Saturday, March 17, 2012

Coconut Pancakes

Coconut Pancakes

Drizzle these with honey and berries, wrap up some bacon and eggs for a Primal breakfast burrito, or just eat them plain. These things are incredibly easy to make.
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch nutmeg
1 pinch cinnamon
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup coconut milk (full fat)
Method:
Mix these ingredients and let them sit for five minutes. Oil or grease up your pan and heat over medium heat. Pour about a 1/4 cup of batter for each crepe, allowing each side to brown before flipping it.
Without accounting for toppings or cooking fat, FitDay says the whole batch amounts to:
37.2 g fat (20.9 g saturated)
42.2 g carbs (19.4 g fiber)
30.6 g protein


Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/coconut-flour/#ixzz1imzc8A3K

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Berry Cobbler

First things first... many thanks to Everydaypaleo.com for all the awsome goodnes in your recipe book! This one came from Everyday Paleo cookbook... as ususal, I added my own little spin, because I can! ;-)


Berry Cobbler
3 cups of fresh blackberries, raspberries, blueberries... whatever combination of berries you want!
1 1/2 cups almond meal ( or finely ground almonds)
1 omega 3 enriched egg
2 tbsp coconut oil  ( I prefer palm shortening, as it is flavorless)
A drizzle of raw organic honey ( I used about a Tablespoon, melted)
Cinnamon to taste
“So Delicious” coconut milk  ( I used homemaed whipped cream)

Preheat oven to 350. Pour the berries into a pie pan. In a small bowl mix together the egg, almond meal, and coconut oil, and shake in a bunch of cinnamon. Stir well. The mixture will be really thick and clumpy. If you wish, drizzle a bit of raw organic honey on top of the blackberries. By hand (or if you have a 2 year old to help you, that works just as well…) crumble the almond meal mixture on top of the blackberries and bake in your pre-heated oven for 35 minutes. Serve in bowls with cold “So Delicious” brand coconut milk poured over the top. Yes, it’s addicting, but life’s too short to not eat cobbler now and then…

Note: I substituted heavy whipping cream w a tsp. of Vanilla extract and served as whipped cream.. (as we allow heavy cream, occasionally in our diet) this should only be used as a "special treat".

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Bacon Wrapped Chuck Roast.

BACON Wrapped Chuck Roast........ as with anything.. BACON can only make it that much better!!

Ingredients:
Large 3-4 lbs Chuck Roast
2-4 large Carrots or small bag of baby carrots
2-3 Stalks Celery
1 Med. Onion
Lots of Garlic (I use a hold head. Leave skin on, but separate cloves)
Salt
Pepper
Arrowroot
and BACON (nitrate free/uncured)


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Salt and Pepper, to taste, Chuck Roast and Wrap in Bacon strips.
Chop Onion, Celery and Carrots in large chunks, peel paper off Garlic but leave the skin on each clove.
Place roast on top of onions, add Celery and Carrots and Garlic around the Roast in the pan.
Add about a 1/2 cup or so of water or beef stock to the pan.
Cover and bake for approx 3-31/2 hours..

When Roast is finished baking, remove from the pan, along with the veggies. Peel the roasted garlic and mash, add back into the roasting pan with the juices and place on low heat, add in a bit of arrowroot to thicken... viola.. tasty sauce to smother your veggies!

Mashed Cauliflower goes great with this!!

Note: This dish can be made in the crock pot as well. Just place all ingredients into crock pot and place on low for 6hrs or longer..




Thursday, January 12, 2012

Chocolate Almond Fudge Brownies..

Even the little ones like Paleo!!
Jaydin and I spent some fun baking time together last night. We rolled up our sleeves and dove right into making some nummy fudge brownies.. it was Jaydin's idea to add the walnuts... not a bad idea!


If you haven't purchased the Make it Paleo cookbook yet.. you should!


Ingredients:
1 cup coconut oil  or Palm Shortening
5 oz. bittersweet baking chocolate (make sure it's like 72% or higher)
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
4 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla extract
12 oz. raw almond butter,  ( I used creamy and added walnuts)
1/4 coconut flour

Combine coconut oil (or Palm shortening), baking chocolate and maple syrup in a small pan and heat on low heat until chocolate is melted.. stir frequently..

Sift in cocoa powder, stir to distribute evenly, set aside and let cool a bit.

Preheat the oven to 350 F

Blend eggs, salt, baking soda, and vanilla in a medium sized mixing bowl.
Once smooth, slowly add almond butter and continue blending together.
Add in melted chocolate mixture, blend
Add in coconut flour and continue mixing until smooth and mixed completely
Pour batter into lightly greased (with coconut oil) 9"x13" baking pan.
Bake at 350 F, for approx. 30 minutes.

Option: Add nuts to the mix or sprinkle on top... Try folding in chunks of chocolate to the batter and bake for a "lava" brownie..



Friday, January 6, 2012

Easy Balsamic and Olive Oil Salad dressing..

We eat a lot of salad... and well.. there just aren't alot of Paleo salad dressing out there..
There is always the good 'ol standby: Olive oil and Lemon.. but that can get a little boring...

Here's a little creation of mine that tastes great on just about any type of salad.

Ingredients:
4 ounces Balsamic Vinegar (or you could use Bragg's Apple Cider vinegar)
8 ounces EVOO (for you newbies: that's EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil)
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Pepper
Seasonings ( I use Bragg's Organic Sprinkle) but Italian Herbs mix would work great too.
2-3 pressed Garlic cloves
1/4 tsp. Onion Powder
Water just as a thinner..

This recipe will yield approx. 12 oz. of Dressing

Breaks down to 1 part Balsamic vinegar to two part EVOO.
Add ALL ingredients into a blender, mix in quick short spurts. If dressing seems too thick, add a few drops of water until desired consistency.

If you want your dressing a little more on the sweet side.. add 1/2 tsp. of agave nectar (I like the dressing more on the tart side, side I omit the sweetener)

Store in a spill proof container..shake to mix before each use.
IF you refrigerate, take out of fridge and let sit to room temperature before using.. .the oil and vinegar tend to separate and not mix well when cold.

One of our fav's... Rib Eye Steak Salad....

I usually BBQ Rib Eye Steaks once a week.. I use the left over steak the next day to top off my salad at lunch or dinner!




Paleo Challenge Weekend Survival..

The first weekend (for most of us) during the Paleo Challenge begins this evening!...
Are you prepared to survive your first weekend with NO sweet, sugary and syrupy drinks???

I have one word for you...................


Paleo Margarita

One to two count pour of  100% Agave Tequila (white or gold doesn't matter, whichever you prefer.
Juice from Fresh squeezed Lemon and lime (1 or 2 wedges each)
Orange wedge peeled, in blender
1/2 cup fresh squeezed OJ (or any unsweetened juice) you can always juice your own, just more work.
Ice, Blend.
Drink, Enjoy!

Another version, for those of you who want options:
One to two count pour of Tequila
One or two two lemons and limes, squeezed ( I usually juice a few and keep the juice reserved in a small pitcher to add to the drinks as I make them)
1/2 to 1tsp. agave nectar (depending on how sweet you want it)
Place Ice in drink shaker, pour tequila, juice and agave nectar over the ice and shake...
pour into salted rimmed glass...

Your OTHER option, if you want to have purple stained lips and teeth.. is Wine... the choice is yours!

Disclaimer: Drinking is at your own risk!! I am not a professional dietitian or drinker, for that matter!  I am merely sharing my simplistic ideas and recipes with you.. how you choose to execute is at your own risk! PLEASE!!! DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!

OK, now that I got that out of the way... Enjoy!

(PS: there are some out there in the Paleo world that will have an issue with Agave nectar and while I agree to some extent with their views, I also believe that the occasional (moderation is key) use of Agave nectar won't kill you.)

German Apple Pancakes

Who knew this could be soo much fun! Trying a new recipe pretty much everyday creates a sense of adventure and accomplishment that I never thought I would find in cooking....... I usually despise spending so much time in the kitchen.  Just goes to show, You become/accomplish what you focus on... Focus on how hard  this Paleo thing is... and it will be! Focus on how easy and fun this Paleo thing can be, and it IS! Amazing....
OK, enough of the "fluff" to help motivate you..... Just make these amazing German Apple Pancakes and you'll fall into the cult easily!!



Thank you Civilized Caveman for this wonderful delicisiousness

Servings: 8 with smalll ramikens 4 with large ramikens
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Ingredients:

  • 6 Eggs
  • 1 Cup Almond Milk
  • 3 Tbsp Coconut Oil, melted
  • 2 Tsp Vanilla
  • 2 Tsp Pure Maple Syrup
  • 1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
  • 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/8 Tsp Nutmeg
  • 2 Apples, cored and diced
  • 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
  • 2 Tbsp Raw Organic Honey
  • 1 Tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 Tsp Nutmeg
  • Juice of 1/2 Lemon
  • Handful of crushed pecans
Process:
  1. Preheat Oven to 425 Degrees Fahrenheit
  2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, almond milk, coconut oil, vanilla, and Maple Syrup
  3. In a small bowl, stir coconut flour, nutmeg, and baking soda
  4. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients and beat well to combine, set aside while you prepare the apples
  5. In a small frying pan, heat 2 Tbsp coconut oil and raw organic honey
  6. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg and juice of 1/2 Lemon and cook for 1 minute
  7. Add in your apples and sauté until all your apples are nicely coated
  8. Evenly divide your apple mixture between 8 Ramekins greased with coconut oil and then evenly divide your egg mixture on top of the apples between the 8 Ramekins
  9. Place your Ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 20 Minutes at 425 and then reduce heat to 375 and cook for an additional 20 Minutes
  10. Sprinkle with Pecans when removed from the oven
  11. Enjoy