BBQ Season

I got this recipe from the Son of Grok blog and modified it a little bit to suite me. I like it really spicy so I added Cayenne but if you like a milder flavor you can substitute the Cayenne pepper with Chili Powder in the recipe just add 2 TBSP instead of 1 tsp. I used it on Pork Ribs ( I know you love it Jenn!) it was so good and gave them some really nice flavors!

Zesty BBQ Sauce

6 oz Tomato paste

1 1/2- 2 C Chicken stock

3ish Cloves garlic

1/2 Onion

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp Olive oil

1 tsp Cayenne pepper

1 tsp Salt

Saute the onion and garlic in the oil until soft and translucent. add your spices, mustard and vinegar. Stir in the tomato paste until blended and add stock until its your desired thickness. Simmer on the stove 30 minutes.

Save A Little Coin

So one of the things I rely on when cooking Paleo is alot of spices! Spices can change any meal and some spices are very good for your health. Take cinnamon for instance, it helps to regulate our insulin levels which is one of our main goals when picking our Paleo foods. Cayenne pepper is a natural metabolism enhancer! One down side to spices is how expensive they can be, saying that I have found that if you shop for your spices in the Hispanic food section at any grocery store the spices are 50-75% cheaper! With how much I use this can really save some money and who doesn't want to save a little money???

Chocolate Brownie Cakes

I made these in a mini cupcake tin, but I have also made them in an 8x8 or a regular cupcake tin. I guess it just depends on if you want to pop 1 in your mouth at a time until they are gone or eat a whole pan and really feel like a pig. Either way they are tasty and you will eat too much!

6 Tbsp Oil
1/2 C Honey
2 eggs
1/2 C Cocoa powder or carob powder
1/2 C Pecan meal
1/4 C Arrowroot
1 tsp Vanilla
Pinch of salt

Combine wet ingredients add dry, put into greased pan of your choice. I baked them at 350 for 7 minutes in the mini tin, 12 minutes in the regular cupcake tin and 20 minutes in the 8x8. Best if enjoyed the same day!

Dessert First, Dinner Maybe...

Berry Crisp

This is the crisp I made for the potluck, if you can remember after the drunken night golfing which was a blast!!!

4 C Fresh or frozen berries

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 C Chopped pecans

1 C Coconut - unsweetened flake

3 Tbsp Coconut oil

1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix thawed or fresh berries with the lemon juice and zest put in a pie pan or any other smallish casserole dish. Make the crumble topping by melting coconut oil and mixing with the remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 for 45 min.

Hold The Beans Please!

Chili Paleo Style

This is so good! If you like things spicy I made 2 batches one I added a large can of green chili and cayenne pepper instead of the chili powder it had a kick to it! If you are not a fan of spicy I would go for the recipe as written below.

2# Ground beef

1/2# Stew meat

1/4 C Olive oil

2 med. Chopped zucchini

3-4 C Chopped mushrooms

1 Red onion chopped

6 Cloves garlic minced

1 28oz Can diced tomatoes

1 Can tomato paste

3-4 C chicken stock

4 Tbsp Chili powder

1 Tbsp Cumin

Cook the ground beef and stew meat and drain. Saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil. add the remaining veggies, canned items, spices and meat. Add chicken stock until it is your desired thickness, I like mine with a little less stock so its nice and thick. Simmer in a large pot 45 min or all afternoon if you forget about it like I did!

Speaking of Kelp Noodles

Sweet and Spicy Orange Shrimp

I made this for dinner and it was so good and easy and very low in calories and carbs. And even better it was good re-heated which is always a must for me!

1# Shrimp de-veined and shelled
Juice of 1 lg orange or 2 small ones
3 Green onions- chopped
3 Cloves garlic- minced
2 tsp Honey
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
1 12 oz pkg Kelp noodles

Heat oil in a skillet add shrimp and garlic cook 2 min on each side until pink add green onions. In the meantime mix the orange juice, honey, salt and pepperflakes. Add to the shrimp and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the noodles and let them soften and absorb the flavors. You are ready to eat, dinner in 20 minutes or less!

Kelp Noodles

These Kelp Noodles are my very favorite new discovery! The only place I have found them is town is at Pilgrims, they are 3.99 for a 12 oz package. The best part is they are very low in carbs and calories, 6 calories per serving with 1 g carbs, 1 g fiber and no fat! They are completely natural and a raw food with the only ingredients being water, kelp and sodium alginate which is a natural sodium. I have used them to make spaghetti, in stir-fry and to add a crunch to salads.

Bacon, Bacon, BACON!!!

This is a super easy crazy delicious appetizer or you know sometimes we just need a happy treat and this one is addicting, so watch out!

Whole pitted dates
Bacon- clean of course!
Raw almonds

This is so simple, just take your date and stuff an almond in the center, cover with a delicious slab of bacon, and stick with a toothpick. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 425 on a cookie sheet and then turn on the broiler until they are crispy. ENJOY!

Diakon Asian Slaw

This is a very tasty recipe that I made accompany a heavy meal its very light and has a refreshing summer taste. You can use regular radishes the salad will just have a little more spice to it!

1/4 C. White wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp. Minced fresh ginger
1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp. Sesame oil
Juice of 1/2 of a lime

1/2 Head cabbage slivered
1 Carrot cut into long thin strips
1 Small diakon radish cut into long thin strips
1/2 ea. Red and yellow bell pepper
1/2 C. Cilantro chopped

Mix Dressing and let it sit for 1/2 an hour to let the flavors mesh. Cut all your veggies and mix with the dressing, this is one of those that is even better the next day!