Recipe: Everything Free Beef Stroganoff

Yum
Trust me. It tastes amazing. Even the picky teenager liked it.

Beef Stroganoff over Zoodles

I've been craving beef stroganoff the way a pregnant woman craves pickles and ice cream. But, it doesn't fit my current dietary needs and is a trigger for every one of my daughter's food intolerances. And then I had a dream. I've been doing substitutions long enough that it finally came to me, just took a little longer than normal with everything going on lately.

Low-Carb, Lacto-Paleo, Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, Ketogenic Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

2tbsp Coconut oil
1.5 - 2lbs beef (top round sirloin works well)
3 cups mixed mushrooms
1 cup pearl onions
1 cup beef broth
garlic, sea salt and pepper to taste
1.5 cups lactose free sour cream
Zucchini Noodles or Gluten-Free Supergrain Pasta Shells

I don't tend to move things in and out of a pan, so this recipe skips all of those steps.

Directions:

1. Cut meat across the grain into bite-sized pieces
2.  Heat the coconut oil in a skillet
3. Add onions, mushrooms, garlic, salt and pepper and sautée until mushrooms are soft. Feel free to taste test to adjust seasonings
4. Add meat, cook until browned
5. Add broth
6. Add sour cream
7. Thicken with gluten-free corn starch if necessary.  Cover and turn heat down to low while you cook noodles according to package directions or make zoodles.

Serve stroganoff over noodles of choice or both if you want.

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Movie Review: Eddie the Eagle

I got a chance to see a pre-screening of Eddie the Eagle this past Wednesday and, of course, I jumped on it because .. Hugh Jackman and that kid from Kingsman.

This is one of those really uplifting stories that you will want to add to your video library. Eddie is one of the most determined individuals you will ever come across and depending on your mood, some scenes are quite emotional. Damn allergies. Other scenes will make you laugh and you'll come out feeling like "If he can do that, I better get off my ass and do something with my life." Especially since I love proving people wrong too. I will probably drag my daughter to see it later this month.

SYNOPSIS: Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story
about Michael “Eddie” Edwards (Taron Egerton), an unlikely but courageous
British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself – even as an
entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and
charismatic coach (played by Hugh Jackman), Eddie takes on the
establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by
making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter
Olympics. From producers of Kingsman: The Secret Service, Eddie the Eagle
stars Taron Egerton as Eddie, the loveable underdog with a never say die
attitude.
CAST: Taron Egerton, Christopher Walken, Hugh Jackman
RATED: Not Yet Rated

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Book Review: The Aeronaut's Windlass (The Cinder Spires, #1)

The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Bridget Tagwynn is my new (YA) hero. From the prologue, I honestly thought the book was going to be a coming of age story about Gwendolyn Lancaster -- a better entitled spoiled brat has never been written. In my eyes, she quickly became a secondary character to Bridget, Folly, and Grimm -- all of whom show more maturity and character development throughout the book.

Bridget steals the show, with a little help from Rowl. Though, if you know anything about cats, the entire story is all about Rowl. According to the book blurb, the story is supposed to be about "the grim captain" and his ship Predator, and I suppose that may become the case as the series unfolds, but this first book is definitely an introduction to the characters and war between the Spires.

To be honest, I'm picky about my steampunk and I wasn't sure what to expect from Butcher's foray into the genre. Much like Bujold, it doesn't matter which genre his books are classified into because the character development and storytelling keep you reading. There aren't too many characters nor locations to keep track of, and if you think of this as a YA book instead of one written for adults, you'll enjoy it much more.

I'm looking forward to the next book.



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Book Review: Whiskey Rebellion (An Addison Holmes Mystery, #1)

Whiskey Rebellion by Liliana Hart

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I felt like this book couldn't decide if it was a Harlequin bodice-ripper or an introduction to a new detective series character. At first, Addison Holmes seemed hilariously relatable, but I quickly got tired of hearing about her hair, makeup, and outfits when they didn't really further the story. As a reader, I know Murphy's Law exists, but c'mon! The extreme ridiculousness of some of the things that happened to Addison wouldn't be funny in a sitcom with a laugh track.

Her interactions with Nick weren't really believable considering the circumstances under which they met and his entrances and exits were more like dream sequences or wishful thinking. There was, at least, one continuity error/conversation when Addison is with Kate and Nick appears that really made no sense, it was like the scene was cut from something larger and the information to tie the scenes together was sent down the Well of Lost Plots.

There was very little character development and nothing to entice me to pick up the next book in the series, not even the teaser chapter at the end. Where are the strong, competent female detectives? Maybe the series should be more about Kate.



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Menu Plan Monday: Pineapple!

Cravings. I have them. 
I've also been traveling a lot and pineapple tastes a lot better than vitamin supplements. Gotta stave off those germs from people who don't know how to cover when they cough and sneeze.

Monday: Chicken and Pineapple pizza (ordered out). It was a long day.

Tuesday: Caribbean Chicken with Pineapple-Black Bean Sauce. I haven't decided if I'll eat as is or try to find some cauliflower to rice.

Caribbean Chicken with Pineapple-Black Bean Sauce

Wednesday: Jerk Chicken and Pineapple Kabobs - modified to be more paleo-friendly with honey instead of sugar. But I have a huge jar of authentic Jamaican Jerk rub that needs to get used.

Thursday: Thai Chicken Mango Pineapple Salad. Green things are needed.

Mango Pineapple Salad

Friday: Pineapple Burgers

Pineapple Burgers

Leave a Comment Menu Plan Monday

Morning

Consciousness slowly arrives. The first thing is a body check, cataloging all of my aches and pains and deciding whether it's worth getting out of bed. And then the dog nudges me and the cat gets in my face, so it's not like I have any choice in the matter. They have needs and I am the caretaker.

Roll out of bed, decide on Tylenol or Advil with my coffee and get the day started.

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