The Paleo Pact

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie was always a favorite of mine growing up.

I have fond memories of devouring spoonfuls with my Grandmother, followed by a lazy evening watching old comedies or attempting to complete crossword puzzles. We were like two little old ladies! It was fabulous.

Years later, I have finally recreated my Gran’s wonderful recipe and made it Paleo, substituting the white potatoes with sweet potatoes, and the peas with broccoli florets.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do…

INGREDIENTS

2 large sweet potatoes or yams
1 teaspoon coconut oil or beef tallow
1 pound grass-fed, ground beef
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
1/4 cup grass-fed butter
Salt for seasoning
1/2 cup broccoli, chopped into pea-size florets

RECIPE

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Peel and slice the sweet potatoes and put them on to boil or steam.
In a large saucepan, melt the coconut oil over medium heat.
Add the ground beef to the saucepan and cook until evenly browned.
Sprinkle the meat with the oregano and onion powder, then add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and stir.
Drain the sweet potatoes after about 20 minutes, or once fully cooked and soft.
In a medium mixing bowl, mash the sweet potatoes with the butter and add salt to taste.
Then, in an 8 x 10-inch oven-safe dish, pour the meat mixture evenly across the bottom and then top with the raw broccoli florets.
Layer the sweet potato mash on top of the broccoli.
Place the dish in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven, serve and enjoy it while it’s hot!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Candied Walnuts

Even if you’re perfectly Paleo you no doubt occasionally have candy cravings. That’s normal! The trick is not to throw in the towel and cheat too badly, but to get creative with naturally sweetened snacks.

Dates are always a good choice to help cure sugar cravings, and so are raisins, but for those times when something a little more candy-like is needed, you can always whip up some Candied Walnuts…

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup walnuts
2 tablespoons honey or raw agave nectar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

RECIPE

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
In a small bowl, mix together the honey/agave, cinnamon and vanilla extract to form the candy dip.
Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper.
Dip each walnut piece into the candy dip, making sure you cover the entire nut, and then place each nut about 1/4 inch apart from one another on the baking tray.
Continue until all the nuts are dipped and placed on the tray.
Place the tray in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
Remove the tray from the oven and set aside to cool for about an hour, or until the candy dip has hardened on the nuts (to expedite this cooling process, place the nuts in an air-tight container and refrigerator).

Enjoy this sweet but healthy alternative to candy!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Almond Power Balls

When it comes to living a Paleo Lifestyle, snacking is the thing that many people find most challenging. Vending machines are off-limits, standard granola bars and cookies are loaded with all those naughty ingredients we try to avoid, and often time isn’t on our side to whip up Paleo equivalents. That’s when quick and easy items, like Almond Power Bars can be a fabulous go-to (plus, they make a great dessert!)

Packed with nut and date power, these Balls are rich in fiber, healthy oils, potassium, magnesium and iron. Let’s get rollin’

INGREDIENTS

1 organic, free range egg
2 tablespoons grass-fed butter
1 tablespoon coconut palm sugar
1/2 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup coconut flakes
2 tablespoons almond butter

RECIPE

Makes 10 Almond Power Balls:

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
Add the egg and coconut palm sugar and stir quickly until thoroughly blended.
Toss the dates, almonds, coconut flakes and almond butter into a mixing bowl and pour in the heated egg and sugar mixture.
Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
Using your hands, form the mixture into bite sized balls (if you find the mixture to be too moist, simply add a sprinkle of coconut flour or extra coconut flakes.)
Place in the refrigerator for about an hour to set and cool before serving.

Enjoy them one bite at a time as a healthy power snack on the go, a good-for-you dessert, or as a workout breakfast buddy. Drizzle them with more almond butter for an extra indulgent and protein-rich treat!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Superfood Shake

It’s not often that the morning goes by without me whipping up a Superfood Shake to boost my nutrient intake, and subsequently, my energy!

Because the ingredient list in this shake is packed with a variety of lesser-known and therefore harder to locate Superfoods, I’ve hesitated sharing this recipe, as you know how we like to keep things simple :)…but after being asked by numerous co-workers what I’m putting in my tasty morning concoction, I finally gave in…

So here it is – my personal favorite (and rather addicting) Superfood Shake recipe!

INGREDIENTS

6 cubes of ice
3 dates, pitted
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 teaspoon egg-white protein powder
1 teaspoon cacao powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon instant coffee grinds (or a shot of espresso and a little less coconut milk)
1/2 teaspoon maca powder
1/2 teaspoon matcha green tea powder

RECIPE

This is where it’s easy – just place all the ingredients in a blender and pulse for about a minute until well blended.

Pour into a large glass and enjoy while chilled.

And then start your day by giving yourself a pat on the back – knowing that you have given your body a boost of superfoods containing antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that your body needs.

To read more about super foods, click HERE, and to find superfoods – try your local health store or even Amazon.

Enjoy!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Baked Apple

If there was ever an indisputably healthy dessert, this is it!

Baked Apple has been a favorite after-dinner treat of mine ever since I was a young girl. Its slightly tart, slightly sweet and slightly textured taste always intrigued me and it wasn’t until recently that I realized just how easy it is to make…

INGREDIENTS

1 whole apple, skin on
1/8 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon honey or raw agave nectar

RECIPE

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Core the apple and fill the center with raisins or cranberries (or a combination of the two).
Place the stuffed apple in an oven-safe dish, pop it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle cinnamon and honey/agave over the center of the apple and place the dish back in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Scoop the apple onto a plate and drizzle any excess honey/agave from the oven dish over the apple or around the plate for decoration.
Enjoy warm.

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Orange Glazed Ham

There’s just something about a juicy ham during the festive season and we’ve discovered that there really is no need for store bought glaze dripping in refined sugar when fresh oranges, coconut palm sugar and grass-fed butter make for a perfectly delicious glaze concoction!

In this recipe, my good friend Samantha and I used a natural, antibiotic-free and hormone-free spiral-cut ham that was pre-smoked. (Check the ingredients list to ensure there aren’t any Paleo-unfriendly items sneaked in). We then paired the ham with a homemade citrus marinade, which tenderizes the meat and aids the body with the digestion of the ham. It turned out fabulously! Here’s how we did it:

INGREDIENTS

7-10 lb spiral cut, smoked ham
4 oranges
4 cups pure orange juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon cloves
1/2 cup grass-fed butter, melted
1/4 cup coconut palm sugar

RECIPE

Place your ham (fresh or frozen), in a large oven-compatible dish.
Mix 3 cups of orange juice, the nutmeg, cloves and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
Slice the oranges and soak the slices in the marinade for about 10 minutes, before removing the slices and placing them aside for later.
Pour the marinade mixture over the ham, completely drenching it.
Using toothpicks, pin the marinated orange slices to the surface of the ham, then cover the dish with foil and place the dish in the refrigerator to marinade for at least 4 hours (ideally overnight).

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Remove the foil and place the dish in oven for about 30 minutes.
In the meanwhile, mix the last cup of orange juice with the coconut palm sugar and melted butter.
Once the 30 minutes have passed, remove the dish from the oven, and work the orange juice, coconut palm sugar and butter mixture into each spiral fold of the pre-sliced ham, pouring any excess over the exterior of the ham before placing the dish back in the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until well cooked.
Remove the glazed ham from the oven and serve warm alongside your choice of vegetables.

May that add to your 2015 festivities!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Date Orange Loaf

Orange rinds too often go to waste and, when combined with naturally sweet fruits, like dates, make an irresistible taste sensation not too be missed.

In this easy-to-make loaf, I used the base recipe of my popular Paleo Apricot Muffins and added a sweet, citrus twist.

The loaf is high in fiber and comes out deliciously moist. This recipe is ideal for 1 mini loaf (about 5.75 x 3 inches) and can also be made into muffins.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup chopped dates
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1 shake salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon honey/raw agave nectar
Grated rind of 1 large orange

RECIPE

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Pulse the dates in a food processor until finely chopped.
Place the rest of the ingredients (except the orange rind) in the food processor and pulse for another minute or so, until well combined.
Add the grated orange rind and pulse for about 10 seconds.
Scoop the mix into a oven-safe bread dish and bake for approximately 30 to 40 minutes (the center of the loaf rises last), or until a skewer through the center comes out clean.

Enjoy the sweet and citrus taste of this decadent loaf,

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Let’s Talk About Health

Health is a hot topic, and we LOVE that!

No matter what your health views are, we truly believe that the world is a better place when health is a focus. The more awareness there is on the importance of health, the more likely the health industry, our society and our own personal health is to improve.

“Every human has four endowments – self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change.” – Stephen Covey

And that’s why we are excited to join Greg Hollenback on his Radio TalkShow, The Modern Eater, this Saturday, December 5th at 6pm MST to talk about Health, Holiday Eating and of course our pet project, PALEO Cleanse.

Want to join us?

Tune in to iHeart Radio and 630 KHOW, Denver’s Talk Station at 6pm tomorrow and listen live.

Can’t make it?

We’ll miss you, but not to worry – you can listen to the full recording after the show by visiting The Modern Eater’s SoundCloud page.

Have an awesome and healthy weekend!

Camilla and Melissa

Twitter: @thepaleopact

Facebook: ThePaleoPact

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie is a favorite in many of the Southern States and, while it sounds like a healthy dessert, it is traditionally made with heaps of refined-sugar and dairy.

In this Paleo version, organic sweet potatoes take center stage, second to eggs, natural sweeteners and coconut milk. It’s just as delicious, and a whole lot more nutritious!

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs
2 cups organic sweet potatoes
1/4 cup coconut milk (canned and full fat)
1/2 cup honey/raw agave nectar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch salt

+ Paleo Pie Crust ingredients

RECIPE

Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Peel the sweet potatoes, slice them and place them in a pot or steamer for about 20 minutes, until they are soft.
Meanwhile, make the Paleo Pie Crust so the base is ready.
Once the sweet potato is cooked, place the eggs, cooked sweet potatoes, coconut milk, honey/agave, cinnamon and salt in a food processor and pulse for about a minute, or until well blended.
Pour the pie filling mix into the baked Paleo Pie Crust, reduce the oven heat to 350 degrees F and bake the pie for 45 minutes.
Remove the pie from the oven and allow it time to cool, then refrigerate it for at least an hour for the pie to set before serving.

Enjoy!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!