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Recipe: Shrimp Scampi [Paleo]

I was never a huge fan of shrimp. I would only eat when I had hibachi. My husband tried to get me to eat or make it ALL the time and I would constantly tell him no, because I don’t eat shrimp. Meanwhile I hadn’t had it since I was like 11 and I just resigned to the fact that I didn’t eat shrimp because I didn’t really eat when I was 11. I’m so mature. Little by little I would try it every now and then, and one day I realized, I actually like this. So needless to say I try to cook with shrimp more often because I know Matt really likes it, and I’ll actually eat it.

I had been making the Barefoot Contessa’s shrimp scampi for a while until we started this Paleo diet. It has twice the amount of butter that this recipe has, I think heavy cream… and pasta. Yikes! This is the Paleo recipe. I promise it’s just as yummy as ‘regular’ shrimp scampi! It has to be, because I’m kind of a shrimp snob now. Here’s all you need:

DSC_34272 T coconut oil
2 pounds shrimp | Peeled & Deveined [2 lb. serves 4 people]
3 T butter (or ghee)
4 cloves garlic | minced
2 T fresh lemon juice
2 T fresh parsley | chopped
A pinch of cayenne pepper (you can add more to taste)
Sea Salt & fresh black pepper

I threw this over sautéed kale instead of pasta. And I know what you’re thinking… sautéed kale… again?! I swear I make more than just kale! haha but I thought since we added lemon juice to the kale it would compliment the shrimp well, and IT DID! So hush. If you want the recipe for my sautéed kale go here.

Step 1: Heat the coconut oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp all the way through until they turn pink. [about 2-3 minutes, give or take]
Step 2: Spoon out the shrimp with a slotted spoon and set them aside. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add one tablespoon butter until melted then add the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Remove the skillet from heat. Add lemon juice, chopped parsley, remaining butter, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
Step 4: Return the shrimp to the pan, combine with the rest of the ingredients.
Step 5: Serve over the side of your choice.

And that’s it! It’s pretty easy. I’d say the most difficult part is making sure the shrimp is cooked all the way through and not overcooked. But this is a really delicious recipe. My husband added a sprinkle of parmesan cheese to his shrimp and it was really good, ha. Not paleo, but whatever. Hope you guys like it! Until next time, kisses!

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Recipe: “Spaghetti” with sautéed Kale.

This recipe was actually a little frightening to me. I have never experimented with spaghetti squash before, but my sister-in-law makes ‘spaghetti’ with it ALL the time. I figured it was time to step out of my comfort zone. And come to find out, that was the easy part. The sauce was what was intimidating!

IMG_2940In the above picture we made it with the Bolognese sauce it called for in the recipe, but if I were to make it again I’d probably just toss my own sauce over it because it’s pretty much paleo and this was a pain in the ass, HA. Ok so instructions for both (spaghetti and sautéed kale) are as follows:

Spaghetti Squash:
All you need is literally…. the squash. One large squash was exactly enough for my husband and me. If you’re cooking for 3 or 4 people I’d buy two, and so on. 

Step one: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step two: Cut the squash in half lengthwise.
Step three: Remove the seeds from the middle, much like you would do to a pumpkin.
Step four: Place the halves cut side down on a baking sheet. Cook for 28-35 minutes.
Make sure to check the squash at the 28 minute mark. If it overcooks it’ll become mushy and you won’t get the ‘spaghetti’ effect you’re going for. Scrape it with a fork and it should shred. If it scrapes easily you know it’s ready.
Step five: When the squash is completely cooked, scrape the halves with a fork. They will end up looking like little piles of angel hair pasta, pretty much. Pour your favorite (paleo or healthy!) sauce over the squash strands and you’re all set!

 

Sautéed  Kale
What you need: 1-2 bunches fresh kale. (1 bunch was enough for 2 people.)
1-2 cloves garlic – minced.
Juice from 1 lemon.
1-2 tablespoons coconut oil.

Step one: rinse and trim kale. Make sure to cut off JUST the leaves! If you get a piece of the stem when you’re taking a big bite it will taste really, really bitter and gross. Chop leaves into bite size pieces – they sauté faster.
Step two: Melt the 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a large non-stick frying or sauté pan and add garlic. Cook garlic for about 30 seconds then add half the fresh kale. Cook, stirring constantly, for about a minute, then add the rest of kale.
Step three: Let everything cook down for about 10 minutes. Make sure to keep stirring so garlic doesn’t burn.
Step four: When kale has finished cooking, spoon onto a plate and cover with a little lemon juice.

You can add salt and pepper to taste for any of these dishes, but I’m trying to stay away from using TOO much salt. If you’re going to add some, make sure to use SEA SALT. 🙂 ALSO my husband LOVED the lemon juice on the kale but it’s easy to overdo it. If you’re only cooking one bunch of kale, squeeze just half the lemon. 

And there you go friends! That is one of my healthy dinner recipes. Give it a try tonight, I promise it’s super yummy and you won’t even realize you’re not gorging yourself on carbs!

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Week One: The Paleo Kickoff

So here’s my recap for the first week of my Paleo diet. In the first week I lost 3 pounds. I weighed in at (I can’t believe I’m actually to admit my weight and even go as far as to post pictures on here…. kill me) 117.6 pounds on day 1. YIKES! Believe it or not… my lowest weight throughout college was always between 116 and 118… so being 117 after having a baby was actually nice for me, ha. BUT like I said… my body was (and still is, really) absurdly flabby in all the wrong places. It is actually like my body is slowly melting. WHICH is the whole reason I started this silly diet in the first place… to lose weight and tone up. SUMMER IS COMING PEOPLE!

What I like most about the Paleo diet is, it’s healthy! You are not depriving yourself of anything that’s good for you, ha. And it’s not like juicing, where the second you stop you gain back like all of the weight. They have really delicious recipes and even paleo desserts that won’t make you feel guilty after eating them! And apparently bacon is paleo… so, I mean… there is a god.

Ok, so here we go. Brace yourself. And please don’t judge me haha!

rach dietLeft: starting weight. 117.6 pounds. Right: (exactly one week later) 114.6 pounds.

Side note… spray tans are magical, aren’t they?

Here’s the first item on your paleo diet list: (complete with pictures! you’re welcome).

Appetizer: Peaches and Basil wrapped and ‘fried’ in bacon.

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This one is SO easy! All you need is coconut oil, bacon, peaches, and fresh basil and a frying pan.

2 peaches – cut up into slices
6 – 10 slices bacon (depending on how many you want to make)
6 – 10 pieces fresh basil
1 tablespoon coconut oil.

step one: slice up peaches and tear large leaves of basil.
step two: on a large piece of wax paper or a cutting board, place the slices of bacon. At one end place the basil and slice of peach. Start rolling. 
step three: melt one tablespoon coconut oil in a nonstick frying pan.
step four: place the bacon and peach wrap in the frying pan and ‘fry’ until the bacon is crisp and fully cooked, turning once. 

helpful tip* use tongs to handle the bacon so they don’t unwrap while you try to turn them or take them out of the pan. :]

and voila! you’re done. that’s seriously how easy this appetizer is. You can sprinkle with a little balsamic glaze or vinegar to top it off. It’s really delicious! Who knew bacon was paleo? I certainly didn’t but I’m ecstatic that it is! haha.

Tomorrow I’ll try to post another recipe for you guys, hopefully a main course one. Hope you guys enjoy it! Until next time, kisses!

 

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Introducing the Diet Diaries!

As we all know I have a 9 month old daughter. Since having her, I’ve lost a few pounds here and there, but nothing significant. Actually… I got down to my pre-baby weight relatively quickly BUT my body was, obviously, not the same. And not just not the same, like, nowhere NEAR what it used to look like in my previous life, hah! I really wasn’t super motivated to go to the gym or work out, even though I have a great friend Kelsey who motivates me to do a class with her from time to time. I have never, ever, ever in my life been a diet person. I just have no will power. Can’t do it. However, I woke up one day, looked at myself in the mirror, gagged a little bit, and realized summer is only a few months away. My husband and I belong to a beach club close to our house and the thought of being in front of anyone in a bathing suit makes me want to crawl in a hole and die. SO I decided it’s high time I start losing the rest of this baby weight. Time to get motivated.

A few years back my husband and I did the Paleo diet while we were doing Crossfit. I used to be terrified of cooking… I absolutely hated it. So this diet really sucked for us, hah. It’s all fresh food and clean eating, it’s also called the ‘Caveman Diet’ basically eating only things that cavemen would have eaten, but I’ll get into all that later. So I was really bad at the Paleo diet because I hated cooking and it’s ALL cooking, ALL the time. Now I love to cook… it’s weird, but all of the sudden I enjoy it. We bought this enormous Paleo cookbook last time so I dug it out and realized they actually plan out your meals for the week up to like 8 weeks or something.. maybe even more. So I’m like ok, they plan this out for me literally step by step, there’s no reason not to do it. So I literally sat down, picked out all of my meals and sides and snacks for the week, went to the grocery store and bought myself and my husbands a week’s worth of some healthy ass shit. Excuse my French. Long story short (not really, sorry) we have been on this diet now since Tuesday the 5th, I’ve lost 6 pounds and Matt’s lost 8. We do one week strict, strict Paleo and have one cheat day. Then the next week we do a looser paleo (I MAY have a little cheese and here and there, shh, don’t tell anyone), and again, have a cheat day. Then the next week (this week) we’ll be strict again. So the point of this whole post is that I am going to basically document my weight loss and how I’ve been doing it. There are some really amazing recipes that I want to post too. (I’ve been taking pictures of almost everything I make, cause I’m weird like that). So I’ll post a menu for the day and maybe that way you guys can try out some healthy meals too! It’s been pretty fantastic and I feel really great about myself, I sleep better, have more energy during the day, and it’s been fun to cook and try new things too!

Tomorrow I’m going to post the first week’s pictures with a few menu items from the week. I’m taking a set of pictures every week, mostly to keep track for myself but whatever.  That’s what’s coming your way to stay tuned!

Anyway, since it is Monday I wanted to share with you an adorable video of my babe, Charlotte. She has this little trick that she’d been doing since she was like two months old and lately she does it all the time. And more recently she’s added me to the trick, so I had to video tape it. Hopefully it brightens up your Monday a little bit. 😀 Until next time, kisses!