Super Simple Slightly Spicy Shrimp Skewers

With my pregnancy, I've been SUPER lucky to not really have any morning sickness!  I've heard horror stories of friends who are sick every day... I guess this baby is just cooperating and taking it easy on me.  While I never actually felt sick, I did have a few food aversions.  The idea of protein just grossed me out.  I could only eat a few bites of chicken or a tiny little slice of steak.  This could really be a problem for someone who typically only eats protein and veggies!  Luckily, even when I was feeling sick, I could almost ALWAYS eat shrimp!  My local Whole Foods sells frozen wild caught key west shrimp.  I'm not really sure what a key west shrimp is, but it was the only frozen option that was wild caught. Each week, I would buy at least one huge bag of frozen shrimp, so that if I was feeling queasy, I could quickly thaw out and cook up a few shrimp.  This recipe is one of the most simple recipes ever!

Slightly Spicy Grilled Shrimp Skewers

*  1 lb of shrimp - preferably wild caught

* 6 cloves of garlic

* 2 tsp paprika

* 1 tsp chili powder

* 1 tsp red chili flakes

* 1 tsp cumin

* 2 tbs olive oil

Some people like to have shrimp with the tail on because it makes a nice little handle when you go to pick them up.  Curt, however, doesn't need or want an extra step between him and food, so I usually just take the tail off and devein the shrimp while I'm  at it. 

 Next, you just throw all of the ingredients in the bowl with the shrimp and mix it all up so that the shrimp have a nice coating.  I usually use my hands because, for me, that's the best way to make sure that everything is thoroughly mixed and that every little shrimp is covered in the flavor.

I let the shrimp marinate for a few hours.  I prepped this in the morning, then just let it sit through the whole day and grilled up the little suckers at night.  You probably don't need to marinate them very long at all since it's more of a dry marinade and would probably stick to the shrimp even if it was only for a few minutes.  

That night when I got home, I took the shrimp out of the fridge and started skewering the bad boys.  I'm sure that if you didn't feel like skewering and grilling, you could just bake them, or saute them in a little bit of fat over the stove.  Coconut oil or some butter would probably work just fine.  I like mine grilled though since it's summer... how many times throughout the year can you really enjoy grilling, right?!

So here are my little skewers all ready to go.  I turned on the grill and let it heat up a bit.  

This is the best part about grilling shrimp.... it only takes a few minutes to cook!  I let them sit for about 3 minutes on each side.  You just want to make sure that you keep an eye on them because overcooked shrimp are rubbery and dry!

So here they are! Yummy grilled shrimp!

I served them with some creamed spinach. Yes, I know that dairy isn't paleo, however, when you're preggers, full fat dairy from grass fed cows is great for the little one... so I've been loading up! If you don't do dairy, you can always find a billion other sides.... some cauliflower rice, sauteed spinach, or even a green salad would be great with these skewers.

I loved this dish.  It was super easy, it was fast, it was delicious, and it filled me up while providing me with some protein.  

Enjoy,

Jenn

Spinach and Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin

Summer is here!  I feel like this year has really flown by.  I'm definitely going to miss my students, but I'm also looking forward to some time to relax, enjoy being preggers, and getting the house prepared for a little one to take over!  With the increase in free time, I'm also looking forward to trying out some new recipes and experimenting.  I've never been a huge fan of pork because if it isn't done correctly, it can be really dry.  I've found that by stuffing it, though, you can add lots of flavor and keep it very tender!  Here's one experiment that went well:

Spinach and Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin  

* 1 boneless pork loin (3-5 lbs)

* 3/4 cup frozen chopped spinach

* 3/4 cup goat cheese (optional)

* 1 Tbs. dried oregano

* 1 tsp garlic powder

* 3 cloves garlic, minced

* 1/2 cup onion, diced

* 1 Tbs. butter/bacon fat

First, I wanted to start off by making the "stuffing." I used bacon grease as my fat to get the whole thing going.  I added in the onions and the garlic and sauteed them until they got nice and soft.  Then, I added in the spinach and let everything mix together.

While the "stuffing" was cooking, I butterflied the pork loin.  It wasn't too hard to do, but it allows you to really get an even layer of pork so it all cooks relatively evenly.  If you don't know how to do it,  Here's a video on how to butterfly a pork loin. 

So here's the pork loin after I butterflied it.  I also took a mallet and pounded it out a bit to make sure it as even as it could get.  I then sprinkled both sides with salt, pepper, and the garlic powder just to give it some flavor.

Next, I added the goat cheese.  Now, I know that cheese isn't paleo, however, I'm following Chris Kresser's The Healthy Baby Code and according to that, dairy is good :)  I just eat full fat, grass fed dairy.  If, however, you don't do well with dairy, then just skip this part.

Next, I put the spinach mixture layer right on top of the goat cheese.  It was starting to look good!

Very carefully, I rolled the pork loin up into a nice little oblong bundle.  After that, I tightly wrapped the whole thing in plastic wrap to help it keep its shape and let all the flavors meld together.  Also, I didn't have time to cook it that night, so I just let it sit overnight.   

 

The next night, I unwrapped the pork loin and tied it up. 

 

You probably don't need to do this step, but I did just because i didn't want to risk cooking the roast and have it all unravel, leaving a sloppy mess on the baking pan.

I had preheated the oven to 350, so when it was ready, I put the whole roast on a roasting pan.  You could probably just put it on a regular baking pan, but when you lift the roast up so the air can circulate underneath the roast, it cooks more evenly and you get a little color and crispness on the bottom too (which is something I like).

I baked it for about 45 minutes.  I wanted it to be cooked all the way through without being dry.

I let the whole thing rest for about 10 minutes so the juices would all redistribute.  Then, I took a nice, sharp knife (I just bought a great new set!! YAY!!!) and cut a few slices.

So here they are!  They looked so pretty and they tasted great too!  There was already a bit of spinach in them already, so I served them with some broccoli as a side.  The whole thing was yummy... it had flavor and wasn't dry.  It's definitely a keeper!  I also liked the technique because it kept everything tender and there are so many options!

Enjoy,

Jenn 

Paleo Triple Meat Meatloaf

So I've come to the realization that when little baby C comes, I'm probably not going to be able to stick with my Sunday routine of strolling around Whole Foods and farmers markets for hours (yes, I said hours - as sad as that is) figuring out what I'm going to cook for the week.  If I want to be supermom and continue making homemade meals, I'll have to be a bit smarter with my time.

With this in mind, I'm starting to use >gasp< grocery lists!  I figure out what I'm going to make, then write down the ingredients, then when I get to the grocery store, I just buy the things on that list! (Except the occasional splurge item for fun).  This past week, I rummaged through the freezer to see what I had... I found sweet Italian sausage and some ground beef.  I had made spaghetti squash with meat sauce last week, so I didn't want to do anything Italian... so... I decided to go all-American and make meatloaf!

Triple Meat Meatloaf

* 1 lb ground beef

* 1 lb Italian sausage

* 1 handful fresh parsley

* 4 cloves of garlic, minced

* 6 slices of bacon

* 1 yellow onion, diced

* 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce

* 1 egg

* 1 tbs mustard (I used stone ground)

* salt and pepper

First, I put the sausage and the ground beef in a bowl. I removed the casing from the sausage.  I used sweet Italian because that's what I had in the freezer, but use whatever you have!

 

Next, I just added in all the other ingredients, except the bacon.  I chopped the parsley up pretty finely.  I bought a huge bunch of it at the store, but saved the rest for other recipes.  If you still have extras, freeze them and save them for making chicken stock!

 

Next, I mixed everything by hand.  I'm sure you could use a spoon or fork or something if you're one of those people who doesn't like to touch raw meat.  Personally, I feel like I have a better sense of how well everything is combined if I can actually feel it.  Make sure everything is well combined, especially the egg.  The last thing you want when you bite into the meatloaf is one big bite of cooked egg!  Most meatloaves call for breadcrumbs soaked in milk or crumbled Ritz crackers or something like that.... the theory is that it keeps everything moist.  I find that it's completely unnecessary (and un-Paleo). 

Next, I formed the mixture into a "loaf."  It's kinda like playing with play doh.  You just keep patting and pushing at it until it is in the shape you like.  I formed it in a loaf and set it on a cooling rack, set inside a jelly roll pan.  Many people just throw the whole thing in a loaf pan, which is totally fine. I just wanted mine to cook all the way through and not sit in it's juices or become soggy.  Others may feel, though, that sitting in its juices will help add flavor... to each their own!

Next, I wrapped the whole stinkin thing in bacon... yup... bacon.  I've seen people do this before and I decided to do it because: I love the flavor of bacon and I had some. :)

So, after the whole thing is nicely wrapped, I just gave it one more pat down and threw it in the oven at 350. 

It didn't take too long to cook, relatively speaking.  It was in the oven for about an hour.  The bacon crisped up really nicely and also served as a little insulation to keep all of the yummy flavors in the meatloaf.  Like all meat, you want to let the meatloaf rest a bit so all of the juices don't run out. 

So here's the final product!  What is meatloaf without mashers?  Rather than mashed potatoes, I used mashed cauliflower.  It's super easy to make and tastes delicious!

 

I thought the meatloaf was very moist and flavorful.  I don't think anyone would notice the fact that there is no bread or anything in the meatloaf.  The only thing I think was missing was some ketchup!  I know, I know, ketchup isn't paleo, but having a tiny bit of ketchup every once in a while isn't the end of the world to me :) If you're truly a Paleo person, you could always make some Paleo ketchup on your own!

Enjoy,

Jenn

Rockin Roasted Red Peppers

Last week, I found a recipe for grilled garlic steaks with a yummy roasted red pepper sauce.  I have a new found appreciation and fondness for red peppers.  I never liked them, or any pepper for that matter.  Recently, however, I've started to like them.  I'll eat them raw with some dip, or chop them up in a salad.  I've also realized how delicious they are when they are roasted. Buying them in a pretty jar looks cute, however, they are surprisingly expensive!

I decided that paying $10 a jar was ridiculous... so I decided to make them myself. I'd worked at various restaurants for years, so I've seen the makings of many roasted red peppers.  Here we go:

Rockin Roasted Red Peppers

Ingredients

* Red peppers - I used 2, but use as many as you want :)

First, I turned the oven to 350.  I washed the red peppers and then dried them off.  Next, I just threw them in the oven.  You could also throw them on the grill or a gas stove if you wanted to. 

Keep an eye on the peppers because you don't want to forget about these babies in the oven.... that won't give us roasted red peppers, that would result in a charred, dry mess.  After a few minutes, you will see the skin of the pepper start to blister and turn dark brown.

As you keep an eye on the peppers, rotate them.  When one side is blistered, then flip it on the other side so that it can blister evenly. 

Keep rotating them again until each side is nice and blistered.  

Once the peppers come out of the oven, immediately put them in a plastic bag.  Seal the bag right away because you want these peppers to steam.

Leave them in the bag for at least 10-15 minutes.  This will steam them, making sure that the peppers turn nice and soft. 

When they come out, they will look somewhat deflated.  But this is good! Let them cool a bit so you can handle them. 

Now that they are cooled, you just peel them.  It's pretty easy to do.  The peel feels almost like paper and the pepper itself is really soft, so it just slides off easily. 

Just take your time and peel all of the skin off the pepper.  You don't want to leave the peel on because it won't taste good at all.... the texture will be off too.

Once they are peeled, just cut them in half so you can remove the stem and the seeds. 

So here you have these yummy roasted red peppers! It was super easy, cheap, and fast.  I used these babies to saute with onions and garlic, then I topped a nice steak with them - super yummy!  You can puree them with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar to make a roasted red pepper vinaigrette.  You could put them on a salad.  You could even chop them up and stuff them into a chicken breast with some feta and oregano. The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy,

 Jenn 

Roasted Pork - Pernil al Horno

As you may have noticed, I've been a bit MIA recently.  Life has been super busy! I was taking 2 night grad school classes on top of working full time as a teacher.  Sooo, between taking classes and teaching classes, I've been super busy.  On top of that, Curt and I have some exciting news!  Our little family of 3 (two plus pup) is growing!  In October, we'll be welcoming in a new little bundle of joy.  Needless to say, being pregnant in my first trimester did not make any of the above any easier!

Luckily, I haven't had any morning sickness, but I did have a lot of food aversions.  I would make a big meal and be excited about it, but when it came time to eat the food... I just couldn't stomach it.  I tried to stay as

 paleo as possible, but at the same time,  I needed to eat.  A lot of my meals consisted of white rice and potatoes.  The more bland the food, the better.  With the first trimester behind me, I'm starting to feel better and hopefully go back to paleo as much as possible.

Anyway, today being Easter, we had some friends from church over for a big lunch/dinner.  I love having friends over... the more the merrier.  I was trying to figure out what to make.  Being preggers... I'm not supposed to eat red meat unless it's well done- I don't know about you, but I like my steaks medium rare.... I'd rather not have it be well done and taste like a hockey puck... sooo... steaks and burgers were out.  I found a nice 5 lb pork shoulder roast at Whole Foods and decided to figure out a recipe for that.  It turned out to be delicious and perfect for a group!  Here's the version of:

Pernil al Horno

Pernil is a Puerto Rican roasted pork marinated with vinegar and herbs and slowly roasted until it is oozing with flavors! I found this recipe here and pretty much followed it with only a few minor changes - I know, I know... I almost never do that :)

 * 1 boneless pork shoulder roast (Boston Butt) with skin on - mine was 5 lbs

* 6 fresh garlic cloves minced

* 1 handful of fresh oregano

* 1 tbs of Kosher salt for every lb of meat

* 1 tbs freshly ground black pepper

* 3 tbs of olive oil

* 2 tbs white wine vinegar

First, I minced the fresh oregano and the garlic.  I'm sure you could probably use dried oregano, but I think fresh is so much better.  It was pretty simple.  Just chop up everything until it is really as small as possible and mix it up together and chop them together.

Next, I put oregano and garlic in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Here, you just mix it all up until it forms a sort of oily paste.

Next, you need to put the roast, fat side up, on a cutting board.  I scored the top of the meat so the marinade will reach further into the meat and really infuse the taste much better.  Scoring the fat also helps to make a crunchy crust on top.  Then, I rubbed the paste all over the pork.  Make sure you rub the marinade so it all gets into the cuts.  After that, I put the roast on a plate and wrapped it in plastic wrap.  It's supposed to marinade for at least 3 hours, but I marinated it overnight.

The next morning, I pulled the roast out and set it on a roasting rack over a baking sheet.  You have to wait 30 minutes while it comes to room temperature.  Because you want it to cook evenly, you don't want to put it in the oven cold.  While I waited, I went ahead and preheated the oven to 350.  Once it came to the right temperature, I threw it in the oven for 3 hours... yup... 3 hours!  If your roast is not exactly the same size, you can always use a meat thermometer to make sure it's cooked through to your liking.  Just make sure that the internal temperature is around 145.

It sounds like a long time, but it was definitely worth the wait!  While it was roasting, I could hear the sizzle of the juices dripping onto the baking sheet.  The whole house started smelling delicious!  The pernil came out looking amazing.  There was a nice crunchy crust on top.  Now here's the hard part.  Leave it alone for 10 minutes!  If you start cutting into it now, the juices will leak out everywhere and you'll lose a lot of moisture. 

After the agonizing 10 minutes, I started slicing the roast into nice slices.  I placed them on a serving platter so no one had to take the time to slice their own portion. 

The best part of the whole thing is that all of the yummy juices collected in the baking pan.  After the whole roast was sliced and nestled nicely on my serving tray, I poured all of the tasty juices over the pork slices.  This just added a bit of extra flavor and moisture.  Why waste it?!

Overall, this was a delicious meal!  It was very tasty and tender.  I was able to cut my slices with a butter knife.  Everyone seemed to like it too :)  I also have lots of leftovers, so I'm pretty excited about it.  The best part was that I was able to eat it... no food aversions... so our little baby peanut (that's what we call it) approves!

enjoy!

Jenn