Cinnamon Apple Stuffing

About 8 years ago, I had a Thanksgiving dinner at a German immigrant's home and she made the best stuffing I have ever had.  It was delicious!!!  I can't say I have tried a lot of different stuffing's other than the wet, dry, Stove Top, or simply plain for dietary reasons, but I know delicious when I taste it.  ...Let's just say I was never a fan of stuffing and I rarely put it on my Thanksgiving/Christmas turkey plate so eating stuffing is a big step for me.

(I know this is a anti-Paleo recipe but her recipe was 'to die for' so I will continue it as a tradition in my family, nonetheless. If anyone is able recipe to give me a decent tasting Paleo Cinnamon raisin bread recipe then I will substitute it.)

Note: After raving about her stuffing, I asked her for the recipe. She refused!  Grrr! Below is my take/attempt at recreating her recipe.


Baked Cinnamon Apple Raisin Stuffing


1 loaf (4 cups)    Cinnabon Cinnamon bread  or any quality Cinnamon Raisin Bread


1/2 cup                chopped Onion


2                           celery ribs, chopped


1/4 cup                butter


1 cup (2 apples)   Granny Smith apples (peeled)


1/4 cup                 golden raisins (optional, based on preference)


1 teaspoon plus   chicken bouillon granules


1/2 teaspoon        Kosher salt


1/2 teaspoon        All Spice or sage


1/2 teaspoon        Poultry Seasoning


1/4 teaspoon        Pepper


2/3 to 1 cup          of 50/50 giblets broth and chicken broth


Brown Sugar




Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.


In a large skillet, sauté onion and celery in butter until tender.  Add the peeled apple, raisins, bouillon, salt, sage, poultry seasoning, and pepper. Cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Stir in broth.  [The amount of broth depends on the amount of moisture you prefer. ] Pour the mixture over the bread crumbs in a baking dish; toss to coat.  Generously sprinkle brown sugar over the top of the stuffing mixture.


Cover and bake for 20-25 minutes or until top is golden brown.


Servings: 6

Turkey Soup

2 lbs of ground Turkey
3 tsp Salt
2 Tbsp Onion powder
1 Tbsp Chili powder
1 Tbsp Cumin
EVOO (for cooking the turkey)
2 cups diced Tomatoes (then puree it)
1 8oz can of Tomato sauce
4 cups Chicken Broth
1/2 head of Cabbage

In a large pan, brown the ground turkey using the EVOO.  Slice cabbage into strips. Once turkey is cooked add it to the slow cooker with all the remaining ingredients.  Allow to cook on low for 6 hours, or 3-4 hours on high.  Serve with sliced/cubed avocado and cheese. You can add Tortilla Strips if you so desire.

To make this Paleo, all you have to do is eliminate the cheese and don't added the tortilla strips. :-)

Sloppy Joe Beef Casserole

Warning this is by far is not Paleo!  It wasn't meant to be from the beginning.  If anybody out there can make it Paleo, please leave a comment.  Also, this was meant for the ease and speed so if you make it Paleo, it can't take more than an hour to make.

Funky Sloppy Joes in a Beef Casserole

2 (8oz) cans of crescent rolls
2 LBS ground beef
1/2 small onion, minced
2 cups (8oz) shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup (and a splash) of water
1/2 cup and 3 TBSP Four Cheese pasta sauce
2TBSP Worchesterhire sauce
3TBSP Taco Seasoning
a pinch of Curry Powder
1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Unroll 1 can of crescent rolls, and press into a lightly greased
13 x9 inch pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Drain. Stir in cheese and next 8 ingredients: spoon over crust.

Unroll remaining can of crescent rolls, and smooth out perforations by pinching them together.  Cut into 1/2 inch strips. Arrange strips in a lattice design over beef mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden.  Let it stand for 10 minutes. Serve with sour cream and/or salsa as desired.

Nan's Chili

This was my first attempt at chili and I think it came out pretty Damn Good!! (second by Keith)

Anybody who knows my story about beans knows why I haven't ever attempted to make chili before.  Also, I am a big wimp when it comes to spicy foods sooo Chili had a double negative on my palate. 

This is still a work in progress but it's a mild cowboy style chili that I think you will enjoy if you like a beef stew.  Best of all, it very close to Paleo!!!  You can choose how Paleo you want to make it...

5 Bacon Strips
1 LB Beef Stewing Meat, cubed
16 oz can Crushed Tomatoes
2  8-oz cans Tomato sauce
1  6-oz  can Tomato Paste (I had on hand a paste with Tomato Pesto inside)

16 oz can Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup of Sliced Carrots
1/2 cup Chopped Celery
1 Medium Onion
1/8 cup of Parsley
1/2 Tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Ground Cumin
1/8 tsp pepper  (I put in a tad more for good luck)
1 Tbsp A-1 Sauce (I prefer A-1 Thick and Hearty but it is hard to find)

Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp.
Brown beef in bacon drippings in skillet.
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
Cover. Cook on low for 6 hours, or until meat is tender.
Stir occasionally.

Sick Wod but wanted to do legs

I been battling a head cold for about 3 days.  If I am able to breathe through my nose then I have a slight cough.  All the while, I have burning eyes!! 

I was waiting all week to do a leg workout since my legs have been looking like an old lady's.  I wanted to go 'hard' but since I was sick it wasn't going to be easy.

As fast I could:

4 Rounds of
10 deadlifts 135LB
10 thrusters 45LB

very little break other than to change the weights out

4 Rounds of
10 straight leg deadlifts 95LB
10 fronts squats 45LB

now the anti-crossfit part

4 sets x 10 reps

leg extension 55LB each leg
hip extension 240LB push back each leg
hamstring extension 90LB
outer hip abductors  85lb

Walk 20 mins at 5 incline and 4.0 speed

Monkey Muffins

FINALLY, I tweaked a Paleo recipe so that it tastes good and isn't oily.

2 ripe bananas, mashed
4 eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted (I did a easy 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup almond butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut flour
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 salt
Pinch of nutmeg

optional: 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped


Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  Combine the first five ingredients in a large bowl and blend until smooth.  Add the coconut flour and spices. Blend until everything is smooth.  Stir in the nuts (optional).  Drop your batter into a lined muffin pan.  You can fill the liners fairly full since they don't rise.  Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the muffins pass the toothpick test.  This recipe yields about 12 muffins.

Drunken Roast

2.5 lb of beef roast
1 can Beef Broth low sodium
1 bottle of medium dark beer-  Arrogant Bastard Oaked Ale
1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup mix

Cook on low least 6.5 hours. The roast will break apart with a fork. Serve on French Rolls and top with mozzarella. Save the liquid to make it a French Dip.

Mini WOD

Since it's Columbus Day and the base gym closes at 6pm, we decided to do a CF type WOD at the battalion,  We didn't time it but as fast as we could:

4 Rounds
10 pullups
20 push ups
30 air squats
5 tire flips  (10 for Keith)

4 months and 6 year Anniversary

4 months ago today, I married my best friend and my strongest supporter. He encourages me To Be Me!!  He tells me I am beautiful everyday....nobody compares to him.

Opposite of that, it's my 6 year anniversary at DPS.  I am happy I lasted this long because now I am fully invested in the ESOP.  Sooo Suckers!!  I can quit any time and you will still have to pay me if you ever sell the company or when the loan is done in another 8 years.  Oh guess WHAT?! I am going to quit  in the next two weeks so I can obtain my Masters!  How do you like that??

Decline Bench press

100LB  PR  x 2

Steak Marinade

Red Wine 1 1/2 cups
Dry Mustard 2 Tbsp
Thyme (large pinch)
Olive oil 2 Tbsp
Garlic powder 2 Tbsp
Red Pepper (large pinch)
Korean BBQ sauce (splash)

Honey Cinnamon Glazed Boneless Pork Chops

3  1 inch boneless Pork Chops
3 Tbsp of Honey
1 tsp of Cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar (optional)
Salt
Pepper

Brine Pork Chops for at least 30 minutes prior to baking to make them juicy.

Preheat oven to 350. 

Add olive oil to a pan on medium heat.  Put salt and pepper on the chops and brown the sides in the pan. Turning only once.

To prepare the glaze, add honey, cinnamon, and brown sugar to a microwave safe dish.  Heat on High for 20 seconds.  Stir to blend.

In a baking dish add the brown chops and top with honey glaze.  Bake  uncovered for15 minutes. Then turn them over and top the other side with the honey glaze.  Cook another 15 to 20 minutes until done or 160 degrees internally.

Bench Press

I did a PR 2 reps at 90LB

I need to find the time to get serious about working out.  Next month should I hope to have more time to work on my fitness.  This month has just been filled with appointments and more appointments.

WE GOT MAUI'D IN MAUI

On July 23rd I married the most wonderful man ever!!!  He is my best friend and my hero.  I have never met another man similar to him other than my own dad.  I couldn't be happier!!

Cheesy Chicken Bake

1 pkg of Stove Top Stuffing mix for Chicken made with Whole Wheat
1-1/2 lb of boneless Chicken breast. Cut into 1 inch pieces.
1 bag (14oz) frozen brocoli florets, thawed, drained
1 can (10-3/4oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1-1/2 cup Shedded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Prepare Stuffing mix as directed on the package
Mix Chicken and Brocoli into a baking dish
Stir in soup, milk, and cheese.
Top with Stuffing.
Bake 30 minutes

Semi Paleo New York Loin steaks

Trim the fat off the New York loin steaks

On both sides:
Rub Olive Oil
Sprinkle with Lawry's Season Salt
Sprinkle Garlic Powder
Sprinkle Black Pepper

Sear in a super hot pan with Coconut Oil for approximately 2 minutes each side

Put into a 360 degree oven for 8 minutes for rare or 16 minutes for medium well. (depends on how thin the steak cuts are)

serve with your favorite side dishes

Honey Agave Mustard Chicken

Two boneless chicken breasts
1/4 cup Honey
3 Tables Mustard powder
one big squirt of Agave
4 dashes of Chili powder
5 grinds of black pepper

Combine all ingredients and marinate overnight

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a baking dish. Put the chicken and juices into the pan and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes.  Turn the chicken and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Turn again and bake another 7 minutes uncovered.

Serve wild rice.

Bench Press

Decline Bench
10-10-10-7
65lb-75lb-80lb-85lb

Flat Bench
10-10-7-6
70lb-80lb-80lb-80lb

Incline Dumbells press
8-10-10-10
35lb each-25lb-27.5lb-27.5lb
*I was tired and went down in weight so I wouldn't hurt my shoulder.

10-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-8  Deadlifts
135-165-165-165-165-165-165-165-135

Backsquats 95LB
10-10-10-10

run 1 mile

*been sick all week so I was pretty weak trying to do this workout

Orange 'Divine' Chicken

Four 6-ounce boneless chicken breast
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons Coconut Flour
2 tablespoons EVOO
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
1 1/3 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons butter

Season chicken with salt and pepper and lightly coat with Coconut flour.

In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp of EVOO on medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 6 mins on each side trying to turn only once.  Transfer to a plate.

Add remaining 1 Tbsp of EVOO and the shallot to pan and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil; lowe the heat and simmer until reduced by 2/3. Add Orange juice and honey and season with salt.

Transfer chicken to cutting board and thinly slice.

Stir butter into the skillet sauce and spoon over chicken.  Serve with brown rice.
Return the chicken and any juices to the pan to reheat, turning.  Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and thinly slice each breast on the diagonal.

Almond Peanut Butter Pancakes

I am taking a few cues from friends and deciding to post some recipes that I create or adapt from others. Most of my recipes will be 'Primal' not Paleo because I can't live without dairy. Besides dairy is a great source of protein.  My other recipes will follow 'Zone' philosophies though I will not be strict.  I find myself a happier camper if I vary my foods and don't follow strict guidelines.   Tonight I adapted a Peanut Butter Pancake recipe from an old schoolmate's (follow basketball team member) Blog.  I thank Gill for the inspiration.  I also took the basic Paleo Pancake from Robb Wolf and combined the two ideas.  So here it is: 

Almond Peanut Butter Pancakes
1 cup Almond Flour
1/8 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/8 tsp cinnamon
2 Eggs
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup Milk
small tablespoon of Peanut Butter
small tablespoon of Almond Butter
(small= enough PB or AB so you get one heaping tbsp)

Melt butter in a pan and cook pancakes as normal.

Keith really like these but I felt they would better as base for a dessert. I might come up with a berry recipe to top these in the near future.

Enjoy!!

Oly Class

Snatch

75LB

Clean and Jerk

105LB  PR

Deadlifts

135lb-155lb-165lb-165lb-165lb-165lb-165lb-165lb-165lb-165lb
10-7-7-7-5-5-5-5-5-5

Deadlift 1RM   205LB

Back Squat 1RM 155LB

AMRAP 12 mins
7 Dumbbell Thrusters (20lb each)
7 Pullups

9 Rounds + 7 Thrusters

Hang Snatches

Oly Class was full squat Snatches

75 LB PR

Sounds weak but then I am on the overhead squat.  I use has never been Snatching over my head but catching it in the full squat and bringing it back up.

Venting!!!

Since no one really reads my blog, I feel it’s somewhat safe to vent here with out directly hurting someone’s feelings. (This is a ‘kinder’ outlet than posting it on Facebook as I really want to do). If they happen to read this then….that’s their nosey fault.

I haven’t been to OCCF in 3 weeks for two reasons: 1) I had Positional Vertigo that was ongoing but became really bad for about two weeks. 2) The programing at OCCF SUCKS!!!! In my opinion, it seems since the Open WODs for the Games started the daily programing WODs have become WEAK!! Yes, I said it, WEAK!! They all seem to be body weight or metcon WODS. WTH!! I am not there to lose weight. I am there to improve my overall fitness and I can’t do that if I am doing a bunch of bodyweight workouts for a month. Besides I pay to be trained. I don’t need training in my body weight movements (that is if I actually got any real training at OCCF). I need training on the Olympic movements or gymnastic movements but how can I do that if the WODs are pull-ups/pushups/ box jump/ air squat combinations. If it’s not a body weight WOD then it is a weighted shoulder press. It’s amazing how many people at OCCF have shoulder issues. (me included)

Example of today’s WOD:

As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of: 30 Box Jump - 24" Boxes

20 Push Presses 115 lbs

30 Pull-ups

I haven’t been sitting on my booty for the last 3 weeks. I have been going to the Globo gym that cross fitters seem to despise soooo much. At least I can get a decent work out there!!! I can’t drop the weight so I can’t go heavy but then it’s forcing me to do a 195lb deadlift with perfect form. At least it’s a goal that will help me reach my 225lb mark. Today I think I will do Cleans or dumb bell snatches depending on bar I can get on….that is the only down side of Globo gym.

Hanging Cleans

110lb  PR

The Pike Pole Mile

25 Front Squat
25 Back Squat
25 OHS
400m Run

25 Press
25 Push Press
25 Push Jerk
400m Run

50 squat Cleans
400m Run

50 power Snatches
400m Run

34:07

OC Throwdown WOD #1

7 rounds for time of:
4 Burpee Deadlifts 95 lbs
 3 Burpee Power Cleans 95 lbs
 2 Burpee Squat Cleans 95 lbs x 3 rds, 65lb x 4 rds
1 Burpee Squat Clean & Jerk 65lb

16:42

OHS and Burpees

for time a ladder:
1 OHS (45lb) and 10 Burpees
2 OHS and 9 Burpees
3 OHS and 8 Burpees
4 OHS and 7 Burpees
conitnue untill
10 OHS and 1 Burpee

9:15

1RM Deadlift  205 LB
1RM Backsquat 155LB  PR

Fran

21-15-9
Thrusters 65lb
Pullups

10:04

RANDY PLUS

76 Power Snatches 55lb
6 lateral jumps every minute on the minute

8:34

5 rounds:
50 ft Overhead Walking Lunges (30lb bar)
21 Burpees

12:54

Back Squat 150LB x 3
Deadlift 195LB x 3

Barbell Bear

I had to totally modify this WOD because of the double push press so I am not even going to bother posting it since it was just lame.  I did do a PR in the Hang Power Clean however.....

106lb Hang Power Clean  PR

JT

21-15-9

HSPU (off box)
Ring Dips (skinny band)
pushups

8:12

Jackie

1000m Row
50 Thrusters 45lb
30 Pullups

12:02  RX'd

Death by Power Cleans

With a continuously running clock perform 1 power clean in the first minute, 2 in the second, 3 in the third, etc. Continue until you cannot finish your numbers before the next minute starts.

9 Rounds Rx'd 95lb


Deadlifts 200lb X 3
Back Squat 145 X 5

Nasty Girls

3 Rounds
50 squats
7 muscle ups  (from the ground)
10 hanging power cleans (85lb)

11:29

AMRAP 20mins:
12 Power Snatches (45lb)
10 pushups (hand off the ground)

10 rounds

Deadlifts  195lb x 4
Back Squat 145lb x 4

Big Jake

Run 200M


1 Squat Clean (55lb)

10 Pull ups

Run 200M

2 Squat Cleans

9 Pull ups

Run 200M

3 Squat Cleans

8 Pull ups

Continue this pattern until:

Run 200M

10 Squat Cleans

1 Pull up

Rx'd 24:09  PR

AMRAP 15 minutes

3 Thrusters (70lb)
7 Burpees
10 Double unders (some Singles)

8 Rounds

Jeremy

21-15-9

Overhead Squats (55lb)
Burpees

7:28

Deadlift 185lb x 5
Back squat 145lb x 3

Steffi

21,18,15,12,9 reps of:
@ 55lb
Deadlift

Hang power cleans

Front squats

Push jerk

23:00

OC Throwdown Double Unders with Clean and Jerks

2 Clean and Jerks (80lb)
Double Unders 50-40-30-20-10 (singles x4)

8:43

1/2 Cindy

1/2 Cindy 10 mins
5 pullups
10 push ups
15 squats

8 rounds + 8 pushups  Rx'd

Deadlift 5-3-3-1-1-1
135-165-180-200-230x-220  PR

Back Squat 5-3-3-1-1-1
135-140-140(x2)

24 hour Oside Wod#3

Back squat
10-10-10-7-7
95-115-115-135-135lb

5lb rehab shoulder cables moves x 80

Good Mornings x40 at 30lb bar

65lb pull downs x 40

10lb ab twists x 80

15mins stair climber (no hands)

OC Throwdown WOD #1

7 Rounds @  75lbs
4 Burpee Deadlifts
3 Burpee Power Cleans
2 Burpee 'Squat' Cleans
1 Burpee 'Squat' Clean and Jerk

13:16

15 minute AMRAP
250m Row
25 pushups (switched between strict and girlie)

5 rounds and 15+ pushups

* the + is for the few I think I did because I lost count and did #10 several times.

Elizabeth

21-15-9

Cleans  95lb (18 squat the rest power)
Ring Dips (banded)

11:22

More Oside 24hr fun!!

Since it's Friday and they don't have evening WODS at my gym.....
Deadlifts
10 @ 135lb
10 @ 155lb
3 @ 185lb  (form was bad)
1 @ 175lb
6 @ 155lb (back seized up a tad)

Hanging power Cleans
40 @ 65lb

Incline Chest 20lb dumb bells 100 reps

96 walking lunges with 10 lb dumb bells

40 pullups

1 mile run

Little over an hour

24 Hour fitness Oside WOD

Since I decided not to stick around the OC for 3 hours to hit a CF wod, I went home to my local Globo gym.  I do the workout as fast as I can without getting kicked out or when I get the equipmemt.

50 Backsquats (115lb)
my version of GHD situps 60 with 25lb
85 Dumbbells Thrusters (15lb)
40 Weighted Row (75lb)
fast walk for 10mins

1 Hour

RANKEL

AMRAP IN 20 MINS
6 DEADLIFTS (155LB)
7 BURPEE PULLUPS
10 KETTLEBELL SWINGS (1 POOD)
200M RUN

5 ROUNDS +5 DLS

Fran

21-15-9
Thrusters 65lb
Pullups

9:26  Rx'd  PR

Jack

AMRAP in 20 mins:
10 Push Press(45lb)
10 box jumps
10 kettlebell swings (1 pood)

9+ finished box jumps

Nate

AMRAP 20 mins
2 muscle ups (jumping w/bar)
4 Handstand pushups (off box)
8 Kettlebell swings (1 pood)

19 Rounds