Easter Dinner 2013

For Easter Dinner I made roast beef and a chimichurri sauce to go along with it. It was a tasty little sauce. Every thing was paleo friendly

Roast Beef

 


Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs. boneless rump roast at room temperature (round roast or sirloin tip will work)
1-2 tbsp. olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves, sliced
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup beef stock
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried tarragon
1 tsp. dried rosemary

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Make several (8-10) small incisions (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep) around the meat and then insert a slice of garlic into each. Place the roast, fat side up, on a rack over a roasting pan. Pour water and beef broth into the pan (not over the roast) to very lightly cover the bottom of the roasting pan.

3. Rub the roast with olive oil until coated. Sprinkle salt, pepper and herbs all over the roast and spread to evenly coat with your hands.

4. Place in the oven and roast for 45 minutes (or until temperature in the deepest part of the roast registers 125 degrees). Do not open the oven during these 45 minutes to baste or check on the roast.

5. After 45 minutes, reduce heat to 250 degrees and cook an additional 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until thermometer reads 135 degrees. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes.

6. Remove the slices of garlic, if desired. Slice across the grain in very thin slices.

Source: A Sweet Pea Chef

Chimichurri Sauce

 


Ingredients

1 1/2 C chopped parsley
1 1/2 C chopped cilantro
1/2 C loosely packed oregano leaves*
2 T fresh lime juice
1 T red wine vinegar
3 T chopped garlic (6-7 cloves)
1/4 t red pepper flakes
1 t kosher salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/2 C extra virgin olive oil

*Fresh is best, but if you don’t have access to fresh oregano, you could use fresh cilantro and parsley and add in 1 Tbs plus 1 tea dried oregano leaves.

Directions

1. Place parsley, cilantro, oregano, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Pulse several times until finely chopped.

2. Transfer to a bowl and throw in some red pepper flakes

3. And then stir in the extra virgin olive oil by hand. Don’t put the olive oil in the food processor because you run the risk of turning the entire sauce bitter.

Source: Our Best Bites

Balsamic Mustard Chicken and Roasted Veggies

I am doing the Whole Life Challenge once again and enjoying the Paleo recipes that I find. I tried this one and it was very yummy.



Balsamic Mustard Chicken

2 boneless skinless chicken breast (each cut in half long way)
1/4 cup Balsamic
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of minced (or chopped) garlic
2 1/2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Place them in a ziplock bag add the balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, spicy brown mustard and garlic. Zip up the bag and massage the chicken in the bag to ensure it all gets coated nicely! place in the refrigerator and let marinade for as long as you want (mine marinated for about 3 hours, the longer the better).

2. Heat a medium size sauce pan on medium high heat and let the pan get nice and hot! Place chicken breast in the pan and brown on both sides. Once you have browned both sides you can turn your heat down just a little to about medium and add in some of the marinade juices cover with a lid and let the juices reduce down in the pan with the chicken. Occasionally checking on the chicken and stirring around the sauce to make sure to pick up all the yummy chicken bits on the bottom of the pan until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink on the inside (you can flip the chicken one more time if you would like).




Oven Roasted Bacon Veggies

11 strips of your favorite bacon (one package)
3 zucchini’s (4 if they are smaller)
1/2 lb of Brussels sprouts
extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cut your bacon into bit size pieces and fry them up till they are nice and crispy.  Set them aside.

2. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half place on a cookie sheet  that is already covered in foil (easy clean up!!).  Next cut the end of of your zucchini’s cut them in half length wise then cut them into half circle shapes and place them on your cookie sheet with your Brussels sprouts.

3. Drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven at 350 for about 20-30 minutes or until they are starting to get a little golden brown color to them and the Brussels sprouts are tender.

4. For the last 5 minutes you can add your bacon on top of your veggies just to rewarm your bacon. When the veggies are done take them out and sprinkle them with salt and pepper to taste.

Source: Everyday Paleo

Paleo Beef Stew and Mashed Cauliflower

I have been wanting to try to make some mashed cauliflower as a substitute for mashed potatoes and decided to pair it with a beef stew that was Paleo friendly since I happened to have all the ingredients on hand and wanted to bust out my crockpot. It was a perfect meal for a cold day.




Paleo Hearty Beef stew

Ingredients:

1.5 lb stewing beef
1 cup beef or chicken broth
1 onion, chopped
4 celery stalk, chopped
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
6 mashed cloves of garlic
1 can of tomato paste
Trader Joe’s 21 Salute seasoning and other seasonings
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Put veggies in pot, then add meat on top of veggies.
2. Season generously with salt, pepper, and seasonings.
3. Mix together soup stock and tomato paste. Pour over meat & vegetables in crockpot and stir to combine. Cook on low for 7 hours.



Mashed Cauliflower



Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower
4 cloves of garlic
1 tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons grassfed butter
¼ cup of coconut milk
¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Wash the cauliflower, remove leaves and bottom of stem and cut into large florets. Peel the garlic cloves. Place the florets and garlic cloves in a steamer basket inside a large stock pot with an inch or two of water. Salt liberally. Steam until soft (~10 minutes). You won’t over cook it.
2. Drain in a colander and place into food processor. Add pepper nutmeg, and butter.
3. Process everything until smooth.

Source: Beef Stew adapted from Everyday Paleo; Mashed Cauliflower adapted from Nom Nom Paleo

Paleo Chocolate Chili

It was a nice cool day and I decided to make some chili. I found this Paleo Chili recipe that used cocoa powder and thought that was a little different and gave it a try. I added some carrots and celery that I had received from my fruit and veggie deliver the other day. I also added kidney beans since I had some on hand, so it was not totally Paleo. It would have been fine without the beans as well. A recipe that is a definite keeper.

Paleo Chocolate Chili
Prep 20 min | Cook 2-3 hours | Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 large red onions, diced (about 2 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 teaspoons)
2 pounds ground turkey
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon ground allspice (I used Traders Joe's 21 Salute Seasoning)
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrots
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes w/ juice
1 can (14.5 ounces) beef broth (I used chicken broth)
½ cup water

Directions:

1. Heat a large, deep pot over medium-high heat, then add the coconut oil. When the oil is melted, sauté veggies and add onions, stir and cook until onions are translucent, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and as soon as it’s fragrant, about 30 seconds, crumble the ground meat into the pan, mixing with the spoon to combine. Continue to cook the meat, stirring often, until it’s no longer pink.

2. In a small bowl, crush the oregano between your palms to release its flavor, then add the chili powder, cumin, cocoa, allspice, black pepper, and salt. Combine with a fork, then add to the pot, stirring like you mean it. Add tomato paste and stir until combined, about 2 minutes.

 3. Add the tomatoes with their juice, beef broth, and water to the pot. Stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so the chili enjoys a gentle simmer. Simmer uncovered for at least two hours. Do not skimp on the simmer! Serve in deep bowls with big spoons.


Source: Adapted from The Clothes Make the Girl (From cookbook: Well Fed: Paleo Recipes For People Who Love To Eat)

Cayenne-Rubbed Chicken with Avocado Salsa

I was in search of something to do with the really ripe avocado I had and this was a really tasty recipe from Martha Stewart. I wish I had taken a picture, but it was just so good I forgot.

Cayenne-Rubbed Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Ingredients

Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, (6 to 8 ounces each)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 Hass avocado, pitted and cut into chunks

Directions

In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cayenne; rub all over chicken.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add chicken, and cook until browned on the outside and opaque throughout, 8 to 10 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine onion and lime juice; set aside. Just before serving, fold avocado chunks into onion mixture; season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken topped with salsa.

Recipe Source: Martha Stewart

Paleo Banana Muffins

So I have been doing a challenge that has me on a Paleo-like diet, which means no dairy, no grains, and no sugar. Well I have been craving some baked goods and went on a search for a Paleo muffin recipe. This one fit the bill and turned out pretty good.




Paleo banana muffins

Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
3 eggs
4 Tbsp butter (or coconut oil)
splash of vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups almond meal
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place muffins cups in muffin tin and set aside.
 
In a large bowl, sift together almond meal, sea salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.

In a separate bowl, mashed the bananas, then add eggs, softened butter, and vanilla – mix well.

Add dry ingredients little by little into the wet ingredients. Add in chopped pecans. Stir until combined. 

Fill the baking cups about 3/4 full. Bake muffins for 15 minutes or insert a toothpick into the center and if it comes out clean.

Let cool for 5-10 minutes and enjoy!


Recipe Source: Adapted from Frisky Lemon Nutrition