Day 8?

Hi Readers!

I feel like we have been doing whole30 for so long it kind of doesn't feel like it anymore. The days blend together, the dinners roll on by, and the tupperware needs to be washed almost daily. You all know.

The best part about doing whole30 on and off since May is this:

1. My body is responding quickly. Kill all the things just didn't happen! 
2. Workouts are easier (and actually happening. Remember round one, readers?)!
3. Morning wake ups. I'm a bear in the morning. I habitually snooze for as long as humanly possible (contract time is 8, I get out of bed at 6:50) and do minimal things to get ready. Today, I SHOWERED BEFORE WORK! This happens probably twice a year and it is usually planned in advance. Not today! I'm sleeping well, soundly, through the night. I love it! 

I realized that this time has been easier because we have had whole30 dinners regardless of our diets, and have just added a few things here and there: me, white wine, M some sort of beer. We indulge in things we miss like Whiskey Cake (made of dates) but nothing that is just pure sugar or gluten. It is amazing the difference in how we behave and feel about ourselves when those things are out of our diet. 

iPhone cameras just really get it done. pffft.

Now is the part I show you all my dinners because they've been amazing. 

One Problem....

sometimes I am too hungry and forget. 

Saturday: I don't know what we had. It was so long ago! We may have gone somewhere? 

Sunday: 

1. roasted green beans
2. stuffed peppers (with lamb, homemade taco spice, and rando veggies like onion and garlic and carrots). 
3. half an avocado - that stuff was so spicy it was a nice palate cleanser! 

I also made applesauce on Sunday - which is clearly becoming a new ritual. If I knew how easy it was, I would have done it a long time ago. It is definitely cheaper than buying it, and I know exactly what is in my applesauce: apples! 

This is how to make applesauce:

peel, core and chop apples. 

place in crockpot with 1/4c water.

set on high for 1 hour, low for 5.

stir every once in a while.

ta-daaaa!!

Applesauce is the best. This actually is the closest I've come to eating my grandma's recipe-  when she passed, so did her applesauce, as far as I know. This makes my heart (and belly!) happy! 

Monday:

1. Salmon (I had WF cut up a fillet into thicker cuts - it lends for a juicier, meatier fish)
2. Ratatouille 

I found that if I sprinkled my salmon with lemons and cumin, it made this incredible flavor. Call me the Giada of the northwestern region! 

Also, if you've never made ratatouille, it is probably THE EASIEST thing in the world to make. Just make sure your veggies are thin. You can find the inspirational recipe I used at the Passionate Parsley! Her's looks much prettier than mine, I can promise you that. 

M really liked this dish. ...These days, he likes everything though, so it may  have been an un-truth! 

Tuesday:

Today, I got a little ambitious, found a recipe online and decided to try it out. I generally come up with foods in my brain and then totally do my best, but there are some things so outrageous that I cannot even fathom thinking of myself. This dish is one of them. 

The Pumpkin Chicken Pot Pie from Perchance to Cook is probably one of the best things I've ever ingested. I don't like pumpkin (or so I thought) and I don't really like chicken (at all) but M does. When the two flavors came together, it was like marriage in a bowl. Seriously, go try it. 

I love the way the recipe was laid out; it was easy to follow and it was done sensically. This one started with boiling chicken - and then it was a busy 40 minutes to get this thing into the oven! I'll say though, it is WELL worth the effort. Try it today! Also, her picture is much prettier than mine. :)

I know it was long, but now I'm caught up - so hello, have fun looking at these photos and always feel free to ask any questions! We are seasoned whole30 professionals over here. 

Need recipe inspiration? Everything on my JERF Pinterest Board is tried and true - with only some minor tweaks! Happy cooking, dear readers!