Top 10 Recipes of 2015

It’s the end of 2015 and well, WHOA!
Are you guys ready?
I am definitely not.
I keep hearing my friends saying things like “Next year I want to skydive in the jungle” or “I want to wrestle a lion” or “ I want to write a novel” - and I’m more like “What’s for dinner tonight?” or “Running or yoga tomorrow?”
Apparently, I’m not ready for 2016.
The only thing I know is that the new year will be filled with delicious food. Just like 2015, maybe even better...if that’s even possible.

Anyways, with the year coming to a close, I thought I’d put together a collection of the 10 most popular recipes on the blog during 2015 (in terms of pageviews).
Now mind you, these recipes are ones posted from January through December 2015 — basically this an annual roundup.
It’s quite an awesome bunch and you won’t be surprised that all of the most popular recipes are savory ones.

Quinoa Avocado and Apple Detox Salad

I’ll admit it, I tried to be virtuous but I totally went overboard with eating last weekend. Faced with homemade Christmas treats, it was hard to say no.
Yesterday morning I woke up feeling absolutely terrible. I actually felt like a Thanksgiving turkey: overstuffed, bloated, and even nauseated.
I was SO ready for a major detox.

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas

I can’t quite believe it’s Christmas Eve and I’m here writing my Christmas blog post.
Roaring fires, good food, and the air filled with warmth.
Oh man, I love Christmas.

I love it even if every year at Christmas I'm reminded how bad I am at wrapping gifts.
The presents are usually “wrapped” in some sort of way and then I pile on the tape.
Tape is amazing.
Another option is the Tootsie Roll Twist — doesn’t matter the size or shape of the present.
If all else fails: Gift bag. Gift bags are magic.

Anyways, I’m also busy whipping up a feast for my family.
This year the menu includes a beef roulade stuffed with all sorts of delicious things (I know, awesome), Garlic Thyme Potatoes Anna, Baked Spinach, Maple-Glazed Butternut Squash, Chocolate Avocado Chia Pudding, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
I come from a large family where everyone loves to eat well (and drink good wine).
So yeah, a lot of pressure on Mike...

As I look back at the year gone by, there is one thing that stands out the most: YOU GUYS!
I am so very grateful that you guys read this blog, enjoy it, share it, and engage with me on here, Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, and Pinterest.
I really hope that in some way it enriches your life as much as it enriches mine to write it.
Thank you.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Butternut Squash Fritters (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)

Since we’re all super busy these days, I’m going to keep things simple and give you a quick and easy recipe.
Because if there’s one thing I know is that during holiday season the most valuable thing is our time. And clearing your schedule for an evening (with no work, no cooking, no phone calls) is the best gift you could ever give yourself. Imma right?

3-Ingredient Chocolate Fudge with Sea Salt

Now that we are 6 days away from Christmas, I finally got into the holiday spirit. About time right?
Decorating the apt, shopping for friends and family, and changing the playlist to some Christmas music.
I have to be completely honest here, nothing puts me in the holiday spirit quite like the seasonal sounds of festive holiday music.
So I thought it would be cool to share my top five Christmas songs [drumroll please]:

Chocolate Dipped Almond Shortbread Cookies with Sea Salt

I firmly believe that shortbread is one of the simplest and most satisfying cookies there is.
And yet, there is a notable, sad absence for a shortbread recipe on this site and it’s like totally my fault.
But you see, authentic Scottish shortbread is made of just 3 ingredients: butter, sugar, and flour. And sugar and flour (2 out of 3) are not paleo-friendly.
Which means that shortbread is almost like paleo-poison: all one you need is one bite to be doomed for all eternity Mwahahaha Hahahaaha...

The Best Baked Kale

Let’s face it. Things just aren’t the way they used to be.
Life before Instagram seems like 100 years ago.
More even. Life before smartphones: was there even life before smartphones?
The first iPhone was released in 2007 — a time when dinosaurs still prowled the Earth.
Smartphones have changed the way we live, they have collapsed so many things we use every day into a little block made of plastic, metal, and glass.
They have changed the very notion of what a phone is. It's no longer a device to make phone calls: A smartphone is an all-purpose pocket-size computer we can use to direct (and control) our lives.