👨‍🍳 The MF Kitchen #64 - 8 things I swear by


Hey Reader!

In the 64th issue of The MF Kitchen, you'll slice into the details of:

  • Recipes for my Nashville Style Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets and Cosmic Brownie Blended Overnight Oats Protein Cookie Dough!
  • Peanut butter that's worth millions of dollars...
  • The 8 nutritional pillars I follow to hit my goals much easier...
  • One of my favorite grocery store foods (that I use in a bunch of my recipes)!

Preheat your ovens


Weekly Recipe Roundup 🍽️

Nashville Style Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets

Some sweet heat for you today in chicken nugget form 🍯🔥

Only 39 calories each and perfect for meal prep!

Click below to download the recipe and make it easy yourself:
Nashville Style Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets.pdf

Cosmic Brownie Blended Overnight Oats Protein Cookie Dough

Let me show you how to take your oats to the next level!

For only 422 calories with 35g protein, you can eat cosmic brownie cookie dough for breakfast!

Click below to download the recipe and make it easy yourself:
Cosmic Brownie Blended Overnight Oats Protein Cookie Dough.pdf


Recipe Recreations Of The Week 🤌

Macro Friendly Double Cheeseburger gang rolls DEEP 🍔

Macros for each WHOLE Double Cheeseburger:
425 Cals, 20g Carbs, 13g Fat, 57g Protein

Here's the recipe and video:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/C7j1YB8shLq/


Zach's Beats 🎧


Weird Food Fact 🤓

You know how they say diamonds are a girl’s best friend?

Well, if you’ve ever tracked macros, you know peanut butter is right up there too.

Rich, indulgent, and stupidly expensive… not for your wallet, but for your calorie budget.

Every bite? Accounted for.
Every gram? Measured to perfection.

Because when you’re working with something this high-value, you savor every last bit.

No zoning out. No mindless spreading. Just full, undivided attention to making sure not a single calorie goes to waste.

But here’s something wild to think about while you’re scraping the jar clean…

Peanut butter and diamonds? They’re not so different after all.

Turns out, both are made of carbon. And under the right conditions, peanut butter can literally be turned into diamonds.

Scientists at the Bayerisches Geoinstitut in Germany actually did it. They used high-pressure anvils to mimic the intense heat and crushing force found deep within the Earth’s mantle.

The result was tiny, microscopic diamonds (formed from peanut butter).

So, can you turn your peanut butter into bling?

Not exactly. Unless you’ve got access to multi-million-dollar lab equipment and a few million years to spare, your peanut butter is staying peanut butter.

But it’s still fun to think about.

Because whether it’s a flawless diamond or a flawless spoonful of peanut butter, some luxuries are just worth the price.

So next time you’re savoring every decadent bite, just remember…

You’re not just eating peanut butter.

You’re indulging in the diamonds of the macro world 💎🥜


One FAQ ❓

Question of the Week:
"Zach, I keep stressing about my diet and this whole 'eating healthy' thing. When you’re cutting, bulking, or even just maintaining, what helps you stay level-headed and not get overwhelmed? I feel like you’ve figured this out over the years and would have some solid advice."

Answer: If there’s one thing I’ve learned about people (myself included), it’s this:

We have serious trust issues with simplicity.

If something feels too easy, we immediately doubt it.

"There’s no way it’s THAT simple."

Meanwhile, complexity impresses us. We assume that more rules, more tracking, more stress must equal better results.

And we self-sabotage.

But here's the truth...

Simple usually wins.

And the more I keep things simple, the more likely I am to hit my goals—without losing my sanity.

So let’s simplify this whole thing for you.

Step 1: Get Crystal Clear on Your Goal

Vague goals don’t work. "I want to lose weight" is weak.

“I want to lose 25 pounds in 12 weeks” gives you an actual target (roughly 2 pounds per week). Easy to track, easy to manage.

Same for bulking. Pick a timeline, understand you’ll gain a little fat (that’s normal), and don’t obsess over the scale. Just lift, eat, and enjoy your damn workouts.

That extra fat is an investment in muscle you’ll have forever.

Step 2: Stop Overthinking "Eating Healthy"

I can’t stand the elitist garbage around this.

Eating healthy does not mean dry chicken, sad salads, and skipping restaurants.

If that’s your definition, you’re doing it wrong.

Nutrition should fit into your life, not control it.

You should be able to enjoy an ice cream cone with your kid without guilt. Or grab a burger and fries with your college buddy without overanalyzing the macros.

Memories > Perfection. Every time.

Step 3: Adopt the “Good Enough” Mindset

Perfection is a lie. Stressing over a “perfect diet” will burn you out.

So here’s the real cheat code:

  • ✅ 80/20 Rule: Eat 80% nutrient-dense, whole foods. Leave 20% for whatever the hell you want.
  • ✅ Hit Your Protein: Let carbs and fats adjust to your personal preference. (Just don’t go too low-fat—25% minimum for hormone health.)
  • ✅ Eat Consistently: Skipping meals wrecks hunger control. Keep it structured.
  • ✅ Ignore the Organic Hype: If you’re stressing about organic, you’re sweating over a 0.00000000001% difference.
  • ✅ Drink More Water: Hydration boosts mood, energy, and keeps hunger in check. Simple.
  • ✅ Use the “Hell Yes” Rule: When you cook with my recipes, every meal can be both indulgent and macro-friendly. You’re never forced to choose between delicious and goal-friendly (because the right techniques and ingredients make both possible). And the more you cook, the easier it gets. What once felt complicated becomes second nature.
    • But when eating out? That’s where the “Hell Yes” or “No” mindset comes in. If it’s just a random meal, keep it basic. But if it’s a food experience worth remembering, go all in and enjoy it (guilt-free).
  • ✅ Prioritize Sleep: Good sleep = better energy = smarter food choices.

Final Thought:

Simplicity should always be the goal.

Make it easy. Make it sustainable. And for the love of all things delicious, have the damn ice cream.


Serving Surprise 😮

Joseph's Pitas

These pitas have been in my diet since 2016:

They are the definition of a game changer.

Macros of the Gods and they are a solid size!

Most pitas are at least 160 calories.

I used these pitas in the Big Mac Chalupa Recipe.

But I also use them for Pita Pizza's.

And their Lavash Bread product is just as game-changing.

I get these at Sprouts or Wal-Mart here in Texas.

Not an ad. Just think they are an amazing product to have in the arsenal.

So cheers to some free advertising 🫶🏻


It's daylight savings in the US.

Meaning last night at 2am, all of our clocks shot forward an hour, and we all woke up this morning an hour later than usual and got confused...

That also means it's national "try and figure out how to change the clock on your microwave day" 😅

Anyway, hope you're having a great weekend and enjoying some amazing food.

Pick out some good recipes to try this week!

Much love and happy cooking,
Zach

PO Box 81896, Austin, Texas 78701
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