I’ve been doing a lot of baking and dessert-y things on the blog this week.
Why?
No clue. It just seems like the right thing to do to stand in my kitchen and sweat with the oven on while I hand-wash bowls and pans and listen to the dishwasher run. I guess?
Anyway, I’ve also been cooking REAL food…you know, the kind that you would and should actually eat for dinner? The kind that fills your mouth with flavor and your tummy with wholesomeness? Yeah, I do that too. Just call me Superwoman.
So here’s the thing that I feel like I need to get off my chest: I don’t eat Paleo. Don’t do it now, won’t do it ever, no way. If you ask me any diet that cuts out entire food groups is not really something I want to become my lifestyle unless it’s 100% medically necessary. However, I WILL say that the thing I do like about the Paleo diet and the recipes that go with it is the fact that it really puts the emphasis on lean meats and lots of veggies. And after my gestational diabetes incident (and the fact that having gestational diabetes increases my risk of having Type II Diabetes later on in life) I have really tried to reign in on the excessive carbohydrates. Still have ’em every day and still LOOOOOOOOVE them, but I’m working on making the meat and veggies thing a bigger part of my everyday diet.
Phew. That feels better. Thanks for listening!
Now, that being said I found this list of 30 Paleo crockpot meals on Pinterest last week and pinned it immediately because:
- 30 crockpot meals. Duh.
- 30 different meals that I can use for dinner inspiration.
- 30 different meals that I can make with lean meat and veggies. And then de-Paleo by adding bread on the side or whatever.
The first one I’ve tried is this Garlic Beef Stew and Savory Cauliflower Mash from Everyday Paleo and I just have to say that WOW it’s good! Full of flavor, easy to make, AND easy on the wallet. I didn’t change a thing EXCEPT for the cauliflower mash I bought a massive bag of frozen cauliflower and steamed that instead since it was less expensive that the sub-par fresh stuff in the produce section. I loved it, Nate loved it (and let’s just say that’s a big deal) and the leftovers were fabulous.
So even though this whole Paleo thing isn’t 100% my cup of carb- and dairy-laden tea, if all the meals are like this it’s definitely something we could incorporate into our meals more often than not!
totally with you here! i can’t exclude anything from my diet – makes me nutty..i become too restrictive!
I LOVE cauliflower mash– paleo or no! Ryan made some a while back that had some miso paste in it– SO good. This looks awesome.
i really need to get on this miso thing. i have yet to try it!
Wow! I, too, stand and sweat in the kitchen all summer long. It’s my life.
I love your approach on paleo. I’m going to pin that, too!
Also: have I told you how adorable the name Weston is? Love!
aw, thanks girl! i’m kinda partial to the name myself, especially now 😉
I would never be completely paleo, however I am getting more interested in it and would love to eat that way a lot more!
I am right there with you when it comes to diets like Paleo. I’m all about BALANCE. But this does look pretty tasty, and I do think there is value in incorporating some paleo meals into your daily life. Thank you for sharing, friend. And I’m all about the crock pot!
Great idea to buy the frozen cauliflower and steam that instead of the fresh! Thanks for sharing–I will definitely be keeping that tip in mind! 🙂
Everyday Paleo is one of my favorite recipe blogs…and I’m not 100% Paleo either (more like 70% – me give up bread? No way.). Beef stew is one of my favorite comfort foods by the way. Makes me think of home.
I can’t go 100% paleo either, but I do like to incorporate more paleo-ish meals into our daily life. This one looks awesome! Oh, and 30 paleo crockpot meals, ya, I’m sold, gotta go pin that myself!
dude, it’s all about the ease and convenience of slow cooker meals. i’ll take those no matter what my diet looks like!