Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

Ready or not, here I come—with my favorite links of the week!

In The Kitchen

When I first started eating according to a Paleo template, the biggest challenge wasn’t removing "heart-healthy" whole grains or beans from my diet—it was the prospect of having to cook ALL THE TIME. I didn’t want to spend my entire life in front of the stove—especially when I could be catching up with The Real Housewives on TV.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

But now, having logged thousands of hours in the kitchen, I no longer feel like pulling out my hair in clumps when faced with dinner prep. Of course, it also helps that I’ve continued to learn and employ time- (and sanity-) saving tips and tricks that streamline the cooking process.

Case in point: I love this post in The Kitchn about 18 Daily Habits that Make Life in the Kitchen Better.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

And thanks to this HuffPo article, I’ve eliminated a number of bad kitchen habits, too.

My favorite new shortcut in the kitchen? I’ve been keeping a large stainless steel bowl filled with warm, soapy water in the sink so I can chuck dirty utensils and dishes into it as I cook. Presto! Washing dishes just got a lot easier!

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

I just need to keep reminding myself not to toss any knives into the suds. (Because “Surprise! You just lost a finger!” ain’t my idea of a good time.)

Still Whole30in’ On?

For all of you who soldiered through the KILL ALL THE THINGS phase of the Whole30 (like my super-awesome sister Fiona!), welcome to the home stretch!

My gal pal Melissa Joulwan’s got you covered with her Week 4 Food Plan. It features a bazillion recipes. (I counted.*)

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

*Not really.

Want even more ideas? Over at Meatified, you’ll find 30 Days of Whole30 Breakfasts, Lunches, and Dinners. (And there’s always my list, too!)

Just a few days left, Whole30ers — you can do it!

Bookworms, Rejoice!

Know what just landed on my doorstep? A review copy of Sarah Ballantyne’s impressively encyclopedic tome, The Paleo Approach. This baby is HUGE and packed full of practical knowledge and SCIENCE.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

Yes, I know I’ve been SHOUTING intermittently throughout this post, but trust me—this book deserves it. Without a doubt, I’m going to be recommending this book to everyone who wants to better understand how Paleo works, and how it helps folks feel better—particularly those suffering from an autoimmune disease.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

Awesome work, Doc!

Next up: Russ Crandall’s first cookbook, The Ancestral Table!

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

Russ (a.k.a. The Domestic Man) has crafted a gorgeous book that’ll have you rushing to don your apron. Unique among Paleo cookbooks, The Ancestral Table presents recipes that follow the Perfect Health Diet template—so those of us who are happy to consume moderate amounts of “safe starches” like white rice and potatoes will have plenty to love in these pages. 

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

I was lucky enough to see early versions of this book, but now that the final product is in my hands, I can’t wait to spend more time with it in the kitchen.

Lately, I’ve also been plowing through Steph Gaudreau’s new e-book, The Paleo Athlete.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

As I’ve said before, I’ve transitioned over the past few months into what can be described—at best—as an intermittent CrossFitter. I’ve been squeezing in a few lifts in our garage gym before work, but to be honest, I haven’t subjected myself to a WOD beat-down in quite some time.

That’s why I don’t always have a good answer when athletes and weekend warriors ask me how to fuel up before a metcon or competition. Thankfully, my friend Steph Gaudreau—a butt-kicking competitive athlete AND cute science geek—has written the definitive e-book on fueling active folks with real food.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

The Paleo Athlete is filled with great tips on pre-, intra-, and post-workout nutrition, proper carb intake, and customizing your food for the specific type of athletic endeavor that floats your boat—be it endurance, weightlifting, or sprinting. And like Steph’s fantastic website, the book is chock-full of incredible recipes. If you’re trying to figure how to optimize performance while eating Paleo, do yourself a favor: Download The Paleo Athlete here or get it on Kindle.

PaleoCon is On Like Donkey Kong

In the middle of all my travels and book promotion, I sat down for a fun and lively interview with John Durant for PaleoCon, an upcoming free online event that features tons of awesome Paleo folks like Robb Wolf, Elana Amsterdam, George Bryant, Chris Kresser, Julie Foucher, and others. My hour-long segment focuses on essential cooking tips, tools, and ingredients for making flavor-packed food with minimal effort. Even if you can’t stand listening to me, you should check out the other interviews—there’s a ton of information to be gleaned. For details on how to register for this free seminar, click here.

Sleep Like a Baby (One That Actually Goes to Sleep)

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

Because I’m a night shift worker, I know the importance of getting good sleep—day or night. As I wrote in this post about Surviving the Night Shift, sleep trumps everything, including clean food and exercise. Elana Amsterdam is my kindred spirit in prioritizing sleep, and recently shared her list of 5 Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep. Read it and sleep!

Tips for Travelers

In the past two months, I’ve logged more miles than I have in years—from Hong Kong and Thailand to Houston and Seattle. This is partly because the Double-Os are now old enough to hop around the world with me, and partly because I have a cookbook to promote.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

Like me, Chris Kresser has been zipping around the country promoting his new book, Your Personal Paleo Code, and he recently wrote about How To Stay Healthy While Traveling. Read it for some excellent travel tips. (Chris prioritizes sleep, too. See? All the cool kids are doing it!)

By the way, if you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area on February 28, 2014, Chris and I will be appearing together for a joint book signing at Book Passage in Corte Madera. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet us, and to marvel at the contrast between Chris’s calm, soothing voice and my high-pitched squeak. We’ll be answering your burning questions, hosting giveaways, and scribbling our names in your books. Click here to RSVP!

Soups On!

This winter weather totally has me craving hearty soups all the time! Our new cookbook contains a bunch of my favorite recipes like Fast Phở, West Lake Soup, and Mulligatawny Soup, and I’ve found myself flipping to those pages to jot down the ingredients on my shopping list.

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

But I’m also planning to make big pots of Garbage Soup and Curried Cream of Broccoli Soup—both of which begin with a foundation of Bone Broth that I always have on hand in my fridge or freezer. Who’s gonna join me?

On the hunt for more hearty soup recipes?  Check out:

Forky Friday: 1/24/14 by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com

[Photo: Russ Crandall]

And For Something Sweet…

Last, but not least, check out this fab raw vegan (*gasp!*) recipe for Banana Cream Pie Jars. Who says Paleos and vegans can’t be friends?

About Michelle Tam

Hello! My name is Michelle Tam, and I love to eat. I think about food all the time. It borders on obsession. I’ve always loved the sights and smells of the kitchen. My mother was (and is) an excellent cook, and as a kid, I was her little shadow as she prepared supper each night. From her, I gained a deep, abiding love for magically transforming pantry items into mouth-watering family meals.

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