Happy Post Thanksgiving and Zoodles!

Hope everyone filled up on the good stuff over Thanksgiving!  I took the lazy  easy way out.  Ordered my entire meal from Whole Foods.  Since it is just my husband and I, we opted for a turkey breast this year vs a whole bird.  All I had to do was pop everything in oven for 30 minutes to heat through.  The turkey was dry and I did not particularly care for it (but I do not like turkey too much anyway).  The sides were da BOMB!  We had mac n cheese, cornbread dressing, cranberry orange sauce and mashed potatoes.  What what! NO green veggies or anything remotely healthy!  YES!  Also, we had a chocolate chip bourbon pecan pie.  Glutony!  

It was awesome but after a couple days of gorging, we had to get back on track.  So thankful that I ordered this small meal and did not have piles of leftovers nor did I have to spend all day cooking and cleaning up afterward. 

To get some actual veggies back into out system, I decided to make zucchini noodles or zoodles with turkey italian sausage meatballs and sauce.  Aldi actually sells a sauce that has no added sugar and all ingredients that I can prounouce so this was a quick, easy and satisfying meal.
 To make zoodles, you can use julianne peeler or food processor.



 INGREDIENTS

3 large zucchini
1lb ground turkey italian sausage, casing removed
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
portobella mushrooms, sliced
2 jars spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup + beef stock
coconut oil
parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

Roll turkey into 1 inch balls.  Heat small amount of coconut oil in skillet and brown meatballs on both sides.  They do not have to be cooked all the way through because you will simmer in sauce.

In sauce pan, melt 1T coconut oil.  Saute onions, garlic, mushrooms until tender.
Add Spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Simmer about 20 minutes.
I added some stock just to thin the sauce out but this is optional 
Just before serving, microwave zucchini for about 2 minutes, just to heat. You do not want to overcook because zucchini will become soggy.  
Sprinkle with parmesan

As with any spaghetti sauce, you can add whatever veggies you have leftover to make it heartier.  You can also make the meatballs with whatever meat you choose.  If you pick a plain ground beef, chicken, turkey, add italian seasoning to it.

Anyone doing the St. Jude Full or Half Marathon this weekend?  I consider this race the "end" of my busy run season and after, I can "rest".   The icy and cold weather forecast has me just a tad freaked out!  Argggghhhh!  Good luck to all who are running!  
ENJOY! 



Spicy Coconut Shrimp Soup

Spicy Spicy!  Whew.  This is a simple but delicious paleo soup that I found on The Meanest Momma blog.  The colors are quite impressive. I did not have cilatro or avocado to top but I think they would make a great addition. Or even a dollop of greek yogurt to tame the spice.  (I have a super low heat tolerance so many may think this needs more spice!)

Ingredients

2T coconut oil

1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 jalapenos, seeded and diced

2lbs shrimp, uncooked but shelled

1 can diced tomato

1 can coconut milk

3 garlic cloves, diced

1T Sriracha

1/4 cup chopped cilantro (I did not have so left out)
1 lime, juiced (I did not use)

Directions

Heat oil in non-reactive pot over medium heat.

Add onion, bell pepper and jalapeno and cook til onion translucent (~5min)

Add garlic, tomato, shrimp and cilantro and simmer til shrimp turns opaque (~5min)

Pour in coconut milk and Sriracha and simmer for another 3-5 minutes to let the flavors combine

Finish with lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste

Healthier Coconut Shrimp

You know, I do not think I have ever had Coconut Shrimp. I know I never thought of making it and I do not normally get shrimp at restaurants so....  Why Coconut and Shrimp has suddenly popped into my head, I have no idea.  Wait, I am sure it is the gray, cold weather. It has me thinking of the BEACH! What is better at the beach (well, besides fruity drinks) than seafood?!  I googled a couple recipes but they all required batter and frying. Totally not for me!  I tried this a couple different ways, first night browned in my cast iron skillet and the next night browned in the oven.  Either way tasted great but the oven was much easier.  
I bought cooked shrimp, shelled but with tails left on.  dredged in coconut flour, then dipped in egg wash and finally in unsweetened coconut flakes. As I said, the first night I browned in skillet.  When I went to flip to brown the other side, the coating just fell off. Maybe if I sprayed pan with Coconut Oil it would help?  The next night, I breaded the exact same way but then cooked on my stone at 450.  Worked like a charm!  I served with roasted zuchini and green peppers and a side of Papi Joe's Tennessee Pepper Sauce. This stuff goes great on EVERYTHING!

 Ingredients:

1lb shrimp, cooked and peeled, tails on
Coconut Flour
Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
1-2 eggs, beaten

Directions:

Coat Shrimp in flour then egg then coconut
Place on stone (If you dont have a stone, use cookie sheet with coconut oil)
Bake 450 for about 10-15 minutes

***Remember with stones, you do not preheat oven because placing cold food on it may cause it to crack. If you use Cookie Sheet, you can preheat oven and cook time will be shorter.

Crock Pot Chili

What is better than Chili when the weather gets cold? Chili is easy to make, filling and nutritious.  I made the below Chili Recipe in my crock pot and it was delicious! I do not have a real Chili recipe so below is my guesstimates. I usually just throw whatever I have in my chili! 

Ingredients

2lbs meat

Frozen Butternut squash

1 can black beans, rinsed 

1 can tomato paste

24oz can tomatoes

Diced Garlic 

2 cups broth

1 large onion

2 bell peppers

2T chili powder

1/4t Cayenne pepper

2T Cumin

1t Curry powder

1/4t Red pepper flakes 

1/4tCinnamon

1 Bay leaf

1 paprika 

Salt

Pepper

Directions

Brown meat in pan. I used 1lb ground beef, 1 Italian Sausage (casing removed) and some left over stew meat. 

Add everything to crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours.  I topped mine with fresh avocado and it was TO DIE FOR!