Paleo baked egg breakfast!

Ahh breakfast, my favorite meal of the day.  Start your day off right with a hearty blend of vegetable matter, liquid yolk goodness and of course, bacon.

You'll need:

2 strips of bacon crisped and crumbled 

1 tsp reserved bacon grease

2 eggs

1/4 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup sliced kale

1/4 cup grape tomatoes halved lengthwise

1/4 cup sliced onion

1 smashed garlic clove

1/2 tsp herbs de Provence 

Salt and pepper

Preheat that oven to 350!

Sautee onions and garlic until softened, and add remaining veggies, herbs and a pinch of salt and pepper.  Sautee until kale is wilted, and the mushrooms release their liquid.  In a small greased 4x6 baking dish, or two separate ramekins, place a bed of veggies on the bottom.  Next carefully crack the eggs on top if the vegetables, being careful not to break the yolks. Sprinkle a layer of bacon on top of the eggs, and finish with some salt and pepper.  Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the whites are set and the yolk still runs free.

Strawberry grapefruit fizz

Since my last post, I've gone through a major dietary overhaul.  With the realization that my boyfriend has a gluten issue, we've both adopted a new paleo lifestyle.  We're three weeks in, and it's definitely a challenge!  Here is the smoothie from this morning: 

Toss all of the following into your vitamix or whathaveyou:

1 grapefruit sectioned (pink or white) and its juice.

1/2 cup strawberries

1/8 cup red grapes

1/4 cup sparkling water

Blend and pour into a fancy vessel.  Bottoms up!

GUEST CHEF: Mediterranean fish soup a la Matthew P. Dickhaut.

This is a hearty and filling soup that is easy enough to make for even the biggest dumbass but comes out like you actually know what you're doing. you got some fish? you got some shrimp? no? get some asshole! don't fuck with me! okay. so to start...

Lightened up onion and bacon frittata

Frittatas are relatively simple to make, extremely versatile and perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!  By swapping out some of the eggs for egg whites and using fat free milk, I've lightened up this dish for a delicious guilt-free dinner.

Perfect bite for New Year's.

 

This is not really a recipe, but it's my favorite way to eat caviar.

Start with a cracker of the water variety, smear it with sour cream, sprinkle a little hard-boiled egg, minced red onion, a dollop of caviar, a sprig of fresh dill, and a spritz of lemon juice.  Yum.  Happy New Year!

Tagine inspired cod stew

After our Christmas dinner, the last thing I want to see is ham and cookies.  For a light meal that is still winter-worthy I've created a Mediterranean style fish dish using very few ingredients.
 

Steak with mushroom Valdeon topping

Valdeon is a pungent Spanish blue cheese that pairs extremely well with mushrooms and beef of course.  I don't know what to say besides, this recipe is craaaazy good.

Drunken chili

My chili is smoky, spicy and full of delicious meat and vegetables.  There's no way you can have just one bowl.  The secret is the cooking liquid....beer and nothing but beer.

Sausage stuffed bell peppers

 

A meal on their own, these peppers are packed with spicy sausage, rice, vegetables and salty pecorino romano.  Instead of using raw peppers, they are first roasted over the burner to add a smoky element to the dish.

 

Beef braised in red wine

There's just something magical about pairing red wine with beef.  When you combine the deep flavor of wine with a few hours of slow braising, you've got a mouth-watering dinner perfect for a cold winter night. 

Autumn minestrone soup

Everyone loves this classic Italian recipe.  My version is a hearty soup full of tender vegetables, and fully flavored with parmesan rinds and smoky bacon.  What more could you want?  Delicious.

Herbed rack of lamb

Though it looks like you've been cooking all day, this lamb recipe is surprisingly simple to prepare.  This is one of my favorite marinades for lamb.

Simple asparagus side

Here's a new way to enjoy your asparagus.  It's so simple to make, yet so delicious you won't believe it!

German roulade and cabbage with pan sauce!

It's officially Fall and for me that means it's time for roasted meats!  The apples are at their peak right now, so why not incorporate those into your dishes as well!  This is a simple meal that uses very few ingredients.  It just takes a little time and a little skill with kitchen twine.

Unstuffed cabbage. Grandma's style!

This is one of those recipes I begged my mom to make so much, I'm certain I drove her nuts.  I knew that when it started to get cold outside, I could once more enjoy one of my favorite comfort foods.  This is a quicker version of stuffed cabbage, and the sauce is a bit different from the Greek recipe.  Instead of a tangy tomato sauce, this recipe uses raisins for a little sweetness, and a little sour from lemon juice.  This is my Russian grandmother in a bowl, not in a morbid way though...

Holy Paprikash!

Smother chicken thighs in a perfect sauce and sop it up with delicious fried dumplings?  Yes please!  This recipe turned out so well, I couldn't stop myself from sneaking spoonfuls.  Hungarian paprika is a wonderful warm flavor that pairs so well with peppers, onions and the coolness of sour cream.  Serve this dish over rustic fried dumplings, and you've got a meal that is close to home.    

Vegetarian Curry

This is a delicious, healthy meal combining warm spices, a little heat and the tang of a bit of yogurt.  I went light tonight and used tofu, but this dish would also be wonderful with chicken, lamb or even fish.

Sweet and sour turkey saucy balls

Messy = good.  These turkey balls are irresistibly good according to my equation.  They're drenched in a sticky sweet and sour sauce that cannot be denied.  This is a lighter version of the popular beef sweet and sour meatball, so you can enjoy a few more than you normally would!

Quick little pizzas

I've been trying (and sometimes failing) to eat a little bit healthier lately.  Tonight I didn't really want to make a big deal out of dinner, so I made really simple little pizzas using what I had around the house.  A coworker of mine told me about these little sandwich flats which made really great low calorie crusts.  I topped them with delicious heirloom tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella to create a light satisfying meal.

Juicy Breasts....

OK.  I know it's not the best picture I've ever had on here, but there's a perfectly good reason why this chicken never got it's plated shot.  Elliott and I just about devoured the thing in ten seconds.  The secret? Brining!