Beef Rendang

Rendang short rib style

So since our Paleo workshop I have gotten many emails regarding the meat dish I brought.

The meat dish is a dish I grew up eating in Indonesia called Rendang. It is a slow stewed beef in a coconut milk based broth.

The prep time is about 20-30 minutes, and too really make the meat melt in your mouth you should cook it for at least an 1.5-2 hours. (A slow cooker would be perfect)

Ingredients:
3 cloves of garlic
10 red chili peppers
1 tbs fresh ginger grated
5 lemon grass
2 tsp coriander
2 tsp fennel
2 tsp cumin
pinch of nutmeg
1 tbs coconut oil (sub with olive oil)
1 1/4 lbs beef stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cups shredded coconut (toasted)
2 Onions diced
5 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 2/3 - 2 cups of coconut milk
1 cup water
salt to taste

Directions:

1. You can either toast your own coconut or by it prepackaged.
   
2. Using a blender or a food processor, blend the shallots, garlic, chilies, ginger, and lemon grass to a thick paste. Mix in the coriander, fennel, cumin and nutmeg.
3. Use half of the mix to marinate the cubed meat in the refrigerator while preparing the rest of dinner (15-30min).
4. In a deep cooking pan cook the onions until translucent then add the other half of the mix with the coconut, cloves, cinnamon stick, coconut milk , and water simmer for 5-10min.
   
5. Add marinated meat and bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer until most of the liquid has gone and the meat is tender (about 1 hour). Season with salt to taste.

Now my version is a slimmed down Paleo version of the original (no potatoes). If you get a chance and you want to try a more traditional version of the recipe check out this video series: Part 1 Part 2

Paleo or Zone or ...

Tuna melt and Grilled Cheese at Rooster Cafe

Paleo or Zone or __________ (fill in the blank with south beach, atkins, etc.).

In my experience (and I have had a lot with just about every "diet"), if you stick with one long enough, you will always see results. Now the kicker is what can you stick with for LIFE!

It's great to have a one month/two month/three month challenge, but what will be the definitive factor is what can you incorporate into your life so that it turns from a "DIET" to a lifestyle. When the day comes and you stop thinking "What do I have to eat in order to stay on my diet" and start thinking "where are we going for lunch", you've finally made it.

The second means you are no longer counting calories, but that you have taught your brain to subconsciously pick good choices of food that support your goals of maintaining a healthy body that is fit as H e double hockey sticks.

So what should you try? Try them all, not all schedules and life styles are created equal. If you have a uber hectic lifestyle where preparing meals is almost impossible (it isn't, but that's my 2 cents) then the Zone (measuring and weighing) might be asking a lot. But then again how bad you do want measurable results?

I say do what gets you back into the skinny jeans of old and makes you feel confident in yourself again! Take baby steps, lets work on quantity control first then move down the line to quality.

You can enjoy food and have a smashing body at the same time!

It has been awhile

Mocha from Rooster Cafe in Costa Mesa

A lot has happened since my last post and I'll get to that in due time but first.

This site has inched it's way up to a priority level 4, I think that makes it violet. What does this mean to you?

I will be updating the post multiple times a week if not daily on my adventures in cooking paleo/zone or some combination that I'll call "better then how I use to eat".

Plus I'll document my eating-out sessions with reviews of various restaurants in Orange County and greater Los Angeles area.

These posts will include recipes, videos, shopping lists, Reviews, DIY, and anything else that has to do with preparing, cooking, or eating food.

I do have splurge meals in my nutritional intake so be prepared for posts on those too.

Please feel free to ask questions in the comments, if there is something you would like to see or learn more about I'd be more then happy to provide it.

-Rob