Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Herb Crackers

Would you like a cracker with few carbs?  Would you like a snack with no worry of trans fat? Should a snack with ingredients that you can pronounce be part of your diet?  Yes? Then read on.... We have changed our way of eating lately, we decided this is not temporary thing or a diet but a lifestyle that we are comfortable with adopting.  After the recipe, if you like to hear more about what we are doing then keeping reading.


Herb Crackers
adapted from Make it Paleo

2 cups blanched almond flour
1 cup flax meal
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. olive oil

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, flax meal and spices.

3.  Mix eggs and oil and pour over flour mixture.  Stir all ingredients together until it forms a dough.

4.  Roll dough into large ball and place on parchment paper.  Cover dough with another sheet of parchment.  Using a rolling pin, roll out into a 1/4 inch thick layer.

5.  Transfer cracker dough on parchment to a cookie sheet.  Remove top layer of parchment.

6.  Score dough with a knife to desired cracker size.

7.  Bake crackers for 15-20 minutes until light brown.

8.  Let cool, break crackers into squares and serve.  Serves 3-6

Cook's Notes:

-The recipe called for adding cumin.  It is a strong spice.  I used only 1 tsp. but I felt it still overwhelmed the cracker.  If you LOVE cumin try using 1 tsp first.

-The original recipe called for 2 tsp of salt.  This was a bit salty for me.

-These crackers are great with soups and salads.  The Primal Palate pairs these with their baba ghanoush recipe.

Why go Paleo?  What is it?

Paleolithic Man, a caveman who hunted and gathered his food.  It was all natural, not processed.  He ate only meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds.
I've been on too many diets and 'systems'....I am hitting the big 4-6 pretty soon and if I can't get a handle on my food lifestyle then my health will die off like the dinosaurs...lol

The Paleo Plan is rather simple: meats, veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds.  No grain, no dairy, no legumes and absolutely no processed foods.  I've been reading for years about our food/produce industry and really believe the more man processes foods the more 'frankenstein-ian' it is, this concerns me.

K-man doesn't really need to lose any weight but his biking and overall endurance has changed from being with me for 5 years (before JennyMac, he was on the Bachelor Man Plan: chunky soup, sandwiches and rotating through each fast food joint one night a week) He was fully supportive of this decision for whatever JennyMac needed he was behind her.  He's suffered through other diets but he's actually enjoying this new lifestyle.  He can eat however he wants at work.  He gets real bread and sweets on occasion....but I am finding him eating my desserts and snacks now too!!!!

Anyway, I don't wanna cause you eye strain from reading all the fine minutia of the Paleo Way.  But if you are interested or have questions... Pop me a comment!  I have great links to Paleo sites and the books I've cook from.

Enjoy!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Organic Sausage Patties

Lately, we have been consciously removing the processed foods from our diet.  Since I do so much reading about farming practices, food processing and food additives, quite honestly it's SCARY.  In conjunction with getting rid of eating 'convenience' I've been also buying organic meats (as well as other products).  I've been shopping at Trader Joe's since our decision and the grocery bill each week has NOT been more from buying only organic.  Actually it's been less!!!  Go figure.
It's going to take some time to get rid of the stuff we have in the cabinets but we feel this would be good to 'ease' our way into this lifestyle without cleaning out the pantry and having a WHOPPING first shopping bill.  Anyhow, here's a simple and tasty recipe I'd like to share with you:

Homemade Breakfast Sausage
adapted from Paleo Comfort Foods

1 lb ground pork
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
2 tsp. fresh sage, finely chopped
1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped (if you use dried, use half the amount)
1/4 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped (if you use dried, use half the amount)
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (I grated mine fresh)
1/2 tsp. cayenne

Take ground pork and mix with all the ingredients.  Form 2 inch patties.

Heat skillet over medium heat.  Place patties in skillet and cook until browned, the flip over and continue to cook until fully cooked through.


Cook's Notes:

1.   These absolutely rendered so little fat from cooking.  Those 'tubes' of sausage we used to get were mostly WHITE in color for the meat instead of red/pink.

2.  The fresh sage was KEY in giving it a breakfast sausage taste.

3.  These can be made and frozen to pop out for breakfast makings any morning or weekend.  Other than the size of these puppies, it was no more complex than making hamburger patties.

4.  These were so less SALTY as well.


K-man loved these, he was surprised that I made these instead of old stuff we used to get.

Enjoy!