BASTED VEGGIES & EGGS

Breakfast is kind of my thing.  I hate the idea of eating early, but I feel better when I do.  Not to mention for about 15 years all I could cook was eggs and toast :)  Now that I can't have toast, I have to get creative!

INGREDIENTS

- 1/2 cup of veggies chopped
- 2-3 eggs
- 2 tbsp grated raw milk cheese (*omit if not doing primal)
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp ghee



DIRECTIONS

- sautee veggies in 1 tbsp ghee until golden brown
- crack eggs over veggies
- when whites are about half way set, season with salt & pepper, and cover with a lid that has a dash of water
- baste for 1-2 minutes

Serve with fresh avocado and salsa if you wish!

PALEO BROWNIES

I don't do paleo "treats" too often, I personally feel like it is defeating the purpose of what I'm trying to accomplish.  But once in a while, like everyone else, I like to indulge a little.  And this is a recipe I feel pretty good about, considering the minimal amount of ingredients.  And these brownies are JUST as good as the real deal, if not better.  Perfect for parties, or to eat the whole thing by yourself on the couch.  Em, not that I've ever done that…



INGREDIENTS

1 cup almond butter
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
1 egg
2 tbsp melted grass fed butter (or ghee)
1 tsp vanilla extract (it's also good with almond extract!)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

DIRECTIONS

Combine almond butter, maple syrum, egg and extract in a medium mixing bowl.  Mix on low until well blended.

Stir in cocoa powder and baking soda

Put the batter in a greased 8x8 round pan

Bake at 325 for 22 minutes (a little longer if you don't like them gooey.  but thats just crazy)

EAT! Top with fresh fruit and coconut whipped cream, or pumpkin spiced whipped honey, or maple butter, or combine my two favorite desserts and pile it up with chia see tapioca!

CROCKPOT LEMON SAUERKRAUT CHICKEN

I'm all about easy and fast recipes.  I'm also all about one step crockpot recipes.  I don't usually have time to brown the meat before it goes in, so this recipe is perfect.  The only extra step would be if you wanted to marinate your chicken for a few hours or overnight, but it doesn't have to be.  This recipe is plenty for our family of 4, with leftovers for lunch the next day.  It's also easy to freeze half, or just cut the recipe in half.

INGREDIENTS:

- 32 oz sauerkraut drained
- 3-4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (you could use breast meat if you don't mind the dryness, but i personally find thighs keep their moisture better, especially in the crockpot)
- 4 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (you could also sub dry herbs, but it's not as flavorful)  I used rosemary and thyme because it's what I had on hand, and they both go great with the lemon flavor
- 3 tbsp olive oil or melted ghee + one tbsp for the sauerkraut
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

- Drain the sauerkraut. Chop the herbs and toss with the sauerkraut and one tbsp of olive oil or ghee, then place in the bottom of crockpot to make a bed for the chicken.

- Baste the chicken with the remaining olive oil and lemon juice, and top with salt and pepper.  If you have time, I recommend marinated the chicken for a few hours to over night, but it's not necessary.

- Place the chicken on top the sauerkraut, and cook on low for 8 hours.



This recipe was so easy and approved by  my husband and 2 & 4 year olds.

CROCKPOT SHORT RIBS

This recipe needs no introduction.  It's divine.  I found the recipe on www.fastpaleo.com

ingredients

• 2-3 lbs beef short ribs
• 1 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 Tb bacon grease
• 1 onion, chopped
• ¾ cup red wine
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• ⅓ cup honey
• 1 tsp. Tabasco
• 1 jar (7 oz.) tomato paste
• ¾ cup beef stock
• ¼ cup GF Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ cup Coconut Aminos
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced

directions:

Season short ribs with s & p
Brown in a hot pan w/bacon grease
Remove ribs to slow cooker
sauté 1 chopped onion
add remaining ingredients to pan and bring to a boil
pour over ribs
Cook on low for 8-10 hours or if short on time like I was, on high for 2 hours, then low for 4 hours.

These smelled so amazing while cooking! They taste amazing, too!

PALEO, 6 MONTHS LATER

I started the Paleo journey at my heaviest (non pregnant) weight.  I weighed 137 lbs, had zero energy, anxiety up the wazoo, serious sciatic and joint pain, and no drive to much of anything, let alone work out or cook healthy.  Food was my weakness.  I loved all food.  Sugary foods, savory foods, fast food (though I didn't indulge in it often).  And I seriously loved eating out.  We would eat out and or order take out probably 4-5 days a week.  Thats just sad, my friends.  One day I stumbled upon a 30 Day Paleo Challenge (found here: www.robinssweetconfessions.com/wp/category/paleo-challenge/) and my husband and I just decided to go for it.  We dove in head first, no questions asked.  By week 2, I was feeling immensely better, had lost a lot of weight, and enjoyed cooking at home for my family.  After that first month, I had lost 7 lbs, abstained from candy and sweets both on Halloween AND my 4 year old bday party.  The challenge was up on Thanksgiving.  I did have dessert, but other than that continued living the Paleo lifestyle.  It was a bit harder during the holiday's, but we made it and continued seeing success.  Fast forward 6 months, I completed my first Whole30 (see details here: www.whole30.com) *Talk about life changing and difficult!*, am down 16 lbs and 2 dress sizes, I fit into jeans that I bought before I had kids, and even though I'd like to fit into even more things that are smaller, I'm pretty damn happy.  But it goes deeper than the scale.  I'll save you all the boring "i learned so much about my unhealthy relationship with food!" - even though I did, and I'll skip right to the awesomeness that has come from it:

- joint pain GONE
- sciatica GONE (I attribute this to Paleo as well as finding an amazing masseuse and chiropractor)
- strength - way up
- skin - clearer than ever
-anxiety - next to none
- cellulite - let's just say I'll feel pretty confident in my two piece this summer :)
- sugar cravings - finally gone after completing Whole30
- sleeping WAY better at night.  Since I still have little one's it's rare that I actually sleep through the night, but my brain shuts of at a proper hour now
- We have influenced quite a few family members and friends to at least look into a real food lifestyle, and some of them are living it.

Really the list could go on.  But I'll let the before and after pics speak for themselves:

BREAKFAST PUDDING

I made this one morning when we were completely out of eggs.  Technically I don't think I should be having it on the Whole30, but it was all I had.  And it was so good :)

INGREDIENTS:



1 avocado

1 banana

2 tbsp almond butter

1/2 cup coconut milk

2-3 tbsp 100% cacao powder

2 tbsp hemp seeds

1 tbsp cacao nibs



DIRECTIONS:



Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.  blend until smooth!

TANGY AVOCADO DEVILED EGGS

Easter just can't happen without deviled eggs.  My mom and grandmothers all make amazing deviled eggs, which are quite simple: egg, mayo, salt and pepper.  sometimes topped with capers or olives.  As much as I love them, I can't bring myself to attempt homemade maybe again (yet), so I had to do something different.  Here they are, Tangy Avocado Stuffed Eggs.

INGREDIENTS:

12 eggs

2 avocados

juice from 2 - 3 limes

2 tsp garlic powder

1tbsp white or red wine vinegar

1/4 cup water or more as need to thin out to the consistency you like

4 slices crisp bacon, chopped

salt & pepper to taste

paprika for topping

DIRECTIONS:

Hard boil your eggs.  I actually bake mine in a muffin tin at 325 for 30 minutes.  Less work and they come out perfect every time.  Allow to cool, I always let mine over night.  You know, just in case :)

In your food processor, combine all other ingredients except the bacon and paprika.  Blend until smooth.

When eggs are cool, remove yolks, combine in a bowl with the avocado puree, and mash it all up.  fill egg whites with the avocado/egg filling.  Top each egg with bacon and a sprinkle of paprika.

ENJOY!