Cook-Asher-Bartsch family | Fuck Off Gluten!

So I cyber stalk some foodie bloggers, don’t act like you don’t too! That’s what their blogs are there for anyway lol I have followed Civilized Caveman Cooking for a few months now. So when George posted on Facebook that he was going to host a cooking demo in Temecula at Williams Sonoma, I was on that shit right away!

George made his amazing Paleo Banana Bread! I got to help because, well, you know, I’m not shy in the least lol so when asked for volunteers, I may be short but my hand is raised the highest 🙂 He made several variations to this base recipe. We sampled chocolate blueberry (my favorite of the night), pumpkin pecan (really tastes like pumpkin pie), and he also made a chocolate marble mix.

This dude is so down-to-earth and incredibly warm-hearted that it really felt like you were cooking with him in his kitchen. George shared some very personal things about his journey to Paleo; one in particular which resonated tremendously with me (there will be a future post about this!). He shared a wealth of information on local, organic, non-GMO farms. We are super excited to take a tour of Cooks Pig Ranch on June 29th, all because of his info share. Mike and Krys’ story is so incredible; from what I understand she has kept the business growing and thriving while he was deployed! We also learned of Primal Pastures, a local source for pasture raised, free range, organic chickens. In the midst of our demo were several local business owners, like the owner of a macadamia nut farm in Fallbrook! Darn, I didn’t catch the name of the business (bad blogger, I know!) but I will find out about this gem and update this post.

Another thing George shared with us is his effort to make a difference, and help save the life of Mike O’Brien. Mike is a 29 year young man who was born with a congenital heart defect and is in need of a heart transplant. George doesn’t know Mike from Adam, but HIS huge heart has lead to this amazing initiative to help Mike live, and help him fund his journey to obtaining his new heart, and sustaining it. George told us something like Mike can’t even get on the donor list until he can prove that he can afford all the meds, and care, he will need AFTER the transplant. I am fucking floored by this! I mean, we give kidney’s and all sorts of shit to elderly people who have ravaged their bodies from ailments like diabetes, etc., and what’s the prognosis there? Another 5-10 years for them? Are you kidding me??? This is a YOUNG man!!! You can read all about George’s efforts in his blog here, Do you have a Paleo heart?, and learn about Mike’s story here, Man Survives Childhood Heart Defect, Seeks Transplant. If you can find it in your heart to make lunch this week, instead of buying it, or cut some other cost to help Mike, I urge you to donate anything you can! But please, at least share these links somewhere, Pinterest/Twitter/Facebook, ANYWHERE! There is strength in numbers! And you’re probably bullshitting on line anyway…do something that can make a difference!

Here is the Civilized Caveman – Facebook page.

Here are my pics from the night