Yes, I am still here!

It's been a while since I blogged.  Why?  I recently opened a consignment store in Kalamazoo, MI, that carries everything from lamps to furniture!  Now that things are grooving, I should be able to keep up with my blog.  Check out KalamazooKitty at 4217 Portage Rd, or my store website: www.KalamazooKitty.com!

Spaghetti Squash with Homemade Marinara Sauce and Grilled Chicken

This is DELICIOUS!

Spaghetti Squash:
Cut squash in half lengthwise. Clean out seeds.
Place face down in 1" of water in a baking dish.
Cook at 375 degrees for 40 mins or until a fork inserts easily.
Use a fork to scrape insides into spaghetti strings.

Marinara Sauce: combine and simmer
1 can petit tomatoes, 14.5 oz
1 can tomato sauce, 15 oz
4 cloves of garlic
1 T agave nectar
salt, white pepper and oregano to taste
fresh basil

Add grilled chicken and enjoy!

Sometimes I miss potatoes, but thanks to taro root, I don't have to!

These taro root "fries" are so yummy!

Boil whole taro root until tender, but not mushy.
Peel and slice.
Coat with olive oil, chili powder, garlic powder, sea salt and tumeric (I don't measure the spices; I just sprinkle a light coat of each).
Bake 15 mins at 350 degrees on foil.
Broil each side for 3-4 minutes.  Brown, but don't burn!

Portobello Mushroom Pizza

This is an easy recipe!
I made my own marinara sauce:

In a food processor combine:
fresh tomatoes
fresh garlic
fresh basil

Place in a saute pan and simmer.  Add salt, pepper and oregano.

In a separate pan, brown ground pork and season with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Remove the black insides of the large mushrooms.  Top with marinara sauce, pork, pepperoni, onions, tomato and whatever else you like on pizza.

Bake on cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Wow! This can't be Paleo!

Fudge Balls

This is a simple recipe! 

1-1/3 cups dates

1 cup walnuts

1 t vanilla

4 T cocoa powder

Put all ingredients in food processor and process until fully mixed.  

Roll into balls.
At this point you can chill and serve.  I took it two steps further and created perfection:

4 squares 70% cocoa bar

1/4 c chopped pecans

Melt chocolate.

Coat balls with chocolate and then roll in pecans.

Chill and devour!

Curried Chicken with Coconut Mango Sauce

YUMMY!!!!!!!  This has been one of our favorite Paleo recipes so far!

4 chicken breasts
1 cup coconut milk
1 t cayenne
1 t curry powder
1 t fresh lime juice
1/2 t fresh chopped garlic
1 ripe mango (or more!)
Slaw greens

Combine 1/4 cup coconut milk, cayenne, curry powder, 1/2 t lime juice and garlic in a dish.
Coat chicken on both sides with mixture and refrigerate for an hour or more.
Puree remaining coconut milk, 2/3 of the mango and remaining lime juice until smooth.
Bake chicken at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Add a pile of slaw to the plate.
Top with chicken, sauce and more mango.
Serve with something green!

Uniq!

This is unique - uniq fruit!  It taste a little like a grapefruit and a little like an orange.  YUMMY!  It is quite large and heavy.  The skin is very thick and easy to peel.  What a delicious find!

Pistachio Crusted Chicken - PALEO!

This recipe is so delicious that we couldn't stop eating it!  It came from a Sam's Club recipe that I modified to make paleo.

Rub chicken breast with the following mixture of 1/4 teaspoon of each:
sea salt
garlic powder
paprika
rosemary
thyme
parsley (I used fresh from my "house plant")
onion powder
celery seed
red pepper flakes

Place in dish, cover and let marinate overnight, if possible.
Chop 1-1/2 c pistachios in food processor.
Coat chicken first in olive oil, then pistachios, then cracked pepper.
Saute over low-medium heat until chicken is cooked through.  Use lid to help inside cook faster.  Outside will be a toasty brown.

Need to know the basics of Paleo? Me, too!

I found this on ehow:

The paleo diet is nothing new under the sun. Also know as the hunter-gatherer diet, the paleolithic diet or simply the caveman diet, the paleo diet advocates a return to the eating habits of our ancestors. The paleo diet is based on the logic that for most of human evolution, humans did not have access to the processed food that today make up the bulk of the caloric intake of the modern civilized person. The paleo diet is based on research into modern-day hunter gatherer societies, specifically the work of anthropologist Weston Price, who do not appear to suffer from many of the degenerative diseases that plague modern society.

1. Paleo Diet Food

   • The paleo diet seeks to return modern eating habits to those of ancient humans who inhabited the Earth for millions of years. For most of human history, humans did not eat dairy products, sugar or salts, so those are banned from the paleo diet, as are beans, grains and potatoes because they are toxic in their raw state. These food are also mostly carbohydrate-rich and raise the glycemic index. Foods that are recommended in the paleo diet include lean meats, eggs, fish, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits and nuts. Root vegetables like carrots and beets are especially encouraged under the paleo diet plan as are organ meats such as liver.

   History

   • The paleo diet was first brought back into popular culture in 1975 by author and gastroenterologist Walter L. Voegtlin. Voegtlin advocated a mostly meat-based diet that seemed to help him treat his patients' many digestive disorders like colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Since then, numerous anthropologists, nutritionists and health advocates have argued for a return to a pre-agricultural diet plan as the remedy for many of today's degenerative diseases. Many of the modern advocates of the paleo diet refer to anthropologist Weston Price, who traveled the world in the 1920s and '30s, studying and photographing groups of humans that lived outside of the influence of modern society. Price was the former head of research for the American Dental Society and became convinced that modern dental diseases were the result of modern diets. In his book, "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration," Price presented his findings after studying indigenous societies worldwide and concluded that not only dental but also heart disease, asthma, cancer and many other degenerative diseases were absent in populations that ate an indigenous diet.

   Types

   • There are several different books and authors who present differing theories as to why and how one should partake of a paleo diet. Dr. Loren Cordain, who wrote the latest book titled simply "The Paleo Diet," argues that paleo food is the food that humans were designed to eat. "The Paleolithic Prescription," written by a doctor, an anthropologist and a nutritionist in 1988, backs up extensive claims about the health of our ancestors with anthropological research that was groundbreaking at its time. Basically, all of the advocates of the paleo diet advocate a return to the diet that was prevalent through most of human evolution and differences of opinion due to lack of complete historical accuracy are the only points of contention.

   Benefits

   • Advocates of the paleo diet argue that returning to humanity's ancestral eating habits will rid you of degenerative disease like heart disease, arthritis and high blood pressure as well as help you lose weight and gain energy. Studies of paleolithic humans by anthropologist have indeed revealed that our ancestors had healthier bone structures with little to no evidence of bone loss or decay and very little joint inflammation. Studies of modern humans that live in primitive conditions without much contact with modern living styles, like Weston Price's book, do seem to reveal that indigenous societies suffer less degenerative physical and mental diseases than their contemporary counterparts.

   Considerations

   • In the 1988 book, "The Paleolithic Prescription," the authors cover in depth the fact that our early ancestors also lived an extremely active life and the fossil record shows that the average paleo human had the musculature of an athlete. Many of the degenerative diseases that plague modern society from bone loss to heart disease have been linked at least partially to lack of an active lifestyle, so anyone interested in the paleo diet should take into account the whole picture of what early human's life was like before expecting miracles from any diet formula.

Read more: Paleo Diet Basics | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5039028_paleo-diet-basics.html#ixzz1I7TGPL6Y

Paleo Waffles...and they taste great, too!

These waffles are so good they don't need syrup or anything!  I make a batch at night and warm them up in the toaster in the morning.  This is a great, quick Paleo breakfast that the kids will eat!

1-1/2 c almond flour
1/2 t sea salt
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1 T Arrowroot powder
2 eggs
1/4 c agave nectar
1 T vanilla
1/4 c water
1 small apple, grated
1/4 c unsweetened coconut

Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.  Combine both bowls together and add apple and coconut.  Scoop 1/4 c of batter onto hot waffle iron.  This amount makes a small waffle that is the perfect size for the toaster.  Cook until brown.

TIPS:

T = Tablespoon
t = teaspoon
c = cup

These cook quickly, so keep an eye on them!  Top with warm, unsweetened berries....mmmmmmmm!

Yummy Chocolate Walnut Date Bars!

This is a great base recipe.  I am planning to experiment with ingredients to make a variety of desserts from the basics of this recipe.  I think toasted pecans, macadamias, 70% cocoa chips, or carrots will all be great!  Anyway, the recipe is below and the "base recipe" is in green.  Follow the entire recipe for the date bars and use the "base recipe" to experiment with other ingredients.

1-1/2 c almond flour
1/4 t sea salt
1/4 t baking soda
3 eggs
1/4 c grapeseed oil
1/4 c agave nectar
1 T vanilla
1 c chopped walnuts
1 c pitted and chopped dates
Chunks of 70% cocoa bar

Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.  Fold in nuts and dates.  Pour into 8 x 8 greased baking dish.  Bake for 28 minutes at 350, or until knife comes out clean.  Add chunks of chocolate on top while bars are still hot.

TIPS:

T = Tablespoon
t = teaspoon
c = cup

These are best served warm when the chocolate is melty and yummy!  Or, leave off the chocolate and serve for breakfast.

Holy Guacamole!

This was one delicious Paleo meal!  Grilled steak with pearl onions (I didn't care for the onions), homemade spicy guacamole, and butternut squash and apples.  Both recipes are quite simple:

Spicy Guacamole:

3 Avocados
Fresh lime juice from 1 lime
1 large tomato, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 t cayenne
1/4 t cumin
1 T fresh cilantro
1/4 t sea salt

Smash avocados and lime juice together.  Stir in all other ingredients.  Add avocado pits back into guacamole to keep fresh.  Squeeze any remaining lime juice over guacamole.  Let sit at room temperature for a half hour before serving.  Store leftovers with pits and seal completely with plastic wrap in fridge.


Butternut Squash and Apples:

1/2 butternut squash, chopped
2 apples
Olive oil
cinnamon

Toss squash with olive oil in small baking dish.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Add apples and stir together.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.  Bake for 10 more minutes.

Paleo Brownies with Walnuts (or not): Elana's Pantry Recipe

½ cup dark chocolate chips 73% cacao (approx. one 3.5 oz bar)
¼ cup coconut flour
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
½ cup agave nectar
¼ cup grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup chopped walnuts
⅓ cup dark chocolate chips 73% cacao

1. Place ½ cup chocolate chips in food processor and pulse until the consistency of coarse sand
2. Pulse in coconut flour, salt and baking soda until combined
3. Pulse in eggs, agave, grapeseed oil and vanilla
4. Pour batter into a greased 8x8 pyrex dish
5. Sprinkle walnuts and remaining chocolate chips over batter
6. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes

SIMPLIFY! Good Old-Fashioned Steak...

This is a simple Paleo meal!  Grilled steak with sauteed mushrooms and onions.  Add roasted butternut squash and apples, and watermelon.  YUMMY and simple!

Paleo Coconut Shrimp & Mango

Coconut Shrimp:

For this recipe, you need two bowls.
In the first bowl,  add 1 egg, 1/2 t paprika and 1/2 t garlic powder.  Whisk together.
In the second bowl, add 1/4 c almond flour and 1/2 c unsweetened shredded coconut.
Dredge 12 shrimp through the egg wash first and then through the flour mixture.
Let the shrimp sit for 5 minutes after dredging.
Heat 2 T coconut oil in pan over medium heat.
Saute shrimp for 2 minutes on each side.  Do not overcook or the coconut flavor disappears!
Place shrimp on paper towels to soak up extra oil for 5 mins.

TIPS:
T = Tablespoon
t = teaspoon
After making this recipe, I felt it needed a sweet dipping sauce.  Next time I plan to experiment with an apricot dipping sauce.

Serve with sliced mango and broccoli.

Paleo Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

2 ½ c almond flour*
½ t   fine sea salt
½ t   baking soda
1/4 c  grapeseed oil
½ c  agave nectar or raw honey
1 T  vanilla
1 egg
½ c  chunked 70% cocoa chocolate bar
½ c  chopped pecans


Combine almond flour, salt and baking soda in bowl. 
Combine grapeseed oil, agave, egg and vanilla in separate bowl.
Combine ingredients of both bowls together.
Fold in chunks of chocolate and pecans.


Scoop tablespoon balls onto cookie sheet with parchment paper or a baking stone, and flatten with your fingers. 


Bake at 350 for 10 mins. until golden.
Cool before serving.
Makes about 3 dozen.


TIPS:
T = Tablespoon
t = teaspoon
* I make my own almond flour by putting raw blanched almonds in a food processor until flour-like.  It saves money and only takes an extra minute or two!

Chicken? Don't be! Grilled Chicken Thighs with Blueberry Sauce

Paleo Blueberry Sauce:
Start by making Paleo Ketchup (see below).
Saute 1 small chopped onion and 1 jalapeno in a pan with 1 T olive oil until soft.
Add 1 T agave nectar, 1/4 c Paleo Ketchup, 1/8 t cayenne, 1/4 t dry mustard.  Simmer until it thickens.
Add 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries and simmer until thick.
Pour into food processor and puree.


Chicken Thighs:
Season with oregano and fresh lime juice.
Grill until juices run clear.


Serve with a fresh steamed vegetable and fresh fruit.


Tips:
T = Tablespoon
t = teaspoon
The Paleo Ketchup takes a while to make, so prepare it ahead of time.


Paleo Ketchup:

2 lb tomatoes, washed and cubed

1 bay leaf

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic

1/4 c fresh lemon juice

1/4 t cayenne

1/2 t allspice 

1/2 t ground cloves     

1/2 t ground mace  

1/2 t celery seeds 

1/2 t whole black peppercorns 

1/2 cinnamon stick

1/8 c unsweetened apple juice    

Simmer tomatoes, onion, garlic, and bay leaf until soft.  

Add apple juice.  

Combine spices (allspice, cloves, mace, celery seeds, peppercorns and cinnamon) and place into an emptied tea bag.  

Add spice bag to mixture; simmer while stirring frequently, until reduced by half.  Remove the spice bag.  

Add lemon juice and cayenne pepper.  

Continue simmering for 10 minutes.

NOTE: The sauce was A LOT of work for what it was.

What's for dinner?

Paleo Pork Chops with Cauliflower "Rice" and Asparagus

(ingredients are below in bold type)

Pork Chops:
Marinate chops in 1 T olive oil and 1 T World Market Chicago Chop & Steak Seasoning (a blend oregano, black pepper and garlic powder will do if you don't have that bottle of seasoning).
Grill 2-3 minutes on each side,  or until an interior temp of 170 degrees.
Remove from grill, cover with foil, and let chops "rest" for 5-8 minutes.

Cauliflower "Rice":
Chop 1 head of cauliflower in a food processor until it looks like rice.
Microwave "rice" for 3 minutes on high.
Mash with the back of a spatula until "squished" down into the bowl.
Heat 1 T Olive Oil in saute pan over medium heat.
Add the rice to the pan and saute with 2 t curry, 2 green onions chopped, 1/4 t cayenne, and ground pepper.
Stir constantly until golden brown (approx. 5 mins)
Serve HOT.

Asparagus:
Bring water to a boil in a pan on the stove.
Add asparagus and boil until tender, but still slightly firm.

TIPS:
T = Tablespoon
t = teaspoon

In the beginning....

This is the beginning.  The beginning of my blog, the beginning of the paleo lifestyle and the beginning of spring!