To start, I want to make it abundantly clear, I’m not a skilled cook. I can do little more than follow a recipe and with a little luck it can turn out generally edible. To make matters even better, I have a stomach tolerant of very little food types outside of meat, fruit, and vegetables. And some of those even cause me distress.

These factors are the foundation of my 5 recipes you shouldn’t live without. I, as a matter of fact, don’t live without them. The dishes are so simple I can make them without too much sweat and limited tears and they still taste amazing. 4 of the 5 are kid approved in our household which is another bonus!

Paleo Banana Bread

Kiddo Approved!

My first must have recipe is a gem I came across on the magical world of Pinterest. This Paleo Banana Bread has now been a staple snack made religiously every weekend ever since. Published by Paleo Gluten Free eats, this recipe is quick, easy, and tasty. Plan ahead if you’re a bit of a food prepper like myself requires zero stress. Grab a few extra bananas on your shopping trip and threaten those you live with to never eat the last two. Then, if all goes to plan you’re all set for a bake session a week later.

When I make this, I don’t have the proper size bread pan, so I use the one that I have which is slightly larger .

The quality of the pan is outstanding and the best I’ve used, so I’m totally okay with the outcome based on ease of use with the pan itself! The loaf turns out flatter than the pretty pictures in the original post but the taste is not compromised.

I also found that adding an extra egg to the mix doesn’t hurt, it actually lightens up the bread. Not sure how, again I’m not a cook so the chemistry is like magic to me.

My oven cooks hot combined with my pan being larger; I cook mine between 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Slather this baby up with some almond butter or top with honey and it’s a great add to your breakfast meal or a quick snack whenever.

Banana Protein Pancakes

Kiddo Approved!

My second recipe you shouldn’t live without is a bit of a Frankenstein concoction. It started with yet again a simple Pinterest hit for pancakes that wouldn’t kill my stomach (aka no grains). I had to punch it up with some protein otherwise I’d be hangry not even an hour after the meal. I adjusted a few other components after several trial/errors sessions and ended up with what I consider a winning recipe.

Now the family enjoys this pretty consistently on the weekends as our go to pancakes.

Simple Sausage Casserole

Kiddo Approved!

My third recipe on the list is a relatively new find. It’s newness hasn’t swayed us from plugging it into the bi-weekly meal plan rotation.

Originally posted on paleoleap.com recipe here

I suggest you make this with more not less sausages. You’ll regret it if you only cook 4 in this dish. Fresh thyme doesn’t exist in my kitchen. Or even dried for that matter half the ‘thyme’ (get it!). Instead, I throw a dash of Italian seasoning on top which gets the job done.

I use white sweet potatoes each time I cook this. Yams appeal to me to try as well but I haven’t taken that leap. That added sweetness would really only amplify the level of yum.

I have made this with chicken sausage vs a standard bratwurst to cut out some of the fat, and the results did not disappoint. You can use any of your favorite sausage and be completely thrilled with the results.

Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

Kiddo Approved!

This is one of my favorite breakfast options. I try my hardest to maintain a grain free existence in my food choices. My days of enjoying a crunchy bowl of breakfast cereal are long gone. This chocolate smoothie bowl is a satisfying substitute of cool and smooth with crunch on top from the coconut and cacao nibs. Click here for my full recipe and indulge!

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Yes, I know cauliflower rice….how is that a favorite? If you’re like me and rice isn’t an option, cauliflower rice becomes an required acquired taste. The versatility really is quite impressive with the ability to add different liquids to enhance flavor or different onions or veggies to bring in something else extra. When I came across this gem of a recipe though, it was hands down the BEST way to prepare cauliflower rice to date.

This original recipe was published by Jessica Gavin click here for recipe.

For my purposes I don’t actually add shrimp, I use this when I’m cooking an orange chicken, sweet and sour pork, pretty much anything that you’d want to eat with fried rice normally.

I have made it with the shrimp exactly as the recipe calls for and that was good as well, but you can omit and have just as great side dish for other main course dishes.

Other adjustment to the original are

• Substitute the soy sauce with coconut aminos with equal measurements
• Substitute olive oil or coconut oil for the vegetable oil
• I don’t cube my carrots, I just buy the bag of frozen peas & carrots mix and call it good

Kiddo does not approve of this recipe. No matter what I do to the cauliflower rice, he flat out doesn’t like it. I always keep some raw cauliflower to the side for him and he’s a happy camper.

---

There you have it, my top 5 recipes that are on regular rotation. I’d love to hear what yours are and if you try one of these let me know how it turns out!