Clean Eats Archives - Page 4 of 11

Day 15: Seven Things to do Before The Whole30

January 16, 2015 by Susan 4 Comments

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 - Narnie’s London Broil 2.0

January 11, 2015 by Susan 10 Comments

You know how you attach a certain song, food or even smell to a certain event in your life? For me, they are usually good memories attached to odd reminders. Just like two nights ago, my husband was out in the garage sawing up something for our kitchen rehab. All of a sudden my house smelled like cedar or pine or whatever the heck it was that was being chopped into pieces. Immediately the smell reminded me of when I was a kid and my dad {a homebuilder} would come home from work covered in the smell of a job site. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

As for recipes - there is one recipe that has become a go-to in the G-House: Narnie’s London Broil 2.0. I think I make this dish at least every other week, if not once a week on occasion. This recipe brings back so many memories of trips to Carolina, all of us gathered around a tiny white table, anxiously awaiting a warm meal.

My grandmother, Narnie, is a terrific cook. She never works off of recipes. She never really knows what she throws into the pot. She always makes amazing food. {So much so that in college, my roommates and I, 5.5 hours away from where Narnie lives, would place orders for “Narnie Spaghetti.” It is THAT good.}

Narnie's London Broil 2.0, easy whole30 dinner, beef whole30

I’m not sure why it wasn’t until I got married that I decided to try my hand at Narnie’s London Broil. Remember, she doesn’t have a recipe. She can tell you what to do and how to do it - but there’s no real method to her madness. Despite the fact that the London Broil is usually cut as a larger portion, I would recommend this easy entree to everyone! Even if you’re cooking for yourself, you can chow down on this dinner all week long. {Sometimes I will eat a couple of leftover pieces with my breakfast… steak and eggs anyone? Don’t mind if I do!}

So why am I calling this dish Narnie’s London Broil 2.0? Because I had to make it Whole30 Complaint, duh. The original recipe called for soy sauce - which is not whole30 approved for a couple of reasons: the sugar and the soy. With a simple substitute of Coconut Aminos for the soy sauce, you’ve got yourself a winning dish.

Narnie's London Broil 2.0 {Whole30 Approved!}

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe.}

Recipe type: Whole30, Gluten Free, Paleo, Sugar Free

Ingredients

1.5 - 2 pound of London Broil Cut Beef
1 tsp of Garlic Powder
1 tsp of Onion Powder
Salt
½ cup of Coconut Aminos
¼ cup of Water
½ of a Large Onion
Coconut Oil {to grease the baking dish}

Instructions

Turn on your Oven to Broil.
Grease the baking dish with coconut oil. {I will also put aluminum foil down to make it an easy clean up - grease that as well}
Place beef on a cutting board. Score the beef with a "Criss Cross" pattern on both sides. You don't need to cut too deeply into the beef, just score it so that some of the seasonings seep into it.
Sprinkle one side of the beef with half of the Garlic Powder, half of the Onion Powder, and Salt {to your preference.} Drizzle Coconut Aminos on the beef and massage it in with the seasonings you already have on it.
Lay the seasoned side down on the foil/baking dish.
Now season the other side of the beef the same way as you did before with the Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Coconut Aminos.
Pour the remaining Coconut Aminos on the top and sides of the Beef. Add ¼ cup of water to the Aminos that are on the sides. This will make a good gravy.
Slice up half of a large onion {I use purple onions} and scatter the slices over the beef and on the sides of the beef.
Broil for 10 minutes.
Take out of oven and flip the beef over so the opposite side is up.
Broil for another 5ish minutes. {Depending on the actually size of the beef, it may take more or less time. Watch it because it turns fast!}
Remove the beef, even if it is still more pink than you like, and slice it into thin slices. Lay the slices back into the baking dish and broil for 1-2 minutes, or your desired level of doneness.
Enjoy!

2 cats & chloe: Paleo, Whole30 London Broil Dinner

The cook time really depends on a few things: the size of the beef and how well-done you like your meat cooked. In my house, since we always plan to eat a lot of leftovers, I like to keep the London Broil medium-rare because it reheats better in the microwave. No one likes leftovers that taste like leather anyway.

If you’ve never used coconut aminos before, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. They are a wonderful subsitition for terriaki and soy sauces. They can be hard to find. When I first started cooking with Coconut Aminos I was ordering it off of Amazon. I later found them at a local health food store for a little bit less money. I will never go back to cooking with soy sauce again.

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Approved London Broil

I pair Narnie’s London Broil 2.0 with a baked sweet potato and my famous Brussel Sprouts. <— If you haven’t tried those yet - you’re a crazy person!

Here are a few things you may need for this recipe: Rectangle Baking Dish // Aluminum Foil // Coconut Oil // Garlic Powder // Onion Powder // Salt // Coconut Aminos // Onion // London Broil cut Beef

Do you have any good memories attached to certain recipes? Please share them with me in the comment section below!

Whole30 Approved Hot Wings!

January 9, 2015 by Susan 22 Comments

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!

Whole30 Approved Breakfast: Tomato Spinach Egg Cups

December 28, 2014 by Susan 24 Comments

Ohmagosh! Guys and Gals! Get excited because this is seriously one of my all time favorite Whole30 Approved, Paleo, naturally gluten free breakfasts! These Tomato and Spinach Breakfast Egg Cups do not take much of a skill level and act as a paleo breakfast that you can make once, then enjoy throughout the week. Brace yourself… We need to make sure you are ready for the awesomeness that is this breaky.

I cannot stress this enough: This breakfast is great because you can make one dozen breakfast cupcakes and eat them all week long. Meal prep can be key in the midst of a crazy whole30. Also, there is an endless amount of “topping” combinations you can use when making this breakfast. If you don’t like the toppings I use, you could make these with your favorite veggies. Think “western style” - peppers and onions, a spoonful of salsa, topped with a dollop of guac! Or maybe you have a household of picky eaters… let each person pick his/her own “toppings” and seasonings!

Tomato & Spinach Breakfast Egg Cuppies

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

20 mins

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe.}

Recipe type: Breakfast

Cuisine: Whole30, Paleo, Gluten Free

Serves: 12 eggs

Ingredients

12 Organic Eggs
12 Slices of Sugar Free Bacon
Spinach
Sun Dried Tomatoes
Salt & Pepper
Basil
Coconut Oil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Thoroughly grease the muffin cups with coconut oil to prevent the eggs from sticking.
Wrap one slice of bacon around the sides of each cupcake cup.
Put sun dried tomato in the bottom of each cup, then add one or two leaves of spinach to each cup.
Crack one egg into each cupcake cup.
Sprinkle each egg with desired amount of salt, pepper and basil.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. Length depends on how you like your eggs... I bake mine for 15 minutes and they just slightly runny.
Remove from cupcake pan and enjoy!

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Approved Breakfast Cupcakes

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Approved Egg Breakfast

Like I said, these Breakfast Egg Cups are paleo AND whole30 approved. And let’s not forget naturally gluten free as well!

I highly recommend that you make a full batch of these on a Sunday or Monday and then eat them for breakfast throughout the week. These Tomato & Spinach Breakfast Egg Cuppies are perfect for those busy mornings when you need to grab a quick bite, full of protein and veggies, before heading out the door.

Things you may need to buy for this recipe: Cupcake Pan, Coconut Oil, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Sugar Free Bacon, Basil

As always, let me know what you think after you make them! Please pin and share this delicious recipe!

Cheers & Love,

Suz

Whole30 Approved: Mint Cranberry Lime Spritzer

December 24, 2014 by Susan 5 Comments

Tis the season for parties and gatherings, heavy dinners and sweet treats. It’s also the season for good wine and fun cocktails. While red wine {in moderation} is considered paleo — most of my all time favorite holiday cocktails are not.

Lately, in addition to fighting the urge to drink my way through one holiday festivity after another — I have also been severely struggling to drink enough water. If it’s 6PM and I have a headache building I know it’s time to start chug-a-lugging. Water, not wine. But I get bored with the normal, plain-jane agua, like most of us do. And I really don’t drink a lot of different types of beverages. My beverage menu usually consists of water, wine or tea. So as I am nearing the start of the next #2catsWhole30 I have started playing around with Whole30 Mocktail Recipes. {Because no one likes going to a party and holding a a boring glass of water.}

2 cats & chloe: Whole30 Approved Cocktail Spritzer

With Christmas right around the corner {i.e. tomorrow!! eek!} Here is a very festive, Whole30 Approved Spritzer “Mocktail” that is sure to be a hit! If you wanted to make this a true cocktail, I would recommend adding a splash of vodka… Tis the season after all, right?

Whole30 Approved - Mint Cranberry Lime Spritzer "Mocktail"

Prep time

2 mins

Total time

2 mins

This is a great "mocktail" to keep your taste buds happy during a whole30! All natural, clean and excellent for you!

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe}

Recipe type: Beverage

Cuisine: Paleo, Whole30 Approved

Serves: 1 glass

Ingredients

A Bottle of Your Favorite Sparkling Water
100% Pure Cranberry Juice
Fresh Mint Leaves
1 Small Lime
A Handful of Fresh Cranberries

Instructions

Prior to making the drink, you need to make the ice cubes. Use an ice cube tray. Fill each cube with half cranberry juice, half water. The water helps dilute the sweetness and natural sugars in the juice. Make sure you are using 100% {not from concentrate} cranberry juice.
Once your ice cubes are frozen, you are ready to make your drink!
Put two mint leaves in the bottom of your glass.
Pour desired amount of water into the glass.
Add one Cranberry Ice Cube.
Add the lime and a few fresh cranberries, then enjoy!
{The longer you let the mint, fruit and cranberry ice cube sit, the stronger the flavor!}
Refill the water as necessary.

2 cats & chloe: Paleo Holiday Cocktail, Cranberry Lime Spritzer

2 cats & chloe: Paleo & Whole30 Approved Mocktail: Cranberry Lime Spritzer with Mint

It doesn’t get much easier than this guys. Don’t let yourself get down because your options seem limited if you are trying to cut sugars and booze. There are so many fun and creative “mocktail” options to enjoy when you are on a whole30. Here are a few that I tend to enjoy during the summer.

Keep in mind, it’s not too late to join us for the group whole30! In case you need to catch up, here are the deets:

Kick off 2015 the RIGHT way! Clean eating for 30 day! Reboot your eating habits!
On average, during the last #2catsWhole30 folks lost around 10-12 pounds. People also reported their energy levels were terrific, skin cleared up, migraines were gone!
30 days of meal plans and awesome menus are emailed to you by me!
If you need one on one coaching {or someone to call you every single day to keep you accountable} let’s talk! I’m offering coaching this time to help keep you on track and answer any questions you have throughout this life changing experience.
Email me immediately to join: 2catsandchloe{at}gmail{dot}com - I will be sending out pre-Whole30 emails this week.
Read more about my personal Whole30 experiences here, here and here.
We start JANUARY 1, 2015!

Have you ever tried mixing your own “mocktails” before? What flavors do you like to blend? Let me know if you try this recipe or if you have any questions about the upcoming #2catsWhole30!

Cheers Y’all! And Merry Christmas!