Imperfectly Paleo

The new year invariably brings with it a host of new convictions for the ensuing months ahead: whether to eat less, move more, give up bad habits or adopt health-enhancing fresh ones. One of our family's intentions is to aim for one meat-free meal a week. Warm Sweet Potato, Celery and Hemp Hearts Bowl My husband was the first to moot the idea (surprising in that he is the most wedded to the notion of a meal not being a meal in the absence of a meat component). I have long considered moving to a more plant-based mindset for reasons of giving the digestive system a break, environmental uneasiness and also potentially cost effectiveness (in hindsight the latter seems misguided). My daughter was deeply sceptical at the idea of roasted aubergine instead of roast chicken (but when I rolled out stuffed peppers with a side of quinoa she declared it delicious!). My son has often proclaimed his desire to be a vegetarian, down to his general dislike of the texture of meat, yet suddenly...

Daylight hours are becoming increasingly scarce a commodity with the dark nights of winter looming... It got me thinking about the adage, " The days are long but the years are short" by Gretchen Rubin The Happiness Project . Japanese Style Curry with Pork and Root Veg

When I came up with this recipe idea in my head it looked a lot less aesthetically displeasing than it turned out in real life! I was envisaging a pretty pale yellow fritter encasing delicate shreds of defined orange and purple. Ha! What my imagination had overlooked was beetroot's ability to contaminate everything within its vicinity: rendering it one big pink patty. Oh well - at least the taste is unaffected.  Beetroot & Carrot Fritters with Garlic Mushroom Salad Autumn is coming. Herald its arrival with the earthy flavours of root vegetables and a warm salad. Beetroot & Carrot Fritters with Garlic Mushroom Salad Dairy-free, Grain-free, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free, Nut-free Serves 2 (makes 8 fritters) Ingredients: Fritters: 1 large beetroot (200g), peeled and coarsely grated 2 medium carrots (200g), peeled, trimmed and coarsely grated 3 medium eggs 4 tbsp nutritional yeast 2 tbsp coconut flour zest of 1/2 lemon 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp fresh g...

Sort of like a green hummus spiked with a kick of wasabi and an extra boost of antioxidant from the matcha green tea. Adjust the level of heat by adding more or less wasabi as preferred. Wasabi and Matcha Green Pea Dip Strictly speaking peas aren't technically paleo but hey, that's why this blog is 'imperfectly' paleo - I don't have a problem with the humble petits pois. Wasabi and Matcha Green Pea Dip Grain-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Refined Sugar-free, Nut-free Makes 1 bowl (approx 2 cups) Ingredients : 150g petits pois (small green peas), defrosted 1 inch piece courgette (zucchini) small bunch fresh coriander 2 tbsp tahini 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) juice of 1/2 lemon 1/4 tsp minced garlic 1/4 tsp cumin powder 1/4 tsp wasabi powder (or more to taste) 1/4 tsp matcha green tea powder sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste optional: chili flakes and coriander leaves to garnish Instructions : 1. In a high speed b...

The summer break means lots of snacks required to feed hungry children! I wasn't sure if these could be deemed a true 'flapjack' as they don't contain the traditional triumvirate of oats, butter or golden syrup; however, my daughter bit unto one and declared them to be exactly like a flapjack so who am I to argue? Fruit and Seed Coconut Flapjack Bars These soft and chewy bars are free from grains, nuts and refined sugar. They are quite sweet though in light of the dried fruit and banana - hence their popularity with the kids. Pulse mixture minimally in the food processor for a more coarse textured bar (which I prefer) or more thoroughly for a finer textured bar without whole seeds. Substitute the sultanas for raisins or unsweetened dried cranberries, or feel free to add a handful of chocolate chips to make a variety of bars to last the summer long. Fruit and Seed Coconut Flapjack Bars Grain-free, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free Makes ...

Not exactly a snappy title but this is actually the much-edited, pared down version - the original title exceeded the title word limit! It's hard to convey the precise nature of some recipes in just a handful of words. This one is lemony and punchy with smoked paprika as well as Middle Eastern za'atar spice. It also works well on the barbecue, weather permitting, instead of baked in the oven. Paprika Za'atar Spiced Chicken with Summer Salad and Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Serve alongside salad of choice but this quick Summer Salad I rustled up with a quick forage in the fridge, works very well. It combines sweet summer nectarines (could be substituted with peaches) set against creamy avocado, peppery watercress and crunchy fine beans (don't overcook them) and a light but zingy lemon, honey and poppy seed dressing. PS The lemon is a special one - brought back as a memento from my sister's wedding where it served as a whimsical place setting. Such happy memori...

I made a new friend. She likes to be stroked and sits on my doorstep calling for me to come out to play. Some days she sits by my kitchen window watching intently while I tackle various kitchen chores. Some days she even tries to squeeze past my legs at the front door when I'm on my way out and I have to give her a stern talking to about respecting boundaries! My friend is a cat. Then two weeks after her first visit and daily presence, she abruptly stopped visiting. I miss her. These sardine fish cakes are an ode to my fleeting feline friendship. Sweet Potato and Sardine Fish Cakes with Yogurt Dip Serve as a light lunch alongside a big salad, as a starter or just as a filling snack between meals. Sweet Potato and Sardine Fish Cakes with Yogurt Dip Grain-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Refined Sugar-free, Nut-free Makes 4 cakes (serves 2 as a starter or light lunch) Ingredients : Fishcakes: 175g (approx 1 cup) mashed sweet potato flesh (microwave a medium sweet pot...

In a parallel universe, these might have been called a Ferrero Rocher - gooey chocolate encasing a whole hazelnut centre and exterior clad in toasted chopped hazelnuts. But thereafter the similarity ends with the ambassador's treat. There is no wafer shell nor refined sugar (or fancy gold wrapper that can be fashioned into a toy ring should the urge arise to spontaneously propose). On the plus side they contain a hefty portion of sweet potato, containing fibre, potassium and beta-carotene. Hazelnut Centre Sweet Potato Chocolate Truffles They are naturally sweetened with dates and the sweet potato. Enjoy them coated in either toasted hazelnuts, unsweetened dessicated coconut or rolled in unsweetened cacao/ cocoa powder. They are also delicious covered in melted dark chocolate and allowed to set, creating a crunchy case for the soft truffle-like centre. Hazelnut Centre Sweet Potato Chocolate Truffles (AKA Sweet Potato Ferrero Rochers) Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Grain-fre...

Over the weekend I helped my daughter bake a tea loaf called Bara Brith - neither of us had come across this unusual sounding loaf made with tea and absolutely LOADED with sugar and dried fruit. Needless to say, it went down a storm and apparently we are baking another one this weekend! It got me thinking how I could make a slightly healthier version Apple and Carrot Earl Grey Tea Loaf Think: - a fraction of the dried fruit - stripping out all the refined sugar - adding masses of grated carrot and apple The children loved this as much as the high sugar version - hurrah! I also added some chopped walnuts for a bit of texture. Feel free to increase the amount of raisins (any other mix of dried fruit) to taste but remember the apple and cinnamon already add sweetness. The texture of this loaf is quite dense and high in moisture owing to the amount of fresh fruit/veg. Once sliced it can be lightly toasted under a grill and smeared with butter or dairy free equivale...