put tomatoes in nearly everything. But, in the hopes of not freaking out and attempting to sell my kidney on the black market for a plate of runny-yolked gold, I’ve been trying my best to make satiating meals that aren’t lacking in flavor. However, I’d like to reiterate that taking away things like tomatoes and chili powder and paprika make me feel like I’m cooking with a couple of those lobster claw oven mitts on. A little clumsy. A little frustrated. A little confused as to why I have lobster claws instead of hands. I’m sure there were like a zillion better, more coherent similes that I could have used right there. But, of course, I went oven mitts. Oy. […]

How To Make Chicken Broth In A Crock Pot

I have a confession to make (I wonder how many blog posts I’ve started with that statement–I always feel like I’m confessing something here).

I haven’t always made good use of my leftover chicken bones.

In fact, I used to let my cat eat them (I think at least a hundred of you just unsubscribed from my blog–Uh oh). Well, not the actual bones, but the carcass. In college, my cat and I used to split a rotisserie chicken. This explanation isn’t making things any better is it? I feel like there is no way that I can not sound like a decidedly gross cat lady. To be fair, I was nineteen and lived alone with a slightly bossy (and always hungry) feline roommate. This isn’t making anything better. At all. I should probably erase this entire paragraph, but I shall leave it in the spirit of truth telling and friendship. […]

Mom’s Super Healing Chicken Stew

Fact: There are times in life when you need your Mama-Bear, no matter how old you are.

Fact: Yes, I sometimes refer to my Mom as Mama-Bear. No one should look surprised. Does she call me Baby-Bear in return? Maybe. Am I nearly thirty years old? Affirmative. Just go with it.

Fact: Mama-Bears are really good at making ordinary food taste like liquid gold.

For example, while I was under the weather this past weekend my Mom whipped me up a chicken stew that tasted like fifty billion liquid hugs. I’m not kidding. It tasted like growing up, and all the times I had the sniffles. It smelled like my grandmother’s kitchen on a wintry day. Through the scent of it bubbling on the stove came the memories, through the memories came the feelings of familiarity and warmth, and through that warmth came a deep feeling of love. Who ever thinks love is not a legit ingredient in cooking is wrong. Or, maybe they’ve just never tasted a Mama-Bear’s chicken stew. That’s okay. I’ll show you how it’s done. […]

Fiesta Chicken Soup {Gluten-Free & Paleo Option}

Sometimes you have a day where you make exactly two pans of failed brownies. This happens. It’s a hazard of the trade. It’s my job to fail at these things so y’all don’t have to. I get it. It can just be kind of heart-breaking to pull a freshly baked batch of brownies out of the oven, cut yourself a slice, put the fork into your mouth and then… *gag*.  Maybe squash was a bad choice. I admit it. Chocolate + Squash isn’t the brownie dream team. Lesson learned.

After my squash-tastrophe, I really needed a recipe WIN!  I set aside the remnants of Browniegate and started making some soup. Soup is comforting. Soup is kind. Soup will warm you up and hug you on the inside. I needed an inside hug. Sounds creepy, but I stand by my statement.  This Fiesta Soup is a total inside liquid tummy hug. The spices are warming, the chicken is tender. The soup gains a little thickness with the aid of some corn tortillas. If you are Paleo, feel free to leave them out. The flavor of the soup will still be just as good, you will just lose a little bit of the heft. Top it off with some avocado, sour cream, raw cheddar and scallions! Heck to the yes. Par-tay in a bowl!! So. Much. Better. Than. Squash. Brownies. […]