Ry’s Paleo Tacos

Sometimes even cavemen need a little Mexican food. Don’t you think?

You will need:

1 head of organic lettuce (For the shells)

1 bag of shredded carrots (For the cheese)

1 pound of the leanest ground beef you can find (Grass-fed if possible)

1/4 cup red peppers (or green peppers or whatever type of pepper you want)

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 medium sized tomato, peeled and chopped

1/4-1/2 cup chopped mushrooms

1 Tbsp of paprika*

1 Tbsp of chili powder*

1 Tbsp of cumin*

In place of starred spices you may also use a regular taco season packet. Keep in mind these packets are full of sodium; even the low sodium ones.

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1/2 cup of water

Now–get cooking!

In your favorite pan heat 1 tsp of olive oil on medium heat. Toss in veggies and ground beef.

Cook ground beef and veggies approximately 7 minutes. (Or until done.)

Mix paprika, chili powder and cumin in 1/2 cup of water and add to meat and veggie mixture.

Cook uncovered for about 5 more minutes.

Remove shell sized leaves from the head of lettuce. Arrange on a plate and add desired amount of filling. Add carrots to simulate cheese.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

The great thing about this recipe is you can add more or less of what you like. Good luck!

Gramps — A remembrance of sorts.

“They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” –Anne Lamott

It’s funny how six years can go by in the blink of an eye and how time marches on even when you think you can’t…and then you do anyway, whether you wanted to or not. Gramps was perfect in my eyes; a sparkle of a personality with a smooth, comforting drawl and a hat cocked slightly to the side. His hair was thin at the top, thick on the sides and a distinguished steel gray. His handshake was firm and full of energy and his smile still shows up in my dreams sometimes, although not quite often enough for my liking. I miss his knee-slapping laugh and his witty, sometimes inappropriate, humor.

He was always ready for a new adventure and I desperately hope he gets to have them still. I’m sure watching from afar as his family works out the stumbling blocks of life is adventure enough. I never feel completely alone because he’s still here in a lot of ways. He’s here in the smell of fresh cut grass. He’s here in piles of wood shavings and the glint of chrome zooming down the highway. I feel him when I touch a deck of cards and when I grab a banana in the morning. You see, my bananas always hang from a banana tree he made. He could make anything.

I don’t like to think of the day he left this world. The day the world got a little darker. The day friends had to tell me the terrible news. The day when I truly had to learn about loss. The day when my heart broke.

I like to think about the happy times–being holed up in a snowstorm with him, my grandma, brother and sister. Grandma and Gramps taught us how to play pitch. We played for hours. It’s one of my most favorite memories. I like to remember learning to drive down old country roads and listening to Roy D. Mercer in his blue truck. I’d give anything to take another ride in that truck. Anything.

Rumi says, “Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” I often wonder what he’d come back as. I’m sure we could talk and laugh for hours about the possibilities. A dog. A cat. A bug. I don’t think he’d be any of those things. I’d like to think of him as a hummingbird buzzing about; confidently flying backwards and forwards and vanishing as quickly as he had come. He’ll be back, sooner or later.

Matt Nathanson featuring Rachel Platten at The Blue Note

There’s something about a live performance that completely and utterly energizes my soul. The anticipation as you wait for the opening line and the generous applause gives me goosebumps every time. Matt Nathanson never disappoints. Thanks for introducing me to a new favorite, Rachel Platten. Work of Art. Beware the Ides of March. It was a good day.

Erica waiting in line to enter The Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri.

This was my third time seeing Matt Nathanson in concert and it certainly won’t be my last. My good buddy Erica drove in for the show. It’s always great to see old friends. Ren, Chris and Beau caught up with us before the show started and of course it was excellent. I always have a great time at The Blue Note, the perfect venue for an intimate show.

Rachel Platten opening for Matt Nathanson. Man, she's great; a total "Work of Art".

Rachel’s song, Work of Art can be heard on ABC Family’s new original series, Jane By Design. You can’t help but smile when she is singing; especially during her rockin’ rendition of Snoop’s Gin & Juice. 

and Matt takes the stage.

Matt brings a special energy to all of his shows. You can’t help moving to the beat. It’s hard to pick a favorite with so many great tunes to choose from.

Mercy

Everything's better down where it's wetter...Bottom of the Sea

Erica really liked his hat.

Come on get higher.

It was a great concert with great friends. Alas, what’s better than that? Check out more photos here; including a group shot of some really good looking people.

[Ry Murray © All Rights Reserved]