Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all the best this Holiday Season. May you enjoy the health of your body, the love of your family, and happy memories to last a lifetime.

 

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Sauteing Tip

Here is a little tip I recently learned about sauteing:

 

 When sauteing vegetables, don't add salt until the end as it will dry out your veggies.

 

 

 

Ever have this happen to you?

Ha ha!

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Happy Friday!

Eat Your Fill Or Graze?

Do you sit down and eat your full 3 meals a day or do you just graze on many small meals? Check out some interesting new findings on the advantages of eating full meals during the day. If  you are not trying to lose weight or are an athlete in training, this may not feel the best for your programing, but it is an interesting read. The effect these meals have on our blood sugar levels may play into our daily energy too. Enjoy!

Fresh Bacon Sauteed Mushrooms

I have recently been on a mushroom kick. I used to hate them, but the recent resident growing in my belly has changed my appetite a bit, and one day I was craving mushrooms. So, I bought a pack a the market and wouldn't you know it- they are actually delicious! I added a bit of bacon to this recipe and made it a home run. It isn't fancy, but this is the way I cook- simple ingredients that are full of flavor and easy to throw together.

Fresh Bacon Sauteed Mushrooms
1 Pack of Mushrooms (washed thoroughly)
A few strips of bacon
Fat of Choice (I used coconut oil)
Fresh Minced Garlic
 
Cut bacon into small bits. Saute them in pan on med/high heat with oil and garlic. When the bacon is almost cooked, add mushrooms. Stir frequently until the mushrooms have darkened up in color and bacon is completely cooked. (Aprox 5 min)  I also did this with some baby zucchini and it was delicious too. A little bit of bacon can go along way! Enjoy!

 

 

 

Restaurant Guide

For most of us, eating out is not only an easy choice when we are low on groceries and time, but it is a social event too. Have you ever walked into a restaurant and felt Paleo anxiety? "Ahh what am I going to eat?" I have been there too. Even after years of Paleo eating I find myself at a new restaurant feeling unsure what to order. Check out this post by Whole9. They give some great tips on how to navigate your way thorough any menu. Now you can feel confident when your friend suggest that new restaurant downtown. Go, make a wise choice, and enjoy the company, worry free!

Enjoy!

 

Fresh Grilled Honey Pecan Cod

I love fish.  What I don't love is the fishy smell left in my house when I bake it in the oven, and because the Mr. hates the stuff I usually just eat it when I go out to eat. I found a beautiful piece of fresh caught cod at the supermarket the other day, and I couldn't refuse it. The solution to my fish cooking woes? The grill. Steak for him, fish for me. Win-win. This simple recipe was mouthwatering good, and I am sure you will agree.

Fresh Grilled Honey Pecan Cod
Cod
Grassfed Butter
Honey
Chopped Pecans
Lemon pepper or seasoning salt

Prepare fish by topping with a few slivers of butter, and chopped pecans. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with lemon pepper or seasoning salt of your choice. Wrap in foil, like a burrito. Place on med-high grill. Cook for about 10 min or until fish flakes easily and juices run clear. Remove from foil and enjoy!

 

Before

 

After

Fresh Italian Meatballs

The thing I love about this recipe is its versatility. You can enjoy these meatballs alone with some marinara dipping sauce, or combine it with spaghetti squash for a Paleo take on the traditional spaghetti. In addition to this being so veritable, it is quickly and easy! I used 2 lbs meat so that I would have leftovers for lunch. I would say the 2 lbs would serve about 4 people, if you were just eating the meatballs alone, as we did.

Fresh Italian Meatballs
2 lbs ground beef
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 egg

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Scoop and roll 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheet (use a cookie sheet that has a lip to it as the meat creates a bit of juice). Bake for 20 min, turning the meatballs once during baking. Remove from oven, add a side of marinara sauce and enjoy!

Leftovers?

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. As a kid I can remember asking my mom what was for dinner and if she said "leftovers" I would groan- "oh yuck". These days though I LOVE leftovers! I usually try to cook more than we need just so I will have leftovers. If you are lucky enough to have these tasty treasures in your fridge from Thanksgiving you may be wondering, "how long is this stuff good for?". Check out this post for some guidelines on your leftover's shelf life. Enjoy!

Paleo Thanksgiving Ideas

Are you looking for some tasty Paleo recipes for this Thanksgiving? Maybe you have decided you are going to eat your grandma's apple pie, but want to keep the rest of your meal Paleo. Maybe you are being 100% strict and need some inspiration. Check out this post by our friends at Whole9. There are lots of delicious looking recipes and great ideas to make your Thanksgiving a success. Enjoy!

Fresh Creamy Tomato Soup

 Seattle has turned to its usual cold and rainy weather. We have all put on our boots, scarves and coats. (Minus the umbrellas, those are for tourists. :) ) Nothing sounds better on a cold rainy night then a bowl of warm, creamy, savory soup. Check out this simple recipe for tomato soup. I used ground turkey this time, but previously I have used sausage, and ground beef. They are all delicious and make the soup a little different.

Fresh Creamy Tomato Soup

5 cloves crushed garlic
2 - 28oz cans of crushed tomatoes
1 can coconut milk
1 cup chicken broth
1 lb meat of your choice (cooked and seasoned to taste)
2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp onion powder


Place all ingredients, except meat, into large pot, cook on medium high heat until warmed through. Then add cooked meat of your choice. Stir for another 5 min until the meat is warmed.

 

Top with sliced avocado (as pictured) or keep it simply as is. Enjoy!

Fresh Egg Muffins

Lately I have been so tired of my morning eggs. Like if I take one more bite, I may loose it. Are you with me? Well here is a recipe that will save your mornings. This is a simple, delicious recipe that can be modified to any taste. In addition to the flavor- it will save you time, as you grab it on your way out the door. And that my friends, is priceless!

Fresh Egg Muffins

12 eggs
¾ cup organic heavy cream or coconut milk

¼ tsp salt

Optional Ingredients: (Add 1 cup of additional ingredients, or more if you want. I like my quiche full of goodies)

Cooked Meat: Sausage, ham, bacon, ground beef, steak, ground turkey.
Veggies: (Raw) Broccoli, pepper, olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, fresh cilantro, fresh basil.

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

Coat cupcake dish with non-stick spray or butter. Cook quiches for 20-30 min, or until the centers are firm.

Enjoy fresh, reheat or freeze for a great snack on the go.

I included caramelized onions, red pepper and ground beef to my mini-muffins pictured here.

 

A Good Dose of Reality

Do you find these pictures floating around Facebook? Do you hit the "like" button? Do you feel guilty if you don't? Do they make you feel that you are somehow not giving your workout everything you've got? Do you really have to be obsessed to be dedicated?

I'll be honest, these have never really resonated with me. I LOVE wodding, and I can get after it like a champ, but I am not a stay at the gym for all hours of the day every day of the week type of girl. Yet, I do see this happen. Check out this post by whole9 for a reality check regarding this issue. They make some excellent points for all of us who love to work out and also have a life outside of the gym. Keep it in perspective and enjoy a long healthy life, that includes getting your laundry done, having dinner with friends, and working out at the gym. Enjoy!

Halloween Problems

Wahoo! You made it through Halloween! You may have snacked on a ton a few sugary treats. The tip for today is referring to any "extra" candy that is laying around calling your name: THROW IT AWAY! Hey, you paid for it and you can decide to throw it out! Just do it, don't think twice, and don't take an extra bite for the road. Halloween came and went, it was real, it was fun, and it is over.  Besides who wants to turn into Augusta Gloop anyway. . .? Enjoy!

 

Fresh Breakfast Sandwich

Looking for something to spruce up your morning bacon and eggs? This quick recipe is just what you need. I made these little biscuits and we enjoyed them with our pulled pork for dinner, and our breakfast the next morning. I found the recipe here and made it more Paleo friendly. The recipe called for almond flour. In the picture posted on their site the biscuit is pretty light in color, so I think they used bleached almond flour. Mine turned out darker, but I am sure they taste the same.

Fresh Breakfast Sandwich
biscuits:
1 cup almond flour
4 egg whites
1/3 cup butter
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
sandwich ingredients:
Bacon (pre-cooked)
Eggs (pre-cooked)
Mustard

Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour and butter until the two are blended, making little pea-sided bits. Add the egg whites, salt, and baking powder. Stir until all the ingredients are combined. Scoop batter onto greased baking sheet. Your scoops should be the desired size of your biscuits. Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are slightly golden.

Once your biscuits are baked, cut them in half, and assemble your breakfast. I used mustard, eggs and bacon. Simple and delicious! Enjoy!

That Day Old Bacon Smell

You know that day old bacon smell. You made a delicious dish last night that included bacon. It was mouthwatering, everyone loved it, the hills sang, and the heavens opened. (This is usually what happens at my house) Today you return home from work, open your house and it smells like day old bacon. Uh- no thanks caveman. This is one of my favorite candles. It's clean smell fills my house and kicks the bacon smell to the curb. If you are in the market for a new candle, this is the one for you. Enjoy!

 

Do You Miss Hummus?

I used to be, and still am, a lover of hummus.  After I switched to the Paleo way of eating, I found I didn't miss it until I was at a party and there it was, calling to me. Check out Nel's suggestion on a Paleo version of our long lost dip. She also explains why it isn't considered Paleo. If you haven't read her book yet, you should! It is an easy, fast and inspiration read.

 

 

Spicy Friday

What are some of your favorite spices to cook with? Have you tried out a new flavor recently? Maybe you have used an old goodie in a new way. Check out this post by The Clothes Make The Girl regarding the differences between spices and herbs. I was inspired to try some new ingredients and clean out my spice cabinet. Glass mason jars? My favorite!! I think I need to go shopping. . .

 

 

Newsworthy Information

Turns out a Paleo diet can be helpful not only for your waistline, but research is showing there are benefits for your brain as well. Check out today's headlines in USA Today. Regardless how romantic "The Notebook" makes Alzheimer's look, the disease is devastating, and may be avoidable.

 

PS- If you haven't watched "The Notebook", you are missing out! When you do watch it, be sure to have a box, and I mean a BOX of Kleenex with you. Also, be sure you don't have any chocolate in the house. For me tears and chocolate go hand and hand, and with this movie, I would eat it all! ;)

Enjoy!

Fresh Paleo Sushi

One of the things we really miss, and occasionally "cheat" with, is sushi. While I was on my whole30 last month I came across a paleo version of sushi and was super excited to try it. Turns out it was easy and tasty. There could be a whole blog dedicated to all the awesome variations you could make with just this one dish. I will give you the basics and you can sample, and create from there. If you discover any other combination, be sure to leave a comment and share it!

Fresh Paleo Sushi

1 head of cauliflower
1 package of dried seaweed
1 tsp coconut oil
Veggies sliced into spears (I used carrots, red peppers, and cucumber)
Cilantro
Wasabi
Liquid or Coconut Aminos

Wash and chop cauliflower into pieces large enough to hold together and small enough to hold onto. Using a cheese grater, grate cauliflower, tossing the stems. Over medium-high heat melt a tsp of coconut oil, saute shredded cauliflower for 7-10 min or until it starts to dry and become a little toasted. Remove from heat and let cool completely. (This is very important because if the "rice" is warm the moisture will make the seaweed soft and squishy) At this point I took 1/2 of my "rice" and added a few tablespoons of chopped cilantro. (optional)

 

Once the cauliflower rice is cool, lay a thin layer over the seaweed. Leave about an inch or so uncovered. At the opposite end lay your ingredients.

 

Starting at the end with your veggies, roll up the sushi toward the uncovered seaweed. You will slightly wet the last lip of uncovered seaweed. This will make it adhere to itself and viola you have assembled your first sushi roll. Cut 1 inch sections of your roll. Place wasabi and/or liquid aminos (paleo alternative to soy sauce) on the side and enjoy!

 

 

This recipe made about 6 rolls, but next time I would make them thicker with more ingredients, so the final number would change.

Experimentation Time

Have you been eating Paleo for awhile? Are you new to the whole idea? Do you sometimes wonder, "Can it get any better?" You are the only one that can truly answer that question, but check out this thought provoking article from Robb Wolf. I often remind myself, and my friends, that this is a journey! We are continually learning what our healthiest options in life are. Sometimes, we have to take a good look in the mirror and experiment with a few things. I am on the last leg of my whole30 program and I have learned a lot about myself. Take some time over the next week to think about what you can do to improve your, health, performance at the gym, quality of life, stress etc. I bet you will be surprised at the results. Enjoy!

 

Oven Roasted Maple Cinnamon Cashews

Here is a delicious sweet and salty recipe for your plain old cashews. The method of oven-roasting can be applied to various spices to create all sorts of flavors. Spicy, savory or sweet, you can enjoy the fun of creating new flavors!

Oven Roasted Maple Cinnamon Cashews

2 cups plain unsalted cashews
2 tsp ghee (or organic unsalted butter)
2 tsp maple syrup
Cinnamon
Sea Salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Place cashews on an ungreased cooking sheet. Bake for 7-10 min, or until nuts have warmed. Meanwhile combine maple syrup and ghee (you may have to melt the ghee a bit so you can stir ingredients together). Remove nuts from the oven and place in a mixing bowl. Pour syrup and ghee over them. Stir until everything is coated. Pour nuts onto a cutting board or back on the cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon and salt to taste. Let cool a few min before enjoying, as they will be pretty warm from the oven. Enjoy!

Luches Got You Down?

I don't know about you, but I am great at making myself breakfast and dinner. I pack a lunch with delicious Paleo snacks, but often find it was not enough food or protein and by 3:00 I am hungry again! I can usually attribute that to the little time I gave myself to pack the lunch to begin with. Lunches seem to be tricky for many people. Where do you find the time to prep and make sure you have the right amount of food for the whole day? Click on this link for your solution. Paleo Power Lunches to the resuce! You can download the book today, and have lots of great lunch ideas. Enjoy!

 

Need Some Inspiration?

I am currently on day 16 of my Whole30 program. You may be thinking, "What, you have a food blog, and you are going back to the basics?" Yes, yes I am! Real life creeps in on all of us, and although I LOVE Paleo, I find myself sneaking a few too many chocolate covered almonds, glasses of wine, or "bites" of this or that and pretty soon I have the grumbly tummy and headaches again. This is always a sign that I need to get back to the basics. Once I get back on the straight and narrow I remember how good it feels to eat clean! I sleep so much better, my skin is clearer, my clothes fit better, I feel GOOD. . . all day. If you are on a "clean eating" journey, or feeling inspired to do so, check out this blog by our friends at Whole9life. Interested in starting a Whole30? Sign up today. They send you an e-mail every day jam packed with tips, recipes, tools, and inspiration! Pretty soon you will be feeling sustained throughout the day and PRing at the gym! Enjoy.

 

 

Fresh Pumpkin Muffins

Last week I tried a few new recipes. Oh.my.word. I think my kitchen beast status was in serious danger of being revoked. I even burnt my eggs that I cook EVERY morning. (You may have noticed the absence of a post last Monday- sorry I won't ever share nastiness with you). Epic fail on many levels. *sigh*

So I cleaned my kitchen, took a break for a few days, and then headed back to one of my favorite little treats from last fall. I needed a major pick-me-upper in the cooking department. These little muffins are "fall heaven". They are full of pumpkin flavor and not too sweet. Enjoy them with your favorite tea or cup of coffee. If you have recently had some cooking failures like me,  these will brighten your day. What a great way to celebrate October 1st with a pumpkin treat.

Fresh Pumpkin Muffins
1 1/2 c almond meal or flour
3/4 c canned organic pumpkin
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice

1/8 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
1/4 c organic maple syrup
Optional:
1/2 c dried cranberries (you could also use regular or white raisins)
1/2 c chopped pecans

Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix ingredients, except nuts and dried fruit, in a large mixing bowl. Once ingredients are blended, fold in chopped nuts and dried fruit. Spoon into oiled, mini muffin tin I use my silpat so I didn't need any oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when put into a muffin.  (If using a regular cupcake tin, add 5-10 min to the total baking time). Let muffins cool for a few minutes before removing them from the pan. Enjoy!

Infused Olive Oil

A few weekends ago some of my girlfriends and I headed into Seattle for a day of Pike Place Shopping and dinner. Not only did we come home with arms full of flowers, but our bags were heavy with the delicious infused olive oils we found.

 Since then have been LOVING the full flavor of my sun dried tomato olive oil. Using the fresh cucumbers from my parents yard, I splash a bit of the oil over them and they are over-the-top-scrumptious! They have many flavors to choose from, and they also carry some mouthwatering balsamic vinegars. Check out their website, and the next time you are in Seattle, be sure to check them out!

Movie Time and Book Review: Our Food Choices Matter

Recently, I have been researching where my food comes from. What I have learned is that my food choice matters. From industry driven farming, to factory animal farms, the widespread mistreatment of people and animals is devastating. My first step was understanding what was going on. Insert Move: Food Inc. and book: Eating Animals here. I will be honest some of the movie and the book was emotionally hard to get through. Yet I did get through it, and I don't think I will ever be the same.

 

I immediately researched some local farms that raise animals with care. What I found was encouraging! (Something I really needed after the dark reality of the book and movie) Sustainable and humane farms are out there and with a little bit of extra work on our parts we can make a better choice.

I make a vote with my fork every time I go out to dinner or shop at a grocery store, and you can do the same. I would encourage you to watch Food Inc. and/or read the book Eating Animals soon. I checked both out from our local library so it didn't cost me a dime. Looking for a local farm for your beef, chicken, or pork options? EatWild.com has an amazing user friendly website. You can even rent a goat to come and "mow" your yard. . . uh. . AWESOME!!! Enjoy.

 

 

Pantry Soutions

The other day I was browsing through Pinterest and I found this awesome website for some inexpensive glass jars. If you have been following my blog for awhile you will know that I LOVE mason jars and use them every day to store, and transport food. So when I came across this site I was naturally stoked to see all the jars that I can use to organize my pantry. They not only look awesome, but they make it easy to see the contents. Maybe you have been inspired to start a weekend project of cleaning out your pantry! Happy Friday- enjoy!

 

 

Stalling in your weight loss goals?

Often times I will hear people say they feel like they are plateauing on Paleo. They dropped a significant amount of weight at the beginning of their Paleo journey and now the scale is staying the same. They are frustrated and discouraged. If this is you, or if you have a friend that has said this statement, check out Robb Wolfe's explanation in this article. We have to remember that THE SCALE DOES NOT DETERMINE HEALTH. Your journey to better health is more complicated than just one dimension. Be encouraged, stick with it and improved health will be yours! Enjoy.

 

 

Fresh Grilled Maple Cinnamon Apples

Fall right around the corner and I am still enjoying the BBQ. The other night I wanted something "fallish" with my BBQ chicken. I decided to grill up a few of my apples, and they made an amzaing warm, sweet and savory dessert. If you feel like being "fallish" with me, cut up some apples and fire up your BBQ!

Fresh Grilled Maple Cinnamon Apples
Apple (I cut up 4 apples, but you could do whatever you wanted)
Real Maple Syrup
Ground Cinnamon

Heat up BBQ to med-high heat. Slice apples in to 1/8 size pieces. Remove core and seeds. With basting brush rub apples with maple syrup. Sprinkle each apple with cinnamon. Place on the grill for 3-5 min per side or until apples start to soften slightly and grill lines show in the flesh of the fruit. Remove from grill, and enjoy!

The "Sigh"

I don't remember where I heard this tip, but I notice it is still in my head everytime I eat. There are times that I am distracted while eating. This could be for a variety of reasons: being preoccupied, chatting with my friends, in a hurry, working through lunch, you name it. I try to slow down my eating times and actually enjoy my food. Yet occasionally I find that I have not been paying attention to my eating.  I am scarfing my food so quickly I hadn't noticed I was full! This little tip I heard so many years ago has helped me know when to stop eating, so that I don't over do it. The next time you are eating a meal, there will be a time that you take a "sigh". Notice when that is. This natural sigh is your body telling you it is satisfied and being full is right around the corner. I usually take a few bites more and then stop eating. It may sound crazy, and it did to me too, but it really works. So try it out over the weekend and see if your body is trying to communicate with you too. Enjoy!

Full Tummy Cartoon

Calories That Don't Count

One of the best things, for me, about Paleo eating is that I no longer feel enslaved to my food. I don't have to weigh or measure each bite. I don't have to get out my cardboard calorie counter while I am out to dinner to try to decide what I should or shouldn't eat. I just. eat. real. food. The End. The freedom of that statement is still liberating to me. The truth behind that is that I still have to be mindful of they type of Paleo food I eat. I cannot expect to be in good health eating watermelon all day. My body won't function well working through 4 cups of almonds in a serving. Often times we can get caught up into the concept that some calories don't count, or that because it is "Paleo" we can go crazy and eat all we want to. Check out this article by the Primal Docs refocusing us on the purpose of our Paleo diet and the encouragement to walk away from the bite of birthday cake. There isn't a magical food or prayer that will make the calories disappear. What we put into our mouths will be digested and affect our bodies. It is a good reminder for us on our Paleo journey. Enjoy!

Bless This Food Prayer

Citrus Brine

I love to make these little chickens. They are just the right size for my family and they don't take all day to cook. Last week I tried out this citrus brine and it was to die for. You can adjust this for the size of your bird, and it would work well for turkey too.

Fresh Citrus Brine:

1/2 cup salt
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
2 sprigs of fresh bay leaves
1 T dried thyme
1 T black pepper
1 gallon of water

Rub salt on your bird. Place remaining ingredients in a large pot with the bird. Fill with water. Place in your refrigerator overnight. Discard brine from bird before cooking. For more flavor, add the oranges, lemon, onion and bay leaves to the edges of your baking dish. For my little chicken I cooked it on 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Perfection!

 Enjoy!
 

Before. . .

 

After. . .

 

Refreshing Crips Water

A few months ago a parent in my classroom gave me some sparkling flavored water. I had tried them years ago and didn't like them, but now that my pallet has been cleared for so long of pop and juice I had a completely different reaction to it = LOVE! I have been treating myself to lots of different brands and flavors ever since. The "natural flavoring" often comes from essential oils. Wondering where essential oils come from? Check out this link for a detailed explanation. The fizzy drink also offers some added minerals for a health boost. Check out this bit of information on one brand. If you haven't tried it recently I would encourage you to do so you may surprise yourself!

 Enjoy!

 

 

Sugar Update

Oh sugar, you sneaky friend. Like they say in the movie, Mr. Deed's "I fear I have underestimated your sneakyness- you are beary, beary sneaky." Check out the updated Sugar Manifesto from Whole9. It may be time you revisit the concept on sugar, because if you are like me, that sugar sneaks up on me again and again!

 

Fried Eggplant

I think eggplants are just about the most beautiful veggie out there. Let's be honest they beat the sweet potato any day. The trouble is, I just haven't found a way to enjoy them without the lasagna. I figured out this simple recipe and made it with eggplant. I bet this would be good with zucchini or any other veggie. It is so simple you could whip up an impressive appetizer for your next dinner party. Even if that party is your family, they will love it too!

Fried Eggplant

Eggplant cut into slices about 1/8 inch thick.
Olive Oil (or oil of your choice)
Almond flour
Egg white
Sea Salt
Optional: Parmesan Cheese

In your skillet or fry pan, warm oil. Meanwhile, coat each eggplant in the egg white. Place almond flour, and salt on a plate. (At this stage feel free to add any other spices: garlic, herbs, seasoning salt etc). Lay egg covered eggplant on the plate and coat both sides with flour. Set in skillet. Do this until pan is full of eggplant. Cook for a few min per side or until the flour starts to brown. Don't overcook, this will make the eggplant soft and mushy. If desired, add cheese to the top layer of each side before placing in the skill. You will see one picture with the cheese and one without. Enjoy!

Without Cheese:

With Cheese:

Take Out Inspiration

My goal for this labor day weekend is:

 

 

 

Here is to trying new recipes and finding quick and easy meals that are better than takeout! Happy Friday- Enjoy!

 

 

Movie Time! King Corn

A few weeks back I watched this documentary with my husband and brother-in-law. If you know either one of them, you are probably thinking, "how did you get them to watch a documentary with you?" Well it may have taken a little finagling on my part.

Me: Hey do you guys want to do something TOTALLY different tonight than we have every done before? Them: What is it? Me: A surprise, you just have to say yes or no. Them: Um not really. . . Me: Come on it is fun to try new things! (Insert begging here) Them: OK fine. 

They may have been less than thrilled when I pulled out the documentary, "King Corn" I had checked out from the library. BUT they were into the movie within 30 min, and we all learned a lot about food that night.  My brother-in-law has been talking about King Corn with his co-workers, neighborhood friends, and he is more conscious of his food choices. If you haven't watched this movie- go get it! If it has been awhile, watch it again! It will help you on your Paleo journey, wherever that may be, and you will be making better food choices in the future. Enjoy!

 

Blueberry Muffins

I had some organic locally grown blueberries from my parents yard in my fridge the other day and found this delicious recipe for blueberry muffins. They were so good. Moist and filling. Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE the word moist, and I just used it so they must have been that amazing, and moist! Ugh I said it again! Let's just get to the recipe shall we? ;)

Blueberry Muffins
1 cup almond butter
1 cup almond meal/flour
3 eggs, wisked
1/2 cup raw honey
1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
Pinch of Cinnamon
1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl first and stir, then add wet ingredients. Place into cupcake pan. (Either grease your pan first, use cupcake paper liners or silicone muffin cups) Bake for 15-20 minutes or until tops are browned. Remove from oven. Let cool for a few minutes before eating. Enjoy!

BBQ Cleaning Tips

We used to have a favorite restaurant around the corner from our house. We would go there often and get a "Paleo" version of their speciality. Pretty soon they started to know us by name and remember our order- pretty awesome. Until one day I was sitting in the restaurant, waiting to pick up my food and the door to the kitchen was open. What I saw just about made me run out screaming. It was the dirtiest, grossest thing I have seen in a long time. We haven't been back since. There are somethings you just can't unsee.

 

The question for you this Friday is: How does your BBQ check out? You may be used to the dirt and grime that has slowly grown over the summer months, but if you were seeing it for the first time, would you run for the hills? Our BBQ's often become buckets of bacteria if they are not properly cleaned with each use, and deep cleaned often. In addition to the "gross" factor, dirty grills don't work properly. Keeping the gas lines clear of build up makes it possible for you to enjoy grilling for years to come.

 

 Here is a clear and simple list of instructions on how to clean your BBQ. The site doesn't mention it, but every time we are done cooking we leave the lid of the grill closed with the heat on. After about 5-10 min, the extra food bits are cooked off the grill and they are easy to scrape with our wire brush. Below I have added some of our favorite tools we use to clean the BBQ. Enjoy!

 

Steam Cleaning Brush

 

 

BBQ Safe Cleaner

 

Stone Cleaner

Classic Wire Brush

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choosing the Real Olive Oil

I was so surprised when I heard that most Olive Oils at the grocery store are not 100% Olive Oil. Often they are mixed with a variety of other "filler" oil making it a less than healthy choice. Check out Mark's post explaining the truth about EVOO and giving you tips on how to choose the best option possible. Enjoy!