Meal Plan (gluten free, dairy free) Nov 16-22
I am really excited that this is Thanksgiving week. I certainly enjoy gathering with my family (who desires a post all on its own) but it also means I cook less. Glory, hallelujah! Here's what we ate last week... Sunday - GF Applegate frozen chicken nuggets + carrot sticks + leftover rice + Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cornbread (not gluten free however made to be dairy free)
Monday - Easy Advanced Plan Chili (recipe to follow) + Trader Joe's sweet potato chips. This has become our favorite chili. Scott doesn't eat soup or chili (because of the spice) but he LOVES this meal. The recipe doesn't call for beans, and I actually really like the taste of it without it. You must try this!
Easy Advanced Plan Chili
(from the Cruise Ship or Nursing Home chiropractic health book)
1 T coconut oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 chopped garlic cloves
1-1/2 chopped celery (not sure if this meant stalks or cups so I did cups)
1 cup chopped green pepper
1-1/2 lbs ground beef or bison
2 tsp thyme leaves
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
salt to taste
1 8oz can chopped tomatoes (I ended up using a 14 oz can)
1 12 oz of salsa (all natural)
In a large skillet, saute onions, garlic, celery and pepper in oil under tender. Add meat, thyme, chili powder, and cumin and stir frequently for 5-6 minutes. Add salt, tomatoes and salsa to pot. Cover and simmer for an hour.
Tuesday - leftover chili on top of baked potatoes with leftover pumpkin cornbread
Wednesday - breakfast for dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon, Trader Joe's GF pumpkin pancakes)
Thursday - Chicken salad (recipe to follow) and cheese crescent rolls for the kids (not DF or GF). You will need 4 string cheeses and a package of crescent rolls. To make the crescent rolls, simply cut string cheese in half and roll up in the crescent roll triangle. Cook according to package.
Chicken Salad
6 oz shredded chicken (can or leftovers)
1-2 T of dairy free mayo (totally depends on what you like)
toasted slivered almonds & chopped pecans (raw nuts toasted in a skillet over medium/low heat)
dried cranberries
appox 1 T each chopped onion & celery (depends on what you like)
salt & pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together and either eat right away or let chill in fridge for awhile. I served mine over a bed of baby spinach that was drizzled with olive oil along with a side of carrot sticks and green pepper slices.
Friday - Black Bean Soup + rice. This was the first time making this recipe and we really liked it. It was nice to prepare a meal without meat mostly for budgetary reasons. I sprinkled a little parm cheese on top of mine.
Saturday - Fresh To Order (family date night) We had the best day at Stone Mountain. It was a gorgeous fall day here in Atlanta. The girls had never been to Stone Mountain. We didn't attempt to climb it this time so instead we opted for the skycar ride. They were both nervous at first (me too) but were brave and really enjoyed it. Right now, they have Snow Mountain. If you are in the area or looking for a weekend away, you should totally go! It looked like so much fun tubing!
I am thankful for you sweet readers! Writing to you is sometimes the most enjoyable part of the day. ... this little bit reminds me of something Kathleen Kelly might say in You've Got Mail (favorite movie!!).
*we make most recipes fit our dietry needs however we aren't opposed to cheating every now and then.