Whole 30 Chicken Poppers

Whole 30 Chicken Poppers 

WOW! I got a lot of messages and comments on these chicken poppers! Seriously thanks for all the love y'all!!! I absolutely LOVED this recipe. I derived this recipe from a similar one I found on Pinterest and then switched out some of the ingredients to fit my diet and lifestyle. 

I love so many things about this recipe...first and foremost they are EASY and QUICK to make! They tend to make a bunch so you can easily save these for lunches throughout your week. Second, these fit so many different diets and lifestyles...I know a few nursing mama friends who cannot find many recipes that won't hurt their baby's tummy..this recipe is soy,gluten, and dairy free!!! This recipe also complies with whole-30 and Paleo :) 

Lastly.. you can completely interchange the veggies on these! I added shredded sweet potato but you could add avocado, spinach, shredded zucchini! Make them your own!!!!

** I make my own avocado creme sauce. I use greek yogurt instead of sour creme. This portion is NOT dairy free obviously but I will write the recipe below. I love to serve this sauce over fish tacos, burgers, and just have it on hand for a fun dip. **

Ingredient List:

1 lb ground chicken

1 small handful of cilantro chopped

1 skinned and shredded sweet potato

2 large tablespoons almond flour 

1 red onion diced

Avocado Oil

Salt and Pepper

juice of one lime

Method:

In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients and mix thoroughly 

Then, on a baking sheet place a golf ball size and flatten just a bit with your palm.

Bake at 400 for 20 minutes!!!!

Avocado Creme Sauce

in a food processor: 

2 ripe avocados 

1 small individual greek yogurt ( plain) or sour creme

juice of one lime

salt and pepper 

pinch of garlic powder

palm sized bunch of cilantro 

( seeded and chopped jalepeno for extra kick**opitonal)

Blend until consistency is desired!

Favorite Sides!!

Good Morning y'all!!! 

I wanted to crank out a tiny blog post in hopes of inspiring someone to cook an EASY side. Now, don't get me wrong.. I absolutely love to host and do a big dinner with amazing sides.. but that tends to take time. 

Tonight for example..my husband is working late and I will be on my own for evening routine including dinner time with the two little boys. I like to make my sides AS easy as possible..along with healthy! 

typically my meals consist of one protein and one big side or even two sides that consist of veggies. that is how we eat...it makes it easy on my to only worry about two things. So I wanted to share some of my favorite easy sides that will pretty much go with anything!!!!

** I am VERY simplistic when it comes to seasoning my sides** You will find that I mix and match the veggies but the seasonings stay the same! I love olive oil, salt and pepper, fresh lemon juice, balsamic vinegar or liquid aminos for most of these. I like to keep them FRESH and simple.

Quick and Easy Sides

• Sautéed Brussel Sprouts with garlic and mushrooms. 

This is so simple- you can find the shaved Brussels sports in an already triple pre washed bag at the grocery store. Pour the bag of those in a big pot with some olive oil, salt and pepper, add a few cloves of whole garlic, the juice of one lemon, and some slivered mushrooms. This is packed full of fiber and zero carbs. You can also add a little bit of liquid aminos for some extra flavor.

• Roasted Green Beans, Grape Tomatoes, and Garlic. 

This is a side I especially love alongside a steak or grilled chicken. For this particular side, throw your green beans, grape tomatoes, and whole cloves of garlic on a lined baking sheet with foil and drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper on top with a dash of balsamic vinegar and mix well. Roast at 400 for about 15 minutes or until the grape tomatoes have popped :) Full of flavor!

• Button Mushrooms and Leeks 

This side goes amazing with fish or chicken or something light.. I start by placing a pat of butter on the bottom of my one pot and then throwing in the leeks...after the leeks start to soften you can then add your mushrooms and even some minced garlic if you choose. ( I obviously love to add garlic to everything) salt and pepper these and let them cook until mushrooms have cooked down. 

• Sautee'd Broccolini, Kale, and Garlic

Add olive oil to your one pot, then add your CHOPPED broccolini, kale, and whole cloves of garlic. Season with salt and pepper and COOK DOWN. Add the juice of a lemon :) 

• Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

I love these because you can switch the vegetables out seasonally. For fall and winter I tend to roast a lot of root vegetables and squashes but for spring its more peppers and onions. The sky is the limit when it comes to your vegetables but the base of what I do is: one chopped sweet potato, one onion rough chopped, one green bell pepper. I always season generously with salt and pepper and use olive oil. I have done roasted broccoli, roasted root veggies, roasted peppers...very very simple. I roast at 425 for 20 minutes.

Braised Chicken in a Mushroom Garlic Sauce

OK y'all! I am back to report another AH-mazing one pot meal!!! Don't you just love NOT cleaning a million dishes after dinner?? I know I do! 

Many of y'all know I LOVE to braise my meat..and I had a lot of DM's last night on the gram about braising. Here is the deal.. if you take just the few extra minutes to sear your meat ...the flavor is TEN times better!! So I almost always do it this way. It also leaves a very tender and moist  ( Lauren if you are reading this I'm sorry I know you hate that word :))-) end product. 

So what exactly is braising?..

Allow me to explain.

Braised Meat: Braising is a simple cooking method that involves browning ( or searing) meat in oil, then cooking it in a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pan ( like a dutch oven) either on the stove top or in the oven. This process helps develop flavor and turn tougher meat cuts -fork tender. 

So there you have it! This is why I love to cook my chicken thighs, roasts, short ribs, pork cuts..and so forth with this particular method!

Onto the recipe!!!!

Ingredients:

4 skin on chicken thighs- bone in

1 package of mushrooms

1 package of zoodles ( optional )

12 cloves of garlic 

olive oil

butter

2 cups of chicken stock

salt and pepper

red pepper flakes

McCormicks chicken and fish seasoning 

2 large tablespoons of almond flour ( or regular flour)

Procedure:

In your dutch oven - heat some olive oil over high heat ( but low enough that it hasn't reached smoke point). season your chicken and then lay the chicken skin side down in the hot oil for five minutes. Do this for each side.. then set aside on a plate. 

Pour out the oil and add 2 table spoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, add in the mushrooms, zoodles and garlic. Cook these down for a few minutes. Then add your chicken stock and almond flour. Stir and break up the flour. *Remember this acts as a thickening agent to the stock*.. its going to leave you with a nice creamy sauce to go atop your chicken once everything is finished!!!!. Next place the chicken back on top of the veggies and place the lid over your dutch oven. cook for 30 minutes on medium heat and then check it halfway through. 

Once it is finished you can pour into a bowl and top with parmesan cheese!!!

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!!! & Sweet Potato Skillet

Happy New Year Friends!!!!!

Another year has come and gone and since I have gotten older it seems like the years fly by faster and faster....

Something I really try and do is enjoy the small things and thank God in the quiet moments. It may not sound like much but I feel like it truly grounds me and keeps my positive and grateful attitude. I am praying for a WONDERFUL 2019 and cannot wait to see how God works in my life. 

What are your goals and resolutions?? 

I try and mostly set specific goals that way I am constantly working towards something.. 

I feel if I set a resolution and I break it then I fail and I don't want to continue any longer.. so I strive for Goals! 

Here are some of mine:

*Be Consistent in Prayer and Bible Study

* Consistent alone time with B

* Drink more H20!!!

* Exercise 3 times a week

* Get on the floor more with my kids and PLAY

*Invite a couple over for dinner and bless them with a good meal and conversation!

*Join a life group 

* Fall in love with life.. be grateful, thankful, appreciative, look to God for EVERYTHING!

Okay so now that we are in 2019 I have so many fun ideas for this little blog!! I say this so much but I don't feel like I will ever say it enough! Thank you for reading :) Thank you for encouraging me.. Thank you for lifting me up!!!! 

One of our "family goals"- (we do personal and family goals) is to eat cleaner..
I already feel like I try and tweak so many meals I find in order to fulfill a healthy diet but friends.. I'm gonna try harder! I know so many of you are in a weightloss rut or for whatever reason just NEED to eat cleaner for your body ..so I am dedicated to trying to find the healthiest meals for us!!!! This sweet potato skillet is FULL of vitamins and healthy fats, lean proteins, healthy veggies.. it's so great! This meal can easily be done in a cast iron skillet OR be made into a sheet pan meal if you do not own a dutch oven. I would avoid the crockpot or IP for this one though.

Sweet Potato Skillet:

1 sweet potato chunked

1 purple onion diced

1 shallot diced

1 zuchinni chunked

1 yellow squash chunked

1 red bell pepper chunked

2 cups spinach

1/2 cup cilantro

olive oil

salt and pepper

cumin/cayenne

1 vocado 

shredded monterrey jack cheese

Procedure:

Over medium high heat throw in your onion and shallot and cook them down until soft. Next add your ground turkey and sprinkle some seasonings over the turkey meat.. cook until brown and crumbly. Next add your sweet potato, zucchini, squash, and bell pepper.  Stir and pop the lid on top of your dutch oven ( if using a cast iron skillet pop any lid over the top or simply just wait until all veggies are soft) leave the lid on for about 15 minutes ( continuously check your veggies.. they are done when they are FORK TENDER) once veggies are finished add in the spinach and cilantro and a little extra olive oil for some good fat. Stir the mixture together and allow the spinach and cilantro to wilt. Pour into a bowl and top with fresh avocado and some monterrey jack cheese!!!!! 

**SHEET PAN VERSION**

(Prep your veggies as stated above)

Over a foil lined baking sheet sprinkle some coconut spray so your veggies don't stick.. add your sweet potato, red bell pepper, zucchini and squash. pop in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the sweet potato is cooked. 

in a pan you will need to add your onion and shallot to some olive oil.. then add your turkey and seasonings. Cook until brown and crumbly..then add in the spinach and cilantro. 

Once the veggies in the oven are done you can combine everything in a large bowl and toss well...add in some extra seasonings if you need. Top with avocado and the M.J cheese :)

Baby Product Review 2018

Isn't it crazy to think that yet ANOTHER year has passed us by..

I feel like this past year was so quick! 

Probably because I was pregnant and had a toddler as my sidekick for the majority of the year but also because we have been busy!!!

Even though I LOVE the magic of Christmas I do look forward to the new year.. January specifically. It is the month where everything is fresh. You have a fresh start to the NEW year.. I love starting my Goals come January and transforming each year into a better me.

Each year I do a product review of baby products..( I have been doing them since Jax was a baby so it's neat to see how much things have evolved over the past two years!) I am sure with the next baby they will come out with more and more items that are total must haves as well! A few of my mom friends have asked me about some of my favorite products so I have compiled them into a big list that will explain -in detail- about each product. I will also provide a link so that you can shop the product as well!!! 

* No I don't get compensated if you shop through my blog.. I just do the linking to make it easier for you :) Maybe one day I will be THAT cool like all of those other big time bloggers!!* 

Thank you for reading :)

Onto the review!!!

Baby Product Review 2018

1. Wildbird Ring Sling: ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PRODUCT!! I am very into baby wearing and have explored quite a few of the baby wearing options. I have the K'taan, Tula, and now I have added the ring sling to my collection. I love the fabrics.. they come in an array of textures, patterns, and colors. Made from organic material and super breathable, this is a total must! It holds your baby very snug and close, you can carry a newborn-toddler, and they offer really neat tutorials on how to baby wear on their instagram page and website. I will Link the website below. 

Shop Wildbird Slings Here

2. Tula Explore: This is the new and improved Tula. While I love what the ring slings have to offer when it comes to a nice fit and a snuggly baby, The TULA offers the best support. If you baby wear often, need something to travel through the airport with, or are carrying a larger child then this is the best option for you. The great thing about the Tula Explore that the old Tula didn't offer is that now you can forward face your baby! My baby loves to see what is going on when we are out and about so this is a GREAT option for them. If I am going on a long shopping trip or to the grocery store this is the baby wearing device that I grab because it gives me the best support and never hurts my back!!!!

Shop Explore Tula HERE

3. Skip Hop Changing Pad: I know that most people won't think twice about a changing mat being an exceptional baby product but honestly I could not love this more!!!! I chose to not go with a traditional changing station in my baby's nursery but instead a regular dresser that a changing pad could fit atop. I love this one specifically because it DOES NOT SLIDE. It has that rubber material that is both easy for cleanup ( ew), and for sturdiness on any surface. You can easily pack it up and take it to go with you if you are traveling, and it has a pretty little mobile on top that keeps baby distracted while you are changing baby!! Great price point too! Love this!

Shop Changing Pad HERE

4. Skip Hop Activity Center: AHH!! I love this little activity gym!! It is so cute AND neutral colors for those of you who hate the bright and bulky baby toys ...ahem me. It has tons of learning toys and keeps baby entertained!! I love how it isn't so bulky that you can also fit it in a small tucked away corner if you need to. Great Product!!!

Shop Activity Center HERE

5. Bamboo Spoons and Bowls: Since starting foods with JL I have recently purchased some new spoons because our old ones were just sort of yucky from all the wear and tear with baby number 1. I had been eyeing these little spoons in a few of my local baby boutique stores but found them online for a tiny bit cheaper. They come in a pack of 6, are BPA FREE, made of bamboo, MAKE GREAT TEETHER TOYS, and fit nicely into babes mouth while eating. I really like these BUT the one downfall is that they are NOT dishwasher safe.. so something to think about. I really like them though!

Shop Spoons HERE

6. The Uppa Baby Vista: I had this stroller with Jax but since having baby number two we added the second rumbler seat!! IF you are contemplating getting a travel system and are planning on having children closely spaced I truly encourage you to look into this stroller system!! It is NOT cheap but it is of amazing quality, travels SO well, and is the easiest stroller to snap up and go. I would truly never have any other stroller because I love this one so much. The Uppababy can allow up to three children to ride along ( the oldest child would ride on a snap n go step). I have the grey color but they come out with the most GORGEOUS colors each year. I am totally loving the beautiful navy one :) anyways, if you haven't already searched for a stroller system please look into this one!!!

Shop Stroller HERE

7. Beaba' Cook: A truly luxurious baby food maker!! As a mom who LIVES in the kitchen...truly.. this was a must for me. I love to make food for my family so I knew that when it came time to make baby food for my kids that I would do it myself. I obviously buy pouches here and there and have NO shame in feeding them store bought stuff but there is just something in my heart that loves to do this. With that said I have had both the baby bullet system and the Beaba'. I LOVE the Beaba' because it is an all in one system vs the baby bullet that has a million parts. The Beaba' Steams and purees all within the touch of a button!!! It fits perfectly in my pantry and is very easy to clean. All wins for me!!!! I have the color cloud but it comes in a variety of colors as well!!!

Shop Beaba HERE

8. Dock A Tot: I could truly go on about the Dock forever!!! My baby LOVES this product..and honestly so do I. I truly feel like it had so much to do with the way he slept. My other son did not have this and I so wish we had because I feel like we all would have slept a bit better. We travel with this product, wash it weekly, and even do tummy and activity time in it!!! We have the Dock A Tot Deluxe and definitely plan on using this with baby number three in the future!

Shop Dock A Tot HERE


9. Baby Bijorn Boucer: I love this bouncer so much because it FOLDS up TINY!!! All the moms with ALLLL the baby gear are saying AMEN to a tiny fold up!!!! Seriousy this bouncer travels with us wherever we go because it can easily be used to feed baby in, let baby play, and you can tap it with your toe and baby MIGHT fall asleep :) I have the black one but this comes in a neutral tan color as well. JL used this from newborn and still uses it daily!!! I just move it around the house!!!

Shop Bouncer HERE

10.  Inglesenia High Chair: This is a great product if you have a large bar or counter top space! Jax already uses a high chair and I didn't want two baby chairs cluttering up our breakfast room so I decided to order this clip on and it actually works out great because not only is it a convenient feeding space but also HE LOVES to sit and play toys up there or watch mommy while she cooks :) We interact a lot in this little chair and it doesn't make a big fuss or statement amidst your home decor.

Shop Clip on Chair HERE

11. NANIT:  If you are looking for a fantastic monitor system then I encourage you to do your research on the NANIT! I love love love how I can watch my babies from my phone. I went out of state for a wedding and I watched Jax sleeping soundly each and every night and it truly eased my mind. The Nanit offers "Insights" which you do have to subscribe to and it tells you how your baby is sleeping at night, the sleep patterns, bedtime consistency and so forth. You can add up to four cameras and you can allow anyone to have access ( like a grandparent or babysitter). The Nanit is also encrypted with a safety code so that NOBODY WEIRD can access your WIFI or camera. This was important to me!!! This is not a cheap product but I really think it addresses ALOT Of parental concerns when it comes to a baby monitor!! I love ours!

Shop Nannit HERE

12.  Hatch Nursery: This is basically a sound spa on steroids. There is an app that comes with it so you can control the different settings straight from your phone!! I love this because it has different sounds, different colors ( ex. the bedtime sound can be different than the morning wake time sound) <---- Which can be great.. especially if you have an early to rise toddler! It can help them with associating songs with the timing that is appropriate to rise out of bed. Its super relaxing and you can also control the brightness and color settings. It's a neat product and both of my babies have one in their rooms!!!!!

Shop Nursery Light HERE

Okay y'all I truly could go on and on with the baby products..I just wanted to list a few of my NEW favorites from my newest baby :) I really love and am passionate about everything I use with my kiddos so I hope someone else gets ideas from my list! I plan on doing a separate post on my favorite baby clothing brands, swaddles, burp cloths, ect :)!!!!

Beaba NeoCook 2018

Dock A Tot

Hatch Nursery

Wild Bird Ring Sling

Baby Bjorn

Uppa Baby Vista

Used as a single

Used as a rumble with the purchase of the second rumbler seat.

Skip Hop Changing Pad

Nanit 

** It even alerts you when your two year old climbs out of his crib :)

Explore Tula 

Inglesenia Clip On Chair

Creamy One Pan Veggie Shrimp

Creamy One Pan Veggie Shrimp

So you know those evenings where you are scouring through the fridge trying to find anything and everything to throw together for dinner?? That is exactly how this wonderful dinner was created!!!
I knew I had a slab of butter, some fresh garlic, and a lemon or two on hand..and the protein that was left in my fridge was some shrimp!! Let's face it.. anything with a little butter, garlic, and lemon is pretty fabulous!
Since it was the day before grocery store day I was limited on produce and proteins but what I came up with in my fridge turned out beautifully!!! Friends this was such a light and simple supper that literally took me not even ten minutes to make! Shrimp is so quick to cook and veggies only take a few minutes!! One pan meals are a favorite and this one did not disappoint!

Ingredient List


1 lb deveined shrimp - already salted and peppered
1 onion chopped
6 asparagus spears cut into thirds
handful of grape tomatoes-halved
handful of spinach
fresh basil
dash of white wine
butter
olive oil
dash of heavy whipping cream
shredded mozzarella cheese


Method:

In a pan over medium  high heat add in your asparagus and onion along with a nice amount of olive oil. Cook these down a bit and then add your grape tomatoes and garlic and a dash of wine ( be careful not to burn the garlic. Turn the heat down a smidge if necessary).

While these veggies are marrying together go ahead and cook your shrimp in a separate pan. Again, over medium high heat add some butter..once the butter is melted start adding in the shrimp. ( Do not overcrowd your shrimp. Cook them in two separate batches if your pan is not big enough). 2 1/2 minutes per side is usually my golden rule when cooking shrimp. **Watch for the sides to curl and for the shrimp to turn a nice beautiful pink color. Once the shrimp is cooked set them aside.

Once the veggies are cooked go ahead and add in the basil and spinach. Cook these down and add a bit more olive oil..once cooked add a dash of heavy whipping cream. Stir together..your veggies shouldn't look like vegetables floating in whipping cream but instead, a nice creamy finish to the vegetables natural juices. Add the shrimp back into the pan along with all of the vegetables. Top with Fresh mozzarella cheese and squeeze a lemon over the top...add in some cracked black pepper and dinner is ready!!!!!!!!

French Onion Chicken

Good Afternoon Readers!!! 

Thank you for stopping in..I cannot wait to share this chicken recipe with y'all!!! It was so delicious and such an easy spin off of the comforting classic " French Onion Soup". 

Over the course of the holiday my blog posts will probably start to average 1 per week versus my normal 3 per week. I will still be cooking a lot on "stories" and will put a lot of my recipe inspo on instagram. I just really try and cherish this time with my babies! 

Christmas is a very special holiday to me and I have lots of fun stuff planned for my Jaxie this year!!!

Anyways about the Chicken..

You can do this one of two ways- I chose to do chicken thighs but you can also cube up a chicken breast as well and make it more like a "stew".

Ingredients

4 chicken thighs

2 tablespoons all purupose flour

2 cups beef broth

salt and pepper

fresh thyme

1 cup shredded swiss

3 Vidalia Onions

olive oil/butter

Balsamic Vinegar

** Tip**

When doing recipes that call for you to take food in an out of the pot. It is so much easier to cook with paper plates. That way once you are finished you can just throw the mess away and not worry about rinsing any dishes. I ALWAYS have paper plates on hand!!!!!!

Method:

Start by heating up some olive oil in a large skillet or dutch oven. Add the onions and sprinkle in some salt and pepper. Cook the onions down until Caramelized and tender- about 20 or so minutes. add a glug or two of balsamic vinegar and stir this in as well. Set the onions aside on a plate and add a bit more oil to the pot.  Season the chicken with salt and pepper and sprinkle on the thyme. Once your skillet or dutch oven is hot go ahead and sear your chicken on both sides- A nice golden brown is what you want to see on the skin side. Once nicely browned remove the chicken and set aside. Increase your temp to high heat and add in the beef broth. Scrape any of the brown leftover chicken bits from the bottom and stir stir stir! Decrease the temp to medium and whisk in your flour. Season with more salt and pepper. Add in your onions and chicken and sprinkle your swiss cheese on top. Place in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and cheese is bubbly!!!!