Hearty & Healthy Beef Stew

Hearty & Healthy Beef Stew

Serves 6

Ingredients: 

2 pounds stew beef

6 tsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic 

1/2 large onion 

1 carton beef stock 

2 cups chopped celery 

2 cups chopped carrots

2 cups chopped butternut squash 

1.5 cups chopped potatoes 

2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp pepper 

3 bay leaves 

Directions: 

1) Heat large Dutch oven or pot on medium high heat. Add olive oil, garlic and onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes. 

2) Add in beef. Cook, stirring frequently for 5-6 minutes. 

3) Add beef stock and add in all chopped veggies, spices and bay leaves. Cook on medium/medium low for 20 minutes. Stirring occasionally. 

4) Serve with rice or crusty bread and Enjoy!

**If you are following the 21 day fix, CIZE or Hammer and Chisel meal plan one serving counts as 1.25 red, 1 tsp, 1 green and 1 yellow.  

Mayo Substitute

One thing you should know about me is I LOVE MAYO!!!  I used to put double mayo on my sandwiches at delis y'all!! When I started my journey to healthy-ier eating mayo had to go away.  I was sad.  I eliminated it entirely after trying to use mustard and it just didn't work out for me.  

That being said, just because I don't use it now doesn't meant that I don't miss it!  I'm pretty sure I"m not alone.  Some days you just need a sandwich with mayo but you don't want to feel guilt so you whip up a healthier alternative to mayo and slap it on some Ezekiel bread w/ boars-head turkey, turkey bacon, tomato and cheese!  It turns out so yummy you want to share it with the world!!! 

Mayo Substitute

Servings: 5 

Ingredients: 

4 Tablespoons Plain Greek Yogurt 

1 Tablespoon Yellow Mustard 

1/8 tsp salt 

1/8 tsp pepper 

1/8 tsp dried parsley 

pinch of smoked paprika 

Directions: 

1. Take a small bowl and measure out all ingredients.  

Stir till combined and Enjoy!! 

Will stay in your fridge for 7 days.  Use on Sandwiches, as a dipping sauce, as a topping to just about anything!! This is 21 day fix approved although I don't count it as the count would be so small.  If you were very strict it would count as 1/12 of a red.  

Caprese Chicken

OMG OMG OMG!! I made a healthy dinner and my husband was actually excited!! Small wins!!

This recipe was super simple and yummy so I had to share!! 

Caprese Chicken
Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 - 4 ounce Chicken Breasts
coconut oil cooking spray
1 red vine tomato
2 oz whole milk fresh mozzarella
dried parsley
salt & pepper

Directions:
1. Take a large grill pan and heat on medium high heat.  Spray with coconut oil cooking spray and top with chicken breasts.  Top with salt & pepper.  Cook for 4 minutes and flip.
2. Spray with coconut oil cooking spray and sprinkle with salt & pepper again. Top with a large pan lid and cook for an additional 4 minutes.  Repeat this step twice, so each side gets cooked for 4 minutes per side two times making sure that the chicken doesn't get too brown.  
3. While the last side is cooking slice the tomato in 4 thick even slices.  Slice 2 slices of whole milk mozzarella about 1/2 inch thick.
4. Once chicken is cooked through, top chicken and layer with tomato, cheese then tomato.  Sprinkle with parsley and let rest for 3 minutes on the grill pan with the heat turned off.
5. Here I served with whole grain pasta, sauce and roasted zucchini for a yummy dinner!!

If you are following the 21 day fix, CIZE or Hammer & Chisel meal plan this chicken dish counts as 1 red, 1 blue and 1 tsp.

I'm getting ready to head into Week 2 of The Master's Hammer & Chisel and it has been so amazing to dive back into my nutrition and enjoying yummy meals like this!! Here are a few moments from my Week 1 journey.

DAY 2 DONE!! 

Feeling as though Peanut butter is my new BFF and the only thing that is helping me 

get through Day 3!! 

 If you want to know more about The Master's Hammer & Chisel fill out this form and let's chat <3