Recipe Roundups

17 of the Best Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipes From Around The Web – including both gluten-free and grain-free banana bread recipes. Most of these recipes are also dairy-free, refined sugar-free and are on the health-conscious end of the banana bread spectrum. You will also find vegan, paleo, and even Keto options! Enjoy!

There’s no denying it…Banana bread recipes are a THING right now.

Truly, they have always been a thing, but now more so than ever. We are all looking for comfort and familiarity with a side of staying well physically.

One of the ways I’m using my free time and mind space is in trying new methods of cooking and baking.

It is fascinating to me how small nuances can change a whole recipe. I purchased to book, The Food Lab to gain a better understanding on how certain ingredients react with others and the way techniques can make all the difference in cooking and baking.

So. We shall start with banana bread. So many recipes, so many flours, all sorts of different takes on this iconic comfort loaf. 

This may be my favorite recipe roundup I have ever shared on The Roasted Root. Why did it take me so long to collect THE best gluten-free banana bread recipes from around the web? Well…I was probably too busy making banana bread.

What you need to know about the recipes in this post is they are from the food blogs I frequent the most, and they are all tried and true recipes. I was sure to include recipes using various flours, as I know there is always a preference when it comes to flours used in gluten-free or grain-free baking.

Be sure to read the descriptions for each recipe to see which one(s) you’d fancy baking!

These gluten-free banana bread recipes are listed in no particular order – they are equally magnificent in my eyes!

You may even recognize a few of my own banana bread recipes in this post 😉 I have A LOT of banana bread recipes on my site, so after much deliberation, I included my Top 3. 

I won’t keep you…I know you have all the baking to do and all the banana bread taste testing to enjoy. I hope you love these recipes as much as I do…feel free to report back on which ones you try and enjoy!

23 Keto Mexican Food Recipes that are hearty, filling, and low-carb. This post includes Low-carb Mexican main entrees for a delicious and nutritious spread.

With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner (tomorrow), I figured I would share some of my favorite recipes for keto Mexican food from around the web in case you are looking for some low-carb inspiration.

While some keto recipes can be overly filled with dairy, I selected recipes that are either dairy-free or low in dairy to ensure you’re pleasing your palate but still feel like you’re taking in a health-conscious meal.

I hope you enjoy these keto Mexican recipes! If you make any of them, be sure to report back and tell me what you made!

My 12 favorite healthy comforting recipes from the blog I make over and over again! If you love your food clean, filling, AND easy to prepare, these recipes may just become a household staple!

Here they are, friends! My absolute favorite recipes from this site.

While I’m constantly developing new recipes for this site, there are some I make time and again. We food bloggers tend to only make a recipe a couple of times and then never revisit it. Like most people, I have my favorite comforting meals that I gravitate towards because I find them to be so satisfying and easy to throw together. 

I do my best to keep meal time simple and stress-free! We could all use a dose of easy and cozy right now, so I figured I would share the recipes that are absolute essentials for me.

When you’re in the mood for something that really hits the spot and is also nourishing, you can use this post as inspiration!

During those times we’re overwhelmed and it feels like everything is falling apart, one of the best things we can do for ourselves in the name of self-love is be good to our bodies. This means honoring our cravings in a way that supports our immune system and mental health.

Leave me a comment letting me know which one(s) you try!

Enjoy! xo

12 Favorite Healthy Comforting Recipes:

30-Minute Summer Red Vegetable Curry – Vegetarian red curry made in only 30 minutes! Yellow squash, zucchini, potato, carrot, and bell pepper are stewed in aromatic coconut milk for a filling yet healthful meal. I change up the types of vegetables I use depending on the season. 

Crispy Paprika Salmon Bowls with Ginger Vegetables and Rice are one of the meals I make multiple times per week. They’re well-balanced, quick and easy to prepare, and hit the spot no matter the season! 

Orange Ginger Chicken Stir Fry with onion, bell pepper, broccoli, and carrot is a quick, easy, nutritious dinner recipe. Serve it up with steamed rice, coconut rice, cauliflower rice or roasted vegetables for a well-balanced meal.

Instant Pot Rotisserie Turmeric Chicken is a perfectly moist and tender whole body chicken recipe that comes out just like rotisserie chicken, but is prepared in your pressure cooker! You’ll put this easy, mouth-watering chicken recipe on repeat!

Coconut Rice – Coconut rice is quite possibly the most magical rice in all the land. If you’ve never had it, you’re in for a treat! Cooked with full-fat canned coconut milk, coconut rice has a subtle sweet flavor with a rich and creamy essence. It is perfect for serving with curry or just about any main dish! 

Crowd-Pleasing Roasted Vegetables – A basic recipe for roasted vegetables that never fails to impress! This healthy and delicious side dish is perfect for meal prepping or serving a group of people. I make this recipe every time I go to a family dinner and anytime I entertain guests at home. 

Soft, Chewy, Gooey Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies are my absolute favorite dessert and are just so comforting. They have a nice crispy outside and that delicious molten inside. You’d never know these cookies are grain-free and refined sugar-free!

30-Minute Chicken Green Curry – Lightning quick Thai green curry is a healthful weeknight meal worthy of putting on repeat. All it takes is 7 basic ingredients to make this gem! I make it several times a month in a large batch and eat on it for many meals. 

Instant Pot Chicken Soup with Rice – Comforting chicken soup with rice, vegetables, and kale. This easy recipe is prepared in your pressure cooker (or can be made on your stove top), and is ultra satisfying! I make it throughout the year, regardless of the weather 😉 

3-Ingredient Mayo-Free Tuna Salad – Lunch can often be the most difficult meal of the day. I usually whip up easy tuna salad made with three basic ingredients in less than 5 minutes. Packed with healthy fats and protein for healthy, filling lunches.

Creamy Turmeric Ginger Baked Sockeye Salmon made with only a few basic ingredients in 30 minutes or less! This easy healthy dinner recipe will please even those who don’t love fish.

Earl Grey Matcha Latte – a frothy matcha tea recipe with collagen, gelatin, flax oil and cinnamon. This creamy beverage includes gut health benefits and is a fabulous way to start the day. I drink one every single morning! 

A couple of weeks ago, I had a reader request freezer meals. Happy to oblige! Nothing pleases me more to provide inspiration or resources for meals that are easy to prepare and save. After all, cooking shouldn’t be complicated (IMHO).

In this post, I am including my favorite recipes from my site that can be frozen, thawed, and re-heated easily, as well as mouth-watering recipes from around the web.

Which Foods Freeze & Reheat Well?:

In general, plenty of liquid and/or fat and minimal vegetables makes a great freezeable meal. You’re pretty safe with anything that is smothered in tomato sauce, a cream-based sauce or coconut milk sauce.

Take lasagna for instance. It includes sauce, minimal fresh vegetables, and plenty of fat (from the cheese and/or meat). Casseroles, meat-centric soups (hello, chili!!!), curries, and recipes using pantry staples freeze and reheat well without tasting funky.  

Hearty vegetables, like root vegetables, winter squash, onion, and peppers freeze and reheat very well, but less hearty vegetables like cauliflower and zucchini do not.

As an exception to this, recipes that are fairly dry for the most part, such as veggie burgers, meatballs, breaded meats, and/or animal protein burgers are great candidates for freezing to reheat and consume later.

So let’s dive in! Here are my favorite healthy freezer meals from both The Roasted Root and from around the web.

Anti-Inflammatory Recipes to Support Your Immune System using nutrient-dense ingredients. Packed with antioxidants to lower inflammation.

40 recipes using pantry ingredients, covering breakfast lunch and dinner. If you have a hefty stock of pantry items but are low in fresh produce, you’ll love these easy nutritious recipes using staples.

 

Many of us keep a hefty stock of pantry items but don’t always have access to fresh produce. Coming from a small mountain town where it can snow non-stop for days, I’m very familiar with pantry cooking. 

When we don’t have control of mother nature, we can make the best of our food situation by whipping up delicious meals using ingredients we always have on hand.

You’d be surprised what you can do with a can of beans. I mean, Double Chocolate Chickpea or Black Bean Brownies, anyone? Suddenly being stuck at home doesn’t seem so bad.

Some of the recipes in this post include ingredients I would consider to be staples. For instance, I personally always have a supply of ground turkey, chicken, and/or sausage in my freezer, and keep bananas, potatoes, carrots, garlic and onion on hand.

If you are fresh out of anything on any of the ingredient lists, feel free to comment below, and I will do my best to provide substitutions! Here are some common substitutions you can employ when in a pinch:

Easy Substitutions:

• Meat: You can always replace meat with rice and beans for a complete protein. If you’re making soup that calls for meat, swap it for black beans and brown rice.
• Potatoes: Most potatoes can be used interchangeably, and butternut squash is a great replacement for potato.
• Carrot: Grated sweet potato, butternut squash, or regular potato can be used to swap out grated carrot.  Carrot and zucchini are interchangeable in baked recipes.
• Sweet Potatoes/Banana: You can often substitute applesauce for mashed sweet potatoes in breads or baked goods using a smaller measurement. For instance, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of mashed sweet potato, use ½ to ⅔ cup applesauce. Mashed banana can be used to replace mashed sweet potato and vice versa in a 1:1 change.
• Tomatoes: If a recipe calls for tomato sauce and you don’t have any on hand, you can blend up diced tomatoes. Similarly, you can often substitute tomato sauce for diced tomatoes if you are fine with a smoother versus chunky texture.
• Nut Butters: Use peanut butter, tahini, almond butter, and cashew butter interchangeably.
• Dried Fruit: Raisins, dried blueberries and cranberries can be used interchangeably. 
• Oil/Butter: Most cooking oils are interchangeable, and butter can almost always be used to replace oil and vice versa. Where I don’t suggest using olive oil is in sweet baked goods, unless you are okay with the olive flavor coming through.
• Dairy-Free Milk: Non-dairy milks such as almond milk, oat milk and coconut milk can be used interchangeably and can often be used to replace cow’s milk.
• Cream: Cream can be replaced with full-fat canned coconut milk.
• Sweeteners: All liquid sweeteners are interchangeable, but be sure to keep a watchful eye on a baked good that uses honey instead of pure maple syrup, as honey burns at a lower temperature.
• Sugar: Coconut sugar + a touch of pure maple syrup can be used to replace brown sugar, and vice versa.
• Eggs: If you don’t have eggs on hand, you can replace 1 egg with ¼ cup of something else. For instance, ½ of a banana, ¼ cup of mashed sweet potato, applesauce, and/or flax or chia eggs. To make 1 flax egg, combine 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons of water and stir well. Allow the mixture to sit and thicken for 10 minutes, then use it as you would a regular egg. 

These easy, nutritious recipes will not only keep you satisfied, they make for fun cooking projects at home! Leave a comment telling me which ones you try, and enjoy!

xo

Sexy dinner recipes for Valentine’s Day that are clean, simple, and easy to prepare! These sultry aphrodisiac recipes are perfect for sharing with your partner.

Do you enjoy cooking for your special someone? For me, preparing a meal to nourish someone you care about can be one of the most heartfelt actions. Not to mention, depending on the meal and vibe, it can create unparalleled intimacy!

I have spoken about aphrodisiac foods on this site numerous times. Not only can food be medicine, but it also dramatically affects the way your body feels, from energy level to mood to libido. 

For this reason, I thought I would share some sexy dinner recipes for Valentine’s Day to inspire your sultry dinner with your companion. 

What Foods Are Aphrodisiacs?

The following foods are known to stimulate your desire to get your groove on:

Meat, asparagus, shellfish and seafood (particularly oysters), chocolate, nuts, red wine, chilies, strawberries, figs, ginger, and avocado. 

While beets aren’t mentioned in a google search, I am 3000% convinced beets are the ultimate aphrodisiac. Just food for thought.

Remember, certain herbs and roots have a powerful aphrodisiac effect as well! Consider saffron, maca, ginseng, fenugreek, and more.

What Makes a Food an Aphrodisiac?

Foods that stimulate blood flow (this includes blood flow to your loins), increase your energy, and boost your mood are considered to increase sexual desire. 

Not to mention, many of these foods have ancillary health benefits – they are natural anti-inflammatories and antidepressants.

In pursuit of making your Valentine’s Day special, I have included some of my favorite sexy recipes from around the web in this post. 

But no need to stop at dinner…If you’re looking for aphrodisiac dessert ideas, be sure to check out my some of my favorite

Healthy and Sexy Dessert Recipes:

• Paleo Chocolate Cake
• Almond Flour Fig Cake
• Paleo Strawberry Coffee Cake
• Soft Chewy and Gooey Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Keto Strawberry Shortcake 
• Chocolate Beet Cake
• 4-Ingredient Paleo Avocado Chocolate Mousse 
• Grain-Free Tahini Blondies 

And without further adieu, here are…

36 Clean and Sexy Dinner Recipes:

67 Low-Carb Dinner Recipes that are easy to prepare, perfect for meal prep and are great for those looking to make changes to their diet or maintain a carb-conscious lifestyle.

For those of you who are looking to clean up your diet after the holidays, I’ve gotchu. Before we dive into this recipe roundup, it’s important to mention I don’t recommend any one style of eating as a blanketed template, as our body’s needs are constantly shifting.  

I do find eating a diet that is lower in carbohydrate tends to be how I personally function best. It is also sustainable for my body type, where eating low-carb for some people can be the kiss of death. 

Regardless of your diet protocol, be mindful of what you are changing and observe your body’s reaction. Avoid “sticking it out” or “suffering through it” when something feels drastically wrong.

Why Eat Low-Carb?:

Again, I will never tell you how to eat. I will, however, tell you why one would choose to eat a diet low in carbohydrate. 

Depending on your body chemistry, carbohydrate raises your blood sugar and can cause inflammation when eaten in excess. Higher blood sugar can result in insulin resistance or diabetes when left unchecked, leading to a slew of ancillary health issues. If you find you are constantly hungry, become angry or anxious if you go more than a few hours without eating, crave sugar or fatty processed foods, or if you experience mood and energy shifts, you could be insulin resistant. While this may not be life-threatening in the short term, it can lead to diabetes in the long-term. 

Chronic inflammation in your body can also lead to numerous health complications and diseases as well as hormonal imbalance, gut dysbiosis and more. Chronic inflammation reduces your body’s natural immune system, making it more difficult to clear toxins, fight and prevent disease. All disease is the result of inflammation, so monitoring your inflammation is the best insurance policy you could possibly buy into. 

When to Eat Low-Carb:

Uncovering how your body functions best is your journey. I shift my diet to low-carb when I notice something is off with my digestive system (i.e. I’m constipated, gassy, my poop is just weird, etc), when I’m noticing big shifts in energy or mood, wake up feeling puffy for no reason, and/or when I’ve put on some extra pounds that I’d rather not have. 

When I shift my diet to include less sugar or carbohydrate, I notice an immediate difference in my energy level and mood. Within a few days, I feel trimmer and my digestive system usually resets itself. That said, the process of feeling better can require more time for those whose bodies are not accustomed to eating low carb and need time to detoxify. Your starting point matters here.

Check out my Top 19 recipes from 2019! These recipes are tried and true in my own home and throughout my audience!

Thank you for another amazing year! Truly, this site would not exist without your presence, and I’m so grateful you’re here! My hugs and kisses go out to you and yours.

At the end of every year, I like to do a little recap by sharing my top performing recipes from the year. If you didn’t see or try these throughout the year, give them a whirl! 

Let’s jump right into it! 

Here are my…

Top 19 recipes from 2019!

Make-ahead holiday breakfast recipes that are quick, easy, nutritious, and crowd-pleasing. This roundup of breakfast recipes will please the whole family and make breakfast prep a breeze!

Between entertaining guests and family, travel, wrapping up end-of-year work projects, and the general stress of the holidays, this season is a crazy time of year! For this reason, I have compiled 15 of my favorite make ahead holiday breakfast recipes to take the edge off of cooking and to ensure you have your bases covered for the most important meal of the day. 

When we think of holiday season, we typically think of side dishes, main dishes and desserts, but after talking to my friends about their holiday traditions and observing how my own family behaves, I think easy breakfast recipes during the holidays don’t get enough attention. 

These recipes are all gluten-free, and I have included vegan and paleo options as well as both sweet and savory options. So without further adieu, let’s dive into some of the classics from the blog that can be easily made ahead of time and reheated (or served cold)!

1.) Sweet Potato, Sausage, and Kale Breakfast Casserole

A hearty, filling egg casserole that can easily be adapted to include any of your favorite vegetables or breakfast meats. Leave out the cheese to keep it dairy-free!

2.) Spinach Frittata with Zucchini, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Goat Cheese

An easy frittata recipe made quickly in your cast iron skillet! This simple recipe is jam packed with flavor and can easily be adapted to fit special diets or tastes.

3.) Paleo Sheet Pan Pancakes

Grain-free (paleo-friendly) pancakes made in a sheet pan! Make a whole batch of pancakes in one shot by baking them in the oven. You can use cookie cutters to cut out shapes for kids, and the pancakes can easily be made ahead of time and reheated.

4.) Eggnog Overnight Oats

Overnight oats made festive using eggnog! Make the recipe using store-bought or homemade  eggnog for a deliciously creamy and fun approach to oatmeal that can be made in a small or large batch ahead of time. Make it vegan by using homemade Vegan Eggnog!

5.) Vanilla Chai Overnight Oats

If you and your family love warm flavors like vanilla and cinnamon, you’ll go bonkers over Vanilla Chai Overnight Oats! Make it up to 5 days ahead of time and eat on it throughout the week!

6.) Maple Bacon Butternut Squash Hash with Spinach

A nutritious breakfast hash made with butternut squash and spinach. This warmly-spiced hash with crispy bacon is quick to prepare at a moment’s notice, but can also be made up to 5 days ahead of time, stored, and reheated. Swap sausage for the bacon if desired!

7.) Pumpkin Breakfast Bowls

Roast pumpkins and create a build-your-own breakfast bowl bar for your friends and family. Use any toppings you like, or follow the exact recipe in the post. Pumpkins can be roasted up to 5 days in advance.

8.) Paleo Gingerbread Muffins

These grain-free gingerbread muffins are packed with holiday cheer! They are a great go-to for breakfast on-the-go or snack. Bake up a batch and serve them for days on end!

Easy, healthy meal prep recipes for camping, backpacking or road trips. These delicious and nutritious recipes are perfect for fueling summer adventures!

Are you turning over some leaves this year? Thinking of dabbling into the ketogenic diet? Here are over 65 keto recipes for breakfast and dinner from around the web that are easy, clean, and healthful! More and more, I have discussions with friends and family about health and nutrition goals. So many of the folks around …

As 2018 comes to a close, I thought I would share my top 10 recipes from the year! Thank you for being here, and I hope you enjoy these reader favorites! It’s been another amazing year here on The Roasted Root! I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your presence and thank you …

45 paleo and keto holiday dessert recipes to keep your holidays mindful and lower in sugar. You can still enjoy tasty treats during the holiday season with these healthier options. Well, hello there, sugar! Are you enjoying baking season so far? I have to admit, I’ve been dialing back the baking recently since I don’t …

While I was baking the Grain-Free Salted Double Chocolate Cookies I showed you last week, it dawned on me I should gather a bundle of healthy Christmas cookie recipes and present them to you for keeping your holiday season on the healthy end of things. A couple years back, I posted a 50 Gluten-Free Christmas …