Short Cut Kimchi

Kimchi is a Korean condiment that is commonly served as a side dish with meals.  Traditional Kimchi is fermented which can be time consuming but this recipe can be used right away.  It is deliciously spicy and amazingly satisfying.  Feel free to adjust the spice to your taste.  You can also use it to mix into brown rice, put in soups or stews, top a nice grass fed steak, etc.

2 red or green jalepenos (the red are a bit spicier)
4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup xylitol
2 tablespoons chopped ginger
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 large head of napa cabbage

Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until it forms a paste.  Chop the cabbage into 1-2 inch pieces and toss with the jalepeno paste.  Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

 

Scrambled Eggs & Smoked Salmon

This is a great morning breakfast.  It is still super-quick to make but it is quite elegant.  You can feel as if you are having breakfast at a 5 star hotel.  For those of you who think you don’t like salmon, try smoked salmon- it has a smoky, bacon-y flavor.  Just make sure you get wild caught, Alaskan salmon.  Most grocery stores carry this item so it is easy to find.

2 tablespoons organic sour cream, organic full fat plain yogurt, or organic heavy cream
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel (use a microplane)
1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme or 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
sea salt/pepper to taste
4-6 organic, free range eggs
1 tablespoon butter
2-3 slices wild caught Alaskan smoked salmon
1 scallion, chopped (optional)

Mix sour cream, yogurt, or cream, lemon juice, lemon peel, and thyme and salt/pepper in bowl.  Whisk eggs and sprinkle with more salt and pepper.  Melt butter in a non-toxic pan (no teflon).  Add green onion, if desired, and sautee for 1 minute.  add eggs and cook until almost set, stirring often to scramble.  Top eggs with thinly sliced smoked salmon and drizzle with lemon cream sauce.

Homemade Grass Fed Beef Sausage

Sausage is one of the biggest pitfalls of the Standard American Diet and unfortunately, it is one of the most popular.  Pork itself is a bad idea because of it’s high levels of toxins and the fact that it is highly acidic.   The pork is then coupled with nitrites, preservatives, and additives to make what we know as sausage.  The World Cancer Research Fund’s report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective (2007) warned people that processed meat is dangerous.  The report went as far as to say that processed meats are too dangerous for human consumption and should be avoided FOR LIFE!  The chemicals in these types of meats are known to cause many types of cancer and are just to detrimental to health.  See the report here  http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/

So, if you love sausage but have been scared by the above information, here is a perfect replacement that not only tastes great but is healthy!

Homemade Grass Fed Beef Sausage

makes 16 patties

2 pounds grass fed beef
2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp sage leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp ground coriander

Shape into patties and cook on low-med heat until done.  These can also be frozen for a quick breakfast later on.

Decadent Chocolate Cake

Core and Advanced Plan

Makes 1 9-inch cake (12 slices). To make a double layer cake, double the recipe

Ultra-rich flourless chocolate cakes have become more and more popular, even at restaurants.   Unfortunately, they are always loaded with sugar.  This recipe allows you to enjoy the same rich, decadent taste on the ADVANCED PLAN!  No flour, no sugar, nothing artificial! You won’t believe the  secret ingredient that make this cake so moist.  

Decadent Chocolate Cake

chocolate-1121356_1920

Ingredients:
1-15 ounce can of unseasoned black beans
5 large organic eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
6 tablespoons unsalted organic butter OR extra virgin coconut oil
3/4 cup xylitol or erythritol (like Swerve) plus 1/2 teaspoon liquid pure stevia extract
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon filtered water

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  grease a 9″ cake pan with coconut oil or  a thin layer of butter. Dust cocoa all over the inside of the pan, tapping to evenly distribute. Cut a round of parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan (put a couple drops of oil so that is doesn’t curl, then grease the top of the parchment lightly.

Drain and rinse beans and shake off excess water. Place the beans, 3 of the eggs, vanilla, stevia and salt into blender. Blend on high until beans are completely liquefied. Make sure there are no chunks.  Mix together cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat butter with xylitol until light and fluffy. Add the remaining two eggs, beating for one minute after each addition. Pour bean batter into egg mixture and mix. Finally, stir in cocoa powder and water  and beat the batter on high for one minute or until smooth. Scrape batter into pan and smooth the top.

Bake for 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Cake is done with the top is rounded and firm to the touch. After 10 minutes, turn out cake from pan, and flip over again on to a cooling rack. Let cool until cake reaches room temperature, then cover with an overturned bowl.  (Frost immediately before serving)

Super Chocolatey Frosting

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted organic butter
1/4 cup xylitol, pulverized into powder
5-6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt
Pure stevia extract, to taste

Optional addition for a glossy finish:
1 fresh organic egg yolk

Preparation:

Cream the butter in a small bowl until fluffy. Powder xylitol in a coffee grinder or for a minute or two, until extremely fine in texture (will look like powdered sugar). Stir powdered sweetener into butter with a spatula, then beat until smooth. Slowly blend in the cocoa powder (do this slowly so that it doesn’t explode), vanilla, and sea salt. Beat in the coconut milk and egg yolk. Add stevia, and keep tasting and adjust sweetness to your liking.

Cake and frosting recipe modified from Lauren at Healthy Indulgences

Coconut Milk Whipped Cream

Ingredients:
1 can coconut milk, stored in refrigerator overnight
1/4 cup xylitol

Preparation:

Open the can and drain all of the coconut water.  You only want to use the cream that has separated.  Put into a bowl with the xylitol and beat until creamy.  It will not be the exact consistency of whipped cream but it tastes great!

If you want a more traditional whipped cream- try an organic heavy cream with 1/4 cup xylitol.

Black Bean Meatballs w/ Cilantro Sauce

Although black beans must be eaten in moderation for the Advanced Plan, these are a nice change of pace.  These are perfectly acceptable for the Core Plan.  Black beans are great because they are high in protein and fiber and contain a healthy dose of magnesium, potassium and folate.

      • 2 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed (Organic is best)
      • 1 lb grass fed ground beef. (FOR VEGETARIAN OPTION: use 8 ounces chopped mushrooms + 1/2 cup almond flour)
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
    • 1 organic egg
    • 2 teaspoons lime juice
    • 1-2 medium organic green or red bell peppers (remember, bell peppers are on the “dirty dozen list”
    • 1 onion, sliced
    • 1 avocado, peeled and chopped
    • 1 organic tomato, diced

    Serve with:  Creamy Cilantro Sauce

    • 1 cup plain organic yogurt (best if drained)
    • 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
    • 1 teaspoon lime juice
    • sea salt/pepper to taste

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Pulse beans in a food processor or mash them with a fork or potato masher.  You want them a bit chunky.  Mix the beans with the beef, chili, cumin, oregano, garlic, egg, and lime juice.  Roll into 1″ balls and place on a lightly greased (use coconut oil) baking sheet (lined with parchment or silicone liner if desired).

    Meanwhile, sautee the onions and peppers until slightly cooked but still crisp.  Blend the cilantro sauce ingredients together.

    You can eat these atop the pepper/onion mixture and dip into the sauce OR wrap everything in a sturdy piece of lettuce.  Bibb lettuce works well.

Chocolate Cappuccino Smoothie

My good friend Chevette tipped me off to this recipe (thanks Chevette!).  I’m not a coffee drinker AT ALL but this smoothie is delicious with just a hint of coffee flavor.  I enjoyed mine in a coffee cup

1/2 can organic coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 tablespoons organic cocoa powder
2 packets Stevia (or adjust to your taste)
3-5 organic coffee beans (if you have a powerful blender like a Vita-mix, you can just throw them in…otherwise grind with a coffee grinder or small spice grinder)
1/2 cup ice

OPTIONAL:  for an extra healthy boost, you can add greens powder, fresh greens, or cabbage

Blend everything up until frothy and the coffee beans and ice are incorporated.

Enjoy!

PS – People always ask me if coffee is OK…my answer is that coffee, in moderation, is OK.  However, everyone’s definition of moderation is different.  1 cup of coffee a day would be moderate.  Obviously, organic is better than regular and stay away from decaffinated (dangerous processing) and instant coffee.

The only caveat to that is that we never want to see anyone “addicted” or “slave to” any food or substance.  You never want to have to rely on something like caffeine to get started in the morning.  If you feel like you HAVE to have your coffee in order to make it through the day, that is more of an addiction and should be overcome.

Kimberly