No Nut Banana Bread

What do you do when you have a ton of over ripe bananas? Ya freeze them! Well i do -- then i pull them out of the freezer and make banana bread with them! As you might know, i had eczema and so i follow (mostly) an auto-immune protocol - no nuts, no nightshades, and for me - no seeds. I came across a recipe for banana muffins made with coconut flour. I tweaked it -- well honestly the only thing i kept the same was the bananas and coconut flour! 


Slice this, dip it in egg and fry it -- best french toast EVER!!!! Enjoy!

No Nut Banana Bread


4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 C butter, melted
6 eggs
1 Tbs vanilla
3 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 C coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
2 Tbsp arrowroot
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cinnamon


Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Combine all dry ingredients then set aside. Whisk eggs until frothy then add bananas, butter, vanilla and maple syrup. Add dry ingredients to wet making sure to mix well. Pour into well buttered loaf pan. Bake 50-60 minutes or until toothpic inserted into the center comes out clean.

Easy Tasty Tortillas

While at Paleo FX, George over at Civilized Caveman Cooking Creations let me taste a tortilla that he said was Paleo. Two things - (1) I didnt believe him because (2) a Paleo tortilla HAD to be less-than-yummy. I was wrong on both accounts. Unfortunately, these divine tortillas had no recipe *sad face*
I have been wanting to recreate them since that day so I came home and got busy. It took 4 or 5 tries but I think i nailed it. I also used them to make BALTs (Bacon, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato) wraps. I used Paleo mayo, dijon mustard, avocado, turkey and ham too... Without further ado, I present to you....

Tortillas (makes approx. 4  4-inch tortillas)

½ C tapioca flour

2 Tbsp coconut flour

1/8 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp cream of tartar

1 1/2 Tbsp lard

¼ tsp salt

4 Tbsp boiling water

Sift all dry ingredients.

Add lard to dry ingredients mixing to form crumbles

Add hot water into dry ingredients mixing until dough-like (don't be afraid to use your hands!)

Form 2 inch balls, place between two sheets of parchment paper and press into flat discs

Place in ungreased skillet until top begins to dry around the edges – the underside will be slightly brown

Remove and let cool before enjoying as they will become more pliable as they cool.

Chicken Nuggets - The sequel

I had an original recipe for these that required dipping pieces of chicken in egg wash then in an almond meal/tapioca flour mixture then frying. That was all fine and dandy until i discovered that my body can only take so many nuts before it goes on strike and makes my face break out like a newly hormonal teenager. Add to that the fact that the more i consume nuts, the more my eczema flares and you have the necessity for a new recipe... and so was born this concoction. The kids devoured it -- and asked for more -- that means it is post-worthy. And they freeze well too! Hope you like it too!

1 lb ground chicken
2 Tbs coconut milk
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 Tbs coconut flour
1 C pork rinds - pulsed in food processor to crumbs
Lard / tallow for frying


Place chicken, coconut milk, seasonings and coconut flour in food processor. Pulse until all ingredients are combined.
Form 2 inch nuggets (1/2 inch thick)
Coat with pork rind crumbs then pan fry until golden.
Drain, serve, enjoy!

German Apple Cups

I found these on Civilized Caveman Cooking Creations website and (of course) tweaked them because i wanted a firmer texture. These could also double as dessert. My kids loved them and so did the husband. Hope you do too!

German Apple Cups

Ingredients:

4 Eggs

1 can coconut milk

3 Tbsp Coconut Oil, melted

1 Tbsp Vanilla

2 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup Coconut Flour

2 Tbsp Ground Golden Flax

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

3 Fuji Apples, cored and diced

2 Tbsp Coconut Oil

2 Tbsp Raw Organic Honey

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

1 Tsp Nutmeg

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

Process:

Preheat Oven to 425 Degrees Fahrenheit

In a large bowl, whisk eggs, coconut milk, coconut oil, vanilla, and Maple Syrup

In a small bowl, stir coconut flour, flax, ½ tsp nutmeg, and baking soda

Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients and beat well to combine, set aside while you prepare the apples

In a small frying pan, heat 2 Tbsp coconut oil and raw organic honey 

Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg and juice of 1/2 Lemon and cook for 1 minute

Add in your apples and sauté until all your apples are nicely coated

Evenly divide your apple mixture between 8 Ramekins greased with coconut oil and then evenly divide your egg mixture on top of the apples between the 8 Ramekins

Place your Ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 20 Minutes at 425 and then reduce heat to 375 and cook for an additional 20 Minutes

Enjoy

Barbecue Chips

Since going Paleo, I have met so many cool people who just want a snack. So here's a YUMMY one. I adapted it from a recipe that I found in Mel's awesome book Well Fed. It's SUPER easy and takes all of 5 minutes to whip up! My kids LOVE these so they don't last long around here. Im sure you could try these with whatever spices you like!

BBQ Chips


1 C Unsweetened coconut flakes (NOT shredded)
1 Tbs Barbecue seasoning 


Put coconut flakes in a pan over medium heat taking care to spread them out. You only want one layer of flakes so that they brown evenly. 
Once they start to brown, stir them to make sure that they all have a chance to meet the heat (tee hee)
When they are lightly toasted, spread them out on a paper towel and sprinkle the barbecue seasoning on them while they are still hot.
Let them cool to get maximum crunch and store in an airtight container (if they last that long)

Bacon Wrapped Meat Loaf

Bacon wrapped meat loaf: Because everything is better with bacon :)

Ingredients:

1 lb ground pork

2 lb ground beef

1 c almond flour

1 egg

1 onion

1 bell pepper

1 c of tomato sauce (recipe below)

10 slices of bacon (20 if you are making the lattice)

Salt and pepper to taste

Tomato Sauce:

1 15 oz can of fire roasted tomatoes

1 1/2 c (about 1) roasted red pepper

1/2 onion, roughly chopped

4 cloves garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 350ºF.

In your food processor blend together the onion and bell pepper until finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients except for the tomato sauce.

In a large bowl use your hands to mix together the ground meat mixture  and 1 cup of the  tomato sauce. Separate the meatloaf mixture to form two 9 inch logs. If you don’t want to make the bacon lattice, place your logs in two 9 inch pans and top with bacon strips.

How to make the bacon lattice:

Lay out 4 to 7 parallel strips of the bacon on wax paper with about 1/4 inch between them. Fold back every other strip. Starting at one end, place one long strip of bacon perpendicular to the parallel strips. Unfold the folded strips over the perpendicular strip. Now take the parallel strips that are running underneath the perpendicular strip and fold them back over the perpendicular strip. Lay down a second perpendicular strip of dough next to the first strip, with some space between the strips. Unfold the folded parallel strips over the second strip. Continue this process until the weave is complete. 

Check this video if this is still unclear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jv8BGw31Cg 

Use the paper to help roll the meat

Place one of the meat logs onto the bacon lattice and roll up. 

Place on baking sheet and repeat with other meat log.

Bake for 45 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and get the bacon crispy, about 10 minutes.

While the meatloaf is baking, pour the rest of the tomato sauce into a small saucepot and simmer over medium heat.

Once cool, remove the meatloaf from the pan and slice on the opposite direction you placed the bacon–against the grain, just like meat. Top with the tomato sauce and serve immediately.

Tortillas!

Pre-paleo my kids were quesadilla JUNKIES. They would eat them morning noon and night if i let them. Giving them up was a mournful experience for us all -- namely me. I tried many many recipes for tortillas and they all came out tasting like coconut flavored egg whites. Enter Malika Duke (aka Fit Rich Woman). I whipped these gems up, pressed them out between wax paper and fried 'em up.  I topped one with organic cheddar cheese, folded it in half and chopped it up. MUCH to my delight, my kids gobbled these right up! YESSSS!!!! I have even thought about using these to make wraps for the grown ups... or maybe a taco casserole... possibilities are endless!!

Tortillas 

Ingredients

1 C Almond Meal/Flour

1 C tapioca flour

¼ C coconut flour

½ ts baking soda

½ ts cream of tartar

¼ ts Himalayan salt

¾ C warm water

3 TB Coconut Oil - melted

Coconut or Avocado oil for frying

Directions

1. Whisk dry ingredients

2. Stir the oil into the water, add half to dry mixture and check consistency; continue adding water and mixing until dough is moist but not sticky.

4. Roll into a ball about the size of a lime (about 1.5-2 inches diameter, I used an ice cream scooper) and roll it around in your hands until it’s in a non-sticky form

5. Place between two pieces of wax paper use the bottom of a bowl to press until your tortilla is about 1/8th inch thick. A tortilla press is handy.These little things can sometimes stick to the paper so be a bit careful!

6. Add a teaspoon or so of oil to the pan then add tortilla. Use a brush to oil the other side of the tortilla while it is frying.

7. Cook for 1 minute each side until both sides are nicely browned and cooked fully; it will bubble up a little and look a bit dry and golden browned like a regular conventional tortilla.

Top and enjoy!

Onion Rings!!!

I wanted onion rings so i tried my hand at whipping some up. These go great with... well everything! Burgers, chicken, tossed on a salad... I might even whip up some Paleo ketchup to go along with these noms!  DELISH!

Paleo Onion Rings


1 medium onion
1 cup coconut flour
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 egg scrambled
Oil for frying (i used tallow aka lard)


Slice onion into thick slices. Add 1 Tsp each of paprika, garlic, and onion to the coconut flour then add 1/2 tsp each of the salt and pepper. Add the remaining seasonings to the shredded coconut. Mix well.
Dip onion slices in egg then coconut flower then back in egg then in shredded coconut. Fry for 1-2 minutes each side until golden brown. Place on rack to drain and ENJOY!!!

Chili - And i don't mean the weather!

Living in sunny southern California means very few chilly days but today was an exception -- well it was for southern California! It was a brisk 70 degrees here today which meant i got to sport my fall boots and whip up a pot-o-chili while i sat back and enjoyed some football! Kids gobbled this right up with some Paleo crackers! 

Paleo Chili


1 lb Italian sausage
1 lb grass fed ground beef
3 cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 can green chilis
1 C chicken broth
1 medium onion diced
2 stalks celery diced
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbs bacon fat 
2 Tbs cumin
1 Tbs chili powder
Cayenne pepper to taste - i like it hot!!
Salt and pepper to taste




Add oil to pan. Add diced onion, celery and garlic to pan. Saute 3 minutes until fragrant. Add sausage, ground beef, salt and pepper to pan. Cook through then add tomato paste,  tomatoes, chilis, chicken broth and spices. Finally, stir in the bacon fat (trust me on this one - it adds richness - and who would argue with bacon fat??) Simmer for 15 minutes then enjoy!!

Kiddo's Lunch

I was having a hard time coming up with options for lunch for the kids since the school doesn't heat up lunches. Since i live in an area that has a large Asian population, there are TONS of Asian markets. I decided to stop by the local Marukai to locate some bento boxes for the kids. I found a super cheap version that the kids could loose/destroy and i wouldn't feel bad about! 

Here's what the kids had for lunch today! Nitrate free Turkey, Ham off the bone, a pickle, cucumber slices with super sweet tomatoes (from our garden) and grapes and pears! :)