Recipes for the *Other* Hardest Part of the Day

This weekend, E and I went to Nashville to visit some friends I hadn't seen in a while. We stopped in at a SuperTarget (*thought about never going back home) to prepare for the weekend by stocking up on some fruits, veggies, coconut milk, etc. Well, apparently, Paleo (or something very similar) is all the rage in the swanky music city, because every single shelf designated for a coconut or almond product was EMPTY. This was probably the first time Target has ever let me down, but it was a big one since I am pretty much living off of almond and coconut products right now.

Anyhow, I did manage to snag some great fruits and veggies, tuna canned in EVOO, and some Apple Pie Larabars (yum!) - all in all enough to make it through the weekend. And - with the exception of Saturday night which I determined was going to be my "cheat" meal, I made it 100% Paleo! Huge success for this newbie to the whole Paleo thang.

Speaking of Larabars, I want to offer a few tips for the "cookie monster" inside us all. Here's a few recipes and easy snacks that L and I are starting to go to when we have the munchies. Hopefully they will help you make it through those long afternoons at work or the late-night-I-must-have-a-Reeses-or-I'm-gonna-die moments. :)

-Larabars. Favorites of ours include Cherry Pie and Apple Pie for sure. Be careful that you don't pick ones that contain peanuts. A friend of mine made her own last week and they were rockin' awesome. She said she just "googled" larabar recipes, but here's one off of the Everyday Paleo website if you wanna give it a shot. If you are looking for them at Kroger, look near the Protein Bars in the Health Food section. For Walmart shoppers, they are hidden over near the supplements/protein bars in the Cosmetics/Nutritional Supplements section.
-Fried Plantains and Sweet Potato Fries. Fried Plantains are one of those hidden treasures. Buy them when they look really bruised, black and ugly if you are looking for a sweet snack, buy them green if you're looking for a chip-like substitute. Either way, follow Sarah's directions on her blog for slicing and frying them. For the sweet variation, sprinkle cinnamon on them after you pull them out of the pan. For the chip-like variation, add a little sea salt, fix up some guacamole and find a dark room in the house where you don't have to share with anyone. ;) Follow Sarah's directions to the letter for the sweet potato fries - her seasoning blend is a little spicy but oh-my-word delicious!
-Frozen Fruit Sorbet. No link for this one because it's my creation. :) Put frozen fruit (any kind) into a food processor and blend until smooth. Add a little water if necessary, but the more patient you can be, the less water you will have to add and you will end up with a very nice reward - a fruity, pasty sorbet that you will not want to stop eating. For those of you who have stumbled upon Coconut Manna (local Romans can find it at Purple Mountain), add a tbsp in with the fruit - the end result is something like yogurt chips mixed in with the fruit. Almond butter would be a nice addition (or substitution for the coconut manna) as well, I think.
-Smoothie: Process the following ingredients together in a blender and enjoy! (Makes enough for 2)

• 1 can Coconut Milk (Canned milk, not boxed - look for "Thai Kitchen" brand)
• 1 cup frozen fruit (any kind, we prefer berries)
• 2 tbsp nut butter or coconut manna
• 2 tbsp flax seeds
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 eggs (these are for extra protein - see Sarah's note here on using/consuming raw eggs)

Bon Appetit!