Author: Irena Macri
Genre: Cookbook
Publication Date: 23rd September 2015
Pages: 232
Book Source: Penguin Books Australia
Synopsis: A little paleo goes a long way
'Happy Go Paleo' is exactly what the name suggests: an easy-going, relaxed approach to the paleo diet. I love paleo as a lifestyle, a diet focused on whole foods, a simpler way of living, spending more time outdoors and getting fit through functional movement. I want other people to discover my 80/20 paleo philosophy and how fantastic it can make you feel.'
'Happy Go Paleo' is exactly what the name suggests: an easy-going, relaxed approach to the paleo diet. I love paleo as a lifestyle, a diet focused on whole foods, a simpler way of living, spending more time outdoors and getting fit through functional movement. I want other people to discover my 80/20 paleo philosophy and how fantastic it can make you feel.'
In this book, internationally renowned blogger Irena Macri creates complete paleo meals to show how accessible healthy eating can be. Here are over 100 of Irena's best recipes of whole foods, good-quality protein, nuts and seeds. Fun to make, delicious to eat and using everyday ingredients, all recipes are gluten free and refined sugar free to help you craft your own paleo and healthy eating journey!
My Thoughts:
Regulars to my blog will know that this year
I've been trialling gluten free/no inflammatory oils/no refined sugar/clean
eating in the hope of decreasing inflammation and getting improvement in my
nerve-damaged hands. Well, no improvement (worth a try) but I've
come across some wonderful cookbooks and delicious recipes that anyone who
loves food will enjoy.
I love Irina Macri's 80/20 take on the paleo
lifestyle. Now I still have dairy and I do not and will not EVER eat offal
again (I was made to eat lambs fry and steak & kidney as a kid, a traumatising experience I tell you *gag*) and
just the thought now makes me dry heave. Mind you I haven't eaten a weetbix
since I left home either #40yearsweetbixfree but I digress ...
I don't need the label
but I love the paleo philosophy of whole food, nourishing food and Happy Go Paleo is a more relaxed approach which most people find easier to stick with. Rigidity is misery-making so I
particularly like Irina Macri's thinking "that
a little paleo goes a long way ..."
Happy Go Paleo is well set out with useful categories, the
photography is droolworthy and I love the nutrition notes included
for each recipe and the substitution tips.
Breakfasts & Lunches - yum ... my type of brekky
Nourish in a Hurry - speed & ease recipes. The Creamy Roasted Fennel & Tomato Soup I made came from this category. And Baked Salmon with Homemade Sweet Chilli Sauce will definitely be on the menu at some point.
Cheap Thrills - paleo on a budget
Favourite Feasts - feast and themed meals that require a little more time and effort but don't panic they're not difficult. There's even a Game of Thrones Feast HA
Treats - hmm maybe not treaty enough for me but I'd give the Honey & Coconut Caramel Sauce a go.
Basics - like bone broth and activating nuts & seeds
Two-Week Meal Plan
Treats - hmm maybe not treaty enough for me but I'd give the Honey & Coconut Caramel Sauce a go.
Basics - like bone broth and activating nuts & seeds
Two-Week Meal Plan
Might try these Barbecue Grilled Prawns next. Don't they look yum?
photo: Happy Go Paleo
I made
Kefir Chicken first because it looked delicious and I've been making my own
kefir (probiotic milk) since April. It's chicken marinated in kefir or greek
yoghurt and garlic, tumeric, cumin, cinnamon. Sounds good right? Meh ... bland,
disappointingly tasteless.
The next recipe was a winner, I wasn't even sure I
liked fennel that much but this was delicious, it even got the tick of approval from the fussy son ;)
Creamy Roasted Fennel & Tomato Soup
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 35 mins
2 medium bulbs fennel, thickly sliced
4-5 medium Roma tomatoes each sliced into 6 wedges
1 large brown onion sliced
1/2 long red chilli, deseeded and diced
1 tsp sea salt
4-5 tblsp melted ghee
2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
3 cups vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
pinch of nutmeg (optional)
1/4 cup coconut milk, plus extra to serve
Preheat oven to 220°C (conventional)
Place the fennel slices on a large baking tray. Top with tomatoes, onion and chilli, then sprinkle all over with sea salt and drizzle with melted ghee. Roast for 20 minutes, then scatter the garlic over the top and roast for further 10 mins.
Transfer the roasted vegetables, together with the juices to a large saucepan and add stock, bay leaf and nutmeg. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes.
Transfer the soup, in batches if needed, to a blender and process until thick
and smooth. Alternatively, use a handheld stick blender and blend in saucepan
(that's what I did, easy and less washing up lol) Add coconut milk and stir.
Serve with a swirl of extra coconut milk and a few basil leaves.
Honestly none of the recipes are too complicated. Happy Go Paleo
isn't just a lovely cookbook to browse but a very usable one.
Irina Macri has a fabulous website Eat Drink Paleo with great recipes, articles and gorgeous photography.
Connect with Irina Macri
Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.
