German Apple Muffins

Several weeks ago Civilized Caveman posted this wonderful picture and recipe for German Apple Pancakes! I knew that it was a must try since hubby and I love German Apple Pancakes.

Don't those just look amazing?

The day finally came where I had energy and all the ingredients to make these beauties... But mine did not turn out as fluffy or pancake like. Mine were more like muffins but that might be my fault since I changed just a few things to the recipe. I think that my Baking Soda has gone bad and did not allow the pancakes to rise like the above picture but WOW were they still good!!! 

They were still a sweet treat that everyone enjoyed!!! 


Ingredients:

• 6 Eggs
• 1 Cup Almond Milk
• 3 Tbsp Coconut Oil, melted
• 2 Tsp Vanilla
• 2 Tsp date mixture (2 dates microwaved in water and mushed)
• 1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
• 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1/8 Tsp Nutmeg
• 2 Apples, cored and diced
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• 2 Tbsp Raw Organic Honey
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1 Tsp Nutmeg
• Juice of 1/2 Lemon
• Handful of crushed pecans or walnuts

The Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 425 Degrees Fahrenheit
2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, almond milk, coconut oil, vanilla, and Date Mixture
3. In a small bowl, stir coconut flour, nutmeg, and baking soda
4. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients and beat well to combine, set aside while you prepare the apples
5. In a small frying pan, heat 2 Tbsp coconut oil and raw organic honey  
6. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg and juice of 1/2 Lemon and cook for 1 minute
7. Add in your apples and sauté until all your apples are nicely coated
8. Evenly divide your apple mixture between 8 Ramekins greased with coconut oil and then evenly divide your egg mixture on top of the apples between the 8 Ramekins
9. Place your Ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 20 Minutes at 425 and then reduce heat to 375 and cook for an additional 20 Minutes
10. Sprinkle with Pecans when removed from the oven
11. Enjoy

Pumpkin Bread

It is FALL and I am loving it! The weather has been beautiful here in Indiana and I have started craving fall like foods! :)  First up - Pumpkin Bread!!!! I tried this recipe with honey but next time am going to try it with dates. I also think I might add more pumpkin. It did not have the pumpkin flavor that I was wanted but think that adding maybe a whole cup or whole can of pumpkin. 

The Ingredients:

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

6 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup raw honey

2 tsp pumpkin spice

1/2 tsp baking powder

handful of walnuts

2 TBSP cocoa powder

The Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 Degrees 

2.  Sift the coconut flour and spices together, then add baking powder 

3.  In a separate bowl, mix all remaining ingredients except walnuts until well blended 

4.  Add the sifted flour and spices to the pumpkin puree 

5.  Mix well and sprinkle with chopped walnuts 

6.  Bake for 20- 30 minutes or until done 

ENJOY!!!!

Beef and vegetable soup

Hello SORE DAY! I have done a couple nights of videos this week and WOW am I sore!!!! I love feeling sore! I know that I worked hard and did my best at the workout. 

Today is Day 4 of my 30 day challenge to gain back control! I must admit that I quickly feel IMPROVED! It amazes me! Plus I feel great when I eat good and colorful!

 Eggs and Avocado

Strawberry, Spinach, Coconut, Almond Milk Smoothie

 The kids and I enjoyed leftovers!

I am so sorry for this terrible picture... I made soup the other night and SPACED taking a picture...

Beef and Vegetable Soup

The Ingredients:
Ground Beef
1 Zucchini
1 can tomatoes
1/2 red bell pepper
2 cups fresh spinach
2 cloves garlic
2 cups water

The Directions
Brown the meat. Drain the fat. Season the meat with Garlic Powder, Lemon Pepper, Basil, Nutmeg.

Add Spinach and cook down with the ground beef and garlic. Add can of tomatoes and water. Bring to boil. Add zucchini and bell pepper.

Once vegetables are tender serve and ENJOY!!!

This was a very quick and easy dinner! I just threw this together in 15 - 20 minutes.

30 day challenge

Happy Tuesday!!! 

I have wondered off the path (far off the path) and am back on!!! 

Hubby and I are starting a 90 day Insanity challenge and Monday I started a 30 day challenge. I am really going to try my best to document my daily food but that is a lot of work so I might commit to doing it once a week or use old picture! I cannot commit to EVERYDAY but I will do my best!!! :)

Egg Casserole

8 Eggs, 3 Asparagus, 8 cherry Tomatoes cut in half, Beef Bacon, 1/2 green bell pepper

Spinach and Strawberry Smoothie

Spring Mix Salad

Spring Lettuce, Strawberries, Avocado, Tomatoes, Beef Bacon, Sunflower seeds, Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

Chicken Curry Soup with Vegetables

The Ingredients:

6 - 8 chicken tenders

Curry Marinade (Curry Powder, Mustard Powder, Garlic Powder, Cinnamon, Cayenne Powder, Cumin and Coconut Oil)

Broccoli

3/4 red bell pepper

10 - 15 small carrots, chopped

1 can coconut milk

3 cups chicken broth

The Directions:

Soak Chicken in Curry Marinade for 6 - 12 hours. 

Brown chicken in frying pan. Add the chicken to pot and pour coconut milk over the chicken. Bring to a boil. Add the Chicken Broth and bring back to boil. Then Add the vegetables and let cook for 10 minutes. 

ENJOY!!!! 

Part of Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Made from scratch Tuesday, hearth and soul blog hop, Tuesday at the Table, Tasty Tuesday, delectable tuesday, Real Food Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, No Whine Wednesday, What's on your plate, Full Plate Thursday, Tip Day Thursday, Fight Back Friday

Primal/Paleo Den

Avocado Eggs with Coconut

I know, what a mixture!!!

You are probably thinking... "Lindsey, what are you thinking???"

Well - it was by mistake!!! I swear but it really turned out great and the kids loved it!!!!

***Picture is terrible --- SO SO SO SORRY! ***

Here is what happened! I was looking over the blogs I followed and saw PrimalToads $2.23 Happy Meal. Not reading all the directions and looking at my half avocado on the counter, I started making my eggs.  Really - I did not follow the directions at all... WHOOPS... But came out to be alright! Kids were happy and I was happy!!!

The Ingredients:
Farm Fresh LOCAL eggs
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

Primal toad added cinnamon but I did not.

The Directions:
I tossed everything into my vitamix and mixed on a low setting. I added the whipped mixture into a hot pan with coconut oil and made scrambled eggs. 3 year old love that he was eating green eggs and baby didn't care about the color, just gobbled down!

ENJOY!!!!

Might I add -- I eat eggs and avocado together often. I usually cook my eggs over-medium and the pick up all the extra yolk with avocado pieces.

Spinach Egg Casserole

Jamie Oliver and FOOD REVOLUTION is back!!!! Last night, we watched the first episode of season two. This year, Jamie is taking on LA. 

Fast forward to 2:24. He breaks down the meat that school use... You will not believe it... 

I am looking forward to this season!!! WELCOME BACK JAMIE OLIVER!!!! 

Two quick ideas for you!!!! 

6 eggs, 1 cup spinach, chicken and apple sausage

Bake at 375 for 30 - 45 minutes.

Simple Dinner

Lemon, Thyme and Onion Chicken with mixed vegetables

Bake chicken at 350 for 20 - 30 minutes.

Help me decide...

We moved into our house almost one year ago. We have not done many improvements, except for painting 1/2 the house and some outside gardening.

I am starting to play around with updating the kitchen. Not an entire kitchen upgrade just a small upgrade that will make a WORLD of difference. The previous owners installed a bar faucet in our kitchen. It is a smaller faucet that just looks out of place. I always have a sink of dirty dishes that need tackling and let's be honest the bar style sink just does not work well with this cooking girl!

I have been searching websites and look in stores and I think I have found two favorites...

I would love to hear from you.

Do you like A??

Moen Annabelle

Do you like B??

Kohler Simplice

Which do you like better??? or do you have another kitchen faucet favorite??? Comment me with your pick! :)

Until then I will continue to make a mess in my kitchen and fill my sink with dirty dishes!!! Like this delicious empty the fridge breakfast casserole!

I love emptying out the fridge and making up a breakfast casserole. 

This week I have made 2 batches.
 2 pieces of leftover turkey bacon, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 tomato, 5 eggs. I baked at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Any vegetable mixture would be wonderful!

Or from the picture - 5 eggs, 1/2 green bell pepper, 1 cup spinach, 3 pieces of turkey bacon. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

Coconut Banana Pancakes

It has been a lot of fun searching and learning about all of these FABULOUS Paleo/Primal blogs! Many which have great recipes and great inspiration!  Check out my lastest find, Caveman Strong. That is where I found this delicious Pancake recipe!!! Thank you Caveman Strong!

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 /2 of a banana
1 pinch cinnamon
1 tablespoon of water
1/4 cup coconut milk (full fat)

Instructions:
Mix these ingredients and let them sit for five minutes. Oil or grease up your pan and heat over medium heat. Pour about a 1/4 cup of batter for each crepe, allowing each side to brown before flipping it.

Variations:

• add shredded coconut to the top of each pancake when you spoon out the batter into the pan
• use butter or ghee and the flavor will change
• add honey, but these really are sweet enough without it

Part of Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday with Dr. Laura, Hunger and Thirst Hearth and Soul

How do you do it all?

I have been asked a great question and would like to answer it in a post so everyone can read!

"Lindsey, How do you do it all???"

That is a great question! I am a wife and a mom of two and I watch 1 - 2 kids daily. My days are busy but I would not have it any other way... I enjoy it!!!! :)

It is all about planning. It is important to have the day planned out. I have a rough schedule for the kids and I for EVERYDAY!!!! :) Meals are tentatively planned out and all the ingredients are in the fridge.

I go to the store weekly, mostly Saturdays. I wash all the groceries so they are GRAB ready! We wash all our produce ORGANIC or not in Hydrogen Peroxide. 1/4 cup into a 1/2 sink of water. I let some things soak longer and other just a quick rinse. Sundays, when I remember, I prepare the vegetables. I will peel and cut and chop vegetables. That way they are snack (and GRAB) ready! No washing or peeling just go! We stay busy throughout the week so it is important to be prepared! :)

As for cleaning, I clean as I go with one big clean on Saturday/Sunday. The toy room/living room is picked up several times a day but at the end of the day is cleaned. I vacuum weekly, not daily. Kitchen is cleaned a lot! I clean the kitchen 3x a day. When you clean as you go the big clean day comes around there isn't much to do. I clean the bathrooms 2x a week and deep clean once.

Home cooked meals are important to us and a picked up (noticed I didn't say clean) house is too! You find a way to do it when it is important! I try to not do anything once the boys are in bed. I like that time to be hubby and my time.

Eggs, Spaghetti Squash and Spinach

Saute the Spaghetti Squash and Spinach in coconut oil. Add eggs and scramble. Baby and I enjoyed this delicious breakfast today! :) 

Spaghetti Squash with ground venison and vegetables.

I made one Spaghetti Squash and spread it out! Bake Spaghetti Squash at 375 for an hour. I then saute mine to make the "noodles" softer. 

Spaghetti Squash with venison and vegetables

The Ingredients:

1/4 lb ground venison (I used the other 3/4 with my taco pizza)

10 small carrots, diced

1/2 zucchini, diced

1 can diced tomatoes

1 red bell pepper, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 spaghetti squash

The Directions:

Bake the Spaghetti Squash at 375 degrees for an hour. Then saute in a little coconut oil. 

Brown the ground venison and all vegetables. Cook on medium until carrots are tender. Mix with the spaghetti squash. 

ENJOY!!!

Acorn Squash and Bananas

Here is another version of my Acorn (oatmeal)... just as delicious!!! 

Both baby and I enjoyed this! :)
Would have been great topped with Almond Butter but I was out and I was out of Almonds... Next time!

Topped with Coconut Flakes!

You need 1 acorn squash (I used two small sized). Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until tender. Scoop out flesh in food processor. Add banana and coconut oil and cinnamon. Top with Coconut Flakes!!!

SUPER!!!

BTW - I used the last two squash from my food share. It ended in November and I am still enjoying food from it!!!!

Baby food turned Breakfast!

I love making our baby, well now one year old, food! It is quick and easy and sometimes I am prepared!!! 

We got a box full of Acorn Squash at the end of the season. I have been using it here and there but I mainly have been giving it to the baby! He loves Squash!!! 

He really loves this hot mixture I have come up with. Roasted Acorn Squash pureed with Cinnamon and Flax and Coconut Oil topped with Blueberries.

We share! One bite for you and one for me! :) He thinks it is funny when I take a bite!

I am glad that I did the one for you and one for me because this stuff is good!!! I have been struggling with breakfast. I do not like to eat eggs every morning and I miss my oatmeal.

The Ingredients:

1 acorn squash

1 TBSP Coconut Oil

1 tsp cinnamon 

1 - 2 TBSP Almond Butter

1/4  - 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

1 - 2 tsp flax seeds (ground in my coffee grinder)

The Directions:

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. 

Wash outside of acorn squash. Cut down the middle and scoop out the seeds. Add Coconut Oil in the center and sprinkle with cinnamon. 

Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. 

Scoop flesh into food processor or blender and blend! I made sure to get the coconut oil and cinnamon in the blender too! Mix in the flax seed powder. 

If you are making this for baby top with Blueberries. If this is for you - top with some Almond Butter and Blueberries!!! 

ENJOY!!!

Part of Real Food Wednesday

Turkey and Apples Topped with Eggs

The Ingredients:

1 cup turkey, shredded

1/4 cup apple, chopped

1 tsp. cumin

1 Tbs. coconut oil

Combine all in a skillet on med-high and mix. Allow mixture to brown.

I meant to do a poached or fried egg but scramble it was! OOOOOOPS

Quick and Easy

I have been LAZY...

This past February, I was on a MISSION --- MISSION LOOSE baby weight! I gained about 40+ pounds and instantly lost 15 or so when Micah was born. By February, I needed to loose 15 pounds to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. 

Once I began to workout --- The pounds melted off.  I became obsessed with working out. I worked out Monday - Friday and some Saturdays. My workout was an hour of cardio and weights. I worked on that for a couple of months. I was feeling good... I decided to up my workouts to an hour of weights and cardio and I would then go in and do a spinning class or another aerobic class. I would be at the gym for 2 hours. I worked hard. I lost the weight and some! 

BUT

July came and I stopped... I was burned out. I could not get myself back to the gym. I made excuse after excuse. 

We have all been there! 

(There was also an incident in the kids room)

Anyways - last week I made it back for my first spinning class. It took all of me to get myself there and to get over my hump! 

Yesterday - I started a new adventure and I want you to hold me accountable! I started INSANITY. 

WOW - Let me tell you... it is HARD. I pushed myself and I still was not able to do everything. 

I AM OUT OF SHAPE... but not for long!!!! :) 

I am going to take pictures and I may or may not post them... But I WILL go strong for 60 days... I WILL prove to (a certain someone) and myself that I CAN and WILL do this. 

To be honest -- I am not needing or looking to loose weight... I am looking to TONE up! I am looking to be and stay HEALTHY! 

Nap times are going to be all about me!!!! :) No more goofing around on the computer or watching (reality/junk) TV... It is ONE hour devoted to me and me alone.... 

Here is to a new and improve and healthy and in shape me!!!!

A QUICK AND EASY BREAKFAST SCRAMBLE!

Egg Scramble with 1 Chicken & Turkey Sausage (AppleFarms), 2 - 5 cups Fresh Spinach, 1 Orange Bell Pepper!!!! 

Morning Eggs

Mornings (Breakfast) are struggles, for me. 

Not because the kids are up. They are usually still sleeping when I get up. 

I am just a slow starter. My alarm goes off. I hit snooze. My alarm goes off. I lay there. 

I have always been like this. I have always been a sleeper. 

I struggle mostly in the winter. I mean, who really wants to get out of a warm bed and go out into the cold aired room? Not me!

I am getting better!!! Really, I am. I am not lacking sleep - I am good at that. We go to sleep at 9 and I wake up at 6:30 - 7:30, sometimes even later. That is 9 sometimes 10+ hours of sleep! :)

Surprisingly, I can tell a difference in the last week, since starting Paleo and eliminating the grains.

Yes, I know, it has only been a couple of days but I can tell! I do not feel as sluggish. 

I am working hard to improve my morning meals.

My go to breakfast is out the door! Oatmeal of some sort. 

I am good with this change, I really am. 

The Ingredients:

Handful of fresh Spinach, suateed.

diced tomatoes.

Eggs

Coconut Oil

Enjoy!!!