Foodie Friday!

Happy Friday friends! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and is gearing up for the weekend with some fun plans! I'm here today with a roundup of my favorite recent recipes and one's that are on my must make list. What's been your favorite go to recipe lately?

[one]

Steamed Salmon with Garlic, Herbs and Lemon

By far my favorite current recipe. So easy! So good! Very much a weeknight meal! Wins all around. I've served it along side rice pilaf and homemade parmesan cauliflower rice.

[two]

Greek-Style Potatoes

If you love the lemon potatoes you get from your local Greek restaurant - look no further! These are amazing! The first time I made them I was concerned about the amount of liquid in the dish, but just follow the recipe. It does take 1.5 hour to get the perfect potato, but don't let that deter you!

[three]

Spicy Chicken with Chickpeas

This is a different flavor profile for our home, but it was really, really good! Delicious leftovers. I would say spicy is an overstatement. The first time I made this I let it marinate twice as long as the second time and I think that might have made all the difference.

[four]

Creamy Cucumber Salad

If you're like me you probably grew up on some sort of a cucumber and onion salad. We ate so much of it growing up and over the years it slowly lost its punch. So, I've been on the lookout for new versions and this might be it. This is definitely on my must make list!

[five]

Black Bean Burgers

If you've been here awhile you know Mr. B is a meat grilling lover, but let. me. tell. you. I made these black bean burgers and they were so good and Mr. B approved! I've been trying to incorporate 1-2 vegetarian dishes into our weekly meal plan and this seriously did not disappoint. So good and satisfying!

[six]

Cranberry Orange Protein Balls

I'm always looking for quick and easy things we can grab in the morning and this might fit the bill. This has been on my must make list for a while. Might have to try them this weekend!

What's been on your must make list? Cheers to happy cooking!

Whole 30 Round 2 - Week 3

We've made it to week 3 and that hasn't been without a lot of day dreaming about cold beers and rosé that's for sure! I think we've made it through the hard part. One of the things I love about Whole 30 is that it 100% makes us more responsible and disciplined about using all of the food we buy at the grocery store. I don't know if I even want to tell you how much food we would throw out on a regular basis. So without further ado let's jump into an iPhone dump from last week and a look at the week ahead.

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry over Cauliflower Rice

Super yummy salad!
Grilled Chicken marinated in Tessemae's Zesty Ranch

Chipotle Beef & Avocado Bowls - delish!

Applegate hotdogs, coleslaw and sweet potato fries
I made up the coleslaw and it was awesome!
Leftover bagged coleslaw, compliant mayo, rice wine vinegar, dash mustard

So, let's see what's on the menu this week...

Breakfast and lunches are pretty much the same as the last few weeks. Frittatas for Mr. B and some version of eggs and bacon for me plus these buffalo turkey meatballs with roasted broccoli for lunches.

We started the week off  last night with Zuppa Toscana soup which I love and it was kid approved, so win win! For dinner tonight we had Shrimp and "Grits" or mashed cauliflower in our world and it was delish! I usually make this Southern Living recipe and just modified it to make compliant.

The rest of the week we'll be having pork chops with these green beans, peanut-free chicken satay with baked sweet potatoes, hot dogs with parsnip fries and probably burgers with grilled sweet peppers and this amazing sweet potato salad. Seriously, this may be my favorite thing right now.

A few related food things.. First, I thought this was a good article for those considering Whole30 and considering how it will affect your grocery budget. Second, this was a great documentary about eating whole foods and how it will and can affect your health. It is focused on Paleo which is very similar to Whole 30 minus a few things (sugar!), but still a great look at the benefits of eating whole, real foods.

Lastly, unrelated but how sweet is this little nugget?? Where did my baby go and when did he get so big??

Cheers to feeling good on the INSIDE this week!

Whole 30 Round 2 - Week 2

We've made it through week 1 - YAY! The image above is a reminder of the general outcomes you should be feeling while on the Whole 30 and it was pretty accurate for us. Mid week we both had headaches that felt like hangovers! I'm ready for the tiger blood to set in - so much energy!! Let's do a phone dump for Whole 30 inspiration and a look ahead of this week...

Buffalo Turkey Meatballs, Roasted Broccoli and Tessemae's Ranch

Herb Crusted Salmon with Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Apples

Banana, Raisins and Almond Butter

Leftover Herb Salmon and Egg Scramble

Gotta make it fun somehow!
Lemon La Croix mixed with Pineapple Strawberry La Croix

Saturday Dinner
Grilled Steaks, Roasted Tomatoes and Mushrooms and Carrot and Parsnip Mash

So, what's on the menu this week??

Breakfast | I tried a new breakfast casserole for Mr. B this week. It looks tasty! I'm still obsessed with my hard boiled eggs with hot sauce.

Lunch | The buffalo turkey meatballs from last week were really good, so we're keeping that the same again this week as well. Super yummy!

Dinners | We started the week off last night with this compliant meatloaf and baked sweet potatoes. We love this recipe! Also on the menu this week... Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with Riced Cauliflower, Grilled Chicken Salads, Chipotle Beef & Avocado Bowls, Pork Chops and Roasted Asparagus, Compliant Hot Dogs and Sweet Potato Fries

Extras | Additional items in our fridge to keep us on track... raisins, bananas, avocados, almond butter, grapes, baby carrots

Cheers to feeling good on the INSIDE!

Whole 30 Round 2 - Week 1

Yes, you read that right! Mr. B and I have started our 2nd round of Whole 30 and thank goodness. We were both in need of a reset and the timing is perfect. Today is day 1 and my personal goal is 60 days, but we'll see. Ideally, I see that as a strict Whole 30 for the first half and then a mash up of Whole 30 and Food Freedom the second half straight into the summer months. Here's to hoping it works out that way!

So, what's on the menu this week? And like last time, this is really for my benefit because typing it out makes me accountable for sticking with it. So, thank you to my 2 readers for the accountability group - haha!

Breakfast | Frittatas for Mr. B (quick and easy for on the go) and hard boiled eggs with Franks Red Hot Original and Pederson's compliant bacon for me. I owe my sister for my new obsession with eggs and hot sauce. Go ahead and awake your senses first thing in the morning - you won't regret it!

Coffee | about the only thing that stuck from our first Whole 30 is our Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk. And trust me, this was a big deal for Mr. B! He was a huuuge french vanilla creamer lover to the end, so yay for him!

Dishes | the following will be used for dinner and leftovers for lunch: 
Lemon Garlic Herb Baked Salmon with Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Buffalo Turkey Meatballs with Tessemae's Ranch and Roasted Broccoli
Chicken Tenderloins, Roasted Fennel, Apple, Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
Egg Roll in a Bowl - duh! a family fave!
Grilled Pork Chops with Tessemae's BBQ Sauce and Roasted Asparagus
Grilled Burgers with Marinated Onions and Parsnip Fries

Extras | Other items in our fridge to keep us on track: celery, raisins, almond butter, bananas, apple slices, baby carrots

So, nothing crazy on our menu this week and for good reason. I want us to be just as successful this time around as we were last time. I already felt overwhelemed with coming up with a menu so I kept it on the straight and narrow while we're getting back into the swing of things.

Is anyone else doing a Whole 30 or just completed one? Let me know down below!

Cheers to feeling great on the INSIDE!

Coffee Talk

If we were sitting across from each other sipping a hot cup a joe I'd probably be telling you this...

...first I'd become that mother and spend the majority of our time gushing about my sweet son. I meannn look how sweet he is with Santa! It's just so heartwarming. I will literally treasure this picture forever!

...also, remember I mentioned a few weeks ago that I thought George would start walking soon? Well, hello! We have a walker. I use that term lightly, but he's definitely walking across our living room. Yay for George!

... this was my scene Sunday morning. Perfect reading spot! I started China Rich Girlfriend over the weekend and have already finished it and I'm on to the 3rd book in this series, Rich People Problems. Highly recommend these books. So easy to binge read them too!

...speaking of books - I ordered the 2 books above from Amazon Prime and wouldn't you know it took longer then the free 2-day shipping. Why am I paying for Amazon Prime again?

...anyone else excited for the return of Vanderpump Rules??

...George was supposed to be napping recently and I looked at the monitor and found this sneaky little cutie reading!

...made 2 keepers for dinner recently that I must share - Baked Ziti and Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Both from the Pioneer Woman and as usual make a tonnnnn.

...currently burning this Yankee Candle. The scent combo may seem strange but don't let it fool you!! It smells so good!

...I've come up with the best company for mothers... drum roll please... a highchair detailing service. They would come to your house and detail your dirty macaroni and cheese filled highchair back to its original pristine form. Yay? Nay? How do you mothers keep them looking so clean? Especially the straps!

That's it for today! See you back here soon :)

O. M. G.... it's Ree!

...as in Ree Drummond... as in the Pioneer Woman! Mr. B and I (and George) got to meet her last night at her signing for her new cookbook! How fun! Of course she was just like she is on TV - super bubbly and nice.

the line!!!

our celeb moment! a total professional - signing books while taking pics and still looking cute

I can't end this post without sharing two of my favorite recipes from Ree (first name basis ya know!) First up is her lasagna. This is definitely my go to recipe and it makes a tonnnn. She calls it her best ever lasagna and I think she's right!

I think I've talked about my second favorite recipe of hers before - French Breakfast Puffs. She calls them French Puffs but really they are a cinnamony donuty little pocket of goodness. I will note that she makes her in a standard muffin tin, but I think they're better using a mini muffin tin.

Plus there are tons of new and yummy recipes in her Come and Get It! Cookbook! Now, what's for dinner???

Weekending

Happy Monday everyone! I'm just getting my week started with a cozy cup of hot joe. Actually it started at 5:45am when my littlest friend decided it was time to wake up! How was your weekend friends? Did you make the most of Daylight Savings?? We mostly had a low key weekend with a special ending. Friday basically consisted of falling alseep on the couch while watching reruns of Modern Family which if you really want to know is my most favorite way to spend a Friday evening. Saturday morning we visited our favorite coffee shop which we hadn't done while doing our Whole 30. It was nice to have a family coffee run! The rest of Saturday was spent in the kitchen for me and watching football for Mr. B. I was busy whipping up yummy foods for our sweet George's Dedication which happened Sunday at Mr. B's hometown church. It was so special to do it there and I know Mr. B was so proud! I'd say George did pretty good, but it was definitely a struggle to keep him quiet the whole service!

And because you know I love a good menu here's what we had for lunch...

Chicken Salad - the only chicken salad recipe you need!

Ham Rolls

Chilled Asparagus Salad

Mixed Green Salad - Strawberries, Blue Cheese, Spiced Pecans, Balsamic Vinaigrette

Deviled Eggs

Vivian Howard's Cheese Ball - a must holiday appetizer!!

Carrot Cake - another amazing recipe!

Chicken Salad from Cook's Illustrated Cookbook

2 - 3 pounds chicken, shredded or chopped

2 celery stalks, diced

2 scallions, diced

2 tablespoons parsley

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup mayo

Mix it all up and enjoy! Add more mayo and lemon juice as needed.

A beautiful ending to a special day for our family

Whole 30 Final Wrap Up

If you read yesterday we finished the Whole 30! So, yay to us! Now on to what really matters - the non-scale victories. First, let me say that I pulled out the scale and it actually didn't even work so there's that. No real firm idea on results, but we're ok with that! 

Non-Scale Victories | glowing skin, flatter stomach, leaner appearance, clothes and wedding rings fitting better, less bloating, feeling confident, fewer seasonal allergies, no acid reflex, no heartburn, less joint and muscle pain, happier, more outgoing, fewer mood swings, fewer sugar and carb cravings, healthier relationship with food, practicing mindful eating, started listening to body, sleeping like a champ, awake refreshed, tons of energy, maximized food budget, less food waste. 

You're probably thinking "Anna come one! That's a really long list!" And you're right it is. Check here for the full list of potential non-scale victories.

Now onto the food! Below were are favorite recipes from the last 30 days. Even if you're not doing Whole 30 these are great weeknight dinner options.

one | Loaded Sweet Potatoes Fries
I talked about this a lot and made it several times. It's so good! The spice mix is actually the best part. Run and make this now!

two | Whole 30 Latte

All day Errrr day!! Like I couldn't get enough of this. It seriously takes like a better version of your Starbucks latte. So yummy!

three | Meatloaf

Honestly, this meatloaf may be my go to recipe now. The flavor is so much better than any I've had in the past!

four | Sweet Potato Apple Bake

Great option for a "sweet" treat!

five | Egg Roll in a Bowl

This trend has been going on for awhile and I'm very late to the party. This is delicious and definitely covers the asian/take out chinese cravings!

That pretty much sums up our Whole 30! Can't believe we did it. We're already talking about next Whole 30.... whodathunkit!

Whole 30 Week 4 Recap

That's right folks - we finished the Whole 30! No cheating or corner cutting. Followed all the rules to the best of our knowledge. I'm so proud of us for completing this journey together. I really and truly never thought we'd finished it all the way through like we have. I actually think typing this weekly recap has kept me accountable, so thank you! 

For all those who think they can't - you can! We had our own obstacles that challenged us as well. For one, Mr. B leaves for work before the sun comes up and he's never in his office during lunch time so that alone was a challenge to figure out how we were going to make that work. We decided on these mini frittatas for breakfast that he could just grab and reheat when he had a minute. He also committed to reheating leftovers for lunch which meant he didn't always eat lunch at a normal hour. Also, we had 3 out of town birthday parties over our 30 days. That's 3 cupcakes for 3 of our favorite littles that we had to pass up and it really didn't hurt that badly! I can't remember the last time I cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner at home for 30 days straight. Doing the Whole 30 = dishes plain and simple.

So, let's get into it! I've tried to link up compliant brands and recipes where applicable.

Day 22
Breakfast: Mini Frittata, coffee with almond milk
Lunch: Leftover Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Dinner: Meatballs and homemade sauce

Day 23
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, Whole 30 Latte
Lunch: Leftover kebabs and collards
Dinner: Pan seared pork chops, sauteed spinach and sweet potato fries

Day 24
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and avocado
Lunch: Chiptole salad - lettuce, carnitas, pico, guac
Dinner: Egg roll in a bowl

Egg roll in a bowl

Day 25
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and avocado
Lunch: Chopt Classic Cobb Salad (no bacon or cheese) with Tessemae's ranch dressing
Dinner: Burgers with roasted asparagus

Day 26
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs, coffee with almond milk and cinnamon
Lunch: Leftover collards and Larabar
Dinner: Grilled steaks and Herb Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Herb Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Day 27
Breakfast: Leftover herbed sweet potato salad with egg, avocado and bacon, coffee with almond milk and cinnamon
Lunch: Burgers
Dinner: Mr. B's BBQ and sweet potato fries

Day 28
Breakfast: Larabar
Lunch: Egg roll in a bowl
Dinner: Meatloaf and roasted asparagus
Snack: Chili Lime Nuts

Chili Lime Nuts

Day 29
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, chicken sausage and latte
Lunch: Leftover egg roll in a bowl
Dinner: Leftover meatloaf and baked sweet potato

Day 30
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, avocado, coffee and almond milk with cinnamon
Lunch: Leftover egg roll in a bowl
Dinner: BBQ bowls (bbq, avocado, cilantro, red onion, cole slaw mix, chili mayo)

Final Thoughts!
-Our meal plan has not been perfect I know... lots of eggs, sweet potatoes, burgers, etc. and I'm ok with that. I felt completely overwhelmed week one with what to make. When you search Whole 30 recipes there are tons of great options, but I felt like we were only going to be successful and not completely blow our grocery budget if we just kept it simple. 

So, where do we go from here?? Check back later this week for our favorite recipes and our NSV's (non-scale victories)! Also, I have added a Whole 30 page on the blog that will be the keeper of our weekly recaps. 

Whole 30 Week 3 Recap

Happy Monday everyone! We've made it through week 3 of our Whole 30 journey and man I can't believe we've made it this far. Lots of temptations and lots of vivid dreams about food. I think I dreamed about pancakes and french toast most of last night...

So, let's get into it! I've tried to link up compliant brands and recipes where applicable.

Day 15
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and Whole 30 Latte
Snack: Pumpkin Apple Bake
Lunch: Leftover meatballs and tomato sauce
Dinner: Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Day 16
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, avocado, coffee with almond milk and cinnamon
Lunch: Leftover buffalo chicken casserole
Dinner: Lemon roasted shrimp, roasted asparagus and rosemary red potatoes
Snack: Pumpkin apple bake

Day 17
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, bacon, Whole 30 latte
Lunch: Chicken sausage and sauteed spinach
Snack: Larabar
Dinner: Meatloaf - actually really good!

Meatloaf 

Day 18
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and bacon, coffee with almond milk
Lunch: Loaded sweet potatoes - my newest obsession!!
Dinner: Pan seared pork chops, green beans with cashews and stewed cinnamon apples

Day 19
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs, avocado and bacon, coffee with almond milk and cinnamon
Lunch: Leftover loaded sweet potatoes fries plus pecans
Dinner: Burgers and leftover sweet potatoes

Day 20
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and avocado, Whole 30 latte
Snack: Smoothie
Lunch: BLTA (used lettuce as wrap)
Dinner: Grilled chicken wings

Day 21
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and chicken sausage, coffee with almond milk
Lunch: Loaded sweet potatoes - yes for the 4th time this week!
Dinner: Chicken kebabs and collard greens

Chicken kebabs

Final Thoughts!
-Lifesavers... ghee, Tessemae's ranch dressing, Primal Kitchen mayo
-We have produced sooo many dishes since doing Whole 30. Our dishwasher has been on nonstop!
-Still feeling great from the elimination of junk and the sugar that is actually in almost everything. I do think we've probably had too much fruit over the last 21 days, so we've committed to limiting that this week
-I do want to note that everything we've done so far has been to the best of our knowledge. I've checked every ingredient and asked questions if we've been out (which hasn't been much). I even took straight black coffee home from my favorite coffee shop to use our own almond milk.
-Last, one of the strictest rules of Whole 30 is to avoid the scale for the entire 30 days which is fine because ours is away in a linen closest never to be seen again... but I can definitely see a change in both myself and Mr. B. I will uncover the scale at the end and weigh ourselves because I think we both have a round about idea of where we were to begin with. 
-So, cheers to entering the last and final week of our Whole 30 challenge journey! :)