Coconut Pound Cake with Strawberries

I made this for a family party over the weekend and it was a huge success... Paleo, not-Paleo, kids and adults alike! It was a delicious combination that pleased EVERYONE! In fact, on the way home, my daughter announced that this was officially her new favorite dessert forever-more! With accolades like that, how can you not give this a try!? She is 15 and knows just about everything! ;-)

Coconut Pound Cake Recipe:

6 eggs
1 C coconut milk
1/2 C honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. coconut extract
1/4 tsp. orange extract
1 C coconut flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. sea salt
Coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat the eggs with the coconut milk, honey and extracts, until smooth. Add the coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until a smooth batter forms. Grease a loaf pan with coconut oil, and sprinkle with some coconut flour to lightly coat pan. Pour batter into the loaf pan. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until pound cake separates from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean! Allow the pound cake to cool before removing it from the pan.

Strawberries:
Thinly slice 2 pints fresh, well rinsed, strawberries. Add to a bowl. Sprinkle with 2 T organic coconut palm sugar. Let the mixture sit and marinate until strawberries create a juicy syrup!

Slice coconut pound cake and top with strawberry mixture (be sure to pour a little syrupy juice over the top, too).

Optional: top with a Whipped topping of 100% organic heavy whipping cream.
Whip cream until stiff peaks begin to form. Add 1 T coconut sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla. Whip again until blended and top strawberry coconut pound cake! Hope you enjoy this wonderful delight!

Delicious Baked Chicken Topped with Crispy Prosciutto

Today was a typical Monday... full of the business and craziness that only Monday's can bring! Starting my day with CrossFit was great! A complete challenge with my two favorite combinations: row & bench! ... Left me feeling pretty invigorated and motivated to tackle the rest of the stressors the day would bring!
Anyway, I felt we deserved a special meal to close down the day, relax and take in some flavors the senses would truly appreciate. What is it about a good meal that just makes everything better?

Recipe:
4 Skinless, boneless Chicken breasts, pounded
2 Shallots, thinly sliced
1 C Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 C Artichoke hearts
1/2 C White wine or chicken broth
1 T Olive Oil
2 oz. Prosciutto
Seasonings: sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder and paprika
Spinach
2 T chopped garlic

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake prosciutto on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes on each side (until crispy) while your preparing the rest of the meal. Pound chicken breasts fairly thin and sprinkle both sides with the seasonings. Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet at medium-high. Brown chicken breasts for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to a baking dish. Add the shallots to the skillet (with a little more olive oil if necessary). Add wine (or broth) deglazing pan as you stir in mushrooms and artichoke hearts. Cook until mushrooms are tender. Pour the sauce over chicken breasts and break pieces of the crispy cooked prosciutto over the top. Bake for 10-12 minutes, uncovered.
While the chicken is cooking, saute the garlic in olive oil. Add the spinach and saute. Add a splash of chicken broth, and let spinach cook down to tenderness.
Serve chicken breasts on a bed of the sauteed spinach. Spoon a little extra sauce over the top and enjoy! We thought this was a meal packed with delicious flavors! The crispy bites with the prosciutto were the kids favorite!

Paleo Harvest Soup

Well, it's that time of year again! ...Time dust off the crock pot and add some soups to the menu! Hope you enjoy this harvest soup... full of comforting fall-like ingredients. It was a delicious dinner and actually made an even better lunch the next day!

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground sausage
1 acorn squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
1 Japanese sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 hannah sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 yellow onion, diced
1 T olive oil
32 oz. beef broth
1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 can water
2 C chopped kale
1 bay leaf
pinch sea salt and black pepper to taste

In a large stock pot, brown ground sausage. Add the beef broth and canned tomatoes. In a separate skillet, heat olive oil and saute onions until caramelized. Add onions, potatoes and squash to soup along with bay leaf. Heat on a low boil for about 15 minutes. Then cover and reduce heat on low for about 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper. About 20 minutes before serving, add the chopped kale to the soup. Stir well and keep covered. Hope you enjoy this thick, hearty harvest-time soup! I hope it will make you want to welcome Fall with open arms...

Paleo Bacon Coleslaw

I had SO much fun cooking tonight's dinner. If you can... make an evening out of it! Sip some wine and enjoy the process! ... Gourmet & Paleo!!! Enjoy! :-)

Recipe:

1 head cabbage, cored and thinly sliced

OR you can cheat and buy a bag of pre-shredded cabbage w/ carrots! :-)

1 carrot, shredded

1/2 red onion, very thinly sliced

6 strips bacon, cut into 1" pieces

1 T Dijon mustard

1 T honey

1/2 C apple cider vinegar

1/4 C extra-virgin olive oil

Pinch sea salt & pepper

Combine cabbage, onion and carrot in a large bowl and set aside. Cook bacon pieces over medium heat until throughly browned and crisp, about 10-12 minutes. Transfer bacon to a dish lined with paper towels... to drain. Set aside. Reserve bacon grease for later. Combine mustard, honey, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add about 2 tablespoons bacon grease and all but 2 tablespoons bacon. Mix well and pour over cole slaw. Sprinkle remaining 2 T bacon over slaw and serve!

I used whatever remaining bacon grease for the sweet potatoes side! Use 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed, add to a baking dish. Saute 4 cloves minced garlic in the bacon fat. Do not let the garlic burn! Add about 2 T fresh rosemary (chopped finely) and continue to saute slightly and quickly. Pour mixture over chopped sweet potatoes. Toss well and bake for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees!

I served both these delicious sides with an old recipe favorite: "Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops with Rosemary"! Everything complimented each other nicely! Yum.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Shallots and Garlic

I have been a little MIA lately, and I apologize! I also really appreciate those of you who keep checking the site and posting on older recipes! This is still very much a passion of mine... the cooking, creating, eating Paleo and blogging about it! However... life has thrown us a curve ball. (Which it does to us all from time-to-time). Personal issues and illness within our family have drawn immediate attention and priority! I know we ALL have experienced times in our lives when "life" simply overwhelms us.... Pain, suffering, bad luck, sadness, unfortunate circumstances, injuries, heartache... the list goes on! It's times like these when our foundations for good health come to test and really kick in! All of a sudden a great recipe, creative cooking or simply eating for that matter, do not seem important! But... we have the foundations and the experience to make good choices in non-desirable situations. This is who we are now: CrossFitters, Paleo enthusiasts, health aficionados! It is also times like these when we realize what "good health" actually means (visually & internally)!

People: Do not take for granted your health! Get out there and move! Eat well! Enjoy the pleasure (and luxury) of pushing your limits! Live well. Stay challenged. Eat well. Live smart. Eat smart. Stay active within your means. and...CrossFit!

I've heard this quote a lot lately from various sources, and it keeps playing in my mind: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon

Recipe:

20 oz. chopped butternut squash or 1 butternut squash peeled and diced

4 large shallots, peeled and halved

10 cloves garlic, peeled

1 C olive oil

1 heaping T red wine vinegar

1 large tsp. dried thyme

pinch sea salt & pepper

dash allspice & cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine olive oil and spices. Put butternut squash, shallots and garlic in a baking dish. Add olive oil and spices and toss all ingredients well. Bake for 30-40 minutes... until butternut squash is tender and shallots start to caramelize. That's it!

Hope you enjoy this simple (delicious) side! :-)

Seasoned Coconut Chips

My coconut kick continues.... This recipe was passed on to me by a fellow coconut connoisseur. If you enjoy snacking on coconut chips, you should really give this a try... It's blends a perfect crispy, slightly salty crunch with a cinnamon pizazz! ...It's a hit!

I have to give major props to this recipe creator (great blog site as well)-

http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/2011/06/13/carmelized-coconut-chips/

Hope you enjoy!!!

Recipe:

1 C coconut chips (I used Paleo Brands All Natural Coconut Flakes)

http://store.paleobrands.com/store/pc/Coconut-Flakes-2p27.htm

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high heat. Add coconut flakes. Toss until start to brown.. about 2-3 minutes. Happens quickly, so keep a close eye! Remove from heat, sprinkle with the cinnamon and salt. Toss until coconut is evenly coated with seasonings. Allow to cool. Store in a air-tight bag and snack on demand!

Coconut Butternut Squash

My coconut kick continues!!! Coconut proves to be a beautiful recipe enhancement (and my current cooking obsession). Perfectly fun, healthy and exotic! This was truly an amazing side dish ... and I completely foresee making this on a regular basis! Easy and delicious... who could ask for more??

Recipe:

1 T coconut oil

Butternut squash, diced (about 20 oz.)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 C coconut milk (full fat!)

1/4 C chopped cilantro (or 4 green onions, diced)... I've tried and like both!

1 tsp. rubbed sage

1/4 C coconut flakes

Pinch Salt and Pepper to taste

Pinch toasted coconut flakes (topping)

Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic until tender and aromatic. Add diced butternut squash, and toss with coconut oil and garlic. Add coconut milk to skillet and lower the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes. When butternut squash starts to become tender, add cilantro, sage, coconut flakes, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until all ingredients blend well and butternut squash is tender (but not mushy) about 5-7 more minutes. Serve and sprinkle with a few additional flakes of toasted coconut! Enjoy!

We served this with a grilled pork loin and steamed zucchini.

This side dish kind of "steals-the-show", so it's a great accompaniment for the basics and ordinaries! :-)

Coconut Lime Chicken

"Put the lime in the coconut..." Or for a great dinner, put some lime and some coconut on some chicken and fry it all up! This was a huge hit in our house tonight... hope you enjoy!

Recipe:

2 large chicken breast, pounded thin and cut in half (yielding 4 servings)

1 C unsweetened coconut flakes

1/4 C fresh cilantro, finely chopped

1 T fresh lime zest

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

pinch sea salt

2 eggs

1/4 C coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pound and divide chicken breasts and set aside. In a heavy skillet, heat coconut oil on medium high heat. In a shallow dish, beat the two eggs. In another shallow dish, combine the coconut, cilantro, lime zest and remaining spices. Dip chicken breasts in egg and then into the coconut mixture (chicken should be well coated with coconut). Add chicken immediately to the hot pan and brown until chicken is golden brown (about 4 minutes on each side). Place browned coconut chicken pieces on baking dish and bake for and additional 10-12 minutes. Top with some toasted coconut and cilantro sprigs for looks! :-)

Hope you enjoy!

Sweet Potato & Sausage Salad

Do you like sweet potatoes? If so... you'll LOVE this! This dish has become one of my new favorite salads! It's easy. It yields leftovers. It can be served warm or cold. And... it's delicious! Great for summer picnics or barbecues... and sure to be a Paleo-fan favorite! This salad was inspired by a salad they serve in the deli at New Leaf Market. Hope you enjoy!!!

Recipe:

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 1" cubes)

1 bunch green onions, diced

4 chicken sausages (any flavor)

1/4 C olive oil

Sea salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste!

Grill chicken sausages until brown and cooked through. When cool, slice and set aside. Peel and chop sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Put in a pot and cover with water (just enough water to cover potatoes). Bring to a boil. Continue to cook sweet potatoes on a LOW boil for about 7-10 minutes. When potatoes are just tender, drain, and rinse with cool water. You do not want to overcook the potatoes! Place in a bowl and cover with olive oil. Add sausages and green onions and gently stir all ingredients using a wood spoon or rubber spatula. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled!

Basil & Tomato Appetizer

This was the most popular Father's Day appetizer I served! There is nothing like the simple pleasures of heirloom tomatoes and home grown basil (or store bought tomatoes and basil). Either way... you will have happy guests! This easy and colorful combo is extremely tasty! Who doesn't like an easy guest pleaser??? Enjoy! I hope your Father's day yielded many Happy fathers and tasty treats! :-)

2 (preferably) heirloom tomatoes

1 bunch fresh basil (yielding about 16 nice-sized leaves)

~1 T balsamic vinegar

Pinch organic course grey sea salt

Rinse and pat dry basil leave. Place on a plate. slice heirloom tomatoes and top basil leaves. Drip some balsamic vinegar atop each tomato/basil combination. Sprinkle with a pinch of grey sea salt and serve! Enjoy this simple decadence! Flavor combo heaven!