Hamburger buns and sandwich bread!

Sometimes you just need bread!  I have to admit my husband and I don't eat it often, but the kids do.  Being kids, I think they need more carbs than adults.  When I make hamburger buns, I know they are getting some good nutrition out of it.  I found this recipe from Make Ahead Paleo by Tammy Credicott.  I make a double batch, sometimes triple, and freeze them. They are also great as an English muffin.  

English muffins/Hamburger buns by Tammy Credicott

 YEAST MIXTURE

1/3 cup warm water

2 tsp honey

2 tsp active dry yeast

DRY INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup almond flour

3 TBSP coconut flour

1/3 cup arrowroot flour

1/3 cup tapioca starch

Pinch of sea salt

WET INGREDIENTS

2 eggs

1 TBSP olive oil

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1.  Preheat oven to lowest setting

2. On a large baking sheet place 8  English muffin rings on parchment paper

3. In a small bowl mix yeast, honey, and warm water. Set for 5 minutes until frothy

4.  In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients

5. Add the yeast mixture to dry ingredients along with wet ingredients.  Mix well.  Let dough set for about 4 minutes.

6. Lightly spray rings with cooking spray and fill each muffin with about half a cup of dough. Smooth top

7.  Place the pan in the oven and turn off the oven.  Let the muffins sit for 10 minutes.  

8.  Leave the tray in the oven and turn temp up to 350 and bake for 20 minutes.

9.  Let them cool and then remove them from the rings.

 

I also wanted to share with you where we get our sandwich bread.  Again, my husband and I never eat it but the kids do.  I tried making my own with a few different recipes.  They are ok but then a new company called Legit Bread Company came out a few months ago and we were hooked!  I order 4 at a time and freeze them.  It's not something we eat everyday, but once or twice a week the boys have toast with breakfast.  They also have mixes if you want to make it your self or they will give recipes to make other things.  I made cinnamon rolls with it on Christmas Day!  

 

Thrive Market

You may start to notice that I love to shop at many different stores.  I am a store hopper.  I have no commitment to just one store.  I love going into a store I haven't seen in a while to see what new things they have.  My Thrive market order came in and I got lot's of good stuff, especially for our boys.  One thing I like about Thrive Market is you can minimize your search for Paleo.  If you just want gluten free you can do that too.  They have so many great snack options that I can use for lunch boxes.  They also have one of my favorite Paleo salad dressing brands, Primal Kitchen.  They have a great mayonnaise as well.  Simple Mills is a great brand and you can find it in more and more places, which is great!  I love their mixes for when I need something quick and don't want to think about it.  Plus, the boys can make it without my help!  If you get on their Instagram, they will post recipes to make with their mixes. That's pretty cool! They have some great crackers that are good for lunchboxes too.    Cocoroons  are also a great treat.  I put a couple in the boys lunch box, or it is also great for a dessert. Ona treats  are good too a,  I picked some other items we use a lot of like applesauce, tuna, pistachios, honey, cinnamon, coconut cream, good dark chocolate, and pumpkin seeds.  When I buy chocolate, I make sure it is dark and at least 56% cocoa.  It also should not have any ingredients you don't recognize.  It will probably contain some sugar, but for us, good chocolate is one of our exceptions.

Happy shopping!

 

It tastes like candy!

Those are words out of the mouth of one of my 10 year olds when he ate his butternut squash last night.  "It tastes like candy!"  It was a proud moment, I have to admit.  One of my favorite recipes is maple bacon pecan and butternut squash by one of my favorite bloggers, PaleOMG   If you have never had butternut squash, I think you will be pleasantly surprised how good it is.  There are so many great winter squash's out there that can do more good than just for decoration on Thanksgiving.  One of the things I have loved about eating Paleo is discovering new foods!  We had this last night with out pecans, with a side of oven roasted broccoli, and Meat loaf.  Who could ever say Paleo eaters are depriving themselves?!?  If you are used to steaming your broccoli, try roasting it.  To me, it brings out a nutty flavor thats my kids will gobble up!  Just lightly coat your broccoli in some coconut oil or olive oil with some sea salt.  Put your oven on roast at 400 degrees.  Let them cook for roughly 10 minutes give or take.  Let me know what you think!

Paleo OMG Maple Bacon Pecan Butternut Squash

 

My take on milk

Trying to decide what kind of milk to your family can be exhausting!  There are so many choices out there and so many opinions!  I want to start by saying that I do not believe everyone should eat the same way I do.  Every family has different things going on and different circumstances.  I do believe you should be educated.  I think a lot of people feed their families whatever the rest of the United States is eating and assume that it is ok with out putting any thought into it.  If you start thinking differently about food (not the traditional American way) it can really open your eyes to a new way of looking at your nutrition.  I have read about how different countries eat and it is amazing the difference in quality and the value they put on food.  

Ok back to milk.  So many choices!  Almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, cow's milk, soy milk, flax seed milk, goat milk, and recently I have heard camel milk can be very good for you!  I may have to get some!  I love testing out new foods!  We used to be a 2 gallon of milk a week family.  I thought milk was necessary for our growing family.  About 3 years ago I was doing some research on acne.  I have always had skin issues since I was 12 years old.  I have been on numerous medicines including Accutane twice!  I came across something that said that dairy can cause acne.  I had NEVER heard that before!  I was desperate for answers so I gave up milk and after about 6 months, my skin was clear!  It took a while, so if you ever take away any food out of your diet, give it some time.  Do not expect changes immediately.  Then about 2 years ago we decided that our boys needed to give up cow milk.  We started with one of our twins who had reflux as a baby, eczema, and bowel issues.  He was reluctant at first but after a few months, it became second nature to him and he also noticed how he felt if he did have dairy.   His bowel issues were gone almost immediately his skin looks much better!  We quickly changed the entire family to dairy free.  

So here is some technical info on why cow's milk is not good for most people:

I like to reference information that I find.  That way you can read it first hand out of the mouth of the writers.  I found this article written by Dr. Mark Hyman who referenced his information from Dr. David Ludwig and Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard.  

Milk is Dangerous for your Health. 

A few years ago I started taking soy protein.  Big mistake!  Soy really messed with my hormones.  I will just leave it at I looked like I was nursing!  I also had this unexplainable amount of cellulite.  So from personal experience alone, I do not recommend it.

I have read that goat and sheeps milk and cheese are acceptable.  Milk has lactose which is made up of 2 different types of sugar molecules, glucose and galactose.  There are lots of people that are lactose intolerant and are not aware of it.  I know I wasn't!   Goats milk and sheeps milk is sometimes more easily digested than cow's milk.   We do not drink it but I am not against it either.  Just make sure it is organic and in moderation.  

One thing that I hear from people and I thought my self was that I didn't think I had any problems with any foods.  I have never been diagnosed to have any allergies.  I don't even get seasonal allergies.  But after giving up milk, wheat, corn, etc I have discovered that those foods were harmful to me I just didn't notice or didn't make the connection.  I just thought I had acne and that's it or I have a "sensitive" stomach.  Uh no, the foods I was consuming were causing it, duh!  

I know it is very hard to change something that you have been doing your whole life plus trying to get your kids to do something new seems impossible but I promise it is possible.  Your kids will fight you on it, no doubt.  It will be hard at first especially when you see the rest of society have dairy galore.  But just think of yourself as an innovator.  I always tell my kids that we are just ahead of the game when it comes to nutrition.  Or we are just catching up with other parts of the world, I'm not sure which.  

Here are some tips on how to get started.  Just some things we did to ease our way into a dairy free lifestyle.  I am lucky enough to have a husband that is as much pro paleo as I am so no problem there.  If you do have a spouse that is unwilling to go dairy free, just like your kids, you can ease your way into it.  Start with lactose free milk or buy chocolate almond milk.  Also, take away cheese last but slowly start taking cheese out of your meals.  Avocado is a good replacement when making sandwiches, Mexican food, or when you just want something creamy.  Canned full fat Coconut milk is a great replacement when cooking and the dish requires cream or milk.  There are so many great alternatives that you will realize that it isn't a big deal.  When my kids ask for cheese every so often, I give them almond cheese and that seems to satisfy their craving.  Anytime they are craving a food I find an alternative.  

To close, please take a look at the benefits of almond milk.  I have talked a lot about the dangers of cows milk but wanted to share this article I found that explains some benefits.  

Benefits of Almond milk

Thanks for reading y'all!!

Creamy Spaghetti!

Our youngest is a huge Italian food fan.   This recipe satisfies his need for Italian without the pasta.    Last night I made Spaghetti with a creamy tomato sauce by Sarah Fragaso.  Actually, the boys helped!  Bryce, my youngest, spiralized the zucchini and one of my twins, Wyatt, helped me with the rest.  We made a double batch so the boys took some for lunch today.  Everyone loved it!  I wanted to share this recipe with you.  I love the artichokes added to the dish. I doubled the recipe but I also added an extra can of diced tomatoes to mine.  Be sure to not let the zucchini cook too long or they get mushy.  I have done that before!  If you don't have a spiralizer, I use this  spiralizer  but I saw others on Amazon that look pretty good and are cheaper.    Let me know what you think!

Sarah Fragaso's Spaghetti with a creamy tomato sauce

 

Paleo is not about eating like a caveman

Anytime someone finds out that I eat a Paleo diet, the first thing they say is "Oh are you a caveman?  Haha!"  Hilarious (insert sarcasm).  I do not eat Paleo because I believe that is how cavemen ate that way long ago.  I have know idea, I'm not a historian.  I eat this way for so many better reasons.  For one, I am getting more nutritionally dense foods.  What I mean is I am eating foods that have nutritional value, not just empty calories.  My body is getting vitamins and minerals, etc from everything I eat.  Second, I am not starving all the time!  Because I am eating foods with value, I am able to eat more and the foods I have take longer to digest, therefore I am not hungry.  I used to get light headed if I didn't eat.  I thought I just needed to eat.  I now know it was my blood sugar going crazy!   Third, over the last 50 years the way Americans eat has changed dramatically.  We are still the same people but we are eating more processed food, sugar, and artificial foods than ever before.  That it is so scary.  Fourth,  for me one of the jobs as a mother is to make sure my children are fed well.  I want them to grow up understanding the importance of health.  I know it is very hard feeding kids today.  There is junk food everywhere!  All we can do is our best and know we are not perfect.  And last,  I actually enjoy eating this way better!  No more low fat foods.  I remember when I bought real butter for the first time.  It was exhilarating!  I don't have cravings anymore, I sleep better, I have gained muscle, and my kids feel better too!  It's a win win!

I have attached a link to an article I read yesterday.  It gives a simple view of comparing paleo foods to other foods.  Hopefully this will help those who may be confused.  

Why Should you Follow a Paleo diet?

Thought I would post what we had for breakfast and lunch!

For Breakfast it was veggie scramble.  I sautéed broccoli, kale, and mushrooms in some coconut oil for a few minutes.  Then added 3 eggs.  Topped the scramble with diced tomatoes and avocado!  Very simple!

For lunch it was leftover breakfast quiche of shredded yellow squash and eggs with red cabbage and apples.  Very good!

 

 

 

What we ate this weekend

Here in Texas, it was rainy and no fun!  Plus we had some sick boys in our house.  We spent most of our three day weekend laying around the house not doing much.  I am not the type who likes to just do nothing, so when there's nothing to do, I cook!  One thing we had this weekend was pizza!

It took some time for me to learn how to make Paleo Pizza.  It was a lot of trial and error and I am still trying to perfect it.  My favorite pizza dough is from Julian's Bakery.  As far as sauce, I have used lots of different kinds, just look for a brand that does not have sugar.  Cheese has always been difficult.  We use almond cheese and I have to admit, that it is not the same as dairy cheese.  But, I learned a few years ago that dairy gives us stomach problems and skin problems.  It is not worth it for us!  So anyway, I use Daiya block mozzarella.  I have found it at Whole Foods.  We load the pizza up with whatever we feel like.  Pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, basil, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and artichokes have been our favorites.  Just follow the directions on the pizza crust mix package, its very simple.  We always have pizza with a salad.  Pick a salad dressing that doesn't have sugar, and all natural ingredients or make your own!  My favorite salad dressing brands are Primal Kitchen and Tessemae.  Our kids have no problem eating salad.  If your kids are not crazy about it, give them the salad before serving pizza.  Just call it an appetizer.  We still do this, but only because it is a habit now.  

Don't feel like you are force feeding your kids or anything like that.  If it is a really struggle, just start with a small portion.  If you need to, start with one vegetable to add to the salad.  Try to avoid just giving them a lettuce salad.  Salads are a good opportunity to reinforce eating vegetables.  Don't be afraid to add toasted nuts or avocado, those are good fats!   It takes time for kids to like new foods but don't give up after one try.  It can take months but it works!  Happy eating!

 

Fats....yes!!!

 

This a picture from @cocos_paleo_kitchen made me laugh!

Found this article this morning that I thought I would share with you.  Many people still think fat is bad for you!  If you are one of those people, start changing your thoughts!  We eat grass fed butter, avocados, coconut oil, beef, avocados!  I used to believe low fat foods were the way to go but studies have shown our bodies need those fats to to have energy and burn fat.  Fats keep you full longer as well.  Sugar and bad carbohydrates are the things to avoid.  

Why it’s OK to eat fat - The Australian Women's Weekly

https://apple.news/AZdoEFCeJQ3OtFt1pASaBYg

So now go put some butter on something!!!

Amazon Fresh!

My new discovery!  Amazon Fresh has started delivering to my city!  It is so cool!  They have almost everything I need and the produce is flawless.  I did have to go to the store to pick up a couple of meats but that was only because they were sold out on Amazon.  They deliver it in these cute bags (our kitty liked them too) that you return at your next order and everything is iced and packed very nice.  You pick a day and and a 2 hour window of when you want it delivered.  If you have it in your city, give it a try!

    

How my love of cooking and exercise started and evolved and what we eat for breakfast!

I started to love cooking in college.  It was never anything healthy...manicotti, stir fry (not the healthy kind), lots of grilling, etc.  I have always loved trying new recipes.  When the twins were born, we were not eating great.  Lots of eating out or ordering in.  We didn't exercise except for pushing twins in a giant double jogger!  I did nurse all 3 boys for a year, so that definitely helped with losing the baby weight but our diet wasn't great.  When our 3rd son was born and the twins were 2, we decided we need to get a hold on our health.  We joined Cooper Aerobics, the founding father of Aerobics.  We joined mainly because they had awesome childcare and when you have 3 kids under 3, you need awesome childcare.  I started going to the gym on a regular bases mainly because it meant I had an hour to myself!  I immediately got addicted to working out.  Over the last 9 years I have been a consistent exerciser.  My workouts have changed over the years.  I have done zumba, spin, aerobic classes, personal trainers, and bootcamps.  About a year and half ago I decided to leave Cooper and started Crossfit and loved it!  I am still at Crossfit FXTX but I do a cross between Crossfit and Bikini fitness.  I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I have ever before!

Ok, back to food.  When we started eating healthier, I cooked out of Cooking Light cookbooks a lot!  We counted our calories, eating about 1700 calories a day, at times I was down to 1200 calories!  Not enough..  I was always thin but muscle tone was not there.  Plus I was hungry!  I was eating a lot of empty calories that did not keep me full.  When we joined Crossfit I learned a lot about eating!  I was not open to eating Paleo, but after researching more and more we decided to give it a try.  We have become a Paleo family and the kids do great with it!  I'm eating more than I have ever had and I am hardly ever hungry.  We eat whole foods with lots of protein and fats.  They are not perfect but who is!  I can go more into how to feed kids at another time.  Food and exercise is a large part of our families conversation.  Our kids know the importance of being healthy.  God says: Do you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were brought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

On to what we have for breakfast.  We eat a lot of eggs!  When I need something that doesn't require thinking, its usually eggs, some kind meat, and a veggie.  For meats, it could be ham, sausage, chorizo (a family favorite), or....Bacon!!! Yes we eat bacon!  For veggies, we usually have leftovers from dinner or I cook up something.  Spinach is good morning vegetable if you don't have anything already cooked because it cooks in about 3 minutes.  Spinach tip:  If you have never sautéed spinach, put a spray of coconut oil in a pan and add a lot of fresh spinach.  It cooks down a lot!  Please do not overcook your spinach so it looks like it just came out of a can!  Yuck!  Just cook it enough that it has wilted.  Add some salt, and your done!

Today I made sweet potato pancakes.  Sweet potatoes have more fiber, vitamin A, lower in carbohydrate, lower on the glycemic index, and are a strong anti-inflammatory.

So here's the recipe for the pancakes. I tripled our recipe.  We have 3 boys that eat a lot and I like to have leftovers.  This recipe is from 

Practical Paleo. I take no credit for this recipe... just sharing what I found!

2 cups shredded sweet potatoes.  I used my food processor and it was super quick.   I did this the night before.

3 eggs

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 salt

2 teaspoons coconut flour

Mix everything but the sweet potatoes in a bowl. Then add in the sweet potatoes.  Heat a pan at medium high heat, just like if you are making pancakes.  Add a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil to the pan.  Scoop about a 1/4-1/3 cup of sweet potato mixture and form into a pancake with your hands.  Cook on both sides until brown.  I like them crispy so I leave them on a little longer, plus they hold together better if you leave them on longer.  

The boys ate there's with butter and syrup.  

Y'all have a blessed day!

 

Kale!

Anyone else eating Kale chips and watching the game??? Probably not right!  I decided to do a test.  We had an excess amount of Kale and I wanted to see if kale chips are better cooked in the oven or on the stove so I did 2 batches tonight.  The oven left it much crunchier.  I lightly tossed them with coconut oil and played them out on a cookie sheet.  Nom Nom paleo says to cook them for 12 minutes at 350 degrees and that worked perfect!  After cooking, I sprinkled some salt and they were ready to go! If you are craving something salty and in need of a late night snack this is a much better option than popcorn.  The coconut oil is so good for you and the kale has very little carbohydrates.