Parchment Roasted Tilapia

Chef Matt Edwards shares a great recipe and explains how to use parchment paper to cook tilapia!  I am often looking for new protein options and this is a very easy recipe to help switch things up.

Ingredients:
4 tilapia filets (or other mild white fish)
2 Tlbs butter (substitute olive oil to avoid dairy)
Zest of one lemon, remaining lemon thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
4 sprigs fresh dill
salt and pepper
parchment paper


Directions:
Tear four large squares of parchment paper and place a filet of fish on each sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, then dot with butter. Sprinkle with lemon zest and garlic, then place dill sprigs and lemon slices over fish. Fold parchment over fish and working from one side to the other seal paper tightly to form envelope. Place on sheet pan and roast at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with sauteed sliced squash or grilled vegetables.


Alternatively, place a sheet of foil on grill and place envelopes onto foil. Grill over high heat for 15 minutes, until fish just flakes apart.

Paleo Granola

One of the largest challenges for people new to the Paleo Diet is finding food options that are similar to what most of us would consider traditional snacks.  While this Paleo snack is not ideal for everyday use, it is a nice treat for individuals craving more traditional and unhealthy snacks.  Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!

Paleo Granola Ingredients:
2 cups Toasted Coconut (unsweetened)
2 cups Raw Coconut (unsweetened)
1/2 cup Pumpkin Seed Kernels
1/2 cup chopped Raw Almonds
1/2 cup Sunflower Seeds
3/4 cup Honey
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup Raisins, Dried Blueberries or Dried Cranberries
1/2 cup roasted Nuts of Choice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine coconut, pumpkin seed kernels, chopped almonds, and sunflower seed kernels in a large bowl. In a saucepan on the stove, melt together the honey, coconut oil, cinnamon, and vanilla, stirring occasionally, until combined. Pour honey mixture over the coconut mixture and stir to coat. Spread coconut mixture into baking pans (metal pans cook faster than glass.) Bake for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. After baking, add dried cranberries or raisins and roasted nuts. Enjoy granola with coconut milk or almond butter and fruit!

This recipe was modified from a recipe By: Coconutrecipes.com

Paleo Meal Preparation- Grass Fed Beef and Veggies

Here is another idea on how to prepare several great Paleo meals in a short amount of time.  As I have mentioned before, meal preparation is a huge key to success.  Many people have great intentions to eat well, but life is busy and they often fail when they do not have immediate access to proper food.  People who commit to two one hour meal preparation times per week are far more likely to succeed at implementing proper nutrition.  Give this a try and let me know how it works for you!

Cooking for Kyle Korver (Episode 5)

The Breakfast Bowl is one of my favorite meals of all time!  This is a strict Paleo meal that is extremely versatile. It is great meal for an athlete after a tough workout or it can be served at Sunday brunch. So many people have the misconception that Paleo eating is very limiting and does not include good foods.  I promise you that almost anyone can get excited about this meal and it will satisfy their hunger.  Give this meal a try and let me know what you think.

Cooking with Matt Edwards in Omaha, NE

Whenever I am back home in Omaha, NE I always try to catch up with my friend Chef Matt Edwards.  Matt always comes up with exciting meals that taste great!  As we continue to share ideas with each other, he is teaching me about the art of cooking and how to create amazing taste, while I am giving him guidelines for certain foods to avoid or include.

Matt recently demonstrated how to prepare three new meals that are based solely around meat, eggs, and vegetables.  There are a few ingredients that would not be considered "Paleo", but these meals are a great start for most people looking to transition to a healthier way of eating.  You may substitute butter or any oil he used with coconut oil.  You may also use raw organic maple syrup or raw honey instead of any sugar or sweetner.  As we transition away from sugar completely we will not use any of these ingredients.

Check out these videos and let me know what you think!

Cooking for Kyle Korver (Episode 4)

Here is another meal that I often cook for Kyle Korver of the Chicago Bulls.  This meal includes pasture raised bacon, eggs cooked over-easy, and organic steel cut oats with walnuts, blueberries, cinnamon, Stevia, and coconut milk.  As I have mentioned before, my goal is to transition everyone towards a strict Paleo Diet.  This diet does not allow grains, dairy, or legumes.  If you have been eating these foods all of your life, then you may wish to implement a transition period as you slowly eliminate them and begin to add better and more nutrient dense foods.  Throughout this transition, I often use exotic forms of rise and organic steel cut oats with people.  It is optimal to get all of your carbohydrate intake from vegetables, fruit, and tubers such as yams and sweet potatoes.