Paloma Cocktail & Mocktail (Paleo & AIP)

I’ve reached a point in my healing journey that I can have a *little* bit of alcohol from time-to-time. However, I still have to be rather choosy about what sort of alcohol I do consume. It’s a bit ironic, but even before going AIP, I have always done better with spirits than with wine (exception would be sparkling wine). However, my previous go-to spirits are often distilled from ingredients that I still choose not to consume. I decided instead to teach myself to like tequila, a more “Paleo-friendly” spirit, using these delicious grapefruit & lime “paloma" cocktails.

I do hold myself to 4 rules when it comes to personal alcohol consumption:

First, I only consume alcohol in conjunction with food, never on an empty stomach. Since I don’t have alcohol very often, I’m very much a “light-weight” and food helps slow down the effects of the alcohol. Also, alcohol and the things mixed into alcohol can affect a person’s blood sugar. Eating a meal—I personally prefer one containing protein and carbs—with the drink can moderate blood sugar spikes.

Secondly, I stick to one not-so-strong beverage per night only a couple of nights a month. I’ve been known to water down sparkling wine with bubbly water or to add some kombucha. Even with these paloma cocktails, I’ll often add extra LaCroix.

Third, I make any cocktails myself, where I can control the ingredients and ratios, instead of ordering them from a bartender in a restaurant. Many palomas, especially those ordered in Mexican restaurants, are made with grapefruit soda that almost assuredly contains non-AIP/Paleo ingredients.

Fourth, I consume beverages with alcohol in celebration, not as a way to combat stress or escape life. In fact, if life is extra stressful, it’s probably best for my health that I don’t consume any alcohol at all! If I’m having a bad day or feeling stressed, I lean on other coping mechanisms & ways to take care of myself rather than alcohol.

Finally, If you’re someone who is abstaining from alcohol, whether you’re following the elimination stage of AIP, or you don’t like the flavor of any alcohol, or you’re abstaining for other reasons, don’t despair! This paloma recipe makes a really great “mocktail” too. Simply omit the tequila & add a little extra LaCroix. Even though the mocktail version does not contain alcohol, it still is high in natural sugars, so still limit consumption & make it a beverage for a special occasion.

A few resources about AIP/Paleo and alcohol, for those who want further reading:

1. The WHYs behind the Autoimmune Protocol: Alcohol from “The Paleo Mom” 
2. How to Drink Alcohol without Ruining Your Paleo Diet or Getting a Hangover – 10 Simple Tips from “Paleo Flourish Magazine” 
3. Top 10 Paleo Party Rules from “Mark’s Daily Apple” 

Paloma Cocktail (Paleo) or Mocktail (AIP) 

yields 2 to 4 servings 

Simply omit the tequila to turn this cocktail into an equally delicious mocktail! 

Juice from 2 grapefruits (approximately 3/4 cup) 

Juice from 1 large lime (approximately 3 tablespoons)

2 fl oz blanco/white tequila (omit for AIP; replace with extra LaCroix)

8 fl oz pamplemousse/grapefruit LaCroix sparkling water, or more, if desired

Ice, as needed 

Grapefruit & lime slices for garnish, optional 

1. Juice the grapefruits, straining out any seeds. Juice the lime. Combine the juices together.  Stir in the tequila, if using.
2. Divide between 2 large or 4 small ice-filled glasses. Top off with the grapefruit LaCroix. Gently stir to combine. Garnish with grapefruit & lime slices, if desired. 

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AIP Red Sangria & "The Healing Kitchen" review + giveaway

It is my pleasure to not only gush about my love of the newest autoimmune protocol (AIP) cookbook The Healing Kitchen and share a recipe for Red Sangria (AIP, Paleo, alcohol-free), but also to be able to giveaway a SIGNED COPY of the book to one of my readers! Full details can be found towards the end of the post.

In January, I spent over a week cooking almost exclusively from the newest AIP cookbook The Healing Kitchen by Alaena Haber (from Grazed and Enthused) and Sarah Ballantyne (from The Paleo Mom). Even though I’m a pretty good cook & enjoy creating my own recipes, there is something really wonderful about making other peoples’ recipes. It is specially when those other people are your friends & you know the recipes will not only be delicious, but nutrient dense & completely autoimmune protocol (AIP) compliant. Whenever I get a new cookbook, I usually sit down & add tags or sticky notes to the recipes I’d like to eventually make. With The Healing Kitchen, I found myself wanting to tag nearly all the recipes! I narrowed my initial “to-make” list down to what I could manage in a week-and-a-half, but I have no doubt that I’ll be making many many more recipes from this amazing cookbook in the future.

Before I show the recipes I personally tried, here are a few general observations about The Healing Kitchen:

• The recipes are delicious! We loved every recipe I made. Everything was bursting with flavor & nothing was remotely bland, like many people may first believe AIP will be. Pizza. Tacos. Barbecue. Asian cuisine. Alaena & Sarah replicated flavors of traditional favorites into fully AIP compliant variations that I would feel confident serving to even non-AIP/Paleo friends and family. 
• The recipes are easy. None of the recipes I tried were overly complicated, nor do they require terribly complicated ingredients.  
• This book is great for people new to AIP and to seasoned veterans who’d like to spice up (haha!) their meals and get out of a food rut.

Dinners from The Healing Kitchen 

Taco Night! (Toasted Lime Cilantro Cauli-Rice, Taco Beef, Easy Guacamole) | Date Night Pizza! (Thin Crust Pizzas made into ham & pineapple Pizza & BBQ pizza with slaw, salad greens with Greek Dressing & Red Sangria) | BBQ Feast (pressure cooked BBQ pulled pork, Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce, Fennel Mandarin Slaw Garlic Roasted Broccoli) | Meat Loaf (Caramelized Onion & Herb Meatloaf, Carrot Pilaf with lemon & Parsley, Roasted Brussels with Bacon & Cinnamon) | Salmon (Bacon-Date Crusted Salmon, Sweet Potato & Kale “Rice” Salad) 

Lunches from The Healing Kitchen 

Speedy Shanghai Stir Fry | Raisin & Spice Meatballs with Sweet Potato & kale “Rice” Salad | Pumpkin Chili 

Breakfasts from The Healing Kitchen

Crispy Salmon Hash | Bacon Herb Biscuit sandwiches with American Breakfast Sausage | Baked Carrot-Banana Bread N’oatmeal | Ollie’s DIY Sunrise Hash 

Treats & Snacks from The Healing Kitchen

Apple Crumble | Pumpkin Roll with Clementine Cream | Lemon Ginger Energy Balls 

Drinks 

Red Sangria 

Alaena & Sarah have graciously allowed me to share the recipe for the Red Sangria with you. I’ve made this recipe more than 3 times so far & I foresee making it many more times in the future too. Since I usually drink water (or tea or occasionally green juice), having a mocktail like this one was really a treat, especially in social settings where everyone else is indulging in wine or cocktails or soda.

This “sangria” tastes like the real deal, only it isn’t made with wine that can perpetuate leaky gut. It’s great not just for people avoiding alcohol on AIP, but also for pregnant ladies & those who abstain from alcohol in general. I mixed my sangria mixture with blood orange kombucha. So delicious!

Red Sangria

reprinted, with permission, from The Healing Kitchen by Alaena Haber & Sarah Ballantyne 

1 1/2 c pomegranate juice

1 pear, diced

3 strips fresh orange peel

1/2 lemon, sliced thinly

5 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1 (16-oz) bottle unflavored kombucha, chilled

ice, for serving (optional)

1. Combine all the ingredients except kombucha in a large glass jar or pitcher. Place in the refrigerator to steep for at least 8 hours or overnight. 
2. Just before serving, remove the cloves & cinnamon stick and stir in the kombucha. Serve over ice, if desired. 

Note from Laura:

• I substituted blood orange kombucha for the unflavored kombucha because I love blood orange kombucha. 
• I also added a few orange slices for fun. 

GIVEAWAY! 

In January, I was fortunate to attend a book signing at Book People in Austin, TX for "The Healing Kitchen." Alaena and Sarah graciously gave me a signed giveaway copy of their amazing cookbook to pass along to one of my readers! 

Thanks to Charissa (No Cook Paleo) for taking this photo of Alaena, me, & Sarah

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter widget below. This contest is open to both US and international entries, though the winner may receive an unsigned copy if a non-US resident is chosen. The contest will run through Tuesday March 15, 2016. May the odds be ever in your favor! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Additional reviews of "The Healing Kitchen"

• Alex at “Don’t Eat the Spatula:” Review + Crispy Salmon Hash preview recipe 
• Ali at “Freethought Farm:” Review + Coconut Crusted Chicken Tenders with Pineapple Dipping Sauce preview recipe  
• Bethany at "Adventures in Partaking: Review
• Eileen at “Phoenix Helix:” Review + Coconut-Crusted Chicken Tenders with Pineapple Dipping Sauce preview recipe
• Gabriella at “Beyond the Bite:” Review  
• Joanna at “Joanna Frankham Coaching:” Review + Bacon-Wrapped Apple & Cinnamon Sausage review recipe 
• Kat at “The Primordial Table:” Review + Spicy African Kale preview recipe  
• Kate at “Healing Family Eats:” Q&A with Alaena Haber + Chicken Pesto Pizza preview recipe 
• Rory at “The Paleo PI:” Review + INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY (runs through Friday March 11th) 
• Sophie at “A Squirrel in the Kitchen:’ Review + Toasted Coconut Cream Pops preview recipe 

Full disclosure: I did receive a complementary review copy of this cookbook, as well as a giveaway copy. However, I loved the recipes SO much that I purchased a copy for my parents :) I would never recommend any resource that I didn't stand behind 100%. 

This recipe is included in the Phoenix Helix Paleo AIP Recipe Roundtable #111

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Hot Cocoa Mix (Dairy-free, Paleo, Vegan, AIP Adaptation)

We’re getting ready to go on a winter vacation with my parents and siblings right before Christmas. While I don’t ski, I’m looking forward to doing lots of other winter-y activities, especially since winter isn’t really winter in Texas. With winter activities, like skiing and ice skating and tubing etc, comes a craving for hot cocoa (or hot carob, if you’re on the autoimmune protocol and haven’t yet reintroduced chocolate).

I’ve found plenty of recipes for paleo hot cocoa, and I myself even developed both a Paleo Fudge Sauce and AIP Carob Sauce last summer that would be excellent stirred into hot coconut milk. However, the downfalls to these recipes is that they either 1) require lots more preparation time and/or 2) they require liquid ingredients that are a challenge to transport, especially when one is traveling on an airplane with liquid restrictions.

Recently I saw a post on social media about powdered coconut milk that was free from non-paleo/non AIP ingredients. I went on Amazon and ordered it immediately. Having powdered coconut milk meant that I could make a dry hot cocoa mix that should not only travel easily but also could then be mixed into hot cocoa with only the addition of hot water! Hurray!

I’ve reintroduced chocolate and cacao successfully, but I do still remember those days when I first began AIP and again when I did my AIP reset this summer when chocolate products were off the table. While roasted carob doesn’t taste *quite* the same as chocolate, I do think it’s better than nothing at all :) Luckily, it substitutes just great in this recipe so you can make it with either cacao or carob, depending on where you are on your health journey.

I developed this mix specifically to be mixed with water, but if you really want to make it even more luxurious, use it with hot coconut milk. Another way to make it even more special would be to add an AIP marshmallow--I know both The Urban Poser and Eat Heal Thrive have marshmallow recipes. I’ll probably skip the marshmallows with the hot cocoa because that’s a bit too much sugar for me, even if the sugar is technically compliant. I’m just happy to sip my hot cocoa on it’s own :)

For ease of transport, I’ll probably store the hot cocoa mix in plastic ziplock bags, but transferring the mix in a pretty jar and adding a little ribbon would make a really great, easy Christmas gift for someone who is Paleo, vegan, or simply avoiding dairy.

Hot Cocoa Mix (Dairy-free, Paleo, Vegan, AIP Adaptation)
Yields 8 servings 

40 g (1/2 c) Cacao Powder
48 g (6 Tbl) Powdered Coconut Milk
85 g (1/3 c) Maple Sugar (or other granulated paleo sweetener, like sucanat, coconut sugar, evaporated cane juice etc.)
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Vanilla Bean Powder

1. Sift the cacao powder & coconut milk powder into a medium size bowl. (Yes, this is an occasion where sifting is necessary.)
2. Add the maple sugar, sea salt, and vanilla bean powder. Whisk to combine evenly. 
3. Transfer to an airtight container, such as a ziplock bag or small jars, for storage. 

AIP Adaptation

• Substitute 48 g (1/2 cup) Roasted Carob Powder for the Cacao Powder
• Increase the Vanilla Bean Powder to 1/2 tsp 

Hot Cocoa Assembly
Yields 1 serving

8 oz very hot water
20 g (scant 3 Tbl) Paleo (or AIP Adaptation) Hot Cocoa Mix

1. Heat the water in the microwave or on the stove until very hot. 
2. Mix in the hot cocoa mix & stir until very well combined. If the cocoa sits, it may begin to separate again, but simply stir it again to re-combine. 

Notes:

• For an even more luxurious beverage, use additive free coconut milk in lieu of water. 
• Mix with coffee (if successfully reintroduced) for a mocha. 
• Add in a dash of peppermint extract for a peppermint hot cocoa. 
• Add some cinnamon for a spiced hot cocoa. 

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Spiced Pumpkin Tea Latte (AIP, Paleo, Low FODMAP, Vegan)

Why yes, this recipe is the third “Pumpkin Spice”-type Beverage I’ve posted on the blog in the past three years. My food options have changed pretty dramatically, in these three years, but I still refuse to entirely give up my favorite things, including “Pumpkin Everything” in the fall ;) I simply have to adapt my favorites to fit in to my personal needs.  You can find last year’s Paleo Bulletproof Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe here and 2013’s homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe here.

I *may* have gone a bit crazy buying squash last week... :) 

This summer, I gave up coffee when I went back on the elimination phase of AIP. In lieu of coffee, I now drink tea bulletproof tea in the morning. Usually, I make myself a Matcha Jasmine Tea Latte, but once September hit, I began dreaming of a pumpkin spice beverage. Even if our temperatures are still in the 90s and it does not feel remotely like fall, I still wanted it to taste like fall :)

An interesting prospect of this year’s spiced pumpkin (tea) latte development is that I haven’t had a “proper” PSL in three years. Forgive me if you’re a PSL aficionado... You may not think this one tastes like the real deal, also because it relies on black tea instead of coffee. But for someone who can't have a "real" one, I think it's pretty amazing.

In addition to changing the base liquid from coffee to tea, I also played around with the spices. I found out earlier this year that I have a sensitivity to ginger & thus also needed to further adapt the AIP pumpkin pie spice blend I developed last year. Feel free to add a dash of ginger, if you so like, but I really don’t miss its flavor (and my inflammation levels thank me for not consuming it).

No matter if it feels like fall where you live or what dietary constraints you need to follow, I hope you’re able to enjoy a spiced pumpkin / pumpkin spice beverage & savor it’s delicious, spicy, autumn flavor.

Note: Pumpkin is high in FODMAPs if consumed in large quantities, but since this recipe only has two tablespoons of puree in the entire batch, it should be safe for most people. Monash University states that canned pumpkin is low in FODMAPs in quantities of 1/4 c (2.2 oz) or less. You could alternately substitute another roasted, pureed squash variety, such as Kabocha squash. 

Spiced Pumpkin Tea Latte

Yields one generous serving or two small servings

14 g (1 Tbl) Coconut Oil

8 fl oz (1 c) Brewed Black Tea (I use Choice Organic Classic Black Tea) 

2 fl oz (1/4 c) Coconut Milk (make sure it doesn't contain any additives) 

2 Tbl (20 g) Pasture-Raised Collagen, optional but will increase the protein & nutrient density of the beverage; omit if vegan 

9 to18 g (1-2 tsp) Organic Grade B Maple Syrup

1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/4 tsp Mace  (may sub nutmeg if not AIP)

1/8 tsp Ground Cloves

1/8 tsp Vanilla Bean Powder

pinch (1/16th tsp) Ground Turmeric

OR 1 tsp of my AIP Pumpkin Pie Spice 2.0 (recipe below) 

31 g (2 Tbl) Organic Pumpkin Puree

1. Begin by brewing the black tea, if it isn’t already made. 
2. Add the coconut oil to a high speed blender vessel (I use the smoothie cup from this model ) . Pour the hot black tea over the coconut oil. If necessary, reheat the tea, either on the stovetop or in the microwave. The tea needs to be hot enough to warm up the other ingredients. 
3. Add the remaining ingredients on top of the tea & coconut. 
4. Blend until frothy & well combined. 
5. Pour into one large mug or two small ones. Dust with a little additional spices, if desired. Serve immediately. 

AIP Pumpkin Pie Spice 2.0

8 g (4 tsp) Ground Cinnamon

4 g (2 tsp) Mace

2 g (1 tsp) Ground Cloves

3 g (1 tsp) Vanilla Bean Powder

1/2 tsp Ground Tumeric

1. Stir ingredients together.
2. Store in a spice jar. Use wherever you would use pumpkin pie spice. 

Matcha Jasmine Tea Latte (AIP, Paleo, Low FODMAP)

This matcha jasmine tea latte has been a delicious replacement for my morning cup of coffee, as I’m in the midst of an Autoimmune Protocol reset + other therapeutic measures.

Giving up coffee is often a stumbling block to those who embark on the Autoimmune Protocol. I know from experience that eliminating coffee isn’t easy, and I wouldn’t even say that I have a coffee (or caffeine) addiction. I simply love the flavor and ritual of having a cup in the morning. Another reason (warning: TMI) is my daily cup kept me “regular” better than any supplement I have yet tried. The first thing I reintroduced on AIP was coffee for that very reason: I was tired of constipation.

Back in May, still suffering from not optimal digestion, I was diagnosed with SIBO, which my functional medicine doctor and I believe to be a cause of my constipation. For those not familiar with SIBO, it stands for “Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth” and basically means that bacteria that normal lives in your large intestine (and is beneficial to your large intestine) has migrated into your small intestine where it does not belong and where it causes digestive abnormalities.

Because the first course of antibiotics were not as effective in eliminating the SIBO as my doctor and I hopped they’d be, I’m taking a more aggressive stance for this second round. Another stronger course of antibiotics. Specific supplementation. Incorporating lifestyle factors. Going back on strict AIP + incorporating a low FODMAP component as well.... Thankfully, none of those measures are meant to last forever, but still, it has been a tough couple of weeks, as the pool of foods compliant to both AIP and low FODMAP (plus some of my personal food intolerances) is quite small...

Going back to strict AIP meant I’d have to give up coffee once again. But the protocol my doctor recommended also suggested that I consume at least 2 cups of green tea each day, which helped fill some of the morning ritual void I thought I’d experience in giving up coffee again. I went through my tea stash, looking for which teas I had that would work on AIP and Low FODMAP, and I rediscovered a small tin of matcha. Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder that contains more health benefits & is more nutrient dense than drinking regular steeped. In my pre-paleo days, I loved ordering soy green tea lattes at coffee shops, but I hadn’t really made them at home.

I sought to recreate this former favorite & to craft it out of ingredients that were more healthful for me. I have a new morning ritual of boiling water on the stove, making a pot of jasmine green tea, blending some of the steeped tea with coconut oil, collagen, coconut milk, and a little scoop of matcha. I've included exact measurements in the recipe below, but most days, I just eyeball the ingredient amounts. There becomes almost a meditative component of making & enjoying this Matcha Jasmine Tea Latte daily. The beverage is warm & frothy & delicious & satisfying, with a lovely floral yet slightly grassy scent.

Matcha Jasmine Latte

Yields 1 serving

1 c / 8 oz filtered water, to make the jasmine tea

1 Organic Jasmine Green Tea bag

3 Tbl Coconut Milk

1 Tbl Coconut Oil

1 Tbl Collagen (optional, but it is a great aid for gut health and added protein to the beverage) 

3/4 tsp unsweetened Matcha

1. Bring the filtered water to just under a boil over high heat. Pour over the jasmine tea bag either in a small tea pot, or pyrex liquid measuring cup, or large mug. Cover and allow to steep 5 minutes. 
2. Measure 3/4 c (6 oz) of the brewed tea into a high speed blender (this is the one I use). Add the remaining ingredients & blend until frothy and well combined. 
3. Pour into a mug & enjoy! 

Notes:

• I prefer my green tea lattes unsweetened--they're more healthful. But if you’re new to AIP or a low sugar lifestyle, you could start by adding a little bit of raw honey or grade B maple syrup. Over time you reduce the amount of sweetener until you don’t need any at all. 
• This recipe would probably work with an immersion blender, if you don’t have a high speed blender. Simply whisking the ingredients together will not work because of the coconut oil. 
• Make sure to purchase a high quality Matcha for optimal flavor and health benefits. 

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