Sweet Potato and Black Bean Turkey Chili

After many months off, I am back!  We have been eating a lot of delicious paleo recipes lately and this one was great! 


Sweet Potato and Black Bean Turkey Chili

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey meat, browned
1 1/2 cups water
1 (15 oz) can Fire Roasted Diced tomatoes 
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 small onion, diced
2 cups diced sweet potatoes 
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bayleaf
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tbsp chili pepper

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and cook 8 hours on low or 4 hours on low. 
2. Enjoy! 

Havana Grilled Pork Chops

My husband and I love anything grilled and recently discovered how delicious grilled pork chops are, so we were excited to try out this delicious recipe! It's got wonderful flavors of lime, orange, and cumin which reminds me of the Caribbean!

Havana Grilled Pork Chops

Ingredients: 

4 Boneless Pork Chops

Marinade:
1/2 cup orange juice
2 limes, juiced
2 tbsp canola oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
pinch of salt and pepper

Citrus Cilantro Vinaigrette: 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp yellow mustard
2 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp dried oregano
pinch of salt and pepper


Directions: 
1. In a ziploc bag combine pork with marinade. Let marinade for 1-2 hours.

2. While pork marinates, combine ingredients for vinaigrette and set aside.

3. Heat grill to medium heat and cook pork chops for 3-4 minutes on each side.

4. Serve over red beans and rice and top with citrus cilantro vinaigrette! Enjoy!

Beer Cupcakes with Maple Bacon Frosting

Yep, you read that right! My husband is a beer and bacon fanatic and it's his first father's day, so I figured I'd combine the two into a cupcake!  Make some of these for the beer and bacon fan in your life!

Beer Cupcakes 

Ingredients:

12 oz lighter beer (I used Blue Moon)
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt


Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine beer, brown sugar, eggs, and butter until creamed. In separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients.

2.  Slowly add flour mixture into butter mixture. The batter is pretty watery so don't expect it to be as thick as most cupcake or cake batters.

3. Fill prepared cupcake pan 1/2 way. This batter will be enough for 12 cupcakes.

4. Bake until golden brown and cake bounces back to touch, about 25 minutes.


5. While cupcakes are cooling, prepare frosting.

Maple Bacon Frosting

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups confectioner's/powdered sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened not melted
3 tbsp maple syrup
5 slices of bacon, finely chopped (I used food processor)

Directions:

1.  Beat butter for about 5 minutes.

2. After butter is well creamed, slowly add in powdered sugar. Once sugar is combined, turn mixer on high for about 3 minutes.

3. Mix in maple syrup and then bacon!

4. Top of your favorite cupcake, cake, or cookie! Enjoy!

A few notes:
**The cupcakes are a very sticky texture because of the sugars in the beer. I used paper cupcake wrappers and they stuck to the cupcake. Next time I'll be sure to use foil lined wrappers next time!

 ** Here's a great way to fill your piping bag. Fold it over a cup! :)

Carrot Pineapple Muffins

I always love trying/making up new cake recipes. I had some pineapple and carrots at home so I figured why not?

Carrot Pineapple Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups shredded carrots (about 4 whole carrots)
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained (I used fresh but you could use canned)
1 cup sugar (I used splenda)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmug


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine carrots, pineapple, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until well blended.

2. In separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and then slowing mix in with wet ingredients.

3. For cupcakes fill muffin til 2/3 full, for muffins fill completely.

4. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!

If you decide to make cupcakes, here's an easy cream cheese frosting recipe:

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and butter until well blended. Stir in vanilla. Slowly add in powdered sugar until all combined.

Thai Shrimp Salad

I was searching for the perfect summer salad and I think I found it! Plus I'd eat avocado on anything!

Thai Shrimp Salad

Ingredients

Dressing:
1/4 cup Peanut Butter
1/4 cup Rice Vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp honey
Few drops of Sriracha sauce

Salad:
1/2 lb extra small shrimp
1 avocado, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1 yellow pepper (green or red would work too), chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 head of romaine lettuce

Directions

1. Combine ingredients for dressing, stir for about 2-3 minutes until well mixed.

2. Combine salad ingredients except romaine.

3. Scoop salad mixture on top of romaine and top with dressing. Enjoy!

A few notes:
**This was so delicious and perfect for summer! I think I will add some fresh pineapple and top it off with some chopped peanuts next time!

DIY Instant Oatmeal Packets

We have bought Instant Oatmeal for years and decided we'd start saving money by making our own! Plus, it's super easy and fast to make!

DIY Instant Oatmeal Packets

Ingredients

Instant Oatmeal/Quick Oats (1/2 cup per bag)
Brown sugar (2 Tbsp per bag)
Various toppings such as cinnamon, chocolate chips, raisins or other dried fruits, etc.

Directions

1. Combine Oatmeal and Brown sugar in snack size bags.

2. Add in various toppings. I used 1 tsp of cinnamon in some, chocolate chips and marshmallows in others.

3. Add 3/4-1 Cup of hot water or milk when you're reading to enjoy!

Paleo Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

Cookies without flour, butter, and salt added? You've got it! Also a sneaky way to give your kid some beans without him knowing! Ha!

Paleo Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1¼ cups canned chickpeas, well-rinsed and patted dry with a paper towel
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup + 2 tbsp peanut butter (sun butter or almond butter would work as well!)
¼ cup honey (agave or maple syrup would also work!)
1 tsp baking powder
½ cup chocolate chips (or extra if you're a chocolate freak like me haha!)

Directions: 
1. Preheat oven to 375 Degrees. Blend chickpeas, vanilla, peanut butter, honey, and baking powder in food processor. 

2. Stir in chocolate chips. 

3. Drop 1 1/2" balls on cookie sheet. Baking for 10 minutes. They will not do alot of rising, if you want them to have a more "cookie" like shape simply press down the ball a little before baking. 

4. Enjoy with a big glass of milk!

A few notes:
**I used regular peanut butter with mine and they were still a little doughy. Since there is no raw egg we just ate them like that because it tasted like raw cookie dough! :) But if you want it a little less doughy and a little less oily, use natural peanut butter!
**Since we enjoyed them doughy, I'm going to make then a little smaller and coat them in melted dark chocolate next time! It will be a little truffle like treat!