Recipe ideas and commentary on the new food culture by professional photographer Tom Schmidt in Chicago. Get inspired to cook something awesome!

Paleo Friendly

Whole Fish Sous Vide Red Snapper – Super Tasty & Easy Recipe

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I am from the midwest and generally the fish we get around here, we done caught'em ourselves!  Large Mouth Bass, Catfish, Crappie, etc., etc. And believe me, I've got some pictures of me (and my family) with their biggest catch on my phone.  Fishing is just one of those things that create some of the most vivid and fun memories of the good ole days of sunrise fishing with my family... Fishing is quite an animalistic experience of man vs. fish and it's a battle of the wits to see who survives.  …

Whole Fish Sous Vide Red Snapper – Super Tasty & Easy RecipeRead More

Chicken Hot Wings – Oven Roasted and Cooked to Perfection

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Do chicken hot wings have their own place in the food pyramid? I think they might have left them off the bottom because they are a must in any balanced diet… Maybe they just ran out paper when they were drawing the pyramid. Glorious chicken hot wings, how I love thee. If there ever was a food that could brighten even a dark Chicago winter day, it would have to be the perfectly roasted chicken wing, with magic dust of course, and finished with some Frank’s hot sauce. Worries disappear as …

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Asian Inspired Broccolini Recipe, Edamame, Coconut

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Broccolini Recipe with Edamame, Coconut and Kaffir Lime Leaves   Fresh and light with tons of lime and coconut. Take a ride around the world with this tropical vegetable dish. The Kaffir Lime leaves give an amazing aroma of lime throughout the dish without citrusy bitterness. Finished with heaping handful of cilantro for an ultimate fresh taste. Over the Christmas break, I was back at home perusing cookbooks and found "Plenty More" by the uber famous Yotam Ottolenghi. At first …

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Pork Chorizo Sausage Recipe

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A wise man once said: "When life gives you big ole pork butts, make Chorizo sausage" Here we turn our pork butt into Chorizo, a dynamic and delicious team player in the kitchen. This sausage brings a strong spicy and rich flavor to any dish. (Check out the Seafood Stew!) Chorizo can also stand on its own, I'll even throw a link on the grill and top it with some ketchup. Shoot, Chorizo can even take the lead on your next conference call, really just a great team player… When picking out …

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Summer Seafood Stew Recipe with Salmon and Mussels

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Bright, hearty and complex! This salmon and mussel summer seafood stew has a delightfully fresh tangy flavor and a deep savory finish. Although it is a warm stew, it is perfect on a summer evening with a glass of white wine. This is one of our favorites for at home celebratory meals. Compared to some of the more simple (and cheaper…) dishes featured on Eat with Tom, this one is definitely worth the investment. Maybe a good idea for the next big night in with your sweetie… Seafood …

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Quick Weeknight Stir-Fry with Coconut Aminos

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**Guest Post from Morgan Paris Fitness** This extremely simple chicken and vegetable Stir-Fry recipe will leave your taste-buds feeling like you slaved over the stove when in fact you threw together a package of organic chicken (make high quality meat a priority!) and some pre-cut frozen veggies in a pan and pushed "go." You know the nights you get home from your workday and you are just so pooped it feels like it may be easier to eat an entire bag of chips than take time to make a healthy …

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Chickpea Pizza Refined – Plus Chicken Sausage / Magic Dust

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Chickpea Flatbread Pizza Recipe - Gluten-Free The original Chickpea Pizza with Eggs Recipe has become kinda small-time famous for some crazy reason.  Maybe it’s the eggs on top that get all the attention…   Personally, I dig this recipe so much that I make it nearly every week!  It then becomes lunch and snacks for the next few days. As I continue to make it time and time again, I have worked out a few new additions that you are sure to love. I have been integrating more high quality meats into …

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Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe – Bring a Hot “Date” to Your Next Party!

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**Guest Post from Morgan Paris Fitness** Do you love hearing people comment on how awesome the dish you brought to the party is? I know I do!  These delicious Bacon Wrapped Dates will delight your tastebuds with the rich sweetness from the dates contrasted by savory, salty bacon. I'm exited to share this recipe with you because it's kinda become my "thing."  I always bring my " Dates"   ;)   to parties and secretly I can't wait to hear, "oh my gosh, these are so good! Who brought …

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Sweet Potato and Hamburger Hash – Paleo Breakfast Ideas

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Sweet Potatoes with Hamburger Breakfast Recipe ** Guest Post from Morgan Paris Fitness** "What should I eat for breakfast?" AKA - the most common question I receive from clients who are just starting their Paleo journey.  This warm and savory dish with a hint of sweetness from the sweet potatoes makes for a great start to many of my days. With grains and dairy out of the question, most people are not sure what they will do without their standard breakfast of cereal with milk or …

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Spiralized Zucchini with Fresh Spaghetti Sauce Recipe – Paleo “Noodles”

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No noodles? No problem… when you have a spiralizer!  You are going to love the light freshness of the zucchini with the simple, slightly sweet home cooked tomato sauce for this dish.  This fare satisfies and leaves you feeling full (which makes me happy) without the drag and resulting carb coma of demolishing a huge plate of pasta.  It’s got a double whammy positive effect! I often make an entire meal out of a few heaping helpings of these zucs, but it can also make a nice side dish, or even …

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Hamburger Recipes, Grind Your Own Beef at Home!

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Grind Your Own Beef at Home for Amazing Hamburger Recipes! With a simple food processor you too can have the best burgers known to man!  Grinding your own 'burger meat transforms a household comfort food into a luxury item.  Start with a fresh piece of organic grass-fed beef and you should claim the “Grill Master” title from your buddies. By doing the grinding yourself, you retain complete control of what goes into your burger.  I think we all have realized that there are truly unspeakable …

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Massaged Kale Salad with Sunflower Seeds and Dried Cranberries

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Turn that super chewy and tough raw kale into a tender treat with a simple massage.  The other secret weapons of this recipe are  sunflower seeds and mustard which transform these greens into a savory and satisfying dish. The idea of massaging kale is bound to cause a raised eyebrow from anyone not familiar with the glorious result.  The process is so simple, I am still dumbfounded why the technique has not taken hold on a larger scale. Don’t be surprised if you too are amazed by the …

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Perfect Roasted Chicken Recipe – Impress the Ladies!

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Perfect Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe The easiest way to get the perfect girl to fall in love with you, serve her a perfectly roasted beautiful bird.  The mythical aphrodisiac effects of the golden crispy skin and luscious meat will unfold before your very eyes.  Or at least she will give a hearty compliment on your valiant attempt and big hug.  But hey, I’ve heard success stories… Recipe Inspiration - The Perfectly Roasted Chicken, Mindy Fox This method really benefits from starting with a high …

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Portobello Recipe – Roasted Mushrooms with Balsamic Vinegar

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Portobello Recipe - Roasted Mushroom Side Dish / Appetizer Portobello mushrooms are from Mars... A UFO shaped meaty treat magically grows on composted poo... Yep an alien species! I am always amazed by their interesting structure (pop off the stalk and observe the texture) and how they seem to hover somewhere between the animal and veggie world.  Maybe they are actually more like fish, they do have gills. Anyways enough of the tangent… This recipe for preparing portobellos is …

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Grain Free Fried Rice Recipe – Grated Cauliflower and Shrimp

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Grain-Free Fried Rice Recipe made out of Grated Cauliflower Seriously, is that fried rice without a grain of rice??  The amazing cauliflower strikes again!  Really, what can’t you do with cauliflower?  Recently I have ran across recipes utilizing this humble plant in all kinds of uncommon ways, such as pizza crust and taco tortillas to name just a few.  Maybe I will have to do an entire series on innovative uses of cauliflower.  I am intrigued. This fried “rice” experience is so fast and easy …

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Roasted Broccoli Recipe, Simple Side Dish

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Broccoli Recipe for a Super Easy and Delicious Vegetable Dish Broccoli is often cited as everyone’s favorite vegetable, especially raw.  Wrong…  Until now!  Roasted broccoli is guaranteed to change your feelings to pure love for this flowery green veggie. I learned about roasting various vegetables a few years back, and still whip out this technique on a regular basis.  Roasting has a unique effect on veggies that draws the sugars out and carmelizes them on the surface.  This creates a …

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Green Smoothie Recipe – Cucumbers, Avocado, Spinach

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Green Smoothie Recipe with Avocados, Spinach, Cucumbers, Apple, Pear There are infinite combinations of fruits and veggies to grind up into smoothies, but some small additions to norms are a real treat.  This time around I added cucumbers to some basic green smoothie ingredients resulting in a little lighter and brighter combo. For me the trick to most amazing smoothie is a great blender.  I invested in a Blendtec blender a few years ago, although it did take a while for me stomach …

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Lacinato Kale and Eggs Recipe (Black Kale)

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[column-group] [column span="3"] Kale Recipe for Breakfast with Eggs When I wake up, I walk directly to the stove.  Regardless of the day, I enjoy a nice hearty breakfast.  This dish is a rather quick way to get both your greens and eggs.  I have made this dish with all kinds of kale (Curly Kale, Red Kale, Lacinato Kale, etc.), but Black Kale (aka Lacinato Kale) is by far my absolute favorite.  The flavor and texture is strong enough to give you the feeling of eating a "real" meal, but not so …

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