Breakfast Casserole

I try to make a breakfast casserole every Sunday for the work week.  A simple casserole takes just minutes to throw together and makes about 6 meals.  I also cook a package of sausage or bacon to go along with the casserole for a extra protein.  Here is what I made today:

Breakfast Casserole Ingredients:
Chopped white onion
Handful chopped spinach
1 carton of egg whites
5 eggs
Spices (I used creole seasoning today)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease 8x8 baking dish with spray olive oil.  Put all ingredients into baking dish (including spices) and mix with fork.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.  Let casserole cool, then divide into 6 portions and divide sausage evenly.  Makes 6 meals!

Chocolate Chunk Pecan Brownies

Now you can ask anyone, I have a sweet tooth!!  I am constantly looking for paleo recipes that I can freeze and have a treat or two when I get a craving.  I know this recipe was a hit because my husband, who is not a huge sweet fan, loved these!

I found this recipe online and tweaked it just a tad.  The brownies came out very fluffy, delish!!

Ingredients:
1/4 C Coconut Flour
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/2 tsp Baking soda
2 Eggs
1/4 C Honey
1/4 C Light Agave Nectar
1/4 C Grapeseed Oil
1/4 C Shredded coconut flakes
1 Tbsp Vanilla extract
1/2 C Chopped Pecans
3/4 C Dark chocolate chips  (at least 70% cacao; I used 72% for this recipe)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put 1/2 C dark chocolate chips in food processor and pulse until consistency of coarse sand.  Place 1/4 C dark chocolate chips (the remainder not put in food processor) and 1/4 C pecans aside.  These will be used for topping.  Mix all remaining ingredients including ground chocolate chips into blender. 

Grease 8x8 baking dish with spray coconut oil.  Pour batter into dish.  Top with remaining nuts and chocolate chips.

Bake for ~25 minutes or until done.  Enjoy!!!

Alternatives: You may use any type of nuts for this recipe.

Paleo Protein Breakfast Muffins

One thing I miss every now and then are muffins.  This recipe can be modified in many ways whenever you need a healthy muffin fix.  I find these muffins great as a snack or as breakfast during the work week.

Ingredients:
1 Banana
1/4 C Dried cranberries (unsweetened or sweetened with apple juice)
1/2 C Almond meal (from ground almonds)
1/2 C Flax meal (from flax seeds)
1/4 C Sesame seeds
1/4 C Water
4 Eggs
1 1/2 Scoops vanilla protein powder (~45 grams protein)
1 tsp Baking soda
2 Tbsp olive oil
Dash celtic sea salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put all ingredients into blender and mix thoroughly.  Coat 12 count muffin pan with spray olive oil (no need for liners).  Pour batter evenly into all 12 muffin cups.  Bake for approximately 25 minutes.  Enjoy!

Alternatives: I constantly change this recipe when I make it.  I will add chopped walnuts or pecans, substitute dried blueberries, or add 1/4 C hazelnut meal and reduce the almond meal.  Sometimes I do not use dried fruit at all and simple use the banana and chopped nuts.  I simply adjust the recipe to fit my appetite for the week. 

With the addition of protein powder (sometimes I will add two scoops) these muffins have close to 10 grams of protein each!

Here we go

I decided to create this blog to keep track of my recipes, encourage me to create new ones and also for those who are interested in eating Paleo.  I love to cook, a trait I inherited from my mother.  And although I did not inherit her natural genius in the kitchen, I have slowly but surely experimented with recipes and modified them to my liking, as well as creating my own inventions here and there. 

I do have to admit I enjoy cooking in my new and improved kitchen since it was remodeled about a year ago!

So here's to healthy living, healthy eating, and fitting into those "skinny jeans".

A look into my kitchen:
Paleo Basics - The basics of paleo eating are simple.  Eat meat, fish, veggies, fruit, roots, nuts, exclude grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils.

Here are some pictures of my fridge and pantry as well as some 'Swanson Staples'

Coconut milk and fish oil are staples for protein shakes.  Egg whites are always nice to have handy.

Eggs of course are important and I do use coconut milk creamer for my coffee occasionally.

Apples, oranges, avocados and limes are always around.

I love poblano peppers and jalapenos, they can add a nice flavor and kick to most meals.  I know there is a lot of squash and zuchhini in there.  I am making veggie patties tomorrow :)

I like to have an abundance of frozen meat on hand.  Grass fed ground beef, chicken, and salmon burgers make a quick meal.

Frozen shrimp, scallops, salmon fillets, yellowfin tuna burgers and of course bacon!

Salad, carrots, mushrooms, onions, strawberries and blueberries, yum!

Coconut water makes a great recovery drink.

Coconut milk and oil are found in many paleo recipes.  And of course almond butter!!  I always have a supply of various nuts on hand such as almonds, walnuts, pecans and pistachios.

Tomato sauce is always needed for a quick crockpot of chili.