How to Make Vanilla Extract

As I begin this tutorial, I think back to shopping with my mom many years ago.  I had several bottles of vodka in my cart.  She didn't say anything and I didn't think anything of it.  A few weeks later I mentioned that I'd started a bunch of vanilla with beans I had bought in bulk to give as Christmas gifts.  She was relieved to know that is what I was doing with all that vodka!  :)

Anyway, here is the process my sister-in-law taught me years ago.  I use a lot of vanilla and keep a bottle or two going all the time now!

Ingredients:
vodka
vanilla beans

To get started decide how much you want to make.  I used 30 beans in 1.75 liters of vodka.
 

1. Dump a little vodka out of the bottle into another container to make room for the beans.  (What you do with this is your own business!  I keep it in my cleaner cabinet as it works well to remove sticky or gummy things.)

2.  Slit each bean longways and open up to reveal the gritty part.



 
3.  Put beans in jar.
4.  Replace lid and label with date.  


  
5.  Store in a cool, dark place for at least 6 months.  I like to try for at least 1 year.  If you think of it, give it a shake about once a month.

Here is the bottle I'm currently using and the little bottle I refill and keep by my spices.  

  
I got to thinking that tequila is plant based instead of grain based like vodka, I wonder if that would work for the base?

Baked Fish, Tartar Sauce & Sweet Potato Fries

I successfully made mayonnaise for the first time today following this tutorial!  So, I used some of it to make tartar sauce.  Since I made tartar sauce, I made fish for supper tonight.  I used this recipe for the fish and this one for the tartar sauce.

 
We also had steamed broccoli, sweet potatoes and a cherry-berry smoothie.

Easy Sweet Potato Fries:
Melt a few Tbsp coconut oil on a baking sheet,
Peel and julienne about 3 sweet potatoes,
Roll potatoes around in oil then sprinkle with generous amounts of salt & black pepper
Bake about 20 minutes in 425-450 degree oven

If any of you have made your own mayo, please share your technique!



 

Spaghetti Squash Bolognese

If you have never eaten spaghetti squash, you should try it.  It is easy to grow, cook, and is kid friendly.  We eat it with traditional spaghetti sauce, but this is another great recipe.  This is from "Practical Paleo," by Diane Sanfilippo, BS,NC.  It is more than a cookbook, in fact the first part is full of all kinds of information on certain health issues and foods.  A great resource to have!  Anyway, onto the food.






 
Here is the recipe:  Spaghetti Squash Bolognese.

I used 1 lb of ground beef and turkey bacon.  I omitted the white wine (I didn't have any), but in the past I've included it.  I like it better with the wine.   

Carrot Cake Pancakes

We tried a new recipe in our house today.  I liked them, the kids liked them, life is good!  I topped mine mine with coconut better and maple syrup.  These were more labor intensive then some, so they will probably be reserved for weekends or make a big batch and reheat.  I made a double batch and had some left over, they are very filling.
 
These Carrot Cake Pancakes will be making an appearance at our house again soon!

The recipe does not state how much of each spice to use. We added 1 Tbsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger & 1 tsp nutmeg to a double batch.  This was good.  Also, we chopped our raisins up a bit and omitted walnuts for some family members.  I loved the walnut in mine.

Date Night at 2 Chez

Feeling adventurous on our big night out without the girls, so we ordered a rack of lamb and a duck breast.  The salad had a very yummy tomato balsamic dressing!  I included both our meals tonight because we eat off each other's plates.  :)  Are we the only couple that does this????

The salad.

 

Rack of lamb with mashed sweet potatoes & veggies.

  
Duck breast with garlic mashed potatoes & veggies.
 

Leftover Salad & Soup

Paleo Crepes with Berries

My grandma made the best "Skinny Pancakes!"  Then she would top them with thickened blueberries from her freezer.  We would roll them up & dump syrup on top of that.  This is another nostalgic meal paleofied so I can still enjoy.  I wonder at my grandmother's patience and servant-hood as I stand at the stove flipping them as fast as the family eats them!
 
Make these paleo crepes!  (I used about 6 drops of Vanilla Creme stevia for the sweetener.)  If you want to call them skinny pancakes, go ahead.  :)  

We made 2 toppings today.  The first one is just thawed wild blueberries.  The second was a blackberry sauce.

Blackberry Sauce:
2 cups frozen blackberries
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp water

Combine in pan and simmer for a few minutes.  Chop berries up and simmer a bit longer until it is heated through. 

Pot Roast & Roasted Cauliflower

 
This is our favorite pot roast!  Basically 1 beef chuck roast sprinkled with garlic powder and salt, cover with green peppers and roast covered for about 3 hours.

This was a great roasted cauliflower recipe.

Finished it out with roasted asparagus and green beans. 

"Peanut" Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are a nice alternative to the ones I typically make.  The are lighter & have a nice crisp to them.  My kids ate them & one has asked if I will make them again, so I thought I'd share.

Chocolate Almond Joy Bars

This is one of the first things I made when I began baking paleo goods.  My whole family likes these chocolate almond joy bars!  I sprinkled the top with Enjoylife brand mini chocolate chips.
 
Such a yummy treat!

Soup, Toast & Fruit

Lunch was leftover soup from Tuesday.  I also had a piece of paleo bread, toasted with coconut butter and some apples and pears.

How to Make Coconut Milk

I do not live in an area where fresh coconut is available, so this is how I make my own coconut milk.  Why would someone choose to make their own as opposed to buying it in the cans?
1.  You are sensitive to or prefer to avoid the additives in canned coconut milk such as guar gum or xantham gum.
2.  You are concerned about BPA in canned products for you or your children.
3.  It is not available where you live.
4.  You use so much of it, you would like to reduce cost.
5.  You bought a Vitamix and now need to justify why you NEEDED it!

Step 1:  Measure 2 cups filtered water and 1 cup dry, unsweetened coconut.  Heat water if you are not using a Vitamix.


 

Step 2:  Turn it on and let it go for several minutes.  I like to feel the sides of the container for when it is warm.

 

Step 3:  Strain milk.  You can purchase a "nut milk bag," but I use a paint strainer I purchased at a hardware store for about $3.  

 

Step 4:  Squeeze all the moisture you can out of the pulp.


 

Step 5:  Discard pulp or move onto step 6. 
Step 6:  Spread pulp out onto a baking sheet.  Place in a 250 degree oven (I use my toaster oven) for about 20 minutes.  Watch it so it doesn't brown too much.  You only want it slightly toasted.  Make sure it is completely dehydrated.  Sometimes I let it sit on the counter for 24 hours.

  

Step 7:   Grind into coconut flour.  I use the flat blade with my Magic Bullet.  




Step 8:  Store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to use.

  
I love doing this with the coconut I buy in bulk.  There is absolutely no waste and the milk and flour are delicious!  ***I have had trouble using this flour in some recipes.  I use it for things that do not need to be so exact like pancakes and coatings for meat.  I would not recommend for cakes, pastries, or new recipes.***

Smoothie & Oven Omelet

Here's what I put in my smoothie this morning:
2 cups vanilla almond milk (unsweetened)
2 handfuls fresh spinach
1.5 cups frozen organic strawberries
1 cup frozen organic blackberries
1 frozen banana
2 Tbsp ground flax



 

 I also made an oven omelet.  This was a great recipe.  I used dehydrated chives this time.





 
This was yummy!  

Salad with V&O

 
I got home from shopping with 4 children for the day at suppertime.  I quickly made the family tacos and I ate the last of my mustard lime chicken.  I cut the chicken up on top of mixed greens, carrots, cucumber, olives, cilantro and hard boiled egg.  I drizzled olive oil & red wine vinegar on top.  This is my go-to meal when I'm too tired to cook or the family is eating a non-paleo meal. 

Lunch at Steak & Shake

I ordered the guacamole burger with no bun. I asked for a salad instead of french fries.  Obviously the cheese is not paleo, but I do eat a bit of dairy when I'm eating out. 

Almond Flour Panckes

 

These are a favorite pancake at our house.  We have some Cinnamon Apple GoGo Squeezes that were not going very fast at our place, so I am using them up in this recipe.  So, if you don't have any applesauce around, 1 of these little packets is about the right amount.

Almond Flour Pancakes:
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 Tbsp coconut flour
1/4 cup soda water, mineral water, coconut or almond milk
1/4 tsp sea salt
dash of nutmeg

Combine all ingredients and mix with a fork.  (The batter will be thick.)  Heat a pan over medium low heat.  Melt a bit of coconut oil in the pan and drop about 1/4 cup of batter at a time.  Flip when bubbles start showing up on the top.  Cook for another minute or two.  

We topped ours with wild blueberries and ate with fried eggs.

Hamburger Soup

 
Anybody have a recipe they ate growing up & then you make it for your family?  Me too!  I have paleofied this favorite.  It is not exactly like the original, but it is a good substitute.  (The original contained barley.)  This was my soup & salad tonight.

Hamburger Soup
1 lb. ground beef
16 oz can of diced tomatoes
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup finely chopped cauliflower
1/4 cup catsup
2 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp dried basil
1 bay leaf
5 cups liquid (I use about 3 cups beef broth & 2 of water.  use extra seasoning or boullion if you use all water) 

Brown ground beef & drain off fat.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil & then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.  Remove bay leaf.  Alternate cooking method is to brown beef & throw everything in the crock pot for several hours on low.

Notes: 
1.  paleo catsup is hard to find and time consuming to make.  I subbed 1/4 cup of tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp onion salt, 1 Tbsp coconut sugar, splash of apple cider vinegar and a pinch of cloves.  I will omit cloves next time.
2.  seasoned salt often contains sugar, check your ingredients.

Leftover Lunch

 
Leftovers from the week on a Dixie plate.  Classy!

Banana Bread with Almond Butter

 
Quick breakfast of leftover banana bread from last night topped with almond butter and a fried egg.  Here's the recipe:  http://slimpalate.com/banana-bread-paleo-grain-free-gluten-free/

Fish Sticks

Leftovers from the weekend for lunch today, so no picture.  Here is supper!
 
We all love these fish sticks.  I do not like to waste ingredients, so I really appreciate that the batter to fish ratio comes out about right every time I make these. I used hake fish tonight and added a bit of paprika and black pepper to the batter.  Also on my plate is steamed broccoli and roasted sweet potatoes with Cajun seasoning.  A friend of mine sent me this banana bread recipe.  She said all of her children like it and 5 out of 6 of my family did. So, that's a recommendation from 2 families, make this bread next time you have ripe bananas! 

Egg & Veggie Scramble

 
I put a wedge of onion, a wedge of orange pepper, a handful of spinach, 2 eggs, salt and pepper in the Vitamix.  Set it to variable 4 for about 30 seconds to a minute.  Cook in coconut oil.  If you do not have a Vitamix, just chop veggies up and add to scrambled eggs.

Eating Out

Today was a good day.  I got to go to church, took a nap, went for a jog with my daughter, went out with some special ladies for the evening, and I ate supper twice!


 
This is a 'Shroom burger in a lettuce wrap with sweet potato fries from Red Robin.  This restaurant has gluten free sweet potato fries, yes!  I have found many restaurants are willing to wrap a sandwich in lettuce and will give you alternative sides, just ask.  This may not help with a severe allergies or intolerance, but this helps to make better choices and enjoy a meal out once in awhile.  Jimmy John's does the unwich, Subway will put any meat on a salad, Arby's will put the roast beef in a container and give you a fork, and most sit down restaurants will sub out fries for fresh fruit or vegetable of the day.  Many places now offer a gluten free pasta option or pizza crust.  Local to me, Firehouse Pizza has the best GF crust.  They also offer a vegan pizza that I plan to try next time I go. 

Baked Mustard Lime Chicken

 
This baked mustard lime chicken was another great recipe from elana'spantry.  It was a bit spicy for a couple of the kiddos, but the rest of us like it.  Roasted baby carrots & green beans were our veggies.

Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte "Larabars"

We love Larabars at our house.  The kids like to take them to school & I ate one for a light lunch today.
 
They are pricy & not sold anywhere close to us, so we often make our own.  We wrap ours in parchment paper & I use 74% cacao chocolate chips to make them more paleo friendly.  Here's a link to many different flavor combinations including the one pictured above:  Larabars

Coconut Flour Waffles

 
This recipe was a new one for me.  It was ok, but I think I would tweak it a bit if I made it again.  They were lighter than the almond flour ones I usually make and my family all ate them, but we didn't prefer having whole raisins in our waffles.  Also, my bananas turned to mush, so that was less than attractive.