Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Time to Spice it Up.

Congratulations_header_13

It’s Day 13, and you’re probably feeling pretty spicy... but hopefully, not this spicy.




Yesterday I ran my first sub 40 minute 5K since my accident and surgery.  I know that I pushed it a little hard the last quarter of a mile, but it is rewarding to know that it is coming back.  I may just make that April 13.1 after all ( will alot of walking ) I am sure.


2014 is going to be a big year for me, and whole 30 training right and listening to my body is all part of that.

Homework assignment.
FIND A NEW RECIPE AND COOK IT THIS WEEK.
Report back to the group what you cook WITH PHOTOS..... ( Accountability :)


(( Whole30  Newsletter))

Spice 101

Spices make the food world go ‘round. (No, literally—changing just one spice can turn an Indian curry into a savory Spanish stew.) The right spices can make or break a dish, turning everyday ingredients into authentic ethnic cuisine. Switching up the spices in your rack can even help you fight the food boredom that sometimes creeps up.
But buyer beware, especially when it comes to seasonings (mixtures and blends). Read your labels, because there can be all kinds of hidden junk in the stuff you get at the grocery store. Check out the ingredients in this taco seasoning commonly found at chain grocers:
Yellow Corn Flour, Salt, Maltodextrin, Paprika, Spices, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Citirc Acid, Autolyzed Yest Extract, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color (sulfites). Yikes!
“Taco seasoning” sounds innocent enough, but this spice blend is anything but innocent (or healthy). We are sure by now that just looking at those ingredients you know this is not OK by Whole30 standards, but why is it OK by any standards?

Spice 201

Sometimes, spices and seasonings intimidate people with their fancy-sounding names (Za’atar, anyone?) and the precise, teeny-tiny quantities called for in recipes. Don’t be scared! Today, with some help from our friends, we’ll get your kitchen spice-ready.
First, Melissa Joulwan (author of Well Fed), an admitted spice-a-holic, shares her lengthy list of spices and how to use them in this brilliant article.
We’ve also teamed up with Spice Hound to help you identify Whole30 Approved spices to fill your cabinet with. A full 100% of their salts and spices meet Whole30 criteria, and 20 of their spice blends are also Whole30-approved.
Here is a complete list of all approved Spice Hound blends:
Adobo SeasoningCajun RubChili Powder Blend
Chinese 5-Spice Powder   Curry PowderDukka
Fines HerbesFour Peppercorn Blend   Garam Masala
Garlic Sea SaltHerbes de ProvenceItalian Seasoning
La KamaPanch PhoraPoultry
Pumpkin Pie SpiceSeasoning Sea SaltTabil
Turkey BrineZa’atar
Though they last a long time, spices can be expensive. If your cabinet is empty, commit to buying one or two new spices a week, until you’ve amassed a collection broad enough to transport you to any foreign country (and cuisine) at the flick of a teaspoon.


(( TIPS AND TRICKS))

Today, we’re having fun with kitchen gadgets. We know that after two weeks of the Whole30, your kitchen skills are improving by leaps and bounds. But what if you could take your skills to the next level (and save some time, hassle, and dishwashing liquid) by picking up some nifty tools? To provide you with inspiration, we’re giving you a delicious Whole30-friendly recipe with each item, so you can take your new toys for a yummy test-drive.
We’re also talking about how to get your healthy, Whole30 food from point A (the stove) to point B (your fridge), to point C (your workplace). It’s not that complicated, of course… any food storage container will do—but some options are just better (and cooler) than others.
So prep, cook, store, and carry in style.
Have a great Day 14!

Gadgets, Tools, & Products We Like

Chop & Measure: We would be lost without our Vegetable Chop & Measure from Williams-Sonoma. It makes whipping up a batch of our delicious mango gazpacho a breeze, and cleans up faster than a food processor.
Julienne peeler: With a julienne peeler, you can turn zucchini into noodles in a flash. Say “hello” to spaghetti and meatballs, Asian noodle soup, buttered parsley noodles, and more.
Avocado saver: Super cute and totally functional. This avocado saver ensures the second half of your lusciously ripe avocado tastes as good as the first. And you’ll want to keep your avocados especially ripe for this Chilled Cream of Avocado Soup with Dungeness Crab.
Mandoline: We thought we didn’t need a mandoline until we actually got one. This Swissmar Borner mandoline comes standard with blades for both thick and thin slices. You can turn whole veggies into salad-ready piles in seconds. Use the thin side for cucumber salad, zucchini, and eggplant — use the thick side for jicama, carrots, and radishes. You can even make these amazing-looking Chili Lime Sweet Potato Chips!
Cutting boards: No kitchen is complete with a solid cutting board, and this Farberware bamboo board is solid, durable, and doubles as a serving tray for crudité and meat. Double win! We also love to keep multiple sizes of lightweight, fast-drying cutting boards around like these from Epicurean. You’ll need a few of these handy when you learn to make these Rice-free Sushi Rolls.
Citrus squeezer: Fresh citrus adds a zing! to just about everything you might cook — but squeezing lemons and limes is a pain in the... wrist. Enter the citrus squeezer. (Bonus: stainless steel won’t get as grimy as plastic.) And it’s gonna come in handy for these Lemon Brussels Sprouts
Garlic press: Garlic makes savory dishes sing. Sing, friends! And this Kuhn Rikon Garlic Press is a workhorse. It crushes unpeeled cloves in a snap and is easy to clean. Plus, it’s so sturdy, it could double as a weapon. Use it for this Garlic Marinated Broccoli recipe and infuse your dinner with flavor!
Meat tenderizer: When preparing chicken breasts, pound them with a meat tenderizer so they’re thinner and more tender. Ta da! No more unevenly cooked chicken breasts! Works great for this Ginger-Garlic-Scallion Crusted Chicken.
Cheesecloth: Cheesecloth is a woven mesh cloth made of cotton that you can use to make your own clarified butter, soup stock, and more! You might even want to try make your own ghee using these directions from Nom Nom Paleo.

Great Recipe from this week.

Jess made this amazing dish last round and I forgot about it.  I think it is time to try it again..  We to often get stuck in a rut of making the same things because they are safe.  But then safe starts to get boring.  I encourage you to try a new recipe this week NomNom Paleo has some great suggestions.  Get back to enjoying your food not stressing about it.






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