Blueberry Lemon Bars

These are a yummy summer treat!  They were a nice balance of sweet & tart.  I used coconut sugar for the sugar in this recipe.  My kiddos liked these!  Blueberry Lemon Bar Recipe

Easy Baked Chicken

This is such an easy, delicious way to prepare a whole chicken.

What you need:
1 whole chicken, cut up (I do not use the back or neck, I save those for making broth)
olive oil
salt
pepper
seasonings (I use Simply Organic All-Purpose Seasoning)
glass baking dish

Drizzle glass dish with olive oil.  Arrange chicken pieces.  Split breast pieces if they are a lot larger than the other pieces.  Season generously.  Bake, uncovered for about 1 hour or until meat thermometer reads at least 165.

We ate ours with roasted veggies, beets and chocolate zucchini bread.
 

Creamy Beef & Green Bean Casserole

It's so exciting to find a paleo casserole recipe!  One dish meals are so appealing when we have places to go in the evening.  I did my own version of this casserole recipe.  I have loads of onions in my garden right now, so I am not inclined to purchase pearl onions or shallots.  Also, I had baby portibello mushrooms I was needing to use, so I used those. I also have fresh green beans, so I used those.  All these adjustments could have made a difference, but we loved this!  It was a little liquidy, so I may increase the arrowroot next time.  We definitely will be making this again, so I will try to update if that makes a difference.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Do you have any zucchini in your garden yet this year?  We have one teeny-tiny one, but we have gotten a few from friends.  Today I made this bread recipe that was a favorite of our family's last summer.  I mixed it up by hand which worked well, just be sure to melt your coconut oil.  I always use parchment paper when doing paleo baking, this recipe is no exception.  This bread freezes great, so make several loaves when your zucchini is producing and enjoy in the months to come.  It's great for breakfast, snacks or even as a health dessert. 

Brownies- Our Favorite!

Have you made these brownies yet?  They are a favorite go-to treat at our house.  Today is my GF kiddo's birthday and this is what was requested.  I had to make them in my Vitamix since my food processor was not available.

Prepare for rabbit trail:  Cuisinart food processors are great.  They are strong and powerful.  They will not process 2 cups of completely frozen strawberries.  They will fling frozen strawberries all over your kitchen right after the lid breaks and flies off.  You will wish you would had read your owner's manual or taken time to defrost your strawberries.  You will once again confirm that you made the right decision when you bought a Vitamix because you can do without your food processor until your new lid arrives.  You will be in awe at the ultra smooth texture of your brownie mix you may call the rest of the family over to admire it and conclude you will always make brownies in the Vitamix from now on!  You did not think it was possible to make these brownies any better, but then you remember everything is better with a Vitamix.

Anyway just make these brownies, okay?

Cinnamon Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread

This recipe is another good one from The Paleo Kitchen.  The authors have graciously shared the recipe on their blogs, so I've included the link.  I made half a recipe and baked it in muffin tins.  It made 11 muffins and I baked them at 350 for 14 minutes.  Such a yummy Sunday morning treat!
 

Berry Tart with Dairy-Free Vanilla Bean Custard

How was everyone's holiday weekend?  Mine was full of fireworks, family, food & yard work.  I took this festive tart to a family get together.  My hubby & I both liked it.  Only one of our kiddos tried it & said it didn't taste good.  So, mixed reviews at our house!  It sure was pretty & I would love to make it (and eat it) again this summer.