Happy Weekend

How was your weekend? Ours was busy to say the least! Saturday we spent the day with Adam's mom and step-dad who drove up from Auburn to visit for the day. We had a great lunch! Baby Back Ribs, Coleslaw and Cornbread! I will attach recipes for those soon!

Saturday night David and Christin got married at Stone Mnt. Park. The wedding was beautiful. David's mother did all the flowers and the bride's hair.
Christin and her bridesmaid Rosa.
Just a funny bit about Rosa. This was her first trip to the states. After attending a 2 day party (apparently that's normal in Germany) she overslept and almost missed her flight to the US. When she got to the airport it was too late to check her bag! The lady at the counter handed Rosa a trash bag and said she could only take what fit in this bag since she now had to carry on! So Rosa grabbed her bridesmaids dress and an armfull of clothes! She carried that trash bag all the way to Atlanta and then discovered she had brought 4 pairs of jeans and 3 sweaters to the south in August! On her first Waffle House trip she ordered a chili omelet-thinking that meant it had peppers and chilies inside, boy was she surprised when her omelet came out with a strange looking sauce on top! She said it tasted alright but after too many bites it felt like a stone was in her stomach!
This picture makes me smile. They are so happy together. They wrote their vows together and David spoke his in English and Christin spoke her's in German. It was a great day. The complete album can be viewed on my flickr page.

Happy Birthday Julie

Happy Birthday to Paleo's newest follower, my good friend Julie O'Brien (Jay-Oh) as I like to call her. I met Julie at Auburn when she lived below me. She contacted me a few weeks ago about all this paleo business and since then she's been working hard at sticking with it. Julie says the hardest thing to give up is milk! I love you J-O have a wonderful and happy birthday. I cannot take credit for these photographs just the photoshopping. Colleen O'Brien is the master behind the lens. These pictures were taken around their grandparents home on Long Island.

Olives, NATE & Germans

Do you eat olives? If not you should! Olives are a healthy source of fat. Go for this brand, it's the best. The ingredients in these are Water, Sea Salt & nothing else!If you buy a regular jar of olives some of the ingredients that freak me out are: Carrageenan, Guar Gum, and Lactic Acid!

The workout yesterday was in honor of Chief Petty Officer Nate Hardy. He was killed during combat operations in Iraq. Here are a couple pictures from the workout.
After the workout we headed home for the German invasion! My childhood friend David is home visiting from Hannover and he's brought his Fiancee Christin (pronounced Christine) and her friend Rosa. David and Christin are getting married on Saturday. Adam and I are photographing the wedding so there will be plenty to see from that day!
Christin brought me the best gift. This lotion Sun Dance is amazing. It smells great and she was so nice to bring me two bottles!
I don't know what this bag says but I like it!I would like to add a couple more pictures to the blog-one in particular with Rosa holding one of Adam's guns but I can't seem to add anymore, I think I've exceeded my limit! Oh well...
More from my Paleo Kitchen later!

Chocolate & Stereos

Last night was a very good night for my little Honda Accord. Husband spent several hours getting her new ipod hook up installed! We recently downsized to just two hondas, an Accord and a CBR 600RR. We sold Adam's truck last month. Once we did that we had 5 CD cases sliding around all over our now one car and I just couldn't take it. The ipod hook up is amazing and I want to go driving around just to listen to all of my songs. I've taken hours and hours to load everything up. I had some old mixed CD's from High School so it was very interesting trying to import in some old rap song from 11th grade that I had no idea the name of! But it is installed and we are free of our CD cases. Thanks Husband I love you!

In food related blogging. I got a new protein shake recipe from Bridget, my go-to Paleo girl.
Please excuse my blurry photography here, I swear I am not the daughter of a professional... One of my disappointments in this house is natural light and I hate the flash so I'm going to blame it on that.
Chocolate/Coconut Protein Shake:
I dump in one can of Coconut Milk. The can has 13.5 ounces.
2 heaping Tablespoons of unsweetened Coco powder2 Scoops Proten Powder
1/2 of a Banana
Then extra water and ice to get it to your desired consistency.
Throw everything in a blender and enjoy.Protein Shakes should be consumed 15-60 minutes post workout. I make them before we leave for the gym and sip on it on my way home.

Let them eat cake!

Tonight was date night. It hasn't been date night in a long time.
Since I quit my job to open my own freelance graphic design company, we have been cutting back. Tonight was a special night out for just the two of us. Adam picked the place, Brickery Grill and Bar. It was great!
After 2 paleo margaritas, a caesar salad, onion rings and a half rack of ribs I was a very happy woman and of course decided I needed a big piece of chocolate cake.
Cafe Sunflower makes the BEST chocolate cake. I found this place because of Dan at our gym. This kid, also known as the Albino Kenyan buys an entire cake once a week, devours it and never gains an ounce! The cake is dairy free and delicious!
I barely got it on a plate before I devoured a bite.
I ran back to get my camera yelling "Don't eat to much before I can get a picture!"
He got a big bite and I think he liked it :)
We all have to eat something that's not in our diet once and awhile. Chocolate is what I go for every time!
Hope you are having a great Monday. More from my Paleo kitchen soon!

Beer Friday

Today's workout at Crossfit Peachtree was Helen.
HELEN: 3 rounds for time
400 meter run
21 kettle bell swings
12 pull ups


Cooling down after Helen.

Then it was time for Beer Friday to start :)
Whitney, Jeff, Jenny R. & Sarah!
Dan, Jenny R. Mike D., & AndySarah was eying Dan's beer...
I think he told her to get her own!

I came home from the workout and had one of the best Paleo dinners yet! I can't take credit for this one Jess Ard told me to try this and it was delicious!
I sauteed some ground beef and basically made chunky spaghetti sauce. It had peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic. Same traditional stuff I grew up on.I sliced some zucchini and drizzled it with olive oil and salt and pepper.
I grilled the zucchini then topped it with the sauce. It was amazing!
More from My Paleo Kitchen later!

Paleo Sweet Tea

I grew up here in the south and I am in love with sweet tea. Usually you would pack it full of sugar, as a kid I liked when it made my teeth hurt :)
But now I'm older and I know better, so I drink tea sweetened with honey and it tastes just the same as good ole southern sweet tea.
Bring one quart of water to a boil, then remove from heat.






















Add in two family sized tea bags and let steep for 5 mintues.

Add in 1/2 cup of honey and stir until blended.
Pour tea into 2 quart pitcher and add in 1 quart of water.
Stir to blend.
Some southerners like a squeeze of lemon, others prefer some mint. However you enjoy your tea pour it over some ice and enjoy!
More from my paleo kitchen later!

Chicken Cacciatore

I found this Rachel Ray recipe a few years ago and it is delicious. I have removed all non-paleo ingredients and tried to simplify it as much as possible. It may take her 30 minutes to make a complicated meal but I promise just this much will take me 30 minutes :)Heat Grill to high heat
In a large bowl combine, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire, crushed red pepper, rosemary and 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it.
Turn portabello caps in marinade and transfer to a plate to reserve.
Add chicken thighs to remaining marinade and coat evenly.Season 1 side of chicken as well as the mushroom caps with salt and pepper and then transfer to hot grill, seasoned side down.
Season the opposite side of chicken and grill for 6 minutes on each side then transfer to plate to rest. (bring chicken to 155º internal temp)
Add mushrooms to grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until, dark, tender and well-marked.While chicken and mushrooms cook, add a tablespoon of EVOO to the skillet.
Add garlic, peppers and onions to the skillet season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing frequently, 7 to 8 minutes.
Add tomatoes and parsley to the pan and toss to heat through, about 1 minute then remove from heat.

Plate chicken and mushroom for each person and spoon the skillet mixture over. Enjoy!I have a pdf of the recipe, please let me know if you would like for me to email it to you!