Whats This?

This recipe blog is an extension of my original blog Motivation... Determination... Drive. Having been asked numerous times what is involved in paleo eating and the simple question "so... what can you eat?" I have decided to put this collection together. Some of the recipes will be original, and some will be modifications (or replicas) of recipes I have found in cookbooks books or on line. Every recipe listed will be something I have tried, nothing that I think just looks good and want to attempt. As a disclaimer, I will not take credit for those found at other sources, if you are to use one listed with a link attached please give credit to the original site. Thank You and happy eating!!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Paleo Banana Blueberry Muffins

I am a huge "pastry" fan. I dont eat them much anymore, simply because I could just eat pasty all day long and gain 5,000 lbs easy. When I was a kid I ate a lot of baked goods for breakfast... My mom would even make me my own confetti cake (no frosting) and I would have it for a weeks worth of breakfasts and snacks. I could house pop tarts, muffins, toaster strudels for days. I gave it all up, for the most part... when I changed my life a few years ago. Its still one of my hardest hurdles when someone brings something to work to share or we have a meeting and they are on the conference table.

We like to have a real breakfast, together, as a family on Sunday mornings. Its the only day that we are all together. Often times I make waffles or pancakes and Hubs makes eggs and bacon. I have a great paleo waffle recipe (really simple) and I look for new things to try all the time. I try to make them healthy and as clean as possible. This is for Z's benefit too!

This weekend we had breakfast with #2 and her family! I wanted to bring along a baked good... because thats what I do... and decided since I love blueberry muffins... that I would give them a shot! This recipe is great. They were "moist" and delicious! Give them a shot!

Recipe: Paleo Banana Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:
4 Bananas
4 Eggs
1/2 C Almond Butter
4 Tbsp Coconut Oil (melted)
1/2 C Coconut Flour
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/4 Tsp Salt
1 Container of Blueberries (approximately 1-1/2 C)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 and line muffin tins with liners. This recipe made 31 muffins for me.

Mash the bananas with a hand mixer. Add eggs, coconut oil, vanilla and nut butter. Mix well. Add the coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt and mix again. Fold in blueberries with a spatula.

Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes then remove from the pan and let cool on a rack completely.

I would refrigerate these if you don’t eat them all right away. I find blueberry muffins don’t keep for a very long time. 



Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Tots

Now that Z is eating all finger foods... damn time is flying... I have been looking for ways to make veggies more fun. Not that he dosent eat his veggies normally... Kid love him some zucchini and carrots... but this is something I can send to daycare that is not just plain old veggies. Hubs and I tried them too and they are pretty good!!


Recipe: Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Tots

Ingredients:
1 Small Head of Cauliflower (or half of  large head)
1/3 C Shredded Sharp Cheddar
1/4 C Grated Parmesan
2 tbsp Almond Flour (I substituted with GF Al Purpose Flour for Z @ School, no nut products)
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Egg

Directions:
Chop up the Cauliflower into big chunks and place in a microwave safe bowl with plastic wrap over the top. Microwave for 2 minutes to get it soft (if you don’t have a micro, boil it for a few minutes, you just want it tender enough to be able to puree it in the food processor easily). If there is any water, drain it. Otherwise put it in the food processor and chop it all up… not to much so it is not puree.

In a bowl, mix the cauliflower, cheddar, parmesan, flour and salt. Once it is all combined add the egg.

Use a tablespoon to scoop the mixture into mini muffin tins. Bake for 15 minutes @ 400 degrees. Take them out, flip each one of them over in the tins and bake for another 15 minutes.


The website says that they don’t reheat well, I disagree. I made 24 of these (one batch) and put them in the fridge and served them 3 at a time to Z. He loved them and they were perfectly fine reheated. 


Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I was looking for a good pancake recipe to feed the Little Monster. This one fit the bill and what better way to start a Sunday than with Chocolate Chip Pancakes!! It was his first... of probubly many... experiences with chocolate chip pancakes! Mama (me) loved them growing up and still loves them to this day!! 

Enjoy!!

Recipe: Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Ingredients:
3 Eggs
1/4 C Coconut Milk (you can use almond)
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Agave (recipe calls for honey but I used agave because I fed them to Z)
2 tbsp Coconut Flour
1/3 C Almond Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Banana

Directions:
Her directions on the website are a little more extensive than mine… I just tossed everything above into my Ninja with the paddle attachment and gave it a whirl. Let the batter sit for 5 minutes to get a little thicker and you are ready to go.

I used my tabletop griddle and made all 6 pancakes at once. I suppose I could have made them a bit smaller and a few more of them. Once the edges got bubbly I added some chocolate chips and flipped. You can also add banana slices at that time too.


They were a little messy flipping and I thought they burned because they got a little dark, but they tasted amazing and the Little Man certainly approved!!