Paleo vs. Vegan

                What the Heck are Paleos and Vegans?

Recently I had a friend ask me to do a 30-day Paleo Challenge with her. We both have been working out hard and she thought it would be a great way to try a different eating style, incorporate more healthy eating habits and well, to get rid of those nasty grains.  At first I was a little terrified, not because I didn't want to eat healthy but because lately I have been eating more of a plant-based diet. I eat a whole lot of legumes, which is totally not Paleo.  And did I mention I am obsessed with peanut butter! I thought, I am really going to suck at this!

I thought to myself how am I going to do this? Paleo is certainly different from a plant-based/vegan diet, or so I thought. 

 In the past year I have done a lot of research on how food can really help our bodies and how to live a healthier lifestyle. I’m not an expert by any means; it’s just what I am really interested in.  An article that I came across really got me thinking about the differences and similarities of a Paleo and Vegan diet. Go to this link to check out a great article that I really connected with. 

The Paleo diet consists of mostly organic grass-fed meats, fish and seafood, fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, nuts and seeds and healthy oils such as olive, walnut, flaxseed, avocado, and coconut. The paleo diet stays away from processed foods, potatoes, refined sugar, dairy, cereal grains, legumes (including peanuts), salt, and refined vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, and canola. The main reason people decide to do this diet is to get back to our Paleolithic ancestors.  This is believed to be the diet about 2.5 million years ago. People believe that we are not adapted to eat all of the highly processed foods we have today and that this is the best diet to a healthy strong body. Paleos eat as if they were back in time as a “hunter and gather”.

            The Vegan diet primarily consists of fresh fruits and veggies, all grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and healthy oils such as olive, coconut, vegetable. The Vegan diet avoids all animal products. That means no meat, no dairy, no eggs, and no honey. Vegans are also against using products like leather, silk, fur, wool and even some cosmetics.Vegans believe that our bodies do not need animal products to survive. They are compassionate about all animals and the environment. They believe that this is the best diet for preserving our bodies and the planet. 

What I have learned while doing research, is that the Paleo diet and the Vegan diet are more similar than you think.

What Paleos and Vegans both agree on:

Organic fruits and Veggies are great.

Nuts are good.

Dairy is not good.

Fast food is gross.

Whole foods and food close to its natural state are the best.

Avoid processed foods.

The conventional meat industry needs a lot of changes.

Fuel your body with natural, clean foods!

Now I think the point of all this is that everyone should eat foods that are whole, natural, clean, and organic, when possible. Who can argue with that? The food we eat fuels and helps our bodies do everyday stuff; go to work, do laundry, work out at the gym, fill the car with gas, go to the grocery store, or cook for our families.

I am not saying that everyone needs to choose to be a Paleo or a Vegan. I think that all of us could take some advice from these lifestyles and incorporate more whole and natural foods into our daily meals. Let’s give our bodies the real food they need. Let’s get rid of the standard American way of eating! Don’t drive to a drive-thru, instead drive to a park or the beach and bring your own goodies! Let’s get out and move, and eat good food for our beautiful lives and bodies!

Cinnamon Sugar Breakfast Scones

Cinnamon Sugar Breakfast Scones

These scones were so delicious! They were moist, fluffy and the glaze made them to die for! I never need a good reason to have a warm cup of tea, being the Dutch girl that I am, but these scones go perfectly! 

What you need:  

For the Scones

2 cups of flour 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon of salt 

1/2 cup of butter

1 egg, separated 

3 tablespoons of honey

1/3 cup of whole milk

1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice

For the Cinnamon topping

1-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 

For the Glaze

1 cup of powdered sugar 

3 tablespoons of whole milk 

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla 

What you need to do:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. 

2. In a kitchen aid mixture, or a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. (The butter should be dime sized pieces.)

3. Separate the egg white and yolk. Set the egg white aside. (you will use this later!) 

4. In a separate bowl, mix egg yolk, honey, milk and lemon. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

5. Form dough into a ball on a floured surface. Roll or pat out to half an inch in thickness and eight inches in diameter. Cut into eight equally-sized pieces.

6. Transfer to a greased baking sheet. Whisk the egg white until froth forms and brush over the tops of scones. 

7. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over egg-white-topped scones. Use as much as you like! 

8. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. I suggest to not cook over 12 minutes, this will keep the scones moist. 

9. Mix together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until glaze forms. 

10. Drizzle over scones after they bake. Serve warm or save for later! 

Store at room temperature so the glazed scones do not dry out.

Recipe adapted from the moneysavingmom.com 

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

                

               Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

 I love Quinoa. It's all the hype right now and I approve. It is actually a seed but is similar and tastes like whole grains such as rice and barley. Not only is it a gluten free grain it is also a complete protein. I always buy organic Quinoa. Costco has a huge bag that is great! One thing to always remember about Quinoa before you cook it is you must rinse it in cold water. If you don't the Quinoa after it is cooked will have a very earthy, dirt taste. Don't worry! After it is rinsed all of that funky taste goes away! 

I incorporate Quinoa in a lot of my meals, whether is is a side dish by itself or the main course. And my husband loves it so what more can I ask for! 



What you need:

2 cups of cooked Quinoa 

1 can of black beans, rinsed
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 bushel of cilantro
3 green onion, chopped
3 limes, juiced  
1 pinch red pepper flakes (if you do not like a little bit of spicy you can omit this)
2 tablespoons of olive oil 
   salt and pepper to taste

What you need to do:

1. Rinse and cook Quinoa as directed. 
2. Once the Quinoa is done, let cool until you are ready to use. 
3. Rinse can of black beans and put it into a large mixing bowl.
4. Chop red bell pepper in to bit size pieces and put in the mixing bowl.
5. Rough chop cilantro and add to the bowl.
6. Chop green onions and add to mix. 
7. Add Quinoa to mixing bowl and mix. 
8. Add the lime juice and mix. 
9. Add olive oil and red pepper flakes. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix so everything is evenly coated.
10. Serve cold or warm, however you like it. I prefer this dish to be  served cool. It is so simple and refreshing! 
  Enjoy! 

Orange Raspberry Juice

                                             Orange Raspberry Juice

What you need:

2 large oranges, peeled 

1 cup of fresh raspberries

1 large apple, cut into large chunks

What you need to do:

1. Using a juicer, process oranges, raspberries and apple.

2. Whisk and pour into a glass (mason jars are my favorite!)

Cheesy Potato Pancakes

Cheesy Potato Pancakes

These delicious pancakes are one of many favorite Irish recipes I love to make. Serve them warm by themselves or with eggs or omelets, or with sour cream.

What you need:

1 1/2 Quarts of prepared instant mashed potatoes, cooked, dry and cooled

1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4 eggs lightly beaten

1 1/2 cups of flour, divided

1 1/2 teaspoons of dried rosemary

1 1/2 teaspoons of dried thyme

1 dash of salt and pepper

2 eggs lightly beaten

What you need to do:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine potatoes, cheese, 4 beaten eggs, 3/4 cup of flour and herbs. Mix well.

2. Cover with suran wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before preparing.

3. When ready to prepare, put 3/4 cup of flour in a medium bowl and put 2 beaten eggs in a separate medium bowl.

4. Using two spoons, scoop up some potato batter and dip in beaten eggs, then dredge in flour. (excuse my chipped bowl!)

5. Place potato batter in frying pan and flatten with spoon. Cook each patty over medium heat 3 minutes per side or until crisp and golden brown.

6. Serve warm and enjoy!

Spinach Salad

Spinach Salad

What you need:

A couple of handfuls of fresh spinach

1 hard boiled egg

1/2 cup of cooked crumbled bacon

1/4 cup of rough chopped red onion

1/3 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese

Ranch dressing, to taste 

Serving 1

What you need to do:

1. Put spinach in a medium mixing bowl.

2. Peel and rinse hard boiled egg. Roughly chop egg and put in bowl.

3. Roughly chop red onion and put in mixing bowl.

4. Put crumbled bacon into bowl.

5. Drizzle with desired amount of ranch dressing and toss.

6. Easy as that! Serve and enjoy!

Crescent Dogs

Crescent Dogs

These tasty little dogs are great for kids, parties, appetizers, or just for snacking!

What you need:

1 package of hotdogs of any kind

1 can of refrigerated crescent dinner rolls ( I used pillsbury)

What you need to do:

1. Heat oven to 375 Fahrenheit.

2. Separate crescent roll dough into triangles and cut hot dogs in half.

3. Wrap each dough triangle around each hot dog half.

4. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

5. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Roux

Roux

Ever look at a recipe and see the first thing you need to do is to make a Roux and ask yourself what the heck is that? Well I am here to tell you about my little best friend called Roux (pronounced “Roo”). This little concoction is a lifesaver in the kitchen.

First off what it is a roux?

It is a thickening agent made from equal parts butter and flour by weight. The mixture is slowly and evenly cooked until the flour taste disappears (about one minute per tablespoon of flour) and then combined with milk or stock to create a sauce. Traditionally , a roux is made with clarified butter, but you can make a roux with any fat you like. You can use unclarified butter, bacon fat (my favorite, just sayin’), chicken fat or turkey fat, etc.!

There are basically two kinds of roux.



White (or blonde) roux is cooked just until the flour taste vanishes, but before the butter begins to turn the roux brown.

Brown roux is cooked until it turns a nutty brown color. It can be made with butter, as well as pork or beef drippings.

This helpful little agent can be used in many different types of sauces; stocks for soup, any kind of gravy, any sauce, or any stew.

Once you learn how to make a roux you’ll never want to make any soup or sauce with out it!

Here is how to make a Roux...

What you need:

Clarified Butter ( or some kind of fat)

Flour

What you need to do:

1.In a large skillet on medium heat, start by melting a couple tablespoons of clarified butter.

2.When the butter melts and turns frothy, using a whisk stir in all-purpose flour. (Remember, an ounce of butter will absorb an equal weight of flour.)

3.As you continue to stir flour into the butter, you'll see that a thick paste is forming.

4. Continue whisking as the roux gently bubbles and cooks to the shade desired. (Do not allow the roux to bubble too vigorously, or it will burn rather than brown.)

When using Roux!

To ensure lump-free thickening, cold ingredients must always be added to hot ingredients. Cold or room temperature roux is simply whisked into a simmering soup or sauce until it dissolves. These methods ensure the roux is incorporated slowly and evenly, and to make sure the mixture will not form lumps.


Helpful tip!

Roux begins to thicken soon after it is combined with a liquid, but it must be simmered for 10 to 20 minutes in order to reach its full flavor and thickening potential. This additional cooking time allows the flour to soften and absorb the liquid, resulting in a silky smooth soup or sauce. If the simmering time is too short, the flour in the roux will remain grainy. (don’t want that!)

Don’t be afraid to make extra!

After the roux has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. Roux will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator or freezer until ready for use.

Homemade Salsa

Homemade Salsa

What you need:

3 small jalapenos

1 large red onion

1 bushel of cilantro

5 large tomatoes

2 limes

salt and pepper

What you need to do:

1. In a small skillet roast jalapenos on each side.

2. Meanwhile rough chop onion, cilantro, and tomatoes. Set aside.

3. Once jalapenos are done cut off stems and place in a blender. Chop jalapenos in blender.

4. Add tomatoes and chop.

5. Add onions and cilantro and chop in blender until evenly mixed. 6. Squeeze in lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Stir with a spoon.

7. Pour into a bowl and enjoy!

Open Faced Breakfast Sandwich with Bacon and Avocado

Open Faced Breakfast Sandwich with Bacon and Avocado

Cook time: 15 minutes

What you need:

1 piece of sourdough bread

1 tbsp. mayo

1/2 avocado

1 large egg

salt and pepper

1/4 tsp. lawry's seasoning

3 strips of bacon

What you need to do:

1.In a medium skillet cook the bacon on medium heat until crisp. Strain on paper towels and set aside.

2.In same pan you cooked the bacon in, cook egg over easy on medium heat. Season with salt, pepper and lawry's seasoning.

4. Meanwhile lightly toast Sourdough bread and spread with mayo.

5.Cut avocado into slices and place on toasted bread.

6. Once over easy egg is done place on top of avocado.

7.Take bacon and crumble over the top of the sandwich and enjoy!

Go ahead, eat it with your hands even though it might get a little messy, you know you want to!

ALB Pasta Salald

ALB Pasta Salad (Mr. B's Favorite pasta salad)

What you need:

12. ounces of corkscrew pasta

1/2 c. milk

12. ounces of lean bacon

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 c. sour cream

1.2 c. mayo

1 tbsp. thyme

Salt and pepper

2 large avocados

2 1/2 c. romaine lettuce

What you need to do:

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water as the label directs.

2. Drain and toss with milk. Set aside.

3. Cut bacon in small pieces

4. Saute bacon and garlic in a large skillet until crisp.

5. Drain on paper towels and set aside 1/4 c. for garnish.

6. Toss rest of bacon with pasta.

7. In a small bowl combine mayo, sour cream and thyme.

8. Toss mayo mixture with pasta until evenly combined.

9. Season with salt and pepper.

10. Add lettuce, toss again to coat.

11. Put pasta in a large serving bowl and garnish with reserved bacon. Serve and enjoy!!

Modified from Foodnetwork.com

Cran-Apple Italian Soda

Cran-Apple Italian Soda

My own version of Italian Soda

What you need:

1 bag of cranberries

2 1/2 apples

sugar to taste

1 bottle of sparkling water of your choice

What you need to do:

1. Rinse cranberries in a strainer.

2.Peel and cut apples into small cubes.

3. Using a juicer juice cranberries and apples.

4.Whisk juice and add sugar to taste. Set aside.(you will have extra juice)

5. In a large glass with ice pour in about 1/3 cup of cran-apple juice and fill the rest with sparkling water and enjoy!

( if you don't have a juicer to make your own juice you can use cranberry and apple juice from the store)

Juicing for the soul

Making your own fresh juice is really easy, all you need is a Juicer! (and fruit and veggies of course)

I absolutely love making my own juice. Your husband/boyfriend might think its a weird thing to do when you can just go buy a carton of juice at the market but soon he'll be drinking it up and asking for more! It taste better than that regular carton stuff. It's fun to go to any market or weekly farmer's markets to find fresh produce for your juice.

I bought one for cheap here and it works great!

GNC Deluxe Juicer - GNC - GNC

You can make any fresh juice you can think of, from cranberry to pomegranate to pineapple to mango to tomato and more!

I think that making your own fruit or vegetable juice is a wonderful way to get fruits and veggies in your diet with out really thinking about it. You can drink the fresh juice all by itself or add it to sparkling water or diet sprite (if you don't like sparkling water). Adding it to sparkling water is my own version of making Italian Soda, healthier than all that syrup! Once you start you wont be able to stop!

Peas for Luck

Paula Deen's Spicy Black Eyed Peas

What you need:

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 (16-ounce) package dried black-eyed peas, washed
• 1 (12-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups water

What you need to do:

1. In a large saucepan, cook the bacon until crisp.

2. Remove the bacon, crumble, and set aside to use as a topping for the peas.

3.Saute the onion in the bacon drippings until tender.

4.Add the peas, diced tomatoes and green chiles, salt, chili powder, pepper and water.

5.Cover and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the peas are tender. Add additional water, if necessary. Serve garnished with crumbled bacon and enjoy!

Eating black eyed peas on New Year's is a southern tradition, it ensures good luck and prosperity throughout the upcoming year. It's a yummy little tradition and every little bit of luck we can get can't hurt!

A New Year!

Happy New Year!

This is a start of a new year, a brand new beginning! I hope everyone has some sort of goal for this year! It's a great time to set goals, make plans, learn something new and have a new positive outlook on life.

The past is history, the future is a mystery, and the present is a gift! I hope everyone has a fantastic year!