The Good Life

This past weekend, my family and I were at our lake house in Heber Springs Arkansas. Wow, it is such a beautiful view from our balcony. We love sunsets. It was such a fun time to sit on the deck and have yummy food and good wine. We had the most amazing sunset on Saturday night....one of the best I have EVER seen. It is in those moments, that I realize how lucky I am to have all that I do. I feel very complete and whole after being there.

Grillin' Machine

Grilled italian sausage

I love to grill. My husband jokes that he has not been able to grill in 6 years. I sort of just took over. I have mastered the art of cooking steaks, chicken breasts, pork chops, sausages, and ribs. Now, I recently attempted a brisket and it was just okay. I wanted to post this picture (please don't judge me for my dirty grill!) because this is how a grill must be set up. Coals on one side and nothing on the other side. That way, you are able to get a char on the meat, but then move it over to finish cooking on the cold part of the grill. These sausages, I started on the hot part, but then moved them over and covered them to allow them to cook without overcooking. This is just a simple trick that I do with all of my meat.

Cavewoman Breakfast

Fried Egg, Chicken Sausage, and Avocado

I will tell you something....this Paleo thing rocks. I get to cook with butter and eat delicious things (that I used to feel guilty about in the past) like avocado and egg yolks and real sausage. This was my morning breakfast. I don't know about you but I love an egg yolk running all over my plate. I used to sop it up with bread. Now, I sop it up with sausage. YUMMMMM. Many people don't like egg yolks or eggs for that matter, but that is super strange. Despite their negative reputation, many hardcore Paleo people eat upwards of 9 eggs a day. I don't like eggs that much, but they are a powerful protein bomb. Learning how to cook a perfect egg takes time. It seems like I always mess them up when I am cooking for my husband on the weekend. During the week, when I throw them in a pan, they are always perfect. Go figure. This morning, I melted a pat of butter in a pan, put the organic chicken sausages in the pan and cooked for several minutes. I then added an egg and cooked it until the whites were set. Just to make that happen quicker, I flipped it very carefully over. I think this is the trick to have a cooked white and a runny yolk. I then topped that bad boy with avocado. OMG it is a super decadent and easy breakfast that sustains you through the morning. Get on the egg bandwagon. Really.

Eat your Veggies!

Roasted Asparagus with Vidalia Onion and Sun Dried Tomato Saute

When I lived in Seattle, I fell in love with vegetables. My friend Mark and I would always share this smoky, crunchy, spicy broccoli at this restaurant in Belltown. It was charred and cooked perfectly. When I was back in Seattle (with Mark again), we went to Sitka and Spruce and I had the best asparagus dish I have EVER had. Lord knows, I don't know if I can ever re-create that dish. It had a sundried tomato and cashew (or marcona almond) salsa on top. OMG. Really, vegetables are a vehicle for lots of bold and brave flavors. They don't have to play second fiddle to the other things on the plate. Here are some thoughts on Asparagus.

Asparagus (like green beans actually) is quick cooking and super versatile. I always try to make it taste really good. I sometimes wrap proscuitto around the asparagus and cook it like that or I will serve it with an aioli. Sometimes, I will blanch them and serve them cold with other vegetables covered in a vinaigrette. Last night, I used leftover Vidalia onions and sun dried tomatoes. It was really tasty. Here is what I did.

Asparagus with Onion and Sundried Tomato Saute

1 bunch of asparagus
1/4 vidalia onion diced
6 oil packed sundried tomatoes chopped (keep the oil)
salt and pepper

Again, I used my trusty castiron griddle. I love it so! I heated it up super hot and sauteed my onions in some of the oil from the tomatoes (no need wasting that tasty stuff). When soft, I moved them over and added my asparagus. To prep asparagus, bend each stalk. It should break easily at the base. Discard the bottom part (it is woody and tough). Place asparagus on hot griddle. Let sit. Salt and Pepper. Move around slightly but leave them unattended primarily. This should take about 7 minutes. You don't want overcooked asparagus. Gross. Move them around and allow them to char. When they are finished, scatter onions and sundried tomatoes on top. Salt and Pepper to taste. The stalks should be crisp-tender. I served these with a stuffed bell pepper. Yummy!

You Won't Miss those Mashed Potatoes

Last night, I made Paleo Potatoes, which in reality was pureed cauliflower. Man were they good! It was super funny to see my husband's face who thought they were mashed potatoes only to find out that they were not. In the fall and winter I love to eat roasted meat, like lamb shank, beef short ribs or roasted chicken, on top of mashed  potatoes. Well this year, I will have to be creative....last night, I steamed and pureed cauliflower and served it with roasted chicken with whole garlic cloves and a pan sauce. Here is how I did it.

It is easier to cut up the cauliflower if the base is cut off first

Steamed cauliflower in the food processor

Pureed cauliflower with butter, ricotta cheese, and greek yogurt

Roasted chicken legs, whole roasted garlic cloves, and pureed cauliflower with a pan sauce

Roasted Chicken Legs and Garlic with Pureed Cauliflower

Roasted Chicken (Serves 2 with some leftovers)

1 package of organic chicken parts (whatever you like. I used 6 free-range chicken legs)
3 tbls of extra virgin olive oil
10 cloves of peeled garlic
Salt and pepper
350 degree oven

1) Put olive oil in pan on medium to medium high heat. Add garlic cloves
2) Let saute until golden brown-Remove
3) Salt and pepper the chicken on both sides
4) Turn up heat and add chicken
5) Brown until golden-5 minutes per side.
6) Add garlic back in and transfer to 350 degree oven
7) When finished, juices should run clear or a thermometer should read 160

Pan Sauce

I made a pan sauce for the chicken. It was super simple. Remove the chicken from the pan. Place aside. Turn on a burner on medium high heat. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of chicken stock in the hot pan. Scrape up the browned fatty bits on the bottom of the pan. Squirt in some mustard and whisk. Let the sauce reduce some. Mine was naturally pretty thick because I did not add too much liquid in the first place. Taste and spoon over chicken and cauliflower.

Pureed Cauliflower (serves 4)


1) Cut cauliflower into florets
2) Place florets on a steamer basket
3) Steam for 10-15 minutes
4) Put half of the florets in the food processor and pulse
5) Add the rest of the cauliflower
6) Season like you would mashed potatoes (butter, cheese, sour cream or olive oil)
7) I added 3 tbls of butter, leftover ricotta cheese, and a big dollop of greek yogurt
8) Add salt and pepper, but taste as you go
9) Serve hot with any type of meat

This is yet another way to eat organic and low-carb. I didn't miss those mashed potatoes one bit.

Eating like a Caveman: Sushi Style

Seared Ribeye layered with tomato, avocado, and sprinkled with raw onion

Tuna Poke on top of thinly sliced cucumbers

One of the challenges of eating out is knowing what to pick, especially if you have dietary restrictions. Before going paleo, I did not have much trouble. I have been on Weight Watchers on and off for years and have gotten good at knowing what are smart choices and what are not. It is a little more complicated with Paleo eating. Strict Paleo eating does not include rice, corn, potatoes, beans, grains...basically anything from Neolithic times (i.e. everything!). My friend Danielle had a birthday and we went out for sushi at Makisu Sushi Bar and Lounge. It was really good and both of us were skeptical because it was in the burbs. What a surprise! After studying the menu, I basically picked two dishes of raw meat...now that's caveman eating. Eating out does not have to mean breaking the diet or going without. I would go back and probably order exactly the same thing!

Steamed Artichokes with Lemon Aioli

I have recently branched out and made some fresh artichokes. I have always loved them, but have been super scared to actually buy the fresh ones. They are intimidating with all of those spikes. I attempted them a couple weeks ago and with the guidance of my aunt who lives in Turkey, I decided to steam them and serve them as an appetizer. Last night, I cooked them again and they were even better this time. When steamed, the leaves of the artichokes pull off very easily. My husband and I dipped each little leaf in a delicious lemony mayonnaise. We demolished those artichokes and left nothing but a pile of leaves and fur. Here is how I did it.

Discarded Artichoke Parts

Cleaned Artichokes on a steamer basket

Finished product after 30 minutes of steaming

Steamed Artichokes (serves 2)

Ingredients:

2 Medium sized artichokes
1 Lemon
Salt and Pepper
2 Tbls Mayonaise with Olive Oil
2 Tbls Greek Yogurt (2% or total)
Splash of Red Wine Vinegar

There are several steps to cleaning artichokes.

1) Pull off hard leaves at the bottom of the artichokes. About one row of leaves is sufficient.
2) Cut off bottom of artichoke at the base (see picture)
3) Cut off top one inch of artichoke
4) Using scissors, cut off the spikes on the end of each leaf

Once the artichoke is cleaned (it does not have to be perfect), get a steamer basket out. I use a red rubber insert that I put in the bottom of a pan. Place the artichokes on top. Turn on burner and cover for 30 minutes. Don't forget to make sure there is enough water throughout the steaming process. Mine evaporated last night and was slightly smelly before I added more water.

Once steamed, place aside. They are hot. Serve with lemon aioli.

Lemon Aioli Recipe*

*A traditional aioli is a homemade mayonnaise with additions like garlic, lemon or herbs. I didn't make my own mayonnaise. I took store bought help. Feel free to rock your own mayo if you choose.

2 tbls store bought mayo (I use organic olive oil mayo, but any mayo is fine)
2 tbls greek yogurt (not non-fat)
Splash of red wine vinegar
Salt and Pepper
Zest of half a lemon
Splash of Olive Oil

In a small bowl, measure out yogurt and mayo. Mix. Add in a splash of vinegar. Mix. Season with salt and pepper. Mix and taste. Zest half a lemon into the mixture. Mix again and splash with olive oil. Taste. This is such an easy sauce that is good on asparagus, green beans and meats, like fish and chicken. This recipe is wonderful and a nice way to incorporate veggies into picky eaters. Happy eating.