Clean Eating Mini Meat Loaves (Paleo Too!!!)

This recipe only used 1 pound of ground meat and makes the perfect size to serve a family of four (like us!) and not have a ton of leftovers. Often, meatloaf recipes call for 2-3 pounds of meat and you end up with a lot of leftovers. I like that making mini meat loaves gives us smaller portion sizes that the kids prefer and cooks up a lot faster than a large loaf.

You could make this ground turkey if you like or get the leanest ground beef available from the meat counter at your supermarket or butcher. You can also choose to use just egg whites instead of a whole egg as well.

If you are looking for a different meatloaf recipe than this one, then try these other two I have created:

• Easy 3-Ingredient Mini Meatloaf
• Double Your Meatloaf with Beans

Clean Eating Mini Meat Loaves
1 pound of lean ground beef or ground turkey
2 eggs whites or 1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 onion, chopped
2 T Italian Seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste
2-3 oz tomato sauce (rest of 8 oz can will be used in the topping)

Topping
5-6 oz tomato sauce
1 tsp Italian Seasoning

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees
• Mix together all loaf ingredients in a medium bowl
• Mix together topping ingredients, you can do this right in the can
• Split up the meat mixture among 10 greased muffin cups
• Top with the tomato sauce mixture
• Bake for 20 minutes
• Allow to sit for 5 minutes before 

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal - Clean Eating Recipe

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
1 C Old Fashioned Oats
1 3/4 C milk
1/4 C pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp almond (or vanilla) extract
Top as desired: whip cream, pecans, maple syrup

Directions:

• Bring milk, pumpkin , and all seasoning to a slow boil over medium heat
• Stir in oats
• Cook for about 5 minutes
• Top as desired
• Enjoy!

Oven Baked Portobello Mushroom and Egg with Bacon

This is a super simple breakfast or meal if you are trying to eat clean, Paleo or low carb.

Preheat you oven to 400 degrees.
Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray.
Remove stem from the mushroom and place gill side up in the dish.
Crack an egg on top.
Sprinkle with bacon crumbles, salt and pepper.
Bake for 20-25 minutes to desired egg hardness.
Enjoy!

Healthy 3-ingredient Strawberry Banana Popsicles

Strawberry Banana Popsicles
1/2 lb of fresh strawberries
1 banana
1/4 C whole milk

Directions: Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour in to ice pop molds and freeze for 6+ hours.

My strawberries had gotten a little soft, but were still good. So, popsicles (or smoothies) are a great way to use up the fruit that might not be prime for eating whole. The kids will never know and they all seem to just love popsicles and smoothies.

If you play your cards right, you can find a set of these 4 Ice Pop Makers at the Dollar Tree, for only $1. They make quite large popsicles. At our cabin I just have the one set, but at home I have 1 set of these big ones and then a set of 8 smaller ones (have the size).

Using a blender is a great way to make sure everything is smooth! You could use a personal blender or smoothie maker if you have those instead.

Fill and Freeze!

Healthy Lunch Idea: Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado

This is super easy to make and filling as well. Just make tuna salad as you prefer it, using one can of drained tuna mixed with whatever accompaniment you like. I like to use a little bit of mayonnaise and some chopped dill pickle. 1 can of tuna salad should be split between two avocado halves but if you want more protein go ahead and eat the whole can of tuna.

Just fill up a avocado half with the seed removed. I like to scoop it out of the outer layer in advance because then I have an easier time eating this dish. Serve on top of any greens or lettuce that you desire.

This can be a great lunch ideas for the summer time. Works well with low carb eating, clean eating, and paleo diets. You just choose what kind of mix-ins work with your particular style of eating.

Clean Eating Coconut Apple Crisp

Clean Eating  CoconutApple Crisp
4-5 med-lg apples (I used Gala). peeled and sliced
1 T ground cinnamon
1 T coconut palm sugar

Topping
1 C old fashioned rolled oats
2 T coconut flour
1 T cinnamon
1/4 C coconut palm sugar
1/4 C unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 C coconut oil, melted

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Mix together apples, cinnamon & sugar, then pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, mix together oats, flour, cinnamon, sugar and coconut until evenly combined.
• Stir in melted coconut oil until evenly combined, then pour evenly over the top of the apple mixture.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes. 
• Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!

Dairy Free Creamy Spinach Chicken

Dairy Free Creamy Spinach Chicken

3/4 C light coconut milk, warmed
3 T nutritional yeast
1 T dried onion
1 T Wildtree Garlic Galore
4 oz fresh spinach
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
favorite seasonings


Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Mix together coconut milk, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic seasonings,allow to rest for 5 minutes
• Place spinach in the bottom of a greased casserole dish
• Pour over the top of spinach
• Stir to coat spinach
• Place chicken on top
• Sprinkle favorite seasonings on top of the chicken (I used Stonemill Essentials Steak & Chop Seasoning Mix and Parsley Flakes)
• Bake for 30-35 minutes

Clean Eating Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Clean Eating Carrot Cake Oatmeal
1 3/4 C milk (whichever variety you enjoy)
1 3/4 C water
3/4 C carrots (chopped or shredded)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 C old fashioned oats
4 packets stevia
Top with nuts, raisins, or homemade whipped cream, if desired

Directions:

• Bring to a boil the milk, water, carrots cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg.
• Boil for 5 minutes to soften the carrots
• Stir in old fashioned oats and stevia
• Cook for 5 minutes until oats thicken
• Scoop in to 4 bowls and allow to sit for 5 minutes, it will thicken as it cools
• Top with additional toppings if desired
• Enjoy!

Healthy Breakfast Idea: Mashed Avocado on Artisan Bread with Poached Eggs

Healthy breakfasts can often be quite simple. As simple as some Homemade Artisan Bread topped with mashed avocado (just mash with a fork in a bowl) and topped with poached eggs served with a side of tomato slices. Delicious, pretty and healthy!

Coconut Flour Crust & Review of Love Cooking Company PushPan

If you are trying to eat grain-free or gluten free, then you are sure to appreciate this recipe which fits perfectly in this Love Cooking Company PushPan that is sized 8"x2".

Coconut Flour Crust

1/4 C Coconut Flour

2 T chopped pecans

2 packets stevia

2 T butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir until well combined. Press in to a greased pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool if topping with a no bake cheesecake.

Review of Love Cooking Company PushPan: 

I had the opportunity to review the three Love Cooking Company pans above, but I was excited to share my coconut flour crust recipe with you, so I wanted to tell you about he PushPan first.

The pan is easy to use. It creates a liquid tight seal so it works great when making a cheesecake. It easily pushes out and I was surprised that I could relatively easily push it back in with cheesecake on top of it, that's if you don't serve it all at once.

Now that I have a PushPan that makes serving a no bake cheesecake recipe easier, and a tasty new cheesecake crust recipe I think my family will be expecting more cheesecakes in the future.

All thoughts, opinions and photographs and recipes are my own. I was provided the pans for the purpose of review but no monetary compensation was received.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Cake Part
3 C whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
1 C raw sugar
1/4 C coconut oil, melted
2 eggs
1 1/4 C coconut milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 C pumpkin puree

Topping
1/2 C coconut oil, melted
1/2 C cinnamon sugar
1/2 C old fashioned oats
1/2 C pecans, chopped

How to Make Banana Chips with a Food Dehydrator

If you buy banana chips from a store these may be perfectly whiteish-yellow with no browning but are covered in sugar and possibly coloring or HFC. Make your own banana chips with a food dehydrator and have a healthy snack on hand for you or your kids. They are exactly what you expect, just bananas! I know my kids come home from school and immediately want a snack. My son like to have banana chips on top of toast with peanut butter, talk about a healthy snack!

Directions:

• Slice bananas in 1/4-3/8" slices
• Place on your food dehydrator trays in a single layer
• Turn your food dehydrator temperature to 150 degrees
• Cook for about 6 hours
• Test to see if they are crisp
• Allow to cool and then remove from trays
• Enjoy!

Gluten Free Raspberry Chia Seed Muffins

Gluten Free Raspberry Chia Seed Muffins
1 C Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour
1 C Brown Rice Flour
1/3 C Sucanat
1/4 C chia seeds
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 C unsweetened almond milk
1/4 C coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
1 C frozen raspberries

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Combine flours, sucanat, chia seeds, salt and baking powder in a large bowl and set aside'
• In a small bowl, mix together egg, milk oil and extract
• Mix wet mixture in to dry mixture
• Fold in raspberries
• Bake for about 20 minutes

Southwestern Chicken Stew

This time I am serving the stew on it's own, although you can also have Southwestern Chicken Stew over Rice. Plus, this recipe also makes a good freezer meal and I have included it in my post 10 Paleo Freezer Slow Cooker Meals.

Slow Cooker Southwestern Chicken Stew

2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/2 C cilantro, minced
1 med red onion, chopped
1 jalepeno pepper, chopped
15 oz can pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz can corn, drained
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 C tomato juice
24 oz salsa

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on Low for 8 hours. Shred chicken with 2 forks before serving.Enjoy!

Clean Eating Strawberry-Watermelon Sorbet

Summer is upon us and I have been making efforts the last 2 weeks of school to have snacks and treats on hand that my kids will enjoy but contain no added sugars and are not fried. I have continued this through out the summer ( know summer is almost over by the time I am sharing this.) I have made potato chips (just potatoes & salt) and my dehydrator has been working non stop making fruit leathers, banana chips, pineapple "candy" and \jerky. I do plan to make some apple chips soon too, as well as granola bars and chocolate almond date protein balls. Of course we do have packaged snacks around, but I am trying to depend upon them less and less. My family does seem to gravitate towards anything homemade. When I made this sorbet recipe (I used to make this all the time when I ran a bed and breakfast and people LOVED it!!) I doubled the recipe so that I have a lot of this frozen treat in the freezer for us, plus I had half a watermelon to use up.


Clean Eating Strawberry-Watermelon Sorbet
6 C fresh watermelon
2 C fresh  (or thawed) strawberries
1/2 C water
1 tsp. stevia
2 T lemon juice

Directions:
Puree all ingredients in a food processor and place in an airtight container. Allow 24 hours to freezer before serving. Scoop out of container and enjoy. Or if you want to "fluff" it you can break it up with a fork, or "smooth" it by placing the frozen mixture in a food processor before serving.

Easy Broiled Grapefruit

Making Broiled Grapefruit is easy, healthy and tasty.

Directions:

• Set oven to broil, allow a couple minutes to heat up
• Cut grapefruit in half and place in a baking dish (line with foil if you like)
• Using a sharp knife, cut around the edges and across both ways to make it easier to release the fruit from the rind
• Drizzle maple syrup over the top
• Broil for 5 minutes
• Serve immediately
• Enjoy!

Asian Zucchini Slaw and Review of APlusChef Spiral Slicer

Asian Zucchini Slaw
1 med-lg zucchini (shredded or use a spiralizer)
1 large carrot, shredded
2 T rice wine vinegar
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 tsp soy sauce

Directions: 

• Shred both zucchini and carrot and toss together
• Mix together vinegar, oil and soy sauce
• Pour over zucchini mixture and toss.
• Allow to set in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before serving
• Toss again before serving
• Sprinkle sesame seeds on top, if desired.
• Enjoy!

My Thoughts:

I really love using the  APlusChef Spiral Slicer Bundle. It comes with the spiral slicer, a storage bag, cleaning brush as well as a ceramic peeler. I own another one of these, but I had to have one to use at our cabin. I love that I can make fun and interesting meals using this product. I love to make zucchini noodles and serve them raw as a slaw or cook them and serve spaghetti sauce over the top. I also like to use it to make a cucumber salad. It's just a simple spiral slicer that is easy to use but people are always impressed by the looks of the food I serve them when I use this.

Buy APlusChef Spiral Slicer Bundle on Amazon!!!

Coconut Flour Protein Coffee Cake

Coconut Flour Protein Coffee Cake

3/4 C coconut flour
3/4 C oat flour
1/2 C natural apple sauce
1 scoop vanilla protein shake mix
1 T stevia powder
4 eggs
1 1/2 C coffee
2 T coconut oil, melted
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt


Topping
1/2 C pecans, chopped
1/4 C unsweetened coconut
1/4 C old fashioned oatmeal
1/4 C sucanat
1/4 C melted coconut oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
• Combine all cake ingredients in a food processor and process until well mixed
• Spread cake mixture into the greased cake pan
• Mix together all topping ingredients in a bowl, except the coconut oil
• Slowly pour in melted coconut oil and stir together until topping is evenly mixed
• Sprinkle topping on top of cake
• Bake for 40-45 minutes

Hot Mushroom and Spinach Soup

Hot Mushroom and Spinach Soup
3 C broth
1 T rice wine vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 garlic clove, minced
2 scallions, chopped
2 C cole slaw mix
2 C fresh spinach, chopped
4 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced

Directions:

• Combine broth, vinegar, soy sauce, oil and red pepper flakes in a 2 Qt. pot and bring to a boil.
• Add remaining ingredients and cook until add vegetables are softened (about 10 minutes).
• Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

It's easy to get a whole dinner meal for your family ready in the morning and have it ready to eat that evening by using your slow cooker, even a whole chicken.

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
1 large onion, sliced
1 whole chicken
1/2 C water
5 med-lrg carrots, sliced
seasonings to taste (I used 2 blends: lemon pepper seasoning and Wildtree Garlic Galore)

Directions:

• Slice onion and place on the bottom of the slow cooker
• Rinse a whole chicken and place on the bed of onion slices
• Pour water on top of the chicken
• Sprinkle your choice of seasonings or marinade over the top of the chicken
• Slice carrots and put along the sides of the chicken
• Cook on low for 8-9 hours
• Enjoy!