Paleo Broccoli Leek Soup

Growing up in New England I often looked forward to the change of each season. For fall this meant comfortable sweaters, cozy fires, beautiful foliage and my moms ultimate comfort soup: Broccoli Cheddar. Food allergies aside there is no reason why I should stop having this classic comfort food, all I needed to do was a little reinventing! This Paleo friendly version really hits the spot. It is nutrition and creamy without the use of cheese! 

Paleo Sweet Potato and Pecan Salad

Right now in New England we are in the middle of a heat wave! Nothing says summer like a hot day and a backyard barbecue. Impress your friends with this new take on a potato salad. 

Individual Paleo Blueberry Crisp

One of my favorite seasons has arrived: Blueberry Picking Season!

Blueberries have been considered one of the worlds healthiest foods. These beautiful berries are high in whole body antioxidants while recent studies suggest that blueberries may also aid in cognitive function, cardiovascular health and eye health. Not to mention that picking them yourself exposes you to fresh air and some good old fashioned Vitamin D - hello, sunshine!
So get out and pick some blueberries!

Paleo Gummy Bear Snacks, or Kombucha Gummies

First I posted Carrot Apple Gummies (see that recipe HERE), second I shared Apple Beet Gummies (see that recipe HERE), and now for my favorite of the three Kombucha Gummies! I made this recipe using my own homemade Kombucha but any Kombucha will work as long as you keep the proportions right.

Paleo Gummy Bear Snacks, or Beet Apple Gummies

I mentioned previously that I would be posting 3 gummy recipes on my blog. This is my second gummy bear recipe. See the first, Carrot Apple Gummies HERE. They may or may not be posted in my order of preference which means: stay tuned for the third (aka: my favorite) recipe later this month!

Just like the first recipe, this recipe has three ingredients (four if you want to make yours sweeter with honey). Again, I used my juicer and juiced some beets and carrots, then added in grass-fed beef gelatin. That is it, just REAL fruit, REAL vegetables, and a gut booster! Enjoy.

Paleo Gummy Bear Snacks, or Carrot Apple Gummies

I don’t particularly have memories of eating gummy fruit snacks as a child. However, in my later years and under the stress of a looming deadline, they became my busy-snack of choice. I say busy-snack because I didn’t really need to be eating anything, but I enjoyed the process of eating these by hand, I liked the fruit flavors and the chewy consistency. I would go through a box of them before I knew they were gone. Many of those gummies are loaded things my body can’t handle anymore but, I miss the satisfaction those snacks provided. I did some browsing online and discovered how to make my own healthy versions! I came up with three recipes that I will be sharing. The first is for Carrot Apple Gummies!

This recipe has three ingredients. I used my juicer and juiced an apple and carrots, then added in grass-fed beef gelatin. That is it! Grass-fed beef gelatin is rich in amino acids a key factor in a healthy gut. When I said these were healthy, I meant it! NO sugar, NO artificial flavors, No food dyes, just REAL fruit, REAL vegetables, and a gut booster! These definitely do not taste as sweet as the originals but they filled a void for me.

Paleo Chocolate Shake (or, Burger and Shake Night)

Last summer my husband and I fell into a ritual of the Sunday night burger. Each week we tried to outdo the previous burger stack. Above is a photo from one of my favorite creations featuring the beautiful color and subtle flavor of a fresh chive from our container garden. I cannot wait to continue this new tradition this summer.

For me, a classic burger dinner isn’t complete without a chocolate shake. This Paleo version has become a favorite of mine!

Paleo Warm Kale and Harissa Salad

I don’t love kale. Why do I eat it then? Well, this super green is low in calories, high in fiber, has zero fat and is filled with many nutrients and vitamins that we all need more of to feel our best and stay healthy. Sometimes I find kale rather bitter, but that really depends on the plant. Have you tried kale sprouts yet? They are pretty tasty and a bit on the sweeter side. Whether you love kale, or love to hate it, try my new recipe for a warm kale salad mixed with Harissa sauce! It just might win you over…

Carrot Cake Juice

I recently decided that carrots are my favorite cooked vegetable. Peel, slice, and bake carrots in the oven with a little olive oil, garlic and dill – YUM! Coat some fresh carrots with olive oil and sea salt then throw them on the grill – YUM! Peel and toss with some olive oil and honey then bake – YUM! — I could keep going! — My newly found love for the carrot has led to me buying the vegetable in bulk so I wanted to find another way to use up some of the carrots other then as a side dish. Then I saw my my juicer…

My husband and I had a Carrot Cake at our wedding. No, we didn’t get married on Easter, although Carrot Cake is a classic Easter dessert.  I haven’t figure out how to recreate this delicious dessert Paleo yet but, I did make a nutritious little juice recipe based of the classic cake and this recipe is just  in time for Bunny Day!

Paleo Oeufs en Cocotte (or eggs baked in ramekins)

My husband and I were going out to lunch when we drove by a thrift store that I had never noticed before. After lunch we went back and checked it out. Okay fine, I checked it out while he stayed in the car… This has since become my FAVORITE thrift store because they have all-of-the books! On a recent trip there I scored Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. Yes, I have seen the movie – but that was years ago. I usually like to read a book before seeing the movie (then often end up disappointed), however, reading the book after seeing the movie is always fun because you get to know so many more details! If you don’t already know this book is about one woman’s journey cooking her way through Julia Child’s cookbook: Mastering the Art of French Cooking. One of the dishes she describes pretty early in the book is a recipe for Oeufs en Cocotte which traditionally is made with cream and butter. Being heavily influenced by my reading I decided to translate Julia Child’s recipe into a Paleo version and this is what I came up with. 

Paleo Unstuffed Cabbage

My grandmother used to make the best stuffed cabbage recipe. Occasionally, when I was in college and home for the weekend she would send me back to school with some freezer meals including stuffed cabbage (probably at my request).  These days I cook often and mostly from scratch. Because of this I am often looking for ways to make delicious meals more simple. It was this thinking that lead me to create the “Unstuffed Cabbage”! As the name suggests you do not have to delicately stuff the cabbage leaves… I also heavily rely on a food processor to chop and shred the ingredients.

Paleo Rich & Creamy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

Usually for me the first snowfall of the year means that is is officially hot chocolate time! With no snow in sight I can’t wait any longer. This healthier Paleo hot chocolate is easy to prepare and you can actually feel good about what you are drinking. Raw Cacao is a super food that is rich in essential vitamins and minerals. It is also known to improve your mood and act as an anti-depressant as well as boost energy. Coconut milk is full of good fat and is an anti-inflammatory. Coconut milk can also raise the metabolic rate and has immune boosting qualities. Cinnamon, also an anti-inflammatory, can increase blood circulation. All of these benefits will help you survive and thrive in the cold weather months! See more healthful spices to add at the end of this post.

Ingredients:
1 can of Full Fat Coconut Milk
1/2 C. Water (Omit for a richer drink)
2 Tbsp. Cacao Powder
1/4 C. dairy-free/sugar free chocolate of your choice
1/4 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup (or Honey)
(Optional) 1/4 tsp. Turmeric
(Optional) 1/4 tsp. Cardamom
(Optional) 1/4 tsp. Ginger

Heat coconut milk, chocolate, water, vanilla and cinnamon in a pot on the stove for 10 mins. being careful not to let it boil. Add cocoa and maple syrup, stir and let heat for a few more minutes to let the flavors mix. P(Serves 2)

If you want to add even more of a boost to your beverage try one or all of the optional ingredients. Turmeric is an antioxidant containing anti-inflammatory compounds. Turmeric has also been shown to improve liver function, indigestion and dementia. Cardamom, which is a good sweet spice, has been known to promote digestion and may help prevent cold and flu symptoms as well as lower your blood pressure. Traditionally ginger has been used to relieve colds and stomach troubles. Ginger is rich in inflammation-fighting compounds which may help reduce arthritis pains.

I topped my cocoa off with marshmallow cream from Vanessa Barajas’s cookbook Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind. What’s better than a cozy cup of hot chocolate, fireside, on a cold winters day? Whenever the cold hits – I’ll be ready!

{Thanksgiving Leftover} Paleo Squash Bread

In general, I love having leftovers. Leftovers mean that you have one more meal without having to cook. Thanksgiving is almost here I can already taste the turkey! What comes with Thanksgiving? Lot’s of leftovers! In just a few days I am sure people will be looking for fun new recipes to jazz up their leftovers. Okay, I’ll jump on that band wagon… This recipe was a happy accident as I was trying for a souffle and ended up with a thin bread which is perfect for an update to the classic Thanksgiving sandwich.

I used to LOVE the after Thanksgiving sandwich. You know the one. Two slices of bread, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a little mayo, YUM. This year, having moved to a predominately Paleo lifestyle to help aid in my health and healing commitment I will have to rethink Thanksgiving a bit. To start with, the bread… This recipe not only uses a common leftover item, squash, but it adds more nutrients to my favorite sandwich!

Fall Cocktail Part 4: Cider Sangria

 

Today’s post is the fourth and final beverage in my fall cocktail series each featuring my favorite ingredient, fresh fall apple cider. If you missed the first three installments you can read them here: 1|  Apple Cider Mimosas 2|  Cider Geniever 3| Spiked Hot Apple Cider 4| Cider Sangria (today’s post)

Okay, sangria is technically not a cocktail, but it is delicious so let’s agree to overlook technicalities, shall we? This is a colorful, festive beverage perfect for starting out any gathering (that’s right Thanksgiving, I am looking at you!) and it only takes about 5-10 min to prepare.

Fall Cocktail Part 3: Spiked Hot Apple Cider

Today’s post marks the third installment of the Fall Cocktail series featuring Apple Cider and it is a hot one! I probably should have come up with a more creative name, but for now, Spiked Hot Apple Cider it is. Did you miss the first two drink recipes? Don’t work, click HERE for Cider Mimosas and HERE to read about Cider Geniever. Okay, ready for a drink to help keep you warm in the cold months ahead?

Fall Cocktail Part 2: Cider Geniever

Okay, ready for the next installment in my fall cocktail series featuring New England’s own apple cider? Perfect, because today’s the day! If you missed the first post for Cider Mimosas you can see it HERE.  The Cider Mimosas are simple to make and only need two ingredients, today’s Cider Geniever are equally easy to create but you will need more than two ingredients. You will need three!

Fall Cocktail Part 1: Apple Cider Mimosas

This Thanksgiving will be my first Thanksgiving on my new diet. It is my husbands favorite holiday and we will be spending much of it with his family. I have decided to post a four part series of Fall Cocktails all featuring New England’s honorary fall drink: Apple Cider. It’s true, drinking alcohol is not Paleo but it remains a part of many people lives. Champagne is wine that had been carbonated by fermenting the wine a second time. If you choose to include wine into your Paleo lifestyle than you can certainly include a glass of champagne every now and then. Because: fermented! To sweeten the deal, I am pairing fermented apple cider with champagne to make a delicious fall beverage.

Paleo Classic Burger Updated

When you adopt a Paleo lifestyle there is a lot of cooking and planing involved. Sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking a big meal or have time to get to the store. Last week I was having one of those days… I looked in the fridge to see what we already had on hand and tried to come up with a meal. That is what inspired this simple update to a classic burger and fries. My husband said I hit it out of the park with this one and requested we keep it in a rotation so I made it again just the other day. Instead of onions, I used leaks. Instead of sweet potato fries, I used carrots to add a sweet flavor. The seasoning I came up with takes the place of your standard mustard… Check out the recipe and see what I mean!

Dairy Free Matcha Tea Latte

Welcome Fall! The air actually cooled down for a few days there. We were having nearly 90 degree days at the end of September, it felt like Fall would never arrive. But it did. Here it is. I love each season, especially the changing of the seasons so I didn’t hesitate to enjoy a Matcha tea latte on the first cool morning. While you can drink a latte in any season, I always associate them with fall. This is my first fall being dairy free so I knew I had some experimenting to do. I was first introduced to Matcha Tea when I was about 9 years old and enrolled in a Japanese brushwork class. The instructor started each lesson with her own mini-tea ceremony. All of the students would sit on the floor in a circle and mix our own tea our of the bright green Matcha powder and I loved it!

Paleo Fried Green Tomatoes

One of the perks of moving to the country is that there are farm stands everywhere! I love being able to buy local. It is nice to know where my food comes from while at the same time support local farmers. Another perk about buying local is that you are always buying what is fresh while it is truly in season. It can also be exciting (not in the same way that a roller coaster is exciting, but this is small town fun that we are talking about here) to see what is new each time you stop at the farm stand. The other day when I passed a local farm stand they had a bushel of green tomatoes!  Fried green tomatoes anyone?