Five Paleo Dinners To Cook Next Week #70

Dave and I are in a small trough of rest between my parents’ visit to Prague and our upcoming trip to Venice—where we’ll explore for a few days on our own, then be reunited with my mom and dad for a bit before they head back to the States.

We’re resting a lot, reading great books (currently very enthralled with REAMDE by Neal Stephenson), and eating healthy food after the beer-cake-schnitzel apocalypse of the last 10 days. (I regret nothing.)

We call rest periods like this “home hospital.”

The idea is that we treat ourselves and each other like we just got home from the hospital. We try to keep things a little quieter, a little gentler, a little slower while we recharge our batteries after so much fun and adventure.

For you, my friends, I’ve collected recipes that will help you welcome autumn. Almost overnight, it became jacket-and-scarf (and boots!) weather here, and I am not complaining one bit. I hope these recipes make you feel cozy and nurtured. Happy cooking!

Dinner Ideas (Whole30 compliant)

Paleo Creole Ham & Cauliflower Rice

Cookup Tips: Chop the raw cauliflower into rice and store in a covered container in the fridge until you’re ready to make the whole recipe. You can also cut up the veggies and ham in advance.

Recommended Sides: This really doesn’t really need a side, but if you want extra credit, and extra vegetables, I recommend steamed green beans with garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Tandoori Chicken with Curry Pineapple Fried Rice

Cookup Tips: Start the marinade process during your Cookup and cook the chicken the next day. The Mint Chutney can be made on cookup day and stored all week. Chop the raw cauliflower into rice and store in a covered container in the fridge until you’re ready to make the whole recipe.

Recommended Sides: None required! YAY!

Turkey & Cranberry Meatballs with Sweet Potato Fries

Cookup Tips: You can make the meat “dough” up to 3 days in advance, then cook the meatballs when you’re ready to eat them. The sweet potato can be microwaved and cut into strips in advance, then roasted just before eating.

Recommended Sides: If you’re not feeling the sweet potato fries, some boiled potatoes rolled in ghee and minced parsley would be super tasty—or you could go with Mashed Cauliflower. You can boil white potatoes in advance, then reheat just before eating, and the mashed cauliflower can be made during a cookup and reheated, too. The fries taste best when cooked just before eating.

Chicken Nanking

Cookup Tips: Start the marinade process during your Cookup and cook the chicken the next day. You can also prep the veggies and sauce in advance and store covered in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.

Recommended Sides: You will definitely want to serve this on a bed of Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Rice. You can grate the raw cauliflower into rice during your Cookup, then cook it just before eating.

Old School Italian Meat Sauce with Zucchini Noodles

Cookup Tips: This recipe is perfect for a lazy weekend day, when it can just do its own thing in the background. You can also prep the zucchini in advance: julienne it, sweat it, rinse it, pat it dry, and place in fridge until you’re ready to eat.

Recommended Side: Yes, it’s cliché, but it’s a delicious cliché: Make a salad and top it with luscious Creamy Italian Dressing.

Condiment (Whole30 compliant)

Kickass Ketchup

Cookup Tips: Make this during your Weekly Cookup and have it on hand all month to dip your Sweet Potato Fries or make Awesome Sauce.

Treat (Not Whole30 compliant)

Maple-Pumpkin Coconut Macaroons

Cookup Tips: I feel like these require no explanation whatsoever. They are delicious. They are pumpkiny. You should probably just make ’em.

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