This is Primal - Chicken Salad

Another simple primal dinner.   A hectic day and a hungry family meant my time was short.  This type of salad is great for days that you're out of time or just don't want to "cook".  The ingredients can be whatever your family likes.  I used what I liked and the kids modified theirs to their tastes.   Chicken salad on romaine lettuce with tomato, avocado, and black olives.  Buttercup used tuna for her salad...the possibilities are endless. 
Quick, easy, delicious and primal. 

Canned meat with mayonnaise*
Lettuce
Tomato
Avocado
Black Olives
Salt and Pepper

*  One caveat...to be truly primal, you shouldn't use store-bought mayonnaise.  Store-bought mayonnaise has soybean oil which is not a "good" fat.  For me, I am using up our old mayonnaise before I a) find "good" mayonnaise or b) learn to make my own.  Store-bought mayonnaise falls into my "not perfect" category and I deal with it.

This is Primal - Eggs Over Easy with Bacon and Spinach

People always ask me, "But what do you eat?"

The answer?  I eat more and better than I've ever eaten before.  I have no food guilt...I never feel deprived.  Grains are just off the menu, so there is no "choice" to be made.  If you don't have it available, you can't make a choice that goes against your goals, right?

This morning we had eggs (over easy) cooked in the bacon fat from the Fletcher's bacon.  I threw a handful of spinach on the griddle, too, and sauteed it in the bacon fat, too.  Quick, easy, and terrific.

This is primal.

This is Primal - Kiwi-Banana-Strawberry-Spinach Smoothie

A few of you have asked me for smoothie recipes and I've been stumped.  I don't follow recipes for my smoothies.  I use a few fruits, some spinach (or other greens), some coconut milk or water, some protein powder, and ice.  It can't be simpler.  (Looks like a strawberry milkshake, doesn't it?)

Today's smoothie had the following:

1 Handful of Baby Spinach
1 Kiwi (not peeled--peel yours if you're using a regular blender)
6 Strawberries
1 Ripe Banana
A couple scoops of protein powder (I use Vanilla Muscle Milk from Costco)*
1/2 cup of coconut milk**
Ice cubes

I threw them all together in the Blendtec (thanks again, Superman, for letting me buy it!) and, ta da, a primal smoothie sweet enough for the kids, but full of natural goodness for me.

A few thoughts...I use fresh fruit when I have it, frozen fruit when I don't.  I mix fruits to get the flavor I like and to keep things from getting boring.  Sometimes I put in so much spinach that my smoothie turns greenish and looks more like pond scum than food.  Tastes great, though, so don't be afraid to try it yourself.

*I'm trying to make certain I get protein in ever meal, so for me, the protein powder is a must...if you're just trying to come up with healthier snacks, feels free to leave it out.

**Any liquid will do, but coconut milk helps you get plenty of the "good" fats that we all need.  It is all about the ratio of Omega-3s to Omega-6s, but don't expect me to explain the details to you.  Just know that you must have good fats to keep yourself healthy (and to keep your weight in line!)

Food for Thought

"Strength does not come from winning
Your struggles develop your strength.
When you go through hardship
and decide not to surrender,

that is strength."

Lest you think we're only about food here...

...we also deal with water damage (or "Guess who's getting new carpet?).

Last August, this room was the site of a surprise tea party hosted by my children.
 

Fast forward to day before yesterday and it is a different scene.

The water from a blocked egress drain outside the door came into the room...9 feet!  Lucy's enjoying exploring the newly exposed concrete.

It wasn't just water, either...it brought mud.  There was no salvaging the carpet, so Valiant and I got to work ripping up carpet and pad.  That darkened concrete?  Water!! (Discovering that some places had no pad!!)

I really wasn't looking to get new carpet right now, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy picking it out!

This is Primal - Mushroom and Swiss Cheese Omelet

Another simple meal brought to you by primal eating...the omelet.

I just bought some cast iron frying pans because I refuse to use non-stick pans if I don't have to (our electric griddle is non-stick...sigh) and I decided to test the legendary non-stick reputation of cast iron.  I must confess, I wasn't disappointed.

A simple omelet is one of the easiest meals you can make...simple mix up some eggs, throw on some of your favorites extras and serve.  I made this omelet for myself, but Valiant had bacon and cheddar.  (More manly, or something.)

Look at that buttery goodness...sauteed mushrooms are so amazing, aren't they?  There you have it, another easy primal meal.

This is Primal - Steak and Broccoli

Valiant is becoming quite the "King of the Barbecue" since we've gone primal.  Last night's dinner was definitely the result of his ever-improving technique.

Steak, perfectly done, paired with steamed broccoli smothered in butter and melted cheese.  Perfect.

Again, an easy primal meal.  Are you starting to see what I'm talking about?  This is totally doable!

This is Primal - Giant Salad

We went to a Memorial Day potluck barbecue on Sunday.  Don't you love potluck?  Not only does it allow you to contribute to the festivities, but by bringing something, you can be sure there is something you like!

Lots of you have been wondering what eating primal looks like, so I've decided to share with you what we eat...even without specific recipes...to show you just how easy it actually is (once you get the hang of it).

This amazing salad is primal.  Heart of Romaine, hard-boiled egg, black olives, avocado, bacon bits, tomato, and sunflower seeds.  Doesn't that look amazing.  Just make sure you don't add a salad dressing with bad oils (olive oil and balsamic vinegar is perfect) and you have an amazing primal meal.

Told you it was easy!