DIY
8-Layer Salad - No Grain, Dairy, Pork, or Egg
I grew up eating 7-layer salad most Sundays in the Spring and Summer. It's crisp, full of flavor, and stays fresh even when made the day before (just hold off on the dressing). Unfortunately, the version I had as a child had cheese, bacon, and Miracle Whip (eggs) as the base. Not friendly to dietary […]
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April 16, 2023
Chris Cooks
Pickled Beet Deviled Eggs | Chris Cooks
Deviled eggs are underrated. And also under-experimented with, considering eggs are one of the most versatile and widely-used ingredients out there. And even though we have bouts of egg-free eating, when Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas roll around I can't skip making a version of this tasty appetizer. Serving Platter | Ceramic Bunnies I also love […]
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March 26, 2023
Chris Cooks
Light & Healthy Easter Brunch
I tell myself that I'm not a brunch person. But what is brunch, but a late breakfast? And I'm definitely a late breakfast person so, I guess I am a brunch person. But particularly on holidays, when the brunch sets me up for the main meal coming later. My approach with brunch is simple. Keep […]
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March 19, 2023
Chris Cooks
Cheese-less Potato Casserole - Grain & Dairy Free
Growing up in the Utah/Idaho corridor, "funeral potatoes" have been commonplace my entire life. Of course once people realized it was a bit of a dark name for such an amazing dish, many started calling it "cheesy potato casserole" instead. Whatever you call the dish, goodness sakes its hard to beat. Ruffled Baking Dish | […]
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March 12, 2023
Chris Cooks
Chipotle Chicken Dip - Grain & Dairy Free | Chris Cooks
If I were a little more aware of what sports things happen when, I probably would have posted this a few weeks ago. But really, a good dip is always good. And this one is good. Free from grain, gluten, dairy, soy, egg - so creamy, a touch of spice, and lots of flavor. If […]
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March 5, 2023
Chris Cooks
Iceberg Wedge Salad - Grain, Dairy, & Pork-Free
The classic "wedge" salad is one of my favorites. Crispy bacon, creamy blue cheese dressing, and the crisp, cool lettuce. But when Jules told me she was craving one, I knew that the version I made would need to stand on its own, and not just try to kinda recreate the original. No, the flavor […]
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February 26, 2023
Chris Cooks
Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse | Chris Cooks
For me, simple desserts are hard to beat. A scoop of good ice cream. A cool creme brûlée. A piece of cheesecake. But what do those all have in common? Dairy. So especially when it comes to a romantic dinner for two, desserts can be tough on those with food restrictions. And nothing kills romance […]
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February 12, 2023
Chris Cooks
EPIC Tacos - Chicharron de Ribeye
This post is sponsored by EPIC Provisions. Use code CLJEPIC20 for 20% off everything on their site. I was introduced to Chicharron de Ribeye tacos by my brother-in-law, who is from Monterrey, Mexico. I had never heard of them before, but when he and I were out to dinner and saw them on the menu, […]
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January 29, 2023
Chris Cooks
Chilled Glass Noodles with Peanut Sauce | Chris Cooks
In the world of grain-free eating, glass noodles are Heaven-sent. Not as a substitute, in my opinion. Meaning, I wouldn't necessarily suggest ladling a scoop of marinara over top with some Italian meatballs. But for the joy of eating a noodle, and an openness to try something new, this ingredients will quickly become a pantry […]
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January 15, 2023
Chris Cooks
Vegan-Friendly Chocolate Peppermint Caramel Corn | Chris Cooks
I've shared a version of my caramel corn in the past, but since that time I've tweaked the recipe a tad and I really think it's become something out-of-this-world special. Especially considering that it's dairy free. Now, Jules is typically grain free. But every year around Christmas she asks me to make a batch of […]
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December 18, 2022
Chris Cooks
Swedish Meatballs (Free of Gluten, Grain & Dairy) | Chris Cooks
The first time I made this for my family, my daughter asked, "What's the difference between Swedish meatballs and Italian meatballs?" I thought for a few seconds and said, "Italian meatballs taste like summer, and Swedish meatballs taste like winter." Le Creuset Dutch Oven | Silverware | Wooden Spoon Obviously this is a gross generalization. […]
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December 4, 2022
Chris Cooks
Dairy & Grain-Free Creamy Mashed Potatoes & Gravy | Chris Cooks
Growing up eating mashed potatoes, I didn't really know what I was eating - just that I loved it. Once food restrictions enter the picture, it's kind of mind blowing just how much butter and cream go into making a classic, creamy mashed potato. Add gravy, and you're almost always talking about some kind of […]
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November 6, 2022
Chris Cooks
Baked Blueberries with Pancetta Pecan Crumble | Chris Cooks
If you look at most desserts, gluten and dairy are part of almost all of them. For your friends and family that may have food restrictions, this can feel a little isolating - I've seen it happen to Jules and our daughters countless times. And while they're always positive and good sports about it, it's […]
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October 16, 2022
Chris Cooks
Dairy-Free Rosemary Salted Caramel Sauce | Chris Cooks
This is the one, folks. This is the recipe that changed it all for me. I have to be honest - as someone who loves to cook and experience every kind of food, once Jules and Greta developed their food allergies, there were times I would feel a little like my hands were tied behind […]
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September 4, 2022
Chris Cooks
Gluten Free Meatloaf (Also Grain, Dairy & Egg Free) | Chris Cooks
Meatloaf is classically made with breadcrumbs (or milk-soaked bread if you're a bit extra), eggs, and often grated hard cheese of some kind. And when food allergies pop up, it can start to feel like you'll never enjoy the classics again. And while we still wait and hope for suitable replacements for some things (lookin' […]
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August 21, 2022
Chris Cooks
Roasted Vegetable & Turkey Breakfast Hash | Meal Prep
For Jules and me, most mornings we see each other mostly in passing as she gets home for the gym and I'm rushing out to drop off our daughters. But whether or not you have kids starting school, we could all use a little more time in our mornings and this roasted vegetable breakfast hash […]
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August 14, 2022
Chris Cooks
Fire Roasted Salsa | Chris Cooks
Salsa has been tricky for me, which sounds silly. I've made several versions, and historically the best ones I've made have used canned tomatoes. As someone who is trying to move to "fresh" as much as I can, that's been frustrating. But it makes sense, because canned tomatoes usually contain additional things that make the […]
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June 5, 2022
Chris Cooks
3 Amazing Desserts for the Ninja CREAMi | Chris Cooks
It's no secret we have some food allergies in this house, which can make dessert kind of tricky. I kid you not, our dessert woes are forever over because of this one kitchen appliance. Totally not sponsored, the Ninja CREAMi whips up frozen treats by simply freezing fruit (along with whatever else you want), and […]
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May 22, 2022
Chris Cooks
Sweet & Sour Shrimp (Grain & Gluten Free) | Chris Cooks
Asian food is tricky for a lot of food allergies, particularly grain & gluten. For example, sweet & sour sauce. Typically made with rice vinegar, thickened with corn starch, seasoned with soy sauce (which most often contains gluten). But with a few substitutions, this version hits all the highs without the dietary lows that can […]
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May 15, 2022
Chris Cooks
Coconut Mango Breakfast Tart (grain, gluten, egg, & dairy free) | Chris Cooks
I recently had the honor of showing my parents around this new place we call home and it was a delight. Also a delight was making this coconut mango breakfast tart for my mom. Happy Mother's Day Mom! Patting myself on the back here, but this tart checks all the boxes of light, creamy, tart, […]
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May 8, 2022
