• ABOUT
  • 60 Minutes or Less
  • ABOUT
  • 60 Minutes or Less

  • Authentic Sunday Gravy- Real Food Girl knows Marinara- and this sauce is awesome! Pin this!
    Freezer Meals,  Vegetarian

    Homemade Marinara (or as we Italians call it- GRAVY)

    TSM is Italian.  Long before we met, I told God that I wanted to marry an Italian and that I wanted his last name to start with a “C” so that I could be a “Mrs. C” and be super cool like Joanie and Ritchie’s mom from Happy Days.  I would be the popular mom and all the neighborhood kids would want to come to our house because I was just that spectacular and my kids were phenomenally sensational. The good news is that God answered my prayers for an Italian husband with a last name that began with a “C”.  The bad news is that I’m unable to have children of my…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

    You May Also Like

    Veal, Pork and Ground Beef Meatballs from Real Food Girl. This is as authentic as it gets folks! If you want great meatballs, this is THE recipe!

    Meatballs with Beef, Pork and Veal

    April 5, 2013
    Homemade Non-GMO Beef Stock. Easy to make and tastes so much better than canned, or boxed stocks. Much healthier, too! Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Organic Beef Stock

    March 21, 2013
    A nice departure from a ground beef meatloaf. These are juicy and packed with flavor! Mini Italian Meat Loaves! From #Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Mini Italian Meatloaves (GMO-Free)

    December 12, 2012
  • One Pot Jalapeno Chicken Corn Chowder|Real Food Girl Unmodified. So going to make this tonight! Pin Now!
    60 Minutes or Less,  One Pot Meals,  Soups, Stews, Chowders

    One Pot Jalapeno Chicken Corn Chowder

    It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  You’ve just survived the official kick-off to the Holiday Season.  Hopefully you’re one day closer to being able to fit back into a structured pair of pants, but if not, don’t worry. Soon you’ll be decking the halls, and fa-la-la-la-laa’ing while you sit in front of the TV watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer while stuffing fistfuls of Spritz cookies and homemade fudge down your pie hole and your yoga pants will become your best friend.  You might as well just kiss your jeans goodbye until January 2nd, when you join a gym (again) to get rid of those pesky 15 pounds you put on over the past…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Skillet Chicken with Mushroom and Onion Cream Sauce by Real Food Girl: Unmodified. You gotta see this!

    Skillet Chicken with Mushroom and Onion Cream Sauce

    January 6, 2014
    A nice departure from a ground beef meatloaf. These are juicy and packed with flavor! Mini Italian Meat Loaves! From #Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Mini Italian Meatloaves (GMO-Free)

    December 12, 2012
    Chicken Pasta Primavera by Real Food Girl: Unmodified. Yes please!!

    Chicken Pasta Primavera

    March 26, 2014
  • Curry-Chicken Salad. The greatest chicken salad around! #Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Chicken,  Lunches,  Sandwiches

    Curry-Cayenne Chicken Salad

      Howdy! Boy, you guys are in for a real treat today.  Curry-Cayenne Chicken Salad is one of The Stud Muffin’s favorite things to put between two slices of bread.  It is packed with flavorful spices and it has a touch of heat.  It’s also loaded with veggies, so that totally makes up for the fact that you will be using some mayonnaise in this recipe.  This chicken salad tastes fantastic on toasted bread or wrapped in a tortilla with some crisp lettuce thrown in, or on regular sandwich bread.

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Easy BBQ Chicken on the Grill. Saucy, Juicy, Tangy, Perfect! realfoodgirl.com

    Easy BBQ Chicken on the Grill

    June 25, 2014
    Chicken Pot Pies with Herbes de Provence. Soul food made without GMOs! A fun, French twist on a comfort classic!

    Chicken Potpies with Herbes de Provence

    March 20, 2013
    Chicken Lentil Pot Pie from The Baking Fairy- Guest Post for Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Real Food Girl Presents: The Baking Fairy

    April 29, 2013
  • Peachy Keen Sweet Potatoes. Waaay off the beaten path, but you'll be glad you took the hike!! #Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Side Dishes,  Vegetables,  Vegetarian

    Peachy-Keen Sweet Potatoes

    You guys are going to like this spin on a Thanksgiving classic side dish.   And trust, me I know exactly what you’re thinking.  You’re thinking “Peaches AND Sweet Potatoes?!?!”  “Is this woman out of her ever lovin’ mind?!”  Well, as a matter of fact, probably.  But yes, peaches *do* go well with sweet potatoes and I’ll prove it to you.  It would actually work better if you made this dish so you had additional evidence with which I could prove just how right I really am.

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Veal, Pork and Ground Beef Meatballs from Real Food Girl. This is as authentic as it gets folks! If you want great meatballs, this is THE recipe!

    Meatballs with Beef, Pork and Veal

    April 5, 2013
    From Sugar Cookies to Peterbilts Guest Post for Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Real Food Girl Presents: From Sugar Cookies to Peterbilts

    May 3, 2013
    Creamed corn with bacon and poblano pepper by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Creamed Corn with Bacon and Poblano Pepper

    May 31, 2014
  • Serve my Turkey during the holidays and people will have turkey envy. No lie! This is a no fail, herb filled, juicy turkey. Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Holidays,  Turkey

    Butter and Herb Infused Turkey

    I know, I know- Everyone has an AMAZING Turkey recipe for the Holiday season. However, I belong to a family where no one does — Actually, I have an Aunt who cooks a fairly decent turkey– and I end up eating a turkey that has the moisture content of saw dust.  This Turkey is juicy, delicious, flavorful and best of all- people will verbally tell you that this Turkey is much better than theirs. (And you’ll silently agree) Let me put it to you another way.  This turkey is so good that when other family members invite you over to their home for Thanksgiving, you’ll want to cry because they won’t be serving…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Merry & Bright Holiday Potpourri from Real Food Girl: Unmodified. Gotta Pin this!

    Merry & Bright Holiday Potpourri

    December 21, 2013
    No Bake Mint Thin Cookies by Real Food Girl: Unmodified. Get your GS Cookie fix here!

    No-Bake Mint Thins

    November 20, 2014
    Real Food Molasses Ginger-Doodle Holiday Cookies by Real Food Girl: Unmodified. Santa's favorite cookie- you have to try these!

    Real Food Molasses Ginger-Doodle Cookies

    December 3, 2013
  • Let's talk herbs!!
    Miscellaneous

    Let’s Talk About Herbs!

    It’s the only thing I can grow in my garden that I don’t kill.  What is it? It’s herbs.  And not “those” herbs, but herbs like thyme, basil, oregano, mint, tarragon, chives, bay leaves- and the list goes on.  I love fresh herbs and there is something to be said about growing your own.  It makes me feel super-chefy! This post is all about my tips on storing, washing, growing, freezing and using herbs.  There’s a lot of ground to cover, so I’ll get right to it!   HERBY TIP #1:   How to refresh sad, wilted looking herbs: If your bunch of parsley, cilantro, or mint is looking a little weary, there’s an…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    30-Minute Mondays-Pork-Chops-Shallot-Sherry-Pan-Sauce by Real Food Girl: Unmodified.

    Pan-Seared Pork Chops with a Shallot and Sherry Wine Pan Sauce

    May 13, 2014

    Holiday Update

    December 18, 2012

    It’s a Real Food Girl: Unmodified Giveaway!

    April 1, 2013
  • Yet another favorite dessert bar of mine. 7-Layer bars! Easy to make and easy to love! #Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Desserts,  Snacks

    My First (recipe) Mistake (aka 7-Layer Bars)

    Well Food Posse Peeps, I finally did it- I made my first mistake this evening while putting together a pan of 7-Layer Bars to share with y’all.  The good news, they taste perfectly fine.  The bad news- they’re not very stable, don’t hold their shape, are very gooey AND  (whispers) they’re ugly.

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    A little crispy around the edges and soft and chewy in the middle. It's not fancy, but this little peanut butter cookie will hit the spot when you're craving some PB! #Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    (Not Half Bad) Peanut Butter Cookies (Organic-GMO-Free)

    February 5, 2013
    Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake

    April 11, 2014
    Triple Citrus Bars by Real Food Girl Unmodified- Not your normal boring lemon bars!

    Real Food Triple Citrus Bars

    January 31, 2014
  • The Stud Muffin makes banana bread- and this bread is da bomb! Seriously! #Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Breakfast

    The Stud Muffin Makes Manly Banana Bread

    TSM (The Stud Muffin) was in the kitchen this weekend and decided to make some scones (from a mix) and his Manly Banana Bread (not from a mix).  Each time he makes this bread he reminds me that he came from a long line of bakers.  Keep in mind that not one family member from this long line ever worked in or owned a bakery- they simply just baked their own bread anddesserts.

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Better than Cinnabons by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Better than Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

    February 6, 2014
    Easy Bake Coffee Cake by Real Food Girl: Unmodified. This looks so good. Have to make! Pin Now!

    Easy-Bake Coffee Cake

    January 2, 2014
    Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cakes by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cake

    June 2, 2014
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Meet Real Food Girl

Hi! I'm Kristine!

I'm a classically trained chef, who thinks that every aspect of health and wellness starts with food, but I also believe that you need to make room for a slice of cake every once in a while! Join me as I show you how to navigate a realistic and achievable 80/20 Real Food lifestyle, without breaking the bank, losing your sanity, or feeling shame because you can't live up to the "perfection" preached on other Real Food Blogs. Yeah, I went there.

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