Fish "Tacos"

Although my second attempt at a month of clean eating was not as successful as the first, I still try to be as compliant as possible.

If you don't count all of those margaritas and bowls of queso that I've recently consumed...

When I saw that the local grocer had recently started carrying raw jicama "tortillas" I just couldn't resist an opportunity to create Whole 30 tacos. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my squeaky clean, super delicious, feels like 'you're cheating' fish tacos.

What you'll need: 

1-2 filets of any fish of your choosing (I used pangasius because I always seem to have that in the freezer)

Olive Oil

2 Jicama tortillas, I use these.

Cabbage, shredded

Cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (another ingredient that I always seem to have on hand)

1/2 Avocado, sliced

Cilantro, chopped

Lime, sliced

What to do:

Heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat

I rubbed both sides of the thawed filet with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper but you can season the fish how ever you'd like. 

Add the filet to the hot pan and cook both sides until crispy. This does not take long.

While the fish was crisping, I was shredding the cabbage. Shredding your own cabbage is so much better, but I don't blame you for buying it pre-shredded (but really, it's your loss.)

Remove the filet from the pan and set on a paper towel to cool. 

Chop the filet and add to raw jicama tortillas.

Top your tacos with shredded cabbage, tomato, cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime juice. 

Eat.

..Then make two more...because they literally takes less than 10 minutes to make. 

Carrot Ginger Soup

After three weeks of being off the Whole 30 wagon, I was feeling a little guilty about the beer and pastry intake that had occurred. So this weekend I reverted to my clean eating ways. Last night was a cold and rainy one and soup was on my brain.

Queue this Carrot Ginger Soup...it's sweet, it's spicy, and look at how pretty it is.

What you'll need:

Olive Oil

1 Yellow Onion

Minced Garlic, equal to 4 Cloves

Fresh Ginger

2 lbs Carrots

4 Cups Unsalted Vegetable Stock

Cilantro

How to do it:

Add olive oil (a few tablespoons) and onion to a large pot. Cook until transparent. Add minced garlic and ginger. At first I added about a tablespoon sized chunk of ginger, then I added more. 

Peel and chop carrots.

Add carrots and vegetable stock to the pot and bring to a boil. Cook on high heat for about 15-20 minutes (or until carrots are tender), stirring occasionally. 

Transfer to blender and puree until smooth. 

Garnish with cilantro and serve. 

Chocolate Cake & Chicken Nachos.

Last night, when the clock struck midnight, our 28 day clean eating cleanse was officially over. We celebrated with a bottle of Trader Joe's Syrah and a piece of cake each that I had saved from a retirement party at work. I'd be lying if I said we didn't each enjoy a couple of girl scout cookies too. 

After the cake was gone and the cookies had been washed down with a swig of wine, we both admitted to feeling guilty. I even had a bit of a stomach ache. Though the treats were delicious and it felt good to praise ourselves for all of our hard work, we both decided to keep up the Whole30 habits we had gotten used to.  

We have been looking forward to this particular Sunday since we started the challenge. It had been decided early on that we'd have a glass of wine or beer at our favorite Whole Foods bar, order a pizza, and sit on the bar stools that we've been forced to neglect for the last four weeks. We talked about pancakes or waffles for breakfast, getting to smother them in the homemade pineapple jam that was gifted to me a few days ago. Basically, today was the day to indulge in any craving we may have had. So this morning I allowed myself to add some vanilla coconut milk creamer to my coffee.  I took two sips and dumped it out. It was way too sweet and instantly upset my stomach. I poured myself a cup of coffee that was as black as midnight on a moonless night and went on my merry way. 

After four weeks of eating real food with no additives or preservatives, I cannot deny the changes I've noticed. My body is lean and strong, my hair is shiny and soft, my skin is bright and clear. Even my roommate and I have a closer relationship from the trips to the grocery store or nights spent dancing around each other in the kitchen. I could gush about this diet and its benefits until the end of time but instead I'll share with you the recipe we whipped up last night. Spicy Whole30 Chicken Nachos.

What you'll need:

Crockpot

1 lb Chicken Thighs

Salsa

Small White Onion, sliced into rings

2 Small Potatoes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Salt and Pepper

Green Leaf Lettuce

2 Avocado

Tomato, diced

Red Onion, diced

Lime 

Turn your crockpot to high heat and add your chicken thighs to the bottom (I put mine in frozen.) Next pour your favorite salsa over the chicken. Use as much or as little as you'd like, you can always add more later. Place your small rings of onion on the top and let it go. Stirring occasionally.

I'd say it only took about 40 minutes on high for the chicken to become cooked and tender. If your thighs were not frozen I'd suggest cooking it for a bit longer on low heat. Shred the chicken using two forks. Set the crockpot to warm and set aside. 

While I was shredding the chicken, Keith had thinly sliced the potatoes using our newly purchased mandoline. Save yourself from kitchen knife cuts and invest in one of those brilliant things! 

He tossed the potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper and placed on baking sheets. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes and BABYSIT those things. We'd remove the crispy ones and rotate the soft ones every so often. If you have a baking rack, I suggest baking the potatoes on that to avoid this whole production. But hey, it's a labor of love and food tastes better when you work hard to make it right. 

Once your chips are finished and crisp, set aside. Chop your lettuce. 

In a small bowl, combine avocados, a handful of diced tomato and red onion, and lime juice. Cilantro too, if you've got it...we didn't.

In a bowl (trust me) assemble your nachos in this order: Chips, lettuce, shredded chicken, guacamole.

And Cholula. Always, cholula.

PS: Brownie points to anyone who caught my Twin Peaks reference.

Whole28

After recently watching the documentary, Fed Up, I was inspired to eliminate sugar from my diet (ironically this does not reflect the title of my newly created blog.) In doing some research on how to do so, I stumbled across the Whole30 program. The rules go a little something like this:

No Added Sugar, whether it's natural or artificial

No Alcohol

No Grains, Legumes (that includes soy!) or Dairy

No carrageenan, MSG, or sulfites

No everything for thirty days

Now, me being a realistic kind of gal I decided to do it for the entire month of February, a modified Whole28 if you will. I started by clearing out the refrigerator and pantry of any food items that were considered to be non-compliant with the rules. I was basically left with yellow mustard, apples, and a can of green beans. The funny part about that was even the 'healthy' items had to go. The almond milk had ingredients that I couldn't pronounce, the lunch meat had all kinds of preservatives, and the cashew butter was sweetened with sugar. Needless to say, the kitchen was empty and I needed to go shopping.

If anything has made this easier, it has been Trader Joe's. Cheap, lots of compliant foods to choose from, and smiling cashiers in Hawaiian T-shirts. Here are my Trader Joe's go-to items:

Light Coconut Milk - a very tasty, very creamy, ever so compliant substitute for coffee cream and milk.

Garlic & Herb or Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Chicken Sausages - perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

4-Sack of Organic Avocados - the most perfect, buttery avocados you'll ever eat.

LaraBars - my sweet tooth secret and late night indulgence

Coconut Oil - a long time alternative to lotion and my, now, go-to choice for cooking oil and butter substitution. (Please buy two jars if you plan on using one for lotion, and I recommend that you do. You'll thank me later when you smell and taste like a cookie.)

Raw Almonds - a big bag for a small price and my only shot at sanity after breaking up with peanuts.

In actuality, it's not that difficult. If anything it has been a pleasure. Sure, the display of mini-cupcakes and Valentine's Day chocolates on the break room table this week was painful, but the appreciation I now have for the simple and beautiful foods that have replaced them is just as satisfying. There is something truly lovely about a label that has three ingredients or less and I can't help but wonder why everyone isn't doing this.

If you're considering the challenge, here are my tips for being successful:

Do it with a friend. If your roommate is going to be stocking the refrigerator with cookie dough and CoolWhip, you're setting yourself up for a late night spoonful of failure.

Plan your meals ahead of time. I cook my weeks worth of lunches on Sunday night and I don't have to worry about it on work days. If you prepare your own meals, you'll always know what's in them.

Carry snacks with you. If hunger strikes, you'll have your LaraBar or hard-boiled egg in hand and will be less likely to shove that mini-cupcake in your mouth.

Try new recipes and be creative! You can only have eggs so many times for breakfast, so why not try that recipe for mashed acorn squash and coconut for breakfast?

I'm halfway through my 28 day challenge and I'm in no hurry for it to be over. Although, I am still dreaming of white cake from time to time...