Backyard Cookout

Its that time of year again, middle of the summer and backyard cookouts are on everyone's calendar. I, personally love cookouts, any opportunity to have friends over and grill out and just relax I am down! I have come up with a couple recipes to mimic those you may be familiar with from your childhood but with a healthy twist. First course is a Grilled Caesar Salad with Shaved Parmesan and Toasted Almonds, I don't know whose idea it was to grill romaine lettuce but it adds a really great smoky flavor to the salad, the almonds replace the croutons and be sure to get some good quality Parmesan Cheese (the block kind not the kind that comes in the green can). And the star of any cookout, Hamburgers but I've added a Paleo twist the typical vehicle in which to eat your burger, Sweet Potato Bun. I also made a dessert from Primal Palate, Chocolate Cupcakes with "Reese's" Sunbutter Frosting.

These are so good and really do taste just like p-nut butter!

Grilled Caesar Salad
Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 heads of Romaine Lettuce (cut in half lengthwise)
1/2 cups sliced almonds
block of Parmesan Cheese
Caesar Dressing from Primal Blueprint Healthy Sauces, Dressings and Toppings- I know its really simple to make dressings but I can not tell you how many times I have used this book for salad dressing recipes, they are super easy. I highly suggest if you get only one cookbook and then use my recipes for everything else, get this book. Salad dressings are one of the most unhealthy things about salads and this just makes it so easy to enjoy healthy versions of your favorite dressing.

Preparation:
Place the romaine halves on a hot grill for 2-3 mins each side, remove from grill. Put the almond slices on a dry skillet and toast on low heat about 5-8 mins stirring frequently so not to burn them. You will know they are ready when they become fragrant.
Assemble grilled romaine on a plate, drizzle with Caesar dressing, sprinkle with toasted almonds and shave Parmesan cheese on top. First course is done!

Sweet Potato Buns

Ingredients:

2 Fat Sweet Potatoes- I like to use Japanese Sweet Potatoes because they are white on the inside so it gives you the look of a real bun. 

1 Tbsp. melted butter

Salt and Pepper to taste. 

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into rounds, use the fattest rounds for your buns and eat the rest as a side dish or cut into fries. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay the sweet potatoes out. Season with Salt and Pepper and our melted butter over top. Cook for 10 mins, take out of the oven, flip and put back in for another 10 mins. 

Hamburgers Sliders

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground grass-fed beef

1/2 tsp. salt 

1/2 tsp. pepper

Preparation:

In a large mixing bow mix beef and salt and pepper together, form 8 small patties and place on grill for 5 mins each side. Assemble burger on sweet potato bun. Optional add ons: sauteed onions, avocado slices, tomato, roasted garlic spread on burger, ketchup (recipe from Primal Blueprint SDT) or mustard. You could make some coleslaw or a fried or poached egg. Possibilities are endless so get creative! 

Its really simple to create a delicious healthy backyard cookout that everyone can enjoy! You can chose to add more seasoning to your burgers but I like to let the meat shine. 

And if you're missing and burgers you need to check the alibi of this guy.....

If you are enjoying these recipes, please leave a comment either on here or FB and don't forget to subscribe! And keep your eyes peeled (what does that even mean?)  for my new website coming to a computer near you soon!