RSS

Category Archives: Lunch

Coconut Lemon “Lara” bars

I just discovered larabars. Like last week. Where on earth have I been? They are great! The ones I liked the most were the cashew date and the apple pie. So this recipe is more along the lines of the cashew one, but just add dried apples and they would would be your apple/date bars. I’ll try that next batch.

Ingredients are simple. I got this off a site called ‘bites for babies’. Go figure. I’m making baby food. I just added and took away a few things from hers like honey. I don’t know why you would want to add a sweetener to these, the dates make them plenty sweet enough!

Joe loved them and he is usually my seal of approval. Said they tasted like lemon meringue.

Ingredients:

* 1 cup packed dates (make sure to take the seeds out. I forgot and food processors really don’t like them)
* 1/2 cup shredded coconut
* 1/2 cup cashews (either roasted or plain. Not salted)
* 3 TB almond butter
* 1 TB coconut oil (not melted)
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 1/8 tsp sea salt
* zest of one lemon
* 1 TB squeezed lemon juice

1. Add all ingredients to your food processor and blend away!

2. One you have your desired consistency transfer to a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Smooth the ingredients so they are about 1/2 inch high. You can make it nice and even by pressing it down with an extra piece of parchment paper, also rolling the sides up.

3. Refrigerate about 2-3 hours until they are hard enough to cut into pieces. Wrap each one up in Saran Wrap and keep in the fridge until you have a sweet tooth or need a little burst of an energy bar!

(The picture is actually 2 batches. I bought a pound of dates and that ended up being about 2 cups so figured just make another batch- made about 14 bars)

I realize these shouldn’t be eaten everyday and in case of emergencies… But I like to have something on hand in my house in case this is something I NEED! Even half a bar is pretty satisfying.

20140713-123844-45524598.jpg

20140713-123843-45523366.jpg

20140713-141833-51513342.jpg

Advertisement
 
2 Comments

Posted by on July 13, 2014 in Breakfast, Lunch, Sides

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Paleo zucchini boats

Zucchini boats! Yum! I haven’t posted many recipes on here lately because I’ve actually been using a ton that I have already created that are on this blog. So here’s. little something new and easy that’s very simple to whip up.

Ingredients:
*6 large zucchini’s (depends on how many you are feeding. 2 per person seems good)
*1 lb ground beef
*1 cup chopped mushrooms
*1/2 red onion chopped fine
*1-2 cloves of garlic
*low sugar spaghetti sauce
*Some oregano, salt and pepper

Directions:
1. Start by chopping your vegetables and sauté them in a little olive oil.

2. With a melon ball scooper, take out the insides of the zucchini’s. I cut a small slice on one side and then scoop from there. Chop up all of the insides and add to the sauté pan. Add oregano and some salt and pepper.

3. While veggie’s are cooking, add in your ground beef and cook until done. Drain any of the excess fluid.

4. Add about a cup of the spaghetti sauce to the mixture and let simmer.

5. If you want your zucchini boats to be a little softer, then you would put then into boiling water for about 2 mins. I didn’t and they came out a little crunchier which was still delicious.

6. Now fill your zucchini boats with the mixture and put inside a casserole dish. Top with more of the spaghetti sauce and bake for about 15-20 mins at 350.

7. Serve with a quick side salad and you’ve got yourself a great meal!

I’m thinking this can be done more Mexican style too, ground beef with seasoning, salsa on top, etc. I’ll try that way next. Enjoy!

20130908-082317.jpg

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on September 8, 2013 in Beef, Dinner, Lunch, Sugar Detox approved!

 

Tags: , ,

Chipotle chicken salad with paleo mayonnaise

Tasty-Kitchen-Blog-Guacamole-Chicken-Salad-07I learned how to make paleo mayo! I tried before and it came out super runny and gross but I used olive oil. This time I found some avocado oil at Costco and it turned out perfectly. So I have a feeling I will be making this mayo again for quite a few things.

This dish is super easy and tastes really bad for you, but it’s actually really healthy and delicious! I am putting this over lettuce while Joe is making it into a chicken salad sandwich. I’m pretty excited about this dish since it came out just like the ones you buy at a grocery store.

Ingredients for mayonnaise:
* 1/2 cup avocado oil
* 2 egg yolks
* 1/2 of a lemon juice
* tsp salt dash of pepper
* tsp chipotle sauce
* dash of onion powder.

Ingredients for chicken salad
*one of those rotisserie chickens from any grocery store
* 4 celery stalks chopped up
* 1/2 white onion chopped

1. Mix the 2 egg yolks and 1/2 lemon juice in a food processor. When that is combined then slowly add the avocado oil about a tablespoon at a time. It will magically thicken up. Add the remaining spices and chipotle sauce. Taste and add more salt/pepper to you liking.

2. Take your rotisserie chicken and shred all the meat on the chicken into a large bowl.

3. Chop your onions and celery into small pieces and add to the chicken.

4. Combine your mayo with the chicken mixture and stir around until completely mixed in.

That’s it! This is really great on a bed of lettuce with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar or if you eat bread (ahhhhhh bread) then makes the perfect chicken salad sandwich. Makes a good amount too so great for leftover lunches.

20130721-073331.jpg

20130721-073341.jpg

20130721-073353.jpg

20130721-135419.jpg

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 21, 2013 in Chicken, Dinner, Lunch, Salad

 

Tags: , , ,

Banana spinach smoothie

imagesCA73IYNZDo you ever just get sick of eating? Like you know you have to, you get hungry, but it gets so tiring sometimes to come up with lunches or breakfasts! I think I am going to look for some good smoothie recipes that I can have in place of a regular breakfast or lunch. Easy-quick.

I just added a bunch of stuff to this one and it turned out really good. Not sure how nutritious it is, but it also certainly isn’t bad for you!

Ingredients:

* 1 banana
* 1 cup of spinach (or handful)
* 1 cup of coconut water
* a spoonful of sunflower seed butter
* a couple spoonfuls of that coconut butter you made a few days ago (see post below!)
* a spoonful of cocoa powder
* a few ice cubes

Put all ingredients into a magic bullet and blend away!

Okay, I made another one, this time with some blueberries and protein powder and tracked how many calories this will be. I am condisering this my lunch by they way. Not a snack!

* 1 banana
* 1/2 cup spinach
* 1 tablespoon chia seeds
* 1/2 scoop protein powder
* 1/2 cup blueberries
* 1 spoonful sunflower seed butter
* 1 cup coconut water

All together this comes to 423 calories. Take out the sunflower seed butter and it is 323. I think that part needs to go! But overall most of the calories come from the banana and protein. Not bad!

 
 

Tags: , , ,

Good ol’ Vegetable soup

vegetables-groupJanuary 1st! New year, new goals, here we go! This year is pretty exciting that I get to start it being engaged to Joe! Wedding is in a year + a few months, so this gives me plenty of time to get in the best shape of my life. (Hoping for a little Mexico beach wedding and lots of bikini sun time after!)

So day 1/1/13 starts with a 21 day sugar detox mixed with a whole 30 challenge. All that means is no sugar (that means fruit too) for 21 days and just sticking to whole foods, meat, veggies, nuts, etc. nothing processed and lots of cooking! So I am going to be posting a meal a day for 30 days. Trying to come up with a few new ones this month.

Figured having a huge batch of vegetable soup to have for lunches or snacks would be good to have on hand.

Ingredients:

• 48 oz of low sodium V8 juice
• 8-10 cups of water
• bunch of green onions
• purple onion
• a few bell peppers
• package of mushrooms
• can of stewed tomatoes
• 3-4 cut up carrots
• whole cabbage cut in bite sized pieces
• seasoning. You can do a vegetable soup seasoning packet or bouillon cubes, or just some paprika, garlic powder, onion powder.

In a large stock pot sauté the onions until tender. Add in the remaining chopped ingredients and add the V8 and water. Add your seasonings and bring to boil. After boiling turn the heat and keep medium warm for about 2-3 hours.

I put mine in a few Tupperware bowls and put in the fridge to warm up for later anytime I’m hungry and want a healthy quick meal or snack!

20130101-153116.jpg

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on January 1, 2013 in Lunch, Sugar Detox approved!

 

Tags: , , ,

Paleo Tuna Patties

tuna

I have been trying to make different things for lunch since salads can get a little dull. This was a good one, but it may need more eggs to help it stick together better. Other then that, it was really good.

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of tuna
  • 1 egg
  • 1-2 tbls chopped red onion
  • 1-2 tbls chopped celery
  • 1 tbls almond meal
  • dash of salt and pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp dill
  • olive oil or coconut oil

Mix all the ingredients together and spoon divide the mixture into 4 servings. Make the patties small enough so they can flip without breaking. I think I made mine too big and they did fall apart a little bit. Also make sure to put enough olive oil or coconut oil in the pan so they don’t stick. Or maybe you have a nice frying pan that things don’t stick to. I don’t, mine sucks.

Serve by itself or with a small salad, great way to mix things up with tuna!

20121004-163651.jpg

20121004-163708.jpg

 
2 Comments

Posted by on October 4, 2012 in Lunch, Seafood, Sugar Detox approved!

 

Tags: , ,

Cucumber/Avocado salad with lots of other goodies!

So day 4 now of this sugar detox. I dont seem to have a ton of cravings, but all I want to do is eat! Well there isnt a whole lot to eat unless you make up snacks to chow down on when in need. I saw that you could eat a few root chips on this plan, well never- I repeat- never put the bag in front of you. Take a handful or so, or the whole bag disappears quickly. I stopped myself before finishing out of guilt that my boyfriend would come home and see this bag empty.

This salad is just full of a bunch of stuff from my fridge. Threw it all together and made up a dressing to toss on top and it was so good. Pair that with some stuffed mushrooms and I had the perfect lunch with enough left over to snack on.

In Salad:

  • Persian cucumbers chopped up (any cucumber would do, these were just cute and cheap at TJ’s)
  • Cherry tomatoes sliced in half
  • Jicama in little pieces
  • 1 avocado diced
  • some cilantro
  • some red onion chopped up

Dressing

  • Some olive oil
  • A tad of balsamic (had to be careful here because sometimes this is packed with sugar)
  • squeeze of a lime
  • salt and pepper

Chop up all ingredients, toss in a bowl, add dressing. BAM! Enjoy.

20120816-071440.jpg

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 16, 2012 in Lunch, Salad, Sides

 

Tags: , , , ,

Green beans with cherry tomatoes and bacon

I am realizing I need more veggies in my life and less fruit. It sucks but its true. Next week I am actually going on a no fruit, no nut, no sugar week. I tried about 10 days ago and failed on the first hour. So this week’s grocery shopping will NOT consist of those items and WILL consist of more green’s.

This was really good. I was just going to stir fry some green beans with my one piece of bacon. I saw I had a tub full of cherry tomatoes and figured I would throw those in as well. Good choice! They make this creamy sauce combined with the bacon and becomes really good! (Plus Joe always gives me crap for buying veggies at Costco and saying they go bad. So I am determined never to let my veggies go bad!)

Ingredients:

  • A bunch of green beans
  • A bunch of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 piece of bacon. (The really good kind, thick yummy)
  • Little salt and pepper
  • 1 clove of crushed garlic

Chop up your piece of bacon and throw it in with the green beans, tomatoes, and garlic. If the bacon doesnt give you enough slip in your pan for the veggies to cook then add a small amount of coconut oil. (I did). Smells delicious and the longer you cook it the more the bacon and tomatoes combine and make this awesome flavor.

I served mine next to some coconut chicken and non peanut sauce (Recipe in past post) . So tasty!

20120824-070800.jpg

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 27, 2012 in Dinner, Lunch

 

Tags: , ,

Pizza time! (dairy and grain free of course!)

Okay…minus the cheese

Yes, the food we felt we lost can be made without cheese or flour! Now this isn’t a daily dinner, just a treat when your feeling homesick for some pizza.

Crust:

  • 2 cups almond meal
  • 3 tbls olive oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tbls chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 tbls oregano

Mix all the dry ingredients together and then mix the eggs and olive oil together. Mix all ingredients and form into a ball of dough. Now this is extremely sticky, so rolling this out can be tricky! Spread parchment paper on a baking sheet or cookie sheet. Put a little of the almond meal on your hands and spread evenly to about a 1/8 inch thick. (See… sticky!)

Once that is done, put in the oven for about 20 minutes while you are chopping your veggies.

Toppings:

  • Bell peppers
  • Onion
  • Mushrooms
  • Sausage meat
  • Oregano
  • Zucchini
  • Organic Pizza Sauce
  • Small can of sliced olives

I cut the bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and saute them lightly in olive oil just to get them nice and soft. I add pieces of the sausage (packaged Adele’s organic sausage is great, just slice it up and throw it in). Take your crust out of the oven and spread the pizza sauce over it evenly. Add the toppings from the pan and then take your zuchhini and grate it over the pizza like you are grating cheese. Add the sliced olives on top.

Put back in the over for another 20 minutes and enjoy!!

20120627-144159.jpg

20120627-144219.jpg

20120627-144227.jpg

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on June 27, 2012 in Dinner, Lunch

 

Tags: , ,