With our BVI bareboat charter trip coming up, Scott and I have been trying to lose some weight. He recently watched a documentary about the infamous Keto Diet and decided we should try it. Since I love to cook, this would be an interesting change.
I don’t really miss the carbs, but it’s trying to find the replacement for them that can be difficult. We had decided a few weeks ago, to stay on the boat the first weekend of March because the weather looked great. Unfortunately, when the weekend arrived, the weather was CRAZY!
What do we prepare on a stormy night that is Keto friendly?
Normally I would bake some kind of pasta, but we needed something that was keto friendly. That’s when I decided to try and make zucchini lasagna. How hard can it be? Not hard at all.
How did it turn out? GREAT! The only issue is that zucchini is full water, so you really have to do your best to dry it out. Ours came out a bit watery, but it tasted amazing. Conclusion? Make it again, but let it sit for about 15 minutes to let it set up.
116 oz jarmarinara sauceWe use Mezzetta Homemade Italian Plum Tomato
Instructions
Using a sharp knife, slice the ends off of the zucchini. Holding the zucchini upright, slice thin pieces and lay on a paper towel. Lightly sprinkle salt on each piece.
While the zucchini is drying out, heat a skillet on medium high heat and add sausage, pork, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. After 5 minutes, add onion, garlic and mushrooms. Cook until browned. Remove from heat and drain any grease.
In a bowl, mix Parmesan, Mozzarella and Italian Seasoning. (in our video, I added them separately just to save a bowl)
Spray a 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray. Dab each zucchini slice with a paper towel to absorb any extra liquid. Begin layering the lasagna by placing zucchini slices on the bottom of the pan.
Add cooked meat, then sauce.
Layer with cheese.
Repeat layer. For the final top layer, arrange zucchini slices, top with sauce.
Top final layer with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Put a cookie under the pan, as it may over flow with liquid from the zucchini.
Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with a side salad.
Years ago, I went on a vegetarian diet for health reasons and found one of my favorite chili recipes. I’ve altered it with my own unique flavors and surprisingly, Scott loves it too.
This recipe is super easy to make, especially on a boat – during a wind storm! LOL. Be sure to follow the key points below, so your chili doesn’t get soggy.
There are all kinds of meat substitutes, especially today. I haven’t tried any of the new ones, like “Impossible burger”, but I do plan on it. We’ll let you know what we think. For this recipe, we use our favorite crumbles, which are from Morning Star. Be sure to not over cook the crumbles, or they will get mushy.
Recently, Scott and I made this recipe on the boat during a wind storm. It was perfect for our cozy winter night and we also baked corn bread to accompany it. Enjoy!
With warm sunny weather, no one likes to spend time cooking. That’s why I love this easy couscous salad! I make a big batch of it and have it for lunch at work or take it on the boat.
In this recipe, I use a lemon flavored packaged couscous by Casbah, but you can easily make it from scratch too. The one thing I love about this couscous, is you don’t need to add any kind of dressing. The couscous is so flavorful, that it does great on it’s own. This way the veggies don’t get soggy too!
With our busy schedules, this is just easier for us. I also use pre-cooked chicken when I am in a hurry.
This will last about three to four days in the refrigerator. I’m not a big fan of eating cooked chicken after that. You can certainly add or swap out your favorite veggies too. If you have a favorite version, please share with us.
We’re headed down to Kingston on our boat next weekend, so this will be a great salad for entertaining. It packs well and the veggies don’t get soggy. Be sure to use very fresh cucumbers and bell peppers. Be sure to check out the rest of our tasty recipes on our recipe page! Enjoy!
This couscous salad is very fresh and perfect for a hot summer day. You can make a full meal out of it, just add some crunchy bread and your favorite dry rose'. What I really love about this recipe, is you don't need a salad dressing! Enjoy!
Cook couscous according to instructions. Remove from heat and let cool. Be sure to stir occasionally while cooling.
When completely cooled, mix in veggies, chicken and feta cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for one hour before serving. Store up to 4 days in the fridge.
Skillet Chicken Pasta Primavera with Spring Vegetables
My skillet chicken pasta primavera recipe includes my favorite Spring vegetables and you can swap out or add any of yours. During the warm weather months, I would rather spend my time outdoors than in my kitchen, so I love to whip up quick easy meals.
This pasta dish is hearty and very flavorful. It also makes great leftovers for the lunch the next day. One tip I have for making pasta dishes and adding vegetables, is to add “color”. In this recipe, we have green (asparagus & spinach), yellow (yellow squash & yellow bell pepper), orange (orange bell pepper), purple (red onion), brown (mushrooms) and red (sun dried tomatoes). You can get really creative with your dishes, looking for tasty veggies to add to your meal.
When making this on a boat, you can prep the veggies at home to save time and space. I also pre-cook or buy pre-cooked chicken breasts, to save time.
Let us know what you love to use in your primavera! Enjoy! Ally
Cook pasta according to the instructions - al dente'. Drain, but do not rinse. Reserve a 1/4 cup of pasta water.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium high heat and add aspragus, bell pepper, red onion, mushrooms, garlic and Italian seasoning. Saute' until slightly tender and season with salt and pepper.
Lower heat to medium and add sundried tomatoes, cooked chicken, yellow squash and spinach. Cook for about 1 minute. Add cream and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
To thicken your sauce, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water and reduce down. At our house, my husband likes his sauce really thickened and so I use corn starch. I simply mix 1 tbsp of corn starch with 3 tbsp of water and stir in. Once you have reached the consistency you prefer, add the pasta and season again with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan and crusty bread.
Cucumber & Tomato with Bruschetta – the perfect summer time appetizer!
Everyone loves tomato and basil bruschetta and recently I decided to mix things up a bit. The typical recipe includes red onion, which can be too overwhelming during a party. So for my last batch, I replaced it with an English Cucumber and it was the hit of the party!
I also used red wine vinegar, instead of balsamic to keep the flavors zippy and light. When entertaining, I serve the tomato mixture in bowl, next to the bruschetta. This allows guests to pile on as much as they want, or very little.
Most recipes for bruschetta have you baking the bread in the oven. I love to fry mine in a mixture of olive oil and butter. My father-in-law goes crazy for my bruschetta and it’s because it’s crunchy, yet soft. It does take a bit more time, but it’s worth it. When serving this on our boat, I make it ahead of time at home, as we don’t have the space to fry the bread.
This is a twist to the traditional Italian recipe for bruschetta. Adding cucumber gives it freshness, perfect for a hot summer day. I made this and the grilled bruschetta for my family last weekend and it was a huge hit!
In a small bowl, melt the butter and mix with the olive oil. Add red pepper flakes, garlic salt and ground pepper. Heat skillet to medium high heat – watch your heat as you go, as to not scorch your bread.
Using a basting brush, slather both sides of the bread with the olive oil mixture and fry until golden on both sides. Remove with tongs onto a plate with paper towels to absorb the excess oil. If not serving immediately, allow to cool and then cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve.
Cucumber & Tomato
In a medium bowl, mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Add cucumber, tomato and chopped fresh basil. Toss gently to mix. Serve within an hour.
Now that the weather has warmed up, I love to make a quinoa salad as both our side dish & veggie. When we’re cooking on the boat, we try to grill our protein and have our side dish all prepared for ease of prep & cleanup. Quinoa is very versatile and you can add any ingredients you like. Add a protein for a full meal.
If you haven’t cooked quinoa much, you want to make sure you rinse it first, otherwise it can taste bitter. Quinoa comes from the Andes and surprisingly it is not a grain. What we are actually eating is the seed of the plant. It is in the goosefoot family, which also produces edibles such as chard and spinach. Although we treat it like a grain, it is actually not at all.
These salads are so tasty, because the quinoa absorbs the dressing so well. The key to maximizing the flavor is to let the quinoa cool slightly and then add the dressing. Then mix in your veggies. You want to make sure that the quinoa is cooled off enough, that it doesn’t make the veggies soggy.
This past week, we had a friend over to our new apartment for dinner. She is on the FODMAP diet and this salad was perfect for her. As a result, she can’t eat any garlic, onions or cheese. It was delicious, but if aren’t limited to ingredients, it’s best with minced garlic in the dressing, chopped red onion and crumbled feta cheese mixed in.
Quinoa Salad with Spinach, Cucumbers & Bell PeppersYum
This a delicious recipe for summer time that pairs great with most proteins. Be sure to make it at least one hour before serving so it marinates in the dressing.
Rinse the quinoa. Bring quinoa and 2 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a very low simmer and cover. Cook for about 13 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Remove lid and remove from heat. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes. Add lemon vinaigrette dressing (see recipe below), tossing gently. Add remaining vegetables.
Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
Whisk all the ingredients until blended well. Taste and adjust salt / pepper if needed. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Red potatoes with spinach is the perfect side dish. When prepping dinner in a small galley, it’s difficult to make two sides with your protein. I love to combine a starch with a veggie to make just one side dish.
My favorite combo is red potatoes with onions, mushrooms and spinach. You can also use baby kale. Since the spinach or kale just need to be wilted slightly, I add this to the dish at the very end.
If you don’t have an oven on your boat, you can easily make this in a skillet or in a foil packet on your grill. Scott and I grill a lot on our boat during the summer, which helps keep the cleanup in the galley to a minimum.
This side dish is so easy and you can use the leftovers with eggs the next morning. It's a fan favorite and a great way to combine your veggies and starch!
Pre-heat the oven at 375 degrees. Line a baking dish with non-stick foil. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes and mushrooms with olive oil and spices. Bake on the middle rack and stir the ingredients after 20 minutes. Bake for another 15 minutes (or until the potatoes are tender). Add the spinach and mix well. Bake for another 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
This past week, the weather in the PNW finally started to warm up and that’s when we love to barbecue! One of my favorite side dishes is my corn, tomato & avocado salad. It’s easy to prepare, even on a boat. A crowd favorite for sure!
This salad is so versatile, that you can really add any of your favorite veggies or beans. Often, I’ll add black beans and chicken to make it a complete meal. I use fresh corn, but you can also use frozen corn. Simply microwave it for about one minute. Try to find an avocado that is not too ripe, as you don’t want it to be mushy.
The best way to cut up an avocado, is to slice it in half. Then CAREFULLY stab the seed with a knife, turn it sideways and the seed should pop out. Then using a large spoon, scoop out the avocado and cut it up.
I use a simple lime dressing for this corn, tomato and avocado salad. Be sure to let it marinate in the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving.
This is a very easy salad to make and everyone loves it. The citrus in the lime dressing will prevent the avocado from turning brown. This salad is best when you use all fresh vegetables and lime juice.
1tspCreole seasoningif your Creole Seasoning has salt in it, then forgo the kosher salt
Instructions
Hold the ears of corn upright in a large bowl. Using a sharp knife, saw off the kernels into the bowl. Add the remaining diced vegetables.
Juice the entire lime into a small bowl and add remaining dressing ingredients. Whisk to blend well and taste. If you want it zestier or spicy, simply adjust to your taste preference.
Add the dressing to the salad, mixing carefully so you don't mush the avocado. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Growing up, my mom always made homemade spaghetti sauce from scratch. That’s partly because we didn’t have jarred sauce when I was a kid. With the fast pace of the 1990’s & early 2000’s, it seemed as if everyone started buying jarred sauce due to its’ convenience. I certainly did. Now, many retailers including Safeway and Whole Foods have a huge variety of jarred sauces.
However, over time, I started to notice that most of the jarred sauces lacked true flavor and in fact, were packed with sugar. That’s when I started making my own sauce and freezing batches of it. Instead of using sugar, I use a stevia sweetener from Pyure Organics.
You can certainly make homemade spaghetti sauce on a boat, as you just need one pot. Give yourself a few hours though, because it is best after it’s been cooking all day. What’s great about this recipe, is you can tweak it anyway you want. If you want it spicy, add some crushed red pepper. Want more zip? Add some more vinegar. Less tangy? Add some sugar.
When I make my sauce, I try it every half hour or so, to ensure I’m getting the final flavor I am looking for. This is a hearty dish that will satisfy any hungry boater or crowd! Please share with us your favorite homemade sauces. Enjoy!
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven on medium high heat and add beef and sausage, breaking up the chunks. Brown meat all over.
Lower heat to medium. Add celery, carrots, onion, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender, but do not caramelize. Add tomato paste and red wine and cook for about 2-4 minutes, until slightly reduced.
Add whole tomatoes and break up with a wooden spoon to desired thickness & texture. Add vinegar and stevia & blend well. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Be sure to taste the sauce every half hour to ensure you get the flavor you want.
Serve with your favorite pasta noodles and top with grated Parmesan cheese.
This Caribbean pork roast recipe is perfect for your next tropical themed dinner party or for entertaining on your boat. We use an oven in this recipe, but if you don’t have an oven on your boat, you can easily make it in a slow cooker. If you were at home, you could also use a Dutch Oven, but because it has to cook on the stovetop for at least three hours, I wouldn’t recommend doing that on a boat (at least a small boat like ours).
The Love of Caribbean Food
Since our honeymoon in Antigua back in 2003, Scott and I have visited the Caribbean annually. We love everything about the islands, including their food. That’s why I make it as often as I do Italian food. One of my favorite Caribbean cookbooks is At Blanchard’s Table: A Trip to the Beach Cookbook.
This pork roast recipe can be used on a Pork Loin, Pork Tenderloin or Pork Shoulder Roast. It’s best to make the marinade the night before and let it marinate overnight.
Be sure to let us know what your favorite Caribbean recipes are and share wit us. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more great ideas! Cheers, Scott & Ally
This Caribbean Pork Roast recipe can be modified in many ways, adding your favorite ingredients. It works great on all types of pork roasts, including pork chops. It's best when you marinate it over night or at least for six hours. Enjoy!
Mix all of the marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
Place pork roast in a large ziplock bag and pour marinade into the bag. Be sure to let all of the air out and seal it tightly. Place bag in bowl or casserole dish (in case it leaks) and refrigerate overnight.
Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove pork from marinade and wipe of some of the excess. Place the pork roast on a grill rack with the fat size up and roast for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and cook for another 1.5 to 2 hours until tender. The roast will develop a "bark" on the outside as it cooks. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Slice into 1" slices and serve immediately. (yes, I forgot to take a photo of the entire roast before we started eating!)
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