Minty Melon, Fig and Prosciutto Salad

Hello!  I've been AWOL from The Beans Blog for some time.  Well, I use it all the time for recipes but I've haven't been posting as I've been busy trying to figure out what foods I can eat and trying a whole bunch of new recipes. I may share more details of my story later but for now I'll just mention that I've been eating according to the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) since April of 2017 and I have seen incredible improvements in my health.  AIP is an elimination diet (and lifestyle) where you focus on eating very nutrient dense foods while eliminating foods that have been found to trigger auto immune disease.  Once your specific symptoms subside, you start to re-introduce foods and watch for symptoms to return. I have done a few re-introductions but have decided to go back to the beginning (well, almost ... I'm keeping eggs!) for another month or two ... or three ... and then I'll start re-introductions again but much slower and much more documented.  In the meantime, I feel like I've got enough of a handle on what I'm eating that I can begin sharing some recipes. 

I got the inspiration for this recipe from Heather Christo's blog.  I changed it up just a little bit though to suit my family's tastes and to make it AIP compliant. 

I didn't worry too much about measurements ... I just kinda threw everything together.  You can use more or less of any of the ingredients listed. 

Ingredients:

Prosciutto (make sure the ingredients are just pork and salt if you are strict AIP) I use this one

Rockmelon - I used half of one, cut into thin wedges

Figs - I used three, chopped

Fresh mint leaves, chopped

Fresh basil leaves, chopped

Spring onions - I used four, chopped

Balsamic Vinegar (for AIP, I use Coconut Balsamic Vinegar ... this is the one I use)

Method:

Fry Prosciutto til crispy and set aside.  In same fry pan, add a bit of olive oil to prosciutto fat (if needed) and fry til starting to brown.  Set aside. 

Arrange fruit  on a platter or in a large bowl.  Top with spring onions and fresh herbs.  

Chop crispy prosciutto and add to fruit and herb arrangement.  Drizzle with Balsamic Vinegar.

Delicious!

I served this last night with eye fillet steaks that my husband grilled on the BBQ, sautéed zucchini slices sprinkled with garlic powder, sautéed mushrooms covered in fresh thyme and garlic chives, and onions ... again sautéed. We are big fans of the humble sauté. :) 

Pecan Pie Energy Balls

I got a Thermomix for Christmas. Having been diagnosed with high blood pressure last year, I have had to make a lot of dietary changes ... basically needing to make EVERYTHING (processed) from scratch. I kept thinking that a Thermomix would really help me do that! I was given the opportunity to borrow one from a friend for a few weeks to see they are really all that they are touted to be. They are ... and more! And now, one lives in my kitchen. I'm still learning how to use it to it's full capacity but I use it A LOT!

 

One thing I've been wanting to make is energy balls and when I saw a few recipes for Pecan Pie flavoured ones, I HAD to try them.  (I didn't use any one recipe but a  combination of a few.) I've made these a few times since!!  They are amazing.  Or should I say amazeballs? You know, since they are balls ... No?  Ok ... forget I said that.

Now ... you don't need a Thermomix to make these.  You could totally make them in a food processor. (You might want to do the nuts and dates separately and then add everything else?)

Thermomix measures in grams (right in the machine!!) so I'll put the measurements in grams ... sorry, you'll just have to grab out your kitchen scales!

350g pitted dates

65g rolled oats

30g pure maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract (I use my homemade vanilla)

1 tsp cinnamon

180g pecans

Chuck them all in the Thermomix together ... 12 seconds on speed 7. 

Roll them into balls.  

And that's it!!

Keep in fridge.  Not that they keep very long ... they get gobbled up pretty quick in this house!