The Paleo Pact

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Pork Stew

Traditionally, stew takes hours to cook. But who has time for that?!

This Pork Stew recipe is made stir-fry style with fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapeños and spices, and utilizes natural apple sauce to create a stew-like gravy.

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 pound pork, sliced into strips
1/4 cup tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup onions, chopped finely
1 tablespoon jalapeños, chopped
1/2 teaspoon oregano spice
2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce

RECIPE

In a medium saute pan, melt the coconut oil over medium heat.
Add the pork strips to the pan, season with the oregano and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once the pork is almost fully cooked, add the tomato, onion and jalapeño, before turning the heat up to medium-high.

Allow the tomato and onion to soften while the meat soaks up the flavor.

Last but not least, add the apple sauce to the dish and continue to cook for another minute or two, stirring continuously.

Serve hot and enjoy!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

A Gourmet Fish Topping

Fish is one of the most nutritious meals you can give your body. However, sometimes with fish we can get a little bored because we tend to repeat recipes that we know. We do this because fish can be one of those intimidating dishes to make. Don’t worry though; we have you covered with this great fish “marinade” which is really more of a topping. I prefer it on salmon but it goes great with most fish.

INGREDIENTS

1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons whole grain mustard (Plaeo Leaps has a great recipe to make your own, take a look here)
1 tomato
2 basil leaves

*note: this is good for roughly two small fillets, you may need to double or triple this recipe depending upon how much you’re cooking.

RECIPE

In a small bowl mash together garlic and salt. You may need to use a spoon to grind the two together, you will end up with a mash consistency mixture.
Add mustard to mixture, combine thoroughly and place aside.
Wash and slice tomato, you’ll want the tomato to be thin, no more than 1/8” thick.
Wash and slice basil into strips.
Taking fillets, spread mustard mixture over top evenly.
Place tomato slices on top of fish, covering whole fillet. The tomato layer should only be one slice thick (do not place tomato slices on top of each other as this will cause fish to cook unevenly).
Cook or grill fish until fillet is cook through. (Temperature and length will depend on your fish and cooking method, because you are layering the mustard mixture and tomatoes on top of the fillet it may take a few extra minutes to cook all the way through).
Place fresh basil on top of fillets and cook two additional minutes.
Remove and serve.

This is one of the best ways to prepare fish for individuals who are not big fish eaters. It cuts down drastically on the “fishiness” of fish. For those of you who like fish, you’re in for a great treat.

Enjoy!

Melissa Van Dover

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Steak and Blueberry Salad

I can’t get enough of salads on summer days, so I’m always looking for new taste combinations and ways to pair protein with antioxidant rich fruits.

In this summer salad, cooked steak provides substance, while the sun-dried tomatoes and blueberries compete for attention, creating a taste sensation that’s both hunger satisfying and delightful!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound cooked steak, warmed and cut into thin strips
1 cup mixed greens of your choice
1/8 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1/8 cup blueberries
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar for dressing

RECIPE

On a dinner plate, lay the steak strips out to form the bed of the dish.
Top with the greens and then decorate with sun-dried tomatoes and blueberries.
Finish with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and enjoy while the steak is still warm.

Here’s to simple yet decadent salad dishes!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Simple Pork Sausage Patties

The best way to start the morning off is with a hearty breakfast. I’ve found that there is nothing better than a sausage patty or a piece of bacon when I need to make sure to have energy for the day. The following is a simple recipe for sausage patties. The best part about it is that it can easily be customized to fit your taste buds. If you know that you do or do not like a certain spice try substituting your preferences in this recipe. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make a breakfast staple for yourself.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon mace
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 – 2 tablespoons coconut oil

RECIPE

In a bowl combine all ingredients except coconut oil.
Mix together with hands, cover and let sit overnight in fridge.
Remove from fridge and form into sausage patties.
Heat coconut oil over medium, high heat.
Place patties in pan and cook for roughly 10 minutes, flipping occasionally.
Your cooking length will depend upon what size you make your patties, I always recommend checking one patty to ensure it is cooked all the way through before consuming.
After your patties are cooked, remove and let cool.

I make these patties before my week starts and bring them with me to work every morning so that I don’t miss out on a much needed breakfast. They also double as a great snack to get you through to your next meal.

Enjoy!

Melissa Van Dover

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Pear and Prosciutto Salad

For those times when you need to plate up a something delicious to serve for unexpected guests, or you just feel like treating yourself to a gourmet salad lunch with a crisp glass of Chardonnay, this is the go-to recipe!

Super simple, yet elegant, this summer salad pairs the gentle, slightly sweet notes of pear with the slightly salty taste of cured Prosciutto.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup mixed greens
1/2 ripe pear, chopped
1 to 2 slices of Prosciutto, cut into bite sized strips
Balsamic vinegar for dressing

RECIPE

On a salad plate, toss the mixed greens of your choice, before topping them with the chopped pear and Prosciutto strips.
Drizzle with balsamic vinegar…and just like that you’re ready to enjoy a decadent summer salad!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

7 Tips For Paleo Living While Traveling

Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling is a challenge. Let’s be honest, often times when we’re traveling it’s difficult to stay on track. Especially if you’re running around to meetings or have limited food options, lets say if you’re stuck in a theme park.

Don’t worry though, maintaining your paleo diet while traveling isn’t impossible. It just takes a little more work and determination.

The top 7 tips for staying paleo while traveling:

Don’t wait till the last second- make sure you have snacks on hand or start preparing for a meal before you’re starving.
Stay hydrated- often times we get so caught up with what we’re doing when we’re traveling that we forget to drink water. Your body can confuse thirst for hunger, so make sure you stay hydrated.
Visit the grocery store- buying snacks or food from a restaurant or the hotel gift shop can be expensive and often times there are no paleo options. Take a half hour break and run to the local grocery store and pick up some fruits and nuts to stay on track.
Preview the restaurant menu- before you go out to lunch or dinner spend 5 minutes online and find the best paleo option for your meal.
Keep it simple- when you eat out keep it simple, vegetables and protein are always a safe bet. If you don’t know what to get order a steak, chicken breast or fish fillet and pair it with some veggies.
Start off right- you’re much more likely to stay on track throughout the day if you start it off right. Make sure to eat a paleo breakfast and get in your morning exercise, you’ll be much more likely to stay on track for the rest of the day.
Think about your options- it’s so easy to say that you can’t, before you get their think about your options and think about what you can control. You’ll be amazed at what you can actual control if you don’t count yourself out right away.

Maintaining your paleo lifestyle while you’re traveling isn’t impossible, it just takes a little extra work. Don’t give up before you’ve started, you’ll be amazed at how manageable it actually it is.

Here’s To Staying Paleo!

Melissa Van Dover

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Mediterranean Gnocchi

Sometimes it’s nice to indulge in a pasta-like meal, and thanks to Cappello’s, it’s now easy for the Paleo Community to do just that.

Cappello’s is a Colorado-based company that specializes in grain-free products. They make delicious Paleo pasta, pizza and cookies and their products are now readily available in most health stores (in the freezer section), as well as in bulk online.

Occasionally I’ll have a craving for a simple Mediterranean meal – the kind I used to indulge in regularly before I began following a Paleo lifestyle – and this recipe always proves to cure my nostalgia…

INGREDIENTS

1 pack Cappello’s Gnocchi
1 flat teaspoon coconut oil
1 tomato, chopped
1 sprig green onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil

RECIPE

In a small pot, bring water to the boil.
Add 1/2 pack Cappello’s Gnocchi and boil for about 5 minutes (or until the gnocchi floats to the surface), stirring often.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil over medium heat.
Add the tomato, onion and garlic to the saucepan and cook over low heat until the gnocchi is ready to serve.
Drain and plate the gnocchi, then top with the tomato-onion-garlic mix and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

Enjoy while piping hot!

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Pesto Simmered Portobellos and Tomatoes

This recipe is a simple yet delicious side dish. For those of you that have completed the Paleo Cleanse, you’ll also notice that it is similar to our Grilled Portobello Pesto dish. While I often serve this as a side dish it’s also a great option if you don’t feel like meat or have to serve someone who does not eat meat.

INGREDIENTS

Salt (optional)
1 cup of basil leaves
1 clove of garlic
1/8 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons olive oil
2 Portobello mushrooms
2 tomatoes

RECIPE

In a food processor place salt, basil, garlic & pine nuts.
Process mixture while streaming in 1/3 cup of olive oil.
Clean gills out of Portobello mushrooms, wash and slice mushrooms into strips.
Wash and cut tomatoes into slices.
In a frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
Place mushrooms and tomatoes in frying pan and cook, flipping occasionally.
After 5 minutes add pesto mixture to mushrooms and tomatoes.
Continue to cook for about 5 more minutes or until mushrooms and tomatoes have reached your desired tenderness.
Remove from heat and serve.

This recipe is simple to make but it tastes gourmet. As a fun side note, you can make extra of the pesto and store if for other recipes that you’re planning to make in the coming week.

Enjoy!

Melissa Van Dover

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!

Salmon Pate

Pate has always been a favorite of mine to serve at dinner parties. It’s an easy to make, but gourmet-looking-and-tasting treat, that pairs well with dipping vegetables.

Inspired by my Mum’s Tuna Pate recipe, I decided to try a salmon version that incorporates Cucumber Dressing for a fresh and light flavor.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup Cucumber Dressing
1/4 cup cooked salmon
Freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 a lime
Salt and Pepper (optional)

RECIPE

Place the Cucumber Dressing, salmon and lime juice in a food processor and pulse until well combined.
Add salt and pepper to taste and then serve chilled.

The recipe makes an individual serving.

Bonus: This pate recipe also makes a great topping for a salad or atop a slice of Paleo Rosemary Bread.

Camilla Carboni

PALEO Cleanse made the Amazon Best Seller list!