Banana Muffins...OMG!

Wow, these are good!!!

I have been waiting and waiting to make these muffins, and I can't believe I waited for so long.  They are absolutely delicious! See recipe here at Today's Letters.  

Ingredients

Blend Cashews & Coconut Oil (I used instead of Walnut Oil)

Add Bananas

Blend.  This was so good, I think I could eat spoonfuls, or spread on this bread.

Whisk eggs, add banana cashew butter and all other ingredients. 

Put in muffin pans, cook at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. 

EAT!

Whole 30 plan here!  I am not full on Whole 30, but I am trying my best to follow the rules most of the time.  The best part, I have been introduced to some pretty amazing grain-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free recipes.

Chopped: Secret Basket #3 (My Week!)

Finally my week has come... The last few weeks I have been stressing/using my thinking cap for every possible ingredient they could ever pack in my basket... well guess what didn't think of these 4 things!

My Basket:

• Root beer
• Fish sticks
• Crescent Rolls
• Bell Peppers

We had 24 hours to brainstorm to come up with the best way to combine these ingredients in a decent meal.  Honestly, how do those chefs do it in 20 minutes? This is what we did!

Mini-Puff Pastries filled with Brie and Pancetta

Grapefruit, Basil, Pepper, Vanilla Rum Martini (My Favorite Part of dinner)

Fish Stick Pot Pie with Root beer Gravy and Fish Cake (like a crab cake) with Root beer Habanero Sauce

I have to say, it was kinda good, kinda weird, and kinda worked! I wonder what Geoffrey, Amanda, and Aarón would think?   

Chopped: Secret Basket #2

Week 2 of the Chopped challenges brings the mystery ingredients to the next level. 

This week, Scott and Jessica take on the basket.  What's in it?

• Coconut oil
• Jolly Ranchers 
• Asparagus
• Pepper Jack cheese

Oh my, oh my this is a hard one, I am worried for my basket next week!

So the final product from the basket was an entire 3 course meal.  We started out with a duo of asparagus appetizers, panko crusted asparagus and procuitto, brie, & coconut oil sautéed asparagus on a crustini.

Next was a herb marinated wild duck, killed by the cook himself, with bbq'd broccoli topped with a pepper jack cheese sauce.

Finally we closed out the night with grilled peaches and pears, topped with crushed jolly ranchers and licqurer which caramelized on the top of the fruit.

Scott mentioned many times he loved how this challenge has taken him out of his comfort zone and him and Jessica created some delicious treats.  While the appetizers were tasty, the duck cooked perfectly and tender, my favorite of the night was the grilled peaches.  The jolly ranchers added a playful aspect as each of the different flavors triggered throughout each bite and complemented the juicy peach.

BBQ on Fire!

David to the rescue!

Sorry it took so long to post this... next post... Andrew and My Basket! 

2nd Time is a Charm: Home Made Sausage

 This guy is awesome and he knows how to cook, and cook well.  I am trying out this paleo/REAL FOOD thing, I mean not exclusive, but most of the time and I have found some great recipes.  Two of them from Mark's Daily Apple through Today's Letters, one of my favorite blogs. 

I initially thought making home made sausage was easy, I would just grind any meat, add spices here, add spices there and it would turn out right... oh man was I wrong and I made the nastiest chicken sausage.  I made almost 3lbs and threw it all out, it was that bad! So Attempt #2 was about to happen and I was going to look at a recipe.

AMAZING NEWS, it worked and it was sooooo goood!!!!  I think a few keys to my success were chicken thighs not breasts, don't forget the red wine vinegar, and don't use too much garlic.  Here is how I made my Home Made Fresh Herb Sausage and Sausage & Egg Casserole. 

Fresh Herb Sausage

• 2 pounds of raw chicken thigh meat, cut into 1-inch chunks (include all fat)
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or red wine

Read More: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-make-homemade-sausage/#axzz1x4aI8qJQ 

 

 

Sausage & Egg Breakfast Bites

• 1 12oz bag of spinach
• 1/2 of the Fresh Herb Sausage above. 
• 8-10 eggs
• Salt & Pepper

Read More: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/sausage-egg-breakfast-bites/#axzz1x4aI8qJQ

What's for dinner?

Zucchini Spaghetti with Tomato Basil Ground Beef

Simple, tasty, delicious and REAL FOOD!

Smoothies are the new black!

Summer is almost here and getting in shape is a must.  I have been very good at working out, Pilates at least 4 days a week, plus a little running and cycle here and there, but it isn't doing the job.  Most people say 80% of weight loss is your diet.  So I guess eating bone marrow, pizzas, cupcakes, croissants, and fried fish isn't helping me get ready for beach wear! So bring on the smoothie!

Now this isn't the smoothie you pick up at one of those places that could be filled with sugar, this is made right at home, and it is simple, quick, cheap, and easy! 

Banana Coconut Green Smoothie

1 frozen banana

2-4 cups of fresh spinach

1/4-1/2 cup of light canned coconut milk

1/4-1/2 cup of water

Place all into a blender. 

Blend until completely smooth.  

Viola!  Drinking 4 cups of spinach in a delicious smoothie is much easier than eating it!   

  

Chopped: Secret Basket #1

Now that summer has arrived, we decided our weekly dinners needed an extra special twist: a Secret Basket.  I call this Chopped!

Now, there is no competition other than pleasing the mouths and bellies of those who are being fed, but the reason we call it Chopped is because of the secret ingredient basket. The weekly host must have their pantry filled to accompany any surprise in the basket. Then the night before, the basket will be delivered, and the thinking begins.  They have 24 hours to come up with a great dish using all of the secret ingredients.

Henwood, Kelley, Pilato, and Clark Household kicks off our Chopped Series of weekly dinners.

Surprise! Here are your secret ingredients:

• Bourbon
• Strawberries
• Pork Chops
• Puff Rice Cereal

The Judges Panel: 

After a whole day of thinking, planning and cooking, the household of David, Jojo, Jack, Sudds, and Kyndal delivered a beautifully creative and tasty dish.

As fierce competitors they wanted to do something different, out of the box, and unexpected and that they did.

Sudds will share what they have made. 

The plate: A bourbon marinated grilled pork chop sandwich in Rice Crispy toast topped with an strawberry, bourbon apple sauce.  Sides with a mixed green salad and roasted potatoes. 

Another look into the Strawberry, bourbon apple sauce.  Very creative.