Skirt Steak Tips

I came across this awesome post about how to cook a skirt steak perfectly! I find that I usually overcook it, and it becomes tough little bits of meat. Not my fav. Her explanations and pictures are fabulous and hopefully you will be heating up your stoves with confidence and enjoying some delicious steak too!

 

Keeping Your Kitchen Clean

There is nothing that takes he joy of cooking away more than a dirty kitchen. I have to start with a clean pallet so to speak. Check out this post by Real Simple for a breakdown of things you should do and when to keep your kitchen clean. They also include the Shiny Sink 101- a "how to" for cleaning your kitchen sink.

 

 One thing I do that really helps is: I don't let go of an item until it is put away. So that means if I take my plate to the sink to rinse it off I don't just leave it there to pile up with other dishes. I put it in the dishwasher immediately.* If I take out the olive oil, I use it and put it right back. As I am cooking I leave the dishwasher open, rinse out a pan or bowl as I use it and put it away. This little step will keep the mess down and your kitchen clean. Say no to making "piles" of mail, dishes, spices etc.

 

 *I actually timed myself emptying the dishwasher the other day. Maybe it is my CrossFit mind taking over and doing everything "for time", but the reality was it ONLY took 3 minutes!!! So don't let your clean dishes sit there- empty it. . . quickly. . . 3. . 2. . 1. . GO!

 

Check out this shop for a cute clean/dirty magnet. We purchased one awhile ago and love it.

 

 

Cheers to a clean kitchen! Enjoy!

Cast Iron Help

I LOVE my cast iron skillet. I use it just about every time I am in the kitchen. The handle however does pose a bit of a problem as it heats up and makes it hard to handle. (ha-ha- excuse the pun). Check out these options for handle covers I found. Maybe you will find one you like and it will solve your dilemma too!

 

Simple Black

 

Leather

 

Silicone

 

Just For Fun

 

Happy Shopping- Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Chicken Salad Sandwich

Last week I baked up a HUGE 24 lb turkey. By the end of the week Mr. Man and I were getting pretty sick of turkey! I decided to whip up some biscuits and make one of my favorite fresh sandwiches. I used the turkey meat, but it would be easy to use chicken. The salad would also be delicious on slices of cucumber if you wanted to skip the biscuits.

Fresh Chicken Salad
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken/turkey
1/2 cup paleo mayo
1/2 cup unsweetened cranberries (you could also replace this with fresh grapes, or add both!)
1 apple, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 Tbsp lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp fresh chopped dill weed (if you don't have this on hand, dried works too)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, and enjoy!

Flaky, Buttery, Biscuits
I found this recipe here. I ended up using 1/2 coconut flour and 1/2 almond meal because I was out of the blanched almond flour. It was still delicious, although you can see from my picture it doesn't look as "light" as hers does.

 

I served mine like an open faced sandwich. That way I could have more salad. :) They are very filling, which is always a good thing! Enjoy!

BBQ Top 10 Tips

Who should know more about the BBQing than Australians? I mean their catch phrase, "throw another shirimp on the barbie" is known all over the world! As the weather heats up out side we are all fireing up our grills. Check out this blog post about the top 10 BBQ tips in celebration of Australian Day. Hopefully this will make your next BBQ adventure even more successful! Enjoy!

 

Attention Coffee Lovers!

Yes, I was raised just outside of Seattle, so I guess that means I grew up on coffee. There are hundreds of coffee shops within a square mile here, all brewing that delicious black bit of heaven. Wondering how you can turn your coffee into a healthy drink? Check out this post for a list of 8 simple strategies. Get out your favorite mug and enjoy!

 

Fresh Carrot Muffins

I love a good carrot cake. On a special occasion, I will sit down and enjoy the little slice of heaven. Since I can't have them everyday, these little muffins are a great Paleo substitute. I love them because they have very little added sugar. They are simple to make and super moist. You could add some other dried fruit, like pineapple, or cranberries, but the recipe I posted just includes the raisins.

 

 

Fresh Carrot Muffins

1 c almond butter

1/2 can full fat coconut milk

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

zest of 1 orange

1/2 c raisins

3 carrots, shredded

1 tblsp vanilla

2 tblsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cloves

pinch of sea salt

 

 

Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees.

 

In a bowl mix all the ingredients together. Scoop into a greased muffin tin and bake for 20-22 min. Let cool in pan before removing. Enjoy!