the PRIME pursuit

Prosciutto, Rocket and Green Bean Bundles

I love that rocket is everywhere here in the UK. We call it Arugula in the US and it has always been one of my favorites. The other day we got together with some new friends for a late-evening dinner, and this was the appetizer they served. HUGE HEART EYES. This combo is brill.

Prosciutto + pine nuts + rocket all rolled up into one tasty, fresh, powerapp. Almost like a salad you can eat with your fingers!

Bring this to your next potluck, or serve it as a starter with drinks next time you host a dinner gathering. This is so good.

24 Baby (or fine) green beans, tops trimmed
4 oz arugula or wild salad greens
2 heaping tablespoons toasted pine nuts
2 heaping tablespoons freshly grated parmesan (optional)
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
juice of one lemon
12 thin prosciutto slices

for the dressing
1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons olive oil
pinch of dried chili flakes
1 clove minced garlic
1 heaping tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley

Put the dressing ingredients in a cruet or small bowl, whisk with a fork and set aside

Place the beans in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for 1 minute. Drain and refresh under cold water.

Combine the beans with the leaves, pine nuts and parmesan. Drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice, then season to taste. Lay out the prosciutto slices, put a handful of bean mixture on each, then roll them up. Drizzle with the balsamic dressing just before serving. Makes 6.

delicious

ready to roll

Make this with confidence. You are now a gourmet chef.

This is so fun to eat, they don’t fall apart, and the flavors are incredibly sophisticated. Thanks to my dear friend Becs who generously shared this with me!

Leigh

For more potluck-friendly recipes, check these out:

Tangy Pistachio Herb Dressing

Baklava Salmon

Creamy Curry Meatballs

share the love, pin this! 🙂

Tags: british paleo food, paleo appetizer, paleo potluck idea, prosciutto green bean roll ups, proscuitto green bean bundles, salad you eat with your hands

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Appetizers & Dips, Recipes

Pancakes that made our morning better

4 Mar

The morning started off a little rough…middle daughter woke up feeling a bit sick and oldest daughter was already whining about what I was going to “make” her eat for breakfast. So, I set out to whip up these pancakes from Elana’s Pantry they usually all enjoy, but needed to make some adaptations. I gave up honey for Lent and I was too hungry not to partake!

Fast forward a half an hour later and they turned out fluffy and yummy! They were devoured by all, even my husband (who generally doesn’t like anything almond flour based) snuck a few. The one banana added just enough sweetness without turning them completely banana flavored. Pancakes aside, I’d also use them as a medium for over-easy eggs “dippy” eggs or nut butter sandwiches.

3 eggs
1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp melted butter (I bet coconut oil would work too!)
1 banana, mashed until liquified
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
butter or coconut oil for cooking

Heat large skillet to medium heat. Combine all wet ingredients, add dry ingredients and mix until a nice batter forms. Melt butter or coconut oil on skillet. Spoon desired amount onto skillet–smaller seems to work better and kids just generally love things that are more their size. Flip once bubbles begin to form and bottoms look set, and cook on other side. Continue until batter is gone, adding oil or butter as necessary.

Serve plain with a side of fresh fruit, toasted, topped with fried eggs, or drizzled with yogurt!

this is a double batch

Happy weekend,

Heather

Tags: fruit sweetened grain free pancakes, gluten free pancakes, grain free pancakes, keto pancakes, kid friendly paleo breakfast, kid friendly primal breakfast, paleo breakfast, paleo pancakes, primal breakfast, primal pancakes

Comments 19 Comments
Categories Breakfasts, Recipes

Should my 13 Year Old have Instagram?

19 Jan

Each time I asked my 13-year-old daughter what she wanted for Christmas, her answer was always the same: Instagram. Every time she said it, my heart sank. I told her it was just about the one thing I could not in good conscience “give” to her. Instagram doesn’t feel like a good gift. It’s the complete opposite–it feels like much would be taken away from her.

Her time. Her attention. Her contentment. Her presence of mind. Her self-confidence. Her brain-development. Her relationships with her siblings. Her sense of wonder in 3D world. Her innocence.

With all that, you would think this decision is a total no-brainer:
not no, but HELL no.

Yet was so hard for me to say no for one big reason: kids these days are using Instagram for their primary source of messaging. I do NOT want to cut my children off from their friends. But—am I in a quandary? Is this truly a difficult dilemma?

When I stare at the laundry list of cons, why does that one solitary “pro” even appeal?

Giving our young kiddos full access to smartphones and social media goes against so much common sense. We know it’s true. Yet as parents, we are all tempted to just roll over. Why? It seems like the old “if everyone else jumps off the bridge, are you gonna jump too?” …on a societal scale.

The temptation to just go ahead and jump off this bridge feels so strong…it feels like we are being pushed and overrun in a stampede toward…toward what? Why is everyone else jumping? Why are so many of the other 13-year-olds on Instagram? Honestly, I want to know. If I need to be softened in this area, I am asking for counsel.

My children’s mental, emotional and spiritual well-being is the principal concern of my adulthood. If Instagram threatens that, why is this decision so difficult? My husband and I have put loads of energy into maintaining our kids-on-media game plan. It’s a team effort…and it’s been a painfully unpleasant parenting challenge to draw a line in this sand.

Why is it hard? For one thing, it feels like a deprivation. And, perhaps I am projecting my own subconscious/latent fear of missing out. Also, these devices buy us so much quiet, imminent peace and space–but at what cost to their growth? Giving in, and giving them over to their juvenile longings is easier than listening the begging. It’s also easier than feeling bad for them.

Since I have said no to Instagram, I am digging for as many yeses as I can. I gotta get creative!

My generation of parents have an infamous reputation for helicopter parenting. But it’s crickets in this area. It’s bananas. Are we so busy looking at our own screens that we can’t be bothered to take measures to protect our babies from device and social media addiction? Are we ignoring common sense because it’s inconvenient?

I have asked my friends about their standards for their kiddos’ smartphone/social media use, and I’ve gotten such a mixed response. Generally, other parents’ main point is that their kids need to be able to call/message them. Really? That’s kind of a weak argument. They need a smartphone for that? There is a phone in every human hand: my kids can get a hold of me instantly, anytime.

And the fear that kids need to be up-to-date on technology? Um, iPhones don’t take very long to master. I’m pretty sure they’re intentionally devised to ensure we all stay sheep…the whole scheme is set up so that we won’t have to apply a spark of brain energy to operate them.

It does, however, take years of deliberate coaching for a child to reach social and emotional maturity. Unless…I find something on the app store that can advance a child’s self-control, identity and character.

Man, when that exists, then I guess we will all be home free.
Until then, it’s still on me.

But this is good work. It’s a long game, but not that long. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Hear my heart: If you don’t feel convicted against your children using Instagram, I understand. These things are personal and I don’t believe one size fits all. BUT, if you are like me and you do feel a personal conviction about this…I had to let you know–you’re not alone in holding the line.

Leigh

P.S. We’ve not completely cut the kids off–they do have access to devices, but we have substantial boundaries in place. I can let you in on the strategies we have chosen in a post to follow, if anyone is interested.