It's Been a While!!

     

  So I have been thinking about my blog for a long time.  Thinking about how I should really post something new.  I even have stored pictures on my phone of some great recipes just waiting to be shared.  I am in my final weeks of winter classes at school and looking forward to the summer, when i am sure to have many more blogging hours than I currently have.  I have been thinking about all that I want to do with my blog and all that I want to share with others.  In the weeks to come to plan to continue to unfold my passion for nutrition and for others to experience the freedom that comes from eating the way God intended for us to eat.....clean and free!!  I am looking into a program through Integrated Nutrition to gain a certification in Nutrition Coaching.  I am soo excited about this.  So eventually my dream is to blog daily and help inspire others to pursue more knowledge about their life and health.  Health really envelopes so much more than food and exercise.  How we feel emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically can be effected by the little choices we make minute by minute.

      I struggled for many years feeling like crap in all four areas and know what it is to really be FREE to live!!  I am not saying that I no longer struggle, because that would be a lie, but experiencing this true freedom will cause you to never be able to settle for less.  I would sound too simple for me to say that the answer is just to eat clean, real food.  That is one of the biggest steps I took in my journey.  I finally gave in and decided I was sick of experiencing the same NON results from doing the same things that didn't work.  I have been through the weight loss journey, and now I am onto the next phase of my life where I want to LIVE and experience a full and free life.  Also in this next phase of my journey, I want to share this passion with others, in hopes of seeing just one (more would be wonderful too!) life changed!!  I will continue to passionately share the way with others and look forward to seeing that one person really "get it"!!!

      So in the weeks to come, my goal is to blog at least once a week.  That is practical for me, even though my heart would love to say that I will share something everyday.  I will do it!!  More for myself at this point.......I get to share all that is in my head with anyone that would like to read it!!

Primal Bacon Burgers

          It's been a while since I have been able to add a new post.  Once school started back up, I am once again flooded with homework, but I just had to share this FABULOUS recipe that my husband and I put together today.  I was thinking about how two years ago I would have NEVER eaten red meat, I was scared of FAT!!  I ate plenty of veggies and my protein consisted of ground turkey and chicken breast.  Who knew that you could enjoy the full flavor of grass fed ground beef, sausage and bacon all mixed up in a DELICIOUS burger patty!! We had our burgers and some of my coleslaw and I feel completely satisfied!  I LOVE eating paleo!!  It's hard to explain to people how simple this concept is, yet so life changing.  I am so excited for this journey to continue and for my family to jump on board.  My husband is doing a 30 day paleo challenge starting on Monday, so I am thrilled to have a partner in this!!  So here it is folks, the BEST burger, served up with my Primal Barbecue Sauce!!

Primal Bacon Burgers

2 lbs grass fed ground beef

1/2 pound crumbled bacon

1/2 pound pork sausage

1/2 purple onion

1 heaping TBSP minced garlic

1/2 cup hard white cheddar cut into tiny cubes

Mix all together and grill on charcoal grill........mmmmmhhhhhhhhh enjoy!!

Broccoli Bacon Fritatta

    

Good morning.  I just finished enjoying this super yummy breakfast from our left over fritatta supper the other night.  Since removing sweeteners from my diet, I have switched to black coffee to which I had one heaping teaspoon of coconut cream, and it's delicious!!  Back to the fritatta.  I love fritattas because they are sooo easy and this is one supper that all my kids enjoy.  It's so simple to create many varieties of fritattas because you always start with the same simple base of onion, garlic and eggs.  You can used left over meat, veggies or sweet potatoes.  I used left over steamed broccoli from our previous nights supper and threw in some real bacon bits, and my kids raved that it was the best fritatta I have ever made.  Happy mom moment!!  So here the recipe.

1/2 Purple Onion Chopped

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil

9 - 12 eggs

Dash of Almond milk

2 cups Steamed Broccoli

1/2 cup Bacon Bits

I heat up my coconut oil in my black wrought iron skillet and saute the onion and garlic.  Whisk your eggs and add a dash of Almond Milk or what ever you have on hand (heavy cream would be wonderful too!)  Add eggs to skillet stirring in the onion and garlic.  I add sea salt and ground pepper at this point.  Immediately stir in broccoli and bacon.  I topped mine with 1/2 cup Romano cheese, but this is optional.  Place skillet in oven preheated to 350 for 20 - 25 minutes.  I love to serve this dish with a large salad and apple slices.  

         Ok this is my last post today, I promise.  I have decided to try to stick to posting when I have a new  recipe discovery.  I will try to stick to this, but no promises.  The BIGGEST step for me on this paleo journey is ridding my diet completely of artificial sweeteners and ingredients.  I have always eaten a "clean" diet, but have been "fearful" of sugar and extra fat.  Since the beginning of my clean eating pursuit, I have used artificial sweetener believing this was saving me from the insulin spiking results of sugar, but I am learning now that I was so wrong.  I have eaten my fair share of "sugar free" foods.  Since going sugar free for real and adding in good fat, but body has been COMPLETELY free of cravings.  I can't even believe the difference in the way I feel.  My mind isn't wondering to food or my next meal.  When I am eating a good meal, I'm not thinking of wanting to more and more of it because it's so good.  I truly believe that there are people who are completely sensitive to grains, and eating them causes their bodies to want MORE of everything.


Ok, I told you  all this just to bring you my recipe for my Primal Barbecue Sauce.  It is all natural and SUPER yummy!!  Tonight I made grass fed Bison Burgers, with Coleslaw and my barbecue sauce.

My Primal Barbecue Sauce

1 Small Can Organic Tomato Paste

2 Tbsp White Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tbsp Raw Honey

1 Tbsp Melted Organic Coconut Oil

2 Tbsp Chili Powder

1/4 Cup Diced Purple Onion

1 Tbsp Minced Garlic (I have a HUGE jar of minced garlic in my fridge at ALL times!)

1 Tbsp Apple Liquid Smoke

1 Tsp Sea Salt

Primal Coleslaw

1 Bag Coleslaw

1 Bag Broccoli Slaw

1/2 Cup Sesame seeds

1/2 Cup Purple Onion

1/4 Cup White Balsamic Vinegar

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tbsp Raw Honey

Snow Day!

It is freezing out today and we are looking to get anywhere from 4 - 8 inches before the nights done.  We are looking forward to a family gathering tomorrow night with my husbands cousins, my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law. There will be lots of food, but I am sure most of it is non paleo. I want to go prepared with my own delicious food, so that there will be no temptation.

I went to our local butcher and purchased some beef sticks.  They have more sodium than I prefer, but I don't make it habit of eating them often.  I also bought some pork rinds.  Who knew paleo eaters could enjoy these yummy "chips".  I would love to find a better quality brand, as I am sure these are not fried in coconut oil, but will due for our family game night.  I also made some homemade guacamole, which I have provided my recipe for.  So simple, but soo good!!  Ari, my 15 year old has also fallen in love with this recipe.

Guacamole

3 Ripe Avocados

1/2 cup Diced Purple Onion

2 tbsp Minced Garlic

1 tbsp Dried Cilantro

The Juice of one Lemon

Sea Salt to taste

Mash all your avocados with a fork, add in the rest of your ingredients, stir and enjoy!!  Store in air tight container in your refrigerator for up to one week.  Yummy.  I have a helping of this yummy fat with my eggs every morning.  Soon to come a recipe for Bison Taco Bowl that go perfectly with the yummy guac!

Primal Protein Bar

My Primal Protein Bar

I LOVE trying new recipe ideas out, and this bar turned out to be soooo good and is a perfect snack for the kids after school and for mom's post workout snack too!!  My 15 year old daughter Ari says I should package and sell them!!

1/2 cup Crunchy Almond Butter (Creamy is good too, I just love the little nut chunks!)
1/2 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce
1/2 cup Raw Honey
1/2 cup Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
1/2 cup 100% Cocoa Powder
1 cup 100% Whey Protein Isolate (this is the ONLY ingredient, there are no flavorings or added mess!)
3/4 cup Organic Coconut Flour
1/2 cup Organic Unsweetened Coconut (optional)
1 tsp Almond Extract

Combine all wet ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 90 seconds.  Make sure coconut oil is melted and mix all wets ingredients thoroughly.
Combine all dry ingredients in mixing bowl.  Add wet ingredients to dry and begin mixing together.  Mixture will be thick.  If mixture seems to be too thick, you can add a dash of coconut milk to thin to preferred consistency.  Layer mixture into a 9 x 9 pan for thicker bars or into a bar pan for thinner bars. I then place the mixture in refrigerator for about an hour before cutting into squares.  I package each individual square into small snack bags and place all snack bags into a larger freezer bag and store in the freezer.  These bars a chewy right out of the freezer and taste AMAZING!!