The Primal Martini

Queen Of Left Overs Goes Lenticular Lovin'

2014-03-08T08:15:00.002-08:00

Our beautiful daughter graduates from high school this spring, and we couldn't be happier!

This coming fall we will be empty nesters, scary but quite exciting.

So when a child graduates in our house we take them on a family vacation of their choice, we took our son to Hawaii for his senior trip.

Our daughter wasn't sure where she wanted to go, I quickly suggested Bermuda, Barbados...you get the drift. In the end she chose Washington State.

Really?

At first I wasn't impressed. It's still chilly up there even in the summer...right?

I started a Pinterest board and began pinning everything that looked exciting to do in the state.

I am now an official Lenticular Cloud junkie.

It is my greatest wish to see a UFO looking cloud parked right over Mt.Rainier.

Everyone else has an equally interesting thing they want to see or do out of the trip, my daughter wants to go to a huge music festival called The Sasquatch Festival, my husband wants to whale watch, and our son is hoping to be back from his internship in Brussels in time to make the trip.

I have really kicked up my walking and treadmill time so that I can haul my booty around Washington's mountains and forests without puking and slowing everyone down.

We are now on super budget crunch down trying to save for this trip.

No more eating out and I am making sure that we eat everything in our fridge, with next to no waste at all. No one is happy about this arrangement, none of us are fans of leftovers, but with some creativity I have been making it work.

One of our staples every week is pureed cauliflower. We eat it as a side dish, like mashed potatoes.

When it is the next day I like to bake it on parchment paper by spoonful's, it reminds me of tater tots. When my cauliflower is thin I reminds me more of little potato pancakes, a perfect side dish for any meat. This night I wanted to use it completely different. I scraped the container of leftover cauliflower into a sauce pan, put about a cup and a half of water in the container and shook it around to loosen the puree and poured that in the pan too. I added a 1/4 cup of heavy cream, salted and peppered it. Once it was warm I poured it in our bowls and generously doused it with bacon and a bit of cheese.

Awesome.

Best thing I have had in a while.

This lunch is all left overs. If you take a closer peek at my blueberries, they are a tad sketchy. But if there isn't mold on something I'm going to eat it. No waste!

My hard cooked eggs were a day away from being trash so I mixed them with carrot shreds (which we add to everything) celery, a small amount of Caesar dressing, pistachios, a little cheddar, and lots of spices.

My cookies are made from a boat load of leftovers and are perfectly Paleo/Primal.

I had made some medjool date paste (soak the dates in water, remove seed, and whiz in the food processor-it is almost like carmel and is a natural sugar source) that I needed to use so I decided on these cookies.

After I blended the almonds down to flour, I threw everything else in the food processor and whizzed it together.

Ready in two seconds!

Dropped by spoonful onto parchment paper.

Baked for twelve minutes and they were ready to enjoy with breakfast lunch or dinner.

Gluten Free Paleo / Primal Anytime Cookies:

1/4 cup mejoohl date paste

2 tbsp. of honey

1-2 ripe bananas (depends if yours are small or big)

1/2 cup almond flour (grind my own)

1/2 almond butter (grind my own)

1 egg

1 tsp. of vanilla

1tbsp. of pumpkin pie spice (optional)

1/2 tsp. of baking powder

dash of salt

I mixed everything together in the food processor till blended and creamy.

Dropped by spoonful onto parchment paper (I did like them better smoothed out into cookie shape)

Baked in a 350 degree oven for 10/12 minutes.

Enjoy anytime of the day!

In the mean time I am going to keep planning our trip and hoping to see a sight like this!

Thoughts Of Spring and Peanut Butter Puffs

2014-03-05T05:46:00.003-08:00

My little dog's face says it all.
We are sick of winter here in the Midwest, it truly seems like there is no end in sight, and it's March already!!
I look at our pictures of the trip to Hawaii everyday, and then grumble as I watch Hawaii Life on HGTV. My poor husband who can not move his job (ever) has to listen to this almost daily...
"What if we sold everything!? What if I said I could live in a tent on the beach?! Can we go then?"
He just shakes his head and sighs.
With one kid in college and the other going in the fall, it seems like the perfect time to escape Ohio.
If I never saw another snow flake again, I am pretty sure I would be perfectly content.
But as he reminds me, those kids still need us. It would be impossible to hop a thousand dollar, six hour flight several times a year, just so I could be happy.
Oh well...I will try and suck it up and not whine as much at being stuck in the snowy tundra.
For that I will need chocolate...several times a day.
I usually don't mind our primal breakfasts of eggs, bacon, and spinach. It's my favorite meal.
My eighteen year old daughter on the other hand is sick of it. She wants me to buy her gluten free cereals instead. If you look on the box of that cereal the truth is there, carbs, sugars, and all manner of chemicals and crap.
So I decided to search Pinterest for Primal/Paleo cereal recipes. Most of them appealed to me, but I would love soaked nuts ground into a porridge with fruit and almond milk!
The kid, not so much.
I did find a recipe for Primal Reece's Peanut Butter Puffs, halleluiah, it sounded awesome!
This is a simple and primal recipe, it turned out perfectly...on my second batch.
The trick to these little buggers is the cooking time, the recipe I tried said to cook them on 375 for 10 minutes. That resulted in black little balls of nasty ash. Completely inedible.
The second batch I cooked at 350 for 3 minutes, perfection!
These are tasty, not too sweet, and do not fall apart in the almond milk.
I love them!
There is a problem.
Rolling out the dough into blueberry size balls was awful. I think next time I make these I will roll the dough between wax paper until it is thin and then cut into square shapes, making flakes of cereal.
It has to take less time!

The puff balls nicely rolled into blueberry size.

Primal Peanut Butter Puffs:

1/2 cup almond flour (I grind my almonds myself)
1/2 cup of nut butter (I used chunky kind, that is why you see the nut chunks)
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
2 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. coconut oil or ghee (melted)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. sea salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir together
make into balls or roll flat and cut into flake shapes
Bake for three minutes (your oven might take longer)
Let cool completely before serving

These are a great treat to have when you just can not face another morning of eggs (and snow!).
I hope you try this primal cereal and enjoy it too!

Snow Snow Go Away Don't Come Again Another Day

2014-01-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing in Ohio...since November.
The year I started my blog it was the mildest winter we had had in decades, this year has been the coldest and most snow filled we have had in years. Ugh!
That my friends makes me a tiny bit crazier than I am during the spring, summer, and fall. It also makes me want to curl up in a ball under mounds of blankets and hibernate.
I have not gotten off my rather big butt in almost a month.
Every day I say to myself that I will hop on the treadmill or pop in a DVD. Does it happen?
No.
I find another excuse to sit in my chair or snuggle with my little dog Jackie in my bed. I still eat very well, but my weight never budges. I might have even gained a few pounds.
Sigh...I must make myself move more!

My breakfasts are always Primal and include spinach.

My lunch / dinner always includes protein, spinach, and fruit.

I'm lazy right now so there is not much cooking going on, but when I do it is usually already something that I am good at making.

Spaghetti squash along with cauliflower are my go to side dishes.

This week it was squashes turn, and I made a chicken, artichoke, and spaghetti squash casserole along with a pesto parmesan side dish. These are perfect to make and freeze ahead of time.

I do need a treat, almost everyday.

I have been trying to make something that uses whole ingredients, and not just pure sugar.

I went back to an old favorite, Primal Protein Bars.

I have blogged about them before, and these are a favorite of even my picky daughter.

They are quick and easy to whip up with a heavy duty food processor (since they are super sticky) and curb even the worst sweet cravings.

1 pound of whole pitted prunes

1 cup of raw almond meal (I pulse the almonds down until I have a cup of meal, not flour)

1/2 cup of flax seed meal (I buy mine at Costco)

1/2 cup of cocoa powder (I use dark)

2 tbsp honey

3 tbsp of chunky almond butter or peanut butter

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (I used mini since they disperse nicely through each bar)

I pulse everything together in the food processor, press into a wax paper covered brownie pan (with a piece of wax paper under my hand-these are sticky!) and set in the fridge (covered with wax paper) for one to two hours until chilled throughout. I use a very long serrated knife to cut into bar shapes, wrap in smaller pieces of wax paper, and keep in a Tupperware container in the fridge.

They really help when your mind says cookies, brownies, and ice cream!! You can grab one of these and stay healthier.

Jack and I are going to stay warm for now and maybe exercise (crossing my fingers).

Next time, I have a recipe for blueberry maple breakfast sausage. They are super tasty and perfect with any meal.

Primal / Paleo Plain and Simple

2013-08-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy August here at our house.
Our gorgeous daughter started her senior year this month, and now we being the year of lasts...last first day of high school, last homecoming, last prom and so on.

Our son moved back up to OSU for his second year of college this month, we miss him terribly already.
It was my birthday this month and our 25th wedding Anniversary.
With all the packing and shopping for these big life events I have not had the time or inclination to work that hard at cooking something interesting most nights.
I have still tried to feed us Primal/ Paleo, but in it's purest of forms.
Here are a few pictures to show what we eat most days.

Roast chicken with spinach, carrots, blueberries, cherries, kalamata olives, roasted garlic, and a wedge of brie

Baked chicken breast, sweet potato baked fries, mixed fruit, and left over spaghetti squash casserole

Salami and cream cheese rolls, spinach, mac nuts, and mixed fruit salad

Salmon, strawberries, pineapple, fresh green beans, and avocado in a bit of ranch

Spinach, cherries, strawberries, pistachios, and avocado with ranch

Roast chicken with guacamole topping, blueberries, cherries, apple slices, cheese wedge, and mashed cauliflower

Some nights it is as simple as this!

When I stayed with my son at his college house for a day or two to help him move in we still ate Primal and healthy!

College Primal eating...chicken, blueberries, celery, apple, and a bit of Tuscan herb cheese

I hope you enjoyed looking into our simple meal styles and that they inspire you to make good choices today.

Sunflower Days And Primal / Paleo Chicken Meatball Bites

2013-07-30T07:23:00.001-07:00

Summer, oh gorgeous summer!
I guess that Ohio summers are not too bad...temperate days and cool enough nights lately to have a bonfire...still wish I lived in Hawaii though ;)
I have come out of my winter doldrums and started to live better.
Winter wore me down.
I sat on the couch wrapped in large fluffy blankets and read...or watched Netflix...or read some more...and ate.
I ate anything I wanted.
Cookies were my sin.
I gained weight, was rewarded with some pimples for good measure, and saw my forward progress with my weight disappear.
As spring came I got my crap back together and began eating clean and Primal again.
The one thing I can't do is make myself exercise.
I am hoping getting back to the blog world will help me achieve this, Lord knows I have pinned a thousand exercises. I own hundreds of workout DVDs, and have a treadmill, a Total Gym, and Kettle Bells.
What the heck is it going to take to make my large behind get up and do it?
Sigh...
Maybe this.
Other people who have the same struggle.
So if your out there...let me know what works for you.
What motivates you out of your chair...off the couch...or gets your nose out of that great book you just started.
I did take the dog for a walk the other day, but only to take these stunning pictures at the sunflower field that is not far from our home.

My sweet little dog Jack

He was such a good sport about the whole thing.
Sat like a champ, and the bacon I brought along really helped.

Just love this one of him

Another photographer let me borrow the little stool he is sitting on, too darling for words.

Chicken Meatball Bites

Every week when I go to Costco we always end up getting a rotisserie chicken to pick over for a snack or quick meal.
This time we had a very busy few days and I forgot about the bird in the fridge.
I didn't want it to go to waste so I picked it clean and put the meat to good use.
I made Chicken Meatball Bites.

Roughly 2 cups of chicken
1 egg
1 tablespoon of coconut flour
1 tablespoon of chopped garlic
at your pleasure; onion powder, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper
1 teaspoon of flavored olive oil

I put the chicken by itself in the Cuisinart and pulsed a few times
Added the egg and coconut flour and pulsed a few more times
Let it sit for a minute for the coconut flour to get going and then add all the rest and pulse again
I rolled these into balls and placed on a cookie sheet
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 17-20 minutes until golden

I had these with my standard spinach leave salad, blueberries, avocado, and macadamia nuts.
An awesome clean eating meal if I do say so myself.
My son enjoyed his with BBQ sauce for dipping and my husband used a buffalo sauce.
I hope you try this recipe and love it too.

Primal Thanksgiving With The Help From A Friend

2012-11-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

Since I began my new Primal life I have been one of it's biggest cheerleaders.
Obnoxiously so.
If you happened to ask about my weight loss or ask why I was not eating the bun...God help you.
I am more than happy to tell you about my journey, the reasons you should not be eating that processed goo, and the newest scientific facts I had just read about grains and fasting.
Just try and stop me!!
You have to know my friends were my first victims to attack with my new found knowledge...enthusiastically so.
To my great surprise most of our friends and family have come on board and given it a try.
All of them to great success.
Our good friends Matt and Sheila were some of the first people I told all my new found information to. I knew Sheila would be interested but never thought that Matt would listen or even give it a second look.
Matt did not like anything green, and was not interested in veggies at all.
What he did like was the fact that he could eat bacon, steak, sausage, and butter.
As he and his wife explored their eating possibilities within the Primal sphere they taught my husband and I a few things.
Matt and Sheila found Luigi's, which sells grassfed beef and free range Amish chicken, and they have the most amazing buffalo chicken flavored sausage that we all love.
The best thing that Matt has given to us is his recipe for Brussel Sprouts, which is a green veggie, if you remember!
I was shocked to come home from Hawaii to my husband raving about this fabulous dish that Matt had made for him while I was gone.
My mom is even a huge fan of this dish which is why it will be one of the sides we share at our Primal Thanksgiving this year.
I wanted to give the recipe to anyone who was looking for a flavorful and filling Primal side dish to serve at their holiday table.

I chop the brussel sprouts apart and any other veggies we like to throw in. Today it was carrot shreds, peppers, broccoli , snow peas, and as always some great sausage.

I add a flavored olive oil or coconut oil to the pan first and then add in the sprouts as they take the longest to cook.

After 5 minutes I add the all the veggies but the carrots and peppers. I then pour on the balsamic vinegar. We also add in the chopped garlic and a handful of spices at this time.

After 3 more minutes in goes the sausage. It is precooked and goes in to get heated through.

The carrots and peppers are added last as my husband likes a bit of a crisp to those two veggies when it's all done.

Primal Brussel Sprouts and Sausage

Here is the finished dish, plated and ready to enjoy!

Primal Meaty Brussel Sprouts:

1 cup of brussel sprouts cleaned and halved
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup of mixed veggies (broccoli, snow peas, and others)
1/4 cup of sliced peppers
1/4 cup of flavored olive oil or coconut oil (we used a basil olive oil)
1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
1-2 tablespoons of chopped garlic (ours came from a jar)
2 large precooked sausage links (your choice of flavor)
spices (choose your favorites, we added Italian types of spices)

Heat your pan over a medium high heat and add your flavored oil
Next add in the brussel sprouts and cook for 5 minutes stirring continuously
Add in the mixed veggies, the balsamic, garlic, and spices and cook for 3 minutes
The sausage goes in next and gets stirred for 2 minutes
Now add in the veggies you like crisp and saute for a few minutes until they are done to your taste

That's it! Ten minutes on the stove and you have an amazingly flavorful main or side dish.

Thank you again Matt.
He has made us proud by meeting his goal weight and losing over 30 pounds!
At the last band concert Matt played the entire night without a shirt and looked smoking hot!!

Matt as Jimmy Page at our Halloween gig...sexy!

I hope you give the Primal life a try and enjoy looking and feeling better like we all do.
Have a wonderful holiday.

Getting Ready for Primal Thanksgiving With Primal Apple Crisp

2012-11-19T14:26:00.001-08:00

It's Thanksgiving this week and I have spent some time getting the place all dolled up for the big day. Our son will be home from college and I wanted the house to look especially pretty and warm to welcome him back. Here are a few pictures to show you what it looks like here this year.

The buffet will be filled with Primal yummies on Thursday

I spent too much time on Pinterest trying to figure out how to update the look of our bookcases for fall

I have Pinterest to thank for the ideas on putting together the Thanksgiving mantle

It is also our first Primal Thanksgiving, so I have had to remove some old carb filled recipes and replace them with our new favorites.
I am exchanging the flour made Parker House Rolls for Herb and Cheddar Coconut Flour Biscuits.
We are giving up the white mashed potatoes for just having sweet potato casserole (who needs two kinds of potatoes in one meal anyway?)
My mom is making the pumpkin and pecan pies with crusts made with almond meal and coconut flour.
I tried out a new recipe this weekend to see if it might be good to have on the big day.
Primal Apple Crisp was amazing! Warm and filled with fall spices, it is gluten free and will be perfect to serve on Thursday along with the pies.

I cut four very large honey crisp apples up into small pieces and sauteed them in butter and a bit of raw sugar.

I added in some lemon juice and a load of cinnamon.

I then mixed the almond flour, coconut flour, spices, salt, brown sugar, and soft butter together in a separate bowl to make a crumb.

I placed the warm apples in a coconut oil rubbed baking dish.

I covered the apples with all of the crumb mix and baked for 35 minutes until warm and bubbly.

I served ours in a pretty martini glass.
It was a wonderful treat! We don't eat much sugar now days and this was almost too sweet to me, but my husband thought it was perfect!

Primal Apple Crisp:

4 large apples cut into pieces
1.5 sticks of butter (grassfed is best)
1/4 cup raw sugar (I use raw organic fair trade)
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
3 tablespoons of cinnamon
(I also used cake spice, apple pie spice, and pumpkin pie spices in mine)
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup coconut flour

Cut the apples into the shape and size you enjoy
simmer the apples on the stove top in 1/2 stick of butter, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon,and the raw sugar until they loose their crispness
In a separate bowl mix the almond and coconut flours with the brown sugar, 1 stick of softened butter, salt, and any extra spices you enjoy
In a baking dish rub generously with coconut oil to coat and add the apples, cover evenly with the crumb mixture
Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes until bubbly and warm

I hope you try this apple dish and enjoy your Holiday with the ones you love!

Primal Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms and Gearing Up For A Gig, Plus A Before And After Weight Loss Picture

2012-10-16T06:29:00.003-07:00

My husband's band is once again gearing up for their annual Halloween Gig.
Our good friend Eric Brown created another amazing shirt design, Psycho Bunnies for The Stone Bunnies 2012 Halloween Show.
He has been a great friend to the band and myself (he designed my Primal Martini gear also!), if you need an amazing graphic designer let me know and I can put you in contact with him.
With the show getting closer I have been on the treadmill longer, and hitting my workout DVD collection more often because I have a costume idea in mind.
I would like to have a smooth and smaller shape in my dress and not so many lumps and bumps.
I put together a side by side picture of myself to show how far I have come in my weight loss.

Weight Loss Before and After Picture

You can really tell that I have less neck and chin now.
I have to admit I am happy with the dark hair, I am less washed out.
The first picture is from March 3rd 2012 and the second is from September 20 2012.
I am looking forward to taking a picture on December 26th of this year to show the difference that one year of being Primal makes on me.
I am also hoping for at least 100 pounds lost.
I am commited to making it happen.

Last night to appease my husband (who is tired of a piece of protein and a salad) I made his favorite Chicken Marsala with mushrooms.

It was creamy, dreamy, and delicious!

I started by lightly sauteing the mushrooms in grass fed butter. I then removed them to a plate and added the chicken into the pan.

I then added a whole load of spices to both sides of the chicken in the pan (I threw more in just for kicks and giggles...we are spicy people!).

I then removed the chicken to a plate with the mushrooms and added in the chicken broth (I was out of my homemade stock and had to use the dreaded processed stuff!) Marsala wine, and heavy cream. I whisked it for a few minutes over a medium/high heat to burn off some of the alcohol, and then added the chicken and mushrooms back into the pan.

I let this simmer over a medium/low heat with a lid for ten minutes to meld the flavors together.
It was delicious!

I enjoyed my Chicken Marsala with the usual spinach and apple side dish.

PRIMAL CHICKEN MARSALA:

4 skinless chicken breasts (mine were frozen so I baked them at 350 for 20 minutes to soften them up for the pan)
1 container of sliced white button mushrooms
1/2 stick of grass fed butter
1/2 teaspoon of granulated garlic power (or fresh) basil, oregano, or any spices that you enjoy
1 cup chicken broth or stock
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1. Add butter to a large saute pan over medium/high heat
2. Add in the mushrooms and cook until just beginning to get soft, remove to a side plate
3. Add in the chicken breasts and spices, cook for 5 minutes on each side in the butter
4. Once cooked remove the chicken to the plate with the mushrooms
5. Add the broth and wine to the pan and whisk over a higher heat for a few minutes to burn off most of the alcohol
6. Reduce the heat down to medium and add in the cream, whisking it for a minute to incorporate
7. Add the chicken and mushrooms back to the pan, reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid
8. Let cook for 10 minutes on low, stirring occasionally to let the flavors meld
9. Serve hot!

I hope you try this warm and creamy dish soon.
Enjoy!

My Morning Magic Brew and A Bit Of Ohio Fall

2012-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ok...I have to admit it...fall in Ohio is pretty this year.
It has been cooler than normal, so I have been able to wear fall clothes...IN the fall!
Usually it's freezing in the morning and then 85 degrees in the afternoon.
When I took my little dog for a walk the other day this stunning beauty was waiting for me...wow!
With the weather brisk but pleasant I have been dragging my poor little guy out for an hour to two hour walk almost everyday, he's exhausted!
After a summer of 95+ degrees most days, he hasn't been on such extended walks for a very long time.
I have noticed a huge difference on my body when walking outside versus the treadmill.
The treadmill cushions my joints from the pounding my body weight puts on them, the pavement is non forgiving on my entire body. I'm just not sure which is better for me in the long run.
I'm sure pulling my weight on my own versus the treadmill doing the pulling is burning more calories, but is it worth tearing myself apart?
Oh well...it's too pretty to forgo the walks!

The neighborhood looking fall splashed!

I thought I would share how I start my day...everyday.
Even if it is a non eating day I still have coffee. It fills me up and gives me enough energy to make it sometimes to the next day, which is great for our bodies to take a rest from constant food processing to work on healing and restoring our systems.
Mark Sisson of marksdailyapple.com has some amazing information on intermittent fasting and the good things it can do for your body and life.

I start with one tablespoon of organic free trade raw sugar (I would rather have natural organic sugar and the weird processed stuff out there) I also have one and a half tablespoons of Dutch Process High Fat Dark Coca Powder.
The cocoa has antioxidant protection, antioxidants protect the body from damage by unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals that can cause many illnesses and diseases.
It also can benefit the cardiovascular system by enhancing blood flow and thereby lower blood pressure.
My favorite thing about it is that it is a mood enhancer...always good to start the day in a happier state of mind.
I then add in my coconut oil, almost three tablespoons.
Coconut oil has been found to help normalize blood lipids and protect against damage to the liver by alcohol and other toxins. It can play a role in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases, and is associated with improved blood sugar and insulin control and therefore the prevention and management of diabetes.
Coconut oil has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Coconut oil is thought to help strengthen mineral absorption, which is important for healthy teeth and bones, and can also help improve the condition and appearance of the scalp, hair and skin when ingested or rubbed on the skin (I use it everyday as a moisturizer. When I found out how many chemicals were in my face creams I dumped them all and started up with the coconut oil.)
The oil has also been studied as a help to Alzheimer patients. Since our brains are made of fat the thought is that the lower fat diets have starved our brains of an essential ingredient that we need.
I then add in organic heavy cream. I'm not even sure of how much, I just wing it every morning!

This yummy brew is what I dream about before I go to bed, and is one of the reasons I wake up happy in the morning.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful fall day as well.

Primal Chicken Bacon Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

2012-10-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

I know fall is pretty in Ohio and all...but I am missing Hawaii again.
I think I would not mind being island bound for a few years...I mean turning leaves and fresh snow fall is something great to many people, but I'm just done!
Give me ocean breezes, constant temperatures, palm trees...heck! Just give me the ocean!!
Oh well, the reality is I live in Ohio and it's cold this morning...as it was last night.
I decided to make more than just a piece of protein for my husband for dinner.
I have been seriously uninterested in food lately and it has harshed his world.
My husband would love to cook and create marvelous and varied meals together.
Bleh.
I don't want to think too much about food, it has lost it's appeal and hold on me and I am not anxious to go back to that place.
But for him I made a comfort meal extraordinaire last night...Chicken Bacon Spaghetti Alfredo.
It was as creamy and satisfying as if it was made with pasta, but didn't have that heavy and bloating after effect that true carbs give you.

You start buy cutting your spaghetti squash in half...

I have to use an electric knife...so much quicker.

Once the squash is open, scrape out the seeds and discard (or clean and roast if you like)

I salt and pepper mine and then roast it in a 350 oven face down on a foil lined cookie sheet for 50-60 minutes.

While the squash is baking I gather all the ingredients for the Alfredo sauce and get it started.

Finally smooth and creamy, ready for all the other good things to be tossed in.

The squash is done, but as always the cooking has released the water in the gourd and now the strands are mushy. I can fix that!

After all the strands are scooped out down to the skin, I put mine in a fine mesh colander.

I place a bowl on top of the squash, wrap my hand in a towel (because that stuff is a boiling hot mess!) and press out as much of the liquid as I can.

My husband cut and chopped up all of the chicken breasts and bacon for me while I was squishing the squash within an inch of it's life.

Looking warm and yummy with almost everything added in, it's just missing the bacon now.

Here is my plate (with my two handfuls of spinach I have everyday!) all that is missing is my apple.

Primal Spaghetti Squash Alfredo with Roast Chicken and Bacon:

1 Spaghetti Squash
3 Large chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
8 Pieces of bacon, cooked and chopped
1 Stick of butter (grassfed if possible)
1 cup of heavy whipping cream or half and half
1 - 8 oz package of cream cheese, cut into cubes
1/2 cup of shredded cheese (I used Kerrygold Dubliner grassfed cheese, for it's flavor)
3 Cloves of minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley or fresh (I was out!)

Slice the squash in half and scrape out the seeds and middle parts.
Salt and pepper the squash, placing it face down on a foil lined baking sheet.
Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.
Scrape out all the strands into a fine mesh colander and with a bowl push out as much water as you can get out of it.

Sauce:

In a sauce pan melt the butter over a medium heat
Add the cubed cream cheese and stir until it has melted together
Slowly pour in the heavy cream and whisk quickly for a few minutes
Add in the cheese a little at a time, and then add the spices, whisking continuously.
As it begins to thicken add in the squash, chicken, and bacon.

Serve warm with your favorite salad or veggies.

I hope you enjoy this casserole as much as we did.

Still Going Strong and 70 Pounds Down Plus Weigh Loss Before And After Pictures

2012-10-08T07:08:00.002-07:00

Good morning!
I have been thinking everyday of blogging, but feel I have not much to say.
I eat almost the same thing everyday...a meat, spinach, an apple, maybe some nuts...some days some cheese, and almost everyday a little dark chocolate.
I really have no interest in other foods right now, no interest in meal planning either.
If I look on Pinterest or Foodgawker for ideas, that gets my stomach thinking about food.
I am almost never hungry anymore so I avoid looking at those pages to keep away from the pictures of food :)
I am losing weight, but to me it seems so slow.
I know that is better for my body in the long run...but it's making me nutty!
I just want to be a normal size...walk in to any store and be able to fit in to something.
I went from a 3x last December to and XL or L in tops, so that is a drastic improvement.
My butt was a 22/24 pants and sadly I am still in most 18's. I do have 2 pairs of 16's that I can get into, but mostly a solid 18.
PFFFFTT!
This is killing me.
I only just started to exercise in August. I am diligent and do either cardio or weights everyday.
I am trying to follow Mark Sisson's advice to not overdo the exercise...but I am going crazy in my head wanting to be a size 14 and under 200 SOON!
I truly thought that I would be further by now...sigh...
I know I did not put it all on in a year and I have a few months until the first year is up...but still...I am impatient some days...I guess today is one of those days.
I keep looking on Mark's Daily Apple for information on how to shed more fat, and the information that came up was about intermittent fasting...which I already do.
I eat one Primal meal a day.
But being the impatient whiner I am...I am thinking about skipping a day eating once a week...just to see if that kicks things up a bit.
I try not to let the scale get to me, because I am getting muscle under that flabby skin I carry around.
But if I could drop a size in pants...who am I kidding? I want to drop two sizes! I would feel much more accomplished in my weight loss.
I have to say, I will never eat The Standard American Diet ever again.
I have been healthier, happier, not sick once, not one zit or breakout, and have been building muscle since I changed to living Primal, I will never go back to the old way of living.
I just had a fantasy in my head that I would be a size 10 already...but when you have over 100 pounds to lose it takes time and work.
I am so proud of my mom, she has gone from a size 14 to a size 6 in just six months time.
She looks amazing and has finally lost her dependence on food to make her happy or fulfilled.
I will finally get the courage to show a before and during picture.

Me at my heaviest :(

looking better, but still a ways to go

I have more of a chin now instead of a mass of flesh

These weight loss before and after pictures show I have done a good job, but am looking forward to seeing my results in December at the one year mark.
Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a great day and keep eating clean.

What Happened Thursday...

2012-08-31T05:29:00.000-07:00

Today I worked hard.
I walked and ran on the treadmill for an hour.
It has gotten much easier as the weeks have fallen away.
It was skanky whore day on that treadmill :)
I ran to some terribly dirty System Of A Down songs, and then cooled down to MGMT's Electric Feel. I got my wind back and ran again to Silvertide's Maryjane and some super skanky Buckcherry songs. Cooled down again to Robin Thicke and some great Passion Pit songs.
I worked out with hand weights for a few minutes because my upper arms are still the size of Easter hams :(
I cleaned my son's room out...completely.
Boys are gross...just sayin'.
He is coming home from college for the first time on this long holiday weekend, so I wanted him to walk into a clean room with fresh sheets. Just to remind him what he's missing.
I'm not kidding myself...he's not missing anything!
It took forever to get that room spic and span, and I was sweating as much as when I had run on the treadmill by the time I was done.
Tonight was volley ball night.
Truthfully, I have not played since junior high.
So I might have misrepresented myself when I said I could play well.
Sorry ladies, but this mom needed to get out of the house, hopefully my team mates will be patient as I get into the swing of the game again.
After a few hours of trying to push my bod around in that deep sand in the heat and sun, I'm pretty sure a good deal of calories were burned!
Today I ate a burger without bun, bowl of spinach leafs, some pistachios, and a small hunk of Kerrygold Dunbliner cheese.

I hope you had a good day too!

Coming Farther Than I Ever Thought

2012-08-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

It has been a wonderful summer.
My son's graduation party went very well, and was a blast.

I was forced to take my son to college...and leave him there.
His choice, not mine.

I had a bit of a break down after he left and went back to being a brunette after almost two decades of being a bottle blond.
The biggest change out of all this is that I have gone from a 3x top to a size large.
Dropped ten more pounds, and found the strength inside myself to start exercising.
I really had hoped deep inside myself that it would not come to this...because I hated exercising!!
Eeeewwww!
To be sweaty, sore, and have absolutely no results is how it always was in the past.
This time I have noticed some interesting things that make it all quite different.
1. My joints, knees, wrists, and ankles don't hurt anymore when I work out. (no grains, or packaged foods makes this possible)
2. Even the next day, my soreness is minimal. (see...no grains...no inflammation!)
3. I don't feel gross while I'm doing it, just stronger.
4. For the first time ever...I look forward to it.

I have not been a great blogger.
I have slacked off, not because I was too busy (even though I kind of was) or uninspired.
I have found a new place inside of me and it does not jive with what I wanted my blog to be in the beginning.
I most likely will not post recipes on here anymore.
I don't feel like trying out new things, cooking constantly, or even full meal planning.
I am not hungry.
I found that sometimes eating every other day works better for me.
I am hungry when I smell food being cooked, but if I walk away from it, the feeling goes away.
I only want a small piece of meat, some spinach, an apple, and some nuts.
That makes me feel good and satisfied.
So from now on I am going to post pictures of what I ate that day, exercises that I did, and progress photos.
Progress photos...that is a tricky thing.
I want to see them of other people...but slapping one out on the Internet for all to see...my huge...everything...well that might take me a few more weeks of progress.
Thank you to everyone who has viewed my blog and not made fun of me!

Have a wonderful day...and ditch the grains!!

Primal Creamy Pork Chops and a Return To Reality

2012-07-02T09:01:00.002-07:00

I'm back!
I've been back from vacation for a while but have been slacking on blogging, mostly because I make us the same old things to eat. Nothing fun to share with you all.
Our vacation was amazing.
Hawaii was gorgeous, and stunning.
Everyday we saw something new, and had great adventures together as a family.
My kids bonded a little bit again since they were stuck with each other for two weeks, which was nice to see.

We hiked, swam, and were Primal everyday.
It was easy and convinient to be this way in Hawaii, where food and restaurants are very expensive.
Right after our plane landed on The Big Island we made our way over to the Kona Costco to pick up our food for the first week.
The prices were a little higher than here in Ohio, but not terrible.
My biggest downfall of the whole trip was the amount of dark chocolate macadamia nut products I consumed.
We all were in love with them.
Most days we would pack a cooler of veggies, fruits, chicken, and nuts. We would throw in some waters and be set for a day of exploring.
I would have coffee in the morning on our lani, watching the wild goat family eat grass on the golf coarse and then have a snack from the cooler in the middle of the day. When we would get back in the evenings we would grill out and watch the sun set.
Heaven.
It was nice not to worry about reservations and waiting for a table some place every night.
We spent our money on wild adventures instead.

We took an ATV tour one day for six hours, over hills and jungle that even most Hawaiians don't get to see because it is private land. The trip was very exciting, and the sights were stunning.

It was something none of us will forget!

One day we hiked straight down a mountain into that gorgeous valley. It was hard! But amazing.

Another day we drove to the top of Mauna Kea Volcano to watch the sunset.
It is 14,000 feet above sea level. Now...it is a super weird thing to go from the actual sea to the top of a mountain...and believe me...you notice the difference in your body right away.
we drank lots of water and popped our ears constantly while we made the trek up, but it still did a number on us. By the time the sun had set and we made our way down to the visitor center to watch the stars, we were loopy, short of breath, and freezing!!

The top of the world is spectacular.

After the first week my husband had to go home, the kids and I stayed one more week.
It was a time of swimming and chilling out.
My favorite thing to do was to make a huge cup of coffee and head out to a different beach each morning. I would sit and drink in the beauty of the sea while enjoying my brew and then head out to snorkel before the waves kicked up. I swam with sea turtles at least three times and saw some really large fish that made me a little nervous.

This was my absolute favorite beach. I came to swim here more than once because of just how pretty it was.

The wild Hawaiian kitties were alays happy to see me in the morning.

But now I'm home, and planning my son's graduation party.
So you will have to hear waaaaaay too much about that before it even happens ;)

The other day I decided to use up some pork chops that were sitting in the fridge, but didnt want to make them the same old way.
All the recipes that I found on Pinterest had bread crumbs or some other carb filled thing.
So I made up my own version of Creamy Baked Pork Chops.

Primal Creamy Baked Pork Chops

6 boneless pork chops
16 ounce sour cream
1/2 cup of crushed Primal crackers
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of rosemary
salt and pepper

Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl
Pat dry the pork chops with paper towels
Dip each chop into the mixture and coat it heavily on all sides
Place onto a foil lined baking pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes until their internal temperature reaches 145 to 150 degrees to be safe

We enjoyed these with pan roasted brussel sprouts with mushrooms and bacon.
It was an easy and yummy dinner.

I hope you try these amazingly tasty chops and enjoy them too.

Gluten Free Low Carb Bread...Primaly Delicious!

2012-05-23T20:30:00.002-07:00

I have been craving a sandwich.
Since we shun the overly processed-wheat-belly hurting-grain type stuff, I didn't know what to do.
I could have made one of the coconut flour biscuits and flattened it out, but they still are a bit crumbly at times.
I knew there had to be a way.
I turned to Pinterest, my favorite all time web site these days.
I finally found a few recipes that suited what I was looking for.
I fiddled around with them and added the spices I was looking for...and voila!
I had a low carb-gluten free-primal-paleo bread to make a sandwich with.
It was perfect and quite yummy.
The texture was firm enough to hold and not break apart like coconut flour breads tend to do (no GLUE-ten in them to hold it all together).

Isn't that a lovely sandwich?
Fresh turkey with Kerrygold grass fed sharp cheddar cheese...mmmm.
I would have dolled it up with lettuce, tomatoes, and other good things but I had no idea if it would taste very good at all?!
I wanted to still be able to get a good taste of this type of Primal bread.

The ingredients were mixed up, poured into a glass storage dish, and microwaved.

I tipped it out of the dish and cut it across the middle with a long serrated knife.

Here it is getting roasty-toasty on the griddle.

A glass mixing bowl got the heat and steam going to melt that thick tangy cheese to molten goodness.

Here is the recipe;

1 tablespoon butter melted
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons of coconut flour
2 eggs mixed
dash of aluminum free baking powder
dash of salt and pepper
I added a few extra spices I enjoy

Mix everything up in a bowl
Let it set for a few minutes and mix again (this gives the coconut flour time to absorb the liquids and mix up smoothly)
Scrape into a glass bowl (mine was square making it perfect for sandwich bread making)
Microwave on high for three minutes
Let rest for a minute or two and then loosen from the bowl onto a cutting board
I used a long serrated knife to separate into a top and bottom.
Grill it up with your favorite sandwich fixings!

I made this into an egg, bacon, cheese, and avocado sandwich for my husband this morning.

Our recent graduate was very pleased with this new bread.
I hope you try the recipe and enjoy it too!

Primal Chicken Pizza Casserole Saves The Band

2012-05-22T06:27:00.001-07:00

The Stone Bunnies Rocking The House

My husband's band had a gig this weekend.
They are THE premiere benefit band.
If you need to raise money for a worthy cause...just give them a shout...they will be there.
My husband met these great guys when our boys were all in cub scouts together.
Sitting around a campfire one night Matt brought out a guitar and began to play, my husband knew the song and began to sing...thus The Stone Bunnies were born.
Soon they cajoled and shamed their other friend Scott into playing the drums and he dragged Jeff who knew the bass along too.
Seven years later they are still rockin' strong.

Charles on the violin adds a haunting beauty to many of the bands originals and covers.

The crowd was light at the beginning of the show, but appreciated the ROCK in this band's ROLL!

The wives of the band love to come to the benefit shows, Laura won one of the Split-The-Pots!

Sheila won the MUCH coveted huge basket of boozes in the raffles, she is now our favorite friend!

Before we left that night I made sure we had some good Primal eats, so that the husband would have the energy to give a good show.
I made us a Primal Chicken Pizza Casserole.
Comfort food at it's best.

Primal Chicken Pizza Casserole

8 ounces of cream cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
handful of your favorite spices

Toppings;

1 cup of cooked chopped chicken and any other pizza meat you enjoy
1 cup of pizza sauce
1 cup of veggies, mushrooms or whatever you enjoy
1 cup of cheese (we used a combo of our favorites)

Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees
For the crust, mix the cream cheese with the eggs and spices in a large bowl with a hand mixer
Scrape the sides occasionally and mix until it is a loose liquid mixture
Pour into a greased 9x13 glass pan and bake for 15 minutes
When baked, top with the pizza sauce, chicken, cheeses, and veggies of your choice
Return to the oven and bake for 15 more minutes
When it is hot and bubbly remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving

My son enjoyed this for breakfast the next day!
I hope you try this yummy Primal Chicken Pizza Casserole and enjoy it too.

Primal Artichoke & Chicken Casserole Goes To Graduation

2012-05-21T07:06:00.001-07:00

My Graduate

Our son graduated yesterday.
Sigh...what a wonderful and bittersweet day it was.
He has made us so very proud.
It has not been easy to keep great grades while taking some of the hardest classes, but he's done it and graduated with honors.
We really enjoy the man he is turning into, and miss the sweet little boy he was.

How does a little boy like this turn into a man like this...

In the blink of an eye, that is what it seemed like.
I never thought it would go so quickly.
Now we turn our thoughts to the next big adventure...college!
He has decided on THE Ohio State University as his choice and has made it into the Honors Program.
Again we are amazingly proud of him.

It was a hectic week leading up to the big day.
There were exams to finish, graduation practice, and my husband's band had a gig this weekend also.
Time was tight so I decided to stock the fridge with a few things Primal that we could grab on the go.
I made my standards...coconut grilled chicken, veggies and fruit cut up and bagged, primal crackers, and a new casserole.
Artichoke Chicken Casserole, it was as good reheated as it was the day I made it!
Here is the recipe...

2 cups of cooked chicken, diced
8 ounces of cream cheese
1 cup of chopped marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup of grated sharp white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup of marinated mushrooms
1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of Penzeys chip and dip spice (you can use what you like)
1/2 teaspoon of pepper

Mix all ingredients together till blended.
Place in a greased baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes till warm and bubbly.

This could be used like a dip in other circumstances, I would use large carrot or celery slices to eat it with.
We enjoyed it as the main dish with a nice salad and some fresh strawberries.
Primal comfort food at it's best!
I hope you try this Artichoke Chicken Casserole and enjoy it too.

Prom Has Come and Gone...What a Blast!

2012-05-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

My son and my mom before prom dinner

My son is a handsome and very kind man.
He knows how much I enjoy decorating and parties, and once again I was able to have prom dinner at our home.
Since this was senior prom I went all out, making an eight foot wall of hand cut flowers for them to stand in front of in pictures, The tables were decorated to the nines, and there was a canopy of hand cut flowers, birds, and butterflies floating above their heads at dinner.
I had a blast!!!
My mom was so great through all of this. She came down to help me several times in the month leading up to the big day, and the day of prom she helped me make all the desserts and with the final set up.

The big wall of flowers was made by using a 8x4 foam insulation board from Lowes (cost $8) and a pack of copy paper (cost $2.50) scissors, and clear tape.
I used straight pins to place the flowers on the board so that in the future I could add color or a different style of flower if I wanted to.

Here are close ups of the different flowers.

I looked at Pinterest for ideas to make different kinds of paper flowers.

If you live in Cincinnati and would like to borrow the wall...feel free to ask! I hate to think of it sitting doing nothing!

I made paper fan flowers to decorate the drink station from old scrapbook paper and tape. (whew...we need a new counter top!)

The flowers, birds and butterflies were strung on fishing line, and look static from this angle, but sitting under them was very pretty.

The dessert table was not Primal at all. It was pretty! Even though it was only jello, pudding, oreos, rice krispy treats, and brownie bites the kids were oohing and ahhing over it.

Oreos covered in white chocolate and sprinkles along with strawberry marshmallows dipped the same way, were simple but pretty to see.

Jello was poured into tall glasses and set slanted in the fridge. I mixed the remaining jello into cool whip and added it when the first layer was set. More cool whip and a strawberry completed the look.

I cut a circle of poster board and then cut out the middle of that to make the base for this paper wreath. It is copy paper and left over scrapbook paper cut into a leaf shape. I folded the bottom of the leaf together and taped it to the circle. A pretty welcome as the guests arrived.

I made large tissue paper flowers for the girls to hold as a fun extra. I was worried that they would think it was silly, but everyone seemed to love it.

All 20 kids had a great time and made it home safe the next morning, and that is what matters most.

Low Carb Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pudding in Chocolate cups

2012-04-23T05:10:00.002-07:00

I wanted to make a WOW dessert for our dinner party this last Saturday night, but being Primal we don't eat very much sugar or carbs, which is the basis of all good desserts.
I had been looking through Pinterest for something visually pretty, and fell in love with the idea of making chocolate cups to hold something peanut buttery.
I had grandiose plans to make my own puddings and the chocolate cups, but as my day ran away from me, I sent the husband down to the grocery for sugar free Jello puddings and made some improvements to their boxed treat.

First I blew up six balloons and covered their bottoms with coconut oil.
This did not help them to not stick, I have no idea why, but maybe I will try Crisco the next time I make these.

I heated up simple chocolate almond bark in the microwave until it melted, and then waited for it to get cool to the touch.
It has to be completely cool or your balloon will burst and you will be cleaning bits of chocolate out of the cat's ears...the electric plugs...the light fixtures...you get the drift!
Dip them in the bowl coating the bottoms and up the sides well.
I had to take my spoon and add some chocolate in thinner places.
Let them sit for an hour to be completely set.
Take a needle and holding the neck of the balloon between your fingers prick it, only leave a tiny hole for the air to begin releasing.
If you pop the balloon too quickly the air will rush out and collapse the bowl in on itself.

Here the balloons are slowly leaking air and beginning to pull away.
You can tell that I had some breakage and even some holes in the bottom of the cups.

This was a fail...I just gave that one to me when I served dessert!

They were still pretty to look at, even if not perfect.

Peanut Butter Pudding:

2 packages of cook and stir sugar free vanilla pudding
3 cups of organic heavy cream
3 cups water
1 cup of smooth peanut butter

Mix the pudding, cream, and water in a medium sauce pan.
Stir continuously over a medium heat until thickened.
Add the peanut butter in and stir till it begins to slow boil.
Remove from heat and transfer into a bowl, cover, and store in the fridge till set.

Chocolate Mousse Pudding:

2 packages of instant sugar free chocolate pudding
3 cups of organic heavy cream
3 cups of ice cold water

Mix the pudding, cream, and cold water in a large bowl with a hand mixer until thick and fluffy.
It will look light colored while it sets, but turn a rich dark chocolate color upon setting.
Put in the fridge for several hours to set.

I put two large spoonfuls in each chocolate cup to serve.
The mixture of the peanut butter and chocolate flavors was delightful, and very rich.
My guests really enjoyed this yummy treat and I hope you try your hand at it and enjoy it too!

Primal Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs Go To A Dinner Party

2012-04-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

We had an elegant dinner party last night with our friends.
It was classy and the food was well prepared.
Naw! Just fooling.
It looked more like this...

Our one set of friends came late to the party...and had to be punished.
We made them eat on the baby plates and drink out of the sippy cups.

They were good sports about the whole thing.
My husband even gave Carla a paddle...

But she loved it!
I decided to make Primal Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs and serve them in a red sauce.
Usually meatballs are made with breadcrumbs, and being Primal people we shun the bread and grains.
I decided to try using the coconut flour biscuits that we use as bread as the bread crumbs for our Primal Meatballs.
It worked out perfectly.
Here is the recipe for these moist cheesy delights.

Primal Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs:

Primal Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (I used basil flavored)
2 pounds grass fed ground sirloin
2 large eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
1/2 cup minced into small pieces coconut flour biscuits
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup organic heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons oregano
2 tablespoons basil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
20-24 Mozzarella balls

Preheat oven to 35o degrees F. and grease 9×13-inch baking dish with oil.

Place beef, egg, onion, biscuit crumbs, Parmesan, cream, garlic, Worcestershire, mustard, spices, salt, pepper and garlic powder into a large mixing bowl, stirring until just combined.
Take a chunk of the beef mixture and press into center with your thumb to make room for cheese ball.
Place cheese in middle then cover with the beef, making sure the cheese is completely enveloped. I rolled it around in my palm to be sure no cheese was showing.

Place meatballs into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cooked through.
I let them rest for a half hour, then simmered them in some of my homemade roasted tomato sauce.
It made 24 large meatballs.

These were great, and gone too quickly.
I hope you make these Primal meatballs and enjoy them too!

Getting Enough When Eating So Little

2012-04-20T07:08:00.001-07:00

I love this picture.
She represents what I am feeling right now.
Freedom and a new lightness of spirit.
Unencumbered by hunger and thoughts of food I have been focusing on the other big things happening in our lives.
My son is a senior and there is a flurry of crazy paper work, meetings, cap and gown fittings, getting him in honors housing at OSU, and to top it off I get to have Prom dinner at our house.
I am so happy about this...I get to decorate, design, and bake around a theme.
Good Lord do I love a theme!!
My son is very kind to let me do this because I can get obnoxious about the planing and decor.
I have chosen "Romantic Garden" as my dinner theme.
I have a whole Pinterest page devoted to what I want to make food and decoration wise.
My muse began with this one picture...

Isn't that cool?!
So far I have made two of my own for the girls to hold for an artsy type shot during prom pictures.

Jackie looks like a doll baby next to this massive bloom.

Now there are two! Hopefully I can pull off a few more in interesting designs and colors.
Next was this amazing wall of flowers as an inspiration for me...

It is stunning!!
How to pull that off without spending too much money (it is only crazy me throwing this shindig, no other mom's are crazy enough to want to get involved).
I bought a foam board at Lowes for $8, a pack of copy paper for $2.50, a pack of tape for $3, and began cutting and taping away!
This is what I have so far...

It's pretty, I can't wait till it's done.
I have had a ball working on it. Trying out different styles of flowers and designs.
But in the back of my head I still worry that I am doing the right thing eating wise.
I read today on Mark's Daily Apple about nutrient deficiencies and what to do about them.
It got me thinking...if I only eat once a day (truly...sometimes every other day) am I getting all the vitamins I need?
I have been trying to pick foods that are nutrient dense when I do eat, but am I doing enough?
I have to be honest...the weight is not flying off my body even though I eat very little.
I am sure that it has to do with the fact that mentally I can NOT make myself exercise yet.
I walk the dog, and try to stand more than sit, but I have not made that leap to do one of my exercise videos, or hop on my exercise bike, or even do my Total Gym (a cheap Craigslist purchase)
What the heck is my problem?
I am trying not to stress about it and focus on eating the right foods.

the one meal

When I do eat, I always choose spinach, leafy greens are a huge plus for vitamins.
I always have a protein, be it free range poultry or grass fed beef, protein is a must.
I chose the apple because of it's all around goodness for your body.
I also had a few kalamata olives for fun.
The only thing missing was a fat, so later I had my coconut oil mixed with a tablespoon of dark coco powder and a teaspoon of honey.
A yummy treat!

I hope you have a good day and eat Primal for your health.

Pesto Encrusted Salmon and Beachy Dreams

2012-04-14T07:35:00.001-07:00

I have been slacking off lately.
Not only in cooking and blogging, but in housework and personal grooming.
We have a vacation scheduled to take our graduating son to Hawaii for his senior trip.
My husband is self employed which means vacations are few and hard to come by.
If he doesn't work...we don't eat...or pay the cable bill.
As Americans we love to eat and watch our TV!
That being said, I have really been dreaming about that trip.
I love the the ocean, the breezes, and the beauty of Hawaii.
I also look forward to not doing housework or all that comes with being mom.
I want to be Sarah.
I hardly know who Sarah is anymore, I have been mom for so long.
With the kids being 18 and 16 I am going to lighten up on being mom on this trip.
If your shorts and swim trunks need washed...then I guess you'll have to wash them.
If you want to have breakfast...cook it up kid...because Sarah only eats once a day.
I still cook and clean everything at home because as honor students and kids with jobs, I know it is hard for them to get their food and laundry done and keep on schedule.
So I help keep it all moving.
But in Hawaii...Sarah is on vacation.
The problem is...I wish it was here already.
I am having a hard time making myself do what I am supposed to do.
Cooking has been the same old trusted things I can put in the fridge for them, chicken, tilapia, turkey burgers, cauliflower, salads...nothing new...I just haven't felt like it.
When you are personally never hungry it's hard to get creative with food.
But I gave myself a kick in the pants and a pep talk yesterday...'You're still mom so get going!'
I made them Pesto Encrusted Salmon with green beans and mushrooms plus a big full salad.

Pesto Encrusted Salmon:

Salmon fillets ~ we used wild caught from Costco
Pesto ~ from Costco or you can make your own
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup) ~ made from raw milk; grated. From Costco

Turn on the oven to broil.
Place the salmon on foil or silpat lined baking sheet.
Spread with a generous amount of the pesto, you can coat the top and bottom if you love pesto.
Broil in the middle of the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the center has lost most of it's deep pink color.
When done I grated some of the Parmesan cheese over the top of each fillet.

Green Beans With Sauteed Mushrooms:

Fresh spring green beans ~ bought from Costco
White capped mushroom container ~ bought from Costco
Kerrygold butter ~ bought from Costco (getting the theme here?)

Steam the green beans for 10 to 12 minutes until fork tender.
While the beans steam, saute the mushrooms in a generous heap of Kerrygold butter until they reach the tenderness you desire.
When the beans were done I popped them into the mushrooms and got them coated with the butter too.

We also had a big spinach salad filled with walnuts, bacon, and hard boiled egg slices.

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

Gluten Free Breakfast Sandwich To Celebrate My New Designs

2012-04-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't she pretty?
I have the amazing fortune to be friends with a gorgeous graphic artist named Eric Brown.
He and his brother have been friends of the family and my husband's band for years.
Eric has been kind enough in the past to design the t shirts for the band's gigs.
His brother Brian is a computer genius who has held my hand through different computer issues setting up this blog.
I can't thank them enough for all they have done for me this year...you guys are the best!
That being said I also owe them a crap load of beer now.
We loaded both designs onto CafePress (a company that helps you to design your own t shirts and gear to sell) and set up a shop.
My first goal was to order my shirts in smaller sizes and take pictures of me as I lose weight, a size at a time.
I ordered an xxl last night, which is pretty flipping great considering I was wearing a 3x when I went Primal back on December 25.

The front of the shirt I ordered has the martini on it...

The back of the shirt has the Pinup.

I also ordered my son something to take to college to sleep in.

Hopefully that will help him to make good food choices in the cafeteria...lol.

I ordered my daughter these because I know she would not be caught dead outside the house in Mom's website gear...I think they are darling!
I also ordered myself a new iphone cover...because dude...you gotta rep your brand...and my old one was falling apart!

This has been a fun process.

I want to thank Eric and Brian again for being patient with me through this.

I want to thank my husband and kids for going Primal, even though it was not fun in the begining.

It has been the most rewarding thing I have done in many long years.

Health is more important than money, some would say, and I could not agree more!

To celebrate the release of my logos I made my family a filling and decadent breakfast sandwich that would please even the non Primal people I know.

Gluten Free Coconut Flour Breakfast Sandwich

Ingredients:

Batter:

6 eggs, room temperature if possible

1/2 cup of coconut flour

2 teaspoons of vanilla

4 tablespoons of grass fed butter

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup of almond or coconut milk or heavy cream ~ your choice

1/3 cup of honey

Rest Of The Sandwich:

Eggs, beaten to be cooked in the waffle iron
Organic cheese slices
Cooked Bacon

Beat the eggs with a fork.
Add in all the ingredients but the coconut flour and mix
Add in the coconut flour, mix and let sit for a few minutes.
The batter will be super lumpy, but if you let it sit and soak everything in and then mix again you will see it smooth right out.
I needed to add more liquid to mine, almost 4 tablespoons more, to make it the smoothness I wanted for the waffles.
Put batter into one of the wells of the iron and put seasoned beaten eggs into another well of the iron and watch them till they are done.
I place the waffle on the plate, put a piece of organic cheese on, then the egg, and add two pieces of hot bacon, and one more piece of cheese.

I then cook one more waffle and when it is done it goes on top of the pile.
I use a large serrated knife to cut it apart, and serve piping hot.

My family devoured their sandwiches in record time and LOVED them.
I hope you attempt these easy and healthy breakfast sandwiches and love them too.

Primal Chocolate Cheesecake To Sooth My Millionaire Dreams

2012-03-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

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

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

2012-03-29T07:04:00.001-07:00

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.