Doin' Some Cookin'... Green Ale

This Green Ale juice is tart from the lime and granny smith apple but it's worth the pucker face because it's filled with a plethora of nutrients.

Green Ale

Adapted From: Juicing Recipes on Instagram

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 lime, peeled
• 1 granny smith apple
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 cucumber

And Action:

Run all ingredients through the juicer and stir to combine. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Bunny Brew

My absolute favorite juices are ones that include beets or carrots. One thing I love about juicing carrots is that it brings out their sweetness. After a trip to Costco I had a ginormous bag of baby carrots that needed to be used so juicing them was the perfect idea.

In this Bunny Brew I juiced carrots with lemon, mint, and pineapple. The pineapple and mint are said to be good for inflammation and digestion. This juice is not overly sweet and it's something I could drink every day. It's so good.

Bunny Brew

From: Juicing Recipes on Instagram

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 7 carrots
• 1 lemon, peeled and seeded
• 7 mint leaves
• 1 cup pineapple chunks

And Action:

Run all ingredients through a juicer and stir to combine. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Greek Potato Salad

Before Whole30 I was not much of a potato fan, unless it was french fries or tator tots. I'll never forget Day 3 of my first round of Whole30 because I was feeling hungry and that sweet potato with dinner was so satisfying. From there on I looked forward to any excuse to have them.

When I first started the Whole30 program all other potatoes were off limits except sweet potatoes and that's when it hit me that I wouldn't be able to enjoy potato salad while following the program. Recently my prayers have been answered and now potatoes of all varieties are allowed. Wahoo!

I'm sort of obsessed with the Official Whole30 Recipes account on Instagram and love all of the recipe ideas that get posted. I recently saved one for Greek Potato Salad which went perfectly with the Roasted Stuffed Pork Tenderloin. The potatoes are boiled and then tossed in a lemon herb olive oil sauce. Best part is that it's Little Man approved.

Since I have plenty of leftovers I am looking forward to mashing the leftovers and making potato pancakes so I can top them with fried eggs for breakfast. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Greek Potato Salad

Adapted From: Official Whole30 Recipes

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 9 Yukon gold potatoes
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 lemon, juiced
• dried parsley, to taste
• dried oregano, to taste
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• sea salt and pepper, to taste

And Action:

Boil a large pot of salted water and add the potatoes. Cook for 15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain the potatoes and add them back to the hot pot to help dry them out. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl and drizzle over the potatoes, toss to coat. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Roasted Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Dinner date night worthy meal you can cook at home. This pork tenderloin is stuffed with bacon and spinach and roasted to perfection creating a juicy piece of meat before getting drizzled with a lemon parsley oil. A really classy meal that is worth lighting candles and dimming the lights. Hell, if you're not following Whole30 pop open a bottle of wine and serve with a side of Greek smashed potatoes. 

Roasted Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Adapted From: Paleo Cupboard

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show for the Pork Tenderloin:

• 1 lb pork tenderloin, butterflied and pounded thin
• 3 slices cooked bacon
• dried thyme, to taste
• sea salt and pepper, to taste
• onion powder, to taste
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4 cups spinach, wilted in bacon grease

Stars of the Show for the Lemon Parsley Oil:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• parsley, sea salt, and pepper, to taste

And Action:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Spread the spinach bacon mixture on the pork tenderloin and sprinkle the seasonings on top with the garlic. Roll the tenderloin and place on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. 

Cook for 30-35 minutes or until the inside reaches 145 degrees.

While the tenderloin cooks mix the lemon parsley oil in a small bowl. 

When the pork is done cooking transfer to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes lightly covered in aluminum foil. Slice into rolls and serve with the lemon oil. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... I Hope...

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pecan Chicken Salad

Chicken salad sandwiches are a favorite of mine but you never know what you're going to get when ordering them out. The combinations are endless. I prefer mine to be light on mayonnaise and with grilled chicken. You can adapt the recipe to suit your tastes.

I finally found a repeat worthy chicken salad. I couldn't stop saying, "oh my gosh this is so good". I kept stealing bites of it before I serving the chicken salad on a bed of spinach with a side of strawberries.

Another thing I love about this chicken salad is that a big batch can be made in advance for easy lunches or light dinners. Delicious, healthy, and Little Man gobbles this up.

Pecan Chicken Salad

Adapted From: Official Whole30 Recipes on Instagram

Makes 3 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 3 grilled chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup red grapes, quartered
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• onion powder, celery seed, celery salt, and black pepper, to taste

And Action:

Stir all ingredients in a bowl together until well combined. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Tomato Cucumber Salad

Last night I was stalking some of my favorite Instagram accounts and while on the Official Whole30 Recipes page I came across a photo of for a Tomato Cucumber Salad and instantly thought of Summer. I'm so happy that I've made the commitment to my second round of Whole30 because swimsuit season is right around the corner and I am no where near being ready to hit the beach or pool. Hell, most nights I'm not ready to hit the shower and avoid looking at my naked self in the mirror. Ha!

After a recent grocery haul at Costco I had an abundance of tomatoes and cucumbers so making this recipe was a no brainer and I was craving a taste of Summer for a boost of motivation to keep pushing through.

This salad is fantastic on its own but would make the perfect accompaniment to any Summer meal, especially grilled protein of choice.

I love the crunch of the cucumbers but the liquid that draws out of the cucumbers and tomatoes from the salt when mixed with the olive oil and vinegar is the absolute best. If I wasn't on a round of Whole30 I would sop it up with crusty bread.

Feel free to get creative and add alter this recipe with other Mediterranean ingredients you may have on hand... kalamata olives, artichoke heart, and topped with feta. Yum!

Tomato Cucumber Salad

Adapted From: Official Whole30 Recipes on Instagram

Stars of the Show:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• dried dill, to taste
• 5 Roma tomatoes, quartered
• 2 cucumbers, cut into 1/2" chunks and then quartered
• onion powder, to taste

And Action:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss gently to combine. Enjoy! 

Doin' Some Cookin'... Chai Spice Smoothie

This Chai Spice Smoothie is deliciously spicy from a combination of spices and satisfies my craving for a Soy Chai Latte from Starbucks which is not diet compliant.

Smoothies are just so convenient because of how quick and easy they are to throw together and due to their portability. Health in a glass on the go.

Chai spices are known for their antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and support digestive health.

It doesn't matter that Chai spices are associated with the Fall because this is delicious all year long.

Chai Spice Smoothie

Adapted From: Sprout Living

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1/8 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• 1/16 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/16 tsp ground cardamom
• sea salt, to taste
• 1 banana
• ice, to taste

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Health Nut Blueberry Smoothie

After getting in an early morning workout I needed a post workout meal and reached for a handful of ingredients to make this Health Nut Blueberry Smoothie. What a perfect start to my Saturday!

This has been one of my favorite smoothies I've tried recently with natural sweetness from the banana and blueberries, a creaminess from the almond milk and almond butter, and texture from the dried coconut flakes. So good. Repeat worthy.

Health Nut Blueberry Smoothie

Adapted From: Eating Bird Food

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 banana
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 tbsp coconut almond butter
• 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• ice, to taste

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Mulberry Love Review

(The packaging is so adorbs!)

Little Man watched me open a care package from Mulberry Love. As I was pulling bottles of juice out of the box he asked, "What's a mulberry?"

Crickets.

It looks like a blackberry or raspberry but that's all I could come up with. Scratching my head I resorted to searching the Internet and admitting that Mom doesn't know everything. Supposedly mulberries have a mild honey taste and are a nutrition powerhouse.

Mulberries are a "superfood" loaded with antioxidants and the company, Mulberry Love, figured out a way to bottle up immunity boosting-brain powering properties. Hello health in my hand.

These juices are all-natural with no additives and naturally sweetened.

Grab a bottle to reap the benefits:

• Immunity Boost
• Memory Enhancement
• Inflammation Reduction
• Vital for Vision
• Heart Health
• Energy
• Skin Support
• Hydration
• Increased Metabolism
• Weight Loss

Sunday morning Little Man and I made a trip to Costco to stock up on smoothie making ingredients. No surprise at all, which as you can tell from my previous blog posts I have been on a smoothie kick lately. They are a quick and easy way to fill your body with dense nutrition. 

After we got home, unloading the groceries was quite a workout so worked up quite an appetite. If you've never shopped at Costco it is bulk items and they do not bag anything. The items may be heavy and unloaded one by one. Racking up those steps on FitBit and building those biceps. Ha!

Because it was close to lunchtime we decided on a smoothie to go with turkey sandwiches. As I was making the smoothie Little Man asked if he could try the juice on it's own first to make sure he would like it. So I popped open the bottle of Mulberry Juice with Green Tea and he compared the smell and taste to pomegranate juice, smacked his lips, and let out an "mmm". 

Getting him in the kitchen gets him trying new foods and I'm all about promoting healthy habits. Now that we've fueled our bodies it's time to get out of the kitchen and outdoors to enjoy this almost 80 degree day.

Mulberry Maca Berry Power Smoothie

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup Mulberry Love's Organic Mulberry Juice and Green Tea
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries (raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries)
• 1 pitted date
• 1 packet Maca energy boost
• 3/4 cup almond milk

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Website: Mulberry Love
Twitter: @Mulberry_Love
Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialMulberryLove
Instagram: instagram.com/mulberrylove_
Pinterest: pinterest.com/themulberrylove

*Disclosure: No monetary compensation was offered or received for this post. I was provided product for review, however, all opinions are my own.  

Doin' Some Cookin'... Sweet Citrus Avocado Green Smoothie

I'm kinda in a detox mode right now after hitting a four week plateau. Self-inflicted since I let working out and healthy eating go by the wayside. It's time for me to trade in dairy, soy, legumes, carbs, sugar, and alcohol for whole foods. So I decided to start my second round of Whole30 yesterday and it feels good to be back in the swing of things.

It's time focus on healthy habits and green smoothies make it effortless to do so.

This smoothie packs some of my favorite items from the produce section, especially avocado. Avocado makes this smoothie creamy while the clementines give it a bright citrusy flavor.

Sweet Citrus Avocado Green Smoothie

Adapted From: HealthyHealthyLife.com

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 2 clementines, peeled and segmented
• 1 cup baby kale
• pinch of fresh parsley
• 1/2 of an avocado
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup coconut water, chilled
• ice, to taste
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• dash of cayenne

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pomegranate Berry Smoothie

Nothing like a smoothie to beat the Texas heat, even Springtime brings high temps. Can we just enjoy a season as it's intended please?!

This smoothie is refreshing and packed with health-protecting antioxidants. Pomegranates have anti-inflammatory properties, reduce the risk of cancer, and can help manage cholesterol and weight loss.

I did not like pomegranate juice the first time I tried it on it's own but now I love it. It's tart with a touch of sweetness. You can use pomegranate juice or pomegranate arils, your preference.

Pomegranate Berry Smoothie

From: Will Cook For Smiles

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 3 strawberries, quartered

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Chicken Souvlaki

The thought of making kebabs on a work night just seemed like too much work. Instead of cutting the meat into chunks I kept the chicken cutlets whole and grilled them that way. Okay, so it's not genuine souvlaki but the flavor is there. 

I've never made Chicken Souvlaki at home but had it numerous times at a friend's house. It was her signature dish. 

During the Summer this chicken will be in rotation with the watermelon I consume all season long. 

While it's normally served with tzatziki sauce I had to find a side dish alternative that was diet compliant and it had to have cucumbers in it so I made a cucumber tomato salad. It was the perfect compliment to the chicken. 

Chicken Souvlaki

Adapted From: The Healthy Foodie

Makes 8 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken cutlets
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

And Action:

Place chicken in a gallon size ziploc bag. In a bowl combine the rest of the ingredients, stir well. 

Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss the bag around coat the chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight. 

Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. 

Grill the chicken 5 minutes on each side. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Orange Cream Smoothie

One sip of this Orange Cream Smoothie and memories of the mall food court in Las Vegas with my mom flooded my memory. She would always treat me an Orange Julius when we'd go to the mall. I was easily bribed with food to run errands with her. If I knew lunch or a snack was part of the deal I was in!

I had some errands to run so I made this smoothie and a fried egg before heading out for the day and a trip to the mall was called for. I visited Barnes and Noble and picked up a book filled with smoothie ideas Little Man will love and swung over to Whole Foods to pick up a bag of oranges because Little Man is away for the weekend spending time with his dad but I know he would have loved this smoothie. Can't wait to make this for him for breakfast before school tomorrow.

This smoothie is deliciously creamy, healthy, and packed with Vitamin C. Bright and sunshiny... speaking of sunshine, this girl needs some sun and a tan.

Orange Cream Smoothie

Adapted From: Mommy Hates Cooking

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!