Aaron's Favorite Cookies

Aaron's Favorite Cookies
Makes 1 dozen cookies.
The batter will be very thick.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup almond flour
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• a pinch of salt
• 5 tablespoons melted butter
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• a handful of dried unsweetened coconut 
• baking sheet, not greased

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 
2. Mix almond flour, baking soda, salt in a large bowl. 
3. Mix butter, honey, vanilla in a small bowl. 
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ones. 
5. Scoop out in tablespoon sized balls. Place on baking sheet.
6. Sprinkle the tops with coconut. 
7. Cook for 12-13 minutes. 

For the cookie base, credits go to: http://thisprimallife.com/2009/07/experiments-with-primal-cookie-making/ 

Deal on Almond Flour

I use Bob's Red Mill Almond Flour for everything. I know there are finer ground alternatives which are supposed to be good for baking. However, I just haven't gotten there yet. :) I've had no issues using Bob's. I buy it using Amazon subscribe and save. It comes out to $8.39 a lb which is about $4.50 cheaper in our local grocery store.

Fried Chicken!

Fried Chicken Recipe:

• Coconut Oil
• 4-6 Chicken Breasts
• 2 eggs

Dry Ingredients:

• 1-1 1/2 cups of Almond Flour
• 1 heaping teaspoon Paprika
• 1 heaping teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of Dried Thyme
• Salt and Pepper to taste (I use approximately 1/2 teaspoon each)
• 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (or less if you don't like spice)

1. Preheat Oven to 400 degrees, Get a baking Pan ready. I use a glass pan, no greasing needed. 

2. Place a good spoonful of Coconut Oil in a frying pan, turn on medium-low (depends on the type of frying pans you use but you need it to get to a decent frying temperature without getting too hot).

3. While the frying pan is heating up, crack eggs and whisk in one bowl. In another bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Make sure the bowls are big enough to roll a chicken breast around.

4. Place Chicken in the egg and then roll around in the dry ingredients. Cover as much as you can. Do this to all the chicken breasts.

5. Place covered chicken in frying pan, 2 minutes on each side. 

6. Then place in baking pan cook for 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Salad Dressings

Over the past few days, lots of people have asked me what kind of salad dressing do I use. Well, I tend to use olive oil and vinegar most of the time. However, I have experimented with making my own Primal Dressings. Here are some listed on Mark's page.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/10-delicious-diy-salad-dressings/#axzz1re2XCINV

I also suggest trying out different kinds of oils like Walnut and Avocado and different types of vinegar like red wine and white wine, etc. You cal also puree berries and other fruits. Add a little honey if needed and Mmm!

This is a Lifestyle Change... not just a Diet.

The "Primal" diet is definitely not for everyone. If you were eating the typical American beforehand, it takes a huge commitment because you are going to have to make big changes. Let's be honest here, most Americans are scared to death to give up grains. In many cases when I tell people that's what I did, they shut off from that point on. They are NOT interested.

At first, even I did not want to try this diet. When Aaron first told me about it in July, I pretty much told him that there was no way. He wanted to try it and I agreed to cook food for him that was Primal friendly but I didn't look anything up... no recipes. I figured he just could eat the meats and veggies while I ate the rice, bread, pasta, etc. A couple weeks later, he made the comment that "You are making me fail." I didn't tell Mark this part but that comment actually really ticked me off. After I calmed down, I figured that I would never be the reason to why he failed at anything. I won't let him use that excuse. So, right after the hurricane blew out, I spent $24 in recipe books and researched for days. I figured out the general idea and went from there... and never went back.

A friend on Facebook made the comment recently, that she thinks that Weight Watchers is the best diet because she can eat normally. I love this person, I am not trying to get on her case or anything but, this comment made me think. I had a vision of all the packaged foods and tv dinners that I ate while I was on WW.  The counting and measuring... was that normal? It was to me then but it's not to me now, not at all.

This diet is a lifestyle change. It will change the way you think about food. It does take time to figure this all out. I learned all that I could during nap times so I did at least have that luxury. I am going to attempt to help out as much as I can through this blog by sharing what I have found. We are in noway the perfect Primal models, I am always open for new ideas and suggestions. Aaron and I simply try our best. I am hoping that it will be enough! Luckily this is where the 80 20 rule comes it to play. Try to follow the diet, 80% of the time. However, I found, the more you follow it, the faster the weight comes off so it is a balance. We had weekends that we cheated horribly by getting a pizza and others where we didn't cheat at all. We usually stick to the diet during the week.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/8020-principle/#axzz1rdxYrB4h

Follow me on Pinterest!

I have lots of recipes and blogs pinned! Many hours spent looking too, maybe I can save you some time!! :)

http://pinterest.com/jessalyn03/

Turkey Chili 1

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground turkey
• 2 pieces of bacon
• 1 onion
• 1 green pepper
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes 16oz
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon ancho chili pepper
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon (heaping) cayenne pepper
• salt & pepper

1. Place crushed tomatoes and chicken stock into a slow cooker, start cooking on low. 
2. Cook bacon in a frying pan, take out and set aside when nice and crispy (either eat the bacon for a snack or throw it in the chili. I've done both but just like to snack on it as I cook LOL).
3. Put turkey in pan and brown.
4. While turkey is browning, cut up onion, pepper, garlic and place aside. 
5. When turkey is almost cooked through, place ancho chili powder, salt and pepper in the pan. Cook until well done. 
6. Put entire pan (grease and all) into the slow cooker. 
7. Replace pan back to the burner, cook green pepper and onion until slightly golden. At the last minute, throw in the garlic and cook until just fragrant (garlic will over cook quickly). 
8. Place pepper, onion, garlic into the slow cooker. 
9. Add the rest of the spices to your liking and cook for several hours (4-6hrs) on low.