Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Smoothies!

I love smoothies!  Once you get rid of all the crap most people put into smoothies, they can actually be nutritious!

Ingredients:
Coconut Water
1 Banana
Any fruit of your choosing!

We usually use frozen pineapple, peaches, strawberries, and some blueberries, but the options are endless.  If you don't have coconut water, you can use applesauce to give it the consistency of a smoothie.

BBQ Ribs

This is technically not 100% Paleo, but it was pretty darn close!

I was feeling lazy one day, and decided to buy BBQ sauce instead of making my own "Paleo BBQ" sauce.  I found some gluten, sugar, and soy free sauce from Vitamin Cottage.  It has agave in it, but other than that it was about as clean as it gets.

I used this sauce to make ribs, and it was great!

Ingredients:
1 large package of St. Louis Style Pork Ribs
1 or two jars of BBQ sauce.  You can also make your own...I only had one can of sauce, so I made more with 1 can of tomato sauce, mustard seed, garlic, pepper, and little bit of cayenne pepper.  (Mixed with the Pre-made stuff, you couldn't tell the difference).  There are TONS of Paleo BBQ sauce recipes, so if you feel so inspired go ahead and make your own!

Directions:
In a large pot bring water to a boil.  When boiling add in the ribs, let simmer for 45 minutes.

Remove ribs from water and place in a roasting dish.  Coat in BBQ sauce, and then cover dish with tin foil.  Bake at 300 degrees for an hour, uncovering the ribs for the last 15 minutes.

Serve with roasted veggies or your favorite salad.

Apple Crisp!

Dessert is always tough when you eat Paleo, as I usually crave ice cream and baked goods.  I decided to make an "Apple Crisp" that would hopefully keep my sweet-tooth under control.

Ingredients:
2 cups Almond Flour
2 tablespoons Coconut Oil
Halved Pecans
5 Apples or Peaches
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Cloves

Apples/Peaches:  Peel and cut into small slices and layer in a baking dish.
Mix the coconut oil and 2 cups of almond flour together, and season with your spices. (Will look like a paste)
Cover the apples with cinnamon, and then layer on the "dough."  Top with a little more cinnamon and the pecans.

Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes (until you see bubbling in the pan)

I have made this with apples and peaches, but I bet any fruit would be delicious!

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti

Ingredients:
One Large Spaghetti Squash
2 lbs of ground beef/elk
1 onion
1 bell-pepper (color of your choice)
1 zucchini
4-6 cloves of garlic
1-2 cans of tomato sauce

Basil, Oregano, Garlic, Onion Powder, salt, pepper
**If you want to make it REALLY easy buy a jar of "Amy's Family Marinara" it is the only one I could find without SUGAR added!  

Spaghetti Squash:  Cut in half length-wise... (try not to cut your hand off, as this can be tricky to cut)
Scoop out the insides and place open side down, on a cookie tray.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.  When done, scrape out the insides with a fork, and it will look just like pasta.

Spaghetti Sauce:  Brown meat in a skillet.  Add onions, and other chopped veggies.  Once they have cooked together for a few minutes, add either your jar of sauce, or the tomato sauce.  Season with lots of oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.  

Serve just like pasta, and enjoy!

Roasted Veggies

Here are two easy recipes for delicious roasted veggies:

Roasted Butternut Squash

Peel the Squash, and cut the ends off.  Scrape out the insides (just like a pumpkin)
Chop into 1 inch squares.
Cover in about 2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil.  Then add some cinnamon, salt, and pepper.  Roast on Convection Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Serve with whatever dinner you'd like.  Also can be used on Salads, or eaten as dessert because this is delicious.

Roasted Brussels sprouts and Bacon

Cut up 4 slices of bacon (sugar-free) into small chunks.
Chop up Brussels sprouts into quarters.

Coat in 2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil, and season with salt and pepper
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, flipping every 15 minutes.

Easy Roasted Chicken--

This may be the easiest recipe ever:

Ingredients:
1 Whole Chicken
Salt

Put salt all over the chicken, and place in a roasting dish.  Bake breast up, at 400 degrees, for 1 hour and 10 minutes.  Serve with your favorite roasted veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel-sprouts, etc).  Or shred the chicken and use as a snack, or on a salad.

(Side-note) It will be a little smoky in your oven, and that is totally normal!

Pork Green Chili

We had lots of shredded pork left over after I made some the other day, so I decided to try and make pork green chili out of the leftovers, the results was awesomely good!

For the Green Chili Sauce:

Ingredients:

1 LARGE can of chopped or diced Green Chilies
4 Tomatillos
1 Anaheim Chili
1 Jalapeno
1 Can of Diced, Fire Roasted Tomatoes
1 Onion
Cumin
Chili Spices
Garlic

Roast the Tomatillos, and Chilies on your stove-top for about 15 minutes.  After roasting, combine all ingredients in a crock-pot.  Flavor with cumin, and chili spices.  Cook on low for about 4 1/2 hours.

Serve with two fried eggs on top, it will blow your mind!

WARNING:  If you have never worked with chilies before, I recommend wearing gloves, as they are hot!  I missed the memo about wearing gloves, and proceeded to use my bare hands, and then ate some nuts, and the result was a burning of my lips like I have NEVER experienced.  It was brutal, so wear gloves, throw them away after, and then wash your hands.

Easy Shredded Pork

I made this recipe for our Town to Town Throwdown/Fight Gone Bad, and it was SUPER easy, and quite delicious.

Shopping List:

1 Pork Shoulder/Butt Roast (bone-in) 6-8 lbs
1 Package of Tin-foil
Garlic
Cumin
Salt

Instructions:

Slice the pork with shallow slices (shaped like a tic/tac/toe board)
Cover in salt, cumin, garlic.  You can also chop up some garlic, and layer it in the slices you created.
Wrap the pork with 4 sheets of aluminum foil (like wrapping a present)
Bake for 7-8 hours at 350 degrees.

You can serve as Carnitas, with bell peppers and avo, or eat it with eggs, pretty much whatever you can think of can be done!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Egg, Kale and Sausage Frittata

First of all, the word Frittata, is AWESOME!

Secondly, you can only eat so many omelette's!

This is a super easy recipe, and can be taken with you as a snack, or a breakfast on the go.

Shopping List
8 Eggs
2 links of Chicken, apple, sausage (must contain NO sugar or other sneaky additives!)
3 Stalks of Kale

Cooking Directions:

Pre-Heat Oven to 375 degrees

Saute the kale in a skillet with olive oil.  It will make cracking sounds and that is OK :)
Chop up the sausage and cook with the Kale.

In a bowl whisk the 8 eggs.  After the Kale, and Sausage are done cooking, pour into the bowl with the eggs. 

Grease an 8x8 inch dish, and pour in the mixture of kale, eggs, and sausage.

Bake for 25-30 Minutes. 

Kale Chips

My husband is very much a meat and potatoes (sweet potatoes not Idaho Spuds, because clearly those are not Paleo) kind of guy, so when I told him I was making Kale Chips, he was less than impressed, until he actually tried one!  They are quite delicious, and you can't eat just one!

Shopping List
1 Bushel of Kale (Bushel?  Head?)
Olive Oil
Sea Salt

Cooking Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees

Cut the Kale off the stem and then cut the kale into "chip sized" portions.  Put Kale in a bowl, and pour in some olive oil, and season with Sea Salt.

Layer the Kale on a cookie sheet, and bake for 30 minutes, flipping the chips occasionally. 

Pork Chop Goodness!

This recipe comes courtesy of http://cfscceat.blogspot.com/2011/03/apple-and-onion-stuffed-pork-chops.html

It is legitimately delicious!

Recipe:
6 boneless pork chops (why 6 and not 4?  The packages of pork chops I bought had 3 pork chops in each package)
3 slices bacon, chopped up
1 large sweet onion
2 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped up
olive oil
1 large can of Pineapples in Pineapple juice...make extra sure there is NO SUGAR or high fructose corn syrup added
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
ground black pepper
pinch sea salt
 
Cooking Directions

 
Prep:
 
*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
*Gently cut a pocket horizontally in the side of the pork chop, (be careful not to cut your fingers off). Season the outside of the chops with some freshly ground black pepper and sea salt.
 
Cook:
*In a large skillet cook the bacon until it is crispy.  After it gets crispy, add the onions, and thyme.
Cook until onions start to caramelize (about 10 minutes). After the onions, and bacon are done cooking, put into a bowl and add apples, 2 Tablespoons of pineapple juice to the bowl and mix well.
*Stuff each pork chop with the mixture and secure the opening with toothpicks (there will be lots of leftover filling).
*In the same skillet you just used for the bacon, add olive oil to coat pan and sear the pork chops on both sides until golden brown. Transfer to a baking dish, and bake for 20-25 minutes.
*While pork chops are cooking, add pineapple juice to skillet and deglaze pan. Bring the liquid to a simmer and add pineapples and leftover apple, onion bacon mixture to skillet.
 
When the pork-chops are done cooking, serve them covered in the extra sauce, and enjoy!
 
 

Really, really good and easy Chuck Roast!

I found this recipe on www.everydaypaleo.com and then made a few tweaks for my taste buds!

Shopping List

1 Chuck Roast
1 Onion (red or yellow is fine)
Coconut Oil

Seasoning List:
½ teaspoon ground chipotle
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
Mix all spice rub ingredients in a bowl together and set aside.

Cooking Instructions

Chop up onion and layer it on the bottom of your Crock-Pot

Heat up your coconut oil in a large skillet. 
Coat your roast in the spices by rubbing in...literally you need to rub the spices on with your hands.
After covering the roast in your spices, sear the roast on all sides in your skillet.  After it is brown on all sides, transfer to the slow cooker.  Pour in 3/4 cup of water, and cook on low for 7 hours.

Serve with a veggie or salad of your choice!

Sweet Potato Chips!

Shopping List
2 Sweet Potatoes
Cinnamon
Cayenne Pepper
Coconut Oil

Cooking Directions
Pre-Heat Oven to 300 degrees
Peel and thinly slice Sweet Potatoes and put into a large glass bowl.  Scoop 1 1/2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil over the top.  Microwave for about 2 minutes, and stir so the oil coats each slice.  Season with as much cinnamon and cayenne pepper as you desire.  Remember that a little bit of pepper goes a LONG way.  Spread out the slices in one layer on a cookie sheet.  Bake for 25 minutes, flipping the slices half-way.  After the 25 minutes is done, set your oven to Broil, and Broil the slices, flipping often until they are the **"crunchiness"** that you desire.  You can serve these as a side, bring them with you for a snack,or even eat them as a dessert. 

** I like my chips a little bit soft, but Thad likes his crunchy, so it's really up to you how long you broil them for**

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Random Things I have learned from eating Paleo

When Thad and I started on our Paleo Adventure together, we were flying blind.  I had to Google, everything!  So here are some interesting tidbits that we have learned...

1.  It isn't as hard as it seems.  Coming up with meals is fairly easy if you think about it like this...
You need protein, carbs, and fat at every meal.  There are so many combinations of these three items, it can almost be overwhelming.  www.everydaypaleo.com is the greatest resource for recipes that I have found.

2.  Your bowel movements will be different.  This may be TMI, however I KNOW that you will be wondering why you have suddenly become a pooping machine.  This is really normal, and levels out a bit.  Don't worry, I googled it, and it seems to happen to EVERYONE. 

3. DO NOT CRACK OUT ON NUTS!  "Cracking out" means that you are eating handfuls of nuts at a time...this can lead to excessive pooping (see #2).  12 almonds is about the amount of fat you need at a meal, and 3 macadamia nuts is a good amount as well.  There have been times that I have told Thad to step away from the macadamia nuts.  Nuts are delicious, but cracking out is counter productive.

3.  DO NOT CRACK OUT ON FRUIT!  This will also lead to #2...  if you are going to snack on fruit, try to eat fruit and protein at the same time.

4.  If you are hungry, you aren't eating enough.  We want you to eat 5 meals per day.  That can be three bigger meals, and two large snacks.  If you are still hungry, eat more, and really look at what you are eating.  Make sure you are getting a good balance in your meals.  You should have carbs (veggies and/or fruit), protein (meat, eggs), and fat (oils, nuts, avocado) at EVERY Meal.  I find when I skip the fat in my meal, I am usually really hungry after.

5.  For the first few days you will probably feel hungry, crabby, and tired.  This is called "withdrawals." Your body is addicted to bad foods, so it is going to be pissed when you take them away.  Keep your eyes on the prize, because soon you will feel REALLY good.  After the initial withdrawal phase passes, you will feel like you can see the world more clearly, and you will have more energy all day, with no post meal food comas.  However be warned...if after you have been eating clean Paleo for a while, you decide to binge on processed crap, be ready for your body to feel like total crap.  I ate a milkshake, and a cheeseburger (no bun), and was exhausted!  I was crabby, had a headache, and then ultimately a stom-ache.  You will learn to decide if the food is worth feeling that crappy over.

6.  This is a learning process, and we are in it together! Ask questions, be creative with your meals, and be patient with yourself, and your body's progress.

Salad

A Salad for lunch, or as a side with dinner is always an easy go to meal...you can do whatever you'd like in your salad!  Just make sure you get a mix of carbs (veggies, fruit), protein (meat) and fat (avocado or nuts).  Our standard Salad is as follows:

Spinach
Raspberries
Blueberries
Bell Peppers
Hard-boiled Egg
Chicken or Turkey
Avocado
Macadamia Nuts or Almonds

You can make it ahead of time, and bring it with you very easily!

Prime Rib

The other day at City Market, Prime Rib was on sale so I decided to go for it.  I always think of Prime Rib as a "fancy" meal and had never cooked it before...apparently I have been missing out!

(Note, Prime Rib is not considered as Lean)

Shopping List

4-6 LB Prime Rib
Olive Oil
Garlic Powder
Pepper
Salt
Rosemary
2 Sweet Potatoes

Cooking directions

Coat the outside of the roast on all sides with olive oil, and all seasonings.
Roast at 350 degrees, for 20 minutes per pound (you may need a little more time, so use your meat thermometer to check it)

Chop up potatoes into big chunks, cover with the same seasoning as the roast, and roast with the Prime Rib for an hour.

I am not going to lie...this meal was awesome!



Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Breakfast

I love Breakfast, I also love that Thaddeus LOVES making me breakfast...and by "loves" I mean he tolerates making me breakfast.  If you ever want to come over and have breakfast, he would love to make you a delicious meal.

This is our Standard Breakfast:

Eggs
Bell Peppers
Bacon
Avocado
Salsa

The other day we got creative and made Sweet Potato Hash browns...

1 Sweet Potato grated with a cheese grater
Olive Oil heated up in a pan
Cook on low, as the potatoes can burn a little bit if you're not careful


Baked Chicken

This works well to cook ahead of time for a quick protein source (you can put on salad, eggs, or really anything you can think of) 

Shopping List

4 Chicken Breasts

Seasoning

Olive Oil

and...

You can season it with whatever seasonings you'd like...

Mexican Style would be cumin, garlic, etc...
Original would be Thyme, Oregano, etc

Cooking Instructions

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees

Bake for 25 Minutes (or until fully cooked through)

Here is what a Mexican Style Chicken Looks Like:

Beef and Bacon

Could there be a better combo than Beef and Bacon?

I think not...

Shopping List

Beef Tenderloin (whatever size your family desires)
Bacon (Needs to be SUGARLESS!)
Cauliflower
Asparagus

Cooking Instructions

Pre-heat Oven to 400 Degrees

Take your tenderloin, and wrap it completely in Bacon. 

In a skillet heat up some olive oil.  Place bacon covered tenderloin in skillet, and cook on all sides until the bacon is "crispy-ish" about 5 min/side. (Is that really a word?)

Place roast on a roasting rack set over a baking dish (anything that will catch the drippings will do).

Bake for 20 Minutes, which will get you to about Medium/Medium Rare. 

As your roast is cooking, steam your cauliflower and asparagus. 

ENJOY!

Slow Cooked Cube Steak

Thad and I got 1/4 of a cow, and had a lot of Cube Steak.  I had never cooked cube steak before, so I googled some recipes.  This is based off one I found.

Shopping List

4 Cube Steaks
2 Cans Tomato Sauce
1 Can Artichoke Hearts
1 Green Bell Pepper
5 Carrots
1 Red or Yellow Onion

Seasoning

Lots of the following: (this will be the flavoring for your sauce)

Basil
Oregano
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Thyme

Cooking Instructions

In your slow cooker drizzle olive oil along the bottom
Set the cube steaks in the slow cooker. 
Put in veggies, and season everything.
Cover in tomato sauce, and season your tomato sauce as well.

Cook on low for 7 hours.


The Finished Product

Slow Cooked Chicken

This was the first time I had ever cooked a whole chicken...I felt like such a grown up.

Shopping List

1 Whole Chicken (remove the innards before cooking)
Carrots
Stalks of Celery
1 Yellow Onion
1 Cup Chicken Broth
Bay Leaves

Seasoning

Cayenne Pepper
Thyme
Oregano
Basil
Pepper

Cooking Instructions

Season the chicken on all sides with lots of spices!

Chop up the veggies and layer on the bottom of your slow cooker.
Place seasoned Chicken on veggies, pour in the chicken broth, and cook on low for 6-7 hours.  For a juicier chicken, place the chicken, breast down. 

Chicken No-Tortilla Soup

Shopping List

4 Chicken Breasts
1 Red Onion
1 Red/Yellow or Green Pepper
1 Can Roasted Diced Tomatoes
1 Box of Chicken Stock
1 Jalapeno
4 Garlic Gloves

Seasoning

(Flavor Soup to taste)

Cumin (LOTS)
Cayenne Pepper (Little Bit)
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Pepper

Cooking Instructions

In a large pot heat up some olive oil.  Chop all veggies and put into the pot. 

While veggies are getting tender, season chicken and cook chicken in a skillet on the stove top.  Chop up the chicken after it is cooked, and put into pot with veggies.  Add chicken stock and diced tomato.  Season to taste.  Serve with avocado and raw bell peppers (to give it some crunch.)


Ma' the Meatloaf...

Shopping List

1 Lb of Ground Elk Meat
1 Lb of Ground Beef
1 Carrot
1 Red Onion
2 Eggs
Half of a Red Bell Pepper
1 Small Can of Tomato Paste
1 Can of Tomato Sauce (read the ingredients and make sure there is no SUGAR!)
2 Heads of Broccoli (for a side dish, NOT to be cooked in the Meatloaf)

Seasoning

Pepper
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder

Cooking Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees

Chop your veggies, and mix together all veggies, seasoning, meat, eggs, tomato paste and 1/3 of the tomato sauce.  Form into a "loaf" and cover the Meatloaf with the rest of the Tomato Sauce, season with pepper, onion powder, and garlic.  Bake for 1 1/2 hours at 375. 

As a side you can do baked Broccoli.  Season the Broccoli with Olive Oil, Pepper, Salt Free Ms. Dash Seasoning, Garlic Powder.  Cook the Broccoli for 45 minutes, until it is slightly crispy (will look a little burnt but it's not!). 

If you don't have Elk Meat, you can use 2 lbs of Ground Beef.  If you want to only use Elk Meat, it will take a little longer to cook.

Paleo Fajitas

Shopping List

4 Chicken Breasts
3 Bell Peppers (Color of your Choosing)
1 Red Onion

Seasoning

Cumin
Pepper
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Cayenne Pepper

Cooking Directions

Slice your chicken breasts into thin/long slices.  Flavor the chicken and veggies with all of your spices.

Chop up your veggies.

In two different skillets heat up Olive Oil or Coconut Oil.  Place veggies in one skillet, and chicken in the other.  (This helps the chicken not dry out.)

Cook the chicken until it is cooked through, and is slightly brown on the outside, and then combine veggies and chicken.

Serve fajitas with avocado/guacamole, wrapped in lettuce just like a taco.  This is an easy and quick meal, for when you are short on time.


Paleo Beef Stew

Shopping List

1 Red or Yellow Onion
4 Large Carrots
6 Stalks Celery
1 Whole Green Pepper
1 Head of Cauliflower
1 Box of Chicken Stock
1 Can Roasted Tomatoes
7 Stalks of Asparagus
4 Sirloin Steaks or 4 Cube Steaks (You can also use stew meat from the market)
6 Gloves of Garlic

Seasonings:
Pepper
Oregano
Basil
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder


Cooking Instructions

In a large pot heat up olive oil. Chop up veggies, and put into pot.  Let veggies cook for a while, stirring occasionally. 

Chop up your meat (into bite sized chunks) and put into pot. 

Season with your herbs. Pour in the chicken stock, and the can of tomatoes. Let it come to a boil, and then reduce heat and let cook for an hour to two hours. 

You can adjust the flavor as much as you'd like.  You can add/sub any veggies you'd like.  Also you can use chicken, or ground beef instead of steak, and this stew is equally delicious.  (Pictured is the stew with ground beef).

Friday, April 22, 2011

Sweet Potato, Apples, and Pork Heaven

This may be our favorite Slow Cooker Meal...

Shopping List

2 Pork Tenderloins
2 Sweet Potatoes
2 Apples
1 Yellow Onion
Chicken Stock
Cinnamon
Pepper
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder

Cooking Directions

Season the pork loins with garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper.

In a skillet heat up olive oil, or coconut oil.  Place pork loins in skillet, and brown on all sides.

Chop up the onion, and layer on the bottom of the crock pot.  Place loins on the layer of onions.

Skin and chop up the sweet potatoes, and place in crock pot. Chop up apples (leave the skin on) and place in slow cooker.  Season with all your spices.  Pour in 1/2 can of chicken broth.

Cook on low for 6 hours. 

Sooooo good!

Paleo Carnitas

Shopping List

1 Pork Loin Roast
1 Yellow Onion
1 Head of Garlic
Cumin
Onion Power
Garlic Powder
Chicken Stock
Pepper
Olive or Coconut Oil

**Also buy avocado, salsa, and bell peppers to serve with your pork**

Cooking Instructions

Season the Pork with Garlic Powder, Cumin, and Black Pepper.

In a skillet, heat up either Olive Oil or Coconut Oil.  Place Pork in Skillet, and brown on all sides.  After browning slice small holes in the roast, and insert gloves of garlic all throughout the roast.

Chop up the onion and layer on the bottom of your Crock Pot.  Place the pork on the onions.  Shake a little more garlic powder, and cumin in the crock pot.  Add one cup of Chicken Stock.

Cook on low for 6-8 Hours.

Serve with Avocado, Salsa and Peppers.

 Before

After

**Thad wrapped his carnitas in a piece of lettuce just like a Taco, so that is also an option**

Paleo Pot Roast

Shopping List

1 Boneless Chunk of Beef whatever size works for your family.  You can use a Rump Roast, Chuck Roast, etc
1 Yellow Onion
6 Carrots
4 Stalks of Celery
1 Can Roasted Diced Tomatoes or 1 Fresh Tomato Diced
Beef Stock/Broth
Coconut Oil/Olive Oil
Thyme
Oregano
Pepper
Garlic Powder


Cooking Instructions

To be cooked in your Crock Pot.

Season the Beef with LOTS of Thyme, Oregano, Pepper (on all sides).  In a skillet heat up olive oil or coconut oil.  Brown the roast in the hot skillet, until it is nice and brown on all sides.

Chop up one yellow onion, carrots, and celery. Layer onion on the bottom of your crock pot. 

Place Roast on the layer of onions. Surround the Roast with Carrots, Celery, and Tomato.  Pour in 1 Cup of Beef Stock.

Cook on Low for 8 hours

The Before Picture 

And the after picture...