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.

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! 

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...

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!