Orange Chicken

The kids don't help me plan meals and then won't eat what I make.  Finally, something they like!

Totally ripped off from Health Bent, thanks Brandon & Megan.  I think you'll like their Paleo Orange Chicken, too.

photo cred: Health Bent

Ingredients:

• 1lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I use Rosie organic, free range), cut into bite size pieces
• 3T coconut oil
• juice of 2 oranges - taste them, if they aren't sweet & orangey, neither will your final dish, trust me
• zest from 1 orange
• 1 t fresh ginger
• 3T tamari (wheat-free soy sauce)
• 1t chili garlic sauce or sriracha
• 3 green onions, chopped

Directions:

1. In a saucepan add orange juice, zest, ginger, tamari, chili sauce.  Cook over medium heat until it boils.  Reduce to a simmer until thickened.
2. In a large skillet heat coconut oil and add chicken pieces.  Cook until chicken has a nice, brown crust.
3. Add chicken to sauce and stir to coat.
4. Serve topped with green onions.

Easy Zoodles

It's been awhile but I'm getting back on track and wanting to share my meals with you.

It's been hot here so I haven't been willing to turn on the oven.  Needless to say, we've been having a lot of salads.  Well, this one was easy and didn't take very long on the stove.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 zucchini, zoodled (this is the spiralizer I use)
• handful cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• gorgonzola, optional

Directions:

1. In a large skillet cook bacon until crisp.  Drain most of the bacon fat.
2. Sprinkle zucchini zoodles with salt and let sit for about 20 min to release the water.
3. Add zoodles to bacon pan, toss to coat, and cook for about 1-2 min.  Zoodles should still be crispy.
4. Plate with chopped tomatoes and gorgonzola on top. 

Mac & Cheese

Who doesn't crave mac & cheese every now and then?  I do, at least once a month.  It's also still one of my kids' favorites.  So, I started thinking about how I can make my own and make it healthy and still delicious.  Voila!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb brown rice elbow pasta (or what ever shape)

Cheese Sauce:

• 2 C. raw cashews, soaked for 2-4 hours
• 1/4 C. melted Kerrygold butter, or ghee, or olive oil
• paprika, salt, garlic powder to taste
• pinch of cayenne
• 1/4 - 1/2 C water
• 2 blocks of raw cheese, grated (to make this dairy free you can substitute the cheese for nutritional yeast)

Directions:

1. Cook your pasta according to package directions.
2. While your pasta is cooking make sauce.
3. Drain cashews and add to food processor.
4. While the processor is on add butter and seasonings, blend until smooth.
5. Add enough water to make it a creamy liquid, kinda like cake batter.  It will thicken as it sits.
6. When pasta is done, drain and add back into pot.
7. Add sauce and 3/4 of cheese, stir until well blended.
8. Pour into a buttered casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
9. Bake at 350˚ for about 20 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly.

I had cooked, leftover broccoli so just before I drained the pasta I added the broccoli to the hot water to heat it up and drained it with the pasta.

This is good enough that I am putting it on my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus.

Crockpot Stuffing

I know. I know. But seriously, this is an amazing recipe.  It's easy, doesn't take up any room in your already packed oven, and is delicious!

Ingredients:

Photo: Serious Eats

• 1 C butter
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 C chopped celery
• 2T chopped fresh parsley
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• 12-13 C slightly dry gluten free bread, cubed
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 t pepper
• 1 t dried sage
• 1 t dried thyme
• 1/2 t ground marjoram
• 2 - 2 1/2 C chicken or bone broth
• 2 eggs, beaten

Directions:

Photo: Serious Eats

1. Melt butter in a large skillet and sauté onion, celery, parsley, and mushrooms, until onions are translucent.
2. Add bread cubes to a large bowl and add butter mixture.
3. Add all the seasonings as toss well.
4. Pour in enough broth to moisten bread cubes.
5. Add beaten eggs and mix well.
6. Pack lightly into a well buttered slow cooker.
7. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Serves 6.

Whole30 Day 14: Roasted Chicken Thighs and Veggies

It's hot and I don't feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen.  Even though I used my oven, this was quick and easy.

Ingredients:

• organic, free range chicken thighs
• green beans, trimmed
• baby heirloom tomatoes
• red onion, cut into chunks
• evoo
• salt, dried thyme, fresh rosemary

Directions:

1. heat oven to 375˚F .
2. combine all veggies and thighs in a bowl.  Add evoo and spices and mix evenly to coat all ingredients in oil.
3. Add ingredients to a baking dish putting thighs in first, veggies on top.
4. Roast for 30-40 minutes, until veggies are crisp and chicken is cooked through.

I added some sautéed mushrooms to my plate.  I'm the only one that likes them.

Directions:

1. Heat a big tablespoon of butter in a skillet and add mushrooms.  
2. Sauté at a medium heat until mushrooms are golden brown and caramelized.
3. Season with salt and pepper.

Curry Coconut Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: the café sucré farine

This recipe is based on The Café Sucré Farine's Thai Butternut Coconut Curry Soup.  I had to modify ingredients to get my family to eat it.  It turned out delicious!

Ingredients:

·      1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

·      1 large butternut squash, peeled and chopped in 2" pieces

·      2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

·      1 large onion, chopped

·      2 stalks celery, peeled, chopped (I recommend peeling to avoid strands in final product)

·      4 cloves garlic, chopped

·      1" piece fresh ginger, peeled, coarsely chopped

·      1 teaspoon crushed coriander seed

·      2 teaspoons sea salt

·      1 tablespoon mild curry powder

·      2 quarts home made bone broth or organic, gluten free stock

·      1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped in 2" pieces

·      1 can coconut milk, we use Natural Value Organic Coconut Milk

Directions:

1.     Coat butternut squash with coconut oil and  roast  in a baking dish at 400˚F for about 30 minutes or until soft.  Set aside.

2.   Add extra virgin olive oil to a large stock pot. Heat on medium high until hot.

2.     Add onions and celery and sauté until translucent.

3.     Add garlic, ginger, coriander, salt, and curry powder and cook for two minutes.

4.     Add broth and sweet potato. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.

5.     Cook for 45 minutes or until all veggies are very tender.

6.     Add coconut milk and cook for another two minutes.

7.     Puree with a stick blender, food processor or regular blender until smooth and silky. 

Baked Chicken

Photo: Joseph De Leo

So yum!  This is Haylie Duff's Baked Chicken! It's from People Magazine, November 3, 2013.  If you can tolerate dairy and like goat cheese, try her recipe.  I made mine without the goat cheese.  Also, I didn't make the shallot cream sauce because I didn't have shallots but if I did, I would use 1/2 cup water and 1 cup bone broth.  Next time...

Ingredients:

• 6-10 organic, free-range chicken legs or thighs (or 4 boneless breasts), skinned - we use Rosie Organic Chicken we find at Sprouts.
• sea salt
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 4oz package prosciutto, cut slices in 1/2 lengthwise

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
2. Season chicken pieces with salt and thyme.
3. Wrap prosciutto slices evenly around chicken.
4. Bake in a lightly greased baking dish for about 20-30 min (depending on the size of your pieces) or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165˚ and juices run clear.

While you're checking out Haylie's recipe, check out her blog, The Real Girl's Kitchen - so great!! 

Cheeseburger Fries

Photo: Simply Potatoes

This dish was inspired by Everyday Scoop in Rachael Ray Magazine, March 2014, Hash Brown Heaven!

Ingredients:

• 2T bacon fat, ghee, or butter 
• 2lbs sweet potatoes, shredded - peeling is optional
• 1lb grass-fed ground beef, browned and drained
• salt to taste
• 1 cup raw cheese, shredded
• toppings, optional - pickles, onions, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, guacamole, fried egg...

Directions:

1. In a large sauté pan melt your fat and add the shredded potatoes, ground beef, cheese, and salt.
2. Mix together and pan fry until potatoes are crispy, about 10 min each side.
3. Serve individual portions and add top each off with optional toppings.

  

Maple Thyme Roasted Carrots

Photo: Martha Stewart

Easy and pairs perfectly with almost everything.  We had them with my modified version of Nom Nom Paleo's Green Sliders.  Yum!

Ingredients:

• a pound of organic carrots, cut into 2" chunks
• 3 T pure maple syrup
• 2 T ghee or butter, melted
• 1 t fresh, chopped thyme
• salt to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400˚F.
2. In a shallow baking dish mix all ingredients together.
3. Roast for about 20 minutes.

St. Patrick's Day

Ten recipes perfect for celebrating St. Patrick's Day all day long!

1. A healthy Shamrock Shake

Photo: An Edible Mosaic

2. Pea-camole

Photo: Simple Bites

3.  Reuben Cabbage Rolls

Photo: Primally Inspired

4. Grilled Pork Chops with Spicy Chimichurri Sauce

Photo: Savory Simple

5. Spring Zucchini Pasta

Photo: Inspiralized

6. Green Sliders

Photo: Nom Nom Paleo

7. Corned Beef & Cabbage

Photo: NJ Paleo Girl

 8. Irish Soda Bread

Photo: Elana's Pantry

9.  Lime and Avocado Tart

Photo: Eating Bird Food

10. Irish Mint Patties

Photo: Delighted Momma

ve put together a roundup of 10 paleo recipes that are perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in style. There are options for breakfast, appetizers, main courses and dessert. Enjoy! I know I will.

1. An Edible Mosaic – Healthy Shamrock Shake {Mint-Flavored Smoothie}: This smoothie is so tasty it can be enjoyed for breakfast OR dessert!
2. Simple Bites – Pea-camole: Peas are the secret ingredient in this unique twist on guacamole. It makes a great party appetizer.
3. Primally Inspired – Reuben Style Cabbage Rolls: Who needs the sandwich when you can have a reuben-style cabbage roll?
4. Savory Simple – Grilled Pork Chops with Spicy Chimichurri Sauce: These grilled pork chops are topped with a zesty green sauce made from fresh herbs.
5. Inspiralized – Spring Zucchini Pasta with Peas, Leeks & Watercress: You’ll never miss the carbs in this flavorful green “pasta” dish.
6. Nom Nom Paleo – Green Sliders (Spinach, Mushroom and Beef Mini Burgers): Everyone loves a slider, right? This recipe is a total crowd pleaser.
7. All Day I Dream About Food – Homemade Corned Beef: Have you ever tried corning your own beef? It’s totally worth it.
8. Elana’s Pantry – Irish Soda Bread: Paleo bread? Absolutely! Try this gluten-free, grain-free recipe. It’s wonderful topped with a bit of salted butter.
9. Pineapple and Coconut – Steamed Mussels with White Wine Cilantro Pesto Sauce: Steamed mussels are easy to prepare at home and this green pesto sauce is the ultimate topping.
10. Delighted Momma – Paleo Irish Mint Patties: There’s always room for dessert! Finish your St. Patrick’s Day menu with these delicious paleo treats.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/food/20140306_Parade_Go_Green_with_10_Paleo_Recipes_for_St__Patrick___s_Day_.html#1bsPpbfMI6L7231d.99

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Jennifer Farley

Posted: Saturday, March 8, 2014, 10:19 AM

There have been many adjustments since I first transitioned to a paleo/primal lifestyle this year. I was pleased by how quickly I got used to avoiding bread and sugar, but the one lingering problem? Surprisingly, it’s booze. I say “surprisingly” because I’ve never been a heavy drinker, so I didn’t even consider alcohol when going paleo. But I love meeting friends for happy hour or enjoying an evening cocktail at home from time to time. Now it’s really just about planning in advance and deciding when I’m going to treat myself to a little something extra. For example: St. Patrick’s Day. This is a fun holiday and I expect I’ll be enjoying a drink or two. But what about the food? No worries here!
I’ve put together a roundup of 10 paleo recipes that are perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in style. There are options for breakfast, appetizers, main courses and dessert. Enjoy! I know I will.

1. An Edible Mosaic – Healthy Shamrock Shake {Mint-Flavored Smoothie}: This smoothie is so tasty it can be enjoyed for breakfast OR dessert!
2. Simple Bites – Pea-camole: Peas are the secret ingredient in this unique twist on guacamole. It makes a great party appetizer.
3. Primally Inspired – Reuben Style Cabbage Rolls: Who needs the sandwich when you can have a reuben-style cabbage roll?
4. Savory Simple – Grilled Pork Chops with Spicy Chimichurri Sauce: These grilled pork chops are topped with a zesty green sauce made from fresh herbs.
5. Inspiralized – Spring Zucchini Pasta with Peas, Leeks & Watercress: You’ll never miss the carbs in this flavorful green “pasta” dish.
6. Nom Nom Paleo – Green Sliders (Spinach, Mushroom and Beef Mini Burgers): Everyone loves a slider, right? This recipe is a total crowd pleaser.
7. All Day I Dream About Food – Homemade Corned Beef: Have you ever tried corning your own beef? It’s totally worth it.
8. Elana’s Pantry – Irish Soda Bread: Paleo bread? Absolutely! Try this gluten-free, grain-free recipe. It’s wonderful topped with a bit of salted butter.
9. Pineapple and Coconut – Steamed Mussels with White Wine Cilantro Pesto Sauce: Steamed mussels are easy to prepare at home and this green pesto sauce is the ultimate topping.
10. Delighted Momma – Paleo Irish Mint Patties: There’s always room for dessert! Finish your St. Patrick’s Day menu with these delicious paleo treats.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/food/20140306_Parade_Go_Green_with_10_Paleo_Recipes_for_St__Patrick___s_Day_.html#1bsPpbfMI6L7231d.99

Pi Day

Happy Pi Day!  

It's a great excuse to make a delicious savory pie for dinner and a sweet pie for dessert.

Shepherd's Pie

Photo: Ditch the Wheat

  

Pizza Pie - Sweet Potato Crust

Photo: Delectably Domestic

 Pizza Pie - Cauliflower Crust

Photo: Carly Johnson

Chocolate Pie

Photo: Paleo Magazine

Pumpkin Pie

Photo: The Paleo Mom

Apple Crumble Pie

Photo: Our Paleo Life

Sweet Potato Crust Pizza

Photo: Carly Johnson

 This is all that was left of the delicious pizza when mama got home! 

Photo: Carly Johnson

It even holds like a pizza!

I don't remember where I first heard about using a sweet potato for pizza crust but while I was avoiding FODMAPs and couldn't have cauliflower this seemed like a great alternative to the cauliflower crust pizza I've made in the past.  And it was!  In fact, I like this crust much better.

First, bake a large sweet potato at 350˚F for about an hour, or until soft.  Allow to cool then remove the skin.  You should have about 2 cups of flesh.

Ingredients:

• equal parts almond flour and sweet potato flesh
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 T combined fresh sage, thyme, rosemary, chopped
• 1 egg
• toppings
• tomato sauce or try my No-Mato Sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400˚F.
2. Combine flour, sweet potato, baking powder, salt, spices, and egg until mixed well.
3. Spread onto a well greased pizza pan or prepared pizza stone
4. Bake for 20 minutes.
5. Add sauce and toppings.
6. Bake an additional 10 minutes.
7. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing to firm the crust for holding.

If you're feeling ambitious, try California Cavegirl Kindra's version with butternut squash, sweet potato, and spaghetti squash.

Slow Roasted Beef Back Ribs

Photo Nom Nom Paleo

We don't have ribs very often but when you buy a whole, 1/2, or 1/4 cow you're bound to get ribs.  When you do, remember slow & steady wins the race.  This recipe is delicious!

Ingredients:

• 4 racks grass-fed beef back ribs, about four ribs/rack, about 12 lbs
• dry rub* - I used oregano, thyme, garlic powder, sea salt, cumin seeds, sage, cayenne, basil 
• bay leaves, 1 for each rack
• homemade bone broth for basting

 Directions:

1. Pat your racks dry with paper towels and rub the seasonings on each rack.  Don't be stingy on the dry rub.
2. Allow to sit in the fridge for 2 hours - 24 hours to marinate, optional.  We skipped this step just because we didn't plan for it.  The ribs still turned out full of flavor.
3. Preheat oven to 200˚F.
4. Set the racks on a foil-lined, rimmed roasting pan.  Put a bay leaf on top of each rack, seal racks tightly in foil.
5. Roast for 6 - 8 hours.  Half way through, flip the racks.
6. Remove racks and turn oven to high broil.
7. Baste racks with bone broth and place back in oven for 2 minutes.
8. Remove, flip, and baste again.  Place back in oven for 2 minutes.

*Can be made FODMAPs free - just omit garlic powder
*Can be made nightshades free - just omit the cayenne

Chocolate Protein Banana Bread

I've made this recipe several times.  Every time people have loved it.  Me?  Not so much.  But I'm posting it anyway because it can't always be about me.

Photo: Chocolate Chilli Mango

Ingredients:

·     1/2 cup raw almonds* or walnuts*, ground fine

·     3 T arrowroot starch

·     1/4 cup natural whey protein isolate powder, we use Bluebonnet French Vanilla

·     1/3 cup raw cacao powder

·     1 teaspoon cinnamon

·     1 teaspoon baking powder

·     pinch of sea salt

·     3 very ripe bananas

·     2 whole eggs

·     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

2.  Grease a loaf pan lightly with butter.

3.  Place dry ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and process until combined.

4.  Add remaining ingredients and pulse until smooth.

5.  Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. 

6.  Bake for about 45 – 50 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. 

7.  Remove and cool on a wire rack before removing from pan.

 *  raw, soaked, dehydrated