Paleo Cauliflower Broccoli Mash and Ground Beef Bowl

Funny lookin' bowl of food eh?  Yep, sure is.  And you know what- who cares?  It's tasty, it's easy, it's chock full of veggies, and it is FAST!

I was rummaging through the freezer yesterday, trying to locate my frozen bags of cauli, when I

thought- ugh how boring, cauli mash again.  Why not switch things up a little and make a cauli/broccoli mash?  It will be bright green and a totally new flavor.  Sounds fun right?

This is not even a recipe.  You throw a bag of steam-in-the-bag cauliflower and a bag of broccoli in the microwave and then get your stick-blender and mash it all up in a bowl with butter and salt and you're dunzo.  Cook your ground meat and spoon it over the top and you are good to go!  Obviously this side would be totally appropriate for whatever protein you have on hand, but I thought this sounded appealing and it was already defrosted so there you go.

The best part is that leftovers are perfect for my twin one-year-olds.  This is a great meal for little eaters as it is soft and easy to chew.

So next time you are considering cauli mash for the hundredth time, swap in some broccoli for some green mash that will give you and your kiddos the giggles.

Paleo Broccoli Cucumber Salad

No photo.  Boo!  Bad GFG.  I made this quick salad for a friend's bbq- not really expecting too much of it.  Quite honestly, I used what I had in the house, which was just a handful of ingredients, but it turned out awesome!  This is a super easy and yummy salad for a cook out or bbq, or just a side for any old dinner.  I saw all kinds of recipes with cucumber and broccoli but most called for nuts, dried fruit, or cheese, and I wanted to make something I could eat, just in case there wasn't anything else I could have at the bbq.  I think that is such an important tip for staying grain/dairy/sugar/nut free when going to social events.  Bring something that you can eat so if there is absolutely nothing else, you know you have one thing to eat!

Broccoli Cucumber Salad
1 (organic) hot house cucumber
1 bag of broccoli, or a medium sized head of broccoli, NOT FROZEN
half a yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup mayo, homemade or your fave brand
1.5 T Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
Salt and pepper

Cut your broccoli into bite sized pieces and then toss in your chopped cucumber and chopped onion.  Add mayo, ACV, salt and pepper and refrigerate for a few hours.  I would recommend at least three or four.

Broccoli Bites

Have you ever bought a bag of frozen broccoli and been disappointed to find that most of the bag is actually chopped up stalks and not florets?  No?  Just me?  Ok.  Well, if it does ever happen to you- don't throw 'em out.  I was tempted to, because Princess S wouldn't dare eat them, but then I remembered we were fresh out of spinach muffins.  So how about some broccoli bites?  Toddler approved folks.  Totally portable, totally yummy, with some protein to boot.  These make a great snack or mini-breakfast too!  And thank goodness for that because there's snack time at our playgroup, and if I don't have something yummy for S to eat while her little friends are munching on sugar and gluten filled granola junk she will LOSE her MIND people.

Broccoli Bites
1 bag, or most of a bag of broccoli
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup shredded cheese
kosher salt

Defrost your broccoli and preheat your oven to 350.  Throw all your ingredients together and then portion into muffin cups.  I love my silicone muffin cups.  Bake 30 minutes or so.  This made 8 broccoli bites.  I know only 6 are pictured, that's because S and M each ate one before I could snap a pic.  That's ok with me!