Sage Apple Sausage Breakfast

I have gotten tired of eggs.  It was bound to happen since I only like scrambled eggs and something has to be in them: bacon, sausage, onions and peppers- you get the picture.  So this morning I decided that I was going to give the eggs a break and go with something a little different.  I have made this dish before, the last time was as a stuffing/side for some pork chops (if I can find the recipe I will post it- it was REALLY good).  This is my best recollection of the recipe and this was just a bit more than one serving.   It can be made in the oven or on the stove and since I am usually in a hurry in the morning I do it on the stove.  You're going to have to take my word on this one since I don't have any pictures...  I wasn't really thinking about blogging when I made my breakfast this morning.

Sage Apple Sausage Breakfast

3/4 pound sausage (I bought the country sausage from the butcher shop)
1/2 small onion, chopped
1/2 large apple (I used a Honeycrisp), chopped
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
pepper to taste

Break the sausage apart and combine all of the ingredients in a pan.  Cook until the sausage is cooked and is the appropriate internal temperature.  Enjoy!

**  If you want to make this in the oven combine all ingredients and bake at 350 degrees.  I don't know the approximate time in the oven (sorry).   

Preparation

As I've said before, the hardest part of following Paleo (well, any lifestyle really) is preparation- having food ready to eat so you don't feel like you need to go to McDonald's or Taco Bell at the last minute when you're starving and can't find anything to grab. So tonight I decided to fire up the Egg and make a few things we could take to work tomorrow and have for Sunday. 

The garlic chicken brats are quick and easy, perfect for any meal.  Great with some peppers and onions or eggs for breakfast.

I rubbed the chicken with 1 tsp black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder as well as 1/2 tsp red pepper and paprika and a sprinkle of white pepper- I've never tried this before so I'll let you know how it turns out. The chicken is also sitting on The Big Green Egg's "Sittin' Chicken" filled with chicken broth and what was left of the seasoning.

The rib roast was coated with a seasoning packet I got as a sample from DC Meats.  I should have paid more attention to the ingredients because it wasn't until after I coated the meat that I looked and noticed that the first ingredient was wheat, followed by white sugar and also brown sugar.  Thankfully I do not have a gluten allergy- it just means I need to pay more attention when I pick up a new seasoning.  Next time I will just use my own seasonings.  I also cut up 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 onion, 1/2 orange pepper, a sweet red pepper and 2 carrots and placed them under the roasting rack. 

So now I just sit and wait for everything to be done.  I think the hubby and I are going to enjoy our Friday night with a movie while I check the Egg every 30 minutes or so.  Have a good weekend!!

Genetically WHAT?!?

Right now there is a huge political battle going on in California, and no, I'm not talking about the Presidential election.  I'm talking about Proposition 37.  Heard of it?  I hadn't until this morning.  According to The Cornucopia Institute "Proposition 37, a citizen’s initiative on the ballot on November 6 in California, would mandate clear labeling of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients on food packages." 

What are genetically engineered ingredients?

According to Rob Endelman at The Delicious Truth (as noted from the Home Garden Seed Association) "Genetic Engineering describes the high-tech methods used in recent decades to incorporate genes directly into an organism. The only way scientists can transfer genes between organisms that are not sexually compatible is to use recombinant DNA techniques. The plants that result do not occur in nature; they are 'genetically engineered' by human intervention and manipulation."

One example of a GE food would be the long-lasting tomato.  Introduced to consumers in 1994, this tomato was created in a lab to contain less of the substances that cause tomatoes to rot, giving it a longer shelf life at the store.  While this may seem great, one of the greatest disadvantages to the long-lasting tomato was that it contained a gene that was resistant to antibiotics.  Meaning that if someone who unknowlingly consumed this tomato became sick it would be more difficult to treat that person with antibiotics to fight the illness. 

Wait, you mean food is not required to be labeled if they use GE foods?

Nope.  Companies are required to label their product if the plant processes peanuts or peanut products, milk and other allergens but not GE foods.  So you could be unknowingly consuming a food that might have an effect on your health later down the road. 

http://www.traditional-foods.com/

So Californians have stood up and said they want to know when GE products are used in their foods.  GREAT!  However, the most interesting part of this battle is the players that are opposing prop. 37.

You might recognize some of the companies on the left as companies that value the natural, healthy way of life: Kashi "7 whole grains on a mission," Naked, Larabar, Silk, Smuckers, Morning Star- just keep looking (I know it's hard to see but trust me). 

The one that caught my attention was Larabar.  I purchase this product and on the label it says "Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free Non-GMO, Vegan, Kosher." So if the label reads Non-GMO, yet the company does not want people to know that the foods they are consuming contain GE foods, what are they (or the corporation) hiding? 

It was interesting to learn that some of these "healthy" companies are also owned by larger corporations.  Kashi is a part of Kellogg, and according to The Cornucopia Institute, included GE ingredients in the "natural" cereals. Cascadian Farm and Larabar are owned by General Mills, Silk and Horizon Organics are owned by Dean and all oppose proposition 37. 

I hope that as November 6th approaches in California the people realize that this is an important decision.  Hopefully, "As California Goes, There Goes the Nation" and soon everyone will have the opportunity to decide for themselves if they want consume foods that have contain GE ingredients.  Now that I am aware of the situation I will not support any of the companies that oppose this movement and I encourage you to do the same.  If we stand together we can make a difference.  Vote Yes California!

http://www.traditional-foods.com/

What Are You Drinking?!?

I saw this photo yesterday on Big Tim's Primal Journey's Facebook page and I have been thinking about it since.  I'm not going to tell you what to think, draw your own conclusions. 

A Thrown Together Meal

Tonight's meal actually turned out better than I expected.  It was easy and very tasty.  I would definitely make this again and I think it is something my husband would like. 

Paleo Hash

1 clove garlic

1/2 onion

1/2 green pepper

1-2 carrots

1/2-1 yam

1 pound ground beef

seasonings

1.  Mince the garlic and saute with chopped onion and green pepper

2.  Add the beef and brown

3.  Season to your liking.  I used black pepper and a little Cajun seasoning (sorry, I didn't measure). 

4.  Add the chopped carrots and yam and cook until the carrots and yams are to your liking (I don't like mushy carrots so I only cooked them for about 5 minutes)

**The next time I make this I will probably reduce the amount of green  peppers and add some yellow and red peppers, just for color.  I would most likely add some celery, just a little (half a stalk) next time.

**This would also be very good with some parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, (the Scarborough Fair seasonings) and pepper.



Confession Time

I have a confession to make (it's kind of embarrassing).  I fell off the Paleo wagon.  (Booooooo.)  But today is day 6 of my return and so far so good!  Last night I was experiencing sugar withdrawal and we were at my parents for dinner.  When mom invited us over for dinner I told her I was following Paleo again and she made ribs, asparagus, mushrooms with onions and rice (which was easy to pass)...  BUT...  She also pulled out a Reese Peanut Butter pie for desert- now that was rough.  I REALLY wanted a piece but I knew that I would be happier saying no and enjoying the fact that I said no rather than enjoying the "high" from all the sugar in the pie and then being mad at myself later.  And I am really proud.  However, I was really irritable last night, and for that I'm not proud. 

So that's why I haven't posted in a while.  The worst part was that as I was eating all of the foods I knew I shouldn't be eating- I knew I shouldn't be eating them!  But the most important thing is I'm back to Paleo.  Following a healthy eating plan is important and I don't feel guilty when I eat because I know I'm eating the right things. 

A Tale of Two Meals/ Blood Sugar

This infographic was created by David Wallace at infographicjournal and compares two common breakfast choices.  According to the Standard American Diet (SAD) it is important to follow a low fat (or high carbohydrate) diet.  However, consuming large amounts of carbs cause a spike in blood sugar and, instead of slowing coming down, your blood sugar will fall quickly.  When this happens, you might feel tired, irritable and will reach for something to eat- and since you're following a low fat, high carb diet that something will create the blood sugar spike again.  But when you make food choices that contain fat and protein, your blood sugar slowly raises and then slowly comes down. 
 



The effects of food on blood sugar
Foods high in carbs                                    Foods high in fat

This chart (from Fit Tricks) is a great visual of the effects of the raising and lowering of blood glucose after eating.  The red chart is what happens with a high carbohydrate diet: peaks and valleys of blood sugar.  When your blood sugar drops too low (below the line) your brain receives the signal to eat.  The green chart is a high fat/protein diet: there are no peaks and the blood sugar remains constant which is why people stay fuller longer.  So be good to your body- eat fruits, veggies and foods that are high in protein and fats!