Primal Chocolate Cheesecake To Sooth My Millionaire Dreams

I'm a little put out this morning.
I've had to cancel my bid on the 600 acres of land in Hawaii I was hoping to buy.
We didn't win the lottery...this time!
It was a fun week envisioning all of the travel we would do, college tuitions covered, and new cars...oh boy...would I love a new car!
I also envisioned all the people we would help...secretly...you do not want anyone to know you won half of a billion dollars.
Those dreams are put on hold until the next big lottery I guess.
Then I will pull them out, dust them off, and get geeked all over again.
I have a confession to make.
I cheated last night.
Carbs.
It was so beautiful outside and with my husband acting in an Easter play at church, I dragged my daughter out of  the hidey hole in her room to a restaurant that has outdoor tables.
A Mexican restaurant.
Sigh...
I had chips and salsa plus my old standard favorite...chicken chimichunga...with beans.
Sigh...
It did taste wonderful going down, and my daughter was lovely company.
The three tiny birds we threw chip crumbs to were entertaining, the sunset colorful, and the weather was perfect.
That being said...
I had a horrible nights sleep. My hips ached, my ankles and feet hurt, I could not get comfortable, and there were some other side affects which NO ONE wants to know.
Was it worth it? Yes and no.
The time spent with my teenage daughter...priceless.
The terrible night and health repercussions? No.
I am sure there were better choices on that menu, I chose not to look for them, charging straight into an old habit.
Sigh...
It has been easier to resist the foods that I know will make me feel bad.
I enjoy each day more because I feel so good, that aches and pains are almost non existent, and the fact that my day is full of energy!
I regret eating like that mostly because I was too bloated and full to eat the dessert I had made for my husband and kids.
Primal Chocolate Cheesecake!
It looked yummy and my husband said it tasted great...but man!
It is going to be a while before I can look at anything but a protein and a big plate of spinach salad.
Mmmmm...spinach salad...stomach quieting goodness...

Primal Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients
Cheesecake base:

• 1 1/2 cups almond meal
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 Tbsp cocoa
• 1 Tbsp sugar or sugar substitute of your choice
• Dash of salt (if almonds and butter are unsalted)

Cheesecake filling:

• 8 ounces of very dark or even unsweetened chocolate
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 16 ounces of cream cheese
• 1/2 cup of honey
• 3 large eggs
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon cocoa, dissolved in 1 Tbsp hot water
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Mix the almond meal, cocoa powder, sugar, and butter and press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.
2. Melt the chocolate in the cream in a double boiler.
3. Cream the cream cheese.
4. Mix in the honey, chocolate, cocoa, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla.
5. Pour the mixture into the spring form pan.
6. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 60 minutes, with a pan of water for moisture.
7. Turn off heat and leave cheesecake in the oven with the door slightly ajar for 60 minutes.
8. Let it cool completely.
9. Chill the cheesecake in the fridge overnight.

I hope you try this Primal recipe and enjoy it too.

Gluten Free Primal Pizzels And A Talk With The Primal Doc

Yesterday was a work day for me, and so fortuitous that I was there.
Our doctor is a patient and had come in for his check up and teeth cleaning.
He walked up to the desk and my chin hit the floor.
He had lost so much weight! His face looked like a teenagers!
Our doctor is the one who had given us Mark Sisson's book and suggested that we try living Primal in the first place.
Wow! There was such a change in him.
He looked fit, healthy, and very happy.
I was envious...I want to be in that place already.
The waiting gets very long and I want so badly to be done.
But as the saying goes...the weight didn't come on in a day, so it's not coming off that way either.
All things happen for a reason and I felt the reason he was in on this day was so I could ask him about my fasting.
He was happy to answer my questions, and quickly put me at ease that I was not harming myself or my metabolism by eating this way.
Whew!
I knew it felt right, but hey...it felt right to eat two twixt bars in a row back in the old days.
At least my body is feeling better today.
I haven't changed my pillow in years and recently my shoulder has been sore, along with my neck and back.
I did some research on a bunch of different pillows, went to Bed Bath and Beyond, Macy's, and a few other places, and finally settled on My Pillow.
They had a 60 day money back guarantee and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
That pillow is amazing.
I was very sceptical when it came shrink wrapped into a cylinder and needed to be fluffed in the dryer first to get it's shape back.
Oh man! This morning I woke up from a very deep sleep and could not remember tossing and turning at all!
My neck has not hurt a bit, my shoulder is still sore, but nothing like yesterday morning.
Heaven!
I will let you know if things change or it squishes flat on me, but for now...happiness!
My children are now happy too.
Yesterday they were both displeased that there was nothing to munch on after school.
Displeased is not a strong enough word...really.
So I got out my old pizzel iron and heated it up. I found a recipe for regular pizzels and set out to recreate it for our Primal palate.
They turned out sweet and pretty, and are already gone!

Primal Pizzel Cookies

Ingredients

• 4 Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla
• 1/2 Cup Coconut Flour
• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/3 Cup Honey
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

• Beat the eggs until smooth. 
• Melt the butter in the microwave or in a small saucepan on low heat. 
• Allow the butter to cool while you blend the honey and vanilla into the egg. 
• Then add the melted butter into the mix and blend. 
• Add in the dry ingredients, stirring until all the lumps are mixed out.
• Take a small spoon and put a ball of batter in the center of each grid of the iron.
• Close the lid and lock it, wait about 45 seconds to 1 minute and lift the lid, the pizzels should be ready to come out. 
• They should be golden in color. Lift out of iron with a thin spatula and cool on a rack or the counter.
• This recipe made 10-12 pizzels.

I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as we did.

Primal Sweet Potato Chips And A Hot Cook

This was me yesterday, lookin' smokin' as I slaved over a hot stove.
Well...to be honest I didn't want to frighten my teenagers into therapy so I wore a sweatshirt and jeans...but in my mind I am starting to feel a bit sexier.
Losing close to forty pounds does that to a girl.
Yesterday was 'Cooking Day'. The day where I make a large load of protein and Primal snacks to hold the kids for the week.

First I made eight pieces of chicken.
I cooked them low and slow on the stove top in coconut oil and spices.
These always stay moist and flavorful in the fridge, ready to be chopped on a salad or tossed into a stir fry or even eaten on a cheddar biscuit.

Then I froze coconut milk yogurt into discs for the smoothies that we make for the kids and their friends.
I was worried about getting the discs out after they were frozen, but if you put the bottom of the pan in a tiny bit of warm water they loosen up enough to pull them right out.
I toss them in a plastic container in the freezer to be used at a moments notice.

Next I baked up the nitrate free bacon for the week.
I bake it at 350 for about fifteen minutes and then pat it dry and store it in the freezer.

That way the kids can pull out a few pieces and warm them up in a paper towel for 30 seconds.
I also get a nice jar of bacon squeezin's from it to use for stir fries and other dishes.

Primal Sweet Potato Chips

The last thing I made was the first to disappear completely! Primal Sweet Potato Chips.
I never wanted one of those small fryers in our house.
We were super fat and in no way needed to be frying our foods, but since going Primal and using mainly coconut oil, I bowed to my husband and son's wishes and bought us a very small Presto fryer.
It took $8 worth of coconut oil to fill it to the full mark, but man...was it worth it!!
Those chips were better than anything I have ever had chip-wise.
Not greasy in the least and super full of flavor.
It hardly used any of the oil at all!
Since my kids don't drink coffee (which is where I get most of my coconut oil in) I am happy they are getting a bit of it this way.

Primal Sweet Potato Chips

• heat your fryer with the coconut oil to 330 degrees
• slice your potato slim (we used the food processor)
• lay the slices out on paper towels and press hard to get the moisture out
• fill the basket 1/4 full and lower into the oil, slowly
• we separated them with a knife so they all floated individually, not touching
• let cook for 6-7 minutes
• lift basket out and toss them on a paper towel covered cookie sheet
• we separated them again and gave a sprinkle of salt

These might be the best chips I have ever eaten.
I hope you try this recipe and love these healthy chips too!

Gluten Free Primal Cheddar Crackers And A Feeling Of Relief

Hello Monday!
I lost more weight...and inches!
I could not feel better, physically or mentally.
It is an amazing feeling to have so much energy and not be a slave to food.
I just wish I could have learned how to live this way when I was in my twenties instead of my forties.
I won't look back...only forward. I can't change the past and get back all those years I hated myself for being so fat and out of control, I keep looking forward to a brighter healthier future.
I've still been a little worried about only eating once a day.
It feels so right, but convention and nutritionists say that it's wrong.
I would hate to be harming my body or metabolism eating this way, but man...I feel great!
So this weekend I took more time to read what other people had to say about this, were other people eating once a day and thriving or were they going crazy?
I found account after account of people who had been eating one healthy meal a day...for years.
They felt clearer headed, had more energy, slept like champs, and had lost all the weight they needed to or were holding their main weight rock steady.
Almost every single one was eating like I do...a meat, a bunch of veggies, a fat, a fruit, and complex carbs like sweet potatoes or such.
Relief! I was not the only one!
I do have to say that anyone who is eating a SAD (Standard American Diet) would have a hard time eating only once a day.
I know I never could have.
If I went so long as three hours without food I was a bear and my head hurt.
The sugars and the simple carbs are just as addicting in your body as a narcotic, they might kill you slower than heavy duty drugs, but kill you they will.
My kids on the other hand still eat three meals a day, plus some snacks!
This weekend my daughter requested something crunchy-salty to take to the Hunger Games Premiere last Thursday at midnight. I quickly made up a batch of my Primal Cheddar Crackers.
These taste amazing and really hit the spot for that crunchy-salty craving.

Primal Cheddar Crackers

• 1/2 cup of coconut flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 2 tablespoons of grass fed butter
• 1 1/2 cup of organic cheddar cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend all ingredients together until they are well combined.

These never came together as a batter so I squish it into 3 same size balls.

Put one ball on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Place another piece of parchment paper on top of mixture and use a rolling pin to thinly spread it out. Gently pull off the parchment paper.

Score with a pizza cutter into cracker shapes.

Bake crackers for 10+ minutes, but keep and eye on them as they go from brown to burnt quickly.

Take the crackers out of the oven and score them with a pizza cutter again as the cheese melts it all back together again.
Repeat with the two other balls.

We love these crackers and they come out consistently well every time.

I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as we do!

Primal Steak Stroganoff and The Hunger Games

My husband and I are taking a load of teenage girls to the midnight premier of The Hunger Games.
We don't plan on making it home until 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning after dropping everyone home.
I am going to be one cranky momma in the morning.
My daughter and I loved these books, not as much as Harry Potter, but better than Twilight.
My husband was all in to go this time too, most likely it was how violent I had said the books were.
Men...they love them some blood sport!
You would never have caught him at the Twilight movies with us.
This will be my first movie that I have been out to since we went Primal at the end of December.
We love getting our movies from the Red Box for a dollar, and being able to eat yummy Primal snacks at home.
I am going to try not to miss the popcorn and candy...I know the popcorn smell is going to knock me over with it's goodness...but I will try to resist.
I am going to bring a 85% dark chocolate bar and a baggie of Primal Cheddar Crackers (I will post that recipe soon). I think the salty and sweet combo should keep me out of trouble tonight.
Before hand we need a dinner that is rich and hearty enough to keep us full till the movie starts, so I am making Primal Steak Stroganoff for dinner.
It will be different having it without the thick cut egg noodles underneath, but I'm a stronger girl now. I'm thinking about spaghetti squash or even having it on top of left over creamy cauliflower.
Mmmmm...that sounds good!
Wish us luck tonight, and here is the recipe.

Primal Steak Stroganoff

1 lb top sirloin, sliced into thin strips

6 tbsp butter

8 oz mushroom, sliced

1/2 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup dry white wine or red if that is your favorite

1 cup beef broth

1 cup sour cream

1 tbsp flat leaf parsley, chopped

salt and pepper

1. Heat a heavy skillet over medium high heat add 1 tbsp of butter and add half of steak slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Flip steak pieces over and brown the other side, about one minute. Remove steak to a plate.
3. Repeat with another tablespoon of butter and the remaining steak. Remove to the plate.
4. Add another 1 tbsp of butter and the sliced mushrooms. Sprinkle mushrooms with salt and pepper. 
5. Turn heat down to medium and the last 2 tbsp of butter. Add onions and garlic and saute until soft.
6. Add white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up the tasty bits in the pan. 
7. Once wine has cooked off add sour cream and beef broth, stir and heat until smooth. Add steak and mushrooms back into sauce. Stir and simmer until hot. Garnish with the parsley.

This made a nice hearty meal that was rich in taste and very satisfying. I enjoyed mine over the leftover creamy cauliflower, but my son and husband just had bowl fulls of it.
I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as we did.


P.S.  The movie was great! The girls and I really enjoyed it. It followed the book pretty well. For my husband who had not read them, it left him a bit confused and he was less enthralled as we were.
Still it was a great movie and a fun night with all those giggly girls.

Primal Chicken Soup For A New Woman

This spring has to be the most wonderful I can ever remember.

Taking walks in January, February, and March in ever increasing temperatures is unheard of in Ohio!

I am giddy and thankful for other reasons.

I finally have control.

Control over what I eat...control over when I eat.

I've never had this before in my life.

It always eluded me and was unattainable especially about the food.

Now that I am living Primal I have it.

Washing the grains and crap out of me and my life has given me the power to eat only what I want and when.

Before this I was ravenous.

I could eat and eat and then eat some more.

Not now...I am not hungry.

I have make myself eat dinner around five or six o clock.

Tomorrow I will get up, have my coffee and go about my day with no thought to food. When evening rolls around I will make myself something Primal and healthy.

I will take the time to really enjoy what I make and eat, savoring each bite, not hurrying through the whole thing in a rush.

I will take time to be thankful for my food, and for the lessons I have learned this year about food.

Jackie sweating in the 80 degree temperature on our walk

Our little dog Jackie has enjoyed the change in his food too.

He no longer turns up his nose when we put down his bowl.

Instead of being filled with chemically altered dry kibble, I boil chicken, rice, and carrots for him.

The kitty gets just the meat but is thrilled to have it and has slimmed down a lot.

They both enjoy the broth of my homemade chicken soup when I ladle it on their dinners.

It is another one of the staples I keep made in the fridge for the kids to have when they are hungry.

It's perfect with the coconut flour biscuits.

Primal Chicken Soup

• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 6 organic carrots peeled and cut
• 6 stalks of celery cleaned and cut
• 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
• 1 medium onion chopped fine
• 4 cloves of garlic chopped fine
• ground salt and pepper to taste
• Spices (I use oregano, basil, and a Tuscan blend in rather large amounts)
• 4 cups of chopped chicken (used a roasted one from Costco and put every bit of it in there)
• 4 quarts of chicken broth (I make mine once a week - recipe coming soon)

1. In a large stock pot, heat the butter, then saute the diced garlic, onions, and mushrooms.

2. Once the onions are translucent and starting to brown add the chopped carrot and celery.

    Saute until they begin to soften.

3. Add the chicken broth, salt, and the spices, bring to a boil.
4. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down to medium, cover and simmer for about 20-30  minutes or until the carrots and celery are as soft as you’d like them to be.

    They should be easily pierced with a fork, but not mushy.

5. Add the cooked chicken, and simmer for about 10 minutes more until it is heated through.

We serve ours with the coconut flour biscuits that we love. You can add any other veggies that suit your taste buds and it will still taste great.

I hope you try this recipe and love it as much as we do.

Mashed Creamy Cauliflower And A New Feeling Of Freedom

I've noticed something.
I haven't been hungry lately.
There are days when I make myself eat lunch, even though I'm not hungry.
Some days I don't eat dinner till nine or ten o clock at night because...I'm not hungry.
This is new and strange for me.
I was always hungry.
Since turning to Primal eating in late December I have noticed this getting stronger each week.
No hunger.
What a novel thing in my life...it is a very freeing feeling, when you are no longer plagued by the constant thought of putting food in your mouth.
I read an article on Mark's Daily Apple this weekend about intermittent fasting or IF.
This concept really slammed home for me that maybe I didn't have to eat each meal...that maybe I could just skip one or two and be fine?!
It's a worry though.
I don't want to screw up my metabolism anymore than I already have by being obese and a slave to carbs and sugar for decades.
But this morning I woke up and made my coffee...and sat.
I couldn't think of a single this to eat...not hungry.
So I'm going to try an experiment this week.
I am not going to eat anything food wise till I am good and truly hungry.
When I do decide to put something in my mouth I am going to make it a good protein, an omega rich fat, and wonderful leafy green veggies.
I will keep you updated on this weird fasting experiment.
In the mean time let me show you our new  veggie obsession.
When I do feel like eating, it's cauliflower I have been craving...mmmmm...cauliflower!
I needed a side dish to have for the hubby and kids (they were going to revolt if I gave them another side salad) so I looked on Pinterest for a recipe that I could make, and up popped cauliflower.
This makes the smoothest, creamy and dreamy cauliflower ever.
The secret is to not steam it.
Here is how it's done.

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1/3 cup of heavy organic cream
•  2 tablespoons grass fed butter (Obviously I went overboard the first time I made this, because that amount in the picture is totally crazy!)
• 1/4 cup of sharp cheddar cheese (I used Kerrygold white Dubliner, extra sharp and good)

Clean and trim the cauliflower, breaking it into medium sized pieces.
Place in a microwave safe bowl with cream and butter.
Microwave, uncovered, on high for five minutes.
Stir to coat cauliflower with cream/butter mixture.
Microwave for another 5 minutes on high.
Remove from the microwave and put into a food processor along with the cheese.
Puree until smooth.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

I eat it cold and straight out of the container the next day...it's that good.

I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it too.


PS: the last pic is from whole foods, since we ate all of our cauliflower before I could remember to snap a picture :)

The Shunning Of A Loved One...It Must Be Done

This has been an important person in our lives.
He provided us with a topping to our toast, a yummy appeal to cookies, and wow...with chocolate...he can't be beat!
But with that said...we are trying to let him go.
I have read study after study, and article after article about the health issues surrounding peanuts.
They are legumes rather than nuts, and carry potentially dangerous, “anti-nutrient” lectins in them.
Peanuts, along with a couple other crops I avoid, like corn and cereals, are especially susceptible to a mold that produces a mycotoxin called aflatoxin.
A few major sources of aflatoxins are peanuts, peanut oil, and corn.
What aflatoxins can do inside your body is frightening.
Also the peanut butter we have been eating is highly processed with sugars and other crazy preservatives.
Instead we are eating more almond butter and even some cashew butter.
It's not the same.
Nothing is the same as that super creamy...over processed crap.
It's like I keep trying to tell my mom, nothing tastes the same as the processed poo we were eating.
She will complain to me that when she makes the crackers or the biscuits from the recipes I gave her that they don't taste like what she's used to.
Ummm...yeah...I know...they are not what we are used to.
But our palettes change, and as our health keeps improving, my energy increases, and my weight drops even more...oh man...do those crackers taste good!
Even if you decide that you will continue to eat peanuts and peanut butter, it's good to know what is being said about those foods.
As for our home...I am trying to cut our use of them down.
I made some great flour free cookies that use either peanut butter or almond butter and are a huge hit for the kids to take in their lunches.
Here's the recipe.

• 1 cup of almond butter or peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of honey
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• dash of salt
• optional~I add in 1/4 cup of dark chopped chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat all the ingredients with a spoon until they become smooth.
Fold in the chopped dark chocolate.
Drop by spoonful onto a greased cookie tray.

Bake for 8-10 Minutes.
Let cool on baking sheet.

I hope you try these cookies and enjoy them as much as we do.

CooCoo For Coconuts...So Much Health In One Tough Nut

When I finished reading The Primal Blueprint the first time, I was floored.
All the things I had been doing for years was wrong.
I can remember being completely confused in the past about what to eat to be healthy.
Weight Watcher's stance is that you can eat whatever you want...within limits.
But when your hungry those limits are tossed out the window with your first hunger pain.
Nutra System and Jenny Craig want you to eat their processed food filth.
Those food packs were gag-worthy.
What happens to you when you go back to real food?
You got it, real weight gain.
Then I read Mark Sisson's book.
This wonderful man was saying I could eat steak and chicken breasts cooked in butter...mmm...butter...
I could eat butter!
Was encouraged to eat it, as long as it was the full fat, grass fed stuff.
OK!
Sign me up!!
Another new thing we were allowed to eat was coconut oil, and anything from the coconut itself, be it milk, flour, or water, was supposed to be great for you and your health.
I was worried about the coconut oil.
I had read a study a long time ago that the oil was bad...that they stopped using it in movie theatre popcorn because of its health risks.
So I started reading everything I could about coconut oil.
I read what Mark's Daily Apple had to say, I read several different books (Eat Fat Lose Fat, The Coconut Cure, and The Coconut Miracle), and I listened to Pod casts by other bloggers.
It was enough good information to give it a try.

Almost immediately I felt better.
My chest pains and anxious feelings were dissipating, I had more energy, I was sleeping better, and I was not as hungry. I can't say with certainty that it was mainly the oil, because my diet has completely changed, but I'm hooked.

The coconut flour that we changed to instead of white or wheat flour is amazing.
Where my son could eat a sleeve of oreos or six large white flour rolls, now he can only finish two cookies or two rolls.
It fills you up, and is satisfying.

I use coconut milk in my recipes and smoothies.
The best thing I made recently for the kids is Chocolate Coconut Flour Donuts.

These were awesome.
My daughter complains endlessly that she doesn't want another egg for breakfast.
So I surprised them one morning with these babies.
I made them in my mini donut maker (which I thought would never get used again).
Here is the recipe.

Mini Chocolate Coconut Flour Donuts:

• 1/2 cup of coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup of honey
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 4 tablespoons of coco powder
• 5 tablespoons of butter or ghee melted
• 1/4 cup of almond milk
• 1/4 cup of organic heavy cream (you can use 1/2 cup of either if you want)

Preheat a mini donut maker. Here is mine.

1. In a small bowl whisk together coconut flour, baking soda, coco powder, and salt.
2. In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, butter, vanilla, almond milk, cream, and honey.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
4. I sprayed the pan with coconut oil I keep in a glass spray jar (heat it in hot water to liquefy)
5. Scoop the donut batter into the preheated donut maker. A cookie scooper makes it easy. (About 1 1/2 tablespoons for each donut)
6. Close the lid and cook for 2-3 minutes.
7. Carefully remove cooked donuts from the pan.
8. I put a tiny bit of icing on them (4tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tbsp coco powder, 1tbsp cream)

My husband and I liked the ones without icing better (my palette has changed).
This new way of living has never felt like a burden and I never feel deprived.
Plus I am getting close to 35 pounds lost!

I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as we do.

Let Them Eat Cake?

My daughter turns sweet sixteen next week.
We have bowed to her wishes not to throw a big party...sigh...
I would have loved to rent a room, invite all her friends, play music, have food, a photo booth, get her a gorgeous dress, and have her hair put up in pretty curls...sigh...but that's just not her.
It's tough to be raising someone who's not like me...I loved attention, and would have killed for a party!
She is not getting out of being taken to dinner on her big day, and we still have a few surprises for her.
I just don't know what to do about a cake.
Do I go against what I have been preaching for months now?
No flour, no processed foods...no sugar.
I have been making them things with honey, or 85% dark chocolate...but no sugar.
She has been our biggest hold out on going completely Primal.
As a former carb addict, I know it's hard to do, completely change what you eat.
She has not had the benefit of reading the science and the studies on why we changed, and she won't.
So what to do?
Do I stand firm and make her a coconut flour cake, hold the butter cream icing?
Or do I cave and buy her a pretty pink confection...that is what I consider poison on a fork?
Sigh...
Being a mom is full of difficult decisions...I never thought cake would be one of them.
I'm still thinking about it...and would be happy to hear anyone elses opinion.
Instead of sitting around ruminating, I made the kids chocolate coconut flour cupcakes to take to school in their lunches.
These are moist, yummy, and full of flavor.

Chocolate Coconut Flour Cupcakes

• 1/4 cup of butter (melted)
• 3 tablespoons of coco powder
• 1/3 cup of coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of aluminum free baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 4 eggs (beaten)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/3 cup of almond or coconut milk
• 1/3 cup of honey
• 1/2 cup of chopped dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F and line 10 muffin tins with paper liners.

In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Whisk in cocoa and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together coconut flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Be sure to break up any clumps.

In a larger bowl, beat eggs with vanilla until frothy.
Add butter/cocoa mixture to eggs and beat until combined.
Add half of coconut flour mixture and beat on low for a few moments, then add almond milk and honey, beat in thoroughly.
Add remaining coconut flour mixture and beat on low, then use a rubber spatula to stir and make sure all ingredients are well combined.
Fold in the dark chopped chocolate.

Divide batter among prepared muffin tins and bake in center of oven for 15-18 minutes.
Cupcakes are done when the top is set and a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

I make these at least once a week...they are that good.
I hope you try these Primal cupcakes and like them too.

Primal BBQ Pulled Pork...and other lies

Awww man! I always knew she was!!
It's funny...I hadn't realized it...but that voice has not been around lately.
I heard her all the time while I was on Weight Watchers, she told me over and over again how hungry I was.
She whispered that no one would notice if I ate that Twix bar...it would be just between us.
Riiiiight.
She would convince me to just stay where I was on the couch...it was way too much bother to put on my gym shoes and get on the treadmill...no one would know...right?
I could say I exercised, but instead sit on my large behind and watch another Big Bang Theory.
Sigh...
Since going Primal back in December that voice has been remarkedly quiet.
She did tell me to eat the carmels I found when cleaning out a kitchen drawer, and I listened.
I had a few.
Damn her.
There is a new voice inside of  me now too.
She's getting stronger...louder.
You can do it...she says.
Go make a smoothie she says...when the other one says to eat the old Halloween candy I found.
Someday my new voice might be able to shut that lying slut up for good.
But for now I still hear both of them.
The one who supports me, and the one who says, you've never done it before...why is now any different?
I am feeling stronger, I am losing weight, I am feeling healthier than ever.
I hear the good voice calling me...time to get up...turn off the computer...go take a walk...
Here I go!

Today's recipe is for Primal BBQ Pulled Pork.

• 1 pork tenderloin (any size)
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (don't skip this, it makes the pork pull apart)
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup flavored olive oil (I used chili flavored)
• Handful of your favorite spices
• 2 cups chicken stock (I use homemade)
• 1/2 cup primal barbecue sauce (see below)

I put everything in the crock pot on high and let it go for 5 hours, and then turn to warm until we are ready to eat.

When you are ready, fork apart the tenderloin till it's a shredded mess and add more barbecue sauce as desired.
We eat this over our primal cheddar biscuits, even for breakfast the next day!

Here is the recipe for Mark's Daily Apple Primal BBQ Sauce:

• 1/3 cup (about 3 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 – 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 – 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons tamari
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions:
In a small bowl mix together tomato paste, butter, hot sauce, honey, vinegar, tamari, mustard and water.

In another small bowl mix together allspice, cinnamon, pepper, chili powder, paprika and onion powder.
Mix the wet and dry together, refrigerate the unused portion in a glass jar.

I hope you enjoy this great recipe as much as we do!

Tasty Twisted Smoothie Time

We have the threat of a tornado today here in Cincinnati.
I lived through a huge tornado back in the 1970's when I was a little girl, so I have a healthy respect for the damage and terror they can cause.
Because of that, once the threat from one is announced I have a little plan I put into effect to keep my family ready to run for the basement quickly.
First I grab two large laundry baskets and throw the following in: Shoes for everyone, jacket for each of us, box of candles and matches (I keep it on a shelf in the laundry room), wind up radio, wind up flashlight, bottle of water for each of us (even the cat and dog), snacks, the bag we keep our flash drives in (has family photos and important financial information on them), the dog's leash, a dish for water for them, and their snacks (dried beef liver), purses, and the video camera.
The other basket gets all of our laptops.
I put these right by the basement door so they can be grabbed as we run down.
It takes me fifteen minutes to gather everything into the baskets...that would be fifteen minutes we might not get once the sirens sound.
Once everything was in the baskets, I made myself a filling primal lunch.

Tasty Twisted Smoothie

I made this yummy peanut butter, chocolate, banana, and frozen yogurt smoothie. That's a lot of words...so I named it the tasty twisted smoothie. Here are the ingredients.

Tasty Twisted Smoothie:

1 cup of almond milk
2 whole frozen bananas
1/3 cup of almond or peanut butter
4 tablespoons of coco powder
1 frozen container of yogurt (I use the full fat coconut milk kind~dairy and soy free ~ I freeze these in muffin tins and them keep them in a box in the freezer till I need them. One container of yogurt makes two muffin tins of frozen. I use two frozen pucks of the yogurt in the smoothie.


In a blender add the cup of almond milk and the frozen yogurt pucks, blend till smooth
Next add one frozen banana and blend till smooth
Add the peanut butter and coco powder and blend again
Lastly add the next banana and blend till thick and creamy

This is one filling smoothie!

Tuscan Turkey Burger

I also had made Tuscan Turkey Burgers a few days before, so I put one under the broiler after I had added some pesto and Kerry Gold Sharp Cheddar Cheese on top.

Here is the recipe for juicy Tuscan Turkey Burgers...

2 pounds ground turkey
1/4 cup basil flavored olive oil
1/2 cup flaked Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon garlic
1 tablespoon rosemary
1/2 cup shredded fresh spinach leaves

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl, and form into patties.
Pan fry or cook on the grill till juices run clear.

I store these in the fridge to have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

I hope you try one of these recipes and enjoy them as much as we do.


UPDATE:
I have heard there was loss of life and terrible damage from the storms that hit today.
My heart and prayers go out to everyone involved and their families.
God bless them in their recovery.

Baking The Day Away Again In Primal Town

Does that sweet face you see care that it's February?
Naw! He has been the happiest dog in the world this winter.
Usually this time of year we are huddled in our snuggies watching long movies, while the freezing winds howl outside.
This year has been crazy! But who can complain?
That said, it was ticking me off that I had baking to do yesterday, when all I wanted to do was to be outside.
I have a biscuit recipe that we can not live without. I make it at least every other day.
We use these biscuits in so many different ways and in all different shapes.
They have become one more low carb-primal staple we can not do without.
If I make them flat we use them as buns for regular sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, I can lay them in a bowl and then put pulled pork over them, you can spread primal tuna salad on them, and the list goes on.
If I make them small and round they are the perfect accompaniment to stew, soup, or just as a dinner roll.
The coconut flour has a pleasant taste and is very fibrous, so you know it is doing wonders for your insides.
I usually make a double batch of sandwich bun types and then a double batch of small rounds.
I decided to give myself a break and not be chained to the stove all day, by splitting up the batches.
After making the flat breads, Jack and I headed to our favorite Sharon Woods and took a different path than usual.
Wow...nature is beautiful even in the browns of winter...

Sharon Woods

After our stint at Sharon Woods, I made the next batches of rolls and we headed out for a different park to explore.

Glenwood Gardens

We went to Glenwood Gardens.
The park has amazing trails that give the feeling of being a hundred miles away from civilization. Even though the landscape was completely brown, it was still a wonder to see and enjoy in these unusually warm days.

Jack was one happy sweetie after his two long walks.
I will share my Primal Bread recipe with you and maybe make your day too!


Primal Bread:

1/4 cup grass fed butter or coconut oil (melted)
1/3 cup coconut flour
4 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (you can use any kind you like)
I use a bunch of other spices including dill and rosemary, and toss those in.

Primal Biscuit Batter

Blend together eggs, coconut oil or butter, salt, and spices.
Combine coconut flour with baking powder and whisk into batter until there are no lumps.
Fold in cheese.

Before baking

For this batch I pressed them out flat to make the buns.

perfect!

I baked them in a 350 degree oven for 12 to 14 minutes.
I try not to over bake them so they are still moist and hold together for sandwich making.

I hope you try these biscuits and find a new healthy staple for your home too!