It's Easter time and many of you will no doubt will be gathering with family this weekend. No matter to occasion, you can keep up your healthy eating by controlling the ingredients in your dishes. Today's recipes have great flavors. They use ingredients you may have not associated with Easter. All will work well for your Easter table. Have fun, explore, and most of all enjoy!
PLANTAIN PINWHEELS
As you know, I love plantains. Here are the reasons why you should add them to your diet.
great source of potassium
regulate digestive system
boost immune system
great source of magnesium
They can be baked, boiled, fried, grilled, roasted, or mashed or chopped for soup, steamed for infants/elderly, dried and made into flour, or chips that are baked or fried.
Plantain Tortillas
3 large ripe yellow plantains
1/4 cup light olive oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
2 egg whites
Cashew Cream
2 red peppers roasted
1 cup cashews soaked overnight
2 small lemons
2 tablespoons coconut cream the thick stuff from the top of the can of coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinwheel Fillings
1/3 -1/2 cup sliced basil
6-8 slices prosciutto
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel the plantains and place into a blender or food processor.
Add the olive oil, water, egg whites, and salt. Blend until thick and creamy.
Pour the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread evenly (about 1/4” thick).
Place plantain mixture into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until edges become slightly brown and center is set (soft yet baked through. It should feel soft like a flatbread). If you are worried about the thickness consistency of the tortilla, you can carefully flip the tortilla and gently flatten it out with a rolling pin. Let cool.
To roast the peppers, turn the oven up to 500 degrees. Place the red peppers on a baking sheet and let roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Once cooled, scrape out the seeds, peel off the skin, and place in a food processor or blender.
Drain the cashews that have been soaked in water overnight and place into the blender with the roasted red pepper. Add the salt, coconut cream, and lemon juice, then blend until creamy.
Cut the cooled tortilla in half (vertically). This makes rolling easier.
Generously spread the cashew mixture on top and add the sliced basil and prosciutto. *Option: tear the prosciutto into smaller slices to make eating easier.
Start to roll the tortillas horizontally, gently using your fingers to push the cashew cream and prosciutto in towards the rolled tortilla, so the mixture doesn’t snowball out at the end.
With a sharp, serrated knife, carefully cut the rolled tortilla into 2” sections. If needed, you can secure each individual pinwheel with a toothpick.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
https://cookeatpaleo.com/paleo-plantain-pinwheels-physical-kitchness/
SAVORY GARLIC HERB MUFFINS
A lot of paleo breads are made from almond flour. It's a great source of protein but can be heavy. I love this recipe that uses coconut flour only. It will keep your muffins nice and light.
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2-1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp coconut milk
4 pastured eggs
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sage
Pre-heat the oven to 350°. Melt the coconut oil and combine with remaining muffin ingredients in a food processor or bowl, mix well.
Place batter in a muffin tin lined with muffin liners. The muffins will rise a small amount, so you can fill the muffin liner about 3/4 full–almost to the top. Bake for about 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops are slightly browned.
https://healyeatsreal.com/paleo-muffins-savory-garlic-herb/
WARM BEET KOHLRABI SALAD
Once you make this salad you'll want to plant both beets and kohlrabi's in your garden this year.
Salad
3 large kohlrabi, both ends trimmed, peeled and spiralized
3 medium beets, both ends trimmed, peeled and spiralized
4 tablespoons ghee, melted (or cooking fat of choice) leaves from one bunch watercress
Vinaigrette
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
2 tablespoons olive oil
Preheat oven to 375
Spiralize your kohlrabi and beets using a vegetable spiralizer.
Lay them on two baking sheets. Drizzle each of the baking sheets with 2 tablespoons of ghee and use your hands to toss them so they are well coated.
https://empoweredsustenance.com/beet-kohlrabi-watercress-salad/
ROASTED RADISHES WITH ROSEMARY
Here is another unique dish. Most of the time you see raw radishes in recipes, but this dish is roasted. This dish uses the entire plant. Again, another good thing to add to your garden.
3 Cups Radishes, halved
2 Teaspoons Sea Salt
10 Black Peppercorns
3 Spragues Fresh Organic Rosemary
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Radish Tops, Stems Removed
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Remove the stems from the radish, separate leaves from the stems and set leaves aside.
Chop radishes in halves or quarters, depending on the size and shape. You want the radishes to be cut roughly the same size, so they will roast evenly.
With a mortar & pestle, grind 1 teaspoon sea salt along with your peppercorns until well ground.
Give the rosemary a rough chop.
Toss 2 tablespoons of olive oil, rosemary, salt and pepper in with the radishes until well covered
Pour onto a non-stick baking sheet. Bake in the oven at 425 for 30-35 minutes, or until the radishes are browned and crisp. Remove from oven.
In a large sauté pan, heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the radish top leaves, 1 teaspoon salt and sauté until wilted.
Toss radishes in with radish tops and serve immediately.
http://www.oliveandherb.com/home/roasted-radishes-with-rosemary/
HONEY BAKED HAM WITH APPLES AND PEACHES
Here is the centerpiece. This Easter ham is sweetened with spices, honey and fruit.
3 pound white sugar-free ham from US Wellness Meats
2 large apples of your choice
2 yellow peaches
1/2 cup raw organic honey, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon all spice
1/4 cup water
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F
Rinse the ham under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel and place in the middle of your roasting pan.
Mix the honey, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and all spice in a bowl
In a separate small bowl, mix in mustard powder and water until well combined.
Add mustard water to your honey and spices and mix well.
Using a basting brush, baste your ham with your glaze.
Now core your apples and take the pit out of your peaches and chop in large slices. I had 8 slices per apple and 8 slices per peach.
Spread your fruit all around your ham in the roasting pan, and then baste the fruit with your glaze and then baste your ham once more
Place your ham in the oven and bake until it reaches an internal temperature of 150 Degrees Fahrenheit. Every 20-30 minutes add more glaze to your ham until completion.
Once your ham reaches 150, remove from the oven and tent with aluminum foil for 15 minutes.
Slice and serve with your spiced fruit.
https://civilizedcavemancooking.com/recipes/pork/honey-baked-ham-with-spiced-apples-and-peaches/
BANANA CREAM PIE
You can't forget dessert. This pie is so creamy you'll think you are eating ice cream.
Honey Graham Cracker Pie Crust (https://againstallgrain.com/2012/02/10/honey-graham-cracker-pie-crust/)
1/4 cup almond flour
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons coconut flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut oil, softened
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla