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  • ABOUT
  • 60 Minutes or Less

  • Homemade & Real- House Seasoning by Real Food Girl: Unmodified. This seasoning makes everything better from chips to burgers and more!
    Miscellaneous

    Almost Famous Real Food House Seasoning

      Almost every restaurant that I’ve worked in has had a special house seasoning.  They put it on virtually everything. I’ll spare you the colorful language that a kitchen full of prep-cooks and chefs use when referring to applying the seasoning to stuff, but suffice it to say, they love their house seasonings and they use them liberally and with enthusiasm.  It got me to thinking- why don’t regular home cooks use house seasoning? How much tastier would things be if we had a little house seasoning to sprinkle on things? Tinker Bell has Pixie Dust, and Emeril has his famous “Kick it up a Notch” spices, so why not something special for…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    5-steps to Real Food guest post by The Aliso Kitchen for Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Real Food Girl Presents: The Aliso Kitchen

    May 20, 2013
    Top 13 Posts of 2013 By Real Food Girl: Unmodified. Pin Now, View Later

    Top 13 Real Food Girl Posts of 2013!

    December 31, 2013
    My thoughts on processed foods and Real Food "Rules" | Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    My Thoughts on Processed Foods

    January 4, 2014
  • Stove-Top Brown Sugar & Maple Baked Beans (with bacon) by Real Food Girl: Unmodified.
    Barbeque,  Side Dishes

    Brown Sugar Maple Baked Beans with Bacon

      Several weeks ago my grandkids came over for the weekend. I spent most of my time in the kitchen and my granddaughter, Little Miss B. helped me out. One thing she was particularly interested in helping me with was a baked bean recipe that I had found in one of my many cooking magazines.  We were going to grill hamburgers one night and I thought baked beans would be a nice addition.  Turns out I should have just opened a can.  Kidding! Sorta. Let me explain… We followed the recipe to a ‘T’.  Those beans soaked for at least 12 hours, and they baked in my oven for 7 hours, were  lovingly tended…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Sweet & Zesty BBQ Sauce from Real Food Girl. It's sauce for a fingers only meat buffet folks!

    Sweet & Zesty BBQ Sauce

    May 28, 2013
    BBQ Spice rub for ribs Real Food Girl

    Real Food Girl BBQ Spice Rub

    August 24, 2014
    Creamed corn with bacon and poblano pepper by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Creamed Corn with Bacon and Poblano Pepper

    May 31, 2014
  • Easy BBQ Chicken on the Grill. Saucy, Juicy, Tangy, Perfect! realfoodgirl.com
    Barbeque,  Chicken,  Grilling

    Easy BBQ Chicken on the Grill

    Grilling chicken has always been a frustrating endeavor for many people.  You either end up with charred outsides and dry insides, or perfectly cook outsides and raw insides.  Neither of those is good eating in my opinion and I don’t blame people for getting frustrated with grilling.   Now if you happen to be the ultimate grill master, this post isn’t for you. This is for those of us who have struggled to get perfectly cooked chicken from our grill. Over the years I’ve developed a few tricks that have helped me out tremendously.  I’m sure if we had a charcoal grill I might not have to put forth such an effort to ensure…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Stove-Top Brown Sugar & Maple Baked Beans (with bacon) by Real Food Girl: Unmodified.

    Brown Sugar Maple Baked Beans with Bacon

    June 26, 2014
    Real Food Girl: Unmodified-- GMO-Free Pulled Pork BBQ

    Outta the Park BBQ Pulled Chicken… GMO-Free

    May 11, 2013
    Creamed corn with bacon and poblano pepper by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Creamed Corn with Bacon and Poblano Pepper

    May 31, 2014
  • Grilled Parmesan-Herbed Potatoes by Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Grilling,  Side Dishes,  Vegetables

    Grilled Parmesan Herbed Potatoes

    It’s grilling season. A time of year that I used to love because that meant TSM was going to be cooking most nights. Now, somehow, since graduating from culinary school I seem to be cooking 99.5% of the time and TSM has turned the grilling over to me.  I think it’s time to save up and buy him a smoker.  He can be in charge of smoking and then maybe I can take part of each summer off while he experiments with smoking various meats.  Sounds like a plan to me!  Just for the summer I’m going to be taking a break from 30-Minute Monday Recipes. Don’t worry, I’ll still have plenty of…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Real Food Girl BBQ St. Louise Style Ribs on the grill. Juicy, tender, and saucy! www.realfoodgirl.com

    St. Louis Style BBQ Ribs on the Grill

    August 26, 2014
    Easy BBQ Chicken on the Grill. Saucy, Juicy, Tangy, Perfect! realfoodgirl.com

    Easy BBQ Chicken on the Grill

    June 25, 2014
  • Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cakes by Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Breads,  Breakfast,  Fruit

    Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cake

    I had in my possession, for about 20 years the most amazing lemon bread recipe. It was from one of my mom’s old friends, Mrs. Bratnober. That woman could bake. Over the years, each time that I made this bread I fought all urges to eat the whole loaf myself without sharing any.  However, I wasn’t raised by wolves, so I shared it with The Stud Muffin.  My mother would be so proud.  About a month ago I went to my recipe box to grab the card and make this so I could feature it during my week of  “All things lemon“.  I kid you not, I went through every single card in…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Spectacular Blueberry Scones by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Spectacular Blueberry Scones

    September 16, 2013
    Skillet Honey Cornbread by Real Food Girl Unmodified

    Skillet Honey Cornbread

    February 20, 2014
    Cheddar Jalapeno BIscuits. Easy to make! #Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits

    December 3, 2012
  • Creamed corn with bacon and poblano pepper by Real Food Girl: Unmodified
    Barbeque,  Side Dishes,  Vegetables

    Creamed Corn with Bacon and Poblano Pepper

      I’m pretty excited about today’s recipe. I really like corn. I especially like sweet corn. When we moved to South Carolina I noticed that they had all sorts of farm stands along the sides of the roads. I was in fresh produce heaven. That is, until I found out that the one I was frequenting got their produce from WalMart and I was buying GMO sweet corn. Yep, you guessed it. I was no longer in heaven. It’s getting harder and harder to find organic sweet corn. This makes me sad because I can do wonders with an ear of corn. When I was out and about running errands last week, I found…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    BBQ Spice rub for ribs Real Food Girl

    Real Food Girl BBQ Spice Rub

    August 24, 2014
    This burger is to die for. Grated Gruyere cheese, onion bacon jam, and organic grass-fed ground beef. If you like burgers, make these! #Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Cheeseburgers with Onion Bacon Jam (Organic/GMO-Free)

    January 14, 2013
    Slow Cooker Saucy Country Style BBQ Ribs by Real Food Girl Unmodified. Pin now, make these tonight!

    Slow Cooker Country Style BBQ Ribs

    February 14, 2014
  • Wild Rice Hotdish- A recipe remake by Real Food Girl: Unmodified. Tasty wild rice, ground beef, mushrooms, creamy sauce...
    Grains, Rice, Pasta

    Minnesota Wild Rice Hotdish- A Recipe Remake

    I’ve been working on remaking a family recipe that my Aunt MJ makes.  Her recipe is great, but I thought it would taste even better if I added some plain Jasmine rice and a creamy sauce.  I mentioned in the Perfect Wild Rice post that it has taken me a while to enjoy the taste of Wild Rice.  My Aunt’s recipe uses all Wild Rice, and for my sensitive palate it’s a little too strong.  And for The Stud Muffin, it’s just got too much rice. That man has never met a rice he liked.  Unless Chipotle’s rice bowl fixin’s are dumped on top of it. Or if it is combined with Stir-Fry.…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    Organic, pastured chicken baked with rice and homemade, GF Cream of Chicken soup! GMO-Free easy chicken dinners!

    Lazy Baked Chicken and Rice

    April 4, 2013
    Lentil Salad with Bacon| Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Lentil Salad with Bacon

    May 2, 2014
    Real Food Girl Unmodified Guest Posts for Mommypotamus- Risotto alla Milanese with Herbs

    Risotto alla Milanese with Herbs at Mommypotamus

    April 18, 2014
  • How to cook the perfect wild rice by Real Food Girl Unmodified
    Gluten Free,  Grains, Rice, Pasta

    How to Make the Perfect Wild Rice

    I’m from Minnesota. It’s the land of Wild Rice. Did you know that Wild Rice is actually an aquatic grass seed, not a rice grain?  ‘Tis true my Food Hippies.  It’s a coarse annual grass called “zizania aquatica”. Despite its name, the plant isn’t even related to rice.  For me, Wild Rice was an acquired taste.  I’m not sure if I just had dishes from people who didn’t cook it long enough, or if I just didn’t have the palate for it. Whatever the reason, I shied away from it.  Fast forward to a few years ago when I was working in a restaurant and developing a soup recipe with one of the chefs.  He wanted a chicken…

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    Kristine Cocchiarella

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    GF and GMO-Free cream of chicken soup! You'll never use that slop in a can again! | Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    “Mmm Better” Cream of Chicken Soup

    April 3, 2013
    Real Food Yankee Breakfast Hash by Real Food Girl: Unmodified

    Yankee Breakfast Hash

    September 13, 2013
    Split Pea Soup with Ham- The creamiest, most satisfying pea soup on the web.

    Real Food Split Pea and Ham Soup

    February 7, 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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