Garlic Mashed "Fauxtatoes"

I had not really been a fan of cauliflower until I tried them mashed (like potatoes). The only reason I knew they weren't potatoes was because I made them. This is the BEST way to have cauliflower!

Garlic Mashed "Fauxtatoes"

1 head cauliflower

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2-3 T. olive oil

2-4 T. water

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. italian seasoning

dash of chives

Steam cauliflower and garlic cloves until very tender (10-14 minutes). Place cooked cauliflower and garlic in food processor or blender. Add olive oil and water, one tablespoon at a time until a smooth consistency is reached (will be similar to mashed potatoes). Season with sea salt, pepper, italian seasoning and chives. Mix well. Serve.

Buffalo Chili

  Buffalo Chili
2 lbs ground buffalo
1 c. chopped onion
3 cloves garlic
2-4 T. pork fat
2 c. canned chopped tomatoes 
4 T. chili powder
1t. dry oregano
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. salt
1 c. water

Brown buffalo with chopped onion and chopped garlic, in fat.  Then add chopped tomatoes, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and salt.  Add water, then simmer the mixture for at least 2 hours, until the meat is very tender and the tomatoes cook in the sauce.  4 hours is not too much, but check to make sure it doesn't go dry.


I have recently learned that I LOVE buffalo meat.  So, when I came across this chili recipe that uses ground buffalo I knew I had to try it - and I am so glad I did.  This bean-less chili tasted amazing and was so easy to make!  I know it was good when I claimed the leftovers before Dean.  I had it the next day and it was just as great warmed up!  Perfect cold weather food that I will be making many more times this winter.

Breakfast Salad

Something really weird has happened. People only come to me for healthy recipes and only share healthy recipes. I used to be the one that everyone came to when they wanted to eat bad and not feel guilty because I was a strong supporter of unhealthy food. Ha!

This next recipe has come to me from a friend at church. As soon as she listed off the ingredients I knew it was going to be delicious - and it is! I call it my Breakfast Salad because of the ingredients, but eat it at all times of the day.

Breakfast Salad

Spinach (amount depends on how much you want)

1 boiled egg, cut up

1-2 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

olive oil

fresh lime juice

sea salt and pepper

Drizzle enough olive oil to lightly coat spinach. Squeeze fresh lime juice to desired taste (I usually use 1/3 of a lime in my salad). Mix until all spinach is coated in oil and juice. Add cut up boiled egg and crumbled bacon to salad. Sprinkle desired amount of sea salt and pepper.

Seasonal Steamed Veggies

Before starting CrossFit at EmerFit I did not eat vegetables. Especially those nasty green ones! Well, that changed when I learned about The Paleo Diet and how important it is to my health and performance. (And getting rid of that pesky leftover pregnancy weight!) So, I found it fitting to add a vegetable dish.

I got this recipe "Seasonal Steamed Vegetables" from Performance Menu (http://www.performancemenu.com/recipes/index.php). I had never tried summer squash before and had only had zucchini a couple of times. I was a little hesitant to try this dish, but was pleasantly surprised. It was super easy to prepare, takes little time to cook and tastes great! It was the perfect side dish to Dean's awesome steak. I will be making this again soon and trying different veggies keep it interesting.

Seasonal Steamed Vegetables

• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 medium yellow summer squash, diced
• 1 stalk broccoli florets, chopped into bite sized pieces
• 2 cups spinach
• 2 slices of red onion
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 2 Tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
• sea salt to taste

Chop the vegetables. Add water to your steamer and bring it to a boil while you are chopping the veggies to save time. Add the vegetables to the basket, then reduce the heat and steam for around 10 minutes, or until the vegetables have reached the desired softness.

Serve the vegetables drizzled with either olive oil or coconut oil. I've used 2 Tbsp in this recipe, but be sure to adjust the amount to suit your needs. Sprinkle with thyme and sea salt.

You can use many other vegetables in this recipe. Just be aware that some vegetables, such as cabbage, will take longer to steam. Add them to the steamer first, then add the other vegetables later for best results.

Paleo Pancakes

So, if you have noticed I follow what is called "The Paleo Diet." What that means is I eat meat, veggies, some fruit, nuts/seeds (I like to think of it as the food God gave us). I avoid dairy, grains, legumes, and sugar (as often as I can - gotta give my self cheat days or I would go nuts). I have several friends who eat this same way and we all share recipes with each other.

I LOVE sweet breakfast breads and I miss them dearly... Then I fixed this recipe one morning and it totally satisfies my craving for pancakes and they are healthy! I like to make fruit purees with blueberries or raspberries or strawberries (or a combo of all of them) for a sweet finishing touch.

Paleo Pancakes

2 eggs

1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

1/2 c. almond butter

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. vanilla

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Grease skillet with olive oil or coconut oil. Keep pancakes small and heat low to medium low - burn easily. Enjoy!

Lemon Cilantro Chicken

Lemon Cilantro Chicken

whole chicken (4-6 lbs.)

1 head garlic, peeled/cloves whole

1/2 c. cilantro, chopped

1 lemon, sliced

sea salt and pepper

-Skin chicken and remove innards.

-Rub it down inside and out with sea salt and pepper.

-Place chicken in crock pot.

-Fill inside of chicken with garlic cloves, scattering some outside as well. So same with cilantro.

-Place lemon slices around chicken.

-Cook on low 6-8 hours.

This chicken is so moist and has great flavor! It is a great option for dinner and provides leftovers for lunch the next day (or for a few days if you are eating it by yourself). I LOVE roasted chicken! I used to buy the ready-made roasted chickens from the grocery stores (which I still do on occasion), but now I can flavor them however I want and my dinner is ready and waiting for me to eat it.

Chicken and Spinach

The hardest meal of the day for me is lunch. I don't have the time to prepare a whole meal like dinner, but still want to make sure I am getting good protein and veggies. I love when we have leftover meat from dinner the night before that I can easily warm up for lunch. Today I had "Mustard Lime Chicken" with a spinach smoothie. YUM!

The chicken had a tangy flavor that was so good. And it was easy to make (always a plus in my book)!

Mustard Lime Chicken

(elanaspantry.com)

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts
½ cup fresh lime juice
½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
¼ cup dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chili powder
½ tsp celtic sea salt
½ tsp pepper

Combine lime juice, cilantro, mustard, olive oil, chili, salt and pepper in a food processor.

Pulse until ingredients are well combined.

Rinse chicken breasts, pat dry and place in 11x7 pyrex baking dish.

Pour marinade over chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 6 hours.

Heat grill and cook chicken for 5-7 minutes each side, until browned and cooked in the center.

Serve!

The spinach smoothie recipe was given to me by my friend, Tracee. I got the recipe last week and have made it everyday this week! It is AMAZING! You have to try it! It is sweet and satisfying. Great way to get more greens in your day, too!

Spinach Smoothie

1 banana

1/2 c. coconut milk/water

2-4 handfuls of spinach (your preference)

1 scoop egg white protein powder

big squirt flax oil (I have also used olive oil)

ice

Put all ingredients in blender and blend. Enjoy!

Snack Time

If you have ever been to our house, you would know we love to snack. In changing the way I eat, I had to change the kind of snacks I consume. I have made a list of some of my favorite snacks. Ok, some of these are not my favorite, but I eat them because I know my body needs them (i.e. raw veggies). When it comes to produce, I try to buy what is on sale - so what I have available for snacks and meals may change.

These are easy snacks to take on the go and fill me the most (especially in the late afternoon). Some good snack ideas:

boiled egg

deli meat

apple with almond butter

unsweetened applesauce

carrot/baby carrots

raw broccoli/cauliflower

orange

raisins (just a few to help satisfy my sweet cravings)

pistachios

almonds

pecans

Larabar - apple pie is my favorite