Eggs for the week

Aside from not knowing what to cook when maintaining a "paleo" lifestyle, the other thing I hear people say is its hard when to eat well when at work or on the go.  Also not being prepared for the day makes it easy to fall off the wagon.  This recipe is designed for a big family breakfast or to make ahead of time to munch on the rest of the week.  It is a "breakfast" dish, but I'll eat about anything at anytime.  Once again this is one of those recipes where ingredients are up to you and same with measuring.

Egg Bake:

2 dozen eggs

Pork Sausage

Bacon

Mushrooms

Onions

Red Peppers

Spinach

Black Olives

The original intent was to make a pizza or bar type serving style, to make serving easier but it didn't so my advice to to just dump and go it makes it easier. 
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown sausage and/or cook bacon to desired crispness.  I would probably cook in the mix but why take the chance and I don't like jiggly raw textured bacon.  Whip eggs in large bowl.  Grease 9X13" pan with bacon grease, olive oil, or coconut oil.  Make sure to get the sides as well or the pan is a bugger to get clean AND it makes serving easier.  Pour egg into greased pan, add all your favorite ingredients. Just drop them into the egg mix.
Place pan in preheated oven and cook until done 30-45min.  When done let cool, cut into serving sizes wrap in plastic or tupperware and regridgerate and/or freeze for later!  Another way to do it is to grease a muffin pan and fill with egg mixture.  When they are done wrap up and enjoy later.  Make good travel sizes if you are head hiking or to work! Just another way to be prepared for the unknown and unknowable!

Pork Chops and Melon Salsa

Just in time for summer!  Since it is officially summer now, its time to fire up the BBQ grill!  This dish is easy, fast, hot and refreshing all a the same time.  The sweetness of the fruit and the blast of cilantro with lime juice along with the spice on the meat just makes you wanna lay back under the umbrella at the pool!


Pork Chop Rub:

• 1 1/2  teaspoons  chili powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  garlic powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 4  (4-ounce) boneless pork chops,

Fire up the BBQ grill!  Combine spices in a small bowl. Rub mixture over both sides of pork chops.  Turn heat to medium and place chops on the grill.  Cook for about 4 minutes each side or until desired degree of doneness.

Melon Salsa ingredients:

• 1  cup  chopped seedless watermelon
• 1  cup  chopped honeydew melon
• 2  tablespoons  finely chopped sweet onion
• 1  tablespoon  finely chopped jalapeño pepper
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lime juice
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt

Remember when chopping the melons remember you are making salsa not fruit salad, slightly smaller pieces make it easier to get bites of salsa and spicy pork chop! Mix, spoon over cooked pork chops and devour! 

*its like a meat Mojito in your mouth!
*thanks for cookinglite.com for the recipe

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

As a busy person if I don't have food made and ready to go the instant I am hungry, my likelihood of eating something I shouldn't greatly increases.  Since it is just me to cook for I like to make a lot, and live off of it for the next week.  However I have to have a couple dishes ready so I don't get burnt out so quickly.  Also if you have a cooler or a work fridge this travels really well and doesn't take up a lot of room or need a lot of "re-fixing."
In case you haven't noticed when it comes to cooking, I don't like to "follow" the rules, they're more like guidelines anyway.  I have made this dish many times, some weeks I like it crunchy, sometimes a bit spicy, or sweet.  Sometimes I can't remember where the capers are in the grocery store.  This is why I don't always put up exact measurements.  Nor do I put in all the ingredients I have listed.  This is your food, make it the way you like it.  Burger King got it right when they said "have it your way."

Egg Salad: 
12-18 hard boiled eggs (4-6 servings)
4-6 Stalks of chopped celery
1/4C-1/2C Mayo
1 1/2 tsp Dill
1 tsp Sweet and dill relish
Lemon Juice
Apple Cider Vinegar
Salt and Pepper
1/4-1/2 of small purple onion*
Chives*
Capers*
Tuna*

Wrap:
Romain Leaves
Iceberg lettuce*
Celery Stalks*
Spinach*
Red, Yellow, Orange peppers*


Chop or dice hard boiled eggs and place in a large mixing bowl.  Add your desired amounts of the rest of the ingredients, except the lettuce.  Mix together.  Wash and separate romaine leaves and pat dry.  Spoon egg salad into center, roll up or taco up and munch away!

*Are ingredients I didn't use, but could!  Use tuna for a little extra protein or eliminate the eggs and just use tuna.  Instead of romaine use iceberg or spinach, instead of whole leaves use tossed greens, hollowed out peppers (my fav!), leave the celery out and use the celery stalks as your spoon (shovel :) )! There are endless options here people!  Try it out and tell me whats your favorite combo!

**Remember to check your labels on the relishes, capers, and tuna.

"Jolk" Thai pork soup

I know its almost summer, but I am not sure the weather knows yet.  With this cool rainy weather, its nice to curl up with a nice warm bowl of soup. Ahh comfort food.  This recipe was given to me by Maggie, thanks!  I love it for three reasons: its delicious, its fast and easy, and I don't have to measure! I guess that's technically 4 but who's counting!  Spoons up!

1 pound ground pork
1 bunch cilantro chopped
1 container sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup fish sauce
1 cup chicken stock (or 1 can)
1 quart cold water
1 pepper chili or jalapeño sliced
1 bunch green onions sliced and with some greens
grated ginger to taste
vinegar to taste

In large pot mix cold water, fish sauce, cilantro, mushrooms, chicken stock and ground pork.  Turn on the heat until pork is cooked and.  As it heats the pork will break apart, but stir some to break up large chunks.  That's it!  When dishing up your helping, add peppers, onions, ginger, vinegar and more fish sauce to your tasting.  I love the warm zing of the cilantro and vinegar. Yummy!

*remember to use quality ingredients and check labels
*this will make about 3-5 servings
*originally this called for rice instead of mushrooms