Spaghetti squash with pesto and shrimp

I found this Hope Foods hummus at Natural Grocer's and they make hummus and I saw they make pesto too. I love making my own pesto, but for a quick and easy pesto with no dairy, this is delicious. I roasted my spaghetti squash in the oven on 400 for 45 mins. You could always use whatever pasta you would like. I cut the ends off of the squash and then split it in half, it sometimes is difficult. I scoop out the seeds and membrane. I season it with olive oil, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Flip it over on your baking sheet so membrane is down. I move on to the shrimp and de-thaw and take off all the tails. I heat up a pan of olive oil and once hot I toss the shrimp in and season with salt and pepper. I minced up some garlic and added it once they were almost all pink. Once the shrimp is done I put a spoonful of the kale pesto in with the shrimp. Once the squash is done I use a fork and kind of pick it to make long strands to resemble pasta. Don't pick it long ways (vertical) do it horizontal. I toss the shrimp, squash and pesto all together. I added some more salt and pepper and the rest of the pesto. Make sure to test before serving so its not bland. Cheerio!

Interview

Shrimp pasta!

I love a good shrimp scampi. It is filled with delicious buttery sauce, but having no dairy is a little difficult to do. So, I just whipped this recipe up, you can add whatever vegetable you like. I got frozen already cooked shrimp and de-thawed it. I got my noodles boiling, I used the brown rice noodles with no gluten. I cut up red pepper and sauteed it in Earth Balance butter spread with no soy. I added olive oil in my sautee pan and added crushed up garlic. I sprinkled oregano, salt, pepper, and parsley on the red pepper. I then add my shrimp to the pan. When my noodles are done are spoon them out of the water and put them in the sautee pan and add a little bit more Earth Balance. This meal is pretty simple and taste delicious!

Sweet spot!

This is a good easy sweet snack! You can use any nuts you like, but I use macadamias, pecans, and walnuts. I do 1 cup of macadamias and pecans, then 2 cups of walnuts. I get the skillet hot and add the nuts. I then pour in a 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup. I mix them around and put a dash of sea salt on them. Then I let them simmer and stir occasionally for 5 minutes. I spray nonstick spray on some foil and pour nuts on when done. I love this simple sweet and salty treat!

Taco Salad!

This is very simple taco salad, and you can add whatever you like. I had left over taco meat from the night before, which is lean hamburger and my own variety of seasonings. I usually leave out chili powder because we have a chili allergy in my house. I use onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano. It is as good as the packaged taco seasoning. I make my salad with romaine (I like the crunch) and I added yellow peppers to the mix. I put the warmed meat on the salad then I cut up avocado on it. I didn't have cherry tomatoes or radishes, I usually add those on my salad too. This is very simple and you can add whatever vegetable you like.

Pancakes!

Another breakfast option is pancakes, they are a delicious alternative to the real thing. I mash up one banana, and add one whole egg then I add the white of another egg. You could do both eggs, but I think one yolk is enough. Then you just mix the egg and banana together. This time I didn't have any nuts or I usually put walnuts in them. All you do is get your pan hot and flip them a couple times. If I had nuts I put them in when I put the egg mixture in the pan. I added raspberries, but I put them on top when they are finished. You can't have pancakes with out syrup, so I drizzled a little pure maple syrup on them. The picture is not that good, but it's a little difficult flipping them.

I think this video is very interesting.

Sweet Potato Hash Browns with an egg

I have been trying to cut out white potatoes, so I decided to try a sweet potato for my hash browns. Everyone should try this!! I shredded the sweet potato and pan fried it in coconut oil. Coconut oil is sweeter then other oils and goes well with the sweet potato. I lightly salted the sweet potato, and flipped it around a couple times. I then fried an egg and put it on top of the hash browns.
When you break your runny yolk and it melts right into the hash browns, then you get a nice sweet taste from the potato at the end. It makes my mouth very happy! If you like sweet and salty things this is for you.

Salmon Dinner!

I made salmon on a bed of fresh spinach and a sweet potato. If your in a hurry you can buy those sweet potatoes that are in the wrap and heat it up in the microwave. I try to bake my sweet potatoes, they are so good baked. I preheat oven on 400 and bake the sweet potato for an hour. I always put earth balance butter spread, salt, and pepper on my tater. It is a butter substitute with no dairy, sugar, or gluten. For my salmon I season it with salt and dill weed. I pan fry the salmon because I like it crispy. I put it on medium heat, I use olive oil or coconut oil. Depending on how thick the salmon is I usually cook each side for 4-5 minutes. I don't like my salmon overcooked and dry. The time of cooking is usually closer to 4 minutes, if cooked much longer it will be dry.

PASTA!

This recipe is so easy! I was craving Italian and of course its very difficult to eat out and get gluten and dairy free pasta. As you can see in my picture I put the ingredients I bought for the meal. I got gluten free brown rice pasta, you can find it in any organic area of the grocery store. I also found gluten free, no nitrates and no sugar added spicy chicken sausage. All I did was saute the onion, pepper, and sausage together over medium heat while the pasta was boiling. Then when everything was browned I added the sauce to the pan. I then added everything together and dinner is done! Very simple delicious meal and you can add whatever vegetable you would like.

Breakfast!

Sometimes I have a sweet tooth and I just want pancakes or waffles for breakfast. My mom can't have eggs so I found a "vegan" recipe. I always have to tweak recipes because they use normal flour and or they put cane sugar in the recipe. I bought gluten free flour and I am going to try to use almond flour, but for now I'll give you my gluten free flour waffle recipe.

• 3 cups gluten free flour 
• 2 Tbs baking powder 
• 1 Tbs date sugar or maple sugar 
• 1/3 cup orange juice
•  2 1/4 cups of unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk 
• 1/3 cup coconut oil 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

 You can always change up the recipe I switch between coconut milk and almond milk. Also, date sugar is a lot cheaper then maple sugar so I always try to find date sugar. After your done making the waffles you can put fresh fruit on top I usually have blueberries and raspberries. Then for the final sweetness I use all natural maple syrup. These waffles are so delicious especially when your have a sweet craving.

I love Chipotle! I really like how you can go to chipotle and you know what they put in their food. I always get the salad with no dressing, of course. I get the carnitas, pico, and guacamole. I looked at their food allergy menu to see whats in what. What I get on my bowl is all gluten free and no dairy. I am a frequent flyer at chipotle its always very easy and fast. It is so hard to find places to eat out at without getting dairy and gluten in your food.

I would say this is a light delicious fish salad!   I put a bed of spinach down first.  I sliced up strawberries and avocados.  I  aleady had roasted my beets in the fridge.  How I roast them is easy, I put them in the oven in foil for an hour on 400.  I usually put olive oil and some sea salt on them before roasting in oven.  I like my beets cold so I let them cool and then chopped them up.  Last but not least I put tilapia on it.  How I cook the tilapia is really easy, I just get a pan put olive oil in it and cook it about 4-5 mins a side.  I usually season the fish with salt and pepper.  Then my salad is complete!  I don't use dressing because it is very hard to find dressing without refined sugar in it.  I know you can find some dressings at the health food store, but I think the salad is fine with salt and pepper.  

Introduction

I love to cook, eat, bake (occasionally) and try new things. I originally started this blog for school and now I am updating and starting to blog more. I know I have some recipes on my blog that aren't paleo friendly, but I try to eat paleo most days except some days you got to cheat a little. I can't just cut out white potatoes forever! =) 

Now I am really trying to succeed in my new paleo life. I have even cut out the booze, which is difficult especially since I work in a bar while finishing up my last semester of college. I will be receiving my BA in Mass Media emphasis in Public Relations. 

I mostly cook for my family and my mom who has food allergies. When I cook for her I have to start away from yeast, dairy, gluten and refined sugars. So, the paleo diet works well for us but I can't use eggs because she is allergic which is sad. I love eggs! 

I search a lot of recipes and try out many, but I always tweak them for our diet needs. I started eating like this about two years ago. I went to a natural doctor and learned a lot about foods and what worked well with my body. I had to stop consuming gluten, dairy products, bananas and even almonds to list a few. I did this for six weeks and I have never felt better. I am trying this journey again.