Moving right along...

Hello all!  I know I go MIA at times, but that's just part of walking with me in my flip flops!  Life is crazy... and I thought as I got older it wouldn't be... kids are growing up, starting lives of their own... but mine keeps getting crazier!  Didn't think that was going to happen.

So to catch you all up on the happs around my neck of the woods.  Starting to get back on track after having my inflammation flare up.  Finally!  Amazing to me how food and lack of exercise can affect your body, either positively or negatively.   Once again reminds me of why I started this blog in the first place.  I truly hope that I can help someone, even if it only be one person... I will feel accomplished.  If you need help, please reach out to me and let me help you.   I have spend years struggling, figuring out what works and what doesn't, and lost over 100 lbs doing it.  I'm not a professional, I am just your average gal, with your average everyday problems.  However, I am learning that I deserve to be healthy and so do you.

This week, I'm hoping to get in the kitchen and create a healthy something, something to share with you all.  It's time I must admit!  My garden is just kicking in and we are going to have zucchini coming out our ears soon!  I am sure my recipe will have something to do with those... just a hunch!  Workouts this week will be the 21 day fix workouts.  They really do wonders for me when I am doing them everyday.  The exciting part of my week is the arrival of the new PIYO!  I have been waiting a super long time for this and ordered it the day it came out.  It's led by my favorite fitness guru, Chalene Johnson.  She is the Turbo Fire genius, and I am,  and always.  will be a Turbo girl.  I started my weight loss journey doing Turbo Jam, which seemed like ages ago!  Her new PIYO is great for beginners and elite athletes.  No equipment is needed... "Your Body Is Your Gym"!  PIYO is a combination of Yoga and Pilates, but don't let that fool you!  You will burn amazing calories, get lean and defined without jumping and straining your joints. Totally exciting!  Here's a little sample of what it is...

So.. until later this week peeps!  Recipe on it's way... PiYo on it's way!  Great week ahead!  If you want to join me, I will be having a,  PiYO challenge group starting on the 7th of July!  Email me for more info at karimarkel@yahoo.com.

Here's to a great week ahead!

Holy Zucchini Noodles Batman!

I think it's funny that we control our own destiny, and yet sometimes we chose to make decisions that may be good at the time, but you regret later.  Living with Autoimmune disease can be a bitch!  The worst part about it, is that I have learned to keep mine at bay, yet there are times when I falter a little and then I'm the bitch!

If I stray from my diet, stray from my workouts a tad... my body truly pays for it.  Why oh why I wonder why I can't be like other people.  Anyone that has a disease or disorder to manage can attest that we all feel like that at times.  I really have to bring myself down to earth and remind myself that I DO know how to control it, and fix it... so get back to business and quit feeling sorry for yourself!

I did it... had an autoimmune attack and the only one to blame was myself.  What does it feel like?  Well just as an example... this cardio queen can't even make it up a flight of stairs when she feels like this without huffing and puffing.  My joints ache, I have no energy, I swell, and I can't seem to get enough sleep.  When does this happen?  When I get busy, caught up in life, and don't cook and plan my meals properly.  It also happens when I am not exercising!  So for those of you who suffer Autoimmune disease... hear me loud and clear!  IT IS OK TO EXERCISE!  Often times I read that people with Autoimmune disease should limit their exercise, I beg to differ with you.  Of course, you must have proper nutrition to go along with that or you won't have the energy to get through it.  It all works hand in hand. Physical activity boosts physical energy, endorphins produced are like a natural pain killers and it also reduces inflammation.  So even when you don't feel like moving... a little moving can go a long way for the way you feel.

Summer is not my favorite time of the year, but the one thing I love most is my trips to the Farmer's Market. My counter ends up looking like this every week... Beautiful huh?

I got the most amazing tool for Mother's day which I must share with you of course.  I have had my eye on this handy dandy vegetable slicer for some time.  Drum roll please...

This contraption was going to make my Farmer's market finds come to life... I just knew it... and it did...

Are those the most beautiful Zucchini noodles you've ever seen or what?  Freaking amazing!  Those my friends are the best damn thing to sliced bread!  (Gluten Free bread in my case of course.) The family was a tad bit reluctant because of my zucchini noodle experiments in the past, but they didn't know what goodness was about to dance into their tummies.  A healthy sauce had to be made to smother these baby's, so I pulled out the butternut squash cheese-like sauce and they were a match made in heaven! So forks up peeps for this anti inflammatory meal!

Comfort Zucchini

4 Zucchini Spiralized

1 Butternut Squash

1 1/2  tbsp Ghee

3/4 Cup Coconut Milk

6 tbsp Nutritional Yeast

1 tbsp Arrow Root

2 tsp Yellow Spicy Mustard

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder 

1/2 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut Squash in half, and place face down in a Pyrex.  Fill with water about a 1/4 inch and place in oven until squash is tender.  In saucepan add 1 tbsp Ghee, whisk in coconut milk and arrow root powder until smooth. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (minus the zucchini of course and continue to whisk until it has thickened.  It takes about 5 min.  Remove from heat and set aside.  (It will thicken a tad more while it sits.)  In a saute pan, add 1/2 tbsp ghee and saute zucchini until it softens a bit.  Add sauce to noodles and mix well.  Serve up and Enjoy!  

Cauliflower? Say What?

Back to life, Back to reality!  It might be a sick thought, but I have grown addicted to my little 21 day fix containers.  When I am eating good and focusing on being healthy... I feel really good.  I honestly haven't had any autoimmune flare ups... and that is just amazing to me.  I am a firm believer in the fact that food can heal as I have said before, but the last few months my healing has gong to new levels.

This last weekend was Mother's Day weekend.  With that being said... I wanted to make a treat, but keep it in my plan.  I started browsing through the almighty Pinterest for 21 day fix meal ideas!  I found one that must be tried.  PIZZA!  I already have a great grain free pizza recipe that is phenomenal... but I saw a recipe that uses cauliflower to make a crust... and the first thing I thought...Wow... I can fit that in a Green container!  As most of you know... I follow a grain free diet all the time, and dairy free diet for the most part.  I have learned what my body can handle and what it can't.  Once you have been playing the autoimmune roller coaster for a long time... you learn what your body can and can't handle.  Not everyone is cut from the same mold, and food is a very personal experience for each person.   Dairy isn't really my enemy... but I still try to stay away from it because of the hormone content in it.  I have incorporated Greek yogurt back into my diet and have had no troubles. Also on occasions I have been known to consume a bit of cheese, and Mother's Day was one of them.  This pizza that I was going to devour and consume, was destined to be topped with some mozzarella cheese, which fit into a blue container of course.  What I ended up using for this recipe was one Green container, one red container, and  a blue!  The crust wasn't like a traditional pizza crust... I actually had to eat it with a fork, but it did the trick and filled the need.  I wish my picture could have been prettier on this one... but still gives you an idea of what it looked like.  I topped my crust with a tad bit of pizza sauce (we make our own gluten free, sugar free sauce and I had some in the freezer), spinach, Applegate salami and mozzarella cheese!  The Salami probably wasn't so 21 day fix approved, but it was Mother's Day, cut me some slack!  So grab your containers and get creative!  Here's how you make the crust!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

1 head of Cauliflower, shredded

1 Tbsp Egg Whites

Italian Seasoning

(Yes... that's it)

To get the cauliflower to the right consistency... I just throw the florets into my food processor, the same way that I made cauliflower rice in my other recipes.  Measure out your shredded cauliflower into your green 21 day fix container, (which is one cup BTW... I measured), place cauliflower in a bowl.  Place bowl in microwave for about 3 to 4 min to get the cauliflower soft, and ignore husbands remarks about kitchen stinking.  I let it cool a tad, then added 1 tablespoon of egg whites to help hold together.  Sprinkle enough Italian seasoning in to your liking and then pour mixture onto a parchment lined baking pan.  Spread the mixture into desired shape, and place in a 450 degree oven.  Bake for 5 min on one side, flip, bake and additional 5 min on the other side, flip again and bake about 2 more minutes.  Pull out of the oven, top and put back in the oven to get toppings hot and cheese bubbly.  (Broiler works great for this... just don't walk away, it burns fast) 

Swift Kick In My A@$

Why does it seem like I am always blogging about starting over?  Well, I am going to lose that way off thinking and just know that I have made some great accomplishments in my health and wellness and at times will allow myself to be human and then give myself a swift kick in the ass to get back into my routine.

Last time we met, I was telling you about my Easter weekend stray, and then there was my anniversary trip. We had every intention of being active... packed the kayaks even...

First day we got to the lake... the water was like glass!  We spent the afternoon setting up camp and prepping for some fun days on the water!

Well... the next morning we woke up to wind billowing through our windows.  This couldn't be a good sign.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of the lake... it didn't look like a lake anymore... it looked like an ocean!  White caps galore and so cold we had to go buy sweatshirts.  Needless to say... the day of activity was only a dream in my mind.  We had fun though... however our fun consisted of sitting on our bums, playing cards, drinking alcohol and eating kettle chips!  Yes... I am hanging my head in shame!  

Once again I admit defeat to all of you, so you won't feel bad when you fall off the wagon for a few days! Taking one for the team I am!  (In my Yoda voice)

Back home, back to reality and back to my containers.  The first few days of getting back to workouts can be a bear... my body is sweating out all the evil kettle chip salt! 

My goal this week is to restart my 21 day fix!  Get "fixated" on it (no pun intended) and complete this SOB! Since I got the hang of this container thing now... I want to try to venture out and work on some recipes that fit in with this plan instead of just trying to make it easy.  You all know how I love to create in the kitchen... this should be interesting.  

21 Day Fix Week 2 to 2 1/2, but who's counting!

So... my week 2 did NOT go as planned!  We had family come in for Easter and I was not able to stick my whole plan for the week.  I am going forward... and starting week 2 over!  I pretty much stuck to the eating side... but the exercise just didn't happen.   I am telling you this because this just proves that we are all human.  Shit happens... and we have to get back up and get back to what we need to do.  I am not giving up on my plan... I just hit a bump in the road.  Who cares if it takes me 27 days to complete the 21 day fix... that's my prerogative right?  Point is... keep going!

As far as my progress goes... well 60 days ago today I joined a group of girls, just like me, who were trying to stay motivated and get back their health.  This challenge group was supposed to only last 30 days, but we all loved talking to each other so much that we extended it to 60 days.  My weight loss in the past, I did alone, and I've always continued to exercise and eat clean to maintain... but I was tired of maintaining.  I was ready to love life in my own skin again, and this group has helped me do that.   My health in 60 days has improved in more ways than I can tell you.  I feel better... my muffin top is almost non existent, I sleep all through the night, and I just feel so damn better.  I can honestly tell you that drinking Shakeology has helped my gut heal, and helped eliminate  a lot of inflammation in my body that I just couldn't get rid of.  What a great experience.  Here's how I see my shake daily... as a ray of light!  

Where I stand now... 10 lbs lighter!  Yes 10!  I planned on taking measurements and posting again... but I haven't gotten around to it.  Oh and Strong... have I mentioned strong?  Strong is the new sexy right?   My gosh those 21 day fix workouts rock!  I am seeing so much definition in my arms it's insane!  

Ok... so they're not the biggest guns... but they're mine!  I can also hold a plank for a whole minute now without wanting to vomit!  Progress peeps... progress!  

This weekend is my wedding anniversary and we are taking a trip!  So once again I am going to stray a little.  Got a pretty active weekend planned though, and will try to stick to my eating.  I actually am really digging eating out of those little containers.  They are amazing.  You can fit so much food in them.  When I get back... I am hitting it hardcore.  Anyone want to join me?  

21 Day Fix... Week One!

Well I guess me trying to blog daily was a little overzealous on my part.  In a perfect world I would get to... but in my world, well that's another story.

Anyway... I can't say enough about this week!  My one big screw up was after a bad, long day at work... I came home, broke down, had a martini and didn't get my workout in.  I was so disappointed in myself... It was only day two for crying out loud. The next day, being riddled with guilt, I did that workout, plus the one I was supposed to do.  I do not recommend this... however one day was the upper fix, and the next was the lower fix so since I was working two different areas... I felt justified.  We are all human... we are not going to be perfect, and we can't expect perfection out of ourselves. If you are tired of starting over, quit giving up... those words are resonating in my head!

The workouts are so awesome!  I can't say enough about them.  I seriously was feeling pretty cocky apparently because I thought these workouts were going to be nothing compared to some of the Turbofire moves I have been doing forever... but they proved me wrong.  I have been working muscles that I didn't know I even had, and sore in places that I didn't know I could be.  My strength has improved so much in a week,  and one of the things I am starting to love about my body... My shoulders!  AMAZING workouts!!!! I can't say that enough!   This is what the schedule looks like... 

I even got to have my wine this week (no cheating like the martini).  The wine has to fit in the yellow container... but as you can see in the picture next to it... it's a good amount.  (Well at least that's what I keep telling myself) 

I still start my day with my Shakeology... 

and I am continuing to eat out of my color coded containers...

I feel great, and my body definitely needed this restart... that's all I can say!  I love it!  Day five was rough because I felt really hungry, which is funny because I really hadn't until then this week.  May have been because my monthly friend is on her way in... gotta love being a woman right?  I was kinda worried I was going to be so bloated that it would make my weekly result numbers not look so good... but my weekly numbers turned out pretty awesome I must say... so I will take it!  Bloated or not!  

So here's the deal... on Week 2.  I'm not going to commit to a daily blog, but I will post at the end of week 2 and fill you all in.  I will commit to my Facebook page and Instagram this week though... so click on those links and give me a follow!

Honestly, I am a little worried about this week.  It's Easter weekend coming up, and we will have a house full of people.  Cooking a big meal on Sunday too!   Wish me luck!  I feel a "How to get through a holiday on the 21 day fix" blog coming on!  

21 Day Fix... Day 1!

Well yesterday was my very first day on the 21 day fix!  I know it's going to sound crazy... but I feel like a different woman today!  My theory on this is this... I tend to let myself down so often, and yesterday I didn't. I stuck to my plan, and I got through it.  Your mind can make a huge difference in the way you feel about yourself.

Yesterday was Monday... always my worst day of the week.  I got home, got my workout knocked out and was feeling good about myself.  Until I walked downstairs and it was time to go into dinner and sit on the couch mode.  I am going to admit something here that is going to make me sound like a real lush... but I think it's something that needs to be talked about, and I know that other's probably face these same challenges.  I love to drink my wine while I cook dinner.  It's a habit, and not a good one.  Prior to this weekend, I had been wearing my fitbit, counting calories and doing workouts like usual.  I was staying in my calorie range, burning calories... but just not getting the results I needed.  Here's where the confession comes in... I had allowed myself calories for my wine at night.  I would actually take away the calories I was allowed for food and save them for my vino!  Crazy, now that I am saying that in my out-loud voice.  No wonder I haven't made the progress I wanted.  Not that I was drinking crazily every night mind you... but you realize how many calories are actually in a glass of wine?  Especially if you fill your glass?  As I told you yesterday... On the 21 day fix, you can have wine... but only up to three times a week, it has to fit in that little yellow container... and NO you can't have all three yellow containers in one night.  This is where we have to learn moderation people.  Anyway... back to my temptation.  I had already planned two glasses to have during the week in my menu, I left the third for a gimme.  Well... I used it.  But that's ok, because I only had that little yellow container... it was all I needed, and I was allowed that little yellow container.  To me it becomes more than just sticking to my eating plan... it means I stuck to a commitment to myself and my health.   I woke up feeling good today, a little sore because these workouts are so much more challenging than I thought they would be, but it was a good kind of sore.  Definitely different workouts than I was use to.   All in all... ready for day two!  Bring it!

Just an FYI... this is how I pre-measured and packaged my food for the week, so I could pack it up easily every morning.  I drink my yummy shake while getting it all together.  My shakeology has always been my breakfast, so that wasn't a change for me.  To be honest with you, I think I am eating more food in a day than I was before. I've been staying full, and no blood sugar crashes (which I'm prone to).  That's because I am actually eating my daily calories instead of drinking them I guess.  Go figure.   The food you see above is just my "take to work" food.  I still have dinner to eat later.

For those of you who follow my blog for my creative recipes... they will return.  I just needed a break to work on me, and all the Mom's out there can relate with me I am sure.  It was hard for this foodie to pack her nutrition up in little baggies... but for 21 days it's about eating to heal not about being fancy!  See ya tomorrow peeps!

21 Day Fix!

So for the next 21 days I am going to take you guys on a little different journey with me.  So don't just walk a day in my flip flops... walk in them for 21.

I have hit a plateau, one that I don't want to be in anymore.  15 years ago I went on a journey to lose weight... and I did.  Over 100 lbs actually!  I made a vow to myself to never go back.  I don't want to be that girl anymore.

She was unhappy and unhealthy!  Although I did drop the weight... I have been struggling to get down the last 20 lbs.  I seem to have become really good at maintaining... but I don't want to maintain anymore.  I want to better myself and my health.  I want to wear shorts this summer.  I seriously have not worn shorts out in public in over two years.  So this girl now is going to give herself a swift kick in the ass and make those goals happen.  Weight loss isn't as important to me as kicking some bad habits I've developed and getting those thunder thighs back in check.  

My eating is clean... I workout... and I have a great online support group of women that keep me in check. Since joining forces with them I have done so much better than I did on my own.   but I need a jump start to get going and an added boost!  I have committed to do the 21 day fix... Here's what it's all about...

21 days of eating real food, new exercise routine, and a new attitude.   Yesterday I spent the day cooking and portioning out my food for the week.  I knew I needed to plan, or I would come up with some excuse to de-rail.  I warned the family... and made it clear that everyone needed to support momma for the next 3 weeks.  

Here's how it works... you have to figure out your caloric needs and then you basically have to make sure all your portions fit in these containers...

So, I sat down with my book, and made my plan of action... started cooking, chopping and portioning out my food for the week.  I'm always so busy trying to create dishes , that I realized I had forgotten how pretty food in it's natural state can be.  Check out those radishes!  

My downfall with this program will be not being able to have my wine.  Actually it is allowed, however, only three times a week, and the wine has to fit in this...

SERIOUSLY?  That's one swig!  Oh Geez!

So here I go... wish me luck!  I am going to try to blog daily, and hopefully inspire a few people along the way.  I am actually on Day One today... I will always be a day behind so I can give you the full scoop on how it went.  The down and dirty!

Yes you can eat PIZZA!!!

Three weeks of Turbofire done! Chalene Johnson can motivate like no other. This is my week of truth though people... you see, every time I start this workout... week 4 is when I always fizzle out and my excuses seem to take over!  Nope, not this time.  "YOU ARE NOT TIRED"!!!  Actually, I am!  I am so tired.  The job is crazy this week... but I can't let it get to me!  My mantra this week... 

So this last weekend I was craving pizza so bad! I don't often get that craving, but we all know that the only thing you can do to fight off a pizza craving is to EAT PIZZA!  Well, me being me, and my belly being my belly... I have to make my own, ordering out even once is NOT an option.  I started looking through my blog and realized that I have never posted my pizza recipe here!  WHAT?  That's just not cool of me to hold out such grain free, dairy free goodness from all of you!  You can have pizza people! Be creative with your toppings of choice and enjoy!

The Perfect Paleo Pizza Crust

Preheat your oven and Pizza stone to 425 degrees. 

 (We found that a pizza stone works really well to get a crispy crust)

1/4 cup warm water

2 tsp Organic Honey

1 package of Instant Yeast (Gluten Free of course)

Combine all ingredients above and set aside to let the yeast get frothy.

In a mixer, combine the following:

3/4 Cup Almond Flour

3 TBSP Coconut Flour

2/3 Cup Arrowroot

Sea Salt

1 egg

2 Tsp Olive Oil

1 Tsp Coconut Vinegar

Pizza Sauce (Sugar Free and Organic)

Toppings of choice

Once ingredients have been blended well, scrape ingredients onto a piece of parchment paper in a ball form.  Get another piece of parchment paper and rub olive oil on top of it.  Place Olive oiled paper on ball and start pressing the dough into the shape you want your pizza. (Your dough will be between two pieces of parchment)  This makes it really easy to get it into a round pizza shape.  You can make it as thick as you want or as thin as you want.  This is not a traditional dough texture you will be use to.  Once you get the shape and desired thickness you want... carefully remove top parchment paper.  Do not remove dough from bottom parchment... place parchment and all on the pizza stone and bake for about 5 to 6 minutes.  Bring stone out of the oven, flip the dough disc onto the stone upside down so that the top part is now on the stone.  On the cooked side, place pizza sauce and toppings of choice.  Place back in oven for 5 minutes more.  At this time, turn your broiler on high and get those toppings all bubbly.  Pull out of oven and let cool on cooling rack.  Cut up and eat up!  MMMMMM! 

 

Spaghetti Squash One Dish Wonder!

It's amazing how quickly your body can respond when you start taking care of it again.  This is my third week back into my groove... and I am feeling amazing.  I haven't been able to say that in a long time.  It blows my mind how easy it is to fall back into bad habits, but so hard to fall back into good ones.  I have had a great support group this time, and I think that has made a huge difference. 

I love talking to people and getting their opinions on food.  Some could care less about the food they eat and other's obsess.  I happen to be one that obsesses... but one of the reasons is because I am fascinated how food can either make you sick or healthy... it depends on your body and what you put in it.  There are so many foods out there that have healing properties and yet so many times we chose to put crap in it. 

I happen to still be in my one dish meal obsession, since I've been trying to take a  wee bit more time for ME... it helps keep healthy eating easy! ! This dish can actually be made up ahead of time and cooked when you get home. (And you have 45 minutes while it's cooking to get your booty in gear and fit some exercise in right?)

The star of this one dish wonder is spaghetti squash.  I use to think that spaghetti squash, and squash in general was a fall kind of dish... lately though, all the seasons run together, and I seem to  find these available all throughout the year.  Especially out here in Cali.  I'm not sure where our winter went?   Spring is officially here!

Spaghetti squash has a low calorie and carbohydrate count, but some tidbits you might not realize about this golden gourd is it contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids.  These Omega's help prevent heart diseases, inflammation and different kinds of cancers.  Omega-6's in particular provide numerous amounts of minerals and vitamins which are essential for proper body functioning... including brain function.    It is high in beta carotene, which helps prevent atherosclerosis and potassium which helps to lower high blood pressure. Once it's cooked, it can be shredded and used as noodles in place of pasta... which is great for people who have grain sensitivities.  In this recipe... my family thinks the squash resembles rice... um...whatever works right?  You can also get creative with this... you could add other ingredients and make it as complicated as you wish.  It has sparked a few other ideas in my noggin as well which I will be testing out soon.    

I've been using myfitnesspal with my fitbit daily.  I am able to log what I am eating, and work up my reecipes to see the calorie content.  I love it.  This recipe makes six large servings at only 227 calories each.  If anyone uses myfitnesspal, my user name is karimarkel, I would be glad to add you as a friend!  

The SS One Dish Wonder

1 large or 2 small Spaghetti Squash

1 lb Organic Free Range Ground Pork

1 Can Pizza Sauce (I use organic, with no sugar)

1 Tbsp Olive Oil or Ghee

3 Eggs

1 can Olives, sliced

1 Red Bell Pepper, Diced

1 medium Yellow Onion, Diced

Salt and Pepper to taste

4 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

Fresh Basil

Cut Squash in half, turn upside down in dish.  Add water (enough to cover 1/4 of the squash) and bake in 350 degree oven until soft.  Turn squash over, shred with fork.  I wipe out my dish that I cooked the squash in and place all my shredded squash back in the dish.  Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees.  In skillet add oil or ghee, add onions and bell pepper and saute until soft.  Add ground pork, olives and spices,  and cook until pork is done.  Mix in pork mixture, 3 beaten eggs, fresh chopped basil and can of pizza sauce to squash shreds and mix well.  Bake for 45 minutes, or until moisture decreases.  I turned on the broiler for a bit and made a bit of a crispy crust on mine.  Add salad and voila! 

  

Hungarian Caveman Pie!

Every morning I log onto Pinterest and pick a quote for the day.  I  write them in my day planner... and post them all over my desktop so I see them all through the day.  I have noticed that it really keeps me focused on my task at hand.  To feel good again! This one here came on a morning, today, that I woke up feeling awesome possum!  I have gotten back into my workout routine (5 lbs down last week), and making sure that the menu's for the families meals are focusing on real food once again.   This is week 2, and I feel like a totally different person than I did a few weeks ago!  My depression cloud is nowhere to be seen today, and seriously... I still have a lot I could be depressed about... but it's just not worth my time.  The quote I saw the other day said " Worrying doesn't' take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace!"  OMG... how true is that?

I've been in a easy one pot meal kind of mood.  We got a new crockpot that I have been trying some new things out on, and I am now officially obsessed with Casseroles!  Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a Grain Free Casserole?  You just can't find a lot out there.  On my casserole mission I stumbled across a Caveboy Casserole recipe from Our Paleo Life.  You should give her website a looksy, and give this recipe a try.  It turned out amazing.  I called mine a Hungarian Caveman Pie because I added Hot Hungarian Paprika to it and hot pepper to flakes to kick it up a notch!  Do you think Hungarian Caveman had paprika back then?  Ground beef, or was it ground brontosaurus?

I want to make sure credit is given where credit is due, so please check out Kendra's Caveboy Casserole.  You may like her choices better than mine.  The changes I made to mine were minor.   Her pictures are prettier... that's for sure, and OMG... her Taco Seasoning recipe is a new staple that I am making for our pantry.    Just as I always say though... cooking should be fun. Recipes should be used for ideas... what makes them unique is what the cook brings to them.  Go forth and cook!

Hungarian Caveman Pie

2 lbs Grass-Fed Organic Beef
2 Batches of Kendra's Taco Seasoning
3 tsp Arrowroot Flour
Avocado Oil (my oil of choice these days)
1 large Yellow Onion
2 Bell Peppers (I used red because they're pretty)
1 large Tomato
1 can of Black Olives
2 Cans of Diced chiles
2 tbsp Hungarian Hot Paprika
Red Pepper Flakes to taste

In cast iron skillet, brown onion, and bell peppers until soft.  Add hamburger and spices and cook through.  Mix in 1 can of chiles, half of the olives, and tomato.  In a small bit of hot water mix arrowroot into a smooth paste and add to meat mixture.  Top with crust (below), remaining black olives and second can of chiles.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until crust is browned on the edges.  

Crust

1/2 cup Almond Flour
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
3 Eggs
2 tbsp melted Ghee
2 tbsp melted Coconut oil
1/2 cup full fat Coconut milk

Grain Free Rolls & Buns...

Hello peeps!  I can't believe it's already March!  Christmas if only 289
days away!  Yikes!  It's still crazy weather in Cali.  The trees are so confused and so am I.

It's still WINTER... why the hell is my tree blooming?  UGH!  We are getting some rain this weekend... but I will believe it when I see it.  In the famous words of Forrest Gump... "That's all I got to say about that!"

The hubs and I took a few days this last weekend and headed up the hill in our traveling casa!  We realized that we've only had it out four times since we bought it last year!  Tragedy!   I got to cook in my favorite little kitchen, wear flip flops all weekend and watch ducks poop on my Patio Rug!  Fun times! 

So this week I am going to share one of my favorite recipes I think in a while.  Since ditching the grains, the one thing I really crave sometimes is a sandwich.  Hard to make a real sandwich without the bread.   I found a recipe online a few months back and I have tweaked it so many times I can't even tell you what the original recipe was or where it came from.  Well... I lie... it came from Pinterest originally... duh!  Pinterest is the bomb!  Any hoo... I make dinner rolls with this recipe and I use my bun pan and press dough into them to make thin little sandwich pieces of heaven.  I usually smear avocado on those bad boys, throw some applegate turkey and sour kraut on them and dig in!  Here's some of my favorite ingredients I use to make them.  

I have become a huuuuuge fan of avocado oil.  Avocado's are amazingly good for you, and this avocado oil that I order from Bella Vado is the best... no other Avocado oil can compare.  

Grain Free Buns & Bread

1 1/4 cup Arrowroot

3/4 cup Coconut Flour

1 tsp Salt

2 tsp Garlic Powder

2 Tbsp Chives

1/2 cup Warm Water

1/2 cup Avocado Oil

1 Egg

Mix all ingredients in a mixer until makes a sticky dough. There are two options on how to make.  Rolls or buns.  Rolls I just make balls and cook them on parchment for 30 minutes. 

For my thin breads... I press a think layer of dough in my bun pan...

 cook on one side for 5 min, flip them over and cook an additional 5 min. Place on parchment to cool. 

  

Long Time No See...

Well hey all!  I know its been a while... but you know how things go.  Life tends to get in the way of the things we love to do sometimes!

So, let me catch you up on where I've been and where I am going.  I went through a skin fiasco last year... about the time I slacked off on the blog.  Seems a product I was using for "13" years, that was labeled as botanical I might add, seems to have contained steroids that were not listed in the ingredients.  Skin still hasn't quite gotten back to normal... but it looks so much better.  This is a little sample of what I dealt with for 6 months!  Yikes!

Then of course there were the holidays... and you know we are always the hostests with the mostests... so that was a few months of crazy!  

Oh and I totally have to fill you in on the animal situation.  Remember the cat that we inherited from Gram's? Well she ended up picking fights with Beazie (our spoiled cat)... started spraying in Beazie's litter box, and Beazie didn't want to go in there anymore.  One morning I heard Beazie crying so loud in the dining room... I went in there to find that she pooped... in the floor... 3 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING!!!!  I didn't know why she was doing this, until one night when we were going to bed... The Hubs walked past Gram's cat and caught her spraying the wall with urine!  The cat has been in the garage ever since.  I spent 3 days searching Pinterest for ways to get rid of cat urine smell, being that all the family was on their way, and to top it off had to figure out how to get Beazie back to her litter box.  Got Beazie a new litter box, and put it in a totally different location... everything worked out, and we had no surprises in the dining room for the holidays.  Shew!  3 months later... the sprayer is still in the garage.  We take good care of her... but won't let her in the house.  Cat urine and my obsessive compulsiveness  just don't jive well together!  

As for the new year... well it's still sunny and warm here in Cali.  I'm still able to wear my flip flops most days!  We are in a drought you know.  I want some rain and cold weather... we got jipped this year.  I have come up with some really good recipes that will be making their appearance over the next few weeks.  I have decided to do weekly posts for now instead of daily, so I can still share food and thoughts, but not overwhelm myself.  I've gotten back to my workouts too!  I actually took before pictures... but you won't find those on here until I have amazing after pictures to post as well.  Since my diet is clean... I don't have to worry about falling off the wagon... but my wagon needs a lot of work.  I've gotten fluffy!  That's all I am going to say about that!   A friend of mine posted this on Facebook and I keep reminding myself of it daily! 

What no skinny Fairy?  Say it isn't so!!!  Glad to be back!  Recipes Soon!  Promise!