Back on Track!!

A little bump in the road happens to us all right?!? Maybe it is just me, but I'm back on track! It is a mental game for me...just one little bite won't hurt anything...but one bite turns into two and so on and so forth!! October 1st=FULL THROTTLE!! First up some zucchini noodles for this recipe. I know it calls for Spaghetti Squash, but I love my Julienne Peeler so much!!

Baby Land at night...

Can be hard on anyone trying to diet. You have to have some food to feed your brain! The good ole cafeteria...soon to be "Bistro" at the hospital gives a lovely choice of usually fried fried and more fried foods. Occasionally we'll get something like steamed cauliflower or broccoli. Usually the veggie of the day is peas, corn or Lima beans! Hello don't they know that all of those are bad for you!?! LOL! I can for sure tell you that since I started eating Paleo that I have saved a ton of money from not buying cafeteria food! I usually try to pack a good amount of protein with a couple of veggies and maybe a fruit.

Variety is the spice of life right?!?! The girls all get wraps on Wednesdays. Made with, I'm not kidding, a 12" tortilla. Think Chipotle size!! Who needs tortillas when you have Applegate Roast Beef and Pepperoni!!! You know in the Paleo world using lettuce as a wrap or "bread" is a standard go to. Taking a page from Meagan and Health-bent why not let the meat itself do the honors?!? Stuff it with all kinds of things!! I love looking at my lunches when they are laid out in the compartmentalized containers!! LOL!

What I struggle with...

What I struggle with the most are those late night sweet tooth attacks. The kids are all asking for a snack before bed, which typically consists of ice-cream. Hubby is on the couch munching on chips or pretzels. What should I grab...usually I succumb to the bowl of ice-cream with the kids!! Today however...I found a recipe that literally I think made me die and go to heaven!! And with only FIVE ingredients!!

What seriously could this gooey mess be? Now I've been know to make chocolate chip cookies only to never actually bake them...right Amanda? I could honestly see that happening with this recipe as well! Ahhh chocolate has been added, along with some coconut. Total deliciousness going on here!!

Creamy Coconut Chocolate Chip Macaroons from Paleo Parents Ingredients
 1 C coconut cream concentrate
 2/3 C maple syrup
 1 tsp coarse salt (a lot, the salt makes this)
 2 C shredded coconut
 1/2 C chocolate chips (so I used more than a 1/2 C...sue me!)

 Instructions
 1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the coconut cream concentrate, syrup and salt until well combined.
 2. Fold in the coconut and chocolate chips.
 3. Use a rounded table spoon to form 1″ balls and press flat onto a baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes, until edges brown slightly; allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from tray.

Kids will be home soon...we'll see if they pass the "if it's Paleo I'm not eating it test!" Betcha she caves!!

$1150 Giveaway - Blendtec, Le Creuset, PaleoKits

$1150 Giveaway - Blendtec, Le Creuset, PaleoKits

I hope I win!!! Revamping the kitchen with all new small appliances and utensils!! Now to find space to store everything!! And those of you who work with me...know how I love the PaleoKits...aka to you all...something the dog threw up!! Trust me they are GOOD!!

MY's Salsa Redux

Garden Fresh

 A few years ago a friend of mine gave me a salsa recipe that was sooooo super easy and über delicious!! Everything was out of cans. Can of tomatoes with jalapeños, small can of green chillies, minced garlic...out of a jar GASP!...brown sugar, onion, cilantro, and hot sauce. This year however, with the start of my paleo journey, we put a garden out back. I dubbed it my "salsa garden" I wanted to try my hand a canning salsa for gifts. While my first garden was not that prolific...with the exception of the tomatoes...my weekly CSA deliveries had just what I needed!!

MY's salsa redux!

You may be asking...what about the brown sugar and hot sauce..."That's not Paleo!" I subbed Coconut Crystals for the brown sugar, and some ground up, dehydrated cayenne peppers for the hot sauce!! Perfect if not better!! The fresh jalepeños gave the salsa a little more kick than I had anticipated...but this is one of those salsa that you just can't stop eating regardless of how hot your mouth is!!

How to get the Veggies!!

Pulled a fast one over the girls tonight!! Mr. Picky wasn't home tonight so he didn't have to try! We made out own "pizzas" for dinner. I pre-cooked the crust so they didn't see. So what was the big secret? Cauliflower crusts!! I used the recipe found HERE. You can top with anything. The girls chose pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and mushrooms. NO FUNGUS for me!! I opted for pepperoni, sausage, bacon, onion, and green pepper! They turned out pretty yummy!! A keeper in my book!

HELP!!!!

The kids always ask..."why do you take pictures of all the food you make?" My answer..."because I want to!" I think all along I had this blog idea in the back of my head. I don't claim to "invent" everything that I cook, nor will I probably ever...remember I have a NEW found love of cooking...but I do have a serious addiction to Paleo cookbooks and blogs now!! You can see a list of the sites I frequent most often on the left. Like any cookbook there are recipes that just don't do it for me. So what I've begun doing is making my "own" book. Recipes that I find on the Internet I've printed out and put in a three ring binder. Once I've tried the recipe...if I like it stays...if I don't...It either goes to the circular file or I brainstorm ways to make it better.

 See my shopping list? A co-worker made me addicted to this thing!! On the left side is a menu planner for the week. I can plan according to my work schedule. On the right I can write down what I need to make those recipes that I don't already have on hand! I love it!! It saves so much time at the grocery!

Last but not least, I've started doing all my prep work for the week on Sundays...or whatever day I have a small stretch off. I chop, peel, fry, brown, boil etc...what I can to save time during the week. Those back to back 12 hour night shifts don't leave much time, so this has become a HUGE time-saver!! Hope this can help others who say "how do you do it?!?"

Kale Kale and more Kale

If switching to Paleo has done one thing for me it has made me more willing to try things I've never had before! Kale...WTH is that? A green leafy veggie...I had never heard of before starting Paleo. What's all the fuss? High in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, not to mention anti-cancer properties!! Yay Wiki!! So any who...I bought some...now what the heck do I do with it!!

Kale Chips for one!! There are tons of recipes on the Internet for Kale Chips. I made three different types tonight. Garlic, Cayenne Pepper and my favorite of the bunch...Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar and Sea Salt!! I was truly amazed at how crispy they became!

I had one more leaf left over so I decided to try a recipe from Nom Nom Paleo. Bacon and Kale Stir Fry. Quite tasty if I do say so!! Did I mention that all of this was made at 2330 last night...made for a great snack at work!!

In the beginning...

As I write this post I reflect on my breakfast from this morning...an omelet and two pieces of white toast, followed by a Little Debbie Fudge Round. I've been trying the Paleo thing for a few months but like anything I've tried in the past...I cheat. By starting this blog I am hoping that this may hold me more accountable to myself. I will say that my quasi Paleo eating habits and CrossFit have helped me shed almost 45 lbs, so I guess I have been doing something right. ;) It has also brought out a new found love of cooking!! (the clean-up is another story) While I've yet to get the rest of the family on board, I have one little helper who at least will try everything I make. I don't plan to replicate all the info out there why Paleo is good for you...that's already been taken care of. My hope for this blog is to inspire others on a quest to eat healthier for themselves and family, the way our ancestors did. So it begins...or re-begins...a new cave girl in the making.