VACA FRITA Over the years I’ve discovered that my favorite foods are generally those that do well with a generous squeeze of fresh lime juice—pad thai, tacos, and a lot of Latin dishes like this one. Vaca frita translated into English means “fried cow,” and it’s...

TACO SALAD If you come over to our house and I wasn’t expecting you, I’ll probably try to feed you this taco salad. It’s one of my favorite easy recipes, and I never get sick of it (probably because it’s topped with avocado, salsa, and lime—three of my favorite...

STEAK MARSALA At first I thought it would be hard to find something Paleo to eat at an Italian restaurant, but it’s really not too bad if you do a little digging past the pasta and lasagna. I love to order steak Marsala if it’s on the menu, and I get a side of...

SHEPHERD’S PIE There are so many great things you can do with cauliflower (which is why we have an entire chapter devoted to it), but one of my favorites is to mash it up with some garlic and butter and use it in place of potatoes. This Paleo Shepherd’s Pie does just...

ROPA VIEJA If you haven’t been to Miami, you should go, and eat Cuban food every day—it’s wonderful. I had ropa vieja for the first time at a Cuban restaurant in Miami, and I really liked it. The dish got its name because ropa vieja means “old clothes” in Spanish, and...

MEATBALLS I think meatballs were the first dish to give me what I now refer to as “flour rage,” which is when you go Paleo and suddenly realize how much gluten, sugar, and dairy are in foods that really don’t need them. Milk in scrambled eggs; sugar in every sauce...

HAMBURGER AND RICE–STYLE GROUND BEEF When I was younger, my mom would make hamburger and rice all the time—it was one of my dad’s favorite meals, and my brother and I grew to love it as well. Some people who follow the Paleo diet swear by white rice as an acceptable...

CLASSIC POT ROAST A pot roast is a great classic weeknight dinner that you really can’t go wrong with, whether it’s just a couple of you for dinner or you have guests over. This one-pot dinner is tasty and comforting, and just about any vegetable goes well with it. It...

BURGER BOWLS My family and I make burger bowls whenever we have a big crowd over, especially in the summer. It doesn’t take a ton of work, and everyone can customize their own burger. We tend to go all out on toppings, which include (but are never limited to)...

BEEF TENDERLOIN Beef tenderloin is one of my favorite meals—my mom and I make it for almost every party we ever host. It’s an impressive dish to look at, but not too fussy to make. All you need to do is season the meat and cook it in the oven. Sliced thinly and...