I am thrilled that Fort Collins' newspaper, The Coloradoan, has approached me about the Paleo lifestyle. I did a brief interview with them yesterday and they are coming over tonight to experience a Paleo meal and take some pictures. I will post the article when it's available. So happy our healthful lifestyle is making its way into the local media!
I had a hard time deciding what to make, but settled on Avocado Rellanos and Cilantro Lime "Rice", as it's quick, easy, and delicious. I will finish it off with Easy Berry Cobbler topped with Whipped Coconut Cream. I would have loved to make something exquisite, but I only have an hour to accomplish this after work and I think it's better to demonstrate that you don't have to be a chef or someone with eons of time to make it fit into your life.
What are your go-to menu items?
Happy Cooking!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Guest Post: Stephanie Ludwigsen
Steph emailed me this morning about how proud she was to have both gone to the WOD and eaten Paleo all in one day. She sent me a picture of her dinner and it looked fabulous! I asked her to write a guest post. Fasten your seatbelts, as it's written in true Yolanda Squatpump style.
Pesto Pepper and Chicken - Slack Ass Style
Most importantly, this recipe is for slack-asses (like me).
If it takes longer than eleven minutes to prep, then I've likely moved on to the next shiny object in the house or am already on my way to Taco Bell.
I don't cook. I abhor cooking. It sucks my will to live but I managed to slap some prettiness together quicker than my body slaps the ground in a round of 20 burpees.
I also doth protest having to go to the store and buy a bunch of crap for a pinch of pointless and a dash of annoying. If it's not already in my Fridge or Freezer, well then, "F" it.
So if this sounds vaguely familiar then you may potentially like my masterpiece of underachievement.
Chicken:
Okay, this part is easy. Thaw chicken "breast-icles" and slap your meat (yep, I went there) with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Boom. We're done.
Cook that little bird in the over for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
Pesto Peppers:
This was kind of fun. It's like a cup...but for FOOD! Slice the top off and pull out the seeds and all the weird crap that's all soft 'n squishy. Does that stuff have a name?
Smear the inside with pesto, 'cause pesto is amazing (sorry, I don't measure things either. I think "smear" officially translates to "a few tablespoons-ish").
Sprinkle it with salt, pepper and a little garlic (the kind from the jar. I refuse to press fresh garlic or buy a special instrument to do such a comical thing...that's just goofy_.
Then crack an egg on top of the "pesto-ey-goodness" (it's a word, I looked it up). Put on a baking sheet and fling those bad boys into the over with the chicken for 30 minutes at 350.
Boom. Winning! The end.
Pesto Pepper and Chicken - Slack Ass Style
Most importantly, this recipe is for slack-asses (like me).
If it takes longer than eleven minutes to prep, then I've likely moved on to the next shiny object in the house or am already on my way to Taco Bell.
I don't cook. I abhor cooking. It sucks my will to live but I managed to slap some prettiness together quicker than my body slaps the ground in a round of 20 burpees.
I also doth protest having to go to the store and buy a bunch of crap for a pinch of pointless and a dash of annoying. If it's not already in my Fridge or Freezer, well then, "F" it.
So if this sounds vaguely familiar then you may potentially like my masterpiece of underachievement.
Chicken:
Okay, this part is easy. Thaw chicken "breast-icles" and slap your meat (yep, I went there) with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Boom. We're done.
Cook that little bird in the over for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
Pesto Peppers:
This was kind of fun. It's like a cup...but for FOOD! Slice the top off and pull out the seeds and all the weird crap that's all soft 'n squishy. Does that stuff have a name?
Smear the inside with pesto, 'cause pesto is amazing (sorry, I don't measure things either. I think "smear" officially translates to "a few tablespoons-ish").
Sprinkle it with salt, pepper and a little garlic (the kind from the jar. I refuse to press fresh garlic or buy a special instrument to do such a comical thing...that's just goofy_.
Then crack an egg on top of the "pesto-ey-goodness" (it's a word, I looked it up). Put on a baking sheet and fling those bad boys into the over with the chicken for 30 minutes at 350.
Boom. Winning! The end.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Perfect Lamb Chops
Ingredients:
8 lamb chops, about 3/4-1" thick
3 tsp minced garlic
2 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Pinch cayenne pepper
Coarse sea salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Method:
Food process the garlic and spices until well combined. Pour in olive oil and pulse into a paste. Rub the paste on both sides of the thawed lamb chops and let them marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator and allow the chops to come to room temperature; it will take about 20-30 minutes.
Heat your grill or skillet to high heat...hot. Almost smoking. Add your chops and sear on first side, uncovered for about 3 minutes. Flip them over and cook for another 3 minutes. Serve them medium rare. Don't you dare overcook these delicate little pearls of deliciousness.
Heat your grill or skillet to high heat...hot. Almost smoking. Add your chops and sear on first side, uncovered for about 3 minutes. Flip them over and cook for another 3 minutes. Serve them medium rare. Don't you dare overcook these delicate little pearls of deliciousness.
Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
The measurements in this one are a rough estimate, as I threw it together last minute and didn't measure a thing. This is my best guess, but there's room for error for sure!
Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes, diced into 1" chunks - leave peels on (best news ever)
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP fresh rosemary leaves
1 TBSP dried thyme
1/2 TBSP coarse sea salt
pepper, to taste
Method:
Boil sweet potato chunks until soft but still firm (does that make any sense?)...al dente. Remove potatoes from water; drain thoroughly.
Preheat broiler to 400 F. Set oven rack to one above middle.
Place drained potatoes in large mixing bowl, add remaining ingredients, toss until coated evenly.
Pour potatoes out on baking sheet in single layer. Broil for about 10 mins. I might be making this time up. Watch them, every oven is different. You'll want to take them out when they start to brown a bit. When this happens, take them out and flip 'em over and stir them up. Broil another 10 mins or whatever time frame is realistic.
Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes, diced into 1" chunks - leave peels on (best news ever)
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP fresh rosemary leaves
1 TBSP dried thyme
1/2 TBSP coarse sea salt
pepper, to taste
Method:
Boil sweet potato chunks until soft but still firm (does that make any sense?)...al dente. Remove potatoes from water; drain thoroughly.
Preheat broiler to 400 F. Set oven rack to one above middle.
Place drained potatoes in large mixing bowl, add remaining ingredients, toss until coated evenly.
Pour potatoes out on baking sheet in single layer. Broil for about 10 mins. I might be making this time up. Watch them, every oven is different. You'll want to take them out when they start to brown a bit. When this happens, take them out and flip 'em over and stir them up. Broil another 10 mins or whatever time frame is realistic.
Greek Salad
I apologize for not including any inspiring words, insight, humor or knowledge. I can barely find the time to type out the ingredients for my recipes right now. So...in an effort to at least post some things, I will just be posting the recipes for a while.
Now that I think about it, some of you are probably like, "Thank GOD!!!" ;-)
Simple and quick. There's nothing better than that. This recipe takes five minutes to throw together and is really yummy.
Greek Salad
Ingredients:
Salad
2 english cucumbers, sliced into 3/4" rounds then quartered
1 medium red onion, finely diced
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1-2 cups (your preference) calmata olives, drained and rinsed
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
Dressing
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Combine all veggies and olives in large salad bowl. The dressing is completely optional as the mixture of veggies is delicious in itself. If you choose to use the dressing, add a little at a time, mixing to coat the veggies until you reach your desired flavor.
This is a great last-minute recipe and pairs well with many, many entrees.
Now that I think about it, some of you are probably like, "Thank GOD!!!" ;-)
Simple and quick. There's nothing better than that. This recipe takes five minutes to throw together and is really yummy.
Greek Salad
Ingredients:
Salad
2 english cucumbers, sliced into 3/4" rounds then quartered
1 medium red onion, finely diced
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1-2 cups (your preference) calmata olives, drained and rinsed
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
Dressing
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Combine all veggies and olives in large salad bowl. The dressing is completely optional as the mixture of veggies is delicious in itself. If you choose to use the dressing, add a little at a time, mixing to coat the veggies until you reach your desired flavor.
This is a great last-minute recipe and pairs well with many, many entrees.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Sugar-free, Grain-free, Nut-free, Starch-free, Dairy-free, Taste-free Muffins
Please read this post in it's entirety before diving into this recipe. I don't want to make anyone angry :-)
Melissa Kitchen asked me about Paleo baking in a household with tree nut allergies. I thought I'd make an attempt at creating something they could eat without the risk of anaphylaxis. I've made flax seed foccacia in the past and loved it, so thought I could use flax to make some muffins! Check it out...
Chocolate Flax Muffins
Ingredients:
3/4 cup Flaxseed meal
2 TBSP Coconut flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
pinch salt
3 TBSP Cocoa Powder (bad idea)
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup Applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 cup Grapeseed oil
1 tsp Vanilla
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Combine all wet ingredients in large bowl. Mix dry ingredients in small bowl. Slowly mix dry into wet until smooth.
Line 6 muffin cups. Dispense mixture equally among 6 cups.
Bake for 15 minutes. Take muffins out and see if they're done; they're not. Put them back in for 5 minutes. Check them again...they're still not set. Put them in for another 5 minutes. They will be set this time, but they're still a creepy texture. Shrug and decide to try one any way. They smell good. They don't taste good. Consider making them a honey transport device. Head towards the cabinet containing honey. Stop. Feel guilty. Don't do it...you're trying to sugar detox, remember dummy? Pout. Be angry. Throw nasty muffins in the trash.
Start over tomorrow!
Melissa Kitchen asked me about Paleo baking in a household with tree nut allergies. I thought I'd make an attempt at creating something they could eat without the risk of anaphylaxis. I've made flax seed foccacia in the past and loved it, so thought I could use flax to make some muffins! Check it out...
Chocolate Flax Muffins
Ingredients:
3/4 cup Flaxseed meal
2 TBSP Coconut flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
pinch salt
3 TBSP Cocoa Powder (bad idea)
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup Applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 cup Grapeseed oil
1 tsp Vanilla
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Combine all wet ingredients in large bowl. Mix dry ingredients in small bowl. Slowly mix dry into wet until smooth.
Line 6 muffin cups. Dispense mixture equally among 6 cups.
Bake for 15 minutes. Take muffins out and see if they're done; they're not. Put them back in for 5 minutes. Check them again...they're still not set. Put them in for another 5 minutes. They will be set this time, but they're still a creepy texture. Shrug and decide to try one any way. They smell good. They don't taste good. Consider making them a honey transport device. Head towards the cabinet containing honey. Stop. Feel guilty. Don't do it...you're trying to sugar detox, remember dummy? Pout. Be angry. Throw nasty muffins in the trash.
Start over tomorrow!
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