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The Gracious Pantry

Clean Eating Recipes For Everyday Living. Clean eating recipes, clean eating meal plans, and clean eating information.

My Story

THE QUICK VERSION

My name is Tiffany. I’m a work-at-home Mama to a fabulous, thirteen-year-old little boy I call Mini Chef, a cookbook author,  a food blogger and digital publisher.

I create simple, clean eating recipes with everyday ingredients. Sunflowers are my favorite flower, “Good Luck Charm” by Elvis Presley is my favorite song and I love to sing in my car at the top of my lungs much to Mini Chef’s embarrassment.

Tiffany McCauley

THE LONG VERSION

When I was a teenager, I wanted nothing more than to be a model. I talked about it, dreamt about it, and worked for it for years. At age 19, I took part in a major modeling competition in New York City. I won!

Tiffany McCauley

I came home, quit my job, cleaned out my bank accounts and caught the next flight back to New York City where an agent told me she had an affordable place for me to live.

I’ll save you the gory details and just say…. it didn’t work out. “New York City” and “affordable” are four words that do not belong in the same sentence.

Since I didn’t have perfect model measurements of 36/26/36 (I actually had some hips ~gasp!~), the agent suddenly changed her tune when I got there and started insisting that she could find me more work as a plus size model.

After years of starving myself, the idea of eating whatever I wanted sounded almost too good to be true. Eat food AND be a model?? Had I died and gone to heaven? So I started eating… and eating…

Needless to say, my body proportions remained much the same as a plus size girl as they were when I was a bony size 8. And since the place I was living became unlivable very quickly, I tucked my tail between my legs and came home. And I ate some more.

Then life happened. I got married, I had a child, my marriage didn’t work out and I became a single mom. And through it all, food was the only comfort I could find.

However, the day my son was born, I realized that there was no way I could be a good mom if my health was bad. I looked in the mirror and saw a tired, overweight woman staring back at me, and I was only 34! So I decided to change my life. I’ve hit a lot of speed bumps along the way. Divorce, the death of my mom, and all those million little things that come up just being a single parent. But at least I’m headed the right direction. And I hope you’ll enjoy my recipes as I experience one clean eating adventure after another with Mini Chef at my side.

About My Son

Why the name “Mini Chef”? Because I firmly believe that every man should know how to cook. It is NOT a task designated to us women folk alone.

A man who can cook is not only a fabulous catch, but also a far healthier person in life if he knows how to cook a wholesome, delicious meal. A man who can cook also gets to be involved in daily family affairs in ways that other men do not. He gets to create those wonderful memories with his own family that only the kitchen can help you create. I want that for my son. And above all, I want my son to be happy and healthy. I don’t want him to have to go through the struggles I’m going through to lose weight.

If you’d like to learn more about getting your kids involved in the kitchen, click here to read more.

WHY IS THIS BLOG CALLED THE GRACIOUS PANTRY?

Two reasons:

  1. The expression you’ll hear most in my kitchen is “Goodness Gracious!” Usually, because I’ve burned something beyond recognition or Mini Chef has magically decorated the ceiling with peanut butter.
  2. More than anything, I dream of a walk-in pantry. A gracious pantry with wide, welcoming storage shelves, and deep dark corners where 20 years from now, I can find all the hidden, dried up brussels sprouts Mini Chef didn’t want to eat at dinner.

Gracious: characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit; “gracious even to unexpected visitors”; “gracious living”.

ABOUT THE RECIPES

10-15% of the recipes on this blog are either recipe-redo’s or adaptations.

85-90% of the recipes on this blog are my own creations.

If you want to share one of my recipes, please feel free to do so by posting a link to the page on my blog. If you wish to repost my recipes somewhere, please read this first: Sharing recipes from The Gracious Pantry.


STANDARD DISCLOSURE: In order to support this blog, I may receive compensation or other types of remuneration for talking about products or services and/or providing a link to said products or services from this blog. However, all opinions are my own and I will only endorse those products or services which I truly feel are of value to my readers. I also use affiliate links in some of my posts for companies such as for Amazon.com, eMeals.com or LaptopLunches.com, among others. I can take no responsibility for how those companies do business however.

Comments

  1. MomPlusKid says

    I just finished a 3 day juice cleanse and am SO GLAD to have found your website! I could get lost in it! I need to significantly alter how I ate and am overjoyed that it seems I don’t have to give up my favorites (well, some of them I do….). You might just be my new best friend. Thank you for sharing all this information with this neophyte clean eater!

    Reply

    • The Gracious Pantry says

      MPK – Welcome!! Good for you for deciding to be healthy! It’s such a tremendous gift we give ourselves. Please let me know if you have any questions!

      Reply

  2. Jennifer says

    I just wanted to say that we are soo happy to have found your site; we are just starting to adapt our eating habits to clean eating, and a lot of the recipes books I found so far have a lot of recipes lets say for a more mature palate (things my kids are not going to even try). The recipes on your site have them excited to try (the 1st recipe we are trying is the english muffins). I do have a question maybe you can help me with… Are reduced fat products good in particular cheese??

    Thanks for your help!
    Jennifer

    Reply

    • The Gracious Pantry says

      Jennifer – Low-fat or non-fat dairy is always your best option. However, other types of foods that say low-fat or non-fat are not. If it’s just 100% dairy, then that’s what you want. If we’re talking about crackers or something else in a box/package, avoid it like the plague. Low/non-fat cottage cheese, milk, and regular cheese are what you want. Though with cheese, you want to stick to LOW fat, because non-fat often has a lot of garbage added to make it more palatable. Also, avoided buying shredded cheeses. They are not clean. Buy a block and shred it at home yourself. Hope that helps!

      Reply

  3. Debbie Goedtel says

    I want to start clean eating and I would like to go back to the beginning of your blog. I want to read it all and get as many tips from you as I can.

    How can I find the start?? I can’t find a blog archive.

    Reply

  4. Hawa_haq says

    Hi Ive been following your blog for a few months now and I love it! You hve given me so much inspiration! I was looking for a clean eating coconut bar with chocolate. Like a Bounty bar. Do you hve any ideas please?
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Anonymous says

      Hawa – I’ve never heard of a Bounty Bar, but you could get some unsweetened coconut flakes, a bit of warm brown rice syrup and mix it together. Form the “bar” on a cookie sheet with some parchment paper and then pour some melted, grain sweetened chocolate over them. Yum! Might have to do that myself for a recipe here!

      Reply

  5. Anonymous says

    Nbidd – Oh my gosh!!!! LOL!!! Wow, it really is amazing what kids can do when they are turned loose. Good thing food colors don’t stain too bad. I hope the clean up wasn’t too big of a nightmare!

    Reply

  10. Anonymous says

    We do have similar stories! And I know exactly what you mean about that love/hate relationship with food. But we are both strong women and we can both get healthy. I know it!

    Reply

  11. Anonymous says

    Maria – Thank you! I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear that. School is a lot tougher at this age than I remember it being my first time around! But maybe that’s because I care more this time around.

    Reply

  12. Cassandre says

    I just wanted to say that i just discovered your blog and i have died and gone to clean eating heaven. i just started clean eating for the past month and thus far have lost 9LBS but more importantly i truly believe it’s the right way for everyone to eat.. any hoo, a million thanks to this fabulous blog you have created and for the bounty of clean eating information you have.. there’s so much more for me to learn about clean eating and I’m so happy to have found your blog…

    Reply

    • Anonymous says

      Cassandre – Welcome! I’m so happy you’re enjoying my site! I completely agree that everyone should eat this way. I honestly believe it’s the only way to be healthy.

      Happy holidays!

      Reply

  17. April says

    I’m loving your website! There are so many wonderful recipes that I look forward to trying. I’m on Weight Watchers and want to begin eating clean. Processed foods makes it easy with the points already listed, however, it’s junk and I want to do better for my body! Your website will definitely help me be creative yet also sticking to my WW plan.

    Reply

  18. Frost says

    I just started looking over your blog today and I’m in heaven. I’ve been trying to figure out clean eating for a while as I started my own fitness/weight loss journey and your website has really helped me thank you. I don’t count calories or anything, just trying to eat healthier, eat proper portions, and workout. Eating healthier is hard when you don’t know how. Thank you so much for dedicating this site to clean eating and your own journey. I’m sure you’ll be seeing many more comments from me. 🙂

    Reply

  19. Frost says

    I just started looking over your blog today and I’m in heaven. I’ve been trying to figure out clean eating for a while as I started my own fitness/weight loss journey and your website has really helped me thank you. I don’t count calories or anything, just trying to eat healthier, eat proper portions, and workout. Eating healthier is hard when you don’t know how. Thank you so much for dedicating this site to clean eating and your own journey. I’m sure you’ll be seeing many more comments from me. 🙂

    Reply

  20. Sarah says

    Hi Tiffany!

    Thanks for sharing your story and your delicious recipes – I’ve forgotten I’m at work for the last half hour I’ve been so busy clicking and emailing myself.

    I have been thinking about starting a clean diet for a few months, but your website has given me a push to get going!

    Can’t wait to get home to my kitchen,

    Sarah

    Reply

  21. Angelique says

    HAPPY HAPPY… JOY JOY – is what I feel now that I have found your website! Not only did I feel restricted like I had to cook one meal for me (now that I’m trying to go clean) and then one for my family but THE OPTIONS are endless!! Did I say thank you!!! Oh, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!! *Happy tears* 🙂

    Reply

  22. Tere says

    Good morning. Thank you for sharing your recipes and insight.

    I would like to share with you. After years of my brother suffering with the diagnosis of bipolar, we learned that he is just intolerant of food. What we believe to be good food, oats, rye, casein (milk protien), almonds and other “good food”.

    Please know that there is allergy/intolerance testing that can done at home by simply pricking your finger and sending back to a lab. IgG 184 allergy test. http://Www.mymedlab.com.

    Intolerances to food cause arthritis, bipolar, ADD….on and on… Migraines… The food becomes toxic and leaks out of our small intestines… Look up leaky gut….. Look up brain allergies… Look up enzymes and leaky gut.

    I don’t want people to think because food is “Good” doesn’t mean it is “Good” for everyone. 🙂

    Tere

    Reply

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