Sheet Pan Salmon + Bacony Brussel Sprouts

You’ll need…

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved

• 1/2 pound W30 compliant bacon (like Pederson Farms)

• Parchment paper

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• sea salt + pepper, to taste

• 2-4 filets of salmon (~1 total pound)

• Tessemae’s Creamy Ranch, optional

• Lemon, optional

Method…

1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Prepare sheet pan with parchment paper.

3. Put brussel sprouts in a bowl and add olive oil. Stir until well coated and then spread evenly on sheet pan.

4. Cut the bacon into 1/2 inch chunks and add them to the sheet pan. Try to disperse evenly across the brussel sprouts.

5. Season pan with salt and pepper.

6. Roast in preheated oven for 15 minutes.

7. Meanwhile, drizzle the salmon filets with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

8. After 15 minutes, remove brussel sprouts from oven and gently toss them around the pan and then push them to create spaces in the middle for the salmon. Add the salmon filets to the open spaces on the sheet pan.

9. Place back in oven and bake for 12-14 more minutes (This may be less depending on the thickness of your salmon – watch closely until salmon is cooked to your liking)

10. Remove from oven, drizzle salmon with lemon juice or Tessemae’s Creamy Ranch if desired.

Enjoy 😊

*Recipe modified from Defined Delish Green Goddess Salmon.

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Whole 30 Slow Cooked Balsamic Chicken Thighs

Easy Meal Prep Protein.

You’ll need…

1 t Garlic Powder

1 t Dried Basil

1/2 t Salt

1/2 t Pepper

2 t Dried minced onion

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 T EVOO

1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 4 chicken breasts

Fresh parsley for garnish if desired.

Method…

1- combine first 5 dry spices in a bowl and then spread over chicken on both sides

2- pour olive oil and garlic in bottom of slow cooker

3 – place chicken on top of olive oil and garlic

4- pour balsamic vinegar over chicken

5- cover and cook on high for 4 hours.

I served over mixed greens with blueberries, slivered almonds and hard boiled egg then tossed in EVOO + balsamic vinegar. Also delicious with roasted potatoes and broccoli 👌🏻

W30 Egg Roll in a Bowl

All the deliciousness of an egg roll minus the greasy, unhealthy fried wrapper.

I discovered the idea of “egg roll in a bowl” a few years ago during one of my Whole 30s and since then I’ve made about 10 different variations (probably 10 times each!) I’ve even shared a couple of these recipes online, and today I’ve got a new one for you that I think is the best yet!

This recipe is a modified version of 40 Aprons Egg Roll in a Bowl. I love the mix of ingredients they put together and the delicious Creamy Chili sauce.

I changed the method a bit to reduce the greasiness from the ground pork, took out a few ingredients (ones I thought many people wouldn’t have on hand) and added scrambled eggs to the mix!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small bunch green onions sliced, green and white parts divided
• 1/2 cup red onion diced
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• 1 pound ground pork (ground turkey or chicken could also be used)
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 1-2 tablespoons Whole30 compliant hot sauce (I like Franks RedHot Sauce)
• 14 ounce bag coleslaw mix
• 3 tablespoons coconut aminos
• 3 eggs

Garnish (optional)

• green parts of sliced green onions from above
• Sesame seeds

Creamy Chili Sauce (optional)

• 1/4 cup W30 Compliant Mayonnaise  (store-bought or homemade. I like this recipe.)
• 1-2 tablespoons W30 compliant hot sauce

Method

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet and place over medium heat.

2. Add white parts of green onions, diced red onion, and garlic and saute, stirring frequently, until red onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes.

3. In another large skillet, brown ground pork and drain excess fat.

4. Add onion mixture, grated ginger, and hot sauce to pork skillet and allow to cook together over medium heat for about 5 minutes.

5. Add coleslaw mix and coconut aminos. Stir until well combined. Cook, stirring regularly, until cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes.

6. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together 1/4 cup mayonnaise and 1-2 tablespoons compliant hot sauce. (Totally unnecessary, but if you want to make your plate pretty, place creamy chili sauce in a small plastic sandwich bag to “pipe” when serving.
7. Once pork-cabbage mixture is fully cooked, push mixture to one side of the skillet and crack eggs in open space. Allow eggs to cook for a 2-3 minutes then scramble gently and incorporate into pork-cabbage mixture
8. To plate: Spoon a helping of the egg roll mixture in a serving bowl. Either spoon some of the creamy chili sauce on top or snip off the corner of the sandwich bag with the sauce and drizzle over egg roll mixture. Garnish with green parts of the green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Let me know if you try it!

The Perfect Roasted Veggies

One of my saving graces during a Whole 30 is having lots of roasted veggies on hand. They are the perfect thing to throw together with chicken sausage or left over ground beef in a pinch for a filling, healthy meal.

I typically roast a variety of veggies on Sunday and then eat them through the week.

My favorites to have on hand are sweet potatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts and peppers.

Here are my tips for making the BEST roasted veggies:

1- Roast veggies in a hot oven (I always roast at 400 and sometimes up to 425!)

2- Drizzle a little olive oil or avocado oil, salt and pepper before roasting.

3- Roast on a flat pan (not one with sides as they will hold in heat and create a steaming effect – which produces mushy veggies – yuck!)

4- Roast on parchment paper, not aluminum foil for best results. Parchment paper better absorbs the moisture in the veggies allowing them to get crispier.

5- Space out the veggies on the pan. Overcrowding does not allow for even cooking.

6- For an extra crispy effect, turn the oven to broil for the last few minutes of cooking. You have to watch closely though as they will burn quickly!

7- When storing, be sure veggies are completely cooled before closing in a container and be sure to store like veggies together. For example, you wouldn’t want to mix roasted tomatoes with sweet potatoes as tomatoes are very watery and would change the flavor of your sweet potatoes.

Happy Roasting!

Earth Fare: Your Whole 30 One-Stop Shop!

Earth Fare is truly a one-stop shop for all your Whole 30 needs! I could seriously spend a day there – the produce is super fresh, the seafoods and meats are beautiful and the selection of Whole 30 compliant and endorsed products is incredible!

Here are my favorite Whole 30 Earth Fare finds:

Produce: Fresh fruits and vegetables galore plus a good pre-cut selection for easy meal prep.

Raw Nuts/Seeds and Nut Butters: One of my go-tos for plated fats on W30! You can pick up a variety of raw and compliant roasted nuts and seeds in bulk! Earth Fare also carries multiple compliant almond and cashew butters!

Dressings, Oils + Marninades: Earth Fare carries the best selection of Tessemae’s dressings and condiments I’ve seen! Creamy Ranch and the organic ketchup are my absolute faves! You’ll find them in the refrigerated section in the produce department.

You can also pick up Primal Kitchen dressings and mayos.

The New Primal – a new to me brand – Earth Fare carries the full line of marinades and BBQ sauces that I can’t wait to try!

I found an extensive selection of compliant oils and cooking fats – light-tasting olive oil (perfect for making homemade mayo), ghee, coconut oil and avocado oil.

Coconut Aminos are a Whole 30 must and Earth Fare carries my favorite brand! It’s a must for Whole 30 Egg Roll in a Bowl!

Meats/Seafoods- Hands down the best selection I’ve seen in a grocery store. Plus they carry plenty of W30 endorsed bacons and sausages!

Coffee Creamers- For all my “coffee with cream friends” – Pick up your compliant creamers at Earth Fare! They carry NutPods and Califia Farms unsweetened almond/coconut creamer. Score!

Frozen Veggies- Riced frozen veggies are a must! I use them in casseroles, egg bakes or as a quick side.

For all your egg needs – organic, cafe-free and hard-boiled!

Some compliant fermented favorites: pickles and sauerkraut!

Compliant Salsas + Sauces – I was impressed to find that several Earth Earth brand salsas and sauces are compliant.

A few other Whole 30 must haves:

Kettle and Fire Bone Broth is always in my pantry. Drink it alone for an immune boost or add it to soups and other dishes.

Seaweed snacks are a great crunch addition for salads. I also use them when I make Whole 30 Poke Bowls.

Nutritional Yeast adds a cheesy flavor and texture to your dishes plus loads of nutrients.

Canned tomatoes are a Whole 30 Pantry staple. Use them in chili and soups but be sure to always read labels. MANY canned tomatoes have added sugar – but not this one!

I came home with a 3 bags full of Whole 30 compliant food to prep for my January Whole 30. If you are W30ing and have a local Earth Fare, go now! Save time and get quality, Whole 30 foods in one stop!

Instagram Giveaway: $50 Gift Card to Neeley’s Kitchen

The holidays are upon us and with them comes the tendency to eat and drink a little more than usual and skip workouts in lieu of social gatherings and travel.  We all know that if you aren’t careful, the time between Thanksgiving and New Years can quickly turn into a slippery slope of cookies and cheese trays.  I have a little something to help you limit your “holiday eating” to the actual holiDAY and not the “holiday season.”  

One of my go-to’s, especially during the busy holiday season, is ordering prepared foods from Neeley’s Kitchen.  Neeley’s Kitchen is a local meal prep service that provides both healthy meals and bulk prep protein and carb options.  Mike and I order from them weekly to supplement our own meal prep and for “emergency food” (so we don’t end up in a bind when all of our prepared food is gone on Thursdays… just us?!)

In honor of this crazy, busy holiday season, I want to share this awesomeness to help you keep your nutrition on track.  I am partnering with Neeley’s Kitchen to give away a $50 gift card to use toward healthy prepared foods between now and New Years!  Order on their website and pick up your food at one of their many local drop off locations!  

Here’s the catch: to win this $50 gift card, you must tag two friends in my Instagram post AND follow BOTH @thecleanlifemama and @neeleyskitchen.   I’ll choose the winner on Thursday!  Every two friends you tag = one entry!