For the next two weeks here at Redeeming the Table, we will be opening the door to all things Autumn. This is from recipes to pinterest findings to meal plannings and more. I have a guest post in store and would love to hear from you in the comment section on how you open theContinue reading “Opening the Door to Autumn’s Harvest”
Tag Archives: Autumn
Brown Butter Pumpkin Cake with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting (grain free & refined sugar free)
Do you know that I love to bake? After my miscarriage, I found so much solace in the baking realm. Not everyone does, but there is always that one thing in which our souls were meant to do. It’s where our abilities & creativity collide. Tsh from Simple Mom was one of the Keynote SpeakersContinue reading “Brown Butter Pumpkin Cake with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting (grain free & refined sugar free)”
Paleo Shepherd’s Pie & Apple Sage Sausage Patties
A couple years back, as the cold fronts began emerging & the nights grew dark long before supper time, we sat to enjoy a meal with friends. Reflections of ourselves in the window, sitting around the table, as Melissa brought a piping hot casserole to the table. I was dismayed to see the casserole, becauseContinue reading “Paleo Shepherd’s Pie & Apple Sage Sausage Patties”
Day 18 :: Pumpkin Pecan Scones & Needing to Be Still
Last night as I stared at my screen to finish up Day 17 on INFPs & ENFPs, all I wanted to do was cry & pour out my heart of what I’m dealing with. I did not want to write about Myers-Briggs (I know shock!). I wanted to talk about how hard it isContinue reading “Day 18 :: Pumpkin Pecan Scones & Needing to Be Still”
Kamille’s Ultimate Birthday Salad
If you like what you see, then check out the recipe for this taste bud popping “ultimate” salad. One Year Ago: Peach Pico de Gallo & Tina’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Two Years Ago: ‘Redemptive Love’ Sour Lemon Scones
Thankful with Sweet Potato Goodness (& so much more)
The words that penetrated my soul the most, “my sons were hungry and the only thing I could give them was water.” This was part of a guest speaker’s story. She was a small Honduran woman, measuring a mere 4 feet and 9 inches, but she made up for it with tremendous heart & conviction. Her name, Danubia Orellana Lopez, and she is apart of the Agros village of Brisas del Volcan.
Danubia was the speaker at the Agros International fundraiser dinner Ben and I attended at the end of October. It seemed fitting that we attended just days before we plunged into doing this 30 day challenge. Agros is an amazing organization, who seeks to empower people in Central America & Mexico through micro loans to purchase land. Many of these people, like Danubia, lived in the slums and had to wake up at 2:30 am to walk 2 hours to get to the farm (to which she & her husband worked for someone else), work an 18 hour day and only get paid $.40 a day. She recalls the times when payday arrived and the owner of the land wasn’t there to pay her & her husband. Those were the days when all she could offer her children was water to fill their bellies. She also recalled a time at the age of 14, when her mother only had 3 eggs to feed the 14 kids….I am truly blessed.
I can’t imagine that world. To feel absolutely defenseless and unable to give your children a basic necessity. Agros seeks to extend both physical means to these people who are willing to work REALLY hard to till their land; but, also give them emotional/spiritual means. They come in to teach the people how to cultivate the land, how to educate themselves, how to make financial deals, etc. What Agros does, is tell these people like Danubia, that if they are willing to want something more, then they can have it. More importantly, what Agros does & says to them, “You are worth it! You have value!”
Danubia spoke of telling her mother that she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up. Her mother said, “Danubia, people like us don’t dream, because our hearts just get broken.” After Agros came in to empower Danubia, her family & community, she and other women worked together to make the men realize that they are just as important & valuable as them. And you know what, after the women worked just as hard, the men realized that these women, their women, had dignity & value.
When I think about what Evangitality means–this is it. This is the global representation of it. It’s finding value, dignity & worth in each individual, because they are created in God’s image. It’s empowering them by giving them a hand up, and not a hand out. It’s not entitlement, because there are many people who choose to stay in slums so they can keep their TV or refrigerator. Instead, it’s for the people who want something more, who want to dream. Life without dreams isn’t a life worth living, and Danubia knew this.
Walking back to the hotel that night, I told Ben, “You know, the poor in America aren’t that poor. They still get assistance. They’re not putting their children to bed without food.” It has made me more thankful than ever. And that’s why I give thanks before my meals. I thank God that I have more than enough to fill my family’s bellies. So when I’ve been cranky during this 3o day challenge, or hear people whining about, “Oh, I ONLY get meat, vegetables, limited fruit & nuts, and eggs,” I’m reminded of Danubia’s words, “my sons were hungry and the only thing I could give them was water.” Oh how I have nothing to complain about, and everything to give thanks about.
I’m thankful for simple meals too. So simple it seems almost too good to be true.
A Year Ago: Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Sea Salted Caramel Frosting & Oatmeal Carmelitas
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Goodness (printable recipe)
This is for one sweet potato, but you could easily increase the amount and play with the ingredients. If you’re not a cinnamon fan, sub some nutmeg (but go easy on it) or add some smoked paprika.
Ingredients:
1 sweet potato
1 tsp coconut oil
dash sea salt
2 Tb pecans
sprinkle cinnamon
Directions: Bake a sweet potato on 350 for 30 minutes or so (check a source, I’m that person who pops it in and doesn’t worry about it). Do this the day before if you’re having it for breakfast. Remove the skin and cut up the sweet potato into chunks.
Heat up coconut oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add the sweet potato & salt. Stir around letting it get a bit golden, about 3 minutes. Add some chopped pecans & a sprinkling of cinnamon. Cook for an additional 1 minute or so. Serve and enjoy!
Paleo Week 2: Harvest Salad
I told myself that I would not have any obligation to post everyday during this 30 day challenge, and I’m glad about it. I went to a conference this past weekend (Friday & Saturday) in Seattle. I was pleasantly surprised, because my expectations were very low. I went prepared, while carrying around my little strawberry tote bag everywhere, which was loaded with Paleo supplies (celery sticks, nuts, apple slices, hazelnut butter, etc). I also discovered that club soda is not nearly as awful when your taste buds have been devoid of sugar. In fact, the soda water was AMAZING!
It also must be said that I still miss chocolate, red wine, and ice cream doesn’t sound too bad. However, despite those non-L&G foods, I think I could see making this as part of our lifestyle. Not necessarily 100%, but in the high percentages. I will let you know about next week, because I’m told that come third week–your body feels better than good. The downside to the challenge during this second week is how my performance at the gym has been low. When running–my legs feel like lead. When lifting–my arms feel like noodles. I’m hoping week three will be better than good.
This salad is probably my go to salad. My friend Jessica fell in love with it that she went out to get the ingredients that day. And you can easily make it Paleo by nixing the blue cheese (just make sure the cranberries don’t have sugar with them).
A Year Ago: Roasting Pumpkin
Harvest Salad (printable recipe)
Ingredients:
Head of lettuce (romaine, red leaf, green leaf), washed, dried, & torn into bite sized pieces
1 apple (Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, whatever you want–just not Red Delicious)
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, Roquefort
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tb mustard (regular or dijon)
1 tsp dried basil (crunch it in your hands to release the oils)
Directions: Pretty straightforward, put the washed/torn lettuce into a big bowl. Sprinkle the nuts, dried cranberries, & blue cheese on the lettuce.
In a bowl or glass measuring cup, add extra virgin olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Add the mustard and whisk together. It should start to combine. Add the basil. No need to pour all of it on the salad, but start small and mix to combine. If you need a bit more, then add it:)
Paleo Day 2: Spinach Salad with sauteed shiitakes & subdued garlic
If only garlic started with an “S” then I’d have won for alliteration. It’s only day two and at this rate, not sure if posting everyday for the next 28 days is possible; however, let’s give it a shot (not going to try too many firsts here). Last Wednesday at my little gym, my coach Emilie led the “chalktalk” on this upcoming “Lean & Green Challenge,” where she laid out the ground rules, fears & ideas to rally the troops in to complete the mission. Challenge: “no grains, dairy, sugars, legumes for 30 days.” Well, that’s not TOO bad–right?!
But it got me thinking about the various people who have gone Paleo and never looked back. Their phrases were sung to the melody of “the hills are alive.” And the thing is, they didn’t have those looks that you can easily call out in a crowd as a bluff. They really were holding an ace high straight flush and want to lead as many people to the goods who will willingly follow. So, just in case you’re not following, after the 30 days, they didn’t want to go back. They didn’t want to go back to gluten-filled goodness, rice cakes (oops how did that get there), cream in their coffee, or a place where the beer flows like wine. Mostly, people didn’t want to go back to the gluten, because it affected their systems; however, seeing as half of my recipes here consist of that little beauty–I can’t help but get a little sad. To think of Christmas without having Vetekrans, a blustery Autumn weekend having Pumpkin Pecan Scones, or enjoying a getaway with my friends with Homemade Oreos. Seriously, never again (insert sad face).
As for day two–it’s close to over and I should be reporting to sleep duty. What I do know is this morning Ben did wake up to “nutty wife syndrome” (didn’t say it wasn’t coming), tonight was easier than last, and maybe, just maybe I won’t miss all of the said above items and long for this simple Spinach Salad (one can dream right). Sweet dreams friends!
A Year Ago: Pear, Apple, Cranberry Crisp
Spinach Salad with sautéed Shiitakes & Subdued Garlic (printable recipe)
Ingredients:
A whole bunch of washed, dried spinach (preferably pre-washed)
8 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems cut off and sliced
1-2 Tb almond oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tb olive oil
salt
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
freshly ground pepper
Directions: In a large bowl, put your spinach in it. In a medium saute pan and on medium heat, heat almond oil. Add the mushrooms and stir occasionally. Once they have gotten nice & sautéed, then add a pinch of salt. Put sautéed mushrooms atop the spinach.
With the same pan, add the olive oil (on medium-low heat) and add your minced garlic. Stir around and keep all the garlic simmering in the oil. You DO NOT want it to brown. Your simply simmering out the garlic to soften both texture & flavor (1 -1 1/2 minutes). Add a pinch of salt to garlic. Empty onto the mushroom & spinach.
Spread out the thinly sliced mushrooms atop. Drizzle a bit more olive oil (not too much) & grind some pepper.
Paleo Day 1: Pistachio Crusted Salmon
Before we had children, I participated in the South Beach diet with Ben. The premise is removing grains, some fruit carbs, white potatoes & sugars. You take everything out the first two weeks, then add in some other items the third week. I’m not really one for going on diets, but I was game for this one for Ben’s sake (not his Lemonade Cleanse though). The first day was fine. I had eggs, some veggies, and probably chicken for dinner. The next day took a turn for the worse. This is where that little old friend called “drama” sneaks its way into my head and clouds any clarity or logic.
I called up Ben sobbing the second morning saying something along the lines, “I can’t do it. If I eat eggs I’m going to puke. Seriously, I can’t do this anymore–what can I eat? I can’t…” Drama is my middle name and I will never live this down, as Ben has already said today that he is expecting a call tomorrow with “nutty wife syndrome.”
Today hasn’t been too bad of day one Paleo. The hardest is when there are multiple child meltdowns, the comfort of an Americano with cream or a latte is not an option, while I keep pressing on towards the goal. Reminds me of the Apostle Paul, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Granted, Paul was talking about something a bit different from restraining oneself from sugars, grains & dairy; but, I think it’s the connection of seeing the end goal (whatever it might be). Right now I’m choosing to embrace this challenge (hopefully without so much drama like before) and I think tonight’s dinner proved a gold.
Pistachio Crusted Salmon with sautéed Shallot & Fennel (printable recipe)
Ingredients:
2 lbs Coho Salmon
mustard
2 cups shelled pistachios
sea salt & ground pepper
4 Tb olive oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
Directions: Preheat oven to 375. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Ground pistachios in food processor until nicely ground. Put your salmon skin side down. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Put a thin layer of mustard all over the salmon. Cover with ground pistachios. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
Just before the salmon is done, add olive oil to saute pan and turn to medium heat. Saute shallots, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the fennel and keep mixing it up a bit. It’s okay to have some of it brown & get a bit crispy on some of the pieces.
Put some of the shallot/fennel atop a good portion of pistachio salmon.
Coconut Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
Starting Monday, Ben & I will be joining our gym’s call to partake in the “Lean & Green Challenge.” Before I divulge into what it entails, let me say that I can already imagine the expression on your face as you continue reading. And I’m actually looking forward to it (in some respects). It is a Paleo eating style, which means we will be eating as Paleolithic people. You got that? Okay, well, it means we only eat lean meats, vegetables, limited fruit, nuts & seeds and good fats (olive oil, coconut oil, nut oils, nut butters, etc). That means we will not be eating any grains (containing gluten and gluten-free), dairy, sugars, or legumes (yes peanuts are a part of that).
I, of course, prefaced it with what we can eat, because most people upon hearing what we can’t eat automatically ask, “Well, what CAN you eat?” The next question, “Kamille, why are you doing this? What does this mean with baking?” Good question! Ben and I have been looking at our Family Mission (reading this great book) and our top priority is getting our family healthy. Ben joined Jogo in March, me in August, my mental health turned for the worse and we want more from life. Friends & co-Jogomates have testified the goodness of doing Paleo. How aches, pains, intestinal problems, weight around the gut, etc went away after following a Paleo food lifestyle (Robb Wolf), along with regular cardio-exercise. So really, I would have to ask myself, “Why wouldn’t I join the “L&G Challenge?”
And about baking…well, to be quite honest, I haven’t really wanted to bake much these days. Maybe it’s a mixture of exercise, lack of time, demands of family? And maybe I’m just burnt out. What I am excited about is loving my family in these next 30 days by preparing & cooking food that will be good to their body, help me menu plan (for once anyway) and most likely have a tighter rein on the food budget. Plus, we have a 1/2 a cow in our deep freezer, so here’s to using it. One of my recipes is this soup, which puts a twist on an Autumn classic. The coconut is subtle enough, which is why I didn’t use a whole can (but you certainly could) and plays on the creaminess known to the butternut squash. The ginger adds bite & spice to make it come a bit alive. Stay tuned as our family embarks on this adventure, and hopefully share a recipe or two:)
Coconut Ginger Butternut Squash Soup (printable recipe)
If you want to substitute the water for warm chicken broth, go right ahead, because it would add a greater depth of flavor to it.
Ingredients:
2 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 small onion, roughly cut into large dice
extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
1/2 cup coconut milk
3-5 cups water
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp finely grated ginger
Garnish options: olive oil, kosher salt, red pepper chili flakes, cilantro
Directions: Preheat oven to 425. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place butternut squash & onion on parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil, mix around with hands, sprinkle a bit of salt on top. Roast for about 30-35 minutes, check the squash (a fork should pierce right through).
Add the roasted squash & onions in batches to the blender. Add 1/4 cup coconut milk and about 1/2 cup of water. Put a towel on top of the lid to avoid getting burnt by the steam. Blend until completely pureed. You most likely will need to add more water along the way. Continue doing this, until all the squash/onion mixture is pureed; as well as, the coconut milk is gone.
Transfer the puree to a large pot and bring up to medium heat. Add more water, 1/2 cup portion at a time, until you get the consistency you prefer. Add ground ginger & freshly grated ginger (using a microplane zester). Add salt to taste. If you need a bit of acid, then squeeze in the juice of 1/2 a lime–taste and if you think it needs the other 1/2–go ahead and add it.
Ladle into bowl, drizzle a bit of olive oil on top, along with red pepper chili flakes, some cilantro and a pinch of coarse salt.
Backdoor Hospitality 