PrimalMama

Roasted Leg of Lamb with Herbs and Garlic

2010-11-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

This is another one of those dishes that smells so good when it is cooking that you almost need to leave the house. This recipe can be found in Mark Sisson's cookbook, and is a go-to dish for those cold winter evenings. I added carrots to the dish, but next time I will add some onion.

Pizza with Coconut Flour Crust

2010-10-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

This is by far the closest thing to a regular flour crust. It was tasty, it had the right texture, and I could actually eat the pizza with my hands. The only thing I would do differently next time is decrease the amount of coconut flour and add in its place some flax seed meal. I highly recommend you give this one a try!

Herbed Gluten Free Coconut Flour Pizza Crust

Zucchini Egg Bake

2010-09-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

This was yet another great dish from Mark Sisson's cookbook. Hot Italian sausage, zucchini, egg, Parmesan cheese, and spices blended together to create a yummy and very fulfilling meal.

A Thing of Beauty

2010-09-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

A 2.5 pound leg of lamb, roasted in the oven with fresh herbs and mushrooms, doesn't last long in our house. This was a beautiful and very tasty dish.

Coconut Chicken with Cauliflower

2010-09-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

I have yet to make anything from this recipe book that wasn't lip smackin' good (give me a break, I'm from TX). You can't go wrong with coconut oil, coconut milk, and a bouquet of incredibly aromatic spices.

Primal Jambalaya

2010-09-09T21:42:00.000-07:00

I've never really liked jambalaya. My husband eventually convinced me to make this Primal version of the classic dish. I absolutely loved it. With spicy sausage, shrimp, onions, peppers, and chopped up cauliflower as the "rice" (one of the better Primal Substitutes for non-Primal foods), it was even better than the real thing.

Veal Chops Braised with Herbs

2010-09-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

I cannot say enough about this delicious dish. Veal chop cooked to perfection with a sauce of shallots, onions, beef stock, herbs, and cream would make anybody's mouth water. I paired the chops with haricot verts (green beans) with a lemon butter sauce and fresh parsley. This dish is another wonderful creation by Julia Child.

Côtes de veau aux herbes (veal chops braised with herbs)

Paleo Crackers

2010-09-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

These are loaded with seasonings like oregano, rosemary, thyme, and Parmesan cheese. They are real crackers that can be eaten alone or topped with some kind of spread or cheese. My 4 year old actually preferred these over regular store bought crackers.

Primal Enchiladas

2010-09-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

This is one of my most ambitious dishes (trying saying that 5 times fast). Making crepes out of egg whites was a bit difficult. The first two I made were a complete mess. The filling was delicious and the egg "tortillas" actually held the filling quite well. It tasted like real enchiladas!

Turkey Kebabs

2010-08-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

These were quite yummy, and would be great paired with some Taramosalata, tahini, or a cucumber and yogurt sauce. My 1 1/2 year old didn't care for the texture but my 4 year old asked for seconds. Grilled and sprinkled with some fresh lemon juice, this is a go-to dish for those nights when I'm not sure what to make for dinner.

Pulled Pork Shoulder With Homemade BBQ Sauce

2010-08-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

When slow-cooked for 8 hours, the meat on a 4 pound pork shoulder just falls off the bone. It was absolutely delicious paired with homemade BBQ sauce and sweet potato fries. We all had seconds.

Protein Style Gerber Style

2010-08-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

We don't have In-N-Out Burger in Washington (unfortunately!), so we have to make our favorite style of burger at home. Topped with Cambozola cheese, caramelized onions, and wrapped in lettuce this burger is even better than the original.

Panfried Halibut Fillets with Hot Sherry Vinegar and Herb Vinaigrette

2010-08-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is a great example of a quick and lively sauce for any firm-fleshed fillet. I threw in some onion and garlic to add more complexity to the dish and then deglazed the pan with good-quality wine vinegar.

Flax Seed Focaccia Bread

2010-08-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have always loved peanut butter and honey sandwiches. But now that I am on a low-carb diet, I can no longer enjoy them....or can I? This flax seed bread works very well for transporting any kind of spread, meats, cheeses, or anything else you may want to put on a sammie. Instead of eating a PB&H, I occasionally enjoy an AB&H (almond butter and honey) on flax seed bread. My 4 year old even requests this bread over regular bread.

Flax seed Focaccia Bread

Primal Greek Chicken

2010-08-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

This Greek chicken dish, courtesy of Jenn Casey, has a wonderful tang to it. It is loaded with lemon, olives, feta cheese, and baked in the oven until crispy. I served it with a side of sauteed spinach (with lots of butter and garlic). Again, we had no leftovers.

Baked Cauliflower With Lemon Mustard Dressing

2010-08-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

As someone who has never liked cauliflower, I was amazed at how good this was. I couldn't help but have thirds! This recipe came from Mark Sisson's cookbook. You could even make this without the hazelnuts and it would still be great.

Zucchini Bake

2010-08-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

I thinly sliced the zucchini with a mandoline (remember to use the guard!), then sprinkled it with salt and pepper, and sauteed it in a bit of olive oil. I then layered it with mozzarella, parmesan, and bolognese. After about 5 minutes under the broiler, the cheese was brown and bubbly. I thought, with this much food, we would have lots of leftovers. I was wrong! :-)

Moroccan Salmon and Broccoli with Beurre au Citron (Lemon Butter Sauce)

2010-08-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

Moroccan salmon, coated with aromatic spices like cardamom, fennel, and cumin is unbelievably scrumptious. I paired with steamed broccoli, with beurre au citron (lemon butter sauce from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking) drizzled all over it. It was rich and delicious. The whole family devoured it!

Bison Chili and Cheese Omelet with Duck Eggs

2010-07-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Fresh-off-the-farm duck eggs are much more flavorful and rich than chicken eggs. I made this omelet with leftover bison chili and Colby-jack cheese, and topped it with avocado slices and fresh cilantro. It tasted very much like an enchilada.

Bison Chili

2010-07-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

Tender bison, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and lots of spice. This chili, which comes straight from the Primal Blueprint cookbook, was delicious with a dollop of sour cream, sliced avocado, and fresh cilantro. My four-year-old even loved it. Yummy!

It's Official....I've Gone Primal

2010-07-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Like many before me, I was skeptical about the Primal lifestyle. We know a few people who have embraced the Primal/Paleo lifestyle, but it wasn't something we had considered as a lifestyle we could or wanted to adopt. Then, one day, my husband decided to do a little research by purchasing Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint. By the time he was one-third of the way through the book, he was convinced it was something he wanted to try. I, however, remained skeptical. About a week or so into it, I noticed that his once snug jeans were now loose. This changed things a bit. I decided there was no way I was going to let my husband lose weight while I plateaued. I still have seven to ten pounds of baby weight to lose from having my second child, and I have high hopes that modifying my diet by eliminating all the foods that negatively affect my body will enable me to lose the weight.

Vij's Lamb Popsicles in Fenugreek Curry

2010-07-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite dishes at a restaurant in Vancouver, called Vij's. Vij's is an Indian fusion restaurant in the South Granville district, and I highly recommend you give it a try if you are ever in Vancouver. We found the recipe online, and have recreated it to the best of our ability. It was unbelievably good...exactly as I remember it. It calls for 4 cups of heavy cream which is mixed with this awesome spice called fenugreek. Anything with that much cream has to be good!

Brisket with Carmelized Onions and Sweet Potatoes

2010-07-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Roasted brisket is yummy when paired with mashed sweet potatoes (with salt, pepper, butter, and a bit of heavy cream) and onions caramelized in a red wine sauce. The only thing I would change is the time to cook the brisket. It was a little tough, so next time I would cook it in a crock pot overnight. The sauce was absolutely delicious with all the drippings, about 1/4 cup of red wine, and a bit of beef stock.

Italian Rib Eye with Sun Dried Tomato Topping

2010-07-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

This was an awesome combination of zesty marinade, garlicky tomato topping, and creamy blended peas (aka Nigella Lawson's Mushy Peas) . The kids loved the rib eye (and who wouldn't) and my 4 year old son loved dipping it in the tomato "sauce", which I blended a bit more than the recipe suggested. This worked out well, as my kids would not eat a chunky sauce.

Eggplant Parmesan...Primal Style

2010-02-16T22:31:00.000-08:00

Eggplant that is sauteed in butter and coated with seasoned almond meal tastes so much like its high-carb cousin, that you won't want to prepare it any other way. Cover it with a delicious meat sauce (using grass fed ground beef, of course) and lots of mozzarella, and it will be the best eggplant Parmesan you have ever tasted.

Lamb Meatballs in Blue Cheese Sauce

2010-02-16T22:11:00.000-08:00

Can it get any better than lamb meatballs with blue cheese sauce? Unbelievably yummy, Primal-friendly, and great paired with braised greens.

Kids on a Paleo-Friendly Diet

2010-01-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

I have a 3 1/2 year old son and a 14 month old daughter. My daughter is still to young to be exposed to nuts and is allergic to eggs, so she is unable to be on a paleo diet. However, my son eats paleo-friendly foods about 70% of the time. I don't cook special meals for him, so he eats what we eat when at home. Instead of trying to take things away that he enjoys (and that I enjoy for that matter), I have found paleo-friendly substitutes. Here are some suggestions, based on trial and error in our house:

Substitute almond meal for dishes in which you may have previously used flour (e.g. chicken fingers, fish sticks, eggplant parmesan). You just need to season the almond meal well, as it has a slight sweetness to it.
We make pancakes every weekend. I like to use this recipe http://primalliving.blogspot.com/2009/04/ricks-primal-pancakes.html, and load it with lots of bananas, blueberries, or strawberries. Instead of covering them with maple syrup, you could sweeten some Greek yogurt with a bit of raw honey and put a few dollops of that on top.
This "energy" bar is very tasty (http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-energy-bar-redux). I think tastes a bit like an oatmeal cookie (my favorite). I've added dried cranberries and dried blueberries, but you could also throw in some dark chocolate chips if you are looking for an alternative to serving cookies for a party.
My hubby and I love to eat meat and cheese roll-ups, which we dip in spicy mustard. My son now chooses to eat meat roll-ups this way and refuses bread when I offer to make him a sandwich. My daughter also loves to eat meat this way.
I have made flax bread (recipe found on Mark's Daily Apple), which works well for almond butter and jelly sandwiches or toast and jam.
Instead of spaghetti and meat sauce, I serve spaghetti squash and meat sauce. My son now actually prefers it and no longer asks for pasta.
We all love sweet potato fries, baked in the oven. I have also made parsnip fries.
It's all about the sauce. I love my Julia Childs cookbook. I tend to make sauces from that book for every dinner (unless I am cooking an Indian dish). The best part of eating primal/paleo is all the lovely butter, heavy cream, coconut milk, and coconut oil you get to use. These things make fabulous sauces. My daughter can't get enough of my broccoli or even chard (what?) when it is sauteed and served with a delicious sauce.

I don't pay much attention to BMI with my kids. They are both active and they don't eat processed foods (except for the occasional organic baby food and Cheerios). It is harder when they are very young. But both my kids seem to want to eat what my husband and I are eating. So, unless we are out at a restaurant, I just give them what is in the house (which is mostly paleo-friendly).

Low Carb Lemon Lavender Cheesecake

2010-01-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite flavor combinations is lemon and lavender. And I love cheesecake. When a friend told me about a low carb cheesecake, I immediately thought how fabulous it would taste with my favorite flavor combination. Topped with some fresh berries, it was creamy and delicious.

Lemon lavender cheesecake

Fresh out of the oven

Guinness Shepherd's Pie - The Perfect Comfort Food For Fall

2009-10-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

We all love comfort food, especially when it is chilly outside. Shepherd's Pie has always been one of our favorites. We found a recipe for it, which used pureed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes (something I do often) and used coconut flour as a thickening agent. The only changes I made to the recipe were excluding the peas and adding Guinness. It was awesome. I felt sorry for my 11 month old daughter who had to watch the three of us chow down on this delicious meal when she had to eat her baby food. At least it will only be a few months until she's able (and willing) to eat it.

You can have grilled cheese

2009-10-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

My husband found a great recipe for bread made with flax seed meal. I haven't had a grilled cheese sandwich (or any kind of sandwich for that matter) in over a month, so I thought it would be worth a shot. The bread turned out well, though it did end up being a touch sweet for savory sandwiches.

It is sort of a pan bread that contains a bit of coconut oil. I think I may try to make the same bread with olive oil instead and see if that removes the sweetness.

It was still nice to be able to have a grilled cheese sandwich, after such a long time. And, my 3 year old loved the bread. I will try this bread with some almond butter and a drizzling of honey. That should be fantastic.

Leeks

2009-10-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have made potato and leek soup in the past, and loved it. But I thought the onion-like texture and taste would turn me off if I tried to eat it by itself (and not pureed until it was unrecognizable). I took the plunge and tried it last night. I first boiled them in vegetable stock, and then sauteed them in some butter, salt, and pepper.

Thinking I might have a gag reflex, I closed my eyes and took a bite......it was great! I am no longer afraid of the mighty leek.

A Dish With A Lot of Sole

2009-10-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love sole. As a friend once put it, you can wrap it around shrimp, put crab on top of it, or just drizzle a butter sauce on it and you don't even have to set the table....yummy!

Sole with beurre noir-beurre noisette (brown butter sauce), spicy collard greens, and parsnips.

Hearty Breakfast

2009-10-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Aged Gouda tastes good in just about everything. I especially like it in egg dishes.

Scrambled eggs with aged Gouda, bacon, and tomatoes.

Who Needs Pasta?

2009-10-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

I think zucchini works better in this dish than eggplant, especially when the zucchini is first caramelized a bit in the oven. I just slice it lengthwise, using my mandoline, drizzle it with a bit of olive oil and put it under the broiler for a few minutes. Then layer it as though it were pasta, with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite meat sauce.

Who needs pasta?

Turnips

2009-10-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

I took the plunge and made an Indian turnip dish. The sauce was great, and I really wanted to like the turnips. However, I just couldn't get past the underlying taste. I can't really put my finger on it, but unless I find a way to cook that flavor out of a turnip I don't think I can eat them again.

Animal Style Protein Style

2009-10-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made buffalo bacon cheese burgers which were wrapped in lettuce, and accompanied by parsnip fries. It was absolutely delicious! It wasn't exactly the same as In-n-Out Burgers, but it was close.

Sugar High

2009-10-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

We attended two children's birthday parties this week. At the first party I was able to stick to my Primal diet and stay away from the chocolate ice cream cake. At the second party, however, I was unable to avoid the homemade chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream which was made by a very good friend of mine (who happens to be an excellent baker). I was amazed at how quickly and strongly I felt the sugar high and how hard I crashed. I felt awful and had a terrible headache. I have only been on this diet for 3 weeks, but obviously my body has already gotten used to it. Next time I will only take a few bites.

Stir Fry Sans the Soy Sauce

2009-10-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Stir Fry with Shrimp

I sort of threw the kitchen sink in on this one. It was a yummy concoction that I hope I can replicate. And it contains absolutely no soy sauce!

Tis The Season

2009-10-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

Paleo Pumpkin Pancakes

I can't resist anything made with pumpkin, especially in the fall and when it is covered with bananas and honey and is accompanied by a side of bacon (or two or three sides of bacon). These pumpkin pancakes were delicious.

Fish and "Potatoes"

2009-10-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Halibut Steak with Mashed Cauliflower and Garlic Aioli

Even your toddler won't realize he's not eating real potatoes!

A Northwest Favorite

2009-09-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

Salmon with sauteed broccoli and wild rice.

Wild rice is not totally Primal, but it is a better option than regular rice. All really good salmon needs is some salt, pepper, and a little bit of dill. Saute it in butter, and you are good to go.

Breakfast of Champions

2009-09-30T23:05:00.000-07:00

Omelette with bacon, cheese, tomato, and avocado.

This protein and fat packed breakfast keeps me going all morning...that and a cup o' joe.

I Can Have Pizza?

2009-09-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

Primal Pizza

Despite the crust being a bit crumbly, due to the almond flour, the pizza was pretty good. I actually like Meatza better, and I don't miss the bread at all. I particularly like it when the meat crust tastes like a giant meatball.