Tag Archives: Paleo challenge

Paleo Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce!

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Ohhhhhhh the last day of Summer….so upsetting! =( I thought it was only right to serve a fresh tasty summer-y dish on this day! What is better on a summer day than crab cakes with tartar sauce & a fresh crisp green salad?!? NOTHING! Pure amazingness…. I also felt that this was a hearty comfort type food for my fellow Lurong Paleo Challengers. Something that was too good to be paleo (except it is!!!! yeeehaaw!) This meal can be prepped in the morning to make dinner time run smooth, this is a very simple dish to put together.  I hope you all enjoy as much as we did! Here we go!

Paleo Crab Cakes:

crab cakes

makes about 8 med-large patties

about 24 oz crab meat, drained (I used canned)

about 4 scallions, chopped (green & white parts are cool!)

a heaping 1/2 cup of flax meal (reg or golden)

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp pepper

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 beaten eggs

EVOO or Ghee

Mix all of your ingredients together in a large bowl. Make sure the flax meal gets evenly distributed. Let mixture get cold in the refrigerator for about 30 mins-1hr. Take out & form about 8 patties. Heat a good amount of EVOO or Ghee over med-high heat in a large pan or skillet. Cook your crab cakes about 5 minutes on the first side until crispy & brown, flip & cook another few minutes until brown. Remove from pan & put onto a dish with a paper towel.

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Paleo Tartar Sauce:

tartar sauce

1 cup Paleo Mayo (see recipe below)

3-4 small/med pickles,diced

about 1 tbsp fresh dill, minced

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until combined! Keep cold until served!

Add more salt or vinegar if necessary.

Paleo Mayo:

paleo mayo

Makes about a cup

1 cup olive oil (I’ve heard to use light for a lighter flavor, but I actually prefer the stronger flavor of Extra Virgin olive oil, your choice!)

1 whole large egg

1 tsp salt

juice from 1/2 lemon

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

**YOU NEED AN IMMERSION BLENDER FOR THIS METHOD!

This is probably the easiest, most amazing way to make your own mayo. I can’t imagine why anybody would buy this in a store!! You’ll need a tall container, like a glass mason jar (wide mouth). Crack your egg into the jar, add in the oil & all of the other ingredients. (If you want to make this just for mayo, not tartar, feel free to add some herbs to make an extra fancy mayo!) Put your immersion blender into the jar down to the bottom & turn on for about 30 seconds. It will change so fast before your eyes, it’s amazing! You may notice a little oil not totally combined. Bring your blender up & down a bit in the jar to make sure everything gets combined. (Don’t spray mayo every where!) Store in an air tight container.

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Happy Challenge Days!!!! ❤

Fall & Football!!

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My last post was allllll Fallllll, Paleo Challllennnngeeee…..but how could I forget FOOTBALL?!?!?! Well, the truth is that I don’t get all football cray! (crucify me ok?!?) BUT, football is a huuuuuuuge part of life for most people! With that being said, on Sunday & Monday we gotta eat right?!?! So whether you’re having a casual night at home with your boo, or you have parties for every game….we have to have some munchies!! Yes or yes?! Are you guys diving in to subs & potato skins?? or are you keeping it tasty, savory & still clean?! Let me share some of my favorite game day apps, snacks & foods that I love to keep the spirit! (or just keep me occupied during the game, hehe!) If you have read my Superbowl Eats post, you’ll recognize some of these! Party on people! ❤

Paleo MEATZA:

This is such a quick, filling, fun food. Can act as a meal or an app depending on how you cut it!

MEATZA

1/2 lb  ground turkey

1/2 lb ground beef

1/4 cup almond or flax meal

1 beaten egg

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cumin

sprinkle of chili powder

Mix everything together & flatten out like a big burger on a greased foil lined baking sheet. Bake until cooked almost completely. 375 for about 15 minutes. Take out and add your topping, sauce, veggies (pre cook), cheese (no cheese for you challengers =)) & bake for an additional 5 ish minutes. I like to finish with some guacamole, yum!

Check out my Simple Guacamole Recipe here:

avocado

https://psimadethat.com/?s=guacamole

Quick BBQ Pulled Chicken:

BBQ PULLED CHICKEN

Trim a couple of pounds of chicken breast. Put into a large pot & cover with chicken or vegetable stock. Boil for about 12-15 minutes until chicken is cooked. Let cool for a few minutes & shred with a fork! This couldn’t be easier! Add your favorite organic, chemical free BBQ sauce (home-made would be snazziest!) Or sometimes I just like to make a quick tangy sauce by mixing a can of tomato paste with the same amount of balsamic vinegar (use the can as your guide!), a little salt & pepp & mix up! DELISH!

What’s football without Buffalo Wings?! Here is an AWESOME recipe from Against All Grain!

BUFFALO WINGS

Buffalo Wings with Dairy Free Ranch Dressing

Last but not least, Bacon wrapped anything!!! YES!

So, it’s safe to say that us paleo followers typically live & die for bacon. What’s better at a football occasion than BACON! Here are a few ideas!

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Bacon Wrapped Sweet Potato Bites:

Cut about 3 sweet potatoes into bite size pieces. Cook them over medium heat in a little EVOO for a few minutes just until they start to get soft. Take them off heat & let them cool. Cut your bacon strips into about 2 inch pieces & stretch them around each cube of sweet potato. Secure with toothpick (presoaked in water). Bake in a 400 degree oven until bacon is cooked & crispy!

Bacon Wrapped Dates:

So decadent! Take about 2 cups of pitted dates (delget, medjool, whichever!) Cut your bacon strips into about 1 inch pieces & wrap around the dates. Secure with toothpick (presoaked in water). Bake in a 400 degree oven until bacon is cooked & crispy!

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple:

Sweet & Salty meet again! Take a can of pineapple chunks & drain. Follow same directions as the Bacon Wrapped Dates!

How’s that for tasty finger foods?! Enjoy!

Paleo Challenge is HERE!!! & Paleo Coconut Almond Fudge! =)

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Ok kiddies!!!!!!!!! Fall is coming…..which screams PALEO CHALLENGE! Woohoo!! Who doesn’t want to look better, feel better & perform better?!? I’m all about healing yourself from the inside out, with food!! So, with that being said, what is 8 weeks of clean paleo eating to achieve these optimal results?? EASY! Sign up before September 15 (which is like 2 days!!) & improve yourself, set some goals, achieve them, clean up your eating routine & be an overall better version of yourself! Paleo will do that for you. My promise through this challenge is to devote my website to 8 WEEKS OF LURONG PALEO CHALLENGE APPROVED RECIPES!! I want to support every challenger & hopefully make breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack ideas a little bit easier!

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8 weeks out of your life is no time at all! Let’s make a change! Good luck everyone! ❤

Sign up for the Lurong Paleo Challenge 2014 @ https://www.lurongliving.com/challenge/

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With all that being said, I thought it was only fitting to share a decadent chocolate treat recipe as a last HOOOOORAAAH! =) You will not be disappointed!

Paleo Chocolate Almond Fudge:

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup coconut butter

1 cup coconut milk

2 cups dark chocolate (70% or higher is better!)

1 tbsp almond extract

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp sea salt (& more to top with, if desired!)

1/2-3/4 cup chopped almonds (or other nut of your choice!)

In a medium size pot, add your oil, butter & milk. Heat over medium heat until hot and bubbling, stirring often. While that is heating, add your chocolate to a medium size bowl. When your wet mixture is hot, pour over the chocolate & use a spoon or scraper to gently mix until chocolate is completely melted. Do not over mix or your chocolate may get grainy. Then add in the extracts, salt & nuts. Gently stir to combine. Line an 8×8 glass baking dish with plastic wrap. (Have it come up over the edges as well.) Put in the freezer for about 45-60 minutes, until cold & solidified! Remove chocolate block by picking up each side of the plastic wrap, & gently transferring to a cutting board. Cut into small squares & enjoy! These are very rich & decadent, so a little square (or 2 ) should be enough! Store them in the freezer, they are yummy that way!

HAPPY CHALLENGE SEASON! ❤

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Time for a Challenge!!!

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Tis the season for a little nutrition challenge!!! Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, vacations, Valentines day…. I am still feeling a little bit from each holiday!!!! I don’t know about you but I’m about due for a little extra discipline!! ( I think we all are!) So when a Paleo Challenge was announced through the gym, Shoreline Crossfit, I was like yep, sign me up! No time to even think about it or talk myself out of it, JUST DO IT!! Now, this is a “Paleo-ish” challenge, which means some things that are generally considered paleo in moderation are actually still allowed (for example, honey, dark chocolate, bacon…) I am happy about that, not meaning I am going to be bingeing on that, I will actually stay away from those extra fatty & sugary things for a bit. I say I am glad that these things are allowed, because sometimes when we go super strict for a challenge, we either end up failing, or doing awesome & then bingeing when it’s over! STUPID!! So, finding a happy, healthy paleo-ish balance is my kind of game! So here I am, Sunday evening, (challenge starts tomorrow) thinking about what sort of meal prep I will be doing for the week to ensure a successful journey! If you are signed up, are doing something similar, or just want some meal/snack ideas, then this should help! I wanted to compile a couple of meals & snacks that I will be making & packing for the week! Food prep is key in making sure you are eating right & eating enough! Don’t let your forgetfulness drive you to a drive-thru!!!! Hopefully you can get some ideas from the following yummies to keep you on track!!!!!! 🙂

I am dividing these things up into Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, but I tend to eat dinner for breakfast & lunch for dinner, so eat up anything @ any time!!!

Breakfast Ideas:

Chia Seed Pudding or “Oatmeal”: Chia seeds have many positive health benefits, including lowering cholesterol, stabilizing blood sugar, aiding in digestion & boosting energy!! If you have texture troubles, you may have have to get used to this one, but I LOVE IT! My co-workers think I’m gross when I eat this tho lol! You can make this ahead of time in glass mason jars like I do & store in the fridge for on the go! 1/4 cup black or white chia seeds, 1 cup unsweetened coconut or almond milk, 1 tbsp honey (optional), 1tsp vanilla, pinch of cinnamon. Combine all ingredients, except seeds, to jar, then add seeds. Shake vigorously, break up with a fork if necessary. Let sit in fridge for a couple of hours or overnight. The seeds will expand leaving you with this awesome pudding like deliciousness! I add fruit or nuts to it & dig in!!! So yummy!

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“Cereal”: I just call this cereal, but it’s simply 1/2 apple, cut up, a few nuts, (walnuts my fav!), raisins (if you’re getting snazzy), unsweetened coconut, cinnamon, & unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Now if you are looking for a little sweet, add just a DRIZZLE of honey! Let me tell you…DELISH!

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Frittata (or minis!): This is a piece of cake. Simply because I use this opportunity to empty out the fridge!! I take 12-15 eggs, whisk up with some S&P, add every veggies I can get my hands on (you’ll probably want a little more egg than veggies tho), Mix up, pour into greased (EVOO or COCONUT OIL) 9×13 Pyrex dish. Bake at 425 ish for about 20ish (clearly i used “ish” a lot!!) minutes until set! This is great to make on Sunday & have for the week! Perfect hot or cold, as breakfast or snack! For minis, just divide into greased muffin tins! Excellent for on the go!

3 Ingredient Pancakes: Not as complex as some other pancake recipes I have come across, but this is great if you are craving something bready & don’t have all day to cook! 2 ripe bananas, 1 egg, 1 tbsp nut butter (almond is ok, or even sunflower seed, see past recipe;)). (Add a little cinnamon & vanilla if you have the extra sec!!) Mash up bananas, doesn’t matter if it’s lumpy, Mix all of the ingredients together. Heat up some coconut or olive oil in a pan (med heat is good). Pour mix into pan to form a few pancakes, cook until you see bubbles, flip & cook a little more! Enjoy! No butter or syrup necessary!

Here are some other snack ideas for on the go!!

  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Nuts (not too many if weight loss if the goal)
  • Home made trail mix (nuts, seeds, raisins, coconut, etc)
  • Fruit (not too much if weight loss is the goal)
  • Larabars (again, higher is sugar, natural sugar of course, but sugar = sugar!), you can buy these in the store, purchase them off of my menu or make your own!! SUPEREASY!
  • Applesauce (unsweetened & delicious!!, add cinnamon!)
  • Apple Frittata: Recipe listed a few posts back, worth making!! Especially for a sweet treat, it’s like pumpkin pie with no added sugars!
  • Turkey Roll-ups: I buy Applegate or Boars Head Low Sodium Sliced Turkey or Chicken breast, take a couple slices & roll up some tomato, lettuce, bacon & a smidge of organic mustard!! So amazing!

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I feel as tho I’ve typed enough for today, so you guys are on your own for dinner ideas!!!!! Pinterest & Google are awesome places to help out when in a dinner funk! & definitly look out on my facebook or future blog posts for some tasty dinner, snack, & sweet treat ideas!!!! Enjoy & eat up!!!

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