that day in the middle of that week.

so.  wednesday.  you're officially here. 

since i still work today, but the closing shift, and then an open the next (we here call it a clopen.  witty, i know), i'll spew a few things up here now.

if you're like me, you've spent lots of time searching for that perfect recipe that takes a hold of your craving and slaughters it without blinking.  since converting to paleo, i've found LOTS.  however, i've also found plenty of preaching.

it seems, to me, that plenty of these people posting these recipes either have unlimited cash flow, or have access to ridiculously amazing resources that most of us average schmoes do not.  i am of neither company, and i am going to assume you are with me.

yes, buying organic, grain-free, free range, garden fresh, no added hormones, farm market, home grown sometimes (most times) has a higher price point.  sure, those items are THE best (tasting and for you), but my bank account says so otherwise.

y'know what i do?  i'm choosey when i'm at the grocery store.  i make sure i go to a reputable chain (there's a REASON why meats at discount stores are...discount), and i pick the cuts that are the best.  you can get chicken that is fed a vegetarian diet, and that is free range (it's illegal for any poultry to have added hormones now) for just pennies more a pound.  for red meat, i find the least fatty, best cuts (sirloin tip, ny strip, etc) available.  and...if you happen to be so lucky that there's a sale?  BUY MORE.  what you spend now, you won't have to spend later.

for vegetables, i stay away from canned.  i prefer to make a visit at least twice a week to get the fresh stuff, but to save time and $$, buying the frozen is absolutely the best; just be sure to look at the contents, sometimes there's added salt, or milk (casein, whey) products, and even in the mixed veggies, we know that beans are a no-no!  a lot of times the store brand goes on sale for 10 for $10, and i make sure i pile up on those.  you can never have enough broccoli! 

now, i find that our grocery bill is indeed higher, but our daily money spent on food has lowered; all due to us not eating out, etc.  if for a special occaision, or if i'm making beef jerky, i'll splurge.  cannot have mediocre meat turn into amazing jerky.  just can't.  believe me...i've tried.

 anyhow.


what i do, to keep myself from going crazy by spending every free minute in the kitchen, is to come up with some semblance of a plan.  on days like today, i'll make myself a big breakfast, and big lunch, so that my dinner at work is quick...which is almost always leftovers.  on days like yesterday, i'll have something super quick for breakfast (breakfast is seriously a must), and pack leftovers for lunch...then, of course, a big dinner.  if i don't follow through...i fail and end up all miserable.

this morning i cooked us lotsa bacon, and demolished half of the delicious delicious bread for french toast.  obviously, used REAL maple syrup as a decadent addition, not that maple-flavored poison.





for lunch, i'm going to pile some leftover rotisserie chicken on some flackers (flax crackers), and have a monster spinach salad.



dinner?  leftover Mongolian BBQ.





and now...recipe time!





Recipe:  Kale Chips
this one, i don't even follow the recipe anymore, and i use my dehydrator instead of any oven; it keeps them green...but the brown edges you get when you use the oven doesn't detract from the taste.  biggest problem with these?  they go so quick!  with the crunch and the flavor, you don't even realize you're basically eating a toasted leaf.  i've tried other recipes for kale chips, but i keep going back to this one.

you can find an excellent starter recipe at The Paleo Effect...i've kicked up their seasoning by adding less of the adobo seasoning, and more of the onion and cayenne pepper.  less salt, more kick.  also, i made a larger batch of the seasonings and put them in an empty spice container...and just sprinkle it over the kale leaves when they're on my dehydrator screens.  also, i HIGHLY SUGGEST not using the bagged kale...the pieces are small, the stems are big, and it just isn't as delicious (or cheap) as buying fresh kale.  just take the big leaf, fold it in half, cut the stem off, and then cut the remaining leaf into halves or thirds.  easy-peasy.



i keep mine in a glass cookie-jar-type jar and keep it out on the counter.  in fact, i'm going to go and chow down on some right now!