Blog — The Culinary Coon

Bone Broth

Bone broth has been one of those “buzzwords” in recent years. But it’s for a good reason. It is delicious and one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat… or drink. However, I’ve found I don’t really enjoy the taste of most bone broths you can buy at the store. (I do like this one and I buy it often.)

But what makes bone broth so special? When you soak and steep the bones, you are able to extract the most valuable nutrients. For example, collagen and amino acids. Read more about the vitamins and minerals in both broth here. One of the best parts of bone broth is you get tons of bang for you buck. Fruit, veggies, bone marrow… without actually eating all of those things. It’s nature’s multivitamin. Luckily for you, you don’t have to cook your bone broth for 12-24 hours anymore. Enter: Instant Pot!

Soups, Main Dishes, Blog, DinnerAnna CoonDecember 2, 2018Comment

Greek Lemon Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

This might be one of my FAVORITE recipes to date! I love Greek food, and this recipe is inspired by one of my favorite Greek restaurants in town. Sheet pan dinners are all the rage, and there’s a reason for that- they’re quick and easy. This recipe is literally foolproof. My favorite part? Minimal dishes to clean. You add one ingredient at a time because of different cook times for different ingredients.

The tzatziki sauce is the TRUE star of this dish! It’s actually my favorite tzatziki EVER and I kind of made it on a whim. And I’m glad I did! It’s creamy, it’s cool, it’s flavorful, and citrusy. YUM!

This sheet pan dinner is paleo (debatable because potatoes are that gray area in paleo), gluten free, and Whole30. I’m currently doing my first ever Whole30 (I can’t believe I’ve never done it until now) and this recipe is such a delightful addition to my Whole30 wheelhouse. You can totally shape and make this recipe to fit you and your favorite flavors. You can use a store bought Greek seasoning (I like this one) or use the recipe I created. It is so flavorful and downright delicious!

Blog, Main Dishes, DinnerAnna CoonSeptember 12, 2018Comment

Citrus Chorizo Hash

I love a hash! There. I said it. The definition of a hash in my own words is: chopped potatoes and meat cooked in a skillet topped with a fried egg. I make hashes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner regularly! It is so easy and completely delicious. It MUST, and I mean must, be cooked in a cast iron skillet. For the longest time I thought it wasn’t important to have a cast iron skillet. Then I got one and my life was forever changed. I love the heck out of a nonstick pan, but nothing compares to the crust you get from a cast iron skillet.

You can use any kind of potato for this hash, but I like Japanese sweet potatoes. They are purple on the outside and white on the inside. I don’t lovethe taste of sweet potatoes, but I do really like Japanese sweet potatoes. The taste is similar to regular sweet potatoes but much milder in my opinion. I also really love to use plantains for hash. Their flavor fills me with delight.

Blog, BreakfastAnna CoonAugust 12, 2018Comment

Timmy's Blueberry Bliss Smoothie

My husband LOVES blueberries. He lives for them. This man has gotten blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup. I guess it’s the same way I feel about pancakes. I wanted to create a very blueberry smoothie for him that wouldn’t cause a sugar crash and would fuel his body and brain for the day! That’s how I came up with this smoothie recipe. It’s substantial enough to drink for breakfast or lunch, but not so heavy you will feel queasy during a workout.

I like to add as much protein as I possibly can before a workout because, for me, I’ve noticed the more protein I have, the better the workout goes. Protein helps keep me satiated and improves my endurance, especially when I am doing cardio or HIIT.

Keep Austin Delicious

Welcome back! They say introverts are energized by being alone, and extroverts are energized by time with others. Well, I’m energized by traveling, adventure, and exploration. So, I guess that makes me a…travel-vert? Yes, let’s go with that. A few weeks ago, I went on such a fun little weekend getaway to Austin, Texas! I went with two sweet friends, Mandy and Amelia. We had dinner each night at the event we went to.

Travel, BlogAnna CoonMay 15, 2018Austin, ATX, Austin Texas Comment

Meal Planning and Prepping 101

Meal prepping is one of those buzz words right now. Like kale, adaptogens, or super foods. Meal prepping or meal planning does not, I repeat, does NOT have to be a four-hour cooking extravaganza on Sundays. Because that’s just insane! If you precook all your food for the week one day of the week then I’m happy for you but I just don’t think that’s realistic for the rest of us.

Usually on Sunday afternoons or Monday mornings I take a look at my fridge and freezer and assess what I have. I get most of my meat from Ozark Pasture Beef in Fayetteville which delivers high quality, pasture raised, grass fed, and grass finished beef. Even the meat you buy from Whole Foods is oftentimes grass fed but NOT grass finished. They finish it with corn at the end of their lives because it makes the meat taste better to the conventional buyer. However, I do sometimes buy extra meat at Whole Foods or Natural Grocers based on what I need if I don’t have it. I buy my fish from Sizzle Fish and get it shipped to me. They sustainably and responsibly source their fish and they make high quality fish available to everyone, not just the restaurant industry. They also have information about farm raised versus wild caught fish. I continue to buy wild caught but I’m doing more research into farm raised.

BlogAnna CoonApril 16, 2018Comment

Pupkindoodles!

There are six VERY special little girls who live at my house. I love them more than anything on earth and they are my best buddies. They are my pets! We have four dogs and two cats. I have started making them treats at home occasionally and they love them! Actually, the dogs love them, and the cats are curious but suspicious. If I made them treats regularly I would have to make them just about every day!

People ask me all the time how we ended up with all these pets and why they are all girls. Truthfully, it just happened. I really just LOVE animals and my deepest desire is for all of them to have a warm, loving home. Here’s the breakdown of how all my girls came home…

BlogAnna CoonApril 8, 2018Comment

Copper Coons

My sweet husband and I recently went on a getaway to Copper Mountain, Colorado. I absolutely LOVE to travel! When we got married he promised me adventure, and boy has he delivered. We have traveled to some amazing places with the most important part: amazing food. I would love to share this trip’s food with you too!

Timmy had to work, so I got to explore, workout, and go to the spa! I had never been snow skiing before so we got to try that too! When I was working out on our first morning, I was panting like a dog- I couldn’t breathe! Well I didn’t know that is a side effect of the altitude. Copper Mountain is at almost 10,000 feet! Pretty crazy. No wonder I couldn’t breathe!

Blog, TravelAnna CoonMarch 20, 2018Copper MountainComment

Double Thyme Roasted Carrots!

This one goes out to all the vegetarians, vegans, and plant-based friends! I have recently become OBSESSED with rainbow carrots! They are so tasty, not to mention beautiful. I love colorful foods!

Carrots are a great example of a healthy, fresh food high (in relative terms) in sugar and carbs. I don’t have a problem eating foods like carrots and a variety of potatoes that are high in carbs but are SIMPLE carbs. My philosophy is: if it comes from the earth, it is good for ya.

These are SUPER easy to make and are so delicious! Make these for your mother-in-law, she will be mighty impressed.

Blog, SidesAnna CoonMarch 5, 2018 Comments

Secretly Sensational White Chicken Chili

This chili is secretly sensational because it looks like your plain old white chili, until you taste it. When my husband first tried it, he was amazed! He didn’t think a chili that looked like that could be so full of flavor! This chili is SO easy and it can be made so quickly. This is the perfect meal to take to a friend who has just had a baby or a friend in need. It’s easy and packs a punch! It is so filling and really just perfect for these cold winter months.

Main Dishes, Soups, Blog, DinnerAnna CoonFebruary 15, 2018Comment