Sew God's Grace

I've made these brownies quite a bit, especially since my oldest has started eating grain and dairy free.  They are quick to throw together and are even enjoyed by my non-Paleo eaters.  Here's the recipe (slightly modified from this recipe ): Paleo Brownies 6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 3 eggs, room temperature 3/4 cup cocoa powder 3/4 almond butter (we use no sugar added) 2/3 cup honey 3/8 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1/4 cup mini enjoy life chocolate chips, optional Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease a 7 by 10 inch pan with coconut oil.   Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in food processor and mix until well-blended.  Spread into prepared pan and sprinkle with chocolate chips if desired. Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until center is almost set.  Let cool, and store in the fridge until devoured!  Enjoy!

I believe that, for most recipes, "bacon makes it better"!  So, when I saw a recipe for bacon-wrapped chicken, I knew I had to try it. Since my discovery of the recipe, I have made this dish often.  It is always a hit at potlucks.  Just place in the crockpot on the keep warm setting.  To serve as an appetizer, you can cut the chicken into three strips and put a toothpick into each piece.   Here is the recipe (adapted from this recipe ) Bacon-wrapped Chicken 2.5 pounds chicken breasts (about 4 ounces each chicken breast.  I use a box of Schwan's chicken breasts) 20 thin slices bacon (thick does not work as well to wrap around the chicken strips) 1/4 cup honey 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 Tablespoon brown mustard Fresh ground black pepper Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Cut each piece of chicken lenghtwise into two strips.  Wrap each piece of chicken with a  strip of bacon.  (Tip: I do this with the chicken still part...

Paleo Breakfast Casserole 1/2 pounds sausage (can use Italian sausage or make your own) 5 slices bacon, cut into small pieces 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped 1 large or two small sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded (I use the food processor for this) 10 eggs 1/2 cup coconut milk Set the instant pot to saute and put on the medium setting.  Add the sausage, bacon, and peppers and cook until sausage is no longer pink.  While this is cooking, mix eggs and milk in a large bowl and use a hand held mixer or immersion blender to beat up well.  With coconut oil, grease a 2 quart round casserole dish that will fit into your instant pot.  When meat is done, drain if needed/desired.  Add meat mixture and shredded sweet potatoes to eggs and stir to combine.  Pour into prepared dish and cover with aluminum foil.  Place 1 1/2 cups water (or whatever is the required minimum amount for your instant pot) into the bott...

We love breakfast for supper at our house.  I like to make a large breakfast casserole, and then we have leftovers to eat for several days afterward.  This recipe is one of our favorites.  Use your food processor to shred the sweet potatoes, and it comes together quickly. Sweet Potato Breakfast Bake 2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded 8-10 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled 1/2 - 1 pound sausage, cooked and crumbled  (make your own if you want one with no sugar added.  I like this recipe .) 1/2 cup coconut milk (or any other milk desired) 16 eggs Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 by 13 pan with coconut oil.  Crack eggs into a large mixing bowl and add milk.  I like to use an immersion blender to mix these up.  Tip:  if you are using canned coconut milk, use the immersion blender first to mix up your coconut milk in a small glass pitcher.  Then add the half cup to the eggs and blend together...

Last week I needed a quick meal to get on the table for lunch.  I found a recipe that I had pinned for  Cashew Beef Stir Fry , and it fit the bill nicely.  I made enough modifications to the recipe that I decided to post it.  I will definitely be making this one again.  If you have your beef pre-cooked, it comes together in a jiffy.  Here's the recipe. Cashew Beef Stir Fry (adapted from this recipe ) 2 pounds hamburger, cooked and drained 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1/2 green pepper, chopped 1/2 yellow or red pepper, chopped 1/2 pound fresh or frozen asparagus spears, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 teaspoon ginger 1 teaspoon minced garlic (I have a jar in the fridge!) 6 ounces coconut aminos (Use soy sauce if not paleo) 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (Use corn starch if not paleo) 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup raw cashews salt and pepper to taste red pepper flakes to taste In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium heat.  Add the peppers,...

Almost every Tuesday is "Taco Tuesday" at our house.  I love it because, well, I love tacos.  Also, I don't have to think about what we are going to eat for supper that day! I have adapted my recipe for taco seasoning from this one  here. 1/2 cup chili powder 1/8 cup onion powder 1/8 cup ground cumin 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon paprika 1 tablespoon sea salt 1 1/2 tablespoons oregano 1/8 teaspoon each cayenne pepper and chipotle pepper powder, optional Place all ingredients in mason jar with a lid and shake well. I use a heaping tablespoon per pound of meat and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water; adjust to your preference! To make chicken for tacos, I place frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot, add seasoning and some coconut oil (about 2 Tablespoons for 3 pounds meat), and cook on high for 3 - 3 1/2 hours.  Then Ishred the chicken in my Kitchenaid mixer and put it back in the crockpot on "warm" until we are ready to eat.  I like to make e...

     Wow, it's been a long time since my last post!  But, with baby number six on the way, I have had to cut out some activities, which has included blogging for the most part.  I'm realizing, too, with another one coming that I may not be posting as much to my blog.  But, when I have the chance, I hope to sneak one in here and there.      One of my friends has been working on eating a mostly Paleo diet, which I have been eating for almost three years (minus a couple of months at the beginning of this pregnancy!)  We had been talking about getting together for a Paleo meal, and we made it happen this week. It was a lot of fun, and really delicious, too!  For an appetizer, I made these delicious Bacon-wrapped Sweet Potato Bites.  You can find the recipe here .  I really love the Stir It Up site and have made several of her recipes including one of my favorite Paleo pancake recipes.        I softe...

Since my sister-in-law had a baby in December, she has cut out dairy from her diet because he seems to get fussy when she eats it.  This means--gasp!!--she can't have chocolate.  So, of course, I thought I should help her out by making her some homemade, dairy-free dark chocolate.  Homemade Dark Chocolate (Adapted from this recipe ) 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted 1/4 cup coconut butter, softened 1/2 cup cocoa Approximately 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Hefty shake cinnamon Melt your coconut oil over low heat in a small skillet while you assemble the rest of your ingredients.  Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl or pitcher.  I just eyeball the amount of honey.  Taste and add more honey if needed.  Don't freak out at the texture--it is much better when it sets up!  Pour into lined mini muffin cups or use a silicon tray.  I like this one from Amazon. Place in the refrigerator or freezer and allow...

Since starting on a mostly-paleo diet almost two years ago, I must say that I sometimes miss the ease of popping a casserole in the oven.  This easy, one-dish meal has been a go-to recipe for me.  I make it at least twice a month!  I can have it ready and in the oven quite quickly.  Plus, it's healthy and delicious.  Here's the recipe. Super Easy Chicken and Broccoli Bake (Slightly adapted from this recipe ) 8 four ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces 1-2 heads broccoli 1/2 cup olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon oregano salt and pepper, to taste Place sweet potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl.  Add a small amount of water, cover, and cook on high for five to six minutes or until slightly tender.  Drain.  Place oil and spices in a large bowl and stir to combine.  Place chicken, sweet potatoes, and broccoli in bowl and stir well to coat.  Pla...

So, I'm always looking for new ways to use my crock pot to make things easier for me.  Usually, if I want to cook hamburger, I will do it in my microwave.  However, I can only cook 2 pounds at a time.  As our family has grown and the kids get older, I have been trying to make large quantities of my recipes and then freeze half for later.  Also, 2 pounds of meat doesn't go as far as it used to! As I was getting ready to cook 6 pounds of hamburger for a triple batch of chili, I thought, "I wonder if I can do this in my crock pot?"  I did a search to see if any other bloggers had done it, and it turns out they had! I have done this several times now for tacos, soups, and more. Here's what I do: Place meat in crock pot.  (I usually thaw a bit in the microwave, but it can be partly frozen.)  Add 1/2 cup water and cook on high for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.  I have a chopper that I use to break up my meat.  Every now and again, I go by and chop u...

I started eating a mostly Paleo diet over a year ago.  Ever since, I have had a salad, a somewhat ridiculously big salad, almost every day.  Since it is difficult to find a store bought salad dressing without added sugar, I started making my own salad dressing.  I have tweaked the recipe from the original found here , so I thought it was time to post it! Basalmic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing (adapted from Paleo Leap Basalmic Vinaigrette Recipe ) 3/4 cup basalmic vinegar 3/4 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard salt and pepper, to taste Mix all ingredients in a jar or dressing container (I like this one !) and shake well.  I go through mine fairly quickly, so I store it on my counter top.  If you don't eat salad as often as I do, you may want to store it in the fridge.  The olive oil will solidify in the fridge, so let it come to room temperature before serving. Variation:  subst...

My husband jokes with me that I'm not happy unless I use my slow cooker at least twice a week.  While that may be an over-exaggeration, I do love my slow cooker.  I enjoy the feeling of knowing that supper is in the crock pot at home ready to go.  Right now my kitchen smells amazing because I mixed up some of this spaghetti sauce right after lunch and turned it on low.  That sauce is in there, getting all warm and bubbly and yummy.  For supper, I'll just cook up some pasta for the kids and some zucchini noodles for Matt and me.  Pass the parmesan, please! Easy Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce (adapted from this recipe) 2 pounds ground meat, cooked (use ground beef, pork, sausage, or any combination.  I keep thinking I will try half ground beef and half sausage) 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 1/2 teaspoons each dried ba...

My sister-in-law, Joni, had just finished making this in her food processor when I stopped by the other day.  She let me have a sample, and I just had to have the recipe!  And, yes, there is cauliflower in it.  Before you get too turned off by this fact, just look at the beautiful color of this hummus. I would be willing to paint a room in my house this color if we could get a good match.  Anyway, I mixed up a batch of Roasted Red Pepper Hummus this morning, and it is so good!  I had to cut up some peppers to eat some for  my morning snack!  I'm not sure if I'm going to get my husband (not a cauliflower fan!) to try this, but we'll see.  I guess that just means more for me!  I hope you enjoy this delicious and healthy recipe.  Let me know if you try it, especially if you experiment with modifying the spices! Roasted Red Pepper Hummus 1 large head cauliflower, steamed 1/2 cup tahini 1/4 cup lemon juice Roasted red pep...