Ask and you shall receive! Here are a few of the recipes I used this week. All of them are from "Paleo Comfort Foods" by Julie & Charles Mayfield. I have never seen a cookbook so pretty :) and I absolutely loved everything we had this week. Thank you to Julie & Charles for helping us make this Paleo Challenge a success so far!
Turkey Loafing (a spin on meatloaf)
2 medium sweet onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp kosher salt (we use sea salt)
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 c chicken stock
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 large eggs
4lbs ground turkey
1 c Cave Ketchup (this is Paleo ketchup, but you can use regular ketchup if you are not doing Paleo. However, I highly recommend it so you are not eating the sugar that is in normal ketchup)
1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Saute onions, red pepper, and all spices with coconut oil over medium heat until onions become translucent. Remove from heat, stir in tomato paste, stock and Worcestershire sauce.
3. In large bowl, crack eggs over your turkey and fold in the onion mix once it is cooled.
4. Place in casserole dish, no greasing required
5. Pour your Cave Ketchup over the top and bake for 90min. You want the internal temp at 160 degrees to know that it is cooked all the way through.
This recipe made a HUGE casserole dish of turkey loaf. We ate on it for 2 days, it was FABULOUS!
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Mashed Cauliflower (instead of mashed potatoes)
1 head fresh cauliflower
1 c chicken stock
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1. Cut your cauliflower head into small chunks of the florets and stems.
2. Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and allow to cook for 20 minutes. You may need to add more stock if it dries up too quickly.
4. Pour cauliflower and all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor, or keep in pan and use a hand mixer or hand masher. Mix/mash until you reach the desired consistency.
I found that this recipe was wonderful, but I utilized the additional tips they gave of using chives and/or crumbled up bacon bits for additional flavor. This is a good alternative to mashed potatoes, and an easy way to get your family used to the taste of cauliflower.
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Morning Glory Muffins
2 1/2 c almond flour (I make my own with raw almonds in the Bullet, saves money)
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups carrots grated
1 large apple, peeled, cored and grated
1 c shredded coconut
1 c raisins
3 large eggs
2 tbsp honey (optional, and we did not use it)
1/2 c coconut or avocado oil
1tsp vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt into large bowl. Add carrot, apple, coconut and raisins. Combine well.
3. In separate bowl, whisk eggs, [honey], oil and vanilla together.
4. Pour this mixture over dry ingredients and mix well. The batter will be very thick.
5. Spoon into standard muffin cups.
6. Bake for 30 minutes (we baked them for almost 40).
This was my favorite thing of the week aside from the turkey loaf. I felt like I was cheating they were so yummy! Kaylee even enjoyed it, which made me smile :)
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There were several other recipes we used this week but these were some of our favorites. We will use a couple of the same ones next week, along with new ones. Enjoy!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Days 2-4
We have almost completed 4 days of the Paleo Challenge, and we're still going strong :). Jon continues to amaze me at his willingness to try these new foods, and his support he provides. I want to say how proud I am of him, and how much I pray each day that he continues on with the Challenge and sees it through. I think he will be very surprised at the results and how different his body feels. We both have seen our appetites reduce significantly, and we are able to experience the true "Full" feeling after eating very little. The quality of our food is so much better than it has ever been and it's wonderful! Tonight we are having Turkey Loaf from Paleo Comfort Foods. OMGosh...I actually had some this morning with eggs and it was AMAZING! Mom would be proud...I'm eating my meatloaf. I actually cooked it last night because it has to bake for 90 minutes. The house smelt wonderful for hours.
When my alarm went off this morning I could tell my body needed more rest, so I took the morning off at CFX. I missed it terribly, but I think I really did need the extra sleep. Tonight I will go do some working out on my own which will be good. It's freezing outside, so my plan to go running is a bust. I refuse to let convenience be an excuse anymore, as it used to rule my entire life. If it was too hard or too inconvenient, I hid away from it and didn't even try. CrossFit has helped me change that mentality to realize that I can find a way to do something, anything, and I can make it be as hard as I want it to be. Workouts can be modified, they can be simple or complex....but they count. Every wallball, every squat, every pull-up, every sit-up, every run, every movement you make your body do will count towards something. If anything, it will prevent it from going backwards in the direction you have always gone. Don't let excuses rule your world anymore.
One of my biggest "excuses" is mommy guilt. I am a full-time working mother who only gets to see her little girl about 1.5 hours each weekday. That's it. It tears me up inside if I let it get to me, I love her more than she will ever know but right now this is the life we have to live. I take advantage of every minute I see her and try to let her know she is my everything whenever I can. But there are some days when I feel so guilty for training at night instead of seeing her. Tuesdays and Thursdays are when I workout both in the morning and evening. I don't get to spend any time with her on these days, but Jon does a fantastic job of taking care of her. She knows I am at the gym (getting "stinky" as she calls it) and she knows I will be back in the morning. I can always count on her huge smile and big hug in the morning after she wakes up. The guilt I have is not from her or from my husband...it is from me. I am preventing myself from giving it my all sometimes.
For those moms out there who are worried about taking time away from your family to change your life - STOP. If you never changed a single thing about your lifestyle right now, how long do you think you would live? How much medication would you have to take the rest of your life if you got diabetes from a sedentary lifestyle? How much would it cost your family to put you in a nursing home when you are old and not mobile enough to take care of yourself? How much would those doctors bills cost each year when your immune system is shot because all you feed your body is junk? What will you miss out on in your children's lives when you die at a young age because you didn't take care of yourself the way you should have? The cost of living a convenient and sedentary lifestyle is so much more expensive than the sacrifice you make for a few short years to correct the problems in your life. The hard work is not forever....there will be a day when I am finally in maintenance mode and do not have to work myself to the bone in order to keep pushing towards these goals. (The problem with that is I am now a self-proclaimed CrossFit junkie and LOVE it, so I probably will still go 6 times a week anyway! but you get the point). Just like when I was working full-time and going to school full-time....there was an end in sight and that is what kept me going. Starting was only half the battle. Take some time to really analyze yourself and what quality of life your are missing out on because you are too afraid, or too unwilling to change. If you need help to make those changes, ASK! My husband continues to amaze me every single day at how supportive he is, and how he is always willing to let me take that extra class, go for a run, etc. if it means it is helping me get better. Why? Because I am a better mother, wife, and person for it. He sees the joy I experience from being a part of the team at CFX and how I have always longed to be a part of something and I have finally found my place in this world of fitness. Living 26 years on the other side of the playground from the athletes was a hard pill to swallow, and I experienced a lot of emotional pain because of it. I'm finding my own spot on that team of athletes and I love every minute of it.
You have to start somewhere, I did. I started 55lbs heavier, unable to do modified ANYTHING. I now have several days a month where I actually lift the same weight as the rest of the crowd (known as RX or prescribed weight). You can do this, but you have to be willing to ask for the help you need. For those who are already starting your journey, I am SO very proud of you!!! You've taken the first step to changing your life and you will thank yourself for it when it is over!
I promise to get some recipes up here, it's been hard to find extra time.
When my alarm went off this morning I could tell my body needed more rest, so I took the morning off at CFX. I missed it terribly, but I think I really did need the extra sleep. Tonight I will go do some working out on my own which will be good. It's freezing outside, so my plan to go running is a bust. I refuse to let convenience be an excuse anymore, as it used to rule my entire life. If it was too hard or too inconvenient, I hid away from it and didn't even try. CrossFit has helped me change that mentality to realize that I can find a way to do something, anything, and I can make it be as hard as I want it to be. Workouts can be modified, they can be simple or complex....but they count. Every wallball, every squat, every pull-up, every sit-up, every run, every movement you make your body do will count towards something. If anything, it will prevent it from going backwards in the direction you have always gone. Don't let excuses rule your world anymore.
One of my biggest "excuses" is mommy guilt. I am a full-time working mother who only gets to see her little girl about 1.5 hours each weekday. That's it. It tears me up inside if I let it get to me, I love her more than she will ever know but right now this is the life we have to live. I take advantage of every minute I see her and try to let her know she is my everything whenever I can. But there are some days when I feel so guilty for training at night instead of seeing her. Tuesdays and Thursdays are when I workout both in the morning and evening. I don't get to spend any time with her on these days, but Jon does a fantastic job of taking care of her. She knows I am at the gym (getting "stinky" as she calls it) and she knows I will be back in the morning. I can always count on her huge smile and big hug in the morning after she wakes up. The guilt I have is not from her or from my husband...it is from me. I am preventing myself from giving it my all sometimes.
For those moms out there who are worried about taking time away from your family to change your life - STOP. If you never changed a single thing about your lifestyle right now, how long do you think you would live? How much medication would you have to take the rest of your life if you got diabetes from a sedentary lifestyle? How much would it cost your family to put you in a nursing home when you are old and not mobile enough to take care of yourself? How much would those doctors bills cost each year when your immune system is shot because all you feed your body is junk? What will you miss out on in your children's lives when you die at a young age because you didn't take care of yourself the way you should have? The cost of living a convenient and sedentary lifestyle is so much more expensive than the sacrifice you make for a few short years to correct the problems in your life. The hard work is not forever....there will be a day when I am finally in maintenance mode and do not have to work myself to the bone in order to keep pushing towards these goals. (The problem with that is I am now a self-proclaimed CrossFit junkie and LOVE it, so I probably will still go 6 times a week anyway! but you get the point). Just like when I was working full-time and going to school full-time....there was an end in sight and that is what kept me going. Starting was only half the battle. Take some time to really analyze yourself and what quality of life your are missing out on because you are too afraid, or too unwilling to change. If you need help to make those changes, ASK! My husband continues to amaze me every single day at how supportive he is, and how he is always willing to let me take that extra class, go for a run, etc. if it means it is helping me get better. Why? Because I am a better mother, wife, and person for it. He sees the joy I experience from being a part of the team at CFX and how I have always longed to be a part of something and I have finally found my place in this world of fitness. Living 26 years on the other side of the playground from the athletes was a hard pill to swallow, and I experienced a lot of emotional pain because of it. I'm finding my own spot on that team of athletes and I love every minute of it.
You have to start somewhere, I did. I started 55lbs heavier, unable to do modified ANYTHING. I now have several days a month where I actually lift the same weight as the rest of the crowd (known as RX or prescribed weight). You can do this, but you have to be willing to ask for the help you need. For those who are already starting your journey, I am SO very proud of you!!! You've taken the first step to changing your life and you will thank yourself for it when it is over!
I promise to get some recipes up here, it's been hard to find extra time.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Day 1 under way
Happy Monday! Today is Day 1 of the CFX Paleo Challenge and so far Jon and I are off to a good start! The WOD today at CFX was short and sweet, and I especially enjoyed the strength portion because I got a new 3 rep max (RM) on my back squat [115lbs]. The WOD involved rowing and [55lb] squat cleans. I'm not very good at the transition during squat cleans (first you clean it up, then do a front squat) but it's always good to know what you need to work on.
Yesterday was a cooking extravaganza in the Hanson house. God bless my wonderful husband for cleaning up after my mess each time I started a new dish. My goal was to have 6 things cooked, I made it to 5 and then stopped. The Chicken Enchiladas tasted great, but my coconut tortillas need a bit of work :) they looked more like pancakes. For my first time making them, it could have been much worse so I am okay with my pancake tortillas for now. I do plan on sharing some recipes soon, I just need to be sure it's okay to post them here as long as I give credit to the author. I'm unsure what the "netiquette" is on that whole thing.
I was weighed in, measured, and the dreaded photo in a sports bra and shorts was taken. As awkward as that moment is, I do it because I want to see what it will be like after the 45 days is over. I will be thankful I bared all and I will be proud of what I see. I hope that through this I can encourage people to start their own journey in whatever way they can. God designed our bodies to be strong and capable, but until you learn how to control it then you are not doing justice to God's gift. Gaining control is one of the hardest things I have ever tried to do, and I am still trying. Continue to give yourself permission to "try again" each day....pushing yourself harder than you did the day before. If you fall, get right back up and try again. There will come a day that you gain the control you need to change your life, but until then keep trying and find people who are there to support you on this journey.
I'm very very very proud of Jon for giving this a try. This is a huge transition for him because he really loves dairy, as well as breads. I hope you will all pray with us as we go on this journey together so that we can both see the benefits of Paleo for 45 whole days. 1 day down...44 to go!
A cute tid-bit from miss Kaylee this morning: She is convinced she needs to take her Dora lunch box to preschool now and insists she carry it out of the house each morning. She is growing up so fast, I wish I could freeze time so that I don't miss any opportunity to show her how much I love her.
Yesterday was a cooking extravaganza in the Hanson house. God bless my wonderful husband for cleaning up after my mess each time I started a new dish. My goal was to have 6 things cooked, I made it to 5 and then stopped. The Chicken Enchiladas tasted great, but my coconut tortillas need a bit of work :) they looked more like pancakes. For my first time making them, it could have been much worse so I am okay with my pancake tortillas for now. I do plan on sharing some recipes soon, I just need to be sure it's okay to post them here as long as I give credit to the author. I'm unsure what the "netiquette" is on that whole thing.
I was weighed in, measured, and the dreaded photo in a sports bra and shorts was taken. As awkward as that moment is, I do it because I want to see what it will be like after the 45 days is over. I will be thankful I bared all and I will be proud of what I see. I hope that through this I can encourage people to start their own journey in whatever way they can. God designed our bodies to be strong and capable, but until you learn how to control it then you are not doing justice to God's gift. Gaining control is one of the hardest things I have ever tried to do, and I am still trying. Continue to give yourself permission to "try again" each day....pushing yourself harder than you did the day before. If you fall, get right back up and try again. There will come a day that you gain the control you need to change your life, but until then keep trying and find people who are there to support you on this journey.
I'm very very very proud of Jon for giving this a try. This is a huge transition for him because he really loves dairy, as well as breads. I hope you will all pray with us as we go on this journey together so that we can both see the benefits of Paleo for 45 whole days. 1 day down...44 to go!
A cute tid-bit from miss Kaylee this morning: She is convinced she needs to take her Dora lunch box to preschool now and insists she carry it out of the house each morning. She is growing up so fast, I wish I could freeze time so that I don't miss any opportunity to show her how much I love her.
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