There are some recipes that feel like home the moment they start cooking. This pot roast is one of those. Cozy, comforting, unfussy, and somehow able to make everyone feel taken care of. I made it for Christmas Day and then again for a girls’ night a few days later, and both times it disappeared fast. Plates were wiped clean. Seconds were had. People asked for the recipe. That is always the sign.

I love meals like this because they are not complicated, but they feel special. This is the kind of food you make when you want to nourish people. When you want the house to smell amazing. When you want everyone to linger a little longer at the table.

As someone who is always gluten free, I especially love recipes like this. There’s no need for substitutions or workarounds. This pot roast is naturally gluten free, hearty, and deeply satisfying. No one ever asks if it’s gluten free because it just tastes like really good food. The only thing to watch is using quality, gluten-free broth and seasonings, which is easy and worth it. The “Standard” brand French Onion soup mix does have gluten, so if you’re making this gluten free, know to look for the Simply Organic brand or another brand that is gluten free.

Pot roast is also forgiving. It does not require perfection. It rewards patience. And it gets better the longer it cooks, which feels like a metaphor I probably don’t need to spell out.

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that the gravy truly makes itself. No fuss. No cornstarch. No flour. No whisking. As the roast cooks low and slow, the collagen from the meat, the vegetables, and the broth come together into a rich, silky gravy all on their own. It’s one of those quiet kitchen wins that makes you feel like a better cook than you actually worked to be.

This is also a recipe where good ingredients really matter. Because the ingredient list is simple, each one has a job to do. I always choose a well-marbled chuck roast, quality broth, fresh vegetables, and seasonings I trust. I’ll link everything I use below so you can easily replicate it exactly if you want. When the ingredients are good, you don’t need much else.

And a quick kitchen joy moment: I used a new little vegetable chopper to prep everything, and it might be my favorite thing lately. The veggies are chopped in no time and come out perfectly symmetrical, which makes my heart so happy. There is something deeply satisfying about evenly cut carrots and potatoes. It shouldn’t matter. It does.

I like serving this family-style, right in the Dutch oven or slow cooker, with big spoons and no fuss. Add mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a gluten-free crusty bread if you want to soak up every bit of that gravy. Or just grab a spoon. No judgment.

A few items I love for this:

The Kitchen Gadget I Didn’t Want to Love (But Do):

I’ll admit it. I was fully opposed to this.

In my head, a real cook just chops. Knife skills. Wooden cutting board. No gadgets. Very chef of me. And yet… here we are.

I picked up this all-in-one vegetable chopper thinking it might be helpful for busy nights or when I’m cooking for a crowd. What I didn’t expect was how often I’d reach for it. It’s fast, clean, and somehow makes everything perfectly uniform, which turns out brings me an unreasonable amount of joy.

Onions, carrots, salads, pot roast vegetables, all done in seconds. No uneven cuts. No crying over onions. No extra bowls everywhere.

It also earns its keep because it’s easy to clean and replaces several tools at once, which matters when I’m hosting or just trying to keep the kitchen calm.

Consider this my official confession. I still love a good knife, but this gadget has absolutely earned its spot.

Pot Roast Recipe

Pot Roast

Recipe by Lisa Marie MasquelierCourse: UncategorizedCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

3

hours 

20

minutes

Total time

3

hours 

50

minutes

This cozy pot roast slow cooks until tender enough to shred with a fork and makes its own savory gravy without thickeners. Simple, comforting, and naturally gluten free.

Ingredients

• 4 lb boneless beef chuck roast

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/2 Cup Wine

• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes

• 1 cup beef broth

• 1 Packet French Onion Soup Mix, Gluten Free

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 tbsp dried oregano

• 1 tbsp dried marjoram

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions

• Cut the roast into chunks about 3in by 3in.
• Season roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• Sear in hot deep dish heavy pot that is oven safe in olive oil on all sides. Remove.
• Sauté onion, carrots, celery until soft. Add garlic 1 min.
• Deglaze pan with wine (red or white is fine, your choice!)
• Stir in crushed tomatoes, packet of French onion soup mix, broth, tomato paste, oregano, marjoram, salt, and pepper. Simmer.
• Return roast to pot. Cover and bake at 325°F for 3-4 hr until tender.
• Pull from the oven. Spoon the fat off the top. Shred the meat in the sauce.
• Serve over mashed potatoes or risotto.

I have always loved sauerkraut. Visting Germany, it was a staple and severed alongside so many yummy sausages or schnitzels. I can’t imagine eating a bratwurst without having sauerkraut on top of it. One day, my mother-in-law showed up at our home with this delicious, dark brown, bacon-infused sauerkraut, and I was sold!

My mother-in-law got the recipe in 1966 while she and her late husband were living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their very dearest friends, the Hoeflers, sent some over for them to enjoy. They loved it so much, Lou said they would never eat it the way their mothers cooked it again! At that time, it became a favorite family recipe. Goodbye boring sauerkraut, hello bacon, onion infused, keto-friendly delicious sauerkraut.

Why Cabbage for New Year’s Day?

Growing up in California, I had never heard of the tradition of cabbage on New Year’s Day for good luck for the upcoming year. However, once I moved to Texas, all of my friends were making cabbage, black eye’d peas and greens to set up the new year for prosperity and good luck. I tend to find myself in the middle when it comes to believing in superstitions. But, with this new tradition I was watching my friends and their families all take part in, I decided I was in! I mean, why not? It’s yummy food, on New Year’s Day, and could set up some luck? Sure, bring on the new traditions!

It is said that cabbage is good luck for financial prosperity due to the leaves looking like money. I can buy that, which is why this is the first New Year’s good luck recipe I’m posting.

Picking Your Ingredients for Twice Baked Sauerkraut with cabbage, bacon and onions.

Start by picking the best, cancer-kicking ingredients. By choosing quality food and ingredients, you can ensure you are doing what you can by putting only the best in your family’s bodies.

Bacon:

Bacon got a bad reputation, but it’s not bad for you if you pick the right one. There are different types of bacon out there, and they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Bacon goes through a curing process, which is where it usually goes wrong. Choose bacon without the curing additives nitrates and nitrites. Keeping those chemicals away is essential to maintaining a cancer-kicking diet. When cooked, nitrates and nitrites turn into carcinogens, so avoid these like the plague!

Bacon has many nutrients our bodies need, including high-quality animal protein, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12, 89% of the RDA for selenium, 53% of the RDA for phosphorus, and a decent amount of the minerals iron, magnesium, zinc, and potassium.

The fats in bacon are about 50% monounsaturated and a large part of those is oleic acid. This is the same fatty acid that olive oil is praised for and generally considered “heart-healthy”. Read more about bacon, the good and the bad here.

Sauerkraut:

If you’re looking for the best health benefits, you’ll want to get sauerkraut from the refrigerator section. Farmhouse Culture brand has a refrigerated version. Good words to look for are raw, perishable, unpasteurized. If you can’t find this, the jarred kraut will do, but you will miss out on some of the health benefits if you’re going to save some and eat it raw. Raw sauerkraut is best for your gut, but since we are cooking this, we won’t get all of the health benefits of the natural, uncooked, unpasteurized kraut, so a Vlassic jar of sauerkraut will do just fine. I buy this one from Target: Vlassic Old Fashioned Sauerkraut.

Tarragon:

The addition of tarragon is something I added to the original version of this recipe. It adds a subtle french flavor to the dish and enhances the caraway found in the sauerkraut. Did you know that tarragon contains iron, manganese, and potassium? Manganese reduces stress, which is definitely cancer-kicking. Iron is key to cell nutrition. Tarragon is said to reduce insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar. Reducing inflammation is key to keeping cancer at bay, and tarragon is known to do just that. Fresh tarragon is best to reap the nutritional benefits but is mainly only found in the spring and summer. If you’re making this for New Year’s Day, and can’t find fresh, the dried will work just fine.

Prepping for Your Yummy, Twice-Baked Sauerkraut with Bacon and Onions.

Start by prepping your ingredients. 

Dice the onion: Cut the onion in half, then dice the halves into bite-sized pieces. 

Cut the bacon into slices: The easiest way I’ve found to do this is to cut the entire package of bacon in half, pull out each half, then just slice it as it lays on your cutting board into small, thin pieces. There is no need to rearrange it or make it harder than needed. 

Cut the cabbage: Slice the cabbage in half. Remove the stem if needed. Slice the half against the grain so it will naturally shred into pieces, about 1/4-1/2″ thick. If you end up with long strands, cut those down so that no pieces are longer than about 2-3″. 

Drain the Sauerkraut: Open your jar of sauerkraut. Hold the cabbage in with the lid or your hand and drain most liquid out of the jar. It’s not essential to get this 100% drained. Leave a little of the liquid. You just don’t want the vinegar flavor to overpower the mixture. I hold it upside down until it stops pouring. That leaves just enough juice to deglaze the pan. 

Cooking Twice Baked Sauerkraut with Bacon and Onions

The cooking process is very simple, but it does take some time to get the depth of flavor that makes this dish so full of flavor.

Start by adding your bacon to a medium-hot, deep pot. Cook this for about 5 minutes, or until the bacon just starts to crisp up.

Add the onion to the bacon and let them cook until medium brown, and the onion is cooked through. Getting this step nice and brown makes for the best end result.

Once browned, onion is cooked through, and bacon is crispy, add the drained sauerkraut to the pan. Leaving just a little of the vinegar juice is ok; you just don’t want all the vinegar juice. Scrape the pan immediately to get the brown bits up. Mix well and let cook together for 5-10 minutes.

Add the cabbage to the pan. Stir well. Let the mixture cook for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remember, the bacon is salty, so you don’t need much salt.

Add the can of beef broth slowly, stirring while adding and scraping the bottom of the pan.

Add the tarragon. Mix well.

Put a lid on the pot, turn down to simmer, and cook for about an hour, stirring about every 10 minutes to make sure the bottom doesn’t burn.

Your Choice / Your Preference

At this point, you could serve the twice-baked sauerkraut, or you can continue to cook it for a deeper flavor. If you want to continue to cook it (which I recommend), you can turn it down to simmer and stir every 10 minutes, so it doesn’t burn, or put it in a crockpot and let it cook for hours. The longer it cooks, the yummier it is.

If there is still a lot of liquid when you’re ready to serve, take the lid off and let the liquid reduce over medium heat.

Twice Baked Sauerkraut with Bacon and Onions for New Year’s Luck

Recipe by Lisa Marie MasquelierCourse: SidesDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8-10

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

1

hour 

30

minutes

Ingredients

• 32 oz sauerkraut

• 3/4 – 1 head cabbage

• 12 oz bacon

• one medium onion

• 15 oz beef broth

• 1 tsp tarragon

• salt & pepper to taste

Directions

• Prep
• Dice the onion.
• Cut the bacon into small strips.
• Slice the cabbage
• Drain the sauerkraut, leaving just a little of the vinegar juice.
• Cook
• Place the bacon into a deep pot. Cook on medium for about 5 minutes, until it starts to brown.
• Add the onion to the bacon and let them cook until medium brown, and the onion is cooked through. Getting this step nice and brown makes for the best end result.
• Once browned, onion is cooked through, and bacon is crispy, add the drained sauerkraut to the pan. Leaving just a little of the vinegar juice is ok, you just don’t want all the vinegar juice. Scrape the pan immediately to get the brown bits up. Mix well and let cook together for 5-10 minutes.
• Add the cabbage to the pan. Stir well. Let the mixture cook for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The bacon is salty, so you don’t need much.
• Add the can of beef broth slowly, stirring while adding and scraping the bottom of the pan.
• Add the tarragon. Mix well.
• Put a lid on the pot, turn down to simmer, and cook for about an hour, stirring about every 10 minutes to make sure the bottom doesn’t burn.
• You could serve at this point, continue to cook, or put it in a crockpot and let it cook for hours. The longer it cooks, the yummier it is. If there is still a lot of liquid, take the lid off and let the liquid reduce over medium heat.

One of the best ways to stick to a keto diet is to have delicious food on hand, ready to eat. Making this easy breakfast, keto casserole to have ready to eat throughout the week will become a weekend tradition.

This recipe is so easy to make, affordable, and so full of flavor. There is something magical about the combination of sausage, green chili, and cream cheese.

Picking Your Ingredients for Making this Keto Breakfast Sausage, Egg and Cheese Casserole.

Start by picking the best, cancer-kicking ingredients. By choosing quality food and ingredients, you can ensure you are doing what you can by putting only the best in the bodies of your family.

Natural Sausage: Brown the sausage in a large, shallow skillet. I like to use natural sausage that doesn’t contain nitrates or nitrites. It’s important to me to keep any foods known to be a carcinogen out of my kitchen, and this is one of them. Owens or Jimmy Dean both have “natural” brands of sausage. Search for those at your local store.

Cheese: Feel free to mix up the type of cheese you use for the topping. I like Tillamook Medium Cheddar. I like the ingredients Tillamook uses and the way they make their cheeses. Tillamook uses rBST-free milk and they naturally age their cheeses. But, feel free to use pepper-jack, mexican blend, monterey jack, or a mixture of whatever is in your fridge.

Green Chiles: I always have cans of diced green chiles in my pantry. They instantly spruce up any dish and give it a mild flavor even the kids will eat. For this dish, I’ve used canned diced green chiles or green chile salsa. Whatever you hand on hand will work.

Eggs: I always keep organic, grass-fed eggs on hand at home. I love eggs that have that rich, deep orange yolk, as I always see when dining in Europe. My favorite brand is Happy Egg.

Prepping for Your Yummy, Easy, Keto Breakfast Casserole

There isn’t a lot of prep needed for this dish.

Start by prepping all your ingredients. Remove the cream cheese from the fridge to come to room temp as quickly as possible.

Grease your 9×13 casserole dish with whatever you like to use. (Butter, olive oil, oil spray). Just make sure it’s a quality ingredient

As your cook your sausage, prep the remaining ingredients (eggs, milk, salt, pepper, shredded cheese).

That’s really it! Now enjoy this delicious keto-friendly, yummy breakfast all week long.

Easy Keto Sausage Egg Breakfast Casserole

Recipe by Lisa Marie MasquelierCourse: BreakfastCuisine: American

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Total time

55

minutes

Cream cheese, sausage, and green chiles come together with eggs in this delicious breakfast casserole.

Ingredients

• Sausage Mixture

• 1 tube all-natural sausage

• 1 block cream cheese

• 1 small can diced green chiles

• Egg Mixture

• 10 eggs

• 3/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp pepper

• Other

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/4 cup spinach (optional)

Directions

• Prep
• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Grease a 9×13 pan with your cooking oil of choice (butter, oil, etc)
• Sausage Mixture
• Brown the sausage in a large skillet.
• Once browned, add in the diced chiles and scrape the bottom of the pan to get the burnt bits up.
• Add in cream cheese.
• Mix until all combined.
• Egg Mixture
• Crack 10 eggs into a large mixing bowl.
• Add heavy cream, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mix well
• Bake and Serve
• Place in preheated oven for 35 minutes.
• Once done, let cool for 5 minutes.
• Cut into 12 equal pieces.

Recipe Video

*I have included links to the ingredients or products I use or recommend for ease of shopping. A Style for Life is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission. All opinions are mine, and I try everything extensively before I recommend it. I only link to products I have already loved, used, and trust. Thank you for supporting A Style for Life!

One of the treats that I miss most pre-Gluten-Free and Keto is a delicious cheesecake dessert. Cheesecake. Is there anything better than cheesecake? I would vote no. But transitioning to a gluten-free lifestyle left me wanting for that yummy filling mixed with a summery berry topping. I don’t love regular cake, but cheesecake and angel food cake are the two desserts I miss the most.

So I went on a mission to find a fantastic alternative to cheesecake, and here you have it. These keto cheesecake dessert pudding cups are delicious, will please any crowd, don’t have a strange aftertaste, and will satisfy that sweet tooth craving we all get from time to time.

If you’re looking for something patriotic to serve, these will definitely suit the task!

And being that I’m watching foods that feed cancer, these are a great alternative to anything that might affect blood sugar or carcinogens.

How to Make Keto, Gluten-Free Cheesecake Berry Parfait Cups

Make the Keto and Gluten-Free Filling

1. Scrape the block of cream cheese into your stand mixer. Add in the monk fruit sugar. I like Lakanto, but use whatever sugar alternative you prefer. Mix on medium-high until it’s smooth. The cream cheese must be smooth and no longer clumpy to have a great, light texture. The first time I made this, I skipped this step, and we had chunks of cream cheese in the pudding filling. It still tasted great, but the texture is so important. So mix that cream cheese until it’s smooth and soft, about 3-4 minutes minimum. You can’t over-mix your cream cheese. So mix, baby, mix!
2. Once the cream cheese and sugar mixture is smooth and soft, add in the sour cream. Mix this until it’s well combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula at least once to ensure it’s mixed well.
3. Add in the almond extract and whipping cream last. Mix until soft peaks form, scraping the sides of your bowl just once. You don’t want to overmix the whipping cream. You want the cream to fluff like whipping cream and not get hard or overworked.

Make the Keto and Gluten-Free Berry Sauce

1. Chop strawberries: slice the stem tops off the strawberries. Then cut in half, and then in half again to get the same size pieces.
2. Add half of the strawberries to a bowl.
3. Sprinkle monkfruit sugar on the berries and gently mix with a spoon.
4. Add the juice of one lemon to the mixture and mix. Take a potato masher and gently mash the mixture to create a chunky syrup.
5. Add in the remaining fruit and mix again.

Assemble the Cheesecake Berry Patriotic Parfait

1. Find a cute glass jar. I used small mason jars, which do hold a bit more than a single serving if you’re counting your carbs. You can use small wine glasses, parfait cups, martini glasses; anything that will show off your beautiful creation.
2. Place a small amount (about a tbsp) of berry filling in the bottom.
3. Fill the container almost to the top with the cream cheese / cheesecake filling.
4. Add another tbsp of berry mixture on top.
5. Serve!

A Few Notes / Pro Tips

Following these tips will make the best keto cheesecake dessert that is sure to please your guests!

-If you have time to let this sit in the fridge (about an hour) the flavors in everything will enhance and be so delicious. This recipe does not have to chill, but if you have time to let it chill, do. The almond extract and berries will be more flavorful.

-Be sure and mix the cream cheese well. If it’s not room temp when you start, that’s ok. You will need to let it mix longer. If you’re starting with cold cream cheese, let the block mix in your stand mixer with the sugar longer than the recipe calls for. That will soften it. You can let it run and mix while you chop your strawberries. There is no threat of overmixing these two ingredients.

-Monkfruit sugar naturally takes a bit longer to dissolve than regular refined cane sugar. Adding the monkfruit sugar at the beginning with the cream cheese will get you a smooth mixture. Taste the cream cheese filling for your level of sweetness. If you want it sweeter than I prefer or the recipe calls for, add the sugar at the beginning with the cream cheese so it will have time to dissolve. Adding it at the end will result in a slightly gritty texture (like sugar on cold cereal). This isn’t terrible, but to truly impress your guests, you want this filling very smooth and fluffy.

Monkfruit Sugar

If you haven’t tried Monkfruit sugar yet, I highly encourage you to try it! I’ve tried every sweetener that is keto friendly under the sun and this is the only one that doesn’t leave a strange aftertaste, or give me a headache. It’s natural, which is something I look for based on always watching for natural alternatives to manufactured food. It contains zero calories and is thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. There are some studies that suggest that monk fruit extract inhibits cancer cell growth. Having the Chek2 gene mutation, I am all in on natural foods that could potentially inhibit cancer growth! Learn more about my Chek2 mutation here.

Monkfruit sugar is said to have anti-diabetes properties, as it does not raise blood sugar levels. Studies show it may actually reduce blood sugar!

My favorite brand is Lakanto.

Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener – 1:1: This is by far my favorite keto friendly sugar. It has no aftertaste, and tastes the closest to the white, refined sugar we all know. Use the link to order from Amazon. Depending on your area, you could have it next day!

“As the name implies, monk fruit sweetener is derived from the juice of monk fruit. Although more research is needed, it appears to be a safe and healthy sugar alternative. It’s naturally derived, calorie-free, and may even provide health benefits.” – See the whole article at Healthline.

The Recipe

Quick & Easy Cheesecake Parfait Fruit Cups – Keto & Gluten-Free

Recipe by Lisa Marie MasquelierCourse: DessertCuisine: Keto and Gluten FreeDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

198.4

kcal

Net Carbs

4.5

Looking for a delicious, easy, no-bake, gluten-free, and keto-friendly patriotic red, white, and blue dessert? Look no further! This super easy, keto-friendly berry-filled, cheesecake pudding/parfait dessert recipe with strawberries and blueberries is naturally gluten-free and sure to please any picky eater’s pallet, and it’s ready in 15 minutes!

Ingredients

• Cheesecake Filling

• 8 oz Cream Cheese – Softened

• 1/2 Cup Sour Cream

• 1/3 Cup Monkfruit Sugar

• 1/4 tsp Almond Extract

• 1/4 cup whipping cream (not whipped)

• Topping

• 1 Cup Strawberries – Chopped

• 1/2 Cup Blueberries

• 1 Lemon – Juiced

• 1/4 Cup Monkfruit Sugar

Directions

• Cream Cheese / Cheesecake Filling
• Ensure Cream Cheese is at room temperature
• Place entire block of cream cheese in a stand mixer. Mix until smooth.
• Add in Sour Cream to mixer. Mix until smooth.
• Add in Almond Extract and whipping cream. Mix until stiff peaks form.
• Refrigerate while you make the berry topping.
• Berry Topping
• De-stem and cut the strawberries into equal sized pieces. Place half in in large mixing bowl. Set aside the other half.
• Sprinkle with sugar. Mix well. Squeeze the juice of one lemon and add to the bowl of strawberries. Add the blueberries and mix lightly.
• Take a potato masher and mash the berry mixture slightly to create a slight sauce.
• Add remaining strawberries and mix well.
• Assemble
• Place a small amount of berry mixture in the bottom of a glass jar, or small container.
• Place a large portion of the filling on top.
• Add a large spoonful of berry mixture to the top as decoration.

Recipe Video

Have you made this dessert? Send me a picture or post a comment! I’d love to hear how it went.

Lisa Marie Masquelier

Lisa is a California girl turned Texan who loves both states, while always dreaming of being that girl on the bicycle in Paris with the fresh cut flowers, baguette and a good bottle of wine. Lisa balances being a present mother, a devoted wife and a successful career in publishing, giving her best each day in all regards. She is a cancer survivor and fighter (CHEK2 positive), a healthy food enthusiast, a do-it-yourself believer, a blended family champion, and a beautifier of the world she lives in.

See Lisa’s Story here

December 2019: Chek2 Genetic result: Positive – Clinically Significant Mutation Detected. HUH? I read those words on the document I received, confused, not understanding what they were trying to tell me.
Oh… Here, I see it: Interpretation: High Cancer Risk.

August of 2019: My gynecologist let me know that I was eligible to be tested for a new gene defect they’ve discovered based on my family and personal cancer histories. Why not, right? Sure… take my blood.

A few weeks later, they called to let me know that I needed to come in. That the results came back, and they needed to talk to me in person. That’s usually never good, so I did what any other normal, overwhelmed human would do. Ignore it. If I don’t go in, they can’t tell me anything; it will all just go away, right? Right…

Thankfully, my gynecologist, Dr. Kathryn White, didn’t let me ignore it and let me think it would just go away. Instead, her office kept calling and calling, and finally certified mailed me the results with a handwritten letter to PLEASE call their office to come in to discuss the results.

Looking back, I believe I went into shock reading the results. Seeing the large RED banner across the page that read:

GENETIC RESULT: POSITIVE – CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT MUTATION DETECTED
NOTE: “CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT” as defined in this report, is a genetic change that is associated with the potential to ALTER MEDICAL INTERVENTION.

Well… that sounds, um, terrible. Right? Yeah… as I kept reading, I realized this isn’t great news. I was surprised. Terrified, honestly. I put it down and walked away. Was I cursed? Why was this happening? Some of my worst fears seemed to be sitting in front of me, telling me they were on the brink of coming true.

The packet sat unread on my kitchen counter for days, but it would not be ignored. It glared at me when I refilled my water, it stared at me when I started dinner, and it would not stop. I surrendered, took a couple deep breaths and settled in to read it thoroughly. After reading the report, and crying a lot, I was ready to learn more and understand better. I finally called my doctor back to make an appointment.

What is Chek2 Anyway?

That was the question I kept asking myself. What is this? What does it mean? What cancer risks are we talking about here? Having a significant cancer history in my family, I was both curious and terrified to hear what this actually meant for me.

Technical: Chek2: a tumor suppressor gene that encodes the protein CHK2, a serine-threonine kinase. CHK2 is involved in DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, or apoptosis in response to DNA damage. Mutations to the CHEK2 gene have been linked to a wide range of cancers.

In layman’s terms: everyone has Chek2 in their DNA. Chek2 repairs damaged DNA, one of those damages being irregular cells or cancer cells developing in the body. However, for those who have the Chek2 mutation, that part of the DNA is damaged and therefore does not function as it should to repair damaged, irregular, or cancer cells. Combine that irregularity with a family history of cancer, and you have yourself a wildly high cancer risk.

Basically, when this gene is mutated, it doesn’t perform its function, and potentially cancerous cells can easily divide and reproduce.

How many people have this gene you ask? Yeah, I did too. Guess what. 1.5%. 1.5% of the human population tests positive for the Chek2 mutation. Man… those are some crazy odds.

What Cancers are Higher Risk with a Chek2 Gene Mutation?

I learned that with a Chek2 Gene mutation, you’re more likely to have a higher risk of:

• Breast Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Brain Tumors
• And last, but not least… Osteosarcoma.

Is that all?

What to do about a Chek2 Diagnosis? – My Curse Solution

With my family history, my personal risk of breast cancer is almost 50%. 50%! This was definitely something that took a long time to accept. I struggled and struggled with that number. 50%! I cried in my doctor’s office. I cried on the way home. I cried telling my husband. I cried and cried. The story I kept telling myself was that developing breast cancer is the same as waking up and flipping a coin. 50/50, right? Do I have it, or do I not? Followed by an “elevated risk” for colon cancer. I already had thyroid cancer. My mom had ovarian. My dad died of pancreatic. Aunts on both sides, and my grandmother had breast. So basically… the only cancer on this list that didn’t affect my family was kidney and brain. Whew… what a relief. <insert sarcastic laugh here>

Fast forward 6 months, stuck in this “Curse” mindset: I was becoming a crazy person. I couldn’t stop thinking that every pain, every twinge, every ache was cancer developing in my damaged body. I would wake up thinking about it. I would go to bed thinking about it. I would fast forward 10 years of my life, envisioning my family dealing with the after-effect that all these cancers were definitely going to inflict on my body. It was becoming obsessive. I had made it my story, my identity, my curse.

I met a good friend, Bernadette, in Memphis at an Airbnb during the summer of 2020 to attend the Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within virtual seminar. We spent a week together, working through emotions, life’s challenges, and what we would do to better ourselves. Unfortunately, I was trapped in this curse mindset until my good friend snapped. She told me…

I’m thankful for friends who speak truth into your world, even when it’s hard to hear. This was hard to hear. I struggled not to think about it. I struggled not to worry every day that my body was developing one of these cancers. I struggled not to come up with stories of dying young and leaving my kids and husband behind. After all, my body already produced cancer. Why wouldn’t it again? I was completely focused on what had the potential to go wrong instead of focusing on what I could or should do to put the odds back into my favor for living a long, healthy, cancer-free life.

What to do about a Chek2 Diagnosis? – My Blessing Solution

After this realization, which not so ironically happened at the Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within seminar, I decided to take action versus sitting with my fears. (PS. If you have never been to this, I HIGHLY recommend it)

I scheduled an appointment with an oncologist and put together a plan for the highest risk cancer, Breast Cancer. There are a few options for someone with a high-risk gene, such as this one.

1. Monitor closely being checked every 6 months between mammogram and MRI.
2. Take chemoprevention medications to attempt to lower the risk
3. Remove the breasts surgically through a full mastectomy

I have opted out for number 2 altogether. I do not want to be on a medication that could potentially have other side effects if I can avoid it. So I’m currently in between options 1 and 3. I was scheduled for a full mastectomy in March of 2021, but honestly, I chickened out. Combine the fear of the surgery with an intense job change, and I moved back into option 1, which is to monitor it closely.

Why this CHEK2 Positive Mutation Diagnosis is a Blessing, not a Curse.

I made a conscious decision. I decided to look at the technology we have, the doctor’s awareness we have, and all the medical advances as a blessing. I get to decide. I get to be in charge of my health and be on the lookout for anything that might be alarming with the hope of catching it before it would ever get too bad, like the thyroid cancer I had in 2011 (read that story here). I was lucky with thyroid cancer, was blessed to listen to my body, to have doctors who listen to me, and to find it early enough that it was a simple fix.

I can make choices. I am lucky.

I can watch my intake. I can be aware of the foods that I put into my body. I can be aware of what carcinogens are out there and ensure that I’m consuming as little of them as possible. I can make great choices for vitamins, nutrition, and overall health in my food and fuel.

I can watch the products I bring into my home. I can make educated choices to reduce the number of toxins we use daily.

I can lower the usage of our microwave. Studies are still out, and it’s quite possible that the use of the microwave and the way it alters the chemical make-up of our food damages our cells (huh… DNA gene mutation? Makes sense)

I can watch the products I put on my skin. Simple swaps for things like sunscreen, lotion, skincare, and makeup can help fight the odds.

Living with Intention.

None of these things are hard. But they do take intention. Intentionally making choices that play towards the odds of fighting this versus feeding it. That simple change puts me in more power. I get to do things that are great for my health, for my family’s health, and for our futures. That’s empowering.

Instead of living every day in fear, I am choosing to see this as a blessing. Yes, that blessing comes with a myriad of tests each year (MRIs, colonoscopy, sonograms, mammogram, blood work, etc.), but I have the capability and the ability to perform these. Seriously… Lucky me!

Yes, “scanxiety” does kick in. With these scans coming about every two to three months, it can get to be a lot. I’m human. I’m not Superwoman. I know I will have bad days. I know that when those twinges, little pains, changes to my body happen, it still runs through my mind that maybe this is it. It is only human that these doubts creep in, but I know that I have the power to march the same doubts back out. The key here is learning to minimize the anxiety and to focus on the blessing. Focus on faith. Focus on the knowledge. Focus on the actions I can take. Focus on how fortunate I am.

More information:

For more information on the Chek2 gene, please see these articles. These helped me understand the diagnosis:

• Everyday Health
• Cancer Connect
• UTSW Med

If you have been diagnosed and want to reach out and talk through it, please reach out to me. You can message me on the About page or DM me on Instagram.

It’s Easter season! We’re getting ready to dye eggs for Easter fun. With a family of seven, we end up having A LOT of hard boiled eggs. Also with a family who is picky about what they eat, I had to get creative with ways to utilize all those boiled eggs. 3/4ths of my family hates mustard, pickles and typical deviled eggs. So what to do?

I was making my super easy, famous sausage dip. And the though occurred to me… Egg yolk, sausage, cream cheese, sausage deviled eggs? HECK YES!

So I started experimenting. And this is what I’ve come up with: Family Friendly Deviled Eggs with Sausage.

TIPS FOR HARD BOILED EGGS

Have you ever had envy of those perfect hard boiled eggs? The ones that are perfectly cooked, no gray edges, and just soft enough to not have a chalky yolk? The ones that make the best deviled eggs? Yeah. Me too.

When I started on a gluten-free and keto life, one of the staples to easy mornings is hard boiled eggs. Yet, I was constantly disappointed. They would turn out gray on the edges, or would have a really chalky, dry yolk, the one where you want a gallon of water after eating it. You too? then I would see all these beautiful pictures of avocado toast with a soft-boiled egg, with a slightly runny yolk, no gray and I had boiled egg envy. So I went on the hunt to find the tips and tricks to get the perfect hard boiled egg.

1. Freshness: Make sure your eggs are fresh. If your eggs float, they are bad. Throw them away!
2. Cold Water: Start with cold water in your pan. You want the eggs to cook evenly. Put your eggs in your pot, then cover by at least an inch with cold water.
3. The Right Heat: Turn the heat on med-high, until you get a rolling boil. Then turn it down to medium to continue to barely boil/simmer. You don’t want your eggs rocking around in your pot and have them crack. Gentle. Gentle.
4. Time: Once you turn the heat to medium, turn on your timer. Set it for 5-6 minutes (depending on how soft you want your yolk). After 5-6 minutes, remove from heat, and let sit for 2-3 minutes in the warm water for not runny, but not overcooked eggs. This is the key to not having the gray edges of yolk. Gray means it was overcooked, or cooked too quickly. To check for doneness, take one egg and spin it upright on your counter top. Be careful, it will be hot. If it spins evenly, it’s done. If it wobbles, but spins, it’s probably just right for a soft boiled yolk. If it falls down and won’t spin, it’s not done.
5. Cool Water: Once you have reached the right doneness of your eggs, run them in cold water until they’re cool to the touch.
6. Peel: Roll with some pressure the eggs on the long side along the inside of your sink to break up the yolk. Find a place the will grab the film under the shell, and pull the shell off. If you find the egg whites are breaking up with the peeling process, roll them on your sink or counter to break up the shell, then let them soak in cool water for 10-15 minutes. This usually helps the peeling process.

TOOLS RECOMMENDED

Dessert Decorator/Cake Decorating Tool: I love this one from amazon. I’ve used it for years for all kinds of fun dessert and deviled egg projects. If you don’t want to buy this, you can just use a ziploc, fold it over a large cup, put your filling in, seal it, and cut the corner off. But if you want pretty edges, this is the way to go.

HOW TO MAKE SAUSAGE, KETO, GLUTEN-FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY DEVILED EGGS

After boiling your eggs and cooking your sausage/cream cheese mixture, cut the eggs and scoop out the perfectly yellow yolk (no gray edges here!). Using your hand mixer or stand mixer, mix on medium until well incorporated.

Using a dessert decorator, or just a medium spoon, get the mixture back into the eggs on a serving plate or platter.

Sprinkle on the smoked paprika, to taste. This adds that little something extra to the eggs that will leave your guests wondering what your “secret trick” to delicious deviled eggs is.

Viola! These are the a popular dish and most frequently asked for recipe. Even your pickiest eaters will love them!

Best Family Friendly Deviled Eggs with Sausage

Recipe by Lisa Marie MasquelierCourse: SnacksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

10

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Sausage Deviled Eggs; Keto, gluten-free and family friendly

Ingredients

• 8-10 Hard Boiled Eggs

• 3-4 Sausage Patties, cooked and crumbled

• 3 oz cream cheese

• 2 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1/2 tsp mustard powder

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• Pinch of Salt and Pepper

• Smoked Paprika

• 1-2 Chives, chopped to small pieces for garnish

Directions

• Boil the eggs to just a done (5-6 minutes). Do not over cook. See tips for boiling eggs above.
• In a sauté pan, cook sausage until cooked through. Crumble/ break up sausage in pan. Add cream cheese to pan to warm and soften.
• Peel eggs and dry. Cut eggs in half and scoop out the yolk into a mixing bowl
• Add the sausage mixture, mayonnaise, mustard powder, onion powder, garlic powder. Taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.
• Mix ingredients together with a hand mixer until combined.
• Fill the eggs with the yolk mixture. You can use a dessert filler or just a spoon.
• Lightly sprinkle smoked paprika on top along with chopped chives.

Before we dive into the formula, a brief Q&A about Costa Rica:

Is Costa Rica close? From Dallas, it’s a shorter flight than flying to New York or Seattle. Costa Rica is just a 3.5 – 4 hour flight from Texas.

Is Costa Rica friendly? Costa Rican Ticos are friendly, warm and hospitable. We have made life-long friendships through our travels there.

Is Costa Rica convenient? English is acceptable most everywhere, especially in the tourist towns, and so are US Dollars, so no exchange rate hurdles or hijinks. You can pay for almost anything with the US dollar, however, you will get the Costa Rican colones in return. That’s ok! Use them for tolls or tips!

Is Costa Rica safe? Costa Rica is considered to be the most safe Latin American country. We trust it so much, we sent our daughter for a 2 month animal rescue mission at the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center in Alajuela. Costa Rica is a peace-loving country with no army since 1821. Pura Vida!

With two jobs, five kids, two dogs and fifty things going on at home, our lives are abundantly full, but our schedules are complicated, stressful and restrictive. Our formula for Manuel Antonio is the opposite: simple, relaxing and adaptable.

Our Formula for Costa Rica

Step 1. Get to CR (Costa Rica).

Because Manuel Antonio is on the southern Pacific side, we began with a flight out of Dallas into Costa Rica’s capital city San Jose. We like to fly Southwest or American Airlines (depending on flight costs). If you can negotiate a window seat with the airline, your spouse or kids, you can catch eye-popping views of Belize’s turquoise islands, spectacular terrain in Honduras and volcanos in Nicaragua. Most of the flights (at least from Dallas) arrive in the evening, and because we want to drive across the beautiful country during the day, we book a clean and comfortable room for one night at an airport hotel in San Jose. We prefer the Hampton Inn in Alajeula (technically where the San Jose airport is.) The Hampton Inn shuttle zips you from the airport to the hotel in under five minutes. But if you prefer Holiday Inn, there is also a Holiday Inn in Alajuela (same parking lot). The Hampton Inn shares a parking lot with parrot filled palm trees and multiple rental car offices. So easy.

Step 2. Get to the Pacific Ocean.

In the morning, after a cozy night at the hotel Hampton Inn, we grab breakfast and a rental car for a 2.5 – 3 hour drive to the coast (remember, the rental car service is in the hotel parking lot, so it’s easy and convenient to pick up the car in the morning). We prefer Toyota Rental Car or POAS Rental Car. (pick the option for the San Jose airport for your pickup. There are no rental cars directly at the airport. Every rental car company requires a shuttle from the airport).

There is an option to take a short flight from San Jose to the Quepos airport which serves Manuel Antonio, but we love the scenic ride and having a vehicle handy all week. And… the locals in Costa Rica say not to worry, because all the bad pilots have already hit the mountain. We’ll drive.

The drive takes you from Alajuela’s windswept mountains, across the famed Tarcoles crocodile bridge, down the Pacific coast line from Jaco, through palm and teak plantations to Quepos, and ultimately Manuel Antonio.  The natural beauty is overwhelming, but the roads are not – they are paved the entire away! 

Don’t worry about getting lost. WAZE, Google Maps, and Apple Maps all work in Costa Rica.
Have a few dollars ready for tolls on the tollway. Again, they will accept US dollars, but will give you change in Colones.

Step 3. Get Checked In (aka: Get a room).

Travelling with our kids and/or a second family, we book a vacation house through VRBO for a true “home” base. Casa Carolina and Casa Panorama are two favorites with dramatic ocean views, just minutes from the beach. We like Casa Carolina for the private pool and great staff and Casa Panorama for the in-resort experience at Tulemar and private beach. We have shopped locally and stocked the house, had the shopping done pre-arrival, or had meals prepared by staff, included in the rental agreement. You’ll be surprised at the economics of a fantastic house and staff vs. multiple hotel rooms. 

Traveling as a couple to decompress and come together, we book a favorite suite at a classic hotel, La Mariposa. This mountaintop masterpiece has incomparable views, updated rooms, hospitable staff, and an easy walk to great restaurants and shops. When is the last time you woke up to palms swaying in the breeze, tropical bird calls, the distant roar of howler monkeys, and the sparkling blue Pacific stretching to the forever? 

Step 4. Step into nature.

Manuel Antonio is home to the #1 rated National Park in Central America to no surprise. The area is a natural phenomenon, where sheer mountains, lush rainforest, beaches straight off a post card, and mountain streams intersect.  The available activities and excursions are as  limitless as the flora and fauna, and after 20 years of vacations to the country, we can only account for a fraction of the options, that we have experienced and enjoyed.

Here are just a few favorites and recommended contacts:

Parque National – hike and swim and take in the wildlife in the national park 

Day at the beach – tan, swim, surf, boogie board, volleyball, parasail and more at Playa Espadilla

Waterfall Tours – hike, swim and dive into clear mountain pools

Rafting Tours – nearby Sevegre and Naranjo rivers provide excitement for all levels

Zip-Lining Tours – zip through the tree tops and cross sky high suspension bridges

Mangrove Island Boat Tours

Butterfly Farms

Spice Farms

Sunset Catamaran

Deep Sea Fishing

Whether you choose to fill your day with a good book by the pool, a pickup beach volleyball game, or a white-water adventure, you can’t miss finding your own pure formula in Costa Rica.

We typically break our weeks and days into three categories; beach, hotel pool, tour. When it’s just the adults, we lean more toward beach and hotel pool days when we’re on our own and ratchet up the tours when the kids accompany.

When is the last time you savored a made to order breakfast with hand-squeezed juices, local coffee, vibrant fruit, omelets athat is included with the room, on La Mariposa terrace that words can’t describe.  There’s a symmetry to finishing our day at the patio bar with cocktails at sunset. If we don’t watch the sun set into the Pacific from the mountaintop La Mariposa, you can bet we’re watching below on the beach, with toes in the sand. In either place, people gather, stop what they’re doing and take in the beauty of the moment.

Absolutely hilarious.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren was a perfect pick for book #2 on my latest Costa Rica trip. ⁠It’s been a long time since a book had me laughing out loud. I felt completely aligned with the characters sense of humor, and the lack of ability to lie, and the snarky thoughts she thought. ⁠
⁠
When Olive’s twin sister’s wedding is ruined, and only one other person besides her is ok (who happens to be the brother of the groom and someone she’s despised since they met), are forced to take the newlywed’s vacation, you get hysterical antics and a fun plot to follow. ⁠
⁠
Enemies to lovers. Unlikely romance. A bickering couple. Everything a beach read needs. ⁠
⁠
Ethan and Olives relationship starts out with utter hatred and moves into fondness, but all along they keep that snarky sid⁠e, that banter, that is hilarious, yet charming. They run into a new employer and an ex-fiance in Hawaii, and Olive and Ethan need to lie and pretend to be a couple which starts the connection and their coming together. ⁠

⁠
A few of my favorite quotes:⁠
⁠
“Ethan, I’m a terrible liar.”⁠
“Really? You hid it so well.”⁠
“It’s never been my strength, okay? Those of us who aren’t summoned by the Dark Mark consider honesty to be a virtue.”⁠ ⁠
~ I related to Olive’s inability to lie throughout the book. The nervousness, the uncomfortableness, the way she over-explains. Yep… I feel ya, Olive.⁠
⁠
“Sophie sales up to him “Got your lucky penny?” she asks, I wish I could explain the tiny jealous monster that rears up inside my chest. She is engaged to someone else. Those little inside jokes and coupley secrets don’t belong to her anymore.” ⁠
~ They run into Ethans’ ex-fiance on their trip. She, of course, isn’t over him and continually tries to intercept their relationship with acting like she knows Ethan better than anyone in the world. Relatable? Yes. ⁠
⁠
“Those of us who aren’t summoned by the Dark Mark consider honesty to be a virtue.” ⁠
~ The Harry Potter references are fun, especially when wrapped up in insults.⁠
⁠
– Book #4 of my #goodreads2021challenge of 30 books.

⁠
I’m so glad I started out my trip to Costa Rica with this book selection.
⁠⁠
If you’re a fan of The Nightingale or The Lilac Girls, or the Lost Wife, you will love this story.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I am constantly in awe of the strength, resilience and bravery during this time. It’s heart wrenching to imagine the loss that so many felt of friends, family and a sense of their life. ⁠⁠

The Plot

The Book of Lost Names by @kristinharmel was an incredible story of Eva, a French-born Jewish woman, with a knack for art and forgery, who found herself working with the resistance in France in WWII. ⁠⁠After her father is taken by the French police and the Nazi’s, Eva and her mother must leave Paris. But how. How can a Polish Jewish woman and her French born Jewish daughter possibly leave Paris?

Until Eva is given the opportunity that will change everything. She is shown how she can forge documents, but must do it herself. When her documents are flawless, she is given a new opportunity. To help others as herself.

Eva’s work with the resistance saves the lives of countless jewish children who are sent to Switzerland based on the forgery and false documents she learns to create. Her determination to not allow the children’s lives to be erased and coded into the Book of Lost Names was admirable and something that brought a lot of thought with it.

I started to wonder if something like this could happen again in our lifetime. Could people be erased because they seemed to be on the wrong side of the winning crowd? Could a group so powerful, yet wrong, come back into power and we would all be fooled? Would families and lifelong friends ever turn on each other because of what might happen to them or how they might look in the eyes of their peers or those who seem to hold the power? ⁠

A few of my favorite quotes:⁠

“This isn’t the first one, Eva. The Germans rule with fear as much as they do with their weapons. If we cower every time a false notice goes around, they will have won, won’t they? They will have taken our sense of security, our sense of well-being. I won’t allow that.”⁠
⁠
…”she didn’t believe that he was the Messiah, she certainly believed he’d been a good person whose life had been taken unjustly. It seemed murdering people who differed from the masses was a tale as old as time.”⁠
⁠
…”but the thing is, parents make all sorts of errors, because our ability to raise our children is always colored by the lives we’ve lived before they came along.”⁠
⁠
“but the thing is, parents make all sorts of errors, because our ability to raise our children is always colored by the lives we’ve lived before they came along.”⁠
⁠
Book #3 for my 2021 Challenge.

If you would like to purchase the book, here is the link to buy on Amazon.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel.

You can find out more about Kristin Harmel here. I also loved her book The Winemaker’s Wife. This was my first Kristin Harmel book and I feel in love with her style, her ability to bring story and her voice.

Find more of my book reviews here.

I was inspired by Giada’s recipe for Brown Butter Krispies and loved the idea that she browned the butter first, to take the flavor up a notch and give these an elegant twist. Knowing that my family loves chocolate, I swapped out the regular rice crispy cereal for Cacao One Degree Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps to ensure they are gluten-free, and to add the chocolate touch.

Making these takes almost no time at all. And you can make them for any season with a simple cookie cutter for that season. For Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies, I chose to use this heart cookie cutter from Amazon.

*I have included links to the ingredients or products I use or recommend for ease of shopping. A Style for Life is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission. All opinions are mine, and I try everything extensively before I recommend it. I only link to products I have already loved, used, and trust. Thank you for supporting A Style for Life!

Ann Clark Cookie Cutters 4-Piece Heart Cookie Cutter Set: I spent a long time searching amazon for the right cookie cutter for this job. So many they sell are small and wouldn’t work for a Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies dessert. These were just big enough to work and will work for a lot of other projects as well!

If you would like to see other items I recommend for baking, you can find that post here.

Valentine’s Day? Do you celebrate?

Well… you caught me there! I don’t usually love Valentine’s Day. One year, I was at Target on Valentine’s Day, spending my single night browsing for things I absolutely didn’t need, and witnessed something that made me not love Valentine’s Day; It was the people in the Valentine’s Day aisle, rummaging through the left over bits of chocolate and stuffed bears, finding something obligatory for their significant other. I felt so sad for them. The idea that they feel so obligated to show up with a gift, just to fulfill what feels like a truly commercially driven holiday turned me off to the idea all together.

So what does Love mean? Does it mean a dinner reservation at a fancy restaurant on the 14th of February? Does it mean the last tattered, torn, and dirty teddy bear on the Valentine’s aisle at Target? Or does is mean that we should celebrate those you love?

I choose the latter. And the way I like to show love is through feeding my family well. So, instead of dinner reservations, or elaborate gifts, we have a wonderful dinner at home, and celebrate the fact that we love each other all year long, not just on the 14th of February because marketers tell us we should.

Ok, rant over.

So, if you’re into feeding your loved ones good food that will make them feel special, these Valentine’s Day Chocolate Rice Krispies will do the trick!

Ingredients Needed for Chocolate Valentine’s Rice Krispies:

Rice Cereal. I choose to use the One Degree Organic Sprouted Cacao Rice Cereal. I choose this one because it’s organic, the cacao flavor is very natural, and I know it’s for sure gluten-free. Plus, the carb count isn’t too crazy, although these would not qualify as a true keto option. If you don’t have them at your local store, you can order them on Amazon with the above link or Thrive Market.

Marshmallows. The mini are the easiest to melt. Pick the minis.

Butter: I always opt for grassfed butter, becuase we are what we eat. You can use any butter, but please, no margarine. It’s just not the same… or real.

Vanilla: You can use any vanilla. I like the Watkin’s All Natural Original Gourmet Baking Vanilla. My aunt Janey turned me onto the Watkin’s brand and I love it!

Cinnamon: Again, any cinnamon will do. But if you’re looking for an excellent cinnamon, I do love the Watkin’s brand!

Kosher Salt: Kosher is important because you want your salt to have some texture to it. I would not use iodized salt. Sea salt is a lot stronger, so if you use sea salt, you need to lower the salt amount. Every sweet dessert should have a salty side to balance it.

Directions for Valentine’s Rice Krispie Treats

1. Line a cookie sheet or flat sheet pan with a silicone liner, parchment paper or wax paper. I usually don’t butter or grease the pan or paper, because why add an extra step?

2. Measure the rice cereal into a large bowl so it’s ready to go.

3. Place the butter in a large pot or dutch oven to melt. Once it’s melted, turn the heat down, and let the butter cook just a little longer, until it just starts to brown. You don’t want burnt butter, just slightly more cooked and browned than just melted. Continue to stir with a rubber spatula or plastic spoon so that it doesn’t burn the bottom. This should take about 4 minutes.

4. Reduce the heat to very low. Add the marshmallows, cinnamon, salt and vanilla, and stir until your arm hurts and everything is melted. I always loved the line from I Love Lucy in the episode where Lucy and Ethel decide to churn their own butter and Lucy says “our grandmother’s must have had arms of steel!”. That’s what I think of when stirring the marshmallow mixture. Just when you want to give up and wish you worked out your triceps more, voila! It’s done and melted. You want this mixture smooth.

5. Pour the cereal into the melted marshmallow mixture, and gently fold it all together until everything is combined.

Anyone else a fan of Schitt’s Creek? I can’t say “Fold it in” without thinking of this scene, which made me laugh so hard!

6. I digress. The next step is to pour the hot mixture onto your sheet pan and use a spatula to try and smooth it out and even it out as much as you can.

7. Grab a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and now push and spread from the top down to get the edges even. Use the wax paper or parchment paper to push an edge up and make it as much of a rectangle as possible

8. Let them cool for about 30 minutes to an hour. Try not to snack on the corners in the meantime.
   
   Once cool enough, use your cookie cutter to cut shapes. If the cookie cutter starts to hurt your hand, find something long and strong to use to help you push it down. For example, I grabbed scissors and laid them flat across the heart, and pushed that down when my hand started feeling the indentation of the cookie cutter. Then find a storage container where you can lay them flat and separate with parchment or wax paper, or store them upright (side by side).

And done! I put some on skewers to make a fun centerpiece for a Valentine’s party.

Valentine’s Dessert: Heart Shaped Simple Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats

Recipe by Lisa MarieCourse: Dessert, Gluten-FreeCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Super Easy

Servings

16

servings

Prep timeminutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Total time

20

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter

• 5 cups mini marshmallows (about 1 bag)

• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp kosher salt

• 6 cups cocoa rice cereal

Directions

• Line a cookie sheet or flat sheet pan with a silicone liner, parchment paper or wax paper.
• Measure the rice cereal into a large bowl
• Place the butter in a large pot or dutch oven to melt. Once it’s melted, turn the heat down, and let the butter cook just a little longer, until it just starts to brown. You don’t want burnt butter, just slightly more cooked and browned than just melted. Continue to stir with a rubber spatula or plastic spoon so that it doesn’t burn the bottom. This should take about 4 minutes
• Reduce the heat to very low. Add the marshmallows, cinnamon, salt and vanilla, and stir until your arm hurts and everything is melted.
• Pour the cereal into the melted marshmallow mixture, and gently fold it all together until everything is combined.