Paleo Crockpot ribs

 

I have to admit that I am a ribs freak ! I love ribs and I think I could eat ribs everyday. It is hard to find Paleo ribs in restaurants. Most of the ribs sold in restaurants are slabbed with tons of sugar. 

I have been looking for a good crockpot ribs recipe. Ribs in crockpot ? Yes.... surprisingly crockpot makes good ribs :)

I saw this recipe at Paelosprit and decided to make it using the crockpot. The picture probably do not do justice to the ribs we had last night. They were so good. The BBQ sauce is awesome... my boy gives it two thumb up :)

Ingredients for ribs ( My version)
1 slab of ribs ( I use spareribs)
1/4 cup coconut crystals -optional  ( I omitted this)

2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons sea salt
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon dry basil (crushed)
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper ( I think 2 teaspoon is slightly spicy. I use about one teaspoon)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 onion
1 potato

Direction
1. Combined all ingredients (except potato and onion) in a small bowl to create a dry rub
2. Wash and pat dry the ribs. Add the dry rub onto the rubs. Let stand for 30 mintes
3.Chopped onion and potato into big chucks and lay them on the crockpot as base
4. Add the ribs into the crockpot and cook low for 8 hours

Ingredients for the BBQ sauce

1 1/2 cups of cooking juices from the ribs (or beef stock)
3 cloves fresh garlic, finely diced
6 oz can tomato paste
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup prepared mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
black pepper to taste

Direction
1. combine drippings (or stock) and the diced garlic and simmer in a medium sauce pan for 5 minutes.  2. Whisk in remaining ingredients and simmer on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes or more if you like a thicker sauce






Enjoy

~bel~

Mircowave Sweet potato cake/muffin

 

This is one recipe which I have always wanted to try but did not do so because it contains an ingredient which the Fiance did not like : Sweet Potato. This boy would just not touch sweet potato.

I final got a chance to try this recipe which I had kept in my "to bake list" today. We are heading to Singapore next week and we are trying to clear our pantry. I have 3 sweet potato sitting on the pantry and I have no clue what to do with them. The Fiance would not eat anything sweet potato soI decided to try this recipe and see how it goes.

This is really an easy recipe.

Ingredients:

1 medium to small sweet potato
1/3 cup almond meal or flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1 Tbsp milk or creamer of choice ( I use coconut milk)
1 tablespoon of honey ( or more to taste)
1 tsp vanilla
 1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp melted virgin coconut oil

Direction:
1.  Pierced  the sweet potato with a fork, wrapping in a paper towel and microwaving for 4-5 minutes until soft. Scoop out the inside and measure out about 1/2 cup of mashed sweet potato.
2. In a bowl combine all the dry ingredients.
3. Whisk egg, milk, vanilla, stevia, and melted coconut oil together and add to the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
4. In 2 small ramekins, melt a bit of coconut oil to grease the bottoms and sides.
5. Microwaved for 3 minutes or more till the centre is set.

Verdict : The boy finished both muffin cake and declared it GOOD !

~bel~

Chili

 

The first cold front hit town this weekend... Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... it was freezing cold ! A 33 degree drop from the summer 100 degree. LOL.. yes.. it was only 67F cold... but it felt like winter .  The body had a rude shock from the sudden cold front and the only 3 things I could do were slept in, couched under the blanket and drink hot ginger tea. 

The BF made my day when he decided to make chili... well .. we did plan ahead for the cold. We went grocery shopping for chili ingredients on Saturday in anticipation of the "freeze". The BF found an amazing recipe   (<= click) from Allrecipe.com.... beer, coffee and cocoa powder.. who can resist the combination.

The day just got better (despite the cold) when the BF said to me "I am okie. You just need to couch and rest.." when I offered to help make the chili....:)

The recipe looks intimidating with the many ingredients.. but it was actually very easy. The preparation time was only 20 minutes.

This is an amazing recipe. The combination of beer, coffee and cocoa powder are awesome. It is just so good !


The base before we add the meat

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil ( we use canola oil)
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
3/4 pound beef sirloin, cubed ( we use ground pork sausage )
1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes with juice
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle dark beer ( we use shiner black)
1 cup strong brewed coffee
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
 1 (14 ounce) can beef broth
1/2 cup packed brown sugar ( we omit the sugar as we are on Paleo)
3 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
 1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
 1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
4 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans ( we omitted the beans as we are on Paleo)
4 fresh hot chile peppers, seeded and chopped

 Directions
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onions, garlic, ground beef and cubed sirloin in oil for 10 minutes, or until the meat is well browned and the onions are tender.
2. Mix in the diced tomatoes with juice, dark beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth. Season with brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, cocoa powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, coriander and salt. Stir in 2 cans of the beans and hot chile peppers. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
3.  Stir in the 2 remaining cans of beans, and simmer for another 30 minutes. ( we omitted this step as we do not use beans)
( We browned the meat in the iron skillet, mixed the base in another pot and added the meat to the
base after they were browned)
~bel~

Paleo Pancake ( Gluten free, soy free and dairy free)

Hm... what is breakfast without pancakes ! One of the challenges on Paleo diet is to create versions of "sinful" food that is Paleo friendly. As what my friend Erik said... "they don't come out close and the taste is even worse"

We have been using a Paleo pancake recipe on Nourishing Day blog (<= Click) and really love it. We had made it a few times and it always turn out good. I made it again yesterday and it must be decent good as the BF did ask for second helping.

This is a easy recipe for weekday breakfast. And Yes.. I whipped up the whole breakfast in less than 30 minutes 


Ingredients
4 eggs, room temperature
1 cup milk (raw cow’s or coconut both work)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey or a pinch of stevia
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt coconut oil or butter for frying

Directions
1. Preheat griddle over medium-low heat.
2. In a small bowl beat eggs until frothy, about two minutes. Mix in milk, vanilla, and honey or stevia.
3.  In a medium-sized bowl combine coconut flour, baking soda, and sea salt and whisk together. Stir wet mixture into dry until coconut flour is incorporated.
4. Grease pan with butter or coconut oil.
5. Ladle a few tablespoons of batter into pan for each pancake. Spread out slightly with the back of a spoon. The pancakes should be 2-3 inches in diameter and fairly thick. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until the tops dry out slightly and the bottoms start to brown.
6. Flip and cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Serve hot with butter, coconut oil, honey, syrup, or fruit.

Enjoy
~bel~

Quick Paleo Bread

A great change from the usual eggs and bacon breakfast !

Woke up this morning and decided to google for some easy bread recipe for breakfast. Found a few version of mircowave bread. I am not a fan of mircowave bread so I decided to make my own bread in toaster oven.
 
This is a very easy 15 minutes recipe :

Ingredients:
1/4 cup flax seed
1/4 cup almond four
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
one tablespoon  of honey ( more or less to suit your own taste bud)

Direction:
1. Mix all the ingredients together. Stir well to make sure that the baking soda is well combined to prevent an after taste

2. Pour into a ceramic bowl or small baking dish that is deep as the bread will rise.

3. Bake in oven at 350F for 15 minutes or till center is set. ( I use toaster oven)
( Or mirowave for 2 minutes on high)

Variation notes: Add one small mashed banana for a quick banana bread.

~bel~

Garlic Top Sirloin Pot Roast in Beer Broth

The BF and I were talking about beef stew in the car and he wondered aloud whether he can pour a can of beer on the stew. Why not ?

I am not surprise that the boy put in a can of beer in our dinner last night.  I have learned that if things will be done if he is stuck in his head.

We have some sirloin beef at home and the boy adapted a recipe (<= click) found in Allrecipe to make a Sirloin tip roast in beer broth :0

The beer in the broth is really refreshing. I could smell the beer as I lifted the lid. The pot roast was perfect... and Yes.. we were both happy with this recipe. So glad that there is leftover for dinner tonight 

Our beer version:

Ingredients:
 1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 (3 pound) top sirloin roast
6 cloves garlic, slivered
6 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
 4 carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 large sweet onions, peeled and chopped
1 cup chicken stock
3 cubes beef bouillon
1 bay leaf
2 large green bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 can beer
4 stalk celery, chopped into 2 inch pieces

 Directions
1. Rub salt, pepper and paprika into the meat. With a small knife, make slits in the roast. Press the garlic slivers into the roast.
2. Place the vegetables in a large slow cooker. Place meat on top of the vegetables.
3. Pour in broth and beer
4.  Place lid on slow cooker, and cook for 6 hours on High, or 8 hours on Low.

`bel~

Pan Fried Pork Chops in Blackberry Sauce

Who can resist the power of Paula Deen ? Guess NO One ! Not even the BF. We were watching her in action on Food Network yesterday.. and the recipe for the day : Pork Chops !

The BF watched it and his initial comment was " we should try this". Next moment, before I could respond, he was already pulling out his iPad and googling  the recipe.  Within 5 seconds..the recipe was in my inbox. This boy is certain efficient when it comes to recipes :0

We were on our way to our evening run when he commented that we should try making the recipe for dinner. I guess Paula Deen and her pork chops must be in his head since he saw her in action :).  We did not have blackberry and white wine at home. So we agreed that we will replaced it with strawberry and red wine.

We were heading back from our run when he decided to stop by the grocery store to get stuff... and of course.. blackberry and white wine for the pork chops !

And yes.. it was 9pm when we reached home. I was all ready to go bed but the boy is all ready to make dinner. His enthusiasm sometimes surprised me.

We did not use the seasoning in the recipe. The boy has his own seasoning which we like so we use our own seasoning.

It was worth the wait... it turns out delicious.... I could see more of this on the table for next few weeks :)

Ingredients:
4 (6-ounce) 3/4-inch thick bone-in pork chops
The Lady and Sons House Seasoning, recipe follows ( we use our own seasoning)
 4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup canola oil ( we use olive oil)
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 cups blackberries
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves ( we use dry thyme)
 Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions
1. Sprinkle the chops with a generous amount of seasoning.
2. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the butter and oil and swirl until the butter is melted. Sear the chops, in two batches if necessary, until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to a paper towel-lined plate.

 

3. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the wine, and return it to the heat. Simmer, scraping up the brown bits, until the wine has mostly evaporated, 4 to 6 minutes. Whisk in the blackberries and honey and cook until the berries are soft and falling apart, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the thyme and adjust seasoning.

 
4.  Reduce the heat to low and add the pork chops, overlapping them in the pan. Baste the chops well with the sauce, cover, and cook until warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Serve with lemon wedges.

The Lady and Sons House Seasoning:
1 cup salt 1/4 cup pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
1/4 cup onion powder

 Combine all the ingredients. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months

~bel~