2 Cats and Chloe

Healthy Food, Great Views and Creative Living!

Whole30 Chicken Nuggets: Ready for the Super Bowl!

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You know what is crazy, last year, Super Bowl Sunday was the last “normal-ish” day of my life. It was the last time I went out with my husband and carelessly hung out with friends, despite feeling sluggish, before the storm and mandatory bedrest hit the next day. I still blame that odd “puppy, monkey, baby” commercial…

Food wise, I have two goals in 2017. 1 - Eat out less often. 2 - Make non-paleo foods paleo and/or whole30 compliant. Last week, my mom and I were driving home from yet another doctor appointment for Lorelei, when my mom said “Let’s just stop at Chic-fil-a!” I knew if I stopped, I would be terribly tempted to drink a frozen lemonade and inhale their crazy delicious waffle fries… but this would’ve broken both of my 2017 food rules. And I knew I had a few chicken breasts at home that needed to be cooked. It also, just so happened to be the day that my thrive order was delivered! Hello Chipotle Lime Paleo Mayo and Paleo Ranch! I NEEDED something to dip into these sauces!

Ergo……. Paleo, Whole30 Compliant Chicken Nuggets - in time for Super Bowl Sunday!

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Paleo Chicken Nuggets

I will be the first to tell you, I really don’t understand football. But I’m an absolute marketing junkie so I love rating the commercials and hidden branding throughout the Super Bowl. I also love the food. It’s the first time after a month and a half of eating clean since the holidays (usually) where you are tested. Decisions have to be made. Do you eat the junk or eat healthy food?

And before the Whole30 Police jump all over me… Technically, unless you have a crazy addition to Chic-fil-a nuggets outside of the whole30, this isn’t SWYPO. If you ate KFC every single day last month before you started the Whole30, yes, this is SWYPO. This is clean, breaded chicken bites and a perfect option for game day!

Whole30 Chicken Tenders Whole30 Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets

Whole30, Paleo Chicken Nuggets
 
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Serves: Serves 4-5
Ingredients
  • 1 pound of Chicken
  • ¼ cup of Almond Flour
  • ¼ cup of Arrow Root Flour
  • 2.5 tsp of Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp of Salt
  • 1 tsp of Pepper
  • ½ tsp of Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tsp of Onion Powder
  • 1 TBSP of Coconut Cream
  • 1 Egg
  • Coconut Oil
Instructions
  1. Cut your chicken up into small bite sizes (or if you want to make these into tenders, cut them a bit longer/larger) and set aside on a plate.
  2. Mix all of your dry ingredients into a bowl, blending them together.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix your egg and your coconut cream. (Unlike a lot of recipes, I recommend using warm coconut cream. Straight out of the can in the pantry!) Mix these together so that the cream blends in with the egg and is a eggy-creamy mixture.
  4. Dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture. Make sure it is covered completely.
  5. Using a fork, move the eggy-chicken into the dry ingredient bowl. Roll it around and cover completely. Once covered, set it aside on a separate plate.
  6. Once your chicken is all covered, drop a spoonful of coconut oil into your skillet on a medium heat. Once hot, place your chicken nuggets into the skillet. Let cook for 2-3 minutes on one side, then flip and do 2-3 minutes (or until cooked) on the other side.
  7. ProTip: Don't over crowd the pan. These nugs will burn fast. I cook mine in 3 groups.
  8. Wanna make them spicy nuggets? Add a dash of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and/or chili powder! So good!

These Whole30 Chicken Nuggets are legit. If I had kids that ate food by mouth, this would be a go-to in our house. Hell, it’s a go-to now for the adults. My mom thought I was crazy when I told her I was dying for some outstanding paleo nuggets - she then went back for seconds and thirds! This was an easy meal to make and will be perfect for keeping game night healthy!

Whole30 Paleo Chicken Nugget Dipping Sauce

I paired these Gluten Free Bites of Awesomeness with steamed broccoli in my favorite Circulon Momentum Lock and Strain Steamer (you can find it a Kohls, Amazon and Macy’s - you can cook and drain all in one!!) and my husband’s favorite Whole30 Sweet Potato Fries. I didn’t have any whole30 ketchup available, and I desperately wanted an excuse to eat my Paleo Ranch and Paleo Chipotle Mayo. These all paired perfectly with the paleo chicken nuggets.

2 cats & chloe: Super Bowl Whole30 Food

Looking for other ideas for a Whole30 (or paleo) Super Bowl Sunday? Your friends will never know my wings are healthy. These Whole30 Deviled Eggs taste great and could easily be thrown at your ex-boyfriend’s car (or the television if your team doesn’t win). And who can say no to Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus?!

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Chicken Nuggets

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Tuna Salad Cucumber Bites // Whole30 + Paleo

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Fun fact - I used to own a restaurant. “Used to” being the key to my life right now. Anyway, it was super quaint, located in a really small town, in an old historic house. The front of the house held our little gift shoppe. We had one dining room upstairs and one down. I always tell folks, to get a good idea of what it was like, imagine Lorelai Gilmore’s Dragonfly Inn mixed with a Cracker Barrel… Although, due to it’s size, it was more like a Cracker Bucket.

2 cats & chloe: The Carriage House Tea Cafe

While we quickly became well known for our chicken salad recipe (which I will have to feature here another day) the close runner up was my tuna salad. Like most of you know, when I cook or create, I don’t necessarily have a plan - I just throw things together and if it works, hooray. If not, eh… there’s always next time. That’s what happened with this Tuna Salad. Surprisingly people (other than just myself) loved having olives in their tuna! #iheartolives.

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Paleo Tuna Salad

I’ve been eating clean foods for the past 2-ish years. But it wasn’t until a few months ago that I decided to start making my own ranch and mayo. (Apparently I am a crazy person for waiting this long!) So last week when I had a batch of Whole30 Mayo to use, I thought what better an opportunity that this to make the Carriage House Tuna Salad (Whole30 compliant)?!

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Approved Tuna Salad

And since I do not eat bread, I paired the tuna salad with little cucumber slices. How cute are these? I cut the cucumbers to all different heights and then, to make them even prettier, I went ahead and cut slices into the outside. These would be a perfect appetizer for a party or a high tea, never mind the fact that they are a great no-bread paleo lunch option!

2 cats & chloe: Tuna Salad Bites for Party

Whole30 Paleo Tuna Salad
 
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Ingredients
  • 1 - 2 TBSP Whole30 Approved Mayo
  • 1 can of tuna
  • ¼ cup of sliced olives
  • ½ small chopped onion
  • ¼ cup of sliced carrots
  • ¼ cup of chopped celery optional
  • Salt + Pepper to taste
  • 1 large english cucumber
Instructions
  1. Cut up your olives, onion, carrots and celery.
  2. In a bowl, mix everything together except the cucumber. (Salt + Pepper to taste)
  3. If you are skipping the bread and want to serve on cucumber - cut your cucumber into bite size pieces. I made mine vary in height. Cut out a bit of the core, making it a little tiny "bowl" for the tuna salad. If you want to make them even prettier, cut slits in the cucumber skin.
  4. Put a spoonful of tuna salad on the cucumber slices. Plate and serve.

2 cats & chloe: Tuna Salad with Cucumber // Whole30 Tuna Salad

So what do you think? Are these party worthy? Maybe worthy of joining the Celebrate Southern Soiree Linkup??

Jenn from What You Make It Blog

This week our co-host is Jenn from What You Make It! I am so excited that she is hosting with us, as she is one of my oldest blog-friends. She is a new mommy who writes about her life, her loves, parties, recipes and travels! So now, when you linkup below, you are not only showing up on my blog and J’s blog, but you will also be present on Jenn’s blog! Haven’t you always wanted to be in three places at one time??

Now grab a button and join the linky party about the party! We want to see your recipes, parties, home decor and DIY posts! Feel free to have fun with this and dust off a couple of your old posts to share!

If you would like to have some fun, gain a little more visibility with your blog and be a party hostess in the future, please fill out this form: http://goo.gl/forms/IHXJ7Nxyxq

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Whole30 Approved Taco Seasoning (and Salad!)

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As the #2catsWhole30 Train pushes through Day 2, I really wanted to try to get some of my favorite recipes out here for y’all.  I can’t wait to show everyone how GOOD clean eating really can be.  
Mexican-American food {i.e. TexMex} is unfortunately an extreme comfort food of mine.  Give me some chips, salsa and guacamole and I’m a happy girl.  97% of our date nights revolve around Chipotle.  And when it comes to spicy food, the hotter the better.
Now, just because you’ve jumped head first into the paleo world with the Whole30 doesn’t mean you have to give up your Mexican food.  {Well, those chips, tortillas, and queso sauces - yes. But give me this one recipe to convince you that you can still enjoy a good Taco Salad (minus the chips) and eat clean at the same time!}
2 Cats & Chloe:  Whole30, Paleo Taco Salad
Ingredients:
For the Seasoning:
1 teaspoon of Garlic Powder
1 Teaspoon of Onion Powder
1 Teaspoon of Cumin
3/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt
1 Teaspoon of Smoked Paprika
1 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
1 pound of Grass-Fed Ground Beef (you could always do ground turkey or chicken also)
1/2 Cup of Water
For the Salad Fixings I use:
Sliced Cherry Tomatoes
Lettuce (Iceberg or Romaine are the best for a Taco Salad, but I just use whatever we have in the fridge)
Peppers and Onions (I use frozen ones from Trader Joes)
Salsa (no added sugar)
Feel free to add any other taco salad essentials that you love - but to keep it whole30 and paleo, stay away from the chips, cheese, and salsa with added sugar.
Paleo and Whole30 Taco Salad Seasoning

This is going to be one of the easiest paleo meals you will ever make.  Basically you need to collect the necessary seasonings and brown the meat.  Once the meat is browned, you are going to pour the seasoning blend onto the meat.  Add the 1/2 cup of water.  Mix everything up really well so that the seasoning is blended throughout.  Put the seasoned taco meat on low and let the water simmer out.  Continue to check in on it though, stirring and mixing it every couple of minutes.
At the same time, in a different skillet, it’s time to start cooking the peppers and onions!  Like I said - this is a go-to easy meal for me.  To help keep it simple, I use the frozen Trader Joe’s Fire Roasted Peppers and Onions.  Toss them in the pan and let them cook right up.  Again, flip them around every now and then until they are not frozen and appear soft.  (You could definitely use fresh peppers and onions as well!  This bag of tricks is much quicker and less expensive than fresh peppers are right now though.)

I like to put my lettuce on the bottom of the plate.  For Taco Salad, I prefer iceberg or romaine lettuce.  But we had neither.  So I used whatever was in the fridge.  On top of the lettuce went my peppers and onions.  On top of that the beef and any other “taco toppings of choice.”  

I always wonder if pro-foodie bloggers’ kitchens end up as messy as mine does… Don’t let the pretty food pictures fool you.  My kitchen is a hot mess!

To me, the salsa and guacamole are the cherry on top of this taco sundae.  Pop a few spoonfuls of each on top of your taco salad creation and then dig in!

Give it a shot and let me know what you think!  What taco toppings do you love? 

Happy clean-eating!

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Chicken Salad without Mayo! It does exist!

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Do you know what the best part of being a lifestyle blogger is?  I can pretty much spend my time writing about anything under the sun.

My husband recently informed me that he does not like the concept of a “lifestyle blog.”  He told me that he cannot stand it when he’s reading a paleo blog, browsing through it’s awesome recipes, and then, out of left field, they toss in some nonsense in about their kids or a craft project or their dog’s favorite color.  Personally, I love it.  I feel like it helps me connect with the writer.  But apparently this is precisely the thing that drives my husband crazy.  I assume he only reads my ADD blog because it was part of our wedding vows: in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, when blogging about paleo or fashion, as long as we both shall live.

As I struggle to figure out my current eating issues (newly discovered celiacs and lactose intolerance) I found myself at many a social shindig this past weekend.  At one point, I looked down at my sparse plate realizing that out of all food available - the only two things I could eat was a naked burger (with a tomato and guac) with a side of quinoa chips and salsa (that we brought.)  At this point, I am forced to be so much more cautious about what my mind is craving and what my body can handle.

With that intro - and the fact that I’m still wearing my knock-arounds (so a fashion post is out of the question) I decided today would be a wonderful day to bring you one of my go-to lunches.  As a southern girl, and one who used to own her own cafe (yep, another day, another story) Chicken Salad is a summer staple.  But let’s be real, chicken salad (usually made heavy-on-the-mayo) is not really the healthiest of options most of the time.

Let me introduce you to my easy-peasy paleo, whole30 approved, mayo-free chicken salad!

Ingredients:
Chicken
Guacamole
Lemon Juice
(extras can include: 
salsa, celery, apple, grapes, or whatever your heart desires) 

I use canned chicken.  Because I’m lazy.  And this stuff from Sam’s Club is quite good.  One can will make a couple servings.  ($10 for the five cans - it’s a pretty good deal considering their size, and cheaper than anything I have been able to found at a grocery store.)

Drain any liquid that was in the can into the sink.  
Empty the chicken into a bowl. 
Break up the larger pieces with a fork.
You’ve now completed the most challenging part of this recipe.

I start by adding two-ish scoops of guacamole to the chicken.  

(Add more if you’d like your consistency to be even more creamy.)  To keep costs down, I recommend this four pack of Wholly Guacamole, again from Sam’s Club.  I think it works out to be $2/pack - which is a lot cheaper than most grocery stores.  (Yes, you could make your own guacamole - but like I said, I’m lazy.)

Mix the chicken and the guac until it has a chicken salad consistency.

Personally, I love extra flavor.  I love spicy guacamole.  The husband on the other hand - not so much.  And lucky for him, the only Wholly Guacamole that they sell at Sam’s is pretty plain jane in my opinion.

So I add a spoonful of salsa to just give the salad a bit more flavor.  
Lastly, I spritz the chicken salad with lemon juice (to help keep the guac from turning to a gross brown color.) 

My mom adds celery and apples to this chicken salad when she makes it.  Do whatever you want.  Be creative and embrace the fact that you can have chicken salad without mayonnaise!  

Mix it all together.
Serve it on a bed of lettuce or as a wrap with some romaine leaves for a quick and easy lunch on the run!

What do you use to as a mayo substitute?  Guacamole has really (out of no where) become a staple in my life.  I used to hate it but now I practically eat it daily.  I love discovering clean foods, that make me feel good, that I used to hate, but now I love!  Next on my list is to try guacamole deviled eggs… I will have to let ya know how that turns out! 🙂

Today I am linking up with Rachel at Southern Fairytale for Mouthwatering Monday.

The Narnia of Panera: The Hidden Menu

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Did you know that there is a whole ‘nother world out there?  I’m not talking about on Mars or poor little Pluto… I’m talking Panera.  

Did you know that Panera has a “Hidden Menu” available to their guests?  Yeah, me neither.  I take that back, actually I did know.  Michael told me about it months ago and I just thought he was making it up.  Because I’m super gullible.  And because really, why would a restaurant have a top secret menu, with HEALTHIER FOOD OPTIONS (yes!! it’s paleo!!) and keep it a secret?!

Today I decided it was time.  Time to learn if this secret was legit.  I had a new client consult (whom I booked for a January event!!) at Panera.  Since I got there a bit early and decided I would find out if this “secret menu” existed or if Michael is really good at bluffing.

What’s a girl to do when she is too afraid to ask someone working there about it?  She finds a table and googles.  It totally exists!  Michael wasn’t just making this up!  So I gathered up all my belongings and fumbled my way up to the lady at the register.  Here’s how this went down:

Panera Lady:  Good morning!  What can I get you?

Me:  {wondering if I need to whisper this or not…} Um….  I’d like something off the Secret Menu please.  {I may or may not have winked at her… not the wink like I’m trying to pick you up, but the I-know-you-have-a-secret-menu-wink.}

Panera Lady:  Okay, what would you like?

Me:  So it does exist!!!  {Followed by a pause and I guarantee an awkward suz grin.}  {In my mind, I see the M&M commercials where Red says “He does exist!” and Santa says “THEY DO EXIST!” Then they both pass out.}

Panera Lady:  Yes ma’am.  What can I get you?  {There was a line forming.  And she wasn’t nearly as amazed and/or excited about this secret menu as I was.}

Me:  I’d like the Beef Breakfast Bowl.  {Good thing I googled, she didn’t give me any hints about what was actually on the menu…}

Panera Lady:  That’s not on the secret menu.

Me:  What?!  But I just googled it!! {Suz = loud and shouty and embarrassed.}

Panera Lady:  You mean the “Power Breakfast Egg Bowl with Steak?”

Me:  {beginning to panic as the line gets longer and I am now realizing I have no clue how much the items on the secret menu are…}  Um yes, that sounds good.  With water.  For here.  In a big cup please, not that oversized shot glass size thing.  Please.  {Pretty positive I tried throwing her that awkward wink again…}

So I survived Panera’s version of Menu-Narnia.  I was really hoping that when I picked my meal up people would gawk at me and think “Man, look at her and that fancy-schmancy meal!  Where is that on the menu?!”  But no one cared.  Or even looked.  They were all just eating their delicious, non-secretive bagels.  

Fun facts you should know: 

1.  The secret meals seem much healthier.  It’s so hard to find healthy, paleo friendly meals when you are out on the road.  These seem like awesome options.  And I’m pretty positive it should be preached from the mountain tops that a quick-service restaurant has healthy food available!
2.  Google the menu before you try to order.  They don’t help you out with the secrets on the menu when you mention it.  I honestly thought they’d pull out a paper with the secret menu written on it.  They didn’t.  So study up.
3.  Don’t wink or whisper.  They know it’s a secret.  But apparently it’s not a big-deal kinda secret.

4.  If you are Robin Sparkles, this is not available in your motherland.  Sorry.

Have you experienced the Panera Hidden Menu?  What did you think?  How did you learn about it?

(Other than the Robin Sparkles image, screen caps are via Panera.  Learn more about the Panera Hidden Menu here.)

inst-happening!

Full Disclosure: All content and pictures on this blog belong to Susan Geoghegan and the 2 cats & chloe site, unless otherwise stated. If you pin a picture, please give credit. Some links on this site may contain affiliate links. Clicking on these links helps support this blog. A "c/o" in front of a product represents that that product was either gifted to me in exchange for the post or I was compensated by said company for my time. However, all posts are my own thoughts, opinions and reviews! Thanks for your support!