Breaded Pork Chops with Homemade Marinara & Cauliflower Rice ~ Gluten-Free & Paleo

I got these yummy recipes from a friend who brought this meal to our family about a month ago while we were out of our house due to an electrical fire in our attic.  Tonight was my first time to personally make this meal, but it most definitely will NOT be the last.

My friend is living a Primal/Paleo lifestyle and has helped me a lot as I have gone Gluten-Free.  She blogs over at Primal Chow! Be sure to check out all of her yummy and healthier recipes!

For those of you who do not know... strict Primal/Paleo is always Gluten-Free, but Gluten-Free is not always Primal/Paleo.  I have found a lot of my favorite Gluten-Free recipes on Paleo or Primal blogs.  I do not see myself going strict Paleo, but I have a slight tendency to lean that way a bit.  So as you are out there searching for good Gluten-Free recipes, be sure to pay attention to our Paleo and Primal friends, too.

Homemade Marinara

1/2 cup Olive Oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
4 to 6  fresh basil leaves
2 dried bay leaves
Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper

View the whole recipe on Primal Chow.

I personally used a larger onion, more garlic, and 6 fresh basil leaves.  I did not take the extra step of processing the completed sauce in a food processor like she did.  It is really good either way.

I had enough leftover marinara to freeze for next time I make this and maybe still have some more leftover.

*  Please note that you will need to start on the pork chops as soon as you get the marinara to the point of simmering, because the pork chops actually take 1 1/2 hours to bake (after you have prepared and browned them in a skillet).

Pork Chops Breaded in Coconut Flour

6 pork chops
garlic powder
pepper
2 free-range eggs, beaten
1 cup of coconut flour
4 tablespoons olive oil

View the whole recipe on Primal Chow.

We did not even need our knives to cut through these pork chops and they were the thick ones.  Talk about YUMMY!   You may be asking, "Coconut Flour?"   But let me assure you that although the flour definitely smells very coconutty... it does not make the pork chops have any coconut flavor at all.

Cauliflower Rice

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 med cauliflower, grated (about 4 cups)
1/2 large yellow onion, diced (about 1/2 cup) ~ I actually used a whole large onion
 2 medium-sized carrots, diced (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup diced green pepper
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced ~ I used about double that...lol
1 teaspoon minced ginger ~ I actually used about 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/3 cup frozen petite green peas ~ I doubled this tonight and will likely add a bit more next time

Grate cauliflower with  a hand grater or with a grating blade on a food processor. Add everything into a frying pan after heating the olive oil. Fry all, add salt & pepper to your liking.

I plan to double the whole recipe of this Cauliflower Rice next time in order to have a bunch to freeze.  My "favorite skillet" will easily hold a double batch and this stuff is quite addictive!  ;)

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I have also linked this meal and these recipes up with the Hearth & Soul Hop! Check out more about "the food carnival for and about food that not only nourishes our bodies, but our souls!" and be sure to link up, too!