Going Paleo

 The Paleo Diet is an effort to eat like we used to back in the day…WAY back in the day.  If a caveman couldn’t eat it, neither can you. 

This means anything we could hunt or find – meats, fish, nuts, leafy greens, regional veggies, and seeds. Sorry, the pasta, cereal, and candy will have to go! Instead, you’ll be making things like chicken stir fry and paleo spaghetti.  Taking gluten out of the occasion! I've been trying to eat this way more.  It's not because I'm gluten intolerant, but I feel so much better.  It's fun to shake it up.  Instead of baked potatoes, try doing recipes with Sweet Potatoes.  They are naturally gluten free and delicious! It's amazing how many wonderful recipes there are online to try! You may like them even better.  Have you ever heard the saying that the best items in the grocery store for your body are on the outside aisles! Everything in the middle is bad! Tonight,  I'm doing a paleo shepards pie for dinner. It smells divine! Here's the recipe. 

Shepards Pie 

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef (preferably grass-fed)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 container (~8oz) of mushrooms, sliced
• 1 bag of frozen peas, thawed
• 1 can tomato paste
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 2 tsp fresh thyme
• 4 to 6 medium sweet potatoes
• ½ cup coconut milk
• 1 Tbsp butter plus more for the pan
• sea salt and pepper
• butter

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
2. In a large skillet, brown the meat with the cloves of garlic in butter.
3. Once the meat is browned, remove it from the pan, and cook the onions, carrots and mushrooms until carrots are soft and onions are translucent.
4. Add the meat back to the pan, add the tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme and salt.
5. Cook until all of the excess liquid has cooked off.
6. Stir in the peas.
7. Pour the meat mixture into a large baking dish-- 9X13" works well.
8. Bake your sweet potatoes: place the sweet potatoes on a foiled lined baking sheet and bake until soft-- about 40 minutes depending on the size of your sweet potatoes. (You could also do this step while you are cooking the meat on the stove top).
9. Allow the potatoes to cool for a few minutes, then peel and place into a medium-sized bowl with coconut milk, butter, sea salt and pepper.
10. Mash the sweet potatoes into a paste, and spread on top of your meat mixture.
11. Bake the shepherd's pie for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sides are bubbling and the center is hot.

Paleo Shepards Pie

Heres an alternate recipe to try if you want something lighter.  Here's butternut squash soup! It's a fall favorite! 

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

1. 1 large butternut squash (about 5 lbs)
2. 1 green apple, sliced and cored
3. 1 small yellow onion, chopped
4. 2 carrots, chopped
5. 3 tbsp olive oil
6. 2 tsp cinnamon
7. 1 1/2 tsp salt
8. 1/2 tsp cumin
9. 1 tsp chili powder
10. 2 tbsp ghee
11. 3 cups chicken broth

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the butternut squash, olive oil, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp cumin. Mix together, coating the squash well. Spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.
2. Next, in the same bowl that the butternut squash was in, toss the apple slices, onion, and carrots to coat with the remnants. Place on a second rimmed baking sheet and add both baking sheets to the oven. Roast for 35-40 minutes until soft, stirring once.
3. Heat up ghee over medium heat in a large pot on the stove. Add the roasted ingredients and then the chicken broth. Add 1 teaspoon each of salt, cinnamon and chili powder. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
4. Using an immersion blender, combine the ingredients until smooth, or transfer to a blender to puree. Serve warm.

Et voila!

Sarah Darling