Main Dishes

Sweet Potato Toast Three Ways!

Sweet Potato Toast Three Ways

You can make a Large Batch of Sweet Potato Toast for dinner, tapas or appetizers with three different themes! What a way to pack in nutrients in a super delicious and gorgeous, eye appealing way! It’s like appetizers for dinner!!! Who wouldn’t love that?

Theses are quite simple to make. You don’t have to get your toaster out and stand there watching it batch after batch! I don’t really have time for that, and I’m sure you don’t either. You toast these in the oven! It works like a dream!

This recipe uses two medium sweet potatoes and toppings that add crunch, sweet and savory! Deliciousness!!!!

Sweet Potato Toast Three Ways, Dairy, Gluten and Grain Free for Tapas, Appetizers and a Fun Dinner

Sweet Potato Toast 3 Ways

2 Medium Sweet Potatoes (skin on)

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1 Ripe Mango

1 Avocado

Mayo (I used Avocado Oil Mayo)

Ranch Dressing (I used my SCD LowFodmap Recipe)

Apple Butter

1 Roasted Salmon Filet

Pumpkin Seeds (I used sprouted)

Fresh Basil

Green Olives, Sliced

Sea Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400° degrees F. Scrub the sweet potatoes and slice lengthwise 1/2 inch thick leaving the skin on (the skin is very nutritious and holds the sweet potato toast together).

Lay the sweet potato toasts onto a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet and brush with olive oil front and back. Sprinkle them with sea salt and pepper to taste. Roast the sweet potatoes for 40 minutes total, flipping them half way through.

In the same oven, roast a salmon filet brushed with olive oil, salt and pepper for 15 minutes, or until done.

Remove the sweet potatoes and salmon from the oven, and place on a cooling rack to cool. Now prepare your toppings.

Avocado Sweet Potato Toast – Spread mayo on first, then top with sliced avocado, sprinkle with sea salt, pepper and fresh torn basil.

Avocado Sweet Potato Toast

Mango Sweet Potato Toast – Spread apple butter on the sweet potato toast, then top with sliced mango and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.

Mango Sweet Potato Toast

Salmon Sweet Potato Toast – Spread ranch dressing on the sweet potato toast, top with flaked salmon, sliced olive and scallions and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Salmon Sweet Potato Toast

I like to put these on a big cutting board in the middle of the table and let people choose!

Makes about 12 toasts – 4 of each kind

Have fun!

Make Sweet Potato Toast easily in your oven with three different toppings! Delicious for Tapas, Appetizers and a Fun Dinner!

Italian Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin and Vegetables

Italian Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin Dinner.JPG Sheet pan meals are a quick and easy way to get a full meal on the table. This Italian dish has lean pork tenderloins, butternut squash and red cabbage! The tenderloins are tender and juicy, and the secret ingredient that’s not so secret is truffle salt! If you have never used it before, it is a fantastic way to add umami. I am obsessed with it lately! Also, the combination of Three salts……a pink, a smoked, and a truffle salt, all used judiciously, makes this pork crusty and oh so good!

plated pork dinner

You can serve this as a meal in itself! It is Plenty! But, you can also bump it up real fast by adding some cooked leafy greens on the side like the Swiss Chard shown above and some Kelp Noodles! Your choice! Keep going! The recipe is next!

Italian Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin and Vegetables

Italian Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin and Vegetables

Ingredients:

2 Pork Tenderloins

1 Small Red Cabbage (shredded by hand with a knife)

1 Medium Butternut Squash (peeled, seeded and cubed)

4 Tablespoons of Olive Oil, divided

1/2 Teaspoon of Pink Salt, divided

1 Teaspoon of Dried Marjoram

1 Teaspoon of Dried Thyme

1 Teaspoon of Dried Parsley

1 Teaspoon of Dried Oregano

1/2 Teaspoon of Truffle Salt (I use this brand)

1/2 Teaspoon of Smoked Salt (here)

1/4 Teaspoon of Pink Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Onion Powder

1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400° degrees F. On a Large Sheet Pan, toss the shredded cabbage and cubed butternut squash with two tablespoons of good olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon of pink salt.

Place the vegetables in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, mix together the remaining herbs, spices and salts, including the second 1/4 teaspoon of the pink salt. Make sure to crush your smoked salt before blending in the other spices, because it is a little chunkier salt. Coat the pork tenderloins with the seasoning you just prepared. In a non-stick skillet, add 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil. Sautee the pork tenderloins over medium high heat until browned on both sides. Set aside until the twenty minutes have passed for the vegetables in the oven.

Now, add the browned pork tenderloins to the top of the vegetables that have been roasting. Roast an additional twenty minutes, or just until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. Remove the sheet pan from the oven, and let the tenderloins set for ten minutes before slicing.

Serve!

Best Cranberry Chicken Salad – My All Time Favorite Chicken Salad

Best Chicken Salad Paleo Gluten Free

This is my family’s favorite chicken salad recipe. It has two kinds of onions in it, dried cranberries, crunchy celery, high quality mayonnaise and a little white pepper! It is requested, especially in the Summer, when I have guests coming to stay.

Best Chicken Salad So Yummy

The Wild Sweet Peas are profuse this year Up North! I couldn’t resist including some in this post! They are carpeting the fields and roadsides this time of year and are extra gorgeous this Summer!!!

Sweet Peas

Cranberry Chicken Salad

6 Boneless Chicken Breasts

1 Cup of Finely Diced Celery

1/2 Cup of Dried Cranberries (I use apple juice sweetened like these)

1/2 Cup of Diced Red Onion

1/2 Cup of Sliced Scallions

Sea Salt to Taste

1/4 Teaspoon of White Pepper

1 1/2 Cups of High Quality Mayonnaise (I used Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo here)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400° degrees F. Lay the chicken breasts on a rimmed baking sheet, and brush them with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake the breasts in your oven for 30 minutes or until they just reach 165° degrees F. You don’t want dry breasts! Set aside to cool.

Chop and prep the celery, onions and scallions. When the chicken is cool, chop it into nice bite sized pieces on the smaller side.

Best Chicken Salad Recipe

This is a large recipe perfect for a potluck or picnic! It also keeps well in the refrigerator for three days.

12 Servings.

Best Cranberry Chicken Salad Healthy and Delish

Beef Liver Pate

Is liver my favorite? No. But the benefits of grass fed liver cannot be ignored, and my favorite way to eat it is a pate, which is quite delicious. Those who try it unknowingly, for instance on a platter of cheese, crackers and dips, have been known to say “Mmmm! What is this?” Yes, it’s perfectly true!

I remember a similar experience with squash substituted for pumpkin in pie. When I was a child, we would play with our neighbors outdoors almost daily all Summer long. One of my friends swore up and down that he thought squash was disgusting and never to be touched with a ten foot pole! Until one day he tried My Mother’s “pumpkin” pie which she had made with winter squash from our garden. He said “Man, this is the best pumpkin pie I have ever had!” I couldn’t wait to tell him, with relish, that it was squash! Beef liver is a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins. It is a powerful superfood and has been included in traditional diets for thousands of years. Liver is the best source of B12. It is also high in active Vitamin A (retinol) that our bodies don’t have to convert like we do plant based Vitamin A (carotenoids). Liver is also high in Iron, B6, Folate, Biotin, and small amounts of copper, chromium and selenium.

I have flavored this pate with herbs, spices and aged balsamic. It is anything but plain. I used US Wellness Meats Grass Fed Beef Liver in this recipe. You can also find good grass fed beef liver locally at Farm Markets or from your local Farmer.

Beef Liver Pate

Beef Liver Pate

Ingredients: 1 lb. of Grass Fed Beef Liver, sliced

2 Cups of Chopped Red Onion

1/4 Cup of Aged Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Dried Rosemary

1 Tablespoon of Dried Marjoram

1 Tablespoon of Dried Thyme

1 Tablespoon of Turmeric Powder

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Lemon Peel

Directions: In 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil, Sautee the Beef Liver sprinkled with 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt over medium high heat. Cook on one side for five minutes, then flip the liver and cook on the other side until it is cooked through.

Remove the liver from the pan and set aside. Add the other tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and the chopped red onion. Cook until tender. Sprinkle the rosemary, marjoram, thyme, garlic powder, turmeric, and lemon peel over the onions. Then, cook, stirring until the herbs, spices and onions are fragrant. Add the apple cider vinegar to the pan and deglaze, scraping all the brown bits off the bottom. Add the 1/4 cup of aged balsamic and stir and cook for 30 seconds.

In a food processor, add the cooked liver and the onion mixture. Process until you have a smooth spread, being sure to scrape down the sides a few times. Put your pate in a pretty serving dish, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Before serving, add a pretty spring of fresh herbs to the top like parsley or basil.

Nutrient Dense Superfood, Beef Liver Pate

Chinese Chicken and Noodles with Bok Choy

I have a new Chinese chicken makeover that will fulfill all your cravings for Chinese takeout and not leave you feeling bloated and thirsty the next day.

Chinese Chicken and Noodles with Bok Choy - Perfect for Chinese New Year - Paleo, AIP

The chicken is skillet to oven, and we are going to make some butternut squash noodles and oven roast the bok choy! It’s a really, really good dinner.

Chinese Chicken and Noodles with Bok Choy - AIP Paleo - Nightshade Free

I am making this for Chinese New Year this year and am still working on some other recipes to add as well. It is a very special time for my family. Two of my daughter’s were adopted from China when they were babies, and I have always honored their heritage. One of the ways we do that is having a party on Chinese New Year and also the Autumn Moon Festival. Visiting China was magical each time, and authentic Chinese food is amazing, with lots of healthy vegetables included.

Chinese Chicken and Noodles with Bok Choy - Gluten Free - AIP Paleo

Chinese Chicken and Noodles with Bok Choy

Preheat your oven to 375º degrees F.

To begin, prep your butternut noodles and bok choy (see below). Then, mix together the ginger, tarragon, cinnamon, sea salt and cloves, and season your chicken cubes evenly with it.

Ingredients for the Chicken:

8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, cut into fourths

1 Tablespoon of Ground Ginger

2 Teaspoons of Tarragon

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1 1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Cloves

1 Tablespoon of Garlic Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil (you may substitute 3 minced garlic cloves if you like and use regular olive oil in place of the garlic infused olive oil.)

Directions for the Chicken: In a large oven safe skillet, add the olive oils over medium high heat, swirling to coat the pan. Then add the seasoned chicken when the olive oil is hot enough to sizzle. Cook the chicken four minutes on one side or until golden brown, then flip the cubes and brown the other side. When the chicken is brown but not cooked through, pour the reduced chicken sauce over the chicken in the skillet, and toss to coat evenly. Place the skillet into the oven and cook the chicken an additional five minutes, or until the chicken is done. Spoon the chicken into a bowl and pour the sauce from the pan and all the brown bits over the chicken.

Chicken Sauce:

1/4 Cup of Coconut Amminos

1/4 Cup of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

3 Tablespoons of Honey

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

Directions for Chicken Sauce:

Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Then, lower the temperature and simmer until the sauce is reduced by half. Set aside to prepare the chicken.

Ingredients for the Butternut Noodles:

1 Butternut Squash (Spiralized)

3 Cloves of Garlic (Omit for Low FodMap and Substitute Garlic Olive Oil for the Olive Oil)

3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Coconut Aminos

1 Tablespoon of Honey

1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Directions: Spiralize the solid end of the peeled butternut squash. (I use this one and love it.) In a large skillet, add the olive oil, salt and garlic and cook over medium high until fragrant, this happens very quickly. Add the spiralized butternut squash noodles. Toss and cook until al dente. Then, whisk together the coconut aminos and honey, and toss with the squash noodles to coat. Cook a few more minutes, then set aside until ready to serve.

Bok Choy on Sheet Pan

Ingredients for the Bok Choy

6 Baby Bok Choy (Mine were pretty large, so you be the judge of how much you want.)

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder (Omit for Low FodMap and substitute 1 Tablespoon of Garlic Olive Oil in place of 1 of the tablespoons of Olive Oil above)

1 Teaspoon of Ground Ginger

1 Tablespoon of Coconut Aminos

1/2 Teaspoon of Fish Sauce

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375º degrees F. Wash and half the bok choy lengthwise (see photo). Lay on a rimmed sheet pan. Whisk together the rest of the ingredients, and brush evenly over the bok choy. Bake in your oven for 20 minutes.

To Serve:

Place a mound of noodles on your plate. Spoon Chinese chicken and sauce over the noodles add some bok choy on the side. Dig in!

Delicious Chinese Chicken Dinner that is Grain Free, Paleo and AIP. It is the perfect dinner when you have a Chinese Takeout Craving!

Salmon Patties on Roasted Cabbage with Avocado

It’s almost a New Year, and I know you most likely want this to be your healthiest year yet! I know I do! In times when obesity is at an all time high, even in our children, and the next generation is the first not expected to live as long as their parents, there has never been a more urgent time to clean up our eating so we can live longer for our loved ones, and leave a legacy of healthy habits for our children to follow. I’ve attached a short video below of Dr. Oz speaking about this and using food as medicine.

That being said, we don’t have to sacrifice delicious food to be healthy and improve our health. That is a myth! Because, real food is delicious food, and I would argue the most delicious of all if our palettes are back on track, and we have so many different spices and herbs and alternatives at our fingertips!

Here is a wonderful salmon dinner using canned non-GMO salmon. It is a budget friendly meal, topped with a fat everyone loves…….the beloved avocado! The salmon burgers have fresh dill in them and other dried herbs, and are delicious! Have I ever told you how much I love herb shears? I am short on the patience required to finely mince herbs like parsley, dill, etc. Kitchen herb shears are so fast, and the mince is super fine. I put a link below if you are interested in seeing what I’m talking about. They come in super handy and are inexpensive!

Salmon Burger with Avocado on Roasted Cabbage

Salmon Patties on Roasted Red Cabbage with Avocado

Makes 12 Patties – 2 per serving.

Ingredients for Salmon Patties:

3 – 7.5 oz. Cans of Canned Salmon (I used Crown Prince Non-GMO)

6 Tablespoons of Coconut Flour

1 1/2 Cups of Minced Celery

3/4 Cup of Red Onion (chopped)

1/4 Cup of Coconut Milk

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Gelatin (I used this)

1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt, divided

1/4 Teaspoon of Dried Oregano

1 Teaspoon of Dried Marjoram

1 Teaspoon of Dried Parsley

1 Tablespoon of Fresh Minced Dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried) (I use these herb shears for mincing herbs. They are fabulous and fast!)

1 Tablespoon of Garlic Infused Olive Oil (you may substitute 2 cloves or garlic and regular olive oil if you like)

2 Teaspoons of Cider Vinegar

2 Tablespoons of Avocado Oil or Olive Oil

Ingredients for Roasted Red Cabbage:

1 Large Head of Red Cabbage, Cored and Shredded with a sharp knife

1/4 Cup of Avocado Oil or Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400º F. To prepare your red cabbage, toss the cabbage with 1/4 cup of Avocado Oil, the apple cider vinegar, and sea salt. Lay on a large rimmed baking sheet, and spread it out in an even layer. It shrinks by about 50 percent when cooking. Place it in your preheated oven, and roast for a full 40 minutes, tossing with tongs after the first twenty minutes. When it is done, it will have crispy brown edges.

Cook the minced celery, red onion, and 1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt in 1 tablespoon of Garlic Infused Olive Oil over medium high heat on your stove top until soft. While this is cooking, whisk together the coconut flour, gelatin, herbs and the other 3/4 teaspoon of sea salt. In a large mixing bowl, place the drained, canned salmon, the cooked celery and red onion, apple cider vinegar, coconut milk and coconut flour mixture, and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Add two tablespoons of Olive Oil to a large oven safe, non-stick skillet. With a half cup measure, scoop out the salmon mixture onto the greased skillet, and form twelve patties by pressing them down with the tips of your fingers until they are and inch thick.

When the cabbage is almost done, you can cook the patties. Since everything in these patties are fully cooked, the object is to brown them on both sides. These patties are delicate and delicious, but care is needed in flipping them. Cook the prepared patties over medium high heat about 4 -5 minutes a side. Then, pop them into the oven for 5 more minutes with the cabbage.

To serve, place a generous mound of roasted red cabbage on your plate. Top the cabbage with a salmon patty and sliced avocado. Feel free to drizzle with a sauce. I never say no to that! I like the Mastadon BBQ which is here.

Salmon Patty Dinner

Paleo AIP Salmon Patties that are grain and egg free and AIP Paleo. They are seasoned with dill and served on a bed of oven roasted cabbage, topped with healthy avocado!

In this short Interview with Dr. Oz and our President, Dr. Oz discusses solutions to our all-time high obesity rates in adults and children in our country. Dr. Oz is a huge advocate for food as medicine!

Here’s to a healthy 2018!

Sam

Paleo Pilgrim Burgers

Paleo Pilgrim Burger

Here is a delicious Paleo rendition of the Pilgrim Burger with all the flavors of Thanksgiving! It is a burger with a squash or sweet potato bun, mashed celeriac or potatoes, a turkey burger, and fresh cranberry sauce on top! Thanksgiving flavors in a burger!

Paleo Pilgrim Burger

Fresh and Quick Cranberry Sauce:

Fresh and Quick Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

8 ounces of organic fresh cranberries

1/3 Cup of Maple Syrup

2 Teaspoons of Fresh Organic Orange Zest

3 Tablespoons of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Ginger

1/8 Teaspoon of Ground Cloves

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Bring the cranberry mixture to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and cook 7 – 8 minutes until the cranberries pop. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes, and then take a potato masher and mash until there are still some cranberry pieces in it, but is creamy. Place in a serving bowl.

For the “bun”:

Preheat your oven to 400° F. Lay out a rimmed cookie sheet covered with parchment.

Bun Ingredients:

1 Butternut Squash, Top half without seeds peeled and sliced into 1/2″ rounds

1 Large Sweet Potato, Peeled and sliced into 1/2″ rounds

Directions: Place the rounds onto the baking sheet and brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake in your preheated oven for 30 minutes until soft when pierced with a fork.

For the Mashed Celeriac or Potatoes you will need:

2 medium Celeriac Root peeled or 2 to 3 large russet potatoes

1 Cup of Chicken Broth or Bone Broth, more if needed

1/2 Cup of Coconut Milk

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil or Ghee

Sea Salt to Taste

Directions: Cook the cubed celeriac or potatoes in the chicken broth, covered at a simmer until tender. Place in a food processor, and add the coconut milk, fat of choice and salt to taste. Puree until smooth and creamy. Now for the burger!

Paleo Pilgrim Burger with Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients for the Burger:

2 lbs. of Ground Turkey

1 Tablespoon of Maple Syrup

2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt

2 Tablespoons of Grated White Onion

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Sage

1/2 Teaspoon of Thyme

Chopped Green Onion for the top.

Directions: Mix all the ingredients together, and form into 6 patties. Heat a cast iron skillet to hot, and place additional olive oil in a cast iron skillet to coat the pan. Cook three burgers at a time. To assemble, place the squash bun or sweet potato round on the bottom, add a generous scoop of mash, the burger and then top with the fresh cranberry sauce. Sprinkle with green scallions. Serve hot!

You can make this as often as you like, but it is especially delicious over the holidays! A fancy way I like to serve them is to assemble them all on a large turkey platter, and let everyone pick their favorite!

Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Hello! How’s your September going? My two girls have both started high school this year. I have been getting my gardens in shape and doing some Fall decorating.

Autumn is just around the corner, and this is a hearty, warming soup full of delicious nutrition! It is rib sticking healthy comfort food that you will want to make again and again this fall and winter!

Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Chicken and Vegetables - Paleo

This soup is pure goodness in a bowl and pretty enough to serve to and impress guests! I love the rich creaminess of the soup and the toppings that you can sink your teeth into…..my kind of soup in the Fall! The fresh parsley adds brightness to the flavor, and the cumin and coriander give the soup an earthy richness. The honey, djon and splash of apple cider vinegar add that extra zing or umami.

Hearty Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Roasting vegetables makes them sweeter tasting and the browning adds flavor, flavor and more flavor! I am in love with this bowl of soup, and I think you will be too. 🙂

Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Ingredients for Soup Base:

1 Butternut Squash (peeled, seeded and cubed)

6 Carrots (peeled and sliced)

2 Leeks (white parts, sliced)

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Ground Cumin

1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon of Coriander

1 Teaspoon of Ground Fennel

1 Quart of Low Sodium Chicken Broth (I used this)

1/2 Cup of Coconut Milk (I used Thrive Brand with no additives)

1 Tablespoon of Dijon Mustard

1 Tablespoon of Honey

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Dried Oregano

1 Teaspoon of Turmeric

Ingredients for the Soup Topping:

1 Whole Roasted Chicken (I like to batch roast two chickens and use one for the soup)

3 Cups of Brussels Sprouts (halved)

3 Cups of Fennel (chopped)

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/4 Cup of Chopped Fresh Parsley (for topping)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400º degrees. In a large bowl, toss together the butternut, carrots and leeks with the olive oil, ground cumin, coriander, ground fennel and sea salt. Then, lay out your cubed Butternut, Carrots and Leeks on one, or two, parchment lined cookie sheets. The vegetables should be in a single layer. Roast the vegetables in your preheated oven for 40 minutes.

In a large stock pan, add the roasted vegetables and 1 quart of good quality low sodium chicken stock, the cider vinegar, honey, dijon, oregano and turmeric. Bring to a high simmer, and simmer for ten minutes. Cool slightly, then add the soup to a blender in two batches and puree, or use an immersion blender. Add the soup back to the pot. Salt to taste if needed.

While the soup base simmers, toss the Brussels sprouts and fennel with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt, and roast for 20 minutes in your 400º degree oven. While the vegetables are roasting, shred 3 cups of roasted chicken and warm it.

To serve:

Ladle the soup into a bowl, top generously with shredded chicken, the roasted Brussels sprouts and fennel, and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Yum, a delicious, hot and hearty main dish soup full of nourishment and healthy comfort!

Serves 6

Enjoy your day!

Sandra

Chicken Pizza Paillards

Chicken Pizza Paillairds

Paillards is a French term for pounded or thinly sliced meat. Paillards are quick cooking and tender. For these Chicken Pizza Paillards, I used Primal Palate’s Super Gyro Seasoning Blend. It is my favorite gluten free seasoning blend of Himalayan pink salt oregano, marjoram, thyme, and garlic. This is a fabulous, juicy chicken dish! A quick tip I got from Rachel Ray, buy boneless chicken breasts in bulk for savings, and pound them into paillards and freeze between sheets of parchment. Then when you want to make a quick cooking chicken dinner, you can just pull the amount you want out of the freezer. They thaw very quickly!

Chicken Pizza Paillards

Ingredients:

4 Boneless Chicken Breasts

16 Oz. of White Button Mushrooms, Sliced

6 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Pizza Sauce (I used Muir Glen Organic which has no Sugar Added)

Fresh Basil, Chopped

3 Tablespoons of Aged Balsamic Vinegar (my favorite is 18 year old from Fustinis)

Super Gyro Seasoning Blend

Sea Salt

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350° degrees F. Pound the chicken breasts to about a half inch thick using a meat pounder, and cover the chicken with plastic wrap when pounding to prevent splatter. Slice the mushrooms, and add them to a cast iron skillet with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle with a generous double pinch of sea salt, and cook over medium high heat for ten to fifteen minutes until nice and golden brown. When they are golden brown, add in 3 tablespoons of aged balsamic vinegar and cook until it has evaporated and infused into the mushrooms. Set aside.

In a large nonstick, oven-safe skillet, add the last 3 tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium high heat. Season your pounded chicken generously with Super Gyro Seasoning by Primal Palate on both sides. (A nice even coat. The amount depends on the surface area of your chicken. I like to be generous) Add the seasoned chicken to the hot skillet and cook for 4 minutes a side or until golden brown on each side. Now, pop the chicken into the oven for five minutes, or until the center of the chicken reaches 165° degrees. While the chicken is in the oven, heat up the pizza sauce.

Remove the chicken from the oven and top each breast with the hot pizza sauce, 1/4 of the mushrooms and sprinkle with chopped basil.

Enjoy!

Sandra

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Chicken Pizza Paillards

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad

Mango Cashew Chicken Dinner Salad

This salad is inspired by one of my favorite salads from Red Mesa Grill in Northern Michigan. I order it every year from their gluten free menu and it is so good, I decided to recreate it at home adding my own spin on it.

Mango Cashew Chicken Summer Salad

The salad has a delicious combination of sweet juicy mango, crunchy cashews, tart cranberries, onion and roasted chicken. The mango dressing is bursting with vitamin C. It is a perfect Summer main dish salad!

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad

Begin with making a marinade for the chicken breasts:

Marinade:

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

Zest and Juice of 1 Lime

2 Cloves of Smashed Garlic

2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Whisk the marinade together well. Add 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts to a gallon zip bag, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag, and place it flat in the refrigerator for 3 hours, flipping once halfway through to ensure the chicken is evenly seasoned. You can refrigerate the chicken for up to 24 hours in the marinade.

Now prepare your salad dressing.

Mango Salad Dressing

Mango Salad Dressing:

Ingredients;

1 1/4 Cup of Ripe Mango, diced

1/4 Cup of Good Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

2 Tablespoons of Fresh Cilantro

2 Tablespoons of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (I use this kind)

1 Green Onion, sliced

1 Teaspoon of fine Sea Salt (I like this brand)

Blend the mango and olive oil in a blender until completely smooth and creamy. Add the lime juice, salt and cider vinegar and blend to incorporate. Now, add the fresh scallion and cilantro, and pulse the blender just until you can see tiny bits of scallion and cilantro. You want to be able to see it and not completely incorporate it into the dressing.

Refrigerate the dressing. This will keep 3 days in the refrigerator.

Now to make the salad! 🙂

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad Prep

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad Ingredients:

4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 – 5 oz. Container of Organic Baby Romaine, washed and spun dry

1/2 Head of Organic Iceberg Lettuce, washed, spun dry and torn into bite-sized pieces

1 Ripe Mango, Diced in to 1 inch pieces

1/2 Cup of Salted or Raw Cashews

1/4 Cup of Apple Juice Sweetened Dried Cranberries (I use this brand)

1/4 Cup of Green Onion, Sliced

1/4 Cup of Red Onion, Finely Diced

Additional Sea Salt for Sprinkling

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375° degrees. In a cast iron skillet, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat on medium-high. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, and sprinkle them with additional sea salt, and add them to the pan. Brown the breasts two minutes per side, until golden brown, but not cooked through. Place the chicken on a baking sheet, and place them in the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes or just until the chicken reaches 165° at the center. Remove the chicken from the oven, and set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the salad.

Mound the salad greens in a large bowl. Drizzle with a generous amount of Mango Salad Dressing. Sprinkle the mango, cashews, cranberries, green onion and red onion on top. Slice your cooked chicken breasts on a diagonal (they can still be warm) and arrange the breasts on the top of the salad. Sprinkle with some additional sea salt to taste.

Serve!

4 Large Dinner Sized Servings (1 Chicken Breast per person)