My update following Sarah Fragoso's Workshop this past weekend

I had the opportunity to attend a workshop this past weekend by Sarah Fragoso (of EVERDAY PALEO) and her business partner Jason Seib.  It was a wonderful workshop, they managed to pack a lot into that 4+ hours!  Even though I have been doing Paleo for 20 months now and have already attended two other Seminars, it was so great to sit in on something like this.  I learned a few new things and was reminded of some old things, including a great reminder of WHY!  If we don't know why or we forget why we are doing things it can start to get "old" or loose it's excitement.  For me it was a reminder of how much I had let my children's eating slip, and how important it is for them too.  I had focussed more on my husband and I and allowed them to eat more loosely, but when Sarah challenged that we feel better when eating Paleo, so why wouldn't we want the same for them, it really hit me.  And Jason brought up the whole Corn syrup thing and how it's just as damaging to the liver as drinking alcohol, I was shocked!  At least corn syrup was one ingredient I have not made a concession on, but it did get me to thinking, why would I make concessions for them so easily.  I had also started buying non-paleo snacks for my older boys (20 and 19) but found that my younger ones where sneaking them and eating them in secret, etc.  So after some discussion my husband and I have decided no more of that, we are going back to where we started with our adult children, they may eat whatever they want outside our home, but nothing non-paleo comes through our doors and I certainly won't be buying it along with my weekly groceries.  It was mentioned that when non-paleo foods are there, you will eat it (don't think you can rely on will power!).  By eliminating  the poor food choices from your home, you will eliminate most of  the "food battles" with your children because the food you don't want them to eat is not even an option (or available as an option to ask for).  I am so thankful for the information and reminders issued by both Sarah and Jason, not only did they give a great workshop but they where more than willing to talk during intermissions and after the workshop and offer advice on a more  individualized basis. 
 I also have to say I am a raving fan of Sarah's, shortly after going  Paleo I found her blog (in the days before her cookbook),  I immediately fell in love with her and her family.  I love the way she involves her children in the preparation process, and she has great tasting recipes!  I actually had the opportunity to meet her last year in March at Robb Wolf's Seminar in Chico, and she remembered meeting me last year!  That amazes me with the amount of people she comes in contact with through her book signings and workshops.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of her workshops I highly recommend it and if you haven't bought her books yet...you should!  I have a well broken in copy of her EVERYDAY PALEO cookbook and now have her kids book PALEO PALS which I also highly recommend.  My kids LOVED reading Paleo Pals and look forward to making the recipes in the back of the book! At the very least please be sure to visit her website, it is a great resource http://everydaypaleo.com/, and she said she is working on a new cookbook, Everyday Paleo Family, I can't wait!

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A fun project to do with kids....

I realize this has nothing to do with eating Paleo, but I just thought I would share it for those of you who have children or grandchildren.  My younger two and I made homemade play dough today and it was so simple and fun to make that I just had to share it!    It is the best recipe for play dough I have come across and will use it over and over again.  I am not sure how long it will keep, but we are storing ours in some airtight containers in hopes of using it again.  So...if you are new to Paleo and haven't dumped everything in your pantry that isn't Paleo, this is a great opportunity to use it up!  You will need some white flour, regular salt, vegetable oil ( I don't have any so used olive oil), cream of tartar, water and a couple packets of unsweetened Koolaide.  The Koolaide is what gives it beautiful coloring and a wonderful scent. I made two batches in a matter of minutes, and the kids loved playing with it!

Homemade Play Dough

1/2 cup salt

1 cup flour

1/2 TBSP cream of Tartar

1 1/2 TBSP oil

1 cup hot water

1 packet of unsweetened koolaide (pictured is Cherry)

In a medium saucepan heat the salt and water over low heat until the salt dissolves, then stir in the remaining ingredients.   Continue to stir until it thickens up well and is the constancy of play dough over low heat ( a matter of minutes).  Remove from heat and knead with a spoon until it cools down enough to knead by hand.  Knead by hand until cool and then let the kids have fun playing with it!

*You can double this and make a larger batch, I just found they enjoyed having more than one color to play with and the smaller batches are nice for that*

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Delicious, Nutritious Paleo Meatza!

I have been throwing this idea around for while, after seeing a friend post that she had made mini paleo Meatzas for dinner.  I think more traditionally it would be topped with more meat, but I think it's a great opportunity to get a bunch of veggies in and your already eating meat so I really don't think you need more.  Maybe some nitrate free pepperoni would be fun though, and if you do dairy feel free to throw some mozzarella on there.  We personally generally don't do dairy so I made ours without and it was delicious and fun to eat  Use your imagination with the toppings the possibilities are endless, I just listed what we used which was basically just stuff we had on hand.   For the pizza sauce I used the recipe I grew up on, the one my mom always used and I have always used pre-Paleo.  You may use any sauce you like, this just happens to be the one we enjoy, I also double it whenever I make it.  I suggest making it ahead of time so it is ready when you are ready, you can also pre cut your veggies too to speed up time.  
By the way...this also makes a great breakfast (or lunch) the next morning, so don't worry about leftovers!  

Meatza "Crust" Recipe

2.5 pounds of 80% grass fed ground beef 
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp. dried Basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder or granulated garlic
1/4 tsp coarse ground black pepper
1 egg


Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Combine all  the spices and mix well, then sprinkle on the meat, add the egg and mix in with your hands.  Be sure to get it mixed in well, but being careful not to over mix the meat.  Spread into a jelly roll pan, patting out with your hands to get it to fit.  Bake for 10 minutes and then carefully drain off all the grease.  By the way, don't be surprised when your "crust" shrinks, it will not stay the same size as the pan, this is normal.  Spread with your pre-made pizza sauce and top with your desired toppings.  Bake on the top rack of your oven for about 10-15 more minutes.  The meat will form a stiff base, which when cut you will be able to pick up and eat just like pizza.  My kids LOVED this!  Let them help by putting on their own toppings or patting the meat into the pan (just be sure to have them wash their hands after).  I find when they are involved in the preparation they are much more excited about eating something different.  Have fun!  

Mom's Pizza Sauce

1-8 oz can organic tomato sauce
1- 6 oz can organic tomato paste
2 tsp dried minced onion
1 tsp. dried basil
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder or granulated garlic


Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pot and simmer not he lowest setting while making he crust.


For Toppings I used what I had around:
Sliced and chopped Zucchini, fresh parsley, red peppers, red onion, olives, and spinach.  Maybe some mushrooms, pineapple, good no nitrate pepperoni, bacon, tomatoes, etc. would be good.  You can really use just about anything on here.  

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My first week of Whole 30 and Easter Eggs...

I apologize for the lack of posts lately, I have had a lot on my mind and on my plate for the past few weeks and the blog had to take a backseat.  There are so many things I think about and want to get on here, if only I had more time!


 I started my Whole 30 on Monday, April 2 and am nearing the end of week 1.  It's still not to late to join in, just follow the badge on the sidebar for the Whole 30, get the specifics and you can join in.  I thought I would share how things are going for me so far.  I sort of alluded to it, but I have been under a tremendous amount of stress the past few weeks and have really been struggling with my adrenal fatigue as a result.  So exhaustion is my daily battle right now, and I don't know about you but when I get tired let alone exhausted I just don't care about pretty much anything and would love to eat like crap!  I'm so tired and cranky I really don't care!  But that's where this Whole 30 comes in, it is a great way to train myself (or train my soul) that just because it doesn't feel well and really wants to be lazy or be comforted with some dark chocolate or other treat, I can say NO!  Teaching myself not to turn to those food items in the long run will probably be a good thing.  I knew I was eating a lot of dark chocolate lately but I don't think I really had any idea just how much, or at night I am finding I just want to snack on something sweet or salty.  And that's just what it is, an extreme urge to snack or munch, banana chips are sounding really good to me and usually I could take them or leave them.  It's really not that difficult to do a Whole 30,  it's just been interesting  to see things through a different light.  Well...maybe I should take that back today when I was looking for plastic eggs for the kids Easter party  I was very tempted by all that Easter Candy!  And when the kids ate their weekly popcorn with their movie night last night, I found myself longing for a bowl of buttery popcorn.  But generally it's pretty smooth sailing, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to help my body recover from the stress and maybe break some unhealthy eating habits that had crept back in. 
On a different note, we have a department Easter Party for my husbands Fire Department tomorrow and the thought of all those kids (not to mention my kids) receiving and eating all that candy, makes me crazy, so...I bought Organic fruit snacks with no corn syrup to stuff my 2 dozen plastic eggs with (not Paleo, but a better choice). My other idea was to put money in them (like quarters, etc.), but I was worried about the choking risk of the younger ones and thought better of it.  But if you are doing an Easter Egg hunt with some older kids, money would be fun treat, we also thought of using the little tiny mini boxes of raisins.  
Hummmm...I wonder if my kids can trade away all the corn syrup ridden candy they find tomorrow?  I think we may steal the idea someone gave to us from Halloween, they bought all their child's candy from them.  Or maybe exchange  the candy for an item the kids have really been wanting.  Or maybe trade it in for some other more healthy treats, most of the fun is in hunting the eggs and being with friends anyway.  I hope you enjoy your Easter weekend and the joy that comes from celebrating our Risen Savior!  Happy Easter!

While not Paleo sometimes we have to make concessions and I felt this was a better choice than candy.

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It's Spring and Time For a Fresh New Start...Focusing on Health and Recovery

As I start getting back into working out after my car accident (about 6 weeks ago), my focus and motto have been "Take it Slow".  It has been my history previously to jump right back in and rush things.  I'm very competitive by nature and have a hard time restraining myself when it comes to working out.  So my plan of action is to listen to my body and leave plenty of recovery time in between my workouts.  Recovery and sleep are so important to success!

1. My first priority or focus for week one (starting April 1st ) is Nutrition.  I will be going back to the foundation of Paleo and hitting reset.  I will be doing a Whole 30 by Whole9 Life, I would love to have you join me.  The more the merrier, it's great to have support when you are doing something like this.
2. Week #2, I plan to implement my protocols from doing my Biosignature Modulation (Sept-November).  I will focus on being faithful with what I was given through that program, supplements, eating breakfast within one hour of rising, Epsom salt baths, stretching/yoga, etc.
3. Earthing, hopefully by the 3rd week in April I will have my Earthing pad (if not earlier).  I am really looking forward to receiving it's benefits and writing about it.
4. My plan is to do 1-2 days of full  CrossFit, depending on how I am feeling, with 2 days of running a week.  Recovery and listening to my body are going to be key. Again, I will be reminding myself, "take it slow!"

I am really excited to see how my month unfolds and what happens with my energy levels. I hope you will join me in this and Spring into Health!

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Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Though our family has no Irish heritage, we do enjoy celebrating Saint Patrick's Day.  

What is Saint Patrick's Day about anyway?
Saint Patrick was born in Britain the son of a Deacon and Grandson of a priest.   He was abducted at the age of 16, taken to Ireland and enslaved.  There he remained captive for 6 years, doing the work of a herdsman.  During his time in captivity he prayed daily and his faith grew strong. 
After being in Ireland 6 years as a slave he heard a voice telling him he would go home soon.  Later he heard another voice telling him his ship was ready.  He then fled, traveling over 200 miles to find his ship and sail home.  By the time he returned home to his family he was in his early twenties.
Upon his return to Britain he again heard another voice speaking to him, telling him to return to Ireland as a missionary.  
He then started religious training which took him more than 15 years.  After which he was ordained as a priest and sent off to Ireland.  It is believed that he went with two goals in mind, 1) to minister to Christians in Ireland and 2) to convert the Irish to Christianity.  Some believe that Saint Patrick actually introduced Christianity to Ireland.


There are also some fun legends pertaining to Saint Patrick, I thought I would share my two favorites:


1) Legend says that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland.  Chasing them into the sea after they attacked him while doing a 40 day fast on a hill top.


2) Legend also says that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to demonstrate the Holy Trinity, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).  The shape and green color were also believed to symbolize the rebirth and eternal life, which is probably why they have become a common symbol for St.Patrick's Day.


And March 17 is believed to be Saint Patrick's day of death, which is where the date came from.


I love knowing a little bit of the history behind the holidays we celebrate and thought some of you might be interested to.  I'm not sure where along the line, leprechauns and rainbows became connected with Saint Patrick's Day, I guess it's like any other holidays, commercialism enters along the way.  


From our family to yours, Happy St. Patrick's Day! Pin It

Carrot Cake Waffles (Paleo/Grain Free)

I'm always a little cautious about posting things like this, because I consider them a once in a while treat and hope people don't take it as a suggestion to eat waffles or pancakes every morning.  But...when I saw a conventional recipe for Carrot Cake Waffles on Pinterest I just knew I had to try my hand at revamping the recipe to be Paleo friendly.  These are very, very good, in fact my biggest problem has been not eating to many!  If you love the flavors of Carrot Cake these are a really fun and tasty waffle.  And if you can do dairy then by all means please use the recipe for the Maple Spread, they make them even tastier!

Paleo Carrot Cake Waffles (Grain free ) 
Revised 11/09/12

2 cups of Honeyville almond meal
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon ( I like saigon)
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice

2 TBSP maple syrup
1 can of full fat coconut milk  1/2 cup canned coconut milk full fat (be sure to fill it a generous 1/2 cup)
4 large eggs, separated
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup melted extra virgin coconut oil, plus 2  TBSP 
1 tsp finely grated orange zest

1/4 cup finely shredded coconut (this is optional,  I do it without quite often)
3/4 cup organic raisins (these are optional too)
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups finely shredded carrots

In a small bowl combine dry ingredients, mix well and set aside.  In a separate  bowl combine the coconut milk, egg yolks, melted coconut oil and vanilla, mix to combine.  And then add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.  Add the carrots, raisins walnuts and orange peel and stir to mix.  
 In another separate bowl, beat the eggs whites on medium  with a hand mixer until peaks form. Then fold them into the batter carefully.  Preheat your waffle iron and lightly grease with some coconut oil.  Then add some batter to your waffle iron, it will be kind of thick so I just scoop it and let it spread out when I close the lid.  Then cook according to the instructions for your waffle iron.  I was using close to 1 cup of batter and cooking mine for 4-5 minutes and they were perfect.

Maple Spread

1-8 oz. package organic cream cheese
1 stick (1/2 cup) 1/4 cup organic pastured butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup pure maple syrup

Be sure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature ( you can make this ahead if you like and refrigerate until ready).  Combine all the ingredients and mix until well combined.  Then spread over your waffles and enjoy!

Finely shredded carrots and orange zest.

Egg Whites whipped.

Ready to mix in the add ins.

My Batter all ready to go.

One waffle ready to remove from the waffle iron.

Waffles with Maple spread and a drizzle of pure maple syrup.

One Carrot Cake Waffle with Maple Spread and a drizzle of Pure Maple Syrup. 

My daughter who loves to help and always wants to be in every picture.

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