Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl

This post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, in conjunction with Healthy Aperture, as part of a blogger cooking contest. All content, opinions and enthusiasm remain my own!

I’m starting to get those fall-time feels! Cooler weather, cozy meals, seasonal flavors, and this year more family time around the dinner table. Not only are we staying home more and eating out less, we’ve also got a couple college kids who are able to extend their visits thanks to this new online learning situation. Quick, easy and affordable! This budget-friendly family favorite makes a great fall-inspired dinner on busy nights. White cheddar and pumpkin make stone ground grits so creamy, and chipotle chile powder adds just a touch of smoky heat. Add my suggested toppings to make it a balanced meat with under 400 calories and 20g protein per serving. Gluten free, lower carb and meal prep / freezer friendly. Get more quick and easy meal recipes and clean eating ideas at thefitfork.com

That being said, I’ve had to flex my creative cooking muscle to come up with budget-friendly ideas that will keep my three hungry guys filled up without breaking the bank (and interfering with my running shoe budge, lol). Cheesy, hearty meals are ALWAYS a winner with them, so I’ve relied on flavorful Cabot cheese, along with staples from my pantry) to create a Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl. Continue reading

Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Bake | Gluten-free, Lower Carb

‘Tis pumpkin season my friends, fal-la-la-la, it’s almost FALL! Starbucks may take credit for the insanely popular pumpkin spice craze, but I say it all happened back in Mrs. Jenkin’s 5th grade (circa early 70s) class when we made pumpkin muffins for a Thanksgiving feast. I fell instantly in love with the taste of pumpkin paired with the cinnamon, clove and nutmeg spice trifecta – and started making pumpkin spice “everything” henceforth! Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Bake is a healthy, hearty breakfast that can be made ahead for busy mornings or entertaining. Great for meal prep. Lots of fiber protein and gluten free. Freezes well for quick breakfasts.

Today, I have incorporated the pumpkin spice mania into another of my passions – breakfast meal prepping! Check out this amazing and nourishing recipe for Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Bake which makes a big batch that can be put up in the freezer in single-servings. Continue reading

Pork Verde Zucchini Enchiladas (No Tortillas) | Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-free

Creamy, cheesy and filled with delicious morsels of shredded pork and mildly spicy green chiles, my Pork Verde Zucchini Enchiladas are missing just one thing – tortillas! Instead, ribbon thin strips of zucchini are overlapped and rolled up with the enchilada filling inside.Pork Verde Zucchini Enchiladas  - no tortillas! Low carb, keto friendly, gluten free.

Green chile zucchini enchiladas are so green, so amazing, such a smart way to use up that extra zucchini in your garden and/or make a recipe low carb if need be. In fact, a serving of these low carb enchiladas has just 5.7g net carb, making them also quite keto-friendly.  Continue reading

Peach Avocado Shrimp Salad with Ancho Honey Chia Dressing i

Sometimes your taste buds need a little getaway, even if there is no vacation in sight! Peach Avocado Shrimp Salad with Ancho Honey Chia Dressing is inspired by ceviche enjoyed on a past tropical vacay, but updated with my own Texas touches. Peach Avocado Shrimp Salad is a refreshing, no-cook lunch or dinner that might remind you of ceviche! Serve in individual jars or ramekins, or stir together gently in a single bowl and serve as an appetizer dip with chips.

Perfect for a light lunch or a party dip, this no-cook shrimp recipe is delightfully refreshing for warm days or when you just need a reminder that summer is just really a state of mind! Continue reading

Hatch Green Chili Fries in the Air Fryer | Paleo, Whole30, Gluten-free

The Hatch are back in town! That’s right, it’s Hatch green chile season, that flavorful time of year when these amazing green chiles from New Mexico are in peak season.Hatch green chile fries are a quick and easy air fryer recipe suitable for paleo, whole30, gluten free and low carb diets.

I’ve got 101 Ways to Use Hatch Green Chiles – actually make that 102 with my new recipes this year, Hatch Green Chili Fries in the Air Fryer (or Oven). They are Paleo friendly and low carb thanks to a “breading” of almond meal and coconut flour and also super crunchy and quick to fix thanks to the Air Fryer (of course, they can also be baked in the oven). Read on to get this Air Fryer green chile recipes: Continue reading