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Browned Butter Banana Bread with Paleo Nutella Swirl

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I’m somewhat of a procrastinator in certain areas of my life.  Don’t get me wrong, I like to make lists and then check things off. A checked off list makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  But sometimes, I just want to sit on my couch and read a kindle book, instead of acting like a grown-up (aka, doing my chores).  This is especially true on Sunday afternoons after I’ve finished meal prepping for the week, but before the laundry is done and the pile of dishes from meal prep have been washed.

However, I would recommend not procrastinating in making this banana bread.

This recipe is based off of my recipe for Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Layered Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts.  The addition of browned butter to this recipe adds another level of taste to an otherwise great recipe.  Browning butter is a technique that involves melting butter over medium to medium-high heat on the stove.  Heating butter after it melts results in the milk solids in the butter beginning to brown.  As the milk solids begin to brown, the butter gives off a nutty aroma.  The browned butter adds a nutty and slight butterscotch flavor to recipes.  I’ve added browned butter to several recipes, including cookies, sweet potatoes, and mashed cauliflower.

The addition of browned butter to this recipe for banana bread enhances the flavor of the walnuts, and adds a richness and depth to the overall taste of the bread.

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This banana bread is decadent, rich, and moist, and the combination of ingredients allows the flavors to combine to create a taste sensation sure to please a hungry crowd.

This banana bread would be great for a holiday party, or for Christmas breakfast/brunch.  Enjoy!

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Browned Butter Banana Bread with Paleo Nutella Swirl

Servings: makes 12-15

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup banana, mashed (2-3 small overly ripe bananas)
  • 1/2 cup tapioca flour
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup Paleo Nutella
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour (sifted)
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 tbs coconut oil (to grease the pan)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Preheat a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add ½ cup of butter to the pan and allow the butter to melt.
  3. Stir the butter constantly in the sauce pan as it melts. After the butter has melted, it will begin to foam.  As the butter foams, the milk solids from the butter will begin to darken, turning first to a tan color, and then to brown as it continues to cook.  As the butter browns, it will give off a slightly nutty aroma.  As soon as the solids turn from tan to brown and give off the nutty aroma, remove the sauce pan from heat immediately so that the milk solids do not burn.  Set aside to cool.
  4. Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch bread pan with coconut oil (you can also use butter), and then line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, add almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and sea salt.  Stir to combine.  Set aside.
  6. In a separate bowl, add eggs, mashed banana, honey and vanilla extract.  Stir to combine.  Then add the browned and cooled butter, and stir to combine.
  7. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir the mixture thoroughly to incorporate.
  8. Let the batter sit on the counter for 3-4 minutes (this lets the coconut mixture soak up the moisture).
  9. Add Paleo Nutella to the batter, and gently swirl the Paleo Nutella through the bread batter using a spatula (do not fully incorporate the Paleo Nutella into the batter).
  10. Add the bread batter to the coated bread pan.
  11. Place the bread pan in the preheated oven and bake the bread for 50-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.
  12. Once the bread is finished, remove from the oven and let cool on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes before removing the loaf of bread from the bread pan to cool further.
  13. Serve and enjoy!


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Chocolate Hazelnut-Almond Spread (aka Paleo Nutella)

I’ve been a CrossFitter for over three years, and the majority of my time has been spent at CrossFit 405, a CrossFit gym near downtown Oklahoma City.  My local gym (or box, whatever you prefer) has been a place for me to push myself to my physical limits and get out of my comfort zone.  I’ve done some pretty amazing things over the past three years that I didn’t think my body could do.  In the process, I’ve gotten a lot stronger, both mentally and physically.

I’m still on the journey to becoming healthier, and that journey has been much more enjoyable with the gym family I’ve made at CrossFit 405.

My gym recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with a party/fundraiser (the fundraiser was for the McCloud Fire Department, a small town near Oklahoma City where one of our coaches works as a firefighter) last Saturday, December 6.  The celebration included the following WOD:

(12 min time cap) Partner WOD 3 Rounds For Time:

200ft single farmers (Rx135lb/95lb) and sandbag (Rx 75lb) carry.

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While one partner did the farmers carry, the other partner did burpees.  Each burpee shaved a second of the total time for the farmers carry.

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The anniversary party included some smaller challenges, as well as time for people to just hang out and chow down some tasty grub (because CrossFitters like to put food away!).

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Many of my friends at CrossFit 405 are happy to help me taste test my recipes before I post them on the blog.  They always give me their honest feedback (whether I like it or not), and help me step up my game so that I make sure and share recipes with you that make your taste buds happy.

My recipe for Chocolate Hazelnut-Almond Spread got a big thumbs-up from my CrossFit 405 taste testers.  Since I made several test batches to perfect the recipes, there was plenty to share!

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The spread is reminiscent of nutella, although it has a much cleaner profile.  Several of my taste testers reported eating the Chocolate Hazelnut-Almond Spread straight out of the jar!  The Chocolate Hazelnut-Almond Spread is very versatile treat.  You can use it as a fruit dip for guests, or eat it with Paleo/Gluten-Free pancakes or waffles during a weekend brunch.

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I used the Chocolate Hazelnut-Almond Spread as the base for another recipe, which I will be sharing with you in my next blog post (so make sure to check back next week)!

Do you CrossFit?  If so, I’d love to hear about your CrossFIt community.  Are there any other workout styles you love? Feel free to share about what workouts make your body feel better in the comments below!

Chocolate Hazelnut-Almond Spread (aka Paleo Nutella)

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Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups roasted hazelnuts
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut milk (canned)
  • 3/4 cup raw almonds
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 12 ounces dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spread the hazelnuts and almonds in a single layer  (making sure to keep the different nuts separate) and roast for 12-13 minutes, stirring them at the half way point during the roasting process.
  3. Remove the hazelnuts and almonds from the oven and set aside to cool.  Once the nuts have cooled, place the hazelnuts in a cloth napkin and rub together in the napkin to remove some of the skin (note that some skin will still remain on the hazelnuts no matter how much you rub, which is ok).
  4. Pour the dark chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Place the bowl in the microwave, and heat on high for 25-30 seconds. Remove bowl from the microwave and stir the dark chocolate chips.  Place the bowl back in the microwave and heat an additional 25-30 seconds.  Continuing the process of heating and stirring the dark chocolate chips until the dark chocolate chips have melted completely.
  5. Pour the roasted hazelnuts and almonds into the bowl of a high powered food processor.  Blend nuts in the food processor on high until the nuts turn into a thick paste, which should take 2-4 minutes (depending on the power of your blender).
  6. Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor, and continue to blend another 2-3 minutes until the ingredients have fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  7. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.


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Mexi-Cauli Rice Bowl

Thanksgiving last week was awesome, because I was able to spend time with my family, including my adorable nephew Tayo.  My family lives in Texas, while I live in Oklahoma, so I don’t see my nephew as often as I would like.  He is full of energy and spunk, and his laughter and smiles make everything better (but when he is hungry, you better watch out, cause he’ll let you know how he feels 😉 ).

Every Thanksgiving, my parents invite relatives and friends from their local church to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We have a large potluck at my parent’s house, and this year I  whipped up some of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes, including a green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole.  My sweet potato casserole is a family favorite, and is usually polished off before the end of dinner.

I’m Nigerian-American, and we also have several Nigerian dishes as well, like Jollof Rice (rice cooked with tomato stew and spices), Moi Moi (a dished made from black beans), meat pies and fried plantains.

I love having family and friends come together to celebrate and give thanks for health, well being, and being able to gather together and celebrate the holidays.  However, one of the absolutely best parts about Thanksgiving in Texas, is that I don’t have to worry about finishing off leftovers!  By the time I make it back home, turkey (and any other leftovers) are the last things I want to eat.

If you’re also tired of turkey, ham, and casseroles, than I have a ground beef and vegetable dish that is sure to make your tastebuds happy!

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This dish was inspired by my desire for latin american flavored meal without being too carb-heavy.  With low-carb veggies like cauliflower and green and red bell peppers, and ground beef flavored with spices like cumin, chili powder and oregano, you are going to enjoy this flavor combination.

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Depending on your tolerance for spicy foods, you can also kick it up a notch by adding more red pepper flakes.

I’d love to know how your Thanksgiving went!  Feel free to leave a comment below sharing your favorite traditional (and non-traditional) Thanksgiving dishes.  If you make the Mexi-Cauli Rice Bowl, please let me know what you think!

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Mexi-Cauli Rice Bowl

Servings: serves 3-4

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 large head of cauliflower, chopped into florets
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomato
  • 1 large red onion, diced
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 large green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cooking fat (lard, tallow, coconut oil, butter, avocado oil)

Instructions:

  1. Process the cauliflower florets into cauliflower rice by using the shredding attachment on a food processor.  If you don’t have access to a food processor, you can “rice” the cauliflower by using a handle held food grater.  Pour the cauliflower rice into a large bowl and set aside.
  2. Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add the ground beef and all of the spices (but reserving 1 teaspoon of sea salt).  Cook the ground beef over medium high heat until browned, approximately 10-12 minutes.
  3. Once the meat has browned, add the diced tomatoes and lower the heat to medium-low, simmering the browned beef and diced tomatoes for 15-20 minutes.  Once the browned beef has finished simmering, remove from heat and set aside.
  4. While the beef and diced tomatoes are simmering, preheat a large pot over medium high heat.  Then add 1 tablespoon of the cooking fat to the pot.
  5. Once the cooking fat has heated, add the minced garlic and sautee for 20-30 seconds.  Add the diced onions and sautee an additional 4 to 5 minutes.
  6. Add the diced red and green bell peppers to the large pot, and continue sauteeing for 6-7 minutes.
  7. Add the cauliflower rice to the large pan, and mix with the diced onions and bell peppers until combined.
  8. Continue cooking the cauliflower mixture, stirring the mixture periodically until the rice has softened, 8-10 minutes.
  9. Once the cauliflower rice mixture has cooked through, remove from heat.
  10. Mix the cauliflower rice mixture with the beef and diced tomatoes, and stir to thoroughly combine.
  11. serve immediately.

 

Notes:

  • This meal makes great leftovers.

 


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Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup with Sausage, Bacon and Kale

Now that colder weather has arrived, I’m in the mood for foods that make me feel warm and cozy.  I absolutely hate the cold, and wish I could live in pajamas and warm fuzzy bathrobes all day (fuzzy bathrobes are the best kind of bathrobes, just sayin’).  While pajamas and bathrobes are currently not part of the dress code at my job, changing the dress code at work is one of my top priorities 😉  Until then, drinking hot tea at work to keep my hands (and body) warm will have to do, along with wrapping myself in warm blankets and ignoring the stares of fellow co-workers when I’m wrapped up in my blanket like I burrito.  But I digress.

 This recipe for cauliflower soup is sure to keep you warm and cozy on a cool fall/winter evening.  It’s packed full of flavor (you’ll just have to trust me on this one), and the addition of bacon grease (crazy, I know) takes it to another level entirely!

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This recipe is a fan favorite among friends, and is recipe I like to make for anyone, regardless of whether they follow a Paleo/gluten-free lifestyle.

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You may get words of love and adoration from friends and family after you make this recipe for them.  If you don’t, I hope they at least say thank you for the flavor party that is sure to be happening in their mouths.

If you try out this recipe, please let me know what you think.  I’d love to read your feedback!  What are some things you like to do to keep you warm during the cold season?

Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup with Sausage, Bacon and Kale

Servings: serves 6-8

Ingredients (for the sausage):

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Ingredients (for the soup):

  • 1 large head of cauliflower, chopped into florets
  • 7 cups chicken broth
  • 1 large red onion, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 head of kale, roughly chopped
  • 3-4 slices of bacon, cooked, drained and chopped (reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (can sub with coconut milk to make dairy-free)
  • 1 head of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of cooking fat (lard, avocado oil, butter, ghee, tallow)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

For the Sausage:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the sausage until everything has been fully incorporated.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the sausage to the skillet, and cook over medium heat until  sausage has browned and cooked through, approximately 10-12 minutes.  Drain excess fat once the sausage is thoroughly cooked, and then set aside.

 

For the Soup:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cauliflower and onion.
  4. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of cooking fat onto the cauliflower and onion, and toss to coat.
  5. Place the vegetables on the baking sheet in a single layer.
  6. Trim the top off the head of garlic.  Place the garlic on a small piece of aluminum foil.  Pour two teaspoons of cooking fat on top of the garlic.  Wrap the foil around the garlic so that it is completely sealed.
  7. Place the garlic wrapped in foil on a small corner of the baking sheet.
  8. Roast the cauliflower, onions and garlic in the oven for approximately 1 hour until they have softened, (you should be able to pierce the roasted vegetables easily with a fork).  Toss the cauliflower and onions halfway the cooking process.  Once the cauliflower, onions and garlic have finished roasting, remove the baking sheet from the oven.
  9. Allow the roasted garlic to cool, and then peel once you are able to safely handle it.
  10. Place a large cooking pot on the stove.  Pour the roasted cauliflower and onion into the pot, and then add 7 cups of chicken broth.
  11. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium low, letting the vegetables simmer in the chicken broth for approximately 30 minutes.
  12. Turn the stove off, and pour the roasted vegetables, chicken broth and peeled roasted garlic into a vitamix, and puree until smooth, approximately 2-3 minutes depending on your preference level.  If you don’t have a vitamix, a large high powered food processor should work.
  13. After the mixture has  pureed, pour the mixture back into the large cooking pot.
  14. Place the pot back on the stove, and reheat the pot using medium heat.  To the pot, add the heavy cream, sea salt, thyme, oregano, paprika, pepper, sausage, bacon, kale and bacon grease and stir until all the ingredients in the mixture are fully incorporated.
  15. Cook the soup over medium heat for 8-10 minutes.
  16. serve immediately and enjoy!

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Supreme Pizza Egg Muffins

I’m a person who loves convenience when it comes to breakfast during the work week.  I typically workout in the mornings, and by the time I come home from the gym to get ready for work, the last thing I want to do is try and start cooking breakfast.  As a result, my go-to-meals for breakfast in the morning are usually egg muffins.

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They are easy to make, and packed full of flavor.   I like to make a large batch of egg muffins on Sundays while I am meal prepping for the week.  I portion the egg muffins into ziplock bags and then throw them in the freezer.  During the week, it’s a simple task of me throwing a pre-portioned bag of frozen egg muffins into my lunch bag before I head off to work.

When I get to work, I heat the egg muffins in the microwave in my company’s office (they re-heat really well).  I get several comments from co-workers about how wonderful the eggs muffins smell in the mornings while they are warming up.  Those comments also include strong hints to share my breakfast(which I ignore, because I’m hungry).  I may share my cookies with you, but don’t touch my breakfast 😉

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Although this recipe includes ingredients found as toppings on a supreme pizza, feel free to play around with ingredients and spices.  Try making taco egg muffins by using ground beef, cheddar cheese, taco seasoning, onions and peppers.  I’ve also made egg muffins with baked chicken, bacon, caramelized onions, mozzarella and artichoke.  Those were the bomb!

Please share some go to tips you have for making easy breakfasts during the week,and your favorite egg muffin combinations in the comments below!

Supreme Pizza Egg Muffins

Servings: makes approximately 24

Ingredients:

For the Muffins:

  • 13 eggs
  • 1 pound ground pork sausage
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk (canned)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional, omit to make dairy-free)
  • 4 ounces pepperoni slices, chopped
  • 4 ounce can portobello mushrooms, drained
  • 2.25 ounce can black olives, drained
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cooking fat

For the Pizza Sauce:

  • 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 3 ounces of tomato paste (1/2 of a 6 ounce can)
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add sausage to the skillet, and cook until the meat has browned and is in crumbles.
  3. After the sausage has cooked, drain the excess fat (reserving 1 teaspoon), place the sausage in a large bowl and set aside.
  4. Heat 1 teaspoon of fat from sausage over medium-high heat.  Added diced red onion and saute for 5 to 6 minutes.
  5. Add the diced green bell peppers to the skillet and saute with the onions for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
  6. Remove the skillet from heat, place the peppers and onions in to the bowl with the ground beef, and set aside to cool.
  7. In a small separate bowl, mix together the pizza sauce ingredients thoroughly until completely combined. Set aside.
  8. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, coconut milk, Italian seasoning, sea salt, garlic powder and ground black pepper.
  9. Once the peppers/onion/sausage mixture has cooled, to the large bowl add chopped pepperoni slices, black olives, portobello mushrooms and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and mix together.
  10. Line two 12 serving cupcake pans with liners (or grease the muffin cups with cooking fat).
  11. Fill each cupcake liner half way with the egg/coconut milk mixture, and then fill each liner with approximately 2 tablespoons of the supreme pizza topping mixture.
  12.  Dollop a tablespoon of pizza sauce over each cupcake liner.
  13. Take the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and sprinkle a pinch of mozzarella cheese on top of each cupcake liner.
  14. Place the cupcake pans in the oven and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes until firm (a knife inserted into the egg muffins should come out clean), rotating the pans half way through (and also making sure to rotate the pans from top to bottom).
  15. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.


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Chicken Teriyaki

I was in a deep committed relationship for 11 years.  It had its ups and downs, but overall I was happy.  And then recently, I noticed things weren’t going as well.  There was failure to communicate.  It began to feel like a relationship with lots of stops and starts, and the reliability and consistency wasn’t there anymore.  My family and friends had been begging me for months to let go, but it was hard to give up after investing in the relationship for so long.  However, I eventually made the difficult decision to end it.

After 11 years, I finally decided to trade in my car for a SUV.  It wasn’t an easy decision, and I still miss my old car.  You know what I also miss? Not having car payments :/  However, I do love the knowledge that I have a safe and reliable car!

Before trading in my old car, I went through and cleaned out all junk inside.  It was like a treasure drove in there (actually, more like a junk yard)!  I found at least $3.00 worth of coins.

However, I hit the jackpot when I found my first cell phone from 2002.  I must have been on a roll, because a little later I found the second cell phone I ever owned.

And then I hit it big again when I found my first iphone.

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The all important lesson I learned after cleaning out my old car?  I’m a phone hoarder.  Now you know my deepest darkest secret 😉

This post is all about sharing, and today I’m also sharing with you my recipe for Chicken Teriyaki!

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This meal is packed full of different types of vegetables.  To keep it lower on the carb spectrum, I prepared a side of cauliflower rice to go with the meal, and I was on a veggie cloud 9!

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 I learned a new technique for cooking chicken in a stir-fry that makes the meat tender and moist.  It’s called “velveting” chicken, and involves marinating the chicken in an arrowroot powder/egg wash coating, and then boiling the chicken prior to adding it to the stir-fry. (Detailed instructions for implementing the technique are below).

I would love to read your tried and true techniques for making your favorite stir-fry meals.  Please feel free to share in the comments below!

Chicken Teriyaki

Servings: serves 3-4

Ingredients (Velvet Chicken):

  • 1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 large egg white, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot flour
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Ingredients (Chicken Teriyaki):

  • 4 cups broccoli
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1/2 yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 cups snap peas
  • 4 scallions, sliced thinly
  • 3/4 cup coconut aminos
  • 1/4 cup orange juice, plus the zest of 1/2 an orange
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced plus 2 cloves of garlic, minced, divided
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
  • 4 teaspoons water
  • 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder

Instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together egg white, arrowroot powder, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, salt and pepper until thoroughly combined.  Then, add the chicken pieces to the mixture and stir to coat.
  2. Marinate chicken in coating for 30 minutes.
  3. While the chicken is marinating, in a medium sized saucepan mix together the coconut aminos, orange juice, orange zest, coconut sugar, honey, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon ginger and 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil.
  4. Place saucepan on stove over medium high heat, and bring sauce to a boil.
  5. Once the sauce has come to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for 7 to 8 minutes.
  6. While the sauce is simmering, in a small bowl mix together the water and arrowroot powder.
  7. After the sauce has simmered for 7 to 8 minutes, reduce temperature to low and add the arrowroot/water mixture to the saucepan, stirring to incorporate.
  8. Continue to stir the teriyaki sauce for 1 to 2 minutes on low until the teriyaki sauce has thickened.  Once the sauce has  thickened,  remove from heat and set aside.
  9. Take the marinated chicken, and drain any excess coating.
  10. In a large skillet, heat 1 to 2 inches of water and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil over high heat until boiling.
  11. After the water has come to a boil, place the chicken pieces in the water (making sure each piece is fully submerged), and cook for 2 minutes.  If necessary, stir the chicken with a slotted spoon to make sure the pieces don’t stick together.
  12. After 2 minutes, remove chicken from the water with a slotted spoon, drain and set aside.
  13. In a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of sesame oil on medium high heat.  Once the oil is hot, add 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of ginger, and stir continuously for 10 to 20 seconds.
  14. Add chicken to the garlic/ginger mixture and stir-fry until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
  15. Take the chicken out of the skillet and set aside.
  16. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of sesame oil on medium high heat.  Once the oil is hot, add the broccoli, red bell pepper, snap peas and onions, and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes.
  17. Add the chicken to the vegetables in the skillet, and turn the heat off.
  18. Pour the teriyaki sauce over the chicken and vegetables, and mix together to combine.
  19. Pour the chicken teriyaki into a serving bowl, and sprinkle the scallions on top.
  20. You can serve this meal with cauliflower rice, white rice or even kelp noodles.

 

Notes:

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Spaghetti Squash with Sun-dried Tomato Basil Walnut Pesto

Sometimes I burn things.  Okay, what you read may have sounded somewhat creepy.  Let me clarify.  To be more specific, sometimes I unintentionally burn the food I’m cooking.  I may leave something on the stove and forget to check it, only to come back later and find said food “cooked” to an inedible crisp.  Or, I may overestimate how long something is suppose to bake, and cook it until its at a point where even my best guy friends won’t touch it.  It’s somewhat frustrating, but comes with the territory, at least in my world.  When I cook something, I look forward to sampling the different food combinations that make up a recipe.  When that meal happens to burn (sometimes a fiery flame of death), my heart hurts, and my soul gets crushed just a little.

On the other hand, I have somewhat of an unlikely love of “burnt” Brussels Sprouts and broccoli.  My favorite part when roasting these vegetables is the little extra crispy bites.  I don’t burn them until they are completely unrecognizable, but the vegetables are usually a lot more crispy then most people prefer.  Therefore, I usually only crisp them up in the comfort of my own home, in a meal that won’t be shared with others (mainly, because I don’t want to share 😉 ).

Why this long talk about burning food?  Well, it gives a little background for last week’s fiasco.  I invited my friend Olivia over for grilled steaks, Brussels Sprouts roasted with chopped bacon, and mashed sweet potatoes.  Olivia asked that her steak be cooked well-done (horrible, I know), which request I fully intended to comply with.  What I failed to realize is that by warming up the grill as the sun was setting, I wouldn’t actually be grilling the steaks until it was night time.  This wouldn’t be a problem, except that I have poor lighting in my backyard.  I wasn’t able to visually check the steaks because of the bad lighting, and they cooked longer than necessary, well past the point of preference for either one of us.

Olivia asked for a well-done steak, but I ended up cooking her steak so long that she couldn’t eat most of it because it was too tough.  It’s a good think she enjoyed the vegetables, because that ended up being the majority of her dinner for the night.

Thankfully, this recipe for Spaghetti Squash with Sun-dried Tomato Basil Walnut Pesto came out great, and no food was harmed in the making of this meal.

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I made chicken to go along with the spaghetti squash using my chicken marinade recipe, and these meal was made to rave reviews.

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Try it out, and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Spaghetti Squash With Sun-dried Tomato Basil Walnut Pesto

Servings: serves 5-6

Ingredients:

  • 1 large Spaghetti Squash
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup shredded Manchego cheese*
  • 1/2 cup raw walnuts
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 cloves of garlic, peeled

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Chop spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds.  Quick tip, to make the spaghetti squash easier to cut, microwave for 1-2 minutes.  This makes the shell a little softer, so that you don’t have to hammer away at it like your hacking down a tree.
  4. Place the spaghetti squash cut side down, and bake in the oven for approximately 40-45 minutes.
  5. Once cooked, take the spaghetti squash out of the oven, flip the halves over and let cool.
  6. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with an S blade, place the basil, sun-dried tomato, manchego cheese, walnuts, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper.
  7. Turn the food processor on, and pulse 5 or 6 times, for 2-3 seconds each time.  Scrap down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
  8. Then turn the food processor on, and while the food processor is running, slowly pour in the extra virgin olive oil and continue running the food processor until the pesto ingredients have fully combined.
  9. Once the spaghetti squash has cooled enough to handle, use a fork to scrap the squash noodles into a large bowl.
  10. Pour the pesto over the spaghetti squash noodles, and stir the  pesto with the squash noodles until fully incorporated.
  11. Plate and enjoy!

 

Notes:

  • You can sub shredded Parmesan cheese for manchego cheese if this type of cheese is difficult to locate, or omit the cheese entirely to make the recipe dairy free and Whole30 friendly.

 


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Sausage Sweet Potato Hash

It seems that over the past couple of months, babies have been everywhere.  I have many friends having babies, friends who are pregnant, and friends who I have diagnosed with baby fever.  This is quite evident at my gym at CrossFit405.  Several of our female coaches, and the wives of our male coaches are pregnant (I think something is in the water, which is why I fill up my water bottle at home before I head to the gym 😉 ).

The first CrossFit405 bundle of joy to arrive was the son of Matthew and Lori Spaid, Gabriel River Spaid (Matthew is one of our coaches at CrossFit405)!

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It’s their first child, and they are completely in love with him (but who wouldn’t be, with such a stinkin’ cute baby?).  Several friends from my gym have volunteered to help out the Spaids by providing home cooked meals during the first couple of weeks while they adjust to parenthood.  The Spaids were open to a variety of meal ideas, but requested that the meals be gluten-free, and have tons of meat and veggies.  When I learned of the type of meals they would enjoy, I knew just the meal to prepare, my Sausage Sweet Potato Hash!  Loaded with tons of protein and veggies, this meal is a clean and healthy dish with loads of flavor.

I brought the meal over to the Spaids on Labor Day, and got to spend time with Lori and her adorable son.

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Now I’m excited to share this dish with you guys!

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This meal is especially great for those off you who are doing a Paleo Challenge, such as the Whole30 or the Lurong Challenge, due to its simplicity, and minimally proceeded ingredients.  I hope you guys enjoy!

Sausage Sweet Potato Hash

Servings: serves 5-6

Ingredients:

For the Sausage

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cooking fat
  • 1 tablespoon sage
  • 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

For the Sweet Potato Hash

  • 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes
  • 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons cooking fat
  • salt and pepper

Instructions:

Sausage

  1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, sage, fennel seeds, sea salt, pepper, thyme, garlic cloves, ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  2. In a large skillet, heat a teaspoon of cooking fat over medium heat (for cooking fat, you can use lard, butter, coconut oil, tallow, etc.).  Once the fat is heated through, add the chopped onion and cook until the onion is translucent, 8-10 minutes.
  3. Once the onion is translucent, added the meat to the pan, and brown the meat over medium heat until cooked through, approximately 15-20 minutes.  Drain excess fat once the meat has been cooked.

 

Sweet Potato Hash

  1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking fat over medium heat.
  2. Once the oil has been heated, add the sweet potatoes, red bell peppers and green bell peppers to the large skillet.  Cook the vegetables over medium  to medium-low heat, stirring periodically until the vegetables are cooked through, 40-45 minutes.
  3.  Once the vegetables are done cooking, salt and pepper to taste.
  4. After the vegetables have been cooked, pour the sausage and veggie mixture into a large bowl, and stir to combine.
  5. Sprinkle  thinly sliced scallions on top of the  sausage sweet potato has before serving.

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Sweet and Salty Balsamic Chicken Marinade

I have a secret.  It’s not really a well kept secret (does that still make it a secret?), but I like to think I’m somewhat discreet about it. Actually, to be honest, it’s not really a secret.  When I say discreet, I really mean posting multiple pictures on Facebook and Instagram about it.  Okay, I’m blathering on.  Want to know what it is?

I have an addiction to kitchen appliances.  If it’s shiny, metallic, sharp, and can be used in the kitchen, I want it.  If it has a motor and needs to be plugged in, I want it even more.  I’m not going to admit exactly what gadgets I have (no need to face my addiction head on), but I will tell you that many kitchen drawers that were empty when I moved into my house last year have now been filled with new finds.

Here is a real secret, one I’m sure you can figure out pretty easily.  I don’t use all my kitchen appliances.  It’s kind of like that new shirt you thought you wanted, and then bought it and wore it a couple of times, only to relegate it to the back of your closet. That’s kind of how it was with one of my biggest purchases, an outdoor grill.  I spent months saving money, reading reviews, and researching the best grill to buy within my budget.  After I made my decision, I “volunteered” one of my friends to help me pick it up.  After I got it home, I then proceeded to let it sit in my backyard for several months without use.

I only ever used it when my friends came over to grill, and then someone else was always the one doing the grilling.  However, after visiting my family in Houston over Memorial Day weekend, and enjoying the yummy goodness my dad grilled for the family, I decided to utilize my grill more frequently, with pretty spectacular results.

One of my favorite things to grill this summer has been marinated chicken thighs.  They are flavorful, and the meat stays tender and retains its moister longer than white meat, even if you have the unfortunate experience of cooking them a little longer than intended (which I have a habit of doing).

I have created a marinade for chicken that is packed with different flavors, and the salty and sweet combination is sure to make your taste buds happy.  I hope you enjoy!

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Sweet and Salty Balsamic Chicken Marinade

Servings: serves 4-6

Ingredients:

  • approximately 2 pounds of skinless boneless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut aminos
  • 2 tablespoons of honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
  • 3 cloves of garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Combine all of the ingredients other than the chicken in a large bowl, and whisk to combine.
  2. Place the chicken thighs in a resealable bag.  Pour the marinade over the chicken thighs to coat.
  3. Remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing the bag closed.
  4. Marinate the chicken thighs for at least one hour in the fridge (can marinate overnight).
  5. Once you are ready to cook the chicken, preheat the grill.
  6. Once the grill is preheated, reduce the heat to medium low, and place the chicken thighs on the grill.  Cook the chicken thighs approximately 10 to 12 minutes on each side until cooked through (the chicken should reach an internal temperature of about 180 degrees).
  7. Remove from grill and serve.

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Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

I love Brussels sprouts.  If you missed my ode to these yummy veggies, you can read about it here.  To make Brussels sprouts even better, I eat them with bacon.  It’s pretty much a given that adding bacon to any type of roasted veggies (or any other meal for that matter) will kick the flavors up a notch, keeping you coming back for more.  I originally created this recipe for roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts by throwing together spices and veggies, hoping for the best.  It’s now become a staple in my diet, and I eat these veggies  at least once a week.  I use different types of vinegar and spices each time, but the basic recipe is as follows:

Preheat oven 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line a backing sheet with parchment paper.  Rinse 1 1/2 pounds of Brussels sprouts.  Cut off the ends of each of them, and then chop the Brussels sprouts in half.

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Place the Brussels sprouts in a large mixing bowl.  Peel two large sweet potatoes, and then chop them into 1/2 inch pieces.

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Place the chopped sweet potatoes in the bowl with the chopped Brussels sprouts.  To the veggies, add 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.  Toss the veggies in the bowl to coat.

Chop up 4-6 slices of bacon into thin strips (I typically cut the bacon in half lengthwise, and then chop it up into smaller pieces).

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Spread the veggies on the tray, making sure to turn over each of the Brussels sprouts cut side down.  Sprinkle the bacon on top of the veggies.

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Don’t be stingy with the bacon.  Sprinkle those pieces everywhere!

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Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 1 hour, until the sweet potatoes are cooked through.  then serve and enjoy!

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Recipe

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Servings: serves 8-10 as a small side dish (serves 4-5 if this is your main/only side dish)

Ingredients:

  • 1 and 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
  • 2 large sweet potatoes
  • 4-6 slices of bacon (use sugar-free bacon to make the recipe Whole30 compliant)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Rinse the Brussels sprouts.  Cut off the ends of each of them, and then chop the Brussels sprouts in half.
  4. Place the Brussels sprouts in a large mixing bowl.
  5. Peel two large sweet potatoes, and then chop them into 1/2 inch pieces.
  6. Place the chopped sweet potatoes in the bowl with the chopped Brussels sprouts.
  7. To the veggies, add the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, sea salt,  black pepper, and  teaspoon garlic powder.  Toss the veggies in the bowl to coat.
  8. Chop up 4-6 slices of bacon.
  9. Spread the veggies on the tray, making sure to turn over each of the Brussels sprouts cut side down.
  10. Sprinkle the chopped bacon on top of the veggies.
  11. Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 1 hour, until the sweet potatoes are cooked through.
  12. Transfer to a bowl, serve and enjoy!

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