Winter Recipe Rotation

Each season I choose 16 or so recipes that we love and want to rotate through for the 3 months of that season. I always share our seasonal recipe rotation here on the blog as a way to resource you and give you some ideas for what to cook. I have found that I rarely get into a food rut when we are sticking to our seasonal recipe rotation. It might not be sexy but it gets our family fed in a simple, healthy and sustainable way. Because most of the meals on our rotation are ones we know and love, I don't struggle at all during the week to figure out what to make for dinner. I also rarely get bored of what we're eating because we rotate for 3 months, then switch things up all over again. This keeps meals exciting but still simple. For a busy mama of two, that's all I can ask for ;)

This season, I've decided to share with you how I will be adjusting some of these recipes to fit my current diet. If you want to know more about the gut-healing diet I am currently on, read this post or this post. It is basically Paleo but much more restricted. I'm doing this for those of you out there dealing with Candida or other gut issues and need help finding good recipes, since most of the "candida friendly" recipes I've found online taste horrible. If you have no gut problems, just make the recipes as is! No problem :)

Winter Recipe Rotation 2017 // Natasha Red

A few notes: I've listed what we will make for a side in parenthesis. Usually a roasted vegetable or cauliflower rice. Looking at the substitutes may seem overwhelming, but they are honestly so second nature to me since I am used to cooking Paleo, I tend to do them without even thinking. If you're new to eating a healthier diet, keep at it. The more you make a recipe, the easier it gets. Recipes that are italicized and have a * are ones that are great when having others join you for dinner. If you have any questions at all, leave a comment and I will answer them.

1. African Stew (with cauli rice, garlicky kale) *

use coconut oil in place of vegetable oil, I leave out all the chili peppers because kids and I'm not a huge fan of spicy anyway, sub almond butter for the peanut butter, sub cashews for peanuts, no sweet potato. With all these subs this dish is still to die for!

2. Whole30 Chicken "Parm"

if you choose not to use Rao's sauce, double check that there is no soy, added oils or sugar in your tomato sauce.

3. Roasted Tomato Sausage + Kale Soup

I'll make my own Italian sausage (minus the red wine vinegar and sugar) and plan to make a huge batch since a few recipes in my rotation call for it.
No parmesean cheese

4. Chili Cornbread Skillet

Combine these two recipes (chili and cornbread) by pouring the cornbread mixture on top of the chili in a skillet, then baking according to cornbread instructions. Trust me, it's so good!
No beans or corn in the chili and I always keep a big batch of homemade ranch mix and taco seasoning in my spice rack.
No honey in the cornbread

5. Creamy Chicken + Wild Rice Soup (paleo biscuits) *

sub brown rice for wild rice (some Candida lists say yes to brown rice, some say no. I've cut it out but I'll try it and see how I do...if not I can switch to quinoa).
No carrots (again, I have cut these out, but added it back in sparingly and do okay with a small amount. I may just cook with carrots and pick out most from my bowl, haha)
sub equal amount of arrowroot starch for flour
sub 1 can of full fat coconut cream for milk and heavy cream
sub ghee for butter
I will make biscuits with this if we are having people join us for dinner. P aleo biscuits recipe - no maple syrup

6. Roasted Chicken and veggies

I've actually done okay with potatoes, but some other Candida friendly veggies I like with roasted chicken are: zucchini, leeks, onion, garlic, brussels sprouts.

7. White Chicken Chili *

sub coconut oil for canola, limit the peppers for the kids

8. Veggie Packed Meat Sauce (brown rice noodles or roasted zucchini)

omit carrots for Candida diet

9. Pepperoni Pizza Pasta

check that your salami does not have any additives or sugar
same homemade Italian sausage recipe as above, again I'll be making a big batch of this and freezing in individual bags in the freezer to use all winter.

10. Braised Moroccan Chicken with cauli and spinach rice

11. Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs (cauli rice)

omit carrots for Candida diet

12. Greek Style Lamb Burgers over butter lettuce (roasted cauliflower or okra)

I have made the buns for this, and found them to be incredibly dense and heavy on my stomach, even though they are paleo. Instead, I prefer to wrap the burgers in butter lettuce or just over a bed of lettuce.
I also haven't done asparagus on the actual burger, just personal preference, though you could roast those up and add them as a side as well!

13. Satay Chicken Bowls with almond sauce