Whole 30 (Week 3)

this week was especially tricky to navigate. my parents were in town, so of course we wanted to show off as many of our local favorite restaurants as we were able. and tony and i were moving from an apartment to a small house (which means the entire kitchen was in boxes). so......while the waters of continuing to eat clean and whole foods under these parameters were tricky to navigate? i think we managed a pretty good job of it!

to start the week i made some asian inspired salmon burgers topped with a creamy avocado cilantro sauce. the "burgers" are made from chopped salmon seasoned with ginger, garlic, scallion, cilantro and thai chili paste. a beaten egg and a 1/4 cup of almond flour serves as a binder. they're pan seared to get that nice crisp on the outside, but they're perfectly "medium rare" on the inside! a side of cole slaw made with cabbage and green apples compliments the flavors of the salmon. and a bed of roasted asparagus offers an extra touch of green to the plate.

tonight's meal was another with an asian inspiration. tender chunks of chicken breast and mangoes sautéed in a reduction sauce of orange juice, cider vinegar, ginger, garlic and thai chili paste. some fresh scallion and cilantro added just at the end gave an herbaceous taste to this sweet and spicy dish. i served it on a bed of riced cauliflower to soak up those delicious juices. and though brussels sprouts may not have been the most logical side? tony's been craving them, so brussels sprouts we had!

i'm not quite ready to admit that the fall season is upon us, and that means that the chances of finding a decent avocado are getting slimmer and slimmer. but i'll use them as long as i can find them! for a quick easy meal i made a "blt" stuffed avocado. slivered romaine lettuce, diced tomato and crumbled bacon mixed together with fresh scallion and mayo served as the filling for this green beauty. i've said it before. i'll say it again. avocado and bacon. best. friends. this was a quick and tasty end of summer meal!

with my parents in town we went to duke's for dinner to show off the amazing seafood of this area. where else can you get halibut stuffed with dungeons crab (which happen to be two of my mom's favorite things)? i opted for their "un-chopped" salad. sea scallops and shrimp on a bed of romaine and cabbage. topped with tomatoes, avocado and cashew nuts then tossed with basil, lemon and olive oil. it was a very crisp and healthy meal! though i do admit food envy of the stuffed halibut.....it smelled amazing!

a lightly seared sesame crusted ahi tuna on a bed of mixed greens tossed with a ginger vinaigrette. some scallion and tomato round out this light salad.

as much as i mourn the lack of avocados in the stores, i do love the appearance of my autumnal favorites! to welcome the equinox, brussels sprouts are making another appearance this week. this time combined with diced fuji apple, thick cut bacon and just a hint of fresh thyme. served with a simple roast chicken. a comforting meal that welcomes grey skies and cozy sweaters. it is.....officially fall!

my mom has always sworn an aversion to smoked salmon. so i made it my mission during her visit her to introduce her to the wonderful local delicacy that is the regional smoked salmon of this region. not the paper thin dark red lox she's had before. but the tender and flavorful smoked salmon steaks from our local "caveman kitchen". and my mission was a success! she loved it! for a side i made another autumnal favorite. roasted butternut squash flavored with sage and rosemary and tossed with a few dried cranberries.

for lunch this week i made some turkey roll ups. roasted deli turkey wrapped around whatever combination of deliciousness you prefer. me? i opted for arugula, bacon and fuji apple. the peppery greens with the salty bacon and sweet apple made for an amazing combination of flavors. and the crisp apple was such a satisfying texture!

i found ground chorizo at one of the stores here that came highly recommended for it's flavor and freshness. knowing that chorizo is one of tony's favorites, i turned it into a make-ahead breakfast for the week. ground chorizo browned in a skillet and then poured into a baking dish with sautéed red onions and orange bell peppers. i poured beaten egg over everything and let it bake at 350 just until the eggs were set. cooled in the fridge, it was easy to take a piece in the morning, heat up in the microwave, and go!

this is a simple, but very easy breakfast that has become a go-to the last few weeks. chicken sausage and egg. and there are so many wonderful varieties of chicken sausages out there! it takes a little effort to read all the labels and rule out ones with dairy and sugar, but there are still plenty to be enjoyed. my personal favorite is aidell's chicken apple sausage topped with an egg over easy and a little hot sauce. 

Whole30 (Week 2)

i was so happy with the taco lettuce wraps last week, i decided to try a variation on the theme to start this week. taco stuffed peppers! browned ground turkey seasoned with taco seasonings. then mixed with wilted spinach, canned tomatoes with green chilies and chopped walnuts all stuffed into halved bell peppers. baked for 25 minutes at 425F and topped with avocado and scallion. holy cow. something about the spinach and walnuts in these were magic! way better than i anticipated. normally i would've laden these with cheddar, but there were phenomenal without! some sautéed yellow squash on the side nicely rounded out this colorful and tasty meal.

tonight's meal was a colombian style "carne bistec" with potato salad. yes. meat and potatoes again. but omg, so good. ok.....first the potato salad. yukon potatoes boiled then diced and tossed with chopped scallion, celery, hard boiled egg and bacon. mmmmmmm bacon. then bound together with olive oil mayo, cider vinegar, salt, pepper and a healthy dose of ranch seasoning. this may be the best potato salad i've ever made. ever.

for the carne bistec, i flash fried thinly slices of sirloin in the rendered fat from the bacon used in the potato salad. waste not, want not! then i set the steak aside and browned sliced onions in the pan juices. after the onions were translucent i threw in a handful (about 4) of sliced fresh tomatoes and a liberal amount of seasonings (salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic power). i added the steak back in, reduced the heat to low, and let everything simmer for almost two hours. the house smelled AMAZING. and now i know what whole30 comfort food is. this meal. it will happen again. and often.

tonight was tricky, my first time eating out while on this plan. my sister and her husband are in town, and we wanted to treat them to a belated birthday dinner. we went to a local seafood restaurant, duke's, for a delicious meal. luckily finding something reasonable wasn't too tricky. they offer a blackened salmon cobb salad. remove the bleu cheese? and it's compliant! tasty too.

i found some lovely mahi mahi steaks at the store today. i marinated them with some minced ginger, garlic, salt, pepper, balsamic and olive oil. then pan seared them for just a few minutes on each side. the flavor was delicious! very asian inspired flavors. for sides i made some roasted tomatoes and mashed cauliflower, two low carb staples that are always welcome on the plate.

i was so pleased with the plantains last week, they had to make another appearance this week. served along side one of the easiest meals imaginable. slow cooker pulled chicken salsa verde. i wasn't ambitious enough to make my own salsa, this was store bought (yes i read the label carefully). and a bright salad of tomatoes, mangoes, avocados and cilantro. i've been relying heavily on meals inspired by central and latin american cuisine the last two weeks. the complex spices and flavors make up for the lost calories!

the star of tonight's dish was the spicy and smoky chipotle pepper. pan seared pork chops smothered in a thick and creamy chipotle sauce on a bed of mashed sweet potatoes (also flavored with chipotles and adobo). the sauce was pureed chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, lime juice, coconut milk, cilantro and just a bit of mayo. with the heat of this dish, the mango avocado salad left over from last night made for a perfect side to cool the heat of these peppers. these flavors married together wonderfully. and according to tony, this dish has received the highest marks of our whole30 venture yet!

tonight i took a break from the latin flavors, and crossed the culinary work to india! chicken tikka masala is typically slow cooked in a sauce made from tomatoes, spices and cream, but for tonight's variation i replaced the heavy cream with coconut milk. and instead of the usual rice as a side dish, i used riced cauliflower. and a beautiful side of grilled veggies.

an easy go-to lunch for this week was a chef's salad (sans cheese). a bed of fresh greens heavily laden with tomatoes, carrots and onion. topped with roasted turkey, a hard boiled egg and a drizzle of ranch dressing. i never thought i would say this, but i didn't miss the cheese!

if you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know i have a deep and abiding love for the fritter. as my search for new and interesting breakfasts continues, of course i must explore the fritter avenue! for a start to a leisurely weekend morning, i made some glorious fritters out of mashed sweet potato, bacon, scallion, beaten egg and a little almond flour. very filling. and extremely tasty! i'm thinking for a future dinner these would be the perfect vehicle for pulled pork.......

the autumn season is rapidly approaching, and with it, the coffee shops and stores are filling with all things "pumpkin spice". pumpkins are 100% kosher on this plan. so i had to get a little creative on how to utilize them for a morning treat. behold the whole30 pumpkin "muffin". now to be honest, this is really more of a "custard" or even a "mousse". just in a muffin cup. but still, an nice change way to stay out of the boring breakfast rut! they're made with pumpkin puree, beaten egg, almond flour, cinnamon and a little baking powder (for rise). i have no idea if baking powder is allowed or not. and i didn't want to check for fear of losing out on my pumpkin fix!

A Tribute To Our Dear Sweet Girl

our small, unconventional family has suffered a horrible loss this week. mahjong, the amazingly sweet and tender greyhound we were lucky enough to have adopted just over five years ago, was diagnosed with an incurable cancer in her stomach. though it broke our hearts to lose her, neither tony nor i could watch her suffer. and so with great sadness, but even greater love she was laid to her final rest on the morning of 12 september 2017.

here are some of our favorite pictures from her over the years so that we may remember all the joy she brought into our lives, and all the love she brought into our hearts.

on the 29th of June, 2012 i drove out to "fast friends", a greyhound adoption agency in western maryland to pick up this leggy fawn colored beauty and bring her to what would be her forever home.  she was timid upon entering the townhouse, and wary of such things as stairs and mirrors. but after gentle words and quiet coaxing, she quickly made herself at home!

our girl was the professional athlete of the house.  she was rescued from a track in st petersburg florida where she ran 117 races (a very respectable number) under the name "bob's toye". a torn muscle in her chest put her off the track, and eventually into our lives. tall for a female greyhound, she came to us with a sleek and muscular build. from the beginning she was well behaved on her leashed walks. she was gentle with our cat lewis. she was perfectly behaved at the dinner table. quite the little lady she was able to charm even the most hardened of hearts who claimed not to like dogs.

mahjong was well traveled, and often would accompany us on road trips. as she came to know and trust us, her she would occasionally let her inner goofball out!

mahjong became well versed in winery visits. this particular winery off the finger lakes in new york hosted a greyhound appreciation event every year. the "grape hound". 

once she learned the game of fetch, it became one of her favorite past times! often she would pull on her leash when we walked by the fenced in ball field to let us know she was ready to run. and run she did! we would throw a tennis ball for her and she would take off like a shot. it was always glorious to watch how swift this born racer was.

to have a hound expose their belly to you means true love! mahjong loved a good belly rub.....

but of all the things mahjong loved, she loved a good nap on her love seat the most. greyhounds are true creatures of comfort. from champion racer to champion couch potato. 

mahjong never became a fan of snow. and regarded the cold wet mess with much disdain and confusion.

in her retired years, mahjong was a philanthropist. we enrolled her as a regular donor with the blue ridge veterinary blood bank program. greyhounds almost always carry the blood type that is universal amongst dogs, so to have one as a donor is always welcome. she donated over 2 gallons in her years, saving over 60 lives of dogs that had suffered car accidents and heat stroke.

mahjong made an ideal candidate for playing dress up. her similarity in build and color to a deer worked perfectly at christmas time with a set of reindeer antlers! we never went so far as to paint her nose red....

and the girl could party. when we would have guests over she was always in the middle of the crowd, soaking up the praise and attention she would receive. she was always extra sleepy the next morning.

she suffered many of our shenanigans with grace. even posing for a political spoof during the 2016 election.

our girl was happiest when she had a cushioned seat and loved ones nearby.

we always made sure that she felt comfort and love, even until the end. she was my companion as i drove across the country, sharing in the luxury of hotel beds and pillows.

we will always carry this gorgeous creature in our minds and hearts. the pain of losing her will never outweigh the joy of having had her. rest in peace dearest mahjong.

Whole 30? Why Not! (Week 1)

for several years i've been hearing friends and coworkers chatter about the "whole 30" program. this ubiqutous culinary trend is essentially based on an elimination diet. 30 days of eating vegetables, fruits and lean meats while eliminating grains, legumes, dairy and anything processed. 

some people do it to identify food allergies, some people do it to reset their philosophy of eating, but most people do it out of the vanity that it promises weight loss. me? i'm going it because i need a new culinary challenge! i've done the south beach phase one, so cutting out grains isn't hard for me. but no dairy? NO CHEESE? FOR 30 DAYS???? crazy pants. and yet, reading over some of the recipes i was genuinely intrigued. and to be honest, after my epic road trip, a few weeks of clean eating wouldn't be the worst idea to reset my body's metabolism.

i won't waste anybody's time listing the rules of the 30 days.....there's so many websites out there dedicated to it, if you want to read over them? i recommend going straight to the source:

https://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/

instead i'm going to do what i always do on this blog, post food pics!! i plan to chronicle some of the stand out meals from this experience. here are the snapshots from week one.....

though the whole 30 program doesn't allow for most starches, it does allow for an ingredient i am a huge fan of, the sweet potato!! so tasty, so healthy, so filling, so versatile! there is also an allowance for frank's buffalo hot sauce and ranch dressing (if it's made with mayo and coconut milk). i have a feeling those two condiments are going to be the key to surviving this month! tonight i combined all three of these wonders and make a buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potato served along a side of sautéed zucchini. 

one of the reasons i was so drawn to the idea of this diet, is it's insistence on the consumption of avocados. yay avocados!!! to serve along this green gorgeousness, i made a lightened up version of shrimp salad, with an olive oil mayo, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, hot sauce, lime juice, scallion and diced red pepper. all tossed together and placed on a bed of spinach and arugula. a very refreshing last summer meal during this heat wave we're having!

a wonderful low carb/tex-mex meal i've made in the past is taco lettuce wraps. using romaine lettuce leaves in place of tortillas. filled with seasoned ground turkey, diced avocado, scallions and an spicy mango salsa i barely missed the cheddar i would normally serve these with! and since fruit is allowed on this program, that means plantains are kosher. sautéed in clarified butter until browned they make a wonderful side dish. 

i've heard mixed opinions on the allowance of potatoes in this program. i know nothing processed (so no french fries or potato chips), but whole potatoes are apparently kosher? well i hope they are, because that's what was on my plate tonight. i made a balsamic marinated roasted flank steak. and potatoes are steaks best friend! i made smashed mixed potatoes tossed with garlic, rosemary and olive oil. and a side of sautéed portobello mushrooms and sweet onions. true, this meal was begging for a glass of cabernet sauvignon, but even without it was most satisfying!

i found some absolutely gorgeous sea scallops at the store today, so had to snatch up a bag full for tonight's dinner. looking back on last year's meals i remembered that prosciutto wrapped scallops stood out as a favorite! i served them on a bed of spinach wilted with sautéed shallots and finished the dish with sweet potato fries. an excellent start to the weekend!

there's a place near us called the "caveman kitchen" that specializes in bbq'd meats done in a smoker. of course smoked salmon is one of the best sellers in this area. thick chunks of tender salmon steaks that are the PERFECT taste and texture. tonight i put these wonderful gems from the sea on a salad with avocado, bacon, asparagus and a variety of greens. smoked salmon and bacon might just be the best combination in the culinary world.....

sunday night's meal was simple and quick. some pan seared chicken andouille sausage that was tossed with some pineapple and topped with scallion. for a side some fresh green beans. simple. clean. tasty. the spiciness from the sausage paired with the sweetness of the pineapple made for a  great combination. i love it when a meal is easy, and tastes good!

often when i make dinner i try to make enough so that there's leftovers for lunch the next day. sadly, that's not always how it works out (next day scallops just don't reheat well) and i have to have some auxiliary plans for lunches. one i have become particularly fond of is a tuna waldorf salad, served with celery sticks. laden with fuji apple chunks, dried cranberries, red onion and pieces of walnut. 

early in the week i roasted some chicken tenders for an easy salad addition. placed on a bed of spinach with fresh berries and tomatoes, with a little balsamic dressing, this salad was hearty and satisfying. i will certainly be making this again (ok, when i'm not restricted....i'll add some feta, because that would make this PERFECT)

a meal inspired from a summer trip i spent in tuscany was a salad of cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto served on a bed of arugula and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. a little sprinkling of sesame seeds added a lovely texture and crunch to this light salad. 

my personal philosophy to eating healthy is 1) you have to have flavor and 2) you HAVE to have variety. so i needed some breakfast options beyond the recommended chicken sausage and eggs. (which i do love, and eat often....but still). many moons ago i posted about my recipe for roasted bananas. this is an expanded version of that recipe. sliced bananas sautéed in clarified butter with unsweetened coconut flakes, chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, a splash of coconut milk and just a dash of almond butter. surprisingly filling, and a delicious as well!

another meal utilizing the wonderful smoked salmon from caveman kitchen. for breakfast i served the tender pieces with a simple poached egg and roasted asparagus, this is a wonderful way to start the day!

with desserts out of the question, i wanted to have an easy-to-grab snack that would satiate the post-dinner munchies. i turned to a stand-by appetizer. bacon wrapped figs. now normally i would have these babies stuffed with bleu cheese, but they still hit the spot in their simplified from! 

thus ends my first week of whole 30. i'm sure i fudged some of the stricter rules, but i like to think i was fairly compliant by the programs guidelines? removing grains and sugar wasn't a problem. but coming up with recipes that don't rely on dairy was certainly a challenge. and i'm really happy with the meals i came up with! i'm happy to add these to my revolving (and evolving) recipe box!!

A Girl, A Hound, and the Open Road-Pt 7 (Idaho)

i took a little detour south and west to visit idaho falls. a gorgeous town just to the west of the tetons. my mom was born not too far from here in pocatello, so you could say this is the land of my people! the damming of the snake river resulted in a waterfall right in the middle of what is now the downtown area. the city has built a greenway around it offering exquisite vantages. even mahjong is impressed by how scenic this city looks in the morning!

a view of the idaho falls LDS temple situated just above the water.

sadly a moose is one of the wildlife creatures of this area i didn't get to see in person. so i had to settle for a statue!

i could've spent all day here enjoying the summer weather and the sounds of the rushing water. i forgot what it was like to be in an area with low humidity. but there was more road to be driven, and more sights to see!

a few hours north and i was in the resort area of coeur d'alene. coeur d'alene lake sits towards the northern end of the idaho pan handle, and draws visitors to it's crisp waters and pine tree heavy mountains.

the downtown area has a variety of public beaches available for watercrafts and swimmers to enjoy.

there's a scenic byway that follows along the shores that offers a higher view.

at every turn there are gorgeous valleys with rivers and ponds.

the quaint downtown area offered many clever restaurants i was eager to patronize. a quick stop for a cocktails and a snack where i had to enjoy what idaho is most famous for, potatoes! in this case, potato chips. handmade kettle chips with a creamy onion dip. a wonderful rest before i explored the shops of the main street.

my dinner that night was at a recommended italian bistro called "uva". i was torn between pasta and chicken marsala when i noticed one of the specials that night was a ravioli served in marsala sauce. win! the ravioli was stuffed with tender braised short rib beef. it was the perfect combination of flavors, and exactly what i needed! it's a few blocks off the main downtown avenue, but i highly recommend.

this area is very big on ice cream. every other store front downtown is an artisanal ice cream vendor. it was surprisingly hot, so i can understand why this would be so popular. the hard part was narrowing down which establishment to try. i opted for "abi's", since i have a niece abby. and even though the spelling was different, i figured the name was as good a reason as any!

i chose....wisely. one of the flavors they were featuring was an orange cardamom ice cream. two of my absolute favorite flavors together! it was a light and refreshing combination that was easily one of the best ice cream experiences i have ever had. ever. seriously. that includes the lemon gelato i had in tuscany. and the snickers ice cream in amish country. i'm hoping my travels bring me back here, just so i can have another scoop!

walking through the streets there are many statues and pieces of artwork featured. i fell completely in love with this nearly two story nod to dandelions. they seem so whimsical!

and this gem. i love harlequin diamonds. i love moose. but a harlequin moose?!?!?! magical.

another recommendation i was given was to try coeur d'alene cellars, the local winery. they offer a wide variety of both whites and reds to sample. i opted for a flight of their most popular reds (the tasting is free if you purchase a bottle).

and the best part? they're dog friendly! and not just "your dog is welcome, but has to suffer outside in the heat" but " please! bring your dog right on in and we'll set her up with her own water and snacks!". she was partial to the cabernet sauvignon, so we picked up a bottle to bring to tony.

and thus this chapter of our adventures end. we've arrived in kent, washington! happily reunited with tony and ready to begin a life in the pacific northwest.

these last few days have been amazing. i am truly blessed to have had this experience. to be able to see the grandeur of my country. to appreciate the wonder of the mountains and lakes and plains. to have my leggy co-pilot keep me company! i look forward to our next journey, wherever that may be!