Saturday

Breakfast:
*Green Chili Bagel w/Egg (from Einstein Bros. Bagel)
Coffee

I have no idea what got into me...I'm blaming the 19 degree, morning CrossFit WOD. And, no...it wasn't any warmer inside. I haven't had a bagel in more than two years...I can actually remember the last time- it was the Summer of 2008, my aunt, uncle, cousins, Scott, and I went out to CA to visit my Mom and Mark (we have an annual Whiskeytown Lake patio boat trip). It's sort of an unspoken tradition to eat bagels with cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, and tomato...that's the last time. And, for some reason I wanted one today...so, we got one.

Lunch:
Leftover Red Curry w/Vegetables (this curry gets better everyday, as the flavors meld...but, unfortunately, I've already eaten all of the seafood)
Grilled Buffalo Burger w/Heirloom Lettuce

CrossFit Workout:
Row 500M
Run 400M
Three Minutes of Jumprope
~and~

Front Squats
65lb(5x)-85(5x)-95(3x)-100(3x)-105(3x)-110(1x)-115(1x)-120(1x)
~and~

"The Bear Complex"
3x5 of:
Deadlift (65lb for all movements, without releasing grip)
Hang Clean
Front Squat
Push Press
Back Squat
Jerk

*No, bagels are not Paleo.

New Year's Eve

The tradition in our family is to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day...a tradition that sort of peaked my interest and got me thinking about other "Lucky Foods" we might add to our good luck arsenal. I've been a Martha Stewart fan for a lot of years and knew she could help me out. Here's what I found.

*Warning: The meals you are about to view are not Paleo!

And, this is what I made:

Brined Pork Tenderloin with Apple Chutney and Sour Mash Sauce

w/ Sweet Potato Gratin

(Scott's Meal)

 Heirloom Lettuce w/Roasted Beets, Seared Scallops, Goat Cheese, and Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette

 (My meal)

 

 Apple Tart Tatin

Twelve Grapes at Midnight

So, to break it down...Scott ate pork (because of its fat, it is served to bring a New Year rich with happiness), I had scallops (I'm not sure if this will prove to offer me any extra luck, but this site says that fish is lucky...and regardless of their luck-inspiring powers, they taste really great), I ate the beet greens leftover from my roasted beets (their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune), and we both ate our twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight...I'm pretty sure I chowed mine down within the first twelve seconds! As for the Apple Tart Tatin...it may be far-fetched, but apples are circular...right!? And finally, for New Year's Day...we will be eating black-eyed peas. Not Paleo, but I'll only be eating enough to get the good luck flowing...because January 1, I'm back on track! Hopefully, all of this eating will bring us good luck in the New Year! :)

My Week in the Great NorthWest

Scott and I traveled to Portland, OR to spend Christmas with his family and, although I was not completely out of control, my Paleo lifestyle was not in full effect during this trip.We were all over the place, visiting friends and family, but for the most part we did a pretty good job of eating clean. As far as working out was concerned, we only did it once. Here's how it went down:

Tuesday:
We got into Portland around 2pm (CT) and were both starving, so we headed to Burgerville for hamburgers and yam fries. I ordered the Burgerville Classic Hamburger (no mayo, no bun, extra lettuce). Their motto is "Fresh. Local. Sustainable."...very cool! They use local, seasonal ingredients and even offer compostable cups! Gotta love it!

That night we headed to the coolest bar you'll ever step foot in...The Buffalo Gap. Along with my *beers, I ordered the Mixed Green Salad w/Blackened Wild Salmon (no dressing, squeeze of lemon). Overall...a pretty good day of eating.
 
Wednesday:
This morning we headed over to Manzanita, OR. On our way out we stopped by the Buffalo Gap for some breakfast. I'm consistently surprised by the food here! I ordered The Hang Town Fry (no bacon, no cheese)...nothing like oysters and eggs for breakfast!

We ate a late breakfast, so we stopped for a coffee and then held out for Grandma Betty's homemade meal...totally worth the wait! She made Wild Coho Salmon (caught by Scott's uncle Rick), twice-baked potatoes (I haven't had these since I was little and loved every un-Paleo bite!), and a mixed green salad.

(Me and Grandma Betty)

Thursday:
We had a bowl of fruit for breakfast and then wandered into town for some shopping and perusing. Lunch was eaten at The Sand Dune Pub. We ordered a burger The Shaun Burger and side of lettuce...I wrapped one of the burger patties (no cheese) and veggies in a few lettuce leafs, and Scott ate the rest. I also enjoyed a Mac N' Jack Amber (really good stuff!) and some Oregon State Video Poker...after all was said and done, we were up $13. All in a day's work!

Dinner was actually finger foods at Grandma Betty's house. I think I must have eaten about 1/2lb of boiled shrimp and a bunch of Rick and Karen's (Scott's aunt and uncle) smoked Coho Salmon. We also got a bunch of cheeses to nibble on and some really amazing (non-Paleo...unfortunately) cracker/crips, Raincoast Crisps. We got the *Rosemary Raisin Pecan crisps and ate them with a little smearing of *Rogue River Blue Cheese...ridiculously good!

The Cereghino Family (well...our portion):

Scott, Me, Tony, Nicole, Larry, Sara, Emma, Becky

Friday (Christmas Day):
This morning we headed for the farm, for the annual Christmas ravioli feed. Scott's aunt Nancy makes the raviolis and his mom, Becky makes the sauce (you can see them pictured below [thank you, Sara, for taking pictures!]...in the lower left corner)...a tradition that the family looks forward to all year. They make pounds and pounds of ravioli, so that there are enough to feed 20+ family members three times over...while still leaving leftovers, of course! I have a little sampling of *ravioli and then eat a huge helping of roasted brussels sprouts and salad. Oh, and this really great smoked Steelhead that Tony (Scott's brother) caught and smoked. I was hoping to get my hands on some more...maybe he'll send me some...hint, hint...

 Christmas at the Cereghino Family Farm

(just a small sampling of the food buffet)

After our late lunch/early dinner, we headed to our friend's (Troy And Alicia) for Christmas cocktail hour.

Saturday:
This morning we woke up late and  Becky made us scrambled eggs with peppers and onions. After breakfast, we headed to the local 24 Hour Fitness to get our blood flowing. They have a little area of the gym blocked off for CrossFit-friendly workouts; they've got two rowers, pull-up bars (not as sturdy as the one I built, I must say), and a few plyo boxes. Pretty cool! 

As for food, we didn't eat very heavy the rest of the day, knowing that we would be headed to Basta's for some good, authentic Italian food. Here's what I ate:

Carpaccio- Thinly sliced angus sirloin served dressed w/ arugula (my first experience...and, it was so good!)
Calamari alla Griglia- Grilled pacific calamari dry rubbed with oregano
*Arancini- Southern style rice fritter stuffed with mozzarella, zucchini and eggplant (just a little bite, but only because I was trying to save some for the others...)

Beet Salad- Organic beets served with baby watercress and fresh ricotta in a balsamic vinaigrette

Ciuppin- The original cioppino from the Ligurian coast made with seasonal seafood
Grilled Tuscan Kale

And, a lot of Italian red wine...it's good for the heart...right!?

Sunday:
We went to Scott's all-time favorite pizza place, Pietro's, for lunch today. I had a *personal pizza with artichoke hearts and fresh tomato. This is some seriously good pizza and totally worth every crispy, dough-filled bite!

Dinner was thai food at our friend's (Courtney and Brian aka Iggy) house. I had *Panang Curry w/Seafood (no rice) and Vegetables w/*Peanut Sauce. Yes, I realize that peanuts (in both the Panang and the Vegetables) are not Paleo, but I already ate pizza, so...

Monday:
We traveled home this morning. I picked up a Greek salad (no croutons, no feta) from Zupan's the night before, so I was good to go for our travels. I also drank a Very Green (celery, spinach, parsley, kale, romaine, sunflower sprouts, clover sprouts, spirulina) drink from Trader Joe's, to get some extra veggies into my system.

So, there you have it...not too bad for a week of Holiday travels! 

"Cheats" are marked with an (*)

Friday

Breakfast:
Two Egg Frittata w/Zucchini and Spinach
Flaxseed Muffin

Lunch:
Spinach Salad w/Roasted Butternut Squash, Dried Cranberries, and Pecans

Dinner:
Seafood Chowder w/Curry
Sweet Potato Gratin

Libations:
Too many Newcastles
And, a taste of Anheuser-Busch's new gluten-free beer, Redbridge (still not Paleo, but gluten-free nonetheless)

CrossFit Workout:
Three Minutes of Jumprope
50 Mountain Climbers
30 Sit Ups
~and~

800M Run
50 Double Unders
30 Burpees
200M Farmers Walk (25lb Kettlebells)
~and~

Practice on:
Power Cleans (95lb)
Clean and Jerk (95lb)
~and~

And, my first...Dead-Hang Pull Up!!!

Weekend Cooking and Eating

The Weekend in Review:

Savory Tart w/Sauteed Leeks, Zucchini, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Vine-Ripened Tomato, Rosemary, Thyme, and Goat Cheese

This tart wasn't completely Paleo, as I added goat cheese...I had been missing the tanginess, the creaminess, and the all around tastiness of goat cheese...so, I decided to add it. I made this tart on Friday; I gave a generous slice to my friend, Julie, and ate the rest over the weekend

Lemon-Blueberry Muffins
(inspired by Elana's Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins)

¼ cup coconut flour
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
¼ cup raw honey
¼ cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries (look for small blueberries)

1. In a medium bowl, combine coconut flour, salt and baking soda
2. In a large bowl, blend together eggs, honey, oil and lemon zest
3. Blend dry ingredients into wet
4. Fold in blueberries
5. Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of batter into each lined mini muffin cup
6. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes
7. Cool and serve

Makes about about 24 mini-muffins

I found beautiful golden beets at Whole Foods yesterday and decided to create this salad with them.

Here's what I did:

Heirloom Lettuce w/Roasted Beets, Pecans, Goat Cheese, and Vinaigrette
Serves 1

Ingredients:
Two handfuls of heirloom lettuce or mixed greens
3 Golden Beets, rinsed, peeled, and trimmed
Small handful organic pecans (I love these, from Tree Grace Farms)
1 oz. goat cheese
2 T. EVOO

Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 T. walnut oil
2 T. EVOO
1 T. fresh dill, chopped (plus more for garnish, if desired)
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Toss the whole beets with 2 T. EVOO, sea salt, and pepper. Wrap with aluminum foil and roast at 400F for one hour. Remove from oven and let cool. Slice into wedges or thin slices.

In the bottom of a salad bowl, whisk together lemon juice, oils, dill, salt, and pepper. Add remaining ingredients and toss. Garnish with additional dill fronds. Serve.


I also made an authentic Italian Bolognese, from Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking, with homemade fresh pasta (an experiment for my trip to Portland, to visit Scott's fam)...definitely not Paleo-friendly, but I did have a bite...SO GOOD!!! I happily ate my Roasted Beet salad, while Scott and our friends, Keith and Julie, enjoyed my pasta creation. That's okay...I had plenty of wine to make up for it.

And, today...as a sort of cleansing:

Smoothie w/Spinach (8oz.), Two Carrots, Mango, Blueberries, and Pineapple

Flaxseed Muffins w/Coconut, Dried Cherries (unsweetened, no oil), and Pumpkin Seeds

Saturday

Libations:
*Three Newcastles (while tailgating)

Snack:
*1/2 Slice of Papa John's Cheese Pizza (@ the SMU-Tulane game)

Dinner:
Two Eggs Scrambled w/Avocado Oil, Spinach, Asparagus, Zucchini, and Tomatoes

We went to the SMU football game today and didn't eat before heading out for pregame tailgating...not a good idea. I was totally hungry by the time the game started (2pm) and had absolutely no self-control. The few bites of pizza stopped the growling, but left me feeling not so good and pretty bloated. I'm usually a lot better about packing something to eat, or at least eating before heading out...knowing that food options will likely be limited. I don't eat meat (other than seafood and my random dabblings with buffalo or wild game), so I should know better than to head out tailgating without my own food. Oh well...next time. We had a great time, regardless of my food dilemma. Go Mustangs!

Thanksgiving

Breakfast:

Two Scrambled Eggs w/Zucchini, Asparagus, and Basil

Smoothie w/Water, Spinach, Banana, Frozen Blueberries, Strawberries, Mango, and Pineapple

Dinner:

Mixed Greens w/Crab, Avocado, Grapefruit, Celery, and Grapefruit-Chive Vinaigrette

Small Slice of Butternut Squash Lasagna* (made with my homemade fresh pasta)

Sauteed Green Beans w/Garlic

Roasted Carrots and Parsnips w/Thyme

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

*Yes, this was a "cheat" for the day.

Everyone else ate turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing (stuffing outside of the bird), gravy, homemade cranberry sauce (except for Scott...he likes the canned stuff with lines for easy cutting...), lots of veggies, and my homemade butternut squash.

We had Scott's family in town for the week, and while I stuck to my Paleo eating, I didn't want to force it upon them...but, here are a few ideas for next year's meal or any other holiday gatherings you may find yourself cooking for this year:

Turkey Rubbed w/Truffle Oil, Sea Salt, Pepper, Sage, and Garlic

-I will usually rub 1/2-1 full stick of softened butter, mixed with sea salt, pepper, and sage, under the skin of my turkey (breast side)...this year I added a little black truffle oil; to make this a little more Paleo-friendly, try a mixture of 1/4 C. extra-virgin olive oil and 1/8 C. truffle oil, infused with garlic and sage (over low heat, cook the oils with 5+ whole, smashed cloves of garlic and about 12 sage leaves). To the cooled mixture, add generous amounts of sea salt and pepper. Rub under the skin and on the skin for a moist, flavorful, crispy-skinned turkey.

I always stuff my bird with 3-4 quartered yellow onions and 2-3 halved garlic bulbs, tossed in EVOO, lots of sea salt and pepper. I also cook at 500F for the first 45 minutes and then 325F for the remainder of the cooking time. Cook until the internal temp is 150F (the turkey will continue to cook once covered) and cover with foil, to rest, for 30 minutes and you will have a super moist, juicy bird every time!

Stuffing/Dressing*

(this is a version of my Mom and Aunt Cindy's stuffing...always a hit!)

1lb. Organic Ground Pork Sausage w/Sage (I found mine at Whole Foods, but a good, less Paleo-friendly sausage is Jimmy Dean)

1 Yellow Onion, finely chopped

3 Cloves of Garlic, minced

3 Carrots, diced

2 Celery Stalks, diced

1/4lb. Baby Portabella Mushrooms, chopped

2 Loaves of Gluten-Free Bread 2.0, small cubed

Sea Salt

Pepper

1 C. Organic, Free-Range Chicken Broth

Heat oven to 350F. Bake the bread cubes for approximately 30 minutes, or until dry and crunchy. Set aside to cool.

Over medium-high heat, brown the sausage. Add browned sausage to a large mixing bowl. Saute remaining vegetables, except mushrooms, with a little sea salt and pepper. Add to the bowl with the sausage. Add EVOO and saute mushrooms, until brown. Add to bowl with veggies and sausage. Stir in bread cubes. Add chicken broth until just moistened (may be a little less than 1 cup) and combine. Pour mixture into a 2-3 qt. baking dish. Cover, with foil or a lid, and cook at 350F for 30-45 minutes.

*I brown the turkey neck and nestle it into the dressing to impart the turkey flavor, as I don't stuff my bird.

Pureed Cauliflower w/EVOO and Sea Salt

Steam the cauliflower florets in chicken stock, until fork tender. Puree with EVOO and sea salt.

Acorn Squash Rings Glazed with Maple & Orange

This recipe is amazing! Try it!!! Substitute coconut oil/butter for the butter and make sure to use real organic maple syrup. So good!

Gravy

Try a little arrowroot powder, in place of the usual flour, for thickening.

Roasted Carrots and Parsnips w/Thyme (photo from Williams-Sonoma...not me this time!)

Update

After an emotionally and physically draining week in California, I am finally making the time to update...this was my week of eating, at a glance (my "cheats" or non-Paleo eating is marked with an *):

Wednesday:
Two Egg Whites and One Egg
Naked Green Machine

Grilled Vegetable Salad (no corn or vinaigrette) w/Grilled Salmon at CPK

Wild Venison (courtesy of my cousin Katelyn and her boyfriend Ty)
Sauteed Green Beans w/Garlic
Homemade Caesar Salad w/Avocado

Thursday:
One Egg w/Toasted Nutty Bread (I made a loaf to take with me)

Seabass en Papillote w/Butternut Squash, Leeks, Carrots, and Celery
Roasted Fennel
Mixed Greens w/Avocado, Grapefruit, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, and Grapefruit-Chive Vinaigrette

Grapefruit-Chive Vinaigrette:
1/2 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 C Snipped Fresh Chives
Juice of Two Grapefruits
Sea Salt and Black Pepper

Friday:
Toasted Nutty Bread w/Avocado, Tomato, Cucumber, and Lettuce
"Bran" Muffin w/Cranberries and Shredded Unsweetened Coconut (courtesy of my Mom)

My Mom got this recipe from my favorite gluten-free, almond flour blog, Elana's Pantry...she mixed it up a bit by adding the cranberries and coconut. So incredibly good!

Roasted Butternut Squash, Carrots, Beets, and Brussels Sprouts
Leftover Seabass

Saturday:
Two Eggs w/Toasted Nutty Bread
"Bran" Muffin

*Double Short Nonfat Latte w/One Pump SF Vanilla
*Sugar-Free Red Bull

Yellowtail and Salmon Sashimi
Shrimp Head (weird...)

Sunday:
Toasted Nutty Bread w/Avocado
"Bran" Muffin

*Double Short Nonfat Latte w/One Pump SF Vanilla
*Sugar-Free Red Bull

Although these caffeinated beverages were likely wreaking havoc on our bodies, they were a welcome treat for our mentally depleted minds.

*Seven Layer Burrito (no guacamole, extra lettuce) from Taco Bell

Salad w/Grilled Shrimp, Tomato, and Avocado (no dressing or tortilla shell) at La Tapatia

Monday:
*Double Short Nonfat Latte w/One Pump SF Vanilla

*Eggplant Parmesan (my Mom made this creation using all fresh vegetables from her garden, including eggplant, tomatoes, and zucchini. Amazing!)
Mixed Greens w/Avocado, Grapefruit, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, and Grapefruit-Chive Vinaigrette

The Eggplant Parmesan could easily be made Paleo by dredging the eggplant in almond flour, instead of flour, and by omitting the parmesan and mozzarella...she used a light hand in this creation, but it is still considered a "cheat".

Tuesday:

Striped Bass w/White Wine, Garlic, and Cilantro (caught and prepared by my uncle Randy...yes, we have a family of fabulous cooks!!!)Cauliflower

Wednesday:
Grilled Trout w/Sauteed Vegetables

Yellowtail and Salmon Sashimi
Seaweed Salad

*Frozen Yogurt

Thursday:
*Vegetable Scramble w/Zucchini and Goat Cheese
*One Slice of Rye Toast

Mom and I ate at this great restaurant in Lafayette, Chow. Their food is fresh, organic, and just plain delicious. By far the best breakfast I have ever eaten out!

Naked Green Machine

Two Poached Eggs

For the most part, I ate pretty well...but, there were many days that I simply didn't eat, due to circumstances out of my control. During a time when eating well would have been incredibly beneficial, I often chose the path of least resistance...leaving me suffering the physical consequences. But, I am back on track and am feeling a little less out of sorts.

Chicago Day 4

Lunch (at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab):
Mixed Green Salad
Stone Crab Bisque (definitely some cream in this one...)
Stone Crab Claws (YUM!!!)

http://www.joes.net/chicago

This place is pretty amazing! If you've never had stone crab, I've been told (and am now a believer) that this is the place that you have to go!

Dinner (Shaw's Crab House):
Oysters
Oven Roasted Florida Red Grouper w/Pumpkin Seed Crust and Delicata Squash Puree

http://www.shawscrabhouse.com/

Chicago Day 2

Lunch (at Lou Malnati's):
Personal Chicago-Style Pizza ("The Lou" w/Spinach, Mushrooms, and Roma Tomatoes)

http://loumalnatis.com/

So...we sort of had to! We visited the popular pizza place, "Lou Malnati's" just so that we could experience Chicago-style pizza...so, we did it and now we've got that out of our systems...great place, but think if I'm going to be eating pizza...it's going to be thin crust...I should probably wait to get back home before posting that...

Dinner (at Fulton's in the River):
Seafood Tower w/Shrimp, Oysters, Crab Legs, and Tuna Tartare
Seafood Cioppino

Fulton's "Famous" Banana Cream Pie* (just a couple bites)

http://www.fultonsontheriver.com/

*Another non-Paleo item I just had to try! I LOVE banana cream pie, and more specifically the Ruth's Chris version with the thin flaky crust and banana-white chocolate mousse filling and bruleed bananas...seriously amazing! Anyway...when I saw that the Fulton's version was made with NutterButter cookie (probably my favorite cookie ever...that I haven't had in who knows how many years...) crust, I had to at least give it a sampling...so, I did! Crazy good!

Going to Chicago!

Breakfast (Pre-Airport):
Juice of 1 Large (Huge) Beet, 2 Carrots, 1 lb. of Spinach (yes...that's ALOT!), and 1 Macintosh Apple

Breakfast (at the Airport):
2 Eggs

Lunch:
Shrimp Spiedini (Grilled Skewered Shrimp w/Roasted Eggplant, Red Onions, and Bell Peppers)

We ate at The Macaroni Grill, while waiting for a friend to pick us up from the airport...not too bad.

Dinner:
Grilled Filet w/Asparagus and a Sampling of John's (Scott's friend) Famous Potato Gratin

We also had a couple of Smoked Salmon appetizers (sliced, toasted baguette, with a touch of lemon-chive sour cream and smoked salmon) that he made...so very good, but totally not Paleo! :) Oh well, pretty darned good for a day of travel and eating with friends!

Maui Day 6

Breakfast:
Naked "Superfood"

Lunch:
Leftover Pizza Slice
A Big Pile of Lettuce (and a couple bites of some ahi tuna that was WAY over cooked)

We lounged by the pool today and when we got back to the room and just sort of munched on chips and pico de gallo while we watched the sunset. The ironic thing is that I bought Loren Cordain's Paleo book today...the day I decide to just cram all sorts of crap into my body...nice. Well, on a positive note, I feel really funky this morning (Sunday) so... And, another thing...I'm not even really that excited about pizza and chips so, I basically just ate them because they were there...no alcohol to blame for this, just lack of willpower...but, it's a new day and I just need some fresh veggies! Grilled fish and vegetables...

We didn't do a workout today, per se, but we are becoming quite the entertainment for the other lounging guests. We bought a little mini football and a set of paddles to play paddle ball so today, we played for our exercise! :) I think the guests are impressed by my spiral...well, one older gentleman said I could go pro...I'm just saying...we're still working on our paddle ball game.

Maui Day 5

Breakfast:
Three Egg White Omelet w/Spinach, Mushrooms, and Tomato
Smoothie w/Mixed Berries, Papaya, Pineapple, and Mango

We found this great breakfast/lunch spot in our Frommer's book called CJ's, right up the road from our hotel. The food was fresh and really inexpensive.

Snack:
Julia's Best Banana Bread (moist, delicious, and fresh from the oven...totally worth the drive!!!)

I say, "Worth the drive", as I was the passenger...so, thank you to Scott for making the trek for me! :) He doesn't even like banana bread...

Lunch:
Smoked Salmon Belly

I got my salmon belly at the same store that Scott picked up his authentic Pork Laulau and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad...there were ALOT of other crazy options that we decided to steer clear from (for example, pork liver, intestines, fried ahi "parts"...). I love salmon belly, so I was really happy with my purchase! Not only was it tasty, it's also a good source of Omega-3 and healthy fats.

Dinner:
Three Medium Round Table Pizza Slices w/Zucchini, Spinach, and Tomatoes

Yeah...I regretted this food choice immediately after consumption. My stomach was just not quite right after all of the dough. Ughhh...oh well...it was really tasty! This is Scott's #2 favorite pizza (behind #1 Pietro's in Portland, OR) so, when he saw that they had them here...we really had no other option than to go for it (fortunately this is not a Texas chain, so it can be more of an indulgence than a normal occurrence)!

Scott's Pork Laulau:

On the road to get our Banana Bread (from Julia's Best Banana Bread Stand) and Scott's Pork Laulau...it was treacherous (a one-lane "road" on the side of a cliff for 3-5 miles of the journey!), but well worth the drive!

How much do these cows love life!?

Paleo Day 27

Lunch:

Two Eggs

Apple

Dinner:

King Crab Legs

Seared Scallops w/Butternut Squash Puree

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Carrots

King Crab Legs were not a part of my original menu plan, but as you can see...these were pretty hard to pass up. I was in the seafood section, at Whole Foods, and was sort of mesmerized by these bad boys...they're each like two feet long!

If you've never liked or tried roasted brussel sprouts and/or carrots, you should definitely do it! The roasting caramelizes the veggies and just makes them so incredibly tasty. So, here's how you do it:


Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts:

Preheat your oven to 400F. While your oven is preheating, peel your carrots and then cut them, at an angle (not necessary, but more visually appealing), in to 1-2" pieces. Also trim the funky outer leaves and bottom off of the brussel sprouts and cut in half (cutting the stem in half). Spread the trimmed veggies on a baking sheet and toss with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt to lightly coat. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes or until the veggies start to char a little, but are still firm. This is what they will look like:

I also made Filet Mignon, Roasted Asparagus, and Potato-Mushroom Strudels w/Dill Cream Sauce for Scott's BIRTHDAY!!! Though I was tempted to cheat with those delicious strudels, I stuck to my Paleo eating in order to cheat with...this:

And, this:

CrossFit Workout:

None...I won't even call this a "Rest Day"...I just didn't do anything. Tomorrow! :)

Paleo Day 21

Brunch:
Eggs Benedict w/Savory Waffle and Two Poached Eggs
Fruit Salad

Another major cheat here...I make a pretty amazing (if I do say so myself) eggs benedict with savory (potato, gruyere cheese, and chive) waffles...which I just couldn't forgo. I know that there will always be excuses, and that one week before Hawaii I probably should have/could have been stronger :), but I wasn't. So, I ate one quarter of a waffle with two poached eggs and one tablespoon of homemade hollandaise...bad, but not horrendous. And, I say bad, but I also realize that I need to be realistic...I will certainly suffer the digestive consequences of this decision, but I enjoyed the making and consumption of this treat..and know that I will not likely do it again until either Easter or Mother's Day 2010...so...I'm okay with that. Besides...I made up for it at dinner and am hoping that my fiber-filled dinner will help move this wad of dairy and gluten (that's funny...I almost spelled that as "glutton"...ironic) through my digestive tract. Yeah...nice.

Dinner:
Spinach w/Avocado, Tomato, Asparagus, Egg, and Lemon-EVOO Dressing

CrossFit Workout:
Rest Day

Paleo Day 20

Breakfast:
Toasted "Nutty Bread" w/Two Eggs Over Easy
Smoothie w/Orange, Peach, Mango, Blueberries, Strawberries, Spinach, and Banana

Lunch:
1/2 Taco Bell Seven Layer Burrito

Yes, I realize that this is absolutely, positively not Paleo in any way, shape, or form...my only excuse...Scott and I were out shopping and Taco Bell was convenient...although, I was only able to eat half of a burrito which would have normally been engulfed without a second thought. I don't normally eat fast food, but if I do (once a month at most) Taco Bell's Seven Layer burrito with extra lettuce would be my choice...this time however, I was barely able to finish half of my burrito before feeling uncomfortably full and well, sort of blah...must have been the beans, grains (in the form of processed white flour tortilla), and dairy that I've been avoiding for the past few weeks...

Dinner:
Lettuce Wrapped Buffalo Burger

CrossFit Workout:
Rest Day

Paleo Day 10

Breakfast:
Fritatta w/Zucchini, Asparagus, Spinach, Corn, and Basil*
Toasted "Nutty Bread" w/Raw Honey**

*In Scott's, I added organic, free-range chicken sausage, that I found at Whole Foods, and omitted the corn.

**I used 1/2 tsp., which may or may not be Paleo, but is really so good on this bread!

Tip: I used oversized muffin tins to make these individual fritattas. They can be refrigerated and reheated...perfect for Scott's travels or for hectic mornings.

I found the "Nutty Bread" recipe here: http://www.elanaspantry.com/nutty-bread/

I ground the nuts a little less than coarse and omitted the agave nectar...my bread turned out perfect!

Lunch:
Smoothie w/Water, Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Mango, Peach, Spinach, Banana, and Freshly Ground Flax Seeds
1/2 Apple w/Almond Butter

Dinner:
Scallops w/Butternut Squash Puree and Microgreens (Dressed w/Lemon and EVOO)

CrossFit Workout:

30 Jumping Jacks

20 Mountain Climbers
10 Burpees

Two Rounds of:

12 Right Arm Push Press (15lbs)

12 Left Arm Deadlifts (45lbs)

Run 400M

12 Left Arm Push Press

12 Right Arm Deadlifts (45lbs)

Run 400M

~and~

CrossFit Total

Shoulder Press (75lbs)

Back Squat (135lbs)

Deadlift (210lbs)

Paleo Day 6

Breakfast:
Smoothie w/Water, Spinach, Banana, Strawberries, Blueberries, Mango, Peach, and Fish Oil (fresh cold-pressed and really nice tasting...lemony!)

Lunch:
Lettuce Wrapped Buffalo Burger w/Caper Aioli and Tomato
Mixed Greens w/Cucumber, Tomato, Bell Pepper, and Oil & Vinegar

Dinner:
Scallops w/Butternut Squash Puree, Roasted Beets, Sunflower Sprouts, and Frisee (Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa)
~and~
Libations*
Grey Goose Martini
Glass of Newton Claret
Peach-Jalapeno Martini
Pouring of 20yr Port

*We were there for a few hours...

I'm pretty sure that the scallops were seared in butter, but I didn't feel it necessary to ask for them to modify (using oil instead of butter) this amazing dish in any way. One of the best, most flavorful meals I've had in a while! SOOO GOOD!!!

Workout:
Rest Day