Clementine Cake

Proof that grain free and sugar free is as delicious as can be!

Grain-free eating can be very intimidating. For our whole lives we have been eating breads, cereal, pasta, cookies, rice, crackers, and, least we forget, cakes! Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg of grain-based foods. So, to say that you are going to remove all grain from your diet can seem completely overwhelming. However, it doesn't have to be. Knowledge is power, and perception is reality. My suggestion to you is to learn about how, and why, you can remove and substitute grains before you actually take the actions to do so. Some great sites to get started are:

Mark's Daily Apple
Robb Wolf

Banana Almond Bread with Pecans

 Second topic up for Paleo discussion is walk around a lot. On average, men walk just of 7000 steps and women just over 5000 according to a 2004 study by Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke. That's about 3 1/2 miles for men and under 3 for women. However, it is suggested that we walk at least 10,000 steps (about 5 miles) per day. And under paleo "standards", that child's play. We should spend several hours walking each day. Not just the recommended 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Dark Chocolate Coconut Muffins



Starting a paleo/primal lifestyle is one thing. Staying on track is another. Sure, the concept is simple: only eat foods our earliest ancestors had access to, walk around a lot, sprint sometimes, lift heavy things, spend most of your time outdoors, and sleep long nights. But we live in America in the 21st century, people. We aren't that naive. The good thing is, we don't have to be.

Better Way to Start Your Day

If I had to describe the word nutrition in one sentence, it would be "nutrition is the key to life". Literally! If we do not provide our body with nourishment, it will perish. However, there are several levels of nourishment that we can attain. Let's use the USDA Beef grading system terms to define. At the top, we have Prime nutrition where our diet and lifestyle provide us with the necessary macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals to thrive in this world. Next down is Choice nutrition where we have to supplement our diet and lifestyle to access all of the necessary macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals to sustain in this world. A step down from that is Select nutrition where we follow a diet and lifestyle to loosely progress towards better nourishment, however we are usually caught in the tangled web of nutrition information available and not sure where to go. Lastly, and I believe this is where most people fall, is the Standard nutrition. People's diet and lifestyle is providing them just enough nourishment to survive, and many have no idea how to access the higher levels of nutrition.

Mission Impossible: Pancakes

My mission: cook pancakes every weekend. Enjoy life :)

So this post is a long time coming! Thanks for being patient, those of you whom I've promised that I was going to post it. 

My favorite part of my weekends is pancakes. It started when I was a kid. My Mom, Dad and I went to the cafe at the golf course right down the road from my house every Sunday for breakfast. Mom got the Belgium waffles topped with fresh fruit and a side of bacon. Dad got the western omelet with toast and bacon. I got the short stack of pancakes. Everyyyyy week until I was about 16 (when I entered the official working world). It was great; Dad would read the "snooze"paper, Mom would read the USA Today, I read the Comics; we all ate together and chatted causally about life with the sun shining down on us (we ate on the patio), the golfers practicing on the putting green, everyone with a smile on their face... ahh, memories!

Breakfast: The Most Important Meal of the Day

If you can't tell, I'm on a breakfast kick. I truly, honestly, whole-heartedly believe that breakfast is the absolute most important meal of the day. And there is tons of evidence to back up my belief. Granted, most of that evidence is coming from people who preach whole-grains as a healthy part of their diet. However, they are largely correct in the rest of their findings. (Now, to get the world to realize that whole grains DO NOT have to be a part of breakfast...)

Anyways, while I was throwing my breakfast together this morning, it made me think of how ridiculous it is for people not to do it. I opened the fridge, took out a container of left over green beans and sweet potato fries from dinner the other night, cut them up real quick, threw 'em in a skillet over medium heat with a little oil, whipped two eggs, poured them over top the veggies, grabbed a cup of coffee, stirred the skillet a little, put away stuff in the kitchen, stirred the skillet a little, grabbed a plate, and took my food off the stove. Mmm... breakfast...

EASY!

If you don't have a stove, whip up a few eggs, put 'em in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute, walk away and do your thing, come back and eat BREAKFAST! Grab some nuts and a banana, and walk out your door.

Chow down on some yogurt, berries, and sliced almonds.

Grab a hunk of left over chicken thigh and some acorn squash (both wonderful cold).

Or check out this list (stolen from MDA) for more quickie ideas.

Whatever you do, though, please please please, DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST!

Enjoy :)

Smoked Salmon and Apple "Hash"

I just happen to be one of those super fortunate people who knows someone with a smoker. Not only does this person own a smoker, but he has an obsession with smoking salmon basically every weekend, and almost smokes more than he can eat. Yep, that's my daddy! Always buying/preparing/cooking too much food. Too bad I don't still live home, where I could reap those benefits way more often... Oh well! I will take what I can get :)

Yet again, another morning with no eggs in the fridge. What's a girl to do? Well, I am sure you figured it out by now. Smoked salmon. Mmmmm.... With what, though? And that is where this recipe I read the other day flashed across my brain. Perfect! A little adaptation, and breakfast is served!

Smoked Salmon and Apple "Hash"

The Food
- Smoked salmon (preferably home smoked- the store stuff is a bit too "soft" for this, I think)
- Medium apple, your preference
- Old Bay seasoning
- Olive oil


The Prep
Chop the apple


The Method
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium, medium high heat
Put in the salmon, skin side down (if still attached)
After a minute or so, drop in the chopped apple
Sprinkle with Old Bay
Stir around a bit
Flip the salmon
Stir some more
Pour a hot cup of coffee
Stir one last time


Enjoy :)
I suggest transferring from skillet to a plate for consumption. Just a suggestion...

I forgot to take a picture before I inhaled it! (It was muy bueno :)

Bowl o' Toasted Nut and Fruit Warm "Cereal"

Breakfast is absolutely my favorite meal of the day. No matter what, it always makes my day. Generally, I am an omelet person, however, when there are no eggs in the fridge, substitutes are a necessity.

Way back when, I totally used to love cereal; a big bowl of milk with deliciousness inside... Then I loved oatmeal, a big bowl full of warmth and tastyness. Now, I have found a new calling in the breakfast world; a perfect combination of both without all the processed nonsense.

Okay, so this idea isn't entirely original. I read a similar recipe the other day while flipping through the 20 paleo/primal/whole foods cooking sites I peruse each day. However, I made some changes to my personal preference (and what was in my kitchen!). And by all means, I encourage you to do the same.

Bowl o' Toasted Nut and Fruit Warm "Cereal"

Food
- Handful of your favorite nuts (I used a mix of cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, and Brazil nuts)
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (I would image any kind of berry would also be fantastic, or even a banana!!)

Prep
Put the pom seeds (or berries, or whatever!) in a bowl
Chop up the nuts

Method
Toast the nuts in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant.
Pour in 1/2 cup of the milk in the skillet with the nuts, REMOVE QUICKLY!! (Don't want to burn the milk, just heat it super quick)
Pour the skillet into the bowl over the pom seeds
Pour in the rest of the milk

Enjoy :)


Photo Disclaimer: Pictures gotten off of Google Images, totally not my own. I am not good at remembering to take pictures while I am creating wonderfulness.