Paleo Cheat List

Lately as we approach the holiday season, I have been thinking about all of the desserts, candies, pastries, meals, and goodies that I no longer eat. Don't get me wrong, I am so happy to eat according to Paleo principles, but I would be lying if I said I haven't been dreaming about Turtles Chocolates.

It really helps to resist these temptations by getting it off my chest. I want to be honest and transparent. I want to help other people understand that it's okay to have these feelings. You don't have to be perfect all the time.

So I've made my Paleo cheat list.

Paleo Cheat List

1. Doritos Cool Ranch
2. All Dressed Ruffles 
3. 5-cent candies
4. White rice 
5. Popcorn
6. Tomato-basil rice cakes
7. Garlic bread
8. Thick cut french fries
9. Yogurt covered raisins
10. Wine gums

I will continue to add to this list. If you have any big ticket wish list items please let me know.

Happy eating!

Paleo Recipes

Beef Heart with Roasted Vegetables

I know what you're thinking...a cow heart?!! Gross! 

But I just hope that you try this recipe. Please leave comments, would love to see how it turns out!

Beef heart - very lean and tender

Thinly sliced

You can see how thin I sliced it

Marinated for 10 minutes 

Close up of marinating heart

Pan-fried in Ghee on high for 4min per side

Chopped broccoli, cabbage, onion - drizzled w/olive oil and oregano

Beef heart and veggies baked at 400° for 20minutes

Beef heart is done

Beef heart served with spicy mustard and radishes

Ingredients

1 beef heart thinly sliced

1 broccoli chopped

1 cup cabbage shredded

1 onion chopped

Marinade

3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp coarse sea salt
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp cayenne

Slice beef heart really thinly with a sharp knife. Cover with marinade and let sit for at least 10 minutes. In a separate bowl toss your vegetables in olive oil with a bit of no-salt seasoning. 

On a large cookie sheet place your marinated beef heart slices and far enough apart put your veggies. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. 

Serve with spicy mustard and radishes. 

My confession

I was talking to my roommate tonight about something that happened on Friday night. So Friday was my graduation day. I completed a peroperative nursing certificate and a group of us went out to celebrate. We were at dinner and I, true to my strict Paleo obedience, ordered ribs and vegetables. I'm not sure exactly, but I guess it was the half bottle of wine and excitement from the day, that possessed me to grab a piece of garlic bread and eat it.

I put that piece of garlic bread in my mouth and I (vaguely) remember being in complete bliss. I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed as I was eating that buttery piece of bread. It tasted like heaven would. Everyone at the table was shocked to see me eat a piece of bread, and to be honest, I am still shocked by the whole thing.

So it's now two days later, and I am still really stressed out by this whole thing. I feel like I betrayed myself. I feel angry with myself. But I also feel like why can't I just get over it. You ate a piece of bread. So what.

Unfortunately, I'm very hard on myself to the point of a bit obsessive compulsive. Usually, no matter how many glasses of wine I have, I still maintain my Paleo rules. I will generally eat a bunch of almonds, buy some beef jerky, or eat some frozen peaches.

I guess I needed to get this off of my chest. I need to confess my indiscretion, but I also need to learn to allow flaws in myself.

Thanks for listening.

Azin

Paleo Fried Chicken

Ingredients

8 organic chicken drumsticks

3 tbsp ghee

1 tbsp cayenne powder

2 tbsp oregano

2 tbsp thyme

1 tbsp garlic powder

6 tbsp ground flax seed

Preheat oven to 400°C. Cover baking sheet in tin foil and put ghee on top. Place in oven.

Combine all spices together. You can adjust for personal preference. Coat drumsticks and put onto heated baking sheet. 

Bake for 25 minutes, if you want extra crispy then broil at high for 3 minutes at the end. 

Enjoy!