5 Course Paleo Dinner

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Host a Paleo Dinner this Festive Season!

We know that the holiday season can be hard to navigate – there are all kinds of temptations, dinners out, sweet treats and sugary hot drinks luring you in – and it takes will power to stay on track.

To support you in sticking to your health goals this holiday season, we’ve put together a 5 Course Paleo Dinner that will impress even the most discerning guest…

Course 1

Tropical Holiday Salsa with Orange-Ginger Tilapia

Course 2

Pork Stuffed Squash

Course 3

Herb-Butter Roast Chicken with Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Course 4

Chopped Kale Salad

Course 5

Berry Pie

Who said the holiday’s can’t be healthy?!

Bon appetit!

Camilla Carboni and Melissa Van Dover

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Roasted Tomato Cream Soup

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Sometimes there is nothing like a good cup of soup and with this recipe you are in for a treat. Our roasted tomato cream soup will fill you up and keep you warm. As with all our recipes it is also incredibly easy to make, nutritious and healthy.

INGREDIENTS

7-10 roma tomatoes
8 ounces grape or cherry tomatoes
6 cloves garlic, peeled
5 tablespoons avocado oil
2 teaspoons salt
10 basil leaves (or a handful works well)
1 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces coconut milk

RECIPE

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
On a baking sheet place roma tomatoes, grape tomatoes and garlic. Coat with avocado oil and 1 teaspoon of salt, mix so tomatoes are fully coated with oil.

Bake for 25 minutes or until skins of tomatoes begin to peel and blister. (you need to keep an eye on your tomatoes, they may smoke).

Place tomato mixture and basil in blender, blend for 1 minute.
Place blended mixture into a stove top pot. Mix in coconut milk, remaining salt and pepper.
Turn heat on low and let simmer for 30 minutes.
Serve and enjoy warm.

It really is that simple.

Happy Cooking!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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Double Chocolate Paleo Muffins

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When plain chocolate isn’t enough…let’s DOUBLE it!

This muffin recipe is based on my popular Paleo Apricot Muffins Recipe, but substitutes apricots for dates, and adds raw cacao powder and dark chocolate chips to create a natural chocolate flavor.

These muffins are so quick and easy to make and are packed with fiber and superfoods, making them an excellent alternative to traditional chocolate muffins or chocolate cake.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pitted whole dates
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1 shake salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon honey or raw agave nectar
1/8 teaspoon natural vanilla extract
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

RECIPE

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Pulse the dates in a food processor until finely chopped.
Add the coconut flour, cacao powder, coconut oil, salt, baking soda, eggs, honey/agave and vanilla extract and pulse until well combined.
Place the mixture into a mixing bowl and fold in the chocolate chips.
Double Chocolate Muffin Mix
Scoop 2 tablespoons of the muffin mix into each large muffin paper liner and bake for about 25 minutes or until a skewer poked through the center comes out clean.
This recipe makes about 10-12 muffins. They can be enjoyed straight out of the oven while the chocolate chips melt in your mouth, or stored in an airtight container and enjoyed within a few days.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Camilla Carboni

@camillacarboni | camillacarboni.com

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Ginger Pomegranate Spritzer

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Living in Colorado we’re used to drinking a ton of water but sometimes water can get a little boring. To spice things up we got a little creative with our fruit and citrus juice. The best part about this recipe is that you can substitute any ingredient you like to fit your taste buds or make new and creative taste combinations.

INGREDIENTS

2 oranges, juiced
1 large lemon, juiced
1/2 inch ginger root, peeled and grated
3 ounces pomegranate juice
1 liter of San Pellegrino (or your sparkling or non-sparkling water of choice)

RECIPE

In a cup, preferably with a spout (like a measuring cup), combine orange juice, lemon juice, grated ginger and pomegranate.
Pour into ice-cube tray and freeze.

Place 3-4 cubes in a cup and fill with San Pellegrino.

Enjoy!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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CrockPot Chili

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If you’re like me, CrockPot meals are an all-time favorite…what’s not to like about a cooking method that enables you to do all the work upfront in a matter of minutes, set the timer, and then have a delicious home-cooked meal a few hours later?! 

This Chili recipe is jam-packed with protein and vegetables, and overflowing in nutrients.

It takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 4 hours to cook, and you’ll have a comforting meal that serves 6.

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs grass-fed ground beef
1 large onion
4-6 large carrots
4-6 celery stalks
1 large green pepper
30 oz organic stewed tomatoes
2-3 tablespoons chili powder (depending on how strong you like your Chili)
1 teaspoon salt

RECIPE

Set your crockpot to the 4 hours setting and place the meat in it to begin cooking while you chop the vegetables.
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Chop the onion, carrots, celery and green pepper into thin dime-sized pieces, and add them to the crockpot.
Add the stewed tomatoes, chili powder and salt to the crockpot mix, then cover and let sit for about an hour.
Each hour over the 4 hour cooking process, lift the cover and stir gently for a minute.
After 4 hours, check that the meat is browned and once it looks well cooked, either serve right away while hot, or reduce the heat to low and enjoy later.

There’s just something so comforting about home-cooked Chili, don’t you think?!

Enjoy!

Camilla Carboni

camillacarboni.com

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All-Purpose Paleo Bread

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Bread can be one of those recipes that can intimidate even the most advanced baker. Thankfully, you have nothing to fear with this recipe and you certainly don’t need to be an advanced baker to serve up this amazing bread.

But what exactly is an “all-purpose” bread you ask? Well, our all-purpose paleo bread can be utilized for almost all your paleo “bread” needs. This means that this recipe can be used to make bread for sandwiches, biscuits or just regular toast for breakfast! So, let’s jump in and get our bread baking.

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces + 1-2 tablespoons coconut milk
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 1/2 cups “Paleo” flour (we buy ours at Natural Grocers but if you need to make your own, mix equal parts coconut flour, almond flour and tapioca flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons gelatin
7 tablespoons red palm shortening

RECIPE

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit.
Place 1 tablespoon of palm shortening on a paper towel and coat the inside of a bread pan. Place bread pan to the side.
In a small bowl mix together 8 ounces of coconut milk and 1/2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Place bowl to the side.
In a large bowl mix together paleo flour, baking soda, salt and gelatin.
Add 6 tablespoons of palm shortening to dry mixture. Using a fork “cut” the shortening into the dry mixture, you do this by using the fork to push the shortening into the flour. Continue to do this until you the mixture looks like wet sand.

Add coconut milk, apple cider vinegar mixture to your large bowl. Knead your mixture until you are able to form a ball of dough that doesn’t crumble apart. You may need to add 1-2 tablespoons of additional coconut milk to achieve this.

Place dough in your bread pan and cook for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool and then enjoy all your hard work!

Happy Baking!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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Mango Mojito Smoothie

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Sip your way into paradise with my new favorite summer smoothie!

This is a non-alcoholic fruit smoothie that puts your health first…
Mangos are known to:

  • Prevent cancer
  • Lower cholesterol
  • Clear the skin
  • Improve eye health
  • Alkalize the body
  • Improve digestion
  • Relieve heat stroke
  • And more…

And when mango is paired with coconut water (which hydrates), mint (which calms and soothes the stomach) and lime (which aids digestion and weight loss) you’ve got yourself a great tasting smoothie that checks all the summer health boxes!

INGREDIENTS

4 ice cubes
1/2 large mango
250 ml coconut water
Freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 a lime
4 fresh mint leaves

RECIPE

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Top with mint, a decorative umbrella and a straw and sip while you daydream of tropical beaches!

It’s really that easy…and it’s equally as refreshing and delicious.

Cheers!

Camilla Carboni

camillacarboni.com

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Bullet Proof Tea

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The popularity of bullet proof tea and coffee has been on the rise lately and we thought it would be a great recipe to share with you all. The basis behind this magical drink is that the coconut oil and caffeine in the drink increases your energy and cognitive functions without the crash of a normal cup of coffee or tea. Essentially, it will get you up and running and keep you going with out the normal afternoon slump.

While the coffee version is great, we prefer our tea. We’ve tried several different versions but we like taking a slight twist on Tim Ferris’s preferred mixology.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons green tea
2 tablespoons pu-erh tea
1 tablespoon turmeric, ginger herbal tea
1 tablespoon yerba mate
1-2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 tablespoon coconut or mct oil

RECIPE

In a tea brewer or strainer mix together green, pu-erh, herbal and yerba mate tea.

Fill with 8 – 12 ounces of hot water and let brew 2 minutes.
Strain tea and mix in coconut milk and oil.
Enjoy hot.

This tea is simple to make and we’d love to hear your take on it’s effectiveness. Fire off in the comments below!

Good Morning!

Melissa Van Dover

@melissavandover | melissavandover.com

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Greek Shepherd’s Pie

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Looking for a delicious meal that whips up fast and leaves left-overs to munch on while snuggled in your PJs this coming weekend? Look no further!

This Greek-style, Paleo take on the traditional Shepherd’s Pie adds a subtle infusion for your tastebuds, while keeping memories of Grandmother’s dish.

It’s healthy, super simple and of-so comforting.

Serves 4-6.

Hot Tip: If you have a cast-iron pan, you can cook the meat in that on the stovetop, then build the layered Pie in that same pan and simple pop it into the oven to broil at the end.

INGREDIENTS

4 large white sweet potatoes, sliced (skin on is preferable for added fiber)
Sweet Potato
1 lb pasture-raised bacon
1 lb grass-fed ground beef
1 cup broccoli florets, cut into dime-sized pieces
1/2 cup pre-made olive tapenade
Mixed fresh of dried herbs of your choosing
1/4 cup grass-fed feta (optional for those on the Primal Diet)

RECIPE

Steam or boil the sweet potatoes until tender.
While the sweet potatoes are cooking, pre-heat a large saucepan at medium heat, add the bacon and cook until browned.
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Remove the bacon from the saucepan (saving the bacon grease in the pan) and cut the bacon into dime-sized pieces.
Cook the ground beef in the bacon greased saucepan until well-done.
Add the bacon pieces back into the saucepan, along with the broccoli florets and stir in with the cooked ground beef.
Shepherd's Pie Meat Mix
Set the oven to Broil.
Place the meat mix in an oven-safe dish (approximately 9 x 11 inches).
Spread a layer of olive tapenade over the meat mix.
Mash the sweet potatoes and create a layer of sweet potato over the olive tapenade layer.
Sprinkle with fresh or dried mixed herbs.
Top with with feta (if desired) and place in the oven to broil for about 5 minutes until the sweet potato browns slightly.
Remove from the oven and serve warm.

Refrigerate left-overs in an airtight container and enjoy within 3 days!

Camilla Carboni

camillacarboni.com

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GUEST POST BY JULIE GRIFFIN: The Magic is in YOU!

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A Note from Camilla & Melissa:

We love to have guest posts and we’re so grateful that others want to share their stories and experiences with all of us. Every individual is entitled to their own health beliefs and we respect everyones wishes. While some of the comments in our guest posts may not be reflective of a true “Paleo Diet”, it is our hope that the common goal of a healthier life will help to guide you in your own health choices.


The Magic is in YOU!

by Julie Griffin

So much of the time in life we are looking for that ONE thing to flip the switch for our life… that one diet to finally work. That one exciting fitness program or newfangled workout equipment that’s gonna be IT.

You know, the one that miraculously causes us to not quit just days in.
Or maybe it’s that relationship that will finally make us happy. That job that we’ve been dreaming of to fulfill us. That number in the bank account that will make all our problems go away…

We are always looking for that ONE Magic thing to bring about the change that we are desperately wanting in our life. But what if I told you that will never happen.

There is no Magic diet or exercise program. No Magic relationship or dream job. No Magic number in our bank account that can make our problems go away.

Yes, a diet may make us lose a few pounds for awhile, but if we don’t learn to how to heal our relationship with food first, or how to make sustainable life choices in our eating, all we will have accomplished is another failed fad diet and we’ll end up right back where we started. Many times even worse than before.

Or we may commit to that new fitness routine or show up to that exercise class, for a few days at least. We may even purchase that shiny, new exercise equipment and actually use it, for a bit… before we lose steam and it turns into another place to store our laundry and collect dust. Because if we don’t learn how to push past our feelings, creating discipline and consistency within ourselves first, there is no fitness fad, class, program, or equipment that will bring about the transformation to our bodies we so badly want to see.

Our relationships will follow the same patterns, we will still be unhappy in our “dream job”. And that bank account that finally looks like you want it to? Your problems won’t be going anywhere. Because all those things are just tools. Lifeless tools that hold no Magic. They only work in the hands of Magic. They are not the magic. They will never do what you are wanting them to. They hold no fairy dust that is going to come along and melt off the weight, or make you want to push your body to new heights while blowing your mind of what you are capable of! They can’t make you happy and fulfilled, or your
problems just disappear. Because they aren’t Magic. You are. The Magic is in YOU.

You ARE the Magic.

You are the only one who has the power to get in control of your eating and make good, healthy choices of what to put in your body!

You are the only one who has the power to wake up every day and produce the discipline and consistency required to watch your body change before your very eyes.

You are the one who makes yourself happy, not another person or relationship. Or a job. Or numbers in a bank account.

It’s you. Say it with me… You ARE the Magic. You are the MAGIC. YOU are the Magic!

The Magic is in you to overcome, to change, to conquer, to be happy, to be fulfilled, to be free. To finally be the person you KNOW is in there… maybe they’re really deep down in there, but you’ve seen glimpses. You feel the stirring at times. That’s the Magic. That’s the YOU that knows you can do this.

That’s the you that KNOWS how powerful you really are!

I’m not gonna lie. It’s hard. It’s painful at times. But it’s in those hard times, those painful places… that’s WHERE the magic happens. Because it’s where you discover WHO you are, WHAT you’re capable of, and just how POWERFUL you can be! And I promise you, if you will go there… if you will tap into that place inside yourself and stop looking to external sources to do what only you can do, you will Blow. Your. Mind.

You will never look at yourself the same. Because you, my friend, are so full of Magic it’s breathtaking!

So what is it that you want? What is it that you’ve been trying to accomplish and are always looking to some outside source, something that is just a tool, to make it happen?

Now close your eyes, take a deep breath, and feel that Magic come alive in you… you feel it? That stirring and knowing that you are made for more than what you’ve been living?

Now embrace it, own it, and get ready for the ride of your life. Because when we tap into our Magic, our lives are never the same again.

Who wants more of the same anyway? Not me, and I’m venturing to say if you’re reading this, not you either. You are just too full of Magic for that.


 

image1Julie Griffin is a Mindset & Identity Coach for women, working specifically with women in the area of Health & Fitness, positive body image, and connecting to their core identity of Womanhood.

She is passionate about seeing women truly learn to love and embrace their whole selves, inside and out, and be empowered to show up in this world in a vibrant and colorful way.

She is a mom of two crazy, creative, and talented kids, an avid traveler, lifelong learner, all around adventuring soul, and champion of the potential of mankind. In no particular order, she loves yoga, weight lifting, dancing, city lights, having fun, hot weather, and all things ocean!

She would love to connect with you, so jump over to her website www.wildandfitinspired.com where you can stay in touch and up to date with the latest that is going on in her world. You can also connect with Julie on Facebook and Instagram. She would love to hear from you so don’t hesitate to drop her a line!