Perfect Paleo Praline

Active Prep Time: 20min

Inactive Prep Time: 1-2hrs

Yields 1 8x8 pan of candy that you can cut whatever size you desire

Ingredients: 

1/2C Nuts (I used chopped walnuts, but I think pecans would also be wonderful!) 

1C Honey

1/2C Coconut Oil (if you can use butter, you may sub butter here) 

1/2C Coconut Cream Concentrate 

1/4C Almond Butter

2t Cinnamon 

1t Vanilla Extract

1/8t Salt

Instructions: 

Out of the 1/2C Coconut Oil, use 1T to coat the nuts with in a non-stick pan under medium heat. Roast nuts while stirring (they can burn) until the nuts fill the kitchen with a nice aroma and they start to get a little brown. Once this happens, add the Honey to the pan and mix well. Once the honey starts to bubble, add the rest of the Coconut Oil, Coconut Cream Concentrate and Almond Butter and incorporate (I used a spatula and it blended nicely). Add your cinnamon, vanilla and salt and then turn the stove to low heat and simmer for 3min.  Line a whole 8x8 pan with parchment paper- just press the paper down into the bottom and insure that the sides of the pan are lined as well.  Pour your mixture into the pan and you can use a spoon to make sure that the nuts are spread evenly throughout the pan. Place the pan in the freezer for 1-2hrs. Remove from freezer and use large kitchen knife to cut into pieces.  Store in freezer until you serve it.  They are amazing! 

Parmesan Black Bean Pasta and Chicken

Prep time: 20min

Cook time: 15min

Serves 2-4 depending on portion size

Ingredients:

7oz Black Bean Pasta (Click on the link to see what the packaging looks like. I don't buy it from Amazon. You should be able to find this at Whole Foods or Central Market for around $3.75. The only ingredients are Black Beans and Water) 

3T Olive Oil 

1/4t Cracked Pepper

1lb Fresh Raw Chicken Thighs (I get ours from Trader Joe's and the taste is fantastic) 

2-4T Blackening Seasoning (depending on how spicy you want it) 

1/2lb Aged Parmesan (freshly grated) 

Instructions: 

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While waiting for your water to boil. Preheat your grill. Grill chicken with blackening seasoning sprinkled on both sides. While the chicken is on the grill, follow instructions on your pasta bag for how long to cook your pasta (I cooked our black bean pasta for 8-9min). Strain the pasta and place back in the pot. Coat with olive oil and pepper.  Cut your chicken into strips. Serve the pasta and then place strips of chicken on top and sprinkle parmesan on top. Enjoy!

Grain-Free Sandwich Thin

Prep Time: 10min

Cook Time: 15min

Yields: About 14 Rounds 4" in diameter

Author: Erica at Comfy Belly

Ingredients: 

2 1/2C Blanched Almond Flour

1t Baking Soda

1C Plain Yogurt (may sub coconut milk but it will be runny) 

1/4C Butter (or may sub coconut oil) 

3 Eggs

2T Honey

Optional, 1T Poppy Seeds or Sesame Seeds

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 350F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place all ingredients (except Poppy Seeds or Sesame Seeds)  in a food processor (or Blendtec, Ninja or Vitamix) and blend. You can attempt to do it with a mixer or a whisk if you are super awesome at that.... I am not. Pour circles with a Tablespoon to the size of sandwich round that you please. I like about 4 inches the best. If the batter is thick, you can spread it around with the back of a spoon. Leave about 2 inches in between each sandwich thin. Sprinkle with your seeds if desired and bake for 15min or until the tops are brown and they firm up. Don't be afraid of letting them get brown as they will hold up nicely! Once they have come out of the oven, slide a knife or spatula under each round and let them cool on a cooling rack.  Let them cool completely. You can eat them right away or you can place them in a ziplock baggy and store in the frig for 1 week and the freezer for 2 months.

Paleo Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Prep Time: 10min

Cook Time: 25min

Serves 4

Modified Recipe from Kelly Bejelly @ A Girl Worth Saving

Ingredients:

1C Unsweetened Coconut Shreds

1/2C Sunflower Seeds 

1/4C Chia Seeds

1/4C Honey

1 Egg

1T Cinnamon

1/4t Salt

Instructions:

In your food processor, add the the dry ingredients and pulse until you have a flour. Add the honey and egg and pulse until incorporated. Place mixture onto parchment paper and cover with another piece of parchment. Roll a rectangle out, no more than a quarter inch thick. (the thinner -> the crunchier -> the better) Remove the top sheet of parchment and cut the dough into squares. Slide the parchment paper onto a flat pan and cook in a preheated oven at 325F for 25 minutes. This cereal is best eaten immediately after it cools. If you store it, it will lose its crunch. 

Honey Cinnamon Acorn Squash

Prep Time: 10min

Cook Time: 60min

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 acorn squash

4 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons butter, softened 

Pumpkin Pie Spice or Cinnamon will do

Instructions:

Cut squash in half so that the halves are identical. Scoop the seeds and stringy stuff out of the squash cavities and discard. In a small mixing bowl, combine the honey, butter, and spices to taste. Rub the squash cavities and cut sides of the squash with the butter mixture and place them on a baking sheet, cut side up. Bake in the preheated oven at 400F for about 1 hour until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Serve 1 half per person. You can either serve in the skin of the squash by placing it in a bowl or you can scoop the squash out, mix it with a fork and then add more spice to the top! It's a family favorite in the Fall season and Luke (our 10 month old) loved it as well. Enjoy!