apricots & walnuts | meals worth sharing

banana bread muffins

by natalie on Saturday, 0 comments

paleo banana bread muffins | apricotsandwalnuts.com

just because we’ve gone paleo doesn’t mean we’ve given up delicious treats. in fact, we still have plenty of them, and are always rather happy that they’re not only damn good, but are also made from whole foods with no processed sugars. you can chow down on a few of these banana bread muffins and not get hit with the carb nap attacks. these aren’t overly banana flavored – they actually taste more like a bran muffin, and the walnuts add the perfect amount of nuttiness without taking over. enjoy!

ingredients

1.5 cups almond flour
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of salt
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, + more for topping

directions

preheat oven to 375˚ F.

in a large bowl, sift together almond flour, flaxseed, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. combine well.

in a separate medium bowl, add the mashed bananas, eggs, honey, vanilla, and oil – mix well.

make a slight well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. add in the majority of the chopped walnuts and stir until combined.

fill the baking cups in your muffin tin about 3/4 of the way full. sprinkle a few chopped walnuts over each cupcake. bake muffins for 21-23 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. let cool before serving.

(original recipe from With Style & Grace)

roasted potatoes & brussels sprouts with bacon

by natalie on Sunday, 0 comments

paleo roasted potatoes & brussels sprouts with bacon | apricotsandwalnuts.com

i love brussels sprouts, but the mountain man doesn’t exactly claim to be there number one fan. or their millionth. finding ways to serve them is always a challenge, especially as i don’t like to completely mask their flavor since i happen to love them. this dish thankfully makes both of us happy – the brussels sprouts rendered in the bacon fat are delectable, and the potatoes are the perfect balance to it all.

a trick with this dish is to cover it with foil for 1/2 the time it cooks (either at the beginning or the end is fine). it can dry out quickly, charring the bacon and shallots in the process. definitely use a deep dish container, versus a baking pan, to ensure it doesn’t dry out completely. if you’re using larger, dense potatoes, let them get a head start cooking before adding the brussels sprouts. enjoy!

ingredients

1 tbsp coconut oil or fat of choice
2 tbsp gluten free whole grain mustard
2-3 cups new potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2-3 slices thick-cut bacon, diced (the smaller the crispier)
1/2 lb brussels sprouts, trimmed and quartered
salt + pepper

directions

preheat the oven to 425˚ F.

in your baking dish, whisk together the coconut oil and mustard. toss the potatoes, brussels sprouts, shallot, and bacon in the bowl until evenly coated with the mustard and oil. sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

spread the mixture so it’s even throughout the dish, then place in the oven and roast for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. if you see it’s starting to dry out, cover with foil to help trap the moisture in the dish.

once the potatoes are cooked through and the bacon is crispy, stir once more, allowing it to bake for additional 3-4 minutes. remove and serve hot.

thai lettuce bowl

by natalie on Friday, 0 comments

paleo thai lettuce bowl | apricotsandwalnuts.com

this recipe has been in my collection for years and is insanely easy to make. most people like to serve this in lettuce cups, but i find them to be too annoying to eat that way. half the head of lettuce inevitably can’t be used because of tears, and the pieces you can use just fall apart while you’re eating it. so i keep it easy and serve this over a bed of lettuce.

this dish also commonly has a lot of rice as part of the “filling” which we obviously don’t include. if you want a little more substance, mix in a cup of cauliflower rice just before serving. enjoy!

ingredients

1 lb ground turkey (preferably dark meat)
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 tbsp tamari
1/2 tbsp vinegar
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp chopped green onions
1 cup bean sprouts
1 cup carrots, shredded
2 tbsp sesame seeds
3 heads romaine lettuce, chopped

directions

in a medium skillet over high heat, brown the ground turkey in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, stirring often. once browned, add the onion, stirring frequently. add the garlic, tamari, vinegar, and carrots to the mixture, and stir. as the liquids begin to boil down, add the green onions, sesame oil, and bean sprouts; continue cooking until the onions just begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.

spoon mixture over bowls of lettuce and sprinkle with sesame seeds. serve with a side of hot sauce for those who enjoy a little kick to their thai food.

paleo shepherd’s pie

by natalie on Monday, 0 comments

shepherd's pie with cauliflower mash | apricotsandwalnuts.com

is it weird that i’ve never had a sheperd’s pie? well, not until i made this dish of amazingness that i devoured in one sitting. i pretty much loved it, and especially loved that my variation is free of carbs. rather than loading on the mashed potatoes, i opted for mashed cauliflower, and since i have no idea how the “original” version tastes, i thought it was rather fantastic with cauliflower mash. i added a bit of raw cheddar to my mash (less than 1/4 cup), but you can definitely omit it if you avoid dairy. enjoy!

ingredients

1 tbsp coconut oil
6 medium carrots, halved lengthwise, quartered, and thinly sliced
6 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 lb ground buffalo
1 head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into small florets
salt & pepper

directions

heat oven to 450˚ F.

start by prepping the cauliflower mash: in a medium pot, bring salted water to a boil. add cauliflower florets, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. drain water, reserving approximately 1/4 cup. transfer cauliflower to food processor and puree until smooth, adding the reserved water until a smooth consistency. season with additional salt if necessary.

heat a heavy pot over medium-high heat and add coconut oil. add carrots, celery, onion, and thyme. cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. add the almond flour and tomato paste; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add buffalo and cook, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. add 1 cup water, bringing it to a boil, then simmer for about one minute.

pour meat and vegetable filling into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. spread cauliflower mash across top with a spatula, and if you’re feeling creative, use a fork to make decorative peaks. if using cheese, sprinkle on top of the mash before placing in oven. bake until topping is lightly browned and filling is bubbling rapidly, about 20 minutes .

caveman cookies

by natalie on Thursday, 0 comments

caveman cookies | apricotsandwalnuts.com

i am so in love with the branding for these cookies and am dying to try them. totally “caveman” friendly, i’m crazy excited that there are more and more paleo options making their way onto shelves. have you ever tried these? want to send a bag my way?

order your caveman cookies today here.

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