Ultra Awesome Paleo Eggplant Boats

When you go ‘primal’, sadly pasta is no longer an easy go to item in the pantry for a quick dinner. But what to eat your spaghetti bolognaise sauce with? My kids absolutely love meat and I often whip this meal up for them. Occasionally hubby and I will also join them by subbing pasta for zucchini noodles which we make with our mandolins slicer. However, yesterday I made a meal that is EVEN better than Spag Bol with Zucchini Noodles – hello Paleo Eggplant Boats!

INGREDIENTS

. 1 large eggplant
. 1/2 quantity of homemade bolognaise sauce
. Olive oil
. Parmesan cheese to top ( omit for full paleo version)

METHOD

1. Prick eggplant all over with a fork
2. Place on baking paper lined tray and rub over a small amount of oil to coat
3. Bake at 200 C for 40 min
4. Remove with tongs and slice down the middle
5. Scoop out enough flesh to leave a 1 cm shell
6. Chop up eggplant flesh and add to bolognaise sauce
7. Stuff eggplants with sauce mixture and grate over a little Parmesan cheese, if desired
8. Return to oven for 20 min or until cooked

I haven’t included a recipe for my meat sauce as its a no brainier really and different every time! This time I added a stack of mushrooms which gave a delicious earthy flavour to the meal.

There was absolutely no leftovers at the end of this dinner but I must say I ate way too much. They were delicious!

The inspiration for this meal came from Taste website when I was surfing the net looking for a recipe before the eggplant got too old in the fridge! We will def be making this one again.

Bon appetite!

Super Easy Paleo Tomato and Sausage Slow Cooker / Crockpot Recipe

With the weather getting super chilly, there is nothing quite like a comforting, slow-cooked nourishing meal to warm the soul.

This recipe is one of my all time favourite winter warmers. As a mum to two small children which means precious spare time to prepare a meal is scarce, I really look to my slow cooker to save the day! I particularly go for recipes where the meat does NOT require browning before assembling the ingredients in the pot. I definately don’t have time for that!

INGREDIENTS

. 8 quality pork sausages
. 1 large onion, sliced
. 1 large zucchini, thickly sliced
. 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
. 1 400 g tin diced tomatoes
. 2 tbspn tomato paste
. 1 tbspn seeded mustard
. 1 tspn smoked paprika

METHOD

1. Place the onions, zucchini and mushrooms in slow cooker.
2. Layer sausages on top of vegetables.
3. Mix diced tomatoes, tomato paste, mustard and paprika together and pour over sausages.
4. Cook on high for 4 hours.

This is pretty much the easiest slow cooker meal in my repertoire. Super quick, super economical and super cheap! It is delicious served with sweet potato mash or cauliflower purée.

Bon appetite!

Paleo Zucchini Carrot Muffins

Baking with coconut flour is just plain weird. I made these little muffins yesterday in a deliberate attempt to fool the two year old into eating her veggies. They were actually pretty nice, however, I really do find the texture of paleo muffins a little odd.

The addition of a few chocolate chips was just enough to convince the kids to eat them. They actually are pretty healthy – I used eggs, zucchini, carrot, coconut flour, coconut oil, maple syrup and a handful of chocolate chips from an adapted recipe from Elana’s Pantry which you can find here

I have done a few different paleo muffins and these are the best so far. Next time I might experiment with adding a little almond flour to improve the texture and make them a bit more normal .

A Gorgeous Garden Salad

Yesterday our little family was invited to a friend’s house for a housewarming barbie / play date for the kids . Above is the picture of the gorgeous salad I took. I created this salad with one aim in mind – get the kids to eat their veg! Thankfully, it was pretty tasty too.

iNGREDIENTS

. 200 g cherry tomatoes
. 200 g mixed salad leaves
. 300 g baby bocconcini
. 2 bunches asparagus
. 1/2 small butternut pumpkin, cut into small pieces and roasted
. 1 Lebanese cucumber, diced
. 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
. 2 – 3 tbspn prepared pesto

METHOD

1. Boil asparagus 1 – 2 min. Refresh in ice water. When cool, slice into 3 cm pieces.
2. Slice the cheese in half and coat with pesto
3. Toss all salad ingredients together until pesto has coated other salad ingredients
4. Enjoy!

Primal Breakfast of Champions

Hubby has been asking lately for more brekkie options that don’t include eggs. Here is a perfect and delicious savoury alternative to eggs – hot dogs!

So simple and easy. All that is required is a cos lettuce leaf, sliced tomato, quality hot dog, grated cheese (omit for paleo version) and condiments of choice, in this instance tomato sauce and mustard.

I only managed to eat 1 1/2 of these beauties as my four year old devoured the rest. Must be good! Hope you all have a nice day.

Sushi (of sorts) for lunch

Hubby and I are getting a bit sick of soup and salad for lunch. I know, I know, one should never snub a healthy meal packed with delicious, fresh veggies but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing!

So I thought today I’d try my hand at some “paleo sushi” – sushi made without rice.

Result? Really tasty. If you are after a real sushi experience well this isn’t the recipe for you. However, the nori seaweed did make a convenient wrap for the filling and the combination of tuna, mayo and avocado was a suitably ‘japanesey’ filling.

Paleo Tuna and Avocado Sushi Rolls

INGREDIENTS

. 1 sheet nori seaweed
. 1 small tin tuna in spring water
. 1/2 avocado, mashed
. 4 small cornichons, chopped
. 1 tbspn mayonnaise

METHOD

Spread mashed avocado onto nori, mix cornichons, tuna and mayo together and spoon it into the middle of the nori, in a line from one side to the other. Roll up and enjoy!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Roast Lamb deliciousness

People often ask me how on earth it is possible to follow a Paleo / Primal lifestyle. How? Take a look at the photo folks! Absolute yumminess personified. I’ve often thought that going Primal is more like returning to days of yore – eat your meat and three veg just like your grandparents did – proper home cooked meals, and she’ll be right.

And how could you go wrong with a gorgeous joint of Roast Lamb studded with garlic and rosemary, roasted pumpkin, sweet potato and cabbage (real potato if you are after a treat)! My sister and brother in law who are doing the hard-core version of Paleo enjoyed their roast with pan drippings and salt. I on the other hand smothered my meal with lashings of pan gravy (gluten free) and mint jelly. Mmmmmmmmmmmm. What a wonderful day. Blessings xx