Michigan Highlights: Part 2

One night, my family decided to order pizza for dinner. My mom had some canned salmon in the cupboard, so I took it upon myself to make Balanced Bites’s salmon cakes since I don’t eat pizza. I couldn’t find any fresh chives at the grocery store, so I subbed dried dill instead. These salmon cakes turned out fantastic and I enjoyed them on top of sautéed kale with a side of sliced cucumbers.

Another pic of Jesse hula hooping at my parent’s surprise (early) 35th anniversary party. Isn’t he so handsome?

Homemade grain-free zucchini bread, recipe courtesy of The Primal Home. After reading the reviews, I decided to use one less egg than the recipe called for. I also used organic butter instead of coconut oil because I didn’t have any coconut oil at my parent’s house. Total baking time ended up being about 50-55 minutes rather than 40. This bread turned out fantastic and SO moist. I will be making it again soon!

Zucchini bread slices with organic butter spread on top. So.Damn.Good.

Mom and dad cutting the cake at their anniversary party. The peach color of the cake was reminiscent of one of their main wedding colors.

Dinner with my parents one night at home: grilled turkey burgers and chicken drumsticks, grilled sweet onions (in the foil), steamed broccoli and carrots (in the pot on left), fresh pineapple and Michigan blueberries.

Walking Gracie, my family’s 9-year old beagle. (Taken on iPhone)

Gorgeous red tomatoes from an Amish farm at the Alpena farmer’s market. (Taken on iPhone)

More goods at the farmer’s market. (Taken on iPhone)

Lunchtime treat: fresh peach slices with coconut butter drizzled on top. I’m so glad I packed some of my own coconut butter for reasons such as this.

First time ever making popovers. These suckers deflate fast and I guess I’ve never had a popover because I was shocked when I took off the wrapper to find it hollow inside. It’s basically just a muffin top. These were made with coconut flour and I used water in place of the coconut milk because I didn’t have any. Mine didn’t get as brown as they did in the recipe (courtesy of Comfy Belly), but they were still tasty. They tasted very egg-y and went well with the vegetable grass-fed beef soup my mom made. (Taken on iPhone)

One of the many times Jesse fell off of the tube. This is after his brother, Nick, already fell off.

I made a batch of coconut flour cookies, courtesy of Chocolate & Carrots (half with dark chocolate chips, half without since I can’t have any) on the day of our departure. They came in handy during our 4-hour car ride and flight back to PDX. Jesse ate up all the chocolate ones throughout the day. I still had several of the plain ones leftover when we got back. They’re extra delicious with coconut or sunflower butter spread on top! Note, I used water in place of almond milk because I didn’t have any made at my parent’s house. I also used organic butter in place of the coconut oil since I didn’t have any. This is why my cookies came out more yellow looking. Oh, I used 1/3 cup of honey instead of 1/2 cup of sugar too. These were soft, tasty and very moist.

A little chipmunk-like critter (but not a chipmunk) in my parent’s backyard.

Boys will be boys — Jesse and his brother, Nick, wrestling on the boat. (Taken on iPhone)