Paleo Bacon Chicken Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Loooong name for something so simple! Well, at least you know what's in it now. If you're looking for a dinner dish with lower carbs, this one is for you. Brown rice could be swapped in for the cauliflower rice if you choose.

Recipe:

3 pieces of bacon - cut and crispified

2 garlic cloves crushed

1 sm onion diced

4 chicken breasts chopped

1 can diced tomatoes with green pepper

1 small cauliflower -riced

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp Sambal Olek (optional)

salt and pepper

Flat leaf parsley and avocado to garnish

In a large pot, crisp up bacon, set aside and reserve 1 tbsp bacon fat.  In that same pot cook together, chicken, onion and garlic until chicken is no longer pink. Add tomatoes, chili powder, Sambal Olek, cauliflower and salt and pepper. Cook another 5-7 minutes. Add bacon back in and top with parsley and avocado.

I loved the addition of the avocado! A squeeze of lime would work well to finish this dish off.

Paleo Pumpkin Pancakes!

It is our tradition over Thanksgiving and Christmas to crack out the pumpkin pancake recipes! Of course, our traditional recipes are full of sugar. The homemade buttermilk syrup on top is TO DIE FOR, but the recipe starts with 1 cup of refined sugar, and 1/4 cup corn syrup!  Eeeek!

I watched the documentary Fed Up this week. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. It reminds us that sugar is everywhere and in everything! The over-consumption of sugar and other processed foods is like poison in our bodies. I'm all for moderation, but I certainly like to eliminate it when I can.

This recipe does just that:)

Recipe:

1/4 cup coconut flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 almond milk 1 tbsp melted coconut oil

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately.  Then combine and stir until moistened. I topped pancakes with a drizzle of real maple syrup and walnuts.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Paleo Pumpkin Muffins

Paleo Pumpkin Muffins

There's that moment when the air turns. A little bit "crisper" out, we say. It may not be cool enough yet to wear our leggings, boots and sweaters, but there's no harm in cracking out the pumpkin recipes!

The great thing about this recipe is that it can be so versatile to suit any taste. I added dates and walnuts to mine, but you could do: Enjoy Life chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, almond slivers, currants, sunflower seeds, cacao nibs etc. 

Recipe:

(adapted from OMGpaleo)

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
• ⅓ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
• 3 eggs, whisked
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon powdered ginger
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• pinch of salt
• ½ cup mix-ins (dates/walnuts)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together wet ingredients in a bowl: pumpkin puree, maple syrup, coconut oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
3. In another bowl, whisk together coconut flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, powdered ginger, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
4. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well.
5. Fold in mix ins.
6. Scoop batter into paper lined muffin tins. Mine made 10.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Paleo Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies

I hate to be the one to say it....but summer is coming to a close and fall is right around the corner! Costco proved that last week with their Christmas tree display :/  I'm not thrilled about it either...not like my daughter Piper who can't wait to wear combat boots and warm, cozy sweaters! Alas, there is not much we can do to slow time, but we can get into the fall spirit by making these fabulous breakfast cookies!

RECIPE:

1/2 cup almond butter

1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (not pie filling)

1/4 cup maple syrup or honey

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp salt

2-3 cups of mix-ins of your choice

Mix all of the ingredients together and spoon onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.

Mix-In Ideas:

chopped almonds

walnuts

pecans

craisins

pumpkin seeds

currents

raisins

dates

coconut

hemp hearts

chia seeds

dried fruits

cacao nibs

Try this delicious pumpkin breakfast cookie recipe as a great grab-n-go breakfast or snack! They freeze well, though I do stack them with wax paper in between. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Coconut Cacao Nib Klondike Bar! (dairy-free, Paleo)

I'm saying this on screen....I probably shouldn't have made these bars...but I did! It's my son's graduation in 3 weeks and I borrowed a Roberto Cavalli dress from a friend that I don't want to just look good in...I want to look great! So, I decided to "dial it in" with my nutrition for the occasion. Sheeesh its hard!! My meals are not the problem, we enjoy eating healthy. The issue is the treats! I've got a hankering for the sweets. Anyway, I wanted to sub out the sugar for healthier options but these bars are just too dang good. It was really hard to have just one. Moderation is the key people, even when the recipe says CLEAN. Let me know what you think! 
*recipe revised from detoxinista

Vanilla Ice Cream Bar:

1 cup raw cashew pieces, soaked in water for 2 hours
1 cup water
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Extras:

2 tablespoon coconut mana

1/4 cup cacao nibs

Chocolate Coating:

5 tablespoons cocoa powder

5 tablespoons melted coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions:

 Discard water that cashews had been soaking in. In a blender, combine the first 6 ingredients and blend until smooth.

Line a brownie pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Add in your cacao nibs and coconut mana.

 Pour that ice-creamy batter into pan and freeze for 4 hours. Slice bars. 

In a separate bowl, combine coating ingredients. Take each frozen slice and dunk it into the coating. Place back on pan and back into freezer to solidify. Store in freezer.

Try to eat just one:)