Paleo Chicken Vegetable Soup

We've all come down with the nasty summer cold that's going around so I wanted soup!

Here is what you'll need:
2 c rotisserie chicken
4 carrots chopped
4 celery stalks chopped
1 onion chopped
1 c mushrooms
1 can chopped tomatoes
1/4 c bacon fat
2 c vegetable broth
1 c chicken broth
Garlic Salt & Pepper to taste

Pour the bacon fat along with the onions in a large pot and saute until the onions are kinda soft. Next, add everything else and let simmer on medium about 45 minutes. That's it!

Chili Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes

First off, bake some sweet potatoes for a long time. I do mine at 375 for about an hour.

Next, gather these ingredients

1 lb ground meat of your choice. I used beef.
1 white onion (chopped)
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1 cup-ish cherry tomatoes (chopped)
1 8oz can tomato paste
.5 c salsa (any kind will do)
1 c water
2 TBSP cumin divided
2 TBSP oregano divided
1 TBSP salt
1 TBSP black pepper
1.5 TBSP chili powder
1 Tea cayenne pepper
1 TBSP olive oil

In a large pot, add the olive oil and the onion, toss to coat. Then add in the ground meat and 1 TBSP of cumin, 1 TBSP of oregano, 1 TBSP salt, 1 TBSP black pepper, 1 TBSP of chili powder, and 1 tea cayenne. Blend the meat and spices and onion so that everything is covered. Once the meat is browned, add in ALL other ingredients, stir and simmer for 1 hour.

Once the chili is ready, cut your sweet potato down the middle and remove the skin, pour the chili over the potato and top with whatever you would like: cheese, onion, sour cream! Yum Yum!

Summer Melt

I am really excited to announce my very first Advocare event, the Summer Melt.

This challenge is meant for anyone who is ready to get in shape and shed some pounds for bathing suit season. Along with world class supplements from Advocare, clients will receive a day to day meal plan, as well as daily workouts that can be done virtually anywhere with little to no equipment. This event is not solely for people in the Orange County area, if you are out of town, you can do this too!

I am extremely excited to launch this program, as I know it breeds success. If you are interested in learning more, please email me at psadvocare@gmail.com, or check out my event page summermeltsgregrow.eventbrite.com

Let's melt off our "Winter Coats" and get ready for Summer!

Making Differences...

Well, this is not going to be a recipe post, but more of a life update.

Paul and I have recently taken on a new challenge. I could not be more blessed for being given this opportunity.

About a month ago, we were introduced to Advocare products by a great couple, Jill and Brian. Advocare is a company that gives people so much. Advocare has products for people of all ages, body types, and lifestyles. We began taking the products and we have not had one complaint yet. I started out on the Advocare 24 Day Challenge. What the challenge includes is an easy diet plan, as well as a "cleanse phase" consisting of a fiber drink and probiotics, and a "max phase" consisting of meal replacement shakes for breakfast, and nutritional supplements to aid in weight loss and wellness. At the end of the challenge, I have lost 3lbs, 2 inches in my waist, and 2 inches in my hips, and I feel great! I have since takena coffee out of my routine and I am overall feeling phenomenal. I have been setting PR's (personal records) in the gym on both my lifts, and I have been able to string two muscle-ups together, almost three! We had some of our close friends and family join us for the challenge. My step-dad lost 24 lbs in 24 days! My sister in law reduced her bodyfat percentage going from 17% to 12% and she lookd amazing!

Paul has been on the Elite Line of Advocare products and he is feeling great. He qualified for the Crossfit Southern California Regionals and he has been hitting it hard in the gym, and he has been feeling great too. He doesn't look too bad either ;)

Advocare is more to me than just 3lbs and 4 inches lost though. Advocare has helped me to see that I have the ability to help others with their weightloss journey, and that is pretty special. Not a day goes by where I don't hear something like "I am exhausted" or "I really need to lose about 20lbs" or "I need to eat better" in the staff lunch rooms at work. I see Advocare as my opportunity to spread the wealth of knowledge about health, nutrition and exercise that is out there. I see myself helping my family members and friends that really need to change their lives for the better. I have found my true passion, and that passion is to help others. I am really excited about this.

Well, I wanted to leave this post with some results pictures. If you are reading this and you are looking to make a change in your health, please contact me, I would be so happy to help. You can email me at psadvocare@gmail.com If you're interested in checking out Advocare products, visit our distributor site at psadvocare.com

Paleo Steak Fries

As close to the real thing as it gets!

This was just a random, and delicious idea. And yes, I used "white" sweet potatoes, which may be against some people's view of what Paleo is, but in our house, we are down with them!

Here is what you'll need:

Sweet Potatoes (the white/beige ones)
Bacon Grease

I was baking my bacon in the oven prior to this (at 375 degrees), so I already had two cookie sheets lined with tin foil and small pools of bacon grease left over after removing the bacon. I left the oven on and peeled the skin off the potatoes, then I sliced the potaotes in halves, and then sliced them again into about 1/2" thick pieces. I laid the potatoes on the sheet and cooked them about 20 minutes, then I flipped them over and let them cook about 10 more minutes.

They were magical.

Paleo Steak Topper: Mushrooms & Onions

This was absolutely delish! We ALWAYS sautee onions when we eat steaks, and sometimes we will add mushrooms, but I wanted a carmelized taste tonight, why didn't I think of this earlier?

Here is what you'll need:

1 medium onion
1 c sliced mushrooms
2-3 TBSP bacon fat (or Olive or Coconut Oil)
1.5 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 TBSP Garlic Salt
Pepper to taste

Start by heating your pan with the bacon grease over medium heat, then add the onions. After about 3 minutes, add the mushrooms and spices and stir. Next add the balsamic, and toss to coat. Saute for about 10 minutes, or until the mushrooms and onions are cooked to your liking. Remove from the flame and let sit for about 2-3 minutes. Pour the goodness over your steak (or chicken even!) and enjoy!

A 2-fer Picture-less Post

I have slowed down on the Paleo recipes because Paul and I have been doing the Zone diet for the past 3 weeks. So, a lot of Paleo recipes call for several different ingredients which are just too complicated to figure out all the blocking for, so we have been eating a lot of basic meals. Grilled or sauteed meats, and fruits and veggies on the side, with a little healthy fat as well.

However, I managed to make a couple new recipes which were rather yummy. One is Paleo, and one is not really Paleo, but not that bad for you...

First, Pistachio Pesto (Paleo)

Blend all ingredients:

1 c Fresh Basil
1/4 c Shelled Pistachios
1/4 c Olive Oil
1/4 c Water

You could also add garlic or coconut milk to make it more of a creamy sauce. You may also have to add a little extra of one ingredient or another. We poured this sauce over some chicken and spaghetti squash, and then we had more for another meal. It was quite tasty.


Second, "Special Potatoes" (Paul named them)

4-5 Large Sweet Potatoes (The yellowish white ones, not YAMS)
1 TBSP Dried Dill
1 TBSP Garlic Salt
Sprinkle of Pepper
1/4 c Coconut Milk
1/2 c Greek Yogurt
2 TBSP Butter or Ghee

Boil the potatoes until they are completely soft, then drain them. Add all of the other ingredients to the pot and mash it all together. I used a big fork to mix it all, but you could use a hand mixer if you feel the need. These were soooooooooo good, and really, the only "non-paleo" thing about them is the greek yogurt, which is a very tiny amount when compared to how many potaties you're working with.

Hope you enjoy them!!!