Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Paleo Peppermint Sugar Cookies & Frosting

I recently attended a paleo holiday cookie exchange, and was at a loss for a recipe to bring, so I opted to pull something from the aptly named Paleo Indulgences cookbook. The premise of the cookie exchange if you've never been to one (aside from the fact it's an excuse to get together, drink champagne, and listen to Christmas music), is that everyone makes a different cookie, then you swap so each girl gets to home with 6-12 of each type of cookie.

The exchange was a success, the only problem is coming home with a sh*tload of delicious cookies - just what I need in the house! I may have had a few for breakfast the next morning, but then I put them in cute little boxes to share with friends and neighbors.  This was also probably the most expensive holiday cookie exchange in history, no $1.99 bags of white flour around here, and some of the ingredients are hard to find, so I included some links to the items on Amazon in the event you don't have 3 high end health food stores in your neighborhood.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Ultimate Paleo Breakfast Skillet

I cook my husband breakfast every morning.  Most people will say that I'm spoiling him, but it's an easy way to show him I love him, and I genuinely enjoying doing it.  Enough sappy stuff..it's Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands 101.  When I have leftovers I usually try to get creative with breakfast, and this little experiment was a success.

This 'kitchen sink skillet' is also good if you're going out of town and need to clean out the fridge.


Monday, November 19, 2012

Hand Check Your Steak - Kitchen Tip

I hate to measure things (if you've read my blog, you know this is where I say "I don't bake, I'm a free spirit in the kitchen..etc etc), so I use my hand when grilling steaks.  By pushing on parts of your relaxed palm, you too can have the perfectly cooked steak without stabbing it multiple times with a food thermometer.



Illustration by Luciano Magrini, graphic grabbed from an old Marcus Samuelsson post

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Out & About - Primal Pastures

I had the pleasure of visiting the guys at Primal Pastures a few weeks back, and here's a little write up I did on the guys (the humans and the chickens).  If you need a recipe for a pasture chicken, check out my Paleo Rosemary & Black Tea Crockpot Chicken and Stock.



The mid morning sun shines piercing amber light through rows and rows of grapes, their leaves the color of fall during these last days clinging to the vine after a bountiful harvest.  Soon these vines will be naked, waiting out winter in Southern California, until they can be pruned and brought back to life by careful hands.   I’m in Temecula, a little valley of wine and agriculture between Orange County and San Diego, in the southwest corner of Riverside County. It’s harvest festival weekend, so the wineries are full and limos and party buses creep along the 2 lane roads, but I make a turn, and when the pavement ends I park up a sloping driveway and am greeted by a tall smiling man, welcoming me into his garage.

I’m at Primal Pastures, a project launched by Tom McDaniel to promote local, sustainable eating.  He found that finding good quality, pastured meats in Southern California was tough, and why truck in something from out of state when we practically have a year round growing season?  While he’d always been interested in healthy living (he even mentioned the old hippie staple, Mother Earth news) and had been toying with the idea of getting something started, it took a few family members – and coincidentally Crossfit enthusiast/Paleo eaters – to really get the operation up and running.  The family rallied, and his ‘pasture’ was born.  Taking cues from Joel Salatin, who is considered a pioneer in pasture farming and a voice for conscious eating, he set up his 2 acres, built some pens, and ordered some chicks.

What are pasture meats?

Pasture farming is different than free range.  The USDA defines free range or free roaming as such: “Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside”, but the definition of allowing access is up for debate.  It could be that the coop door is left open to a concrete slab, or the chickens have access to outside some time in their life but not consistently.   They do not have to have access to grass and bugs, or the ability to walk around, peck, nest, roost, and engage in general chicken shenanigans.

More conventional (factory farmed) chickens are kept tightly packed in pens, where they are so crowded they’ll often peck at each other.  This has led some farmers to ‘de-beak’ chicks when they hatch, which may seem barbaric and inhumane, but has yet to be outlawed.  The McDaniel’s chickens not only have the freedom to roam, but they can establish a pecking order and sort out any issues.  A few of the chickens puffed chests and made little squawks, but they soon moved on to eat grass and enjoy the sunshine.  While you might see “vegetarian fed” eggs and chicken in the store, chickens are not herbivores.  They eat bugs and worms, so while it’s good to know that supplemental feed doesn’t have any ground up animal parts in it, pasture chicken will not be vegetarians....read more after the jump!

Paleo Rosemary & Black Tea Crockpot Pasture Chicken

Here's my recipe for a pasture chicken from Primal Pastures (to read the article and learn about pastured chickens, click here)



Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Shameless Promotion... is Wine Paleo?

So the holidays are coming up, and why not being a good elf and get your paleo friends (and maybe your not so paleo ones?) something funny to wear while they have their hand up a Thanksgiving turkey or a Christmas goose?


We also have items for babies (future bacon lovers) and dogs (caveman's best friend), because both are equally fun to dress up

Monday, November 5, 2012

Paleo Mexican Chicken Soup

I spent an amazing weekend wine tasting with my husband for our anniversary, and while you'll never get me to give up my vino, a weekend of sampling all that the great state of California's harvest had to offer left me feeling a little off kilter on this Monday.  This can usually be remedied with some detox recipes -  simple, whole foods that are easy on my post Sunday-funday stomach (this girl does not drink lemonade for 10 days, she gets way too hangry)

This chicken soup is just easy.  Easy to make, easy to eat, easy on the wallet, easy on the stomach.  It's simple enough to be comforting but also a little unique so it has some great flavor.



Thursday, November 1, 2012

Paleo Kabocha & Lamb Shepherd's Pie

Happy November folks!  We had our neighbors over for dinner recently, and this is the perfect recipe for entertaining.  One pot meal, easy to prepare ahead of time, and although the picture doesn't reflect it, it does present really well! 

This is one of those epic fall meals... warm, filling, and full of all of the flavors that you crave when the leaves turn.  Since I live in southern California I have to have true seasons vicariously through the internet, so I just google pictures of fall foliage or check out my non-California friends Facebook pages.   But make no mistake, I love surfing, not owning an umbrella, and eating al fresco year round, so I have no complaints. 


This take on traditional Shepherd's Pie was inspired by Sunset Magazine, where one day I hope to grace even a tiny corner of their magical, inspirational (if somewhat unrealistic) pages.  Yay for life in the West! 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Primal Twice Baked Yams: Good vs Evil

Here's a Halloween treat.


Start by scrubbing 2 yams (you could also use sweet potatoes).  Wrap in foil and bake at 350 until you can pierce it with a knife but still pick it up without it smashing it.  

Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the guts into 2 separate bowls, being careful not to damage the skin.  Now the fun begins...


Monday, October 22, 2012

Paleo Sweet Potato Buffalo Burgers

Bison are big, lean, smart, grass eaters which also makes them delicious.  (Side note: there is no difference between bison and buffalo in the states, so feel free to buy either).   There are other reasons to incorporate some of America's wild grazers into your diet as well.   It's protein rich, high in iron, amino acids, and Omega-3's (the good fat), and is naturally more resistant to disease so they're never injected with antibiotics.  Buffalo are grass fed, and will even burrow their face in snow to get to the buried prairie grass in winter, something that cattle will not do. 


Buffalo were the main source of protein for Native Americans living on the plains, and actually almost became extinct in the 1800's.  (In 1902 there was a government program to stop the hunting of buffalo in Yellowstone).  Now there are approximately 500,000 buffalo living on private ranches today, but we still slaughter more cows in 1 day than we do buffalo in a year.  The America Bison is also the largest land animal in North America, weighing up to 2000 lbs.

I buy my buffalo from US Wellness meats, but I know more larger grocery stores are starting to carry it, or at least have the option to order it.  If you have a local butcher shop, stop in and ask them about it....support your mom and pops! 



Friday, October 19, 2012

Paleo Cauliflower Pizza - Take 2

There're more than one way to skin a cat (sadly I know this literally from experience, and that's not really the most appetizing way to start out a post about food.  And I apologize if you love cats, but if you've ever taken anatomy, you have no choice), and more than one way to paleo-cize a recipe.  

We've made them before, but I'm always up for suggestions on making it better! Here's another cauliflower pizza recipe courtesy of resident baker Joanie.  

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Paleo Grilled Lemon Dijon Cole Slaw

While I may be craving fall dishes, we've been having a lingering summer which I can't say I'm upset about.  So, in the meantime, I've been looking for fall-esque dishes that still work with 80+ degree weather.  I saw a recipe similar to this one on Pinterest, figured I'd try it out a version of my own.   Crunchy, zesty and blasted with citrus.  This was even good the next day.


Monday, October 15, 2012

Paleo Bacon & Squash Egg Nests

We love spaghetti squash, and when they come into season, they can be HUGE.  It's normally just the two of us, unless we put a call out to friends and neighbors, so we often have leftovers that I usually just send with the hubs the next day for lunch.  I was feeling adventurous one weekday morning and decided to make these bad boys with much success.  It's a good way to break up some breakfast monotony and easy to whip up even on a busy Tuesday morning. 





Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Paleo Banana Muffins

I'm excited to announce that I'll be having a very talented friend of mine guest blogging, which I'm sure all of you will appreciate because she's a paleo baker extraordinare!  With our powers combined we're planning to take over the world, but in the meantime we'll just melt your faces with more paleo recipes.

Welcome aboard Joanie - and what a recipe to kick off!   



These banana muffins are DENSE, sweet, and dangerously delicious, so share with someone you love. 

Friday, September 28, 2012

Paleo Salmon with Avocado Tartar Sauce

We love fish in this house, and we try and eat it as often as our budget will allow, but you really have to pay attention to a few factors when standing at the fish counter.  Salmon is one of those that you'll probably have to ask your fish monger a lot of questions about.  Side note: Who has a fish monger these days? Not me, but I like using that term rather than the 'kid behind the fish case' because it sounds cooler and nostalgic, and I'm secretly hoping they'll actually have some decent information about the sea life they're peddling.

There are a ton of resources to find out about why we should not eat farmed salmon, but here are a few bullet points. This is hardly a complete list, but hopefully enough to start a conversation and desire for more research. 

*While farmed fish are fattier than wild, they have less Omega-3's (the good fats we get from fish)
*Farmed salmon have more diseases and lice than their wild counterparts
*What's added to those farmed salmon?  fire retardants, pesticides, antibiotics, copper sulfate, red dye...
*This study says that farmed salmon have high enough concentrations of these terrible things to actually cause cancer
*Farmed salmon eat corn (among other gross things)...if you don't eat corn, why should your food??



Here's another place to get some info.  I also use this app all the time when I'm dining out, buying fish, ordering sushi...

And now...a recipe for something delicious to put on that wild salmon! 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Paleo Campfire Cooking - Crab Fest

September is my favorite month.  The crowds are minimal but we still have great weather, fairly warm water and little wind. Capitalizing on the first official day of fall we went camping in Malibu with my brother-in-law and his girlfriend for a weekend of campfires, SUPing, and sleeping in tents.  We had some friends (a couple we met in Nicaragua coincidentally) stop by one night and had a big crab fest... blue crabs, sausage, potatoes all steamed in a pot and then something that resembled the apocalypse happening on the table.  It's messy and delicious and make you feel like a caveman eating everything with your hands.



After the jump is the recipe for my dad's crab sauce... a must when you're picking meat out of claws.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Paleo BLT Meatloaf

Ok...so it's really a BT meatloaf as I didn't have any lettuce in the house.  But if you wrapped it in some romaine it would probably be pretty tasty.  I will be making this again, so I'll let you know how it goes. We ate this with smashed sweet potatoes and grilled zucchini - definitely paleo comfort food!


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Campfire Food - Surf & Turf

Just because you're sleeping outside in the woods doesn't mean you're relegated to eating Cup o' Noodles or hot dogs.  With a teeny bit of effort and some foil you can make your campfire a culinary platform that will rival a home kitchen.  We spent a long weekend in the Sequoias with friends and on our first night we had a little surf and turf under the stars. 

The menu:
Bacon wrapped filet
Garlic butter shrimp
Baked potato 
Salad 


Click more more details and photos

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Girls like Guys Who Have Skills... Knife Skills

A good knife and a little technique can go a long way in the kitchen.  I came across this great site with illustrated recipes and cooking techniques, and I thought I'd pass along a little inspiration!

There's More!  Part 2 tomorrow.....



Friday, August 24, 2012

Paleo Crunchy Curry Chicken Salad

This is a great way to turn last night's grilled chicken into the next day's lunch.  Serve with cucumbers or inside a halved avocado.



Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Primal BBQ Squash with Goat Cheese & Paprika

This easy side was demolished during my last BBQ, so I'd recommend making extra.  If you have any leftovers, these are great diced up in an omelet the next morning. 

I used Mexican squash, but zucchini or any other variety will do.


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Happy Birthday Julia! Cheers to homemade (paleo) mayo

It would have been Julia Child's 100th birthday this week, and if you've never seen her make (and ruin!) and omelette, you should take a little trip to YouTube.  What I loved about Julia Child was her fallibility... she loved food, loved to eat and then loved to cook, and when something went wrong in the kitchen you just moved on!   Her Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a staple in my kitchen when I need to look up a technique or tradition, and I use her recipe for mayo.

Now, back in culinary school in France Julia would do this by hand with a whisk and a stainless steel mixing bowl (warmed with water of course), can you imagine the forearms she must have had???  I use my food processor, which is a little more fool-proof and less stressful on the wrist.



Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Paleo Grilled Halibut with Tomato Basil Salsa

It's been downright tropical here at the beach these last few weeks - hot sunny days, warm clear water, tourists by the thousands!  But after a cool dip in the ocean the last thing you want to do is head into the kitchen and turn on the stove/oven, so here's a quick fresh dish that you can grill while you're outside imbibing in your favorite frosty adult beverage.

We're lucky enough to have a friend who recently went fishing up in Alaska and was kind enough to share in his riches - so we have some gorgeous halibut and salmon filets in our freezer!  You can really use any fish for this recipe - and the salsa is even delicious on it's own.


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Paleo Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes

Oh man.  I rarely bake for a couple reasons.  One: You have to be so exact.  I consider myself more a free spirit in the kitchen - I don't actually own measuring spoons.  Two:  I have very little self control when it comes to things with a soft, sweet texture so I just don't stock the offenders.  

Every now and then you need a dessert - and these will come in handy for birthdays and bake sales.  I ate one, was tempted to eat another so I quickly gave them away to my neighbors before we had an incident.  Thanks to Livin Paleo for the recipe! 


Friday, July 27, 2012

Gluten Free Quinoa & Bison Power Chili

Happy Olympic Kickoff day!  This is a recipe favored by one of team USA's track & field athletes and I can vouch it is quite delicious even if it's not paleo.  (Gasp!)  

We eat mostly paleo for numerous reasons, but I can't claim that this is our diet 100% of the time.  I was recently reading Outside magazine and they did a feature on decathlete Trey Hardee (on a side note, they did a great spread of his training routine and it's very similar to the way we train at our Crossfit gym except for the fact he does it 2-3x a day, 6 days a week), and this was one of his favorite recipes.  

Life is all about balance and I figure if this is the worst thing we eat all week... 


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Paleo Cucumber Cilantro Gazpacho

I recently came into some produce after the Crossfit Game (an entire box of cucumbers to be correct), and while it may be a fun challenge to see how many cucumber margs we can drink, we are adults and try to have some level of responsibility, so I needed plan B.  

This is a quick, spicy and refreshing summer soup that is even better on day 2.  


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Easy Paleo Coconut Soup

I posted this picture on my instagram the other day, and I got a few requests to share the recipe.  I wish I could say this was culinary magic but it's really just my go-to when I want something healthy that's fast - and you can stock most of the ingredients in your pantry.

I make this soup ALL THE TIME.  It's a quick open/chop/simmer soup that you can make in about 20 minutes, that's spicy, creamy and satisfying.  It's also really easy to make modifications so feel free to use whatever veggies you have in your fridge.  

If you have an Asian market in your 'hood, please check it out.  You can get all of those great condiments and they usually have great quality fish.  Not to mention it's fun to roam the aisles and see all the weird 'food' items they tend to sell. Quick note about fish sauce - it smells terrible.  Why you ask would you use it in food? Well, it has this magical power to make food taste amazing and rich, even though you may want to gag while you're squirting it in the pot.  You're going to have to trust me on this one. 




Friday, July 6, 2012

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Primal Grilled Kale Salad with Balsamic Marinated Plums

Happy 4th of July and thank you Bon Appetit for getting me out of my salad slump (I've got another BA salad post for Friday).  I will definitely be making this on the regular, and this would be an easy and flavorful side to any BBQ dish you've got going on for tomorrow.  

This is a primal salad because it does call for a little dollop of ricotta (I used Greek yogurt), but if you left that out it would be paleo. 


Thursday, June 28, 2012

Coconut Oil, What to Buy??

When you head over to Tropical Traditions to buy some coconut oil for the first time, you may be overwhelmed (I know I was).  I had no idea there were so many choices!  Here's a little breakdown from their site that I found very helpful. 

What Kind of Coconut Oil Should You Buy?



Coconut oil has been around for thousands of years in the tropics where coconut palm trees grow. Recently, coconut oil has seen a resurgence in popularity in the U.S. and consumers are beginning to look at buying coconut oil again. So what kind of coconut oil should you buy?

Monday, June 25, 2012

Beef 101

Welcome to "101 Week"  I'm doing 2 posts this week that aren't really recipe based, but I thought I'd pass long some of the info that comes my way.  Thursday I talk about coconut oil!


We've all wondered... is grassfed worth it?  What part of the cow is the chuck?  Frozen or fresh?
Have no fear (some) answers have arrived.  This was recently sent over to me from FrugalDad.com and I think it does a good job of graphically breaking down our beloved bovine. 




Beef Infographic
Source: FrugalDad

Where's the beef?

Monday, June 18, 2012

Paleo Cauliflower Pizza

Got the inspiration for this one from Pinterest - there is no shortage of people trying to make pizza out of anything but white flour! 



Recipe...

Friday, June 15, 2012

Live Long. Drop Dead

Mark Sisson from Mark's Daily Apple did an interview for  Again Faster that I found really interesting.  It's high level, insightful, and philosophical.

We'll be spending Father's Day weekend in Carlsbad, camping and surfing with family like every year, no phones/electricity/tv/wifi.....just longboards, campfires, and conversation.  I really appreciate getting off the grid, and I know it makes my husband I more connected and happier.  Mark touches on our overstimulated, face paced culture, and how we can get back to "jumping out of bed in the morning".

"We are hardwired to be joyful, and content and fulfilled" 






If you're hungry for more positive and thoughtful learning, here's a great TEDx video from David H Newman called "Truth that Lasts" 













Monday, June 11, 2012

Paleo Coconut Citrus Creamsicle Cakes


These little treats (emphasis on treat, please eat responsibly) came to me from a friend, and while the original recipe is courtesy of the raw/vegan community (usually their recipes have me heading for the hills), with a few modifications these babies are actually a tasty, refreshing dessert.  


Citrus & Coconut Creamsicle Cakes....

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Strawberries! Salad and Paleo Mason Jar Dressing

Strawberry season is upon us! I bought a flat for $6 the other day, and as I unpacked my groceries I realized I have no idea how 2 of us are going to eat all these. (the answer to that is always share with friends :)  This salad is easy, sweet, and tastes like summer! I call it mason jar dressing because sometimes I forgo the traditional vinaigrette making process and just throw everything in a jar and shake it up.  Makes it easy to store the leftovers in the fridge as well.


Read more for the recipe!

Monday, June 4, 2012

"The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” And my thoughts on grocery shopping....



If you want to eat healthy you have to cook for yourself, and if you want to cook for yourself you have to grocery shop (if you can afford to have someone shop and cook for you.... no need to read further).  The quote above is from Dr. Ann Wigmore, and if you've decided that healthy eating is the best medicine, you may have noticed your weekly grocery bill get a teeny bit higher.  I'm no shopping expert, but I thought I'd share a few of my little tips that help keep my fridge stocked and save some money.  Because saving money is making money, right? 



  • Stay on the sides at the market - that's where you'll find produce and proteins.  Venture to the middle only for things like coconut flour, nuts and oils
  • Eat in season - have you ever had a home grown tomato in July? Tastes waaaaayyyy better than something trucked in from Mexico in December and will be much more reasonable.  Check your local farmers markets or try Field to Plate to see what's in season in your area. 
  • Check the sales - Buy proteins when they go on sale and freeze them.  We haven't run out of chicken in over a year.  Side note - I rarely ever buy chicken breast.  Thighs are much cheaper, and more flavorful in my opinion
  • Be prepared - yes, that means make a list.  Pick some recipes you'd like to try out for the week and add those ingredients to your list.  It's much easier to eat healthy when you have a plan!  I use this app to keep organized when I'm food shopping.
  • Forgo the organic - Hold your gasps, while I would love to eat everything organic, my budget cannot accommodate.  Dr Weil has some lists what you should always buy organic (aka, the 'dirty dozen'), and items where it's no big deal.   
  • Frozen fish isn't that bad - Not all fish is created equal.  There's plenty of info out there about the nutritional differences, but what about the environmental impact?  I love fish and want to continue eating it, I also want my future children to enjoy it, so check out the  Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood watch app to see what's a good, sustainable option.  For example, Bigeye tuna (also called ahi, maguro, toro) is a great choice if it comes from the Atlantic and is troll or pole & line caught, but if it comes from anywhere else avoid it!)
  • Stock the spice! - make sure you always have a lot of spices, onions, garlic, and lemons/limes on hand. On a busy weeknight, some ground beef in a pan with onions and spices can be a lifesaver.   Citrus juice and zest can also add a lot of flavor without adding calories or price.

This list is hardly complete but some food for thought.  What are your tips for finding good food and not breaking the bank? 

Friday, June 1, 2012

Paleo Mojito Watermelon

Watermelon is 5 lbs for a dollar right now people (cheap!)... and while we don't eat a ton of fruit, this is the perfect paleo summer dessert.  The lime really cuts the sweetness of ripe watermelons, and this can be whipped up in minutes! 



1 large watermelon (cut into wedges, cubes, balls or skewered)
Juice from 2-3 limes
2 tbs chopped fresh mint

Chop, squeeze, top and serve!  Try experimenting with types of mint (I grow spearmint, apple mint and even chocolate mint).  You can use this for all kinds of fruit salad - pineapple mojito skewers look and taste great at parties.


Monday, May 28, 2012

Eating Paleo on Vacation

We've been on vacation the last couple weeks, and I'm not going to lie, it was rough coming back to the real world.  We ventured to Nicaragua for a little surf trip, and while one of the staples is 'Gallo Pinto' (white rice and black beans) for most meals, there were plenty of paleo options.  

Walking back to our hostel* from checking the surf at Santana one afternoon we watched some locals try and get their panga up on the beach - the boys helped them out and we ended up buying a whole tuna off them for $5.  We were tempted to get that dorado you see in the cooler, but we didn't think we could eat it all.  After picking a few limes off a nearby tree and getting some salt we had an epic sashimi lunch! 


If you're in the market for a trip to Central America, please do yourself a favor and stay at Buena Onda - even the non surfers will love it!  http://www.buenaondaresort.com/ 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

BBQ Sauce

I love grilling things on the BBQ, but I don't really like BBQ sauce.  It always seems overly sweet* & sticky... just overly sauce-y.  I always prefer to taste the protein I'm eating (unless it's chicken feet - then bring on the sauce!) rather than drench it in something else.  Sauces should highlight your dish, not hide it. 

This recipe is from Mark's Daily Apple and it is good.  I made a few modifications, but stuck pretty true to the original.  This will make enough to split in half, with about 1 cup to marinate and just under a cup for extra dipping.  


Primal BBQ Sauce

1 6oz can tomato paste
4 tbs melted butter
1 tbs hot sauce (use your favorite)
3 tbs honey
4 tbs apple cider vinegar
1 tbs Tamari
1 tsp dijon mustard
2-3 tbs water
1 tbs minced garlic
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika

Whisk wet ingredients in a bowl until thoroughly combined.  Add in dry ingredients and whisk/stir until everything is incorporated.    This was enough to marinate 8 large chicken thighs, plus about 1/2 cup leftover for extra dipping. 




*The reason it seems sweet is probably because it is... take a look at the sugar content in that bottle in your fridge.  I'd rather eat some chocolate! 

Monday, March 26, 2012

TGIF! Paleo Night Menu @ Matchbox

Here's something to help with the case of the Mondays... the paleo menu is out for THIS FRIDAY at Matchbox!  Call and make your reservation today! 


If you're visiting from out of town and need to get your WOD fix, CrossFit Palm Springs will have classes Friday and Saturday with a special drop in rate.  

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Paleo Braised Celery Root

I love celery root, and you don't often see too many articles in fancy food magazines about it, but this was my lucky day! Bon Appetit ran a story on chef Rene Redzepi and his way of pot-roasting celery root.  I usually roast mine, mash them, or make chips with truffle salt on them, but this way is easy (no peeling!) and delicious. 


 Pot-Roasted Celery Root (modified from Bon Appetit) 
read more....

Monday, March 12, 2012

Save the Date! Paleo Night @ Matchbox Palm Springs

Chef Michael Estrada over at Matchbox usually hold his paleo nights on Wednesdays, but I'm so glad he's game for a Friday night so that those of us that might not be local can come!  If you're in or near the area I definitely suggest checking it out - amazing food, great atmosphere, and if you've never been to the desert in the spring you're in for a treat, it's absolutely gorgeous!

I'll be posting the menu once it's finalized, hope to see you there!





Friday, March 9, 2012

Primal/Gluten Free Baby Shower

I recently helped out with a baby shower for my sister-in-law, and while there would only be 2 paleo eaters - and coincidentally both crossfitters - in attendance (myself and the fabulous lady that took these pictures ) I still wanted a menu that stayed true to the I way cook/eat/live.  There was no mention of the party having a 'restrictive' menu of any kind, and there was no talk about missing this ingredient or that dish - it's just food people.  

I made a couple salads, a primal 'quiche' with sweet potato crust, some gluten free savory scones, and some grilled asparagus.   I think everyone had a full belly to welcome baby boy #2 to the Flynn family. 



More pictures and basic recipes after the jump!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Paleo Crunchy Almond Italian Chicken

I was inspired by a recipe in a magazine where they make a dish similar to this, and serve it with grilled whole hearts of romaine.  The presentation looks fantastic - but I made this on a busy weeknight and forgot to get romaine, and this was a post workout dinner so there's a sense of urgency that doesn't allow for a quick trip to the store. 


After the jump - the recipe...

Monday, February 20, 2012

Paleo Kale, Yam & Kielbasa Soup

There has been a nasty bug making it's way around my circle... a hacking, snotty, feverish bug that took us both down.  I had trouble motivating myself to fill up my water glass, let alone try and make myself something to eat.  While my appetite was 'meh' at best, you still have to eat something, and this is my go-to, throw-together-in-a-pinch type of soup.


Keep reading for the (ridiculously easy) recipe.  So easy even a sick person can do it. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Paleo Valentine's Day with a Few Exceptions

My personal belief is that you should show the people you love that you love them every day - roses and a pricey dinner once a year won't win this girl over, but it is nice to be reminded to bring a little romance in your life. A few flowers, a bottle of champagne, and a few treats for dinner in can make it just as memorable, but don't be afraid to pull out this kind of dinner on an ordinary Friday night.  What I look forward to the most is the cards/notes I get from my husband - he has a way with words that always let me know he loves me, appreciates me, and has a lot of fun with me


See the recipes after the jump!  

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Paleo Pancetta & Fennel Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin was recently on sale at our local Sprouts, and for some reason I almost never buy this cut.  Maybe because I feel like pork is a sturdy meat... it's not a crown roast of lamb, a delicate quail, foie gras... it's slabs of bacon, gobs of pork belly, a chop for crying out loud.   This recipe is extra special, because it's meat in meat.  It really is amazing that you can get the delicate flavor from the tenderloin meat with the saltiness of the pancetta inside. 


Fennel is a unique flavor - think anise, but cooking it mellow it out.  So even if you think you have an aversion to all things black licorice give it a whirl. Keep reading for the recipe...

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Paleo Rosemary Lamb Ribs

I recently placed an order from US Wellness Meats and got some lamb ribs (along with my sausage, bison, and beef).  They are a great provider of grassfed proteins, raw dairy and even pet food.  

These were so flavorful, they only needed some time in the oven a couple things.  


For the super simple recipe...

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