Showing posts with label Turmeric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turmeric. Show all posts

Monday, 9 June 2014

Slow Cooker Tangy Pineapple Shredded Beef


Summertime is quickly approaching! 

I love my slow cooker!  It's so helpful being able to throw something together in the morning or around lunch time and have it be ready for dinner.  Plus, as the summer heats up, I don't want to use the oven much.  Using the slow cooker is so convenient + it doesn't heat up the house! 

Warmer weather makes me crave shredded beef with LOTS of homemade BBQ sauce + yummy tacos made by my husband {he makes the best, authentic tacos with shredded meat}.  

My shredded beef recipe is so easy to make + takes very little prep time.  You won't find any processed ingredients in this recipe either ... no refined sugars or ketchup!   



SLOW COOKER TANGY PINEAPPLE SHREDDED BEEF

Sweet + savory, this tangy pineapple shredded beef will be the star attraction of many meals. 

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EQUIPMENT: Cutting Board, Sharp Quality Chef's Knife, Blender, Large Saucepan, Wooden SpatulaSlow Cooker 

INGREDIENTS 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wash the outside of the pineapple - I like to wash mine in a vinegar-water solution.  Using a sharp chef's knife, lay the pineapple on its side and cut off the top and bottom of the fruit.  Stand the pineapple upright and cut off the outer tough skin of the pineapple.  Slice the pineapple in half.  Slice the pineapple into quarters.  Remove the inner core from the slices and cut pineapple slices into chunks.

2. Add pineapple, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, maple syrup or honey, garlic, thyme, turmeric + sea salt to a blender.  Blend until pureed and no pineapple chunks remain.  If needed, add 1 cup water to blender.  Set aside.  

3. Melt fat of choice in large saucepan over medium-high heat, about 1 minute until the pan is hot.  Add chuck roast to the pan and sear on each side until browned, about 3 to 5 minutes per side.  

4. Remove the chuck roast from the saucepan and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Leave the saucepan on the heat and add about 1 cup of the pineapple mixture to deglaze.  Use a wooden spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan {there's a lot of good flavor in the browned bits}.  Pour the pan sauce over the chuck roast.  Add the 1 cup of water if you did not add it to the pineapple mixture in the blender.  The meat should be almost covered by the liquid.  Add optional strip of astragals root + kombu to the liquid.   


5. Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 5 to 6 hours {or on low for 7-8 hours}, until beef is tender and pulls apart easily. 

6. Place chuck roast on a cutting board and shred with two forks or use a quality kitchen knife and cut in a rustic chop, shredding beef while cutting.  

7. Serve with reduced tangy pineapple sauce + your favorite toppings!


Yield: 3 pounds of shredded beef. 


Serving Suggestions: The meat makes amazing tacos {especially when topped with fresh slaw or fresh salsa, cilantro + lime}, sandwiches + wraps.  It's delicious paired with mashed potatoes, celery root mash or sweet potatoes.  Super yummy with roasted veggies, a simple side salad or homemade slaw.  So good with homemade potato salad too!  

*Note: If you can't find coconut aminos, you can substitute with gluten free tamari.  

Storage: Store shredded meat in the pineapple liquid; place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.  Keeps well for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.  


Make a Tangy Pineapple Sauce: Add leftover pineapple-beef cooking liquid to a medium-size sauce pan.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until sauce thickens and reduces in volume.   

ENJOY SLOW COOKER TANGY PINEAPPLE SHREDDED BEEF WITH ...

Real Food Potato Salad by Raising Generation Nourished  
Classic Mashed Potatoes by Live Simply 
Roasted Broccoli w/ Meyer Lemon by Recipes to Nourish
Scalloped Potatoes by Food Your Body Will Thank You For  
Amazon links are affiliate links, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.

This post is shared at Real Food Wednesday @ Kelly the Kitchen Kop. 

Friday, 4 April 2014

Creamy Turmeric + Ginger Tea {Dairy-Free Option}


A while back one of my Facebook readers shared that her favorite warming drink in the morning is this Creamy Turmeric Tea {that she found on Mark's Daily Apple}.  I had been drinking lots of my Honey-Sweetened Hot Chocolate in the mornings with a bunch of cinnamon and ginger + adding butter {or ghee} and copious amounts of coconut oil to it.  Now, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my hot chocolate + it's extra delicious with cinnamon, ginger, butter and coconut oil ... but I figured I would check out the recipe my FB reader shared to change up my usual morning warming drink ... especially since everyone is talking about the health benefits of TURMERIC these days.

Since I wanted to make this drink extra nourishing, I changed it up a bit by adding pasture butter + coconut oil*.  I love pasture butter for it's omega 3 fatty acids + CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) ... who am I kidding, I love it because it tastes so good and makes me feel good!  But, I also love it because it's a nourishing fat and helps the body absorb minerals + it's a good source of vitamin D, E and K.  Coconut oil is wonderful for so many reasons too ... I love it because it's high in lauric acid {which is also found in amazing liquid gold a.k.a breastmilk} + it has immune-boosting properties, it's naturally anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal + helps fight of yeast.  And for all of my nursing mommy readers - coconut oil is SO good for you and your baby, it helps increase your lauric acid and can boost milk supply!  


And of course, I couldn't make this drink without cinnamon!  I LOVE cinnamon and it's warming properties, so I decided to add some.  Why not?  If you don't like cinnamon, just leave it out.  


CREAMY TURMERIC + GINGER TEA

This warming drink is full of nourishing, immune-boosting ingredients.  Enjoy a cup with someone you love. {Recipe adapted from Mark's Daily Apple}.

Equipment: Medium-Size Sauce Pan, Blender or Whisk

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  • 1 cup raw milk {See Resources}, coconut milk or almond milk
  • 1 cup coconut water {I like this + this} or filtered water
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger {I buy mine here}
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric {I buy mine here}
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon {I buy mine here}
  • 1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper {I buy mine here}
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon local raw honey or Manuka honey 
  • 1-2 tablespoons pasture butter or ghee {optional, See Resources}
  • 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil {optional}

1. Place all ingredients into a medium-size sauce pan.  Slowly warm over medium-low heat for about 5-7 minutes {heat to your desired temperature}.  If you are using coconut milk, make sure you do not boil it, it tends to become thick and unpalatable when boiled.  If you're using raw milk, you'll want to heat over a lower heat so you do not destroy the beneficial properties.     

2. If you are adding butter or coconut oil: Place tea into blender and blend for about 10-12 seconds, until the fats are fully incorporated and emulsified.  [Note: Use CAUTION when using the blender, the tea/liquid is very hot and increases in volume when blending.  Make sure to hold the lid on tight while blending or the hot air and liquid can escape making the lid pop off the blender.]

3. Serve hot.  Enjoy immediately. 

Yield: Makes 2 servings

Where Do I Find Bulk Spices + Herbs? My favorite source for bulk spices and herbs is Mountain Rose Herbs. They have a wonderful selection of organic spices and herbs at great prices.  

OTHER WARMING DRINKS TO ENJOY:


*For more info on why Pasture Butter is nourishing and good for us, click here.

*For more info on why Coconut Oil is nourishing and good for us, click here.   


Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only.  I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner.  This information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner. 

Amazon and Mountain Rose Herbs links are affiliate links, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.

This post is shared at: Pennywise Platter Thursday @ The Nourishing Gourmet.