The Paleo Mama

Homegrown and Handmade

Jackie Ritz

Fig & Orange Drops

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Good morning everyone! I’m so excited to have Suzanne from Strands of My Life sharing a delicious recipe from her cookbook, Paleo Treats! Paleo Treats came about as part of her research in finding the root of her lifelong digestive issues. Paleo Treats is a cookbook of healthy, grain-free recipes that will satisfy that need for something sweet without eating any sugar. Every recipe in her cookbook is grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, and NUT-FREE! I know this is important for so many of you who need to stay away from nuts.

You can order her cookbook HERE…or get it ridiculously cheap as part of the Fall into Health Sale!  Check out some of her cooking creations below…drool!!!

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Recipes from Paleo Treats

Paleo Treats is just ONE of the many cookbooks included in the Fall into Health Autumn sale. The sale includes 47 e-books (Paleo cookbooks and health/wellness books), 3 online classes (one is a Paleo cooking class), 2 meal plans (both are Paleo), and so much more. CLICK HERE to see what it all entails and check out all the delicious cookbooks!

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And now please welcome my friend Suzanne from Stands of My Life as she, graciously, shares a beautiful recipe from Paleo Treats! 

Thank you so much, Jackie, for having me on your lovely blog. These are the simplest of cookies to put together as long as you have some date puree stored away in your fridge. Otherwise you will need a food processor to grind the dates up until they form a mush. I soak my dates in boiling water for an hour first and this makes it easier to puree.  These are healthy little drops of heaven for when you need that sweet hit.

Orange Fig Drops from Paleo Treats: 

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Preparation Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 10 mins

Makes 30 drops

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 2-3 tbsp date puree (depends how sweet you want your cookies)- Read instructions above for making the puree.
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • Grated rind of 1 orange
  • 7 figs, chopped up

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
  2. Mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, oil, banana and date puree in a food processor.
  3. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix.
  4. Remove the mixture from the food processor to a bowl and add the rind and figs.
  5. Place a sheet of baking paper on an oven tray.
  6. Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto the paper, making sure they are rounded and not messy.
  7. Bake about 10 minutes until they are golden but still soft.
  8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the tray for half an hour so they firm up.

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For more delicious recipes from Suzanne, please make sure you follow her on her social media sites!

Giveaway: KitchenAid Mixer – $399 value!

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I really, really love doing giveaways! I feel it’s my way of giving back to The Paleo Mama community…cause I know I wouldn’t be doing this, blogging and sharing great Paleo content, if it wasn’t for all of you! Click here to take a look at some of the past giveaways I’ve done. This month, I’m joining with some other real foodie bloggers and offering a KitchenAid Mixer!

KitchenAid Mixer – $399 Value!

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This giveaway is just in time for the holidays coming up. Even us Paleo eaters can use this mixer! I, personally, love mine for whipping up coconut whipped cream, grain-free batters and cookies, and for even making my own Chocolate Mint Love Butter for the bedroom! Oh yes, my mixer has been worth every penny! So, here’s your chance to win a brand new KitchenAid Mixer…and if you make my Love Butter, you MUST let me know how you loved it!

How to Enter for Your Chance to Win: 

1.  CLICK HERE to check out the mixer on Amazon to see what you could win! (Come back and after reading to finish steps 2 & 3).

2. Subscribe to The Paleo Mama, my weekly newsletter highlighting the latest posts and health tips from me!


(If your already a subscriber just continue to step 3…)

3. Leave a comment letting us know what you would make first with the KitchenAid Mixer! 

4. Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post to confirm these entries and unlock more!

***For more ways to win, be sure to visit all the blogs responsible for this giveaway!***

Bacon & Whipped Cream

Nourishing Herbalist

Nourishing Time

Oh, The Things We’ll Make

Ever Growing Farm

Small Footprint Family

The Dabblist

The Urban Ecolife

Life Sanity

Note: If you cannot see the Rafflecopter widget below, click here to see the widget and enter now.

 

Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

A winner will be chosen via random.org. We will announce the lucky winner on Tuesday, November 19th, 2013. The winner will have 48 hours to contact (nourishingherbalist at gmail dot com) with his/her full name, address, and phone number. There is no purchase necessary to win. This giveaway is open to everyone, but the KitchenAid Mixer will only be shipped to U.S. or Canadian residents. Winners who live outside of these areas will receive an Amazon gift card in the amount of the item sale price on Amazon. 

 

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

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I’ve been reading and cooking for so many awesome Paleo cookbooks lately! Having resources like this at your fingertips is going to help you stay focused and successful at eating Paleo. There are so many delicious recipes and so many talented bloggers who are creating food art!

Oh did I mention Chocolate Mini Zucchini Bread??? Halle from Whole Lifestyle Nutrition has put together this DELICIOUS cookbook, Gluten-Free & Grain-Free Breads, Batters, and Doughs! I am blown away by some of the recipes in this cookbook.  Here’s a few that will amaze you…

Halle has, graciously, let me share her Chocolate Mini Zucchini Bread with you….just one of the many Paleo recipes you can find in her new cookbook, Gluten-Free & Grain-Free Breads, Batters, and Doughs! 

Chocolate Mini Zucchini Bread 

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  • Yields: 6 pieces Serving Size: 1 piece
  • Nutritional Information: Calories: 225, Fat 14.6g, Carbs: 17.6g, Protein: 7.8g
  • NOTE: This recipe can be doubled for a full 5″x9″ loaf of bread; bake for an hour. 

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Make your almond butter or use store-bought. I made my own cause I had a ton of almonds and it’s so stinkin easy!

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2. In a medium bowl combine the almond butter, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, cocoa powder, and sea salt and blend with a hand held mixer for 2 minutes on medium speed. *whoops, I forgot to do this and just stirred it with a wooden spoon and it came out great still!*

3. Add baking soda and vinegar (will fizz up) and fold into the batter.

4. Stir in shredded zucchini. If really watery, squeeze out excess water.

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5. Place in a (parchment paper) lined or greased 3.5″x7.5″ loaf pan. You can use mini loaf pans too, just fill 3/4 full. *I used a full loaf pan since I doubled the recipe.*

6. Top with 1-2 TB of mini chocolate chips. *I leaned more towards the 2 TB 🙂 *

7. Bake for 23-28 minutes if you have mini loaf pans and 35-50 minutes for large loaf pan. Start testing with toothpick at 35 minutes and when it comes out clean when inserted in the center, it is done.

8. Allow to cool on a cooling rack and serve!

ENJOY! I topped mine with Kerrygold butter and drank it back with some fresh raw milk! It was THE BEST Paleo bread recipe I have EVER made!

 

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Click here to check out Gluten-Free & Grain-Free Breads, Batters, and Doughs cookbook!!!!!

 

The Paleo Survival Guide: Getting Started with Paleo

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In the two years that I have been blogging about eating Paleo, the MOST asked question is, “How do I start?” It can be very overwhelming for you…I know…I have been there. Throw transitioning a family into that mix and you are so overwhelmed that you don’t even start.

You can scour the internet for hours and hours on how to start eating Paleo and you will find a lot of information. However, you won’t find it all in one spot. You will have to search:

  • “How do I transition my family?”
  • “How do I eat Paleo when I’m out of the house?”
  • “What kinds of foods should I eat when I’m sick?”
  • “What do I eat when I’m at parties?” 
  • “What do I feel my Paleo kids?” 
  • …and on…and on…and on.

You quit before you even started! Let me encourage you by suggesting this extremely beneficial book that Sylvie McCracken from The Hollywood Homestead has put together a brand new digital book, “The Paleo Survival Guide: Getting Started with Paleo“. Sylvie has not only written a book for you, no, she has written you a survival manual! This book is going to help you make the transition to eating Paleo so much easier.

Sylvie is a walking testimony of how Paleo has changed someone’s life completely. She has lost 65 lbs since she started eating Paleo and weight loss was not even her main goal.

You see, being overweight or underweight is often not the problem. It is a symptom of a problem. When you’re body finds health, it will most likely self-adjust on the weight front quite a bit. – Sylvie McCracken

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10 Reasons Why I Love this Book?

  1. 50% of the book is information that will be extremely beneficial to your success with Paleo. Actually, 100% is beneficial, but 50% is a manual. The other 50% is recipes that will help you get started.
  2. It starts at the bottom and addresses what Paleo, truly, is.
  3. It talks about how Paleo is safe for kids.
  4. It talks about how to afford eating Paleo.
  5. It talks about reluctant spouses who don’t want to eat Paleo. I had one of those! He’s a firm believer now.
  6. It talks about Paleo in times of sickness
  7. It addresses how to eat Paleo On the Go and when traveling.
  8. It addresses sleep, exercise, and managing stress.
  9. It’s loaded with 45 recipes to get you going.
  10. But you know what my favorite reason why I love this book? Because she is a mom just like me. She has 3 kids and she is making Paleo work for her family. You can see that health and happiness is evident in her family’s life because of Paleo.

Oh, the delicious recipes…did I mention the recipes?

Baby Broccoli Salad

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Bacon Guacamole 

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Sneaky Green Popsicle (aren’t they adorable?) 

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Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

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Hollywood Homestead is offering my readers a special discount of 20% off if you order it today!!! Coupon Code: PALEOMAMA !

CLICK HERE TO ORDER! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help The Paleo Mama Out!!!

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HELP

Hey everyone! I have a HUGE request and need your help. 2013 is quickly drawing to a close and I plan on creating plenty of great content for you in the coming year – including ebooks, an online class, and lots of great posts.

I’ve got lots to share about Paleo, natural living, raising Paleo kids, and health/wellness. But, I need your help. I want to make sure to create content that you want and need. So, I’m taking a really quick survey on Survey Monkey.com to see what my readers are more interested in.

Please fill out this quick survey to help me decide which classes and books to offer next year. Thank you SO MUCH!

>>>Click here to fill it out!  <<<

 

Thank you again! This is such a big help!

 

Jackie @ The Paleo Mama

City Girl to Farm Girl: The Transformation Within

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Picnic basket in one hand, my son’s hand in the other, we open the rusty gate and head out to find a perfect spot to lay our blanket. The autumn leaves crunch beneath my farm boots – I still snicker when I look down and see rubber boots instead of polished, tan toes that compliment my $1 Old Navy flip-flops. Paleo farm girl runs ahead of us and asks to let the chickens out. Her wavy hair dances in the mountain air and sings a song as the sun flickers off her fading summer highlights.

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Paleo son giggles when the chickens break free from their coop – their eyes eager to find a juicy bug outside the coop walls. Do I know that feeling! Paleo farm girl picks up her favorite chicken, Susie Sunshine, so delicately and gently. This is the second Susie Sunshine. The first Susie Sunshine met her unfortunate fate when Paleo farm girl accidentally stepped on her. I felt the crush and blow with her and we held her fading body as she slipped away from this world. This was our first hard lesson of farm life but we knew the pain of death already.

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My son slips from my hand and brings me back to this moment. I watch as he runs ahead and I know where he is going. He is fascinated with “wish flowers” and they cover our pasture. He counts to three and blows and I watch the white florets surround my son and I watch as his eyes follow the florets up in the air above him. The moment is perfect and I thank God that I am here in it. I remember my life when it was crushed, stepped on…like the first Susie Sunshine. My life was fading away and I felt like I couldn’t breath. My bones were broken and I couldn’t hold my head up. My spirit barely was holding on and I could not get past the pain my body had felt._MG_7785_MG_7798_MG_7788

I stood in the hallway broken and crying out for help, I felt it. I felt someone pick me up and over time He began to, every-so-carefully, put me back together. I watch my children in our new life and think of how my life has so, drastically, changed. But it didn’t happen all at once…it was piece by piece…by piece. And now I walk hand-in-hand with my child whose birth painfully reminds me of the death of my sister. My life has been a life of parallels; plagued with celebrating the life of my son, but burdened, at the same time, with grieving the death of my younger sister. It’s been two years and I’ve walked these parallels and I’ve been burdened with grief and guilt. I’ve been screaming into a pillow and felt trapped in this life. I thought this is how it would feel forever…but here I am…I’m watching the wish flowers surround my son and fly up into the mountain breeze. I’m looking at the mountains that surround us and admiring the way the sun forms shadows on in the crevices of the distant peaks.

I hit my knees and a wave of peace comes over me. I don’t feel God anymore so I don’t know if that is what this is…but it is something so close that it leaves me believing that I will feel Him again. I reach my hand up to grab my sister’s necklace and, for once, I know it’s ok. My sister led me here because I know I wouldn’t be here…in the middle of the mountains of North Carolina…if it wasn’t for what happened. My life wouldn’t have gone through such trauma. I wouldn’t feel like I do now. I wouldn’t be this alive.

Cause now I feel things. I see things I never saw…

like how beautiful the florets of the wish flower are.

Or how my daughter’s hair dances in the air.

Or how beautiful the leaves are as they are changing from green to their autumn color.

I wouldn’t feel peace because to truly feel peace, you have to know what war is. 

I pull the checkered blanket from our picnic basket and we sit down to enjoy this day that was given to us. My daughter says a prayer and thanks the Lord for her chicken. My son throws his little arms in the air and screams, “AMEN.” We break bread together, as a little family that has been through a tough few years but has come out of the storm. I had a feeling this place would help me continue to heal and I’m thankful that it has held up to that expectation.

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My heart has always had a calling for more than what a city could offer me and living in it was like a prison.

I’m thankful to be set free.

I’m blessed to be able to treasure this moment.

…because now I know how fast life is.

…now I know that I can be broken…and happy…and it’s ok.

This crushed and broken city-girl is gone. A vibrant and peaceful farm girl has arrived. 

My soul is…

quenched.