Soy Free Asian Maranade

Most people don't know this but Soy Sauce has Wheat in it.  So it is not something I should have while on the Paleo diet.  But there is a nice alternative for marinades.  Coconut Aminos!  I've never heard of them before this diet. Most health food stores sell it and usually by the Asian food section. 

This recipe is enough for a couple steaks or a few chicken breasts. 

Ingredients:
3.5 Tblspn Extra Virgin Olive Oil
5 Tblspn Raw Coconut Aminos
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
red pepper flakes to taste
2 cloves garlic finely minced
1 tsp ground ginger
May need to add extra olive oil if you need more of the marinade. 

Should marinade for at least 2-3 hours, best to marinade overnight. 

This was pretty good.  I would decrease the black pepper and I didn't put in the red pepper flakes. I'm a wimp with black pepper and think it's way too spicy! my friend who had this with me really liked and she thought the pepper was perfect...

GRAIN FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

We all know that we have those times when we are on a diet when we need something sweet.  So for the 4th of July I had a friend over and made these cookies as our dessert.  I have to say they are one of my new favorite cookies ever! If you love almond joys you will love these cookies!!!!
Will make about 24-32 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.  These are soy free, dairy free, and nut free.  They taste great.  There are other brands that also make these kinds of chocolate chips. 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375℉.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Set aside.
4. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs, honey, and vanilla extract with a hand mixer, or wire whisk.
5. Pour wet ingredients slowly into dry ingredients and beat with mixer or fork until combined.
6. Add the melted coconut oil and continue to blend until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Drop Tablespoon size balls of cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet.
8. Bake for approximately 7-10 minutes.  I bake mine for around 7-8 minutes so they are still pretty soft in the middle. 

If you do not like coconut then you would not like these cookies.  Almond flour is a little spendy and can be bought in bulk at most health food stores.  I get it for 7.99/lb and most places on the internet sell it for that much also.

Recipe taken from www.paleoplan.com

PALEO Banana Almond Pancakes

This recipe makes enough for 2 people. It takes about 30 minutes to put together.  It doesn't have a lot of protein like you should be getting on Paleo so you can add some bacon, sausage, chicken, etc. 

Ingredients:

• 2 bananas
• 2 egg
• 1 Tbs coconut flour
• 1-2 Tbs almond butter
• fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup nuts of choice (walnuts, macadamia, almonds are good), chopped
• 1 tsp. coconut oil
• Dash of sea salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mash bananas in a bowl.
2. Add the eggs, coconut flour, almond butter, blueberries, and nuts (I used pecans and almonds) and salt, and whisk until well blended.
3. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat along with a small pat of coconut oil.
4. Pour small discs of batter onto the hot pan (around 3-4" around). They'll be easier to flip if you keep them from the edges of the pan. The batter was a little thick so I spread it out a little after I poured it.
5. Flip when batter loses its "tackiness" around the edges.
6. Cook other side slowly over medium heat until fully cooked.
7. Reapply oil to the pan after each round of pancakes. Very important or they will stick!!!!

I recommend using Coconut Nectar as a type of syrup.  It has a very low glycemic index and is great for the paleo diet. These were pretty good pancakes.  I definitely recommend adding the blueberries to the pancakes because they made them even better. 
Recipe taken from www.paleoplan.com