Spicy Orange Crock-pot Chicken With Baby Carrots

This is a very quick and easy recipe for a whole chicken.  I came up with this using ingredients I had on hand, hope you enjoy it.

1 whole chicken (about 4-5 pounds)
1 tsp granulated garlic 
1 Tablespoon Kirkland Organic No Salt Seasoning
1 tsp sea salt
1 Tablespoon Chipotle Powder
3 oranges sliced 
 Baby carrots


Combine spices and salt in small bowl and set aside.  Rinse and pat dry your chicken, then place it in your crock pot and rub mixture all over the chicken and be sure to sprinkle some in the cavity too!  Surround it with the oranges, squeezing a couple slices over the whole chicken and shoving some in the cavity.  Grab a couple handfuls of baby carrots and throw those in the pot too.  Cook on low for about 5 hours (depending on your crock pot.  Delicious and easy!

Wok

Costco has a great deal on a WOK right now, Nordic Ware large Wok for $12.97 (it was around $25.00 originally I guess) and they are $30 at Target.  So if you need one, now would be a great time to get one!  Just had to pass on that deal.

Shepherds Pie

 This recipe makes a huge Shepherds Pie as I am feeding a family of 9 

( I would suggest halving the recipe for a family of 4-6)

Ingredients for Meat portion of Pie:

4 pounds grass fed ground beef
2 yellow onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 pound green beans (cut into smaller peices or broken if they are frozen)
4 carrots, diced
2/3 cup beef broth
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 1/2 TBSP Kirkland Signature No Salt Seasoning (my new favorite seasoning!), or more, to taste
1 tsp basil, or to taste
pepper and salt to taste

meat mixture simmering

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large skillet brown your ground beef, onion, garlic and celery, cooking until the beef is browned.  Then drain off the fat and liquid from your beef (you can save it for later use if you would like).  Add your broth, tomato sauce, carrots, green beans and seasonings.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until your veggies are tender and ready.

While that is simmering is a great time to prep and make your cauliflower mash.

After your meat mix is done, then pour it into a casserole dish or large pan of you choice and top with your mashed cauliflower ( I sprinkled mine with paprika for looks, but it's not necessary).  Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes and then turn the heat up to broil and broil until the top is nicely browned.  Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, serve and enjoy.

Ready for the oven.

*Note:  you could easily up the veggie amount on this, however, since it's topped with cauliflower I tried to keep the carb content down a bit.

Mashed Cauliflower, if you have a recipe you like for mashed Cauliflower you can just use that.
This is just a suggestion:

3 heads of cauliflower florets removed 
Beef Broth
4 roasted garlic cloves (optional) (really easy to make homemade)
Sea Salt and pepper to taste

Steam  your Cauliflower until it's nice and soft, then just throw it into the bowl on your Food Processor, along with a little beef broth, salt and pepper (and garlic if you'd like).  Hit the button and puree until it's your desired consistency.  Delish!

*I have to apologize for the fact I didn't get any pictures of this dished up, it was devoured and given a thumbs up by everyone.  I got it on the table and ran out the door to the 6:30 workout at the box, and by the time I got home the kids had polished it off, not even a crumb left! *

Fresh and hot from the oven, ready to eat.

Deals of the week

Did my grocery shopping yesterday, here is what I found.

GROCERY OUTLET:

Simply Good Chicken Sausage, sun-dried tomato and basil (12 oz package) $3.49

Woodstock farms Organic Applesauce (flavors are: Blueberry, mango, raspberry) 24 oz.  $1.69

Gertie's Artichoke Tapenade 19.4 oz $3.99

Frozen Peaches 2 pound bag for $1.99

Alessi Pasta Sauce, FraDiavolo (good for seafood ) 24 oz $2.49


EUREKA NATURAL FOODS:

 Rocky jr. Natural Chicken, Vegetarian Fed, NO antibiotics or growth stimulants, Whole Chicken Fryers are just $0.99 per pound

Unsweetened So Delicious Coconut milk from the cooler, half gallon. $3.29

Coconut Water Amy and Brian $1.39 per can

Back Home!

Meredith and I are back from our weekend of Nutrition training!  What an awesome weekend!  We got to meet  and talk with so many people!  We met Robb Wolf and Sarah Fragoso (Everyday Paleo and NorCal trainer) and had some very helpful conversations with them (oh, and Melissa and Dallas Hartwig, Whole 9) regarding training and nutrition.  

We are moving the Box tomorrow so it's crazy busy, but one little tidbit I will throw out there is to make sure you are getting lot's of protein (nearly 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight).  And a warning not to start your day out with fruit, it sets you up for sugar cravings all day!  Instead eat your eggs and bacon or leftovers from last night.

There will be a ton more information in the next couple of weeks, look for some Our Thoughts articles.

Bargains of the Week

I didn't do my complete grocery shopping this week because I am going to be out of town this weekend (for 3 days).  Meredith, Katie Berrey and I will be attending a Robb Wolf, Paleo Solutions Seminar and a Whole 9 Seminar, we are very excited about all the information we will be gaining this weekend.  And we look forward to bringing it home to share with our clients and fellow Crossfit Eureka members. 

Any how here are a couple of deals for those celebrating the end of their Whole 30, some yummy treats!

North Coast Co-Op

Lara Bars all flavors $0.99 (these are normally about $1.69 each, so it's a big savings)

Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss Ice Cream $3.99 ( a savings of $2.56 each)  Time to stock the freezer!

So delicious coffee Creamer original flavor $2.19 ( reg $2.69)

Eureka Natural Foods

As always their 80% grass fed beef is only $2.29 per pound and you don't have to buy 10 pounds to get that price like you do at the Co-op.  Co-op  charges more per pound and you have to buy 10 pounds).


Fuji Organic Apples $1.19 per pound

Braeburn Organic Apples $0.89 per pound


Coconut Water is on sale for $1.29 per can

Fried Apples

I made Sarah Fragoso's Fried Apples this morning, so simple but delicious.  The kids put them on top of paleo pancakes and I made an egg white crepe of sorts to wrap mine and topped it with applesauce.  I am going to tinker with the crepe recipe and then post it on here later.  Enjoy, it's it fun tasty treat!

Everyday Paleo's Fried Apples

3-4 small organic apples, thinly sliced
2 TBSP coconut oil
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 TBSP Cinnamon
2 TBSP Full Fat Coconut milk (I actually added a tad more)


Peel, core and slice your apples.  Melt your coconut oil in a medium skillet over med heat, add the apples and saute for 5 minutes or until the apples start to soften.  Add the raisins and cook 2-3 minutes.  Add cinnamon and mix well, then add the coconut milk and mix again.  Serve warm.  Serves 4


http://everydaypaleo.com/2011/02/25/sausage-n-cabbage-noodles-with-fried-apples/