Mason Jar Spinach and Bell Pepper Salad

Mason Jar Spinach and Bell Pepper Salad

Ingredients

• ½ tbsp lemon juice 

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 

• ¼ cup button mushrooms, sliced 

• 3 oz cooked chicken breast (or tender) or 1-2 hard-boiled eggs 

• 1 bell pepper (yellow, red, or orange), sliced 

• ¼ cup cucumber, halved and sliced 

• 2 cups spinach 

• Salt and pepper 

Instructions

Layer ingredients in 32 oz. Mason jar. Start with lemon juice and olive oil. Then layer ingredients as listed. Shake jar before eating. 

Note: If you don’t have a Mason jar, never fear! Any Tupperware will do—just separate the dressing in a side container. 

GF "Breaded" Chicken Thighs AKA "The Best Chicken I Ever Made"

I was messing around in the kitchen last week, and was craving a breaded-style chicken. I had unopened almond meal in my cupboard, and voila, I came up with "The best chicken I ever made" - according to my husband. I served it on a cauliflower rice stir fry. Which was a random throw together of cauliflower rice, frozen broccoli and bell peppers, powdered ginger, paprika, liquid aminos and a dash of rice vinegar. The combo was amazing! "Breading" the chicken took an extra 5 minutes of prep compared to my usual go-tos, and it was worth it! 

The set up is easy enough! One bowl for egg and one for almond meal. 

Have you ever heard of engagement chicken? It's this recipe that every time a woman makes it for her boyfriend she finds herself engaged shortly thereafter. I'm not crazy about the premise of the story, but I feel like this recipe would bear similar results. 😂😂

So without further ado, recipe below! I hope you guys try it. If you do, leave me a comment below! - AHS

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Gluten Free "Breaded" Chicken Thighs aka "The Best Chicken I Ever Made"

Ingredients

• 5 chicken thighs 
• 1 egg, whisked 
• 3/4 cup almond meal
• Olive oil spray 
• Herbs de Provence 
• Salt and pepper 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease baking dish with olive oil spray.  

Dip chicken thighs on each side in egg. Batter with almond meal. Add to baking dish. Gratuitously add herbs de Provence, salt and pepper. (Note: You could mix the herbs de Provence in the almond meal mixture, but it turned out great just sprinkling it on top.) Some almond meal will come off where you grab the chicken. I just sprinkled those spots with more almond meal once they were in the baking dish. 

Cook for 40 minutes or until inside temperature reaches 165. I recommend using a meat thermometer - every oven is different, and you don't have to worry about overcooking your chicken for safety. :) 

Serve warm, but it's great cold for lunch the next day too! 

Banana Pancakes

Did someone just hear Jack Johnson? Oh that was just in my head. But I seriously am pretending that it's the weekend. Rainy mornings, sleeping in, and banana pancakes. (Jk I didn't sleep in. Boo. And I ran in the rain. Double boo.) BUT this is my favorite weekend treat that I am thinking about integrating to the work week, just to make it more fun.

Seriously guys, these are so easy. First you take bananas, then you mash them. Then you add eggs. You grease a griddle or pan with a little bit of olive oil spray or just oil up a paper towel and wipe it down. Key: make sure the griddle is hot enough- you can test a little bit in the pan to see how quickly a little blob cooks. Then take 1/4 cup of "batter" and place on the griddle/pan (whichever you use). You can add cacao nibs or blueberries for an extra fun batch. The trickiest part is flipping them- 2 spatulas are necessary because they are very delicate. Make sure the one side is cooked thoroughly before attempting the flop. The good news is, even if they aren't pretty, they still taste ah-mazing. You have the option for a slight drizzle of 100% maple syrup- but in my opinion you really don't need it! And I am a sugar person, TBH. 

 Instagram story breakdown below:

mashed banana

mashed banana and with eggs

banana pancakes with blueberries

Eat up!

While these are relatively high in sugar content compared to most other items on the plan- it is all natural fruit based sugars, and paired with protein from the eggs, they prevent the blood sugar spike and drop that causes hunger and weight gain. These will keep you full until lunch! 

See below for the full recipe. Ready to give them a try? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 

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Banana Pancakes

serves 2 (6 pancakes)

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas

• 2 eggs

• olive oil spray (alternative, put oil on a paper towel and spread on pan/griddle)

• ½ cup of blueberries or sprinkle of cacao nibs (optional)

• lil bit of 100% maple syrup

Instructions

Mash bananas in a big bowl (some small lumps are OK). Add eggs. Mix together completely.  

Heat pan or griddle over medium-high heat. Spray with olive oil spray. Test a small spoonful- if it solidifies quickly, it is ready. Fill a ¼ measuring cup with batter. Pour onto heated pan/griddle. Add blueberries and/or cacao nibs. Cook on each side until slightly brown. You may need two spatulas to flip, they are delicate. 

For an extra treat serve with a dab of 100% maple syrup.