Green Bean Casserole (Paleo, AIP + Green Beans, Nut-free, Whole30)

Traditional green bean casserole, made with cream of mushroom soup and crispy onions, has been a favorite of mine at most holiday meals (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter…). However, when I went gluten free in 2012 and then AIP/Paleo in 2014, it became a side dish I could no longer safely eat. Even though there are always other great side dishes at holiday meals, but I still was missing green bean casserole…. 

Last year, I attempted several times to make an almost AIP green bean casserole with organic frozen green beans, but it always ended up too watery, even when I made the base mixture pretty thick. This year, I was determined to perfect the recipe I started last year. By switching from using frozen green beans to using organic canned green beans, I was finally successful!

I realize that the decision to use canned green beans may be a controversial one, but for me green bean casserole is a dish I only make a couple times a year for holiday gatherings. Plus, this recipe is already a bit more labor intensive for a side dish and I didn’t want to complicate the preparation any further by requiring a lot of extra steps (or time) for the beans. It might be possible to use roasted green beans or boiled/drained green beans in place of the canned, but those are two variations I haven’t tried.

Since next week is Thanksgiving, here are a few of my favorite AIP/Paleo Thanksgiving recipes. Many will be things that I’ll be making next week, along with green bean casserole :)

• Turkey: Dry-brined, Spatchcocked turkey (note: I mix the herbs with the salt and skip the butter, then I baste the bird with a mixture of bacon grease, sauvignon blanc white wine and homemade turkey stock)
• Gravy: Starch-free Gravy (AIP)
• Side: Sweet Potato Lefse (AIP) 
• Side: Sweet Potato Casserole (AIP & Vegan) 
• Appetizer or side dish component: Honey Roasted Pecans (Paleo; note: These are delicious on their own, or chopped and used as topping on mashed orange sweet potatoes)   
• Appetizer: Bacon & Prosciutto Wrapped Dates (AIP) 
• Condiment: Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce (AIP) 
• Condiment: Refrigerator Pickles (AIP) 
• Dessert: Pumpkin Panna Cotta Tart with Gingersnap Macaroon Crust (AIP)  
• Dessert: Lard & Cassava Pie Crust (Paleo, Nut-free)  
• Dessert: Sauteed Apples (AIP, Vegan, Whole30, 21DSD) 
• Dessert: Paleo Pecan Pie (Paleo/Primal; note: I use my own Lard Cassava crust and sub coconut oil for the butter in the filling)  

Green Bean Casserole (AIP + Green Beans, Paleo, Nut-free)
yields around 6 servings

1 tablespoon fat (bacon fat, lard, or duck fat work best)
1 cup (120 grams) red or yellow onion, finely chopped
1 cup (65 grams) baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped

1 tablespoon fat (bacon fat, lard, or duck fat work best)
4 tablespoons (40 grams) cassava flour

1 cup broth
1 tsp onion granules
1 tsp garlic granules
2 tablespoons coconut aminos
2 tablespoons coconut milk
2 dashes fish sauce
1 tsp fine-grain sea salt 

2-14.5 oz cans of organic green beans, drained (make sure the ingredients are clean!)

2 to 3 medium Shallots, thinly sliced
Palm shortening, for frying
Fine sea salt, for sprinkling

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 
2. Heat the first measure of fat in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and mushroom and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the veggies are softened. Stir occasionally.
3. Melt the additional tablespoon of fat and stir with the soften veggies. Sprinkle the cassava flour over and stir until everything is well coated and the flour begins to brown slightly, approximately 1 minute.
4. Slowly add the broth, stirring constantly. Cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until thickened. 
5. Add the onion granules, garlic granules, coconut aminos, coconut milk, and fish sauce. Cook an additional minute or two. 
6. Gently fold in the drained green and transfer the mixture to a baking dish (8x8 Pyrex or oval Le Creuset gratin dish). Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. 
7. Just before the casserole is done baking, make the crispy shallots for the topping. Thinly slice the shallots, and set aside. Melt the palm shortening in a large skillet over medium high heat—there should be 1/8” to 1/4” of oil in the bottom of the pan, depending on how thinly the shallots are sliced. 
8. Add the shallots to the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy. Do in batches, if necessary. Add more palm shortening to the pan, as needed. Remove from the oil with a fork and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Sprinkle with a little fine sea salt while the fried shallots are still hot. 
9. Just before serving, evenly disperse the fried shallots over the top of the casserole. The casserole may be assembled a day or two in advance and baked the day of serving. Fry the shallots just before serving. Store any leftovers in the fridge. 

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May 2017 Favorites

Last month, I started a new series where at the end of each month I share some of my favorite things. Some may be things I’m reading or watching. Some may be body or beauty products. Some may be kitchen and food related. Some may be travel or adventure related. Today I’m sharing my May favorites (in no particular order). 

Note: some of these items contain affiliate links, but nothing in this post is directly sponsored by any company... I'm just sharing what I like! 

Recipe: Easy Tigernut Granola (AIP) from Backcountry Paleo 

While guest-posting on the Autoimmune Paleo Instagram account earlier this month, I made a small batch of Susan’s granola to include in an AIP fruit-and-granola yogurt parfait. The granola was SO GOOD (and fit a cereal-shaped whole in my heart that’s been empty since I started AIP) that we ate it all the day I made it. Since then, I’ve made three more batches & don’t see myself stopping anytime soon ;) A couple changes I make…. I don’t add any citrus zest or dried fruit. I also reduce the maple syrup by a quarter, using 117 grams in a full batch. And I bake it around 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. It’s delicious eaten by the hand-full, on top of yogurt, in a bowl with a splash of coconut milk, etc.

Kitchen Tool: “If You Care” parchment paper sheets
This is a product I’ve been using for several years and really love. I started using unbleached parchment paper after beginning AIP and slowly transitioning to more eco-friendly (and health-friendly) products. And I became totally spoiled by this product that has the parchment paper pre-cut into half-sheet-pan-size sheets—no more fumbling with trying to cleanly tear it, or estimate how large of a piece I’ll need for my pans. I’ve especially enjoyed using it this month when making the Easy Tigernut Granola listed above. I use to buy it at my local Whole Foods in San Antonio, & I’ve also found it at Natural Grocers in North Dakota. Sadly, I haven’t been able to find it locally since moving to NH, and my stash is nearly out… So I’ll probably end up buying a case of 12 on Amazon. Goodness knows with all the recipe testing I do, all 12 boxes would eventually be used ;)

Convenience Food: Homemade trail mix (Paleo) 
I did a three week Whole30-style reset the last two weeks of April and the first week of May, and this homemade trail mix was a huge help as an easy, shelf-stable, on-the-go snack. I mixed together raw peeled almonds (I seem to have a mild reaction to the peel), raw pecans, and raw pepitas (aka pumpkin seeds), with raisins and apple-juice-sweetened dried cranberries. I try to include more nuts than dried fruit, but the ratios were dictated more by what amounts of the ingredients I had on hand. A small handful of this trail mix here and there, especially if I felt my blood sugar dip or started feeling hangry, was really helpful.

Beauty Product: W3ll People Bio Correct Multi-Action Concealer in light
I’ve been on the hunt for a good concealer for over 2 years, as I’ve transitioned all my makeup to be gluten free and less toxic. But I haven’t found one that I truly liked (and liked enough to recommend to other people) until I discovered this one. It has good coverage, the light version works well with my skin tone, and it’s pretty easy to apply with my fingers. I do find it needs a little powder over top, otherwise it attracts my mascara and I end up with worse raccoon eyes than if I’d skipped concealer… I bought mine at Target (though I’m not sure every Target is carrying W3ll People), but you can also find it at select Whole Foods, or through the W3ll People website.

Travel: Anniversary Vermont Trip 

My husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary this month and took a quick trip to Vermont. Even though I have some successful reintroductions under my belt, it still can be challenging to travel. We booked an Airbnb condo at Stowe Mountain Lodge (so that we’d have a tiny kitchen) for our lodging. I cooked most of our meals ahead of the trip & brought them in a cooler. And for our actual anniversary dinner, I found a restaurant, Michael’s on the Hill,  that could accommodate my needs & was in contact with them well before our reservation. It was a great, refreshing getaway. We thoroughly enjoyed the Stowe Mountain Lodge (even if it was a between-seasons time to visit). And we took detours on our drive back to visit the King Arthur Flour headquarters (something I’ve wanted to do since culinary school) in Norwich, VT; the Simon Pearce glass blowing studio in Quechee, VT, and Farmhouse Pottery shop + studio in Woodstock, VT.

If you’d like more of my tips about AIP travel, check out my posts here and here.

Photo by https://www.jennclara.com

In memory of Martine Partridge of Eat Heal Thrive (formerly The Paleo Partridge) 
I found out last week that my friend Martine had passed away (obituary here). She has been a pillar in the AIP community. We will miss her terribly, not just for the fantastic recipes she created, but for her witty way with words, and her encouraging, bright personality. I especially love her sweet and savory pie crust recipe, which I used in my berry panna cotta pie recipe, and her chicken liver pâté with mushrooms and bacon recipe, which was the first pâtâ recipe I made and ate.

If you’d like to contribute to a fund organized in Martine’s honor by the AIP blogging community, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-martine-partridge.

So those are a few of my favorites from May. What are you loving lately?

Some of these items include affiliate links, meaning Sweet Treats makes a small commission off items purchased after a link is clicked with no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.

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April 2017 Favorites

I’m starting a new series at the end of each month where I share some of my favorite things from the previous month. Some may be things I’m reading or watching. Some may be body or beauty products. Some may be kitchen, food, and recipe related.  Today I’m sharing my April favorites (in no particular order). 

Note: some of these items contain affiliate links, but nothing in this post is directly sponsored by any company... I'm just sharing what I like! 

Book: Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Love*
I haven’t done great on my “Goodreads” progress this month, but I did finish one of the most inspiring/convicting books I’ve ever read. “Hope Heals” chronicles Katherine & Jay Wolfe’s story following Katherine’s massive brain stem stroke in 2008 when she was 26 and a brand new mom. Their hope-filled, positive, joyful outlook despite living with the lasting physically disabling effects of a traumatic brain injury is incredibly inspiring and convicting. I actually had the pleasure of also hearing Katherine and Jay speak at a women’s event at my church the beginning of this month (and I met them after the event). I hope to write a longer reflection post about the book & hearing them speak, so stay tuned for that. In the mean time, pick up a copy of their book (it’s on SALE right now), check out their story on their website, and/or follow them on social media @hopeheals.

Body: Primally Pure Sensitive Deodorant in Lavender
Since going AIP three years ago, I’ve also made a conscious effort to clean up the products I use on my body. However, I’ve tried many, many, many deodorants with terrible results. Many did not work (i.e I smelled less-than-fresh, yikes!), but worse yet, others made my underarms break out so badly I honestly wondered if I possibly had developed the autoimmune condition "hidradenitis suppurativa" (HS). NOT GOOD!! I finally ordered this sensitive deodorant in lavender from Primally Pure, after seeing AIP friends post about it on Instagram.  After testing it out for a few weeks, I’m pleased that it both seems to work (note: it’s not an antiperspirant) AND I haven’t had one underarm break out.

Tool: Muji 0.38 mm Pens*
I’m a bit of a pen snob & I really prefer using very fine-tip pens for my journaling, writing, list-making etc. This month, I heard about Muji gel pens via an Instagram video from She Reads Truth. I immediately ordered a 3-pack of black Muji 0.38 mm gel pens on Amazon and now I wish I’d ordered more of them and possibly more colors. I love how fine the tip is, but yet it doesn’t wear down so quickly, like the Microns or LePens I’ve used in the past.

Kitchen Tool: Large Mesh Strainer/colander*
For the past few years, I’ve used a small mesh strainer that was probably made with less-than-ideal metal. I would have to strain or wash produce in it in batches, which often slowed down my productivity. Somehow, upgrading it to a larger, stainless option wasn’t a priority until the old strainer started becoming rusty. I ordered this one on Amazon and wow! why didn’t I make this upgrade sooner! It’s now SO much easier to wash leeks and chopped greens and to strain bone broth.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers from Unbound Wellness
I’ve had my eye on this recipe for a few months, but I was having trouble finding high quality ground chicken. We recently found a local pastured chicken farmer who sells ground chicken at a local farmers market. The first time I made the poppers, I made only a single batch. But I immediately regretted not making a larger batch. This week, I made a double batch and I think we ate them all in three days. A couple tips that I’ve found to be helpful when making these: 1)use the shredding blade in your food processor to shred the sweet potato (especially if making a double batch) and then pulse the shredded sweet potato with the S blade to break them up a little further; 2)use a medium (1.5 tablespoon) cookie scoop to scoop the popper mixture, which both makes the poppers uniform and helps the portioning to go faster; 3)bake the poppers on a baking sheet WITHOUT parchment paper—they get a much better crust that way; 4)make a bigger batch than you think you’ll need because they are SO TASTY ;)

Ingredient: Tessemae’s Creamy Ranch (AIP reintroductions required) 
As I’ve gotten some successful AIP reintroductions under my belt, I’ve been able to eat this Tessemae’s Creamy Ranch without any reactions. Ohmygoodness!! I had forgotten how much I use to love ranch dressing! This delicious product has been an especially nice addition to my diet the past couple weeks as I’ve been doing a Whole30 reset. As I exclaimed to my husband a couple days ago in a hangry episode, “Ranch is LIFE!!” haha! I buy this product at Whole Foods in the refrigerated section of the produce department. Use their store locator to see if you can find it locally

So those are a few of my random favorites from April. What are you loving lately? 

*These items include affiliate links, meaning Sweet Treats makes a small commission off items purchased after an Amazon link is clicked with no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.

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