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| Almond Crusted Chicken Tenders are Whole30 approved...but they don't taste like it! Seriously, so good and soooo easy. Buy a package of organic chicken tenders from the store, spray them with olive oil, and then dip them in crushed almonds. I used about 1 cup (and had leftover) raw almonds and just blended them until finely chopped. Place on a lined baking sheet and cook about 30 minutes at 410 or until done. Keep an eye on them. Sweet potato wedges are always a great, simple side dish. Just wash your sweet potatoes, cut them into wedges, toss in a bowl with olive oil and your choice of seasonings and bake on a lined baking sheet for about 40 minutes at 410 or until done. We used Cajun spices on this batch and they were really good. Serve with Whole30 approved ketchup! Made for a great Friday night meal:) |
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| Almonds are really becoming my best friend. You can use them for SO many things! Pictured here are Almond Flour Pancakes with paleo bacon. They taste JUST like regular pancakes and are even easier to make. Three ingredients: Eggs, Bananas, Almond flour/meal. I doubled the recipe and did 4 eggs, 2 ripe mashed bananas and 1/2 cup almond meal (I used the Trader Joes brand). Whisk all of these ingredients together in a bowl and then just cook in the skillet like you would regular pancakes. They come out fluffy and delicious. Since maple syrup isn't allowed on the Whole30, I topped with a little organic crunchy almond butter, cinnamon and bananas. Really, really freakin good. You can find the paleo, uncured, sugar-free bacon at Whole Foods or your local health foods store! |
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| Bacon wrapped salmon has become a favorite of ours...because why not?! Bacon is amazing with everything. Also, if you get sick of cooking in the kitchen, use your grille!! Who cares if it's cold outside, it's worth it. There really is no secret recipe here. Just season up your salmon however you like, wrap with several pieces of bacon and throw on the grille. We served it with garlic roasted English Peas (these are WAY better than regular peas. I found them at Trader Joes). And of course, the handy dandy sweet potato with a little ghee, salt and pepper. Yum! |
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| Chicken fajitas are so simple and never disappoint. At a loss for what to make for dinner? Just whip up a batch of these. We used red and green peppers, onions and mushrooms. Chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Penzey's taco seasonings. Served with lettuce wraps, fresh homemade guac and Salsa Verde from Trader Joe's. Can't go wrong! |
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| Homemade crock pot applesauce is one of my favorite things in the entire world, especially on a cold winter day! And hey, it's Whole30 approved! Just don't eat it every day, apples still have a lot of sugar. Just peel and slice your apples of choice (I used organic Fuji and organic Galas). Add cinnamon if you prefer and cook on high all day, keeping an eye on them. Stir occasionally. Serve warm or cold, however you like it! |
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| I let the apples sit all day and this was the finished product! A darker applesauce which was very naturally sweet and delicious. Yum!:) |
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| If you are ever at a loss for what to cook, chicken is always a great fall back. It's easy, packed with protein and delicious. I like to experiment with lots of different seasonings and enjoy either on a plate, in a salad, etc. |
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| This magical little number I like to call "dump soup" because I literally just dump whatever I have sitting around the kitchen into the crock pot. For this soup (which turned out amazing) I did 1qt. chicken broth, 1qt. veggie broth, 1lb. ground beef, tri-colored potatoes, carrot, onion and a can of diced tomatoes. Lots of seasonings (I love parsley, salt and pepper in soups like these) and that's it! Of course, brown up your ground beef and then add to the pot with the rest of your ingredients and let cook at least 5 hours on high. Great dish for this cold winter we are having! |
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| Ok....I MAY have an obsession with fajitas. I admit it. Just so happens pretty much the only restaurant in town we can eat at and stay along Whole30 guidelines is the Mexican place near our house. They cook the fajitas with only oil and then I add some salt, pepper and always top with their yummy guacamole. It's become a Friday lunch tradition for us:) |
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| I'm usually in a hurry in the mornings, so green smoothies are my go-to. I just fill my blender up to the top with whatever greens I have, usually kale or spinach. Add 1cup coconut milk, some frozen fruit, chia seeds, a raw egg and I'm full until lunch! Don't be scared of the color....they taste MUCH better than they look;) |
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| And then for the mornings when I really don't have time to make anything, I reach for fresh berries and a lara bar. Quick fix and keeps me full until lunch. Also: herbal teas ARE allowed on Whole30 and I absolutely love the new peach herbal tea from Starbucks. Give it a try and see what you think! Way better for you than those 1,000 calorie latte drinks! |
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| These may not be the prettiest food item you have ever seen...but they sure taste good! Pumpkin pie bites are a yummy and relatively quick treat if you follow the directions step by step. Here is the recipe:
1 cup pitted medjool dates
1/2 cup pecans
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
Pinch of salt
- Soak the dates for at least several hours. I didn't soak mine long enough and it was difficult to blend. Then, place the pecans in blender and blend until finely chopped. Then add the rest of the ingredients including the dates and pulse untill combined. Place this "dough" in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill. Then use your hands to form the dough into small balls and store in an airtight container. They really do taste like pumpkin pie, which is amazing:)
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| These are just a really yummy snack for when you are on the go or if you need something "sweet" to take to the movies. I've never had different kinds of raisins before, so these opened my eyes to how yummy they can really be. Trader Joes is the best:) |
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| Just posting this to remind you how important prep days are! I usually do most of my prep on Sundays and I always create a batch of homemade Whole30 Mayo and homemade Whole30 ranch which last me the entire week. See recipes in previous posts:) This ranch really is a lifesaver for salads. I am just NOT a fan of olive oil and vinegar, so this guy gets me through. |
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| Side salad with Whole30 ranch and Spaghetti squash with meatsauce. This has become one of my favorite Whole30 go-to recipes. It's so easy and tastes amazing. See recipe details in previous blog post. But really...it's easy. Just bake your squash for 45 minutes and make your own sauce. Get creative:) |
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| Because who doesn't love a good ole' steak and potato now and then? White potatoes are OK once and awhile. I like to drizzle mine with Whole30 ranch, salt and pepper. We always season up our steaks and throw them to smoke on the pellet grill. So, so good. See!?!? The Whole30 isn't so hard after all!!! |
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| Lunches are quick and simple. I love making big batches of either tuna or chicken salad ahead of time, that way they last most of the week. Here, I just topped on some romaine with some onion, tomato, a handful of almonds and some Whole30 ranch. YUMMO! |
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| The last recipe I want to share with you this week has also become a big favorite of ours. This is Spanish "rice" and it literally tastes just like the real thing, but instead of rice, you will use cauliflower. Brown up 1lb. ground beef with some diced green pepper and whatever "spanish-like" seasonings that you want. Boil a head of cauliflower until tender, then place in blender and pulse until rice-like texture forms. Then just dump the "rice" cauliflower in with the sauce, stir together and enjoy! My grandfather is the pickiest eater on Earth and he couldn't even tell that it wasn't real rice, so you should be able to sneak this recipe in for your entire family. Enjoy:) |
I hope you have enjoyed this week's recipes. Please comment or email me if you have any questions. Hopefully now that I am better, I can keep up with my usual timely blog posts! Until next time, I leave you with this. PERSPECTIVE.
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