Day one...

My own Whole30 experience...Day One. 

I sat down last night with the determination to start a Whole30. It has been something in the back of my mind, but I have always been a little nervous. Giving up the grains (that I had reintroduced into my diet) would be no problem...it is the sugars that have me nervous!! I have a tremendous sweet tooth...and an addiction to Diet Dr. Pepper. I finished my last one at 8pm last night. I planned meals for the week, told the family if they didn't like what I was making, they didn't have to eat it and could fend for themselves! I did ask them to at least try. 

Day one started with a two hour delay for the kids. So of course that meant the girls wanted pancakes for breakfast. Way to start huh?!? A trip to Trader Joe's for the menu supplies, and home to get started on dinner. Up first...Rockin' Meatloaf. So I've been told the above mixture looks like emesis!! For those non medical peeps...vomit, puke, barf...you get the picture. The innards of the meatloaf so to say! It smelled amazing while cooking! Once put together with the hamburger, it tasted amazing as well!!

So how do I feel on day one...I've got a rockin' headache to go with the Rockin' Meatloaf! I guess that's to be expected though. I've been tired all day as well, even after getting 10 hours of sleep last night. Here's hoping tomorrow is better!!

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!