Lamb/Beef

Italian Marinated Steak, Gluten Free, Low FodMap, AIP Paleo

Grilling season is here, and this marinated steak is a great way to kick off the season. A marinade tenderizes your steak and adds a ton of flavor and can be used for any cut. I have made this with flat irons and filet mignon. Both were delicious!

For meal prep, I like to grill double the steak we will need for dinner and use the leftover steak to thinly slice for a main dish salad and lunches the next day.

Italian Steak Marinade

As always, garlic infused olive oil is incredible and I always have it on hand. If you are eating low fodmap, this is crucial for getting that wonderful garlic flavor in all your recipes!

This marinade has a delicious blend of dried chives, rosemary and oregano in it. The black pepper is optional and should be omitted if you are on an AIP protocol currently. The acid used in the marinade is red wine vinegar for the zing! Rosemary is great to use when grilling, because it helps block HCA’s – carcinogens from grilling and cooking at high temperatures.

Make sure you give the steak time to marinade. I like at least four hours. You can do eight and even overnight.

Italian Marinated Steak

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds of steak. This is approximately 4 flat irons or 2 Filet Mignons. But use your favorite or budget friendly cut!

For the marinade:

2 Tablespoons of Garlic infused Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Red Wine Vinegar

1 Tablespoon of Dried Chives

2 Teaspoons of Crushed Rosemary

1 Teaspoon of Oregano

1 Teaspoon of Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Black Pepper (Omit if following AIP)

Directions: Whisk together the marinade ingredients. Place the steak in a shallow glass dish, pour the marinade over the steak, and coat completely. Cover and place your marinating steak into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to overnight, flipping once.

When you are ready to grill, remove the steak from the marinade and put them on a platter for 30 minutes before grilling.

Steak is a great source of B12 vitamins, and leftover steak is wonderful for topping a lunch salad with the next day.

Beef Liver Pate

Is liver my favorite? No. But the benefits of grass fed liver cannot be ignored, and my favorite way to eat it is a pate, which is quite delicious. Those who try it unknowingly, for instance on a platter of cheese, crackers and dips, have been known to say “Mmmm! What is this?” Yes, it’s perfectly true!

I remember a similar experience with squash substituted for pumpkin in pie. When I was a child, we would play with our neighbors outdoors almost daily all Summer long. One of my friends swore up and down that he thought squash was disgusting and never to be touched with a ten foot pole! Until one day he tried My Mother’s “pumpkin” pie which she had made with winter squash from our garden. He said “Man, this is the best pumpkin pie I have ever had!” I couldn’t wait to tell him, with relish, that it was squash! Beef liver is a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins. It is a powerful superfood and has been included in traditional diets for thousands of years. Liver is the best source of B12. It is also high in active Vitamin A (retinol) that our bodies don’t have to convert like we do plant based Vitamin A (carotenoids). Liver is also high in Iron, B6, Folate, Biotin, and small amounts of copper, chromium and selenium.

I have flavored this pate with herbs, spices and aged balsamic. It is anything but plain. I used US Wellness Meats Grass Fed Beef Liver in this recipe. You can also find good grass fed beef liver locally at Farm Markets or from your local Farmer.

Beef Liver Pate

Beef Liver Pate

Ingredients: 1 lb. of Grass Fed Beef Liver, sliced

2 Cups of Chopped Red Onion

1/4 Cup of Aged Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Dried Rosemary

1 Tablespoon of Dried Marjoram

1 Tablespoon of Dried Thyme

1 Tablespoon of Turmeric Powder

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Lemon Peel

Directions: In 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil, Sautee the Beef Liver sprinkled with 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt over medium high heat. Cook on one side for five minutes, then flip the liver and cook on the other side until it is cooked through.

Remove the liver from the pan and set aside. Add the other tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and the chopped red onion. Cook until tender. Sprinkle the rosemary, marjoram, thyme, garlic powder, turmeric, and lemon peel over the onions. Then, cook, stirring until the herbs, spices and onions are fragrant. Add the apple cider vinegar to the pan and deglaze, scraping all the brown bits off the bottom. Add the 1/4 cup of aged balsamic and stir and cook for 30 seconds.

In a food processor, add the cooked liver and the onion mixture. Process until you have a smooth spread, being sure to scrape down the sides a few times. Put your pate in a pretty serving dish, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Before serving, add a pretty spring of fresh herbs to the top like parsley or basil.

Nutrient Dense Superfood, Beef Liver Pate

Butternut Squash Lasagna

butternut-squash-lasagna-with-a-fork

A piping hot casserole is on the top of my list in the colder months! Intuitively we want to have warmer, heavier foods during the winter season. When you get in tune with your body’s signals, it tells you what it needs. If you think about it, we naturally want to eat with the seasons when we are really in tune with ourselves.

One of the tips I learned in Health Coaching school was to eat until I was 80 percent full, and it is really effective. I feel great when I don’t eat until I am completely stuffed and have had enough to feel satiated and comfortable. This way of eating keeps weight pretty much the same without having to restrict calories. I really dislike restriction of food, I am a foodie, but I love feeling great in my clothes! Don’t deprive me! 🙂 So, eating nutrient rich food is not only great for you, it avoids dieting and keeps the body fed and full of energy. I prefer “crowding out” which simply means, eating more real food so you don’t have room for the opposite. When you are eating healthy, whole foods made into scrumptious dishes like this casserole, you don’t crave junk. All my recipes have health benefits, even the sweet ones! One of the things I tell and have proven to my clients is, when they give their taste buds time to change, by taking out processed food for a few months, when they go back to eating them, they will taste artificial and too sweet or chemically. They actually will prefer the real stuff! You can eat food that isn’t just good for you, but is also just G-O-O-D!

Getting back to the scrumptious lasagna though, this Butternut Squash Lasagna uses thin sliced butternut as the noodles and is hearty and flavorful with a nice caramelized top! There are lots of nutritious dried herbs and one of my favorite flavor additions, chopped fennel!

butternut-squash-lasagna

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Preheat your oven to 375º degrees. You can assemble this dish in advance and refrigerate it covered until you are ready to bake it!

Ingredients:

1 Butternut Squash (Medium to Large)

1 Pound of Grass Fed Ground Beef

1 Pound of Ground Pork

1 Fennel Bulb (medium sized, diced)

1 Cup of Sliced Scallions

1 Jar of Strained Organic Tomatoes (24 oz.), or Tomato Puree (I like this brand)

2 Tablespoons of Garlic Olive Oil (or 2 TBS of Regular EVOO plus 3 minced garlic cloves)

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon of Dried Parsley

1 Teaspoon of Dried Basil

1 Teaspoon of Dried Oregano

1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Marjoram

1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Thyme

1/4 Teaspoon of Dried Rosemary

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt (or Himalayan Pink my personal favorite)

Directions:
Peel the butternut squash. Divide the peeled whole squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Laying the two squash halves flat side down on a cutting board, cut it into 1/2 inch slices so they form half moon shapes perfect for layering as noodles. Set aside.

In a large skillet, add 2 Tablespoons of Garlic Olive Oil (or your olive oil and fresh minced garlic) over medium high heat. Add your ground beef, pork and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt, and brown. When almost brown, but still a little pink, add the diced fennel, scallions, dried herbs and another 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Keep browning until the fennel is tender, about five minutes. Drain off the excess fat. Add the crushed tomatoes, and thoroughly combine with the meat and herbs bring it to a simmer. Remove from the heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, toss your butternut squash slices with 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.

Coat a 14″ x 10″ inch casserole dish (approximate size) with olive oil. Add a single layer of butternut squash, filling in the gaps as well as you can, it doesn’t have to be perfectly covered. Add 1/3 of the meat mixture. Add another layer of butternut squash and another 1/3 of the meat mixture. Add the final layer of butternut squash, and finish with the last 1/3 of the meat mixture.

Cover with aluminum foil, and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Remove the foil, and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, or until the top is browned and caramelized and the squash is really tender.

Remove from the oven, and let it sit ten minutes before serving!

*Optional Pecorino cheese grated on the top. It is a delicious Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk.

Like all lasagna, this is even better leftover!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Instant Pot Chuck Roast

Instant Chuck (in the Instant Pot)

An Instant Pot is an incredibly fast way to cook when you are busy and don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. Making a pot roast takes time in the oven, about three to four hours to get it fork tender, but with an instant pot you can be ready to eat in about an hour. That is total cooking time, not total time you have to be in the kitchen. Once you get it going, you can walk away. Love it!

I added plenty of vegetable sides to make a healthy dinner. The bed of cabbage soaked up all the juices, and we had carrots and broccoli as well. You choose! 🙂

Instant Pot Chuck Roast

Ingredients:

3 lb. Chuck Roast (cubed into 1 1/2″ chunks)

1 Cup of Broth

1/2 Cup of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

1/2 Cup of Coconut Aminos here

2 Leeks, Sliced into rounds

3 Tablespoons of Umami Blend (recipe here)

2 Tablespoons of Honey

1 Tablespoon of Minced Fresh Ginger

cutting-chuck-roast-for-instant-pot

Directions: Cube the Chuck after you have seasoned both sides with Umami Herb Blend. Put the Beef into the instant pot. Whisk together the orange juice, coconut aminos, broth, honey and ginger. Pour over the beef and add the leeks. Place the top on your instant pot and seal the steam valve at the top. Press the Meat/Stew selection, and you are done. The chuck will cook for 35 minutes, then do a cool down. Release the steam valve, and after the steam is released, remove the top and that’s it! You have a delicious, fork tender roast in a third of the time!

chuck-roast-instant-pot

instant-pot-with-chuck-roast

chuck-roast-and-leeks-in-instant-pot

instant-pot-chuck-roast

Eat Your Nutrients!

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Oven Chuck Roast with Vegetables

Hungry for a delicious pot of tender chuck roast with loads of warming vegetables? I have a recipe that will warm you up body and soul. 🙂 There is plenty of juices and tender loads of nutritious vegetables.

Oven Chuck Roast with Vegetables

This was perfect last night after spending a few hours outside stringing holiday lights. I love being outdoors in the winter months in the brisk air. Most of the time I am moving my body a little more than I was yesterday. Yes, there were lights that didn’t work, and lights where half the string worked. Thankfully we had plenty to spare, and had strings that were working well! What happens, I wonder, to the lights that were working fine when you put them in the box and the next year are not functioning? It has been an ongoing mystery that people write about and include in movies, because many can relate.

Oven Chuck Roast with Vegetables

I have included Fennel, Onions, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Zucchini and Yellow Beans in this Roast along with a splash of fresh squeezed orange juice and savory Rosemary and Thyme. I think you will love it! No dried out roast here!

Oven Chuck Roast with Vegetables in Pot from the Oven

Oven Chuck Roast with Vegetables

Ingredients:

1 Three Pound Chuck Roast

1 Fennel Bulb (diced)

1 Yellow Onion (diced) (substitute green scallions if Low FodMap)

5 Carrots (peeled and coarsely chopped)

1 Bunch of Swiss Chard (stems stripped and coarsely chopped)

3 Zucchini (about 2 cups halved lengthwise and sliced)

2 Cups of Fresh Yellow or Green Beans

6 Cups of Broth (this is approximate depending on your pot)

1/2 Cup of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

2 Tablespoons of Garlic Olive Oil (you may substitute 3 cloves of fresh garlic)

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

2 Teaspoons of Crushed Rosemary

1 Teaspoon of Thyme

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350º degrees. You will use a large dutch oven with a lid. Salt your chuck roast all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt. In your pan, heat the garlic olive oil over medium high heat just until warm. Add the chuck roast and brown 5 minutes each side. Remove the chuck roast from the pan and set aside. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and add the diced fennel and onion, and sautee for 5 minutes. Stir in Carrots, Green Beans, Orange Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar, Rosemary and Thyme. Add the chuck roast to the top and pour over broth until it reaches the top of the roast. Bring the ingredients to a boil, then cover the pan with a lid and place into your preheated oven for 3 hours. At the end of three hours, remove the pan from the oven and add the Zucchini and Chard, tucking it down around the roast. Lift the roast out of the pan if needed and set it back on top of the vegetables. Bake another hour. Then remove it from the oven and it is ready!

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Hearty and Nourishing Vegetable Bison Soup

Winter storm Jonas is bearing down upon us here on the East Coast, and I decided there is never a more perfect time for making a big pot of hearty, nourishing soup! I wanted one that was easy to digest, nutritious, low in fodmaps, and tasty!

Hearty and Nourishing Vegetable Bison Soup

Put some favorite tunes on and lets get chopping. The vegetable prep is the longest part of making this soup, but it doesn’t have to be boring! Here’s the recipe!

Hearty and Nourishing Vegetable Bison Soup

2 Pounds of Ground Bison

3 Slices of No Sugar Added Bacon

4 Cups of Broth, Beef, Chicken or Vegetable

6 Endive, washed and sliced

2 Cups Carrots, peeled and sliced

6 Scallions, green parts only sliced

3 Small Zucchini, diced

1 Fennel Bulb, washed and diced

1/4 Cup Dry White Wine, optional

2 Tablespoons of Garlic Infused Olive Oil

2 1/2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt or Himalayan Pink Salt, divided

1 1/2 Teaspoons Black Pepper, divided

1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley

1 Teaspoon Dried Tarragon

1 Teaspoon Dried Chives

1/4 Teaspoon Dried Dill

2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice, added before serving

Hearty and Nourishing Vegetable Bison Soup

Directions:

In a large sautee pan, cook your bacon until crisp, then drain on paper towel and set aside to cool. Drain off the extra bacon grease in the pan, and add your ground bison to the same pan. Add the salt and pepper, and cook over medium high heat until brown and crumbly, stirring often. Meanwhile prepare your vegetables by peeling and dicing them.

Add the cooked beef to a large stock pot, and crumble the cooled bacon on top. Dry the sautee pan the beef was in with paper towel, then return it to your burner, and add 2 tablespoons of garlic infused olive oil. Heat over medium high heat, and add your vegetables. Sprinkle the vegetables with an additional teaspoon of salt and a 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Cook the vegetables until the endive has wilted and the vegetables are just beginning to soften. Add the white wine and cook for one minute.

While the vegetables are cooking, add the dried herbs to the bison in the stock pot. Add the wilted vegetables to the stock pot on top of the bison and herbs. Pour in 4 Cups of broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer on low for 40 minutes.

This makes a large pot of hearty, satisfying soup for a cold winters day, and it feels good in your belly, warming you from the inside out! Enjoy!

Hearty and Nourishing Vegetable Bison Soup

Beef Paprikash on Spaghetti Squash Noodles with Sliced Avocado

If you are looking for a hearty meal to put on the table that you don’t have to slave over, is inexpensive, and lower carbohydrate, try a plate of Beef Paprikash! The Spaghetti Squash noodles are low carb. and hold all the juices, and the avocado goes well with the spicy beef sauce. It is delish!

This recipe uses a slow cooker, so it can be prepped the day before or in the morning, and then you can walk away until it is time to eat. I added some smoked paprika to the beef sauce to give it a smokey flavor that veers slightly away from the traditional recipe, and it is dairy free! It is the perfect cool weather meal that will leave you satisfied and nourished without adding to your waistline.

Beef Paprikash on Spagehtti Squash Noodles with Avocado

Beef Paprikash on Spaghetti Squash Noodles with Sliced Avocado

Ingredients:

1 Two Pound Chuck Roast

2 Tablespoons of Tapioca Flour*

1 1/2 Teaspoon of Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

2 Teaspoons of Black Pepper

2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

———————————————–

1 Large Yellow Onion

2 Red Bell Peppers, Large Diced

4 Cloves of Minced Garlic (or 2 Tablespoons of Garlic Infused Olive Oil if you are eating Low FodMap)

1 Cup of Beef Broth

1/4 Cup Tomato Paste

1 Tablespoon of Paprika

1 Tablespoon of Smoked Paprika

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Caraway Seeds, crushed

1 Teaspoon of Dried Parsley

1 Teaspoon of Dried Dill

1 Teaspoon of Fish Sauce

1/2 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk, added before serving

——————————————————–

1 Medium Spaghetti Squash

2 Ripe Avocados*

Beef Paprikash on Spaghetti Squash Noodles with Avocado

Directions: With paper towel, pat the chuck roast dry. Mix the Tapioca Flour, Salt and Pepper together with a whisk, and season the Chuck Roast. In a large heavy pan over medium high heat, add your olive oil, and brown the chuck roast for 5 minutes and then flip it over and brown it on the other side for 5 more minutes.

Meanwhile, slice the onion and dice the peppers, and place in the bottom of a large slow cooker. Whisk together the spices, tomato paste, broth, garlic, and fish sauce. When beef is browned, place it on top of the sliced onions in the crockpot. Pour the sauce over the top. Cook on low covered for 8 hours in the crockpot. Remove the Beef from the crockpot after 8 hours and shred it with two forks. Add it back to the sauce and stir in 1/2 cup coconut milk right before serving.

For the “noodles”, one hour before serving, preheat your oven to 375º degrees. Slice a medium sized spaghetti squash in half, and remove the seeds. Season the inside with salt and pepper. Place in a baking pan cut side down with 1/2 cup of water. Bake for one hour. Right before serving, remove from the oven, and cool for about ten minutes so it is easy to handle. (It should pierce easily with a knife.) Flip the squash over and run a fork along the inside of the squash, making noodles.

Slice two ripe avocados to serve with the dish.

Serve the saucy Beef Paprikash over the “noodles” and place the avocado on the side like the picture above.

Beef Paprikash on Spagehtti Squash Noodles

Beef Paprikash on Spaghetti Squash Noodles

*Omit if you are eating Low FodMap

Eat Your Nutrients!

Delicious Italian Mini Meatloaves and Make Your Own Sunshine

After spending a glorious few days in the sunny San Diego area, we flew home this weekend to Maryland returning to rain and cold due to the effects of a tropical storm. It was a drastic transition from warm sunny beaches and green juice available everywhere you looked!

So, what’s a girl to do? I find great benefit in eating with the seasons, and meatloaf seemed like the perfect comfort food for a cold rainy evening. I wanted one that was gluten and grain free, dairy free and low fodmap, but utterly delicious and flavorful! I really don’t like to settle. 🙂

Here is my recipe for mini meatloaves that will definitely hit the spot and remind you of your childhood.

I incorporated some finely chopped carrots and spinach in the meatloaf to boost the nutritional value and combined a mixture of grass fed beef and turkey.

Delicious Italian Mini Meatloaves

This meatloaf is my way of bringing the sunshine home! Other ways I like to do this is with warm hugs, a cheerful welcoming smile, reading a great book, and green juicing!

What’s your perfect way to bring your own sunshine when life delivers lemons? What do you do?

Italian Mini Meatloaves:

Ingredients:

1 pound ground grass fed beef

1 pound ground pastured turkey 92% lean

3 large organic carrots, peeled

2 cups organic packed baby spinach (5 oz.)

1/2 Cup Superfine Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Garlic Olive Oil

3/4 Cup Organic Tomato Paste (I used Bionaturae .7 oz jar) divided

1 tsp. Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 teaspoon each of dried organic thyme, basil, parsley and oregano

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375º degrees. Lay out a rimmed baking sheet and line it with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

In a food processor, add the peeled carrots, sliced into chunks, and process until finely chopped. Add to a large bowl. Add the spinach to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add this to the large bowl also. Add the ground meat and remaining ingredients and 1/4 cup of tomato paste. Mix with your hands until thoroughly incorporated.

Divide the meatloaf mixture into 8 equal sizes, and make a ball of each with your hands. Set the balls onto the lined baking sheet, and pat into the shape of a mini meatloaf.

Now the ketchup topping:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup organic tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

Mix the topping ingredients together in a small bowl. Divide evenly over the tops of the mini meatloaves and spread.

Bake the mini meatloaves in the oven for approximately 20 to 25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165º degrees.

These meatloaves are full of flavor and hidden veggies!

Here are some photos of our trip to sunny San Diego!

A Beautiful Sunset!

Del Mar, California. Dinner at L’Auberge.

The beautiful coastline! We walked the beach every morning!

The majestic Pacific Ocean!

18 Paleo Summer Cookout Recipes!

Summer is cookout season! Just mentioning the word cookout is a sure way to get company flocking to your door! Set up an outdoor game or two like Bocce Ball and Badminton, and you have a party!

Here are Eighteen Summer favorites of mine! Please feel free to share any of your favorite healthy Summer recipes in the comments below! What will you be making this Summer?

Bacon Wrapped Grilled Pork Chops with Citrus Drizzle by the Civilized Caveman

Prosciutto Olive and Sundried Tomato Turkey Burgers by Tammy Credicott

Grilled Vegetables and Shrimp Toss by Sam Eats Her Nutrients

Grilled Vegetables and Shrimp Toss

Grilled Bok Choy with Sesame Ginger Sauce by Sustainable Dish

Sesame-Ginger Flank Steak Salad by Primal Palate

Hatch Chili Layered Stack by Paleo Foodie Kitchen

Grilled Venison 50/50 Burgers by Sam Eats Her Nutrients

Aromatic Whole Grilled Chicken by Mark’s Daily Apple

Lamb Kofta (Meat on a Stick) by Stupid Easy Paleo

Fruit & Nut Broccoli Salad by Crafty Coin

Salmon Cucumber Noodle Salad by Mangia Paleo

Nom Nom’s Sister’s Phenomenal Grilled Green Chicken by Nom Nom Paleo

Lemon Parsley Grilled Zucchini by Danielle Walker of Against All Grain

The Best Creamy Coleslaw by The Paleo Mom

Paleo SCD Summer Strawberry Pie with Toasted Hazelnut Vanilla-Orange Ice Cream by Sam Eats Her Nutrients

Strawberry Sangria Sorbet by Sam Eats Her Nutrients

Strawberry Ice Cream Bon Bons by A Girl Worth Saving

S’More Worthy Graham Crackers by hopecentric

Strawberry Sangria Sorbet

Enjoy a Summer Cookout, have some fun, and share some delicious food! Happy June!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Lamb and Pine Nut Meatballs with Swiss Chard

This is a hearty meatball, and a delicious way to get in your greens! The meatballs are baked on top of the swiss chard (1 cup has 18 milligrams of calcium). Fats help with the digestion and absorption of vitamins and minerals in greens, plus it makes them taste so good! The pine nuts give the meatballs texture and personality. The mint, fennel, leeks and orange zest pair very well together with the lamb. This meatball recipe is an easy, one dish, main dish. Grass fed lamb is a good source of zinc, vitamin B12 and selenium. I also served this dish with roasted carrots, beets and a side salad. You can add any vegetables you like to your meal. Meatballs are so versatile! It is one of the things I love about them! Plus, since I have been really busy with my health coaching classes, this dish gets me out of the kitchen fast! I am sure many of you busy people out there will appreciate this easy, delicious recipe as much as I do!

Lamb Meatballs with Pine Nuts ans Swiss Chard

Lamb Meatballs with Pine Nuts and Swiss Chard

Lamb Meatballs with Pine Nuts and Swiss Chard

Ingredients:

2 Pounds of Grass Fed Ground Lamb

1/2 Cup Pine Nuts

1/2 Cup Superfine Almond Flour

1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Leek

1 Egg

2 Tablespoons plus 2 Teaspoons Garlic Infused Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Dried Mint

1 Tablespoon Ground Fennel

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

Zest of One Organic Orange

1 Bunch of Swiss Chard, stems removed and coarsely chopped.

Directions:

Set your oven to broil.

Toast the pine nuts in a pan over medium high heat on the stove top for five minutes or until golden brown.

Mix together the ground lamb, pine nuts, and remaining ingredients except the chopped swiss chard. Form into golf ball sized meatballs. Place the chopped swiss chard in a large non-stick, oven-proof pan or large dutch oven. Toss with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and sprinkle lightly with additional salt and pepper to taste. Place the meatballs on top of the swiss chard, leaving space between the meatballs for even cooking.

Place meatballs and swiss chard under the broiler, and broil for five minutes. Turn oven to bake at 375º degrees, and bake an additional ten minutes until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165º degrees. At this point your chard will be nicely cooked, with the lamb juices incorporated into them, and the meatballs soft and tender. In a pinch, you can also use frozen chard with great results! Approximately 18 Meatballs.

Eat Your Nutrients!