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My poor mom is hobbling around with a broken ankle, so I'm going to make my parents dinner this Saturday. My dad eats pretty low-carb and paleo-ish, and we'd love for mom to get on board- she just got put on cholesterol and BP meds, smokes, has early osteoporosis and looves her bread. She's receptive to a lot of the info I share with her, but is also pretty set in her ways!

My question is this- if you were planning to make a dinner and you wanted to show off how delicious paleo food can be, what would you make?

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Thanks everybody! Will definitely go with something "normal;" was thinking about doing a pot-pie type of thing, but the simplest stuff usually does turn out the best! – Jules K Jan 27 2011 at 0:11
Hi Jules - the other Jules here! Short ribs will not only make your house smell amazing, but it's a great way to have a hearty, meaty meal with a delicious sauce to serve over some mashed cauliflower/parsnips or the like to kind of go beyond what your mom might be used to. – Jules Jan 27 2011 at 19:53
Hey thanks Jules! They did have some nice-looking ones at BJs yesterday... – Jules K Jan 27 2011 at 20:05
If she smokes her life in in jepordy no matter how paleo she is. Focus on that instead? – tessagrey Mar 31 at 0:11
Well gladly, mom has not picked up a cigarette since the accident that caused her to have the broken ankle in the original post. We try to help where we can, and I can cook- when it comes to addictions though, there really is nothing at all I could have done about that. – Jules K May 1 at 18:55

5 Answers

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everyone loves a good roasted chicken!

here are some ideas to switch things up a bit

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Mmm great ideas! The one with oranges and onion looked awesome! – Jules K Jan 27 2011 at 0:09
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Nothing says "LOVE" better than the smell of a fatty, grass-fed chuck roast slowly cooking to perfection in the crock pot. Add your favorite Paleo veggies: garlic, onion, celery, carrot, turnip, parsnip, celery root, fennel root, etc.

Easy, delicious and normal! :)

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I heartily endorse this idea. Only wish I could also eat it. Like now! – wjones3044 Jan 26 2011 at 20:33
I have a big beautiful pot roast in the oven as we speak. Who doesn't love pot roast? – gone2croatan Jan 26 2011 at 21:38
Sadly cynarin, my husband HATES pot roast! He just doesn't like that cut of meat. It makes me sad. I should totally make one in the crock pot for my lunches. – sherpamelissa Jan 27 2011 at 1:22
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I would cook something delicious, but rather 'normal'. Just to show how easy it can be to eat paleo food. How easy it can be to make it delicious. And to show that it isn't about eating strange things.

Just no grains and legumes, no added sugars, and real fats. Depending on your parents health maybe rather low carb.

Now of course, 'normal' is very relative. You know you parents and their habits...

My choice would probably be some grass fed ribeye beef, fried in grass fed butter (lots) and some onions in the frying pan (onions are always great in butter), with something like broccoli, or fried parsnips, or even better, Belgian endives (hey, I'm from Belgium, you have to like them over here).

Good luck with it

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Fried parsnips are beyond amazing. The first time I had them it was a garnish to a fantastic fillet mignon- I ended up totally ignoring the fillet until I ran out of parsnip. :-) – WordVixen Jan 27 2011 at 8:27
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My advice is to roast a duck; it's delicious, impressive, a little bit unusual and also a great showcase for the yumminess of crispy fat. A simple rub of sweet, earthy, slightly aniseedy Chinese five spice goes wonderfully with the rich, gamey taste of the duck. This is out-of-this world delicious with sweet potatoes roasted in beef dripping and some ginger steamed pak choi. This is such a rich and satisfying meal, that I'm not sure a pudding is really necessary, but Paleo sweets that always go down well with the non-Paleo crowd are:

  1. Sugar free cheesecake made with a nut crust and sweetened with pureed berries. Strawberry works particularly well.
  2. Home made custard or low sugar-to sugar free ice-cream (the high fat content compensates for the lack of sweetness).
  3. Very dark chocolate mousse/chocolate pots.

Of course, you could always serve a cheese course instead; lots of good quality, local artisan cheese with some homemade flax or almond meal crackers.

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I love duck, and I've never understood why people refer to it as gamy at all. I've had rabbit and it is very gamy, but to me, duck isn't at all. The only thing about serving duck to others is that it's dark meat and some people won't eat dark meat at all. – Rock_Paper_Shirley Jan 26 2011 at 20:16
I suppose people (myself included) are unconsciously comparing it to chicken, which is the most ubiquitous (and bland) form of poultry. Gamey probably wan't quite the right word to use. I suppose "greater succulence and depth of flavour when compared to chicken" just doesn't have that same snappy ring to it? As for the dislike of dark meat, this in my experience seems to be dislike of fatty meat, which would be difficult to negotiate anyway on a Paleo diet. I'm interested in trying rabbit, but it's expensive, very lean and full of small bones. Also my Dad loathes it due to his youth. – Simibee Jan 26 2011 at 20:29
That's too funny- I made a roast duck with 5-spice and roasted sweet potatoes this past weekend! It was delicious, maybe I'll do it again! – Jules K Jan 27 2011 at 0:08
Hey, it's never too early for duck! (This is also what I tell the curious who observe me breakfasting on last night's leftovers.) Were you also inspired by Jamie Oliver's Christmas goose recipe? – Simibee Jan 27 2011 at 0:26
Nope, I'll have to look that up! Love me some Jamie Oliver :) – Jules K Jan 27 2011 at 20:06
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There are SO MANY good recipes. I would make the following:

Shepherd's Pie: http://www.thewholekitchen.com/good-lord-shepherds-pie/

Dry Rub Steak: http://www.thewholekitchen.com/dry-rubbed-steak-with-fresh-avocado-salsa/

Braised Cabbage and Kielbasa: http://www.thewholekitchen.com/braised-cabbage-and-kielbasa/

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Those look great, nice site Hannah! – Jules K Nov 25 2011 at 14:49
Was just reading your "about" section- sounds like you and I used to have the same issues; glad you're doing better! Looking at your other recent answers on here- your recipes look great, but be cautious about promoting your blog here on Paleohacks, you may attract unwanted attention from our mods ;) – Jules K Nov 25 2011 at 15:03

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