Fat Tuesday Crockpot Chicken Jambalaya... gluten and dairy free

Happy Fat Tuesday y'all!!

I'm giving up alcohol for lent... for real!! How about you?? 

Even if you don't believe in that kind of thing, I think lent is a good chance for everyone to give up something that they know could be bringing them down a bit and see what happens.  Or make a commitment to add something that you know you need.  A great kickstart to forming some new kick ass habits or breaking some not so good ones.  Try it with me!

But before all that starts... celebrate Fat Tuesday with this Crock Pot Chicken Jambalaya!  It's not quite traditional, but it's just how I like it!  AND I've included my recipe for Cajun seasoning, which is good on practically anything! 

 

Fat Tuesday Crockpot Chicken Jambalaya 

1 lb chicken breast- cut into bite size pieces 

1 lb andouille sausage

1 onion, chopped

1 cup bell peppers, any color, chopped

3 stalks celery, sliced

5 cloves garlic, minced 

1  (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained

1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

1 bunch green onions, sliced thin

1 or 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped, (optional) 

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 

1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce- make sure it's GF

Few shakes Hot sauce- I love Cholula

1 tbs. or more Cajun seasoning*

Sea Salt to taste 

1 tsp. dried thyme

2 bay leaves 

2 cups chicken stock

2 cups uncooked brown rice

First chop the veggies and then chop chicken and sausage.  Combine chicken, trinity (onions, celery, & peppers), rice, garlic, chicken stock, tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, jalapenos, and seasonings in 5 quart slow cooker. Mix well, cover,  and cook on low for 5 hours.  Stir well and add parsley, half of the green onions and hot sauce and cook on high for 30 to 40 more minutes. Discard bay leaves and garnish with remaining green onions before serving.

DIY Cajun Seasoning

2 1/2 T Paprika

1 1/2 T Sea Salt

2 T Garlic Powder

1 T Black Pepper

1 T Onion Powder

1 T Cayenne Pepper

1 T Dried Oregano

1 T Dried Thyme

1/2 t Red Pepper Flakes

1/2 t Celery Flakes

1/4 t Dill

Mix everything together and store in a cute little mason jar!

Seriously healthy banana protein pancakes... gluten and dairy free

Somedays you just eat whatever your tummy wants.

Today was one of those days for me... And I wanted pancakes.  But I also knew what I needed.  Luckily I could get both in my belly!

 

1 C oats- make sure they are certified gf

3 eggs

1/2 C almond milk

1 t pure vanilla

1 banana

2 T flax seed meal

2 scoops vanilla protein powder 

4 t baking powder

Pinch sea salt

Pinch cinnamon

Chocolate chips- kinda optional but kinda necessary 😉

Heat a griddle to medium.  Put everything in a blender (except chocolate chips) and blend until smooth.  Add a little more almond milk if the batter needs to be thinner.  Stir in any additions you love (chocolate chips, chopped nuts, chai seeds, blueberries...). Pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake.  Let cook about 2-3 minutes, look for the edges to look a little dry.  Then carefully flip and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes. 

Bananas make these sweet enough without any added sugar.  Try not to ruin them by pouring a bunch of sugar syrup on top please and thank you!  I will judge you for the syrup, but I won't judge you for bacon!! Enjoy!! 😉🍌😂 🥓 

Being proud of your body doesn't have to have anything to do with appearances

 

My body image struggle is no secret.  I can't stop the bad thoughts, but I can change them and my own focus.

One of my favorite ideas to ponder...

 

When shit gets real I don't focus on what I look like, I focus on what I do.  

Instead of giving in to the ridiculous voice inside my head that tells me my biceps aren't strong enough one minute and then too strong the next, I focus on what those arms do for me.  The kids they hug, the yoga they teach, the vehicles they clean.  

Instead of worrying about my grey hair or eczema I focus on what's inside my head.  The brilliant ways my brain comes up with to teach children all kinds of things about the world and themselves, the words I write to share with y'all, the ability to change these thoughts, the crazy amount of song lyrics up in there, and all the sciencey knowledge it carries that helps me gain awareness of how incredible the human body really is.  

And finally instead of fretting over what my abs look like on any given day I marvel at how much of a badass my entire core is.  I mean come on, still functioning every single day despite my body trying to make it commit suicide.  All my intestines are still inside of me, still converting food to fuel, still nourishing my entire body, and still kicking autoimmune disease ass! Now that's amazing! That's something to be proud of.  

Buckwheat and Blueberry Banana Bread... gluten and dairy free

BuckWHEAT... are you sure??? 

There is still some confusion in the gluten free circuit about buckwheat.  My friends, it is both delicious and nutritious... and I only know this because it is indeed gluten free!  Trust my gut, it's safe!

Try it yourself...

 

1/3 C coconut oil- melted

1/2 C honey

2 large ripe bananas

2 eggs

1/4 C almond milk

1 t pure vanilla

1/2 t sea salt

1 t baking soda

1/2 t cinnamon

3/4 C oats- make sure they are certified GF!

1 C buckwheat flour

1 C blueberries

Preheat oven to 325 and grease 3 mini loaf pans with coconut oil.  Mash the bananas in a large bowl.  Beat in eggs and honey.  Add the coconut oil, milk, and vanilla.  Stir well.  If the coconut oil solidifies again just microwave it for a few seconds.  Stir in the flour, oats, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.  Pour a little batter in the bottom of each pan, enough so the bottom in covered.  Gently fold the blueberries into the remaining batter.  Pour the rest of the batter into your pans.  Bake for 45-50 minutes.  

Envy is either flattering or a call to action..

  

Envy happens, hard.  And people on either side of it tend to mistake it for hate.  Just change the perspective.  If you see something in someone else that makes you feel green, take it at face value. They have something in their life that you want... It's just that simple.  Don't judge them for it, instead thank them for it, and simply see it as your call to take action to work towards whatever it is that you want.  And if someone is envious of you don't feel the hate, instead be flattered, you're doing something right, you're an inspiration! 

#takeaction #youdoyou #inspire #truthbomb

Dairy Free Chocolate Covered Strawberries... just three ingredients!

 

Chocolate covered strawberries are my favorite!  Fruit, antioxidants, all in the form of dessert that can moonlight as healthy! What's not to love?!

 Do you realize how easy they are to make??

Just three ingredients and they are all (mostly) good for you!

Dairy Free Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

3/4 C pure DARK Chocolate- make sure it's pure and dairy free

2 T coconut oil

1 lb of fresh strawberries 

Clean your strawberries and dry them well.  Put the chocolate in a glass measuring cup.  Put the coconut oil on top.  Microwave in 30 second increments, stiring in between, until all the chocolate is melted and smooth.  Hold the green top of a strawberry and dip it in the chocolate.  Let it drip off and then carefully place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Continue with all the berries.  Double dip each one so there is even more chocolate if you want! Place in the fridge until the chocolate hardens.  Enjoy! 

Dairy is disgusting...don't be a great big cow

 

I oftentimes get asked how I do it... 

Our bodies were not made to drink from the mammary glands of another species.

Does this thought not make you feel completely disgusted?

Well, that's how I do it... think about it this way and you won't miss dairy!

 #dontbeagreatbigcow #coconutmilkformeplease #dairyfree #gutsygirl #nutritionista #colitiswarrior

Quinoa Pizza Crust... gluten and dairy free

Sharing this post again because apparently it's national pizza day... and it's just that good!! 

 

 

I had been looking for a healthier and easier pizza crust that was naturally gluten and dairy free.  This is it, and I found it here!  

Seriously, the hardest part about this is remembering to start soaking the quinoa in the morning.  But if you have your shit together more than I do (which is highly likely) you won't have a problem! LOL!

 Quinoa Pizza Crust

¾ C quinoa- soaked covered by 1 inch of water for 6-8 hours (or overnight)

¼ C water

½ t baking powder

½ t sea salt

2 tablespoons EVOO

Soak the quinoa in water, covering it by at least 1", for 6 - 8 hours.  


Once you're ready to make the crust, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a 12" pizza pan with parchment paper and drizzle one tablespoon of oil in the center. Spread around with your hands until evenly coated and set aside.  Rinse the quinoa in a strainer, then add to a blender. Add water, baking powder, sea salt, and 1 tablespoon of EVOO.  Blend on high until smooth and creamy, kinda like pancake batter.   Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. Remove, flip and return to oven baking for another 10 - 15 minutes until browned and edges are crispy.  Top with whatever you want....sauce, cheese (dairy free if you are like me) and any other toppings you'd like.  Bake for 12 - 15 minutes until cheese has melted and started to brown.   Remove, let cool for a few minutes in the pan, and slice.  Garnish however you like!

Focus on improving yourself instead of judging others please and thank you!

 

That performance and all you have to comment on is a tummy?! I feel bad for you closed minded, judgmental people... your lives must be so sad if all you see are false negatives in a bright and shiny world! 

#shameonyou 

#seebeauty #nomorebodyshaming #bodypositivity #improveyourself

I just can't handle the body shaming...

That has the power to literally wreck people and stifle their light.  Why do that? Why?? The world needs all the light it can get right now. 

I'm not afraid to tell my stories.  They are mine to tell, they made me who I am today and I hope they are inspiring people.  

I was anorexic.  Breast cancer was trying to kill my mama and I was developing boobs that didn't even look proportionate on my short little frame.  I wanted to control something at a time when my body was changing, my life was kinda falling apart, and I was growing up way faster than any 13 year old ever should have to.  I could control this I thought to myself, I just won't eat.  I weighed 70 pounds on a good day.  

I decided strong was the new skinny and dug my scrawny ass out of it.  There are days when I have to pick up the shovel again and keep digging because I have body dismorphic disorder and conditions that forces me to think about food all the damn time... bad combination! 

What I see in the mirror is not always reality.  Mirrors are sometimes scary to me, they are more heartbreaking than empowering, even though I know deep down I am my own kind of beautiful and strong as shit.  It's just not what I see all the time.  Even though I know my light comes from within and I am so much more than this little yogi with the abs that she perceives as being hidden by nonexistent fat.  That is fucking frustrating.

When I hear or see shit like this it makes me so angry and sad and disappointed with our society. I've learned lots of ways to love myself so much that this usually doesn't get to me, but that doesn't mean it still doesn't affect me, that I can't relate to others' struggles, and that I can't still hope for a change.

This old post really is from the heart of the "skinny bitch" in the pink bikini.... it is pretty much just me pouring my heart out.  I've come a long way since then, I hope someday society can make progress with me! 

Kick that cold immunity boosting green juice

I always drink real food medicine! Seriously it's very very rare for me to take any kind of pharmaceuticals, ever.  Unless you have some morphine to share... just kidding!! 

I've had lots of kiddos missing school lately, and all the germs finally got me a little. And we all know what it's like when a gutsy girl is down... autoimmune hot mess! I knew I needed to rest or it would be bad.

I took the afternoon off and spent it diffusing onguard, hydrating like nobody's business, napping, watching Bruce Springsteen live, juicing some good stuff, sipping tea, practicing some restorative yoga, making chicken soup, and cuddling my dog.  Perfect day of recovery! 

One of the best things I could do for myself today was legs up the wall with a straw in my mouth sipping this stuff while the boss serenaded me with some acoustic thunder road! 

Try it if you need to kick some tough germ ass too! 

 

1 c Kale

1 c spinach 

1 lime- peeled

1 lemon- peeled

1 carrot- 

2 oranges- peeled 

2 cucumbers

4 in ginger

1/2 t turmeric- if you have fresh 2in is even better! 

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Throw all the fresh stuff in your juicer.  I add the turmeric and cayenne after and then hit it with the hand blender to get it all incorporated.  

I'm warning you this is a should we say "acquired taste"! 😂. Just focus on all the good it's doing inside your body and sing along to the song! 😉🎶

The Power Of Scent...My Favorite Oils For Meditation

I think a sacred space is essential for everyone!  It doesn't have to be elaborate, just a place you can go where you know you can take some deep breathes, quiet your racing mind, and get your shit together.  Just knowing I have that space does wonders for my anxiety.  

My space is all mine and it's full of things I love... A yoga mat, a salt lamp, tons of rocks, card decks, books of all kinds, my stuffed penny su puppy (I'm such a little kid 😂), a cozy blanket, a comfy chair, and a diffuser.  The diffuser really helps me set my intentions when I meditate.  Do you need to be more grounded? energized? Zen?  Creative? Work on a specific Chakra?  The power of scent is crazy effective on the body, especially the nervous system.  If you don't have a diffuser, no worries, just open a bottle of oil and take a big whif, seriously just as effective!  

Here I share a little of my aromatherapy knowledge and tell y'all what my fave oils to use for meditation are... 

 

1. Clary sage: this oil not only cleanses negativity, but it also influences creativity.  It opens your eyes to new possibilities and your imagination.
2. Sandalwood: this is for over thinkers, #soguilty! It is so powerful at calming the mind and thus allowing you to tap into your intuition.  And it simply smells ahhhhmazing!
3. Lavender:  what is this one not good for?! Seriously! This brings serenity, and courage to express yourself and be yourself.
4. Frankincense: this oil smells so amazing and is incredibly calming.  It helps you let go of low vibrations so you can be high vibe.  It also helps shield you from negativity.
5. Ylang ylang: this oil reminds you to be joyful, it helps you remember that it is good to see life through your inner child's eyes.  Children focus on what they want deep down in their hearts and don't give a shit what the stressful world outside will think or expect.  This oil helps you return to that!
6. Lemongrass: this oil is very uplifting to me, it takes me right back to punta Cana because the hotel diffusedit when  we were on our honeymoon.  It cleanses the energy in both your self and your space and gets rid of all the bad vibes and limiting beliefs.  
7. Balance blend:  this oils simply smells fantastic and is very grounding.  
8. Geranium: this one just reminds me of my grandmother.  Scents are so powerful, they can transport you back in time.  I like to connect with my grandma by meditating with this oil.  It is a gentle oil that facilitates all types of emotional healing.
9. Patchouli: I like to blend my yoga and meditation practices together and this is the perfect oil for that.  It gives you an appreciation for your body, which as a gutsy girl and a recovered(ing) anorexic is very helpful.  It always helps me center myself in my body and gives me the body awareness that is so necessary for managing all my physical and mental conditions
10. Bergamot:  this is considered the oil of self acceptance.  (Are you seeing a trend here?!). It is helpful for anyone with self esteem issues.  It is a very hopeful oil that brings about total self acceptance.

Just an FYI... a fabulous resource for some legit aromatherapy info is emotions and essential oils: a modern resource for healing.  You're welcome! 

10 Insanely easy ways to start your day that will make all the difference

It is so unbelievably important to take some time for self love!  I always say you can't get anywhere or do anything for anyone if your own tank is empty.  Don't get me wrong, it's way better than ok to be a giver, I am one, but it doesn't work unless you take care of you first.  It's a simple concept, and contrary to popular belief it's not selfish at all... so don't overthink it.  Here are some great ways to start your day off on the right foot...

 

1. Lemon water first
2. Stretch and breathe! be a cat and a dog... don't forget the breathing part! 🐶🐱😉
3. Shower meditation- visualize all the bad vibes going right down the drain!
4. Put on something that makes you feel fabulous
5. Green smoothie... every damn day
6. Trade your coffee in for some herbal tea
7. Gratitude journal... there's so much to be grateful for!
8. Read something to improve yourself! Note: Social media doesn't count... don't look at that shit until you do all this stuff first! 
9. Set your intentions for the day...good vibes and namaslaying only! 
10. Drink some more water, with or without lemon, just drink some damn water, and continue to throughout your entire day!

Bringing Sexy Back.... yoga poses for a strong back

 

People tend to focus on abs, but they neglect the fact that the ENTIRE core needs to be strong!

It serves very important purposes... posture, encasing very vital organs, protecting the spine... 

Before I get way too much into the sciencey lingo and bore you to tears let's just get to the point...  

Bring sexy back... literally!

Here are some fab poses to work to strengthen both the upper and lower back.  Make them as hard (or easy) as YOU need them to be!  

1. Bow pose- hold for a good 5 to 10 deep breaths.
2. Flapping bird- start in airplane pose, clap your hands together, making sure to engage the muscles in your back and shoulders the entire time.  Do 20 times on each side.  Hint: want to get a little booty action and even more balance and coordination in... lower your leg that's elevated to touch your toe on the ground each time you clap your hands together!
3. Supermans-  who doesn't want be a superhero?! lower down and just touch your hands and feet to the ground and pull them right back up again- do at least 20!
4. Side plank-  work the entire core at one time... super efficient! Throw a push up in between switching reps to build some real badass strength!
5. Cobra- keep it simple!
6. Warrior 3- hold that shit for a good 5 breaths. 
7. Wheel- or baby bridge if that's more your speed... a good five breaths here too. Lift back into it a few times too!
8. Flickering lights- remember I speak kids yoga lingo! 😂 This is just a chair pose, stay in the pose but fold forward over your thighs bringing your arms up behind you and then come back up, bringing your arms to the sky but don't straighten those legs. Flicker those lights at least 20 times baby!
9. Shark- if you're not full of child like wonder you may know this as locust! But feel free to make a scary shark face anyway if you want! 
10. Reverse plank- lift that booty! 

Ninja Turtle Green Smoothie

 

This tastes like a turtle sundae, but packs some serious nutritional punch... sneaky ninja-style. And it's oh so green, just like those crazy turtles.

I could ramble about avocado love for days... but let's  keep this simple and save that for another post.

I love this smoothie so much because you get the healthy fat and fiber from the avocado, lots of leafy green goodness, all the goods from the almond milk, some plant based protein, some extra antioxidant love from the cocoa, and to top it all off some omegas from the pecans.  And it can all pass for dessert... Perfection! 

Ninja Turtle Green Smoothie

1 1/2 C almond milk

1/2 avocado

1 scoop vanilla rice protein powder- make sure it's gf and df 

1 heaping T cocoa powder- use some good stuff

5 ice cubes

1 big handful of spinach

1 t vanilla

1/4 C pecans

Some chocolate chips if you want to be extra fancy

Blend it all up and enjoy!  This makes a big smoothie. Maybe you'll share, maybe not... I won't judge! 😉

What the F is nutritional yeast and why should I care?

 

You've probably seen lots of my recipes that call for nutritional yeast, and you may have thought to yourself... what the f nutritional yeast?!  That's what I first thought too! 

I know, yeast doesn't typically sound like a good thing...  but this one is nonpathogenic and way beneficial so just bear with me!

Nutritional yeast, or "nooch" is an inactive yeast that has long been called one of the original "superfoods."  Its fancy science name (the kiddos love to hear me say big science words) is saccharomyces cerevisiae, and it really just looks like fish food.  But it tastes really fantastic!  

It's popular in the dairy free circuit because its nutty flavor let's you pretend you are eating cheese...Not kidding! You can sprinkle it on anything and everything.  Use it like Parmesan! I love to use it make "cheese" sauces, to make seasoning blends with it, put it on pasta, popcorn, pizza... so many ways to use nooch! Add flavor AND good for you goodness?! ... yes please! 

Here's why it's oh so amazing...

1. Chock full of lots of B vitamins. Make sure to get a quality brand that is fortified with B12 and is certified gluten free.  It's one of the few sources of B12.
2. B vitamins give you brains AND beauty, who doesn't want those?!
3. A natural energy booster.
4. Fabulous non-animal source of protein with lots of essential amino acids. 
5. Helps keep a happy habitat of gut flora.
6. Gives your immune system a little extra punch.
7. Antiviral and antimicrobial
8. Fabulous for your digestive system.
9. Promotes a healthy pregnancy and lowers the risk of birth defects.
10. It makes everything taste good! 

Here are some ways to use it..

Vegan sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning

Cashew ricotta

Chunky chicken broccoli and bean chowder

Creamy crockpot lasagna soup 

Chicken cordon blue casserole 

My favorite alfredo sauce

#nutritionalyeast #nutritionista #gutsygirl #celiac #celiaclife #colitis #glutenfree #dairyfree #vitamins #protein #apennyformyglutenfreethoughts

Pepperjack Chicken Fajita Soup... gluten and dairy free

This is everything that makes me happy about a Mexican restaurant in one bowl!

Just kidding... there's no mariachi music or tequila, but it really is a fajita in a bowl... even the rice and beans!

Now somebody just needs to make me a margarita! 😉

 

Dairy Free Pepperjack Chicken Fajita Soup

• 3 T EVOO
• 1 lb chicken breasts, thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 jalapeño- diced 
• 1 C mushrooms- slides 
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 T brown rice flour
• 1 t EACH sea salt, chili powder, ground cumin
• 1/2 t EACH smoked paprika, pepper, dried oregano
• 3/4 cup brown rice, uncooked
• 1 15 oz. can black beans, drain and rinse
• 1 14 oz. can  crushed tomatoes
• 4 14.5 oz. cans  low sodium chicken broth
• 2 T  cornstarch
• 1 cup shredded VeganPepper Jack cheese- Daiya 

Toppings 

• Tortilla chips
• fresh cilantro
• avocado
• Hot sauce
• Lime

• Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large soup pot. Add chicken and onions and sauté for 3 minutes.  Add peppers, garlic, mushrooms, flour and all seasonings.  Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Stir in rice, black beans, crushed tomatoes and 3 cans chicken broth. Mix cornstarch with last can chicken broth and add to soup. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer on medium/low, stirring occasionally, for abour 15 minutes or until rice is cooked.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheeze until melted.  Garnish and devour!

Find the original recipe here.