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Cooking Without Drama-Paleo Chili

Today I started a Paleo Diet Challenge at my Crossfit Box in an attempt to get healthy and lose weight.  My game plan for the challenge is to plan my meals for the week ahead of time and make sure that I have all the food I need so I don’t veer off plan.

In order to do this, I did some careful grocery shopping, hardboiled eggs, chopped up some veggies, bagged some produce, have some leftover meats in the fridge ready to pair with veggies and I made a batch of this awesome chili for my sweet hubs and I to have for lunches this week, with a couple to toss in the freezer for another week.

I have been making chili for years, but previously my chili always had beans, which is a paleo no no.  It also had sausage which is not necessarily a paleo no-no, but is not permitted for the challenge.

One of the fun things about the Paleo Challenge is that its going to really provide me with cooking challenges and get us out of a rut.  Since I can’t use white potatoes, flour, pasta, beans, grains or dairy, I need to totally rethink my cooking.

So it will be a discovery of new spices.

If you saute the meat and veggies the night before, you can toss this all in the slow cooker in the am and come home to dinner.  Have some sliced avocado with it to cool it down a little,

Paleo Chili (Serves 6)

2 lbs of mixed meat.  (I used chicken breasts, boneless short ribs, and stew meat)

1 Large onion

3 bell peppers (I used a green a red and a yellow)

3 cloves garlic (put through press)

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes and chilis

1 28oz can Crushed Tomatoes

1 6oz can tomato paste

1 Tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 Teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/3 C Chili Powder

2 Tablespoons of Chilis in Adobo

Instructions

1. Sear meat and put in slow cooker

2. Saute onion until slightly browned and translucent, put in slow cooker

3. Saute peppers and garlic until soft, add to slow cooker

4. Add tomatoes and spices, stir.

5. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

This was spicy and delicious.  I made a batch and put some in the freezer for a later date and have some in the fridge for lunches and dinners.  Thank goodness for my slow cooker and all the yumminess it helps me make.

Paleo Without Pity-Day 1

I recently joined a cross fit gym and I am loving it, even though its made me a little angry at myself.  I am loving the workouts and variety, but I am angry because apparently all those years I THOUGHT I was working hard, (and all those times I went through the motions) was a bunch of bullshit.

The gym I go to is having a 3 month Paleo Challenge starting today.  The hubs was on the fence about trying it, but I really wanted to, so we both agreed to do it.

So from today, Monday, March 5, 2011 until Sunday, May 27, 2012 I will be following the Paleo Diet.  This means lots of lean proteins, fresh veggies, some fruit and nuts and no grains, dairy or legumes.  I did have a few ‘farewell’ meals so I could enjoy real pizza, ice cream, pasta, and grilled cheese, but today its a Paleo day.

At some point I’ll post some before pics, but my starting weight is 168.  I’m 5’4″ and that is not good.   I’ll get my body fat tested at my box this week.

I have stocked the fridge and I have planned ahead.  My planned meals for today are:

Breakfast: Spinach/Pineapple Smoothie

Morning Snack: Hard boiled egg

Lunch: Chili

Afternoon snack: Grapes

Dinner: Honey Mustard Pecan Turkey Cutlets, Cajun Sweet Potato Chunks, Roasted Asparagus

Evening Snack: Green tea with Stevia, sugar snap peas

I’ll post some recipes tomorrow.

Lets hope this is the beginning of a wonderful journey.

(Ryan Gosling photo Courtesy of Troll.com)

Going Paleo

I have started doing Crossfit, and while part of me is enjoying it, I have wondered at least once per workout if I need to up my life insurane and update my will, just in case I don’t survive the work out.

As part of the class they are sponsoring a three month Paleo challenge, which my Sweet Husband and I will be taking part of.

I am hoping this will really help me knock off  the fat sweater I am using to keep my abs all nice and cozy.  I am also hoping that I can go without cheese or bread or sugar for the greater part of three months without my freaking out in the bakery and lying on the floor of the artisan bread section of my local Wegmans holding a fresh baked Boule and weeping.

I have to admit a little skepticism about the whole paleo and clean eating and other low carb diets.  I just can’t suspend belief enough to buy into the fact that a simple baked potato is evil, yet I am encouraged to drink protein shakes, which seem to be as much of a science experiment as a tub of cool whip without the deliciousness or creamy texture.

One thing I will be doing for at least the 1st month is to plan out the entire month’s worth of meals and snacks to make sure that I don’t get bored, and that I have the food in the house, do I don’t default to dinner rolls or cereal.  I am debating whether or not to give myself a weekly cheat meal or two, or if I should go totally hardcore for the 1st month.

However, I want to encourage my Sweet Husband and by cutting out breads and sweets we should both be able to lose weight.

Maybe though I should consider some nose plugs for the grocery store to block out the smells of the bakery.

Wish me luck.  Hopefully there will be less of me by the end of May.

Happy Valentine’s Day

I am not one to make much of a fuss for Valentine’s Day. The whole Holiday kind of got ruined for me in High School. Every year some organization would be selling flowers to deliver at homeroom and every year, despite having a boyfriend three out of four years on Valentine’s Day, I would get nothing, while some girls would get tons of flowers.

And while I am married to a man I love more than my I-Phone, we still don’t make a big fuss about Valentine’s Day.  There will be cards and maybe some chocolate, but nothing extravagant.

Most guys claim to not care about Valentine’s Day. Or say that you should show love all year round, or that it is a commercial day designed by Hallmark, Godiva and 1-800-Flowers to part a man from his money.

And honestly most women feel the same way. Valentine’s Day means that its hard to get into a restaurant, and that they are most likely to get underwear that may require a manual to get into.

However, for women there is a competitive spirit to the Holiday that harks back to those High School Flower sales.

Now instead of watching the popular girl in homeroom get tons of carnations you watch the flower parade go by at work. And whether you are single, dating, or married you spend Valentine’s Day either trying to one up the other people at work, or swearing that you don’t care about the Holiday.

Either way you find yourself mildly annoyed by the day, and looking forward to the 15th.  I know I am.

Book Review-Journal Of Best Practices

This was an excellent book. As the mother of a son recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, I have found myself consumed by the following:

1. Learning how to correctly spell Asperger’s without having to look it up;
2. Learn more about the syndrome and finding strategies and best practices to help my son thrive in the demands of a neurotypical world.

David Finch proves himself to be a very likeable subject and I found myself rooting for him, and could easily see my son in parts of Finch.

While I did enjoy the whole book, I found this section alone to be worth the price:

“Prior to my diagnosis, such a revelation would not have been possible. Perhaps that’s what a diagnosis does: it helps you to understand that you have unique operating parameters—unique limitations and preferences. Knowing why you don’t naturally fit in alleviates the shame and embarrassment. (That’s my brain, folks. Can’t help it. Who wants more champagne?) My diagnosis gave me an explanation as to why I was relatively alone in my circumstances whenever I went places, and that knowledge somehow made me feel less lonely. Best of all, I wouldn’t have to use a persona anymore. I could just be me. ”

Finch, David (2012). The Journal of Best Practices (p. 211). Simon & Schuster, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Keeping this in mind when I work with my sweet boy, or work with the school to make accommodations is priceless. Reminding myself, my son and others that there is nothing ‘wrong’ with him, just that he operates a little differently, takes the shame and the pressure off of the work of helping him thrive in a world where people are programmed differently from him.

Whether or not your life is touched by Asperger’s Syndrome, it is impossible to read the book and not be touched by David Finch’s journey.

Dessert Without Drama-Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

Many of you that know me, might know that I love my slow cookers.  All three of them.  I typically use them to make sauce, chili, or beer and onion chicken, but I keep seeing slow cooker desserts online and decided I had to try one.

I picked Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake from Recipe Shoebox, who found it in a Betty Crocker Book.   This cake was very easy to make, and super delicious.  The hardest part was waiting for the 30 minutes after cooking to end so we could dig in.  Vanilla ice cream is essential to this dish.

The only thing is this is an ‘eat it the night you make it recipe’ as I am not a big fan of nuking cake.

I made this in my 2qt slow cooker.  You need to use the small one for  the recipe as printed, otherwise the cake will be dry and you won’t get the sauce.

Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

10-15 minutes prep time
2-2 1/2 hours cook time

The Cake
1 c flour (I snuck in whole wheat flour & I bet Gluten Free would be fine)
1/2 c sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c milk
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 package chocolate chips (6oz) I added more
1/2 c chopped nuts (optional)

The Saucy Part
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c cocoa powder
2 c hot water (If I was making this for adults, I would probably swap out a little water for kahlua)

SUPPLIES: Cooking Spray, 2 QT Slow Cooker, Mixing Bowl, 4 Cup Measuring Cup, Spatula, dry ingredient measuring cup, measuring spoons.

How To

1. Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non stick spray or rub butter all around inside the bowl.

2. Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

3. Stir in the milk, oil, vanilla until smooth. At this point you can add chocolate chips/and or nuts.

4. Spread the batter evenly in the crock pot.


5. Meanwhile, heat up the water in a microwave safe measuring cup (4 cups size or bigger). [Takes 3-4 minutes]

6. Add the brown sugar and the cocoa powder and stir until smooth. You may need to use a whisk or fork to get out the     lumps of sugar.

7. Pour the liquid mixture carefully and evenly over the top of the cake batter in the crockpot.

8. Cover with the lid and turn the slow cooker on high for 2-2 1/2 hours or until a toothpick comes out clean. Then turn off the slow cooker. The longer you wait to serve this, the thicker the sauce will get.

You MUST serve this with the sauce.  Its completely essential.

I’m Going To Try Extreme Couponing-Any Advice

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I use my coupons.  Well, most of the time.  When I remember to bring the coupon envelope into the store.  And I can find the coupon I want.  And they didn’t expire first. And I remember to buy the right item, in the right quantity.

Its just that I hate to leave money on the table and I hate to think someone is getting a better deal than me.  This is what also drives me nuts about travel.  Everywhere I go, I know someone is paying less for the same flight, rental car or room than I did, even though I think I am shopping carefully.

So, I am going to follow the advice of The Krazy Coupon Lady. 

I am starting day one of the program today.  I am rethinking how I shop.  I usually hit one store (right now I am shopping Shaw’s because I got sucked into that stupid Monopoly like contest) and then I will hit a store once per week for last minutes oops type items.  You know, ran out of milk, need fresh salad stuff, etc.

However, this week I am going to search the flyers and see where the best deals are.  I am also going to hit my local craft store this week and see if I can find the coupon binder cheaper than I saw it on Amazon.

So, any advice readers?

Cooking Without Drama-Meat Sauce

I am always surprised that so many people spend lots of money on jar pasta sauce, when its quick, easy and cheap to make your own, and you also get control over what is in the sauce.

If you want a quick meatless sauce, drizzle a little olive oil in a medium saucepan.  Throw in a couple of cloves of garlic and saute them for a minute or two.  Sprinkle a little dried basil and oregano in the garlic oil.

Then turn the heat on low, add a 28oz can of crushed tomatoes, and simmer on very low until the pasta is done.

I personally like Tuttoroso tomatos, and Cook’s magazine likes Hunt’s brand, but my feeling is buy whatever is on sale and you will be fine.

A meat sauce requires a little more effort, but not much more.  I also use my crock pot. This makes a lot of sauce, so I put the leftovers into tupperwares and freeze for  later date.

Meat Sauce

1lb Italian Sausage (Sweet, Hot, Turkey, Chicken-whatever floats your boat)

1lb lean ground beef.  (I use 90 or 93% lean)

2 28oz cans crushed tomatoes

1 80z can tomato paste

1/4 cup basil

1/4 cup oregano

Few dashes of crushed red pepper.

1. Brown sausage and beef, add to crock pot

2. Pour tomatoes over meats

3. Add basil, oregano, pepper and stir

4. Set crockpot on low and cook for 6-7 hours.

If your crockpot has a warmer setting, you can brown the meat the night before and whip this together before you go to work, and have it sitting and getting warm when you get home.

Make some pasta and salad and dinner is served.