11.10.2012

Liver and Onions

Hello all you Gutsy readers!

I am Dina-Marie, the author of Cultured Palate, and I am so excited to be able to share what some may consider a Gutsy recipe – Liver and Onion!

OK, I hear the moans, but before you tune me out, let me just tell you that even my children – all 10 of them – like this recipe!

Yes, you read that right – I have 10 children, 7 of whom are still at home – with one husband and we still love each other! 😉

Why, you might ask, would I feed my children liver and onions?

After living as a vegetarian for 30 years because of of meat “allergies” and suffering with rheumatoid arthritis since my teen years, I was introduced to the GAPS diet. I am so glad Caroline, here at Gutsy has found it at such a young age! Better late than never – right? When I found out about the GAPS diet, I gave a last ditch effort to return to health, quit taking my meds which included steroids (no, I am not advising you to do the same just sharing my experience!) and jumped with both feet into the introduction diet. I figured if it was going to help that I wanted to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the diet!

Pain free!

Amazingly, within 2 weeks my arthritis pain was almost completely gone and by the second stage, I was eating meat! I discovered that I am a real carnivore at heart and I now have 30 years of non-meat eating to make up for! The physical improvements have continued to the point that now, after a year on GAPS, I have no symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, I am successfully reversing my osteoporosis and my hair is even growing again – I am a new woman!

Real food transition

So, after putting the whole family on the GAPS diet, I have transitioned them to a traditional diet which includes liver. I am passionate about helping Caroline and others like her spread the word about the role REAL food plays in healing. In fact, that is why I started Cultured Palate – to help encourage others in the GAPS diet, traditional food preparation and a real food diet. Be sure to stop by and visit me!

And now, for the recipe:

Liver and Onions Recipe:

INGREDIENTS

1 lb beef liver cut into pieces

1 Tbsp rosemary

1 onion chopped

1 Tbsp thyme

1/2 c red wine (opt.) or use water

1 Tbsp lemon juice

3 cloves garlic minced

4 Tbsp butter at room temp.

1/2 tsp mustard (here is a good GAPS friendly recipe)

salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Soak the liver (in the refrigerator) in buttermilk or kefir to reduce the bitter flavor. You may also cover the liver in water and add 4 Tbsp of lemon juice. After 24 hrs, drain, rinse and pat dry.

Saute the liver, onions and garlic in 4 Tbsp butter until the liver is browned and the onions are translucent.

Add the wine (or water), mustard, herbs and lemon juice. Cook uncovered until most of the liquid is gone.

It is just that easy and very delicious!

 

~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

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10.02.2012

GAPS Fried Apple Skin Chips

Lets give a warm welcome to Melissa from Unmistakably Food. She has one yummy recipe to share!

What’s that smell you ask?

That vanilla-apple-spice flagrance infusing your entire home and even seeping into your front yard?

That, my friend, is the decadent aroma of the fried apple skin chips you made in your dreams last night. And I am here with the recipe.

But first, a story.

The Story of the Leftover Apple Skins

The other day I made an apple crisp. I peeled the apples, sliced them, and threw them in the oven. Then I looked at my pile of apples skins.

“What a shame,” I thought to myself.

These were organic apples you see, so rather than being full of pesticides, these skins were loaded with vitamins. I have a 16-month-old daughter named Audrey, and I am obsessed with vitamins. I make up recipes all the time with the sole intent of getting as many vitamins into her little body as I can in one sitting.

The more I thought about it, the more I was sure. There had to be some use for these skins – preferably a grain-free option suited for toddlers with developing digestive tracts.

It was then that an idea came to me: Fried Apple Skin Chips!

Why You Should Make These GAPS Fried Apple Skin Chips

1. They’re crispy and crunchy. They pop into your mouth just like a chip but they’re healthy for you!
2. They’re sweet, but have no added sweetener
3. They’re GAPS legal
4. They’re toddler approved
5. They are so easy to make
6. They’re a perfect mix of caramelized, fall-crispness, apple-spiced, vanilla goodness
7. Did I mention they make your house smell divine? Seriously! People will think you’ve been burning a candle!

 

Ingredients:

1. Skin of three apples
2. 1-2 Tbs virgin coconut oil (for that sweet coconut flavor)
3. 1/2 tsp pure vanilla
4. 1/2 tsp cinnamon
5. a dash of nutmeg

Directions:

1. Throw everything into a skillet.
2. Mix
3. Saute on medium-low heat
4. Stir frequently
5. When skins start to caramelize, remove from heat
6. Enjoy your crispy, aromatic, apple skin chips!

 

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Like what you read? Visit Melissa’s blog, Unmistakably Food <— (now moved to here) for hearty healthy recipes and all things real food.

Melissa Combs is a stay-at-home mommy, writer, amateur chef, and real-food-lover. She is especially passionate about nutrition for children, natural parenting, and non-toxic, sustainable living. You can also find her on facebook, twitter, and pinterest.

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09.09.2012

Rogan Josh (Succulent, Tender Red Meat Curry)

Hey! I want to introduce you to my new blogger friend Courtney from The Polivka Family.

We have gotten to know each other, now that we are both part of the Real Food Media group. It’s amazing how many similar interests we both have. I think her blog is quite unique and I love its “crunchy” but “spicy” style!   She has created an AMAZING recipe I am sure you all will LOVE!! It’s GAPS friendly too 🙂

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Every day feels like a new adventure in my kitchen. Even dishes I’ve made before take on new life as I incorporate something new I’ve learned as I spend more time in my kitchen.

Rogan Josh is perfect example of how improving my Indian meals required one simple thing: the secret ingredient of TIME. I’ve made this dish before, but I didn’t marinate it long enough and it just wasn’t as good. This time around, I also used ghee instead of oil, which gave it a richness and depth that oil just can’t even come close to.

Part One

I began this meal in the late morning by thawing a big slab of grass fed beef. You can also use lamb, deer, or bison. I like to make venison curry when my friends start running out of space in their freezers during deer hunting season.

Cut up the meat into 1″ cubes.

Marinate for 4 hours or overnight in the fridge with the following:

  • Six cloves crushed GARLIC
  • 1 tsp CHILI POWDER or CAYENNE (You might want to use half of this. It was medium-hot to me, which is often “hot” to others. Frank is so used to our food being spicy that he didn’t really notice it being warm, but I was trying to pay attention for YOU all! :))
  • 2 tsp PAPRIKA
  • 2 tsp CORIANDER
  • 2 tsp CUMIN
  • 1 tsp GINGER

Sophie really enjoyed the raw grass-fed meat! After feeding her only chicken for a week, she took to the meat like a champ! I’m really glad because since kitten-hood, she’s thought she was vegan and not a carnivore!

Part Two

Heat 5 TBSP GHEE or COCONUT OIL in a deep cast iron skillet or a stainless steel pan, and cook 1 LARGE ONION until lightly browned.

Now comes the dance of frying, the simmering, frying, them simmering to make this meat super tender and succulent. Next, scoot the onions to one side of the pan and FRY FOR 1 MINUTE the following:

  • 1/2 tsp CARDAMOM
  • 5 WHOLE CLOVES
  • 2 CASSIA LEAVES
  • 1 CINNAMON STICK

Wait on the garam masala and the saffron.

Increase the heat to med-high (or medium if you’re using cast iron), then add the meat, mix well and FRY FOR 2 MINUTES.

Stir well, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Uncover and FRY FOR ANOTHER 3 MINUTES or until the meat is mostly dry.

Add 1/4 CUP WATER, cover and simmer for 7 minutes or until you can see that the ghee has separated and floated to the surface.

FRY FOR ANOTHER 2 MINUTES, then add 1/2 CUP WATER, cover, and gently simmer for 40-50 minutes until the meat is tender. The liquid should have reduced into a thick sauce.

To finish the sauce, mix the SAFFRON with 2 TBSP of RAW MILK (or coconut milk if you’re on GAPS), and add it to the sauce. Then, stir in 3/4 cup HOMEMADE YOGURT.

Give it a good stir, sprinkle with the garam masala, and once served, let everyone add sea salt to taste.

Serve without rice if you’re on GAPS!

CHECK OUT SOME GREAT INDIAN SIDE DISHES TO GO WITH THIS MEAL.

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Visit the The Polivka Family blog here .

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~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

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