New Year/Holiday Hangover

Happy New Year Everyone! My attitude about New Year's is not so great...I'm a little skeptical of putting too much emphasis on it. A new year won't bring me a new, better, self, or a new, better life. In general, I think goal setting and self improvement depends on what's right for each individual, and isn't governed by the calendar. However, it's still a great way to take stock on the past and make goals for the time ahead.  Whatever it takes to keep pushing. Cheers to that.

Looking back, 2010 was pretty awesome because I got married. Our wedding was lovely, and we topped it off with an enchanting trip to Peru. I can't imagine having a better year anytime soon.

 Just married, and walking into the sun.

All reflections aside, how many of us worked up a sugar addiction over the holidays? I was thrilled to do some baking, which I hardly ever do. This year I made my family's traditional Czechoslovakian recipe for Kolache. I also tried some new cookie recipes while my husband cranked out several batches of eggnog.  It was all delicious and lovely, but it has to end somewhere. It HAS to end now.

And so over the past month I've savored the last cookies, chocolates, and sips of eggnog, knowing that when they're gone--they're gone. At the same time I've been eating more like a cave woman and am quickly remembering how incredibly delicious paleo and primal eating can be. This post has a few recipes to help us wean ourselves from holiday sugar addictions.

Paleo Date Balls

I came up with this recently while trying to use a bag of coconut that's been sitting on the shelf for a suspiciously long time. Dessert should not be an everyday occurrence, and if you're trying to clean up your diet I suppose it should be avoided entirely. But if you MUST have something sweet, just for the purpose of weaning, this little snack will help you out.

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped dates (in food processor, if possible)
2 tablespoons honey or agave
2 cups toasted coconut
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
*These measurements are flexible depending on consistency.  You want a sticky mixture that holds together, so adjust the wet and dry ingredients accordingly.

Toast the coconut and almonds together in a small nonstick pan. Remove when coconut is evenly browned. Process dates with one tablespoon of honey or agave until they become a sticky, chunky consistency. Mix everything together in a small bowl with a spatula, only adding honey or agave until the mixture is moist enough to stick to itself. (Try not to overdo it). Add a splash of hot water to loosen the date mixture, if needed. Use a cookie dough scooper or similar tool to scoop out small compact balls. Place on parchment paper and refrigerate. The cookies will not stick together perfectly, so have fun using your fingers to mold them together. After some time in the refrigerator they should set up nicely.

The combination of chewy sweet dates with crunchy almonds and coconut is surprisingly good. This is much cheaper than paying for some of the paleo snacks that are currently available online. Play around with this recipe, use different kinds of nuts and fruits, or cocoa powder for a chocolate treat.

 Egg Muffins

Breakfast is a special meal, but can easily become redundant. This recipe comes from Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint Cookbook, which I highly recommend. It's full of creative, delicious primal recipes, including unique surprises like these egg muffins. They are insanely easy, and provide a transportable breakfast.

I used eight eggs, a box of turkey sausage, and one green pepper. Simply beat with a whisk, fill muffin tins, and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Choose any meat or vegetable combination that pleases you. Take these to work with a piece of fruit and some nuts, and you'll look forward to breakfast. (Note, I would not recommend using paper liners. I tried them on my first batch and it made a papery mess. Greasing the muffin wells makes for a cleaner removal).

Good luck getting back to your hard-earned healthy habits, but don't forget to treat yourself along the way.

One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.
-Iris Murdoch