Family, Food, Recipes
Shelly Young
Sweet Potato Salmon Lettuce Wraps

This month, we’ve been on a budget, pay off debt kick, so I’m really trying to meal plan and stick to eating at home mostly. We have tons of salmon in the freezer, so I’m super inspired to save money by creating salmon meals until I have no more salmon left! :)

Sweet Potato Salmon Lettuce Wraps
Family, Food, Recipes
Shelly Young
The Best Salmon Sliders

I have been asked so many times lately to put out another cookbook with healthy recipes. And maybe in the near future that will come, BUT for now, I’ll just blog about all of my favorite recipes I’m whipping up in the kitchen.

The Best Salmon Sliders
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Carne Asada Loaded Cheese Fries

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A few years ago I went on a domestic mission’s trip with a team to inner city LA, and during one of our debrief meetings, we went to an amazing restaurant where I tried Carne Asada Loaded Fries. They were to die for, and I still think about them often. So much that it’s been years, and I am still thinking about them! So let’s make them!

Carne Asada Loaded Cheese Fries (Fresh Potato Version)


Ingredients:

Carne Asada

• Sirloin steak

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp chili powder

• ½ tsp black pepper

• Garlic salt (to finish)

Fresh Fries

• 2 russet or gold potatoes

• Olive oil

• Garlic salt

Toppings

• Shredded cheese (cheddar/jack blend)

• Sour cream

• Salsa

• Avocado (diced or sliced)

• Pickled jalapeños

• Fresh cilantro

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Step 1: Marinate the Steak

In a bowl:

• Soy sauce

• Garlic

• Cumin

• Chili powder

• Black pepper

  • Salt, garlic salt, pepper

  • lime juice


Add steak, toss well.

Marinate 20–45 minutes (or longer — )

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Step 2: Fresh Potato Fries (This is the key part)

1. Wash potatoes (peel optional).

2. Cut into thin fries (uniform size matters).

3. Soak in cold water 20–30 minutes

→ This removes excess starch = crispier fries.

4. Drain and pat very dry.

5. Toss with:

• Olive oil

• Garlic salt


Cook Options

Oven:

• 425°F

• Single layer on a baking sheet

• Bake 25–30 min, flipping halfway

Fry: fry once in oil, then put on plate and paper towel. Then fry again for crispiness (this is what my hubby did this time). So delish!

Air Fryer:

• 380°F for 15–18 min

• Shake halfway

Fries should be golden and crisp before topping.

Step 3: Cook the Carne Asada

• Heat pan or grill hot.

• Sear steak 3–4 min per side.

• Rest 5 min.

• Chop into bite-size pieces.

• Finish with a light sprinkle of garlic salt.

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Step 4: Assemble & Melt

1. Fries on a sheet pan

2. Steak over fries

3. Shredded cheese on top

4. Broil 2–3 minutes until bubbly

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Step 5: Load It Up

Top with:

• Salsa

• Avocado/guacamole

• Pickled jalapeños

• Sour cream

• Cilantro

Optional but 🔥:

• Drizzle a tiny bit of warm steak pan juices over the fries




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Estimated Macros (Per 1/4 of the full dish)

• Calories: ~345

• Protein: 22–24g

• Fat: 19-23g

• Carbs: 21-23g

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Print Recipe Here

Watch Video Above

Until Next Time friends,

Happy Eating!

Shelly

"Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos" (LOW CARB, High Protein)

I was scrolling on Pinterest recently and got inspired when I saw a video of a Big Mac Taco, but I wanted to make it more low cal and low carb-friendly! A lot of times we scroll Pinterest and never make the recipes! But in 2026, I’m committed to seeing a recipe, and actually making them! So here’s my take on “Smash Burger Big Mac Tacos”. Take a look at the video below too!

Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos

Low-Carb. High-Protein. No Diet Energy.

If Big Macs and taco night had a baby—and that baby respected protein goals—you’d get Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos.

This recipe is peak Acting Skinny™: real food, real flavor, zero weird ingredients, and macros that actually support fat loss instead of sabotaging it. You get crispy smashed beef, melty cheese, crunchy lettuce, pickles, and that unmistakable Big-Mac-style sauce… all wrapped in a low-carb tortilla that crisps right in the pan.

No grill. No bun. No regret.

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Why This Recipe Works

• Protein-first keeps you full and prevents late-night snacking

• Low-carb tortillas give flexibility without restriction burnout

• Smash method = max flavor with minimal ingredients

• Portion controlled (one or two tacos is plenty)

This is how you eat normally while still moving the scale.

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Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos (Low Carb)

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20)

• 6 low-carb tortillas

• Salt & black pepper

• Paprika

• Garlic powder (optional)

• 6 slices American cheese

• Shredded lettuce

• Dill pickles

• Thinly sliced onion

Big Mac–Style Sauce

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp yellow mustard

• 1–2 tbsp pickle relish

• ½ tsp paprika

• Optional: splash of pickle juice or hot sauce



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How to Make Them

1. Build the tacos

Divide beef into 6 loose balls. Press each ball directly onto one side of a tortilla. Season generously.

2. Smash + sear

Heat a skillet over medium-high. Place tacos beef-side down, smash firmly, and cook 2–3 minutes until crispy.

3. Flip + melt

Flip so the tortilla hits the pan. Add cheese immediately. Cook 1–2 minutes until melted and lightly crisp.

4. Finish

Add lettuce, onion, pickles, and sauce. Fold and eat immediately.

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Estimated Macros (Per Taco)

• Calories: ~310

• Protein: 22–24g

• Fat: 20–22g

• Net Carbs: 4–6g

(Macros vary by tortilla brand.)

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Acting Skinny™ Notes

• Use 80/20 beef—lean beef dries out and causes overeating later.

• American cheese melts best. This is about results.

• Paprika adds warmth without sweetness.

• If carbs need to go lower, use lettuce wraps—but tortillas improve long-term consistency.

Consistency > restriction. Always.

Print Recipe Here

Watch Video Above

Until Next Time friends,

Happy Eating!

Shelly

Watermelon Feta Salmon Salad

Watermelon Feta Salmon Salad

So I just finished week 5 of Transform 20 of Beachbody, and I feel pretty incredible! But more so than anything, I’ve really tried to focus on nutrition. When we opened our first restaurant Eggs Up Grill (Killian), I gained 10 pounds taste testing everything on the menu! Before that, I ate 90/10 vegan, and my body was not use to all the gluten, cheese, and blueberry muffins I was consuming! We have such great breakfast and brunch food, but now that we are in quarantine because of the Coronavirus, we are forced to cook to stay indoors and away from our beloved restaurant (outside of take out orders). So now that I am forced to cook more, I am loving making healthier meals! If you’re needing some recipes, make sure you follow along on my Instagram stories. And subscribe to our newsletter!

Salmon Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa!

Salmon Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa!

So I just finished week 4 of Transform 20 of Beachbody, and I feel pretty incredible! But more so than anything, I’ve really tried to focus on nutrition. When we opened our first restaurant Eggs Up Grill (Killian), I admittedly, I gained 10 pounds taste testing everything on a weekly basis. Such great breakfast and brunch food if I do say so myself! :) Now that we are in quarantine because of the Coronavirus, we are forced to cook more meals which has been super fun! I love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen! So if you’re needing some recipes, make sure you follow along on my Instagram stories. And subscribe to our newsletter!

So here is one of my faves!

Easy Shrimp Fajitas

Easy Shrimp Fajitas

So I just started week 3 of Transform 20 of Beachbody, and I feel pretty incredible! But more so than anything, I’ve really tried to make healthier meals! Owning two breakfast/brunch restaurants (Eggs Up Grill) really makes it difficult to eat healthy when I want to eat all of the breakfast gluten and sugar filled goodness! But I’m really trying to focus on eating well most of the time! So if you’re needing some recipes, make sure you follow along on my Instagram stories. And subscribe to our newsletter!

So here is one of my faves!

Easy Shrimp Fried "Rice"

Easy Shrimp Fried "Rice"

So I just finished week 2 of Transform 20 of Beachbody, and I feel pretty incredible! But more so than anything, I’ve really tried to clean up my diet. Owning two breakfast/brunch restaurants (Eggs Up Grill) really makes it hard to eat healthy at times. I want to eat a grilled Blueberry muffin daily. Or our amazing french toast! Yummm! But since I am trying to eat healthier, I’m really focusing on whole foods, easy recipes, clean ingredients! This one wasn’t as “clean as I wanted it to be”, but because of the Coronavirus I had to improvise with some of the usual ingredients! So if you’re needing some recipes, make sure you follow along on my Instagram stories. And subscribe to our newsletter!

So here is one of my faves!

Gluten-Free Crispy Potato Tacos

Gluten-Free Crispy Potato Tacos

So I am in week 2 of Transform 20 of Beachbody, and I feel pretty incredible! But more so than anything, I’ve really tried to clean up my diet. Owning two breakfast/brunch restaurants (Eggs Up Grill) really takes a toll especially in the busyness of life and being the ultimate taste tester of the menu! Our grilled blueberry are to die for, so I’ve really had to clean up my diet. We were vegan for about 4 months, and we felt pretty good on it! But I’m not certain it’s a lifestyle we can choose forever with our four kids and restaurants! So I really wanted to focus on cleaning up my diet while enjoying the foods I love in moderation! With that, I feel great when I’m not eating processed sugar and gluten. So this month, I am really focusing on gluten-free sugar free recipes! So if you’re needing some recipes, make sure you follow along. And subscribe to our newsletter! Now that we are all quarantined because of the Coronavirus, it has been fun cooking healthy meals again!

So here is one of my faves!

Easy Gluten-Free Shrimp "Tacos"

Easy Gluten-Free Shrimp "Tacos"

So I felt like I was losing myself again. In the busyness of restaurant ownership, homeschooling, bible studies, and all of the things, I started putting myself on the back burner with my health! About a year ago, I tried Beachbody and absolutely loved it. With our busy schedule, the at-home workouts just fit! So after a year of trying the workouts and such, in April, I’m hosting my very first fitness challenge! Woohoo! Click here for more info!

So I’m in week 2 of Transform 20 (one of my favorite programs, and my love language may be making healthy meals! :) So here is one of my faves!

The Best Vegan Red Cabbage Bowl

The Best Vegan Red Cabbage Bowl

So my husband and I went vegan about 7 weeks ago, and it was very hard at first. I missed Chick Fila number 1 with Lemonade. I missed having a burger after church each Sunday, and I missed eggs and cheese and all of the things. But we really wanted to focus on a plant based vegan diet, and I knew the benefits outweighed my desire for Chick Fila Chicken Sandwich. So here is one of my favorite vegan recipes right now!

The Best Vegan Lo Mein With Vegan Spring Rolls

The Best Vegan Lo Mein With Vegan Spring Rolls

My husband came to me a few weeks ago saying he wanted us to try “plant based". Now anyone who knows my amazing husband knows that he doesn’t like green anything (outside of green beans), so I was very shocked to say the least! But I prefer plant based and was an 80/20 vegan for 2 years (only eating meat on Sunday and Tuesdays….yes I know…I’m a bit crazy like that). So eating vegan/plant based vegan was not a new concept for me. I feel better, lighter, healthier, and my skin always feels so amazing. I have more energy, I don’t feel sluggish, and my mental clarity seems to really benefit from plant based eating. So here’s one of my favorite vegan recipes I created!

The Best Instant Pot Crab Legs In Under 20 minutes

The Best Instant Pot Crab Legs In Under 20 minutes

My son had a dentist appointment directly following a long day at school. This transition from homeschool to two kids at Ben Lippen has been such a great experience for our family, but Grayson, our oldest boy, says that 7 hours at school is far too long for his liking. I agree, bud. I agree. So following a long day at school, Grayson had to get a cavity filled and getting a shot was not his favorite thing in the world. He was such a trooper so I took him to Publix, and said he could pick out his favorite dinner meal. He chose crab legs. Now, my husband worked at a Seafood restaurant for 20 plus years, but we rarely have made crab legs at home. I grew up on the coast where fresh seafood was always available, and my uncle would always steam crab legs, blue grab, and so much more, so I knew a thing or two when it came to the recipe!