Turkey Meatballs with Pesto over Zucchini Ribbons {Day 3 Clean Eating}

Google and I have been BFFS this week, 

ok who am I kidding we are always BFFS, but more so this week.

I find my self googling "Is _______ clean eating?"

And not much to my surprise there is a lot of gray areas.

Based off the brand and self life, these things can REALLY change a product to clean eats.

For instance I was wondering about parmesan cheese.

Based off my google search, which lets keep it real if its online it MUST be true {hahaha}, it is in moderation.  And well duh it says to NOT purchase the shaker kind that somehow can survive outside of the refrigerated section.

So between google and the product labels I would say best advice is, buy fresh and buy items with 7 or less items listed as ingredients, and make sure they are things you know.

Turkey Meatballs with Pesto over Zucchini Ribbons:

For pesto I used Lesely's recipe, I subbed the walnuts for toasted pine nuts.

Best part is, it makes a ton and you can just have it handy in the fridge.

Meatballs:

- 1lb organic no antibiotics or pesticides ground turkey

- 1 cage free egg

- 1/2 cup Ians Panko Wheat Bread Crumbs {this is one of those google searches from above}

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 tsp pepper

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- And optional, I like to add Nutritional yeast, you can read the benefits here.

Mix all together and form balls, I usually get 8.

You can cook these two ways:

Baked at 350 for 25 mins

Or

Pan cooked with a little olive oil, sear the sides, then add a sauce cover and cook for at least 25 mins.

While the balls cook, you can cut zucchini in ribbons, with either a veggie peeler or medallion.

Then in a pan with a little olive oil sauté them until a little translucent.

Plate the zucchini and meatballs. Spoon a heaping teaspoon of pesto, sprinkle a little fresh grated parmesan and red pepper flakes if you like a little kick.

As for the kids, they are not big zucchini fans, which I am ok with, they cannot like every veggie. So I make them quinoa pasta and a little of Gia Russa's low sodium pasta sauce. 

I cannot stop thinking of what else I can use my pesto on... possibilities are running amuck in my head.

Tonight we are heading out to eat for my BIL's birthday, fingers crossed I can rest the cake! 

Flank Steak Asparagus Bundles {Clean Eating Day 2}

Someone asked me yesterday "Why clean eat, when you don't need to lose weight?"

Clean eating for me is not a diet to lose weight, but a lifestyle change.

A change to be more mindful of what our bodies are consuming.

I can pronounce and accountant for every ingredient my body took in yesterday.

Thats a winning day in clean eating for me.

Last night I made this little bundles.

Super simple and yummy.

Flank Steak Asparagus Bundles {makes 8 bundles}:

- Flank Steak around 1.5lbs

- 2 garlic cloves crushed

- 3 tsbp olive oil

- a bundle of thin asparagus

I took the flank and cut it down the middle making to flanks

Then trimming any fat, cut strips about 3 inches wide.

I laid the strips out covered with some wax paper and took my handy dandy pot and tenderized them.

Then sprinkle with some salt and pepper.

Add to a ziploc with garlic and olive oil, give the bag a good massage.

Set aside, for 30 mins.

In the meantime preheat your oven for 350.

Trim the asparagus, add to a lined baking pan, add a little olive oil and s&p.

Bake for 15 mins.

Remove and cut them in half.

I used my grill pan on medium heat, a grill would be great also.

To make the bundles, take the strips add some asparagus to one end and roll up.

You will not want any over lapping, so trim as needed and secure with a toothpick.

Grill, these are thin so not very long on each side.

I served ours with a side of tomato and cucumber.

Just tossed with a little apple cider vinegar and olive oil, then sprinkled with salt and pepper.

One thing I have noticed with focusing on clean eating, we have been eating clean for the most part. Or should I say at mealtimes.  But snacks are a completely different story.  Yesterday I snacked on a dragon fruit, apple with almond butter, Larabar, a banana, and a juice of beet, kale, carrot, and a red apple.  I am working on thinking of more out side the box snacks, any suggestions?

See you back tomorrow...

Chicken Al Carbon with Quinoa Tortillas {Clean Eats Day 1}

I am sure by now you have seen or are doing clean eating.

Its pretty much everywhere you look.

And for the most part we are pretty clean eaters.

I think the appealing part for me is it is getting back to basics, avoiding additives and processed crap our bodies don't need.

So not that four letter word, diet {said on a hushed whisper}, BUT more a lifestyle choice.

I get that it can be super overwhelming and scary to eliminate so much from you diet.

So baby steps are ok.

This week I am focusing on a whole week of clean eating.

Am I being crazy stupid strict about it, um no, Momma is not about to give up her coffee and little bit of raw sugar, I am all for healthy but not crazy. But with that said, over three months ago I switched to black coffee.  It was more out of dire straights, as I had ran out of my soy creamer one morning and said the heck lets try it black.  And I never looked back.  CRAZY.

Any who back to this week.

After Sunday night and killin a WHOLE box of Hot Tamales aka my kryptonite, I set forth on Monday on a clean eating binge.

I thought I would share my clean eating chicken al carbon with quinoa tortillas. 

I used the Gracious Pantry's recipe for the tortillas.

Now this was my very first time making tortillas, so I don't have a fancy smancy tortilla press.

I took two silicone cutting boards lined them with cling wrap, placed a ball in between and pressed down with my hands. Then to flatten them to an even thickness I used a rolling pin on top of the mats.   Once you are ready to start cooking, make sure you pan is on high heat {for my stove on 8}, one thing I could not find in the recipe.  And keep an eye on those suckers, they cook FAST.

As for the Chicken Al Carbon {makes 4 servings of two tacos each}:

- 2 chicken filets {all natural, free range, no antibiotics is the best if possible}

For the marinade: 

- 2 limes

- 1 shallot

- 2 tbsp olive oil

For the toppings:

- half white onion diced

- avocado

- plain Greek Yogurt {GREAT substitute for sour cream}

- cilantro

At least 30 mins or an hour if possible before you are ready to cook marinate chicken.

Take the chicken and cut them down the middle, making 2 cutlets.

In a large ziploc, add the juice of the limes, olive oil, and the diced shallot.

Season the chicken with a little pepper and salt.

Add to bag and massage, set in fridge.

Over medium heat grill your chicken, since they are cutlets you will only need to cook for 6-7 mins per side.

Remove from grill dice, add to warm tortillas and top with stuff above.

The kiddlets did not want tacos so I made them quesadillas 

{Napoleon make yourself a damn ques-a-dilla, sorry had to} and the tortillas held up good.

I just sprayed a non stick pan with a little canola oil.

Then this am, I decided to make a egg taco.  2 egg whites and one whole egg, some fresh salsa, and a dollop of greek yogurt. Along side my strawberry lemon water {always keep a pitcher in the fridge for easy access all day} and black coffee.

See you back tomorrow with another Clean Eats recipe from tonight.  

XOXOXO

Clean Eating Chia Seed Coconut Granola

So to say its been awhile is an understatement, but man has it been awhile.

Sorry about that, but you know life can get in the way of things.

I hope to be back on a more regular basis.

Fingers crossed anyways. 

I have eating the yummiest cereal lately, Nature's Path Chia Plus Coconut Chia Granola.

As much as I love it, swallowing the price has not been easy.

Whole Food has this bad boy for $4.39, Target a little cheaper.

So I decided I wanted to try my hand at making something similar for half the price.

Yes if you don't have some of the items up front it will cost you a bit.

But once you have them on hand you can make batches upon batches.

Clean Eating Chia Seed Coconut Granola

Here is what you will need:

3 cups Rolled Oats

1/4 cup Raw Honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp FlaxSeed Meal 

1 Tbsp Chai Seeds

1/4 cups Shredded Coconut

1/2 cup applesauce {GoGo SqueeZ are always on hand in our home, and one pouch is just under a 1/2 cup so works perfectly}

In a large bowl add your oats, flaxseed, chia, and coconut.  Then mix in a separate bowl mix your wet ingredients.  Add your wet ingredients to the dry, mixing until coated evenly.  Spread on a parchment or slit mat baking sheet.  Bake at 325 for 45-60 mins {until golden brown} , mixing it every 10 mins to avoid burning. Remove and let cool. Now this toasts the coconut, which is not how the Nature's Path is, so an alternative way to make it would be to add the coconut once cooked. This makes around 6 servings at 1/2 cup.  {see nutritional facts below, not listed is fiber which is high in this}

My favorite way to eat it, is with 1/2 cup Silk Almond Vanilla Milk, half a banana and some blueberries.  

I hope you enjoy this!! Hope to see you around more often....