Oven Fajitas - Incredible!!

I love love love these fajitas.  Besides being really quick to make, they are absolutely loaded with flavor.  You can optionally add a jalapeño for some extra zing, but it isn't necessary.  You also don't have to make your own tortillas but it's hard to find prepared ones that are completely clean.  But if prepackaged tortillas is the worst thing you eat all day, it's probably still a good day!

Oven Fajitas Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

1 TBSP chili powder

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp onion powder

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp cumin

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

¼ tsp salt

1 large onion

2 cups frozen mixed pepper strips

1 chopped and seeded jalapeño (optional)

1 pound chicken breast, cut into thick strips

2 TBSP olive oil

8 6” flour tortillas (see recipe below)

sour cream

shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 400F.

In a small bowl mix together chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, and salt.  Set aside.

Place chicken, peppers and onion in a 9x13 baking dish.  Pour olive oil over mixture.  Sprinkle seasoning mixture over.  Stir or toss with your hands to coat well.

Back 35 to 40 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Serve with tortillas, sour cream, and cheese.

Whole Wheat Tortillas

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 TBSP olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup warm water

Mix together dry ingredients.  Add olive oil and combine.  Slowly add warm water until a ball forms.  Knead by hand for about 10 minutes.  Let rest about 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and form into balls. 

Heat skillet over medium-high heat.  Cut two pieces of plastic wrap slightly larger than your tortilla press.  Press one ball of dough in tortilla press between plastic.  Cook about 2 minutes on each side in a hot skillet.  Repeat with each ball of dough. 

Serve immediately or freeze for future use.

Note:  If you don’t have a tortilla press, you can roll these with a rolling pin.  Use a small amount of flour to keep them from sticking to the surface or the rolling pin.

What are you eating today?  Whatever it is -- Keep it Clean!

Fresh Fruit Tart... and a contest!

I was cleaning out the refrigerator today and found a package of cream cheese that I had forgotten about.  I bought it for one thing, and didn't use it so I definitely didn't want it to go to waste!  So ... lucky, lucky you....  you get this ab-fab recipe for a fruit tart!  And it really is absolutely fabulous!  We took a taste and were tempted to just eat this for supper!!  It's definitely going in my lunch tomorrow.

Fruit Tart

Crust:
1 cup almond flour
1/8 tsp sea salt
3 TBSP coconut flour
1 egg
1 TBSP honey
1 TBSP butter, melted

1/4 tsp almond extract

Glaze:
1/2 cup orange juice
2 TBSP honey
2 tsp tapioca starch

Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
3 TBSP honey
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla

Topping:
Fresh strawberries, sliced
Whole blueberries

Preheat oven to 350F.  Line an 8" pie pan with parchment paper.

Make the crust:  Mix almond flour, sea salt and coconut flour together in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, blend together egg, butter, honey and almond extract.  Add wet to dry ingredients and mix until well blended.  Scoop into pie pan.  Press the dough evenly into the pie pan to make a bottom crust and just a small edge around the sides.  I used a piece of parchment paper to keep it from sticking to my hands.
Bake at 350F for 12 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Make the glaze:  Mix orange juice, honey and tapioca starch in a small saucepan.  Heat and stir over medium heat until well combined.  Continue to stir and heat until sauce thickens.  Set aside and allow to cool completely.

Make the filling:  Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add honey, lemon juice and vanilla and mix until well blended.  Set aside until ready to assemble.

Assemble the tart:  After crust has cooled completely, spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the crust.    Top with fruit (as much or as little as you like).  Using a pastry brush, apply the glaze over the whole thing.

Chill until ready to serve, up to 48 hours.

What are you eating today?  Whatever it is, Keep it Clean!

Time is running out!  Enter today for your chance to win a copy of my clean eating recipe ebook!  Contest ends March 15, 2017.   Click here to enter at Amazon!

Beef, Brussels, and Sweets!

We had a great taste of Spring over the last couple of weeks but Winter decided to make a comeback! It isn't the worst Winter weather, but it's still a lot colder than I'd like.... but that from someone who definitely prefers the Spring and Summer temps South of the Mason-Dixie Line!

With the cooler temps, I thought I'd try some nice warm comfort food.  This does a couple things:  1) gives us something warm in our bellies and 2) warms up the house with the oven!!  I had found one recipe but then realized I didn't have the cut of meat I needed.  So I combined a couple of recipes to make a meal that was truly no less than amazingly flavorful.   The beef turned out tender, and the vegetables provided great complementary taste.  This recipe takes some planning because you should marinate the meat at least one hour.


Roasted Santa Maria Tri-Tip with Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes

2 pound tri-tip steak

3 TBSP beef rub (see recipe below)
1/4 cup olive oil (divided)
12 oz Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
1 medium sweet potato, halved lengthwise and
        sliced in thin half moons
1 tsp dry thyme
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper




Heat oven to 350F.

Sprinkle the beef with the rub and massage in.  Cover and refrigerate at least one hour.  Remove from refrigerator and allow to sit out while preparing vegetables.

Place the Brussels sprouts and sweet potato in a 9x13 glass baking dish.  Toss with 2 TBSP olive oil,  thyme, sea salt and pepper.  Spread in an even layer.

Add 2 TBSP of olive oil to a heavy skillet.  Heat burner to high until pan is very hot.  Add beef, fat side down.  Turn to medium high and sear each side about 2-3 minutes.

Place the roast on a rack over the pan of vegetables. Bake at 350 about 30 minutes until meat thermometer reaches about 130F for medium rare.  (We cook ours to 140 which allows for just a little pink in the center.)


Beef Marinade

2 TBSP ground coffee
1-1/2 TBSP kosher salt
1-1/2 TBSP garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 TBSP coconut sugar
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Measure all ingredients into a glass jar.  Cover with tight fitting lid and shake well to combine.  Store in a cool dry place.

What are you eating this week?  Whatever it is... Keep it Clean!

If you would like many of my recipes in one handy place, check out my Clean Eating Lifestyle Recipe Book available for Kindle or in paperback on Amazon!




Remember to subscribe by clicking on the link on the right.  That way you will get my weekly posts.  (No more than once a week with a rare exception when I find something so amazing I can't wait to share it, so let's say maybe 54 times a year rather than weekly... how does that sound?  but I won't fill up your email because I hate that!)  I'm just here to help you on the path to Clean Eating!

Easy Snacks for All Week!

When I have time on the weekend, I like to make a lot of stuff so it's ready for the week.  Work weeks are too busy for me to have time to think of much cooking beyond just getting supper on the table!  This weekend, in addition to Chili-Maple Pepitas, I made three! - count 'em - three! kinds of date bars. If you've had Lara Bars, you know how great these are.  Plus, I find that they are a very filling snack that keeps me satisfied a long time.


INGREDIENTS OPTIONS:

Chocolate Fudge Brownie

1-1/2 cups pitted Medjool dates
1 tsp vanilla
Dash of sea salt
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2/3 cup raw pecans


Coconut Samoas

1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/8 tsp vanilla
Dash of sea salt
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

PB Cup

1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts
Heaping cup of Medjool dates, pitted
1/4 tsp vanilla


INSTRUCTIONS

Choose your list of ingredients from the options above, or come up with some of your own!

Mix all ingredients together in a food processor until it sticks together.  If your dates are a little dry, you may have to add a little water at a time until you can pinch it together and it sticks.

Turn mixture out on a piece of parchment paper and fold the paper over the top.  Flatten and the press in the sides to make a square or rectangle about 1/4" or so thick (depends on how thick you want your bars).  Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.  Cut into bars.  Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Or you can form into balls for a quick bit size snack!

What are you snacking on this week? Whatever it is, Keep it Clean!!

If you would like many of my recipes in one handy place, check out my Clean Eating Lifestyle Recipe Book available for Kindle or in paperback on Amazon!




Remember to subscribe by clicking on the link on the right.  That way you will get my weekly posts.  (No more than once a week with a rare exception when I find something so amazing I can't wait to share it, so let's say maybe 54 times a year rather than weekly... how does that sound?  but I won't fill up your email because I hate that!)  I'm just here to help you on the path to Clean Eating!

My Kitchen is a Melting Pot

One of the great things about the USA is that we live in a melting pot of cultures.  I don't really think about it day to day, since it's been that way as long as I have been around.  My heritage is from various parts of Europe.  I have friends with very diverse heritages too, although few of us have been to the countries of our ancestors.  When I cook, it's often just like that.  Just a melting pot of things that go well together, even though they're considered from different cultures.

Tonight I paired slow cooker Korean beef with gougères (French cheese puffs) and a side of sugar peas, and we were all set!  MR didn't seem to mind, and I know I didn't!  I've already put together a leftover to take for lunch tomorrow.  Check it out and see what you think...

Gougères

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

8 TBSP unsalted butter (1 stick), cubed

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 cup whole wheat flour, sifted

4 eggs

6 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated

Herbs de Provence, optional

Heat oven to 425F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Bring milk, butter, salt, and water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add flour and stir until dough forms.  Reduce heat to medium.  Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until slightly dried, about 2 minutes.  Transfer the dough to a bowl.  Using a hand mixer beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until smooth.  Stir in cheese.

Drop balls of dough (a heaping tablespoon at a time) onto prepared baking sheets.  (Optional step, sprinkle lightly with herbs de Provence.)  Place in oven ad reduce temperature to 375F.  Bake until golden, about 30 minutes.

Slow Cooker Korean Beef

1 cup beef broth
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup coconut sugar
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBSP toasted sesame oil
1 TBSP rice wine vinegar
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp Sriracha
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp white pepper
3 pound boneless beef chuck roast
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, optional


In a large bowl, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, coconut sugar, garlic, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, ginger, Sriracha, onion powder and white pepper.
Place roast into a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in beef broth mixture until well combined.
Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1/4 cup water. Stir in mixture into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
Serve immediately, garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.

Remember to subscribe by clicking on the link on the right.  That way you will get my weekly posts.  (No more than once a week with a rare exception when I find something so amazing I can't wait to share it, so let's say maybe 54 times a year rather than weekly... how does that sound?  but I won't fill up your email because I hate that!)  I'm just here to help you on the path to Clean Eating!

Not a Food Post....

An open letter to journalists across the USA:

It seems a lot of you have either never known or have forgotten what your job is.

Your job is not to continually tell us POTUS said this, and then said that, and then blamed the media for getting it wrong.  In those cases, my journalistic friends, you are being played.  While you’re busy reporting and re-reporting the same stuff that frankly doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, a lot is going on that you aren’t focusing on.  It doesn’t really matter if there were 2 people or 2,000,000 at the inauguration.  Let me say again, it doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t matter if POTUS thinks Alec Baldwin is a no talent hack or that Meryl Streep is overrated.  Truly, it doesn’t matter. Stop reporting and rehashing these stories.  It doesn’t matter. 

What matters is the things that affect those of us who live in this country.  What matters is what our healthcare will look like, whether we’re safe in our own homes and neighborhoods, whether we have a job so we can afford our mortgage and send our kids to school where they have a chance to get a good education.  What matters is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

Your job, in case you missed this class in school, is to report the facts.  Not the facts with a left spin, and not the facts with a right spin.  Just the facts.  Let me be the judge of what it means.  That’s my job.  You tell me the who, what, when, where, and how.  That’s all.  That’s your job!  Your job is not… truly not… to copy and paste Twitter tweets and call that a story. Frankly, that’s about the laziest thing I have ever seen in the journalism world. 

It’s time to get back to real journalism! Stop following Twitter and do some real work.  Don’t use Facebook live as a way to be first, even though you have nothing to say.  Stop using click bait headlines that have nothing to do with the story… just misinformation at its worst.  Find out what’s really in the various bills and Executive Orders and then report it accurately.  Slice it, dice it, find out what it means and what the impact is, and then fill us in.  That is your job.  Follow the paper trails to uncover who really stands to win if certain laws and regulations are repealed, overturned, or passed.  That is your job. Dig, investigate, get the real and complete story and then report.  That is your job.  And, for the love of all that is newsworthy, stop focusing on being first, with incomplete facts, just to have a sound bite before another news outlet.  That is your job.  There is no prize for being first, only for being the best.  To be the best you have to actually do your job!

To Grain or Not to Grain...

Let's get right to it!  Do clean eating and bread go together?  I get this question a lot, and I question it myself a lot.  From what I can find it seems to depend... on you.  If you can tolerate wheat, you can have it.  Just like treats, even when they're clean it doesn't mean your diet should consist solely of them.  But if you can find bread with minimal ingredients and made with whole wheat flour, go for it!  Just make sure it doesn't have any added sugar.

A lot of the store bought breads are loaded with preservatives and other really hard to pronounce words, making it hard to find a clean eating alternative.  So just do the best you can.  One of the things about clean eating is it has to work for you.  And being hyper-restrictive doesn't work for me!  Sometimes I want toast, that's all there is to it!  And better to eat some that is at least not as bad, right?

I eat bread.  I like bread, and I don't have a medical reason to not eat it.  I'd rather eat it occasionally and not feel deprived.  I just try to make good choices about it.  But if you can... and I do occasionally...make your own! You can use just about any bread recipe by substituting whole wheat for white flour and honey for sugar!  I made clean eating cinnamon rolls yesterday morning with coconut sugar.  These babies are awesome!

I love my Kitchen-Aid when it comes to making bread, but you don't have to have one.  (But it really helps!!)


I also know some people can't eat, or don't want to eat bread, for whatever reason.  And it's great to have some grain free options!

For pizza crust:  This recipe recipe is hard to beat!

And here is a no-grain bread recipe I really want to try!

For a great treat, this almond joy cake is my favorite!

So do what works for you... just do it in moderation!  What are you eating this week?  Whatever it is Keep it Clean!

Remember to check out my new recipe book!  I put together some of my favorites in one easy location!

The Clean Eating Lifestyle Recipe Book
If you prefer a paperback version, you can order that here.



Remember to subscribe by clicking on the link on the right.  That way you will get my weekly posts.  (No more than once a week with a rare exception when I find something so amazing I can't wait to share it, so let's say maybe 54 times a year rather than weekly... how does that sound?  but I won't fill up your email because I hate that!)  I'm just here to help you on the path to Clean Eating!