I'll take you in my backpack

6/2/13 Wow, so it's been a little while since the last post. Whoops! Didn't mean to let that happen! Since my last post: I've had a birthday...I'm dangerously close to mid-thirties, I've had a great week in the gym (PR's in back squat, front squat, snatch, and clean & jerk!), I've made some pretty delicious recipes...in my hotel room (that has no kitchen!), and I've spent time with some amazing people in my life (including supporting a friend who was doing a surprise (not so surprise) flashmob! I guess there's no need for more writing since I summarized it all in one sentence. I'm impressed! So, let's start with salmon. I made a delicious Herb Crusted Salmon from one of my favorite paleo sites,  PaleOMG . I did all of this in a hotel room with no kitchen so trust me it's easy! I used a toaster oven to bake it! Here's my finished product, it was delicious! Moving right along, the flash mob. This was wonderful and so exciti...

2/26/12 It's everyone's favorite...taco night! Super easy (and quick) recipe for tacos...paleo style. I used grass fed bison because that's what I had but any meat would work. Paleo (bison) tacos: Ingredients two pounds grass fed bison (I used one pound because I'm cooking for myself, it left plenty for leftovers!) 1/2 onion 3 TBSP paprika (I used slightly less) 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp crushed red pepper 1 tsp fresh cilantro Romaine lettuce hearts salsa/pico/avocado/bacon/whatever taco toppings you want! Directions cook up the onions and the meat separately. When the onions are finished cooking, put them aside When the meat is browned add the spices Stir in the cooked onions Assemble and enjoy!

2/19/12 Reason 239402394802 why Paleo isn't that hard...you can make modifications and make just about anything that you used to eat before :) Being a bit of a fat kid at heart, paleo pizza is right up my ally! I choose to subscribe to the paleo school of thought that lets me eat bacon and pepperoni (I could read the few ingredients listed on the label, knew what they were, meat, so bam, paleo!). If you do not subscribe to this thinking...I'm sorry. Your loss. Just don't add it to the pizza! Dough before cooking Pizza w/toppings before baking Finished Product. Yum! Paleo Pizza Ingredients: 1/2 cup coconut flour (crust) 1 cup almond flour (crust) 1 tsp baking powder (crust) 4 eggs 3 TBSP oil (I used coconut) 1/2 cup coconut milk (the stuff in the can) pesto or your favorite tomato sauce (topping) Other topping ingredients (I used onions (lots!), peppers, and pepperoni) Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Start by making the dough. In a...

2/19/12 So today I've lived in my kitchen...technically the truth since I live in a hotel and it's one big room, hard not to live in the kitchen with these accommodations. I digress. I whipped up a batch of Paleo Banana Walnut Chocolate Muffins. Given the chance to re-do this recipe I would probably reduce the amount of walnuts, and add another banana, they are really dense and I think another banana would help that. Paleo Banana Walnut Chocolate Muffins: Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups almond flour 2 ripe bananas (I suggest adding a third) 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 TBSP cinnamon 4 TBSP coconut oil 3 eggs 1-2 tsp vanilla 1 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips 1 cup chopped walnuts (I would use less) Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees In a large bowl mash bananas with a fork add eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla, mix whisk to get rid of any large chunks In a smaller bowl combine the dry ingredients (almond flour, baking soda, and cinnamon) Slowly stir dry ingredien...

2/19/12 Before even starting to make my breakfast I was getting this heap of deliciousness ready! It does have to cook all day in the crock pot after all! Really how do you go wrong with beef (grass fed of course), coffee, and cooked onions?! You don't, that's the answer! Paleo Coffee Pot Roast: Ingredients: 3-5 lbs of chuck roast (I used 3.5 and it fit just right in my 4qt crock pot with the other stuff) onion sliced (I used two, I really like cooked onion!) garlic cloves peeled and smashed (I used 6-8, I will NOT be eating these, they are just for flavor!) Sea salt, pepper, and any other seasoning that you want to use for the meat brewed coffee (I used Starbucks VIA because it was what I had, I added 4 small coffee cups of it, it almost came to the top) 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar Directions: put sliced onions and garlic in the bottom of the crock pot. Season the meat (sea salt, pepper, and anything else) put the meat in the crock pot pour the coffee on t...

2/19/12 So it's Sunday again, the designated cooking/baking day for the week! Today I was really ambitious and had a list (way too long) of things to make! I decided that I needed some variety in my meals this week rather than eating the same thing every day for lunch! So for this blog entry I'll start with breakfast (my most favorite meal of the day, no questions asked!)...paleo pancakes! Amazeballs Paleo Pancakes: Ingredients: 3 ripe bananas 1/4 cup of creamy almond butter 3 eggs coconut flour (I added some to thicken up the mix, if you don't need/want it, don't add it! Directions: in a food processor/blender (or by hand if you're really ambitious) mix ingredients (sans coconut flour) if the mix is really watery than add some coconut flour to thicken it up (I didn't measure, just poured a small amount at a time) add any desired fruits to the batter for really tasty pancakes (I used blueberries!) Enjoy! I recommend doubling this recipe, ...

2/17/12 So it's really no secret among my family that I am a complete choco-holic. I love chocolate! So it should come as no surprise that I have been trying to find ways to incorporate paleo approved chocolate into my life! Tonight's recipe was a huge success (despite the major possibility for culinary failure!). Now, before I even include the recipe, just trust me. What sounds gross, and looks gross as you're putting it all together, actually all works really well together and makes a nice little cave-lady dessert! So, here it goes Choco Paleo Pudding: Ingredients: Avocados (I used 2 large) 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup honey (buy local!) 1 tsp. vanilla 2 TBSP coconut oil Directions: Put all of the ingredients into a food processor (or if you're living on the road and in suitcases, a magic bullet or similar device (I have a Cuisinart version of this that actually has a blender sized canister that fits on it, yes I travel with this thing!). Blend t...

2/12/12 So today turned into an utter day of domestication. I'm not sure how it happened since I'm probably the least domestic person in existence. But, it at least gives me hope that I'm not a complete and utter failure in the kitchen (or in my case very small kitchenette with zero cooking utensils!) Here's what was on today's menu (I cook/bake on Sundays for the rest of the week since I have NO time during the week to do these things!): - Paleo Mocha Muffins - Paleo Spaghetti (squash) and sausage - Homemade sweet potato chips I have been craving a nice hearty dish so the spaghetti squash and sausage seemed like a perfect fit. I should note that I try not to use spaghetti squash often because in the Paleo world it's kind of a naughty food, found on the high-glycemic end of the spectrum. So, it's more of a treat than a staple! So, as promised, here are the recipes for today's culinary masterpieces! I should preface this by saying all of these we...

11/25/11 In the spirit of the holiday, and eating, and since I have yet to bring you a recipe from this lovely land in which I reside, I figured that I would bring you one of my favorite treats here (I need to figure out how to make this Paleo!) Any of you Paleo eaters out there if you have suggestions for recipe modifications please please send them my way! Enjoy! Okinawan Donuts (Sata Andagi) Ingredients: 4 Eggs ¾ cup milk ¾ tsp vanilla 4 cups flour 2 cups sugar 3 ½ TBSP baking powder ¼ tsp salt Directions: In a deep fryer or skillet heat oil to 350 degrees or until hot In a large bowl beat eggs, milk, and vanilla, sift in flour, sugar, baking powder and salt Add to egg mixture, stir until ingredients are moistened and dough is smooth Drop teaspoonfuls into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and donuts rise to the surface Drain on paper towel lined plates, serve hot (also good cooled down)

6/14/11 I haven't posted a recipe in a while, so what better way to start off than with a native Chamorro treat?! I received this recipe from a Chamorro woman (thankfully it accompanied a lovely Bonelo Manglo to try!) Bonelos Manglo (Chamorro Air Donuts) Bonelos Manglo (Chamorro Air Donuts) Senora Cruz (Guam) Ingredients: 5 Cups Flour 1 ½ Cups Sugar 1 ½ tbls. Baking Powder 1 ½ tbls. Shortening 1 tbls. Salad oil 1 Can Coconut Milk or 1 ¾ cups real fresh milk Salad oil for frying Directions: ·       Mix dry mixture first-flour, sugar, baking powder ·       Then add shortening and carfully mix with dry mix making sure all of the shortening is distributed into the mix ·       Add salad oil again, mix well with dry mix and shortening ·       Add milk slowly, mix well until mixture forms into a large ball ·       Roll out dough then cut into ...

12/11/10 Tis the season for holiday baking and festivities in the workplace. I tried something completely new and was insanely impressed. Just hearing the name kind of made me cringe, and I didn't have high hopes for it, but I assure you this recipe is a COMPLETE score and will become a favorite, oh, and it's simple! Pineapple Cookies J (Fairbanks, AK  2010) Take your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe in the place of chocolate chips, use 1 can of drained pineapple (diced or crushed). Everything else stays the same in the recipe. Voila, you're finished. See. Simple! Books Read: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk Water for Elephants

11/21/10 Norwegian Almond Cake       B.A., Fairbanks, AK (2010) 1 ¼ Cup sugar (I use C&H brand Baker’s sugar-comes in a square half-gallon carton, like a milk carton) 1 egg 1 ½ tsp. pure almond extract 2/3 Cup milk (I use whole milk) (Mix the first 3 ingredients well, then add milk. I use electric mixer at low speed) Now add: 1 ¼ Cup flour (be sure to tap measuring cup and even out with knife-I use a large cup of four and sugar) ½ tsp. baking powder 1 cube melted margarine (not butter!) (I used Imperial brand margarine) (Mix well) Directions: Pour slowing into a six cup Bundt cake pan that has been sprayed with Pam cooking spray that already has the flour in it (I sprinkle some sliced almonds-crushed-on the bottom of the pan after spraying, before pouring the batter in) Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes (ovens vary) After cake is cooled enough (20-30 mins), turn it o...

10/10/10 I've decided to start sharing some of my "Gourmet on the Go" recipes on my blog. I've done my share of traveling and living in hotels, but this doesn't mean that I (or you) have to eat like I'm on the road all of the time! Game Day Nachos Ingredients: baked tortilla chips 2% shredded cheese  1/2 red onion fat free sour cream or a great substitute is fat free plain yogurt (I prefer Greek yogurt) ground turkey (I get the most lean thats available) 1 packet of taco seasoning black beans (I just get the canned kind because it's quick and easy) foil (i prefer the non-stick kind) Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees (if you don't have an oven or would like a quicker route you can use a microwave) brown the ground turkey and drain any fat (there isn't much with turkey) mix in the taco seasoning and required amount of water, simmer as directions indicate and drain excess liquids, set aside I use foil to make a pan because I r...