How To Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

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I know, making hard boiled eggs is a super simple thing to do, right?  Wrong!  I've seen all kinds of ugly, smelly, gray colored hard boiled eggs with powdery yolks.  There's a right way and a wrong way to do this...trust me.  If you follow these steps, you'll get happy, pretty, bright-yellow yolks like the ones I made above;) You'll need:

• A dozen large eggs (or less if you want) preferably ones that are at least a week old so the shells come off easily.
• 6-8 cups cold water, enough to cover the eggs by 1 inch.
• 1 teaspoon baking soda also makes them easier to peel.

Directions:

• Put the eggs in a large pot in a single layer and add the water and baking soda.  Again, make sure the eggs are at least 1 inch below the water level.
• Turn the heat to high on the stove and bring to a boil.  As soon as the water comes to a boil, set a timer for 1 minute.  When the minute's up, move the pot off the heat, cover with a lid and set a timer for 10 minutes, letting the eggs sit in the hot water.
• While you're waiting, fill a large bowl with water and ice.  When the timer goes off, transfer the eggs carefully to the ice bath and leave them in there for 5 minutes.  This will stop them from cooking.  I use a pasta spoon to transfer the eggs...makes it super easy;)
• After 5 minutes, take the eggs out and tap against the counter to crack them.  Start peeling them from he bottom where you poked the hole.  The shells should come off easily.

Hard boiled eggs can be kept in the fridge for up to a week!  I hope you enjoy these perfectly cooked eggs for all kinds of recipes and ready-made healthy snacking!

How to make simple Deviled Eggs... my husband's favorite.

Whole30 Day 15

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Happy Whole30 Day 15!  We are halfway through this Whole30 Challenge!  I wanted to check in and tell you my experiences so far...because most of my Whole30 updates take place over on Instagram and Facebook... First of all, I feel like I've had a pretty easy time sticking to the Whole30 "rules".  I think this is because I've been following a Paleo lifestyle, for the most part, for almost a year now.  The Whole30 just takes Paleo up a notch and is more strict.  I've never given up all sugar before...even raw honey.  No "paleo-friendly" treats allowed.  No alcohol, not even in cooking, is new for me too.  For those of you who know me....I love my champagne!  :)

I've heard some people are not having such an easy time.  Headaches, fatigue, crankiness...oh my!  These are the people that I believe will get such tremendous benefit from the Whole30...because they really need to detox a lot of sugar and toxins from the body.  Some are so unhealthy when they start, they have to continue a bit longer to really appreciate the full results, with a Whole45 or Whole60 for example.

This program is about kicking the sugar demon to the curb!  It's about reseting and learning to listen to your body.  Ultimately, it's about creating optimum health for a lifetime.  Here are the things that have been noticeable for me thus far...

• I am taking my cooking skills up a notch!  I'm cooking a lot and enjoying trying new dishes, new spices, and realizing healthy food can taste even better than I'd thought before.
• Healthy foods taste great.  Fruits and avocados are sweeter...I can taste flavors more.
• I'm sleeping way better.  I fall asleep quickly and wake up rested.
• I have consistent energy throughout the entire day.  I don't ever get tired, I feel alert and focused.
• My stomach is FLAT.
• My face looks less "puffy" and I can see my cheekbones again;)
• I can feel my entire body is less inflamed.  I don't have that "layer" that I would sometimes feel around my midsection, upper back and arms.
• I'm in a good mood every day.
• Asking myself, "Is this food going to make me healthier...or unhealthier" is all I need to make the right decisions wherever I go.
• I have no digestive distress.
• I don't eat emotionally or mindlessly.  I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full.
• I'm not craving sugar or alcohol...or any kind of treats.
• My skin and hair look healthier.
• I'm gaining confidence knowing what I can accomplish and knowing I'm feeding my body real nutrition.
• I've made new friends through social media and feel a sense of "community" with others who are doing it also.

You will notice I did not put weight loss on my list.  This is because I have no idea!  One of the rules of the Whole30 is no scales for 30 days.  You learn to gage your body by how it feels...not by a number.  Genius.

I feel like I could go on and on.  I saw a post on Instagram yesterday that was so wonderful.  It was a post from a mom who started feeding her young son Whole30 approved foods for 30 days to see what it could do to help his severe eczema on the back of his legs.  She had tried lotions and potions to no avail.  She posted a before and after picture of the dramatic improvement AFTER ONLY TWO DAYS and how she is so grateful to be able to heal her son with nutrition.  It's stories like that that are so inspiring because some of us don't have that level of evidence that is so profound that nutrition can actually heal you.  

I'd love to hear about YOUR experiences on the Whole30!...please feel free to share!

I will check in again on Day 30 to tell you all about my full Whole30 experience!  Happy Whole30-ing!  :)

Check out the following links for other posts of mine about the Whole30:

My Whole30 Challenge

30 Reasons to Whole30

Whole30 Day 1

Whole30 Week 1 Meal Plan

30 Reasons To Whole30

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I came across this list of 30 Reasons to Whole30 in Well Fed Paleo Recipes and I wanted to share it with those of you who aren't familiar with the Whole30 Program.  These are in no particular order and of course, not everyone's experiences are the same.  These are the most common things you will encounter on the Whole30...

1. You'll sleep longer and more soundly.
2. You'll enjoy consistent energy.
3. You'll wake up feeling optimistic and alert.
4. You'll say goodbye to digestive distress.
5. YOU'LL BE HAPPIER.  :)
6. You'll be more peaceful.
7. You'll be more clear-headed.
8. You'll drink more water.
9. You'll eat more vegetables.
10. You'll feel the difference between emotional appetite and real hunger.
11. You'll savor your food more.
12. You'll find new favorite foods.
13. You'll have fun experimenting in the kitchen.
14. You'll become more organized.
15. You'll know true "willpower".
16. You'll learn about yourself.
17. You'll slay the sugar demon.
18. You'll make new friends.
19. You'll positively influence others.
20. You'll learn more about how your body works.
21. Your skin will be brighter.
22. Your hair will be shinier.
23. Your tummy will be flatter.
24. Your workouts will feel invigorating.
25. You might get a personal record (sleep + water + veggies + fat + protein + no sugar = a physically stronger, faster you).
26. You'll feel accomplished (or maybe even smug).
27. You might lose weight or gain muscle, or both.
28. Food will become both more important and less important.
29. Your body image will improve.
30. You'll stop dieting and just eat.

-Here is a link to Melissa Joulwan's original post 30 Reasons to Whole30

Want to learn more about my Whole30 Challenge?  You could change your life in just 30 days!  I'm on Day 14 and I woke up SO happy and energized today because I slept like a baby last night.  I didn't wake up once.  Sometimes you don't realize you haven't been sleeping well...until you do.  Removing foods that cause inflammation in the body has felt amazing... I'm enjoying seeing the return of my cheekbones too;)  I'm honestly starting to encounter most of the things on this list and I'm not even halfway through.  I think everyone should give the Whole30 a try to start healing their body from the inside, with nutrition.  Are you ready to find out just how great your body was designed to feel?

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have!  I'm here to be your support system, motivate you and give you tough love if you need it...because there's no room for slips, cheats or excuses on the Whole30!  If I can do it...you can do it.

For an incredibly moving story about how the Whole30 has changed one small boy's life....read my blog post on Caleb's Story here.

Cinnamon Beef Stew

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This Cinnamon Beef Stew from Well Fed Paleo Recipes is hands down the best stew I've ever had.  Period.  I could cut the pieces of meat with a spoon...'Nuf said.

It's not a "quick and easy" recipe...but well worth the time.  Your family will think you're a superstar;)

Ingredients:  

• 2-3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and finely diced (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 medium celery stock, finely diced (about 1/4 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 3-5 cups water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
• 1 sprig fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
• 1 sprig fresh sage (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• extra-virgin olive oil, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Sprinkle the beef generously with salt and pepper.  In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the coconut oil over medium high heat, then brown the meat in batches, searing on all sides.  Don't crowd the pan.  Remove the meat to a bowl as it is browned and repeat with the rest of the cubes.

In the same pot, saute the chopped carrot, onion, celery, and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, about 1 minute.  I love that I discovered tomato paste in a tube...so much more user friendly than canned! :)  I'm a little confused about it saying "double concentrate" though.  I just used it 1 : 1.  Anybody know??...

Add the broth and vinegar, then stir with passion, scraping up all the wonderful brown bits at the bottom.

Put the meat and it's drippings back into the pot.  Add 3 cups of water, 2 teaspoons salt, a healthy dose of pepper, the bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, sage, and cinnamon sticks.  Whew....the hard part's over.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer with the pot partially covered, for 90 minutes.  If it starts to dry out (mine did not), add water, 1/2 cup at a time.  Simmer until the meat is very tender and the liquid in the pan has been reduced to gravy-like status.  (Mine took longer than 90 minutes for this to happen, just so you know.)

Remove the cinnamon sticks and herb stems from the stew pot.  Ladle into deep bowls and add a light drizzle of olive oil, if you like;)  This Cinnamon Beef Stew is  delicious when it's made...but just gets better on Day 2...Day 3... & Day 4!  :)  I noticed that the cinnamon taste dissipates the longer it sits.

This is perfect served on top of Cauliflower Rice!  Can you say "comfort food"?  YUM.  What a satisfying Whole30 meal...Enjoy!

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower Rice is such a great Paleo "staple"...who needs grains when you can make this easy healthy alternative?  It's honestly really delicious, my husband loved it.

Ingredients:

• 1 large head fresh cauliflower
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 tablespoon coconut oil or ghee
• 1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Break the cauliflower into florets, removing the stems.  Place them in a food processor bowl and pulse until the cauliflower looks like rice.  This takes about 10-15 one-second pulses.  You may need to do this in two batches to avoid overcrowding (which leads to mush).  Here's mine...

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes.  Add 1 tablespoon of the cooking fat (I used ghee for this part) and allow to melt.  Toss the onion and garlic into the pan, stir with a wooden spoon to coat with fat, then cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.

Push the onions to the side of the pan and add the remaining 1 tablespoon fat (I used coconut oil for this part).  Add the riced cauliflower to the pan and saute until the cauliflower is tender, about 7-10 minutes.  Try a bite, then season with plenty of salt and a hint of pepper.

If you need to keep it warm, cook it in a cast iron skillet, then put it in a 350 degree F oven....it will even brown a little on top.  :)  It's easy to turn this into a Cilantro Lime "rice" by adding fresh lime juice, lime zest and some chopped cilantro!

I have been hearing about Cauliflower Rice for a long time now, but hadn't tried it until being on the Whole30 Challenge.  I'm so glad I did...I will be making this often as a replacement for grains!  :)

This cauliflower rice was perfect with Cinnamon Beef Stew (above).  It would also be excellent served with My Chili.

-This recipe is from Well Fed Paleo Recipes Magazine Vol. 1.  I highly recommend this magazine/cookbook...it's fantastic!  If you see it in Whole Foods or Sprouts...grab one, you won't regret it!  They're by the check stands;)

Homemade Mayo

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When I first started making homemade mayo, I made it in a blender with the "drizzle the oil slowly" method that was kinda involved... and kinda a mess.

After having my blender mayo "break" a couple of times...I was ready to try something different.  I decided to switch to the Immersion Blender or "stick blender" method and I've never looked back.  It's SO much easier.  ("break" means when the mayo doesn't emulsify and you end up with a salad dressing consistency...which you can still use for dressings, etc...but it sucks when that happens.  It makes me sad.)

So, I decided to try an inexpensive one... KitchenAid Immersion Blender, stainless steel, and it came with a BPA free mixing container with lid...perfect for mixing and storing!  They have this stick blender in Tiffany Blue and other fun colors!  Tempting, but I went with the stainless color.

Basic EASY Mayo Recipe:  seriously, so easy.

• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (I like to use 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar because I like that tangy taste best with that combo)
• a big pinch of salt
• 1 cup light-tasting olive oil - this is KEY.  (I use Bel'Olio extra-light tasting olive oil...I find it in large containers at Costco)  You can also use avocado oil if you like.

Place all of the ingredients in a mason jar or a container similarly shaped that just fits the head of the immersion blender.  The pint jars with lids at Sprouts by the bulk bins works perfect!  Wait just a moment for the egg to settle on the bottom, beneath the oil.  Place the stick blender all the way in the bottom, over the egg, and turn on.  If there are two speeds, choose high.  Don't move it, leave it there for about 20 seconds...the magic starts to happen immediately!  When the emulsified mayo starts reaching the top, start to raise the blender slowly toward the top, without lifting it out!  Once it looks like mayo...now you can move it up and down a bit to make sure the oil is completely mixed.  That's it!  No drizzling, no room-temp anything...easy peasy!!  Look at how perfect it turns out...the perfect consistency.  And it's made with healthy fats, not Soybean Oil and all the other crap in store-bought mayonnaise!  :)

To turn it into pesto mayo...after making the basic recipe, add 1 cup fresh basil leaves and 2-3 large cloves of garlic.  Mix again until combined.  To turn it into spicy mayo, add a little hot sauce and blend.  To turn it into chipotle mayo, add some chipotle spice or paprika!  To turn it into tartar sauce, add some fresh dill, diced pickles and extra lemon (i leave out the pickles because I don't do pickles.)  You can use this as a base for all kinds of dips, sauces and dressings.

Check out my video of me making my Mayo!  I sent this video to my June Whole30-ers...

Don't have a stick blender?  That's ok!  Check out my other post on how to make it in a blender!  But take it from me, getting a stick blender, even just for this purpose is totally worth it.  The link to the exact one I have is in the beginning of this post.

To get some of my FREE favorite Paleo Recipes delivered straight to your inbox, sign up HERE!  They include this Mayo recipe and how to use it in other recipes;)