Browsing Category

Food

Food, Savory

Paleo Sloppy Joes

I have never liked Sloppy Joes. We used to have a can of Manwich in the cabinet when I lived in Pennsylvania. I remember it vividly. I’m not sure who ever finally ended up eating it, but it wasn’t me. I couldn’t stand the idea of putting a sloppy mess of tomato-infused meat from a can on a hamburger bun.

But my boyfriend, Andy, does like Sloppy Joes. Which is how we came to try this recipe. I compromised, I’d make Sloppy Joes if I could make Paleo Sloppy Joes. And that just meant that I didn’t have to put the meat on a bun that would get all soggy and gross. I’d put it on a warm sweet potato, so much better.

And the bonus, we had most of the ingredients at home already!

Paleo Sloppy Joes

4 sweet potatoes, pre-baked (microwave for 8-10 minutes or until soft)
1 pound of ground beef
1/2 sweet onion, diced
1/4 green onion, diced
1/2 cup of celery, diced
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 14-oz can of diced tomatoes with liquid
1 6-oz can of tomato paste
1/4 cup of water
Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large sauce pan, saute onions, celery, and green pepper in a skillet until tender. Add garlic powder and cook for another two minutes.

Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add chili powder and cumin, stir. Pour in can of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cut sweet potatoes in half, separate a bit so that the sweet potato makes a bowl. Spoon in sloppy Joe mixture, serve and enjoy.

Share
April 11, 2015 by
Food, Sweet

Two Ingredient Paleo Ice Cream

Andy has quite the sweet tooth. I’m not ratting him out or anything, anyone who knows him knows he’s a sucker for candy bars, Sweet Tarts, and Pepsi. Oh, don’t get me started on the Pepsi. I’ve tried having him drink Seltzer water, but it’s not the bubbles he likes, it’s the sweetness.

So when we started on The Whole 30 program a while back, we learned that sugar was not an option. It’s right in the rules, no food with sugar. I thought Andy was going to break down, but he surprised me. He said he was ready for the challenge. And yes, I know The Whole 30 does not allow dessert-like foods. We didn’t eat this “ice cream” while on The Whole 30 program, this was part of our Paleo experiment after all was said and done. And I really liked this experiment.

Turns out to make Paleo-approved ice cream, all you need are frozen bananas and almond butter. (We couldn’t have the dairy or peanut butter due to the rules.)

Two Ingredient Paleo Ice Cream

2 bananas, peeled
1/4 cup of almond butter

The night before you want to make the “ice cream,” peel and quarter two bananas. Place them in the freezer in a plastic bag. Let freeze overnight.

When bananas are completely frozen, place them in a blender or food processor. Pulsate until bananas have become a smooth mixture. Add in almond butter and blend just until combined.

If mixture is too soft, put in freezer for a half hour to firm. Serve and enjoy.

 

For more Paleo dessert ideas:

Paleo Desserts: The Sassy Cavewoman’s Saber Sweet Tooth Cookbook

Share
April 9, 2015 by
Food, Savory

Easy Crockpot Salsa Chicken

When I was little, my mom used to take me to Chi-Chi’s, a Mexican restaurant by our house in Pennsylvania. Today, I don’t think they still have actual restaurants. But back then, it was the typical Mexican restaurant, but they served what I as an elementary school kid thought was the world’s best salsa. It’s still good salsa, although now you can only get it in the grocery store.

So when Andy wanted taco salad again. I made a compromise. We could have it again, but not with ground beef, we’d have to have it with chicken. Now, this was probably one of the easiest “meals” that I’ve made in a long time. And it’s a multi-purpose recipe, it can be used for taco salads, eaten as is, or put in a flour tortilla. It would probably go really well on a potato hamburger bun with some cheese.

But believe me, it won’t disappoint.

Easy Crockpot Salsa Chicken

Gather
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast
2.5 cups of Chi-Chi’s Medium Salsa

Plug in your crockpot, throw in the chicken and salsa, then cook on low for 5-8 hours. Chicken will easily fall apart. Using two forks, pull apart all the chicken so that it is shredded. Serve as is, on a taco salad, or in a flour tortilla shell.

Share
April 7, 2015 by
Food

Testing, Testing: Raw Spice Bar

I think I need to be taken away from my computer and my credit card to be hidden from me. I impulse made a purchase the other day. Okay, a few impulse buys. And among them was a monthly spice subscription to Raw Spice Bar. Yeah, you heard me correctly, a spice subscription.

Turns out they exist, right there with the subscriptions to Ipsy, BirchBox, and Try the World (I’ll unveil that one when I get my first box in). There’s tons out there, but for some reason, this one drew me in. Mostly because it was only $6 a month and if I just bring my lunch to work with me from home every day, I’ve already pay for it in one-and-a-half days.

The deal, they tell me, is that I get three blends a month to make dishes. The way to my heart. Anyone how knows me, knows I have an obsession with spices. I actually dream of traveling overseas just to walk among the spice markets. Dubai, anyone? India? Take me there!

So I’m trying it, a monthly spice subscription to Raw Spice Bar. I’ll give an update when I get it in and let you all know what I make. I’m so excited!!

Share
March 27, 2015 by