Fried Green Tomatoes Paleo Style!

The fruits of my labor paid off. Despite having a horrible growing season, I did manage to have a successful tomato crop. However I did have to sacrifice a few from reaching their full maturation to make one my favorite Summer comfort food. I love Fried Green Tomatoes! Usually I would use a simple mixture of flour, salt, and pepper and egg wash. However that does not quite fit into my Paleo/clean eating. Tomatoes are a classified as a nightshade, and for some who are following an Autoimmune approach these are not for you. The verdict is out on nightshades for me. Thank goodness because it was time to get all Whistle Stop Café up in my kitchen. Tap into my inner southern gal roots and get to work.
Since I was not using flour and am honestly getting a bit tired of the go to almond or other but flours, I decided to use pumpkin and a bit of sunflower seeds. I put them n my handy dandy blender and chopped them down to a fine texture. Next I added Himalayan pink salt, pepper and my spices. Now here is the thing. I am a "sense" type of cook, I rely on smell and taste A Lot! So trying to nail down exact amount of spices prove to be difficult. I can give you a general measurement but I always adjust to my mood.
After added my spices to the pumpkin/sunflower seed more mixture, I beat two eggs for the wash. Here was my other conundrum, eggs. We have our chickens, seven "Ladies of the Yard" to be exact. Well they have decided to take an early vacation it seems. They started molting, which in the chicken world can slow production. Or as my hubs says "they are in strike, Union workers." Well today I was able to find three fresh laid eggs to use. Yay!!!

To fry these delectable num nums I just had to get the down home feel and use my cast iron skillet. I put about 4 Tablespoons of coconut oil and put it in medium high heat. Now watch it, cast iron heats fast! Bless our ancestors hearts using them over open fires!
While the oil is melting, dip your tomatoes in the egg wash then into the seed/spice mixture. Coat evenly. Place the coated tomatoes into the skillet. Fry each side until lightly golden and the tomatoes become slightly soft. Use a fork or slotted spoon to remove the tomatoes into a paper towel to soak up the skillet extra oil. Salt and pepper them and serve.
I served mine with my homemade Paleo Ranch dressing.


Recipe:

1 1/2 cup unsalted raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
Six green medium to large green Tomatoes, washed and sliced
2 eggs, whisked
2 Tablespoons garlic powder
2 Tablespoons onion powder
2 Tablespoons parsley
2 Tablespoons dried dill
Salt and pepper to taste.
4 to 5 Tablespoons coconut oil

Directions:
Wash and slice Tomatoes 1/4 inch thick give or take. You do not want them too thin or thick so they can cook evenly. In a blender or food processor pulse the pumpkin and sunflower seeds to a fine consistency. Add to a medium bowl. Add all your spices. Add more or less to taste. Combine together. Whisk the eggs. Add oil to pan on medium heat. Dip slice tomatoes into the egg mixture then into seed and spice mixture. Coat well. Add to pan. Fry for about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip tomatoes and fry the other side. * I usually do the egg wash/coating step with a few tomatoes at a time. Drain on a paper towel. Salt and pepper tomatoes and serve.

Paleo Ranch:
Use a paleo approved Mayonnaise or make your own. Add 1 cup of Mayo, 1/2 to 1 cup of full fat coconut milk, add dill, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic, to taste. I add all to a pint size Mason jar apply the lid and shake to combine.

The Cure for the Summer Time BBQ Blues

Yesterday was my first BBQ since eating healthy. It was also a big bump in the road. I do not know what I was thinking! Was I really expecting to have my host lay out a feast to fit the Goddess? Seriously! Hello, the Goddess is in the house, all hail the Goddess! Talk about conceit, Geez. Honestly, the thought did cross my mind, briefly, what am I going to eat? But I knew my host was having meat for sure, so I thought I am good. HA! Big fat HA! Most of the BBQs that I go to have people bring a dish to pass. No biggie. Food is expensive. I just figured I am sure there will be a veggie tray, salads, I don't have to eat the dressings, Oh I bet someone will bring a fruit bowl. Again, HA!

My first mistake, (ugh) was I did not eat something before we left. I do that sometimes. I get myself involved in things the first thing in the day and do not feed my body. I am working on that. Plus, somewhere along the line I have created a horrible habit of thinking "Oh, it is a party" or "Oh, it is a holiday" I better save my eating for then. Am I the only one who does this? Stinking Thinking! Well this was the case. Remember I said I "briefly"thought what am I going to eat? Brief, well more like a split second before I went into old thoughts.

I get it Human. Fool me once? as the saying goes...

Fast forward to said BBQ...

We arrive to food. Not just food, but comfort food! I am talking Lemon cake, my Aunt's homemade Vanilla cake with homemade butter chocolate frosting, Herb homemade rolls, Lay's Potato chips, pasta salad, Baked beans, fresh corn on the cob, fruit salad with whipped cream and get this, caramel and toffee bits topped on it. But last but not least Homemade Mac-n-Cheese. A smorgasbord of gluttony. Oh, and there was a veggie tray. I was in deep trouble. Immediately my body, already starving went into accelerated over load. FOOD! Immediately I went to the veggie tray and got a hamburger. But gosh, that Mac-n-Cheese, it is straight out of heaven, I could tell. 

Needless to say, my "Human" won. By the time I left the party 3 hours later, I looked like Templeton the Rat, from the book and movie "Charlotte's Web." You know after he goes to the fair and eats everything in sight. 

Me after the party! You are singing the song now too huh?

 Seriously I was a bloated miserable mess! However, I now take any experience, good or bad and learn from it. So what would I do differently? How can I make social eating situations enjoyable without damaging my health?

1. Eat! Regardless of my day, make fueling my body a top priority. I am no good to anyone if I am not fueled.

2. Find out if possible from the host what is being served. Prepare. Share with the host your healthy eating. I am a bit uncomfortable about this, despite my previous conceit from above. I would hate to put someone out.  But would it be different if someone in my family had a extreme food allergy? I would notify the host.

3. Bring a dish to pass that I know I can eat. Maybe even two! A salad with chicken and veggies, a fruit bowl or a savory Paleo/Whole 30 approved goodie.

4. Host a party yourself and share the health!

5. If and obviously When I fall off the healthy eating "horse," Pick your self up and continue on. Don't fall into beating yourself up, learn from it, and go forward.

That is exactly what I did today! Today a new day.Breakfast was simple. Banana and some almonds, I was not feeling super hungry. However,  here are two meals I ate today and I even got all my food prep finished for the week.

Lunch

Dinner

Portabella Mushroom Cap topped with sauteed white mushrooms, Cauliflower and Kale and Chorizo, with Radish. 

Easy to do! First cook the Chorizo. Set aside. I always drain it on a paper towel. Helps cut the grease factor down.  I then added some coconut oil to the same pan and cooked the Mushroom cap until slightly soft. Remove Mushroom cap. I then added the white mushrooms, cauliflower and garlic to pan. Cooked until tender. Then I added the Kale. I cook my veggies until just tender. No wimpy veggies here! Top Mushroom cap with vegetables, chorizo and a few radishes.




Next was Dinner...

Mango Basil Chicken topped with Plantains
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Kohlrabi

Totally did this in the crock pot. Had found a great deal on Chicken Thighs so I used them. I removed the meat. The skin and bones went into my stock pot to make a huge batch of bone broth. Which I froze for later. I love to cook and love to add spices and such for a great dish. This was basically my thought on this meal. I had a Mango that was desperately in need to be used. After I trimmed the meat, I put it into the crock pot, added the mango, about 3 Tbsp of Coconut oil, fresh basil leaves, 1 tsp of cilantro, 1 tsp. of Allspice, 1 tsp. of Curry, 1 tsp of garlic, Himalayan Salt and pepper. I just put it all in the crock pot, combined and set it on for 6 hours.

About 45 minutes before I knew that the chicken would be done, I peeled and cut up the Sweet Potatoes, and Kohlrabi. I tossed them with Olive oil, Himalayan salt, Pepper, and Onion powder. Next I lined a baking sheet with parchment paper, evenly distributed the Potatoes and Kohlrabi. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes or until tender. While that was baking, I sliced and sauteed 1 Plantain in Olive oil, which I topped over the chicken.

The Goddess has gone Primal!

Yes, The Goddess has had enough of her Human counterpart's shenanigans! She is getting back to it "Old School!"

Since beginning this blog, I have been all over the place with eating. Yes, I will admit it, I am a Yo-Yo Dieter. Ugh. The only time I have ever felt good was when I was eating clean. Eliminating all the processed, sugar filled garbage that we as a culture have filled our bodies with for years. Obviously I love food, which is really not a bad thing. We need food. But the food I have consumed in the past 25 years has poisoned me. Hence the Insulin Resistance, weight gain, bloat, gas, oh and acne! (Acne! What the what?) the list goes on. I am not in any way a nutritionist or physician, but am someone who is tired of being unhealthy.

About a two months ago I really started researching food and health. I am a self-professed Foodie and will NOT cheat myself when it comes to taste, texture and just all around happiness in my food. I also hooked up with a local Facebook group for Holistic Moms, which really started my research. I believe I have found my niche. I call myself a Paleo Clean eater now. There are some of  my "peeps" who read this will NOT believe I am doing this. There was a time I would not even touch, let alone eat meat. Honestly I am not a huge fan, but Meat and I have come to a mutual agreement. (except for organ meats and ribs...just cannot do it...((shudder))

Switching over to eating like this was gradual process. Despite my sometimes all or nothing personality flaw. GRADUAL. I emphasis this. We used up what we had in the cupboard and gradually bought our gluten-free products. The first thing I bought was Pamela's gluten free baking mix. I started making my own bread. We read labels. We ate more veggies/fruit, nuts,  incorporated coconut and nut flours in cooking. There was a little bit of a difference  in how I was feeling, but no weight loss. Then I took a good look at what I was putting in my body. Researching more we moved into Paleo. Each grocery trip I bought one of two items that help in Paleo recipes, for instance Fish sauce, Coconut milk. Coconut oil has been a staple in our house for awhile now for cooking and as a lotion. Love me some Coconut.

My biggest concern in Paleo was giving up cheese. Ahh, cheese. Cheese was my go to snack.  I gradually stopped eating cheese and have no gas or bloating or other digestive issues. And you what I do not even miss it. I do not eat any dairy now other then eggs, butter and ghee. We have our own chickens so I have farm fresh eggs daily. I only use butter or ghee at times, usually I cook with Olive, Coconut or Grape seed oil. I have no grains in the diet now. Everything is either nut or Coconut flour. Veggies and Fruit a big component in my diet. Because of my wacky pancreas, I watch the fruit. If I do eat it, it is a glycemic fruit and it is always paired with a protein.

Recipes and Help
Can I just say I love the Internet for recipes. There are so many places to find recipes for eating this way out there. I have revamped my recipe book and added so many wonderful recipes. I am always looking for new ways to cook. Plus with three kids at home, I have be creative. I just started feeling confident enough to take some of our family's food favs. and switched them to Paleo. For instance, tonight I made Chicken Picatta with mashed Cauliflower, instead of mashed potatoes. Remember I am a Foodie! But I get there are some of you that are not, so I will link you to some of my favorite Paleo places.
Favorite Paleo places:
Paleo Parents 
Empowered Sustenance 
Nom Nom Paleo
A Girl Worth Saving 
Cook it up Paleo 
Against all Grain 
 


Where I am at today
 
Honestly, I have only been super strict eating this way for two weeks. But let me tell you I see an enormous difference. When I have cheated, the Fourth of July weekend, I got so sick. I will leave out the details but my digestive tract was not happy. Call it my "What if" experimentation, what if I eat that bun, what if I ate those cheese curds, what if I eat that s'more? Not good, not good at all! Now I know. So yes, the last two weeks I have be a very diligent eater. Not worth it to be that sick. Healthy please here! Plus as an added bonus...I lost 10 pounds in two weeks. I know it is really about health, but geez, I am trying to be the Goddess!










 

Onward and Forward...again.

 It has been a while since my fingers have hit the keyboard. Not that I have not thought about writing. But "Life" has a way of creeping in, right? Boy has it! However I will spare you the boring details. Let's just chalk it up to Life and move on! Yep! Onward and Forward!

You may be wondering if I have been able to release my "True Goddess" from my "Human." Well, let me just say we are no longer at World War 3 level, but we still have a way to go before they can be pals. But they are working towards a common ground. (sigh) The last few months I have really had some time to reflect. What is it that stops me? What are my demons? We all have them, (insert Human) but for me, what is it?
It all boils done to HABIT and LAZINESS, how about we abbreviate it "H & L." Because I can guarantee that this demon will raise it's wicked head again. Hey, I am a realist!

There is that saying regarding Habit, what is it? Doing something for so many days...I don't know. Well for me my problem is for 40 plus (cough) I have continued in a very crazy game. In my youth, Ha! I never had a problem with health/weight, if anything I was probably too thin. Oh, memories. Anyway, my health turned after my first child almost 16 years ago. Since then I really blamed my weight on having children.Oh. look another of my demons; EXCUSES! We can abbreviate them as: "E's" Granted there are physiological changes when you have kids, age, and genetics play a part too.But let's get honest, it was MY unhealthy H & L and E's that have brought me to where I am today. I know I am not the only one out there. We are human.  I realize that I  have a dance that I do. Let me explain.

My Dance of H & L and E's:

(You are in my head now, I know scary, but it will only take in minute, I promise!)

"Geez, look at that fat roll? It is like it has it's own world, shoot, it's own universe.  What the hell? ugh, are you kidding me? Oh, man I am looking old! Nice now I have a chin hair, seriously? What is up with the puffy eyes? Did I just piddle my pants when I sneezed? Why am I so freaking tired? What is up? Gosh, I look so unhealthy, what happened? That is it! Enough! This is it, I am going to do this, I am going to lose weight, and get healthy. I hate this. O.k, tomorrow I start eating clean, and exercising. Yep, going to pitch all the crap in the house, oh, wait the kids and hubby are not going to get on board with that, sigh, screw it, I will just not eat it. I will do my own thing. I got this." (self loathing, not good not good at all!)

The next day and a few weeks in:
"I did it, ate awesome, walked, feeling pretty awesome, this is it! I am going to do it! I am rocking this, I love my new____________ (insert new gym, fitness class, fitness video, fitness tool) I feel so good, so proud of myself. You are so awesome.looking good girl!" (self love, very good, very good indeed!)


"Wait, what? So and So, and such and such, just did__________, (insert any possible problem) Man, I am so busy today, I will just work out tomorrow, ugh, I am tired today, It is the holidays! I am so stressed out, Oh, look, chips! Well I did "o.k. today with eating, well except I only ate twice today since I was so busy and it was chips, cheese and an apple, at least dinner will be good! It is 10 p.m. and I am hungry, oh, I will make some nachos, oh, honey you bought me some ice cream, you are so good to me. (proceed to eat three servings) Dang it! I don't want to go to Dance Fit, that's o.k. it has been a stressful day, or I don't feel good, my period is coming, I need chocolate and peanut butter. I have Insulin Resistance, (side note: which is true, but due to this dance! continue...) I don't care anymore, I am what I am. Wait did I eat today? I better get back on it...

and the dance continues true to it's unhealthy cyclic form...

See? Scary. But it is my dance. Sometimes my falling off the healthy wagon isn't always a conscious thing anymore. I have danced it so long, it just is.

At this point I think the only way to stop it is to just be uber mindful of it. To really get honest and then accept it.To simple you say? Maybe, Maybe not, time will tell. But what do I have to lose? Since I am obviously an all or nothing kind of gal, I am shifting gears to allow myself to be o.k. to make a mistake, to not be so rough on myself. To try and remember not to stay in self-loathing mode. I even made post its to hang around my daily path to help keep mindful that I have a "dance."

Onward and Forward towards Health!