Paleo- Spaghetti Squash w/Chicken, Bacon & Pesto

Winter's coming and all I want to do is carbo load and nap, trying to stave off hibernation as much as I possibly can.
Time to hop back on the Paleo wagon before all hope is lost :)

Ingredients

• 1 large spaghetti squash
• 1 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut into bite size hunks)
• 5 strips of bacon
• 2 Tbsp. butter or coconut oil
• 1 big handful of fresh basil leaves (or about 1 cup packed)
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbsp. parmesan cheese (optional)
• 4 peeled garlic cloves
• salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Steps

1. Preheat oven to 375. Cut squash in half length wise, remove the seeds (I use an ice cream scoop for this), and place face down in a large baking dish. Fill the dish with water about halfway.
2. Bake for about 40 minutes. Squash should be slightly under cooked.
3. While the squash is cooking, you can make the pesto and set it aside. Throw the following into your food processor and process until smooth.
•1 big handful of fresh basil leaves
•1/4 cup pine nuts
•3 garlic cloves
•1/3 cup olive oil
•Salt and pepper to taste
•3 Tbsp. parmesan cheese (if dairy is not part of your life– sorry skip it)
4. Now cook your bacon. Melt butter or coconut oil over medium heat and cook bacon until it starts to crisp.
5. Add chicken, salt and pepper to taste, and cook all the way through. Turn heat to low.
6. When the squash is done (and cool enough to handle), use a fork to scrape out the “spaghetti” strands and add to chicken and bacon mixture.
Note: Unless you are trying to remove your finger prints, I recommend wearing an oven mitt to hold the squash while you scrape it out.
Stir in the pesto until well combined and heated all the way through. Adjust with salt and pepper as necessary.

Italian Beef Paleo Casserole

Italian Beef and Green Bean Casserole


2 pounds ground beef, preferably grass-fed
2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped or 2 teaspoons dried
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped or 2 teaspoons
dried
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 small squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half

Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Heat a large, heavy, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat; add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula, until it’s almost browned and much of the fat and liquid has been released. Season with the salt and pepper and add the onion. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the onion has softened. Add the garlic to the pan, stir and cook for another minute or until the ground beef is completely cooked through.
Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, herbs and red pepper flakes, if using. Add the squash and green beans; cover and place in the oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the squash is fork tender and the green beans are tender-crisp. Serve topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

Dirty Girl Race

I blame it all on pollen, I'm not intentionally lazy...it's the pollen's fault. Yeah that's it....that's the ticket ;)

I need to play catch up on some of the recent races I've been to and on life in general.  Fell off the Paleo train for a couple of weeks, but we seem to be getting back on track again. Ran another half marathon and a couple of other fun races, and have Warrior Dash coming up in a couple of weeks.  Suzy is home for the summer so maybe she will kick my training up a notch.

All is good, just been either really busy or insanely exhausted.  I think I'm getting my balance back again, and will try to reignite this fun habit.

Without further adieu, I give you the Dirty Girl Race....

 This was a women's only obstacle race on the grounds of Lakewood Amphitheater, here in Atlanta.  One of my Crossfit friends wanted to do it, so I decided to tag along with my friend Maylene.

 It was fun and enjoyed watching my two friends do their first obstacle course.  I've been spoiled by warrior dash though, and this was nothing like warrior. It was in the parking lot of a venue, and the water obstacle were nothing more than vinyl pools with mud in them. I prefer the mud of the north Georgia mountains.!

The best part was being with my friends, it was a nice day to get DIRTY!

Flying pirate half marathon

What an experience! 
My old college roommate and good friend Chris wanted to do a half marathon.  Since she drove all the way to Savannah for my first marathon I told her to pick a race and I'd do it with her.  She chose this race held in the outer banks of North Carolina.

Originally Suzy was going to run with us but she got slammed with end of the year schoolwork. So, I woke up early morning and drove the 9.5 hours it took to get to Kill Devil Hills/Kitty Hawk, NC. It was a long drive, thank goodness I had the sense to download an audiobook onto my iphone. I listened to The Girl who played with Fire all the way there and half of the drive back.

Two of my college buddies and I reliving old memories :)
The day I got there, the weather was perfect.  That night though, mother nature had other plans and it rained all evening and the entire day Sunday. This, of course, included race time.  I don't mind running but I do mind being wet and running, so I was just miserable the entire race.  It was a lovely course and the promoters put on a damn good race.  If they could have done something about the torrential downpours though.

 Here I am at the Wright Brother's Memorial.
I don't think I could have been any happier to cross the finish line. Seriously, I was completely aggravated and disheveled by Mile 13. The last .2 miles were the longest in my life.

It looked like a great after party. We even got egg biscuits, visors and a really nice medal.

After I got back to the hotel and cleaned up, I had a great weekend hanging out with some very good friends. I love the fact that we are just as goofy now as we were 20 years ago. It's good to know that some things never do change.

Head West Young Man

The Allhoffs pulled out of Beverly Hills this morning, on their journey to northern California.  I still don't think it's hit me that they have sold their house and moved away. It happened so much quicker than anyone could have ever imagined. Good for them that they made money on their house and they will be closer to Karen's family.  Sad for us though, they had truly become some of our best friends.

It's not often that you come across people that you can genuinely get along with and totally admire and we hated to see them go.  I think it's going to be a long time before I can drive by their house and not totally tear up. What an amazing couple, so down to earth and so much fun.

I think we sent them off well, 4 nights of drinking and good food as they packed up their house.  I wish them the safest and most fun trip they can have under the circumstances (those being they are driving a ginormous moving truck).  We love you Allhoffs!

Spring Malaise

I don’t like spring!  Sure it’s colorful, everything is rejuvenated and the weather is gorgeous but I just can’t stand it.  I can’t enjoy the outdoors like I want because of pollen.  My reaction to it isn’t the general stuffy congestion most get, I simply sneeze and sleep a lot.  My only motivation is trying to figure out a way for another nap.   I’ve been trying different allergy meds this year but I still haven’t found the perfect match for me.  I’m simply grumping through this time of year, trying to keep up but feeling like I’m falling deeper and deeper into a rut.  It will pass, it always does and then I will get back to my kick ass lifestyle.

My running has almost hit the wall.  I’m getting out and doing a couple of runs a week, it’s just way too easy to make excuses not to at the moment. I have a half marathon this weekend, it might just be what I need to jump start my running again.

 Paleo has been almost nonexistent this past couple of weeks.  I’m not gobbling down cokes and cupcakes yet but it sure has been easy to eat a piece of chocolate and not feel remorseful.  Our neighbors are moving to California tomorrow and I think part of my reasoning for bad eating was that I wanted to hang out with them.  Once they are gone I think we will become more regimented again, it’s so much easier to eat your own food than someone else’s.

I don’t want to lose what I’ve worked so hard to gain. 

The Color Run

It's hard to find races that interest a 6 year old.  Cooper isn't too fond of 3.1 miles but I want him to grow up to be athletic like his awesome big sis, so when I see a race that may appeal to him, of course we jump right on it.
This is the color run, a jog around Piedmont park that promises you a colorful time.

 This is what we looked like before the race, notice the sea of white shirts behind us.

This is the "color" they threw at you along the route.  It was some type of dyed cornstarch powder.  It looks innocent here but just you wait......

 Half way through the race, it seemed to congest at the color stations and gave Cooper time to rest.

 Post race, is that my son or a teenage mutant ninja turtle?

The family, post race.  We were a colorful mess.  It came off pretty easily except for the hair, We were all sporting pink streaks in our hair for weeks afterward.
Fun race but I think it's more of a one time deal, it's really hard to clean up afterwards.  It came out of our clothes relatively easy but the skin/hair was a entirely different story.  All in all, still happy to spend the morning with two of my most favorite people in the world.

Meatloafing it, Paleo style

Ingredients
2 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 lb ground pork
2T coconut flour
1c diced white onion
8 cloves minced garlic
1/2c red bell pepper - diced
3/4c red sauce (1/2 c mixed in, 1/4c reserved for top) *directions for sauce below
1 egg -beaten
1t salt
1/4t pepper


*Directions for Sauce:
 Mix:
6oz can tomato paste 
3T vinegar
1/4t dried mustard
1/3c water
1/2t salt
1/4t cayenne pepper
1/2T garlic powder
squirt of lemon

Directions
Combine all ingredients in bowl except 1/4c red sauce. Mix well. Shape into oiled loaf pans. Top with remaining red sauce. Bake at 350 for 1 hr 30 min.



***** Really good recipe.   Next time I'd double the red sauce, it just seemed a itsy bit dry. Overall it was a  huge hit for dinner. I served it with steamed asparagus spears.******

Publix GA Marathon and Half Marathon

What a race!  I can't say I've ever felt so prepared for a race in my life.  Suzy went the distance and did 

the full marathon while I scaled back for the half.

It was a great morning, it got increasingly warmer through the race but not unbearable for the half marathoners.

We started about halfway back in the back.  I had a higher corral but I promised my friend and first time half marathoner Yuri, that I would stay with her the entirety of the race.  I couldn't believe how much nicer it was to run with a friend that solo as I usually do. It really keeps you motivated to stay on pace and keep running. Before I knew it we were through five points and heading back towards Atlanta.

My feet felt great, I kept zoning out and just running.  Did I mention it was the perfect run?  I think this paleo living along with great training with my friends made a huge difference.  I couldn't believe how fresh I felt at the finish line.  I even got on the news, fist pumping like crazy across the finish

My real hardship was waiting on Suzy to finish her marathon.  It was getting hot by then and I was just so worried she was having heat related problems. Thank goodness for texting. It was nice though, watching everyone finish, especially the marathoners.  I'm usually the last to come in so I don't get to see if from the other side, quite inspiring.

That's my 9th half marathon and Suzy's 2nd full marathon.  I look forward to many, many more!

Operation Boot Camp friends

Paleo Swordfish

Cajun-Style Broiled Swordfish

1 t paprika
4 swordfish steaks, 3/4" to 1" thick
1/2 t dried thyme
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t black pepper
1/4 t oregano
1/8 t ground red pepper
1/4 c lemon juice

Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels. For seasoning
mixture, in shallow dish, stir together spices. Place lemon juice in bowl.
Dip steaks in juice, then coat lightly with seasoning mixture. Preheat
broiler. Spray unheated rack of pan with nonstick spray. Arrange seasoned
fish on rack. Broil 4 inches from heat until fish flakes easily with fork
(4 to 6 minutes per 1/2" thickness). Turn once during broiling time.

Paleo Week 8

Holy schnikes,  we had our 8 week weigh in yesterday for the Paleo challenge.  I can not even begin to tell you how nervous I was.  I stopped weighing myself around week 3, and although I knew my clothes were looser there is something about that number on the scale that can cause you to have a panic attack.  My appointment was the first of the afternoon and by the time 4PM rolled around, my stomach was turning somersaults.  I kept reminding myself that it was just a number and that muscle weighs more than fat. Of course the guy was 15 minutes late, that is just how things in Amy's world happen.  When he finally got up and running and asked me to get on the scale I was in complete shock..... 14lbs lost!  I was only expecting like 5 or maybe 6. I tried to high five the dude but his enthusiasm (from me ribbing him about being late) was lacking.  Next was the underwater displacement test.  And drum-roll please, I lost 4% of my body fat. That is just awesome.  I know my perfect athletic body is still a bit down the road but this was a great marker of how crossfit and paleo are really working.
I promised myself a cheat if I had lost a little weight, after the weigh in I pondered even that..... but I had to do it to remind myself this is a lifestyle and not just a diet.  We ended up getting a spinach/mushroom wheat pizza and salads from Marietta Pizza Company. It took me a while to touch the pizza, it's just so usual to be gulping down salad that this slice of pie had to wait.  It was good and an awesome reward (along with 2 chocolate chip cookies from the neighbor) but today I'm glad I'm back to my meal plan. It makes me feel healthier and lighter and just plain amazing!

Captian Fearless

Cooper and I were out playing in the gorgeous weather yesterday, enjoying some downtime before dinner.  He was doing his normal digging around rocks when he came across this little guy.  When he first asked me if was a lizard or a snake my initial reaction was to run in the opposite direction but when he assured me it had legs...we played with the little guy before letting him go.

I want to me more like Cooper, less jaded and more open to exploration.  It seems the past few years I have narrowed my view of the world.  I let life happen instead of going out and making it my own.  I let fear rule me more than it should.  Fear of embarrassment, financial consequences, failure, etc....you get the picture.  I really got out of my comfort zone last year...when I ran a marathon and raised money for Leukemia.  I need something new to conquer this year.  Something that sends shivers up my spine thinking about it.  Maybe it's the adrenaline rush I crave, I don't know for sure.

I'm going to try to keep an open mind and I'm sure opportunity will present itself.  It usually does!

Tonight's cuisine- Paleoish Enchiladas

Paleo low carb chicken enchiladas

Ingredients

4 half chicken breasts pounded thin and cut in half
Olive oil
Onion 1 medium chopped
2 Peppers medium
4 cloves minced

Enchilada sauce 1 cup
4 oz Cream Cheese cut in small pieces
6oz cheese (cheddar or other) shredded into two equal portions

Directions

Pound chicken breast until very thin - if large cut them in half -
Brown the chicken in a pan until they are golden brown using part of the oil - a smaller pan and browning one chicken piece at a time works better than cooking more than one. Place each chicken piece in a pan after browned.

cut up onion and peppers - fry in pan after chicken is done until onions are soft, add garlic gloves and remove mixture from pan.

Add enchilada sauce and chunks of the cream cheese until cream cheese melts throughout, then add 1/2 of the cheese. Stir until melted.

layer chicken, cover with pepper mixture, smother in sauce and top with remaining cheese.

Cook in oven at 350 degrees until golden brown and bubbly about 20 minutes.

Let cool 10minutes.

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 8
• Calories: 259.4

• Total Fat: 16.6 g
• Cholesterol: 72.1 mg
• Sodium: 412.4 mg
• Total Carbs: 6.6 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1.3 g
• Protein: 20.7 g

Turkey Yumbo ( I mean gumbo)

I'm trying this gumbo Saturday. I'm going to not use the corn and will probably use ground up cauliflower in lieu of the rice. Sounds delish.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 (16-ounce) package frozen bell pepper strips
1 (6-ounce) package frozen cut okra
1 cup frozen corn
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with their liquid
1 turkey leg (about 1 pound), skin removed
1 cup cooked brown rice
Salt and pepper to taste
Hot sauce to taste

Method

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add peppers, okra, corn and tomatoes and stir well. Nestle turkey leg in pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until turkey falls easily off of the bone, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove turkey leg, discard bone and then shred meat and return to pot. Stir in rice, salt, pepper and hot sauce and cook about 10 minutes more.

Sign of our times

My friend Lisa emailed this to me this morning, I couldn't agree more! The ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER This one is a little different.... Two Different Versions ... Two Different Morals OLD VERSION The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold. MORAL OF THE OLD STORY: Be responsible for yourself! -------------------------------------------------------------- MODERN VERSION The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving. CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green...' Occupy the Anthill stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the SEIU group singing, We shall overcome. Then Rev. Jeremiah Wright has the group kneel down to pray for the grasshopper's sake,

while he damns the ants.

President Obama condemns the ant
and blames
President Bush 43, President Bush 41, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the
Pope
for the grasshopper's
plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid
exclaim in an interview with Larry
King that the ant has
gotten rich off the back of the
grasshopper,
and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts
the Economic Equity &
Anti-Grasshopper Act
retroactive to the beginning of
the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number
of green bugs and,
having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar
and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper
and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall,

just happens to be the ant's old house,
crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken
over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and peaceful, neighborhood.

The entire Nation collapses
bringing the rest
of the free world with it.


MORAL OF THE STORY:


Be careful how you vote in 2012.

Happy Anniversary Danny Mac

Danny and Amy....22 years ago

I feel so lucky to have married such an awesome husband.  He's so handsome inside and out and by far the most generous person I've ever met.  He's totally supportive of me in all aspects of my life, but he will be the first to tell me when  I  need to slow down.  And the  most important thing  is he gets me and my silly sense of humor.  He is almost as funny as me, and has a way of making  me laugh at the weirdest things.

We have a rare unconditional sort of love, that I adore.  We fight over the couch and frustrate one another on occasion, but I honestly can't think of the last time we went to bed angry.  I'm so glad we have each other to share wonderful children and life's great experiences.

I love you, Danny.

Maybe I *AM* a sailor

Well, it's barely 1 PM and I've already deposited 5 dollars in the cursing jar. This is going to be a very long 40 days of lent. It's just so subconscious at this point, It has to get better .....I hope. That or I'm going to be able to pay for our entire vacation with my contents of my cursing jar.  :)

Paleo Beef Stew

Beef stew was what was for supper last night.  I cooked it in a crock pot on low for 6 hours and served it on a bed of steamed broccoli.  Huge hit at the McEver house.

2 pounds of cubed stew meat
3 diced carrots
2 celery stalks
1/2 sliced onion ( I used spring onions)
2 TBSP tapioca
1 can beef broth
Salt
Pepper

 Use any deep, oven-safe dish with a lid (dutch oven, casserole, etc.). Put 1 pound of cubed stew meat, 3 diced carrots, 2 sliced celery stalks, 1/2 sliced onion, 2 TBSP tapioca and 1 can of beef broth and salt/pepper in the dish together and mix well. Cover. Put in a 250 degree oven for five hours.  ENJOY!

Fat Tuesday

 

It's Fat Tuesday already?  Where does time go?  I've always loved this day, I generally treat it as my day of excess.  Yummy food, maybe a drink or two and some revelry!  In the past, I've given up chocolate, cheese, bread, and other of my favorite foods.

This year however, since we have already changed our food habit so dramatically there is really nothing "naughty" to give up.  I am going to try to give up the only thing I find to be a luxury these days....Peanut butter.  I'll stick with almond butter throughout the Lent season, it isn't quite as good and a little more $$ but I think it will take care of the craving.

The other bad habit I have in my life is cursing. Driving to and from Atlanta has given me quite a sailor's vocabulary.  I'm not proud of it, and if I don't watch it, Coops is going to be cursing up a storm by the time he's 8.  So Danny and I are both giving up our foul language for Lent and hopefully forever.  We are doing a dollar jar for incentive.  I told Danny to curse like mad today, I may join in with him!

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Shrimp and Bacon Slaw Recipe

Made this last night supper. Danny and I both enjoyed it, though I might go a little easier on the garlic next go around. Perfect to take to a get together or paired with some yummy veggies.


Ingredients for Shrimp:

• 1-2 Pounds of wild caught uncooked peeled shrimp
• 4 pieces of uncooked bacon
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1-2 tsp smoked paprika, add according to taste
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Slaw Ingredients:

• 1/2 head green cabbage shredded
• 1/4 cup shredded carrots
• 2/3 cup of chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro
• 1 lime

Place all the slaw ingredients except the lime in a large bowl (if you are taking this somewhere, be sure to put your slaw ingredients in the bowl you plan to use) and mix ingredients well. Set aside. Then in another bowl, toss the shrimp in the olive oil, paprika, garlic, and salt & pepper. Preheat a large nonstick pan on medium heat. Saute shrimp till they are cooked (pink) and place on top of slaw along with the remaining olive oil mixture that is left in the pan. Then cook the bacon in the same pan (add a little more olive oil if necessary) until crispy. Once bacon is cooked, remove from pan and chop up. Place the bacon with the shrimp on the slaw and mix well. Squeeze lime on top, mix, squeeze, and mix well. Enjoy!

Circus with my favorite clown!

The Lindhs invited Cooper and I to the Ringling brother's circus on Saturday night.  Although it was pouring rain, we had so much fun once we got "under the tent".  The show is such a spectacle and there is never a dull moment, it didn't hurt either that we had pretty awesome seats!

The elephants were my favorite, ever since I read "Water for Elephants" I  have had a soft spot for the big fellas.  Cooper loved the flaming guy they shot with a crossbow across the arena the best of all.  Even in the age of technology, Ringling still knows how to do it up right...Old School!

Running on Empty

Berry Half Marathon was Saturday.  My first and hopefully worst of the season.  It was long, hilly and honestly I just wasn't feeling it at all.  Thank goodness the rain stayed away or I probably would have quit mid-course.

I think my main problem was that I hadn't eaten correctly before the race. I was trying to go all Paleo, and even talked to my crossfit guy about what I should eat. He said coconut water, sweet potatoes and protein.  I ate the potatoes and drank my fair share of coconut water but somehow forgot about the protein.  Saturday morning I got up and had half a banana. THAT was it.  Around mile 4, the nerves wore off and the energy levels dropped. Luckily I had brought Gu and they were also giving the stuff away on the course.  This is the only reason I was able to finish.  Worst half marathon to date!!! My feet hurt like crazy and I had no real energy the entire 13.1 miles.  At least I have 2 more races to improve it.

What I can take from this is two things. 1) my shoes suck!  No worries, I've already replaced them and will be able to test them out tomorrow. I went back to Nike.  2) maybe I do need REAL carbs before the race.  I am dedicated to Paleo but my body needs fuel in order to function.  I need to listen to it and stop being so stubborn.

All in all, my favorite part was spending time with Suzy.  I love that kid so much!!! AND she totally rocked the course and set a new personal record .  I'm so proud of her!

Mr. T Rocks

Bullying?

Cooper is having a hard time at school lately, well in particular it's just his Gym class.  He has asked me several times to pick him  up before PE starts.  That is so unlike the little guy.  He usually loves sports and being active, so I am trying to get to the root of what is going on.  He says there is one kid in particular that has been pushing him around  A LOT in gym.  I know of this kid, and have noticed the couple of times I have volunteered for activities that he is much rougher than the other kids.  Supposedly on Tuesday, he pushed  Cooper to get his spot and caused Coops to hit his lip against another's head, he ended up with a bloody lip.  For the entire PE class, Cooper was benched while this kid continued to create havoc.

This is the thing I can't seem to understand about little boys. What is horseplay and what is bullying?  Danny and I have talked about this several times.  You don't want your kid to be pushed around but you want him to be a gentlemen.  What is the line that you draw?  I know Cooper is very laid back and shy in certain situations, which I'm sure is the perfect situation for a bully to exploit.  Danny told him last night if someone pushes you, you push back and then Mom and Dad will take care of repercussions. (Unless it's a girl, of course).  I hope we can figure out exactly what is going on in school.  I don't want to be a helicopter mommy but I do want to make sure my child is getting the best of his education, we are paying enough $$ for it.

Let's hope we can get Cooper back on track.

Amy at 4 weeks Paleo

Valentines chocolate

You can't have Valentines without chocolate, right?  I found a recipe for a Paleo chocolate cake in my Paleo comfort foods cookbook.  It looked easy enough, but who knew finding coconut flour was going to be like searching for the holy grail!  Finally after 2 weeks of searching I posted my quest on facebook and found the elusive flour.  The cake contains eggs, butter, coconut flour, 75% caco dark chocolate, chili and chipolte powder.  I even got a introduction to cooking with a spring-form pan with a water bath. I feel so Gourmet at the moment!  It turned out to be decadent and heavenly!  Very, very satisfying since neither Dan nor I have touched anything semi-sweet in over 6 weeks.  I cut up slices of the cake and have frozen them for whenever we feel like indulging again.  YUM!