As bootcampers wrap up week 6 and prep for another weigh in, we prepare for Level 4. The marked difference between L4 and the previous levels is the decreased protein portion. For the next two weeks, meals and snacks may have 2-4 oz cooked protein (or 1 egg/2 egg whites). This is the time to fill in with veggies! On Level 4, I like to make soups because the meat in them stretches well. I don't know about you but I love to be able to sink into something warm and hearty this time of year when the chill is still on, and it just seems more filling somehow when a meal is hot! Today I'm very excited to give you a twist on a classic: a Paleo Shepherd's Pie. This recipe uses "riced" cauliflower as the topping instead of sweet potatoes and counts as a protein/veg dish. If you'd like to put mashed sweet potatoes on top, that would work for a protein/carb meal - consider doing a pan 1/2 cauli and 1/2 sweet potato, especially if you're the only Meltdowner in your household to kill two birds with one stone!

Once again, I have collected a few recipes and will share them with you. Those who don't like to think too much can do the recipe below as is; if you like to get more creative, consider the options below it! :)

Heat olive oil in a very large frying pan; Saute onion for 15 min until soft. Add bacon pieces to pan and sauté until cooked, ~10 min. Add carrots and celery to pan and sauté for 10 min until soft. Add ground meat to pan and sauté until brown, just a few min. Season with salt, pepper and smoked paprika (feel free to add other fave spices here). Add chicken broth and cook down broth until 60% evaporated. Place cauliflower in food processor and puree with olive oil (I just use broth to save on the fat!) until smooth. Pour ground meat mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread mashed cauliflower over mixture. Bake at 350° for 30 min. Pictures above show the filling, the whole baked pie, and a slice of the baked pie.

I have another recipe from www.newmansown.com website (as in Newman's Own Olive Oil & Vinegar dressing!) called "Veggie-Loaded Shepherd's Pie" which was similar but also used sliced mushrooms, shredded carrots and zucchini, and no-sugar-added tomato sauce (or the no-sugar-added Ragu). I tried this just last night myself and here's a pic of how it turned looked, half covered in cauliflower topping before baking:

 I kind of liked the tomatoiness to it so if that's your thing you might try adding in the sauce. The extra veggies are NEVER a bad thing and just help to further fill out the pie with less protein!

Remember, you could boil and mash a 2-serving sweet potato to cover half the mixture and make 2 protein/carb and 2 protein/veg servings! Lots of option! Tell me on FB how it turned out, how you tweaked it, etc. Feel free to post your own pics too! :)

Ok Meltdowners, that's it for this installment of "Friendly Feasting". I hope you enjoy this dish in all its varieties. Until next Friday, feast hearty, feast classically, and as always...FEAST ON!!!

~Coach Lauren