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Grain-Free Creamy Lemon Rice Soup

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This Grain-Free Creamy Lemon Rice Soup is an amazingly cozy soup. It’s got it all — lemony zing, a creamy texture, and healing ingredients. This is perfect for a cold autumn or winter day.
creamy lemon rice soup

My name is Stacey and I’m a soup addict. I could eat soup all day everyday, all year round. Sometimes I like a thinner brothy soup, other times I like a creamy cozy soup. This one falls into the latter category — this Grain-Free Creamy Lemon Rice Soup is thick, velvety, comforting, and hearty.

I think I’ve always loved soups. When I was a kid, my favorite soup was wonton soup from the local Chinese restaurant — I would eat that first and sometimes as my only food (with those crispy crunchy fried noodles) instead of all of the other food that was ordered.

As an adult, my tastes have changed… okay, maybe not that much because I would probably still love that wonton soup…

One of my favorite soups and one of my all-time most-requested recipes is my White Bean And Kale Soup. It too is creamy and hearty. So, it makes sense that the creaminess in this lemon rice soup is achieved the same way — with white beans. What you taste in this soup is lemony goodness, but there are blended up beans hidden in here, making for an extra creamy and delicious and nutritious soup.

I like to use bone broth in place of regular broth in all of my soups. Bone broth is so good for so many things, it seems silly not to make this easy switch. I have been using store-bought bone broth lately, but I intend to start making my own again. If you want to make homemade bone broth, try out this recipe from my friend Daniela at Calm Eats.

If you need an even better reason to try this soup, white beans are good at boosting energy and calming the mind. They can help improve your memory and can lower cholesterol. And, they are a great source of protein. So, this soup is a slam dunk.

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There are other foods too that can help you reduce anxiety and stress. Download my free ebook now to learn all about them.

creamy lemon rice soup

Here are some of the great healing ingredients in this Grain-Free Creamy Lemon Rice Soup recipe:

Bone broth is filled with bone marrow and essential fatty acids — these things promote optimal brain health. It also contains glycine, which is an amino acid that helps with memory, concentration, stress, and focus.  You can make your own bone broth, but you don’t have to anymore. Bone broth is now available in tons of markets. (See the recipe below for the awesome ready-made bone broth I used in this soup recipe.) It’s sold in boxes just like chicken or vegetable broth. The glucosamine in bone broth can reduce inflammation and strengthen the bones. It’s also great for your skin, hair, and nails. This is a great thing to use for a quick soup base, or to just sip on during the day. Sometimes I’ll have a hot cup of bone broth first thing in the morning for a quick healing pick me up.

White beans are good at boosting energy and calming the mind. They can help improve your memory and can lower cholesterol. And, they are a great source of protein.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better; they actually can rid the body of bacteria. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Celery actually helps stop bleeding — so if you or anyone you know has just had surgery, start adding celery to your dishes! Celery is also great to help lower blood pressure and it’s been known to help with insomnia.

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

creamy lemon rice soup

Grain-Free Creamy Lemon Rice Soup
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Recipe type: grain-free, gluten-free, nut-free
Cuisine: soup
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This Grain-Free Creamy Lemon Rice Soup is so rich and delicious. It's the coziest healing soup that's perfect for those cool autumn and winter days.
Ingredients
  • 3 Tbs ghee (or can use unsalted butter)
  • 1 med onion, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 15-oz can white beans, undrained
  • 4 cups bone broth, divided
  • 1 cup water
  • juice of 2 small lemons
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cup orzo (I use grain-free chickpea orzo, or if not grain-free can substitute rice)
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 3 Tbs snipped fresh dill
Instructions
  1. Heat ghee in a large soup pot over med heat.
  2. Add onion, garlic, celery, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper and sauce until the veggies start to soften, about 5 mins.
  3. Stir in the white beans and ½ cup broth, and sauce, stirring, for 2 mins.
  4. Transfer this mixture to a blender and whiz it up until creamy, or use a stick blender until creamy.
  5. Pour the pureed bean mixture back into the pot and stir in 3-1/2 cups broth and 1 cup of water.
  6. Add the lemon juice.
  7. Add bay leaves and salt. Add a generous amount of black pepper.
  8. Let simmer 20 mins.
  9. Add spinach and orzo and cook until the orzo is al dente.
  10. Stir in the parsley and dill.
  11. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!

creamy lemon rice soup

 

 

 

Healthy Chicken Piccata

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This Chicken Piccata is going to quickly become your new go-to recipe. It’s simple, healthy, and delicious… and it makes for some awesome leftovers.
healthy chicken piccata

Chicken Piccata. Even just the name reminds me of my past. I remember going to old-school Italian restaurants with my family and my favorite thing to order was chicken piccata. But Healthy Chicken Piccata was never a thing. Who knows what ingredients and preparations they used to get it to taste so amazingly delicious… but it definitely wasn’t anything akin to healthy.

I kind of miss those old red-sauce places. You know the ones — they had plastic red and white checkered tablecloths with centerpieces that were made from old wine bottles with candles and all the wax dripped down the sides and hardened. Here in Manhattan there are some of these places left, but you really have to search hard for them.

Calling all of my New York City people: if you know of any of these awesome Italian restaurants, please let me know — I would love to try them. Just being in this environment and smelling all of the amazing aromas coming from some of these grandma-run kitchens, puts me in a good mood and de-stresses me.

A good chicken piccata needs to be lemony and a little buttery. The chicken needs to have a tasty coating and there should be lots of capers all around. And it needs to be cozy, warming, and comforting. This recipe accomplishes all of that while still keeping it healthy. And OMG, it is so good!

And, I have to tell you, this kind of comfort food can be really de-stressing.

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Speaking of reducing stress (which… I mean, who isn’t trying to do this?), if you haven’t already done so, you can download my free ebook all about how to use foods to reduce your stress.

healthy chicken piccata

Keep scrolling for the recipe… but I feel the need to tell you here that capers are one of the foods that can stimulate the happiness center of your brain and can help with your stress levels!

healthy chicken piccata

Here are some of the great healing ingredients in this recipe for Healthy Chicken Piccata:

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses zested lemon peel and lemon juice. This recipe uses both the juice and the zest.

Chicken is something I push people to buy organic if possible. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first. For example, if you have a lot of burning stomach acid, you should avoid chicken for awhile…

Capers, although small in size, are a big source of anti-oxidants, and they actually can make you feel better emotionally because they activate the “happiness” center of your brain.

Ghee is one of the best fats to cook with. Ghee is a clarified butter that has had the milk solids removed and it is lactose free. And, it has the delicious taste of butter.  It has a high smoking point, and it doesn’t have to be refrigerated. I recommend buying organic ghee if possible. Ghee contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.

healthy chicken piccata

Healthy Chicken Piccata
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Recipe type: nut free, gluten free
Cuisine: chicken, Italian
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This Healthy Chicken Piccata recipe is going to quickly become your go-to chicken recipe anytime you need a quick delicious meal.
Ingredients
  • 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • salt and pepper
  • 1-1/2 cups flour of your choice (I used sprouted quinoa flour because that's what I had on hand, but you can use tapioca flour, rice flour, or any non-sweet flour)
  • 2 Tbs dried minced onion flakes
  • ¼ cup ghee (you may not need this much, but have it on hand)
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (you may not need this much, but have it on hand)
  • juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1 large shallot, chopped
  • 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 Tbs capers
  • 1-1/4 cups chicken stock or bone broth
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
  1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  2. Put the flour in a shallow pie plate. Add a generous amount of salt and pepper and the dried minced onion flakes. Stir to combine.
  3. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture so that it's well coated on all sides.
  4. Heat 2 Tbs of ghee and 2 Tbs of oil in a large pan over med heat. When hot, add the chicken and let brown on one side, then flip and brown on the other side, about 5-mins per side. Then, cover, reduce heat, and let cook for another few minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
  5. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate -- you may have to repeat with any remaining chicken.
  6. When all of the chicken is cooked and removed from the pan, add the shallot and garlic to the drippings in the pan and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
  7. Add the capers, lemon juice and zest to the pan. Now add the broth. Simmer for about 5 mins or until the sauce is reduced a bit.
  8. Stir in 1 or 2 Tbs of ghee and let simmer 1 min.
  9. Add the chicken back into the pan, sprinkle parsley on top, and serve it right in the pan.
  10. Enjoy!

healthy chicken piccata

Baked Lemon Cod

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I used to cook fish all of the time. I knew the fish monger by name, and we had an understanding — he let me smell the fish before I bought it, he always told me which variety was the freshest, and I in turn would tell him great ways to cook the different types of seafood. Then I moved. Ugh. Now I don’t make my beloved fish recipes as much anymore because I haven’t developed a relationship like that yet. When I do buy fish, I make it as simple as possible (because sometimes the more complex recipes make my apartment smell like fish a tad too much…) and I’m finding that sometimes I end up loving these new simple recipe creations as much as I used to love my old recipes. This recipe for Baked Lemon Cod is really simple and it’s a winner!

You would think since I now live in the heart of New York City, that I’d be able to find awesome fish… well, not so much… The prices are ridiculously high and the quality is ridiculously low. But, I finally found a place that will let me smell the fish. If you’ve never taken this approach before, I urge you to try it. And no, you don’t look like a crazy person in the store; you look like a chef. If the fish smells fishy, it’s not fresh. If you are looking at a whole fish, look at the eyes — if they are cloudy, it’s not fresh.

There’s nothing worse that getting home from the market, getting all of your ingredients ready, cooking your fish, and then, when you take that first bite… it’s… well, fishy… or slimy… or just old tasting. Funny, I never had this problem when I lived in the suburbs, but life’s full of new experiences and this is a new one for me. So, I will continue to smell and inspect the fish!

Anyway, let me get back on track. This Baked Lemon Cod is delicious. And, it’s simple. There’s no sautéing involved. There’s no flipping of delicate fish. There’s no complicated sauce. But it is truly delicious. I plan on going back to some of my old more involved fish recipes now that I feel like I can, but I will definitely be keeping this simple baked lemon cod in the rotation.

This would be a good recipe to cook for a crowd because all you need is a big sheet pan. Awesome!

So, if you are looking for a simple fish recipe, try this one. If you love it as much as I do you can add it to your weekly menu too.

And, if you want another simple fish recipe, try my Lemon Pesto Fish Fillets.

baked lemon cod

baked lemon cod

Here are some of the healing ingredients in this Baked Lemon Cod recipe:

Fish is great to eat if you feel like you need more energy. It’s also helps with diarrhea and hemorrhoids. I used cod for this recipe, but any firm fleshed sturdy white fish would work great. Cod, like many fish varieties, is good for the cardiovascular system; it helps protect against heart attacks and strokes and helps regulate blood pressure.

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses zested lemon peel and lemon juice.

Oregano is a powerful antioxidant and it is great at fighting bacteria. It’s also known as an herb that brings joy and happiness to people. I even use oregano essential oil and I put a drop in our smoothies or water when anyone has a cold… it works great (but be really careful and read all instructions with your oregano oil — if used improperly, it can burn you!)

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant. It’s not really a flour in the traditional sense; it’s grain and gluten free. It’s good for your circulation and your digestion. Oftentimes I will make recipes (like this one) with tapioca flour — it works as a great substitute in a lot of recipes that would otherwise include flour or another thickener.

baked lemon cod

Baked Lemon Cod
3.0 from 1 reviews
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Recipe type: fish, cod, baked, simple
Cuisine: American, seafood, paleo, Whole30
Author:
Serves: 4
Here's an easy fish recipe for you! This is healthy, delicious, and is easy to make for a crowd.
Ingredients
  • 1-1/3 lb cod fillet, cut into 4 pieces
  • sea salt and black pepper, to season fish
  • 2 Tbs organic, grass-fed butter, melted, plus more as needed
  • Juice of 3 lemons, plus more as needed
  • 5 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • ⅓ cup tapioca flour
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 20 grinds black pepper
  • ¼ tsp crushed hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano, minced, or ¼ tsp dried
  • zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Season the fish with salt and pepper.
  3. Combine the butter, oil, garlic, and lemon juice in a shallow dish.
  4. Combine the tapioca flour, ½ tsp salt, and rest of spices/herbs in another shallow dish.
  5. Dredge the fish in the flour mixture, coating evenly on all sides, then the lemon juice mixture, and then the flour mixture again.
  6. Lay the fish out on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, making sure the fillets are not touching each other.
  7. Place the tray in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.
  8. Heat the remaining lemon juice mixture in a small pot over low heat and let it simmer for a few minutes, until hot. NOTE: if you find you need more liquid for sauce, squeeze more lemon juice into the pan and add a little more butter and/or olive oil.
  9. Remove the fish from the oven, drizzle a little lemon sauce on top and sprinkle with lemon zest.
  10. Enjoy!

baked lemon cod

Chickpea Penne With Arugula Pesto

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Arugula can help cool your body down while giving you a good dose of calcium!
chickpea penne with arugula pesto

Is there anything more comforting than a big bowl of pasta? Nope. There’s not. At least not in my book. And this chickpea penne with arugula pesto doesn’t disappoint.

This recipe is great on 2 different fronts. First, there’s the pesto. OMG — this is sooooooooo good! And, it takes only 5 minutes to make. Next, there’s the beauty and deliciousness of the grain-free pasta made from chickpeas. Well, this is nothing short of genius!

I would serve this to a crowd of eve the pickiest eaters. But, truth be told, the last time I made this, it was all for me. Yes, it’s a really big bowl, I know, but I was home all by myself and I felt like I deserved the queen’s treatment. And this did the trick. And no, I didn’t eat the whole bowl. Well, at least not in one sitting… This was a totally decadent treat for me. A night home alone. A hot bath. A big bowl of this chickpea penne with arugula pesto. A nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Yup, certainly queen-like!

Basil pesto has always been a go-to for me. But recently, I started experimenting with pestos made from different herbs and greens and other interesting veggies. I can honestly say that this arugula pesto is amazing. I have started to like it even better than my traditional beloved basil pesto.

As soon as I admitted my love for all things pesto, I started seeing recipes all over the place. I just want to give a shout-out to Emily at A Nutritionist Eats for opening my eyes to arugula pesto.

chickpea penne with arugula pesto

chickpea penne with arugula pesto

Here are some of the great healing ingredients in this chickpea penne with arugula pesto:

Arugula has a good amount of calcium and it also contains vitamins A, C and K. It is rich in potassium and it’s extra beneficial in the summer because it actually cools the body down. This delicious peppery green is also believed to be a libido booster. One of the first things I learned when I started really taking care of my health through proper nutrition, was to substitute dark greens for lighter greens whenever possible. One of the easiest, tastiest, and healthiest switches you can make is to swap out some of your lighter salad greens for peppery, dark arugula.

Chickpeas actually help calm the spirit. They relieve anxiety and soothe irritability… it kind of makes you realize why hummus is so popular…

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses zested lemon peel and lemon juice.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healty choice.

chickpea penne with arugula pesto

Chickpea Penne With Arugula Pesto
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Recipe type: simple, pasta, comfort food, pesto
Cuisine: pasta, American, Italian, grain-free, dairy-free
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 3
Arugula pesto is even better than basil pesto! This is awesome. And it takes only 5 minutes to make it. Use grain-free pasta like I did, or substitute your own favorite pasta!
Ingredients
  • ½ lb grain-free chickpea pasta (or use your favorite pasta), cooked al dente, and drained (SAVE ABOUT ⅓ CUP OF THE PASTA COOKING WATER FOR THE PESTO!!!)
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice and zest from one lemon
  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 Tbs vegan Parmesan (or whatever Parmesan makes you smile)
  • Sea salt to taste
  • pinch of dried red pepper flakes, or to taste
Instructions
  1. Put the cooked pasta in a large bowl. (Be sure to reserve about ⅓ cup of the pasta cooking water, and set that on the side in case you need it for the pesto.)
  2. Put all remaining ingredients in a food processor and process until finely minced. Add as much of the reserved pasta cooking water as you need to make it a creamy pesto-y consistency.
  3. Toss the pesto with the pasta.
  4. Enjoy!

chickpea penne with arugula pesto

Paleo Lemon Cookies

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Lemon peels help detoxify your body and boost your immune system!
paleo lemon cookies

These cookies are what I call a “pantry dessert”. That means that I can whip it up without having to go to the store for anything. These paleo lemon cookies are made with a bunch of ingredients found in many healthy pantries and with some fresh lemons.

Everyone who knows me knows that desserts are not my forte. I oftentimes get an A for effort, but a C for taste. I was the mom who used to burn the chocolate chip cookies that you just had to slice and bake. I attribute this lack of baking ability to the fact that I like to taste as I go and I hate to measure. My daughter is constantly slapping her hand to her forehead in frustration when she watches me bake — she’s a great baker and understands the value of the science behind it.

So, believe me when I tell you, that these paleo lemon cookies are easy. I made them and they came out great the first time. I took the original impressive recipe from a great blog, Texanerin Baking and it’s a winner — even with my not-so-standard adjustments.

These cookies taste like deliciously sweet sugar cookies with a hint of lemon. The first night, we ate a bunch of them because they were so good. The second day, the taste was the same, but the texture changed to be like moist soft macarons. The taste was still just as amazing, but we crumbled them on top of smoothie bowls and yogurt parfaits. I highly recommend that you try this too!

For another great simple cookie, try my Paleo Peanut Butter Cookies.

paleo lemon cookies

paleo lemon cookies

Here are some of the healing ingredients in these paleo lemon cookies:

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses zested lemon peel and lemon juice.

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

Pure maple syrup contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body (think inflammatory bowel syndrome or heart disease). It also contains zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It’s much lower on the glycemic scale than traditional sugar. Whenever possible, use a darker (grade B) syrup because the nutritional composition is better than that of lighter syrups.

In eastern medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. And perhaps most importantly, it helps you keep your mind sharp and it makes it easier for you to focus. These cookies contain coconut oil and coconut flour.

In eastern medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. This recipe uses almond flour.

paleo lemon cookies

Paleo Lemon Cookies
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Recipe type: dessert, cookies, paleo
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Texanerin Baking
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 13
These cookies taste like deliciously sweet sugar cookies with a hint of lemon. They are completely grain-free and dairy-free and contain healing ingredients!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the coconut oil, maple syrup, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  3. In another bowl, combine the coconut flour, almond flour, baking soda, salt, and hemp seeds.
  4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
  5. Roll the dough into golf-ball size balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them at least a few inches apart.
  6. Press down on the cookies with a fork or your hand. (I used a fork, but found it much easier when the fork was wet.)
  7. I got 13 cookies out of my dough, but whatever you get, is fine.
  8. Bake until the cookies are slightly brown on the edges and a bit on the tops too; mine took 23 minutes, but the original recipe says to check them after 12 minutes...
  9. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing them from the tray.
  10. I stored my leftovers in a sealed container and they were awesome the next day, just a lot softer. (I highly recommend crumbling them up the next day and topping your yogurt or smoothie bowl with the crumbles...yum!)
  11. Enjoy!

paleo lemon cookies

Roasted Lemon Shrimp

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I love a sheet pan dinner and this roasted lemon shrimp is a great one!

roasted lemon shrimp

I bought some beautiful looking shrimp at the market, with the best intentions of cooking them for dinner. But you know how it sometimes goes with the best intentions…

The weather was so nice outside, I saw an old friend for lunch, I had some binge-watching to catch up on…

Anyway, the next morning when I opened the fridge the whole bag of shrimp was staring me in the face. It was only 8:00 in the morning, I was putting my breakfast smoothie ingredients into my blender, and truly, the last thing I wanted to think about was the bag of raw shrimp in the fridge that was about to go bad.

So, I remembered my last sheet pan fish dinner that turned out so well (Roasted Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner), and I dumped the bag of shrimp onto my sheet pan. I added lots of lemon and some spices and ta-da, this awesome and soooooooooo easy recipe for roasted lemon shrimp was born.  And yes, I did this at 8:00 in the morning, and it was done by the time I finished drinking my shake while catching up on my emails. I put them in the fridge and I didn’t have to think about dinner again!

I’m not telling you to make this because it’s ridiculously easy (but it is). I’m saying you should make it because it’s so lemony and clean tasting that I know you will love it!

roasted lemon shrimp

roasted lemon shrimp

This recipe is simple, but healing:

Many of my friends used to stay away from shrimp because they were afraid that eating them raised cholesterol levels. Now, research shows that shrimp actually can lower triglycerides because they are rich in Omega-3s. And, they are high in protein and low in calories, so really, they are a pretty good thing. In Chinese medicine, shrimp are actually recommended as a food to promote longevity because they nourish the kidneys, and in Chinese medicine, the kidneys are the key to life. Shrimp are great to boost libido, lessen some lower back pain and weakness, and they can help new moms with lactation.

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses lemon juice and grated lemon zest.

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

roasted lemon shrimp

Roasted Lemon Shrimp
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Recipe type: seafood, shrimp
Cuisine: American
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This is the easiest recipe ever! And the shrimp are so lemony and clean tasting... it's just awesome! And, of course, it's a healing recipe!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 lb large, raw shrimp, cleaned, tails left on
  • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • ½ of a large lemon, juiced and tested
  • Another lemon, sliced
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 3 scallions, sliced into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Put the shrimp in a big pile on the middle of the pan. Add the oil to the pile, along with the oregano and salt and pepper. Also add the lemon juice and lemon zest.
  4. Toss with your hands to combine well and then spread the shrimp out in a single layer. (I do it this way so there's no need for a second bowl or pan.)
  5. Sprinkle the scallion pieces all around.
  6. Roast in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the shrimp are almost done, but not quite cooked all the way through.
  7. Remove the tray from the oven and change the setting to broil.
  8. When the broiler is hot, slip the tray back into the oven.
  9. Broil for a few minutes or until the lemons start to darken and the shrimp are cooked through.
  10. Enjoy!

roasted lemon shrimp

Lemon Pesto Fish Fillets

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Dinner doesn’t get easier than these lemon pesto fish fillets!

lemon pesto fish fillets

Sometimes I want to make fish but I don’t want all of the fuss that sometimes comes with some of my seafood creations.  I don’t know what it is about fish that triggers something in my head that says I have to make a sauce or lots of sides, but it really doesn’t need to be that way. I created this recipe  on one of those nights that I was hungry and wanted to eat fast. It was mid-week and the cod at the market looked really good, so I bought it. When I was deciding what to do with it, I stood in front of my open fridge and peered inside. This is a bad habit of mine — I just stand there hoping for ingredients that don’t exist to appear…

But, on this particular day, I saw a container filled with a beautifully green fresh pesto that I forgot I had. Two days earlier, I was at the farmers’ market and there was a vendor selling all different kinds of the most amazingly delicious fresh pestos. I bought it thinking I was really going to use it as a dip, but when I saw it, it was like a lightbulb went on over my head and this simple recipe jumped into my brain.

The pesto I used was a vegan kale, arugula, and basil pesto, but you can use any kind of pesto you like.

The bright flavor of the pesto and the lemon juice and grated lemon peels make this dish taste like spring.

So, don’t wait until you feel like cooking to make these lemon pesto fish fillets! They can be made any night you have 15 minutes to spare!

And, for the next time you want an easy fish recipe, try my simple Perfect Baked Fish recipe.

lemon pesto fish fillets

Here are some nutrition facts for this recipe:

Fish is great to eat if you feel like you need more energy. It’s also helps with diarrhea and hemorrhoids. I used cod for this recipe, but almost any fish would be delicious with this preparation and creamy mustard sauce. Red Snapper, like many fish varieties, is good for the cardiovascular system; it helps protect against heart attacks and strokes and can help regulate blood pressure. It’s also very low in calories… so have a nice big piece! (Please, avoid farm-raised fish and those varieties with a high amount of mercury.)

Kale is everywhere these days. I kind of got a little tired of just eating it in salads, so I now use it inside of different dishes, like here in this pesto (if you make your own pesto, just toss some kale leaves in with the basil). It is extremely nutritious, and because it is so popular you can find it already washed and prepared in lots of markets, and it’s in so many prepared dishes now, like pestos, salsas, and sauces. I bought my pesto for this dish already made and packed in a container; it seems to be the in-thing at farmers’ markets this season! Kale is a great source of fiber and calcium. It’s also rich in many minerals, including magnesium, iron and potassium. One serving contains 200% of the daily requirements of Vitamin C and 180% of Vitamin A.

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (yes, really), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

Arugula has a good amount of calcium and it also contains vitamins A, C and K. It is rich in potassium and it’s extra beneficial in the summer because it actually cools the body down. This delicious peppery green is also believed to be a libido booster. One of the first things I learned when I started really taking care of my health through proper nutrition, was to substitute dark greens for lighter greens whenever possible. One of the easiest, tastiest, and healthiest switches you can make is to swap out some of your lighter salad greens for peppery, dark arugula.

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels.

lemon pesto fish fillets

Lemon Pesto Fish Fillets
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Recipe type: fish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-3
All you need is 15 minutes to make this easy fish recipe; it will be your go-to on a busy week-night... and it tastes so fresh and bright!
Ingredients
  • 1 lb fish fillets, cut into 4 pieces (I used cod, but use whatever looks fresh at the market)
  • 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 2 lemons: 1 juiced and zested; the other sliced
  • about ¾ cup pesto (any variety you like -- I used a vegan kale, basil, arugula pesto)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Grease a baking sheet with the oil.
  3. Season the fish with salt and pepper.
  4. Lay the lemon slices on the bottom of the baking sheet.
  5. Arrange the fish on top of the lemon slices.
  6. Spread the pesto over the fish fillets.
  7. Squeeze the lemon over the pesto.
  8. Roast the fish in the oven until the centers flake easily with a fork (mine took 15 minutes, but yours may be different)
  9. Remove the fish from the oven and sprinkle the lemon zest over.
  10. Enjoy!

lemon pesto fish fillets

Chicken Dijonnaise

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Chicken dijonnaise reminds me of my childhood — I think you’ll find it as comforting as I do!

chicken dijonnaise

I remember making Chicken Dijonnaise before I knew how to really cook. I used to make it because it was easy. And edible. But it never tasted like this chicken dijonnaise recipe! I wish I could give it to you now to taste it because my words won’t do it justice. It’s that good!

I made this a few weeks ago because I was having a little deja vu moment that took me back many many years. And, I had a package of organic chicken thighs in my fridge that needed to be cooked. And, I really, really love mayonnaise. And, I have a jar of healthy mayonnaise that I love in my fridge. And, I was feeling a bit hangry and I had to eat very soon or I would turn into Marcia Brady in that Snickers commercial.

So, here’s my much-better-than-years-ago chicken dijonnaise recipe.

It’s creamy, and tangy and a little charred and pretty and healthy. Don’t let the hangries get you — make this now!

If you’re in a spicy mood, here’s another of my favorite chicken thigh recipes.

chicken dijonnaise

Here’s some reasons why this amazing recipe is good for you:

Chicken is a healthy protein that gives you energy, lessens the pain of some types of arthritis, and boosts your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first. And, whenever possible, buy organic chicken!

Mustard is rich in calcium, potassium, selenium and phosphorous. It’s recommended for people battling cancer because of its high phytonutrient content. People with psoriasis and some other skin issues can also benefit from mustard’s nutritional breakdown.

Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. I always try to use the lemon peels when I’m squeezing lemon juice for a recipe. If you don’t have a good microplane or grater, it’s a good investment so you can easily grate the peels onto your dishes to make them even healthier and taste so much brighter.

Turmeric is actually a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

chicken dijonnaise

Chicken Dijonnaise
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Recipe type: chicken
Cuisine: recipe inspired by: The Crepes Of Wrath
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Simple, healthy, and so delicious... you really need to make this one!
Ingredients
  • 8 boneless chicken thighs (preferably organic)
  • 3 Tbs Dijon mustard
  • 2 Tbs mayonnaise (I like this one)
  • ¾ tsp turmeric
  • 3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • juice and grated rind of one large lemon
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp dried minced onion flakes
Instructions
  1. Place all of the ingredients, except the grated lemon rind, in a zip-top bag or a shallow baking dish. Mush it around until the chicken is well coated.
  2. Place the bag in the fridge to marinate for as long as is convenient. I've marinated mine anywhere from 20-minutes to overnight and each time it was great!
  3. Preheat the oven to 425°F convection setting or 450°F bake setting.
  4. Place a rack on top of a baking sheet.
  5. Place the chicken pieces, covered in the marinade, on top of the rack, making sure they are not touching each other.
  6. Bake 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and has some dark brown patches on it.
  7. Grate the lemon rind on top of the chicken.
  8. Serve and enjoy!

chicken dijonnaise

 

Chicken Potato Tomato Skillet

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This chicken potato tomato skillet is made and served right in the skillet!

Chicken, Tomato, And Potato Skillet

There’s just something about food that’s served in a skillet that makes it look so appetizing. I’m a sucker for any menu item that is described as a “skillet”. I love a breakfast “skillet” and no matter what the ingredients, I will think about ordering it before any other menu item. Does this make me weird?

This is one of those recipes that is perfect for those nights that you just don’t know what to make. It’s versatile enough so that you can substitute whatever meat you want, whatever veggies look good, and whatever type of potatoes are lying around your kitchen.

I made this dinner even easier by using leftover tomato sauce that was in my freezer. You can make it even easier than I did by using your favorite store-bought sauce.

So, here’s a dinner skillet. This chicken, potato, and tomato skillet is awesome. It’s a one-pot meal, so clean-up is a breeze and it’s easy to make.

And, come on, who doesn’t like chicken and potatoes and tomatoes and spinach served in skillet?

As I was just re-reading what I wrote, I had a great idea! The next time I make this dish, I am going to toast some healthy garlic bread and hide some of it in the bottom of this skillet… okay, now I’m really excited. I’m never sure if it’s a good thing or not that I get excited so easily by food…

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now (okay… always…), so let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a skillet recipe with your name on it…  So CLICK HEREto be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

If you like this kind of thing, you should also try my recipe for Chicken Stew With Potatoes And Crispy Brussels Sprouts!

Chicken, Potato, And Tomato SkilletChicken, Tomato, And Potato Skillet

Here are some of the great health benefits of this awesome chicken potato tomato skillet:

Chicken is something I push people to buy organic if possible. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first.

It is true that spinach contains iron, but it’s this vegetable’s lesser-known qualities that really hold my admiration. Spinach contains a substance that helps eliminate prostate cancer. It’s also great for your bones and also for memory loss. Diabetic patients may find that eating spinach helps combat excessive thirst and can even be good for night blindness. Spinach can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so calcium-rich foods should be avoided when eating this leafy green.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections.

Chicken, Potato, And Tomato Skillet

If you make this Chicken Potato Tomato Skillet recipe, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Chicken, Potato, And Tomato Skillet
5.0 from 1 reviews
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Recipe type: one-pot, chicken
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: 12 Tomatoes
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This one-pot skillet meal is delicious, simple, and healing. Feel free to substitute other meats and vegetables -- it's all about what makes you happy!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 lb. boneless chicken thighs
  • 2 baking potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 1 large shallot, sliced
  • 6 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 9 oz fresh spinach
  • 1-1/2 cups marinara sauce (either homemade or store-bought)
  • juice of ½ a lemon
  • ¼ tsp dried oregano
  • ⅓ cup chicken broth
  • ½ tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  3. In a medium oven-proof skillet with sides, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to get a little color, about 5-minutes.
  4. Remove the potatoes to a plate and add the chicken to the pan, stirring until the chicken begins to color.
  5. Add the potatoes back to the pan.
  6. Next, add the shallot, garlic, and spinach, and stir until the spinach is wilted, about 1-minute. (You may have to add the spinach a little at a time in order to fit it all in the skillet.)
  7. Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet.
  8. Stir in the lemon juice, chicken broth, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
  9. Bake the skillet in the oven about 40 minutes or until the chicken and potatoes are cooked through.
  10. Enjoy!

 

Chicken, Potato, And Tomato Skillet

Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese (Grain-Free Bagel & A Schmear…)

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If you haven’t found a dairy-free spread you like yet, make this vegan cashew cream cheese!

Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese

A bagel and a schmear… really, is there a more delicious breakfast? (Do I sound too New York-ish or what…)

It’s been many years since bagels have had a place in my breakfast rotation. I feel so much better without grains in my diet, that bagels went by the wayside. But I’m trying to fix this. Really I had no choice but to fix it because I really love this recipe.

I made this cream cheese out of cashews and it was so good that I was craving a bagel. And lox. So, what I’m telling you is twofold: One — make this vegan cashew cream cheese. Two make or buy some grain-free bagels and stock up on some lox. You may be eating this several times a week. Maybe even several times a day.

And when I ran out of lox, I ate it with just the tomato and cream cheese…

bagel with tomato (better edit)-1452

When I have time I bake these Grain-Free Bagels, and now, some supermarket even sell grain-free bagels, so I’m set. The ones I make are kind of cake-like but taste good. The ones I buy are crunchier but they have a little bit of cheese in the dough, so I’m torn…

Let’s get back to this cream cheese. It’s really really good. Even Steve, who’s does eat dairy sometimes, thinks it’s great and loves it on the bagels. And, when you add lox and tomato… OMG, we are happy campers.

I ate the sandwich you see in these pictures for lunch when I was by myself. Then there were days that I had some version of the bagel and a schmear for breakfast AND lunch. It started to get a bit out of control. So, now, I try to pace myself. Sunday brunch is enough. OK, maybe once during the week too if no one is looking…

Vegan Cashew Cream CheeseVegan Cashew Cream Cheese

Here’s some reasons to make this cream cheese:

Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healty choice. For this cream cheese I used raw cashews. I know some of you have a problem finding raw nuts sometimes — I’m happy to try to help you locate them if you need shopping suggestions, so just leave a comment and I will try to help. I buy them whenever and wherever I see them. I’m also lucky enough to live near a Whole Foods, so I sometimes buy them from the bulk bins here.

Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-y taste without using any dairy and it adds amino acids and Vitamin B, so it’s perfect here.

Lemons are good for your digestion, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH, and they act as an antibacterial. They also can soothe a sore throat, lessen a cough, and hydrate the body.

Scallions, if you know me, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb(Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever. And, they make this cream cheese taste more like traditional cream cheese.

Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese (Grain-Free Bagel & A Schmear...)
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Recipe type: condiment, spread
Cuisine: recipe adapted from:connoisseurusveg
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: about ¾ cup
This cream cheese is dairy-free and vegan. It tastes great spread on a bagel with lox and tomato!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients, except scallions, in blender or food processor. (You will have to stop the machine and scrape down the sides several times, but be patient and it will come together!)
  2. When the cream cheese is smooth, scrape it into a bowl and stir in the scallions.
  3. Spread it on a grain-free toasted bagel with lox and tomatoes!
  4. Enjoy!

 

bagel, lox, and cream cheese collage