Sunday, January 6, 2013

Roasted Root Vegetables

Mom and I went to the grocery store last night to get a few things. It's been a while since she stocked up on even the basics, so we took our time looking around. Mom had her buggy and I had mine. I decided I wanted to try something a little different, go I googled "root vegetable recipes". Much to my surprise the very first recipe I came to was exactly what I wanted to make ... With one exception. The recipe called for white potatoes and I try to avoid them, so I decided to substitute another root vegetable ... Beets! 
I've always thought of beets as something that comes in a jar, pickled. I've eaten them, but they've never been a favorite of mine. While Conrad and I were at our favorite resort on Roatan ... CoCo View Resort, we met a wonderful couple named Mark and Claire. It didn't take us long to find many, many things in common ... Including Paleo! To make a long story short, Claire told me how delicious roasted beets are, so I decided to give them another try. Roasted beets are delicious!!!

Here's what I used:
1/2 large Rutabaga
3 Parsnips
3 Carrots
3 Beets
1 Sweet Potato
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried Basil
1/4 teaspoon Rosemary
1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning

Here's what I did:
1. I washed and peeled all vegetables.
2. Preheated the over to 350 degrees.
3. Sliced the carrots and parsnips. Cubed the sweet potato, rutabaga, and beets.
4. Placed all the vegetables in a 9X13 casserole dish.
5. Sprinkled veggies with pepper, basil, rosemary, and other seasonings.
6. Poured olive oil on top, then stirred veggies to evenly coat them with seasonings and oil.

7. Placed dish in oven and baked for 50 minutes, stirring at 25 minutes. Your oven may vary, so you might want to start checking them for doneness at 40 minutes, depending on how firm your want them to be.

Next time I make this dish ... And, I will make it often ... I will look for young parsnips as the ones I used were rather tough and fibrous. Since there was just two of us eating these yummy vegetables and mom was having leftovers from the night before, we had lots left. I'm thinking about making the rest into a pureed soup tonight. 

PS ... I apologize for the few photos I'm posting ... I only had my iPhone available for documenting this recipe! Next time I make this I'll take more and add them.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

A New Year - A New Food List

A New Food List
 I am going to start this new year with a modified list of foods that are Paleo friendly as well as No/low acid producing foods, as well. This may take me a while to modify, tweak and perfect, but I believe it's totally worth it!

MEATS: 
Beef (limited)
Buffalo
Chicken (limited)
Pork (limited)
Liver/Organ meat
Turkey (limited)

VEGETABLES: (Click: CookingWiser's Vegetable Chart)
Acorn Squash
Artichokes
Asparagus
Bell Peppers – green, yellow & red
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Butternut Squash
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chard
Chicory
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Dandelion 
Fennel Bulb
Jicama
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard Greens
Mushrooms
Okra
Onions
Pink Sorrel
Pumpkin
Spinach 
Sprouted Seeds
Rubarb
Turnip Greens 
Watercress 
Yellow Squash
Zucchini 
ROOTS:
Beets
Carrots
Radishes
Rutabaga
Sweet Potatoes
Turnip
Yams
FRUITS: (Click: CookingWiser's Fruit Chart)
Acai Berries
Apples (limited)
Apricots (limited)
Avocado
Bananas
Black Currants
Blackberries
Blueberries (limited)
Cantaloupe (limited)
Cherries (limited)
Clementines
Coconut (limited)
Cranberries (limited)
Elderberries
Dates
Figs 
Goji Berries
Grapefruit
Grapes (limited)
Kiwi
Lemons
Limes
Mango
Nectarines
Olives
Oranges
Papaya
Peaches (limited)
Pears (limited)
Pineapple (limited)
Plum
Pomegranate (limited)

Purple Grapes
Mandarins (limited)
Mango (limited)
Nectarines
Red Apples
Strawberries
Tangerines
Tomatoes
Watermelon (limited)
Yellow Raisins (limited)
NUTS & SEEDS: 
Almonds
Barley
Carob Powder
Chocolate (limited)
Flax
Hazelnuts
Macadamia (limited)
Pecans (limited)
Pine Nuts
Pumpkin Seeds (limited)
Sunflower
Walnuts (limited)
HERBS: (Click: CookingWiser's Herb Chart)
Arrowroot
Basil
Chervil
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Garam Masala
Lemon Grass
Marjoram
Mint
Oregano Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Savory
Sea Salt  
Tarragon
Thyme
SPICES: (Click: CookingWiser's Spice Chart)
Allspice
Anise
Caraway Seed
Cardamom
Cayenne Pepper
Celery Seed
Chili Pepper
Cinnamon
Clove
Coriander
Cumin
Curry
Fennel Seed
Garlic
Ginger
Mace
Mustard
Nutmeg
Pepper (Black or White)
Poppy Seeds
Saffron
Sesame Seeds
Turmeric
Vanilla
DAIRY: 
Bleu Cheese (limited)
Brie
Cheddar
Cream
Cream Cheese
Eggs
Feta (limited)
Gruyere  (limited)
Homogenized Milk
Mozzarella 
Parmesan  (limited)
Sour Cream (limited)
FATS & OILS: 
Almond Butter
Coconut Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Olive Oil
MILKS: 
Almond
Coconut
FLOURS:
Almond
Coconut 
BREADS:
Almond flour
Coconut flour
Flax seed meal  
Whole Grain  (limited)
Whole Wheat (limited)
SWEETENERS:
Agave Nectar
Honey
Maple Syrup
Stevia
BEVERAGES: 
Water
Chai Tea with Almond Milk 
Green Tea  
FOODS I WILL AVOID:
All Seafood
Artificial Sweeteners
Corn Syrup
Grains
Legumes
Pasta 
Rice 
Starchy Vegetables  
Sugar


In case you missed the category links listed above, for more information with amazing charts about food groups please click on the following:
Herbs: CookingWiser's Herb Chart
Spices: CookingWiser's Spice Chart
Vegetables: CookingWiser's Vegetable Chart
Fruits: CookingWiser's Fruit Chart

Friday, January 4, 2013

2013 - Another New Year

2013 - Happy New Year, Everyone!!

Well, another year came and went at lightning speed. I'm not sure how that happens, but I wish time would slow down some! I started 2012 off with lots and lots of recipes on my blog, then got super busy with life. I did try lots of new recipes, but I'm yet to post them. Look for those to be added soon!

Part of the reason I've not posted anything during the past few months is because my dad is quite ill and is going through treatment for cancer. Dad is 88 years old and has always been my rock ... My hero. Seeing him go through all of this has been an eye opener for our family. I've been doing research to find the best healing and preventative foods, so look for upcoming recipes using those foods. 

Not only has our family been dealing with cancer, but both of my parents suffer from chronic indigestion and acid reflux. Mom went to the doctor today after a bout with shooting chest pains. The doctor suggested she resume taking her OTC antacid. I'm not buying that ... She needs to adjust her diet. So, I'm also going to use a lot of low-acid-producing foods, as well. 

You know what? I think this is going to be an exciting, interesting challenge! Please follow along as we journey down this healing road together!