I didn’t think I could do this to my girl Ina, but here it is, True Roots is my new go to cookbook! I had anxiety about what I wanted to make and share with y’all because I wanted to make everything! I haven’t found a cookbook where I would make 99% of the recipes until Kristin Cavallari’s new cookbook came out and not because I was Team Kristin. Her recipes are all gluten-free, dairy-free (she does use sheep and goat milk just FYI), and refined sugar free. Oh and the 1% is the Apple and Fennel Salad only because I hate fennel.
The recipes are inviting; they aren’t overly complicated. There are a few specialty ingredients you’ll need to get from Natural Grocers or Amazon, but that’s easy. What I love is that every recipe I made was packed with flavor and was made with ingredients that help you, not hurt you. It’s win win.
Say you’re trying to eat mindfully and cleaner these days but you’re a little bummed because you always loved Lay’s Onion Dip or apple pie or French fries or stuffed jalapeños at a football party. You now have a clean version. She took those things like fried green beans and changed it up with good ingredients and preparation. Here we go!
Breakfast
Zucchini Oatmeal Muffin Cups
Okay I cheated a bit on this one. We made these with strawberries instead of zucchini. I made these with my daughter and there’s no way she would be down with knowing about the zucchini because she’s almost 4 and calls me out on everything. They were very good, easy, maybe took us 20 minutes. And I’m not even a big muffin gal. These could be so simple to make for the week and grab running out the door and you’re already getting one serving of greens in.
Next Up: Zucchini Bread French Toast, Chocolate Chia Parfait
Salad
Buffalo Chicken Salad
I love chicken salad and I love buffalo sauce so this won me over fast. It was so tasty! I had it for 3 meals over the week and it was perfect. I threw some arugula in for one meal and I definitely recommend that. I shouldn’t have to sell you too hard on this one, it’s just damn good.
Up Next: BBQ Chicken Salad with Pineapple Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Entree
Caramelized Blackberry Glazed Duck
Okay this is the easiest, decadent recipe I’ve made before. I got the duck breasts at Rudolph’s in Deep Ellum, but I do think Central Market has duck too, just call first. My fiancé and I made this for a fun date night in. We opened a nice bottle of red wine and this was a perfect entree. Very tasty and the sauce (I’m a sauce girl) is amazing, you could put that s*** on everything.
Up Next: Salmon Soba Noodle Bowl, Spicy Crab and Avocado Tostado
Sides
Garden Cauliflower Rice
I was so curious about this recipe. I was over at my parents’ house and asked if I could try this recipe out on them. We were all pleasantly surprised. This dish has so many nutritious ingredients: cauliflower, garlic, eggplant, zucchini, and turmeric which makes it a fun yellow. It was flavored with lime zest and juice and shallots and all came together well. You could pair this with almost every entree.
Chickpea Fries
This recipe caught my eye so fast. A way to eat something that resembles a delicious French fry without the guilt/bloat after? I knew I was making this one. Okay this recipe took the most amount of steps I think, but worth it. Not to overly repeat myself, but so much nice flavor. My only tip (I can’t say critique, because I love Kristin) is next time I’m going to make them a little less thick so they could potentially get crispier. But I felt like I was eating a lovely big steak fry and it fooled me in a good way.
Pick Me Up
Iced Matcha Latte
I love matcha! Normally I’ll mix it with a lemon Spindrift. This latte was so easy. Just a little whisking on the stove and its ready to pour over ice. I used macadamia milk; you can use any nut milk, players choice. I also didn’t use canned coconut milk because I didn’t have it. I used coconut butter (my new CAP Beauty coconut butter that I’m obsessed with from Goop) and it was exactly what I needed before my daughter woke up from her nap.
Up Next: Minty Matcha Smoothie, The Refresher
Dessert
Fudge Peanut Butter Brownies
These were good; one of the best non dessert desserts I’ve had. They are not overly sweet which I appreciate and the peanut butter adds a nice little element. They are just as gooey and fudgy as a box of Betty Crocker, but better and you won’t feel the sudden sugar rush and crash. I brought these to my office and surprisingly (I work in manufacturing) they liked them.
Next Up: Lemon Custard Cakes, No Bake Cake Balls
Get True Roots; it will solve your weekday dinners, your weekend dinners, party apps and drinks, holiday treats, and Saturday morning family breakfast. Plus you’ll feel better, look better; who says no to that?
Tag me in what you make; I can’t wait to see. It’s DWD book club time.
xx, Kalain
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