(turkey) bacon & egg salad.

i haven't shared a recipe in what seems like forever. i think it's a good indication of my life right now when it comes to cooking. i haven't thrown much of anything new into the mix, aside from a few failed attempts at new recipes from pinterest.

but! i've got one for you. and really the credit goes to my husband who, when i was getting ready to try my hand at egg salad for the first time in over a year, said, "why don't you throw some turkey bacon in there?"

duh.

it was one of those moments that made me rethink life, as if the skies cleared and possibilities seemed endless. okay, not really. but you get the idea.

because why have i not thought of this before? and more importantly, why has hardly anyone else? (i have much higher expectations for other cooks out there than myself, and my often-times uninspired meals.)

so we tried it.
and loved it.

so i wrote it down. and then i had to wait until the next time i made it so i would actually measure things instead of throwing them in emotionally and dramatically, so i could write it down.

you missed me, didn't you.

(turkey) bacon & egg salad.
serves quite a bit

ingredients
10 eggs
1/2 pack turkey bacon, chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
3 tbsp mayonnaise
salt & pepper, to taste

directions
in a medium-sized saucepan, hard-boil the eggs for 11 minutes, then shock in a bowl of ice water. note: i've tried a few different methods, but the hot start method is by far my favorite method.

while the eggs are cooking (and cooling), cook the turkey bacon in a skillet on medium heat, stirring frequently. once it's crispy, remove from heat and set aside.

peel eggs and chop them up roughly. in a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well with a spoon.

serve chilled, any way you like!

love.

ground beef & sweet potato hash.

i promise i all my future recipes won't be sweet potatoes.

and this isn't fancy. but it's quick, easy, and healthy. and honestly, it was another win with these sweet potato skeptics and i don't want to forget how i made it. :)

ground beef & sweet potato hash
serves 4
adapted from here.

ingredients
1 pound ground beef
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (in small bite-sized pieces)
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced (i use the frozen trays from trader joe's)
two big handfuls of fresh spinach and arugula (or any leafy green such as kale, chard, etc.)
salt & pepper, to taste
2 tbsp butter, divided (either vegan, grassfed or ghee are fine)

directions
heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. add ground beef, one clove of garlic, and salt and pepper and cook until meat is browned. transfer to a bowl and set aside.

in the same skillet, melt 1 tbsp. of the butter and add onions and another clove of garlic. sauté until onions are mostly transparent. transfer to a small bowl and set aside.

and again, in the same skillet, melt remaining butter and add the sweet potatoes, tossing to coat. cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes become soft (about 10 minutes). remove cover, add ground beef and onions and mix. then add the greens and the remaining clove of garlic. stir, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes, until the greens are wilted and the garlic is cooked.

serve and enjoy!

love.

meals: vol. 20

menu for 3/17-3/23
monday: garlic chicken sausages, french fries, steamed broccoli
tuesday: italian wedding soup (paleo)
wednesday: turkey & fried egg burgers, roasted brussels sprouts, green beans
thursday: slow cooker korean beef bowls (with zucchini, carrots, spinach, rice noodles)
friday: loaded sweet potatoes, leftovers
saturday: tilapia & veggie oven pouches
sunday: lazy chicken marsala, garlic green beans

breakfasts: smoothies, breakfast sausage & bacon, larabars, wheat-free waffles, sun butter and bananas

lunches: leftovers, asian avocado tuna salad, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots, bacon, snacks

snacks: paleo muffins or sweet bread, beef jerky, dried fruit, nuts, cheese sticks & yogurt (c), larabars

lazy chicken marsala.

this has become a serious staple in our home. like a once a week staple, at least. everyone loves it and, no matter how much extra i try to make, there's pretty much never any leftovers (much to my disappointment).

and it's so easy. and so quick. obviously, i'm a fan.

oh, and the lazy part of this recipe is that i fillet the chicken quickly and thinly, and don't mess around with trying to pound it down. easy peasy.

lazy chicken marsala
serves four
adapted from here.

ingredients
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts
3 tbsp grass-fed butter (or ghee)
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup marsala wine
1/4 cup sherry
8-10 oz mushrooms, rinsed and sliced
generous salt and pepper

directions
in a large skillet, melt butter and oil over medium high heat. fillet chicken breasts through the middle lengthwise into thin, wide strips. season generously with salt and pepper and sauté in skillet until golden brown, the flip and repeat.

dump mushrooms in, followed by the marsala and sherry. cover and cook on medium-low for 5-10 minutes.

serve (if you're not opposed to it, it would be kind of amazing on a bed of mashed potatoes) and enjoy!

love.

meals: vol. 19

i'm back! this is the first week since i got sick that i've even come close to getting a menu down. it feels good to be on the mend.

menu for 2/17-2/23
monday: white wine & herb turkey breast (slow cooker), roasted veggies, coconut flour biscuits
tuesday: sushi date with my main main (yay!)
wednesday: turkey italian sausages with asparagus, paleo garlic bread
thursday: korean beef bowls (with zucchini, carrots, spinach, rice noodles)
friday: leftovers
saturday: out for the evening
sunday: fish something

breakfasts: breakfast sausage, larabars, wheat-free waffles, bacon, sun butter and bananas, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots, bacon, snacks

snacks: paleo muffins or sweet bread of some sort, beef jerky, dried fruit, fruit, nuts, cheese sticks & yogurt (c), larabars, spiced candied walnuts

what are you making this week?

love.

meals: vol. 18

i hope everyone had a merry, happy christmas! these last few weeks have been full and a little crazy, so my menus have been a little more of a winging it and a little less planned. but i am looking forward to this fresh new year!

menu for 12/30-1/5
monday: steak taco salads, guacamole
tuesday: bacon burgers with rosemary-garlic mushrooms, sweet potato fries, asparagus
wednesday: happy new year!
thursday: leftovers
friday: anniversary dinner (yay!) 
saturday: eggs and sautéed spinach, turkey sausage and cashew flour pancakes
sunday: soup?

breakfasts: larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), bacon, sun butter and bananas, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots, bacon, snacks

snacks: beef jerky, dried fruit, seaweed, fruit, nuts, cheese sticks & yogurt (c), larabars, spiced candied walnuts, grain-free honey graham crackers

happy new year!

love.

meals: vol. 17

i think i'm starting to get the hang of this. it's definitely challenged how i think about meals and has me starting to get a bit more basic in their makeup. i've typically been more of a "one pot meal" fan, but switching to more of a separate meat and vegetable has been helpful.

have any meal ideas to share? i'd love to hear!

menu for 12/9-12/15
monday: leftovers
tuesday: salmon, asparagus (because i haven't actually made it yet, three weeks later. haha)
wednesday: beef & shrimp stir-fry 
thursday: slow cooker chicken breasts, sautéed veggies
friday: spaghetti squash carbonara, asparagus
saturday: steaks, mashed sweet potatoes, garlic green beans
sunday: slow cooker chicken soup (with leftover chicken).

breakfasts: almond flour muffins, hardboiled eggs, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers with paleo ranch, snacks

snacks: beef jerky, smoked salmon, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks (c), fruit, nuts, cheese sticks (c), larabars, hardboiled eggs, spiced candied walnuts

love.

meals: vol. 16

aaand i'm late with my menu. again.

i'll claim post-thanksgiving sluggishness (maybe partly due to that grain-free pie you see up there). okay? thanks.

menu for 12/2-12/8
monday: leftover roast chicken soup with roasted vegetables (i used leftover turkey instead)
tuesday: bacon-wrapped steaks (orr just steaks and bacon. let's be real) and mixed veggies
wednesday: italian turkey sausages and roasted carrots, turnips and mushrooms
thursday: steak, loaded sweet potatoes, green beans
friday: salmon, leftover baked sweet potatoes, asparagus 
saturday: eggs and sautéed spinach, bacon and cashew flour pancakes
sunday: crock pot something.

breakfasts: almond flour pumpkin muffins, hardboiled eggs, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers with goddess dressing, snacks

snacks: beef jerky, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks (c), fruit, nuts, cheese sticks (c), larabars, hardboiled eggs, spiced candied walnuts

happy planning!

love.

meals: vol. 15

my first homemade dressing--recipe below!

it's that time again!

today is officially one week since we went paleo. and honestly, while it's hard in some regards, i'm really enjoying it.

my almond and coconut flours are coming in this week, and i'm excited to get to try out some muffins and quick breads. last night i made drop biscuits with what i had on hand (a few different nut meals and a little this and that) and they weren't terrible! :)

have any good recipes you'd like to share? i'd love to hear them!

menu for 11/25-12/1
monday: sausage spaghetti squash "pasta"bake (with spinach & arugula instead of kale, i think)
tuesday: leftovers
wednesday: slow cooker chuck roast with mushrooms, carrots and turnips (and thanksgiving prep)
thursday: tons of yummy paleo things (happy thanksgiving!)
friday: salmon, sweet potatoes, asparagus 
saturday: scrambled eggs with veggies, bacon, cashew flour waffles
sunday: thanksgiving in a pot soup (with all the leftovers)

breakfasts: egg & bacon muffin cups, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies
lunches: salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers with goddess dressing, hot dogs, leftovers, snacks
snacks: beef jerky, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks (c), fruit, nuts, cheese sticks (c), larabars

and here's the salad dressing recipe:

maple mustard salad dressing (paleo)
serves one
ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
1 tbsp. maple syrup
a dash of pepper

directions
mix all ingredients together in a small bowl, and pour over salad. easy peasy!

happy planning, and a very happy thanksgiving!

love.

meals: vol. 14 (a new start).

today marks the first day of our new life (when it comes to eating).

we are going paleo. 

it's something that we've been discussing for awhile now, and something i've been hoping to try for over a year. not for my own health (though i know i'm going to benefit from being more purposeful in eating whole, healthy foods), but for nick's.

the paleo diet has had much success in the auto-immune disease circles, specifically those that have gut health issues. and so, here we are. giving it all that we've got and will be for the next year or so (unless we see much improvement, and then it will be indefinite). personally, the story of danielle walker from against all grain, has left us particularly inspired. reading her story with illness was like reading our own journey with nick's.

so, what does this mean for this blog?
well, it means that you will probably see a good bit more about food. 

i will try my best to not be obnoxious about it, and this is definitely not going to become a food blog. but there will be more on the topic, because this blog is about real life, every season of it. and this season is going to be a little bit more about what we eat.

also, i want to share all that i'm learning about how to implement this diet into our everyday lives. the practical, the planning, the outcome. the successes and the failures. also, even if paleo isn't your thing, i hope you'll stick around. i'm hoping to integrate this new lifestyle into our existing one, including working to create food (with the help of many that have gone before me) that would be exiting for anyone to eat, regardless of diet restrictions.

so, let's do this.

menu for 11/18-11/24
monday: out for dinner
tuesday: pan fried chicken breasts, loaded sweet potatoes, salad
wednesday: slow cooker beef stir fry
thursday: salmon, sweet potatoes, asparagus
friday: chicken sausages and veggie sauté 
saturday: breakfast for dinner (paleo pancakes)
sunday: soup or stew?

breakfasts: egg muffins, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies
lunches: salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers (hopefully i'll get to make a paleo ranch!), hot dogs, leftovers, snacks
snacks: beef jerky, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks, fruit, cashews and almonds, cheese sticks (coen)

cranberry turkey, butternut squash & caramelized onion soup (orthanksgiving in a pot, for short).

this recipe is a big deal to me, friends. 

the thing about me is, I love to cook, but I've never been one of those people that just find inspiration to create a whole new something out of a bunch of random something's in their kitchen. I will look at a bunch of recipes and combine and tweak until it's mine, but that's usually the extent of it.

but this one was one of those inspired moments. I'm really excited to share it. 

remember this cranberry orange turkey? well, this is a recipe that is for what to do with the leftovers. and we all need more ideas for our leftover turkey, right? and this one pretty much tastes likethanksgiving in a pot. I mean that in a good way.

note: I used homemade stock (from the bone-in turkey breast I use for this recipe). see how I do that at the bottom of this post.

cranberry turkey, butternut squash & caramelized onion soup 

serves six // prep time: 30 minutes, cook time: 30 minutes

ingredients

2 cups leftover cooked cranberry turkey, chopped up

2 cups homemade stock (see directions below)

3 cups water

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp olive oil, coconut oil, or butter

2 cups butternut squash, diced (I use a bag of frozen)

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

three large handfuls of fresh spinach

directions

in a large stock pot, heat oil or butter on medium heat and add onions. stir occasionally until the start to caramelize (about 10-15 minutes). add chopped turkey to the mix and stir around to brown just a bit. then, add stock and deglaze the bottom of the pot, scraping up the good bits. add water, spices, and butternut squash, bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer for 20 minutes.

add fresh spinach the last few minutes, stir, and simmer until wilted. 

serve and season with salt and pepper.

homemade cranberry turkey stock

prep time: 5 minutes, cook time: 12-24 hours

directions

return bones, skin, and any unwanted meat and juices to the crockpot that you cooked the turkey in. add 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 4-5 cups of water. cover and cook on low overnight (all the way up to 24+ hours). ladle and strain broth into a storage container. you can keep it in the fridge for a week, or freeze it for a few months. also, this is such a rich stock, it's pretty concentrated (and so good).

happy (early) thanksgiving.

love.

black & white chicken chili (slow cooker)

i'm starting to realize that i have a bit of a type when it comes to recipes: crockpot, chicken, and usually a soup/stew of some kind.

but i'm okay with that. 

because this is good.

and honestly, it's hard to come up with other types of recipes that dont include lots of tomatoes and/or a ton of dairy. so, life goes on (in the form of lots of chicken and soup).

slow cooker black & white chicken chili 

serves 6

ingredients

five chicken breasts (I used frozen but thawed mine a little since it was a bit crunched on time)

4 cups chicken broth + 2 cups water

1 can great northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

15 ounces salsa verde, plus more for serving

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt to taste 

sour cream

shredded sharp white cheddar

diced avocados

tortilla chips

directions

combine first 8 ingredients in slow cooker and cook on medium for 5 hours. 

garnish with sour cream, cheese, and avocados and serve.

hurray for easy! 

you're welcome. 

happy fall.

love.

love.

meals for the week: vol.13

I think fall has finally found its way to north Carolina, and I'm pretty excited about it. my goal this week is to not consume ridiculous amounts of coffee & hot chocolate. and maybe to actually get to all the things on the menu. 

menu for 10/21-10/28

monday: slow cooker chicken salad sandwiches, tater tot things, sautéed squash  

tuesday: slow cooker beef stroganoff over egg noodles, green beans

wednesday: fish taco bowls (& salads), slow cooker berry cobbler

thursday: leftovers 

friday: one pot chicken lo mein

saturday: breakfast for dinner

sunday: slow cooker mexican chicken & lime soup, cornbread

breakfasts: cereal bars, oatmeal, yogurt, eggs, slow cooker berry cobbler

lunches: smoothies (with kale, shh!), chicken salad, tuna salads, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: cheese, fruit, popcorn, yogurt, veggie straws

happy planning!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 12

the last few weeks of posting late or not at all has left my meal execution pretty terrible. so here's to long-awaited fall weather, crockpots, and on-time menus.

happy planning, friends!

menu for 10/14-10/20

monday: fish taco bowls (& salads), slow cooker berry cobbler

tuesday: leftovers

wednesday: slow cooker beef stroganoff over egg noodles, green beans

thursday: loaded baked potatoes with turkey bacon & sautéed spinach, asparagus

friday: slow cooker breakfast casserole for dinner

saturday: out of town

sunday: one pot chicken lo mein

breakfasts: cereal bars, pumpkin chocolate chip oat bars, yogurt, eggs, berry cobbler

lunches: smoothies (with kale, shh!), leftovers, salads, tuna salads, carrots, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, cheese, fruit, popcorn, yogurt

what's on your menu?

love.

meals for the week: vol. 11

yes, it's thursday. and it's not pretty. i'm sorry.

but at least it's something. and i needed to get my brain together to have the weekend at least semi-planned out. this week has been something, for sure.

help a mama out and share some meal ideas? thanks, guys.

meals :: 9/23-9/29

monday: slow cooker pesto ranch chicken, baked potatoes, asparagus

tuesday: nope.

wednesday: i don't remember (seriously.)

thursday: slow cooker shoulder roast, baked potatoes, sautéed okra, peppers & onions, cornbread

friday: slow cooker chicken & dumplings

saturday: bacon cheeseburgers, sweet potato fries, veggie 

sunday: slow cooker beef stroganoff and egg noodles (or something with chicken? help!)

breakfasts: protein shakes, granola, bagels, yogurt, eggs, berry crisp

lunches: smoothies (with kale, shh!), leftovers, salads, tuna salads, carrots, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, cheese, trail mix, fruit, popcorn, granola, kale chips

meals for the week: vol. 10

it's late, but it's here! 

my love for my crockpot has been revived with the arrival of this (semi) fall weather. have any killer slow cooker recipes sans tomatoes? please share!

meals :: 9/16-9/22

monday: nope.

tuesday: slow cooker turkey sausages, peppers, onions & potatoes (and maybe a recipe to follow?)

wednesday: slow cooker beef & broccoli and rice

thursday: roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, garlic green beans

friday: leftovers

saturday: out for the evening

sunday: Thai-inspired chicken & rice soup (adapted for slow cooker)

breakfasts: protein shakes, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins, yogurt

lunches: smoothies, leftovers, salads, tuna salads, veggies & homemade ranch, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & ranch, cheese sticks, trail mix, fruit, popcorn

what's on your menu?

love. 

meals for the week: vol. 7

oh, hey tuesday. better late than never, right?

i hope your meal planning is going well these days--if you have any great recipes to share, please do!

meals :: 8/26-9/1

monday: chicken & veggie stir fry

tuesday: fish something (any ideas?) 

wednesday: chicken &rice bake, green beans

thursday: shepherd's pie (i mean it this time)

friday: tbd

saturday: out to dinner!

sunday: chicken, bacon & green beans (modified for slow cooker), easy baked potatoes

breakfasts: protein shakes, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins

lunches: smoothies, leftovers, tuna salads, veggies & homemade ranch, lunchmeat & sandwiches, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, trail mix, fruit, popcorn

happy planning!

love.

thai-inspired chicken & rice soup.

remember that recipe i keep mentioning? here it is (finally)!

i used to make this soup all of the time a few years ago. like every week, all of the time. i guess we got sick of it, and then forgot about it? well, i lost the recipe awhile back and have had a hard time remembering where i found the original--but a few weeks ago, i found it! i make it a little differently (i omit some ingredients and make it even less labor-intensive) and have been wanting to share it with you. because it's oh-so-good.

this is a good soup for any time of the year. recently it's become our go-to sick soup. it's fresh and light, but comforting and pretty hearty at the same time.

thai-inspired chicken & rice soup
adapted from here.

ingredients for the soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 quart chicken stock (4 cups)
2 cups water
about 1 pound cooked chicken, either shredded or cubed (sometimes i just whatever i have on hand)
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons sea salt (plus more for serving)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (1 teaspoon if you like more of a kick to it)
1 large package mushrooms, roughly chopped
1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped with a small amount separated
1/4 cup lime juice
2 large handfuls of fresh baby spinach

ingredients for the rice
2 cups jasmine rice, rinsed thoroughly (or your choice of rice)
4 cups water (unless rice specifies different ratio)
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
small amount of chopped cilantro

directions
pour olive oil into bottom of large stock pot and heat. sauté onions and garlic until clear, then add chicken, chicken stock, water, spices and salt. bring to a boil and then reduce heat, add mushrooms, cilantro and lime juice. allow soup to simmer for about 15-20 minutes.

combine rinsed rice, water, rice vinegar and cilantro in rice cooker. cook as directed.

when rice is done, throw the baby spinach into the soup and stir in until wilted.

to serve, spoon rice into bottom of bowls (the amount is up to you) and ladle soup on top. you can also serve rice in a small bowl on the side an allow each person to add rice as they go.

enjoy!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 6

so after a month of cutting out wheat, we've added some back in. so far we haven't noticed a difference, but we're still limiting it a bit. honestly, i feel better without it. 

meals :: 8/19-8/25

monday: leftover stew (slow cooker) 

tuesday: summer vegetables with sausage & potatoes 

wednesday: chickpea potato curry & rice

thursday: shepherd's pie (i am determined to finally make this. haha)

friday: chicken, bacon & green beans (modified for slow cooker), easy baked potatoes

saturday: 

sunday: girls' night! (finger foods & appetizers)

breakfasts: yogurt and granola, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, tuna salads, veggies & homemade ranch, lunchmeat & sandwiches, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & homemade ranch, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, trail mix, fruit, popcorn

what are you eating this week? i'd love to hear!

love.

meals for the week: vol. 4

it's that time again!

plans changed a few times last week (i'm learning that's just life), so there are definitely a few repeats for this week. also, i've tried to link back to the recipes that i'm planning on following for some of them, which will hopefully help in your own meal planning. :)

i have a recipe to share with you all later this week, so keep an eye out for it!

meals :: 8/5-8/11

monday: farmhouse beef & bacon stew (it's in the crockpot now, and it smells amazing)

tuesday: fish taco bowls 

wednesday: paleo bacon meatloaf, baked potatoes, peas

thursday: chicken stew with kale and beans

friday: leftovers

saturday: shepherd's pie

sunday: bacon, chicken & green beans

breakfasts: very berry crisp, egg muffins, yogurt and granola, fruit

lunches: lunchmeat rollups, veggies & homemade ranch, tuna salads, chicken nuggets (for c)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & homemade ranch, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, fruit, popcorn

hope you have a great week!

love.