Is Chocolate Paleo?

Chocolate is another one of those areas of debate in the Paleosphere.  Even though there is debate most people that claim to be "Paleo" accept dark chocolate as an acceptable food.  But wait, that doesn't mean just any dark chocolate.

Just to reiterate some thoughts in the Brady Nutrition Paleo Philosophy. A Paleo philosophy is meant to be a framework that coupled with science and self evaluation bring each individual to his own optimal lifestyle.

So where does that leave chocolate from a Brady Nutrition perspective?  The answer is, it depends. Chocolate has been linked to a whole host of positive health benefits. So it's backed by science but there is a catch. Sweet treats, Paleo or not, can be a trigger for many people. Be honest with yourself and if there is a risk that a piece of chocolate is going to send you into a cheat binge of epic proportions, then don't do it. If you do not fall into this category then an occasional piece of the right chocolate can be a great healthy treat.

Not all chocolates are created equal. First look for a cacao percentage somewhere north of 70%.  I try to stay in the 80-85% range.  You also should check out the ingredient list and make sure there is not a lot of added junk.  Many people cringe at chocolate this dark but if you have been Paleo for more than a month or so you are becoming more sensitized to sweet tastes and dark chocolates like these will actually taste much sweeter than you might think, not to mention all the other wonderful complex flavors.

My favorite chocolate is the Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Lovers Chocolate Bar.  It's 85% cacao and it is half the price of similar chocolates. A favorite treat of my wife and I is taking a couple squares and dipping it in some fresh ground almond butter.  It is a wonderful treat that is perfect medicine to curb a craving and good for you at the same time.

Try it out and let me know what you think.

Thanks
Chuck

Quick Mixed Seafood Snack in Cream Sauce

I got up had a few eggs for breakfast, went for a mid-morning run, had a delicious post run shake, and a few minutes later was still starving.  The peanut gallery suggested I make something quick and random for a snack and the blog.  I grabbed a bag of Trader Joe's seafood blend I had recently picked up but wasn't sure what I was going to do with.

This ended up being a pretty tasty snack, although I think the recipe could be refined a lot.  If nothing else this will give you an idea of non-traditional snacks you can whip up quickly when you need a solid Paleo option.

• PREP5 mins
• Cook
  5 mins
• READY IN10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1/2 bag of Trader Joe's seafood blend
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 cup pastured cream
• 1 tbsp homemade butter
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• A pinch of curry powder
• A pinch of lemon zest
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Note: all these measurements are approximate since this was truly on the fly.

Directions:

1. Thaw the seafood in cold water for a few minutes
2. Saute the minced garlic in the coconut oil, butter, thyme, cayenne, salt, and pepper until garlic is browning
3. Add the seafood and cook for about a minute
4. Add the cream, coconut flour, and lemon zest, mix thoroughly and simmer for 5 minutes
5. Pour into a bowl, top with a pinch of curry powder, and tear it up.

The coconut flour made it a little grainy. I might try and find another way to thicken the sauce in the future. All in all it wasn't to shabby.

Enjoy!

Chuck

Oysters Oysters Everywhere!

As part of our paleo lifestyle we have been trying to keep our food simple, fresh, and try as many new things as we can.  I was down at my parents last weekend and picked up some fresh seafood at those shockingly low coastal prices.  A few days later I watched Mathieu Lalonde's presentation on nutrient density and noticed that oysters took a pretty prominent position.

Oysters are an amazing source for several vitamins and minerals.  They are extremely high in vitamin D and very high in iron, B12, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus.  Excellent for getting lean and mean.

During the past week I kept running into those kind of foodie deals on oysters I just couldn't turn down.  First, 1/2 off fresh shucked oysters at the local market meant creating a paleo version of Angels on Horseback. They were far more delicious than I could have imagined and great for the family member that is still a little freaked out by the raw beauties.

Then yesterday, while wondering around in Whole Foods, I spotted a few fresh oysters that looked pretty good. I knew I didn't have a shucking knife so I asked the seafood guy if they had one for sale.  He poked around for a few minutes and couldn't come up with one,  pulled a really nice one out of his coveralls, and told me, "Here take this one no charge". These guys continuously surprise me and know how to keep me coming back.  After that I had to load up on some oysters.  They were as delicious as they look!

If your family is like mine we get in a bit of a routine, hit our standard meat sources, and often over look some of the very nutritious and delicious variety surrounding us.  Some of this variety means leaving the families comfort zone for a meal or two but more often than not the family is surprised by how good the food is.  Oysters and other shell fish were in this category but have now found a place in our rotation, even though I am still the only one that downs the raw guys.

Paleo Hush Puppies

After making some Paleo Angels on Horseback we had a little extra egg wash and almond meal batter and decided to try our hand at some on the fly Paleo Hush Puppies.  These bad boys turned out pretty darn good.  We may have to tweak our recipe a little to be sure they are plenty spicy.  Serve these little guys with any your favorite seafood dishes.

• PREP5 mins
• COOK5 mins
• READY IN10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond meal 
• Your favorite seafood seasoning (AKA Old Bay) to taste
• 2-4 tbsp. olive oil 
• 1 Egg

Directions:

1. Mix almond meal and Old Bay to create the almond meal seafood batter
2. Add batter to the egg wash and mix until you have the consistency of almond butter.
3. Heat a skillet with olive oil to medium heat.
4. Use a spoon to drop in grape to golf ball size lumps.
5. Fry on all sides until crispy brown and serve. 

Paleo Angels on Horseback

My Dad and his friends have been making conventional Angels on Horseback for years, so named by the legendary country cook Mrs. McGrady.  I was recently watching Mathieu Lalonde's presentation on nutrient density and oysters topped the charts. When I saw that oysters were on sale at the market I couldn't resist.  Now let me tell you, these things are absolutely ridiculously delicious and addictive.  If there are people in your family that don't think they'll like them, DO NOT talk them into trying one, agree with them, and thank yourself later that you have a few more for yourself.

I was a little concerned how the almond meal batter would work out but I think in the end these are even better than the conventional version.   I was a little rusty on keeping all the batter on during the fry.  Speaking of keeping the batter on during frying, the refrigeration step is absolutely critical, use a fork to ease each oyster up when ready to flip, don't rush to flip, and in the end if you lose the crispy coating don't worry because they will still be awesome.

• PREP20 mins
• CHILL15 mins
• FRY
  4-6 mins
• BAKE
  5 mins
• READY IN
  45 mins

Ingredients:

• 8oz Jar of oysters
• 1/4 pound of bacon
• 2-4 tbsp. of olive oil
• 1 cup of almond meal
• 1 egg
• Your favorite seafood seasoning (AKA Old Bay) to taste

Directions:

1. Place oysters on paper towels and pat dry
2. Cut bacon into 1/2-1 inch wide by 3 inch long strips
3. Wrap oysters with bacon and skewer with toothpicks
4. Mix your seafood seasoning and almond meal in a bowl to create the almond meal batter
5. Mix a small amount of water with an egg to create the egg wash
6. Dip each bacon wrapped oyster in the egg wash, let drip a little, then roll in the almond flour batter, and place on a cool plate.
7. Put the plate in the fridge for 15 mins. 
8. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan to medium heat
9. Place the oysters in the pan and cook on each side for 2-3 minutes.
10. Remove and place on a cookie sheet and put in a preheated 400 degree oven for 5 min.
11. Remove from the oven and place the little angels on a paper towel covered plate.  
12. Let cool, add a little more seasoning if you like, and serve warm or refrigerate for a cold snack later.
    
    
    NOTE: If you have a little extra egg wash and almond meal batter cook up some Paleo Hush Puppies to go with.
    
    

Zesty Sweet Potato Chips

Sweet potatoes are delicious and incredibly good for you.  We eat sweet potatoes regularly and are always trying new ways to eat them.  This is one very simple and very healthy way to prepare them.  The old bay is just one way to spice them up but you can go with just about anything.  These pretty much go with anything or are great as a snack.

• PREP10 mins
• COOK20 mins
• READY IN30 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 large sweet potato
• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 3 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
• 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Add olive oil, salt and pepper in mixing bowl and set aside. 
3. Cut potatoes into 1/4 inch slices and add to the mixing bowl and toss until coated
4. Place the slices on a cookie sheet and spread them out as even as possible 
5. Cook at 400 degrees  for 10 min. on each side or until the slices are slightly brown on both sides.
6. Place chips on serving plate, sprinkle with Old Bay, and serve.