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...