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Welcome to Good Food, Real Life: Delicious, Practical Recipes for Real Life (Mess and All)

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  Visit our storefront for downloadable guides, consultations, or to leave a tip. Welcome to Good Food, Real Life: Where Flavor Meets Real Life Health Who I Am Welcome to Good Food, Real Life, a food blog created for anyone who’s ever stood in their kitchen, feeling the tension between wanting to eat well and needing to eat practically. I’m Joanna, and I know that tension intimately—not just as a home cook, but as someone living with chronic illness, including lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, spondylitic arthritis, and inflammatory-onset diabetes. My health means I have to pay attention to inflammation, blood sugar spikes, nutrient density, and energy conservation every single day. But I also refuse to eat sad, lifeless food. That’s the heart of this blog—finding that sweet spot where health-conscious meets deeply satisfying. My Culinary Background Before health challenges changed my life, I built my career in professional kitchens. I studied at The Art Institute’s Culinary Arts Pr...
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Lemony Tahini Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower

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Creamy, bold, and weeknight-ready — this one-pan pasta dinner brings serious flavor without the fuss. Looking for a comforting, flavor-packed meal that works with specialized diets? This lemony tahini pasta hits every note: tangy, savory, nutty, and full of texture thanks to roasted cauliflower. Naturally dairy-free, easily made gluten-free, and ready in under 40 minutes, it’s a sensory-rich dish that works whether you’re feeding a table or just yourself. Why You’ll Love This Recipe Plant-based and protein-flexible (works with beans, chicken, or as-is) Creamy without dairy Lemony and bright , not heavy Make-ahead friendly — the tahini sauce keeps beautifully Ingredients For the Pasta: 8 oz pasta of choice (regular, gluten-free, or legume-based) 1 large head of cauliflower, chopped into small florets 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional) For the Lemony Tahini Sauce: 1/3 cup tahini 1 clove garlic, grate...
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