Breakfast
Smoothie, Meat and Veggie Sausages, fruit, nuts
(Full for smoothie, Stage 5 for sausages unless using only salt & pepper, Stage 5/6 for fruit, Full for nuts)
Today's smoothie had bananas, strawberries, blueberries, coconut oil, flax seed oil, raw egg yolks, prunes, a drizzle of honey and YOGURT. Our first day trying yogurt, fermented 24 hours in my dehydrator.
Lunch
Meatballs, pumpkin pie carrots, sauerkraut, kimchi, more Meat and Veggie Sausages
(Stage 1 for meatballs, Stage 5 for pumpkin pie carrots, Stage 3 for sauerkraut and kimchi)
Instead of meatballs or meat patties, I made mini-meat patties. Basically a meatball flattened. They liked this variation in size even though it was the same taste they had yesterday.
Lunch Part II
Lara Balls, smoothie, fruit
(Full for Lara Balls and smoothie, Stage 5/6 for fruit)
Dinner
Chicken Stir Fry, kimchi
(Stage 4 for stir fry, Stage 3 for kimchi)
The stir fry had broccoli, carrots and yellow squash. Normally I would "fry"it in broth until the veggies were soft, but I was out so I used water.
The boys have turned into kimchi monsters. They love it and keep asking for it, saying "My body just really craves it." Even the 7-year-old got in on the fun and ate a small helping then ran around the table yelling that his mouth was on fire. And then sat down and ate more. Kids are weird.
Reactions:
No pukes today. No complaints of hurting stomachs. Fairly normal day for everyone.
Thoughts:
I need to keep a constant supply of ferments going in the pantry because we're going through them faster than I anticipated. And I never really expected my boys to like them...but they do!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Day 24
Breakfast
Eggs, Meat and Veggie Sausages, Smoothie, Juice
(Stage 2/3 for eggs, Stage 5 for Meat and Veggie Sausages unless using only salt and pepper, Full for smoothies)
Lunch
Meatballs, Peas, sauerkraut
(Stage 1 for meatballs, Stage 1 for peas, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
Today's meatballs had one onion, 4 cloves garlic, a giant carrot, a handful of parsley and a monster leaf of nearly indestructible kale.
Dinner
Mexican Chicken Soup, avocado, olive oil (drizzled in the soup), cilantro, sauerkraut, watermelon
(Stage 1 for soup w/out extras, Stage 3 avocado, sauerkraut, cilantro & olive oil, Full for watermelon)
The soup was lovely with all the add-ins. And yes, we put sauerkraut in the soup and it was GREAT.
Reactions:
I woke up to find my 5-year-old sprawled in the floor, dry heaving. I got him to the bathroom and he emptied his stomach. He immediately asked for food, which I gave him as I suspected it was "diet" related and not stomach bug. He ate a heaping plate of scrambled eggs, a peach, an apple and then got up and played all day. We let him eat all day long and he was fine. Most likely it was another dip in blood sugar. Or that he hadn't eaten well the day before. My husband and I are currently discussing what we can do to avoid this and to make sure this child doesn't develop digestion/food issues that he didn't have before we started GAPS.
In other news, we have some mildly constipated kids and the darn eczema just isn't budging. He told me that it's so bad now that he can't lay his legs on the sheets at night without it hurting. Diet? Laundry soap? Fabric? It's a puzzle I can't seem to solve.
Thoughts:
I'm still brainstorming on snacks...trying to find healthy, inexpensive snacks that don't take a ton of prep work. It's discouraging to spend an hour in the kitchen making a "batch" of snacks and watch them eat it all in one sitting! We've pretty much lifted the fruit ban and are letting them eat it when they want, as snacks, with meals, whenever. Their morale has improved a lot and I think they feel more relaxed knowing that they have instant access to food if they are hungry instead of me saying, "Just give me 30 minutes or so and I'll have a snack ready."
Eggs, Meat and Veggie Sausages, Smoothie, Juice
(Stage 2/3 for eggs, Stage 5 for Meat and Veggie Sausages unless using only salt and pepper, Full for smoothies)
Lunch
Meatballs, Peas, sauerkraut
(Stage 1 for meatballs, Stage 1 for peas, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
Today's meatballs had one onion, 4 cloves garlic, a giant carrot, a handful of parsley and a monster leaf of nearly indestructible kale.
Dinner
Mexican Chicken Soup, avocado, olive oil (drizzled in the soup), cilantro, sauerkraut, watermelon
(Stage 1 for soup w/out extras, Stage 3 avocado, sauerkraut, cilantro & olive oil, Full for watermelon)
The soup was lovely with all the add-ins. And yes, we put sauerkraut in the soup and it was GREAT.
Reactions:
I woke up to find my 5-year-old sprawled in the floor, dry heaving. I got him to the bathroom and he emptied his stomach. He immediately asked for food, which I gave him as I suspected it was "diet" related and not stomach bug. He ate a heaping plate of scrambled eggs, a peach, an apple and then got up and played all day. We let him eat all day long and he was fine. Most likely it was another dip in blood sugar. Or that he hadn't eaten well the day before. My husband and I are currently discussing what we can do to avoid this and to make sure this child doesn't develop digestion/food issues that he didn't have before we started GAPS.
In other news, we have some mildly constipated kids and the darn eczema just isn't budging. He told me that it's so bad now that he can't lay his legs on the sheets at night without it hurting. Diet? Laundry soap? Fabric? It's a puzzle I can't seem to solve.
Thoughts:
I'm still brainstorming on snacks...trying to find healthy, inexpensive snacks that don't take a ton of prep work. It's discouraging to spend an hour in the kitchen making a "batch" of snacks and watch them eat it all in one sitting! We've pretty much lifted the fruit ban and are letting them eat it when they want, as snacks, with meals, whenever. Their morale has improved a lot and I think they feel more relaxed knowing that they have instant access to food if they are hungry instead of me saying, "Just give me 30 minutes or so and I'll have a snack ready."
Kimchi
I made our first batch and it finished fermenting today so we tried it for lunch. Talk about hot and spicy! One of my sons (11-yr-old) said "It feels like some of the hot salsa we used to eat at restaurants". Another son (10-yr-old) tried a bit then pushed it away, only to ask for the jar a few minutes later saying, "I'm starting to really crave it." They both ate 2 helpings! So did I. My mouth is still watering just thinking about it.
The next time I make it I'll cut the amount of peppers because it was just a tad too hot, even though we ate it happily. I used the recipe from Home, Health and Happiness, and would also like to try this version once I find the right kind of pepper powder and figure out how to make fish sauce.
1 Napa cabbage, washed and sliced thinly
1 bunch green onions, sliced (use both green and white parts)
3 carrots, grated
1 bunch radishes (didn't have, but would like to try it next time)
1 tbsp. fresh ginger, grated
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 chili peppers (I used serrano and they were HOT...need to decrease the amount or switch peppers)
4 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. whey per mason jar
Mix it all together and pound for about 10 minutes to release the juices. I prefer to stir it around with a big wooden spoon or my hands for a minute or two then let it sit for an hour or so. Then come back and stir/squish with my hands and let it sit again. After two or three times there is a lot of liquid at the bottom of the bowl and my hands aren't sore! Pack it tightly into the jars and add the whey on top. You want the vegetables to be submerged in their own juices...add some water if need be but leave at least an inch at the top. Cover with a clean cloth or loose lid and allow to ferment at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. You can taste it periodically to see when it reaches the flavor you like or when there are lots of bubbles up at the top and in the liquid on the sides. Transfer to the fridge or cold storage. It will last for several months, unopened. Once you open it, use within a week or so.
This made about one quart, but I put it in two one-quart jars as it's easier for me to work with and then we're only opening one smaller amount at a time so it won't go bad.
The juice for this can be used in Stage 1. In Stage 3 you can start eating the vegetables.
The next time I make it I'll cut the amount of peppers because it was just a tad too hot, even though we ate it happily. I used the recipe from Home, Health and Happiness, and would also like to try this version once I find the right kind of pepper powder and figure out how to make fish sauce.
1 Napa cabbage, washed and sliced thinly
1 bunch green onions, sliced (use both green and white parts)
3 carrots, grated
1 bunch radishes (didn't have, but would like to try it next time)
1 tbsp. fresh ginger, grated
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 chili peppers (I used serrano and they were HOT...need to decrease the amount or switch peppers)
4 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. whey per mason jar
Mix it all together and pound for about 10 minutes to release the juices. I prefer to stir it around with a big wooden spoon or my hands for a minute or two then let it sit for an hour or so. Then come back and stir/squish with my hands and let it sit again. After two or three times there is a lot of liquid at the bottom of the bowl and my hands aren't sore! Pack it tightly into the jars and add the whey on top. You want the vegetables to be submerged in their own juices...add some water if need be but leave at least an inch at the top. Cover with a clean cloth or loose lid and allow to ferment at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. You can taste it periodically to see when it reaches the flavor you like or when there are lots of bubbles up at the top and in the liquid on the sides. Transfer to the fridge or cold storage. It will last for several months, unopened. Once you open it, use within a week or so.
This made about one quart, but I put it in two one-quart jars as it's easier for me to work with and then we're only opening one smaller amount at a time so it won't go bad.
The juice for this can be used in Stage 1. In Stage 3 you can start eating the vegetables.
Cortido
This is a Latin American version of sauerkraut...kind of. We love the taste and even my kids will eat it.
1 head cabbage - green or red, or half of each
2 onions, white or yellow - thinly sliced
3 carrots, grated
1 tbsp. dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tbsp. sea salt
1/4 c. whey OR an additional 1 tbsp. sea salt
Wash all the veggies as needed. Cut and core cabbage then thinly slice or coarsely chop. Place in a large bowl and add other ingredients. Some directions say to pound/squeeze/smash for about 10 minutes. I've had best results by spending a minute or two squeezing/stirring with my hands, then letting it sit for an hour or so. Squish/squeeze/stir with clean hands again for one to two minutes, then let sit another hour or two. Repeat as many times as necessary until you have a nice puddle of liquid at the bottom of the bowl. Pack the cortido into clean quart or other sized glass jars. Push it down hard. Leave at least an inch at the top. You want the vegetables submerged so add water if the veggie liquid isn't enough. Cover with a clean cloth or a loose lid and let ferment in a warm (think cupboard or basement shelf) for 3 days. You'll start to see bubbles and the liquid may rise up (or spill over). Taste every day or so until it reaches the taste you want. Once done, transfer to the fridge (or cold storage) where it will last several months. Once it's opened and you're digging into it every day, it's best to use within a week or so.
This makes between one and two quarts - it depends on how big your cabbage and carrots are. The juice can be used starting in Stage 1 and the vegetables can be eaten in Stage 3.
1 head cabbage - green or red, or half of each
2 onions, white or yellow - thinly sliced
3 carrots, grated
1 tbsp. dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tbsp. sea salt
1/4 c. whey OR an additional 1 tbsp. sea salt
Wash all the veggies as needed. Cut and core cabbage then thinly slice or coarsely chop. Place in a large bowl and add other ingredients. Some directions say to pound/squeeze/smash for about 10 minutes. I've had best results by spending a minute or two squeezing/stirring with my hands, then letting it sit for an hour or so. Squish/squeeze/stir with clean hands again for one to two minutes, then let sit another hour or two. Repeat as many times as necessary until you have a nice puddle of liquid at the bottom of the bowl. Pack the cortido into clean quart or other sized glass jars. Push it down hard. Leave at least an inch at the top. You want the vegetables submerged so add water if the veggie liquid isn't enough. Cover with a clean cloth or a loose lid and let ferment in a warm (think cupboard or basement shelf) for 3 days. You'll start to see bubbles and the liquid may rise up (or spill over). Taste every day or so until it reaches the taste you want. Once done, transfer to the fridge (or cold storage) where it will last several months. Once it's opened and you're digging into it every day, it's best to use within a week or so.
This makes between one and two quarts - it depends on how big your cabbage and carrots are. The juice can be used starting in Stage 1 and the vegetables can be eaten in Stage 3.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Roll-Ups
This recipe comes from Keeper of the Home. I made it exactly as listed.
12 eggs (oh the pain...oh the cost...)
4 tbsp. coconut flour
1/8 tsp. sea salt
coconut oil or tallow for cooking
Blend the heck out of the eggs, flour and salt. Use an immersion blender or a blender as coconut flour needs help playing nicely with the other ingredients. Let it sit a few minutes then blend it again. Heat your skillet/griddle and melt a small amount of coconut oil or tallow. Add a small amount of the batter and cook until the edges are dryish. Flip and cook a minute or to longer.
These darn rolls were not uniformly lovely. They came out all different weird shapes. They were a little dry and tasted "eggy" according to one kid. They held together without ripping and worked just fine for what I needed them to. It made 15 or so oddly-shaped rolls.
We used these for tuna rolls. You could also use chicken, eggs (yes more eggs!), fruit, veggies (raw or cooked), etc.
This is Full recipe due to the coconut flour.
12 eggs (oh the pain...oh the cost...)
4 tbsp. coconut flour
1/8 tsp. sea salt
coconut oil or tallow for cooking
Blend the heck out of the eggs, flour and salt. Use an immersion blender or a blender as coconut flour needs help playing nicely with the other ingredients. Let it sit a few minutes then blend it again. Heat your skillet/griddle and melt a small amount of coconut oil or tallow. Add a small amount of the batter and cook until the edges are dryish. Flip and cook a minute or to longer.
These darn rolls were not uniformly lovely. They came out all different weird shapes. They were a little dry and tasted "eggy" according to one kid. They held together without ripping and worked just fine for what I needed them to. It made 15 or so oddly-shaped rolls.
We used these for tuna rolls. You could also use chicken, eggs (yes more eggs!), fruit, veggies (raw or cooked), etc.
This is Full recipe due to the coconut flour.
Honey Mustard Chicken
Chicken - enough to feed your family
mustard
honey
ghee (optional)
salt
In a small bowl I mixed about 2 or 3 tsp. of mustard, a few spoonfuls of honey and a big spoonful of ghee. Drizzled over the chicken (in a 13x9) pan and baked at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. It was a little bland and needed salt desperately. The kids snarfed it down though so it's a recipe I'll tinker with in the future. Most likely I'll just salt it before adding the honey/mustard mixture.
This is good served with a green veggies (peas, green beans, zucchini, etc) and an orange veggie (carrots, squash, etc). Also good with avocado (drizzled with olive oil) and a fermented food like sauerkraut or cortido.
This is a Stage 5 recipe because of the mustard. Some people will want to wait until Full for honey.
mustard
honey
ghee (optional)
salt
In a small bowl I mixed about 2 or 3 tsp. of mustard, a few spoonfuls of honey and a big spoonful of ghee. Drizzled over the chicken (in a 13x9) pan and baked at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. It was a little bland and needed salt desperately. The kids snarfed it down though so it's a recipe I'll tinker with in the future. Most likely I'll just salt it before adding the honey/mustard mixture.
This is good served with a green veggies (peas, green beans, zucchini, etc) and an orange veggie (carrots, squash, etc). Also good with avocado (drizzled with olive oil) and a fermented food like sauerkraut or cortido.
This is a Stage 5 recipe because of the mustard. Some people will want to wait until Full for honey.
Day 23
We're just going to pretend that Day 22 didn't happen. It was a Murphy's Law day and pretty much everything I made didn't work, didn't taste good, had blenders fall apart in it and other such awful things. I even called my husband and told him to pick up pizza and then cried and told him not to.
So, for Day 23....
Breakfast
Smoothie, Apple Pie Lara Balls, fruit
(Full for smoothie and Lara Balls)
The kids found out that I put raw egg yolks in their smoothies today. The 7-year-old politely requested that he have a smoothie without egg yolks. I told him he'd been drinking them for the past 2 weeks so he "manned up" and drank his cup. Then had another!
We're adding fruit (fresh or frozen), whey, coconut oil, raw egg yolks, flax seed oil and water to the smoothies.
Lunch
Tuna roll-ups, sauerkraut
(Full for the "rolls", Stage 3/4 for tuna w/mayo, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
These darn rolls were not uniformly lovely. They came out all different weird shapes. They were a little dry and tasted "eggy" according to one kid. They held together without ripping and worked just fine for what I needed them to.
I mixed some tuna with homemade mayo (I'm not posting the recipe until it's perfected). Some of us added sauerkraut to the roll. I added some diced raw onion and celery to mine as well.
Dinner
Honey Mustard chicken, green beans, raw carrots, avocado, sauerkraut, olive oil
(Stage 5 for chicken unless waiting until Full for honey, Stage 1 for green beans, Stage 6 for raw carrots, Stage 3 for avocado, sauerkraut and olive oil)
In a small bowl I mixed about 2 or 3 tsp. of mustard, a few spoonfuls of honey and a big spoonful of ghee. Drizzled over the chicken (in a 13x9) pan and baked at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. It was a little bland and needed salt desperately. The kids snarfed it down though so it's a recipe I'll tinker with in the future.
Reactions:
We're having some constipation issues with some of the kids...and me. I gave them some of our old probiotics (with some GAPS illegal ingredients) and they pooped sometime that day. 5-year-old is complaining that his stomach hurts, all day. I had a MASSIVE headache as did the 11-yr-old. Maybe we didn't eat enough for lunch? The two oldest and I were out 'school' shopping until almost 3 and then ate lunch.
Thoughts:
I need to do better about having portable snacks for when a meal will be late. I also need to find a child friendly probiotic that isn't uber expensive and still GAPS legal (or mostly). Chewable or powder works best since 3 of them can't swallow pills!
So, for Day 23....
Breakfast
Smoothie, Apple Pie Lara Balls, fruit
(Full for smoothie and Lara Balls)
The kids found out that I put raw egg yolks in their smoothies today. The 7-year-old politely requested that he have a smoothie without egg yolks. I told him he'd been drinking them for the past 2 weeks so he "manned up" and drank his cup. Then had another!
We're adding fruit (fresh or frozen), whey, coconut oil, raw egg yolks, flax seed oil and water to the smoothies.
Lunch
Tuna roll-ups, sauerkraut
(Full for the "rolls", Stage 3/4 for tuna w/mayo, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
These darn rolls were not uniformly lovely. They came out all different weird shapes. They were a little dry and tasted "eggy" according to one kid. They held together without ripping and worked just fine for what I needed them to.
I mixed some tuna with homemade mayo (I'm not posting the recipe until it's perfected). Some of us added sauerkraut to the roll. I added some diced raw onion and celery to mine as well.
Dinner
Honey Mustard chicken, green beans, raw carrots, avocado, sauerkraut, olive oil
(Stage 5 for chicken unless waiting until Full for honey, Stage 1 for green beans, Stage 6 for raw carrots, Stage 3 for avocado, sauerkraut and olive oil)
In a small bowl I mixed about 2 or 3 tsp. of mustard, a few spoonfuls of honey and a big spoonful of ghee. Drizzled over the chicken (in a 13x9) pan and baked at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. It was a little bland and needed salt desperately. The kids snarfed it down though so it's a recipe I'll tinker with in the future.
Reactions:
We're having some constipation issues with some of the kids...and me. I gave them some of our old probiotics (with some GAPS illegal ingredients) and they pooped sometime that day. 5-year-old is complaining that his stomach hurts, all day. I had a MASSIVE headache as did the 11-yr-old. Maybe we didn't eat enough for lunch? The two oldest and I were out 'school' shopping until almost 3 and then ate lunch.
Thoughts:
I need to do better about having portable snacks for when a meal will be late. I also need to find a child friendly probiotic that isn't uber expensive and still GAPS legal (or mostly). Chewable or powder works best since 3 of them can't swallow pills!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Another great recipe from Grain-Free Foodies.
3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 onion, diced (I should have used a full one)
juice of 1 lime
salt
pinch or two chipotle powder
1-2 tsp. cumin
3 to 4 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp. oregano
meat stock
a bunch of cilantro, chopped
You can use leftover chicken meat from roasting a chicken or from making stock instead of the chicken breasts, but that was all I had tonight. Melt some nice GAPS fat in a skillet (I used coconut oil) and cook the onion until soft. Add the garlic and spices and cook and stir for a few minutes. Pour in some meat stock if necessary to keep it from sticking. Add the chicken and mix well. If you're going to add the cilantro to the whole thing, do so now. I kept it separate because half the family doesn't like it.
We scooped the chicken into lettuce leaves and added cilantro, guacamole and cucumbers then rolled them up like burritos. We tried some with sauerkraut as well. Everything tastes better with sauerkraut! The guacamole was simply avocado, salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Even my guac haters had some small scoops of it tonight. I'm wearing them down.
The original recipe says to add a Anaheim or poblano pepper and a green bell pepper to the onion and cook it together. My husband and I are the only ones that like peppers so I left it out. Next time I'll make it but keep it on the side, like the cilantro. I felt like it needed a bit more heat, but it was perfect, as is, for the kids.
This is a Stage 5 recipe because of the spices.
Day 21
Breakfast
Smoothie, eggs
(Full for smoothie, Stage 2/3 for eggs)
Lunch
Lara Bars, Meat and Veggie Sausages, fruit, leftover soup
(Full for Lara Bars, Stage 5 for Sausages unless use salt & pepper only, Stages 5+ for fruit, Stage 1 for soup)
Coconut Cream Pie
1 1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. cashews
1/3 c. coconut
I used 1 cup of dates and 1/2 cup raisins. In a food processor, mix the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts (with coconut if it's not already shredded super small) until mostly fine, but with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the mixing bowl. With your hands knead the mixture around until it's combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 5 out of 6 thumbs up.
Cashew Cookie
1 1/2 c. dates
1 c. cashews
Again, I used 1 cup dates and 1/2 cup raisins. Process the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky bowl. Remove to a separate mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly ground, with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the bowl and mix with your hands (sort of like kneading bread) until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 2 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up, with it being "the favorite" of the 7-year-old.
Apple Pie
6 dates
about 1/4 c. dehydrated apple slices
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. honey
1/2 c. walnuts
1/2 c. almonds
In a food processor, process the dates, apples, cinnamon and honey until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly fine, with a few small chunks. Add to the date/apple mixture and mix with your hands until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 6 out of 6 thumbs up. I may try it with more dehydrated apples next time to make it a bit more appley. Many of the recipes I saw online used raw apples for this, but said they were runny. Some also added 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, but I don't like the taste so I left it out.
Protein Bars
2 c. almonds
1/4 c. flax seeds
1/2 c. prunes (or dates or raisins or mixture)
1/2 c. coconut (I left it out)
1/2 c. almond butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. coconut oil
1 tbsp. honey
2-3 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
Add all the dry ingredients in the food processor (or blender like Blendtec) and process until almost fine. In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil. Then add the honey and vanilla if you're using it. Add to the food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Press into an 8x8 pan and let chill in the fridge for about an hour.
This earned 4 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up.
Dinner
Cilantro Lime Chicken w/lettuce, guacamole, sauerkraut, diced cucumber
(Stage 5 for chicken, Stage 5 for raw lettuce and cucumber, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 onion, diced
juice of 1 lime
salt
pinch or two chipotle powder
1-2 tsp. cumin
3 to 4 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp. oregano
meat stock
a bunch of cilantro
You can use leftover chicken meat from roasting a chicken or from making stock. Melt some nice GAPS fat in a skillet (I used coconut oil) and cook the onion until soft. Add the garlic and spices and cook and stir for a few minutes. Pour in some meat stock if necessary to keep it from sticking. Add the chicken and mix well. If you're going to add the cilantro to the whole thing, do so now. I kept it separate because half the family doesn't like it.
We scooped the chicken into lettuce leaves and added cilantro, guacamole and cucumbers then rolled them up like burritos. We tried some with sauerkraut as well. Everything tastes better with sauerkraut. The guacamole was simply avocado, salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Even my guac haters had some small scoops of it tonight!
The original recipe says to add a Anaheim or poblano pepper and a green bell pepper to the onion and cook it together. My husband and I are the only ones that like peppers so I left it out. Next time I'll make them but keep them on the side, like the cilantro. I felt like it needed a bit more heat, but it was perfect, as is, for the kids.
Smoothie, eggs
(Full for smoothie, Stage 2/3 for eggs)
Lunch
Lara Bars, Meat and Veggie Sausages, fruit, leftover soup
(Full for Lara Bars, Stage 5 for Sausages unless use salt & pepper only, Stages 5+ for fruit, Stage 1 for soup)
Coconut Cream Pie
1 1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. cashews
1/3 c. coconut
I used 1 cup of dates and 1/2 cup raisins. In a food processor, mix the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts (with coconut if it's not already shredded super small) until mostly fine, but with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the mixing bowl. With your hands knead the mixture around until it's combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 5 out of 6 thumbs up.
Cashew Cookie
1 1/2 c. dates
1 c. cashews
Again, I used 1 cup dates and 1/2 cup raisins. Process the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky bowl. Remove to a separate mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly ground, with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the bowl and mix with your hands (sort of like kneading bread) until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 2 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up, with it being "the favorite" of the 7-year-old.
Apple Pie
6 dates
about 1/4 c. dehydrated apple slices
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. honey
1/2 c. walnuts
1/2 c. almonds
In a food processor, process the dates, apples, cinnamon and honey until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly fine, with a few small chunks. Add to the date/apple mixture and mix with your hands until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 6 out of 6 thumbs up. I may try it with more dehydrated apples next time to make it a bit more appley. Many of the recipes I saw online used raw apples for this, but said they were runny. Some also added 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, but I don't like the taste so I left it out.
Protein Bars
2 c. almonds
1/4 c. flax seeds
1/2 c. prunes (or dates or raisins or mixture)
1/2 c. coconut (I left it out)
1/2 c. almond butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. coconut oil
1 tbsp. honey
2-3 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
Add all the dry ingredients in the food processor (or blender like Blendtec) and process until almost fine. In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil. Then add the honey and vanilla if you're using it. Add to the food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Press into an 8x8 pan and let chill in the fridge for about an hour.
This earned 4 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up.
Dinner
Cilantro Lime Chicken w/lettuce, guacamole, sauerkraut, diced cucumber
(Stage 5 for chicken, Stage 5 for raw lettuce and cucumber, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 onion, diced
juice of 1 lime
salt
pinch or two chipotle powder
1-2 tsp. cumin
3 to 4 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp. oregano
meat stock
a bunch of cilantro
You can use leftover chicken meat from roasting a chicken or from making stock. Melt some nice GAPS fat in a skillet (I used coconut oil) and cook the onion until soft. Add the garlic and spices and cook and stir for a few minutes. Pour in some meat stock if necessary to keep it from sticking. Add the chicken and mix well. If you're going to add the cilantro to the whole thing, do so now. I kept it separate because half the family doesn't like it.
We scooped the chicken into lettuce leaves and added cilantro, guacamole and cucumbers then rolled them up like burritos. We tried some with sauerkraut as well. Everything tastes better with sauerkraut. The guacamole was simply avocado, salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Even my guac haters had some small scoops of it tonight!
The original recipe says to add a Anaheim or poblano pepper and a green bell pepper to the onion and cook it together. My husband and I are the only ones that like peppers so I left it out. Next time I'll make them but keep them on the side, like the cilantro. I felt like it needed a bit more heat, but it was perfect, as is, for the kids.
Homemade Lara Bars
I made four versions of Lara Bars today. Here are the recipes and results. All of these I would consider Full recipes. Use nuts that have been soaked then dehydrated and dates/raisins/prunes that have no preservatives. Because I made most of these into "ball" shapes, my 7-year-old dubbed them "Lara Balls". The Protein Bars listed at the bottom need to be refrigerated, the Lara Balls do not.
Coconut Cream Pie
1 1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. cashews
1/3 c. coconut
I used 1 cup of dates and 1/2 cup raisins. In a food processor, mix the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts (with coconut if it's not already shredded super small) until mostly fine, but with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the mixing bowl. With your hands knead the mixture around until it's combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 5 out of 6 thumbs up.
Cashew Cookie
1 1/2 c. dates
1 c. cashews
Again, I used 1 cup dates and 1/2 cup raisins. Process the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky bowl. Remove to a separate mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly ground, with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the bowl and mix with your hands (sort of like kneading bread) until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 2 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up, with it being "the favorite" of the 7-year-old.
Apple Pie
6 dates
about 1/4 c. dehydrated apple slices
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. honey
1/2 c. walnuts
1/2 c. almonds
In a food processor, process the dates, apples, cinnamon and honey until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly fine, with a few small chunks. Add to the date/apple mixture and mix with your hands until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 6 out of 6 thumbs up. I may try it with more dehydrated apples next time to make it a bit more appley. Many of the recipes I saw online used raw apples for this, but said they were runny. Some also added 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, but I don't like the taste so I left it out.
Protein Bars
2 c. almonds
1/4 c. flax seeds
1/2 c. prunes (or dates or raisins or mixture)
1/2 c. coconut (I left it out)
1/2 c. almond butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. coconut oil
1 tbsp. honey
2-3 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
Add all the dry ingredients in the food processor (or blender like Blendtec) and process until almost fine. In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil. Then add the honey and vanilla if you're using it. Add to the food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Press into an 8x8 pan and let chill in the fridge for about an hour.
This earned 4 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up.
Update July 24:
I made another version which was well received.
Apricot Banana
1/2 c. dates/prunes/raisins
1/2 c. dried apricots
a few handfuls dried bananas (the softer kind, not the hard crunchy kind)
1 c. nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, whatever)
Mixed the fruits in the food processor until it formed a ball and removed to a bowl. Ground the nuts in same processor until only a few smallish chunks left. Added them to the bowl and mixed with my hands. Form into bars or balls. On this recipe I just sort of threw stuff in the processor and eyeballed the amounts. What is listed above is my best guess. After a few batches you can figure out the ratio of nuts to fruit by "looking".
Coconut Cream Pie
1 1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. cashews
1/3 c. coconut
I used 1 cup of dates and 1/2 cup raisins. In a food processor, mix the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts (with coconut if it's not already shredded super small) until mostly fine, but with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the mixing bowl. With your hands knead the mixture around until it's combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 5 out of 6 thumbs up.
Cashew Cookie
1 1/2 c. dates
1 c. cashews
Again, I used 1 cup dates and 1/2 cup raisins. Process the dates (and raisins) until it forms a sticky bowl. Remove to a separate mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly ground, with a few smaller chunks. Add them to the bowl and mix with your hands (sort of like kneading bread) until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 2 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up, with it being "the favorite" of the 7-year-old.
Apple Pie
6 dates
about 1/4 c. dehydrated apple slices
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. honey
1/2 c. walnuts
1/2 c. almonds
In a food processor, process the dates, apples, cinnamon and honey until it forms a sticky ball. Remove to a mixing bowl. Process the nuts until mostly fine, with a few small chunks. Add to the date/apple mixture and mix with your hands until combined. Shape into bars or balls. I opted for balls. Some people use waxed paper or cling wrap to help in shaping the bars.
This earned 6 out of 6 thumbs up. I may try it with more dehydrated apples next time to make it a bit more appley. Many of the recipes I saw online used raw apples for this, but said they were runny. Some also added 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, but I don't like the taste so I left it out.
Protein Bars
2 c. almonds
1/4 c. flax seeds
1/2 c. prunes (or dates or raisins or mixture)
1/2 c. coconut (I left it out)
1/2 c. almond butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. coconut oil
1 tbsp. honey
2-3 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
Add all the dry ingredients in the food processor (or blender like Blendtec) and process until almost fine. In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil. Then add the honey and vanilla if you're using it. Add to the food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Press into an 8x8 pan and let chill in the fridge for about an hour.
This earned 4 1/2 out of 6 thumbs up.
Update July 24:
I made another version which was well received.
Apricot Banana
1/2 c. dates/prunes/raisins
1/2 c. dried apricots
a few handfuls dried bananas (the softer kind, not the hard crunchy kind)
1 c. nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, whatever)
Mixed the fruits in the food processor until it formed a ball and removed to a bowl. Ground the nuts in same processor until only a few smallish chunks left. Added them to the bowl and mixed with my hands. Form into bars or balls. On this recipe I just sort of threw stuff in the processor and eyeballed the amounts. What is listed above is my best guess. After a few batches you can figure out the ratio of nuts to fruit by "looking".
Italian Meatball Soup with Greens
This soup was delicious and simple. Everyone loved it. A few people added sauerkraut in as well.
Meatballs (you could use any recipe for these)
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
1/4 c. parsley (leave out until Stage 3)
2 eggs
salt (I used about 1 tsp or so)
black pepper
2 tbsp. parmesan cheese (we're not eating dairy yet)
2 tbsp. psyllium seed husks (didn't have...don't know if it's legal)
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (I used 2 pounds - you could probably use chicken or turkey as well)
Puree everything except the beef in the food processor - you could leave it a little chunkier if you want but my kids won't eat them that way. In a separate bowl, mix the beef with the pureed stuff. Shape into meatballs.
For the soup:
3 quarts homemade chicken stock (I used some beef broth too)
1 large bunch kale or spinach, chopped into bite-sized pieces (I used some of each - a LOT of each)
Bring the stock to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Add the meatballs and gently drop in. I didn't shape them before this stage. Once it was simmering I made them and dropped them in one by one. Simmer, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes then add the greens. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve w/additonal parmesan cheese (if you're up to that Stage yet).
Without adding the parsley to the meatballs, this would be a Stage 1 recipe. The parsley can be added in Stage 3. Parmesan cheese can be eaten in Full.
Meatballs (you could use any recipe for these)
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
1/4 c. parsley (leave out until Stage 3)
2 eggs
salt (I used about 1 tsp or so)
black pepper
2 tbsp. parmesan cheese (we're not eating dairy yet)
2 tbsp. psyllium seed husks (didn't have...don't know if it's legal)
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (I used 2 pounds - you could probably use chicken or turkey as well)
Puree everything except the beef in the food processor - you could leave it a little chunkier if you want but my kids won't eat them that way. In a separate bowl, mix the beef with the pureed stuff. Shape into meatballs.
For the soup:
3 quarts homemade chicken stock (I used some beef broth too)
1 large bunch kale or spinach, chopped into bite-sized pieces (I used some of each - a LOT of each)
Bring the stock to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Add the meatballs and gently drop in. I didn't shape them before this stage. Once it was simmering I made them and dropped them in one by one. Simmer, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes then add the greens. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve w/additonal parmesan cheese (if you're up to that Stage yet).
Without adding the parsley to the meatballs, this would be a Stage 1 recipe. The parsley can be added in Stage 3. Parmesan cheese can be eaten in Full.
Coconut Flour Waffles
I used this recipe from Wellness Mama. My alterations are listed below.
8 eggs
1/2 c. melted butter or coconut oil (I used coconut oil...ghee would work too)
1/2 c. coconut flour
1 tbsp. cinnamon (I used 1 1/2 tsp.)
1 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
1/2 tsp. salt
Beat eggs with immersion blender. Add everything except the coconut flour and mix again. Sprinkle the coconut flour on top and hit it with your blender again. Whisking just doesn't work for coconut flour - you need an immersion (stick) blender or a regular blender. The batter will be thickish. I was able to get 8 waffles by spooning 2 large spoonfuls into each "waffle" quarter. They didn't fill it completely though.
We ate these with peanut butter, but oh, they were dry. I think they absolutely needed ghee/butter and some jam or syrup of some sort. These might also work for holding tuna/chicken salad or as sandwich bread. Even though everyone says coconut flour products are "super dense and filling" my boys ate 1 1/2 each and begged for more.
This is a Full recipe due to the coconut flour.
8 eggs
1/2 c. melted butter or coconut oil (I used coconut oil...ghee would work too)
1/2 c. coconut flour
1 tbsp. cinnamon (I used 1 1/2 tsp.)
1 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
1/2 tsp. salt
Beat eggs with immersion blender. Add everything except the coconut flour and mix again. Sprinkle the coconut flour on top and hit it with your blender again. Whisking just doesn't work for coconut flour - you need an immersion (stick) blender or a regular blender. The batter will be thickish. I was able to get 8 waffles by spooning 2 large spoonfuls into each "waffle" quarter. They didn't fill it completely though.
We ate these with peanut butter, but oh, they were dry. I think they absolutely needed ghee/butter and some jam or syrup of some sort. These might also work for holding tuna/chicken salad or as sandwich bread. Even though everyone says coconut flour products are "super dense and filling" my boys ate 1 1/2 each and begged for more.
This is a Full recipe due to the coconut flour.
Day 20
Breakfast
Smoothie, eggs
(Full for smoothie, Stage 2/3 for eggs)
Smoothies these days consist of fruit - usually bananas, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, frozen raspberries, coconut oil, raw egg yolks, whey and flax seed oil. Sometimes we use a "tropical" fruit mix with pineapple, peaches, mango, and strawberries. If we have leftover freshly pressed juice I'll add that as well.
Lunch
Coconut flour waffles w/peanut butter, squash pancakes
(Full for waffles, Stage 3 for squash pancakes)
I used this recipe from Wellness Mama. My alterations are listed below.
8 eggs
1/2 c. melted butter or coconut oil (I used coconut oil...ghee would work too)
1/2 c. coconut flour
1 tbsp. cinnamon (I used 1 1/2 tsp.)
1 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
1/2 tsp. salt
Beat eggs with immersion blender. Add everything except the coconut flour and mix again. Sprinkle the coconut flour on top and hit it with your blender again. Whisking just doesn't work for coconut flour - you need an immersion (stick) blender or a regular blender. The batter will be thickish. I was able to get 8 waffles by spooning 2 large spoonfuls into each "waffle" quarter. They didn't fill it completely though.
We ate these with peanut butter, but oh, they were dry. I think they absolutely needed ghee/butter and some jam or syrup of some sort. Even though everyone says coconut flour products are "super dense and filling" my boys ate 1 1/2 each and begged for more.
For the squash pancakes I just followed the recipe from the GAPS book.
3/4 of a medium-sized butternut squash, cooked
about 2 cups almonds, soaked overnight but not dehydrated (you can use dehydrated nuts though)
4 eggs
Blended everything in my trusty Blendtec until it resembled pudding (it was thickish, not runny). Heated the cast iron skillet on medium low and added enough coconut oil to make the bottom shiny (I was out of ghee or I would have used that). I tried making them bigger at first but they were really hard to turn because they didn't hold together well. The next few batches were smaller, maybe the size of a golf ball. I had to add a touch of coconut oil after each batch or they'd stick like crazy. They take a bit longer to cook than regular pancakes.
Dinner
Italian Meatball Soup with greens
(Stage 1 for soup, no cheese until Full)
I was going to make biscuits with this, but we got home really late from the bookstore/grocery store trip.
Meatballs (you could use any recipe for these)
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
1/4 c. parsley (leave out until Stage 3)
2 eggs
salt (I used about 1 tsp or so)
black pepper
2 tbsp. parmesan cheese (we're not eating dairy yet)
2 tbsp. psyllium seed husks (didn't have...don't know if it's legal)
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (I used 2 pounds)
Pureed everything except the beef in the food processor - you could leave it a little chunkier if you want but my kids won't eat them that way. In a separate bowl, mix the beef with the pureed stuff. Shape into meatballs.
For the soup:
3 quarts homemade chicken stock (I used some beef broth too)
1 large bunch kale or spinach, chopped into bite-sized pieces (I used some of each)
Bring the stock to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Add the meatballs and gently drop in. I didn't shape them before this stage. Once it was simmering I made them and dropped them in one by one. Simmer, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes then add the greens. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve w/additonal parmesan cheese (if you're up to that Stage yet).
This was delicious and simple. Everyone loved it. A few people added sauerkraut in as well.
Smoothie, eggs
(Full for smoothie, Stage 2/3 for eggs)
Smoothies these days consist of fruit - usually bananas, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, frozen raspberries, coconut oil, raw egg yolks, whey and flax seed oil. Sometimes we use a "tropical" fruit mix with pineapple, peaches, mango, and strawberries. If we have leftover freshly pressed juice I'll add that as well.
Lunch
Coconut flour waffles w/peanut butter, squash pancakes
(Full for waffles, Stage 3 for squash pancakes)
I used this recipe from Wellness Mama. My alterations are listed below.
8 eggs
1/2 c. melted butter or coconut oil (I used coconut oil...ghee would work too)
1/2 c. coconut flour
1 tbsp. cinnamon (I used 1 1/2 tsp.)
1 tsp. vanilla (I left it out)
1/2 tsp. salt
Beat eggs with immersion blender. Add everything except the coconut flour and mix again. Sprinkle the coconut flour on top and hit it with your blender again. Whisking just doesn't work for coconut flour - you need an immersion (stick) blender or a regular blender. The batter will be thickish. I was able to get 8 waffles by spooning 2 large spoonfuls into each "waffle" quarter. They didn't fill it completely though.
We ate these with peanut butter, but oh, they were dry. I think they absolutely needed ghee/butter and some jam or syrup of some sort. Even though everyone says coconut flour products are "super dense and filling" my boys ate 1 1/2 each and begged for more.
For the squash pancakes I just followed the recipe from the GAPS book.
3/4 of a medium-sized butternut squash, cooked
about 2 cups almonds, soaked overnight but not dehydrated (you can use dehydrated nuts though)
4 eggs
Blended everything in my trusty Blendtec until it resembled pudding (it was thickish, not runny). Heated the cast iron skillet on medium low and added enough coconut oil to make the bottom shiny (I was out of ghee or I would have used that). I tried making them bigger at first but they were really hard to turn because they didn't hold together well. The next few batches were smaller, maybe the size of a golf ball. I had to add a touch of coconut oil after each batch or they'd stick like crazy. They take a bit longer to cook than regular pancakes.
Dinner
Italian Meatball Soup with greens
(Stage 1 for soup, no cheese until Full)
I was going to make biscuits with this, but we got home really late from the bookstore/grocery store trip.
Meatballs (you could use any recipe for these)
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
1/4 c. parsley (leave out until Stage 3)
2 eggs
salt (I used about 1 tsp or so)
black pepper
2 tbsp. parmesan cheese (we're not eating dairy yet)
2 tbsp. psyllium seed husks (didn't have...don't know if it's legal)
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (I used 2 pounds)
Pureed everything except the beef in the food processor - you could leave it a little chunkier if you want but my kids won't eat them that way. In a separate bowl, mix the beef with the pureed stuff. Shape into meatballs.
For the soup:
3 quarts homemade chicken stock (I used some beef broth too)
1 large bunch kale or spinach, chopped into bite-sized pieces (I used some of each)
Bring the stock to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Add the meatballs and gently drop in. I didn't shape them before this stage. Once it was simmering I made them and dropped them in one by one. Simmer, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes then add the greens. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve w/additonal parmesan cheese (if you're up to that Stage yet).
This was delicious and simple. Everyone loved it. A few people added sauerkraut in as well.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Salmon Patties
I took this recipe from Home, Health and Happiness and tweaked it a bit.
2 cans salmon (6 oz each - wild caught, packed in water, nothing added)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
2 eggs
1/2 an onion
a huge handful baby carrots
2 big handfuls spinach
2 cloves garlic
In the food processor I pureed the onion, carrots, spinach and garlic. Before adding it the bowl with the salmon I squeezed out some of the excess liquid. Mixed everything together and added salt to taste. Formed into patties and fried in some coconut oil.
I tried to make a hollandaise sauce to go with them, but it wasn't creamy...a bit thick but still tasty. I used room-temperature ghee instead of butter which might have been the problem as it's supposed to be cold.
My husband and I really enjoyed the salmon patties, everyone else just sort of picked at them. I served it with green peas, butternut squash pudding, sauerkraut, avocado and olive oil.
Because of the coconut this is a Full recipe. I think it would also work well using a nut flour instead, which could then be eaten in Stage 4.
2 cans salmon (6 oz each - wild caught, packed in water, nothing added)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
2 eggs
1/2 an onion
a huge handful baby carrots
2 big handfuls spinach
2 cloves garlic
In the food processor I pureed the onion, carrots, spinach and garlic. Before adding it the bowl with the salmon I squeezed out some of the excess liquid. Mixed everything together and added salt to taste. Formed into patties and fried in some coconut oil.
I tried to make a hollandaise sauce to go with them, but it wasn't creamy...a bit thick but still tasty. I used room-temperature ghee instead of butter which might have been the problem as it's supposed to be cold.
My husband and I really enjoyed the salmon patties, everyone else just sort of picked at them. I served it with green peas, butternut squash pudding, sauerkraut, avocado and olive oil.
Because of the coconut this is a Full recipe. I think it would also work well using a nut flour instead, which could then be eaten in Stage 4.
Veggie Pancakes
The original recipe can be found here. I modified it as written below.
1 zucchini
2 large carrots
about 1/3 of a bag cole slaw mix (shredded cabbage)
1/4 an onion
2 spoonfuls coconut flour
3 eggs
1 tsp. thyme
salt and pepper
I shredded the zucchini, carrots and onion in the food processor then added it to a bowl with the cabbage. Sprinkled with two soup spoons of coconut flour and let sit for about 10 minutes. Added 1 tsp. thyme, some salt and 3 eggs. Mixed well then scooped the mixture onto a warmed cast-iron skillet (with coconut oil). I had to shape them once the hit the pan and flatten them a bit.
I cooked the eggs separately, instead of baking them in the oven. Three of us liked these, the others only had a few bites. I'm not sure if I'll be making these again. Instead of making an "egg nest" these might also work as a side dish, especially something with gravy.
This is a Full recipe because of the coconut flour. I think it would work just as well without the flour, or with a nut flour, which could then be eaten in Stage 5 due to the thyme (unless you used fresh and then you could eat them in Stage 4).
1 zucchini
2 large carrots
about 1/3 of a bag cole slaw mix (shredded cabbage)
1/4 an onion
2 spoonfuls coconut flour
3 eggs
1 tsp. thyme
salt and pepper
I shredded the zucchini, carrots and onion in the food processor then added it to a bowl with the cabbage. Sprinkled with two soup spoons of coconut flour and let sit for about 10 minutes. Added 1 tsp. thyme, some salt and 3 eggs. Mixed well then scooped the mixture onto a warmed cast-iron skillet (with coconut oil). I had to shape them once the hit the pan and flatten them a bit.
I cooked the eggs separately, instead of baking them in the oven. Three of us liked these, the others only had a few bites. I'm not sure if I'll be making these again. Instead of making an "egg nest" these might also work as a side dish, especially something with gravy.
This is a Full recipe because of the coconut flour. I think it would work just as well without the flour, or with a nut flour, which could then be eaten in Stage 5 due to the thyme (unless you used fresh and then you could eat them in Stage 4).
Caveman Banana Cookies
This recipe came from Son of Grok which I have found to be a great resource for GAPS cooking (with modifications)!
2 bananas
3 c. nuts (soaked and dried) - I used 2 cups almond and 1 cup cashew
1 c. shredded coconut (unsweetened)
2 eggs
Combine in food processor except for eggs. Once processed place in mixing bowl, add eggs and stir. You can press into an 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes OR form into small pattie/cookie shapes and bake for about 15 minutes.
My food processor had a hard time mixing this together (it's a 9-cup brand-new Cuisanart so I think it was the order I put it in, not the machine). The next time I do this I'll process the nuts first. Once they are ground I'll add the bananas and coconut. My boys liked them, but said they were "too coconutty" and "not enough banana". I might play around with the proportions next time as well.
Because of the coconut this is a Full recipe.
2 bananas
3 c. nuts (soaked and dried) - I used 2 cups almond and 1 cup cashew
1 c. shredded coconut (unsweetened)
2 eggs
Combine in food processor except for eggs. Once processed place in mixing bowl, add eggs and stir. You can press into an 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes OR form into small pattie/cookie shapes and bake for about 15 minutes.
My food processor had a hard time mixing this together (it's a 9-cup brand-new Cuisanart so I think it was the order I put it in, not the machine). The next time I do this I'll process the nuts first. Once they are ground I'll add the bananas and coconut. My boys liked them, but said they were "too coconutty" and "not enough banana". I might play around with the proportions next time as well.
Because of the coconut this is a Full recipe.
Day 19
Breakfast
Smoothie, Caveman Banana Cookies
(Full for smoothie, Full for cookies)
2 bananas
3 c. nuts (soaked and dried) - I used 2 cups almond and 1 cup cashew
1 c. shredded coconut (unsweetened)
2 eggs
Combine in food processor except for eggs. Once processed place in mixing bowl, add eggs and stir. You can press into an 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes OR form into small pattie/cookie shapes and bake for about 15 minutes.
My food processor had a hard time mixing this together (it's a 9-cup brand-new Cuisanart so I think it was the order I put it in, not the machine). The next time I do this I'll process the nuts first. Once they are ground I'll add the bananas and coconut. My boys liked them, but said they were "too coconutty" and "not enough banana". I might play around with the proportions next time as well.
Lunch
Veggie Pancakes, eggs, avocado, sauerkraut, olive oil
(Full for pancakes - if you didn't use the coconut flour you could make them in Stage 5, Stage 2/3 eggs, Stage 3 for everything else)
1 zucchini
2 large carrots
about 1/3 of a bag cole slaw mix (shredded cabbage)
1/4 an onion
I shredded the zucchini, carrots and onion in the food processor then added it to a bowl with the cabbage. Sprinkled with two soup spoons of coconut flour and let sit for about 10 minutes. Added 1/2 tsp. thyme, some salt and 3 eggs. Mixed well then scooped the mixture onto a warmed cast-iron skillet (with coconut oil). I had to shape them once the hit the pan and flatten them a bit.
I made the eggs separately and served them on the side. Three of the six of us really liked these. I may or may not repeat them. Somedays I miss potatoes!
Dinner
Salmon Patties, peas, butternut squash pudding, avocado, sauerkraut, olive oil
(Full for salmon patties, Stage 1 for peas, Full for pudding, Stage 3 for everything else)
Being me I had to tweak the salmon patties. And is it just me or do I make a lot of "pattie" like foods?
2 cans salmon (6 oz each)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
2 eggs
1/2 an onion
a huge handful baby carrots
2 big handfuls spinach
2 cloves garlic
In the food processor I pureed the onion, carrots, spinach and garlic. Before adding it the bowl with salmon I squeezed out some of the excess liquid. Mixed everything together and added salt to taste. Formed into patties and fried with some coconut oil.
I tried to make a hollandaise sauce to go with them, but it wasn't all creamy...a bit thick but still tasty. I used room-temperature ghee instead of butter.
My husband and I really enjoyed the salmon patties, everyone else just sort of picked at them. They ate the squash pudding like gang-busters though.
Reactions:
We have some sniffly noses today. It might be a cold or seasonal allergies or detox. 10-yr-olds eczema is looking really great - there are only a few light pink spots left.
Thoughts:
I'm having a hard time wanting to make soup lately. Maybe it's because it's 110+ degrees here every day. Or I'm lazy. I included soup 3 times in my menu next week so maybe I'll actually get around to making it. I made a HUGE pot last night and there wasn't any leftover for today. So much for "planning for leftovers"!
Smoothie, Caveman Banana Cookies
(Full for smoothie, Full for cookies)
2 bananas
3 c. nuts (soaked and dried) - I used 2 cups almond and 1 cup cashew
1 c. shredded coconut (unsweetened)
2 eggs
Combine in food processor except for eggs. Once processed place in mixing bowl, add eggs and stir. You can press into an 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes OR form into small pattie/cookie shapes and bake for about 15 minutes.
My food processor had a hard time mixing this together (it's a 9-cup brand-new Cuisanart so I think it was the order I put it in, not the machine). The next time I do this I'll process the nuts first. Once they are ground I'll add the bananas and coconut. My boys liked them, but said they were "too coconutty" and "not enough banana". I might play around with the proportions next time as well.
Lunch
Veggie Pancakes, eggs, avocado, sauerkraut, olive oil
(Full for pancakes - if you didn't use the coconut flour you could make them in Stage 5, Stage 2/3 eggs, Stage 3 for everything else)
1 zucchini
2 large carrots
about 1/3 of a bag cole slaw mix (shredded cabbage)
1/4 an onion
I shredded the zucchini, carrots and onion in the food processor then added it to a bowl with the cabbage. Sprinkled with two soup spoons of coconut flour and let sit for about 10 minutes. Added 1/2 tsp. thyme, some salt and 3 eggs. Mixed well then scooped the mixture onto a warmed cast-iron skillet (with coconut oil). I had to shape them once the hit the pan and flatten them a bit.
I made the eggs separately and served them on the side. Three of the six of us really liked these. I may or may not repeat them. Somedays I miss potatoes!
Dinner
Salmon Patties, peas, butternut squash pudding, avocado, sauerkraut, olive oil
(Full for salmon patties, Stage 1 for peas, Full for pudding, Stage 3 for everything else)
Being me I had to tweak the salmon patties. And is it just me or do I make a lot of "pattie" like foods?
2 cans salmon (6 oz each)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
2 eggs
1/2 an onion
a huge handful baby carrots
2 big handfuls spinach
2 cloves garlic
In the food processor I pureed the onion, carrots, spinach and garlic. Before adding it the bowl with salmon I squeezed out some of the excess liquid. Mixed everything together and added salt to taste. Formed into patties and fried with some coconut oil.
I tried to make a hollandaise sauce to go with them, but it wasn't all creamy...a bit thick but still tasty. I used room-temperature ghee instead of butter.
My husband and I really enjoyed the salmon patties, everyone else just sort of picked at them. They ate the squash pudding like gang-busters though.
Reactions:
We have some sniffly noses today. It might be a cold or seasonal allergies or detox. 10-yr-olds eczema is looking really great - there are only a few light pink spots left.
Thoughts:
I'm having a hard time wanting to make soup lately. Maybe it's because it's 110+ degrees here every day. Or I'm lazy. I included soup 3 times in my menu next week so maybe I'll actually get around to making it. I made a HUGE pot last night and there wasn't any leftover for today. So much for "planning for leftovers"!
Making Ghee
I've made several batches so far. I much prefer the stovetop method to the oven method....but to each his own. Since it's already been so well covered by other bloggers I thought I'd just point you to their resources rather than re-make the ghee wheel.
From The Nourishing Gourmet
From the Healthy Home Economist...with video
this is the explanation I refer to most often
Thus far I have only used Kerrygold unsalted butter, because that's what I have available to me, and it's one of the best. We go through this much more quickly than I thought we would so I end up making it often!
From The Nourishing Gourmet
From the Healthy Home Economist...with video
this is the explanation I refer to most often
Thus far I have only used Kerrygold unsalted butter, because that's what I have available to me, and it's one of the best. We go through this much more quickly than I thought we would so I end up making it often!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Coconut Flour Pancakes - that could be wraps or tortillas
The second recipe I made today was for coconut flour pancakes.
6 eggs
6 tbsp. milk (I used homemade coconut milk)
splash vanilla (I skipped that)
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder (did not use)
6 tbsp. coconut flour
1/4 c. melted coconut oil
Mix all but coconut oil together. When mostly blended (again, I used my stick blender) add the oil and blend some more. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes then blend again. I tried making these into "little" pancakes like the banana ones but they tore like crazy. These pancakes wanted to be big. They were very crepe-ish and turned extremely well once I made them larger. I can see them working very well as a wrap or "tortilla", maybe even as a noodle in a casserole, especially if you left the honey out. The recipe made about 10 big pancakes (size of a tortilla) and 8 little ones.
Coconut flour is okay in Full.
6 eggs
6 tbsp. milk (I used homemade coconut milk)
splash vanilla (I skipped that)
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder (did not use)
6 tbsp. coconut flour
1/4 c. melted coconut oil
Mix all but coconut oil together. When mostly blended (again, I used my stick blender) add the oil and blend some more. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes then blend again. I tried making these into "little" pancakes like the banana ones but they tore like crazy. These pancakes wanted to be big. They were very crepe-ish and turned extremely well once I made them larger. I can see them working very well as a wrap or "tortilla", maybe even as a noodle in a casserole, especially if you left the honey out. The recipe made about 10 big pancakes (size of a tortilla) and 8 little ones.
Coconut flour is okay in Full.
Banana Pancakes
Today I made this "banana" pancake recipe from Grain-Free Foodies. I sort of punted on the egg part. I had a lot of egg whites left over from the custard and yolking the smoothie so I dumped in my bowl of egg whites (maybe 7 or 8 eggs worth) then added 3 whole eggs. It worked. The kids ate them fast.
I tripled the recipe. How will I ever feed all these boys?
The original recipe reads:
1 banana
2 tbsp. peanut butter (or any nut butter)
3 eggs
Mix together (my stick blender did much better than the hand mixer) then cook. If the pancakes got too big I couldn't turn them without ripping.
I would consider this a Stage 6 recipe because bananas aren't allowed until then.
I tripled the recipe. How will I ever feed all these boys?
The original recipe reads:
1 banana
2 tbsp. peanut butter (or any nut butter)
3 eggs
Mix together (my stick blender did much better than the hand mixer) then cook. If the pancakes got too big I couldn't turn them without ripping.
I would consider this a Stage 6 recipe because bananas aren't allowed until then.
Day 18
Breakfast
Smoothies, Russian Custard w/cut up fruit
(Full for Smoothies, Stage 6/Full for Custard and raw fruit)
Lunch
Pancakes, fruit
(Stage 6 for banana pancakes, Full for coconut pancakes, Stage 6/Full for raw fruit)
We always get home from church late (2:30/3:00) so we have a big snack instead of a big meal. I made two different kinds of pancakes today.
The first was this "banana" pancake from Grain-Free Foodies. I sort of punted on the egg part. I had a lot of egg whites left over from the custard and yolking the smoothie so I dumped in my bowl of egg whites (maybe 7 or 8 eggs worth) then added 3 whole eggs. It worked. The kids ate them fast.
I tripled the recipe. How will I ever feed all these boys?
The original recipe reads:
1 banana
2 tbsp. peanut butter (or any nut butter)
3 eggs
Mix together (my stick blender did much better than the hand mixer) then cook. If the pancakes got too big I couldn't turn them without ripping.
The second recipe was for coconut flour pancakes.
6 eggs
6 tbsp. milk (I used homemade coconut milk)
splash vanilla (I skipped that)
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder (did not use)
6 tbsp. coconut flour
1/4 c. melted coconut oil
Mix all but coconut oil together. When mostly blended (again, I used my stick blender) add the oil and blend some more. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes then blend again. I tried making these into "little" pancakes like the banana ones but they tore like crazy. These pancakes wanted to be big. They were very crepe-ish and turned extremely well once I made them larger. I can see them working very well as a wrap or "tortilla", maybe even as a noodle in a casserole, especially if you left the honey out. The recipe made about 10 big pancakes (size of a tortilla) and 8 little ones.
Dinner
Borscht, sauerkraut
(Stage 1 if no celery or cabbage, Stage 3 if you add them, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
We added the sauerkraut into the borscht and it was wonderful! I added celery and cabbage for the first time since being on the diet. I don't use the white sugar or lemon juice listed in the original recipe. I'm also leaving out the tomato juice and sour cream for now.
Reactions:
Nothing I can note.
Thoughts:
Chasing the fermented cod liver oil with carrot juice works well. Water just doesn't get rid of the taste or the oily feel.
Smoothies, Russian Custard w/cut up fruit
(Full for Smoothies, Stage 6/Full for Custard and raw fruit)
Lunch
Pancakes, fruit
(Stage 6 for banana pancakes, Full for coconut pancakes, Stage 6/Full for raw fruit)
We always get home from church late (2:30/3:00) so we have a big snack instead of a big meal. I made two different kinds of pancakes today.
The first was this "banana" pancake from Grain-Free Foodies. I sort of punted on the egg part. I had a lot of egg whites left over from the custard and yolking the smoothie so I dumped in my bowl of egg whites (maybe 7 or 8 eggs worth) then added 3 whole eggs. It worked. The kids ate them fast.
I tripled the recipe. How will I ever feed all these boys?
The original recipe reads:
1 banana
2 tbsp. peanut butter (or any nut butter)
3 eggs
Mix together (my stick blender did much better than the hand mixer) then cook. If the pancakes got too big I couldn't turn them without ripping.
The second recipe was for coconut flour pancakes.
6 eggs
6 tbsp. milk (I used homemade coconut milk)
splash vanilla (I skipped that)
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder (did not use)
6 tbsp. coconut flour
1/4 c. melted coconut oil
Mix all but coconut oil together. When mostly blended (again, I used my stick blender) add the oil and blend some more. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes then blend again. I tried making these into "little" pancakes like the banana ones but they tore like crazy. These pancakes wanted to be big. They were very crepe-ish and turned extremely well once I made them larger. I can see them working very well as a wrap or "tortilla", maybe even as a noodle in a casserole, especially if you left the honey out. The recipe made about 10 big pancakes (size of a tortilla) and 8 little ones.
Dinner
Borscht, sauerkraut
(Stage 1 if no celery or cabbage, Stage 3 if you add them, Stage 3 for sauerkraut)
We added the sauerkraut into the borscht and it was wonderful! I added celery and cabbage for the first time since being on the diet. I don't use the white sugar or lemon juice listed in the original recipe. I'm also leaving out the tomato juice and sour cream for now.
Reactions:
Nothing I can note.
Thoughts:
Chasing the fermented cod liver oil with carrot juice works well. Water just doesn't get rid of the taste or the oily feel.
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