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!

 

 

 

Fresh Dumpling Squash

I found these little treasures on Amazon Fresh and decided to give them a try. When I ordered them the description said "large" squash, so I just bought one. Oops they are little- about the size of an apple, so I  had to wait for my next order to buy another one. I found this recipe online and followed it pretty close to the original. The butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and syrup definitely make these a treat, but a DELICIOUS one too.  Here is my version:

Fresh Dumpling Squash
Dumpling Squash
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
1/2 T butter
1 T Pure Maple Syrup
(The original recipes had measurements for the spices, but I just sprinkled it. The original recipe also had brown sugar, which I left out. It is already so sweet, this wasn't needed)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


Cut squash in 1/2 and scrape out seeds.

Turn squash over and pierce skin with a fork a few times. 


Turn it back over and fill each squash with ingredients above. Sprinkle cinnamon generously and use a pinch of nutmeg per squash. 

Place squash in a dish with about 1 inch of water in the bottom of the dish. 


Bake uncovered in oven for about 50 min. I cooked 4 squash and they took about an hour. The squash will be tender when it is finished cooking. 

Remove and enjoy!

30 Minutes To Easier Paleo

When you get home from the grocery store I would image you are like most people and put this into your refrigerator.

Later that night you are sitting on the couch watching TV and you get that "I'm hungry and want something to snack on" feeling. Are you really going to go into your kitchen and cut up some veggies? Not likely. 


What about when you get home from a long day and you have a large appetite paired with little energy? Are you going to spend much if any time prepping some food to cook? Not so much. 


Your Friday tip is to spend 30 min upon returning from the grocery store in your kitchen prepping your veggies.  Wash, peel and cut up all your veggies. (I don't do this with fruit because when you wash off the protective coating of the fruit it will spoil faster.)


Your fridge should be a grocery bag free zone! Those bags are hard to see into and your crisper draw quickly turns into a black hole of baggie nothingness.


I like to use mason jars because they are reusable, inexpensive, and easy to see into. So when I get home and am tired, tossing a jar of zucchini into my pan to saute for 5 min is a breeze. When I want a quick snack, my veggies are ready! And it is easy for me to actually SEE what veggies I have to use up. The last reason I love this prepping tip is that it gets my husband snacking on healthy things. I don't think he has ever chopped up his own head of cauliflower, but if it is ready on the shelf and visible, he will snag it. 

(Pictured from left to right, back row first: zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, sweet potatoes, bell peppers)

Spending 30 minutes in your kitchen once a week will make cooking and eating Paleo much easier for you and your family. Enjoy!

Fresh Spaghetti Squash

Let's be honest, we may have all loved spaghetti before our Paleo conversion not only because it was yummy, but because it was super easy! Almost so easy a caveman could do it, minus the processed carb noodles. But in this version, using spaghetti squash, a caveman probably did.

Fresh Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash

I am only including the directions for the spaghetti squash itself since you can use this vegetable for SO many other recipes, pastas, stirfrys etc. To make traditional spaghetti, use a jar of organic marina sauce and 1 lb cooked ground beef. In my recipe pictured, I used an organic butternut squash sauce.

Cut squash in 1/2 lengthwise. Remove seeds. Poke a few holes in the skin of the squash. Place in a covered baking dish face down in about 1 inch of water.

Microwave for 10 min.
Carefully remove squash from water and scrape inside out. They will be noodle like.

Top it with your beef/sauce or use in a stir fry.

Enjoy!

Fresh Grilled Artichokes

On a recent date my husband and I enjoyed a grilled artichoke as an appetizer at a local beach cafe. We were surprised how much we enjoyed it. Of course my Kitchen Beast wheels were turning as I thought, "I could totally make this". I tried it out this past week and it was a hit! So get out your basting brushes and fire up your grill, you are about to enjoy some scrumptious food!

Fresh Grilled Artichokes
4-5 whole artichokes, trimmed and halved
1 lemon
1 tsp fresh minced garlic
2 T olive oil
Salt to Taste

Prepare the artichokes by cutting the stem so it is about 1 inch long. Cut the tops of each leaf as pictured:

When it is ready it will look like this:

Cut artichokes in 1/2. Cut lemon in 1/2 and squeeze out the juice (set aside for later). Slice lemon into quarters and add lemon and garlic to boiling water. Let cook for 15-20 min or until the artichokes are tender. Remove from water and let stand for 5 min allowing them to dry. In a small dish add lemon juice and olive oil. Brush mixture over artichokes and place on grill. Sprinkle with salt and grill each side until they start to brown. (Approx 3-5 min per side)

When they are finished cooking remove "hair" from the center of the artichoke before eating. Enjoy!

Fresh Baked Cauliflower

One reason I enjoy going to my Paleo friend's houses to eat is that I inevitably learn some new trick or recipe. This is a simple and delicious way to cook your cauliflower, that I my friend Janelle recently shared with me.  By cooking it in the oven it becomes a little bit crunchy on the outside, and perfectly cooked on the inside. Wow- so good. I hope you make this soon and enjoy it!

Fresh Baked Cauliflower
1 head of Organic Cauliflower
Olive Oil or Organic Butter
Sea Salt
Paprika

*Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

*Cut cauliflower into large florets.

*Place cauliflower onto cooking sheet.

*Using a basting brush cover florets with melted butter or olive oil. (Don't have a basting brush? Throw all your ingredients into a plastic bag and shake till covered)

*Sprinkle with sea salt and paprika.

*Bake for approximately 30 min or until fork enters cauliflower easily and edges are browned.

*Remove and enjoy!