Chili

I am ready for fall and winter. I love soups and stews and chilis! 

I gave in this week and make a batch of chili. I love my chili recipes because they never taste the same. I just love throwing things in and making new creations! 

The Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef browned
1 onion, cooked with the ground beef
1 clove of garlic, minced, cooked with the ground beef
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes, drained

Seasonings
Nutmeg, Chili Powder, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Sunflower seed butter, Pepper and Sea Salt

The Directions:
Brown the meat with onions and garlic. Drain and season with seasonings of choice. Saute carrots, celery and bell peppers until al dente. Add everything together and add cans of tomatoes. Mix well and then taste and add more seasonings if needed.

Then, ENJOY!

Almond Crusted Chicken and Cinnamon Butternut Squash

Here is one of my families GO-TO meals! It does not require much prep work and is super delicious! Cutting the chicken into little chunks would be great for kids and their chicken nugget lovin' selves!

 The Directions for the Almond Meal Chicken
1 egg, mixed like you were making scrambled eggs
1/2 cup Almond Meal (may need less may need more)
Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In one bowl add eggs and in another add the almond meal. I washed my chicken in water and pat dry. Add chicken in the egg. Make sure the chicken is covered in egg. Then move the chicken to the Almond Meal. Coat the chicken. I had to sprinkle the Almond meal in the hard to reach places. I then added just a little salt and pepper on top of the Almond Meal.

Bake Chicken at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes.

Baked Cinnamon Butternut Squash

Peel butternut squash and remove the seeds. I cut mine into slices. Coat with Coconut Oil and then sprinkle sea salt and cinnamon. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes. I like my butternut squash with some crunchy pieces. It is just up to you and your preferences.

This is a quick prep meal that requires not a lot of work. My family really enjoy the Almond Meal Chicken!

ENJOY!!!

Vegetable Stir-Fry with Spaghetti Squash

We have had family in town Saturday-Tuesday and we have been super busy. My family stayed downtown Indianapolis. We went to three baseball games, swam and made a trip to the zoo. This pregnant momma is TIRED... actually I am beyond tired. I have had a slight headache for a day and half now and ready for some good sleep!!! Positive thinking that my sweet 3 (almost 4 year old) naps today!!! 

Before the family arrived I made an awesome veggie stir-fry and spaghetti squash. Don't you worry, we served steak on the side!!! :) 

 All of the vegetables, besides the spaghetti squash were from our CSA Food Share!

 Here is my 4 year olds bowl! He wanted me to share a picture with you!

Vegetable Stir-Fry
1 yellow squash
1 zucchini
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 cup broccoli
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
Lemon Pepper
Olive Oil
21 Seasoning Salute
chili powder
nutmeg
coconut aminos (soy sauce or braggs)

The directions:
Saute onions in a little olive oil. Once sauted add the garlic but don't burn! Add the broccoli cook for about 2 minutes. Add the rest of the vegetables and seasonings and cook until vegetables are al dente!

Serve on top of Spaghetti Squash with a side of steak!

Hamburger and scrambled eggs!

Apparently, baby and my body was craving a protein filled dinner! Some may say this is an interesting combination but please don't knock it till you tried it! 

Hamburger, turkey bacon, scrambled eggs and mashed avocados.

Chicken and Vegetable meatballs

Sunday, our new tradition is to roasted a chicken and have leftovers for the week!!!

 Yesterday, I was trying to decided what to do with the leftover chicken. I thought of making a stir-fry or a soup but then I thought about my Vitamix. I wanted to make something in my Vitamix. Something I haven't made before... So, yummy chicken vegetable meatballs it was!!!!  I have had chicken meatballs before but only made with ground chicken, processed at the store or butcher. 

Here is what I tried -- Started with the vegetables and then added the chicken pieces. Using the Vitamix at a lower speed and slowly going up and down to process the meat. 

Yes, I could have used my food processor but that would have been no fun!

The Ingredients:
3 zucchinis (2 made into spaghetti and 1 into the Vitamix)
1 cup of carrots
2 cups of cooked chicken
1 egg
1/4 cup Almond Flour
1 tsp Parsley
1 tsp Garlic Powder (I wanted to use fresh minced garlic but didn't have any)
salt and pepper
tomato sauce

The Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the Vitamix (food processor) add chopped zucchini and carrots. Mix until the vegetables are chopped fine. Add chicken, egg, and Almond Flour. Mix again until the chicken is chopped finely. Then add seasonings.

I took out the mixture and mixed again in a bowl, making sure everything was mixed evenly.

I took a small cookie scooper (1 TBSP) and make meatballs. I placed meatballs on a heavy greased cookie sheet. They do not expand so load up the tray!

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.

Top over some zucchini noodles and mix with a little tomato sauce.

ENJOY!!!

Might I add the boys were crazy about them!!! Baby ate 4 within minutes!!! :)

p.s. next time I am thinking I will bake them for 20 minutes then plop them in the tomato sauce and let simmer a bit!


****Have you checked out the Make It Paleo Cookbook, yet!?!? I am super excited about it release in October. Check out more on the cookbook at their book site. 200+ grain-free delicious recipes with lots and lots of beautiful pictures!!!

Part of:
Fat Tuesday, Tuesday at the Table, Tasty Tuesday, Traditional Tuesday, What's cooking Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday,What's on your Plate,  Healthy Today Wednesday, Recipes from the Garden, Simple Lives Thursday, Turning the Table Thursday, Full Plate Thursday

Indiana State Fair

Hubby, the boys and I went to the Indiana State Fair on Saturday. We were there for a couple hours in the afternoon and were home in time for dinner and bed. We had a great time and enjoyed our time together!

Sunday morning we woke with the news of the Sugarland concert stage accident. Such a sad and terrible story. I have several friends who know people who were injured and are currently fighting for their lives.

Today -- no recipe posted... I just ask for prayer. 5 people lost their lives and 40 are fighting for their lives. I heard today that there were a LOT of kids in the front row...

If you have not heard anything about this accident, go here. There is footage of the stage falling and you see the madness...

Carrot Avocado Smoothie

I have said it before and I will say it again - I LOVE MY VITAMIX... I made a smoothie with raw hard carrots and the Vitamix mixed them into a smooth smoothie!!! 

The Ingredients: 

5 raw carrots, washed and cut into big chunks

1/2 avocado

almond milk 

ice

The Directions:

Start with the carrots and blend until the carrots are in small pieces. Add just a little (1/4 - 1/2 cup) Almond Milk to help mix and smooth. Add the avocado and mix. Once the smoothie is smooth add the ice and blend!!! 

ENJOY!!!

p.s. Make sure you go and check out this new awesome cookbook!!! Make it Paleo coming in October. 

I am so excited for this cookbook to come out!!! 200 + grain-free healthy delicious amazing recipes!!! 

GO TAKE A LOOK, NOW!!! :)

Make It Paleo!!!

I've been following this couples blog site, The Food Lovers Primal Palate for quite a while now, especially enjoying they version of treats.  Their No Grain Carrot Cake was a big hit. (my post on the recipe)

Please check out their blog and visit their book site!!! 
http://www.makeitpaleo.com/

I will be getting this book when it comes out!!! 200 + grain-free (Paleo) recipes!!! 

Lettuce Hamburger with Avocado

I have been consuming A LOT of red meat... My "pregnancy" body is craving the iron. With my two previous pregnancy, I found myself often having red meat and especially hamburgers! 

I am hoping this is a phase because with my prenatal vitamins and all this red meat my iron levels have to be high! :) 

This is a typical lettuce burger with turkey bacon, burger, tomato and smashed avocado! The avocado really gave us the texture/taste of mayo without the mayo!

All 4 of us enjoyed our lettuce burgers!

Fried Zucchini with ground beef

The Indiana State Fair is in town!!!! I am not sure if we will make it this year but it is always so much fun to go and walk around! I love people watching and the State Fair is the PERFECT place to do so!!!! Lots of interesting people and things and food to watch. 

Yes, I said food watch! Have you ever noticed the foods at the Fair? I swear our State Fair comes up with something new to Fry each year. Some of the creations could be good but others, I just think WHY?!?! :) 

In honor of The Indiana State Fair I fried up some Zucchini in Coconut Flour and Coconut Oil. I do not think that these bad boys come close to the fried-ness the state fair fried foods get.

The Ingredients:
1 medium large zucchini sliced
1 can tomatoes
1 lb ground beef
1 brown paper bag
coconut oil
nutmeg, 21 seasoning salute, lemon pepper to season meat

The Directions:
Cut zucchini into thin slices. Add zucchini to a brown paper lunch bag. I started with just a TBSP of coconut flour and gave the bag a shake. It actually doesn't matter how much flour you add because the extra will just stay in the bottom. In a frying pan warm up coconut oil  (you can use Olive Oil). The more hot the oil the faster and more brown the zucchini will get. I added a layer of zucchini and cooked each side for about 2 - 5 minutes. thinner slices cooked much faster. As soon as both sides are cooked and crispy, cool zucchini on a plate with a paper towel. This also soaks up the extra oil. Continue until all the zucchini is cooked.

Brown ground beef with one small onion and one garlic, minced. Season meat with nutmeg, 21 seasoning salute, and lemon pepper. Any seasoning will do. Drain grease from meat and pour meat back into pan. Add 1 can of tomatoes and mix in. Add zucchini at the end and serve!!!

My family really enjoyed this and the zucchini was great!!!

ENJOY!

Real Food Wednesday, Works for Me, What's on your Plate,  Healthy Today Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, Delicious Dishes, ChowStalker, Pennywise Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Turning the Table Thursday

Zucchini Lasagna and Blackberry Cobbler

I love when a meal comes COMPLETELY from local farmers! Last night for dinner I made a delicious batch of zucchini lasagna with homemade tomato sauce.

The Ingredients:

1 large zucchini, sliced into thin slices

1 pound ground beef (seasoned with nutmeg, garlic powder and basil)

homemade tomato sauce

1 bell pepper

1 onion

1 garlic clove, minced

Cashew Cheese:

1 cup soaked cashews

Almond Milk

Basil

Salt and Pepper

The Directions:

 I blended up tomatoes in my VitaMix and followed these directions.

 I decided to add a green bell pepper, onion and minced garlic. Sauted first!

 I also decided to add a pound of ground beef.

Then I started to layer!!!

 I topped the delicious zucchini lasagna with a cashew cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes. You want to make sure the zucchini is tender and not mushy!

ENJOY!!!!

I didn't stop there!!!

I made a quick and easy dessert!!! 

Blackberry Cobbler

The Ingredients:

1 bin of fresh blackberries (I just picked ours up from CSA!) about 3 cups

honey

1 1/2 cup Almond Meal (ground up almonds)

1 egg 

2 TBSP melted Coconut Oil

Cinnamon

The Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Wash and Pat dry the blackberries. Add into a pie dish. Drizzle with honey. 

In another bowl mix together the Almond Meal, egg and coconut oil. 

Do not over mix... 

crumble the topping onto the blackberries. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

ENJOY --- AGAIN!!! :) 

Part of : Full Plate Thursday

Pennywise Thursday

Mandarin Orange Broccoli Salad

 Hubby, boys and I enjoyed a delicious dinner Friday night with new friends. We had coffee flavored flanks, DELICIOUS!!! I brought corn for grilling and also this new AMAZING Mandarin Orange Broccoli Salad. 

The great thing about a broccoli salad is there are so many ways you can make it. The options are limitless and you really can make it as healthy as you want!

The Ingredients:
3 cups of raw broccoli
1 can of mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 cup onion, diced (optional - I have made it with and without)
1/4 cup cranberries
1/4 - 1/2 cup raw pecans
1 cup mayo (you can make Paleo Mayo or use any Mayo)
2 TBSP Raw honey
1 TBSP white vinegar
a pinch or two of mustard powder

The Directions:
Wash the broccoli and pat dry. Cut broccoli into florets. Add broccoli to mixing bowl. Add onion, cranberries and drained mandarin oranges. Set aside.

Mix the dressing recipes - mayo, honey, white vinegar, mustard. Set aside until you are ready to serve. I did not use all the dressing either time.

ENJOY!!!!

Zucchini Breakfast Egg Casserole

Pregnancy has been having me crave, more like desire foods I would not normally eat. It has been a challenge but I have fallen off the wagon. The only thing that has sounded good and has stayed down during my difficult weeks is grains. I had been hard core no grains for sometime now but if eating grains means I am not going to get sick or throw up, I prefer to keep my food down! :) 

Now that I am 13 weeks, I am hoping to go back to little to no grains. For sure cut out the gluten. I just cannot handle the gluten. 

Check out this delicious Gluten Free Breakfast Casserole!!! DELICIOUS!!!!

 The Ingredients:
1 cup of Pamela Baking & Pancake Mix
1 zucchini grated, about 2 cups
5 - 6 eggs
1 cup of cheese (i only had about 1/4 cup but could have used more!)
2 TBSP Olive Oil

syrup for topping!

The Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.

Wash and Grate Zucchini. Add to mixing bowl. In a small mixing bowl, mix eggs and Olive Oil. Add eggs to zucchini mixing bowl. Then add the Pamela's Pancake and Baking Mix. Mix well!!! Add cheese and mix again!

Add mixture to greased casserole dish. You can use a pie dish or a 9x9 will do! Bake for 50 minutes!

We topped ours with just a little Maple Syrup.

ENJOY!!!!

p.s. I think Basil would go nicely in this dish! Next time!!!! :)

Part of : The Healthy Home Economist - Monday Mania