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Featured Chef / April 2020

Monica Little

Skin Care & Self Care Wellness Advisor, Plant Based Beauty
Chicago, Illinois

Monica is a true believer in food as medicine. She has a passion for healthy and flavorful whole food recipes that have helped her in healing from inflammation and hormone imbalances.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH MONICA LITTLE

2020 US Wellness Meats Featured Chef Q&A

Tell us about yourself:

Hi there! My name is Monica from @healthyhabitswithmon. I have a passion for healthy & flavorful recipes that stemmed from my own journey of healing inflammation and hormone imbalances. I’m a true believer that the food we eat either helps or harms us – and I was able to work through these challenges and heal inflammation & hormone imbalances entirely by changing my diet and switching to quality whole foods.

How did you get involved in cooking?

I’ve always loved to cook, but a few years ago I transitioned to a more whole foods, paleo type diet. Most people think that eating whole foods is restricting and lacks flavor – but I found so many ways to add flavor and build recipes that taste so good that you would never even guess they are also SO healthy for you.

Describe your cooking style:

Healthy and easy to make but without a compromise in flavor! I love taking traditional recipes like stuffed cabbages and giving them a bit of twist so they are easier and less time consuming (by using a pressure cooker to make UN-stuffed cabbages) and also healthier (using grass fed meats, using sprouted brown rice instead of white rice) without any compromise in flavor.

How did you learn about grass-fed meats?

As I transitioned to eating more whole foods, I learned so much about the quality of meat and how that plays a role in our overall health as well. Once I started eating grass-fed meats, there was no going back – not only is it healthier for us, the taste is incomparable and so much better.

What is your favorite recipe featuring grass-fed meat?

My unstuffed cabbages recipe has been on repeat over the last couple of months – you have to try it! I use US Wellness Meat’s grass-fed ground beef within this recipe. It’s a one-pot meal that tastes just like the traditional stuffed cabbages, without all the work. Full of flavor, warmth & spices that just make you feel good!

You’re stranded on a desert island; luckily, you’re stranded with your top 5 ingredients and one must-have kitchen tool:

Pink Himalayan sea salt – I am a salt fanatic, plus Himalayan sea salt has a ton of minerals that would be needed when stuck on a desert island!

Onion & garlic – these are staple ingredients that go into so many recipes to add flavor

Whole chickens from US Wellness Meats – you can make SO much food from a whole chicken, from roasting the entire chicken to making a bone broth afterwards

Avocados – call me basic but I love avocados, they are full of healthy fats and I would take a never-ending supply of them with me!

My must-have kitchen tool is a toss-up between the Instant Pot or Air Fryer. Let’s go with the Air Fryer since meals are cooked a little quicker with it!

Best cooking secret/tip/piece of advice you’ve learned:

My best cooking secret is homemade chicken bone broth. So many recipes call for some sort of liquid or broth and homemade chicken bone broth adds so much flavor that you just can’t get from broth that comes from a carton. I make a batch of homemade chicken bone broth each week and keep it in the fridge or freezer, so I always have some on hand to use as a flavor enhancer!

Enter To Win!

Enter to win our April 2020 Featured Chef Contest for a chance to win $150 bundle of farm fresh food! Contest runs from April 1 – April 11, 2020.

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MONICA LITTLE'S U.S. WELLNESS MEATS FAVORITES