It was in the fridge, so...

Chicken, shrimp, Mexican squash, onions, carrots, celery, garlic...
Hmmmm....what to do, what to do. How 'bout a stir-fry? Works for me!!

Here is how I get things going. I marinate or season the meats first. Cut up all my veggies...

I sauteed the veggies first - in some olive oil.

Then I added something small that has big flavor...can you see it? Sesame seeds! I also added a little bit of sesame oil for taste and soy sauce. Then I put my veggies to the side...

Now it's time to cook the chicken. Make sure it's cooked all the way through, but not over-cooked. The house is really smelling great! Add to the veggies and toss.

This shrimp happened to be cooked already, but I still cooked it up in a little butter (for flavor)... I kept the shrimp separate because one of my awesome kiddos has a slight shell fish allergy.

Here's the final product. SO good. I would have taken off the tails if I thought about it sooner, but it wasn't too much of a hassle. I also wish I had some mushrooms in there... but anyhow. It was awesome. Everybody from the 3 year old to the 14 year old loved it.

I had some cauliflower too that I thought I was going to use, but needed a little more inspiration. My kids love it mashed like potatoes and of course we've steamed it - but what else? Any ideas that YOU have tried? Post in the comments or message me! Thanks!!

Chuletas en Salsa Verde or Pork Chops in Tomatillo Sauce

I love CHILE VERDE!!! I have had the privilege of enjoying some great salsa verde (green salsa) in my time. Living in the Los Angeles/Southern California area AND attending a Spanish Church for so many years has allowed me lots of exposure to some great chile verde! =)
As you know, I love to cook, but did not want to even attempt this for some reason. Why mess with perfection? haha
But alas, I had some fresh tomatillo, cilantro, jalapeños... I had some pork cutlets and wanted to do something different than I usually do. So...it was fate. My first time making chile verde was BEAUTIFUL!! Here we go!
Ingredients:
1 lb. fresh tomatillos (husked and washed)...I guess you can use canned, but I've never used it.
1 jalapeño (remove seeds)
1 bunch cilantro (chopped roughly)
1 medium onion (sliced thin)
1 Tbs. crushed fresh garlic (about 2 large cloves)
1 cup chicken stock (if you don't make your own, you can get some good stuff at Trader Joe's)
Salt
Directions:
Husk and wash the tomatillos. Cut them into quarters.
Wash and slice your jalapeño. Remove seeds unless you want it to be extra spicy.
Put in a small pot and cover with water. Add salt (maybe a teaspoon or two)
Boil until soft. Drain water.
Pour in a blender. Add cilantro, onion, garlic, and chicken stock.
Blend and then pour back into pot. Simmer until it changes from bright green to dark green.
And it's done! You can now use it for chip dip, enchiladas, add to any kind of meat you like... it's just so yummmmmm. =)

Boil process...

These are the pork cutlets that I seasoned and cooked until very tender...

The blender...

Add cooked sauce to your meat. Cover and let simmer for another 15 minutes or so. I just waited until my pork was very tender. I served it over some shredded chicken breast for my youngest child. We had some chicken leftover and I thought he'd prefer that over the pork.

This sauce was not hot at all in my opinion. It was just spicy enough. You could add another pepper or add a different kind like serrano or whatever you like best.

When I served it on the plates, I broke the meat up into little chunks so that the sauce would cover it even more.
This is usually served with rice, but to keep it low carb or paleo, you'll want to serve it over some steamed veggies or something. I loved the steamed cauliflower shredded up to appear "rice like".

Enjoy!!

Move Over Zucchini Boats...It's the Tomato Boat...

Isn't this a beautiful picture?? My cousin, Sherri, sent me this recipe and I can't wait to try it. I just wanted to go ahead and post this in case some of you were looking for something new to try this weekend. You know that pictures are sure to follow... =)
I believe that a strict Paleo diet would skip the dairy items...however, I will not be skipping them! =)
Stuffed Tomatoes
Ingredients
•8 firm ripe tomatoes
•6 slices bacon
•1/2 cup chopped onion
•1 pound fresh spinach, stems snipped
•1 cup sour cream
•1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
•salt to taste
•1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Directions
This recipe's Ingredients were scaled to yield a new amount. The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield of 4 servings.
1.Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
2.Cut tops from tomatoes; remove seeds and membranes. Place tomato shells upside down on paper towels to drain until filling.
3.Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate, reserve drippings. Crumble bacon and set aside. Return 2 tablespoons of drippings to skillet.
4.Cook onion in the bacon drippings until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, reserved crumbled bacon, and hot pepper sauce.
5.Sprinkle tomato shells with salt; fill evenly with bacon and spinach mixture. Place tomatoes in prepared baking dish.
6.Bake in preheated oven until hot, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove, and top evenly with the shredded cheese. Return to the oven; bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

Friday Fill-Ins for August 6

My sweet daughter Taryn at the water park. Summer's wrapping up so quickly! =(

1. Life is going to be very different this year. The kids will be going to public school for the first time ever! I am looking forward to all of the options and programs they will have access to, however I am nervous at the same time.

2. Even if there are stumbling blocks, you've got to keep going, you never know what's just around the bend!

3. My last text message (or IM) ended in these three words: "my last one" It was a text to my cousin (long-distance personal trainer) telling her that I did better this time. =)

4. Fresh lobster is what I'm thinking about for dinner sometime soon. I've never cooked it before and would love to try it for something special.

5. On the 1st day of August I felt panicky because I still need to do school shopping (clothes and supplies) and the summer is ending quickly!

6. The crossfit workouts and Paleo eating really help me to feel lively and energetic.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to family game night at a friend's house, tomorrow my plans include a family day retreat at the beach with our church and Sunday, I want to relax and enjoy the Lord's day with family and friends!

Oh, man. Let's give it up for bacon!!

Before I get into the recipe or pictures, can I just say that for the last 2 weeks or so, I've stuck with the work outs AND I have been eating as PRIMAL as I know how and I got on the scale to find that I've lost 10 pounds. Yup! Couldn't believe it. I have been reading a lot about the Paleo and Primal way of eating and I realised that it really is the healthiest and best choice for me. I am still new to it and learning every day, but the things that I have cut out of my diet entirely are grains of any kind, processed foods, sugar, and any legume. I have been enjoying dairy in moderation. Usually it is in the form of cheese and of course butter!

I feel stronger and feel a little bit of room in my clothes, but we'll see. I know that at first, the pounds may come off quickly and then taper off. That's okay. I want it to be realistic and lasting.

So, here we go...this is what I made for my family of 6 hearty eaters plus 1 happy visitor.

I made Seasoned Shrimp wrapped in Bacon and Stuffed Zucchini Boats. There are various recipes on line for the zucchini, but I changed mine up a bit to my taste and of course did not include bread crumbs like most of the recipes called for.

Shrimp wrapped with bacon....

1 lb. fresh, cleaned raw shrimp (large to jumbo work best)

1 package of uncured bacon (Trader Joe's or Whole Foods have good options)

Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic, Mrs. Dash...really it's whatever you like best! This is what I had on hand. =)

1.) In a bowl, mix your shrimp and seasonings (I left tails on, by the way).

2.) Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to let the seasonings marinade the shrimp.

3.) Cut your bacon in half and then again lengthwise.

4.) Take your shrimp and wrap each one with a piece of bacon. Just spiral it around the shrimp.

5.) Grill on skillet until bacon is cooked on each side. The shrimp will be a bright pink and no longer gray in color.

6.) Enjoy!

Zucchini Boats

4 zucchini squash (approx. 7 inches long)

1 lb. ground meat of your choice (turkey, beef, pork...)

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 tsp of italian seasoning mix (of course you can use fresh or dried mix of oregano/basil)

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce ( I used a spicey brand called El Pato)

1/2 cup Pepper Jack cheese

Salt to taste (I didn't really add any)

1.) Cut squash in half lengthwise.

2.) Scoop out the middle. You can use a melon baller or small spoon to do this.

3.) Brown meat, onion and garlic in a frying pan until fully cooked.

4.) Drain and add your seasonings and Worcestershire sauce. Make sure you get it evenly blended.

5. ) Fill up boats with meat mixture and arrange in glass baking dish.

6.) Cover evenly with tomato sauce and top with cheese.

7.) Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. You can even take it out 5 minutes early, top it with a little more cheese and then pop it under the boiler for about 2 minutes to get a nice brown crisp to the cheese. =) Yum.

If I get an Italiany craving, I am going to make it again. Well, to be honest, I am going to make it again after I buy more zucchini at the Farmers' Market. =) I may add diced mushrooms to the meat mixture. The kids loved it. Hubby loved it...even Kristian, our impromptu visitor, loved it!

It started with some asparagus...

I have been cooking lots of fresh vegetables this summer. One of our favorites is the asparagus that I pick up at Costco. I usually steam them or grill them... Anyway, I decided to try wrapping them in bacon tonight - just to give it a twist. I know that it's a common option, but I've never personally done this at home.

I first drizzled EVOO on the asparagus and then added Mrs. Dash and fresh ground pepper. Then I put about 4 in a bunch and wrapped it with one raw strip of bacon.

Make sure your pan or griddle is hot before you place the bundle on the pan. This will help them to crisp up faster and they won't really stick. Cook over medium heat.

The time it takes for the bacon to cook should be just about the amount needed to make sure the asparagus are just right.

I also seasoned some zucchini that I got at the Farmers' Market with the same things as the asparagus. My hubby put these on the grill and they were PERFECT. Could have put them on a little longer or on a hotter grill if we wanted the grill marks, but meh. Who cares, right?

We served it with some great pork loin steaks that I got at Costco as well. A side of fresh avacado and I was one happy camper.

I love that I take more time to think about my food when I'm eating right. I'm still learning about Paleo eating, but so far - I love it and my family has no complaints either.

Warning...these pictures may make you hungry...

A lot of you have asked me about my change in eating and cooking habits. I've really enjoyed this new way of eating. The thing that has helped me the most is that my husband and my kids are all on board. It takes a lot of planning and making sure that the fridge is stocked, but it's well worth it.
We haven't written off sugar and all things carb-filled forever, but for me - it is the better choice. It is still hard, but I've learned that by refraining from sugar and carbs, I have cut out things like chips, ice-cream, starchy potatoes, breads, fried and battered foods, milk shakes, most fast food, etc. I know. Sounds boring, right? It's been a challenge, but so far - so good. There have been a few times (like the Valentine's Banquet) where I've gone ahead and eaten dessert and starches, but it's not all day every day like it was before.
Here are some of the meals that I've served my family in the last few weeks, along with the ones you saw in my other recent post. It's been about a month and we've all lost at least 10 lbs. each, but my hubby has lost about 16 lbs! We've also been exercising regularly too!
Here we go...

I needed a little "comfort" food here so I made a seasoned ground beef that I usually serve on mashed potatoes, but this time I served it on the mashed cauliflower. My kids really love it!


Sauteed and seasoned asparagus

Omelettes are good any time of the day. Here is one with bacon, spinach, mushroom and cheddar jack cheese.

This one is sans mushroom, but with added sausage.

This was a quick meal that I made one evening with stir-fry chicken, pasilla chilies and mushrooms. Very good - lots of flavor.

This was a really great meal. We had shrimp scampi and mussels as a side with broiled salmon and broccoli. It was delish! It would've cost us so much to go out and have this at a restaurant.

Butter and garlic shrimp....

...lots of broccoli...splash of pepper jack cheese on top...

Broiled salmon...just right...

...and then there's days that I am in a super big hurry and I've got to just pick up a rotisserie chicken and sautee some green beans and go! Quick...but still healthy. No more just pullin' in to 'ole Jack in the Box for a quick meal.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Keeping TRUE...

So, one area that I have been wanting to stay TRUE about is my health. I really got it together towards the end of 2009. Lost enough to start feeling like it was something that I could at least work on - that it IS possible to start losing weight and moving and feeling good again.
It's no secret that I like to eat. I am not even afraid to say it. I do love food, I love cooking, I love feeding others and sharing from my kitchen...but in being TRUE... I also know that I love looking and feeling good more than I love food.
I've been reading a lot about the Paleo or Primal way of eating. Some people think that it's the same as Atkins, but it really isn't. It's so much more, but I am not going to get into all of that right now. Think of all the "bad stuff" we aren't indulging on anymore.
For this post, I just want to share some of the low-carb dinners I've had recently. My lunches and breakfasts have been amazing as well. I KNOW that this is healthier. I am not afraid of meat. I have been eating more vegetables than I have in a long time...and a beautiful variety at that! Fruit? We love fruit! I don't eat as many grapes in one sitting, but we have them. Oh, by the way...my hubby and my two oldest girls are in it with me as well. I have totally re-vamped our pantry.
Well, let's take a look at some of the beef dishes...

Here is some roast beef that was cooked in the crock pot, with steamed cabbage and instead of mashed POTATOES...mashed CAULIFLOWER!!! Yes! Everybody (including the kids) loved it. Plenty of beef broth or "au jus" as gravy....big hit.

Instead of carne asada tacos, we had carne asada lettuce wraps. Side of avocado for those that care to have it, romaine lettuce and monterey jack cheese. Salsa verde or green salsa to top!

There was a great sale at the market on good steak (I rarely buy it 'cause it's too much for a family of 6)....anyway, I had also purchased a little bit of mussels and a bag of raw frozen shrimp as a "go to". Here we have grilled steak (seasoned perfectly), garlic butter shrimp scampi and some mussels steamed in white wine/garlic/pesto sauce. We ate those like an appetizer. Oh, and the sauteed zucchini was to die for!

The two older girls were out the night I served this. I had two of the steaks left and had Marco grill them. He opted out of the brussel sprouts and had a big salad, but after tasting one of these....yeah. He was all in my business.

Grilled steak with steamed brussel sprouts with butter and shredded cheese. LOVED this!!

Well, maybe I will post some chicken meals soon and then fish...sounds good, eh? Along with exercising, we are seeing the pounds drop...not melt away....we are working hard at this, but I am really hoping to keep it real. You know how I do, I want to be TRUE! =]