Category Archives: Dinner
Ah it’s been too long! Seriously though, things got busy for awhile, and the holidays, and I didn’t do much to re-invent the world of food. I went to a lot of staples, and simple un-blog-worthy dinners (They were still yummy, just not exciting enough for the pages…A girl has to draw the line right? Anyway, I was stressing out about posting things, and rule #1 is “if it starts causing too much negative energy and stress, take a step back and breath” – Stress management is part of this whole thing, so I took a little hiatus, and didn’t sweat it. Hope you all had plenty of recipes to tide you over!
But I’m back! Today anyway, I just bought a new crock pot, since I realized that my 4.5 quart one was waaaay too small, and I bought a whopping 8.5 quart one to replace it! The exciting thing is now, even with the large amount of food that the two of us go through, I’ll actually have leftovers!! After much review scanning, I went with the 8.5 quart model from Elite Platinum, and so far I am thrilled with it!
So my first recipe that I tried out in my new “big guy” crockpot, was some pulled beef. I wanted something that was tasty as a stand alone food, but something that could be versatile to eat throughout the week. Instead of keeping it SUPER simple. I totally made it weird and special, and it was utter magic let me tell you. I ate this stuff almost every day, and not only did it last all week (YAY FOOD!) but it was just as awesome tasting each time! I put it in Paleo Wraps, I put it over salad, I ate it straight from a bowl, I ate it as a side to eggs….seriously, it did not get old.
Ultimate Pulled Beef!
3 lbs* beef round (String Removed if Present)
1 lbs* flank steak
2 lbs* chuck steak
1 Granny Smith Apple, cut into small cubes
2 cups butternut squash, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup raisins*
1 Tbsp chipotle pepper
1 Tbsp Java salt (Sub 1/2 Tbsp Salt, 1/2 Tbsp ground coffee
1/4 cup coconut aminos*
1/8 cup coconut vinegar*
2 tbsp smoked paprika*
1 tbsp black pepper*
1 tspn ginger*
1/2 tsp cumin*
1 tbsp turmeric*
2 cups vegetable broth
1 small Spanish onion
*Aprox. measurement
Place all ingredients into the Crock Pot and cook on Low for 10-12 Hours, then shred and mix all ingredients with two forks.
Sorry, I have not gotten any better with ensuring that I actually measure anything, but I think my approximations are good 🙂
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Leave a comment | tags: crock pot, crock pot pulled beef, easy dinner, eat this for days, leftovers, meat lovers, Paleo, paleo beef recipes, slow cooked paleo, slow cooker recipes, whole 30 | posted in Beef, Crock Pot, Dinner, Recipes, Whole Life Challenge
Cubes of beef chuck are perfect for stews and crock pot meals in general. Leeks, parsnips, and pearl onions compliment the meat well, and coconut milk adds some nice fat and creaminess. Chop everything up and cook on low for 8-12 hours, and enjoy a warm, comforting, hearty meal at the end of the day.
2 leeks sliced
10-20 pearl onions
2-3 lbs beef chuck cubes
5-6 mushrooms, halved
1 can light coconut milk
Salt, pepper, a dash of allspice and orange peel, mustard seed
2 cups shredded cabbage
3 parsnips
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1 Comment | tags: beef chuck, beef crock pot, beef stew, easy crock pot recipes, easy dinner, leeks, paleo beef recipes, pearl onion, pppaleo crock pot recipes, set it forget it | posted in Beef, Crock Pot, Dinner, Paleo, Recipes
1 Bunch Purple Kale
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 Red Delicious Apple
1 Small Yellow Onion
2 TBsp Apple Cider
2 TBsp Lemon Juice
4 TBsp olive oil
salt, Pepper, Cinnamons
1/4 Cup raisins
Fall is a really exciting time for recipes. I find myself lightyears more inspired by fall flavors. Sure, Summer is full of fruits and colorful veggies, but my heart stays in the cooler months. Apple season is starting up, so I felt inspired to create a recipe based on a tried and true combination of delicious, healthy, goodness: Apples and Kale. Raisins, and a touch of apple cider, add some extra sweetness. Remember, apples are part of the dirty dozen, so always try to buy organic (and even better if you pick them yourself!)
After rinsing the kale, I tore it into small pieces, smaller than I normally would for salad. I tossed the thick stemmy parts to my dog (optional of course), then I Tossed about a quarter of the kale leaves in my food processor, along with the apples, onion, and liquids. I pulsed until everything was very finely chopped. You can skip this step if you don’t have a food processor, but then remember to chop everything up pretty small. I poured it into the bowl with the kale, added the raisins and seasoned, and then stirred with a rubber spatula until everything was combined.
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Leave a comment | tags: apple cider, apple picking, apple time, cinnamon, easy sides, eat your greens, fall favorites, fall salads, food processor, kale, kale and apple salad, Ninja Kitchen Systems, Paleo, paleo salads, raw, Veggies | posted in Dinner, Paleo, Raw, Recipes, Sides, Vegetarian
1/8+ Cup Maple Syrup (GradeB)
1-2 Tablespoons Celtic Sea Salt
1/4 cup+ Coconut Aminos
Cinnamon, smoked paprika
2-3 Tbsp melted Butter
I put my steak (2.5-3 lbs of yummy Flank Steak) in a ziplock Baggie, added my ingredients, and rolled it around and rubbed it to coat. I only Marinated My Steak for 20-30 min but you can play around with leaving it longer. Then I just thew it on the griddle until the middle reached 135 and let it rest for 10 min. That was a nice rare-medium rare. As always with a cut like flank steak, be sure to cut against the grain.
I swear I’ll update more frequently, or at least I’ll try. I’ve been extra busy lately, and unfortunately posting took the back burner first….sanity yay. I actually have 3-5 posts half written….so I really just need to bunker down and finish them. In the mean time…eat steak 🙂
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Leave a comment | tags: against the grain, carnivore, easy, easy dinner, easy flank steak, maple syrup, meatfest, paleo beef recipes, paleo steak recipes, simple marinades, steak | posted in Beef, Dinner, Lunch, Mike's Favorites, No Frills Food Ideas, Paleo
This is a super simple dish, easy to prepare, and packed with flavor. The earthy mushrooms are balanced quite well by the subtle acidity of the balsamic, and the sweetness from the coconut milk. I used a combination of mushrooms, but depending on budget and availability, you can simplify it.
Ingredients:
- 1 Large Portobello cap, halved and sliced
- 3 Large Shiitake Mushrooms, Sliced
- 1 Cup Oyster Mushrooms, Sliced
- 1/2 Vidalia/Sweet Onion, Sliced
- 2/3 Can Trader Joe’s Light Coconut Milk
- 1-1.5 lbs Chicken Thighs, Cut into Chunks
- 3 Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut into Chunks
- 3-4 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Heaping Spoonful of Coconut Oil
- 1-2 Tablespoons Goat Butter (Or Regular Butter) – Omit if you cannot handle dairy
- 2-3 Tablespoons Coconut Flour
- A Pinch of Allspice
- Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Salt, and Pepper to taste, i didn’t over spice it
Heat the coconut oil and butter over medium-medium high heat and add the onions. Let them cook just a little, and then add the mushrooms, balsamic, and coconut milk. Once the mushrooms simmer for a while and cook down, add the chicken and seasonings. Simmer until the chicken is mostly cooked through. Add the coconut flour, and continue simmering until the chicken is finished cooking.
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Leave a comment | tags: chicken and mushrooms, coconut milk, creamy, dairy free, dinner, easy, easy dinner, gluten free, grain free, healthy, low carb recipes, no added sugar, Paleo, paleo chicken recipes, paleo comfort food, Poultry, real food, simple, wholelifechallenge | posted in Dinner, Mike's Favorites, Paleo, Poultry, Recipes
I love Patty Pan squash, they are one of my favorite seasonal vegetables in the summer, Not only are they tasty, but they have such a fun shape, it’s hard NOT to get creative. I found some bigger ones at the Fairway Market that just opened up, so I grabbed them with stuffing in mind. I found some grass-fed ground beef for a reasonable price as well as some wild mushrooms, so I left with a mission for dinner the next day. If you really want to make this paleo or whole life challenge compliant, omit the goat cheese, but since my system handles it well, i decided to include it.
Ingredients:
- 2 large patty pan squash
- 2.5 lbs grass bed ground beef chuck
- 1 onion, Chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, Chopped
- 2 cups wild mushrooms, Chopped
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1/8 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup greens (I used a mixture of kale, spinach, and chard)
- Sage,pepper,salt,thyme,smoked paprika
- 2-3 Tablespoons crumbled goat cheese (optional)
Bake patty pan at 350 for about 20-30 min while mostly cooking your filling. You WILL have extra filling. You just want to soften them up so you can easily scoop out the middle.
Cut off the top, just enough to expose the seeds. Scoop out the seeds, along with a little of the flesh to form a bowl. You can chop up any flesh and add it back inside, mixed in with your stuffing. If you are going to add some goat cheese, mix it with the stuffing, and crumble a little on top as well. Bake for another 15 -20 minutes until the cheese is golden brown.
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1 Comment | tags: easy dinner, family favorites, gluten free, goat cheese, goat milk, grain free, grass-fed, healthy, low carb recipes, no added sugar, Paleo, paleo beef recipes, paleo squash recipes, paleo stuffed squash, patty pan squash, real food, seasonal, simple, stuffed patty pan, summer squash, wholelifechallenge | posted in Beef, Dinner, Paleo, Recipes, Whole Life Challenge
The crock pot wins again! I swear I ate this for days and didn’t get sick of it. Now ideally you would use grass-fed short ribs (Try US Wellness Meats!) but I happened to buy a big ol’ value pack from BJs this time. Short ribs are awesome, but you HAVE to cook them slow. I’ve never had any luck cooking them any other way, they always come out tough and gross, but in the slow cooker they are DIVINE. By the end they are falling off the bone and tender, and I cannot think of a more lovely way to be greeted coming in from work.
As for prep, there isn’t much. I threw the onions on the bottom, packed in the short-ribs, and threw the garlic in between. Then I piled the rest of the veggies on top, added any liquid, and cooked on low for 8-10 hours. Super simple and tasty! Be sure to go heavy on the fresh herbs and garlic!
- 4-5 Lbs Short Ribs
- 1/4 Cup Vegetable Broth
- 1/8 Cup Coconut Aminos
- 4-5 Tops/Bunches Fresh Basil
- 6 cocktail tomatoes – Halved
- 6 – 7 small Baby Bella mushrooms
- 2 small vidalia onions
- 6+ Cloves Garlic
- 1/2 Cup Celery Hearts – Chopped
- Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika
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Leave a comment | tags: beef, crock pot, dairy free, dinner, easy, easy dinner, gluten free, grain free, grass-fed, healthy, no added sugar, Paleo, paleo beef recipes, paleo crock pot, real food, simple, slow cooker, tomato, wholelifechallenge | posted in Beef, Crock Pot, Dinner, Paleo, Whole Life Challenge
