Whole30 Day 8

We'll call this day average.  I only had to make a quick trip to Aldi so not too many outside temptations.  I wanted some chocolate, like usual, but instead ate some of the baked apple bites I made yesterday.  Those things are yummy and very sweet.

  {finished product - baked apples}

For breakfast I went back to my old standby of eggs.  I just ate them plain today - sometimes plain is the best way to go.  And because I woke up thinking about those yummy sauteed onions from last night, I had some of those too.  And a tangelo.  Good breakfast I must say.

 {breakfast - scrambled eggs, sauteed onions & a tangelo}

Mid morning I had a smoothie with pretty much all kinds of fruit in in, coconut milk and ice.  It was super yummy. Even more so since I could enjoy it while cuddled up on the couch with Buggy.  

Since I have more time on the weekends, for lunch I wanted to try and make some chicken fingers.  I've done this before but only ever with flour or bread crumbs. This time I tried almond meal.  Since I've never used it before I wasn't sure  how they would turn out.   I seasoned the almond meal with salt, pepper and a bit of Italian seasoning then cut up chicken  breasts in finger like pieces and coated them with the mixture.  I never use an egg for breading chicken so I didn't in this case either.  Then I plopped them into a skillet of hot coconut oil and cooked them on each side for a few minutes.  They turned out really good!  Although not super crispy like some chicken fingers can be, they were very flavorful and super juicy.  

  {lunch - 'fried' chicken fingers, fruit salad & guac with plantain chips}

{while I was making lunch I had set out the guac, plantain chips & some carrots.  Bug helped herself to the carrots and quac.  I can't help but be proud that she chose these to snack on all on her own!}

For dinner I also wanted to try something totally new (since I had time) and something I thought looked yummy.  Since I am a huge fan of Easy Paleo and have leaned on her advice very heavily, I didn't think she would steer me wrong on this recipe.  And since she made it sound so easy I was willing to try.  So Butternut Squash Lasagna made it on the menu.  So, so good!!  Definitely not what I expected.  *(Here comes an admission - the sausage I used for this recipe is not 100% Whole30 approved. However because of budget restrictions this week it's what I had to use.  And although not 100% approved, it did not contain any form or sugar - and only had a few ingredients, some however were preservatives.  I hate to have to have done that but I had to do what I had to do within our budget for the week.  And I could have done worse.  So I won't dwell on this one thing and will continue in the positive direction I have been going the last 8 days.

     {dinner - butternut squash lasagna & lots of fruit (not pictured because I ate it while the lasagna was cooking}

The best thing about today is that tomorrow is not a work day!  I so look forward to 3 day weekends, especially when my day off will be spent with the one and only Bug!  I've got a little craft project planned for us and lots and lots of playing and cuddling!  I can't wait!  Thank you 3 day weekends!

8 days down, 22 to go!

Whole30 Day 7

Today started off horrible and ended up really good.  So, being the weekend and having some extra time, I thought I would try some new Paleo recipes from several Paleo sources.  For breakfast this morning I made some pumpkin (Paleo) pancakes and also some primal pancakes - I wanted to try both to see which I'd prefer - I left the vanilla out of both recipes for Whole30.  I made the primal pancakes first and sauteed some bananas for on top.  They were pretty good, although very bland in comparison to regular pancakes.  Although with the bananas on top I ate several down very easily (so easily in face that I ate them all before I could take a picture!) The bad thing about the recipe I followed was that it only made about 6 mini sized pancakes.  Definitely not enough for 3.  On to the pumpkin (Paleo) pancakes I went.  If you know me at all you know I LOVE pumpkin and even use it in a lot of my baking.  Thinking these pancakes would be excellent just with the pumpkin alone I was excited.  However, they did not turn out good at all.  I couldn't even eat them.  I'm not sure if I did something wrong or I just don't like the taste of pumpkin (Paleo) pancakes. I guess live and learn.  I'm just glad I didn't try this on a weekday morning!  This kind of put me in a little funk for a while.  I really was down about not liking the pancakes and in turn wanted something not good.  Like a doughnut.  And those cravings continued throughout the day, ALL day. :O(  But let's talk about what I did eat, not what I wanted to eat.

Since we had lots of leftovers from previous dinners, lunch became a hodge podge of those leftovers mixed with scrambled eggs.  Maybe I should call it egg, etc. or something.

 {lunch = eggs, etc. - eggs, pork chop, grilled chicken & zucchini}

This afternoon some errands needed to get done so out we went.  While out we stopped at the Farmer's Market to see what kinds of goodies they had.  Every time I go to the Farmer's Market I say "man we should come here more often" because I am always amazed at the amount of food we leave with for not a lot of money. 

 {Farmer's Market finds - bananas, onions, tangelos, butternut squash, blueberries & strawberries}

Most of you are probably aware of my obsession with Pinterest?! Yes? No?  Well I have one.  A BIG obsession.  When I saw the recipe for baked apples that only involved apples and cinnamon I was all about that.  I love anything with cinnamon and if it is Whole30 approved I NEED it!! :O)   Once I got home from running around, and to be honest almost giving in and getting a coke and some Valentine's candy since it was EVERYWHERE I turned, I decided to try this recipe.  Oh man are these apples yummy.  And the whole house smells like apples and cinnamon.  Can't beat that! I don't have an apple corer so I used an apple slicer that takes out the core and then sliced those slices thinner or into little pieces - whichever happened to happen.

 {cinnamon baked apples - Bug helped me with the cinnamon 'sprinkling' so some of these babies ought to be extra delish!}

I also made up a quick fruit salad for snacking and to have with dinner.  It was hard for me to pry this out of Bug's hands to even take the picture.  She pretty much ate 3/4 of the bowl BEFORE dinner!  

{fruit salad - blueberries, strawberries & kiwi}

Alright, let's get to the part of the day where it got better.  DINNER.  I promised myself I would try new things while doing Whole30 and so far I've really surprised myself by not only trying things but actually liking them.  Things I adamantly have avoided for years.  Tonight was steak.  I was not looking forward to it at all because 1. I didn't know what it tasted like and 2. I was positive I wouldn't like it.  I was wrong.  I did like it.  And ate the whole thing.  ANNNNNND..... not only did I try and eat the steak I also tried and ate LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of sauteed onions on top of the steak, and just by themselves by the forkful.  I'm pretty much in love with them.  It's so funny to me because I hate onions, the smell, the taste, the consistency.  Or I thought I hated onions.  I don't see myself running out to eat any raw onions anytime soon, but saute those bad boys and I'm there!  In fact just typing about them makes me want some more.  Yummy!  

 {dinner - steak, green beans, fruit salad - I took this pic prior to dumping on the sauteed onions, I only realized half way through my steak that I liked them}

7 days down, 23 to go!

    

Whole30 Day 6

Today was a completely good Paleo day.  All went well and for the first time since Day 1 I haven't felt hungry.  I did have some chocolate cravings - Friday's pre-Whole30 were kind of my cheat days for bad stuff.  I'd usually have a pop and maybe some kind of candy.  Kind of a good way to start the weekend.  But not today.  I pushed through those craving by having a cup of tea and some almonds.  Much better all around.

So for breakfast today I finally got to try some of the pesto chicken that was on the menu for Wednesday night, Thursday night Friday morning.  It went very well with some eggs and almonds.

 {breakfast - eggs with salsa verde, almonds and pesto chicken (finally)}

I munched most of the morning on almonds and raisins.  My favorite Paleo flavor combination, so far.  Then for lunch I had a salad.  I'm really enjoying making salads and dressing and experimenting.  

 {lunch - salad with grilled chicken, baby tomatoes, carrots, cucumber and homemade dijon mustard dressing}

My afternoon snack today was an apple pie Lara bar.  I think I like the apple pie better than the cherry pie.  Mostly because of the cinnamon.  I love anything cinnamon - smell and taste.  Now I'm out of Lara bars (insert sad face) so I must get a few more.

So the big deal of the day is what I ate for dinner - pork chops and zucchini.   The reason this is a big deal is because I haven't had a pork chop in AGES.  Since the days of my parents making me try one and at the smart age of maybe 7 I decided I didn't like it, and haven't had one since.  Until tonight.  It was pretty good.  Much like chicken.  

 {dinner - pork chop with Italian, salt, pepper & red pepper seasoning and sauteed zucchini}

And one more monumental occasion for me happened tonight - I attempted for the first time to make something homemade, aside from salad dressing.  I made some homemade guacamole for dipping veggies in and topping salads and meats.  It turned out really really yummy!  Who knew I had it in me.  My plans for the weekend include a lot of Paleo recipe experimentation.  Since I have such limited time during the week after work I try to keep things really simple, but on the weekends I can try things a bit more time consuming.  So I'm feeling very good about things and ready to try even more new foods. Here's to a great weekend of great eating!! :O)

{mmm, mmm, good.  fresh, homemade guacamole}

 6 down, 24 to go!!

Christmas *a smidge late* 2011

I realized today that I never blogged about Christmas!  So since it is passed and I don’t want to get all Christmas-y again here is a quick recap in pictures of Christmas 2011.  (I’m not saying anything but I’m pretty sure Miss Bug is S-P-O-I-L-E-D!)  Oh and Shawn and Emma did drive to Ohio for the week between Christmas and New Year’s while Emma’s school was closed but since Shawn never takes any pictures there aren’t any of their adventure.  But let’s just say Emma came home exhausted, talking about lights (they were lucky enough to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra – thank you Uncle Tommy!), tunnels and presents!  And boy did she come home with a lot of those.  I’m not sure why Santa left any at our house when he left SO many at our ‘homes’ in Ohio! :O)  

These pictures are in no particular order - please excuse my randomness!!

Here goes...

{Christmas baking in matching aprons!}



{Santa left a candy cane silly straw cup in Bug's stocking}

{checking out the 4-wheeler for the first time}

{Emma & Brayden celebrating Christmas together}

{just looking at this pretty Christmas tree}

{Breakfast with Santa with best friend Sophia}

{they had eaten a lot of sugary syrup - and started 'table' dancing! lol}

{doing a little Christmas shopping}

{playhouse from Grandma Kim - she LOVES it!}

{no mail on Christmas - it is a holiday you know!}

{puzzle with Sophie}

{Santa stopped here!}

{love these girls!}

{Emma & Sophia celebrating Christmas}

{Best Friends Forever}

{tearing up the driveway on the new 4-wheeler Christmas Day}

{Whew, Christmas is exhausting!}

Hope you enjoyed our Christmas in pictures!  Sorry for the lateness of this post. I promise to do better.  (Or at least try!)

It's Friday, Friday, gonna get down on Friday! yes I just went there.  and yes I will apologize now.

Whole30 Day 5

Today has been a pretty horrible day.  Not really Paleo or Whole30 related, just in general a crappy day.  And when I got home. to make things even better, I had another mishap with dinner-yes the same dinner I had planned for last night and got all ready for tonight, but still haven't eaten any.  I put the chicken in according to the recipe but I think I put too much in one dish and therefore it took longer than expected to cook.  I didn't get to eat it because instead I went to girls night.  Which I really needed.  And am so grateful for them.  The best part is that there were lots of  'goodies' there and, although slightly tempted, I had no trouble passing them up!

I am a blog/picture slacker today for sure - as in I took none.  Breakfast was eggs and almonds, lunch was leftover salad from last night's dinner and dinner was broccoli and almonds and then lots of yummy snack at girls night of oranges and carrots and homemade guacamole.  I didn't feel many cravings today and when I are an apple this morning for a snack it tasted surprisingly sweet.  It satisfied that sugar flavor and I was good to go. 

So although a not-so-great day in general it was a really good Whole30 day and a great girls night!

5 days down, 25 to go!