We had a pretty chill weekend. Didn’t leave the house at all, but that’s what was chill about it, right?

Saturday: The post office sent a postcard announcing a food drive pick-up for May 12th.

Food goes to our local food pantries and we don’t have to drive it there, all we had to do was leave it out by the mailbox. Good deal!

Our mailwoman typically comes around 10:00am, so we put it out around 8:00 am. And of course there were BAD BIRDIES opening the beans within minutes! Lentils everywhere. Should have known not to leave the box open, but I didn’t know birds open packages!

Nature 1, Me 0

Thankfully they picked up soon after the bird raid, before anything else was damaged.

I made deviled eggs, which became Dustin’s and my breakfast and lunch yesterday.

They won’t be winning any beauty contests anytime soon, but they win the yummy-in-my-tummy award.

My method for deviled eggs is very simple.

1. Bring 6 (previously room temperature) eggs to a boil; cover and shut off heat. Let sit for exactly 10 minutes, then submerge in an ice water bath to stop cooling.
2. Peel eggs; rinse under cold water to ensure any shell fragments are removed. Dry with paper towel.
3. Cut eggs in half, length-wise; add yolks to a bowl.
4. Mash yolks with fork until lump-free and smooth.
5. Mix yolks with: ~3 TBSP mayo, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard, salt and black pepper to taste.
6. Fill egg whites with yolk mixture; sprinkle with paprika.

Later on, we had a simple but totally delicious Mother’s Day dinner:

• Parmesan-crusted tilapia
• Boiled baby red potatoes with a bit of butter
• Steamed broccoli drizzled with olive oil, garlic salt, and black pepper
• Salad: Green leaf lettuce, radishes, vidalia onion, shredded Kerrygold Dubliner cheese
• Ice cream cake

Parmesan-crusted tilapia:

• 6 tilapia fillets, about 3 oz each
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup plain rice (or wheat) breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil or oil of choice
• Pinch of black pepper
• 3 TBSP butter, divided by 6
• 1/2 cup dried parsley

1. Mix parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, black pepper, and dried parsley together;

2. Line baking sheet with nonstick foil or mat or parchment paper. Arrange fish fillets about 1 inch apart. Place pats of butter on fillets; sprinkle crumb mixture over fish;

3. Drizzle crumbed fillets with olive oil;

4. Bake on 425F degrees for 6-7 minutes;

5. Finish under broiler until crust is crispy and browned. Watch them closely under broiler to be sure they don’t burn!

Garlic salt and black pepper tastes amazing on steamed broc! I bought a HUGE bag of fresh broccoli florets at BJ’s. The bag said 16 servings. Not true in our house. It’s about 4 servings! We are greedy with the greens. Or at least I am.

Our family LOVES parmesan-crusted fish. It works with just about any fish: Tilapia, salmon, mahi mahi, etc.

Yum-tastic.

Onward to the Valley today! We have an appointment with our attorney at 3:00. Then, minor grocery shopping. YAY!

Happy Cindo de Ocho! Err… Yeah. haha

Dustin and I celebrated our wedding anniversary this past Cinco de Mayo. We were married in Manhattan at city hall 6 years ago! I was planning an elaborate ($$$) Florida destination wedding at the time, but then we decided to scrap the plans and elope in NYC before we moved to Georgia. It was a crazy year for us, and it feels like a lifetime ago yet just like yesterday at the same time!

Our celebratory tradition involves eating a hot dog on that day to commemorate our hot dog “feast” in NYC right after we said I do. I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I’m so, so, so happy that we changed our plans and eloped. So, being Dustin doesn’t eat land animals anymore we each had a veggie dog for lunch which tasted freakishly like the real deal, only better? Crappy ingredients, though. No redeeming qualities whatsoever. Just the taste and texture of the hot dog for giggles.

Later that night, we headed to Joe’s Crab Shack in New Jersey! We LOVE that place. And I swear it feels like you’re in FL even though it’s NJ. I get the same tropical vibe. Isn’t NJ sort of like a northern FL? Beaches, ocean, touristy… etc. We vacationed there when I was little and I still have the souvenirs! I love the boardwalk! <3 Definitely have to go again soon, especially considering Dustin’s never been there.

My date… so handsome…

Me… not as photogenic.

The place was packed!!!! There must have been 500 people there. Cinco de Mayo is a huge restaurant holiday, I guess? I read that it’s not even really celebrated in Mexico, which is kind of funny! We had to wait 20 minutes for a booth and it was almost 11:00 pm! They’re open until 2:00 am on weekends. I really like NJ. I don’t know why. The traffic is INSANE, there’s a toll every 5 feet, and it has the highest tax rate in the whole country, but I still dig it. I wouldn’t mind living there if NY didn’t have my heart. I’ll just visit.

We started with the crab nachos…

We turned this nacho mountain into a molehill. They were soooo GOOD. Dustin even said he can’t keep his hands off of them.

For our entrees, Dustin had the Samuel Adam’s steam pot and I had the classic steam pot:

Mine included: dungeness crab, snow crab legs, red potato, corn on the cob, and shrimp (that you have to peel—not a fan of THAT!)

Dustin’s steam pot had: The most amazing steamed clams that he shared with me, lobster claws, shrimp, snow crab legs, red potato, corn on cob. We both declined the sausage being we wouldn’t eat it anyway.

We demolished the steam pots like savages.

Our shell bucket was overflowing. It was heavenly. Joe’s Crab Shack is probably our favorite restaurant, even though it’s a chain and there’s nothing fancy about it. Just yummy seafood, and lots of it! It’s actually very Paleo-friendly, if that’s your thing. They have something for everyone, except for vegans. Maybe the corn on the cob and potatoes?

So guess what Dustin suggested I should have?

A “ladysitter.”

WTF is that? I Google “what is a ladysitter?”

The first results mention: Real Housewives. I LOL’d! It’s pretty much what it sounds like.

He thinks I’d like one, and he’s probably right. But the question is: How does he know what a “ladysitter” is being the term seems to have gained popularity on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills??? I don’t watch the show! Maybe I should. Apparently they have good ideas, LOL.

How does grain-free flatbread that’s just as easy to make as pancakes sound?

Fantastic, right? What if I told you they’re only 80 calories each to boot? OMG, OMG, OMG—YES!

Of course you could eat them as a pancake or a crepe, but this version I made is more savory with the addition of caraway seed to give it a “rye bread” flavor. That’s completely optional, though! You can leave them neutral or get creative with the flavorings.

A few things come mind to use them for: Sandwich wrap, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, crepes, pancakes, lasagna layers – some of these uses I’d definitely recommend omitting the caraway seeds.

Gluten-free, Grain-free Flatbreads
(soy-free, dairy-free, Paleo-friendly)

What  you’ll need:

• 1/3 cup (48g) tapioca starch
• 1/4 cup (1 oz) coconut flour
• 1 cup egg whites (approx. 12 egg whites)
• 2 TBSP organic palm shortening, melted, or cooking fat of choice (set aside for cooking)
• 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon gluten-free Hain sodium-free baking powder
• 1 TBSP coconut nectar or agave nectar or honey or raw sugar or sweetener of choice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 TBSP ground caraway seed or ground flaxseed meal, optional
• Frying pan, nonstick preferably
• Spatula
• Mixing spoon and ladle
• Pastry brush

What you’ll do:

1. Add all dry ingredients to blender; blend on high speed for 20-30 seconds to sift and combine dry ingredients thoroughly.

2. Dump dry ingredients into large mixing bowl; add in all other ingredients except for the shortening/oil, that will be used for coating the frying pan. Mix all ingredients together until thin batter forms and all dry ingredients are incorporated.

3. Preheat frying pan on low heat. In a small bowl, melt your shortening or coconut oil or fat of choice in the microwave if solid. Dip your pastry brush in the liquid fat and brush a thin coating all over your frying pan, coat it thoroughly, and don’t skip around the edges. The oil will go very far when you spread it thinly.

4. Using a ladle or spoon, pour about 1/4 cup of the batter into the greased frying pan and swirl it around to spread it out in the pan until it’s the size you want. Try not to stretch it too thin or it might tear or cook unevenly.

5. Cook until lightly browned and firm on one side, gently flip over and cook other side until also lightly browned and firm.

6. After each flatbread, remove it from the pan onto a plate and brush with cooking fat before each ladle goes in. I don’t recommend cooking more than one at a time unless you use a large griddle.

7. Repeat until all batter is used.

Yields approx. 10 flatbreads, 80 calories each

Store in the fridge in a storage container. If you freeze them, I suggest separating each one with a piece of wax or parchment paper to avoid breaking. Should last in the fridge for 3-5 days. Warm or toast before eating.

So good! The coconut flour is completely undetectable. With the caraway seeds, it tastes just like “rye bread”! I made a vegetarian reuben with an egg, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a quick “thousand island” dressing with a bit of ketchup, mayo, and sweet relish on one as soon as they were done. Sorry I didn’t take a pic, I was too hungry and eager for it to be in my belly. I’m going to use them for tacos! YUM.

Tomorrow is our 6-year anniversary!! We’re not doing anything super exciting, just dinner in NJ—which I actually find to be more exciting than any person should, lol. We have way too much going on right now (that I’m dying to share with you!). I love him, he loves me, we’re happy, everything else is just gravy.

Have to go get the car inspected now. It expired a few days ago… according to the cop that stopped my mom and me yesterday at a checkpoint going into BJ’s. We honestly didn’t know that it expired in April, we thought August. Ooops! Thankfully the officer didn’t give us a ticket. That would have sucked!

It sure is warm in here today! Close to 80. I can’t wait to go out and get some fresh air. Aaaah!

What’s up this weekend? Any cinco de mayo plans? Cinco de mayo is our anniversary, so the holiday has a whole new meaning for us, heh.

Hungry and in a hurry to fix it?

Simple solution: Make an exotic salad in 6-7 minutes

I’m actually running a little low on fresh produce, but happened to have some key ingredients to throw together a quick and tasty tropical tuna salad.

• Bed of romaine lettuce topped with:

  Thinly sliced vidalia onion
  1/3 of a fresh avocado directly sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt and black pepper
  1/4 fresh mango, diced (I’m REALLY bad at cutting fresh mangos!!)
  One can Wild Planet albacore tuna
  Sliced black olives

• Drizzled with:

  1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
  2 TBSP lime juice
  Red wine vinegar

• Sprinkled with:

  Pink Himalayan salt
  Black pepper

Boy oh boy was this GOOD! The flavors were off the hook. I recently discovered that perfectly ripe avocado tastes AMAZING sprinkled with salt + pepper. It brings the creamy goodness to a new elevation. The lime juice and sweetness of the mango with the tuna = bangin’. New favorite!

Hunger problem solved. It’s as simple as that.

We had an appointment in Newburgh on Saturday, so we stopped off in Middletown for a bite of lunch. I saw a sign around an exit a few weeks ago that said “Mix N Mac,” but it was a small sign and I wasn’t quite sure what it was. Curious, I Googled it and discovered that it’s a restaurant that serves macaroni and cheese mixed with toppings of your choice, as well as other featured items like fried mac ‘n cheese balls and melts, which is Texas toast covered in melted cheese. I’ve seen similar places in NYC  featured on blogs and they’ve been on my must-try list for a long time, so having a place like this close to home is pretty exciting for a rural chick like me.

It was mid-afternoon but the place was pretty busy. The owners are a husband and wife team, I’m sorry I didn’t get their names! But they were very friendly.

Dustin takes blurry, dark pics. Sigh. He’s more of a point-and-shoot kinda dude I think, lol. Then again… those come out blurry too. Hmm.

I was in the mood for a frosty root beer that day. I haven’t had one in so long! And it’s made somewhat locally.

I stalked their online menu ahead of time, so I already knew what I wanted to try: The Cheeseburger Mac

Dustin had the Tomazza

Cheeeeeeeeeeesy!

Delicious! Loved it, and Dustin’s too.

One of the owners brought us complimentary fried mac ‘n cheese balls to try…

The dipping sauce was incredible. I don’t know how to describe it… like a sweet and creamy tomato sauce. Maybe like vodka sauce? SO GOOD!

Dustin and I shared one ball and brought the other home along with the rest of our leftovers, which reheated perfectly for dinner the next day.

They also have a gluten-free option! I love that. And I overheard the owner talking to another customer about possibly adding a goat cheese and dairy-free option to the menu. YESSS! Please! That would be awesome. We LOVE this place and plan to visit again to try some of the other mix-ins, like lobster. Drool. If you’re in Middletown, check it out Mix N Mac, located off of 211 next to Pizza Hut. You won’t be sorry!

Like Mix N Mac on Facebook – and visit me on Facebook, too!

As if lunch with Ron Paul earlier in the day wasn’t spectacular enough, we also got to hear him speak at Cornell University later that evening.

The event started at 7:00 pm, but we wanted to get there early for good seats. We printed seat vouchers before we left for Ithaca, but they weren’t really necessary being everyone stood on the same loooooooooooooong line anyway.

The line seemed to go on for light years!

Freedom is popular!!!!

We scored pretty good seats despite being in the nosebleed section. They were regular seats as opposed to bleachers, so we were happy about that. And we were parallel with the stage where he’d be speaking, so we got to overlook it from a relatively short distance above.

The Lynah Rink filled up quickly as Ron Paul supporters flooded the arena.

Right on time, they introduced him at 7:00 pm sharp. The audience went wild!

Cornell loves Ron Paul!

But then again, what’s not to love about a man who has devoted 40 years to defending liberty and promoting peace and individualism?

His speech was an hour long and inspired, I think, everyone who listened.

Today is our primary election here in NY, as well as our neighboring states: CT, PA, RI, and DE. And word has it that Ron Paul won Iowa and Minnesota! Yeah!

Go, Ron Paul!!! We’re off to vote… hope you’ll do the same!

In case you missed it, check out Lunch with Ron Paul Part I and Part II 

The doors to the Seneca room at the Holiday Inn Downtown Ithaca opened at around 11:00 am. The lined formed quickly, and even though we were one of the first ones to arrive, we ended up being toward the back of the line to enter, lol.

They had our name tags printed out at a table near the entrance—except for mine. They didn’t know who Dustin’s “Plus one guest” was. My info must have gotten lost in the transaction, so I had to handwrite mine on.

They were doing a photo op in the far right corner where you could meet Ron Paul and have your picture taken. His campaign posts the photos online a few days later for everyone to retrieve. Last I checked, they weren’t there yet. I’m sure I look like a deer caught in headlights, I was so nervous!

The line to meet Dr. Paul moved quickly! Within 5 minutes I was shaking his hand and had my picture taken. Dustin took this picture in a hurry, but Dustin isn’t very skilled with the DSLR camera and he is the king is a master of capturing me at bad angles. I’m not photogenic as-is, but Dustin’s knack for catching all the worst angles makes me even less photogenic—if that’s at all possible, haha.

We shook hands and he thanked me for my support.

Please don’t thank me, Dr. Paul. I can never thank you enough for your dedication to liberty and your relentless effort at spreading the message of peace and sound economic policy. I am forever indebted to this man for what he has inspired in me. If I had millions and billions of dollars, I would spend millions of it trying to help this amazing individual get elected POTUS. It’s not just that Ron Paul is an impressive and respectable person that I think extremely highly of, it’s his message. The message can be repeated by anyone, and they too have my support. If you’re down with individual liberty, you’re down with me.

His handshake was strong, and I must say, for being 76-years-old, he looks much younger in person. I would have guessed 60 or so.

There weren’t assigned seats, it was very informal and down-to-earth. Unsure of where to sit, we asked David Andrew Gay, and he advised us to sit anywhere—and then he suggested sitting at the table with Carol Paul, Ron’s wife, and the rest of his family!! I didn’t know if we really should or not. We walked over to it and no one was seated yet. I felt like we were imposing, so we opted for the only other table with seats available. I have regretted this every second since! We really could have sat there. I guess others did. Oh, man! Missed opportunity of a lifetime. Sigh.

Each setting had a copy of the Constitution with foreword by Ron Paul and a copy of the 2012 Ron Paul family cookbook by Carol Paul! I already had a few copies of it at home, but was happy to get another for her to sign.

Someone said there was about 125 people in attendance. Probably a close estimate.

As soon as we were seated, they began serving food to the tables and Carol Paul introduced Ron Paul to the room.

She told us how Ron has delivered over 4,000 babies, 2 of which were hers—completely by coincidence because he happened to be there. They have five children and 18 grandchildren. One of the grandchildren, Linda, has been on the road with them and attended the lunch. She told us how Ron Paul is very dedicated to exercise, twice daily. He walks 3 miles every morning and then bicycles 15 miles every afternoon, and swims at his home in Texas. They also encouraged their children to be very active in sports while growing up. Sound mind, healthy body. I believe Ron Paul is going to be one of those people who lives to be 110 or more. His father lived to be 93, so it’s not far fetched at all. His passion for liberty and his dedication to staying physically fit keep him on top of his game.

And then he stepped up to the podium…

…and captivated his adoring fans.

What do I like about Ron Paul? In the (paraphrased) words of Joe Rogan being interviewed by Jay Leno, “Every single thing that comes out of his mouth!” LOL

Meanwhile, food was being served. They brought out salads and dinner rolls; two dressings were already on the table: An Italian vinaigrette of sorts (my choice) and a ranch-type, I’m guessing.

Our table loved the dinner rolls. I mean LOVED. They were asking for more. I only ate 1/3 of mine, I almost offered them the rest, lol!

We shared a table with a nice group of people. Very down-to-earth and friendly. The couple with their toddler to my immediate left was from Boston. He said he works for the Department of Energy and said that if Ron Paul gets elected he’ll probably lose his job and he doesn’t care; saving our country is far more important to him. We assured him that even if it did come to that that there would be many, many private sector jobs that would be available.

Fun fact: Of all the presidential candidates in this election, Ron Paul gets the most campaign contributions from government employees and the military. Even government employees realize that things are pretty bad and are supporting a candidate that will actually contribute to solving the problems rather than worsening them is vital to our peace and prosperity. I fear this is our last chance to do this peacefully, folks.

Dustin and I joked about them serving meat. Prior to actually being served, we had no idea what to expect on the menu and didn’t really care. It wasn’t about the food, it was about meeting RON PAUL! OMG. *dies a little*

Of course, prime rib was served, lol. Dustin ate his salad and the veggies. I ate just a few bites of the prime rib. It was delish, but I was too excited to focus on the food. We ate very little. The most expensive lunch we’ve ever had! heh Worth every penny. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Ron started to speak while dessert was served. I had a speck of the cheesecake, just to say I tasted it. Just that nibble was enough to know that it was delicious. But I couldn’t eat it while Ron was speaking, I was too engrossed in his words.

Dustin didn’t get to try the cheesecake. He was a little jealous that I had a lick, ha!

Immediately after Ron answered questions and ended his speech, they set up the area for him to sign autographs right behind our table.

Dustin brought his book, The Revolution: A Manifesto, for him to sign.

I didn’t bring anything! I meant to buy a copy of another one of his books, but didn’t have time and forgot before we left. Luckily, I had the copy of the cookbook gifted to us on the table. Yay!

Their granddaughter, Linda, to the left of Carol:

The Pauls have been married for 54 years! Carol Paul was born on February 29th–leap year– so he jokes that he met her when she was four.

I wanted Dustin to go first so it would be easier for him to take pictures.

I love this picture. All smiles.

Again, Dustin is admittedly not great with my camera, so the pictures weren’t that great. But that’s ok. It was still a fantastic experience that I’ll never forget.

He was signing the cookbook for me.

And then Carol signed it and chatted with me about the cookbook for a few minutes. She said she hopes I make the recipes and I assured her that I would.

I’m on the other side of this guy while Carol signed…

It was the best Dustin could do picture-wise. I think the pics are cute even if they’re limited. hehe

We lingered for a few minutes before we left the Holiday Inn Downtown to return to our hotel. We were attending the Ron Paul town hall meeting at Cornell that evening and wanted to change our clothes and regroup before going.

It was one of the greatest days EVER! Ron and Carol Paul and his entire campaign staff, both paid and volunteer, are exactly the same pleasant, peaceful group of people as they are on TV and all other media sources. The whole event was very laid-back and warm and welcoming. Very true to Ron Paul’s style. His whole campaign is grassroots and genuine through and through. There is nothing pretentious about any of it. What you see is what you get. He truly is a freak of nature in the world of politics. Incorruptible and consistent. I hope to one day celebrate his Presidency. He would make a fine leader. And his wife would make an excellent First Lady.  

Coming up: Ron Paul speaking at the town hall meeting at Cornell University

If you missed part I of “Lunch with Ron Paul,” check it out here!

PEACE. LOVE. And Ron Paul!

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see what I’m up to when I’m not blogging, and for updates, announcements, stories, tips, laughs, and more.

I wasn’t exaggerating in my last post when I said I was going to be extraordinarily busy this week. Last Tuesday, we made over 70 Ron Paul campaign signs at Tony’s house. We were there until 2:00 am even though we had to leave for Ithaca, NY the next day, a nearly 3-hour drive. We got about 4 hours of sleep before tending to last-minute errands before leaving for our trip to central NY.

Our plans in Ithaca: Lunch with Ron Paul and attending the Cornell University town hall meeting later that evening where he would be speaking.

Lunch with Ron Paul? As in… the same room? Yes!

I received the announcement from the newsletter in my email on Saturday and immediately purchased tickets to attend. We could not miss the opportunity to have lunch with Dr. Paul and meet him in person! The tickets were a minimum campaign donation of $350 per person, $250 with military ID. I’ll go without a new smart phone for an opportunity to meet Ron Paul any day!

We left late, late, late—much later than we wanted to, so we didn’t get to Ithaca until 2:00 am and the lunch started at 11:30 am. Guess how much sleep we got that night? About 5 minutes. Actually we got about 3.5 hours, and I woke up feeling refreshed, so that’s all that I needed.

We stayed at Homewood Suites for the first time and I was so impressed by the accommodations! It was more like a small apartment than a hotel room.

A fully functional kitchen with a fridge, dishwasher, stove, microwave, sink, and coffee pot:

Nice “wooden” floors

And all the bells and whistles of your home kitchen. It even had a colander and cutting board!

Living room

Bedroom with second TV and a ceiling fan, plus two thermostats.

Moose enjoyed the complimentary coffee.

The next day, after housekeeping came, we wondered where our bathroom sink glasses went; they put them in the dishwasher, including the coffee pot, LOL. So awesome. Homewood Suites by Hilton is my new favorite hotel chain of choice. I’ll be on the lookout for one whenever we travel. Loved it!

In the morning, we were ready to leave by 10:00 am. I was so nervous!

Dustin was cool as a cucumber, naturally.

Outside of the hotel before we left for lunch…

The hotel where the lunch was held was only 5 miles from our hotel, so we got there within minutes and waited for over an hour before the doors to the room opened.

We chatted with some other attendees while we waited.

It felt so good to be surrounded by fellow Ron Paul supporters. Having so much in common and there for the same reason: To meet the greatest defender of liberty in our lifetime, Dr. Ron Paul.

Continue to Lunch with Ron Paul in Ithaca, NY: Part II

This is something to get excited about if you love Chinese food.

Shrimp and Crab Cauliflower Fried “Rice”

It’s low in carbs, ridiculously tasty, Paleo-friendly (if you eat peas), dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and grain-free—hence Paleo-friendly.

What you’ll need:

• Food processor, blender, or grater
• 2 frying pans
• 2-3 large bowls
• 1-2 TBSP water
• 1 head (32 oz, raw) cauliflower
• 1 lb extra-large shrimp; cleaned, shelled, and deveined
• 1 lb lump crab meat
• 2 cups frozen (or fresh) peas
• 4 TBSP + 1 TBSP organic palm shortening, divided (or oil of choice; palm shortening is recommended)
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1/4 cup Coconut Secret coconut aminos (or gluten-free “soy sauce” substitute like Bragg’s liquid aminos)
• 1 TBSP rice wine or white distilled vinegar, optional
• 3 large eggs, beaten

What you’ll do:

1. Defrost frozen peas in a bowl of water, and defrost shrimp if frozen. Dice your onion.

2. Clean and dry the cauliflower; cut into smaller chunks. Add small handfuls to your food processor or blender; pulse lightly until it shreds into rice-like shape and size. Repeat until the whole head is shredded. If you don’t have a processor or blender, you can shred it with a grater by hand.

3. In a large bowl, add "riced" cauliflower and 1-2 TBSP water; cover loosely and microwave on high for 5-7 minutes to soften and extract some of the water.

4. In a large frying pan, add in 4 TBSP palm shortening (or cooking fat of choice); heat on medium and add in diced onions. Cook onions until softened and lightly browned; add in shredded cauliflower, cook through until tender, stirring periodically. Halfway through, add in 1/4 cup coconut aminos (or soy sauce) and vinegar; stir well to coat all over cauliflower mixture. Shut off heat.

5. In second frying pan, add in last TBSP of palm shortening (or oil of choice); cook shrimp on each side until firm (~2-4 minutes) and then remove them from pan and transfer to cauliflower pan. In the same pan, add in scrambled eggs, breaking them into bite-size pieces as they cook. Add eggs to pan with cauliflower when they are done.

6. In the same pan, add in defrosted and drained peas and lump crab meat; heat until warmed all the way through.

7. Transfer cauliflower, shrimp, and egg pan to a large mixing bowl; add in crab and peas pan and mix together. Serve hot!

Makes 6-8 servings

6 servings = 375 calories each
8 servings = 282 calories each

This was fabulous! I mean, other than the random crab shell, it was darn near perfect!! I loved it, Dustin loved it, and he didn’t know it was cauliflower! Well, I told him ahead of time it’s not rice, but he wasn’t sure what it was. He was surprised when I divulged my “secret.” hehe He said that it’s really good. I concur. Yum, yum, YUM!

I’m glad there are plenty of leftovers because we are extraordinarily busy this week. I mean, off-the-chart busy! I have to go get ready for a Ron Paul meet-up this evening. Our host, Tony, has met Dr. Paul a few times! Here he is with him:

Then, we’re traveling this week, which I’m super stoked about. And one other little surprise that I’ll share soon!

Gotta go, gotta go!

Have a wonderful day and remember to choose freedom!

You know my produce haul from the other night? Well, I’m going through it pretty rapidly!

My goal is to get 10 servings of fruits and veggies every day. The problem is they’re very filling. So it’s hard to squeeze them into my 6-8 hour eating windows post-intermittent fasting. But I’m doing it, and enjoying it. Plants rule.

Wednesday night’s veggie smorgasbord:

There’s about 8 fruit + veggie servings in this meal.

Humungous salad:

Cheater’s tomato soup with low-sodium V8 juice and 1/2 cup baby lima beans + pink Himalayan salt  + pepper

Berries

Pear with the BEST cinnamon I have ever had in my life!

I read that ceylon cinnamon has more health benefits than the cassia cinnamon we typically buy in the grocery store. I never knew there was a difference! Apparently there are a few types.

I received this Indus Organics ceylon cinnamon from Amazon the other day and could not believe how tasty it is when I tried it. I have been eating it on a teaspoon with nothing else, that’s how tasty it is. I swear it tastes sweet, as if it’s sweetened, but it’s not. 100% pure ceylon cinnamon. SO GOOD.

Typically cinnamon is very strong and I can’t tolerate much of it on its own, but this cinnamon is amazing. I hope I can buy it forever because it would be hard to go back to regular cinnamon now!

While I grazed on my fruit and veggie smorgasbord—which was fantastic, by the way—Dustin had a goat cheese and sun-dried pizza that I made on Udi’s gluten-free pizza crust:

He LOVED it and mentioned that about 600 times while eating it.

Him: “You have to try this!”

Me:

Him: “Have a bite! It’s DELICIOUS!”

Me: No, not today. Salad is good, too.  

LOL

I’m avoiding dairy this week in favor of more fruit and veggies, which is what I was sad about because goat cheese is one of the greatest things on the planet.

Oooh… goat cheese with cinnamon on something crunchy with a drizzle of honey. I bet that’s good!!! I have to find out sometime.

Look at me up before noon. Craziness. Before you know it I’ll be a “morning person.”

YUCK.