January 2013
32 posts
6 tags
Whole30 Day 30: Oven-Braised Mexican Beef
It’s Day 30! But before we sprint across the finish line, I have one more recipe to highlight.
This weekend, I’m off to New York to attend my cousin Jennifer’s baby shower. Henry and the kids will man the fort while I’m gone, but they won’t be left to fend entirely for themselves: I’m leaving them a big pot of Oven-Braised Mexican Beef.
Wrapped in lettuce leaves and topped with homemade...
6 tags
Whole30 Day 29: Garbage Stir-Fry with Curried...
I rarely have time to make a big production out of my meals. Between work and parenting (and blogging and app development and — shh! — a new secret project), my cup runneth over. I’m not about to make a special weeknight trip to the market to hunt down some exotic ingredients for a complicated new recipe I found in a cookbook.
Instead, when pressed for time (which is just about...
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Whole30 Day 28: Chile Lime Chicken Wings
A confession: I’m not much of a football fan. But this year, I vow to pay closer attention to the Super Bowl — mostly ‘cause the Niners are in it.
I was a kid during the San Francisco 49ers’ heyday in the 1980s, and watched football on TV every Sunday (and Monday night) with my dad and my grandpa. We’d cheer on Joe Montana (who lived nearby) as he lofted perfect spirals to Dwight...
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Whole30 Day 27: Paleo Chips (Including a New...
Do you have the menu for your Super Bowl party planned yet? It’s only a week away, people. Don’t be caught unprepared, or you’ll find yourself elbow-deep in buckets of sickly-sweet buffalo wings and face-planting into gigantic bowls of Cheetos.
But with a bit of time and a handful of real, whole ingredients, you can make a delicious assortment of —
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Ah, chips. (Or, if...
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Whole 30 Day 26: Slow Cooker Cheater Pork Stew
It’s Day 26, and I bet you’re as sick of cooking as I am. I understand how you feel; I’ve been cooking — AND BLOGGING! — every night for over three weeks, and quite frankly, I’m ready to keel over. Sadly, kvetching ain’t gonna put food in our bellies. But who says we can’t throw together a dead-simple meal and spend the rest of the day sprawled out on the couch?...
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Whole30 Day 25: Roasted Kabocha Squash
To Cambodians, it’s abóbora. Koreans call it danhobak. In Thailand, it’s fak thong, while Aussies and Kiwis refer to it as Japanese squash. And in Japan, it’s known as kabocha.
Personally, I don’t care what you call this squat, mottled green, winter squash — just make sure you save me some because it’s my favorite kind.
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If you’re getting tired of butternut squash, try...
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Whole30 Day 24: My Sister's Phenomenal Green...
I love my sister, she’s the best / She’s cooler than any other girl that I have ever met. -Juliana Hatfield
I grew up sharing a teeny-tiny bedroom with my big sister Fiona. With two-and-a-half years separating us, we had little in common other than our cramped living quarters and our high-pitched voices. I bugged her to play “library” and “shoe store”; she preferred to hunker...
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Whole30 Day 23: Packed Lunch Ideas
My friend Jackie (the founder/creator of Lunchbots) has a saying: “The healthiest lunch is the one you pack for yourself.” And she’s absolutely right: By making your own food, you can be sure of every single ingredient you stick in your lunchbox.
This is particularly important when you’re on a Whole30. There’s nothing worse than being three-plus weeks into your...
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Whole30 Day 22: Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
“It was a beautiful Belgian day. The smell of waffles and Brussels sprouts filled the summer air…” - Dr. Evil
As the name suggests, Brussels sprouts hail from Belgium, where these tender buds were cultivated as far back as the 13th century. But sadly, they’re nowhere near as popular as Belgian waffles. A lot of folks just aren’t keen on the mildly bitter bite of these...
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Whole30 Day 21: Bone Broth & A Giveaway!
One of my favorite discoveries at last November’s Wise Traditions conference was Real Bone Broth, a small company that ships (via the Wise Choice Market) frozen containers of traditionally-simmered bone broth — right to your doorstep.
Life-changing, right?
On a cold winter’s day, nothing hits the spot like a steaming bowl of bone broth — especially when I’m...
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Whole30 Day 20: Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs
It’s Sunday – the perfect time to play around in the kitchen. Like many of you, I try to gather inspiration for dishes throughout the week, taking note of my restaurant meals and bookmarking recipes that pique my interest. Then, at week’s end, I stock up on seasonal, fresh ingredients at the local farmer’s market, and enlist the assistance of little helpers in the kitchen.
Rather than...
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Whole30 Day 19: Prosciutto Wrapped Frittata...
“Frittata” can mean different things to different people, but they all share the same basic template: Fresh eggs beaten with savory ingredients, and then slowly cooked. From there, though, variation abounds. The classic Italian version may be the best known, but take a quick survey around the world, and you’ll find frittata-like recipes in kitchens everywhere from Thailand and Vietnam to...
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Whole30 Day 18: Spicy Cauliflower
Who doesn’t love cauliflower?
Okay — I know there are a good number of folks out there who can’t stand cauliflower, but unless you’re allergic or steering clear of goitrogens, you should give it another shot. I agree with the writer who proclaimed that “A life without cauliflower is no life at all.”
Mediterranean in origin, this brassica is in the same family species of plant as...
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Whole30 Day 17: Spicy Pineapple Salsa
I’m exhausted.
My week of graveyard shifts ended yesterday morning, and after a quick nap, I was back on mommy duty. But instead of settling back into our normal routine, we had to scramble to get our bags packed for Hawaii — something we always leave for the last possible minute. I know: First world problems.
Bright and early this morning, we met up with Sidney, Jory, and Little...
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Whole30 Day 16: Pressure Cooker Indian Curry Lamb...
Once upon a time (about 300 years ago), a French mathematician named Denis Papin was living and working in London. Papin was a tinkerer. After putting in long days as an assistant to a physicist, the Frenchman worked on his own inventions — the most enduring of which was something he called a “steam digester”: a cast iron container with a tight-sealing, screw-top lid and a release valve...
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Whole30 Day 15: Damn Fine Chicken
Hey, everybody: Make this.
It’s damn fine.
That is all.
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Whole30 Day 14: Tabil Spice Blend Recipe
It’s Day 14 — you still with me? Now that we’re two weeks into the Whole30®, your palate’s probably craving some variety — and there’s no better way to keep things lively than with fragrant, flavorful spices and blends.
I love buying spice blends from specialty stores like Penzeys Spices and Spice Hound. Every time I visit my local Penzeys, I get lost in the intoxicating...
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Coupon Time! Steve's Original, Pure Indian Foods,...
I love saving folks money on quality products, so here are three great coupon codes to use RIGHT NOW.
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From now until 1/15/2013, you can receive $10 off any order over $35 at Pure Indian Foods. Just use the discount code PALEO-GHEE when checking out. Time’s a ticking on this one!
From now until 1/31/2013, you can receive 10% off your order at Vital Choice Wild Seafood and...
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Whole30 Day 13: Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice
In Chinese homes, rice is almost always eaten in its steamed form. Shoveled from bowl to mouth, fluffy white rice is a staple food for billions — a fragrant, starchy accompaniment to flavorful dishes of meat and vegetables. But with the quantities of rice that’s steamed in every Chinese house, there’s bound to be leftovers. And what’s the best way to repurpose rice into a quick and...
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Whole30 Day 12: Bò Kho Recipe & Asian Supermarket...
It’s Saturday — a perfect day to brave the crowds at your friendly neighborhood Asian market and stock up on specialty goodies for your Paleo pantry.
If you don’t have an Asian supermarket near you, no worries — one’s sure to spring up before long. We Asians are EVERYWHERE. Mwahaha.
From 99 Ranch and H Mart to Uwajimaya and Nijiya Market, grocery chains stocked with Eastern...
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Whole30 Day 11: Slow Cooker Kalua Pig
Longtime readers know where to find us when we’re not in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ninety-eight percent of the year, Henry and I are crazily juggling a bazillion things at once, but when we need to decompress, we grab the kids and decamp to Hawaii — our home away from home.
Once or twice a year, we herd the family on a plane to Kauai or Maui, stock up on supplies at a local Costco,...
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Whole30 Day 10: Cabbage 10 Ways
I’ve lost track of the times someone’s announce to me: “I could never eat Paleo ‘cause that’s just waaay too much meat.” And I cheerily chirp back, “Great! More for me!”
But in all seriousness, I don’t eat nearly as much meat as people imagine. Sure, I went through a bacon-bingeing phase early on — didn’t we all? — but my everyday meals look pretty much like...
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Whole30 Day 9: Soup's On!
Despite working all day at the office and coming home to demanding in-laws and bickering children, my mom somehow always found the time to whip up an elaborate supper. Our spread would predictably include at least four entrées, steamed white rice, and a pot of simmering soup to end our meal. And on weekends, when all of my uncles and aunts would gather at our house for dinner, my mom would...
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Whole30 Day 8: A Day of Eats
It’s Day 8 of your Whole30®, and right about now, you’re probably starting to feel like the Energizer Bunny. Awesome, right? But you’re likely also hankering for some less-than-great-for-you foods. Whaddaya say we chase away those Luther Burger cravings with some good old fashioned Whole30-friendly food photos?
For those of you who are new to my blog, take a peek at my...
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Whole30 Day 7: Vital Choice Seafood Giveaway!
Your mom used to tell you all the time: Eat fish — it’s good for you.
But what about all the toxins? In this day and age, where can you get healthy, sustainable seafood from a trustworthy source? Keep reading to find the answers — and to learn how to enter a fantastic fish giveaway from Vital Choice Seafood & Organics. Oh, and I have a discount code for you, too!
...
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Whole30 Day 6: Asian Meatballs
Today’s Whole30®-friendly recipe is brand-new to the blog: Asian Meatballs!
This East-West fusion-inspired take on classic Sunday meatballs is a hit with our entire family. These savory balls of meat and minced vegetables are a cinch to prepare, and each bite is bursting with umami from the mushrooms, fish sauce, and tomato paste. (What can I say? This mommy knows umami.)
Make a double...
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Whole30 Day 5: Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
Being stuck in the kitchen is no way to spend your Saturday. Especially if your mood is: KILL ALL THE THINGS! So today, I’m featuring a miraculously easy, set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker recipe that’ll yield a moist, tender chicken and a thick, savory gravy. That’s right: I said gravy.
Serve this for supper, and everyone’ll lick their plates clean. Just be sure to...
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Whole30 Day 4: Sweet Potato Hash & Eggs
We’re starting Day 4 with a simple but satisfying dish of Sweet Potato Hash topped with fried eggs.
Why’d I pick this recipe? ‘Cause it drives me a little nuts when folks insist that without grains, dairy, and sugar, “there’s literally nothing else to eat for breakfast.”
Really? Nothing? Not one thing?
Sure, going Paleo means chucking your toast and cereal. You’ll have to...
7 tags
Take Two: A Big Update to My iPad Cookbook App!
Right before Christmas, I proudly announced the release of an update to the Nom Nom Paleo iPad® cookbook app. Unfortunately, there was an unforeseen glitch: The wrong version of the app had been inadvertently submitted to Apple for approval. And the company’s App Store review team was shutting down for the holidays. Argh.
So for the past two weeks, we (and you) have been stuck with an old...
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Whole30 Day 3: Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
Now that we’ve mastered Ghee and Paleo Mayonnaise, let’s move onto another fundamental building block: Hard boiled eggs.
Looks like a simple thing to master, right? But looks can be deceiving. All too often, hard-boiled eggs turn out crumbly and impossible to peel, leaving you with unsightly pock-marked eggs.
And then there’s this:
This is why hard boiled eggs get a bad...
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Whole30 Day 2: Paleo Mayonnaise
We’re just two days into January, so let’s make sure the rest of your month stays as tasty as possible with one of the best Whole30-friendly flavor boosters around: Paleo Mayonnaise!
Unlike the store-bought gunk, Paleo Mayo isn’t made with canola oil or soybean oil — which, as my previous post made clear, are eeeevil. (Read the labels; even most varieties of...
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Whole30 Day 1: Ghee Recipe & Giveaway!
For years, I was all about avoiding dietary fat. After all, I was a Nutrition & Food Science major in the early 1990s, when “no-fat, high-carb” was king. Sure, I gorged on frozen yogurt and bagels, but hey: They were low-fat! It became almost like a game: How could I minimize my daily fat intake? And I wasn’t the only one — after all, it was the decade of...
