Crash course on Paleo

This particular lifestyle has begun to receive a fair amount of hype over the last couple years, while just recently exploding into major trendiness.  Both receiving lots of good as well as bad press.  Is there any meat behind the supposedly life changing claims?  What are the benefits along with the potential pitfalls?  While not personally following a Paleo diet (though I do dabble), enough of my recipes fall under the umbrella of this particular lifestyle that make it fitting to post a short and sweet descriptor of what Paleo is and why it seems loads of people are jumping on the bandwagon.

Salmon Pesto Zoodles

Hi all,

Long time, no post.  I admit, this ones a bit of a cheat but a delicious one, nonetheless.  Healthy, light in calories, while full of flavor and totally tasty.  Easy to make on a weeknight after a long day of work and hits the spot just right.

This recipe serves two people.  Its gluten/grain free, can be dairy free if you either omit the pesto or get a vegan version, and is of course sugar free.

Fall Harvest Quinoa Bowl

Happy Autumn Everyone!

Quinoa, once you learn how to make it, is one of the most versatile, easy to cook with, enticing blank palettes for a plethora of lunch and dinner options.  I cook my quinoa in bulk, always making two or three times what’s needed for whatever particular meal I’m making.  Its so easy to pile some in a bowl the next day, top with a smattering of veggies, a protein, some sauce (I love either pesto or coconut curry sauce) and, viola.  A mouthwatering meal at the ready.

When initially assembling this particular Fall Harvest Bowl, I was slightly hesitant, imagining the flavors to be potentially too bland.  On the contrary.  It was vibrant, flavorful, nutty, crisp with the crunch from peppers, the herby taste of the pesto, all utterly delicious.

Paleo Sunflower Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

To all lovers of old school chocolate chip and/or peanut butter cookies (or, for the truly daring, lets take the two and combine 😉 because really, what’s better than chocolate and peanut butter fused?  Nothing, that’s what.  Besides possibly pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread, but that’s another debate for a different day).

The coolest thing about these cookies though?  They deliver all the taste of a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie but are grain free, dairy free, Paleo and free of refined sugar.  The texture is cakey and moist.  They taste lightly sweet and peanut buttery, except these guys are made with sunflower butter.  The supposedly healthier cousin to PB, as its not a legume/nut.

Get excited for these guys.  Easy to make and totally delicious.

Paleo Chocolate Frosting

Hi all,

Here’s a delicious, healthy ish frosting recipe.  Ideal for cupcakes (especially on these moist, fudgy Paleo ones), cakes, you name it.  I was stunned this is a mostly Paleo recipe.  Yet it tastes creamy, sugary, thick, like a real deal version of chocolate frosting.  Enjoy!  This might become your new go-to 😉

Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes

Man oh man, do I love chocolate, frosting and cupcakes.  The moist, cakey texture.  The rich, sugary taste of frosting.  The charming and oh so perfect small size making it nearly impossible to eat just one.  Queue mouth watering.  However, damn what a bummer how unhealthy they are.  Loaded with sugar, dairy and grains.

On Pinterest one day, I stumbled across several Paleo cupcake recipes, which I automatically assumed were likely to taste terrible.  However I decided to experiment with making a batch last night.  WHOA.  Like the astoundingly awesome, flavorful cauliflower pizza I made a couple weeks ago, these blew my mind.

Healthy Lavender Strawberry Shortcakes

Hi all,

In celebration of summer (which is thankfully still here, despite the air edging its way into fall temps ever so subtly), to me, strawberry shortcake is the quintessential summer sweet.  Its the dessert of BBQs, days on the beach, and evening dinners al fresco.  This version is a bit healthier than the usual shortcakes.  Its free of refined sugar, as well as free of dairy.  Though it is made with wheat flour.

Cheers to this tasty treat which you can hopefully enjoy at some of your last outdoor summer celebrations!

Portbello Mushroom Burgers

Hi all,

Love burgers but wish they weren’t loaded with all those heavy carbs?  This recipe delivers the taste without all the extra bread.  Get excited for this one, its the bomb.  Summer is THE time for burgers, and the season isn’t over just yet ;-).  Lets milk burger season for all its worth, eh?  Enjoy this healthier but just as mouthwatering rendition.