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 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!