Gallardo - Bare Root Mornings: 50 Paleo Breakfast & Brunch Recipes for the Modern Food Lover

BareRootGirl.com and the Bare Root cookbooks are an endeavor to unite the modern food lover in me with my passion for Primal .

My story began in 2007 when I spent 6 months living outside the US for the first time. I taught English at a bilingual school in a rural town high in the mountains of Honduras. It was a true adventure, both excitingly refreshing and just a little dangerous--to my health, that is.

The effect on my health was significant. Thanks to a bout of gastroenteritis that occurred from eating contaminated food, I came home with a parasite infection and a host of accompanying issues due to the poor sanitation where I lived. Prior to the trip, Id considered myself a pretty healthy person. But I was not (yet) armed with the knowledge I needed to get back to full health. Severe digestive distress, chronic fatigue, joint pain akin to a 65-yo woman, insomnia, and erratic hormonal behavior are just some of the symptoms that plagued me daily. I saw a number of doctors that couldnt help, and either prescribed antibiotics or told me flat out that food wouldnt help me heal so it didnt matter what I ate.

My awareness of the Paleo/Primal lifestyle came about slowly. An avid cook from a young age, I felt it was far too limiting to let my passion for good food flourish. So I brushed it aside. But through years of struggle -- with a worsening of my symptoms, chronic ovarian cysts, and a miscarriage under my belt -- I learned that a generalized whole foods diet with a moderation in everything approach was not going to provide me healing.

In February 2014, an exploratory laparoscopy involved the removal of a large benign mass near my left ovary and a diagnosis of endometriosis. Recovery was rough and led to a large amount of self-reflection. I came to the conclusion that no piece of bread or bowl of pasta was worth this suffering and I plunged headfirst into a strict Paleo diet.

The approach Ive taken to Paleo is about replacing nutrient poor foods with nutrient dense foods. For me, its not about subscribing religiously to a Paleo dogma or creating lists of ok and not ok foods. Its about eliminating foods that current research tells us are harmful and incorporating foods that our bodies respond well to.

Nearly 8 years after that initial infection in Honduras, I can finally say that I am nearly symptom-free. Follow-up scans have showed ZERO ovarian cysts or regrowth of endometrial tissue. Filling my diet with nutrient-dense foods has allowed my body to finally begin to heal and to function as it was meant to.

I believe whole-heartedly that everyone can find a Paleo model that works and that it can cure many of the ailments plaguing our society today.

Introduction to Bare Root Mornings

I started BareRootGirl.com to challenge myself to create recipes that were not just delicious, but nutrient dense as well. The positive response I received motivated me to begin a collection of cookbooks -- available in both e-copy and paperback -- that will serve as inspiration for others to unite a Paleo/Primal diet with modern fine food eating. Bare Root Mornings is the second book in this series.

Quality ingredients promote maximum flavor in every recipe included here. Everything from investigating the proper handling of raw ingredients to the precisely lowest amount of sweetener a recipe needs to be appealing were given a great deal of consideration. And because food is truly lovely, I tried to let the finished products shine in their natural beauty with a picture for every single recipe.

Knowing that many people who will use this book are dealing with food allergies or intolerances, Ive made an effort to include recipes that can be made egg-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. And aside from the recipes found in the Sweet Starts section (which are great for special occasions or a relaxing weekend brunch), most are very low-glycemic.

The approach Ive taken with these recipes reflects back to my personal approach to the lifestyle, which is focusing on the nutrient density of the ingredients. Though not noted specifically throughout the book, I highly recommend sourcing organic produce, pastured meat and eggs, wild-caught fish, and soy-free, non-GMO ingredients whenever possible.

I feel strongly that the selection of recipes here in Bare Root Mornings provides the foundation for a nutritious, healing diet. All recipes are 100% my original creations. And as many of them took quite a number of attempts to perfect, Im pretty excited for you to try them.

Are you on Instagram? Tag your photos #barerootmornings to show off your recreations!

Put An Egg On It

(or leave it off!)

Korean Bulgogi Bowl

A teriyaki bowl is within your Paleo-eating reach! Sweet pear marinade tenderizes the meat and allows for a dark caramelization. An easy homemade teriyaki sauce spices up your every day cauli-rice.

Yields: 4 bowls

Bulgogi Beef

1 lb. sirloin, denver, or ribeye steak, sliced thin

1 pear, cored and roughly chopped

3 Tbsp. avocado oil

2 Tbsp. coconut aminos

3 garlic cloves

2 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger

1 tsp. sea salt

tsp. black pepper

Teriyaki Cauli-rice

2 small heads cauliflower

2 Tbsp. avocado oil

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin sesame oil