{Collard Wrapped Tilapia}

Collard Greens?!  They look slightly weird, smell a bit weird, and taste.... not too bad, in my opinion, as long as paired with something yummy like .... tilapia!  =)
This recipe is from Everyday Paleo and has become one of our top favorite dinners =)

Interesting facts about collard greens:

They are part of the Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) which means they are part of the same species as cabbage and broccoli!  It is so interesting to me how all three of these vegetables can be part of the same group but look and taste so different!  I am so curious as to how they are categorized .. may have to be a home school project for the kids someday =)  

They are VERY high in Vitamin A and Vitamin K, and the high content of the Vitamin C, found in these sturdy green leaves, helps in the absorption of the iron (non-heme)  Non-heme iron is harder on our bodies so any help absorbing it (because we still need this!) is a very good thing! =)  Collard greens are also a good source of soluble fiber.  

Some of the top people groups/places that love collard greens:

Southerns here in our beloved U.S. {they apparently like them with smoked and salted meats, and often serve it with other "mixed greens" such as kale, turnip greens, and spinach.}

Brazil and Portugal {like it with fish and other meats... so perhaps this recipe is closest to how a Brazilian may fix collard greens?!  =)

India {they eat the leaves and roots; and have many ways of serving, including in soups, cooked with fish or cheese, and... get this... the leaves and roots are fermented to make a pickle of sorts called haak-e-aanchaar!}

 

4 Collard Green Leaves

4 Tilapia Fillets

Sea Salt, Paprika, and Black Pepper to taste

2 Tbs Coconut Oil, or Butter

1.  Preheat oven to 375*.  

2.  Blanch the collard green leaves in boiling water for just a few seconds, remove, and lay flat.  (I let mine also dry on a paper towel while putting it together). 

3.  Cut off the touch end piece of the collard greens and place one tilapia fillet in the center of each collard green, season the fish with the salt, paprika, and pepper, top with 1/2 Tb of coconut oil or butter, and wrap firmly in the collard green.

4.  Place all the wrapped fish in a large glass baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.  (Note: the tilapia I buy, frozen from Costco, says to cook at 400* for 30-35 minutes; so I usually like to cook at the lower temp (don't want to burn the collard greens) for 30-35 minutes at least.)

5.  Serve with a lemon wedge or lemon juice!  Enjoy~

Hey and I didn't get step by step pictures again.... I'm so new at this!  =)  Forgive me!  And I will do my best to get all the steps the next time I make it... which is probably soon as I have more tilapia in the freezer and more collard greens in the fridge! =)  

{Veggie & Meat Breakfast "Muffins"}

Good Morning!  Breakfasts in some households often get overlooked, which most of us know is not really a good habit to form.  We need a delicious, light but energizing food break to our fast of the night.  It helps start off the day right in so many ways!  I really think a good breakfast makes for a happy tummy {so no unneeded snacking before lunch}, happy attitudes, and a good start to happy, healthy eating for the day =)
Breakfasts in other homes don't get overlooked but end up being too big and elaborate for most mornings, especially if dear husband has an early job {or like mine, has early morning classes every other semester!}, and/or if it is a homeschooling home, bigger breakfasts seem to be better saved for the weekends.

So here is a new favorite that helps in all those areas.  The original recipe is in Sarah Fragoso's Everyday Paleo book, but I have made a few adjustments.  It does take a bit of prep work, but after these "muffins" are made, breakfast is ready all week long!  Just grab a few muffins from the fridge, warm them, and off everyone can go! =)

Veggie & Meat Breakfast Muffins
10-13 Eggs * Whisk with desired Salt & Pepper, & any other desired seasonings {Italian, Chili Powder, Curry, Cumin, etc}
8 slices of Bacon or 1 lb. Breakfast Sausage * Cook thoroughly, crumble
4 cups Fresh Spinach
2+ Green Onion or 1/2 cup Onion of choice
1 cup Roasted Red Pepper (or other colors if making homemade =)
2 Zucchini Squash
Tomatoes, a good hand full
Mushrooms, same as tomatoes =)

1.  Preheat oven to 250*, grease muffin tins with coconut oil or spray cooking oil.
2.  Whisk all eggs along with salt, pepper, and whatever other seasonings you may want to add.
3.  Cook bacon or sausage, and crumble.  Set aside.
4.  Slice spinach and finely chop in food processor, or continue by hand.  Can also dice onion with spinach in food processor, or dice by hand.
5.  Chop tomatoes, roasted peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini.
6.  Add all the vegetables and cooked meat to egg mixture, mix well.
7.  Using measuring cup, fill the muffin tins with 1/4 cp each. {makes 18-24}
8.  Bake @ 350* for 20-25 minutes or until the eggs are set in the middle.
9.  Serve warm with favorite sauces and enjoy!

I have made these strictly paleo (as is) and have also added a little bit of cheese to them.  Either way, they are quite delicious!  Also, they may seem very "green" and 'scary' looking but please do give them a try!  I can imagine young kids would love them with ketchup and my husband loves them with hot sauce!  And for you pregnant mommies... these are a real boost in good nutrients and iron for you and your baby =)  Just had to add that in there! ;)

I will also add more pictures the next time I make these... somehow pictures of the finished product has slipped my brain =)

{February 28th Update on the Paleo Plan}

Hello welcome!  I hope you're able to pour a cup of coffee or hot tea {Earl Grey is one of my favorites =)} ...or as my dear friend, Jill, would rather have, maybe a tall glass full of foaming chocolate milk!  Whatever you decide, come sit down, and journey with me through my kitchen, the recipe box, and laugh {and sometimes cry!} as I share the adventures of a wife and mommy in her kitchen!  ;)  

When I first got everything started for this new blog I wrote the first post and we had not started a simple-carb/gluten-free diet... but now, I'm happy to tell you, that we ARE actually doing the Paleo stuff!  =)  Yay! Well... mostly! =)  Another day for that blog post....

Confessions:

WOW!  I haven't craved sugar/chocolate/sweets so bad for so long!!!  =(  I was going crazy those first four weeks!  And admittedly made quite a few of gluten-free treats!  (meaning, substituted gluten free flour in the classic chocolate chip cookies, my favorite muffins, etc.recipes so they mostly still had dairy and regular sugar/some organic sugar =)  Yeah, it was bad.  But it was fun experimenting with the gluten-free flours! And, I think I can say that those first-month cravings are subsiding! {But maybe that's due to being pregnant, and so far, I don't crave much sugar/sweets while pregnant!} 

Bonuses:  

We are loving some of the paleo recipes I've discovered!  They're really good and I feel so much better knowing that they aren't full of simple carbs!  

I'm also learning to cook a lot of vegetables that I've either never had before (brussels sprouts, eggplant, leeks anyone?!), but actually {liking} most of them! =)  

A friend of Seth's has graciously let me long-term borrow a book called "Everyday Paleo" by Sarah Fragoso {ya' can check it out here}, and it is from this book that most of the recipes I've been making are coming from.  This book is very unique in that she not only tells her life story and why she and her family are now Paleo lifestylists but she also thoroughly explains what Paleo is and isn't.  AND... she's included 100 plus recipes, a month long meal plan for a family of 5, and tips of what to have in the pantry, fridge, and freezer!  

At first the whole book seemed a little overwhelming until I got to the last few pages where she has her monthly meal plan with weekly grocery lists and recipes for each meal!  Whew... this looks so much more do-able! =)  

I haven't followed it perfectly.  Partly because there a few things on there that we just can't afford (lamb, wild Alaskan salmon , etc.) or that I'm too scared to buy the veggies for (beets, turnips, etc. yuck! lol), and also because I've been participating in a food co-op that is local to the Western states called Bountiful Baskets.  So I have been incorporating these fruits and vegetables into the meals and recipes (never know for sure what's in the baskets 'til we pick up on Saturday! =) instead of buying just what Sarah recommends.  

That being said, concerning some of the expensive meats and disliked vegetables, we have really liked the recipes and book.  It's even on a wish list, because I'm afraid that our friend is going to want it back at any time! Lol =)  

If you are nervous about giving up simple carbs, breads, pastas, etc. then fear not!  There are a lot of great ideas and recipes out there that are really delicious (the whole family will love most of these!).... so take a sip of that coffee, relax... and find a new recipe for dinner or breakfast! =)