Happy Wednesday – the day I write stories about the food I eat all day, every day – complete with real-life iPhone illustrations of the whole thing – and all of you fine and highly valued readers comment on it as you wish. Totally normal and EXACTLY what I predicted I’d be doing with my life as I graduate with a masters degree in social work. (Don’t tell anyone, but this is way more fun than I ever thought it would be.)
First up, I’ll go with breakfast. You all know I’m a big fan of “the hash,” which is funny because I didn’t even know the actual definition of a hash until maybe 6 months ago. Turns out the hash and I were made for each other.
So this plantain hash that I just had this morning was probably the best I’ve made. After a hard run I try to get my breakfast just right because disappointing a hungry runner is a bad move. I diced up half a large, mottled yellow-black plantain along with half a golden delicious apple (my husband got the other half in his own little skillet and took it to work. Not the skillet, the hash.) I added mild Italian sausage and sauteed everything in coconut oil until it was nice and brown and toasty. Put all of that on a plate, and then cooked two eggs in the same pan sunny-side up to top the hash. Total awesomeness. The next breakfast was after my long run on Saturday. I definitely don’t like to screw up my post tough run breakfasts! This was made with diced roasted pumpkin, thick bacon, and diced pear. I cooked the bacon first, removed from pan and sauteed everything in the bacon fat and added some cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Then the bacon went back in crumbled, and I added eggs. Yum to that!
Next up is lunch. These two lunches involved leftovers, which, in my opinion elevates their status. I love making good use of leftovers and feel very productive when it works out! I made pulled pork in my slow cooker for dinner last Wednesday, and used leftovers for the next 3 days. This was a simple salad of baby spinach topped with pulled pork and avocado. Couldn’t be easier and was really delicious. The other lunch was a salad of baby spinach, tomatoes, and avocado topped with leftover sauteed chicken thighs and homemade ranch dressing, using my mayo recipe as a base. Good stuff, and really easy.
Onto dinner. I want to share my recipe for the easiest onion-dill roasted potatoes, but first let’s look at my bacon. There’s just something about a simple burger and fries that really hits the spot. For dinner on Saturday I made turkey burgers and topped them with homemade ranch, again (not so photogenic but really yummy) alongside bacon, tomato, avocado and baby spinach. Plus the white sweet potato fries. They seem to make the crispiest baked fries and the whole family loves them so I keep doing it.
Now for the recipe. I’ve made these twice and they’re just really tasty and my kids love them. They make me happy. Plus I eat them before my tempo run hoping the carbs give me superpowers.
Awesome Easy Onion Dill Roasted Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 lb small red new potatoes scrubbed
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or fat of choice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp dried dill
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 450 degrees
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Cut the potatoes into 3/4 inch chunks and blot with paper towels to get rid of excess moisture
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In a large bowl, combine the potato chunks, coconut oil or other fat, salt, pepper, onion powder and dill and toss to completely coat the potatoes.
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On two large baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spread out the potatoes so they are in one layer, not touching each other.
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Bake in the preheated oven until light brown and crisp, about 30-35 minutes, remove from oven carefully and serve with just about anything.
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Eat up the potatoes and the compliments!
I also had a couple of snacks that were “best” worthy. After my long run I’ve been doing a 2 part refuel involving a smoothie before my full breakfast.
I know the picture doesn’t make this look like the best of anything, but I got it right this time. I used one banana, about 6 oz coconut water, half cup frozen mangos, and one and a half scoops of Healthy Skoop B Strong protein powder. Genuinely delicious, and I’m not a smoothie person.
And I won’t show you a picture, but my favorite bed-time snack lately is sliced bananas with berries and melted coconut butter. My favorite brand is Artisana – 100% Organic Raw Coconut Butter – 16 oz.
Well, that wraps up the best of my food for the week. I’m sure you laughed, cried, and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I guess that joke doesn’t work so well on a paleo blog.
What was the best meal you had this week? Or something that you eat all the time that you keep trying to improve?
Slow roasted pork ribs are absolutely delicious. Have you tried that yet? If you get the especially fatty cut it tastes even more tender. Yum!
I had a meal last night that was right up your alley. It was at a place called mEAT and they apparently really cater to the paleo and GF crowd–the dishes are marked to tell you! And for dessert they have the option of avocado mousse! The Rosemary mint pork skewer was fantastic, the rest was just ok, but it made me think of you 😀
Very cool! I haven’t been to a place like that and not sure if there’s anything like that local, although I know NYC has a couple. But clearly I don’t get out much. That would be nice though 🙂
I have a weird obsession lately with Sweet Potatoes so I literally throw them in everything. I’ve also been loving me some homemade granola bars!
Weird obsession?! No such thing about sweet potatoes 🙂
They are so good, how can they not be a standard? I feel like sweet potatoes are one of those foods everyone can agree is just awesome 🙂
I also love making roasted red potatoes. I usually cook them in olive oil but maybe Ill give coconut oil a try. Actually I have been loving all potatoes lately, as well as squash.
Something about those red potatoes that I love 🙂 My least favorite potato is a standard baking potato. But all the sweet ones are great and the winter squashes are delicious too.
Yum…that burger + fries looks awesome. Where do you get white sweet potatoes? I’ve never had one.
My go to as of late has been carrot fries. I can’t get enough.
I have gotten them at whole foods but my local grocery store carries them on occasion as well. The texture is drier and they crisp up really well so my kids go nuts for them 🙂
best thing since sliced bread, love it!!! well your hash’s look incredible and something that i want to try. i know my bf loves hash, but i’ve never made one so this will be our next little culinary adventure 🙂
i love making these super green “soup-sauces” in my blender – always throw in lots of green, herbs, some different spice mixes, whatever soaked nuts or seeds i have, and play with different oils. i will eat this mixture like a soup, or what i love is pouring it into a large bowl, then sauteing some seafood and some veggies and putting them in for amazing taste and texture. ok, truth be told i went to culinary school BUT it was eons ago, and i only finished 3/4 of it.. however sauces and soups were my specialty.
now i’m wondering how fun it would be to make a hash, then post on insta with a hash-tag with love for hash. ok i get the dork award, fine!
Culinary school is impressive! And that sounds fabulous! I tend to shy away from soups for some reason so I might turn to you for inspiration. And you know I will happily share the dork award with you 🙂
Best thing I’ve had this week was some homemade spaghetti. Simple but delicious. Thing I’m always trying to improve: stir-fried veggies. Not sure why something so simple never seems to turn out quite right for me – they just always taste kinda boring, like I’m missing something.
I have a stir fry issue as well! I haven’t found my perfect stir fry recipe, I’ve done some that are fine but not spectacular. When I figure something out I’ll have to post it!
I’m in a food rut all the way around. My dinners are all, “baked chicken, steak, repeat.” I’ve found a couple new recipes that I plan to try over the weekend to try to bust out of it.. carnitas, short ribs, and a coconut shrimp soup are all planned. I also now have a mental note to try that pumpkin/pear/bacon hash (OMG) and I emailed your pumpkin muffin recipe to myself. Thanks for the help 😉
It is so easy to slip into a food rut! I think having the blog provides a little bit of motivation to switch things up, but even still I get in ruts and need to search for new ideas. I hope you like the muffins (and the hash!)
I’m a big smoothie fan so I’m always on the lookout for a new recipe!! My must ingredients are coconut milk, fruit and some hemp powder. Lately I’ve started putting in flax seeds as well!
That sounds great. I’m a coconut-everything fan 🙂
I’ve been loving fresh dill lately! I made some butternut squash fries with dill then last night roasted salmon with lemon and dill. So good! Funny because for years I thought I hated it!
That sounds so delicious! I absolutely love salmon with lemon and dill. I think I have a recipe on here for a salad along those lines! I’ve done homemade mayo infused with lemon and dill. I usually use dry because I’m a bad planner but fresh is great!
Thanks for the recipe! I really do have to try adding plantains to my meal. They look yummy! Love the hash. 🙂
They are sooo good! I can’t emphasize that enough. And a great easy, cheap, delicious and versatile carb source that’s very easy to digest.