Wait for it... it's menu time!

Saturday morning!  Laundry is started, scones are baked (go back one post if you missed that!), and I am making my weekly menu.  It looks like we are in for some chilly weather, so lots of comfort foods this week!

Once I get all my other stuff done around here this morning, I am going to start making Christmas treats.  I will make unclean cupcakes for MR and me to take to work.

These are not clean!  But they sure are cute and fun to make!

And I will also make some dark chocolate treats and some other clean treats.  Of course, I will make a batch of granola this morning!  I love a handful thrown in with some plan Greek yogurt.  MR adds a little honey when he does that, but I like it just fine with granola and yogurt.  Fortunately, I have most of the ingredients for my menu this week so that means a cheap trip to the grocery store.  Good thing since I dropped a bundle at the Amish market and Trader Joe's last week!

Tortilla Soup - This is such a versatile recipe.  I don't always have every ingredient on hand, so I just wing it.  Sometimes I throw in some cooked, chopped chicken, and sometimes I throw in some prepared black beans.  Sometimes both!

Pizza - MR loves his pizza!  We indulge in this occasionally with a fresh whole wheat crust from Trader Joe's.  We also like to use their Quattro Formaggio cheese (I know, that's redundant).  He makes his own pizza sauce with crushed tomatoes, olive oil, and some Italian seasoning and garlic.  Good stuff!

Potato Corn Soup - We don't even know what this is.  We are going to make it up!  We love potato soup.  We love corn soup.  We are going to combine the two and make our own recipe!  MR is good at that.

Rosemary pot roast - This goes in the slow cooker.  I love love love it!  And it only takes a few ingredients!

Beef and vegetable soup - Another recipe we kind of make up as we go along.  Leftover pot roast, some frozen mixed vegetables, some broth... what else, what else?

Baked chicken and acorn squash - This is just what it sounds like.  Rub some olive oil on your chicken, sprinkle on some seasoning (we usually use Italian) and bake it.  You can bake this at the same time as your acorn squash.  I think acorn squash is the ultimate comfort food!  My mom used to make it for me!

Mustgo - Either eat what's left in the fridge (everything must go), or go to Plaza Mexico for a taco if there is nothing left to eat since we do repurpose for lunches most of the time!


Check out earlier posts this week for lots of yummy treats to make if you're in the mood!  No matter what, though, keep it clean!

Treats Treats Treats!

I love staying in the house on cold Winter days and making Christmas treats!  And this is the perfect weekend for it.  Weatherman says Sunday, especially, will be a wicked one.  So what to make?

I am going to list a whole bunch of different recipes.  I probably won't get them all made this weekend, but I can do more next weekend.  Isn't that what Christmas is all about?  Yum!  Can't wait!

Clean Eating Sticky Buns!

Flourless cranberry scones - I added these after I posted this blog because they are just so darn good!  And super quick and easy!  I have to put them away when they finish cooling or I will eat them all!  AMAZING!!!  You can make these in about 5-10 minutes, plus 10 minutes bake time.

Sticky buns - These are made with the dough from Cinnamon Raisin Braids over at The Naked Kitchen (www.thenakedkitchen.com).  I linked to the original recipe, but if you want to make sticky buns, just make the dough as indicated.  Then instead of rolling into ropes and braiding, divide the dough in half and roll each piece out into a rectangle.  Mix a little bit of honey with some chopped pecans (or other nut of your choice). It should be mostly nuts.  Roll it up jelly roll style, and cut into individual rolls.  I like to use dental floss to do this because it doesn't squish the dough.  Then place in a buttered cake pan, side touching.  Bake at 350 about 20 minutes.  When done, brush with honey cinnamon mixture (see recipe link).  Allow to cool as long as you can stand it.  Makes two batches of sticky buns.

Dark Chocolate Coconut balls - These are like eating a Mounds bar.  Yummy coconut drenched in dark chocolate!  Oh yeah!  Better than a Mounds!

Paleo pumpkin muffins - I love to make a batch of these and keep them in the fridge to heat up for breakfast.  Throw a handful of fresh or dried cranberries in for a great tart POP in your mouth.  I use unsweetened cranberries, so it's pretty tart.  But I love it like that!

Molasses oatmeal cookies - My husband created these one day when we didn't have enough coconut sugar.  I like to make them extra big for grab and go breakfast cookies!

Gourmet S'mores - I know, s'mores are for Summer, but I just love these.  If you are going to a party or holiday gathering, a plate of these is always a big hit!

Peppermint patties - I could eat a whole bag of peppermint patties in one sitting... one reason I had to switch to clean eating!  But just one or two of these totally satisfies me!  So delightful!

Dark Chocolate Orange and Pomegranate Truffles - I haven't made these yet but I really hope to this year!  They look beautiful and sound even better.  If you make them let me know how they turn out or, better yet, invite me over for a taste test!

Dark Chocolate Covered Toffee - You won't even know there's no refined sugar in this.  Amazing stuff! And so easy!  You really need a candy thermometer, though.

Apple Pie Balls - Easiest recipe ever!  No baking and can be made in just a few minutes.  Everybody loves these... even #1 son who doesn't eat clean!


Have fun!  Share a recipe with me if you like!  And remember to keep it clean!

Sometimes it's not just about the clean eating!

Yay for the holidays that fall from November to January!  I love this time of year with all the excitement, festivities, family, and friends!  If you're like me, you also have that one little thing always hanging over your head though...  will I gain any weight this season?  Will I at least maintain the weight I have lost?

The holidays are often a sugar-filled whirlwind.  MR and I try to offset that as much as possible by making clean treats.  There are lots of great baking and candy recipes.  I will post some of my favorites in the days to come.  But this time of year, more than ever, I know I have to also ramp up my exercise.  Last year we did the weight gain challenge.  You weigh yourself on the day before Thanksgiving and then again on New Year's Day.  The goal is to weigh less on January 1st.  MR actually did it last year.  I did not.  But I only gained two pounds, so I put a small "w" in the win column.  (Previous years would have told a different story!)  This year we are doing it again.  And I know I will have to be extra vigilant this year, especially after that awesome (Paleo) pie I made for Thanksgiving.  Desserts are desserts, folks, and should be eaten in moderation, even when made without refined sugars!  (Tell that to my taste buds!)

My idea of exercise on a regular day is walking.  It has been so ridiculously cold lately that I haven't even been able to do that as much as I'd like.  So I have added the Plank Challenge to help build my core, and have also committed to a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise every day.  Not an average over a week but every single day.  Today, because it's the first day and I am all excited about it (call me next week to discuss), I did the Plank Challenge and a Kickboxing video (I can view it free through my Roku... I am all about free), and I am about to walk 3 miles (round trip) in the freezing cold to buy some coconut sugar.  I don't need the coconut sugar today, but I do need the walk so it's a good excuse and gives me a reason to keep moving.  Truth be told, the walk may turn into a bike ride... we'll see.  Nonetheless, exercise!

This is my idea of how to spend the next 30 days, and it doesn't have to be yours.  But none of us want to gain any weight this season, so find something you do enjoy, and move it move it!

And keep it clean!

Cinnamon Rolls - pardon my sticky fingers!

I am so excited to share this with you that I still have sticky fingers from eating it!  If you have followed me for any length of time, you may remember that cinnamon raisin braid recipe is one of the recipes that convinced me I could do this clean eating thing.  I continue to go back to this recipe, because it's pretty easy and always good!

Yesterday I thought I was dumping some leftover cinnamon and chopped pecans into an empty container.  It turns out there was a little bit of honey in the bottom.  Not to be wasteful, I just stirred them all together.  I tasted a little on a spoon!  Holy smokes!  I had to do something with this stuff!  So I got to thinking that maybe I could use them to make the center of some cinnamon rolls.

This morning I whipped up a batch of cinnamon raisin braid recipe dough.  Instead of rolling it into individual braids as noted in the direction, I took half the dough and rolled it out into a rectangle.  (The other half you can make as usual, or do two batches of cinnamon rolls.)  I then coated the dough with mixture of honey, chopped pecans, and cinnamon, leaving about 1/4" of dough uncoated.  Roll it up like a jelly roll and cut into individual rolls.  I use dental floss to cut it because it doesn't squish the dough.  Place into a round cake pan, sides touching.  Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or so.  When done, invert over a large plate and allow them to detach from the pan.  And Voila!  Clean eating cinnamon rolls!

Guess what we're having Christmas morning?!

A Girl's Gotta Eat!

Thanksgiving week!  Already?!  Lucky for me I am not expected to prepare anything.  The MIL likes to make the bulk of the meal, although I do help the day of.  And MR makes the pies... clean, of course!  He found whole wheat frozen pie crusts at Whole Foods, and makes a pumpkin one and an apple one.  No sugar added, but every bit as good!  But the week leading up, we still have to eat!  So here is this week's short week recipe round-up!


Mexican style sirloin steaks and avocado salad - I made these last summer and they were amazing!  So definitely time to drag it out again.  I just hope we have at least one day of good grilling weather this week!

Chili - Easy peasy!  1# grass fed ground beef, one can of tomato sauce, chopped onion, chopped green pepper, chili powder to taste!   (EDIT:  Oh, yeah, add some beans!  We like black beans and pinto beans!)

This picture has nothing to do with the post, I just really like it!  And I took it myself!

Maura's BBQ - This is from last week's menu.  I never got it made until today, so it counts for this week now!  If you want the recipe, see the previous blog post.  Thanks, as always, to our friend Maura who turned us on to this a very long time ago!

BBQ sandwiches - Leftovers from that fabulous Maura's BBQ spooned over whole wheat hamburger buns from Trader Joe's.

Chicken coconut soup - I have some leftover cooked chicken breast from last week, and just happen to have some coconut milk in the cupboard, and the rest of the ingredients too!  This makes my grocery bill light and sounds delicious!

Keep it clean!

More Granola!

I just pulled this out of the oven!  Didn't even wait for it to cool!  Poured some almond milk on it and threw in a few dark chocolate chips!  Snack time!  Simple as can be!

Coconut Pecan Granola
based on a granola recipe from www.thegraciouspantry.com

3 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup honey
1/2 TBSP cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

Blend all ingredients together.  Spread out on a parchment covered baking sheet.  Bake at 325 for 15 minutes.  Stir around on sheet.  Bake another 15 minutes.  Stir around on sheet.  Bake another 10-15 minutes, until golden brown.  Allow to cool and stir in 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips.

Recipes for a Friend

Baby Girl and I went to a bridal shower today for a really darling friend of hers... and mine!  We were supposed to bring a favorite recipe.  Uh... I forgot!  I feel so bad about that I am dedicating this week's menu to her.  She needs some easy yummy recipes, and these are some of the easiest and yummiest I know!

So let's get to the recipes!


Beef bacon butternut squash - I haven't actually ever made this yet, but it I love squash and I love bacon so how can it be wrong?!  This sounds so incredibly tummy-warming I can't wait to try it!

Black bean avocado quesadilla - I have made these before.  I don't always have exactly the ingredients, but quesadillas are the kinds of thing you can adjust based on what's on hand.


 Potato soup - I just love potato soup!  We used to eat this with crusty bread, but now just toss in some whole wheat hard pretzel pieces!

Maura's BBQ - This is so easy!
2 - 3 pounds of stewing beef, cut up
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 chopped green pepper
1 chopped onion
1/4 cup chili powder
1 TBSP dry mustard
1 TBSP worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses

Mix all ingredients except stewing beef together.  Then stir in beef and coat.  Put in slow cooker and cook 6 hours on high or 10 hours on low.  Serve over cooked rice or noodles.

(Edited to add blackstrap molasses.)

Baked chicken and acorn squash -
I will season the chicken breasts with some olive oil and Italian seasonings and bake at 350 about 30 minutes.
To make acorn squash, cut in half and remove all seeds.  Place face down on a baking sheet and cook for about 30 minutes at 350.

Beef Vegetable Soup

Beef vegetable soup -
Last week I made a rosemary pot roast.  Because the pot roast has onions in it, and some great flavors, I don't really need to add any additional seasoning.

2 cups leftover roast beef, shredded
2 cups mixed vegetables
2 cups vegetable broth
26 oz can crushed tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste 


We will also have some yummies around the house like:

www.thenakedkitchen.com/cinnamon-raisin-braids

Granola - This is a really great basic recipe.  You can make it as is, as I often do, or you can dress it up with some other favorites.

Keep it clean!