Pecan Crusted Spiced Salmon

Pecan crusted spiced salmon is loaded with flavor, juicy and oh so tasty! This salmon is great for a quick dinner or lunch meal prep!

Ever since Katie Lee from the Kitchen on Food Network made brown sugar spiced salmon, I have been obsessed with the concept! The salmon looks professional and complex yet super easy to make.

The only thing stopping me from eating it so much is that it calls for ½ cup of brown sugar! That’s why I recreated this recipe using coconut sugar instead of brown sugar while also adding pecans for texture and crunch.

I usually pair the salmon with sweet potatoes because the caramelized pecans complement the flavor and texture of the sweet potato. It’s also great to make this for lunch or for your meal prep as the dish is filled with healthy fats, protein, and complex carbohydrates to keep you satisfied and full of energy!

If you are incorporating this recipe into your meal prep, I would recommend eating the salmon at least two days after it has been cooked. If you are anything like me, I like to have my salmon cooked on the raw side so fewer days in the fridge is best!

To make this into a lunch/dinner meal prep: simply boil two peeled sweet potatoes until mushy. Add salt and pepper to your potatoes. Next, saute the rest of your vegetables until halfway cooked through with salt and pepper. Assemble by adding mashed sweet potatoes, vegetables and salmon on top. Enjoy!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Pecan crusted spiced salmon is loaded with flavor, juicy and oh so tasty! This salmon is great for a quick dinner or lunch meal prep!

ingredients

• 1 lb fresh salmon

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

• 2 Tbsp coconut sugar

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp pepper

directions

1. Sprinkle seasonings on the pink side of the salmon.

2. Add oil to a pan on medium-high heat. When hot, place seasoning side down on the skillet and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Add salt and pepper to season the skin part of the salmon and flip.

4. Mix sugar and pecans and sprinkle the mixture on top of the salmon. Cover with a lid and set the temperature to low-medium and cook for 5-10 minutes or until desired pink and the sugar has melted.

5. *If the coconut sugar has not caramelized, place the skillet in the oven with the broiler on low. Cook for 1-2 minutes but make sure you keep an eye on it!

6. Let cool and serve with mashed sweet potatoes and steamed vegetables!

Simple Steak Marinade with Chimichurri Sauce

No summer grill is complete without a good steak marinade and chimichurri sauce recipe! Easy, simple and super delicious!

When it comes to steak, you want to think of the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid!). When cooked right, a steak is super juicy and tender on its own with some simple salt and pepper. But to take it to the next level, well, I am all about that! Using marinades is a great way to kick up your steaks just a notch. This simple marinade infuses the steak with tons of flavor. Lime juice is used to break down the toughness of the meat while the garlic brings out the flavor. I highly recommend marinating the steak overnight but if you are pushed for time, 30 minutes should suffice. For this recipe, I used strip steak, but you can also use different cuts of steak like a skirt steak for instance.

My favorite way to cook a steak is on the grill (is there a better way!?). I like to set my grill over medium-high heat and cook each side for just 5 minutes to get a nice sear and to achieve the rare to medium-rare pinkness. You could also cook in a skillet if you do not have access to a grill.

(By the way, this steak marinade recipe can be used for my verde carne asada tostadas!!)

You could stop after grilling your steak, but wouldn’t you like to go an extra step? If you are interested in adding some green to your steak, try out adding a chimichurri sauce! Since you are marinating the steak with subtle ingredients, the sauce really takes the steak to the next level!

Everyday herbs like cilantro and parsley are used to provide a fresh clean flavor to the steak. The sauce is super easy to make with just a processor or blender. You could also use this sauce on different types of dishes like eggs, chicken, or used in pasta salad dishes.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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No summer grill is complete without a good steak marinade and chimichurri sauce recipe! Easy, simple and super delicious! 

INGREDIENTS

Steak Marinade

• 1 1/2 lb steak of choice

• 3 cloves garlic (minced)

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp pepper

• 1 lime (squeezed)

• 2 Tbsp EVOO

Chimichurri Sauce

• 1 cup flat leaf parsley

• 1 cup cilantro

• 4 cloves garlic

• 1/2 medium onion

• 1 Tbsp lime juice

• 1/3 cup EVOO

• S&P to taste

• dash of chili pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS

For the marinade and grilling

1. Coat the steak with salt and pepper on each side.

2. Whisk the garlic, lime, and EVOO together and pour into the Ziploc bag.

3. Add the steak to the bag and marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight preferably.

4. Grill on medium-high heat and cook for 5-10 minutes per side or until desired pinkness.

5. Let the steak rest by placing aluminum foil over the steak for at least five minutes. Cut steak across the grain and serve with chimichurri sauce.

For the chimichurri saucE

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until everything is fully incorporated and smooth.

Slow Cooker Verde Carne Asada Tostadas

Verde carne asada tostadas that are slow cooked and served on a crisp cassava and coconut grain free tortilla! 

In honor of my husband’s favorite, I am sharing the recipe for my slow cooker carne asada tostadas with salsa verde. I have even used his favorite for this recipe -- steak! You can, of course, use whatever protein you desire, but the key ingredients are my homemade salsa verde, onions, garlic, and beef stock. This recipe is super versatile, easy, and delicious.I love this recipe because I get to use my slow cooker, so not only are you getting the juicy and tender meat you are saving time! Sundays are typically designated as my meal prep day so I will start a batch first thing in the morning. By the time dinner comes around, my husband and I will have dinner ready for that night and for the rest of the week!

Tostadas are a super fun way to enjoy carne asada. Who doesn’t like a good crispy fried or baked tortilla?! For this recipe, I love using Siete foods cassava and coconut flour tortillas. I pan fry them with a couple tablespoons of coconut oil. There is just something about these tortillas that just take the recipe to the next level!

Have fun with adding your favorite toppings! I like to keep it simple with cilantro, sliced radishes, avocado salsa verde, and a squeeze of lime.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo with #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Verde carne asada tostadas that are slow cooked and served on a crisp cassava and coconut grain free tortilla! 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs grass fed beef steak

• 2 cups salsa verde

• 1 medium white onion (sliced)

• 5 cloves garlic (mashed)

• 1 cup organic grass fed beef broth low-sodium

Toppings

Fresh cilantro, lime wedges, sliced radishes and avocado salsa verde

Optional toppings

Cotija cheese, refried beans, sliced avocado, diced red onions, and sliced jalapenos

DIRECTIONS

1. Season beef steak with a generous amount of salt and pepper.

2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tbsp coconut oil. Once the pan is hot, add the steak to the pan. Sear the steak for a few minutes on each side. You just want a nice sear; not actually cooking the steak.

3. Turn your crockpot on high and add the seared steak, salsa verde, onions, garlic and beef broth until beef is fully submerged.

4. Cook on high for 5-6 hour or until beef steak is falling apart.

5. While the mixture is cooking, use this time to prep the toppings you will be using for the tostadas.

6. Turn the crockpot off and wait for the meat to cool.

7. As the beef mixture is cooling, in a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp coconut oil on medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, drop one tortilla in until it starts to brown, flip and brown, cooks in about 1-2 minutes. Continue until all tortillas have been fried. Let rest on a paper towel to absorb excess oil and sprinkle with salt.

8. Layer the tostadas with the verde carne asada, chopped cilantro, radishes, then drizzle with avocado salsa verde and squeeze of one lime wedge.

9. Layer with additional ingredients, serve and enjoy!

NOTES

1. Salsa verde and avocado salsa verde recipe 
   

Turkey Meatballs

Healthy baked turkey meatballs that will just melt in your mouth! 

Turkey meatballs are one of the easiest recipes ever! I usually end up making these when I meal prep at least a few times a month… This recipe will make about a dozen meatballs, but I usually double the recipe if I decide to meal prep. I’ll make one big ol’ batch of meatballs and I am set!

You’ll see that I often choose to use ground turkey instead of beef. I prefer using ground turkey because it’s inexpensive, lean, and can be easily influenced flavor-wise based on the number of spices and herbs you put into it.

Since ground turkey is naturally mild in flavor, spices and herbs are key to making a juicy and tender meatball. For this recipe, everyday spices and herbs like parsley, coriander, and ground mustard are incorporated to create a classic meatball that can be used in all kinds of recipes, whether it’s for your basic spaghetti and meatballs, or as an appetizer for a large party. I choose to bake the meatballs rather than pan fry to make them a healthier option. I also find that baking them saves me time because I don’t have to keep a close watch, endlessly worrying if I’m burning them!

If you are wanting to make these turkey meatballs for your meal prep, consider adding them to 100% whole wheat pasta, bean-based pasta, or zoodles! Simply spiralize zucchini to create noodles, add your meatballs, and top it all off with some organic no-sugar-added pasta sauce and cooked mushrooms. Before I seal my meal prep containers, I like to sprinkle some nutritional yeast on top to provide a cheesy flavor component!

Tips for making your meatballs super moist:

• Make sure each meatball are equal in size to ensure they cook evenly.

• Fresh herbs are best! Using dry parsley will not provide the same amount of flavor compared to fresh parsley; trust me, it’s a game changer!

• Don’t overmix! Since ground turkey is a leaner meat, overmixing your ingredients can make the meatballs tough. I prefer using my hands to mix the ingredients.

Want to make these turkey meatballs ahead of time for an event? Freeze them! To freeze the turkey meatballs, follow the recipe as normal and then let them cool. Once cooled, add meatballs to a freezer Ziploc bag and store them in the freezer for up to one month. You can thaw them by moving them to the refrigerator. You could reheat the meatballs by microwave, but I prefer using the oven by setting it to 375 degrees and baking the meatballs for about 15 to 20 minutes.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo with #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Healthy baked turkey meatballs that will just melt in your mouth! 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb ground turkey

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup gluten free breadcrumbs (I use the Schar brand)

• Small handful fresh curly leaf parsley (finely chopped)

• Half small red onion

• Squeeze ½ lemon

• 4 cloves garlic (finely minced)

• 1 Tbsp coconut oil

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp ground pepper

• 1 tsp coriander

• 1 tsp ground mustard

• 1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Place coconut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic and onions until aromatic and the onions are translucent.

3. Place all the ingredients into a large bowl along with the cooked onions and garlic.

4. Using your hands, mix ingredients until fully incorporated but remember to not overmix.

5. Form meatball mixture into golf-sized balls. You can use a cookie scooper to help you measure out the mixture.

6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place meatballs on top.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes and then flip them for an additional 10 minutes or until fully cooked, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

NOTES

1. This recipe makes about 12-16 meatballs. Consider doubling the recipe if you are meal prepping!

2. Spiralizer

3. Glass containers for meal prep

Chicken Zoodle Soup

Chicken zoodle soup is filled with winter harvest vegetables, healthy fats, and sustaining ingredients that will keep you full and filled with all the good feels during this winter season! 

 How cute is my baby boy in this winter storm we had a few weeks back!?

As this may be Rory's first introductory post, he is a pure breed Pembroke welsh corgi and just turned three years old in January! Rory is a very sweet and active boy and definitely keeps us on our toes! Even though he could barely see past the snow flurries, he absolutely loves the winter. If only his love for winter could rub off on me! This ties into another thing that you will learn about me ...

Hello, my name is Candace... and I am not a soup fan! Phew, there I said it!

If I go out to eat or plan out my meals for the week, I am not thinking about soup. Instead, I am thinking about salads, tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches -- you name it! But during these bitterly cold months, I am searching for anything hot and comforting for the body. This soup is filled with winter harvest vegetables, healthy fats, and sustaining ingredients that will keep you full and filled with all the good feels during this winter season!

This soup is inspired by the traditional chicken noodle soup with upgrades that are catered to gluten free, dairy free and low carb lovers. The soup may be a healthier take on the traditional, but it certainly does not lack in flavor and heartiness.

Chicken zoodle soup is a crowd pleaser; the aroma is HEAVENLY when you simmer this bad boy. It’s also super versatile! Feel free to add more veggies, or omit chicken if you want to go vegan. You could also change the protein to a plant-based protein with chickpeas or tofu.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo with #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Chicken zoodle soup is filled with winter harvest vegetables, healthy fats, and sustaining ingredients that will keep you full and filled with all the good feels during this winter season! 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast

• 3 carrots (sliced)

• 3 celery stalks (sliced)

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1 yellow onion

• 2 large zucchini (spiralized)

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 2 cups each organic low sodium chicken and veggie stock

• 2 cups canned coconut milk

• 1/2 lemon

• 1 handful Italian parsley

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Seasonings

• 1 tsp celery salt

• 1 tsp crushed rosemary

• 1 tsp thyme

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 2 bay leaves

• S & P

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat coconut oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.

2. Season chicken breasts with S&P and add chicken to pot. Sear for about 5 minutes per side. Set aside to rest.

3. Saute minced garlic and chopped onion and cook until translucent.

4. Add carrots, celery, and peas and cook for about 5 minutes

5. Shred or dice chicken and add back to the pot.

6. Add both stocks and coconut milk along with the seasonings.

7. Turn the heat down to low-medium heat to let simmer for about 20-25 minutes with the lid on. During this time, you can spiralize the zucchini.

8. Take out the bay leaves and add the spiralized zucchini and parsley. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.

9. Squeeze in lemon and it's ready!