Saturday, April 29, 2017

Trying the buffalo chicken casserole again

Ingredients
• 1 large spaghetti squash, cooked and shredded
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 cup diced carrots, about 2-3 medium size
• 2 pounds cooked chicken
• 1/3 cup hot sauce (like Frank's Red Hot)
• 1/4 cup ranch dressing
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• salt to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon)
• 3 eggs
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400° and line a 13x9 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. While squash is cooking, sauté the onion and carrots for 5-7 minutes- until softened and mostly cooked through.
3. Shred squash with a fork and place in a large bowl. Use a clean towel and press the liquid out- it doesn't have to be super dry, but this helps make the casserole not too watery.
4. Add the onion mixture to the bowl along with the chicken, hot sauce, ranch, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir well.
5. Add the eggs, mix well, and pour mixture into the prepared pan.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
7. Serve with additional ranch if desired.

Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
• 1 cup homemade mayo
• 1 (14oz) can coconut cream
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (I use Real Salt)
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
1. Mix mayo and coconut cream together with a whisk until fully combined.
2. Add in the garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
3. Store in the fridge. It will be pretty thin at first, but will set up in the fridge.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Wonton meatballs (from Nom Nom Paleo)

Ingredients

  • ¼ ounce dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
  • ½ pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 pound ground pork 
  • 2 scallions, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup cilantro, minced
  • 1 tablespoon coconut aminos
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon fish sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
  • Ghee or cooking fat of choice 
  • 1 scallion, sliced on the bias (optional garnish)
  • Sriracha (optional)

Instructions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F, and squeeze the water out of the shiitake mushrooms. Cut off the hard stems, and finely mince them.
  2. Finely chop the shrimp until you’ve got a chunky paste.
  3. Place the shrimp in a large bowl and add the pork, mushrooms, scallions, cilantro, coconut aminos, salt, fish sauce, white pepper, and sesame oil.
  4. Use your hands to squeeze and mix the meatball mixture until a sticky and tacky mass is formed.
  5. Heat up a small frying pan over medium heat and add a little cooking fat. When the pan is hot, form a little patty and cook it in the pan. Taste it and see if the seasoning is right. Adjust with additional salt if needed. (Not cooking yet? You can store the meatball mixture in the fridge for up to 12 hours.)
  6. Form the mixture into 1½-inch balls. I like to scoop the balls out with a #20 disher, which holds 3 tablespoons. Roll the mixture into round balls and arrange on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. You should end up with about a dozen balls.
  7. Bake the meatballs in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.
  8. If you wanna make a bunch Wonton Sliders instead, smush the balls into ½-inch patties and fry in a greased pan over medium heat, about 2 minutes on each side. Serve immediately with a squeeze of sriracha!

Monday, March 20, 2017

Sweet potato chicken poppers

Ingredients

1 lb ground chicken
2 cups raw (not cooked) sweet potato, grated
2 tbsp coconut oil + 1 tsp for greasing the baking sheet
2 tbsp coconut flour
2 sprigs green onion, chopped fine
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 F and lightly grease a lined baking sheet with coconut oil
Combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and thoroughly combine
Begin rolling the mixture into small poppers about one inch in diameter (you'll have about 20-22 poppers) and place them on the cooking sheet
Place in the oven for 25-28 minutes, flipping half way through
Crisp further in a pan or place under the broiler if desired for 1-2 minutes to crisp further
Remove from the oven when thoroughly cooked through
Allow to cool and serve with your favorite sauce

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Leeny's potluck party

Leeny had a potluck party to wrap-up the Whole30. A good group of people showed up for it.  I made some WLC cookies, beef in the slow cooker and Chimichurri sauce
Rare picture of Sam and me.  I had heels on and he's still way taller than I am!!!!  Also, I was drinking water!!!!
Prizes for the winning team

Another great Leeny challenge

Friday, February 17, 2017

Final results for Leeny's challenge

NUTS AND BOLTS
Total Participants:  35
Challenge participants (took before and afters and logged lifestyle points):  32
(9 non members, 23 members)
Participants who had afters taken:  30
Percentage of people fully completing the challenge:  94% (THIS NUMBER IS THE BIGGEST YET!)
Total lbs lost: 222.7
Avg lbs lost:  7.4
Total inches lost:  128
Avg inches lost:  4.3

Top Female Winners
1st  Jane McHowat  
Lost 6.7% bodyweight; 5.8% inches; 203 LSP) life style points

2nd  Karen Winkler
Lost 5.8% bodyweight; 5.2% inches; 193 LSP

Top Male Winners
1st Gus Haug
Lost 12.76 % bodyweight (35 lbs!!); 8.4% inches; 148 LSP

2nd  Terrence Griffin
Lost 6.61% bodyweight; 5.9% inches;  179 LSP