Recipe Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges paleo diet-min

Recipe: Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges

Who doesn't love pork belly!? It’s such a juicy, flavoursome and indulgent cut of meat. In this recipe, however, the vegetables are the star of the show. The wedges are everything they should be; crisp on the outside, soft and gooey in the middle, and seasoned to perfection. The beauty of using three different root vegetables is the contrast in flavours you get – no two wedges are the same!

Recipe: Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1.25kg organic pork belly
  • 1 tbsp lard
  • Sea Salt
  • Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 swede
  • 4 medium parsnips
  • 2 tbsp ghee / coconut oil (melted)
  • Sea salt
  • Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 240C / 475F. Score the pork belly across the skin with a sharp knife, and then massage in the lard. Season well with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
  2. Place the meat skin side up in a large roasting dish. Place on the top shelf of the oven for 15 minutes, until the skin starts to bubble and is golden brown. At this point, lower the heat to 180C / 350F, and set the timer for an hour and a quarter.
  3. Peel the vegetables, and remove the core from the parsnips. Chop into wedges about 2cm thick – and don’t be afraid to leave jagged edges, as these will go lovely and crispy. Arrange them all in a roasting dish, and toss in the melted ghee / coconut oil. Season well with the salt, pepper and garlic powder, and transfer to the bottom shelf of the oven when there are 40 minutes left on the timer. Toss once or twice during the cooking time.
  4. When the time is up, remove the pork from the oven and leave to rest for 10 minutes. Carve the meat, and remove the wedges from the oven to serve alongside.

Recipe Roast Pork Belly with Garlic Root Vegetable Wedges paleo diet-min

Paleo birthday cake recipe no flour primal fruit cake

Paleo Birthday Cake

Who said you can't have birthday cake now you're eating paleo?




My Mum is very careful to avoid all grains and sugars, so was both delighted and horrified when I presented her with this cake for her birthday! I didn't own up to the contents until she cut into it – she hadn't been expecting to cut into a melon!

Paleo birthday cake recipe no flour primal fruit cake

Birthday Cake Ingredients:

  • A large watermelon
  • Double cream (use coconut cream if you don't do dairy)
  • Flaked almonds
  • Summer berries

Birthday Cake How To:

1) The key is in cutting the watermelon into a good shape. Cut the top and bottom off the melon (at the widest part). Cut the edge off carefully, making sure your cut is straight. There will be a lot of wastage in pursuing the perfect cake shape – so save it all for a fruit salad!

2) Whip up the cream (use coconut cream if you can't tolerate dairy) and spoon it onto the melon cake, arranging it to cover the whole cake.

3) Sprinkle the almond flakes onto the sides and top of the cake and decorate with fresh berries.

Paleo birthday cake recipe no flour primal fruit cake slice

You can also use other types of melon or pineapple – or even tier them to make a layered cake. Have you had a go at making a paleo birthday cake? I'd love to hear how you made yours!

Paleo-events-online-summits-conferences-psychology-of-eating-lectures-webinar-min

FREE Health Events This Week

Ever given much thought to the Psychology of Eating?

It’s time for a whole new understanding of our relationship with food, with this weeks free online Psychology of Eating event.

Obesity, overeating, body image concerns, emotional challenges with food, and diet-related health issues are with us more than ever. People have abundant access to nutrition facts and information, but need to search long and hard for true healing wisdom.

It’s time for an approach that honors all of who we are as eaters – body, mind, heart and soul. Get inspired by speakers from a variety of disciplines who have something unique and innovative to share.

2nd Annual Online Eating Psychology Conference

Some topics include:

  • A Deeper Dive into Body Image
  • Neuroscience and Personal Change
  • A Holistic Approach to Eating Disorders
  • The Healing Power of Embodiment
  • Mindfulness based approaches to overeating
  • Sexuality and the Psychology of Eating
  • New insights into Weight
  • Culture, emotional health and metabolism
  • Hormones, Eating and Inner Health
  • The Gut-Psychology Connection
  • Spirituality and Nutrition
  • The Hidden Politics of Food
  • New Approaches to Nutritional Health
  • And much more…

Dates: July 21 – 26
Price: FREE
Where: Online!
Find Out More Here: http://paleo.com.au/Eating-Psychology

Also…

Functional Health Summit Free Online Event

The Functional Health Summit is another free online event that has been running for the last few days – but there are still two days left.

In this event 39 leading experts in functional medicine, nutrition, exercise physiology, dentistry, immunology/allergy, psychiatry, mind-body medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and much, much more share their knowledge  in a way that you can understand and implement.

The Functional Health Summit Will Teach You–

  • Why weight loss is never a one size fits all approach
  • Why your gut status is the key to restoring health
  • How to prevent disease before it happens
  • How medications can cause Leaky Gut
  • The common myths the food industry helps perpetuate
  • Why using an environmental dentist is crucial to oral health
  • Why everything you thought you knew about exercise is wrong

The schedule for the last two days:

Tuesday July 22 – Foods and Eating

• Kathy Smart – Change What You Eat, Change Your Life
• Dr. Jonathan Tait – How Eating the Wrong Food Can Cause Arthritis and Chronic Pain
• Ymis Barroeta – The Future of Food: Clean Eating Without Toxins
• Dr. Russell Jaffe – Food and Chemicals: A Hidden Cause of Disease

Wednesday July 23 – Aging Well

• John Rowley – Power of positive fitness
• Dan Ritchie, PhD – Exercises to Improve Your Balance, Mobility and Agility at Any Age
• Dr. Jeffrey Moss – Sarcopenia: How Age-Related Muscle Loss Contributes to Chronic Health Issues
• Dr. John Brimhall – 6 Steps to Maintaining Wellness At Any Age

Dates: July 14 – 23
Price: FREE
Where: Online!
Find Out More Here: http://paleo.com.au/Functional-Health

So even if you can only spare half an hour this week, check out these two free events – you never know, it could change your life!

Cajun Kale Chips paleo recipe crisps-min

Recipe: Cajun Kale Chips

Kale chips have to be one of the easiest, tastiest, and most fun ways to eat copious amounts of this green superfood. They are really easy to make; they just require a little patience and delicate seasoning. They can be enjoyed sweet (I’ve made both cinnamon and chocolate kale chips, both of which were delicious!) and savoury, but in this recipe I’ve gone for a smoky, slightly spicy, Cajun seasoning. You're going to love my Cajun Kale Chips!

A quick note – If you’re using salt, sprinkle it on AFTER the kale chips are cooked. Otherwise, it will attract water to the kale and make them soggy. Also, don’t use olive oil, as the kale chips will have a bitter taste. Avocado and macadamia oils are both excellent choices.

Recipe: Cajun Kale Chips
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Snacks
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 4 bunches kale
  • 2 tbsp macadamia nut / avocado oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • Pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 160C / 300F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. Chop the kale. If you need to wash it, make sure it is COMPLETELY dry before you take any further steps. A bit of dirt never hurt anyone, so I skipped the washing stage.
  3. In a large bowl, toss the kale leaves in the oil. Mix the spices together, and massage them onto the kale.
  4. Place the kale onto the baking parchment, leaving space in between each soon to be chip. You may need to roast them in batches. Transfer to the top shelf of the oven, and bake for 20 minutes – do not open the oven at all in this time!
  5. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying.

Cajun Kale Chips paleo recipe crisps-min

Cucumber marigold pickle edible flowers recipe paleo-min

Recipe: Cucumber Marigold Pickle

Ever tried eating flowers? Not just any flowers of course, but so many are edible. I love marigolds in the garden, so thought I'd experiment with them in the kitchen. Turns out they have a bit of a citrus flavour, which went really well with the quick cucumber marigold pickle I made.

Recipe-Paleo-Diet-Cucumber-Marigold-Edible-Flowers-Pickle-Primal-680x450-min

Recipe: Cucumber Marigold Pickle
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces & Condiments
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • Half a cucumber
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • Petals of 1 marigold head, washed
  • ½ red onion, finely sliced
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • Splash extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
  1. Slice the cucumber and add the salt in a bowl, to draw the liquid out. Put the bowl in the fridge for an hour.
  2. Remove from the fridge and drain off all excess liquid.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients, stir to combine and serve in a jar. This is a great side to take along to a picnic or barbecue.

Have you cooked with edible flowers before? I'd love to hear what you made and which flowers you used in the comments below.

Paleo bliss bombs fat 4 ingredients recipe-min

Recipe: 4 Ingredient Paleo Bliss Bombs

I had a friend coming round yesterday and wanted to make a paleo treat – only problem was I didn't have many ingredients. I've made these paleo treats before, but have always used lots of different ingredients. These came out great – sometimes it's best to keep things simple!

Paleo bliss bombs fat 4 ingredients recipe-min

Recipe: 4 Ingredient Paleo Bliss Bombs
 
Author: 
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • Medjool dates (I used about 7)
  • Fresh strawberries (I used 5 as that was all I had!)
  • Almond meal (about 40g)
  • Shredded coconut (a handful)
Instructions
  1. Remove the stones from the dates and de-hull the strawberries.
  2. Put the dates and strawberries into a food processor or blender and whizz them until the form a paste. Add the almond meal and mix again.
  3. Remove the mixture and use your hands to roll into equal size balls.
  4. I rolled some in the shredded coconut and left some coconut-less.

If I'd had the ingredients, I would have put a raspberry or nut in the centre and perhaps mixed some cacao powder in with the mixture.

Do you have a recipe for something similar to these bliss bombs? What do you use in yours?

paleo-diet-bliss-bombs-recipe-min

40 essential paleo kitchen gadgets tools wishlist

40 essential paleo kitchen gadgets

Call yourself paleo? Not unless you use these essential gadgets you’re not…

1. A strawberry hull remover

You haven’t been doing this by hand have you?

40 essential paleo kitchen gadgets tools pointless useless funny

2. The egg cuber

Essential for packed lunches and picnics to ensure your eggs don't roll away.

3. Dedicated fruit and veg choppers…

I hope you aren't using a knife? Oh no, you need a dedicated chopping tool for each variety of fruit and vegetable you use. Introducing the banana and strawberry chopper

Banana-strawberry-chopper-paleo-gadgets 40 essential

4. A chop stir

You've not been wasting your time chopping and stirring separately have you?

5. The robo stir

Use a spoon you say?

6. The capsicum/ bell pepper preparer

Capsicum bell pepper deseeder paleo

Those seeds in the middle, you aren't meant to eat them you know… this gadget removes the seeds. But you do still need a knife to chop the pepper up. So that’s erm, worthwhile.

7. Herb scissors

How else are you supposed to cut herbs?

8. The flavour injector

Because a marinade is just too marinade-y

9. The lettuce karate chopper

lettuce karate chopper paleo gadget

Clearly a knife or bare hands is too damaging for lettuce. You need to use a dedicated plastic karate chopper instead.

10. A pineapple slicer

Another fruit you've been cutting up all wrong. You need a pineapple slicer.

11. Avocado slicer

Don't even think of using a knife when this is available

12. The banana saver

For all those times a whole banana is just too much

banana saver paleo gadget

13. The apple peeler/ corer

How else are you going to peel it?

14. The cherry pitter

You mustn't eat the stones you know

15. A mayonnaise knife

How have you been getting your paleo mayo out of the jar?

16. The omelette maker

Because using a pan is just too complex

17. Better bagger

To make sure your bags stay open and upright when you’re filling them. Just what every kitchen needs.

Better-bagger-paleo-gadget-40 essential 500

18. Finger spoons

Well cavemen didn't have proper cutlery did they?

19. Microwave bacon tool

Because microwaved bacon just doesn't compare to oven cooked bacon

20. The garlic peeler

There is no other way

21. Egg slicer

For when you don't want to eat a whole egg

22. Kiwi scoop

Looks remarkably similar to that other device. What’s is called… oh yes – a spoon.

23. The butter warmer

Cold butter, urgh.

24. Pickle picker

How else are you going to get pickles out?

25. Asparagus peeler

Asparagus. Peel it.

26. Nutmeg slicer

What do you mean, you haven't been slicing your nutmegs in a dedicated slicer?

27. Garlic roaster

Yep

28. Melon deseeder

You've got to get those seeds out properly.

29. Left handed wooden spatula

Essential for the left hander in your household.

left handed wooden spatula paleo gadget

30. Olive spoon

Well, if you're going to eat olives, you're going to need to get hold of them.

31. Self stirring mug

For your bullet proof coffee fix.

32. Towel-matic

Because it would be unhygenic to use your HANDS to tear off some paper towel.

33. Mango splitter

Surely everyone has one of these?

34. The mushroom brush

You've got to get the mud off somehow.

35. Grapefruit segmenter

It's of vital importance to make sure your grapefruit is in equal sized segments.

36. Egg cracker

You know some of those recipes that ask for an egg? Well that means minus the shell, hence the need for this nifty gadget.

37. Tomato slicing tongs

Like a bit of tomato in your salad, but don't want tomato hands?

38. Tomato slicer

Probably a good idea to have a back up tomato slicing option too.

39. Onion goggles

There's no excuse for tears when cutting onions.

Onion goggles paleo essential gadget no tears

40. Egg scrambler

Every wondered how to make scrambled eggs? Wonder no more!

Do you have any of these super handy gadgets in your paleo kitchen? I'd love to hear which other tools you have hiding in your kitchen cupboards!

Quail’s Eggs, Bacon and Crispy Asparagus paleo recipe breakfast idea-min

Recipe: Quail’s Eggs, Bacon and Crispy Asparagus

I never thought it would be possible, but sometimes I do get bored of ‘plain’ eggs and bacon for breakfast. A great way to break out of egg monotony is to vary your egg source – duck, goose, bantam and even ostrich eggs are all delicious, but my personal favourite is Quail’s Eggs. They have long been paired with asparagus, and this classic combination gets a twist with some bacon and finely chopped chives and spring onion. A low carb, nutrient dense and delicious start to the day!

Due to their size, it’s a tough job getting Quail’s Eggs just right. Boil them for just two minutes – no longer, before dousing in cold water so they don’t cook any further.

4.0 from 1 reviews
Recipe: Quail’s Eggs, Bacon and Crispy Asparagus
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 tsp organic butter, ghee, or coconut oil
  • 4 spears asparagus
  • 4 organic quails eggs
  • 2 rashers organic bacon
  • 1 tsp fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
Instructions
  1. Heat your chosen fat in a frying pan to a medium heat. Add the asparagus and cook for around 10 minutes – until really golden and crispy. Turn often.
  2. Add the bacon to the pan, and continue to fry for another 3 or 4 minutes with the asparagus, turning once.
  3. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Dunk the quails eggs in, and set the timer for two minutes exactly. As soon as the time is up, drain them and pour in cold water.
  4. Serve the bacon on a plate alongside the asparagus. Peel the quails eggs and chop them in half, and place them on top of the asparagus so the tips soak up the yolks. Garnish with the chives and spring onions.

 

Quail’s Eggs, Bacon and Crispy Asparagus paleo recipe breakfast idea-min

Paleo diet aldi shopping list-min

My Aldi paleo shopping list

I have a confession… I don’t grow all of my own food or shop exclusively from farmers markets, organic butchers and fishmongers. With a long commute and long hours, I often just don’t have the time to source my food in the way I’d like. Believe it or not, I've found Aldi can be a fairly good place to buy Paleo friendly food. Whilst it’s clearly not the same as knowing the farm(er) your food came from, I think it can be a good compromise. It also tends to be far cheaper than my other local supermarket options (i.e. Coles and Woolworths).

I thought I’d share with you my Aldi paleo picks…

Meat & Poultry

Aldi sell “Highland Park” beef – it’s grass-fed! We like grass-fed! As you know, I don’t buy mince/ ground beef, but I have tried the Highland Park Steaks ($17.99 – $25.99/kg depending on the cut)

They also stock Willowton free range chicken  (thighs, breast and drumsticks)

Butter

Butter is another good buy (but is it paleo?) as Aldi have an organic butter for under $3 a pack

Aldi organic salted butter paleo

Nuts

Nuts are another staple that I use just for a snack, in a no-oatmeal or occasionally for a bit of paleo baking. I've seen the Forresters brand of natural almonds and also raw walnuts in my local Aldi.

Eggs

I've not actually tried Aldi’s eggs yet, but they do sell free range eggs.

Oil

Whilst I've never seen coconut oil in Aldi, they do have an Australian olive oil that seems quite good for just under $5.

Aldi Australian organic olive oil paleo

Berries

My final paleo in a pinch purchase at Aldi is frozen berries (Sweet Haven brand), which are handy to keep in the freezer for smoothies or even a quick ice cream.

Have you tried any paleo friendly foods from Aldi? What did you think?

Paleo diet aldi shopping list-min

Paleo recipe Perfect Oxtail Veggie One Pot-min

Recipe: Perfect Oxtail and Veggie One Pot

Whether you call it a stew, a casserole, or a one pot – nothing beats a big, steaming bowl of tender meat, juicy veggies and rich gravy. Oxtail is a cheap and highly nutritious cut, and is perfect for stewing. However, the key to this recipe is the umami rich flavours that just dance on your palate, making this one pot one of the best tasting (and best value) recipes you’ll make in a long time.




Recipe: Perfect Oxtail and Veggie One Pot
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1.5kg oxtail, diced
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 tsp allspice
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil or lard
  • 2 white onions, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 beef tomatoes, diced
  • 4 bay leaves
  • A few sprigs fresh thyme
  • A few sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
  • ½ litre homemade (or organic) beef stock
  • 4 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 4 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 6 large carrots, diced
  • 1 large cauliflower, chopped into florets
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot starch (optional)
Instructions
  1. Rub the oxtail with a generous amount of salt and pepper, and the allspice. Heat the coconut oil (or lard) in your largest stock pot, and cook the oxtail for about 10 minutes until browned all over. Remove for the heat but retain the meat juices.
  2. Add the diced onions to the pan, and cook gently for 5 minutes in the meat juices before adding the garlic and cooking for another 2. Throw in the tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and the cinnamon stick, before pouring in the chopped tomatoes and beef stock. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil.
  3. When the liquid is simmering, return the oxtail to the pot. Stir in the coconut aminos and red wine vinegar, before turning the heat down to low and covering the pot. Simmer gently for around 3 hours.
  4. Add the carrots and cauliflower to the pot before popping the lid back on and cooking for another 30 minutes. 10 minutes before serving, stir in the arrowroot (if using) to thicken the gravy.

Paleo recipe Perfect Oxtail Veggie One Pot-min