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