Make Your Own Spice Mix

It can be so disheartening to be at the store searching for a spice mix only to find most of them have added sugar or MSG in them. This Friday's tip is to make your own spice blend! Check out these simple combinations below and see where they take your next meal.

Five Spice Powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp fennel seed
1 tsp star anise
1 tsp peppercorns

Italian Herb Seasoning
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp marjoram
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp basil
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp sage

Chili Powder
3 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tbsp oregano
1 tsp red or cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Seasoned Salt
3 tbsp salt
2 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp onion powder
2 tbsp paprika
A dash or two of cayenne pepper

 

Whole30 Steak Coffee Rub

I have seen this recipe for a while now, and just never made it. We tossed together the spices last week and seasoned away. After some time on the grill the steaks were ready and we were in heaven. We made extra and are now ready for our next grilling session.

Whole9's Coffee Rub

1 tsp black peppercorns

1 tsp whole coriander

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp raw sugar (optional)

1 tsp freshly ground coffee

 

I multiplied this recipe by 4 so there would be enough for our next steak dinner. This recipe should cover 2 steaks.

- Sorry there isn't a picture- we ate the steaks up so fast there wasn't anything left to photograph!

Enjoy!

Celebration Time!

 You are getting to the end of your Whole30 and it is time to CEL-A-BRATE!!! I would imagine previously you may have chosen a big cupcake, glass of wine, or a meat lovers pizza to make this celebration happen. But you have changed, you realize that you actually LIKE the way healthy food makes you feel and you are ready for a different type of party. Today, make a plan for your "treat" that you will give yourself when you are done.

 

Maybe it will be some cool new shoes for the gym:

 

 

A sweet accessory for your new skinny wrist:

 

 

 

Maybe splurge on a knife for all the delicious Paleo food you will continue to eat:

 

 

Have some flowers delivered to yourself at work or at home:

 

 

Buy yourself some new bedding for the sleep you never knew you could have:

 

 

Go on an adventure:

 

 

There are millions of ideas out there besides the sugar covered, carb overloaded, cheat that will leave you feeling like this:

 

 

So the "tip" for today is treat yourself the best way you know how. Plan a celebration for the end of your Whole30 that won't leave you feeling sick and WILL leave you feeling like this:

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Whole30 Results Not What You Expected?

You did the program, marked off all your days and yet you didn't fiind the success you were looking for. What happened? Is the program wrong? Check out this post for the 6 reasons the Whole30 didn't work for you. Maybe it is time to revamp and start again. Your health is worth the journey of discovery, and with that comes disappointments and success!

Enjoy!

Fresh Balsamic Crockpot Chicken

On these cold winter days I find myself less motivated to cook and more motivated to eat. Really bad combo if you ask me. I don't know if it is the going to work in the dark and getting home in the dark that makes me feel like snuggling and less energized to be in the kitchen. Ya feel me? Yeah thought so. Crockpots to the rescue! This recipe is awesome too because it only takes a few hours to cook so if you decide to do a crockpot dinner later in the day, you still have time to enjoy it. I found the recipe here and followed it just how she had it. She has some great pictures and ideas for making this with chicken breast, so be sure to check it out if you are interested.

Fresh Balsamic Crockpot Chicken
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs - I used drumsticks, worked just a well
Sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley (optional- I wasn't a big fan of the parsley)

Combine the dry ingredients together and rub them on the chicken. In the bottom of your crockpot place the olive oil and garlic. Put in your chicken next and pour balsamic vinegar over everything. Cook on high for 4 hours. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over cooked chicken and enjoy!

Sweet Potato vs. After Work-Out Shake

There is so much hype out there about all these so called "magic workout drinks". The truth is real food is ALWAYS best! You can get more form a sweet potato and a glass of water after a hard workout than you can from the fancy drink some athlete was promoting on TV. Don't believe me? Check out this article for a further explanation.

Enjoy!

 

Sliced Baked Sweet Potato

Your tip for this Friday is a new way to bake your sweet potato. I wish I would have made more than I did, because they ran out too quickly! The outside gets a little crispy and the inside is tender and delicious. If you have ghee, be sure to use it! It makes this recipe scrumptious.

Sliced Baked Sweet Potato
Sweet Potato
Ghee, or clarified butter
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Paprika

Pre-Heat oven to 425 degrees. Wash sweet potatoes well. Slice potato as shown (3/4 of the way down)- be sure not to slice all the way through it. Place potatoes on a silpat baking sheet, or on parchment paper on a cooking sheet. Drizzle olive oil and ghee (melted) over top, letting it soak into the cuts. Add salt, pepper and paprika. Bake for 40 min, or until a fork goes easily into the sweet potato. Remove from oven, add additional ghee if needed. Enjoy!