Zucchini Sticks - gone Paleo!

Who doesn't love Zucchini Sticks?!  Especially dipped in Ranch Dressing?!  Regularly they are all smothered in breadcrumbs, they leave your fingers all greasy with nasty oils and the ranch is full of dairy.  Maybe they taste good, but they don't make us feel good.  They can leave us feeling bloated and guilty rather than how we should feel after eating veggies!

That's what I love about Paleo.  You can tweak your old favorites and make them healthy... actually tastier.  I must admit, I ate a bunch of these when I first had them, they are delicious....better than the regular variety.  Better, because they didn't leave me with a belly ache!

You will need:

• Zucchini - cut into "sticks" - how many depends on how many people you have and the size of zucchini, so adjust
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup goat milk
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• sea salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• Cheese, grated - I like to use Sheep milk Pecorino Romano, it has a "parmesan" flavor (I find it at Trader Joe's)
• raw Sesame seeds

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees (or 400 if you use convection).  Grease a baking sheet with garlic olive oil.

Cut your zucchini into stick size, depending on the size, I cut it in half lengthwise, then quarters, then shorten them into sticks.

Mix the eggs, goat milk, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl.  Mix in the zucchini sticks and soak.  I like making them up to this point ahead of time, putting the mixture in a ziploc, so they're ready to go...just flip the bag over every once in a while to coat evenly.

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Prepare a shallow dish with equal parts grated cheese and sesame seeds.  Add a little salt and pepper.  Mix well.

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Roll the wet zucchini in the dry mixture, one by one, coating well.  Place them on the baking sheet.  When they are all coated, bake them until crunchy and golden brown, about 20 minutes...keep an eye on them.  The bottoms turn out with this crunchy goodness...YUM!

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Thanks to my friend Liz and her dad Larry for sharing this recipe with me!!  I was so happy to hear that Larry is now living the Paleo Lifestyle for health reasons.  He's always been such an amazing cook and he's making some delicious Paleo recipes!  He has dropped weight and is off of his cholesterol medication...his cholesterol is lower now than it was when he was on the medication.  He's letting 'food be thy medicine'!  Way to go!  I LOVE hearing stories like this!

Ranch Dressing - Dairy Free!

This is a delicious dairy free ranch dressing!  My stepson and I were just talking last week about how good a GOOD ranch dressing tastes.  We are picky about our ranch dressing!!  I used to eat it on everything from fries to pizza...I thought ranch dressing was a thing of the past...NOT!  Since going Paleo I hadn't tried a dairy free variety, but my friend made this at her house and it was DELICIOUS.  I'm so happy to have found this recipe!

Here's what you'll need...

• 1 cup homemade mayonnaise
• 1  1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 7  1/2 Tablespoons goat milk
• 1 teaspoon fresh chives, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 2-3 teaspoons minced garlic from jar (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions...

1. Mix the lemon juice and goat milk and let it sit for 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice and goat milk mixture, chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

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This is a great alternative to regular ranch dressing for dressing and dip!  You may want to double this recipe;)

AMAZING with Zucchini Sticks - gone Paleo...actually it's a must.  :)

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-if you like my small carafe container in the picture at the top, I got it at Crate and Barrel.  It's glass, the perfect size for 1 batch of this dressing, has a pour spout and a glass lid that just "sets" on top.  Plus...it's pretty;)

This is my Happy Hour...

No, not that "Happy Hour".... I'm talking about EXERCISE!  I have really grown to love going to the gym!  I was an "at home" workout girl until very recently and I have to say...I'm converted!  You know why?  I actually leave there happier than when I arrived!

I had to get over the SORENESS hump though!  After my first workout, I literally had trouble walking for about four days!  Seriously.  My legs felt broken.  That's the difference with this gym...I haven't pushed myself this hard before and I thought I had!  After that, I wondered if this was for me....I was also a little afraid of exercising in this kind of environment since it was new to me.  I didn't make me feel comfortable.

I admit, I considered giving up...but I went again...and again...and again...and again...and again.  And now I'm hooked!  I've gotten used to how the classes work and the way the instructors teach and it's really fun!  It's hard, but it's fun!  I've worked my way up from the beginner class to the FIT class and it's harder, but I can do it.  Everyone struggles.  It feels really good to sweat, get stronger and feel healthier!  I'm going about 3 times a week and I'm still sore after, but not like those first couple classes!  People are really friendly too....I was a little lost the first time I went to the FIT class and another woman totally jumped in and helped me get through all the circuits, explaining so much as we went!  I thought that was really cool of her.  She said something that really resonated with me.  She said, "I know there are always people faster than me in this class and people that are slower than me in this class, just do your best, it's your workout."

I've never felt that comfortable in a gym environment, maybe because I didn't play sports and I'm pretty shy...so this type of group circuit class was intimidating for me to try.  Especially with the classes being men and women.  But I know that overcoming that and trying something new is how we grow.  Each class is getting easier for me in more ways than one.  I feel stronger, but I also feel more confident, knowing that I'm trying and accomplishing something new that was a little scary for me.  That's where the happiness comes in.  Doing something like this, getting out of our comfort zones....which for me was my "living room" gym...is so good for us!  I think another fear that some women have about working out hard is that they'll get big.  This just isn't true.  Unless you really try to get big muscles, you just won't.  It's a misconception.

Is there anything you can think of that you've been wanting to try, but are scared?  What would YOU do if you weren't afraid?  I'm realizing that many people there probably felt just like I did!  Once you overcome a fear, it no longer has any power over you.

Overcoming a fear makes you feel so free and happy.  I now look forward to my "happy hour" 3 times a week!

"F-E-A-R has two meanings:  'Forget Everything And Run'  or  'Face Everything And Rise'.  The choice is yours."  ~Zig Ziglar

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

These are seriously tasty and very healthy!  Impress your friends with this delicious and beautifully presented dish.... and it's SO easy and can be made ahead of time!

Trust me, this serves 4, but you'll want to double the recipe!  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

You will need:

• 2 medium zucchini
• 3/4 grass-fed ground beef (ground turkey, or any quality ground meat will work)
• 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
• 1/2 cup sweet red peppers, chopped
• 1/2 cup green peppers, chopped
• 1 cup of raw cheese or goat cheese, shredded (today I used a mixture of goat cheddar and sheep Pecorino Romano which is kind of salty like parmesan...I used to only find it at Whole Foods and now they have it at Trader Joe's!)
• 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste - if you make your own, great, otherwise get a good organic canned one.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Wash the zucchini and trim the ends off.  Cut them in half, lengthwise.  Scoop out the pulp, leaving 1/2 inch shell.  I use a sharp spoon because it fits perfectly...keep the pulp!

Butter or grease a baking dish - 8 x 8  or  9 x 13 depending on how many you're making.  I love this coconut oil spray...

Place the zucchini shells in the dish...

Finely chop the pulp from the zucchini.  Brown the meat in a skillet along with the pulp, onion, mushrooms and peppers until browned.  Drain the fat.  Remove from the heat.  Add 1/2 cup cheese and the tomato paste, sea salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Spoon the mixture into the zucchini shells, packing it in each one and then adding the remainder over the top...it's okay if the filling covers the shells...the extra is good!!  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.  Try to keep the boats upright when serving;)  It can be a little tricky, if you need to, cut them in half and they'll be easier to serve.  Enjoy!!

Oh, by the way....I've made these stuffed zucchini without the cheese and I must admit, with this one....cheese makes it SO much better, so go for it!  :)

"Frenchie Friday" - Stella's going Paleo!

Happy Frenchie Friday!  "Stella" was out of food so I went to PETCO this morning to get her usual food that she's been eating for quite some time...Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed.  She loves it.  I have to feed her small kibbles because she has a megaesophgus so this is perfect.  As I was picking up her bag...I noticed this new one next to it.  Same exact food, but Grain-Free!  I thought to myself, I'm not eating grains anymore and am feeling SO MUCH BETTER....why not try this for my "Stella"!?  Dogs shouldn't be eating grains anyway!  I learned from my years as a Registered Veterinary Nurse how important it is to feed pets a high quality food.  Feeding a "grocery store", low quality food is the equivalent of us eating McDonalds on a daily basis!

There are so many good, quality dog foods out there today...there weren't very many when I started working in the veterinary field 20 something years ago!  In learning how grains can wreak havoc on our brains and bodies...I'm happy to eliminate it from my dog's diet too!!  Once I got the bag home, I noticed it even has a picture of a Frenchie on it!!

Of course I had to pick her up a couple new toys while I was there...she loves getting new toys.  I got her the pig in the picture above, because it looked like her "mini me"....and an ALIEN!  I feel like if she could talk in this photo....she'd be saying "Don't worry mama, I've got this, he's not getting away."......

So, it's official, "Stella" is now Paleo too!  :)  Big hugs from mama....wishing you a Happy, Healthy Frenchie Friday!!!

Homemade Roasted Chili Salsa

I've been making this homemade roasted chili salsa ever since a friend came over and taught me how...about 3 years ago.  It has a special ingredient that makes it taste AMAZING...different than any other salsa I've tried.  It's so easy to make and tastes SO fresh!  It's SPICY, but you can control the heat by how many chilies you think you can handle!  :)

Here's what you'll need...

• 1 15 oz can good quality tomato sauce...I get the "no salt added" one so I can control the salt to taste OR if you have homemade, great!
• Water - 1/2 a can (above)
• White onion - about 1/3 of one
• Juice from 1 lime - if you don't have a juicy lime, you may need more to taste
• Cilantro - about 3/4 of one bunch
• Minced garlic - 2 spoonfuls, again you can adjust to taste
• Sea salt - to taste, I usually end up adding more after tasting it!
• 3-6 Roasted Arbol Chili Pods - secret ingredient!  These can be found in any grocery store in the Mexican food section/spice section

Ok, so the only tricky part of this recipe is getting the chilies roasted.  At first, I tried doing this in the house and it can be a little dangerous!  I'll tell you why...I promise, after you master this step, the rest is easy-peasy!

All you do is put them in a dry pan on med-high heat and roast them until blackened, easy....but here's the catch... you can't breathe in the fumes that come off of them!  These chilies are HOT and if you breath in around these babies while they are on the heat, you will cough....and cough...and cough.  I know this sounds crazy, but trust me on this one.

My friend warned me of this, but I thought...how bad can it be??  That first time wasn't fun, I should've listened.  The next time, I put a handkerchief over my nose and mouth and ran in, checked on them, ran outside.  Held my breath an ran in, turned them, ran outside.  You must think I'm crazy by now, but I'm telling you...this salsa is AWESOME...well worth looking like a crazy burglar running in and out of your house!

Now, I have a better way....I make my husband do it.  Outside.  Bam!  Solution Creator!!!  I just give him the chilies on some tinfoil and he knows what to do!  He throws them on the grill...knows not to breathe deeply while turning them...and brings them to me nicely roasted;)  Being outside makes it way less intense.

I've even roasted extra and stored them in a baggy...works great!!  Once they off the heat, they're safe;)  Pull off the stems like this...

Usually, I use about 5 chilies...I did a couple extra in case I needed them.  Start slow...this salsa is spicy!  Try 3 to start, you can always add more.

Put all of the ingredients from the list above in a blender and mix!

Taste, adjust the salt.  Taste, adjust anything else until it's just right!  Let it sit a while in the fridge before serving it...it gets better and better as all the flavors mingle together for a while...my husband always says that... "It gets better and better!!"

This salsa is my absolute favorite....great on eggs, great as dip, great on tacos!!!  That's what I did with this last batch!!  SO good!

I just made taco meat the way I used to when I ate tortillas....chopped up my extra white onion and cilantro and put it in lettuce cups!  Deliciously Paleo!!  Whenever I've made this salsa for guests, they LOVE it.  Roasting those chilies give it that thing that makes you go Mmmmm.  :)

Also, delicious and satisfying with roasted plantains... they're not sweet like banana chips, salty like chips!!!  Yum!  I hope you try this one...you won't regret it!