Easy Egg Salad

Aside from the fact that my middle daughter can't have eggs, they are a staple item for the rest of us! Egg salad is my oldest daughter's favorite food, so I find myself making it quite frequently. Having boiled eggs in the fridge always winds up being a lifesaver for me. My hubby will grab a few to take as a protein packed snack for work, or I'll whip up a quick batch of egg salad for lunch. It's always a great idea at the beginning of the week to boil a dozen! There was a time when I stopped making egg salad because I didn't like any of the mayonnaise that was available. Then I realized that all I had to do was make my own! If there is one thing I've learned over the years it's that there is almost nothing you can't do better yourself.

I found a great recipe for mayo at nom nom paleo. She even has a video! It may seem intimidating, but it's not at all. One of the easiest thing's I've ever made. I personally only had olive oil on hand, and my mayo tasted just like evoo, so I would suggest using avocado oil or something like that.

Easy Egg Salad

• 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled, rinsed & chopped (How to make perfect hard boiled eggs) 
• 1/2-1 teaspoon yellow mustard (make sure there is not any additives or sugar!) 
• 2-3 Tablespoons homemade mayo
• 1 green onion, finely chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a medium size bowl, slightly mashing with a fork. Salt & pepper to taste and serve on your favorite sprouted or gluten free bread or over a fresh salad!

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Crock Pot Roasted Chicken

I guess I've been using my crock pot a lot this past week since I just posted back to back recipes involving my 3rd favorite kitchen appliance. If you're wondering what my 1st and 2nd favorites are, that would be the dishwasher (of course!) and my kitchen aid mixer (in pistachio.) The only reason the dishwasher beats the kitchen aid mixer is because of function over fashion. Anywho, the crock pot is an absolute lifesaver. If you don't have one, you don't know what you're missing.

I have people tell me all the time they never make whole chickens because it's intimidating. Making a whole chicken is not only delicious, but it's easy as pie! Actually, MUCH easier than pie. It's also very affordable and practical since you can use the chicken broth for soups or in any recipe that calls for it. I make a whole chicken once a week and it's a family favorite! Tonight we ate it shredded in tacos. Yum.

Crock Pot Roasted Chicken

• 1 whole chicken (make sure to remove the bag of "extras" from the inside cavity)
• 8 cups of filtered water
• 2 carrots, roughly chopped
• 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
• 1 bay leaf 
• 1 teaspoon salt

First thing you'll want to do is remove the bag of innards from the inside cavity of the chicken. Save them for later if you enjoy chicken liver, or toss them out if you can't even imagine eating it. That's ok. Give your chicken a quick rinse and then place it into the crock pot.  Add your veggies, bay leaf, salt and water. Put the crock pot on low for 8 hours.

That's it! Told you it was simple. Once the chicken is finished, remove it from the crock pot and use it however you like! Remember to strain the chicken stock from your pot (toss the veggies & bay leaf) and put it in the refrigerator for using later.



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Crock Pot White Beans

The crock pot is one of my favorite inventions of all times. What could be easier than putting ingredients into it, turning it on and walking away? I've never used mine so much as I have since the birth of my third child. It just makes my life easier. Once you figure out how simple it is to cook beans in it, you'll never buy canned again. If you're wondering why we eat navy beans as opposed to pinto, maybe you want to check out this article to see the full spectrum of health benefits and nutritional information! Beyond the fact that they are packed full of fiber and protein, they are also extremely tasty.

Crock Pot White Beans

• 1 pound navy beans, rinsed and sorted
• 9 cups homemade chicken stock (or water)
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt

Place all ingredients into your crock pot, put the lid on and cook on low for 8 hours. If you need them done sooner, cook on high for 2 hours and then switch to low for at least 2-3. I usually put them on in the morning and let them cook all day. Sometimes I even turn them on at night before bed so we have them the next day for lunch. Enjoy!

                                   
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Sweet + Salty Cinnamon "Kettle Corn" (No Sugar!)

I love sweets. You maybe already know this about me. Some people like their popcorn extra salty, I prefer to have the sweeter version. Since my sugar intake is close to nil these days, I'm looking for alternatives to some of my favorites. This cinnamon "kettle corn" is sweet, salty and delicious without one single bit of sugar! It takes about 10 minutes total to make and is such a great afternoon treat. The kiddos definitely approve.

Sweet + Salty Cinnamon "Kettle Corn"

• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels 
• 4 Tablespoon + 1 Tablespoon Coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 15-20 drops liquid stevia 

In a small bowl melt 4 Tablespoons coconut oil. Once melted, add liquid stevia and stir.

In a large pot with lid, melt 1 Tablespoon coconut oil on medium to medium high heat. Add popcorn kernels and place a lid on the pot. Once the popping starts, shake the kernels pretty constantly so they don't burn.  When the popping slows down or finishes, remove from heat. Drizzle coconut oil + stevia mix onto popcorn and mix. Add cinnamon and salt and stir until it's completely coating popcorn. Enjoy!


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Easy Minestrone Soup - (Gluten Free/Vegan)

I very much enjoy a good minestrone soup. This is a really simple recipe, and it's the perfect meal to make a day in advance for the next evenings meal. An added bonus is that it tastes even better the next day! There is no meat, so it's extremely budget friendly, but still very filling because of all the hearty veggies and mung beans.

Easy Minestrone Soup

• 1-2 Tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 pound carrots
• 2 medium yellow squash
• 2 medium zucchini squash 
• 1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes (I've used fire roasted & regular!) 
• 1 pound frozen green beans
• 8 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock!) 
• 1 cup mung beans or green lentils (soaked overnight!) 
• Salt and pepper to taste

*Make sure you soak your lentils or mung beans overnight prior to making soup. If you forget, you can do a quick soak by washing your beans or lentils, bringing them to a boil in a medium saucepan and then reducing heat and simmering on low for 15 minutes. They will cook a few minutes longer once you add them to the soup, so don't worry if they're not completely soft after the quick soak.

Heat oil on medium heat in a large stockpot. Add chopped onion, garlic, salt and pepper and cook for 7-8 minutes until onions are softened and garlic is browning. Add chopped carrots and cook a couple minutes more. Add vegetable or chicken stock, crushed tomates, zucchini, yellow squash and frozen green beans and simmer on medium low until veggies are tender. Once soup is almost done, add lentils or mung beans, cooking just a few minutes more until lentils/beans are soft. Add more salt and pepper as needed, serve & enjoy. 

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10 Tips For Cleaning + Eating Organically Without Going Broke

It seems like the very first thing anyone brings up when I say we only eat organic is money. Since I'm a stay at home mom with three little ones (another thing everyone always asks is how we can afford to have kids…that's a whole other post), and my husband is clearly not a millionaire, it's assumed that we are being absurd. I used to be an avid coupon shopper and get tons of junk food and chemical laden household items for free or very cheap. BUT, what do you do when the products you now WANT to buy are much more expensive than the products you could get coupon shopping but no longer feel comfortable using? Hopefully I'll be able to help answer those questions and let you see how you can still eat what you want, use the products you want, and not break the bank.

10 Tips For Cleaning + Eating Organically Without Going Broke

BUDGET + USE CASH OR DEBIT -- While this sounds silly, or maybe some of you only have a debit card, for those who frequently use credit cards, it's way too easy to overspend. When you purposefully use cash or a debit card knowing it's coming straight out of your account, you will spend more wisely, and believe me you'll think a little harder about what you're putting into your cart.

MEAL PLANNING -- Have you ever run to the store, grabbed a few things, and ended up leaving thinking; "what in the world did I buy that cost $125?" Then three days later you're running by the grocery store again because you're out of food & you need something for dinner? I've been there. More than once. Meal planning has saved my life. When you get your stores ad's, meal plan that day after you've looked through the flyer and seen what's on sale. By planning your meals around seasonal fresh fruits and veggies, you're always getting the best deal. Does it take more work? Yes. In the moment, it does, but think of the time you save not going out again and the money you save by utilizing your ingredients!

STICK TO YOUR LIST -- This falls in line with meal planning. When you know what you're making for dinner every single night, and you've got your list of ingredients to buy, you sweep past those pesky packaged cookies or frozen pizza's (but hey they were organic, right?) with ease knowing that you're only getting what's on the list. Abstain if it's not an absolute NECESSITY. I know it's sometimes hard to make the call because those fresh flowers are so pretty, or that organic hand soap smelled so good or you just don't feel like making dinner tonight….. We have all bought unnecessary items. When do you conclude that you don't absolutely need it if it wasn't on your list? Take a moment while shopping to put the item in question down. Finish up your shopping, and only return to that item if you still think that it's a must. I usually never make it back when I do this.

PREPARE IN ADVANCE -- When Friday rolls around and you peek at the calendar realizing that the weekend is all of the sudden PACKED with errands, sports & family fun, you are most assuredly not going to have time to make dinner! Even if you do get home in time, you just won't feel like preparing a meal. Use those days you ARE home with not much going on to prepare! Make a lasagna to stick in the fridge for Saturday night. Pre-cut a bunch of veggies and put them in ziplock bags as a quick snack to grab when you're on your way out the door. This will keep you from hitting the drive-thru. One meal eating out for my family is anywhere from $20-$30 on average. It adds up fast considering I could have gotten and entire day and a half of meals and snacks for that amount for my entire family had we used the money on groceries.

BEWARE OF THE LABLE "ORGANIC" WITH PROCESSED FOOD -- Why did I pay $4.79 for a bag of gluten free organic rice chips? Because our brains automatically think "healthy" when we see them. All of the sudden my cart is filling up with 4oz bags of snacks that promise they're good for you (but seem to disappear in one sitting), and three day's later the kids are begging for snacks because they're hungry. When you avoid processed food altogether (YES, EVEN ORGANIC!), you're INSTANTLY saving money. Instead, use the whole foods you've already purchased for your meals by creating snacks around them that are homemade, healthy and already available. Try Sweet + Salty Cinnamon "Kettle Corn", Zucchini Hummus + fresh veggies, Almond Pulp Cinnamon Raisin Crackers, Green Smoothie, Vegan Strawberry Milkshake, or Peanut Butter + Jelly Cookies to name a few. The possibilities are endless!

SHOP SALES AND STOCK UP WHEN IT'S ON SALE -- This may seem like a no brainer, but it's a huge part of how I save money. This can also be done with with cleaning supplies. Keep your eyes peeled for your favorite brands and take advantage when you see them on sale for a good price, even if you don't immediately need them. I've gotten killer deals on cleaning supplies by grabbing them when they're marked down so I don't have to pay full price when I run out. Did you know that a few times a year even stores like Whole Foods will have amazing deals on organic meats? I've gotten organic grass fed ground beef for $3.99-$4.99 a pound at my local Whole Foods & Sprouts. When it's that low, stock up! We made the decision to purchase a deep freezer last year so we always have room to utilize. It's been a fantastic investment for us and we've been able to store ground beef, whole chickens, roasts, steaks and all sorts of things when they're on sale! We also made the decision to purchase a quarter cow which has been amazing! It has and will continue to save us tons of money between sales so we aren't paying top dollar for organic meat while waiting for the next time the price is low.

MAKE NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS THAT GO A LONG WAY -- One big pot of my crock pot white beans makes our meals go a lot further! We eat them as a side dish with tacos, make white bean chili, have them with our eggs for breakfast & eat them for lunch when there aren't leftovers. Quinoa and long grain brown rice are other great staples that are cheap and readily available organic!

UTILIZE STORE COUPONS -- Did you know that most stores put out their own coupons? Even better is that most stores will also take a manufacturer coupon on top of their store coupon! This is a fantastic way to save extra money!  I really enjoyed this post How To Shop At Whole Foods Without Spending Your Whole Paycheck. Great tips and tricks for those of you who want to shop there or who haven't because you think it's too expensive! I myself shop there frequently because there are certain organic products that are actually cheaper than other places! They also do fantastic sales and one day deals that you can keep your eyes peeled for.

DIY -- I don't know if you've noticed, but DIY is kind of a big deal. While this seems like a lot of fun, and pinterest is literally exploding with DIY ideas, this is actually a most practical concept, and I hate to break it to you, but it's not new. I'm pretty sure before Target came into the world women were making their own laundry soap, toothpaste and deodorant. It's ok if you're not the Little House on the Prairie type, you can do it. I believe in you. Check out this post titled 25 Best Natural Cleaning Formula's, and this one called Make These 36 DIY Cleaning Products For Pennies. I use baking soda and vinegar for EVERYTHING!

COMPARISON SHOP -- While sometimes it's NOT worth driving to another store for a cheaper price, it most definitely can pay off when you plan accordingly. Don't make a special trip to a different store if the payoff is only $1. But if you have 10 items you know for a fact are much cheaper at a different store or that particular store is having a great sale that week, count the cost! If it's worth it, you are able to save a lot of money by using this method with groceries and cleaning + toiletry items alike.

Hopefully you feel empowered to get out there and save! Feel free to share any tips and tricks you use that have been helpful to you! xo


Fancy Food Thoughts contains some contextual affiliate links which advertisers have agreed to pay a commission if a purchase is made from that click-through. Everything I recommend are products I use & love!

Nursing A Baby With Food Allergies Guest Post

A while back an amazing friend of mine asked me to write a guest post for her blog. Such a great opportunity to share about the very important topic of  babies with food allergies. My second daughter is the one who set our journey to nutrition and healing with food in motion! You can read my guest post at This House of Joy! You'll love Sherry's site and her awesome recipes and information, so make sure to check out her other posts!

Fancy Food Thoughts contains some contextual affiliate links which advertisers have agreed to pay a commission if a purchase is made from that click-through. Everything I recommend are products I use & love!