Pulled Pork and Brussels

Mmmm!! Smoked pulled pork with a side of Brussel sprouts turned out awesome!! 

Simple Breakfast Idea!

Scrambles eggs with home grown jalapeños and vegan cheese with a side of bacon and peaches. Mmmm! Simple, quick, and easy!!

Forks Over Knives Banana Granola Parfait

Well my house smells soooo yummy, the kids running in and out keep stopping in the kitchen asking what is cooking and if they can all have some :) So I figured I'd share on here as well! Now if you know me at all you know simple is the way I go...if i bake at all that is, normally I leave that up to my husband and my neighbor :p But I decided to go on and try this today...hope you all enjoy as well!! :) Its under the breakfast section in the cookbook, we are going to use it as an afternoon sweet treat and left overs for breakfast tomorrow morning.
Banana Granola Parfait

For the Banana Cream:
One 12 oz package extra firm silken tofu, drained.
2 ripe bananas
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup date molasses or brown rice syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
2 cups Banana Almond Granola (Recipe Below)
1/2 batch fruit salad or 4 cups (Recipe Below)

To make Banana Cream:
Combine the tofu, bananas, lemon juice, date molasses, vanilla extract, and salt in a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Chill at least one hour before serving
To Assemble the parfait:
Have ready individual parfait glasses
Spoon 1/4 cup of Banana Cream in the bottom of glass, top with 1/4 cup of the granola, followed by 1/4 cup of the fruit salad. Repeat until the glass is full.

Banana Almond Granola:
 8 cups rolled oats
2 cups pitted and chopped dates
2 ripe bananas, peeled and chopped
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp salt (for taste)
1 cup slivered almonds (toasted), optional
Preheat oven to 275
Add oats to a large mixing bowl and set aside. Line two 13x18 inch baking pans with parchment paper.
Place dates in a medium saucepan with 1 cup water bring to a boil for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and add mixture to blender with banana, almond extract, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy.
Add date mixture to granola and mix well. Divide granola mix between two baking sheets. Bake for 40-50 minutes stirring every 10 minutes, until granola is crispy. remoe from the oven and let cool before adding slivered almonds. Cereal will get crispy as it cools.

Fruit Salad:
1 pint fresh strawberries, stems removed and sliced
1 pint fresh blueberries
2 cups seedless grapes
1 ripe pear, cored and diced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons date syrup(optional)
Pinch of ground sugar
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Chill until ready to serve


 http://www.forksoverknives.com/

Baked Ziti by Forks Over Knives

We are very excited to try our first ever (well ok from the cookbook instead of their blog) recipe from Forks Over Knives tonight :) I will upload a pic once its out of the oven. http://www.forksoverknives.com/ 
Their site/blog has tons of info on plant protein VS animal protein, they also have a movie out as well that explains it even better. Enjoy!

Baked Ziti

1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
4 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 tablespoons chopped oregano
One 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound whole grain ziti noodles
1 batch no cheese sauce (recipe below)

No-Cheese Sauce:
This sauce is great with the casserole and can be used for recipes like mac and cheese or baked ziti. Best of all, it takes about 5 minutes to put together.
1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 large red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons toasted cashews(optional)
1 tablespoon tahini(optional)
1 cup nutritional yeast
Sea salt to taste
Combine everything in a blender and puree until smooth and creamy.
**we also added nutmeg, we didnt use the cashews or tahini**
 

Fun Breakfast! Pepper Flower Eggs :)

 Super cute and fun breakfast idea!!! Was yummy too :)

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breakfastbrunch/eggs-breakfastbrunch/flower-power-eggs-in-pepper-rings/

Ingredients

• 1 dash Cooking Oil Spray (i used coconut)
• 1 whole Large Bell Pepper
• 4 whole Large Eggs
• 1 pinch Salt And Pepper, to taste
•  
  Heat a non-stick skillet to medium low heat. Lightly spray skillet with cooking oil spray.
  Cut bell pepper into 4 1/2 inch thick slices (you can use one bell pepper or different colors of bell peppers to give a variety of colors).
  Place pepper rings in the skillet.
  Crack one egg into each pepper ring. Cover and cook for a few minutes, until egg yolks are to desired firmness. If you like your yolks firm, it helps to break the yolk right after cracking into pepper rings.
  Season to taste
   

Bacon Wrapped Smokies

1 package of Lil' smokies (little tiny sausages from the grocery store)
1 lb bacon
1 tbs or so of brown sugar (you can try honey)

This would undoubtedly work without the brown sugar.  However, it cuts the intense flavor of sausages and that amount won't kill you, really! It doesn't really taste sweet, just a little hint of carmel-something. Of course, if you want to be strict, use honey instead.  Should do just as well. Come to think of it, I will do so next time!

The process:

Cut bacon in thirds. Wrap each individual sausage into a strip of bacon and slide the result onto a skewer. Arrange skewers on a baking pan and sprinkle with brown sugar. You will complete 6-8 skewers.  Stick 'em in the oven at 350 for 40 minutes or so. For extra crispiness, increase the temperature to 400F for the last five minutes.  Yum!
cavekitchen.com is where I found this recipe. The kids LOVED it their responses were "mmmm! mmmm!" and "This is the best EVER" :)

Paleo Omelet Muffins

Well day 1 of back on Paleo! :) Loved opening my fridge to prepare food for today to see so much healthy yummy food :) I am posting the link for what the kiddos and I are having for bfast this morning. Snack is just cut up veggies...lunch is a salad with whatever I decide to add to it from the fridge topped with olive oil and vinegar mmm mmm good! Hope you enjoy the Omelet Muffins!

Omelet Muffins
Makes 8 muffins. Approximate cooking time: 30 minutes.
Ingredients
coconut oil or paper muffin liners 2 cups diced vegetables*
8 eggs 1/4 tsp salt
1/8 cup water 1/8 tsp ground pepper
8 oz cooked meat (ham or sausage)
cut or crumbled into small pieces
2 medium carrots, sliced
Instructions
1) Preheat oven to 350°.
2) Grease 8 muffin cups with coconut oil or line with paper baking cups.
Fill any remaining muffin cups with 1” of water, so they do not scorch
while baking.
3) Beat the eggs in a medium bowl and add meat, vegetables, salt, ground
pepper, and any other ingredients you wish to add.
4) Pour mixture into the muffin cups.
5) Bake for 18-20 minutes.
*Asparagus, peppers, onions, broccoli work well, but use what’s on hand.

Summer Snack Idea

MMMM! I saw these and I def want to try them out so figured Id share on here as well...I need to get the molds so we can make these and enjoy before our summer ends (which here will prob be sooner then later :p) This came from: http://befaithfulbefabulous.ca/2012/06/07/summer-snacking-healthy-fruit-orange-blossom-water-frozen-popsicle/

Summer Snacking: Healthy Fruit Orange Blossom Water Frozen Popsicle

Posted by befaithfulbefabulous under wellness | Tags: Frozen Popsicle, kid friendly food, Summer Snacking |
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Ingredients

• 16 ounces Cold Water
• 1 ounce Orange Blossom Water
• 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
• Honey or your favorite natural sweetener to taste
  Stir well all ingredients in a bowl.
  Place cut up slices of fruit into your molds then pour mixture into the molds. Freeze.

Paleo Taco Salad

Tonight we had Paleo Taco Salad...its a beautiful evening so we decided to enjoy it outside on the deck. The kiddos LOVED the salad as well, which always makes the meal a keeper :) Hope you and our family and friends enjoy as well!!!:)
 

Paleo Taco Salad
Makes plenty for two adults. Approximate cooking time: 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1 lb lean ground beef or turkey 1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 Tbs chili powder 1 medium tomato, diced
1 tsp garlic salt 3 romaine hearts
1 tsp cumin 1 can black olives, sliced
1/2 tsp oregano 1 avocado
1/2 tsp sea salt fresh cilantro
3/4 cup water 1 small jar of salsa
Instructions
1) Heat medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef or turkey and
onion to pan. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until browned.
2) Add chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, oregano, sea salt and water,
and let simmer for 5 minutes more.
3) Meanwhile, wash lettuce and tear onto two plates (save some for leftovers).
4) Top with meat, sliced avocado, black olives, tomatoes, cilantro and salsa

Made some delicious fried egg plant with some spaghetti noodles and sauce yum yum! :) Def a good lunch!

Paleo Sausage Stir Fry Bfast

Yum! 

Sausage Stir -Fry Breakfast
Makes breakfast for two adults. Approximate cooking time: 20 minutes.
Ingredients
1 tsp coconut oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
Instructions
1) Heat a skillet over medium heat, and add coconut oil when hot.
2) Add diced onions and sauté until slightly translucent.
3) Add sausage and cook until browned, tossing frequently.
4) Add greens, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover.
5) Serve when the greens are wilted and soft (about 5 minutes)
ENJOY! :)

Yummy! Dinner Time :)

Tonights dinner is.....drum roll please (you understand if you've tried this why it requires a drum roll)...
Paleo Beef and Vegetable Chili
 Makes a hearty pot of soup with plenty to freeze for leftovers or serve for
company (about 10 servings). Approximate cooking time: 90 minutes.
Ingredients
2 Tbs coconut oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 Tbs chili powder
1 tsp ground chipotle
2 tsp sea salt (optional)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic salt
2 lbs beef stew meat,
cut into 1”x1” chunks
2 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 (4 oz) can diced green chilis
1/2 of a (4 oz) can diced jalepenos
(may add more if desired)
1/2 tsp oregano
Instructions
1) Heat large soup pot over medium-high heat.
2) When hot, add coconut oil and onion to pot and brown slightly.
3) Meanwhile, combine chili powder, sea salt, cumin and garlic salt in a large
dish. Roll raw beef stew meat in the mixture to coat on all sides.
4) When onions have browned slightly, add beef and brown on all sides.
5) Add the diced tomatoes. Fill the empty can with water and add to the
pot. Add green chilis, jalepenos, chipotle peppers, mushrooms, carrots,
oregano, thyme and bay leaf. Turn heat down to medium and cook for about
40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6) Add zucchini and red pepper, and cook for another 20 minutes.
7) Add kale and finish cooking for 10 more minutes. Season with sea salt if
desired.
Serve with sliced green onions, fresh cilantro and a dollop of thickened
coconut milk from the top of the can.
1/2 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
7-8 medium mushrooms, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium zucchini, diced
1 yellow zucchini, diced
1 large red pepper, diced
4-6 large kale leaves, shredded
fresh cilantro for garnish
green onions for garnish
1 small can full fat coconut milk
(placed in the fridge for a few hours)

Fiesta Quinoa Salad

Figured Id share on here as well as on FB...Ill post more recipes as we make and enjoy them! :) We had this the other night and it was very yummmmy :) Hope you all enjoy as well! 
Fiesta Quinoa Salad