Chicken Chili

Happy Fall!! What a gorgeous day in Dahlonega. I think so often how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful place!! The views of the mountains in the fall are to die for! Not to mention the delicious produce we can cook with :)!!

AND my absolute favorite.... the pumpkin patch!! Speaking of... any takers to go with me?! Nat managed to have a legit excuse to bail on me this year- I thought for sure the invitation to go to the pumpkin patch with yours truly would convince him to stay home from Iraq!! Rats :)

Today, my plan was to take on the job of finishing/sealing the table Nat and I bought, but with the chance of rain tonight, it looks like that project will have to wait! (Maybe a whole 'nother year until HE comes back to do it!!) Just kidding :)

So, since my table project got put on hold, I started the Sunday off right with a Chicken Chili recipe in the crock pot.

To start the recipe, I cut up 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts into 1/2- 1 inch chunks and browned them in 1 T olive oil. I accidentally took the "browning" a little too seriously, and "blackened" a few of the pieces when I wasn't paying attention!! :) oops...







While the chicken was browning, I diced 6 oz of mushrooms (which I am in the process of trying to convince myself that I like), 1 celery heart, and 1 medium onion.


When the meat was done browning, I put it into the crock pot, along with the celery, mushrooms, and onions, and added 1 can of kidney beans, 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh salsa, and 3 tomatoes that I diced in the food processor. **Another option is to substitute chick peas for the kidney beans, but for some reason, the texture of chick peas just makes me shiver!!


I stirred it all up, turned the crock pot on LOW heat, and set the timer for 7 hours. Update to follow when it is ready!! :) However, let me tell you, it is smelling so good already, I am having an inner battle not to go over there and scald my tongue tasting it!! Happy Sunday!!

Paleo Spaghetti with Meat Sauce!!

I made this delicious "paleo" spaghetti tonight, and it was the perfect end to a beautiful Monday in Dahlonega. (However, if your Monday WASN'T quite so stress-free, this is the perfect remedy for a good ol' case of the Mondays.)


First, start with a fresh spaghetti squash. (Kroger usually has some good ones. I haven't had much luck finding them at Wal-Mart).


Next, you are going to have to cut the squash in half. This is a pretty daunting task, considering the size and width of the squash. So...
Step One: Gather your wits about you
Step Two: Let the squash know who is boss (possibly with a menacing stare-down)
Step Three: Repeat: "This squash ain't got nuthin' on me!"
Step Four: Brace yourself.
Step Five: OK, cut the darn thing already :) Watch your fingers!!


Bake your squash open side-down on a cookie sheet for 45 minutes at 375 degrees. When it comes out, it will be HOT!! Wear oven mitts, and ever-so-carefully claw out the squash with a fork. It should come out easily in noodle-like strands. However, it will probably burn you through your oven mitts, so be warned. If you want, you can wait until it cools to claw it out, but I like eating it warm right out of the oven.


While your squash is baking, cook your ground beef for the meat sauce. Add any italian spices you like. OR make your own meatballs if you like those better.


Serve your squash into a bowl, and top with diced tomatoes, basil, oregano, and other italian herbs or spices. Add as much tomato and meat as you like.


Stir and enjoy!!! (Preferably with your feet up and a good book to combat the Monday stress). Pretend you don't have to do the dishes in 10 minutes. Breathe a sigh of relief!!

Take A Break, Sister!!! :)

I have spent the past 5 days sick as a dog in bed!! NOT exactly the most romantic way to greet my hubby (home for his first visit since our wedding)!! Fortunately, he has taken the BEST care of me, serving soup in bed, grocery shopping for crackers and applesauce, and pouring endless glasses of ginger ale and gatorade. HOW did I get such a sweet boy?!

However, I probably DO have to take just a teeny bit of credit for getting myself sick. I consider myself a "chronic committer." Unlike those who can't commit to a college major, or even a short-term relationship, I am blessed with the ability to commit to ANYTHING!! Working multiple jobs at a time while going to school? Check. Volunteer for anything and everything? Check. Extra workouts? Check. My backside and my couch haven't met in months? Check!! :)

Wake up call? Necessary.

OK, I get the picture. Just because I sleep well at night doesn't make it OK to run myself ragged 24/7 for months (years?!) at a time. Sometimes saying 'no' is the right answer. Occasionally skipping class to watch a "Law and Order: SVU" marathon is therapeutic. And maybe once in awhile, re-introducing my best side to the couch can feel.... pretty darn good.

...... of course....... ask me next week and I'll be the first to commit to whatever you need!! Sanity is bound to be "just a phase." (Kidding, kidding!!!) :)

Fresh Bean Dip Recipe... and "I can TOTALLY do that!!"

How many times has this simple box been the most intimidating part of your day?! Maybe it was your first time trying to jump on top of it, or maybe it was the first attempt back after you had "eaten box." Read: smashed your (insert body part here) on the box while trying to jump on it. Maybe it wasn't a box at all- it was a weight you were SURE you couldn't lift. It was a 5k. It was a mile!! Maybe it was a life situation that intimidated the heck out of you!

Whatever it was, every once in awhile (or pretty often) something stands in between us and our goal. Through prayer, struggle, determination, (and occasionally, a good "I will be DARNED if I can't do this!!"), we are able to succeed. It is easy to forget the struggles that got us to where we are today, but in hindsight, pretty cool!! "Why did I think I couldn't do that?! I can totally do that!! Or at least I'm gonna try!"
See Crossfit Champion Kristan Clever's thoughts:
http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_Klever_ICanTotallyDoThat.mov

Fresh Bean Dip Recipe:

So I slacked a little bit on the photo step-by-step. (Got in a rush to make this before I ran out the door).


Fresh Bean Dip:
1. Mix one can of pinto beans, and one can of black beans with enough light sour cream to cover them, and some homemade (or all-natural fresh store-bought) salsa.

2. Stir in chili pepper and cumin to taste.

3. Sprinkle on a layer of shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, or Fiesta Mix, or plain Mozzarella or Cheddar) Whichever kind you like!! :)

4. Add a layer of diced tomatoes and diced avocado.

5. Add black olives (whole or sliced) on top.

6. Refrigerate or enjoy!!

Crock Pot Beef Stew

This beef stew is to DIE for, and SO easy!! (And I'm all about easy when it comes to cooking- I mean, who has time to stress?!)


I started by putting a little over a pound of stew beef into my crock-pot. I rubbed the meat with garlic beforehand, and then just tossed it in!! (I got the lean-cut beef, because I can't stand when the gristle-y pieces get in there.)


I cut up some celery, carrots, and potatoes, and tossed those in too.


I added a few spices, and a little more garlic (I am a terrible date- I LOVE garlic). To my despair, I went to put my absolute favorite Emeril Lagasse "Bam!" spice into the crock-pot, only to find out it was EMPTY!! (It was bound to happen sometime. It was probably for the best anyway, because I am pretty sure it is not paleo).


I added a whole box of organic vegetable broth (Swanson), and left it in the crock-pot on high for between 4 and 5 hours while I went to Crossfit and work.


When I came home, the apartment smelled AMAZING, and I could already tell it was going to be wonderful. The first taste was delicious, and after a day of cool weather in Dahlonega, it warmed me RIGHT up!! :) Enjoy!!

Yogurt Sundaes in a Fruit Bowl!!

Today, my mom texted me the best idea!! She called it "Yogurt Sundaes." Her original recipe involved using waffle-cone bowls (which sounds de-lish!!).

However, since I am trying to post some recipes that our paleo friends can use, I just made a little change, and created a "fruit bowl" to put the sundaes in! If it is a cheat day, feel free to rock that waffle-cone bowl!! :)




It was a little tedious, but so fun and creative!! I loved her idea!!



To start off with, I took a LARGE apple (the biggest ones I could find at the store), because being a big eater like I am, those little apples just weren't a big enough bowl for me :) I chopped the top off of the apple and munched on it while I was making the rest of the treat.


Then, I hollowed out the apple using a grapefruit scooper (however, it might be easier if you had a melon baller with a serrated edge or one of those spoons that scoops the leaves off of strawberries. This explains my crude-looking apple. You have to be extra careful not to scoop too much off the bottom, or you will end up with a little hole in the bottom of your bowl like I did, therefore causing me to have to put a normal bowl around my apple to prevent leakage :) I once again defer to Julia Child- "Never apologize!!"


Then I filled my apple with plain yogurt (greek yogurt would also be delicious), and as you can see, due to my hole, some leaked out :)


This is the creative part!! Pile on/mix in any healthy treats of your own. Berries, carob pieces, dark chocolate pieces, sliced grapes, whatever!!


Drizzle with honey/agave/maple syrup and enjoy!! YUM :)