Sweet-N-Savory Paleo Stuffed Zucchini #WHOLE30 Compliant (Full Recipe)

#WHOLE30 Stuffed Zucchini

Several weeks ago I posted #WHOLE30 Stuffed Zucchini 2 Ways as part of my series of recipes based upon a recent HealthGrove study identifying top 30 foods for beautiful skin and hair. As I’ve mentioned in each recipe I’ve shared in the series, 27 of those 30 foods are #WHOLE30-compliant foods (the exceptions 3 being non-soy legumes, e.g. green peas and pea pods). None of the 30 foods from the list are dairy or grains products. I found the study so inspiring that I challenged myself to create and post all new #WHOLE30-compliant recipes with each of the 27 foods from the list (again, not counting the 3 legumes); and thus, the birth of this series of recipes. When I first posted the Stuffed Zucchini 2 Ways, I promised to add two additional posts later on – one for each stuffing option. This post is the first of those two options – the set and savory option. It includes a base ground turkey breast, sweet figs (or raisins if you prefer) along with crunchy walnuts and spices. It makes a lovely light lunch or an impressive dinner entree served along side a tossed green salad. Here is the original post for reference.

So with that lengthy introduction out of the way, this recipe’s star ingredient is #29 from the HealthGrove list of top 30 foods – ZUCCHINI!

Zucchini – #29 on Healthgrove’s List of Best Foods for Beautiful Skin and Hair

Ingredients:
• 5 medium-large zucchini
• 2 tsp. iodized sea salt, divided
• 1 lb. extra lean ground turkey breast
• 1 Tbsp. organic coconut oil, divided
• 1 cup walnuts, divided
• Nonstick cooking spray (I used Pam nonstick coconut oil spray)
• 15 dried figs or 1/2 cup raisins (for #WHOLE30 be sure to use sulfite-free figs such as these or these raisins)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• generous pinch ground cloves
• 1/4 cup instant potato flakes, e.g. Bob’s Red Mill (see note below)+++
• pinch pure stevia (omit during WHOLE30, see note below)+++

+++It’s really important to always check the ingredient lists of any products you plan to consume when doing #WHOLE30. Some instant potato flakes contain sulfite preservatives or other additives not approved for consumption during WHOLE30 (and which aren’t healthy for us to consume anyway). I recommend Bob’s Red Mill Potato Flakes. Stevia and other sweeteners are also not permitted during #WHOLE30. For a complete list of #WHOLE30 program do’s and don’ts as well as answers to just about any and all #WHOLE30 questions you may have, I highly recommend you check out the program rules here and other resources available at WHOLE30’s website to educate yourself prior to beginning your own WHOLE30 journey or whenever you have questions or need some support (the Facebook and Twitter feeds are tremendous sources of encouragement and support). Also, consider reading the book It Starts with Food prior to attempting a #WHOLE30. The book is chalked full of useful information and helpful tips to make surviving the whole 30 days a whole lot more tolerable (pun intended).

A melon baller makes it easy to scoop out the centers of each zucchini half

Hardware:
• 9X13″ Baking Dish or 2 – 8” Baking Dishes
• Medium-large sized mixing bowl
• Melon Baller or small spoon
• Colander
• Potato masher
• Chef’s knife
• Cutting board(s)
• Large nonstick frying pan

Process:
1. Wash and dry each zucchini. Transfer to cutting board.
2. Remove stems, and cut each zucchini in half length-wise.
3. Using melon-baller or small pointy spoon, scoop out inside pulp from each zucchini half and place into large bowl.
4. Place hollowed zucchini “boats” into a ziplock freezer bag and store in refrigerator. Place pulp in a bowl and sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt.
Cover and place in refrigerator for at least an hour.
5. When ready to cook, place the zucchini pulp in a large colander and rinse well under running water. Shake colander to remove excess water. Then gently pat pulp dry.
6. Spray a large frying pan with nonstick spray then place on stove over MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT.
7. Add 1 Tbsp. coconut oil to the pan and allow oil to melt. Add ground turkey breast, zucchini pulp and 1 tsp. salt in pan and brown stirring continuously to break up any lumps. You may need to use a potato masher at the end of cooking to ensure the mixture is broken up into small, even chunks that will fit nicely into the boats. (see pic below).

Mixture should look more or less like this.

8. Pour turkey mixture into medium-large mixing bowl. Preheat oven to 375° and prepare baking dish (or dishes) by lining with tin foil (for easier cleanup), then spraying lined dish(es) with nonstick coconut oil spray. Then set aside.
9. Using clean kitchen sheers, snip figs into fourths and stir into ground turkey and zucchini mixture. If using raisins, simply add to turkey mixture. Next add applesauce, walnuts, vinegar and spices (including stevia if using). Stir well to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
10. Remove zucchini “boats” from refrigerator. Take out of bag and place into prepared baking dish(es) in a single layer, cut side up.
11. Scoop stuffing mixture into the zucchini boats. You may need to press mixture down firmly with your hands in order to get all mixture into the zucchini boats. It’s okay if they seem overstuffed. Then cover baking dish(es) completely with aluminum foil and place in preheated oven.
12. Bake for 45 minutes at 375°. Then remove baking dish(es) from oven and increase temperature to 400°.
13. While oven temp is increasing, remove foil cover. Once oven temp has reached 400° return uncovered baking dish(es) to oven, and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Allow to rest, very loosely covered, for 5-10 minutes before serving. Makes around 5 servings.

Wisdom for the Day:
~Psalm 127:1-2, of Solomon (English Standard Version)
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to his beloved sleep.
KG’s comment – I love this Psalm from Solomon! It reminds me to refocus on those people and things that really matter instead those little projects and busyness with which I so frequently become preoccupied. Have you been slaving away at anything lately only to find yourself burned out and exhausted with little to no energy left for your family? Perhaps it’s time to take a break and rest. Step away from the projects and rest.
Read more here.

Check out the other recipes in this series:
Easy Cheezy Chicken & Broccoli Soup with Crispy Potato Croutons
Chicken Tri-Almandine Casserole
Quick & Easy Paleo Lemon Garlic Garlic Salad Dressing
Stuffed Zucchini 2 Ways

And be sure to subscribe to Daily Beauty Wisdom to automatically receive new posts sent directly to your inbox of choice!

WHOLE30 Lifestyle Hits the Road for Memorial Day

Loaded Turkey Burgers in a Tasty Salad Make for a Delicious & Comforting Meal on the Go!

Hubs and I finished our first WHOLE30 just over 3 weeks ago. With only a few hiccups, we’ve survived reintroduction and transition to a WHOLE30-esque lifestyle. He is now eating gluten-free grains without any problems. I’m still grain-free. Neither of us is consuming any dairy or legumes. Hubs eats what he describes as “a minimal amount of sugar” (which translates to a few spoonfuls of coconut sugar in his coconut oil coffee each morning and the occasional gluten-free cookie after dinner). And I’m still using a little artificial sweetener (primarily stevia), but avoiding all forms of refined sugar. All in all, this plan is working well for us. It’s sustainable. We’ve maintained the results we achieved during the 30 days and we don’t feel deprived or have any major cravings.

We had planned to host family this Memorial Day weekend. But plans changed due to the sudden illness of a family member. So we’re packing up our baby girl (and ALL her accoutrement) and hitting the road. This will be our daughter’s first road trip and our first WHOLE30 traveling experience.

I’m not sure which has me more nervous. I’m probably equally anxious about both. Of course, I want things to go smoothly as we travel with our daughter and I don’t want to derail our new healthier WHOLE30 lifestyle. We are blessed beyond all measure with a daughter who is calm, good-natured and easy-going. She basically adapts to anything we do with her. Plus, like most new parents, we’ve over- packed for all contingencies, so she should be well-occupied during our 9+ hour drive (each way).

Speaking of that drive, we’re definitely gonna have to eat at least a few meals on the road. The WHOLE9 / WHOLE30 folks (The Whole9 Guide To Navigating a Restaurant Menu) and others (for example: Life Health HQ WHOLE30 Restaurant Guide) have provided some great resources for eating out during the program, but I feel like (especially when you’re eating at chain restaurants as we will) you can never be truly certain that your veggies and proteins are cooked in approved oils; that no refined sugars were included in the salad dressings; etc. So I’m taking the same approach to our meals as we’re taking to traveling with our daughter – plan for all contingencies and pack our own – our proteins and veggies at least. We also have a hotel room with a full kitchen. So that will allow us some additional control over our meals.

In the meantime, here’s what I’ve packed just in case:
• Loaded Turkey Burgers To Go (recipe follows)
• Grilled Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausages
• WHOLE30 Deviled Eggs Florentine (recipe follows)
• Pre-made tossed salads
• 2 Boxes of Wholly Guacamole Minis
• Homemade Trail Mix (mix of walnuts, pecans, cashews and unsulphured raisins)
• Bananas
• Bottled water + Ginger Green Tea
• Coconut oil

So that’s it. A little preparation makes Mommy feel a whole (no pun intended) lot better before hitting the road. Plus the turkey burgers are really delicious! Hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend as well!

Loaded Turkey Burgers To Go

Ingredients:
• 1 medium-large sweet potato, peeled
• ½ cup organic unsweetened applesauce
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1.5 tsp. iodized sea salt
• 10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and well drained
• 1 lb. Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast (98% Lean)
• 1 lb. Lean Ground Turkey Breast (93% Lean)
• 5 Tbsp. chopped walnuts
• 3 Tbsp. coconut oil (I used Carrington’s brand organic extra virgin)

Hardware:
• Potato masher
• Potato peeler
• Large mixing bowl
• Large nonstick frying pan or skillet with lid

Process:
1. Cut sweet potato into 3 roughly equal pieces. Then wrap in a paper towel. Microwave on HIGH for 4-5 minutes depending on the strength of your microwave. Carefully remove from microwave and place on a small plate, then transfer to refrigerator. All to chill about 1 hour or until cool enough to handle.
2. Remove sweet potato from refrigerator and using your hands, “shmush” the pieces into smaller pieces over a large mixing bowl. Next add the applesauce.
3. Using a potato masher, mash the mixture until more or less smooth with no large chunks visible.
4. Add salt and spinach to mixture and stir until well combined.
5. Next add turkey and walnuts. Then use your hands to thoroughly combine mixture and form into patties of roughly equal size. I made 12 patties.
6. Place a large nonstick skillet over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Add 1 Tbsp. coconut oil and allow oil to melt and then rotate pan so oil covers the entire pan.
7. Place 4 patties in hot oil and cover pan. Then allow patties to cook about 6 min before flipping. Cook an additional 5 minutes (uncovered). Then remove to a platter and repeat twice with remaining patties and coconut oil.
~Makes about 12 burgers.

#WHOLE30 Deviled Eggs Florentine

Deviled Eggs Florentine Are the Perfect Cooler Snack!

Ingredients:
• 6 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chilled
• ½ 10-oz. pkg. frozen spinach, defrosted and very well drained
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. WHOLE30-approved mayo (e.g. Primal Kitchens Mayo, or Tessemae’s Mayo)
• 2 Tbsp. DBW Paleo Cheez It Sauce (optional) or additional 1 Tbsp. Mayo
• Optional garnishes – sliced black olives, smoked paprika, sliced almonds, etc.

Hardware:
• Small paring knife
• Cutting board
• Small-medium sized mixing bowl
• Spatula or fork

Process:
1. Place each boiled egg on cutting board and cut in half horizontally (see picture below). Cutting the eggs this way allows you to store the deviled eggs in an empty (dozen) egg container. If you’re planning to serve your deviled eggs in a traditional deviled egg platter, you will want to halve your eggs vertically.

Vertical cut on the left. Horizontal cut on the right.

2. Place halved egg whites into whatever container you will serve them. Because I’m taking my deviled eggs to-go I placed them back into a an empty egg container which I had cleaned and dried.
3. Carefully scoop the yolks into a mixing bowl (you want to avoid breaking the whites). Using a form or spatula, mash up the yolks until no large lumps remain.

4. Next add the spinach (you can save the left over spinach for some other use), salt, mayo and Cheez Sauce (if using). Stir all together until well combined. Taste for seasoning and adjust if desired.

5. Spoon filling into halves and decorate with garnish as desired. I piped the mixture in using a pastry bag just to be all fancy, but that’s totally unnecessary.

N.B. This recipe makes an excess of filling. I’m not wasting the filling. Hubs and I are packing filling up and taking it with us in a small Tupperware container because it makes a tremendous salad dressing!

~Makes 12 deviled egg halves.

Wisdom for the Day:
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
~Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Read more here.

Resource of the Day:
Check out the wonderful and informative Paleo Hacks Blog and be sure to sign up for one of the free recipe guides!

Chicken Tri-Almandine Casserole #WHOLE30-Compliant

Chicken Tri-Almandine Casserole #WHOLE30-Compliant

Today’s recipe is the 3rd in a series based on the list of the 30 foods identified as best for producing beautiful skin and hair in a recent study by HealthGrove. As I have previously written, all but 3 of the 30 foods on that list are WHOLE30 compliant. I also think it’s worth pointing out that the 3 foods on the list not technically considered WHOLE30 compliant are legumes (i.e. beans), not dairy or grains; and that none of the legumes are soy or soy derivatives. That is both fascinating and frustrating, because as a reformed vegan myself, I totally bought into the soy-as-health-food myth for so long. For more on my journey away from the land of faux meat patties and into the freedom and tremendous #NSVs I discovered through WHOLE30, check out the hot linked articles above or listed below.

In case you missed it, previous recipes include: Cheezy Broccoli Soup with Crispy Potato Croutons (#20 from the list) and #WHOLE30-Compliant Stuffed Zucchini Two Ways (#29 from Healthgrove list). Today’s beautifying ingredient is ALMONDS (#26 from the list)!

Almonds are a great source of biotin (one of the B vitamins necessary for cell growth and often recommended as a supplement to strengthen hair and nails; source), Vitamin E and Manganese. In fact a 1/4 cup of sliced almonds provide almost 50% of your daily requirement of biotin for only 132 calories (source). Pretty beautiful, indeed! I’m really excited about this recipe because it uses not one or two but three different forms of almonds – whole almonds, unsweetened almond milk and almond flour. If you’re looking for yet another way to sneak these super healthy and beautifying little nuts into your diet, consider almond butter. Almond butter is a delicious and healthier alternative to peanut butter as detailed in this article, complete with a quick and easy DIY recipe. Be sure to check it out!

This would be a great time to try out the WHOLE30-approved brand New Barn almond milk if it’s available near you, or you can obviously use homemade almond milk or other approved variety. If you can’t find almond flour, it’s easy to make. Just toss about ¼ cup whole almonds in a coffee grinder or food processor and process until no lumps or chunks remain.

This recipe also caused a minor sensation in our household because we could not agree on our preferred protein. I made this recipe twice in 2 days, and we literally ate it for 4 straight meals (not counting breakfasts). The first time I made it, I used 2 lb. ground turkey breast. The second time, I used chicken tenderloins (as below). I personally preferred the ground turkey version, but then I (always) prefer turkey to chicken. Hubs preferred the chicken version, and my mother was undecided. If you happen to prefer one over the other, just know that both proteins work equally well. And if you happen to have about 2 cups of leftover cooked, diced meat available, you can skip several steps (1,2,and 5) which is good. As I also noted below, you can prepare this recipe through step #8 ahead of time and keep it tightly covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days before completing and serving. And it makes a ton, definitely enough for dinner and several lunch servings.

Ingredients:
• 2.5 lb. bag boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins (e.g. Tyson), defrosted
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil (I used Carrington’s Organic Extra Virgin)
• 2-10 oz. pkg. steam-in-bag haricot vert or whole green beans (I used Pictsweet brand)
• 1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained and rinsed
• 1.5 cups whole almonds (raw or oil-roasted)
• 2-8 oz. pkg. sliced mushrooms
• 1.5 tsp. salt, divided
• ¼ tsp. garlic or 1 garlic clove, minced
• Nonstick spray (I used Pam nonstick coconut oil spray)

For the Sauce –
• 2 whole eggs or 1/2 cup egg whites
• 3 heaping Tbsp. canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 can Thai Kitchen Organic coconut milk
• ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk, homemade, or WHOLE30 approved e.g. New Barn
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. Coconut Secret Aminos sauce
• 1/8 tsp. white pepper
• ¼ tsp. mustard powder
• ½ tsp. dried turmeric
• 2 Tbsp. nutrient yeast (optional)

For the Topping –
• 2 Tbsp. potato flakes, e.g. Bob’s Red Mill+++
• 3 Tbsp. almond flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
• ½ tsp. salt

Hardware:
• Large nonstick skillet
• 9X13” baking dish or pan
• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Tongs
• Aluminum foil

Process:
1. Place frying pan over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Add coconut oil and allow oil to melt. Then add chicken tenderloins and sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt. Brown chicken stirring and turning occasionally, until cooked through (about 15 minutes).
2. Remove chicken from pan and allow chicken tenders to drain on paper towels.
3. While chicken is cooling, add another 1 Tbsp. coconut oil to skillet and turn heat to MEDIUM. When oil has melted, pour both packages of mushrooms into pan along with ½ tsp. salt and garlic powder or minced garlic clove. Cook mushrooms over MEDIUM-HIGH heat stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Then lower heat to MEDIUM and cook about 5 more minutes. Turn off heat and remove pan from stove.
4. While mushrooms are cooking, place green beans in microwave-safe bowl and microwave on HIGH for approximately half the time required for two bags. (Example: I have a high-powered microwave that should have cooked both bags in 8 minutes according to package directions so I cooked both bags together on HIGH for 5 minutes).
5. When chicken is cool enough to handle, move to cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces.

6. Spray a 9X13” baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and preheat oven to 375° and begin adding in the following order:
7. First place chicken chunks at the bottom of baking dish or pan. Next carefully pour green beans into dish. Then add almonds, drained water chestnuts and cooked mushrooms.
8. Sprinkle casserole ingredients with remaining ½ tsp. salt. Using tongs, gently toss vegetables to combine.
N.B. You can prepare casserole through this step up to 3 days in advance and keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator.
9. Next, prepare sauce as follows: Place eggs into large (should hold at least 3 cups, or 48 oz.) measuring cup or bowl and gently whisk until beaten (if using whole eggs). Next add pumpkin and stir until smooth. Then pour entire can of coconut milk and almond milk into mixture and stir until thoroughly combined and smooth in consistency. Then add next 6 ingredients and stir until well-combined. Then pour this sauce over casserole as evenly as possible. Then using tongs, gently toss casserole ingredients again to distribute sauce. It will look something like this:

10. In a small cup, stir together potato flakes, almond flour and salt using a fork. Then sprinkle mixture evenly over top casserole. Cover casserole with aluminum foil.

Here’s the casserole ready to be covered and baked!

11. Bake (covered) for 45 minutes at 375°. Then remove from oven. Increase oven temp to 400° and remove aluminum foil.
12. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes longer (uncovered) at 400°.
13. Remove from oven and allow to rest uncovered for 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

+++ NOTE: this recipe uses potato flakes, canned coconut milk and almond milk. It is important to always check the ingredient lists of any products you purchase and consume, especially when doing WHOLE30. Some potato flakes and canned coconut milks contain sulfite preservatives, and some brands of almond milk contain carrageenan (a thickening agent), which are not approved for consumption during WHOLE30 (and which aren’t healthy for us to consume anyway). I recommend Bob’s Red Mill Potato Flakes and Thai Kitchen Organic Coconut Milk. And I highly recommend you check out the WHOLE30 list of approved and unapproved additives and the other resources available at WHOLE30’s website to educate yourself prior to beginning your own WHOLE30 journey and anytime you have questions along the way.

Wisdom of the Day:
If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of our benevolent God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.
~James 1:5 (AMPLIFIED)
Read more here.

Resources of the Day:
Planning on taking a road trip this coming Memorial Day? Us too. And we’re probably gonna have to eat at least 1 or 2 restaurant meals along the way. Check out these resources for tips on how to stay the WHOLE30 course while traveling this summer.
1. Life Health HQ WHOLE30 Restaurant Guide
2. The Whole9 Guide To Navigating a Restaurant Menu

BTW: The post I referenced in the intro describing all the positive results I gained during our first WHOLE30 (known as Non Scale Victories or #NSVs) can be read here: WHOLE30 Post Script I. And my discussion about my journey from faux-meat-addicted vegan to dedicated WHOLE30-er may be accessed here: All In – Making a Lasting Commitment to the WHOLE30 Lifestyle.

WHOLE30 Stuffed Zucchini Two Ways

Several days ago I wrote about a study from HealthGrove identifying the best 30 foods for beautiful skin and hair. The researchers compiled the list by creating an algorithm based upon the top vitamins and minerals to support skin and hair health and calculating which foods were highest in those nutrients and lowest in unhealthy, pro-inflammatory factors. As I explained at the time, all but 3 of the 30 are WHOLE30 foods, the remaining 3 being legumes (i.e. beans). I then issued myself a challenge to create all new Paleo / WHOLE30 recipes with each of the 27 foods.

In case you missed it, my first attempt was based on #20 (broccoli) from the list of beautifying foods. Incidentally, that recipe and this one both use instant potato flakes. It has come to my attention that some brands of instant potato flakes contain various preservatives including sulfites, which are not approved for consumption during WHOLE30 (and which are unhealthy for us to eat at any time). I highly recommend Bob’s Red Mill Potato Flakes. You can purchase this product online through iHerb or Amazon, and it is available in many grocery stores. The moral of the story – it’s always important to check the ingredient lists of any products you purchase, especially when doing WHOLE30.

#29 on Healthgrove’s List of Best Food for Beautiful Skin and Hair

So with all that said, today’s mystery ingredient is (drum roll please) – ZUCCHINI! I love the green summer squash for it’s mild flavor and versatility.

The following recipe offers you two high protein, vegetable-heavy main-dish treatment options for stuffed zucchini. The great thing about this recipe is that you can prepare both options using 5 zucchini and 1 pound of ground turkey breast plus a few pantry staples. Both treatments received rave reviews from my family. None of us could choose a favorite, so I am sharing both. Option #1 is savory with an Italian flavor and seasonings. I served the savory zucchini boats with my Paleo Cheez Sauce along side. The tangy, creaminess of the sauce provided a wonderful compliment to the tomato and turkey stuffing. I also think the Cheez Sauce makes this option a bit more kid-friendly.

Option #2 is savory/sweet with what my mother described as “an almost Persian taste.” I’m not sure about that. I suspect she was referencing the flavor and texture of the figs. If you or your family don’t like figs – or you just don’t happen to have any in the house at present – you can certainly substitute raisins or prunes for that matter. I wouldn’t use dates for this recipe, however. They’re just too sweet. Also, if you’re actively doing WHOLE30,
remember to always be mindful to avoid any dried fruits preserved with sulfites which (as noted above) are off limits during the program. If you’re on the fence about figs and need a reason to give them a try, check out this link to find out why figs are among the world’s healthiest foods and one of the best guardians of health.

One final note, this is not a difficult recipe, nor are the ingredients terribly exotic or tough to come by. It is, however, time-consuming as you may have guessed if you skipped ahead to read the process. This is the type of recipe that is likely to impress guests and is sure to please even those not following special dietary regimens. For those reasons, I would suggest saving this for a weekend meal or some day when you have a little extra time to prepare dinner. Wishing you good health and delicious meals!

Ingredients:
• 5 medium-large zucchini
• 2 tsp. iodized sea salt, divided
• 1 lb. extra lean ground turkey breast
• 2 Tbsp. organic coconut oil, divided
• 1 cup walnuts, divided
• Nonstick cooking spray (I used Pam nonstick coconut oil spray)

For Savory Stuffed Zucchini

• 1 can diced tomatoes, well drained (be sure the brand you buy has no added sugar or unapproved additives)
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder (or 2 garlic cloves, minced)
• ¼ tsp. dried oregano
• ½ small sweet onion, diced
• ½ red bell pepper, diced
• ¼ cup instant potato flakes, e.g. Bob’s Red Mill
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• ½ tsp. grated lemon peel
• 2 Tbsp. nutrient yeast (optional)

For Sweet-N-Savory Stuffed Zucchini

• 10 dried figs or 1/3 cup raisins (for WHOLE30 be sure to use sulfite-free figs such as these or these raisins)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. allspice
• pinch ground cloves
• pinch pure stevia (omit during WHOLE30)

Hardware:
• 2 – 8” Baking Dishes
• 2 – small/medium sized mixing bowls
• Melon Baller or small spoon

A melon baller makes it easy to scoop out the centers of each zucchini half

• Lemon zester
• Chef’s knife
• Cutting board(s)
• Large nonstick frying pan

Process:
1. Wash and dry each zucchini. Transfer to cutting board.
2. Remove stems, and cut each zucchini in half length-wise.
3. Using melon-baller or small pointy spoon, scoop out inside pulp from each zucchini half and place into large bowl.
4. Place hollowed zucchini “boats” into a ziplock freezer bag and store in refrigerator. Place pulp in a bowl and sprinkle with salt.
Cover and place in refrigerator for at least an hour.
5. When ready to cook, place the zucchini pulp in a large colander and rinse well under running water. Shake colander to remove excess water. Then gently pat pulp dry.
6. Spray a large frying pan with nonstick spray then place it over MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT.
7. Add 1 Tbsp. coconut oil to the pan and allow oil to melt. Then place ground turkey breast, zucchini pulp and 1 tsp. salt in pan and brown stirring continuously to break up and lumps. You may need to use a potato masher at the end of cooking to ensure the mixture is broken up into even chunks that will fit nicely into the boats. (see pic below)

Mixture should look more or less like this.

8. Divide this mixture equally into 2 large mixing bowls. Then wash and dry pan to prepare for reuse.
9. For Savory Zucchini Boats:
Drain tomatoes well and add to turkey mixture along with ½ cup walnuts, garlic, oregano and ½ tsp. salt. Place frying pan over MEDIUM heat and add remaining 1 Tbsp. coconut oil. Heat oil until it melts. Then add pepper and onion. Cook veggies over MEDIUM heat until onions are translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent burning (N.B. If you’re lazy, like me, you can save time and cleanup by tossing the peppers, onion and oil into a microwave-safe bowl and nuking on HIGH for 4 minutes. Then proceed as above). Add cooked onions and peppers to turkey/tomato mixture and stir to combine. Next add dry potato flakes, nutrient yeast, lemon peel and juice. Stir to combine and test for seasoning, adjusting to taste.
10. For Sweet –N- Savory Zucchini Boats:
Using clean kitchen sheers, snip figs into fourths and stir into ground turkey and zucchini mixture. If using raisins, simply add to turkey mixture. Next add applesauce, remaining ½ cup walnuts, vinegar and spices (including stevia if using). Stir well to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
11. Preheat oven to 375° and prepare baking dishes by lining both dishes with tin foil (for easier cleanup), then spraying lined dishes with nonstick coconut oil spray. Place 5 zucchini halves in each baking dish.
12. Scoop savory mixture into the 5 “boats” in one baking dish and repeat with sweet/savory mixture in second baking dish. You may need to press mixture down firmly in order to get all mixture into the zucchini. It’s okay if they seem overstuffed. Then cover both dishes with aluminum foil and place in preheated oven.
13. Bake for 45 minutes. Then remove baking dishes from oven and increase temperature to 400°.
14. Meanwhile, remove foil cover from baking dishes. (At this point, I sprinkled the savory zucchini boats with a bit more nutrient yeast, but that’s totally optional. I didn’t notice it made much difference in terms of flavor.) Once oven temp has reached 400° return dishes to oven. Cook for 15 minutes longer.
15. Remove both baking dishes from oven. Allow to rest, very loosely covered, for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Makes 5 servings

N.B. In case you prefer one version over another, note that I will shortly be posting links to each option above using full pound of meat.
Check back soon!

Wisdom of the Day:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:6-8 (NASB)
Read more here.

Resource of the Day:
Curious as to what exactly constitutes a well-stocked WHOLE30 pantry? Check out the WHOLE30 Pantry Stocking Guide.

#WHOLE30 Stuffed Zucchini Two Ways

#29 on Healthgrove’s List of Best Food for Beautiful Skin and Hair

So with all that said, today’s mystery ingredient is (drum roll please) – ZUCCHINI!

I love the green summer squash for it’s mild flavor and versatility. The following recipe offers you two high protein, vegetable-heavy main-dish treatment options for stuffed zucchini. The great thing about this recipe is that you can prepare both options using 5 zucchini and 1 pound of ground turkey breast plus a few pantry staples. Both treatments received rave reviews from my family. None of us could choose a favorite, so I am sharing both. Option #1 is savory with an Italian flavor and seasonings. I served the savory zucchini boats with my Paleo Cheez Sauce along side. The tangy, creaminess of the sauce provided a wonderful compliment to the tomato and turkey stuffing. I also think the Cheez Sauce makes this option a bit more kid-friendly.

Hardware:
• 2 – 8” Baking Dishes
• 2 – small/medium sized mixing bowls
• Melon Baller or small spoon

A melon baller makes it easy to scoop out the centers of each zucchini half

• Lemon zester
• Potato masher
• Chef’s knife
• Cutting board(s)
• Large nonstick frying pan

Process:
1. Wash and dry each zucchini. Transfer to cutting board.
2. Remove stems, and cut each zucchini in half length-wise.
3. Using melon-baller or small pointy spoon, scoop out inside pulp from each zucchini half and place into large bowl.
4. Place hollowed zucchini “boats” into a ziplock freezer bag and store in refrigerator. Place pulp in a bowl and sprinkle with salt.
Cover and place in refrigerator for at least an hour.
5. When ready to cook, place the zucchini pulp in a large colander and rinse well under running water. Shake colander to remove excess water. Then gently pat pulp dry.
6. Spray a large frying pan with nonstick spray then place it over MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT.
7. Add 1 Tbsp. coconut oil to the pan and allow oil to melt. Then place ground turkey breast, zucchini pulp and 1 tsp. salt in pan and brown stirring continuously to break up and lumps. You may need to use a potato masher at the end of cooking to ensure the mixture is broken up into even chunks that will fit nicely into the boats. (see pic below)

Mixture should look more or less like this.

Makes 5 servings

N.B. In case you prefer one version over another, you can find the full Savory Stuffed Zucchini Boats recipe here. And I’ve posted the full Sweet-N-Savory Stuffed Zucchini Boats recipe here.

Resource of the Day:
Curious as to what exactly constitutes a well-stocked WHOLE30 pantry? Check out the WHOLE30 Pantry Stocking Guide.

Paleo Chop Suey Stir-fry (with WHOLE30 option*)

Another day, another evening and I found myself standing in the kitchen wondering “what the heck are we gonna have for dinner?” As I scrounged through the refrigerator, it noticed that we had a bunch of leftovers that desperately needed to be used before I have to throw them out. This is exactly the type of occasion that calls for a big ol’ stir-fry!

Since I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to try out that fabulous cauliflower ricing technique, I decided this was exactly that moment, especially since I just so happened to have a couple of bags of washed and ready to use florets in the fridge.

Now, I’d seen several comments from other bloggers indicating they’d be willing to pay extra to purchase pre-riced cauliflower and had thought smugly to myself “not me. I’m a thrifty little housewife. Surely I can whip out my handy-dandy food processor and make short work of those crunchy white florets.” But not so fast my presumptuous little home chef! I now understand why so many people choose to pay a little more to avoid the hassle of ricing cauliflower. I’ll tell you what to do and some pitfalls to avoid, should you decide to make your own Paleo rice using what Hubs not-so-affectionately calls “the white broccoli.” You may as well learn from my pain!

The end result was incredibly tasty and praised by all. Hubs (who counts cauliflower among his “3 deadly veggies” along with broccoli and Brussels sprouts) even had 2 helpings. Score one for the thrifty little housewife! I think your family will enjoy this recipe as well.

The end result – a big pan of stir-fried yumminess!

PS: Don’t be intimidated by the lengthy ingredient list. You’ll find that you probably have most of the seasonings on hand. You can easily swap out any of the veggies for whatever you have available (e.g. broccoli for green beans, onions for celery, cabbage for carrots and so on). And with the exception of eggs, any of the proteins can exchanged for other meats you happen to have available.

Ingredients:
• 1 medium head cauliflower or 2 (10oz.) bags ready-to-use florets
• 1 tsp. iodized sea salt
• ½ tsp. turmeric+++
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp. no sugar added orange juice
• 1-2 tsp. fresh ginger, peeled and diced fine (or 1 tsp. dried ginger)
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 3 large carrots, peeled cut into thick slices
• 3 stalks celery, cut into large slices
• ½ red bell pepper, cut into thin slices
• 1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained and rinsed well
• 1 cup steamed green beans
• 2 Tbsp. dark (toasted) sesame oil, divided
• 6 oz. pre-cooked (leftover) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 leftover cooked sausages, sliced*
• 2 whole eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ cup liquid egg whites
• 1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos
• ¼ cup chopped cashews
• 1 packet stevia* (optional, skip if doing WHOLE30)
• nonstick cooking spray (I used nonstick coconut oil spray)

Hardware:
• Food processor
• Large non-stick pan or wok (preferably with lid)

Process:
1. If starting with whole cauliflower, wash and chop. Then place half the cauliflower into canister of your food processor. If using bagged (pre-washed and cut) cauliflower, simply dump 1 bag into canister of food processor. Process half the mixture by pulsing on LOW until desired consistency.
2. Transfer riced cauliflower to a large bowl and repeat with remaining (unprocessed) cauliflower.
3. N.B. Do NOT try to rice all the cauliflower at once. Trust me. I tried to do this and it didn’t work. I had to stop and take out half the cauliflower by hand (NOT fun) in order to remove the portion of cauliflower that was fully riced before it turned to paste.

Here’s what you do not want your food processor to look like:

Do NOT do this! Notice how I overfilled the canister beyond the max capacity line? Do not make this mistake. Save yourself the time and annoyance by ricing the cauliflower in 2 batches.

4. After all cauliflower is riced, add turmeric and sea salt to cauliflower and stir well to combine. Then microwave mixture on HIGH for 3-5 minutes (depending on microwave size/strength). Set aside.
5. Assemble all remaining ingredients. I put all the vegetables in one bowl (separate from cauliflower); all the meat in another bowl; the eggs in measuring cup; and had seasonings nearby.
6. Spray pan with coconut oil cooking spray. Then add coconut oil, 1 Tbsp. sesame oil and orange juice to pan. Place pan over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Allow pan to heat for about 3 minutes.
7. Add ginger, garlic powder and heat for 2 minutes over MEDIUM-HIGH heat, stirring continuously.
8. Next stir in celery, carrots, pepper and water chestnuts. Stir well. Allow to cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. Then add green beans, chicken and sausage. Stir well to combine. Cook about 3 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
10. Combine beaten eggs with egg whites. Stir to thoroughly mix, then pour over mixture in pan. Stir to combine. Continue to stir as mixture cooks to scramble the eggs. Should take about 3 minutes.
11. Turn off the heat and if possible cover pan with a lid. Allow mixture to rest about 5 minutes.
12. Just before serving sprinkle mixture with remaining Tbsp. of sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, Coconut Aminos sauce and stevia (if using). Then stir to combine. Then sprinkle with cashews. Serve & Enjoy. Makes about 8 servings!

My mother (who also dislikes cauliflower) helped herself to 3 servings!!!

* To make this recipe WHOLE30 approved take the following steps – Do not add stevia; Make sure the juice you use is pure unsweetened OJ with no sugar added; and be sure that the sausages have no sugar added. As I’ve mentioned, we like Aidell’s brand organic chicken and apples which have no added sugars or nasty stuff. Check out the WHOLE30 Approved list for other approved protein brands.

Enjoy this whole food stir-fry is good health! #WHOLE30 #Paleo #JERF #grainfree #dairyfree #primal

Resources of the Day:+++
Turmeric is a spice with powerful anti-inflammatory properties that imparts a mild, warm flavor. I find it goes well with mustard, ginger, cinnamon and other warm spices. It also imparts a lovely golden color to this dish, making the cauliflower look even more like fried rice. To read more about turmeric’s proven health benefits and to discover a new recipe to help you increase your turmeric consumption, check out these links:
10 Evidence-based Health Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric among the World’s Healthiest Foods
Dr. Weil’s 3 Reasons to Eat & Drink Turmeric

Wisdom for the Day:
“(The excellent woman of virtue) She is like the merchant ships abounding with treasure; She brings her household’s food from far away.”
~Proverbs 31:14 (Amplified)
Read more here.

WHOLE30 Day #30 – So This Is It….(Paleo) Pie for Everyone!!!

WHOLE30 Day #30 –This is it, the final day of our inaugural WHOLE30 journey. As I discussed in the WHOLE30 Day #25 post, both Hubs and I have achieved some positive results from this 30-day cycle. Over the next few days, I will be writing a couple more posts to summarize our first experience with WHOLE30 – the good, the bad, and the painful. I will also be posting my own list of recommended products for “doing the WHOLE30.” These will be various foods (primarily) and some other items we found along the way that made the experience easier, tastier and generally more tolerable.

This was a challenging final day for us, in part because we had company this weekend. When you have company, of course, you generally have to serve food that is WHOLE30 approved. In this case, our visitors were a family of 5 – including my beautiful cousin, a strict vegetarian, her husband and their 3 boys – all under the age of 7. So at various points this weekend our kitchen was filled with fresh-from-the-bakery cookies (chocolate chip AND peanut butter), tortilla chips, pizza and chicken nuggets. Tempting goodies to be sure. But the joy of hosting family and the pleasure of using one’s home to show hospitality makes it so worthwhile.

To avoid diving face-first into the delicious-looking and even better smelling piping hot cheesy pizza (which was coincidentally the very subject of my food fantasies just a couple weeks ago), I prepared for myself the following go-to recipe. I’ve used this at several points during our WHOLE30 when I’ve felt particularly deprived. I haven’t posted this recipe previously because it comes perilously close to what the WHOLE30 authors refer to as a “paleo pancake,” and which they specifically state is off-limits during the program. However, the primary component here is protein – in this case egg whites – not some flour substitute like tapioca etc. Therefore I believe it deserves the title omelet, even if it does satisfy my sweet cravings!

Paleo Pumpkin Pie Omelet (AKA “The P3 Omelet”)

Ingredients:
• 1/3 medium sweet potato, peeled
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
• 2 cups liquid egg whites
• ¼ tsp. iodized sea salt
• ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• pinch each: ground cloves, allspice and nutmeg
NOTE: if you happen to have Pumpkin Pie Spice on-hand you can just use 1/2 tsp. of that in place of the cinnamon, ginger etc.
• nonstick spray (I used nonstick coconut oil spray)
• stevia, if desired (other options include cacao nibs, pure maple syrup and melted ghee)

Hardware:
• electric skillet or large (preferably nonstick) heavy frying pan
• high-powered blender (e.g. Nutribullet, Vitamixer, etc.)

Process:
1. Place sweet potato in microwave on HIGH for about 2-3 minutes (depending on strength/size of your microwave) until cooked through. Allow to cool slightly.
2. When sweet potato is cool enough to handle, place in canister of blender, then add next 6 ingredients.

Hmm, not so very appetizing at this stage. But stick with me!

3. Cover and blend on LOW-MEDIUM speed until fully blended and no chunks of sweet potato remain.
4. Place a large skillet over MEDIUM-HIGH heat and spray with nonstick spray. If using an electric skillet, preheat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Pour half the mixture into the prepared pan and cover pan. Turn heat down to MEDIUM (about 350 on electric skillet). Allow omelet to cook until surface appears dry (about 5 minutes). Then carefully flip.
6. Cook about 5 more minutes on the other side. Repeat process with remaining omelet mixture.
7. Serve & Enjoy. NOTE: I like to sprinkle the omelet with a little stevia before serving. It’s also great with a few cacao nibs sprinkled on top and some melted ghee. Heck if you’ve completed WHOLE30 (or are just trying to eat Paleo), you may as well top it with some pure maple syrup. Go crazy!
Makes about 4 servings

Verse of the Day:
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
~I Peter 4:9 (NKJV)
Read more here.

Resource of the Day:
Looking to improve your hosting skills? Here’s a magnificent list of 10 totally do-able steps to increase your hospitality IQ.
NOTE: The Art of Simple is also a lovely all-around blog about house, home and family!

WHOLE30 Day #29 – Feeling Thankful

WHOLE30 Day #29 – This is the penultimate (I just love that word!) day of our inaugural WHOLE30 journey. In plain English, it’s our second to last day. We can see the end from here. It’s exciting. I already feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment, and I’m grateful that Hubs and I were able to go through it together. But there’s another feeling too, almost a nervousness or apprehension, like I’m not ready for it to end. Gone are the cravings that haunted me a week or two ago. I no longer go to sleep at night counting cream-filled doughnuts. I don’t really want to go back to my previous way of eating. And there are still so many WHOLE30-esque recipes buzzing around in my head that I’ve yet to try.

The one that follows is something that came to me during the period of overwhelming food yearnings. During a rare moment of quiet in our house, I sat gleefully perusing internet food porn while fantasizing about various delicious meals I’d enjoyed in days gone by. I remembered with fondness our annual Thanksgiving feasts, complete with moist turkey, savory homemade stuffing (or dressing if you’re so inclined), gooey sweet potatoes, maybe some mashed potatoes and apple pie too. Then I thought, what if I combined all those flavors into one dish? Something small I could eat with my hands, so I could shove a whole lot in my mouth all at once, something like …. meatballs. Surely, I could find a way to make meatballs taste good using WHOLE30 ingredients. Voilà!

Thanksgiving Meatballs

Thanksgiving Dinner in a Meatball!!!

As an additional comment (added since the original posting of this recipe), I want to mention something I’ve discovered regarding instant potato flakes. It has come to my attention that some brands contain various preservatives including sulfites, which are not approved for consumption during WHOLE30 (and which are frankly unhealthy for us to eat at any time). I highly recommend Bob’s Red Mill Potato Flakes. You can purchase this product online through iHerb or Amazon, and it is also available in many grocery stores. The moral of the story – it’s always important to check the ingredient lists of any products you purchase, especially when doing WHOLE30.

Back to the meatballs – I’ll warn you, this is a somewhat labor-intensive recipe but it’s SO worth the effort. This is possibly my family’s favorite WHOLE30 recipe so far. I’m betting your family will enjoy it as well. Be sure and leave me some comments to let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato peeled and cooked
• 2 apples, chopped finely (I left mine unpeeled)
• 9 oz. package frozen spinach, defrosted and well drained
• 1 pound lean (e.g. 93%) ground turkey breast (uncooked)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 whole eggs, lightly beaten
• ½-3/4 cup instant mashed potato flakes (dry)
• ¼ cup coconut oil

Hardware:
• large (preferably nonstick) heavy frying pan with lid or electric skillet
• large baking sheet
• food processor

Process:
1. Place sweet potato in microwave on HIGH for about 3-5 minutes (depending on strength/size of your microwave) until cooked through.
Allow to cool slightly.
2. When sweet potato is cool enough to handle, place in canister of food processor along with apples, and pulse until mostly smooth.
3. Remove lid and add next 9 ingredients. Cover and process on LOW-MEDIUM speed until fully blended.
4. Pour mixture into large bowl and fold in ½ cup mashed potato flakes. Stir until well combined.
5. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours, overnight is best.
At this point, you may need to add some more potato flakes to thicken the mixture. Try adding 1 Tbsp. at a time to avoid ending up with overly dry
meatballs. If you do need to add more, be sure to stir well after each addition to fully combine.
6. Using clean hands (I wore disposable sanitary gloves), form mixture into individual meatballs about 1/8 cup each in size. Place on well-oiled baking
sheet.

To cook the meatballs you have 2 options: Fry or bake. I tried both and they work equally well. I’d say that baking was a lot easier for me, but it’s your call.

7. To Fry: Place a large skillet over MEDIUM-HIGH heat and spray with nonstick spray. If using an electric skillet, preheat to 375 degrees
Fahrenheit. When pan is hot, melt 3 Tbsp. coconut oil and rotate pan to evenly distribute the oil.
Place half the meatballs into the prepared pan and cover pan. Turn heat down to MEDIUM (about 350 on electric skillet). Cover pan and allow to cook about
8 minutes.
Remove lid and carefully flip each meatball over.
Cover pan again and cook about 10 more minutes. Repeat process with remaining meatballs and coconut oil. You may do this ahead of time and reheat them in
a 350 degree oven for about 7 minutes if desired.
8. To Bake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees (Fahrenheit). Melt coconut oil in microwave (should take about 20 seconds on HIGH) and drizzle over meatballs. Toss meatballs gently to coat with oil.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then remove pan from oven and carefully flip each meatball.
Return to oven and cook about 8 more minutes. Remove from oven and check for doneness. As above, you may prebake meatballs and reheat them in a 350 degree oven for about 7 minutes just prior to serving if desired.
Serve & Enjoy! Makes about 6 large servings

Verse of the Day:
But I will sing to You and sacrifice to You with a voice filled with thanksgiving; Whatever I promised, I will certainly pay it because deliverance is from the Eternal alone.
~Jonah 2:9 (The Voice)
Read more here.

Resource of the Day:
Have you recently achieved a goal and feel like treating yourself to a Pretty Mommy beautification product? Check out this list of drugstore dupes for high-end makeup products. Use this list to score several products for the price of one. Win, win!

WHOLE30 Day #21- 2nd Day Dinner…Done!

WHOLE30 Day #21 – So last night for our main course protein, we had rotisserie chicken, AKA “the go-to fast food meal of Paleos.” It was delicious, and perhaps more important, it was convenient. But as is always the case in our household, we had more than half the chicken leftover afterwards. I suspect you’ve had a similar experience with whole chickens unless you’re serving a family of 6+ in which case my heart goes out to you! In the old (pre-WHOLE30) days, I would have easily used the leftovers to generate some sort of chicken and rice dish, but alas rice is no longer an option. So when my mother suggested I make a stir-fry for the second-day meal, my initial thought was: Ugh, impossible without rice! Then my next thoughts were of all the ways to mimic rice; how I should run to the store; purchase some cauliflower and try out that cool ricing technique I’d seen on so many Paleo blogs recently. But Hubs detests cauliflower and he’d surely see through that trick, I reasoned. Plus, I’d already pushed my luck with him only a few days ago with the fried sprouts adventure. Probably best not to force him into eating two such dreaded veggies in close succession.

After too many minutes spent pondering the issue, I went to refrigerator and stumbled upon my first tip for success when “doing” the WHOLE30.
Are you ready? Here it is:
Keep as much fresh produce in your house as you can (or have room for), even if you don’t know how you’re going to use them (that is, even if you have no particular recipe in mind for them).

Having spare fruits and veggies in the house has saved me on multiple occasions when trying to figure out dinner (see Turkey Cabbage Skillet as but one example). In this case, I rummaged through the fridge and found some fresh ginger root, extra celery, a couple of bell peppers and some colorful baby carrots (listed in the recipe as just carrots), etc. And I keep unsweetened pineapple juice on hand for making my WHOLE30-ish popsicles (see recipe here) as well as various forms of coconut – oil, aminos, etc. because I’ve become so fond of cooking with coconut (as I discussed in this post). So I decided to just give it my best shot with creating a stir-fry that would be satisfying on its own without rice.

WHOLE30 Rotisserie Chicken Stir-fry – Delicious 2nd Day Dinner Option

The result garnered rave reviews from the family and is pictured below. I’d encourage you to experiment with other veggies that may be favorites around your house. I think zucchini or broccoli would be terrific. But we had no zucchini on hand, and Hubs abhors broccoli (noticing a trend here?). One word of caution, don’t tempted to skimp on the veggies or to omit the eggs. You need the fiber, texture and crunch provided by the variety of vegetables, and the eggs provide additional protein and bulk to the mixture. Lastly, I did add a half packet of stevia to mimic the sweet and sour flavor of take-out stir-fry, which is not strictly WHOLE30 approved. You can omit it if you are a perfectionist. I think it’s better with it, but that’s your call.

Ingredients:
• 1 Leftover Rotisserie Chicken
• 2 Tbsp. liquid coconut oil (I used Carrington’s brand)
• ¼ cup unsweetened pineapple or orange juice
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh, peeled ginger
• 1 whole red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 whole green bell pepper, sliced
• 5 large carrots, peeled and cut in large chunks or thick slices
• 5 ribs celery, cut into large chunks
• 2 whole eggs, beaten
• ½ cup pineapple chunks
• 1 Tbsp. dark sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. coconut aminos (e.g. Coconut Secret)
• ½ packet stevia sweetener (optional)
• ¼ cup chopped cashews or sunflower seeds

Process:
1. Remove chicken meat (be sure to get both white and dark meat) from the bone and try to remove any visible fat and skin. Set meat aside.
2. Place a large skillet or wok over MEDIUM-HIGH heat and add coconut oil and pineapple juice, then add salt, garlic powder and fresh ginger. Stir to combine and allow to sauté briefly.
3. Next add peppers, carrots and celery. Cook for 3-5 minutes while stirring continuously.
4. Add chicken and eggs to the pan, again stirring continuously. You want to scramble the eggs and make sure the whole mixture is combined and the eggs coat the mixture evenly.
5. When the eggs are cooked, turn off the heat. Stir in the pineapple and the next 3 ingredients. Toss lightly to ensure even distribution of oils and seasonings.
6. Cover the mixture for a few minutes (5 minutes should do the trick).
7. Just before serving, sprinkle with sweetener (if using) and stir to combine. Then sprinkle with nuts.
Serve & Enjoy. Makes about 5 generous portions

Verse of the Day:
Because of your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 17:20 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Read more here.

Resource for the Day:
Bible Gateway Plus

WHOLE30 Days #17-19: Brace Yourself….Here Come the Cravings!

My Evil Pizza Fantasies…

WHOLE30 Days #17-19…. I posted a few days ago that I was somewhat frustrated by my slow progress with respect to the projected WHOLE30 timeline, specifically that I seemed to be lagging behind, not yet experiencing any surges in energy or cravings for foods off-limits during the program. Well, I’m happy to report that I seem to be catching up, at least as far as cravings go. Yeah, it’s been a whale of a weekend in the food fantasy department…hmm, whale. I wonder what whale tastes likes. No, I’m not that desperate…yet!

Shamu is about the only thing I haven’t found myself dreaming about eating these last few days. I’ve literally gone to bed at night with visions of pineapple pizza pies dancing in my head. More than once I’ve dreamt about food. On Saturday night (technically it was early Sunday morning), I dreamt that I was finishing off a huge plate of chocolate chip pancakes (with butter and syrup on top, thank you very much) when I was suddenly awakened by my daughter crying for her own breakfast. I was so disturbed by her screams and the thought that I’d so disastrously broken with the WHOLE30 protocol, that I started shouting. Poor Hubs had to shake me to wake me from my semi-comatose, food-hallucinating state. At various points during my waking hours (usually during the mid afternoons), I find my thoughts turning and returning to such dastardly fare as Oreos, onion rings and fast food hamburgers. And I don’t even like hamburgers as a general rule. It’s all pretty weird but to be expected according to the WHOLE30 experts.

On a positive note, my overall energy level has improved. I won’t say that I’ve surged into the “boundless” department, but I’m no longer tethered to the sofa struggling to find the strength to remain upright. I find that I can more quickly respond to my daughter’s needs, which is of course my top priority. And my daily yoga sessions are less of a chore. My balance has improved, which is a really good thing because toppling to the floor from a simple triangle pose was really starting to get me down (literally and figuratively)!

I even had some energy leftover this evening to try out a new recipe for dinner – Oven Fried Sprouts (pic below).

Crispy & Delicious Oven-fried Sprouts

This took some creativity on my part because the main ingredient is brussels sprouts, Hubs’ all time most hated vegetable. Here’s the scoop:

Ingredients:
• 9-10 oz. shaved Brussels sprouts (I used Green Giant)
• 1 Tbsp. liquid coconut oil (I used Carrington’s brand)
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• pinch allspice
• 1 tsp. dark sesame oil
• 1 tsp. rice vinegar
• 1 tsp. hot sauce (optional)
• ½ packet stevia sweetener
• 3 pieces crisply cooked bacon, crumbled

Process:
1. Preheat oven to 400° and spray a 9X13” cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray (I used coconut oil spray).
2. Spread sprouts on prepared pan in a thin, even layer. Then sprinkle evenly with salt, allspice and garlic powder.
3. Top mixture with both oils then toss lightly to ensure even distribution of oils and seasonings.
4. Bake in preheated for about 15 minutes. Then remove from oven and stir.
5. Return to oven for about 10 more minutes, keeping an eye to ensure your sprouts don’t get too brown. You want a nice combination of dark crispy pieces and bright green leaves.
6. When you are satisfied that the sprouts of done, remove from the oven. Just before serving, sprinkle with vinegar, sweetener and (if using) hot sauce. Then toss well to combine, and top with crumbled bacon.
7. Be sure to serve these in a pretty dish (presentation is important when serving a vegetable your family has historically rejected). If anyone asks, these are “fried sprouts,” just leave out the Brussels part. And emphasize the “fried” part because isn’t everything better when it’s fried.

I’m proud to report that Hubs actually ate these and announced they didn’t taste like Brussels sprouts at all. Unfortunately, he’d been with me at the grocery store when I purchased them so I couldn’t fool him completely. But my mother (who also hates Brussels sprouts) ate two helpings and said she’d really enjoy having them more often. All in all, I’m calling this recipe a success, and I hope your family enjoys it too!

Verse of the Day:
Someone who is full refuses honey, but anything bitter tastes sweet to a hungry person.
Proverbs 27:7 (CEB)
Read more here.

Daily Beauty Wisdom

Walk in wisdom : grow in beauty: live in love

Gluten-free Recipes

Sweet-N-Savory Paleo Stuffed Zucchini #WHOLE30 Compliant (Full Recipe)

WHOLE30 Lifestyle Hits the Road for Memorial Day

Chicken Tri-Almandine Casserole #WHOLE30-Compliant

WHOLE30 Stuffed Zucchini Two Ways

#WHOLE30 Stuffed Zucchini Two Ways

Paleo Chop Suey Stir-fry (with WHOLE30 option*)

WHOLE30 Day #30 – So This Is It….(Paleo) Pie for Everyone!!!

WHOLE30 Day #29 – Feeling Thankful

WHOLE30 Day #21- 2nd Day Dinner…Done!

WHOLE30 Days #17-19: Brace Yourself….Here Come the Cravings!