Day 15 - The Halfway Point & Some Ponderings Thus Far

Heyho Paleo Peeps!

Today marks the half way point of my 30 day journey of strict Paleo eating (and hopefully day 15 for those of you joining me on this journey).

At this point I am very proud of myself for succeeding thus far. It has been easier than I thought and harder than I thought, in equal measures, if that makes sense!?

Easier because I had been pretty strict since July anyway. Apart from alcohol of course, but hey never trust an Irish person who doesn't drink! haha (and Paleo advocate Lorein Cordain enjoys a glass or two of vino so why not!?) I had therefore got most of the fundamentals in place all ready. Sure it is challenging taking it to this level of strictness - but not impossible.

I would say it is harder in ways - especially when it comes to eating in other people's houses or restaurants for example.
While I always endeavour to stay true to my normal Paleo eating habits, sometimes it is unavoidable to cut some corners. Like the kind of fats your food is cooked in, or having a small piece of someone's cake so as not to be rude. But when undertaking a 30 day programme you can't make these tweaks or you are breaking the programme and ruining its good effects on your body.

What this Whole30 HAS done though has made me realise that I CAN eat the best way for my body without feeling I am missing out on tasty and satisfying food. It also makes me proud of myself to know that I am reducing my chances of a whole plethora of diseases as well as the big C (*gulp). I mean at the end of the day wouldn't you like to know you were doing everything YOU could to reduce your chances of becoming unhealthy?

Today I also clarified another batch of Kerrygold and cooked a lovely chicken thigh casserole.

Here is a breakdown of what I have been devouring over the past two days:

Day 14

BF: Smoked Salmon and Asparagus with tomato and mushroom

Lunch: Roasted Squash, Carrot and Garlic Soup

Dinner: Salmon, Stir fried Greens and sweet tatters

Snacks: Banana,

Day 15

BF: Bacon, Onions and Mushrooms

Lunch: Leftover Salmon & Veggie Omelette

Dinner: Chicken Thigh Casserole

Snack: Apple, 2 x mandarin's

So, that concludes my Day 15 post! Hope your day has gone well so far.

Talk soon, and remember, Keep it Paleo! :)

Day 14 - Update

Hi Paleo Pals!

Apologies for the lack of posts over the last few days. Unfortunately my internet access was gone all weekend (major inconvenience!) but I have solved the problem and I am now up and going again! (Yes I am a technical genius!!)

The weekend was fairly uneventful and went well again, I wasn't tempted by anything per say although the roast potatoes my Other Half cooked yesterday for our roast chicken looked damn good.

I still have to admit I am happy tomorrow is the half way point on my Whole30. While I find the week days fine and easy to keep 100% Paleo, the weekend can be a right pain in the bum - especially when in other people's houses or when meeting friends for coffee etc. Worrying about what is in EVERYTHING in a restaurant/other people's food can be tough. I am not the type of person who likes to complain or make a fuss so it usually means eating nothing. Sometimes this is fine, other times, when you know you won't eat for a long time, this can be troublesome.

My food intake over the past few days has been as follows:

Friday

BF: 2 x fried eggs, liver, 1x piece of bacon and tomatoes

Lunch: I met my OH (other half) for lunch and couldn't eat anything on the menu really. So I choose an egg mayo salad. I left much of it behind me (much to his annoyance!) Salad should not be 50% potato salad ffs! GRR

Dinner: Homemade beef burgers with sweet potato fries and sauteed spinach on garlic

Snacks: Dried, unsweetened banana chips, apple,


Saturday

BF: 2 x fried eggs with asparagus and bacon.

Lunch: Nothing :(

Dinner: Leftover beef burger, steak, sweet potatoes roasted in coconut oil, onions, mushrooms, and spinach

Supper: 2 x scrambled eggs with smoked salmon


Sunday:

BF: Banana (I wasn't hungry and I had supper late the night before)

Lunch: Roast Chicken with mashed cauliflower, turnip and carrot and parsnip
Dessert: Fresh Pineapple

Supper: 1/2 an Omelette (we didn't have enough eggs leftover! So about 1 egg worth)

 So there you go! I have finally updated! I promise not to leave the updates so far apart in the future.

How are you doing so far? Does the halfway point tomorrow excite you as much as me!!?

Day 10 & How I Came To The Paleo Lifestyle

Hey guys,

Happy Day 10 for those of you joining me on this November clean eating challenge.

I hope it is going as well for you as it is for me. I have to say it has been fairly effortless so far. I am not really craving anything too badly, although I am looking forward to a glass of Pinot Grigio when I finish! I always give up drink for November (call it a detox, call it a subconscious effort to do good by my Catholic roots, who knows?!) But it is something I always do. I find the first week or two are usually fine and then I am looking forward to a night out! So far so good though!

The weather at the moment here is unseasonably warm and sunny, so I have been enjoying the weather and going out for long walks with my dog. We done 3 miles the past few days, and 2 on Monday. Tuesday I was active too, helping out with fairly manual work (loooong story).

How I came to the Paleo Lifestyle
I have been active for the past couple of years. I gave up smoking almost two years ago, and was fearful that I would gain weight so I got into running. I ran in a couple of 10K runs and a half marathon but I found that I wasn't a natural runner, and despite running for miles a week, I wasn't getting any faster and I wasn't loosing any weight. Although I looked more toned I knew I needed to loose a few pounds on the scale, but if I cut down on my calories I was exhausted and run down (pardon the pun!). Something wasn't adding up for me.
So I decided to look at my diet as I figured all this exercise was not seeing results, so I would have to look at my food.
I have always eaten "healthy". I always make meals from scratch for my partner and son, and we eat home prepared food the vast majority of the time. (We eat out seldom). I ate salads for lunch and home prepared dinners, rarely including sauces or anything processed during the week. Perhaps pizza at the weekend and a dessert on Sunday. But I was a slave to refined carbs, in particular bread and toast and pasta. I really believed I could never live without my toast!
I spent a few days inputting my daily food intakes into "Fitday.com" and soon realised I was eating far too many carbs. I worried about this as I was also a slave to "lowfat" eating so I did not know how I could drop the carbs and stay full.
I done some google searches and Paleo came up. I think it was actually Sarah Fragoso's "Everyday Paleo" that came up - and I liked the sound of it.
Eating real, unprocessed foods, low in refined carbs but including plenty of fat, protein and veggies. I bought Lorein Cordain's book "The Paleo Diet" and read it but I must admit I was fairly dubious about how I would manage without my bread and toast!
But here I am - almost four months later and more passionate than ever about my journey and doing my first Whole30!
If you are new to this I hope that you too are enjoying it so much you keep it up!

Anyway, enough talking rubbish!

The past 2 days have gone like so food wise:

Day 9
Breakfast:
Liver, bacon, spinach, tomato and onion
My first time eating liver since childhood - it was better than expected, but it might take me a while to love it!

Lunch: A Chicken Indian thing I threw together including spices, coconut milk and ground almonds. Tasted delish, but it didn't agree with me for some reason. Bad digestive issues afterwards. The spices??

Dinner: Minced Lamb Stew
Snacks: Apple
Exercise: 3 miles walk

Day 10
Breakfast: Bacon and Veg Omelette with avocado

Lunch: Smoked Paprika Chicken with Green Bean, Broccoli and tomato salad.
This was a little bland. I tried adding coconut milk as a dressing but it kept sliding off. I needed a dressing!

Dinner: Pork Loin with unsweetened apple sauce, mashed cauliflower, buttered carrots and turnips.

Snacks: Apple, 2x scrambled eggs (maybe!)
Exercise: 3 miles walk.

Ill finish with the following:
Remember - It is important to include exercise in your lifestyle - in particular light exercise like walking with occasional sprints is good. And lifting something heavy. I plan to do some lifting tomorrow. While in my opinion weight loss and a healthy lifestyle are as a result of roughly 80 diet 20 exercise ratio - so you should not use your seemingly easy weight-loss (if that is your aim) as an excuse NOT to exercise. Our Paleo ancestors were not sedentary so include exercise!

That is all for now!

Remember - you are 1/3 of the way there! Keep it up and keep it Paleo :)

Week One in the bag! :)

Days 7 and 8

Heyho! :)

I decided not to post yesterday mainly because I didn't have anything to report, and there is probably no one reading this anyway! haha So in today's post I have included my past two days.

Day 7

Woke up to a cold and foggy morning.... Brrrrr, winter is here! But it soon cleared up into a beautiful crisp and dry day so I went for a lovely walk with the dog after breakfast(about 2 miles).

I am really beginning to see the increase in energy levels throughout the day and at night. Although I had been pretty strict on Paleo for the past few months, I do include milk in tea (and I suppose I am drinking more cups a day lately than I realise) and potatoes throughout the week sometimes. Apart from that I don't veer too much from the diet but I am amazed at the difference I feel since becoming 100% Paleo. Its amazing what a difference a few tweaks can make.

Yesterday of course marked the end of the first week of Whole30 and I have to say that whilst it has been challenging at times it hasn't been too difficult. Here is to the next 21!!

Food wise my day went as follows:

Breakfast: Bacon and veggie (spring onion, tomatoes, red pepper and spinach) omelette with avocado (pictured above).

Dinner: Salmon Parcels with roasted veggies cooked in coconut oil
(Salmon cooked white wine vinegar, fennel, dill, carrots and spring onions)

Tea: 2 x eggs scrambled

Snacks: Banana, apple

Day 8

And the beginning of my second week on Whole30. I had a busy, busy day today so I knew I had to be prepared. I never got hungry thank god, but I do feel like eating snacks right now and I don't really fancy anything. I have also had quite a few snacks already but maybe I am just extra hungry because I was busy?!

Food wise, my day looked like this:

Breakfast: Butter Fried Salmon Fillet with Stirfried veggies
Snack: Piece of bacon, apple, banana
Lunch: 2 eggs scrambled with spinach with avocado

Dinner: Chicken, turnip, broccoli and cauliflower
Snack: 2 x mandarins.

Feeling good! So keep it up and if you are feeling down today remember, you are over a quarter there already! Go you!

Day 6- My Whole30 November Challenge

Day 6 Amigos! :)

I love Sundays - family lunch and quality time.

We went for a big dinner in my parents and we tend to all chip in and help cook.

My sis made a tomato soup to start and we had roast chicken for dinner.

We then went and visited my other half's mother and got tea there! So we were out all day and got fed well! A great Sunday all round.

I am anxious about loosing too much weight on my Whole30. I know most people have the opposite problem, but I had kind of reached my goal weight before I started the 30 day challenge and I am afraid I will loose more. My collarbone is fairly noticeable at this point so I am going to evaluate things this week and try and eat more calories. Maybe I have not been eating enough.

Anywho, my son is back at school tomorrow after his mid term break - so it is back to routine thank god.

My Food for Day 6:

Breakfast: 3 x streaky bacon & 2 x scrambled eggs (cooked in bacon fat)
Black Tea

Lunch: Homemade Tomato and Veg soup
Roast Chicken, mashed cauliflower, carrots and parsnips and brussels sprouts cooked in onions, garlic, chilli and chicken stock

Tea: (more) bacon, a fried egg and a grain free sausage.

Snacks: Medjool dates (4), banana, apricots (2).

I hope your Day 6 went well! Until tomorrow, eat well, eat Paleo!! ;)

Day 5 - I Heart Paleo!!

Hi all,

I wont keep you long! So it is the weekend, and with the weekend comes the "treat" mentality. For me, a treat is going for a coffee and a salad these days! Oh how things change! Once upon a time my 8 year old son and I used to go to a cafe on a Saturday and share a piece of black forest gateau or something equally decadent! Bu since his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis in August 2010 and my conversion to Paleo this is a thing of the past. But we did treat ourself to coffee and salad. (He had non Paleo Lasange - he isn't Paleo unfortunately, a little at a time, Ill convert him eventually!)

I also treat myself to steak at the weekend too - something I never used to do but it is something I love now

Anyway apart from that nothing to report - today was a breeze food and temptation wise and I am feeling a lot better. All is good! Hope you are doing good too, please share your experiences!

Menu - Day 5

Breakfast- Salmon, stir fried veggies, avocado, black tea

Lunch - Chicken Salad
Coffee

Dinner - Striploin Steak fried in butter, onions, mushrooms and tomatoes, sweet potatoes in coconut oil and leftover broccoli.

Snacks - None so far - I might have a banana later.

Man I love Paleo! Beautiful food, no counting calories tediously and no holds barred on the fats.

Paleo 4 Ever! :)

Day 4 - My Whole30 November

Hello Paleo Friends.

Day 4 already, where are the days going?

Another fairly good day today. I am very sick of being sick though I must admit! Although I think I might FINALLY have turned a corner! I am nearly over the cough and sniffles but I just had zero energy again today. Maybe it was a combination of cold and strict Paleo-ness though!

Anyway a pretty uneventful day besides. Tidied my house from top to bottom (that counts as exercise right!?) and went to the cinema this evening with my fiance. The smell of popcorn tempted me for a few minutes but once I got into the dark and could no longer see my fiance eating his I was happy enough with my water and almonds!

Had a disagreement with a certain someone about not loosing any more weight. He does have a point I suppose, while I am not VERY thin by Hollywood standards I am only a few pounds off the lower end of my ideal weight for height so I am concerned I will loose too much. I have been told I will level off at my ideal level so hopefully that will happen soon.

Anyway here's my daily consuming outlined:

Breakfast: None (I slept in today)
Lunch: Leftover soup

Dinner: Butter Chicken Curry with Cauliflower Rice (pictured)
Snack: Beef burger with salad

Hope your day has gone well too and remember - One Day At A Time!

Day 3 Whole30 & Still Mucus Ridden :(

Hi Paleo friends!

Hope your Day 3 has gone/is going well for you! (depending on what time zone you are in!)

Mine has gone pretty good. I feel a lot better today creak wise but I am still mucus-y and apparently I still look rough (in the words of my lovely, over honest fiancé!) But I did manage to get out for a 2 mile walk between the rain showers which was nice for me (and my dog!)

I even done OK visiting the mother in law this evening. Usually trips to other people's house spurs a barrage of questions when I turn down treats with my tea, or as today when I took my tea black, but no one asked a thing! Maybe they all think I am crazy already!

Food wise was also good -

Breakfast - A 2 egg omelette with red pepper, spring onion, spinach, and tomato
Lunch - I made Chicken & Veg soup which contained kale, carrots, leek, celery, broccoli and fresh thyme.
Dinner - Tenderloin of pork, steamed sweet potato, broccoli and carrots.
Snack - leftover pork

A great day all round! I hope your Whole30 is going to plan.

:)

P.S - I took pictures but I don't have my phone right now. I will upload tomorrow.

Day 2 Whole30 November

Hi all!

I hope your Day 2s have gone well!

I am thankfully feeling a lot better today. My cold is a lot better so hopefully I will be able for a walk tomorrow.

Diet wise my day went well too, I did not find it too challenging and I am growing a taste for black tea.

If you are experiencing a lot of hunger throughout the day, chances are you are not eating enough fats, so do not be afraid to add some good fats to every meal. This can be done by adding avocados to meals, cooking using coconut or olive oil and adding clarified butter to meals. Nuts are also nice to add to salads.

I remember when I first started eating Paleo I had been so brain washed by low fat dieting that I was AFRAID of good fat! And it took me a while to realise I could eat it without worrying. So EMBRACE the fat - trust me it works!

The sluggish feeling you are maybe experiencing at this point is caused by your body switching from using carbohydrates as its main energy source to using fat. The sluggish feeling is completely normal and lasts from 4-7 days, after that you will start to notice you have more energy and feel better. It will be worth it, so stick at it.

It is important not to allow yourself to get too hungry though so eat often if you need it. Between meals try a handful of nuts, a piece of fruit or even just a snack of leftover meats etc. As the days go on your appetite will become less and less so don't be afraid of overeating at this point.

Just try not to overdo it on the nuts and fruit - it isn't an excuse to eat a kilo of almonds either! Just eat until you are satisfied.

Today I didn't really feel challenged by anything. It went fairly smoothly thank God.

My day 2 Menu

BF: 2 x Scrambled Eggs (in clarified butter) with crunchy Kale
Black Tea

Lunch: 1 x Pork chop with leftover veg

Dinner: Lamb Mince Stew with mashed cauliflower and green beans.

Snacks: Banana, almonds, apple, black tea.

I hope you had as good a day and remember - 1 day at a time and before you know it you will be at 30 days and somehow NOT craving bad food!

Image source (fats) - Paleospirit.com

Day 1 - My November Whole 30 Challenge

So, my long awaited Whole30 challenge began today and unfortunately my body decided to conk and I am suffering from a really crappy cold today.

I  have not allowed it to ruin my Day 1diet wise however, but it is sapping my energy all the same and the lack of appetite has meant I have not really eaten much. I suppose it has meant I have not been craving anything bad.

The first day of a Whole30 is always challenging - especially if you are giving up refined carbs and sugars for the first time. It is completely normal to experience a small crash during the afternoon if you have not added enough fats to your meals. It is important to add this so you feel satisfied until dinner time.

I suppose the biggest challenge for me today was not having milk in my tea. Although I am a fairly strict Paleo most of the time, I do allow myself milk in tea only and white potatoes from time to time. I got through it though and I think I will be drinking more black coffee this month rather than tea.

Remember apart from tea and coffee you can only drink water. Drink as much as you can as it will help flush out bad toxins.

My Day 1 Menu


Breakfast: 2 pieces of bacon, 4 cherry tomatoes and 2 eggs scrambled in the bacon fat.
Cup of black coffee

Snack: Orange

Dinner: Baked buttered salmon with coconut oil roasted vegetables
Water

Snack: Banana

As I said, my appetite has been poor today and I had to go to bed mid day so I ate less than usual.
Hopefully things go better for me tomorrow!

How did your day go guys?!!

Clarifying Butter; Making Ghee

Clarifying butter removes the mild solids from the butter, leaving behind just the fat. This beautiful golden bounty is also knowen as ghee.

It is essential to remove the dairy components and the water from the butter and make it Paleo friendly.You will be left with the pure butter fat. This also raises the smoke point of the fat substantially, making it less likely to burn and turn rancid.

And it is a lot easier than you think!




Ingredients:


1 block of Kerrygold Butter

Method:

Cut butter into pieces and melt in a pot over a low heat.
Do not stir.
Once the butter is melted and golden you will see a skim on the top of the liquid and solids at the bottom. This is the part you want to get rid of.

Line a sieve with some muslin (a baby muslin works great here or even a clean cloth) in it and place over a bowl.
Gently pour the butter mixture into the lined sieve and allow the liquid to go through.
This will happen quite slowly, do not be impatient and squeeze or you might push through the milk solids.
The lovely golden mixture in the bowl is the clarified butter/ghee and can be placed in a tub and refrigerated for up to one month.

It has a higher smoke point now too making it great for cooking at higher temperatures.

Chocolate & Coconut Cake

So, my oven has been broken for a couple of weeks which has meant no baking and zero Paleo treats for me. Which is no bad thing as I don't like eating too many treats, Paleo or not.

However, as I am starting my Whole30 challenge soon and because I have been doing good with my results I decided to have my parents over for dinner today and to treat them to a Paleo chocolate cake.

This cake is perfect for a celebration or large family gathering as I figure it could easily feed 15 - 18 people! I had 8 for dinner and I only used about 2/3 of it and the portions were too big as the cake is quite luscious.

I know the chocolate is not 100% Paleo but the rest of it definitely fits the brief and a chocolate treat, as long as it is good quality is OK sometimes.

I was delighted with the results, and I hope you enjoy it too!

Ingredients:
For the cake:

3/4 cup good quality chocolate at least 72% Cocoa solids and soya free
1 cup of coconut oil
1 cup Almond Flour
3/4 cup of cocoa powder
1 cup honey
10 free range eggs
1 tbsp of vanilla extract
2 tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
For the filling: 
(you could also just use some whipped coconut cream if desired)
2 avocados
1.5 tsp of cocoa powder
tbsp of honey
1 small ripe banana (optional, I just felt it needed a little more sweetness. This is up to you)
For the frosting:
(It is really lovely and can be used as a cake frosting or for cupcakes.)
1 cup of good quality chocolate
1/2 cup of coconut oil
3 tbsp of honey
1 tbsp of vanilla extract
Pinch of salt


Directions:
Melt the chocolate and the oil over a water bath and allow to cool (this is important as we don't want the eggs to scramble when we add later.
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well

Mix the eggs, honey, vanilla and cooled chocolate and oil in a bowl, beating well until combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet gradually combining well.

Pour batter into greased 9" tins which you have lined the bottom of.
Cook at 175C for 35 - 40 minutes until lightly browned and when a skewer comes out clean.
Remove from tins and take of baking paper. Cool on a wire tray.

You can bake the cakes the day before your party to save time and decorate on the day. Just wrap it in foil and keep.

To make the filling - Combine all the ingredients and blitz with a hand blender until smooth.
Spoon over the bottom cake and sandwich together.

To make the frosting:
Melt the chocolate and oil over a water bath
Add honey, vanilla and salt and stir well

Allow to cool in the fridge until thick.
Blitz with a hand blender until smooth.
If it is a little thick place over the water again until ready to spread. (or put in microwave for 10 seconds)
Smooth over the cake and garnish with dessicated coconut and strawberries.
The frosting will set a little again but is delicious!

What To Know When Embarking on Whole30 this November!

Do you want to look and feel great this Christmas? Why not take on a new lifestyle that will help you not only feel better and healthier, but will help you loose weight and improve your body image at the same time?

But before you consider this, please consider this -what I speak of  is NOT a diet! It is not a 6 week detox after which you binge on all the bad foods again, because obviously doing so will undo all that good work!

The Paleo Diet is a lifestyle that mimics the eating habits and hunter gather ways of our ancestors -
it is a commitment to a new healthier lifestyle and way of life where grains, dairy, legumes, sugar and processed foods are restricted, and real, whole foods are eaten in abundance.

Now, before you loose your head and think "WTF WILL I eat"? The answer is unlimited amounts of beautiful healthy foods like red meat, fish and chicken ,veggies, fruit, nuts and good fats is what!

If you are new to Paleo it CAN be overwhelming and confusing. I myself am reasonably new to it too, having only started my new way of eating in July - but I already feel brilliant, have lost 12lbs, almost 6 inches from my waist and a better outlook on diet and nutrition. And I truly believe YOU can do it too!

The best way to start Paleo is to do as much research as possible for a couple of weeks prior to starting and then do a Whole30 challenge - Whole9's original program designed to change your life in 30 days.

Check out their website on www.whole9life.com where they describe their plan as ;

"Think of it as a short-term nutritional reset, designed to help you restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation and put an end to unhealthy cravings, habits, and relationships with food and eating".

The plan is a strict 30 day kick start to Paleo and helps prepare your gut for longterm Paleo ways. 

So the basic fundamentals of the diet are to NOT eat the following foods: 

• Grains; including wheat, rye, spelt, corn, millet, rice and quinoa
• Dairy: including cows, goats or milk's milk, cheese, cream, yogurts or sour cream
• No sugars, processed or otherwise including honey, maple syrup or stevia. (once the Whole30 is over you may use these in moderation, but for this challenge they are not allowed)
• No legumes including beans of all types (black, baked, kidney) or peas, lentils and peanuts.  No peanut butter either or soy sauce and products.
• No alcohol (you may decide to reintroduce this after the Whole30) 
• No White Potatoes. 

Also two other points:

1. Do not try to create Paleoised versions of your old favourites. Many people make Paleo pizza, paleo bread etc, and these are all fine in moderation after the Whole30, but not during. They are seen as a bad replacement, and not real foods in the grand scheme of things. 

2. No stepping on the scales - AT ALL for the 30 days!! 

So, are you ready to try this 30 day challenge and stepping stone towards a new outlook on food and life?

Join me from 1st to 30th November and do one thing to finish 2011 feeling and looking great while eating delicious foods! 

Email me if you think you might want to join in or contact me on facebook! 

I am by no means an expert but I will help in any way I can! 

www.facebook.com/irishpaleogirl

irishpaleogirl@gmail.com 

Coconut & Lemon Salmon

I love salmon but sometimes I get sick of eating it the same old way and I miss sauces. So I decided to try this recipe and see how it went. And I really enjoyed it! Another successful Paleo recipe.

Serves 4

4 Salmon Fillets
1 small can coconut milk  (160ml)
1 tbsp fresh dill chopped
Rind of 1 lemon
Salt & Pepper
Juice of half a lemon

Place salmon fillets in an oven proof dish and season with salt, pepper and dill.
Grate the lemon rind over the fish.
In a bowl mix the lemon juice and coconut milk together and pour over salmon.
Place under a preheated grill for about 30 minutes until the fish is almost cooked through and the sauce is bubbling.
Let rest for 2/3 minutes before serving with or without the sauce.

Lamb Meatballs and Paleo "Pasta"

Autumn is most definitely here and the windy cool weather and shorter evenings are beginning to advance.

Autumn for me means hot soups, casseroles and stews. Ultimate comfort foods! 

I can't wait to get stuck into some new recipes and I think I deserve some baked good next week as I refrained from baking this week. 

Anyway, this recipe is very easy and nothing fancy, but it proves that even good family favourites can be Paleo-ised to keep the whole family happy! 

Ingredients: 

For the Meatballs: 

To make 8 large meatballs (to serve 3/4 people) 

1lb of minced lamb (or other meat)

1 large egg

Sat & pepper

1tbs fresh rosemary

1 tbs fresh thyme

1 tbs dried garlic

3 tbs olive oil

For Meat Pasta Sauce:

2 tbs olive oil 

250g plum tomatoes, chopped

100ml of water 

3 tbs tomato puree

1/2 red pepper, chopped. 

1 onion, chopped

4 x garlic, chopped

2 tbsp dried Italian Herbs

2 tbsp fresh basil 

Salt/Pepper

Directions: 
To Make The Meatballs: 

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl (except oil) and form into meatballs. 

Place in the fridge until needed.
To Make The Sauce: 

Heat the oil in a pan and add the garlic and onions, stir for 3-4 minutes until just translucent. 

Add the chopped tomatoes, peppers and water and bring to simmer.
Simmer until the tomatoes begin to break down. 

Add the puree, herbs, salt and pepper and sugar.
Bring to simmer and reduce heat.
Cook for 25-30 minutes on a low-medium heat until the tomatoes have broken down.
Check for seasoning. 

In the meantime add remaining oil in another large pan and add the meatballs. Brown on all sides. 

Add the tomato sauce to the pan with the meatball, bring to the boil, reduce to simmer and cover. 

Cook for 25 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Check regularly and add more water if needed. 

Serve with courgette pasta (shred 1-2 courgettes and steam for 2 minutes before serving) 

And that is it! A guaranteed family favourite! 

The Breakfast Baffle

From my experience, when trying to convince friends and families of the merits of the Paleo Lifestyle, the one area many struggle with is breakfast.

Breakfast to most non Paleo people is made up of oats, processed, sugary cereal, toast and juice. Sounds healthy right? WRONG! Unfortunately all of these foods are a recipe for raised blood sugar as they convert to sugar, and quickly. Long term this can lead to insulin resistance and fat storage.

I understand this is quite hard to swallow, mainly because we have been taught that cereals like Special K are power food and the best thing you can eat for breakfast. But its true, we have been lied to!

Instead of eating this processed crap, you need to change your attitude to breakfasting and think differently about your first meal of the day. Most people choose to break their fast immediately on waking, while others decide to wait until later on to do so. Either is fine, unless you have endocrine issues and you should avoid skipping breakfast in order to help balance blood sugar levels. Don't just skip breakfast to save time. If you are not hungry on waking that is fine, wait up to an hour, but do not allow yourself to get ravenous.


Now its time to speak FOOD! There are a number of options open to you. Many people love to have eggs and bacon, in their many forms, and I admit, on more chilled out mornings when I have time, I love to cook up a storm for breakfast. Eggs - fried, boiled, poached or an omelette are so convenient and delicious! And don't forget the bacon as a treat! I usually add an avocado and some veg like tomatoes, asparagus or mushrooms. Fried breakfasts without the guilt?! Where could you go wrong?! Add a grain free sausage for a treat or a slice of Paleo Bread!

But what about the days when you are fed up of eggs and bacon?! (Yes it does and will happen!) Dont despair, there are other options! How about making a batch of Paleo muffins like these ones for days you are rushing or wanting something sweet? They freeze very well and can be thawed as needed. Or how about cooking up some "egg muffins" - mix together 6 eggs, red pepper, spring onions, salt, pepper and chopped bacon and pouring into muffin tins? Cook until set and you have handy egg breakfasts in a jiffy with just the need to reheat.

Still miss your oats? Mark's Daily Apple has a now infamous No Oats Oatmeal which might just hit the spot! I have never tried it but it appears to be very popular! If you try it let me know what you think!

Of course if you think of breakfast in the same way a Caveman would, you wouldn't have any hangups about the type of food you ate! Cavemen by their very nature ate what was available to them. This meant eating meat, fruit, root vegetables or whatever they had leftover from their latest kill. To replicate this you could eat whatever you have leftover from dinner the night before. Leftover salmon, steak or chicken with leftover veggies is as Paleo as you get and pretty delicious! The protein and nutrients will more than keep you feeling full and ready for the day!

Smoothies are another great way to eat on the go while filling up on nutrients! Make a smoothie from fruit, berries, banana, almond or coconut milk and veggies such as spinach. Add fats/ protein like flaxseed, avocado or nuts to slow down absorption of those fruit sugars.

I hope I have given you some ideas on what to eat for the most important meal of the day. Breakfast should be delicious, nutritious and easy. But don't forget it doesnt have to take on the usual form! Be imaginative and creative and enjoy!

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These are divine! I found a recipe on Paleo Parents for Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies but on reflection they had Cherry Preserve in it (and it had quite a bit of sugar in it so I refrained, and anyway I don't really like Cherries so doh, it wasn't a great choice!) So I decided to wing it and try my own concoction. These were the result, and damn yummy!

This recipe made 8 large cookies, but you could of course make 16 smaller ones!

1 cup of Almond Flour
1/4 cup of Coconut Oil (Liquid)
1/4 cup of apple sauce (3 x eating apples cooked in a little water until soft and pureed. Unsweetened)
1/4 cup of cocoa powder, sifted
1 tbsp of baking powder
4 tbsp of honey
1 tbsp of flax seed
100g of  Good Quality 75% Cocoa Chocolate cut into chunks

Place all the ingredients in a bowl except the chocolate and blend well using a hand blender.
The mixture should be quite thick. Add a little more almond flour if needed.
Form into cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Push a chunk of the chocolate into each cookie and cover over gently with mixture to hide.
Place in an oven at 180C for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
Remove gently from tray and place on a wire tray to cool, they will crunch up slightly.
Store in an airtight container and ENJOY!!

Coconut, Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup

This is a perfect warmer for the upcoming Autumn. I really love soup during the chilly weather and this will definitely be on my favourites list. Its got a distinctive coconut flavour, so if you like coconut you will love this I think. The coconut comes through and then the hint of roasted garlic. Really filling and satisfying!

Serves 4

1 large sweet potato
1 medium Butternut squash
5 x cloves of garlic
4 tbsp coconut oil
Litre of chicken stock
2 tbsp Italian Herbs
1/2 tin of coconut milk

Preheat oven to 200C
Chop the sweet potato and butternut squash into cubes and place on a baking sheet with the garlic cloves
Coat with the coconut oil and herbs and mix well.
Place in the oven until almost tender, remove and place them in a saucepan, removing the garlic cloves.
Squeeze the garlic from the cloves into the saucepan too and add the chicken stock.
Simmer the soup for about 15 minutes and blend using a hand blender.
Add the coconut milk and check for seasoning. Simmer until heated through
Serve in heated bowls with bacon croutons and paleo bread (optional)

Pork Cutlet in a Almond Meal and Wholegrain Mustard Coating

I created these pork cutlets because pork chops are probably my least favourite cut of meat and I struggle to make them interesting. I actually pan fried these but the almond meal is quite delicate on them and can pull away. So I put one in the oven instead with olive oil and it browned nicely too. Just be careful handling them.
It is extremely easy to make and a quick family dinner for those rush days! Sweet potatoes go very well with pork and we had ours with some mashed.

Serves 4

Ingredients: 
4 x Pork Chops
1 cup of Almond Flour
2 tbsp of Whole Grain Mustard
Pepper
1/2 tbsp Garlic Salt
2 tbsp Parsley
2 tbsp olive oil
1 egg (beaten)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 200C.
Wrap each chop in cling film and bash with a heavy object until flattened. This will tenderise the meat and make it thinner so it cooks quicker.
Unwrap the pork and spread the wholegrain mustard on one side of the chop. Add to both sides if you like loads of mustard!
Place beaten egg on a plate.
Place almond flour on a plate and add garlic powder, pepper, and parsley.
Dip the chop carefully into the egg mixture and then into the almond mixture to coat well.
Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and put in the oven for 25 minutes or until cooked through and browning on the outside.
They wont become overly crispy but they will still be yummy! :)

Paleo Bread

I am one happy bunny after successfully making this bread! I am definitely going to treat myself to a loaf of this every now and then.

I got inspiration from Elana's Pantry and decided to make my own changes and here is the result!

I am super chuffed and its delicious with melted butter. Food heaven!

1 1/2 cups of almond flour
1/4 cup milled organic flax seed
1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds (hold some back for the top)
1 tbsp of honey
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
5 eggs beaten

Add flour, baking soda, salt and flax seed to a bowl and mix well
Slowly add the eggs to the mixture stirring well.
Add olive oil (you could use coconut oil either)
Add honey and mix.
Add the pumpkin seeds
Pour mixture into a bread tin and sprinkle with the seeds.
Place in a preheated oven at 175C for 30 - 35 minutes until cooked through.
Cool in the tin and serve with butter and fruit preserve.

Thanks Elana for the inspiration :)