Zucchini Beef Saute with Guacamole

This is my default meal lately. I discovered it by throwing a bunch of leftovers in a pan with some mushrooms, and voilà--a new recipe is born! I love the way the flavors meld together, and the guacamole on top makes it rich and decadent. It is very simple. I take one zucchini and about 5 large mushrooms and dice them. Then I melt about 1 T. of pastured butter in my cast iron skillet and toss the vegetables in the pan with a touch of salt and pepper. I let it saute for 10 minutes (or longer even) on a low heat until the zucchini is cooked, and the mushrooms are nicely golden and then I toss in about 1/4 of a pound of previously cooked ground beef. I cover it and keep it on low for another 5 minutes or so, tossing and stirring the contents occasionally to meld the flavors. Then, I make the guacamole to top it off with.

For me, guacamole is very simple. I take one large ripe avocado, and mash it in a bowl with about a tablespoon of organic cultured sour cream. I add salt to taste, and that's it.

Very simple. This meal takes about 20 minutes, and it cost me about $3.64. Ground beef was on sale at QFC for $1.59/lb. Zucchini was on sale for 99 cents at Safeway, so the only regularly priced items were the butter, sour cream, mushrooms, and avocado--I buy mushrooms and avocados at Costco. (Avocados about 1.25 each for huge, nice avocados--Mushrooms about $2.40/lb.) I go to Trader Joe's for my grass-fed butter (Kerry Gold--$5.98/lb.) and my sour cream (Nancy's organic cultured sour cream--I think around $3).

I have eaten this same meal about 5 times in the last week. It is easy and quick, and after I walk home I want something easy and quick.

My walking is going well. I am taking today off, and haven't decided about tomorrow yet. My "schedule" is being disrupted this week a bit. M is coming home and bringing his mom for a few days. I'll probably make a pot of Tuscan bean soup over the weekend (not Paleo exactly, but really good traditional food, and I have a ham bone I have been saving for it...Soup is easy--I don't want to spend the whole weekend in the kitchen.)

Then of course there is Easter at my cousin's on Sunday which which be full of yummy food--including See's Candy "Scotchmallow" Easter eggs--which I love, crave and must have at least one of. But I am bringing roasted asparagus, and we are planning at least one good long walk this weekend--so it won't be a total write-off.

Next week I am going to up my walking to every day (I hope). I have to admit, the hills are killing me. By the time I get home, I am exhausted...(my glutes seriously hurt yesterday).

This week,, I am trying to take it easy on my ankle (did I mention I sprained it over my vacation, and the move?) Anyway, I have been cautious with my mileage because I'm still recovering, and I sort of pushed myself extra hard yesterday--so that by the time I got home, it was starting to hurt a bit (hence the day off). I'm waiting to see how it feels today before I decide if I am walking tomorrow. I may just put in a nice walk on Saturday, and skip Friday and Sunday.

I am excited that I am back into distance walking though. I like the feeling of accomplishment when I reach home in the early evening with my workout behind me, and the evening open to whatever I decide I want to do. And I truly love walking--it feels good, and it is so stress relieving!

OK, must go, work is calling me...