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But you have to keep on trying, right?

So, I keep hearing about how amazing liver is for you. I have to admit, I’ve never had it before, but really wanted to try it. I love the idea of my kids getting all of those super nutrients in their bodies! So, I thought what better way to try it than to fry it. I used lots of almond flour and LOTS of butter (Kerrygold).

Anything is good fried, right? Apparently not. My brave little girl would completely disagree with you. And I have to admit, I tried it too….I almost gagged. BUT, now we know, no more liver for us, ever ever ever again.

There have been so many recipes that I have made that just aren’t perfect (most aren’t). But only with trial and error, will you (1), learn how to make things just the way you like them and (2), learn what you (and your family) does, and does not like. Liver could have been a new family staple for all we know. Turns out it’s not, but now we know. We just have to keep on trying…

By the way, this was post shower for Alice. We’re not really that earthy.

As much coconut as we eat, I thought it would be fun for the kids to see the source of where we get it. Easier said than done. Thanks Scott.

Anyway, as you might have read, we like to use it a lot whether it be coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut water or shredded coconut. I just don’t think you can use it enough. And for those who have asked, when cooking or frying with it, it’s a very mild taste. I promise it’s not like you’re eating a bottle of Panama Jack Suntan lotion.

There are just so many benefits, I had to really narrow down the list. They can:

  • Help protect against heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and many other degenerative diseases
  • Strengthen the immune system
  • Promote weight loss
  • Improves digestion
  • Kills bacteria, yeast and is an anti-fungal 
  • Boosts energy and endurance
  • Supports thyroid function and increase metabolism
  • And it keeps you feeling full since it high in saturated fat which is actually very good for you, contrary to popular old fashion beliefs (more to come on that)

Bruce Fife has a great book that I’ve enjoyed called The Miracle of Coconut Oil.  Can you believe I read a book on just coconuts? Anyway it was surprisingly interesting. Here are a few articles if you’d like even more information:

Article 1

Article 2

Yum! They loved it but honestly I think they liked the experience more. They did say, “okay mom, so now what are we going to cook!” I love the “we” in that.

It’s been kind of a gray, cool and misty sort of day here in Atlanta and I have to say, I love it! Anyway, it really put me in the mood for some good comfort food. My first thought…Elana’s cookies! Then I rethought and figured I better focus on dinner.

So for dinner I decide on meatloaf and the cauliflower mash (under my ”Good ole southern meal” post). The meatloaf leftovers make for a great snack too! Anyway, I got this recipe (with some minor adjustments) from Sarah Fragoso’s Everyday Paleo blog. I love her book and blog. She’s an inspiration raising her kids totally Paleo and getting them so involved in the process!

Meatloaf

  • 1 diced red onion
  • 2 lbs of grass fed ground beef
  • 1 cup almond meal (it’s great without too for those with allergies)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1 small can tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp crushed garlic
  • 1/2 tbsp Celtic sea salt
  • 2 tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp marjoram
  • cracked black pepper to taste
  • 5-6 bacon strips

Mix all ingredients by hand in a large mixing bowl. Place meat mixture into a large glass baking pan and flatten it out. Add some of the tomato sauce to form a thin layer on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until meat is no longer pink in the middle. Sometimes I’ll add some bacon strips on top if I have it on hand. If you do, for the last 5 minutes, turn the stove on broil to crisp the bacon up some.

Oh and I didn’t take a picture of the meatloaf because, well, meatloaf is just plain ugly anyway you look at it. But it sure tastes DELICIOUS!

 

So these are just a few of my Trader Joe favorites that you’ve probably heard me talk about already, but hopefully the pictures will make it easier to remember them or spot them when you’re in the store.

The coconut milk is great for smoothies, soups (love curry coconut shrimp soup, will share that one at another time), or even in baking like the Almond Joy Bars. They’re $1 can and only have coconut milk and water in them. ALWAYS read your ingredients no matter what you’re buying. You’ll be surprised how often they add sugar, corn starch, corn syrup or some other nasty and unnecessary ingredients. 

The 73% cacao chocolate covered almonds taste wonderful and good for you. Need I say more?

The roasted and salted seaweed. Some may say it’s an acquired taste. My husband likes to joke that it’s the Japanese in me that likes these. But I really do think they taste great, and my kids agree! I’ll sometimes wrap the seaweed around a bite of cold turkey burger or with some no nitrate deli meat. And now we’ve now got our neighbors hooked on this stuff…so apparently you don’t have to be Japanese to enjoy it. 🙂

UDI’s gluten free bread. This is the best, most satisfying gluten free bread (especially if you toast it) I’ve found for the kids. To be honest, I’d rather they not eat bread ever but for the few times they do want it with some almond butter, I’ll reach for this.

The almond meal is great for the “fried” chicken or fish recipe. It sticks to the protein the best. I also use it for cooking muffins and cookies, but tend to prefer the Honeyville Blanched Almond Flour since it’s more of a real flour consistency. 

The almond butter is delicious and inexpensive compared to the other nut butters out there. It also makes wonderful brownies

And last in this group, the individual nut packs. My son and husband eat these all the time. They’re a healthy and yummy snack, and they’re convenient too. I love the fact that they’re prepackaged so I don’t sit there and eat 600 calories of almonds in one sitting. The individual packs include raw almonds (my favorite), a raw trail mix, and “Just a handful of almonds, cashews, & cranberries” which is my son’s favorite. Also, I think they’re nuts overall are the most reasonable, and with no added oils, when comparing to Publix or Whole Foods.

The meats. So I didn’t pictures of the ground turkey, or free range organic chicken or any of the other meats since you can probably guess what they look like. But, their chicken sausage (and they have many) is my favorite and I use it often. Maybe too often. In fact, I put it in my spinach salad almost every day. I take it out of the casing, cook it up, dump it on spinach and add lemon juice, a dash of apple cider vinegar, tbls flax oil, and 1 tbls of roasted flax seeds, just like the steamed brussel sprout recipe (from yesterday’s post). It is also great in fritattas or eggs with spinach and guacamole for a quick meal, or in soups. I especially love it in my butternut squash soup.

The nitrate free bacon is great too for breakfast or on a bacon tomato turkey lettuce wrap, or even with a spinach salads with goat feta, some crushed up almonds and apple.

I think that is it for now on the Trader Joe’s stuff but I’d love to hear comments from you if you have something you love at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. It’s all about what you discover at these wonderful little places so please feel free to share in the comments section! 

I love Trader Joe’s! They make it so easy! The veggies, the meats, nuts, you name it… And, their prices are mostly reasonable. My weekly shopping list tends to be a lot of the same stuff. As you are starting to learn, I love roasted veggies. In fact, I roast something just about every single day. Typically that includes, okra, eggplant, kale or some precut, prewashed, prepackaged veggies like sweet potatos, brocolli, or brussel sprouts. The sweet potatoes are probably one of my favorite veggies but I try to limit my tubers as they can increase insulin levels and sometimes cravings. But, if I’ve got a long run or ride ahead of me, I will almost always eat these before I heading out.

Here’s how to roast them:

  • Preheat oven to 450
  • Spray cookie sheet
  • Place sweet potatoes flat on tray. Spray again with coconut oil spray
  • Cook 25 min., stiring once or twice so all sides cook 
  • Add Celtic sea salt and cinnamon. For picky eaters, add a little stevia.

If you want them cripsy, cook them for 20 minutes, turn off the stove and leave them there for about 50 minutes. They will end up similar texture to freeze dried fruit. On a day when you’re craving carbs and something crunchy, this hits the spot. Check on them periodically though to make sure they aren’t burning. 

Brussel Sprout for lunch

Now these brussel sprouts aren’t roasted but they are so easy to make thanks to TJs. Here’s how to make this yummy and filling meal:

  • Put bag of brussel sprouts in the microwave for 3 1/2 minutes
  • Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Careful not to burn yourself opening the bag
  • Cut brussel sprouts in half length-wise
  • Cook Trader Joe’s Vegetable Chicken Sausage (take out of casing)
  • Add sausage, roasted flax seeds (you could use sunflower or other seeds), about 1 tbls EVOO, some lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and/or apple cider vinegar, and some avocado. I didn’t have any but adding avocado or guacamole makes this especially good!