Paleo Shrimp and Cauli-“Grits”
Getting in touch with my inner southern belle with this shrimp and faux-grits recipe! It’s impossible to resist the zesty spice of the crisp shrimp complimented by its bed of creamy garlic “grits’. A traditional breakfast dish in the south, you can make this for breakfast, lunch AND dinner! For an additional dimension of deliciousness, add some diced bacon on top…or inside and all around!
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ small onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 large head of cauliflower
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Dash of paprika
- Mix the paprika, salt, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, onion powder, cayenne, red pepper flakes and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Toss the seasoning with the shrimp in a medium bowl.
- Heat coconut oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat and sauté garlic and onions for 1 minute.
- Add the seasoned shrimp and sauté until the shrimp turn pink. Add lime juice.
- Chop the head of cauliflower into florets.
- Pulse florets in a food processor until the cauliflower is riced.
- Heat coconut oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat and saute garlic for 1 minute.
- Add riced cauliflower and stir to combine.
- Add the almond milk and garlic powder to the cauliflower.
- Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Add a dash of paprika on top for color!
- Top grits with shrimp and fresh cilantro and enjoy!
Grape tasting in Sonoma County
We took a little weekend getaway this weekend to beautiful Sonoma County for some wine tasting and R&R time! With more than 400 wineries, exquisite tasting rooms, jagged Pacific coastline, rushing Russian River and towering redwood forests, Sonoma is truly a wine lover’s dream.
All aboard Seaman Airlines
Touchdown in Sonoma
Our view of the Russian River from the balcony
We started our day of wine tasting at Williams Selyem Winery in Healdsburg’s Russian Rivery Valley. Tours and tastings are available to their Allocation List Members and their referred guests and joining a wine tasting here also entitles you to get on their mailing list (which ordinarily there is a waiting list for). The vineyard designates are extraordinary and it’s exciting to see how they vary and evolve from vintage to vintage. We took home a delicious 2013 Vista Verde Vineyard San Benito County Chenin Blanc, 2013 Unoaked Russian River Chardonnay and an amazing 2012 Block 10 Mass Selection Estate Russian River Pinot Noir. Yum!
Williams Selyem Winery in Healdsburg
The entrance at Williams Selyem Winery
Our first tasting of the day
Vineyards as far as the eyes can see
Our next stop was a beautiful tasting room looking out into the beautiful vineyards of Benovia Winery, a family-owned producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel wines in Santa Rosa off the beaten path. Benovia farms three estate vineyards, including the famous Cohn Vineyard, totaling 71 acres. We loved the pinots here!
Tasting overlooking the vineyards at Benovia Winery
After our tasting, we headed downstairs to a beautiful table outside among the grapes as our fearless driver Woodie brought us the most amazing sandwiches from Oliver’s Market in Santa Rosa that we enjoyed with (yet another) glass of fine pinot. I highly recommend the Calistoga Honey sandwich – Columbus maple honey ham with crisp bacon, fresh avocado, aged cheddar and honey mustard aioli toasted on a soft Dutch crunch roll…or create your own delicious monstrosity!
Fabulous “picnic” lunch from Oliver’s Market
The entrance to Lancaster Estate caves
With tummies full, we headed to the Lancaster Estate in Healdsburg. We were taken into the beautiful cooling wine caves for a tour and were set up with an exquisite private tasting in the cave. The wine was delicious (especially the cabs) as was the enchanting atmosphere we tasted in.
Tasting room in the cooling caves
Aging barrels
Albeit pricey, a Lancaster Estate wine guild membership also includes a 3 night stay at the 6,000 square foot Proprietor’s House on the property that is blessed with captivating views of vineyards and surrounding hillsides that was built by the owner of Lancaster Estate that sleeps 10 people comfortably.
Our last tasting for the day was at Christopher Creek Winery, a small family owned winery located in Healdsburg. To be honest, by this point all the wines we were tasting were starting to all blend together but I sure enjoyed having my wine sitting poolside overlooking their rolling vineyards and creeks!
Last stop…Christopher Creek Winery
The final (and by far the most special) part of the day was stopping at Cooper’s Vineyard at J’s Winery to remember J’s beloved late winemaker Paul Cooper!
Remembering Paul Cooper in Cooper Vineyard at J Winery
Woodie got us back to our Russian River cabin safely to finish off the night with some more wine and gourmet pizza. Perfection!
Heading home tuckered out and full of wine (literally)
About Me
Hi, I'm the paleo panda! Join me on my journey for better and greater in eating, traveling and living. This is a collection of my life’s “musts”.
