Good Eats Archives - 2 Cats and Chloe

Paleo, Whole30 Lemon Chicken Dinner

This dinner is absolutely drool worthy and will become a regular on our meal rotations! It started on a whim, through a text message with my dear friend Cait. She is also living in a moment of transition… bunking up with her future in-laws after their move from Florida to North Carolina. Knowing that I can easily relate to conversations with older people, she texted me a debate over frozen chicken verse fresh chicken. Sounds like she is having the same daily chats with her “roommates” that I am having with my 91 year old “roommate!” In the end I asked what chicken recipe she was using and she sent me this Lemon Chicken pin. And of course, since it looked amazing, I used it as inspiration and had to figure out a way to make it paleo, whole30 compliant and gluten free.

With a few easy tweaks, changes and add-ons, I adapted JoCooks’ Lemon Chicken Piccata dinner to be something that my family would love and could eat without intestinal discomfort!

Please note that the original recipe and idea was not my own… but for those of us who have really strict diets - it needed a few tiny tweaks.

Paleo, Whole30 Lemon Chicken Dinner

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe.}

Recipe type: Paleo, Whole30, Gluten Free

Serves: Approx 4-5 Servings

Ingredients

3 Chicken Breasts (cut in half length wise to make them a bit thinner). I used approximately 2.5 pounds of chicken for this recipes.
3 TBSP of Olive Oil
4 TBSP of Real, Grass-fed Butter (or Ghee to make it Whole30 Compliant)
¼ Cup of ArrowRoot Powder (YES! This is Whole30 Compliant and a great option for thickening)
Salt + Pepper to taste
¼ Cup of Fresh Chopped Parsley
⅓ Cup of Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ Cup of Chicken Broth
¼ Cup of Capers
1 TBSP of Minced Shallots
1 TBSP of Minced Garlic

Instructions

Slice the Chicken Breasts length wise, and butterfly if needed. The thinner they are the better for cooking.
Season both sides of Chicken in Salt and Pepper (to your taste) and then cover both sides in Arrowroot Powder.
Add Ghee (or Butter) and Olive Oil to a large skillet over Medium-High heat.
Add Chicken to Skillet when hot. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through.
Remove the Chicken and place on a separate plate when it is cooked. Now we will work on the "gravy!"
Remove the skillet from the hot burner. Add your lemon juice, chicken broth, capers, mince shallots and minced garlic. Stir together and with the sauce that was already in the skillet. Return skillet to heat and bring to a light boil. Taste the sauce and add salt or pepper if needed. You can also add a tablespoon of Arrowroot Powder if you want the sauce a bit thicker. (Again, this is still whole30 compliant!)
Add your Chicken back into the skillet, lower heat to Medium-Low, cover and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Serve in the skillet or on a platter. Garnish with the fresh chopped parsley and lemon slices.
ENJOY!

2 cats & chloe: Paleo Lemon Chicken Piccata

As you have probably noticed, my Whole30, Paleo and Gluten-Free recipes have really been lacking on the blog lately. That is because this whole pregnancy thing has been ROUGH. At 20 Weeks and some change right now, I am finally starting to feel more like myself. I am actually able to eat a few veggies again! Hooray! I have been living on baked potatoes and fries. (I won’t be surprised if #BabyMagotes comes out looking like a potato!!) I sincerely hope to continue playing in the kitchen and creating healthy dinners again while I have the free time!

That being said, when you check out my lemon chicken dinner plate below - don’t be shocked to see real rice rather than Cauli-Rice. My wild rice IS NOT Whole30 compliant. (There is a debate as to whether or not rice is or is not paleo… but we are not here to debate that today! Baby just needs his/her rice and potatoes these days or Mommy will puke!)

I paired this paleo, whole30 compliant Lemon Chicken Dinner with steamed broccoli and wild rice. I also pour the gravy/sauce all over everything! And it was freaking amazing.

What Nana Said: Suzie! This meal tastes like it could be found in a French bistro! It is the best dinner I have had in a very long time! You could make this dinner if you ever had your boss over for dinner!

What Michael Said: It’s good, but very lemony. I would definitely eat it again though!

Well yes Michael, it is called Lemon Chicken after all…

So there ya have it! An easy, drool-worthy and delicious Paleo, Whole30 Lemon Chicken dinner! Thank you Cait and Jo for this dinner inspiration! It really isn’t that difficult to turn most meals into healthy, clean dinners. You just have to put your thinking cap on and be creative! Substitutions like Arrowroot Powder and Ghee are easy swaps that you will barely notice! So go for it! Have fun in the kitchen! Compliant, gluten-free dinners are just a few easy substitutions away!

When in Switzerland: Eat Swiss Raclette Cheese

by Susan

Okay so I’m not a complete month behind schedule yet, so it’s all good right? I wish I could say that I’ve just been sitting around, busy eating Swiss chocolate. Instead I’ve been so slammed playing catch-up on life that I have not had five minutes to even reminisce over the pictures from my Swiss trip, never mind editing and posting them! But I’m finally getting there guys!

While Swiss fondu is awesome, in my personal opinion, the country should be know for a very different, cheesy dinner. To ease you into my love of all-things-Swiss, I decided to start with my favorite meal: Swiss Raclette.

2 cats & chloe: Swiss Holiday Vacation Dinner

A couple days into our trip, my mom and I were invite to dinner at my cousin’s house. Chris and his wife Mari, along with their little one, were beyond hospitable. I love how a simple dinner in Europe is always an event. Here in America, I think we often get so wrapped up in our schedules and chores that we miss the “event” that a simple meal can become.

Now before you click away from this post, based on the picture above, let me assure you - while it looks like the craziest dish you would ever eat - this meal is ranked in my Top 5. Some of you may be thinking “eh, no biggie…” but as a foodie, to be ranked in the top 5 of my all time favorite dishes - this is HUGE.

So first off, what exactly is Raclette? Swiss Raclette is one of the many amazing cheeses that Switzerland shared with the world. It is a magical cheese that doesn’t taste very good UNTIL it is melted. I’ve been begging my family for this dish for every visit since I was a kid. It’s a cheese that is traditionally eaten during the colder months, however, if given the opportunity, I would eat it every single day. Too bad it’s not so magical that it won’t make you fat…

Now like I said, eating Raclette is more of an event than just a simple dinner. Everyone gets their own little dish for melting cheese. The griddle sits in the middle of the table so everyone can reach it. You put some cheese on your own personal “cheese pan” and then let the magic happen on the griddle.

2 cats & chloe: Swiss Raclette Server

While the Raclette Cheese is busy melting into the full delicious potential it truly has… you are busy prepping your plate with the most random goodies that pair with this meal: New Potatoes, Pineapple, “Eyeball” Pearl Onions, Pickles, Baby Corn and Sun Dried Tomatoes. I’m sure this sounds like a meal only a pregnant woman would love, but I swear to you, it is absolutely amazing.

Oh, and don’t forget about the bacon and sausage that are cooking on the top of the griddle! NOM!

Swiss Raclette griddle

Once your cheese is melted, you simply pour it over all of your “toppings,” sprinkle it with some seasoning, and enjoy! I love using paprika and an orange pepper on my dinner.

Just typing this post makes me want to go eat Raclette! Unfortunately this Swiss cheese can be difficult to find sometime in the US. I’m sure it’s much easier in larger cities… but where I live, when I see it, I buy it all up. Trader Joes sells Raclette during the winter months. And I’ve found that Sam’s Club has been having it in stock more and more frequently.

If you are interested in giving this a Swiss dinner a shot, it is not necessary, but it’s best to have a Raclette Griddle. Target actually sells three different Raclette Griddles that are all decently priced: The classic Swissmar Griddle (I have this one), A Raclette Griddle with a Granite Top (perfect for meats and veggies on top!) and then a Hamilton Beach option that is half the price but only feeds only 6.

I would LOVE to trade mine in for the griddle with the granite top… If only I could justify it!

Don’t have the griddle but want to give this cheese a shot? Put everything on a plate, lay your slices of Raclette on top, pop that plate in the microwave and let the magic happen in a mere minute! (But I promise you, once you try it, you will be dreaming of adding this guy to your kitchen.)

Oh, one more fun fact that I learned about Raclette on my vacation: It is a naturally lactose free cheese! Um HELLO… is this not the perfect cheese?! So basically, this dish is paleo. You’ve got lactose free cheese, potatoes, pineapple, veggies and meat. This meal plus a couple glasses of red wine is basically my happy place.

Have you ever had Raclette Cheese before? What other crazy food combinations have surprised you?

Day 15: Seven Things to do Before The Whole30

by Susan

Guys! Today is day 16/60 for my whole60! In case you are new here, I promise I am not only a foodie blogger. I am just in the midst of a Whole30 x 2, so it is consuming my life. Since I have committed to sixty days, rather than the normal thirty, I’m realizing that each quarter of this marathon is an accomplishment in itself.

So how am I feeling now that I have given up wine (i.e. all booze), added sugar (processed as well as things like honey), grains of all sorts (I miss my rice), soy and legumes, and dairy? I’m feeling awesome. Here is my Day-15-Run-Down for ya:

My mind // Awesome! My mind seems clearer. I know it sounds crazy but my thoughts aren’t as jumbled. I’d say this definitely ups my game a bit in the sarcasm department.

My skin // Clear! Probably TMI, but I didn’t even break out when good ole Great Aunt Flo decided to visit last week!

My weight // Per the rules, you can’t weigh yourself for the entire 30 days. HOWEVER, my belly seems flatter and my pants seem looser. Huzzah!

My sleep // Most people have reported a change in their sleeping patterns, for the good. Personally, I’m still exhausted. It may just be because I’m working too many jobs though.

My cravings // While I’d love a glass of wine (because what’s The Bachelor without a bold glass of red?) I’m not really craving anything. After my 7 Days of Gluten a couple of months ago, I know that this is exactly the lifestyle I need to be living. This has been my easiest whole30 yet.

My struggles // I still want to snack in the evenings. Even when I’m not hungry. I just really, really want to snack! In this respect, I’m lucky my husband works nights. If he were sitting next to me on the couch eating popcorn, I’d probably pay him off for one measly kernel.

My loves // Hot tea, Sparkling Water, London Broil, Whole30 Compliant Hot Wings and Sweet Potato Hash. Oh and my amazing support group with the #2catsWhole30 folks! (Search that hashtag on Instagram to see what we’ve all been up to!)

What I’ve learned // I learned this way back during my first whole30, but it never ceases to amaze me. SUGAR IS EVERYWHERE. It’s like the termite of the food world: evil and up to no good, hiding in just about every single nook and cranny it can get in to.

Here is my whole30 day 15 check-in picture:

So many of you have said that you would love to give the Whole30 a shot. I highly encourage it and I want to be a resource for you if you need support, have any questions, or just simply do not know where to begin! If anyone is interested in joining me for the second half of my Whole60, just let me know! I have meal plans I can send you and we can help hold each other accountable!

For today’s ~~Five~~ Seven on Friday, I bring you my first official YouTube video!! In my opinion, here are the Seven things you need to do before you start your whole30:

Thank you for your love and support while I work to get healthy and change my life! Seriously, if you have any questions or if you are interested in joining me in this clean eating, whole30 adventure - hit me up!

Today I’m linking up with Karli, Leslie, Rebecca, and Amanda!

Whole30 Approved Hot Wings!

by Susan

There was this one time in college when I went out on a date with a guy. Well, it wasn’t really a date… My roommates and I called him “Bad Matt” because he was the kind of guy who got into trouble all the time — and quite frankly, I was way out of his league. Anyway! I got weaseled into going out with him for hot wings after class one day because it was cold, he had a jeep, and I didn’t want to walk up hill, both ways, in the snow, to get back to my JMU dorm room. Of course he didn’t pay. He was too “bad” for that.

After that “date” I swore off hot wings forever. When I got back to my dorm I was 50 shades of red - and not just out of embarrassment. I had hot sauce all over my face. SERIOUSLY?! I’m really lucky I ever found a man who would marry this hot mess.

I went home for Easter that same year. My dearest friend Cait invited me to her house for wings. I explained why I swore them off and she said “Oh girl, I will teach you how to eat them with one hand and not get a drop of sauce on you!”

Challenge accepted.

Hot wings soon became “our thing.” Whenever I was home, Cait and I would meet at her house for a bucket of Great Bridge’s famous Mr. Jim’s hot wings. I ate the drums. She ate the wings. {For the record, I still hate the wings and prefer the drums - hands down, any day of the week.}

I’m not sure why, but I have been beyond craving hot wings for the last few months. I had no clue that {prior to the whole30} I could get them at B-Dubs {aka Buffalo Wild Wings - we abbrev everything at JMU} and they were gluten free! {They are not whole30 approved though because of the sauces!} My spirits were crushed when Michael told me we couldn’t eat at B-Dubs due to their gun policies. I pondered sneaking in there without him - since “Thou shall not dine in an anti-gun establishment” was not in our wedding vows… but then my Whole30 started. {Actually a Whole60, but who’s really counting anyway. 52 more days. Wink wink!}

With football season upon us {I could really care less about football, I just love wings} I figured it was about time for me to create a Paleo, Whole30 Hot Wing recipe that would hit the spot and stop the cravings.

With that, I bring you my Whole30 Hot Wings:

Whole30 Approved Hot Wings

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

50 mins

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe.}

Recipe type: Paleo, Whole30, Gluten Free

Cuisine: American

Ingredients

15-20 Chicken Wings/Drums
½ cup of Franks Original Hot Sauce (make sure it is the original without sugar!)
¾ cup of heavy coconut cream
½ tsp Roasted Granulated Garlic Powder
½ tsp Smoked Paprika

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F - cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil - place a greased cooling rack on the cookie sheet so that the wings cook up on the rack.
Rinse and pat dry chicken wings
In a skillet, blend hot sauce, heavy coconut cream, garlic powder and smoked paprika - allow the coconut cream to melt into the hot sauce, making the hot sauce look creamier.
Set aside ¼-ish cup of the sauce for later
Lay a few wings at a time in the hot sauce, covering them thoroughly with the sauce. When they are covered in the sauce, place them on the cooling rack (that is on top of the cookie sheet.) Cover all wings with sauce and lay all of them on the cooling rack with a little bit of space between each.
Bake for 35-45 minutes - flipping the wings half way through. Before you put them back in the oven drizzle the remaining hot sauce on the wings.
I wanted to crisp my wings up just a tad so when they were done baking, I flipped the oven to broil for 2 minutes.
These pair well with the Whole30 Homemade Ranch and Celery!

2 cats & chloe: Sugar Free, Paleo, Gluten Free Hot Wings

As I said in the recipe section - be sure to cover the hot wings completely in the creamy hot sauce. You then want to lay them out on a rack for baking. I simply put a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet for this. Be sure to put aluminum foil down on the cookie sheet for easy cleanup.

To make these Whole30 Approved Hot Wings here are some things you may need:

Cookie Sheets // Cooling Rack (these are the ones I have and LOVE them) // Aluminum Foil // Chicken Wings // Frank’s Original Hot Sauce (it’s sugar free and can be found in almost all grocery stores) // Granulated Garlic Powder // Smoked Paprika // Heavy Coconut Cream (SO much less expensive in the store!)

But seriously - what are hot wings without ranch and celery?! Rubbish and nonsense! That’s what!

No really - ranch goes with wings like peanut butter goes with jelly. So I decided to try my luck at the recipe the Whole30 folks have given us for DIY Homemade Ranch Dressing. You can find their recipe {and tons of other sauces} here! You want to scroll down about midway for their “Basic Ranch” recipe. I used the hand blender that Santa brought me for Christmas - if you don’t have one, you could use a food processor or regular blender and just pulse it very, very slowly. This ranch was AMAZING. I don’t know why I waited for my fifth whole30 to make it!

So what do you think? Does it sound easy enough? Personally - I don’t think I will ever go out for wings again. These are clean, paleo, sugar free and gluten free {i.e. Whole30 Approved!} and I found them to be really easy. Something I could totally do for a potluck or my parent’s Super Bowl Party!

Since Michael doesn’t like spicy things, I promised him that I would try these with an Asian flavored base next time… so stay tuned!

Chicken Salad without Mayo! It does exist!

by Susan

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.

Paleo, Whole30 Lemon Chicken Dinner

When in Switzerland: Eat Swiss Raclette Cheese

Day 15: Seven Things to do Before The Whole30

Today I’m linking up with Karli, Leslie, Rebecca, and Amanda!

Whole30 Approved Hot Wings!

To make these Whole30 Approved Hot Wings here are some things you may need:

Chicken Salad without Mayo! It does exist!

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