Cauliflower Mash

Summer is so busy and most days I don't want to cook.  I end up serving tried and true dishes that I don't really have to think about, hence the few posts over the last couple of months.

We're getting down to the last few servings from our 1/4 cow (see my "we're buying a cow" post).  Last night I made a chuck roast from I breathe... I'm hungry... (which gave me the idea to do the Whole30, but that's another post).

Photo: Eating With Purpose

I served the roast over cauliflower mash.

Ingredients:

• 1 head cauliflower, cut off the stalk and broken into small pieces
• 2-4 tablespoons grass-fed butter
• 2 tablespoons ghee, butter, mct oil, or olive oil
• splash of raw milk or heavy cream (if dairy intolerant, use broth)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Sauté all ingredients (except liquid) in a heavy stainless steel skillet until slightly softened 
2. Stir in a splash of liquid - I like my mash thick and lumpy, use more if you like yours thinner
3. Use an immersion blender in the pan to mash the cauliflower
4. Stir to incorporate all ingredients 

Serve alone as a side dish, as the topping for shepherd's pie, or in a bowl under a roast and all the yummy juices.

Mocha

Have you tried butter in your coffee yet?  Well, it's definitely worth a go.  For its nutritional benefits, max energy, and weight loss check out my original post here.

Now, if you've tried it, like it, drink it, here's a yummy treat for you to try.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons or more of Kerrygold or other UNSALTED, grass-fed butter 
• 2 tablespoons of MCT oi, we use Life Enhancement
• 2 tablespoons of organic cacao powder, we use Navitas Naturals
• about 1/4 teaspoon of stevia, more or less to taste
• 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Start with 2 mugs of good black coffee, we like Portola Coffee Lab
2. In a small saucepan melt together all ingredients, except coffee
3. Blend coffee and butter mixture in counter-top blender until there is a creamy head of foam

Enjoy!!

Intermittent Fasting

Photo courtesy of Brad Johnson, "Balanced Living"

I believe the secret to my success with losing weight and keeping it off in spite of imperfect eating is intermittent fasting.  Does the word fasting stress you out?  It has always had that affect on me, until now.

Consider when you're sleeping, your body is fasting, right?  Well, in the morning, I continue my fasting and feed my body with "Bulletproof" coffee.  Did you see my second post "Butter In My Coffee"?  Every morning Brad and I have a cup (sometimes two) of bulletproof coffee.  We are satiated and don't feel the need to eat food for quite awhile.

This is from Dave Asprey's Bulletproof Executive Blog:

The healthy fats from grass-fed butter and MCT oil give you a stable current of energy that sustains you through the day. The ultra low toxin Upgraded Coffee Beans optimize brain function and fat loss with high octane caffeine. The MCT oil also serves to increase ketone production and boosts your metabolic rate by up to 12%.  This drink is so filling, we’ve had clients who drank one cup of Bulletproof Coffee in the morning and didn’t feel like eating until mid afternoon. Adding extra MCT oil will promote ketogenesis (the formation of ketones) and provide more of a mental kick.  For optimal results, you should be following the green side of Bulletproof Diet in conjunction with this protocol. Bulletproof Fasting will not save you from the effects of Poptarts and fried Oreos.

I'm not trying to sell you on Upgraded Coffee Beans.  Feel free to exchange them for the high-quality beans of your choice.  You can check out Dave's site for more scientific info and his recommendation for how you should do the intermittent fast.

I listen to my body.  When it says, "I'm hungry", I have something to eat.  If I'm doing really well, I'll have some protein, veggies, and more healthy fat (always trying to stay on the green side of the bulletproof diet).  This will usually tide me over until dinner.  No more snacking - my body doesn't need it.  I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. 

Just trying to get the hang of balanced living.

Smoothies

We make a lot of protein shakes (or smoothies as we like to call them).  The kids have them for breakfast and they are often a part of a quick, lunch or after school snack.

 Cooper made his first smoothie...

 and liked it!

Here's his story:

He used a single serving personal blender 

Added Organic Pastures Whole Raw Milk

Upgraded Whey Protein*

Organic cocoa powder

Organic vanilla extract

Organic cinnamon

Organic raw almond butter

MCT oil

4 Vitamin D3 drops

I'm not listing the amounts - since we're not counting calories, I don't worry about how much.   

How much you use should depend on how hungry you are and how you want it to taste.  

 

Blend until smooth.  

Of course, he gives his smoothie 2 thumbs up!

*Upgraded Whey Protein is pricey.  It is most important that all forms of whey protein are cold-processed.  If you are sensitive to dairy use whey protein isolate that is cross-flow microfiltered.