Busy, busy, busy!

I woke up this morning and threw together steak and egg breakfast bites (basically this recipe but with diced, leftover steak instead of sausage) and washed, hulled, and sliced some strawberries. By the time everything was ready Munchkin and Hubby were up.

Here's my breakfast plate:

Yep, I had to add some Frank's Hot Sauce and sour cream to my breakfast bite. Talk about your good eats!

Then we were off to the barn to meet with a family interested in our pony. After lots of thought and discussion we decided to put her up for sale. She's a wonderful pony but does not like very small kids and I can't trust her around Munchkin. While part of me doubts that she'd actually kick or bite the kiddo its too big a chance to take. So, we decided to find her a family with older kids who would give her the love and attention she deserves.

We spent most of the morning and early afternoon showing the pony and by the time we got back home I was starving. Hubby quickly grilled up a bunch of Polish sausages and I wrapped them with provolone, mustard, and lettuce with carrots on the side:

In the late afternoon we had another person interested so we pretty much spent the day at the barn. It was fun talking with another horse person and she fell in love with the pony. Looks like pony has found a perfect home!

It was pretty late by the time we got back to the house and I was very tempted to get pizza. Honestly I just wanted to wash off the horsey smell and dust and go to bed, but I had a chicken marinating in the fridge and recipes from The Primal Palate's  new book "Gather" that I'd picked up at Costco to try out.

First I got the chicken on the grill, next Munchkin helped me make Green Bean Salad with Artichoke Hearts and Olives. I didn't have any fresh green beans, my plants are only 3 inches tall, so I used canned. I know, I know, boo! hiss! hey, its what I had. Munchkin pronounced it YUM! worthy though, even with mushy canned beans.
 

Hubby had picked up some corn on the cob from the village store and once the chicken was done I husked the ears and tossed them on the grill. I wasn't too thrilled with corn in May, since I knew it wouldn't be very tasty, but I gotta applaud the guy-a year ago he'd have brought home Pasta-Roni.

Here's my supper:

For dessert I finished the last of the cherries. *sigh* Local cherries need to ripen faster!!

I woke up this morning to cold rain and a soaked yard. Eeeeiiii!! There went my plans for a day out in the yard. *sigh*

For breakfast I fried up bulk sausage from Long's Meat Market. Mmmmmm porky goodness! Once they were done I fried a couple eggs from our hens in the grease. I love having our very own free-range, no-soy eggs right out the backdoor.

Breakfast is served!

Since my nesting instincts were in full force and I couldn't work in the garden I decided to attacked our closet. It was getting harder to open the doors since I have this tendency to pile clothes that don't fit/wrong season/don't-like-at-this-particular-second on the floor.

Oh geez, when was the last time I'd gone through this mess?? Between losing weight last year, then gaining some back with the pregnancy in new areas, I had a ton of outfits that were way too big, too small (for now), and some that just needed to be retired to the rag bag. Three hours later I had an organized, color-coordinated wardrobe with a big bag for donations and tons of fabric for sewing. I have plans to try this and this and this. (And yes, Munchkin's closet is worse. Strangely, the child has three times the amount of clothes Hubby and I have. No idea why *hums innocently*.)

Of course, this made Hubby's side look messy so I drug him into the bedroom to organize it. He gets mad when I do it, apparently I throw away things that are "precious". While Hubby took stuff down to the donation drop off I threw together a lunch of leftovers for Munchkin. I was still full from breakfast so didn't bother putting an actual plate together, just snacked on cherries and a few slices of high quality provolone cheese. (Sorry, no pic.)

The Oregon State Beavers baseball team played the Oregon Ducks in the Civil War Series this afternoon. We had to watch the game and cheer on our boys in black and orange.They won! WHOO-HOO! That means they just have to win the game tomorrow to win the conference (or tie it or...something, I'm not sure which). Go Beavs!!

During the game we nibbled on slices of cold steak, baby carrots, provolone, and strawberries.

For supper Hubby requested Adiells sausage and Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Home-made Marinara Sauce, with zucchini noodles. Ohhhhhhh an easy supper, love it! I grilled the sausages, warmed up the sauce, julienned and steamed the zucchini, and within 30 minutes we were sitting down to eat.

Once Munchkin was bathed, storied, and tucked into bed, Hubby and I split a Theo Cherry and Almond Dark Chocolate bar. It was ok, Hubby really liked it but eh, I prefer the sea salt and chocolate blends.

Keep your fingers crossed for sunshine, or at least no rain, tomorrow. I've got so much gardening to do!!

Up and atta'em! Hubby got home late from his one day trip to LA but still got out of bed early to go with us to the doctor's appointment. While he and Munchkin chowed down on fried eggs I laid out clothes and wrote down a grocery list. I wasn't hungry so skipped breakfast and soon we were off for town.

My doctor (who is awesome and completely supports my style of eating) was called in to the hospital so I was checked out by my favorite nurse: weight: 1 pound gain; blood pressure: 110/70; baby's heartbeat: 160 beats per minutes (kiddo was kicking and flipping a lot-at least one of us getting their exercise in); getting enough sleep and feeling great! It was a fairly short visit and the big fun was getting to hear the heartbeat (always a blast) and scheduling the next ultrasound where we'll find out if its a girl or a boy.

After the doc's we swung by Market of Choice to pick up some kale (they always have dino kale which is Munchkin's favorite) and to browse. This is always a mistake since I walked in expecting to only get kale and walked out with cherries (yeah, I broke down, and boy were they spendy!), dark chocolate, Kerrygold butter, and local (sorta) cheddar cheese.

Yes folks, we do eat dairy. I never said we were 100% perfect paleo.

There was still stuff on my list so next we went to Costco. We should have gone there first-cherries were almost half the price, as was cheese. grrrrrr. We stocked up on Aidells sausage, produce, and Mezzetta Marinara Sauce. I had to wander the book section and look what was there!

Congrats Bill and Haley! 

Everyone was hungry once we were done shopping so they got foot long hot dogs. By then I was starving (yeah, shoulda ate breakfast), and had a bite of Munchkin's dog. The meat itself was tasty but the bread was mushy and had a weird texture-not sure if my tastebuds have changed or what the deal was but Munchkin and Hubby devoured theirs in short order. Not the best of lunches but better than a toddler/husband meltdown.

Once we'd loaded all our goodies into the car we zoomed over to Cash & Carry for meat and more veggies. I knew we weren't going to make it to the farmer's market this weekend so I stocked up. The meat wasn't organic, pasture-raised perfect, nor were the veggies, but the budget is a little slim this month and sometimes ya gotta make compromises.

Finally we headed home. While Hubby got Munchkin settled for her afternoon nap I put all our loot away...

...while nibbling on cherries.

Yeah, I munched on these all day long. Next I trimmed the fat from a tri-tip and covered it with dry rub to make Oven Roast Tri-Tip for supper before finally throwing together a late lunch of steak sliders.

Yep, I'm having steak twice today. While Munchkin slept I shared a bunch of grapes with Hubby and goofed around on Facebook. (I also surfed the web for paleo recipes so it wasn't a complete waste of time.) I tell ya, it felt good to sit down after such a busy morning.

For supper I opted to grill the tri-tip rather than oven-roasting it. Why? So I'd have one less pan to clean.

Along with the roast I tossed two red belle peppers on the grill to blacken. While they cooked I nuked a couple yams, peeled the skins off and mashed them with a big pat of butter.

Once the meat reached 130 degrees I pulled it off the grill and let it rest. I tossed the peppers in a paper bag to steam and started on the last side. I sauteed diced bacon under low heat to render off as much fat as possible, then raised the heat and stir-fried a bunch of kale in the bacon grease.

By the time it was done everything was ready to go. I sliced the roast, added a dollop of Kerrygold Garlic and Herb butter and presto! Supper is served!

As many have reminded me today, the new Star Trek movie has come out so...

Night y'all!

I woke up this morning feeling pretty good, the wonders of a good night's sleep. Hubby had cleaned the kitchen before he left for a biz trip and it sparkled. I don't know what it is about a clean kitchen but it drives me to destruction faster than someone trying to sneak tofu bacon onto my plate. I love the sparkle...and can't handle it. So, rather than whip up a simple breakfast (you know, one that only takes a pan or two and a few plates and leaves the kitchen fairly clean?) I opted for waffles.

Yes, you can eat waffles while living the paleo life.

I got out my How to Eat Like a Dinosaur book (where is YOUR copy?) and threw together a batch of frozen waffles with Munchkin's help. While these waffles aren't the best (high Omega-6s from the nuts, lots of sugar from the fruit) they make a great treat once in a while. We had a blast chopping and whipping. Soon the kitchen was a complete mess, oh well.

No, I didn't eat all of those waffles, I only had two. I had planned to fry up some sausage links but a search through the freezer showed we were out *sadness*. Oh well, the waffles were enough to fill us up, though their lack of protein and fats had me wandering the cupboards by 11am.

For lunch I picked some spinach from the garden...

...And tossed together a green salad with lettuce, cabbage, spinach, belle peppers, and carrots. I like having a green salad already waiting in the fridge so I tend to make a gigantic one that I can parcel out over the next couple days. I diced a leftover pork chop and warmed it up along with some sauteed Brussels sprouts I found lurking in the back of the fridge, dumped those on top of some salad and shoveled away.

While Munchkin took a nap I worked on the mountain of laundry and snacked on the last of my cherries.

I'm still craving cherries but they are so expensive now, and (according to Hubby) really not that great tasting. *sigh* What can you expect from something getting shipped a couple hundred miles? Oregon cherries won't be ready till June/July though. Ahhhhhhhh!!! The agony of waiting!!

I had the nibbles in the afternoon so I split an apple with Munchkin and ate a spoonful of coconut butter.

For supper I warmed up the leftover beef stew.

Off to bed since I have an early doctor's appointment tomorrow, plus a slew of other errands to run while we are in town. Night y'all!

Primal Eats

Note: I've been asked several times what I eat (being a preggie) and how in the world can I survive without bread. To show off the delicious, healthy food I partake in I shall start boring you all with a rundown of my daily eats. Don't worry, there will still be gardening and crafty stuff in there as well. 

After a long weekend road trip to watch my littlest brother graduate from college (congrats Sammy!!) I really did not want to get up this morning. Hotels are nice and all but there is nothing like your very own bed. Unfortunately Munchkin did not quite have the same opinion and I cracked my eyes open to the cries of "Eggs! Mommy! Eggs!". Thankfully Hubby worked from home today and he fried up a couple eggs for the starving child while I slowly crawled out of bed and attempted to become a productive member of society.

I wasn't very hungry so for breakfast I nibbled on a spoonful of coconut butter and a handful of cherries. 

For lunch I warmed up some grilled tri-tip my Dad had sent home with us and added a bunch of raw veggies (cherry tomatoes, carrots, and sugar snap peas*):

Supper was a bowl of beef stew:

For dessert I had a couple squares of Moonstruck's Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and Almonds. It was only 68% cocoa so a little sweet but I love the combination of chocolate and sea salt.

Throughout the day I snacked on a couple handfuls of cherries. They are California cherries and I cannot WAIT till the Oregon cherry season starts. I've been craving fresh cherries since February so these were pretty tasty but I know they'll be a thousand times better when they are picked ripe from the tree. Oh well, eventually they'll be ready.

Time to hit the sack. Oh, how I love my bed!!

*Sugar snap peas (and other legumes such as green beans, snow peas, ect) are acceptable per the Whole9 Team and Mark Sisson since they are more pod than bean.

14 Weeks In...26 To Go!

I'm 14 weeks along and officially into the second trimester-yay me! I cannot say I had a perfect Paleo/Primal first semester but I can say I ate healthier and had less stress than with Munchkin. Figuring out why I was craving certain foods certainly helped me get back on track when serious food cravings caused a derailment, but I have to admit to giving in to exhaustion and sometimes eating too much fruit (or a candy bar), rather than an actual meal. Fasting is not good women in general, and I can't think it would be too great for preggies either, but I have done a lot of that as well (some days just the thought of food was enough for a rush to the powder room.) Looking back sugar was definably my nemesis-the amount of chocolate and fruit I consumed is downright embarrassing. I was still getting plenty of healthy protein and fats though, so I can't be too hard on myself. And besides, the point is to eat as healthy as possible, not to become a food nazi.

Thankfully the worst seems to be over, hooray for the "honeymoon phase" of pregnancy. Most of the all-day queasiness has subsided and there are even days I actually feel awake instead of in a semi-coma! Whoo-hoo! With more energy I am starting to feel like cooking again, which makes me realize just what is in our refrigerator. Oh dear, time for a clean-out and some shopping!

On Saturday we drove into the city to visit the big Farmer's Market for the first time. Normally we frequent the smaller market in our own little town but it doesn't start up until June and I wanted to see what the BIG market had. What a sight!! How have I been missing this place for so long? (Oh yeah, its downtown where I hate/refuse to drive.) Since its so early in the season there wasn't a wide variety of items, mostly cold weather stuff like kale and chard, but look how pretty everything is:

We picked up a bundle of kale and a few pounds of carrots though I was very tempted by a lot of other things, including organic honeycomb and baby bok choy. Honestly there was just so much there I was like a kid in a candy store-trying not to spend my allowance on everything in sight. I knew I still had some produce at home that needed eaten up so I kept the purchases at a minimum, though I really should have gotten more carrots. By the time we got back to the car Munchkin was begging for one and before we got out of the parking lot she'd already inhaled it and was asking for another. They were very sweet and tasty, so much better than anything at the store.

After the Farmer's Market we stopped by the butcher and picked up a huge order of grass-fed, pasture-raised beef, pork, and lamb. See? I'm serious about this getting back on track stuff. In fact, I might have gotten just a little overzealous, now you can't open our freezer without being attacked by frozen beef. Its odd how a one pound package of hamburger can become a deadly missile from only a few feet up, I'm pretty sure my pinkie toe will never be the same again.

Out in the garden everything is puttering along slowly. I have a few small potato and spinach leaves starting to peek above the ground but not much else. Its been pretty cold the last few weeks so I may have planted too early, oh well, they'll eventually grow. I found a great source for composted horse manure and hope to have a few yards brought out this weekend (depending on the weather). That will really help to get some good nutrients into the soil, plus its pretty wormy. Gotta love the wigglers! Inside the tomato and broccoli seedlings are doing so well I'll probably need to up-pot them soon. I can't wait for the first tomato of summer! I flat out drool looking at these little seedlings, envisioning what they'll be producing in a few months.

According to my hero Erika over at Northwest Edible Life its time to start planting squash, cucumbers, and basil indoors; while all the cool-loving kids can be direct-sown outside. A slight gardening emergency has arrived in that I have no (brace yourselves) kale seeds!! Ahhhhhhhh!! And none of the local stores have dino kale! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! Which may mean a road trip to the home of Territorial Seeds for a few packets of seeds (plus whatever else falls into the basket *cough*). Yes, I will contemplate driving over an hour just for a packet of seeds. (Hubby has pointed out that they have a mailing service, I may do that instead of wasting the gas.)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Dealing With Cravings

When I was pregnant with Munchkin I didn't have very many food cravings. Honestly, it was such a fight to keep food down that I never really thought about what my body might be craving or needing. I ended up eating a lot of pb and j sandwiches (one of the few things that tasted good and didn't immediately come back up), saltines, toast, and other bland items. At that point I had done Atkins a few times with great results but hadn't stumbled upon the Paleo or Primal diet yet.

This time around I am constantly craving food, even though I feel seasick nearly all day long. Hot, spicy Chinese food and sweet stuff like chocolate are at the top of the food cravings, and yes, I have not been eating 100% clean the past few weeks.

Its obvious I need something, but what? Searching the internet it seems that a craving for spicy food could mean a lack of zinc in the diet. It may also be a sign that the body is having trouble regulating its temperature. Well that makes a ton of sense-I'm either hot or freezing. Time to get more zinc in the diet! Once I upped my intake of spinach, kale, and berries my need for high carb Chinese evaporated.

My chocolate cravings seemed to be tied to a lack of magnesium so I started adding strips of dried seaweed to my bone broth, which helped but...chocolate. There's a lot more to THAT craving than just a low mineral. I have managed to eat more fruit and keep the chocolate nibbles to a minimum, though.

As for the rest of my diet I have been eating like I normally would: lots of protein, tons of veggies (and thank goodness spring veggies are starting to show up) fruits like berries, and some nuts. I have been trying to eat more fish, though I can never see fish being a favorite protein for me. I am also taking a pre-natal vitamin and extra folic acid, just to ensure all my bases are covered.

While cravings can be hard to overcome it is possible. My suggestion for everyone out there (not just the mommies to be) is to look at what you are craving and ask your doctor (or do some research) and see if you are craving that food for a dietary reason. I never would have thought eating more kale would stop my Chinese cravings in their tracks. Then look and see if there is a psychological reason. I know for a fact my chocolate needs come from years of grabbing a candy bar whenever I was sad or had a rough day. Breaking THAT habit is hard, but it can be done!

Now to go throw together a big salad for lunch with spinach, romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers (sadly, hothouse ones), leftover grilled sirloin, and cherry tomatoes (again, hothouse). Yum!

Howdy Again!

It's been quite some time since my last post. Things have been exciting, exhausting, and just time-consuming. I apologize to y'all for disappearing.

First off: the baby is doing awesome! We were able to see the squirmy little critter at an early ultrasound and everything looks good.

Me: All my tests have come back perfect, and while I struggle with morning/all day sickness this pregnancy hasn't been quite so difficult as Munchkin's. Personally I think its because I'm not in a high-stress job. Plus,  I'm eating much healthier food, even on the days I cheat and have a high-carb item I still have more veggies and protein than I did before. My biggest complaint is that I've already outgrown all my normal clothes!

School: Its...its going. I find myself struggling to remember important facts and dozing off while reading. I will be very thankful when school is over for the year.

Garden: So far I have planted lettuce, bok choy, carrots and potatoes in the veggie garden; and broccoli and tomatoes in the greenhouse. On deck is to get a load of manure/compost to help break up the clay-y part of the veggie garden and then get the kale planted while its still cool. Every time I look at the tiny tomato seedlings my mouth waters for summer tomatoes.

Life In General: I find myself struggling between extreme nesting syndrome (wanting to paint the whole house, get started on major remodeling projects, and other major tasks) and wanting to just lay on the couch and doze. I have a goal to start walking a mile a day but...yeah, it hasn't happened yet.

How are you guys doing?

Signs of Spring

The seed catalogs are piling up, there is the occasional sunshine filled day to whet my gardener's appetite, but then the gloomy gray clouds roll back in and its rains, rains, rains. *sigh* Sometimes its hard not to get a little down as I stare at the mud hole that is my summer veggie garden. Even destroying the kitchen attempting Nom Nom Paleo's Damn Fine Chicken (which is very fine indeed, though it didn't quite look like hers) didn't help me out of my blues. It doesn't help that I've been excessively moody lately, either (hint hint).

But even during these dreary winter days when it seems like spring will never come it's waiting and growing, just beneath the surface,. Over the weekend I found the first tiny shoots of daffodils and hyacinths starting to poke their heads up, and the lilac buds have started to swell. Yay! Spring is on it's way!!!

The most awesome gardener around, Northwest Edible, has a great post about what to do in the garden in February that I've found extremely helpful. Even though its cold and wet she is still harvesting kale, Brussels sprouts, and other delicious items from her garden. If you are in the Pacific Northwest and struggling to have fresh picked goodies all year long (like me) I highly suggested following following her blog.

So, its been a few weeks since I last posted and I apologize for that. Things have been a little hectic around here, between school, hubby's work trips, as well as being exhausted and pukey all day long. Have you figured out what our big surprise is? That's right! Sometime in late September or early October, we are expecting another Munchkin!! Color me shocked, and delighted, and flat out green from morning sickness. Why do they call it morning sickness when it lasts all day long?

Anyhow, look forward to future posts regarding to the ups and downs of pregnancy, eating clean when all you want is a huge bowl of pasta, plus the usual gardening, cooking, and crafty stuff.  Stay shiny my friends!

Backyard Chickens

Sorry for the late post, we just got some very exciting news! Stay tuned for later in the week to hear all about it.

Chickens. Those wonderful creatures that lay golden eggs, a breakfast staple. Gorgeous, quick protein, easy lunch eggs. Scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, eggs in Oopsie rolls, eggs...and bacon!  

Bacon.

Ok, back on track. Chickens are wonderful, easy to care for critters that can be kept in your backyard. Many cities are allowing urban chickens and they don't require acres to be happy and healthy. Backyard eggs are so much tastier than store-bought from caged hens, not to mention higher in nutrients, like Vitamin E, Omega-3, and beta carotene. And, since you know what your birds ate and how they were raised, you can be sure that you are getting the healthiest eggs possible.

But chickens are great not just for eggs. In fact, eggs are just the icing on the cake. What chickens are really good at is waste disposal. Nearly all the kitchen scraps (yep, meat scraps too) can go to the chickens. They will gobble them up and convert the scraps into  wonderful fertilizer for the garden. Toss that fertilizer on your compost pile, let it age and you've got your garden food for the year.

But why wait? They are also great at making compost. As the chickens scratch and turn over their bedding (I use straw), poop on it, flip it again, eat any lurking seeds, poop some more, and scratch some more it breaks down into fluffy, brown, rich, compost. Check out what North West Edible Life got out of her chicken run! Perfect FREE compost!

Got a bug, snail, or slug problem? Not with chickens around. They are also useful in the garden for eating weeds (and occasionally the plants you don't want them to touch-you have to watch them a little here), help teach responsibility to kids, and are just fun to watch. 

So, why am I telling y'all this? Cause its time to start thinking about chicks! If you are new to raising chickens be sure to read up so you are prepared. Backyard Poultry magazine is a great place to find information, while Backyard Chickens is a great forum to ask questions and chat with other chicken enthusiasts.  Urban Chickens is another great resouce (I especially like their 101 sections).

About now most feed stores and hatcheries are starting to take orders. Its a good idea to get yours in early if you are wanting a specific breed (they can sell out). Not sure what breed you want? Check out this link for a few ideas on breeds, or take this quiz (in the left-hand column) to find out what breed might best fit your lifestyle.

Get all your gear (coop, feeders, etc) in place BEFORE you get your birds. (I recommend the chicken nipple watering system.) Trust me, even if you get chicks and they have to stay in the house where its warm for another month or two its best to have everything prepared ahead of time. Once you get your fluffy fuzzballs you'll be so busy with them you'll forget that they get bigger and will have to go outside...to their half-completed coop...soon. They always grow faster than you think. BE PREPARED.

I personally have Australorps and White Brahmas. I chose the Australorps for their awesome laying power (nearly an egg a day, even in winter), and the Brahmas because they are pretty, quiet, and laid back. The Brahmas don't lay as well (about an egg every other day) but they make up for it by being total pets (they let Munchkin cuddle them and don't mind her unable-to-hold-still toddlerness). Both breeds also do well in the cold and are fairly quiet (for chickens).

(CC) Big Dubya

We got our coop off of Craigslist, as well as our birds. Since I wanted older birds that could go straight to the coop we waited till later in the year, then bought them from a 4-H kid. If you don't want to mess with chicks this is the best way to do it. You help out a younger farmer and don't have to mess with chick poo in the bathtub.

Determine how many adult chickens you can have/want (many urban areas only allow three per household, double check your city's regulations), what type of design you would like, and your budget. A search for coop designs online will bring up several pages worth of blueprints for the DIY people. For those who want a ready-made check out your local feed store, Craigslist, or do a search online. There are many carpenters and builders who offer unique designs, or will build to suit your needs.

Chickens are a lot of fun. They take a little work (and expense-mostly for the coop) to get started but they more than make up for it in healthy, delicious eggs and rich compost. And nothing can bring on a big belly laugh than watching a hen chase a grasshopper all over the yard!

Our coop is not the fanciest but it does what it needs to.

Hey Everyone

Hi y'all,

I apologize for being MIA the last week. We had a death in the family and it has really knocked us for a loop. I promise that things will be back on track starting Monday.

Hugs to you all! Keep cooking and growing.

My Latest Obsession-Duck Fat

Fat. That wonderful cooking staple that makes everything taste like heaven. Creamy butter and ghee, salty-smoky bacon grease, rich olive oil...they are all good but lately I have a new love.

Duck fat.

It was a serendipitous meeting. Back in December I had gone to my favorite butcher (Long's Meat Market) with the intent of picking up a goose for Christmas dinner and maybe a tub of lard if they had any. That's it. I have to make a list when I go to this place, otherwise I end up spending my entire paycheck.

As I waited for my turn at the counter, intently ignoring the grass-fed, pasture-raised T-bone steaks whispering my name, I examined the contents of a small refrigerator: goose breast, venison medallions, whole quail, and....tubs of duck fat.

Hmmm. I've never tried duck fat. Wasn't there something on Mark's Daily Apple about duck fat being healthy? I picked up a tub figuring it would be fun to give it a try, collected my goose (and a couple pasture-raised pork chops that sneaked into the bag when I wasn't looking) and headed home to learn more about my new fatty friend.

What I found was interesting. Duck fat is useful for its high smoke point and mild flavor. At room temperature it is a semi-solid and, unlike glorious bacon grease, it provides a lusciousness that enhances the dish's flavors rather than overpowering them. In composition its about 35% saturated fat, 52% monounsaturated fat (including small amounts of antimicrobial palmitoleic acid) and about 13% polyunsaturated fat.  Its been suggested that duck fat can improve cardiovascular health and may be part of the reason the French are so healthy (along with the consumption of red wine, aka the French paradox).

I'm not a doctor so I can't guarantee that duck fat is some miracle substance that will improve your health. Your taste-buds however will thank you. I first tried it out on some bell peppers and onions. As it melted into a golden puddle this deep, rich, drool-causing smell wafted up. Honestly I can't describe it other than rich-its like the best-poultry-gravy-you've-ever-eaten smell...if that makes any sense. I tossed in my veggies, got them coated up, and let them saute away, giving a quick stir every now and then. After about 8 minutes I had the best platter of sauteed veggies I've ever had. The duck fat provided a creamy richness that turned ordinary onions and peppers into something spectacular.

Since then its become my favorite fat. I use it to brown meat before tossing in the crock-pot or finishing in the oven, sauteing veggies, and frying eggs.Want the best fried chicken ever? Use duck fat. (I've been told to get true french fries you need to fry the taters in duck fat.) I'm sure at some point I'll figure out what fat goes with what food (sorta like wine-food pairings) but at the moment I am in LUV with duck fat and use it for everything. Sadly, I haven't found it in any of the local stores, only at the butcher. Oh well, I can always use more meat for the freezer.

The Versatile Steak

We eat a lot of beef. It is the preferred protein and everyone has their favorite cut. Hubby prefers the richly marbled New York Strip while I salivate for the perfectly grilled rack of ribs. Munchkin loves it all but especially likes burgers cut into interesting shapes for her to dip.

Unfortunately beef gets pretty spendy, particularly certain cuts. We try to save the favorite (expensive) cuts for treats or special occasions. For everyday we have the handy-dandy tri-tip roast.

The tri-tip is a triangle cut of meat taken from the bottom of the sirloin. It is also called the "triangle steak", the "Santa Maria steak", or the "Newport steak"(depending on what part of the US you are in). The primal cut weighs between 1.5 and 3 pounds, and is about 2 inches thick with good marbling.

Tri-tip roast cut in half with thick outer layer of fat

Ours comes from the butcher with a thick layer of fat but nearly all the ones I've seen at the grocery store come with this fat trimmed off.

What I love about this cut is how multifunctional it is. It can be cooked whole as a roast, sliced into steaks and grilled, chopped into stew meat, ground into burger meat, or slow-cooked for shredded beef. It makes wonderful chili con carne or beef shish kebabs. Having a cut defrosted opens up a world of possibilities, which helps make getting supper on the table easier since I can change the menu without changing the main ingredient.

Roast trimmed of fat and seasoned with dry rub

My favorite way (and the easiest) is to roast the cut whole. I remove the thick outer layer of fat, season heavily with a dry rub, let stand for about an hour to come to room temperature and to marinate, then roast for about 45 minutes. During the summer I throw it on the grill on high for 15 minutes a side and always get a perfect, medium-rare in the middle, well-done on the tips, chunk of beef. Let sit for 20 minutes to re-absorb the juices, slice, and enjoy!

Roasted, rested, and ready to eat

Roasted Beef Tri-Tip
Adapted from Rachel Ray's Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Pepper and Black Olive Sauce

1 beef tri-tip roast, 1.5-2 pounds
4 tablespoons favorite dry rub or 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon garlic, and 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper (depending on size of roast more seasonings may be needed)

Preheat oven as high as it goes (usually 500 degrees F but may go higher)
Place roast on roasting pan (I use my broiler pan) and put into oven
Bake for 10 minutes. Important-do not open door! There may be some smoke as some of the seasonings blacken
Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and cook for 20-30 minutes*
Remove from oven and let rest for 20 minutes
Carve into servings (remember to carve against the grain) and enjoy!



*20 minutes for a 1.5 pounds will result in a medium doneness in the thickest part of the roast. Use a meat thermometer to get the exact doneness you desire: Rare (140 F), Medium-Rare (145 F), Medium (160 F), Medium-Well (165 F), Well Done (170 F). Remember to remove the roast from the oven when its 5 to 10 degrees below the desired doneness as the temperature will rise for a few minutes while resting.

Family Vacation Planning-Camping

Having a toddler makes family vacations...interesting. Unless the trip is to visit distant family (and sometimes even then) a lot of planning has to go into keeping a creature with the attention span of a gnat entertained. Before kids Hubby and I enjoyed going to new places and checking out the historical interests: museums, reenactments, walking tours, that type of thing. The type of thing that bores Munchkin to tears and a bored toddler makes sure everyone in a city block knows it (especially those people who don't really care for kids. Its a super power kids have.) Our vacations have become mostly trips to the beach (wide open space, child can run forever and scream themselves silly without bothering anyone) or to visit relatives.

This year I want to branch out, try some new things, go to new places. One of my ideas is to go camping. Its something my family did a lot since it wasn't very expensive and there was something for everyone to do. One year we even went gold-panning and found a little bit of gold dust. Its high time I drug Hubby and Munchkin outside to experience the Great Outdoors, sans electronics.

Photo by A. Wildman©2009 

There are many types of camping, from a motor home with all the amenities (Hubby's first choice) to the bare essentials, even something called glamping. While my favorite when I was younger was heading out with just the bare essentials (ie food and TP) at this age sleeping in just a jacket on rocks ain't gonna cut it.

Yes, I'm a wuss, bring on the air mattress and super-cozy sleeping bags.

Where to go is easy since I can throw a dart at a map of the Pacific Northwest and find a wilderness area, national forest, or campground nearby. My main concern is what to pack, especially with Munchkin. I want to be sure everyone is comfortable while (somehow) not bringing along the entire house. Somewhere in storage is a great big tent capable of sleeping 12 adults (at least, that's what I remember the box saying) as well as four or five sleeping bags of different weights. What else do I need? Cooking gear, storage containers, the all mighty air mattress....?

As I was making lists (its what I do) of what items are needed and what would be helpful I relied on a little ebook called "Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods-A Family Camping Handbook with Real Food Options". This nifty ebook by Katie Kimball (the awesome mama behind Kitchen Stewardship) walks the reader through the basics of camping-from where to camp to what supplies are needed to tips on how to pack everything you need in the car (and still maintain your sanity). There are chapters on dealing with weather, cooking over a campfire (complete with recipes) and my ultimate favorite:camping with kids (specially the toddler section)

I love how down-to-earth the ebook is. Though a veteran camper there were tricks I hadn't thought of, like keeping a sleeping bag rolled up during the day so it will be warmer when you climb in at night. Not to mention over 10 pages of recipes (not all of them are paleo/primal but they are all handmade, no-processed-junk items. If your a Perfect Paleo Peep avert your eyes from the grain items) that are perfect for camping.

And there are lists at the end! (I especially like the Basic Camping Supply Shopping/Borrow List for Rookies). All in all it is a great resource and reminded me of several items I need to get before we can embark on our Great Outdoor adventure. I can't wait to get the family out in the woods!




Interested in getting a copy of "Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods"? Its part of the Toadally Primal Wellness Bundle that is on sale now-33 ebooks for only $39!!

Patience, oh Gardener, Patience

The seed catalogs are starting to fill my mail box and the last couple days of sunshine have made me antsy to get back in the garden. Of course, its still freezing every night and barely gets in the mid-50s during the day. Not exactly prime growing temps but oh, that sun feels so warm...ish.

Hubby brought me a stack of gardening books before he left for a biz trip and I've been scouring through them, taking notes and prepping for this year's growing season. I will be doing a lot more vertical growing this year, as well as adding many heirloom varieties to the line-up. I was very happy with the insane amount of vertically-grown green beans we harvested last year (except for the fact they all ripened at the same time) while taking up very little space. I'm hoping to repeat that bounty with tomatoes and squashes this year.

Over the weekend we went to the home improvement store to pick up a couple bags of mulch and some items for the painting project. At the front door they had long trays of pansies and violas, just begging to be taken home, while in the Garden Section was cyclamen and flowering cabbages.

Look at these beautiful cyclamen! I had to pick up two, plus a bunch of pansies and violas. The violas have such a wonderful, soft scent. On the way home we stopped at Goodwill and I found some cute little buckets to use as flower pots.

Today Munchkin and I worked around the yard. We fixed the tire on the wheelbarrow and used it haul a load of firewood. I love having a full woodbox, the house is so much warmer with a wood fire than using the electric heat. Next, we broke down the cardboard boxes I'd been saving and carried them to the compost heap. We fixed the garden fence that had been damaged during the wind storm and, finally, cleaned the chicken coop.

Once all our chores were done we re-potted the flowers. The bag of potting soil had gotten wet so we were fairly dirty by the time everyone was in their new home but we had a blast. Now the house is full of bright spots of color.

These little guys make me so happy. Even though it is still cold and wet outside, and the worst of winter is still to come, these little guys remind me that spring is just around the corner.

Its like chocolate covered bacon, but for the eyes. 

Crockpot Cookery-Beef Tongue

Beef tongue does not look like something you'd want to eat. Its kinda gray and very scaly and...unappetizing.I mean, look at this thing:

 Kinda looks like some sort of weird bedroom slipper, maybe what Lady Gaga wears around the house. So, what can you do with a beef tongue?

Its pretty fatty and the meat is flavorful. Its often used in Mexican cuisine for tacos and burritos (as well as many other cuisines around the world), and is fairly easy to find. Hubby picked this one from the local supermarket and since they had it I'm sure your store has it too.

After searching through my fav primal peep recipes I decided to go with Civilized Caveman's Crock Pot Beef Tongue with Roasted Pepper Sauce recipe. Unfortunately, I didn't have the pepper sauce ingredients (and I was feeling super lazy and didn't want to go to the store) so I opted to shred the meat when it was done cooking and make tacos.

It took about 5 minutes to chop up an onion, crush 6 garlic cloves (we like garlic), toss the tongue in the pot, season, and add water. My kinda dish. I set it on low and forgot about it for 8 hours while we worked on removing the ancient wallpaper from the guest bathroom.

Could I just stop right here and ask why? Why would someone use a metric ton of glue to stick paper to the wall? And why use a rubber compound to seal the bottom edge of the paper? I won't get into the odd wiring going on that was hidden by the covers (just add one more home improvement item to the list).

Anyhow, 8 hours later I dug wallpaper glue out from under my nails, brushed bits of wallpaper from my hair and checked on the tongue. All day the house had been filling with a delicious roast beef smell so my hopes were high. I scooped the tongue from the pot and tried not to laugh at the rather interesting shape it had turned into. Once I manged to get my mind out of the gutter I trimmed off the thick outer skin, shredded the meat with a pair of forks, added some salt and pepper and a bit of pot liquor and ta-da! Beef tongue tacos:

They were quite tasty, just like beef pot roast though the texture was softer, bordering on mushy, which was a little odd. Munchkin gobbled up her share and even Hubby (Mr. Non-Adventurous) said they were good. He then asked that my next weird food experiment not contain pigs feet. Hmmmmm.....I sense a challenge!

Happy New Year!

Good-bye 2012, hello 2013!

2012 was an interesting year for my family. There was financial stress, adjusting to Hubby's new work hours and more frequent business trips, the joy of having a horse again, and the sorrow of a lost pregnancy. The gardens didn't produce nearly as well as 2011 and we never completed several of the major renovations we had planned. It was a difficult year and I'm rather glad it has come to an end. Don't get me wrong, all these changes were drastically needed but I am so thankful those difficult first steps are over.

2013 will be a year of growth. We plan to put in a small fruit orchard, upgrade the veggie garden, and build a larger chicken run for the girls. I'd also like to paint the house and replace the roof. Indoors we are (finally) going to remove all the ancient wallpaper and repaint everything. I also have my fingers crossed for putting down carpet in the bedrooms. Hardwood floors are nice but they are cold!

I am concentrating on getting healthier, focusing less on the number on the scale and more on how much I can lift and how far/fast I can run. Last year we completed our first 5k-we came in last and this year I want to be in the top 20. Maybe we'll even sign up for more than one race.

Munchkin will start preschool in the fall and I'm already having trouble with the concept. I can't believe how big she is, or that she's old enough to start school (even if its only 2 half-days a week). We hope to expand the family as well but we'll see how that goes.

What are your goals for 2013? What is the one thing you want to accomplish in the next 12 months?

Crafty Crafty

The holidays always bring out the Martha Stewart in me. I might as well change my name to the Crafty Gardener the way I go a little bonkers with the glitter and tinsel and whatnot. Plus, having a Munchkin gives me a good excuse to pull out the glue sticks and go nuts, gotta let that creativity flow, right?

After putting a pot of bones on the stove to simmer for broth Munchkin and I sat down with a stack of paper and our trusty scissors. We folded and cut and made complete mess of the place, then decorated the kitchen and dining room with our beautiful paper snowflakes. The larger ones needed a little flair so we pulled out the glue stick only to realize we were out of glitter and sequins.

Nooooooooooo!!! I found some crystal sugar decorations for cookies lurking in the cupboard, they were glittery-ish so we gave them a try. They made a perfect substitute, plus I got more space in the spice rack.


I wasn't up to wandering the attic in search of the boxes of decorations so Munchkin and I looked around the house for the stuff that wasn't put away correctly last year. We found Monty the Merry Moose hiding behind a couple hummingbird feeders in the pantry, and a few bells and ribbons mixed in with screw drivers and Dremel parts on the tool shelf (don't ask, I have no idea how they got there).

©Your Lighter Side

Monty looked a little lonely without some nibbles so we searched the web for a chocolaty cookie recipe (cause Mama always needs chocolate) and found Candice's Low Carb Chocolate Mint Cookies.

I subbed a 1/2 cup of coconut sugar for the Splenda and I didn't miss the extra sweetness at all. Of course, that ups the carbs per cookie to 4 (if I did my math correctly) but since I'm not counting carbs I didn't mind. They are not a dense cookie, in fact, rather fluffy, but very tasty! I'm tempted to dip them in a chocolate glaze for even more chocolaty goodness.

Happy Holidays!

No matter how, or what, you celebrate December is filled with lights, bright colors, and plenty of tempting foods just begging to be nibbled. It its a time of added stress, special foods, and Auntie Mae insisting you are too thin and simply must eat another cookie/roll/plate of cinnamon rolls.

Ah, family. Ya gotta love'em.

December 1st starts the beginning of the holiday season for my family. It is usually the day we pull out all the decorations, clean the house, and put away the last of the Thanksgiving/Fall items but today we decided to focus on responsible stuff rather than decorating. We worked on homework (me) and slide decks (hubby) while Munchkin spent the day with Grandma helping her decorate her house. Yes, I was jealous, but I got a difficult paper finished and submitted so it wasn't a wasted day. Only one more paper to finish and two final tests then winter vacation will begin!

Last year I gave up healthy eating during December. I paid for it later but I wasn't willing to give up the cookies and nibbles and all the other junk that always seem to heap up. This year I plan to keep the cookie and candy making traditions alive but will concentrate on the joy of making, rather than eating, and then give those goodies away to friends and neighbors or send them with hubby to work. Yes, you heard me right. I plan to poison the neighborhood with sugar and gluten!

The team over at Whole9 has a wonderful post about holiday eating and I recommend it. Give it a read and let me know what you think.

What are your plans for the holiday season? How will you combat the glut of goodies?

Munchkin Ate Green Stuff!

Hoorah! I just wanted to stop and tell y'all that Munchkin ate kale today!! I've offered it to her every time I've made a batch but she wanted nothing to do with the green stuff. Tonight I put a serving of kale stir-fried with spicy chicken sausage on her plate, not expecting her to touch it. To my surprise she not only ate a bite without any fussing but she gobbled down the rest.

So, all you parents out there struggling to get your kids to eat their veggies-hang in there!! Keep offering it, keep trying new recipes, and don't give up hope!