My family put up with a lot from me; I am not a great cook. Plus, I have a taste for burnt food that my family don’t particularly share. They have been stoic, in the main. 🙂

I left home at eighteen barely knowing how to boil an egg and seventeen years later I got married with just a single signature dish to my name – a lasagne I haven’t made in ages now. 🙁 My husband did all the cooking.

When the kids came along, I dabbled a bit but was pretty quick to rely on favorites from my own childhood – fish sticks, bread sticks and little sausages that came in tins. (You have no idea how mortified I am to write that.)

But then my son waved his white flag. He needed something different. So I got out the cookbooks and made a start. I’m still no gourmet but after six years, I’m doing better. And I’ve collected some paleo recipes that are staples in our house and that I thought I’d share for those of us a little challenged in the kitchen or for those who would like a few more ideas.

Hold on to your hollyhocks, here we go!

Paleo Recipe#1. Crockpot Pulled Pork

When I first bought my crockpot, I asked the readers of one of my other blogs for their favorite paleo dish. I wanted to try it as my inaugural crock pot dinner. This one from Civilized Caveman Cooking got the most votes. Once I’d got past my disbelief that it only needed a quarter cup of water (still amazes me) I was converted for life and haven’t looked back. This also became the meal I made for my first paleo dinner party (for a couple of seriously non-paleos!) And it couldn’t be easier.

Paleo Recipe #2: Blueberry Espresso Brownies

This is another of Civilized Caveman’s concoctions. I found this recipe when in an interview, George, the man behind Civilized Caveman, said it was the recipe most requested by family and friends. Recently, I took a double-batch to a potluck, blinked, and they’d gone.

Paleo Recipe #3: Giant Stuffed Mushrooms

I have to be really careful with this recipe. I just eat and eat and eat it. It is requested on a weekly basis by my family. The boys are not so keen on portobello mushrooms so rather than pile the sausage mixture on top of the mushrooms, I pop them in the food processor along with all the other ingredients during the chopping sequence. It works just fine and it’s a great recipe to hide all types of veggies, not just mushrooms. Often I’ll use cheaper mushrooms instead of the more expensive portobello ones. You can also find this recipe in Sarah Fragoso’s Everyday Paleo book.

Paleo Recipe #4: Primal Pot Roast

I’ve always had a bit of a hard time making beef in the crock pot. Mine always tends to come out dry and bland. This beef dish was a winner though. Although the recipe doesn’t call for crock pot cooking, that’s the way I make it and it always turns out great! This recipe comes from The Primal Blueprint Cookbook.

Paleo Recipe #5: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Raw Vegan Cashew Cheesecake Pie

It is my family’s assigned responsibility to take pie to our extended family’s Thanksgiving Dinner (yeah, I know, I know) and last year I was determined to have something I could eat. I made this, shared it around (rather generously, I thought :-)) and it got more compliments than the others put together! I used warmed strawberries for the topping.

Paleo Recipe #6: Spice-It-Up Salmon

I love salmon because it is so quick and easy, not to mention good for you. This recipe includes a delicious paste made from ginger, olive oil, spices and garlic. Make sure you get the quantities just right for the best tasting sauce. This recipe is from Everyday Paleo.

Paleo Recipe #7: Mint Dark Chocolate Chocolate Ice Cream

When I held my first paleo dinner party, I put a call out for a good, easy paleo ice cream. I’d never made ice cream before, paleo or otherwise, nor do I have an ice cream maker so I didn’t have high expectations. The recipe I finally chose was this one from Cavegirl Cuisine and it was great. I’ve made it several times since.

Paleo Recipe #8: Chicken Pot Pie

I grew up eating pies, mostly steak and kidney pies, and love them. Then I moved to America and discovered the delicious chicken pot pie and fell in love all over again.  When I started paleo, I’d reconciled myself to the fact I wasn’t going be able to eat them again. That is until I found Orleatha’s site. I tried her pot pies and they were awesome, the crust (my favorite part) especially. I am not clever with crusts and couldn’t get it big enough to cover a large pie dish without breaking so I make them as individual pies in ramekin dishes.

Paleo Recipe #9: Garlic Coconut Shrimp

Do yourself a favor – make this recipe. I do the quick and easy alternative and it’s so ridiculously easy it’s, well, ridiculous. Throw the ingredients into a pan and stir for a few minutes. I add lemon juice. It’s from Autoimmune, Paleo and YOU…

Serves 4
20 frozen jumbo shrimp
Fresh garlic (to taste)
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
Coconut oil

In a bowl melt the coconut oil, add fresh grated garlic and toss shrimp until completely covered. Put coconut flakes on plate or pan and bread both sides of the shrimp. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 deg for about 20 minutes or until shrimp is pink and cooked through.

Quick and easy alternative: In a frying pan add coconut oil, garlic and shrimp, toss until pink. Add in shredded coconut, toss well, cook until coconut is lightly golden brown, serve and enjoy.

Paleo Recipe #10: Beef Burgundy

Aaah, I left my favorite for last. I love this dish. I could eat it all the time. You’ll find it in The Primal Blueprint Cookbook but here is a link to the recipe on Marks Daily Apple.

Do you have a favorite primal/paleo recipe? Please tell us in the comments and maybe leave a link to it so we can all enjoy!

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Are you struggling to sustain a paleo lifestyle change? Or not sure how to start? Or perhaps those around you are resistant and you’re feeling undermined and unsure. The Modern, No-Nonsense Guide to Paleo provides practical tools to ease the transition to a full-on paleo life. Each chapter includes strategies, tips and checklists to identify the actions to power you on your paleo journey and create sustainable change. Buy it at Amazon.com.

Written by Alison Golden

Alison Golden writes on the topic of paleo over at Paleo/NonPaleo. She aims to share ideas, inspire and motivate readers by teaching them how to live paleo in a non-paleo world. She is also the author of the bestselling book, The Modern, No-Nonsense Guide to Paleo, a unique tool that gives the reader hundreds of strategies to navigate the learning process to successful paleo living.