Eating on Vacation

So tomorrow we leave for sunnier skies and warmer temps...I look forward to shedding the warm winter boots, parka, gloves, hat and scarf--not to mention the layers upon layers of clothing worn underneath and we've had a fairly mild winter this year!

I am excited to see relatives who haven't seen me wearing 70 lbs less bulk...I look forward to wearing jeans, shorts and t-shirts and maybe...just maybe even donning a swimsuit if the weather calls for it :)

This will be the first vacation we have taken since our Paleo journey began and frankly I am a little worried about the "eating" aspect of this trip. During the first week we are staying with relatives and it will be hard to manoever their kitchen and not offend anyone by not eating whatever they have cooked for us. I know they eat alot of pasta :(
As far as restaraunts I am pretty confident that I can make great choices so I'm kinda hoping we eat out alot, which is very different to what I feel here at home.


This WILL be interesting...another challenge to face and overcome!

Do any of you, wonderful readers have any good travel  tips to share when it comes to staying Paleo on the road? at the hotel? at a restaraunt? staying with friends/family who are not Paleo?

I'd love for you to share your suggestions and when I get back I will share any insight I may have post vacation.
Wish Me Luck!

Be Well and Stay Strong!
~Laurie

Packing...

This week we are packing.
Looking forward to taking off for a couple of weeks during March Break.
We are heading to a place where we can exist under sunny skies and have nothing to think about, other than where we are going to eat our next meal :)

We will NOT miss the snow or the cold.
I will NOT miss the telephone ringing, constant calls for one of our two kids, never for us.
I will NOT miss all the cooking and meal planning I do on a daily basis.
We will however MISS being able to source our usual food choices.
We will MISS our friends...but it's only a couple of weeks!
I will MISS my home gym, and the climbing gym and need to figure out a way to stay fit even on Vacay :)
We will MISS our puppy as he won't be travelling with us :(

I am looking forward to the adventure that travel brings.

Do you like Travelling? Where is your 'Dream Travel Destination?'

Be Well!
~Laurie

Conquering the rock

That's me up there, climbing out of a cave...This photo was taken last summer at the Warsaw Caves in Peterborough, Ontario I remember being so excited when our family decided to make this a daytrip, I couldn't sleep the night before. "why?" you ask...Well at the time as silly as it sounds it just seemed like a very primal thing to do. I had never climbed in my life, was always too scared and lacked the confindence to try new things, NOT this time! And it was SO much fun!

Since then my husband and I have been indoor climbing at a local climbing gym and we are getting stronger and having fun together.
As much fun as that is though, there came a time a few weeks back where we started talking about taking our climbing back outdoors...
This summer we are looking to climb at Bon Echo Provincial park. A huge step for us but a challenge we are looking forward to doing together.

Climbing and slithering through dark, wet crevices and caves feels so primal...raw, exhilerating! you feel like you are the only human alive out there on that rock...oh and it's dangerous which of course adds to the excitement and makes your heart beat like a drum at a rock concert.

I am so proud of myself for getting over my fears and so thankful for this year old lifestyle which has made me braver, stronger and more confident than I have ever been in my entire life. Thank you Paleo!
Can't wait to see what I'll try next!

What new thing would you like to try?

Be well!
~Laurie

Cheesecake~Tummy Fail

Well hello there new friends!
I trust you are all well and behaving yourselves :)

Don't get me wrong...the PMS Cheesecake was phenomenal!! Hubby and the kids even loved it, I'm sure the dog would have loved it if we had shared, and he's a picky Paleo pup!

However...

The aftermath in my belly was NOT pretty!  I had pregnant food belly for 3 days after...and I felt awful. :(
was it worth it? you ask....NO! although the family ate it and loved it with no recourse. I eat some dairy so I didn't think this would be any different, I occasionally add heavy cream to my tea or coffee, I eat cheese a few times a week, mostly goat or cheddar, and on occasion I have been known to have a rather large dollop of sour cream with my avocado, salsa and meat, and NO tummy problems.

The family enjoyed the last of them as a Valentines Day treat....I stuck to my Lindt 90% chocolate bar and a bubble bath :)

Here is the recipe for those of you out there who are tolerant of dairy such as cream cheese. I used to LOVE cream cheese, but now know that my new Paleoterrific body will not accept it without a fight...

Chocolate Almond Butter Cheesecake

1 pkg softened at room temp. full fat cream cheese
3 Tblsp. full fat sour cream
2 Tblsp. raw honey
1 large egg
3 Tblsp. good quality baking cocoa
3 Tblsp. almond butter (smooth)

Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Then pour into lined muffin pans or mini muffin pans. Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 1/2 hour, or until tops begin to crack a little. Remove from oven, cool and then refrigerate until ready to serve. Add whipping cream, and shaved chocolate and/or berries

Enjoy! This recipe made 6 full regular sized muffins. I made individual portions but I am sure you could make one large cake, just adjust the baking time.

Be Well...
~Laurie

PMS--Cheesecake

Due to PMS I am craving something not usually a part of our weekly menu.
THANK YOU  MOTHER NATURE!!! <sarcasm>

I had an old package of cream cheese, which I don't eat and to be honest had to check the expiry date as I don't remember even buying it...it's all good! that stuff apparently has a r-e-a-l-l-y long expiry date!

Flashbulb moment! Why not make some sort of Paleo-ish cheesecake of sorts??

So I got out some eggs, hunted around for some other ingredients including cocoa and almond butter and tried my luck at whipping something fantastic up...

And it was....FANTASTIC!

I made them crustless, and put the batter into paper lined muffin pans. Bake, cool, refrigerate, add whipped heavy cream or just some shaved dark chocolate, or a homemade berry sauce and enjoy one or two...because lets face it...when Mother Nature calls, who are we to not pick up?

Interested in the recipe? I will be making another batch once I pick up the ingredients tonight and I will post the recipe and photo when I do.

Oh! did you think the recipe would be in this post?? So did I...fortunately/unfortunately the kids and hubby liked them so much they are gone before I had time to snap a pic :)  So...you'll have to wait.

In the meantime...tell me what you do when Mother Nature calls...what sort of things do you crave?

~Laurie

Recipe--Mug Cake Paleo Style

MUG Cake--Paleo Style

2 1/2 tsp coconut oil melted
2 Tblsp pure cocoa powder
1 Tblsp maple syrup or raw honey
1 Tblsp almond flour
1 Large Egg
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a mug....Microwave on high for 2 minutes...and VOILA! Let cool and enjoy!
Top with fresh full fat whipping cream and dark chocolate shavings, or top off with fresh berries of your choice...or just plain is great too.

2 minutes!! is all it takes to whip up a guilt free, scrumptious dessert for one. Of course once they taste yours, everyone will want their own.

Enjoy!
Let me know if you try it and what you thought of it.

~Laurie

Higher

I used to be deathly afraid of heights...complete with panic attacks and anxiety....

 SO...of course 65+ lbs less and embracing my new lust for life...

 I began indoor rock climbing...with absolutely NO fear! And a new activity that I absolutely LOVE to do.

Hubby and I go together...Wonder Woman and Spider Man is what we secretly call each other...

WELL....

I guess it's no longer a secret now is it? *giggle*

Tomorrow is climbing day...looking forward to it!

Happy Weekend!

~Laurie