Weekend cooking

 We are moving into the last week of Leeny's challenge and I am still staying on target (apart from a sip of Sam's coffee on Sunday!).  I made a buch of food to last through the week because as usual I will be late home from work most days.  I made these chicken, sweet potato and kale patties.  I haven't made them in  along time.  We used to eat them all the time....

 I also cooked a bunch of beef short ribs in the crock-pot and I roasted these chickens for dinner on Saturday night.  I figured that I could use the leftovers in the week, but we ate more than I thought!!!!

I also have to take pity on the rest of the family and made mac& cheese for the kids (mostly Maggie).  I'm sure it won't last too log, even though I made a huge pot of it

 Sam and Maggie love this broccolini quiche.  I do too, but it's out for now

I made pizza for Sam and Maggie last night.  Funny, it doesn't bother me at all to make these off-program foods and not eat them.....

Creve Coeur 5K Snowball Series # 4

I think I am slipping in the rankings, but such a beautiful day for a run around Creve Coeur park

I had to run on my own because Sam thought he would not be able to walk that far.  Wish he could have gone with me because he hasn't made it 2 years in a row and it really is a perfect course.  I may even start going out there every week

Week # 2 of Leeny's challenge

So far, I have stuck to the challenge.  I am pretty much on track with my eating and haven't had any coffee (apart from about 1/2 cup with almond milk in the morning).  According to the bathroom scale, I have lost about 5 lbs in the past 2 weeks.  I haven't really tried any new recipes, but I have resurrected some of my old ones.

First week on Whole 30

I have made it through the first week of Leeny's challenge and have stayed on program for the whole week.  Surprisingly, it's been relatively easy.  However, I recognize that I have a different mindset when I'm doing a challenge as opposed to everyday life.  I am hoping by the end of this challenge and finishing WLC (which starts next week) that I will be on a good enough routine to stick to it.  I'm hoping that I see enough improvement that I want it to be a permanent thing.  After 10 weeks, I should be in a new routine, but it could also be one that I just can't stand any more!!!!
Along with the challenge of eating differently, I have also had a terrible cold (Sam and Maggie have already had it), an ice storm in St Louis on Friday so that we had a 4 day weekend (out of the work routine which always makes it easier to stay on track) and the challenge of taking the kids out to eat at Panera while not eating anything myself.  Ben's grilled cheese has never looked so good!!!!!

I have almost completely (apart from about 1/2 cup a day) given up drinking coffee and I have replaced it with Teavana tea.  This has the benefit of being able to choose some cool teas to choose from, plus to control the amount of caffeine I'm taking in.  The first few days were rough-not sure if the killer headache was due to the caffeine withdrawal or the cold!!!

I have gone back to some of our old recipes that I haven't made in a long time.  Even though the Internet is flooded with paleo recipes now, some of the original ones are still the best.  I made this cherry clafouti so that I could turn to something a little sweet if I needed it.  Funny, as soon as I made it, my sweet craving went away.  I think it's more psychological than anything else-once I knew there was something in the fridge I could turn to, the urge went away!!!!

I haven't made these paleo muffins in a while as there is so much fat in them, but I found a jar of marmalade in the fridge and though I'd better use it up, so I made a batch and it has been a nice change for breakfast

I also made a batch of paleo mayo and I mixed some with hot sauce and ate it with some chicken-simple, but good

I made some paleo eggs Benedict for breakfast, nice change too

And, finally, for now, our old stand-by, the chicken, bacon and avocado salad.  Still a great choice

Day 5 of challenge

Well, I have made it through 5 days of Leeny's challenge.  I have done pretty well, but I think I can do better.  I need to be careful not to slip back into my coasting habits and not eat enough protein.  I made some salad for lunch in the week-only had it one day, but it was a nice change.  I also took tomato and basil soup to work, which pretty much kept me going all week.

I have replaced the vast majority of my coffee with Teavana tea.  I have had about 1/2 a cup in the mornings with some almond milk, but then drank tea the rest of the day.  I have definitely got my water intake up

We were off work today (ice storm) and so I made some fruit clafouti to eat when I want something sweetish

I made a batch of paleo muffins because I had some marmalade left in the fridge.  I have not made them for a while because they have quite a bit of fat in them.

I also made some paleo mayonnaise, mixed it will hot sauce, and used it as a dipping sauce for chicken

I am fighting (and losing!) a cold this week, which is making me feel very achy.  I can tell if it's the sugar withdrawal or the cold that is making me feel this bad.  Drinking all this tea has to help though

Leeny's Paleo Challenge 2017-Sunday cooking

I went to Leeny's introductory seminar on Saturday. Her challenge starts on Monday, so I made some food to last me this week.  I always make bacon at the weekend

I am always make banana pancakes.  Sam and I eat them every morning

This beef was made in the slow cooker.  I made it with a grated Asian pear, 1/2 cup coconut aminos and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar.  It's so easy to make and very good.

I also made this buffalo chicken meatloaf.  I haven't made it in a while.  I really like it, but Sam not so much.  I think he's back on board though!!!!

I also roasted an organic free range chicken.  Maggie loves the chicken legs and I use the breast in things for Sam and I to eat

January 2017 Paleo Challenge

I'm starting a new paleo challenge with Leeny.  This will be the 4th time I have done this with her.  I'm also doing Whole Life Challenge again this month.  I'm determined to do this 100% this time.  Found this, it is so true when you are doing Whole 30!!!!

Snowball series run #3-New Year's Day in Forest Park

Had to run on my own since Sam's heel is still bothering him.  It was pretty much the same weather as last year, about 35 degrees and killer wind.  My teeth were hurting by the end!!!!