Tag Archives: SCD

Blackberry Phyto Blast Salad with Blueberry Berrylicious Dressing

Are you ready for a delicious, phytonutrient loaded salad? This one has fruits, nuts, pomegranate seeds and living butter lettuce to give you a blast of them! It also is candy for the eyes, and it is well know we eat with all of our senses! Phytonutrients are so unbelievably important for our bodies, our cells, and for cancer prevention. A variety in the diet boosts their effectiveness and creates nutrient synergy. They give our bodies the tools it needs to enable it to heal and maintain vitality. Greens, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, green tea…….there are plenty to choose from, and variety is possible no matter if you are eating Paleo, SCD, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, or just seeking nutrients, you get the idea. Here is a handy chart of some of the most common foods containing phytonutrients to get you started, but there are thousands and more being discovered. If you would like additional information about phytonutrients, here is an article from Gaiam Life and one from Dr. Fuhrman entitled Nutrient Density and Phytochemical-rich foods.

Phyto Blast Salad with Blueberry Dressing

Blackberry Phyto Blast Salad with Blueberry Berrylicious Dressing

The Blueberry Berrylicious Salad Dressing gets its fat from nuts and seeds.

Berrylicious Salad Dressing

Blackberry Phyto Blast Salad with Blueberry Berrylicious Dressing

Ingredients for Salad:

2 Heads of Living Butter Lettuce

1 Cup of Fresh Orange Segments, halved or 1 can of Native Forest Mandarin Oranges in their own juice

1 Pint Fresh Organic Blackberries

1/4 Cup Pomagranite Seeds

1/2 Cup Raw Pecans

1/2 Cup Raw Walnut Halves

Directions: Tear the butter lettuce into bite sized pieces and scatter berries, fruit, pomegranate seeds and nuts on top.

Blueberry Berrylicious Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Fresh or Frozen Blueberries (if frozen defrost them in the microwave)

1/4 Cup Pine Nuts

2 Tablespoons Tahini (pure no sugar added)

1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice (2 lemons)

2 Tablespoons Dried Currants

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1/4 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions: Place all the dressing ingredients in a high speed blender, and blend until smooth. This dressing thickens when refrigerated, so when using for a second day, zap for a few seconds in the microwave or let it come to room temperature for looser consistency. It is rich in nutrients and good fat.

*If you are beginning a Low FodMap diet, I recommend you substitute the blackberries for raspberries, strawberries or blueberries. You still get your phyto blast of berries!

Chesapeake Crab Cakes

crab cake

I haven’t met many people who don’t love crab cakes, unless they are allergic to seafood. Here on the East Coast they are famous because of the Maryland blue crab. When my Aunt and Uncle were visiting from Arizona last May they did a lot of sightseeing, and my Aunt tried a lot of crab cakes at various restaurants. This is a favorite family recipe for crab cakes that I have reinvented to be grain free and low fodmap. They have completely delicious, wholesome ingredients. I serve them with sriracha sauce. They are exquisite without any sauce also! The sauce pictured in the photo is PaleoChef Sriracha Sauce I picked up at Whole Foods. My all time favorite homemade mayonnaise recipe is from the cookbook The Paleo Kitchen by Juli Bauer and George Bryant. It is 30-second mayonnaise and it is literally No Fail! You can find the recipe here. I had tried many homemade mayonnaise recipes before, and sometimes they worked and sometimes they failed. Plus, I just don’t have the patience to sit and drizzle! Sorry Julie Child. I still love you! This recipe uses an immersion blender, and is so fast! There is an SCD legal mayonnaise that is sweetened with honey that you can purchase as well if you don’t want to make your own, here. So let’s make some Chesapeake Crab Cakes!

Chesapeake Crab Cakes

Ingredients:

1 Pound Crabmeat (can use refrigerated pasteurized crab)

1 Tablespoon Garlic Olive Oil

1/2 Cup Scallions, chopped (green parts only)

1/2 Cup Finely diced Fennel

2/3 Cup of Mayonnaise (I use Primal Kitchen Mayo)

1 Teaspoon Djon Mustard

1/2 Teaspoon Paprika

1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1 1/3 Cup Superfine Blanched Almond Flour plus 1/3 Cup for dredging

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Directions:

Preheat your oven 300º degrees.

In a large frying pan, heat the garlic olive oil over medium heat, add the fennel and saute’ for 3 minutes, then stir in the green onion and continue to cook two more minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside. In a large bowl combine the mayonnaise with the spices, salt and pepper. Add the crab stirring lightly then the 1 1/3 cup of almond flour and fennel scallion mixture, again stirring just until combined. In a shallow dish place the remaining 1/3 cup of almond flour for dredging. With a half cup scoop, scoop the crab cake mixture into the palm of your hand, and form into crab cakes. Dredge lightly in the almond flour and set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet. Use more almond flour for dredging if needed.

In a non-stick frying pan, heat 1 1/2 Tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until ready to sizzle when cakes are added. Add half of the crab cakes to the pan and fry about four minutes per side until golden brown. Remove them from the pan, and place on the cookie sheet and pop them in the oven to stay warm. Repeat with the second half of the crab cakes. They are ready!

Makes approximately 8

chesapeak-crab-cakes

Eat Your Nutrients!

Eggnog Toasted Almond Ice Cream

Confession! I love to eat eggnog anything during the holidays. Me and Eggnog Toasted Almond Ice Cream had an appointment yesterday with one of my favorite seasonal movies, The Holiday, with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and the very hot and English Jude Law. I love that movie! The English Cottage, Rosehill Cottage in England, is the home of Iris in the movie. It is ultra charming and such a contrast to the swanky Los Angles home of Amanda (Diaz). I love the thought of home exchange to travel, and am considering trying it myself. I can watch this movie every year during the holidays! It is a feel good movie, and the Eggnog Toasted Almond Ice Cream is perfect with a favorite holiday movie. Hmmmmm, might have to have some while I watch Prancer! It is a great way to unwind with a healthier version of ice cream, during this sometimes stressful time of year, a movie and a seasonal favorite flavor!

This recipe is a very authentic eggless eggnog recipe. So, if you are sensitive to eggs, or are looking for a dairy free, egg free recipe, this one is a keeper!

Eggnog Toasted Almond Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 Cans of Full Fat Coconut Milk (no Additives)

1 Cup Toasted Sliced Raw Almonds

1/2 Cup Clear Honey

1/4 Cup of Great Lakes Gelatin (Green Label optional adds nutrition)

1 Teaspoon of Freshly Grated Nutmeg

1/8 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt

2 Tablespoons of White Rum

Preheat your Oven 350º degrees. Lay the almonds on a cookie sheet in a single layer and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes until just golden brown. Set aside for when you churn the ice cream. Mix together the remaining ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk.

Refrigerate the ice cream base for 2 to 4 hours until very chilled. You can make it a day ahead too. Churn in your ice cream maker. It takes about 30 minutes. Add the toasted almonds the last five minutes of churning. Sprinkle servings with additional freshly grated nutmeg if desired.

Makes 12 scoops!

Now for a movie and ice cream to get those feel good endorphins maximized!

(Santa Plate Painted by Sam Shields)

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!

Delicata Sun Dried Tomato Galette

This rustic Galette is sure to please! It is a meatless main course, and is nice paired with a salad on the side. Delicata Squash are smaller than other winter squash and are tender with orange flesh. Four ounces of Delicata Squash has 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein, in addition to vitamins A and C. I used two medium Delicata in the Galette. You can also substitute butternut squash for the Delicata if you can’t find it. I love the ease of making the rustic crust (no perfectionism here!) and it is fun to hear the oooo’s and aaaaa’s when you pull it from the oven! The sun dried tomatoes add delicious concentrated flavor, and the scallions and black olives add a finishing gourmet touch!

Delicata Sun Dried Tomato Galette

Directions: Preheat your oven 375º degrees.

Ingredients for the Crust:

2 1/4 Cups Superfine Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Egg

1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Mix the crust ingredients in a large bowl until it holds together. Place the crust ball onto a parchment lined baking sheet and pat out with your fingers into approximately a twelve inch round, like you would a pizza dough.

Ingredients for the Filling:

4 Cups of Peeled and Cubed Delicata Squash

3 Sun Dried Tomatoes, Soaked in Hot Water for 1 hour to soften

1/2 Cup of Pitted Black Olives

1 Tablespoon plus 2 Teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 Green Scallions, sliced, green parts only

1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Delicata Sun Dried Tomato Galette

For the filling, place your peeled and cubed squash onto a parchment lined, rimmed baking pan and toss with 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil, the Italian Seasoning, Salt and Pepper. Roast in the oven in a single layer for 20 minutes, stirring once. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Drain the soaking water off your sun dried tomatoes and finely chop. Mound your squash into the center of the patted out galette crust and spread to within an inch and a half of the edges of the crust. Sprinkle with the sun dried tomatoes and olives. Gently fold the crust edges up and around the filling pressing a bit to keep it in place, a spatula can help here. Drizzle the filling with two teaspoons of olive oil. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes in the oven. Remove and sprinkle with green scallions. Serve and enjoy!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Rum Print Cookies

Instead of visions of sugarplums dancing through my head, I have rum prints on my mind. What in the world is a rumprint? I found a recipe quite a few years ago in a holiday magazine. The cookies were very unique and memorable. I have never found another quite like them. Unfortunately, I lost the magazine at some point in a move I made. So, here is a replication from my memory of what they were like. These have been Paleo-ized, and I have to say, they are as good as I remember. The cookie base uses finely ground walnuts, and the frosting uses cocoa butter for creaminess and stability.

Rum Print Cookies

Ingredients for Cookie:

1 Cup of Walnuts (finely ground) I used a mini Ninja to do this (see Kitchen Equipment I Love)

1/4 Cup Coconut Flour

1/4 Cup Organic Palm Shortening

1/4 Cup Clear Clover Honey

1 Egg

1/4 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan or Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract (SCD Legal)

Directions: Preheat oven 350º degrees. With an electric hand held mixer, cream together the shortening and honey. Add the egg and continue to beat for one minute. Add the vanilla extract and incorporate. In a small bowl whisk together the finely ground walnuts, coconut flour, salt, nutmeg and baking soda. Add to the wet ingredients and mix on medium speed until blended. With a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 11 minutes.

When the cookies come out of the oven, using your thumb, make an indentation in the top of each cookie for the thumprint. Cool completely.

Frosting Ingredients:

1 Cup Raw Cocoa Butter, Chopped (See In My Pantry for Resources)

1/4 Cup Clover Honey

2 Tablespoons Organic Palm Shortening

4 Teaspoons White Rum

1/8 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt

Nutmeg for Sprinkling

Directions: In a double broiler, melt the cocoa butter. Remove from heat and add into a bowl. With an electric hand held mixer, beat the honey, salt and shortening into the cocoa butter. Add the rum and continue beating until the frosting is solidifying. The cocoa butter will start out clear when hot and become a white consistency as it cools. When it is a good texture for piping, place the frosting in a piping bag with a large star tip and pipe into the center of the cooled cookies. It sets up quickly, so pipe right away. Alternatively, you can scoop the frosting into the middle of the cookies by hand if you don’t feel like piping. Sprinkle each cookie with a dash of nutmeg.

Makes 15 Cookies

Rum Prints

Quick Zesty Chicken and Carrots

Here come the holidays! I don’t know about you, but there are plenty of days when I am rushing around at dinner time to get something on the table that is nourishing, delicious and fast! This is a very moist and flavorful chicken dish that will have you out of the kitchen in no time. Serve it with a salad on the side.

Quick and Zesty Chicken and Carrots

Ingredients:

8 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs

12 Carrots, peeled and sliced into thin rounds

1/4 Cup Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

Zest of one Lime

1/4 Cup Garlic Olive Oil, divided

1 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Chipotle Pepper

1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cayenne Pepper

Preheat Oven 350º degrees. Cut the chicken thighs into quarters. Mix together Salt, Pepper, Chipotle & Cayenne. Heat 2 Tablespoons of Garlic Olive Oil in a large nonstick oven proof skillet over medium high heat. Add the carrots and sautee for 5 minutes until starting to brown. Remove the carrots from the pan and set aside. Add the other two tablespoons of Garlic Olive Oil to the pan maintaining the heat. Sprinkle the chicken with the seasoning and add to the pan. Cook the chicken four minutes without touching it, then flip it over and cook another four minutes. Zest the lime over the chicken, add the carrots back in to the chicken and pour over the lime juice. Toss to coat with the juice and zest and place the pan in the oven for ten minutes until chicken is cooked through. Serve!

4 Servings

Zesty Chicken and Carrots

(See In My Pantry For Ingredient Links)

Eat Your Nutrients!

Classic Anise Biscotti with Pignolis

Anise Biscotti with Pignolis (Pine Nuts) is a classic! Hazelnut Biscotti is another classic cult favorite of biscotti lovers. There are a multitude of variations of biscotti today. But sometimes I really want a pure, unadulterated, classic biscotti. In this recipe the Pignolis give the biscotti great texture and a buttery flavor, and the anise seed is, well, just classic! They are a beautiful cookie!

Classic Anise Biscotti with Pignolis

Classic Anise Biscotti with Pignolis

Preheat your oven 350º degrees. Lay out a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 Cups Superfine Blanched Almond Flour

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup Clear Honey

2 Tablespoons Coconut Flour

1/2 Cup Pignolis (Pine Nuts)

1 Teaspoon Ground Anise

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract (SCD Legal)

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

In a medium bowl, beat your eggs. Stir in the clear honey and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl with a wire whisk, blend your dry ingredients (Almond Flour, Coconut Flour, Ground Anise, Baking Soda and Salt). Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir to combine with a rubber spatula. Fold in 1/4 Cup of Pignolis. Turn out on the parchment lined cookie sheet and form into a 12×6″ rectangle. Press the remaining 1/4 cup of Pignolis into the top of the dough. Bake in the 350º oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely. With a serrated knife, slice the cooled biscotti starting on the short end into 1/2 inch wide diagonal slices. Lay back on the parchment lined cookie sheet, one cut side down and bake for 7 minutes, turn the biscotti over to the other cut side and bake another 7 minutes until golden brown.

Classic Anise BIscotti with Pignolis

You can enjoy these delicious biscotti any time of year when you are in the mood for a classic flavor!

Classic Anise Biscotti with Pignolis

Enjoy your day and keep being awesome!!!!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Bread Stuffing Paleo SCD

Stuffing has always been my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal since I was a child. I used to be an Organic Artisan Bread Baker and sold my breads to the local co-op. I have had a serious love affair with really good homemade breads. Some of my fondest memories are of my mother’s homemade bread and how it made the kitchen smell. When my Mom went back to work when her children got older, my Pop took over the bread making. He used his own honey from the bees in the back yard to make his bread. Since going strictly Paleo almost three years ago, and then Paleo within an SCD Low FodMap template after discovering I had SIBO, I missed bread. I missed it more at first, and now I only miss it during special occasions when it is more the memories and emotional longing, because I am truly happy and feel amazing with my lifestyle and eating. However, I am making this spectacular stuffing for Thanksgiving using Pumpkin Seed Blender Bread. It is absolutely allowed because the flour is pumpkin seeds! I found the recipe on fellow blogger Danielle of Its a Love/Love Thing’s website that is here. I made a few modifications taking out the sweetness of the bread, which is a very good loaf, and made it savory for use as a stuffing bread to create a stuffing recipe. You can feel truly good about this stuffing. The pumpkin seeds add so much pure nutrition. They are rich in magnesium, zinc (which is important for prostate health), may improve insulin regulation, contain phytoestrogens, tryptophan (so if you are having turkey too, you will get a good amount of that and should sleep like a baby), and healthy fat. But really, it is simply a delicious, traditional stuffing that you will love. No need to tell anyone how good it is for them, unless you want to, because they will “gobble” it up!

Bread Stuffing with Paleo SCD Pumpkin Seed Bread

Bread Stuffing SCD Paleo

Directions:

Make bread as directed on Danielle’s website here omitting the honey, vanilla and cinnamon and adding 1 teaspoon each of thyme and sage and a 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.

Stuffing Ingredients:

3 Cups Cubed Pumpkin Seed Bread (1/2 inch cubes)

3/4 Cup Finely Diced Fennel Bulb

3 Green Onions, sliced, green parts only

2 Cups Packed Baby Spinach

2 Eggs

1 Cup Chicken or Turkey Broth (homemade if you have it)

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil or Duck Fat

1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley

1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme

1 Teaspoon Dried Sage

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt

Directions: Grease a small casserole dish, about a quart sized. Preheat oven 350º degrees. Place your bread cubes in a large bowl and set aside. In a dutch oven or heavy sautee pan add olive oil or duck fat over medium-high heat. Add the diced fennel and green onion, and cook for five minutes until the fennel is tender. Stir in the salt, pepper, thyme, sage and parsley. Add the spinach and stir until wilted.

In a small bowl whisk together the eggs and broth. Fold them into the bread cubes, then add the sauteed vegetable mixture and incorporate that evenly. Pour the stuffing into your casserole dish, spread evenly in the pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes until internal temperature measures 165º degrees and/or it is set. Mmmmmm, Stuffing!

Serves 4 – 6

(If you are very low FodMap have a smaller serving)

Zucchini Tomato Quiche

Good Morning! Want a yummy, pretty quiche that is easy but looks like it isn’t? I made this last night for dinner, and it is really good! It comes together fast, and the parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in the crust is delish! It makes great leftovers also, or served cold for lunches. I used a 12 inch tart pan to make it, but a pie pan would work as well.

Zucchini Tomato Quiche

Directions: Preheat your oven 350º degrees. Grease a tart or pie pan lightly with shortening and set aside.

(See In My Pantry Page for Brands I like and are SCD Safe)

Crust Ingredients:

2 1/4 Cups Superfine Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Organic Palm Shortening

1 Egg

3/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Dried Parsley

1/2 Teaspoon Crushed Rosemary

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Sage

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Thyme

1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper

For the Crust, in a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Melt the palm shortening and whisk into the almond flour and then the egg. Stir with a fork until crumbly and then press into the bottom of your tart or pie pan. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes, then remove and set aside.

Ingredients for Filling:

4 Cups of Zucchini sliced into thin rounds with a mandolin slicer (about 2 medium zucchini)

9 Cherry Tomatoes

4 Eggs (divided)

1/2 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan or Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

2 Tablespoons Garlic Olive Oil (for the top)

Nutmeg

Directions for filling:

Slice your cherry tomatoes in half. Whisk two eggs in a small bowl, and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on the tart crust spreading evenly, then make concentric overlapping circles with half of the zucchini slices, making a spiral. (See photo) Whisk together the last two eggs with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Pour the remaining 2 egg mixture over the zucchini and make sure it is evenly spread. Layer the rest of the zucchini in a spiral again. Brush the top layer of zucchini with 2 tablespoons of garlic olive oil, and top with the cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle with a little, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until eggs are set. If you use a pie pan, it will take about ten minutes longer. Remove from the oven, cool slightly, then serve.