paleo supper

I'm reading The Paleo Manifesto by John Durant, which is convincing me to change my diet a little from the low carb/clean way I have been eating for a few months. Sweet potatoes used to be an absolute staple in my diet until I started eating low carb and cut them out. So far, I've still felt great after re-introducing sweet potatoes. 

The salad includes organic spinach, cucumbers I grew, and tomatoes that friends grew. I bought the whole free range chicken and organic sweet potatoes from Trader Joe's. The potatoes are locally grown. 

I rinsed the chicken, patted it dry, and stuffed it with thyme from my garden and Kerrygold butter. I seasoned it with salt and pepper and baked at 425 for an hour and a half. 

The whole meal is what I would consider paleo, healthy, easy, and delicious! 

blue smoothie

blue smoothie

1 banana

1 handful baby spinach (approximately 3/4 cup)

2 T oats

1 1/2 T peanut butter

1/2 c frozen blueberries (I buy these at the farmers market in the summer and freeze in small bags)

3 oz. nonfat plain Greek yogurt

3/4 c almond milk, or more as needed to blend

handful ice

Place in blender in order given and blend well. Makes two servings. 

simple green smoothie

After the holiday eating and being sick, I was eager to make smoothies with the strawberries and spinach that I'd picked up at the farmers market.

Simple Green Smoothie:

1 banana

2 handfuls baby spinach (approximately 3/4 cup packed baby spinach)

8 medium sized strawberries 

two handfuls of ice

3/4 cup orange juice

I typically start with the softest ingredients on the bottom and place the heavier, denser ingredients in the middle, with ice on the top, and liquid in last. 

This recipe made two servings. 

I went a little heavy on the orange juice. I usually throw in whatever I have on hand for smoothies; some of my other favorites ingredients are: blueberries, plain greek yogurt, almond milk, peanut butter, and oats.

I got this Tervis tumbler in my stocking. You can never have enough Tervis tumblers, and, well, we already had all of the other ECU designs. 

Do you drink smoothies? What are your favorite ingredients? 

winter farmers market

Off of work for a few days, I am mostly lounging around and fighting a cold, but I felt a little better yesterday. I talked my mom into going to the farmers market with me, hoping to find some citrus fruit for ice rings and punch. Instead, we had a fantastic fried shrimp lunch at the NC Seafood Restaurant and purchased apples, strawberries, and spinach. 

I have already snacked on an apple and used the berries and spinach in a smoothie. I plan to eat the spinach in salads, too.

I learned from my dad this summer that NC produces plenty of apples. In the winter time, the varieties available increase significantly. I tried Pink Lady apples first yesterday, then the farmer suggested this Cameo variety. They are great!

I was disappointed to have missed strawberry season this summer, but I was pleasantly surprised to find strawberries yesterday. These are "winter berries" from Lewis Nursery and Farms. According to this chart, I should be able to find NC grown strawberries all but three months of the year! What good news!

What are your favorite winter time farmers market finds?