Paleo Spinach Artichoke Dip

Adapted from this site---> VA Hunter Gatherers

Ingredients
2 14oz can artichoke hearts, roughly chopped 
5-6 C tightly packed baby spinach, blanched
1 white onion
2 T. minced garlic 
10-12 thick slices of bacon
1/2 can of full-fat coconut milk

1. Bring 4-6 C water to a boil. Then add in your spinach to blanch it. This should only take about 60 seconds until the spinach becomes bright green.

2. Pour into a colander and allow to drain, along with with your artichoke hearts.

3. Use your food processor to finely mince your onion and garlic. Also chop your raw bacon into small pieces.  The smaller the pieces the more bacon-y surprises you’ll find in your dip.

4. Saute bacon in skillet on medium-low heat, until the bacon begins to brown.

5. While that is happening, use your food processor again to mince the artichoke hearts and spinach.

6. Remove bacon once it is cooked and chop a little more. Pour some of the excess grease out of the skillet to discard. Add in onion and garlic, and sauté until onion is translucent.

7. Add in artichoke and spinach mixture and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to mix.

8. Remove from heat and allow mixture of bacon, spinach, artichoke, onion, and garlic to cool.  Place in the refrigerator for an hour or two to speed the process.

9. Add in 1/2 of the can of coconut milk, and set to chill for at least 30 minutes.  This is still good at room temperature! 

I've been eating the leftovers with an egg scrabble for breakfast! 

Series of Goodbyes: Part 2

Friday night, we had our last church small group meeting. Since it was the last one, we had a potluck dinner and played Catch Phrase (my favorite game ever!)

My new friend Aidalys came with her hubbie and two little girls. Aidalys and I just recently met. I immediately liked her because of her down-to-earth honesty and forthrightness. She's funny too. :) I'm sad we didn't meet sooner!

We made "paleo" Chocolate Pie...

And Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Walnuts.

(Check below for the recipes!)

At the end of the night, everyone gathered around and prayed for Billie and me. For our future, for our travels, and for God's provision and protection as we get settled at Fort Campbell. Doesn't get much better than that. 

Oh! I almost forgot... early Friday morning, Billie and I saw "Catching Fire," the new Hunger Games movie. I had forgotten what happened in the second book, so that was nice!
Everyone has been saying it's better than the first movie. I don't really think so. It was good! But more gruesome than I remember. And the ending definitely leaves ya hanging!


Ok, here are those recipes. :)
"Paleo Chocolate Pie"
Copied from: Fit Paleo Mom

For the crust: (Next time, I will make a little extra crust)
1 cup walnut halves
1/4 cup (about 4) pitted dates
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt

For the filling:
1 cup coconut milk- refrigerate 2 cans of coconut milk, and only use the cream that separates to the top of the can
1/2 cup(about 8) pitted dates
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
3 oz dark chocolate, melted
2 tsp vanilla extract

1. In a food processor purée the walnuts, dates, cinnamon, and salt until very fine. Grease a glass pie plate with coconut oil.
2. Transfer crust mixture to a glass pie dish and press across the bottom and halfway up the sides
3. Rinse food processor.
4. In a small sauce pan heat coconut milk just slightly (or microwave it for 45 seconds).
5. Add heated coconut milk, dates, chocolate, coconut oil, and vanilla extract to the food processor and purée until its completely smooth.
6. Pour over crust and chill to set.


Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Walnuts:

Nitrate-free bacon, strips cut in half
Pitted dates
Walnut halves
Toothpicks

1. Cook bacon in microwave for 3 minutes (It will take you several batches before you have it all cooked!)
2. Let them cool for a minute, then wrap one date and one walnut half in bacon and stick a toothpick through to hold.
3. Bake on the top rack in a glass baking dish on 450* for about 10 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.

Deviled Eggs

I have a thing for deviled eggs. They remind me of Easter. And living at the sorority house. :) Now that I know how much labor they involve, I feel the need to go back and thank Mrs. Mary, our sweet sorority house cook!

But deviled eggs... I think ya either love 'em or ya hate 'em. 

And I love 'em. Billie too. Perfect paleo snack or appetizer!

Now, if you are leery of eggs because of their cholesterol or if you want to finally settle the questions about whether eggs or healthy or not, PLEASE read this article by my favorite dietician! Short and sweet. You will love it.

Here's my recipe: 

8 eggs

3 T. Paleo mayo

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp hot sauce

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp dill

Pepper

Garnish: paprika

Hard boil your eggs. Let them cool then peel them. Slice eggs in half, longways. Scoop the yolks into a bowl. Mash the yolks with a fork and add everything except for the paprika. Make sure the consistency is smooth. Adjust seasonings to your liking! Scoop mixture back into eggs and sprinkle each egg with paprika!

One last thing... Does anyone know what the middle section on my deviled egg dish is used for??