Now is the time

Have you been thinking about joining the Paleo/Primal lifestyle? Now is the time to jump in and go for it!

The 2011 Primal Blueprint 30 day Challenge begins today!

30 day challenge includes:

• 30 days of contests
• Thousands of dollars in prizes $$$$
• Motivational articles
• You will have increased energy
• You will start to lose fat
• You will put on muscle
• You will be proud of yourself!

If you don't want anything from the list above, this contest is not for you. If you are interested in anything from the list above, then start the challenge with me! I will take on this challenge and blog the progress along the way.

The more the merrier - this should be a fun challenge to achieve a healthier lifestyle!

I have been Primal for almost 12 weeks now, but that doesn't mean that I can't improve my personal blueprint. This challenge should give me the motivational tools to get those lifting workout in (now that my strength training inspirational shows are over - The Jungle & Expedition Impossible).


Read the challenge flyer below for more details and watch today for the first challenge (not posted yet).

Who's with me?! *Insert Rocky Training Montage Music*

Krista

UPDATE:

The 1st challege is a retweet for Vibram shoes. I have been wanting a pair of these!! :)

I had to create a twitter account. Follow me (@PrimalKrista)!

Beautiful Morning...

It's rare to wake up to mornings like this. Gorgeous sunrise, perfect temperature, and it's FRIDAY! Wish I could just lay in bed and enjoy, but alas, I must get up and walk Gizmo before work.

The scale reads: 134.5lbs (again, don't remember the last time my weight was that low...early college or late high school).  The problem is now that I need a new wardrobe because now all of my clothes are too big. Not a terrible problem to have, but I don't have hundreds of dollars laying around for a new wardrobe either.

Note: Sorry for the lines (screens on the window).

He enjoyed the walk this morning too.

Plans for the weekend? I'm watching football, catching up on shows from the week, playing video games, running Gizmo around the neighborhood, making paleo cuisine, and just enjoying life.



Which college football team are you cheering for this season?

Here is a hint. :)

Go Bucks! And go Hawks (he doesn't have a jersey for them).

Krista

Baked brats...say what?!

Now before you call me crazy and stop reading the blog, you must at least give the recipe a try - you will be surprised when you take that first bite!

It was 100° outside and I absolutely loathe wasting food so I got creative with what I had in the fridge.

Ingredients:

4-6 bratwurst
1/2 cup onion roughly chopped
1/2 cup apple roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped bacon 
6-8 whole garlic cloves peeled
2 medjool dates roughly chopped

Sea salt & black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º
2. Sear the brats in a medium saute pan over medium high heat (get a nice crust).
3. Spread out all remaining ingredients on a foil lined 9x13 baking pan. Use enough foil so that you can tent the brats later during the baking process.
4. After the brats have a nice sear, add them to the baking pan.
5. Tent the foil ( /\ = like that ) over the pan and bake for 45 minutes.

With this recipe you get the full spectrum of flavors: sweet n' salty, sweet n' tangy, mixed with savory goodness.These brat are perfect for tailgating, when it's too hot or too cold outside, the grill is out of order, or even for a nice simple dinner with family.

Note: I didn't sear my brats when I tried this, which is why the picture leaves much to be desired. Recipe directions were adjusted for searing.

Enjoy,
Krista

Food this week...

Say Cheese

At the store this week I found some interesting cheese from England, right next to the clotted cream, and decided to give it a go. What a treat! This Wensleydale cheese was so soft and laced with cranberries - it paired perfectly with a dry white wine.

  

This 2nd cheese is a 5 layer mix of delicious different traditional English cheeses. I call this my 'Hawkeye' cheese (Black and Gold for those that aren't fans) - very appropriate for the football game tomorrow! It's fun to taste all of the layers though and goes better with a red wine. I still prefer the Wensleydale with cranberries (above). Hard choice, but the flavor won me over. If you see these at your store, snag them before someone else does! I'm on the hunt tonight!

What goes better with cheese and wine than some candied pecans. Oh yeah, nothing! Another simple Paleo/Primal snack you can throw together and trick your taste-buds into thinking you are indulging in the forbidden. See recipe below.

Ingredients:

2 cups pecan halves

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh crack black pepper

Dash of sea salt to your taste

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 450°

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Pour and spread out over a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Back in the oven for 5-6 minutes - watch closely or they will burn and taste awful.

Enjoy!

On to real food.

Problem: You have brats that needed to be eaten before they go bad and it's 100° or -100° (uh oh, you've got bigger problems than brats!) outside.
Solution: Bake 'em! Say what?! That's sacrilege (I can hear my mother now)! Yes, I seared and then baked the brats and they were fantastic! Better than grilled - IMO. Here's a preview, recipe to follow.




Have a great weekend!
Krista

Autumn is Coming

OK so that’s not as powerful as the Game of Thrones version, but I couldn’t help myself.

Fall has always been my favorite season in the past. The smells, warm cider, spice candles, pumpkin and apple pie, the sound of crunching leaves, the colors, Halloween movies and parties, football games, the holiday drinks that come out at coffee places, need I go on? As you can see I’m a big fan of autumn. 

This year I have mixed feelings since going Paleo/Primal. I’ve been spoiled by fresh foods from over the summer, which now will be more expensive to get through the fall and winter. The farmer’s markets pack up to hibernate until next spring, it cools down to make exercise outside more uncomfortable (ugh snow eventually), and the holidays are coming to bring treats and excuses. 

Fall will be a challenge, but let’s take it on head first. Enjoy the season, but know how to: smell the candles, drink some homemade cider, go to the parties (eat before), watch scary movies, admire the leaves, and maybe have a sliver of apple/pumpkin pie over the holiday. Watch for Paleo/Primal versions of some favorite fall treats....(hint: hot, yet cold and warm, yet crisp). :)

Personal update: Still down 19lbs since my peak weight. I’ve been at 136 for a few weeks now so maybe this is my optimal weight since it takes no effort to maintain. 

Any guesses?

Krista