cooking – Page 22 – that paleo couple

Grandma Dean’s Oyster Stew

January 7, 2015June 18, 2015by Brent Schrader4 Comments

Oyster stew is one of the few things that I normally refused to eat growing up—until I was in college, I was confident that oysters were the last thing I should ever eat. Thankfully I’ve lost that perspective, and Heather and I go out for raw oysters fairly regularly at a local raw bar happy hour. This recipe is based off of my late Grandma Dean’s, who I remember for infamously “teaching me my first word: mine.”

Oyster stew is a big tradition in many households, and has roots in the Americas going back to the late 19th Century. Dishes like this one are especially popular for those who celebrate a meatless dinner on Christmas Eve—you may know Italian families that celebrate the Festa dei sette pesci, or Feast of the Seven Fishes. This is an amazing fresh first dish for a meatless dinner, a special occasion, or a light yet savory treat.

Continue reading “Grandma Dean’s Oyster Stew”

Dinner Rolls

December 31, 2014June 18, 2015by Brent SchraderLeave a comment

Since choosing to live a gluten- and dairy-free lifestyle three years ago, we have generally skipped the toast, croissants, and other bread-y goods prepared by family and friends for brunches, dinners, and parties. We have ventured on a few successful baking adventures—see our Orange-Cranberry Bread, Bacon Jalapeño Bread, and Pumpkin “Cornbread.”

Still, we have shied away from rolls, donuts, and croissants until recently. A few weekends ago, I was doing some exploratory ready about egg replacement (because one of my nephews is allergic to egg, among other things) and learned that chia seed flour can mimic the stretchy consistency of glutenous dough.

Continue reading “Dinner Rolls”

Tomato Pesto Salad

December 24, 2014June 18, 2015by Brent Schrader5 Comments

As we’ve spent almost 3 years now following a paleo diet (wow!), many of our tastes have changed. Heather is now a big fan of brussels sprouts, mustard, collared greens, and many other items she otherwise thought were off limits. For me, the greatest addition to my life has been the tomato. I thought it was the occasional obligation on a restaurant hamburger, or a small part of a salad.

Recently I came to the conclusion that I now pick up a tomato how I used to pick up an apple. This salad challenges the assumption that a salad has to be a bed of greens with some accoutrement; don’t allow your salad to be boring! This time of year, we thought the bright red and green was perfect for the holidays. We hope you have a delightful time with family and friends this week, regardless of how (or what) you decide to celebrate.

Continue reading “Tomato Pesto Salad”

Citrus Salad

December 10, 2014June 18, 2015by Heather SchraderLeave a comment

This week, I’m keeping things short and sweet, and tangy and bright. We experimented with this salad this past Thanksgiving because we wanted a light salad to balance the hearty, savory, and sweet components of the entire menu. Plus, we didn’t want to do a traditional romain or iceberg salad; we can do that any day, really. Holidays call for a little some special, right?

This refreshing citrus salad will brighten any meal. Serve it on the side or as a dessert. Or, use it as a palate cleanser between courses if you’re serving a more elaborate dinner menu. It’s versatile, and will taste great year-round. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Continue reading “Citrus Salad”

Birria (Mexican Stew)

December 3, 2014June 18, 2015by Brent SchraderLeave a comment

As the weather cools down for us here in the DC area, my mind have moved from barbecues and light refreshing salads to more substantial meals and stews. We are huge fans of chili and pulled pork, but I wanted to expand our repertoire. Especially because I am prone to colds or falling under the weather as the seasons change, I wanted something that could help keep my sinuses clear with the help of capsaicin. (Check out the medical uses in this Wikipedia article—warning: not AIP friendly.)

For me, this is an ideal winter stew, and is much heartier than our hot and sour soup, which was my go to meal when fighting a cold up to now. We hope you’ll give it a shot, and enjoy it in a variety of ways.

Continue reading “Birria (Mexican Stew)”