OhYaGood

Whole Food Lover + Recipe Hacker

Mexi Shredded Chicken

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You may have noticed a trend on my blog. Lots of Mexican food. It’s my favorite cuisine and pretty easy to figure out the best flavors for recipe developing. Plus, when it’s warm out, the light flavors taste so good with all the fresh produce. It IS still summer!

I came up with this super recipe after numerous attempts at a red salsa version that I wasn’t super excited about. I realized with chicken, I prefer the lime and jalepeno flavors, hence the salsa verde. Big plus, it goes great with my corn recipe!

Verde Shredded Chicken
 
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Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Mexican
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 3 lbs of chicken (a mix of white and dark is ideal)
  • 1 jar of Trader Joes Salsa Verde (or any green salsa would do)
  • 2 teaspoons diced shallots
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 cup broth, I used vegetable
  • (optional) 1 small serrano or jalapeno pepper, finely diced
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients into a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Cook for 6 hours for the slow cooker. Set Instant Pot to 20 minutes and let it naturally release.
  2. Once chicken is cooked thoroughly, shred with a fork and spread out the meat onto a cookies sheet.
  3. Pour half the leftover juices on to the chicken and broil at 500° for about 10-15 or until the chicken juices cook down and it gets a little crispy

 

Chicken Soup

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chicken_soup_loI worked at a public relations firm years ago that used to do recipe testing for Kitchen Aid. It was an admin job and I frequently sifted through recipes that made it through loads of testing and were winners for their cookbooks. It’s really where my obsession with cooking and recipes began. The chicken noodle soup was the first recipe I tried that came from working there. I still have the 8 1/2 x 11 white paper printout that is three hole punched and lives in a black binder. Nerd.

This recipe is similar but excludes the noodles and uses a whole chicken so the broth is good and fatty. Perfect for a chilly day or when your entire family is sick, like mine. Why hasn’t anyone came up with a homemade chicken soup delivery service. Seriously. When I’m sick, THIS is what I want.

Chicken Soup
 
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Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 1 whole chicken 4-5 lb
  • 4 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery sticks, diced
  • 1 leek, light green sliced cross wise
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 tsp or 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ginger, minced
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon salt (more or less depending on your preference)
  • fresh cracked pepper
  • 6 cups water
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low OR into a pressure cooker and set the manual setting to 15 minutes

 

Tomato Pumpkin Soup

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tomato_pumpkin_soup_lo

October. You are so good to me. Our anniversary and my birthday all in one little cozy month. Naturally, my favorite month. I’m a sucker for the weather, Halloween celebrations and of course, the food. Pumpkin, squash, stews and soups make me so happy this time of year.

Once the temps drastically dropped last week, I took to the kitchen to explore a soup that’s been so hard to recreate since going dairy-free. The all-mighty classic, tomato. I’ve tried, unsuccessfully in the past to get the richness and flavor or creamy tomato soup but adding coconut milk just didn’t cut it for me. I searched my pantry for an alternative. A-ha! Canned pumpkin. An obvious choice after picking up an entire crate at Costco to add some depth and sweetness. Plus, there’s a little booze to give it that extra umph. If you’re wanting a boost of protein, I added andouille sausage to a batch.

Tomato Pumpkin Soup
 
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Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 1 Tablespoon avocado or olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
  • 1 large stalk of celery, diced or ½ cup
  • 1 large carrot, diced or ½ cup
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes (I used Muir Glen)
  • 1 can pumpkin puree (I used organic)
  • ½ cup light coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons bourbon (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1½ Tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Coat a dutch oven or large pot with oil
  2. Cook garlic, celery, carrots and onion over medium heat for about 10 minutes
  3. Add tomatoes, pumpkin, coconut milk, bourbon, spices, syrup and lemon juice and bring to a boil
  4. Bring the temperature to medium-low and let simmer for 10 minutes
  5. Use an immersion blender to puree to your preference or blend in batches carefully

Roasted Potatoes

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roasted_potatoes_loWelp. School has begun. We've all maintained our sanity and I'm LOVING my free time. By free I mean, it's chock full of the things I've been wanting to get done. House stuff like cleaning and organizing, appointments like the dentist (Yipeee!) and of course blogging. I have a long list of recipes I want to tackle so bare with me in the next few months. They might not feel very seasonal but whatever. I'm sure you'll still dig what I come up with. So, If you've been to my house in the last, oh, 6 months or I've made you dinner, you've probably gotten a taste of my roasted potatoes. I call them mine because I never read a recipe to make them, I just starting doing them and adding stuff and wah-la! I love how easy they are and how they go over so well with guests, even the wee young ones. The huge bonus, leftovers with eggs in the morning or whenever really. I've done this same recipe without the lemon zest on sweet potatoes and it turns out just as good. They go with just about everything too!
Roasted Potatoes
 
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Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 3 lbs of yukon gold or red pototoes, diced
  • ⅛ cup avocado oil (or olive oil)
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or parsley (I prefer lemon thyme), 2 teaspoons if you're using dried herbs
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • optional: 3 teaspoons garlic, minced (about 2 cloves)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Dice potatoes to 1 inch squares or smaller and make sure they dry after washing them
  3. Toss the potatoes with the remaining ingredients in a bowl
  4. Spread the potatoes onto a cookie sheet making sure they are spread out evenly
  5. Roast in the oven for about 45 mins, stirring once to brown evenly

Pot Roast

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Pot_RoastIt’s been a wild few weeks. Lots of celebrating and little time for blogging. Not a bad thing I’d say. Just happy to see people are still enjoying my past recipes.

This pot roast was inspired from my client after talking about roast beef on a cold, rainy day. Well, it’s still cold and rainy so I just had to take a stab at it. It’s takes a little time up front or in the morning but SO worth the effort once it’s dinner time. I seriously said in my head when walking into our yummy smelling house, “Awww. Honey, I’m home” Cheesy as ever but that smell just made my night. I served the roast with some crispy home fries which was a perfect addition alongside the jus.

Pot Roast
 
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Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2-3 lb beef chuck roast (marbling is good)
  • 1 Tablespoon of oil, I used olive
  • 1 medium onion, quartered
  • 3-4 carrots, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (28oz Muir Glen, fire roasted was what I used)
  • 2 cups broth, I used vegetable
  • ½ cup dry red wine, I used malbec
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Trader Joes 21 season salute, (herbs de provence could work)
Instructions
  1. Dry the roast with a paper towel or two.
  2. Salt and pepper pretty generously.
  3. Heat oil over medium/high heat.
  4. Sear the meat, about 5 minutes per side. Don't forget the sides too.
  5. Set aside the meat to a plate and add the onions to the pan. Cook until golden.
  6. Add to the slow cooker.
  7. Add the carrots to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes. Add to the slow cooker
  8. Add the garlic cloves, tomatoes, broth, wine, vinegar and seasoning to the cooker. Stir gently.
  9. Add the meat and cover. Cook on low for seven hours. Add mushrooms and cook another hour.
  10. Serve with crispy home fries or potato of choice.

 

Egg Salad with Beets

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EggSaladwithBeets

Growing up, my Dad owned a a chain of sub shops called Pickle Barrel. One of his pride and joy recipes was his egg salad. His secret ingredient was Miracle Whip but I don’t eat the stuff anymore. I’m not even sure what it’s made of but egg salad is still a favorite of mine I just make it with mayo. This one is made with beets for some extra nutritional value and tartness. I ate it on some celery sticks but it tastes just as good on a crusty roll or cracker, according to my husband.

Egg Salad with Beets
 
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Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 5 hard boiled eggs
  • 2 Tablespoons mayo
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • ½ cup roasted beets (I used the jarred trader joes variation)
  • 1 Tablespoon diced red onion
  • salt and pepper
  • (optional) 1 teaspoon fresh dill
  • bread, celery sticks, cucumber, field greens or whatever vehicle you prefer
Instructions
  1. Mix eggs, mayo, dijon, beets, red onion, dill, salt and pepper in a bowl.
  2. Serve with your preferred vehicle

 

Green Salad with Chicken and Mustard Vinaigrette

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Chicken Field Green Salad with Mustard VinaigretteIt’s been too long since I’ve posted anything green. The holidays kind of got the best of me and to be honest, I’ve been in a bit of a funk ever since. I was certain all this uber clean eating and less alcohol would take care of it but I think this deep freeze is to blame. The next few days are supposed to be better (like 15 degrees instead of -15 degrees for all you non-northerners). Hopefully a little child’s play like sledding or skating will take care of these blahs. That and finishing up the maddening documentary, Making a Murder. I go to bed pissed off almost every night we watch it. When does New Girl start? Ok, I’ll stop my whining now.

I’ve been hesitant to post salad recipes because they are a no brainer in my world. I make them often so I’ve had a lot of practice however, I’ve been told to keep giving ideas. If you want to substitute things like pears for the beets or pecans for the pistachios, that would also make a lovely combination. Remember the formula, something sweet or tangy, something salty, something crunchy and of course, the greens.

Chicken Field Green Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
 
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Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • SALAD
  • 3½ cups field greens or green mix of any variety
  • 1 cooked chicken thigh or small breast, sliced
  • 1 large already cooked beet, diced (jarred or steamed work too)
  • ¼ cup shelled pistachios, salted
  • VINAIGRETTE
  • 1 Tablespoon oil of choice, I used Pistachio
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, I used stone ground
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
  1. Whisk all vinaigrette ingredients together
  2. Toss salad ingredients together with vinaigrette

 

Bolognese Sauce

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Bolognese_sauceThis recipe is not super veggie-sentric but I do try to add as many veggies to it to make it healthier. I also use my favorite jarred organic mushroom spaghetti sauce from Trader Joes which doesn’t have any cheese or soy added. What’s even more awesome is this recipe can be done in under 30 minutes. It’s my quick go to when I don’t have a plan which usually happens about once a week. It goes great with my Monster Noodles.

Bolognese Sauce
 
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Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 5
Ingredients
  • 1 lb of ground meat, I use beef or pork sausage
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ jar of tomato sauce or marinara
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 1 celery stalk, diced
  • 1 cup button mushroom, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano or basil
  • ½ cup dry red wine
Instructions
  1. Place meat in a large skillet to brown over medium heat, about 10 minutes
  2. While meat is cooking, prep and cut veggies
  3. Add onion, carrots, celery and bay leaves and cook for another 5 minutes
  4. Add mushrooms and tomato paste and cook for another 5
  5. Add tomato sauce, wine and herbs and let simmer and cook down the liquid for 5-10 minutes or longer if preferred.

 

Bacon Spinach Quiche

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Bacon Spinach Quiche

Our family lives on eggs. We eat them about every other day for breakfast. They are packed with so many good nutrients and they keep me full all morning. Long gone are the days of cereal or peanut butter toast…shit! I haven’t thought about that in months. Peanut butter toast was my saving grace when I was pregnant AND when I was nursing. I would make it in the middle of the night when I was starving. Ugh.

Ok…back to the main event here.

Quiche takes far less work than you’d think. Plus, you can freeze it for later. Or another option is to do crust-less muffins which would cut cooking time to about 30 minutes versus 45. I used a dairy-free, gluten-free frozen crust from Wholly Wholesome purchased from Whole Foods. I let that thaw for 10 minutes and baked it for 10 minutes before adding the remaining ingredients.

This recipe is completely dairy and gluten free but for all you cheese-lovers, gruyere would be so lovely on this one.

Bacon Spinach Quiche
 
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Recipe type: Breakfast/Brunch
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • ¾ cup canned coconut cream
  • 4 slices of bacon
  • ½ Tablespoon oil
  • ½ medium sliced onion
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh diced sage
  • 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
Instructions
  1. Prepare crust according to package
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F
  3. Meanwhile render bacon and slice onion
  4. Sauté the onion in oil at medium heat for about 10 minutes or until translucent
  5. Whisk eggs, coconut cream and sage together
  6. Once crust is cooled slightly, cut bacon into small stripes and place in crust
  7. Add onion and spinach leaves
  8. Carefully fill the crust with the egg mixture
  9. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

 

Meatloaf Vegged

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meatloaf_vegged_2Some flavors are instant reminders of my childhood, sugar cereal, cottage cheese, bologna. All things I no longer eat, or would even attempt to eat. Something like meatloaf, minus the breadcrumbs, is totally tolerable. It brings me back to those annoying dinners you didn’t want to eat and would sneak half of the food in my mouth and half into my napkin. Obviously I had much more distain for the all-mighty-loaf than I do now. I’ve embraced it by adding loads of vegetables, two kinds of meat, yet still drowning it in ketchup.

Meatloaf Vegged
 
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Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
  • 1 T coconut oil
  • 1 onion, halved
  • 1 celery stalk, quartered
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled & quartered
  • 2½ cups fresh spinach
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1¼ lb ground beef
  • 1¼ lb ground turkey
  • 3 T balsamic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ ketchup (sugar free or homemade for whole30)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a small baking sheet or bread pan with parchment paper
  2. Heat oil in skillet
  3. Place onion in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to the large, oiled skillet. Add carrot and celery to the food processor, and pulse until chopped. Add spinach and pulse a few times more. Add to the skillet.
  4. Place the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring. Continue cooking until liquid evaporates and vegetables begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
  5. Add egg, ground meat, balsamic, salt and black pepper to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands. Scrape mixture into the bread pan or onto the baking sheet and form into a loaf approximately 4 inches wide and 10 inches long. Spread top of loaf with ketchup. Bake until cooked through, about 40 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before slicing.