On Saturday night, my family hosted a "tornado shower" for our relatives who lost their home in the Joplin tornado last spring. Over sixty people attended, and my aunt and uncle took home a Suburban-full of fun things for their new home, which is under roof. 

I am, of course, going to talk about the food! We had so many people that almost everything was catered. The majority came from Whole Foods, but we had a few things from local restaurants, like mini bbq brisket sandwiches from Lester's. Yum!

The dining room table looked beautiful! Love those stargazer lilies ... (Attention any and all future boyfriend-readers.)

How awesome are those veggie shooters?! My mom found the idea on Pinterest (hey, I'll give credit where credit is due, but I think ours look even prettier). If you want to try this yourself, buy a bunch of shot glasses, fill them with about a tablespoon of ranch dressing, and add some colorful vegetables. We quickly steamed the asparagus and green beans, and used raw bell peppers (orange, yellow and red) and jicama. Voila! Party-ready.

This was a cheese platter from Whole Foods. It came with candied walnuts and fig jam. (I had to leave the room. But that didn't help, because there was plenty to choose from in the next room!)

These are the shrimp and pork spring rolls from Mai Lee. Classic McAllister family party fare.

I wish these were homemade, but they were (mostly) not. They came from Sugaree bakery and yes you should be jealous that you did not get any. (Unless you were at the party, and then you can back me up.) The selection included fudge truffles, chocolate-almond macaroons, raspberry thumbprints, and lemon triangles. Sprinkled in the mix were my White Chocolate S'more Bars (see below), which I might add were the fastest to go!

So without further ado . . .

Recipe for White Chocolate S'more Bars
From The Picky Palate
Makes 12-16 servings.

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix*
1 large egg
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
4-1/2 full graham crackers (I only used 3-1/2. I don't know why, since my pan was the same size.)
10-oz. bag white chocolate chips (per usual, I recommend Ghiradelli)
2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil and spray generously with cooking spray. Be careful when you're lining the pan that you really get the foil to go all the way to the bottom of the pan ... Pans with round corners are not advisable. (But if you use a glass pan, like I did, and the foil doesn't go down all the way, your bars will be fine. Just a little lop-sided.) Make sure the foil goes all the way up over the edges of the pan, because these bars are s-t-i-c-k-y.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter in a large mixing bowl with your hands until a soft dough forms. Press half of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Place the graham crackers on top in one layer, add the chocolate chips, and then add the marshmallows. Top with the remaining dough and press evenly to cover. (It doesn't matter if you don't have enough or it's not totally even.) Drizzle the condensed milk on top and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the center has mostly set and the top is lightly browned. Let cool for 5 minutes and then run a plastic knife around the edges to loosen the marshmallow (I wish I had read this step when I made them). 

Cool completely, and then remove the bars form the pan using the foiled edges. Cut off the edges if desired (for prettier bars), cut into squares and serve at room temperature.

*If you want to give your arteries a little extra lining, you could try using two boxes of yellow cake mix--one for the top and one for the bottom. When I made these, I felt like I didn't have enough for the top. They turned out just fine, but I'm sure extra yellow cake would not be a bad thing. Unless you are at risk for diabetes, in which case I will have to recommend that you leave this recipe alone. Sorry.

Honesty is the best policy. This is going to be a mixed review. So if you are a die-hard paleo dinosaur and might be offended by a little criticism, you should probably stop reading. Likewise, if you are an average Joe whose diet consists primarily of Twinkies, Cap'n Crunch, nacho cheese, and movie theater popcorn (and you are happy with your choices), then you are most likely not reading this blog in the first place. But in case you are, you should probably stop. This will be a waste of your time.

Moving on.

Let me preface this post (again) by saying that I am a person who gives 100% to whatever it is I am doing. If I commit, I'm in it to win it. This can have unfortunate consequences in the area of, say, relationships (when I fall, I fall hard) or, say, boxes of granola (Wait . . . this was supposed to be 10 servings?!). But in most areas of my life, my ability to set a goal and then focus all of my energy on achieving it (while doing lots of other stuff too) is an excellent quality. So when I reflect upon my experience over the last thirty days, you can rest assured that I followed this incredibly strict diet to a T.

I'm going to start off with the things I appreciated about the Whole30 Challenge. Here they are:

#1. Eating (almost) no processed food. No one can argue that this is not a good thing. Foods that come in plastic wrap or live in vending machines are generally poor choices. Whether you are a caveman, a vegan, a Weight Watcher, a scientist, a nutritionist, or whatever--there is no way that you think heavily processed foods are actually good for the human body. It makes sense. During the Whole30 challenge, pretty much every single processed food is totally off-limits, including plenty of foods with a "healthy" connotation, like Smart Pop, Special K, Yoplait Light, and Progresso soup. Lara bars, almond butter, coconut water, and certain products at Trader Joe's (a shrimp stir-fry in the frozen section, a tuna curry, the Tahini sauce) were fine, but otherwise, I was looking at whole foods as the sole contributors at meal time. And I loved it.

I loved it because I love to cook, and taking something raw like a butternut squash or a piece of fish and transforming it into something delicious is fun for me. I also loved it because eating whole foods is satisfying. It is easy to tell when you are full and food that is fresh tastes good. That's not exactly rocket science, but in the age of additives and preservatives, it can be easy to forget.

#2. Dramatically reducing sugar intake. This experience was by far the longest I have ever gone without any added sugar whatsoever. I don't have many vices (I'm not a big drinker, I think cigarettes are disgusting, and I stopped biting my nails five years ago), but I was (and probably still am...) a sugar addict. That's such an ugly term, but it is the truth. I am aware of it, and I have gone through phases in the past where I would try and limit myself to, say, one 'dessert' per day. Yes people, it is that serious. So this aspect of the Whole30 was by far the hardest for me.

And that is a good thing. Because even though I was a little crabby about not being able to eat any ice cream or having to turn down a homemade cookie from a friend, this was an excellent exercise in willpower and self-control. It was a big step for me. And while I didn't magically stop craving sugar, I did come to realize that if I don't give into those cravings, nothing happens. I don't get headaches, or start shaking, or throw temper tantrums. And that simple piece of knowledge has done wonders for said self-control. It is much easier for me to "just say no" when I don't need to be eating something sweet. (Which is, sadly, most of the time.)

#3. Forming healthy habits. This is one of the best side effects of the Whole30 Challenge. Going on such a restrictive diet forces you to be aware of every single thing you are putting into your body. So naturally, I got into the habit of reading food labels all the time (and usually scrapping the item because it contained some kind of "evaporated cane juice" or "soy lecithin"). Having done a 30-Day Vegan Challenge in the past, I wasn't as shocked by all of the added ingredients in every day processed foods as I might have been otherwise. But it is still disappointing to me how many "healthy" things contain ingredients that are anything but. Other good habits include avoiding sugar (as discussed above), being prepared (packing snacks, planning meals ahead of time), and completely cutting out things that I tend to avoid anyway because they really do not contribute to overall health (soda, the bread basket before dinner, sweetener in my coffee, etc).

#4. Getting creative in the kitchen. The existence of this blog is evidence that I love to cook. So any type of "diet" that encourages me to scour the internet for new recipes to try is going to be fun (at least at first). Also, my never-ending love affair with vegetables continued as I attempted to make them the star of every meal (rather than the meat, which I am not as into).

Here's a "recipe round-up" of my favorites, and some that I haven't tried yet but want to:

Paleo Muffins
Stuffed Acorn Squash (Original recipe here)
Mediterranean Meatballs (Original recipe here)
Pork Stir-Fry (Original recipe here)

Chicken Chorizo "No Potato" Hash
Coconut Ginger Chicken with Mushrooms
Orange Chicken

And here are links to a few of my favorite sites and articles related to the Whole30 Challenge or Paleo in general:

The Clothes Make the Girl
PaleOMG
Health-Bent
Primal Palate

Life After Day 30
Exercising Radical Strength: Powerful strategies to strengthen your Paleo willpower
My Paleo Diet and Why I Do It
5 Painless Ways to be a Paleo Social Butterfly

#5. Feeling satisfied without the carbs. Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes . . . These are not food groups. Yes, they taste good and they make up a significant (too significant) portion of the average American's diet. And while I personally don't see a problem with eating these things in moderation or on special occasions, limiting our intake of them is very good for weight loss and for building lean muscle mass. Unlike the whole "no sugar" thing, I didn't find this one overwhelmingly difficult. Once you get in the habit of ordering salad instead of a sandwich, or fish with vegetables instead of pasta, it gets pretty easy. The bottom line is that carbohydrates do not really contribute much to feeling full--protein does. So while I mentally may have wanted that crusty piece of sourdough to dip in my soup, I didn't actually need it to feel satisfied. Great success!

#6. Consciously ordering out at restaurants. This was a bit harder for me to get used to. I am not a picky eater, and I hate being "that person" at a restaurant who asks a million questions and orders the cheeseburger with no bun, no cheese, a side salad instead of fries (no dressing--vinegar and oil on the side), and a grilled chicken breast instead of the burger. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. I definitely became that person whenever I ventured outside of my own kitchen during the Whole30 Challenge. Surprisingly, people were nice! I did of course have to go to fancier restaurants (oh darn), because let's be serious, the menus at Applebees or TGIFriday's aren't very flexible (and let's be serious again, I never eat at any of those places anyway). But overall, waiters and chefs were very accommodating and did not commit any eye-rolling or sighing in my presence. And now I am much more aware of what is actually in most salad dressings (so. much. sugar.) and marinades (you guessed it: so. much. sugar.) and am better informed about my options when eating out.

BUT. You knew it was coming . . .

Not everything about the Paleo Diet agreed with me--both in terms of how I felt physically as well as from a mental perspective.

From what I have read online, in magazines and in books, the only thing that is absolutely clear is that scientists do not unanimously agree on the specifics of a "healthy diet." What that says to me is that "proof" of one diet being better than another is in the eye of the beholder, and that individuals have to figure out what works best for them. When I use the term "diet," by the way, I am referring to the overarching way in which we eat, not to a "quick-fix" solution used solely for weight-loss purposes.

So with that in mind, here are some of the issues I personally had with the Paleo Diet:

#1. No dairy or legumes. Yes, I have done the reading about insulin release in the body and how these two types of foods affect that process. So I went without them for thirty days, sure that when I re-introduced them into my diet, I would suffer the consequences. And re-introduce them into my diet I did, because I need alternative protein sources (see bullet point #2). Want to know what happened? I feel better. Better than when I was following Paleo strictly (see bullet point #3), as a matter of fact. What I have changed about my consumption of dairy, at least, is to look carefully at labels and choose products with no refined sugar or other extraneous ingredients (which is particularly applicable to yogurt). I check the ingredients on products containing legumes as well, because many of them also contain grains, which I am still avoiding (most of the time). But hummus and and skim milk, welcome back! I have missed you.

#2. Excessive meat consumption. I don't need to say much on this, because I've written about it before. A diet based on eating "lots" of meat (for me, this means eating meat every day, which I try not to do) is simply not sustainable. It's not sustainable for me personally, and I don't think that it is sustainable for our planet either. If you are exclusively eating local, organic meat products, then I am impressed. But more likely than not, you are like me, which means you try to buy organic where possible, but you don't always succeed. So until I am able to say that the meat and animal products I consume are coming from very happy animals that also happen to live nearby, I am going to focus my efforts on eating less meat. That doesn't mean that I think we should replace meat with, say, corn products or extra servings of whole grains. But I think that if everyone participated in Meatless Mondays, the world probably would be a better place. Agree to disagree, Paleo community. Agree to disagree.

#3. Persistent stomach pain/discomfort. This was perhaps the most disappointing part of the Paleo challenge. Like I said, I followed this thing to a T. No cheating. I got all the "yucky" gluten out of my system and was ready to experience the transformation that is renewed gut health. I will spare you the details but that is not what happened. You will just have to trust me on this one. And now that I have transitioned into a low-carb way of eating that includes dairy and legumes (but shies away from sugar and grains), I feel awesome. I am eating less meat, my energy levels are still being maintained AND I don't have any more stomachaches. 

One last note about this point: I mentioned earlier that I have done a Vegan Challenge in the past. Comparing that experience with the Paleo one, I have to say honestly that I felt much better physically when I went vegan vs. going paleo. I know that that will shock and awe all of the cavemen and dinosaur-women out there, but it's true.

But hey! Guess what?! I don't want to be a vegan. I don't want to be a cavewoman. I want to be in great shape, make progress on my fitness goals, and eat healthy food that is good for my body (with occasional treats that are good for my soul). So that's what you'll find me continuing to do in my life and continuing to write about on my blog. If you are still reading this, you are probably my mother. (Thanks, mom!) If you're still reading this and you are not my mother (or you are), leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Have you ever gone on a Paleo diet or a Vegan diet or a Gluten-Free diet or some other diet that claims it will change your life? What happened? What did you learn? Have you stuck with it?

In a complete 180-degree turn from the types of recipes I have been posting for the last month, I present to you a decadent cake containing all kinds of ingredients I have shied away from during my Whole30 Challenge. (Flour! Sugar! Yogurt! Butter! Red Wine?!) My reflective post on the Paleo Diet is on its way, but I wanted to get this out to you so that if you are so inclined, you can make this dessert, impress all of your friends, and recognize it as one of the most perfect endings to a dinner party, ever.

It is as good as it sounds. And the whipped cream is one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted in my life. I am not exaggerating.

Recipe for Red Wine Chocolate Cake with Honey Mascarpone Whipped Cream & Berries
From The Pastry Affair
Makes one 9x5 inch loaf

For the cake:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Ghiradelli)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt).

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together with an electric mixer. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Beat in the wine and yogurt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix just until combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

For the whipped cream:
Ingredients:
1 cup (8 oz.) mascarpone cheese
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup honey

Instructions:
In a medium bowl, whip mascarpone, cream, and honey until soft peaks form. Spoon on top of cooled cake and serve with fresh raspberries and blackberries. If you are so inclined, sift a bit of powdered sugar over the cake for a more elegant look.

These tasty treats go by many different names in the world of sugar-free bloggers. They are sometimes referred to as Fudge Babies (see other flavor suggestions here) and are hailed by many people as the most delicious of all Paleo/natural-no-added-sugar desserts. So forgive me if the bar was set too high. Don't get me wrong, they were certainly delicious. And after almost thirty days with no chocolate, I pounced on them like a half-starved panther. But these do not, by any means. replace actual brownie bites. I'm sorry, but they don't. And if you serve them to people who don't adhere to your dietary guidelines, they will most likely give them a funny look and have another chocolate-covered pretzel from Trader Joe's.

If you are looking for a chocolate-y dessert that is somewhat healthy and has no flour or sugar, then look no further. These really are quite good. But if you are looking for a chocolate-y dessert to impress people, or showcase your baking skills, or even, heaven forbid, you are looking for a dessert that contains normal dessert ingredients, then allow me to direct you to the Salted Caramel Lava Cakes, or Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Frosting instead. (Both are recipes that I fully intend on testing myself, some day.)

Recipe for Paleo Brownie Bites
From The Clothes Make the Girl

Ingredients:
1-1/3 cup pitted dates
1 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup raw pecans
Unsweetened shredded coconut, for topping
Flaked sea salt, for topping

Instructions:
In the bowl of a food processor, combine dates, vanilla and cocoa powder. Process until the mixture forms a paste. Add the pecans and process until they are finely chopped and fully incorporated (but don't let them turn into dust). Form the "dough" into bite-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll half the balls in coconut, if desired, and top the other half with the sea salt. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

The sea salt ones were far better, in my opinion. Try not to eat all of them at once . . . They may be "healthy," but they are not low-calorie!