Super Yummy Mini Cauliflower Chicken Pot Pies (Low carb & GF!)

We hit this point every few months where we're just plain tired of eating the same food over and over.  Once it gets more challenging to get the grill out (hello snow) I am forced to do some major research on new meals that are easy, everyone likes, and are (mostly) healthy.  No sense in throwing my nutrition goals out the window just to save a few minutes!!

Pinterest came to my rescue again a few weeks ago as I was meal planning, and I found a recipe for HEALTHY POT PIE!!!  I LOVE pot pie, so this was super exciting.

You can check out the original recipe here: http://www.itscheatdayeveryday.com/low-carb-cauliflower-pot-pies/

Note that I'm posting my own thoughts & tweaks on it, as well as my take on the recipe since I had to scroll forever on their page to get to it.  You can print their version though, if that's easier.

This makes about 5 mini-pot pies using the regular muffin tins.

Cauliflower cups:
- 1 bag crumbled cauliflower (sometimes called cauliflower rice)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 C parmesan
- salt/pepper

Filling:
- 2 chicken breasts, diced & cooked
- 1 1/4 C chicken broth
- 1/4 C unsweetened almond milk (I just used the vanilla flavored unsweetened almond milk, since that's what I have for my shakes)
- 1 C frozen peas & carrots (I used a little extra)
- 1 T onion powder
- 2 T cornstarch mixed with 1/4 C water (mix immediately and stir well, before adding to the sauce)
- Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
- Heat oven to 400F
- Microwave the cauliflower rice on high for 5 minutes.  While cooking, spread a cheesecloth or a thin dish towel on the counter. 
- Spread the cooked cauliflower rice on the towel and let cool for about 10 minutes.  This is critical or you'll burn your hands!
- Once cooled, gather the ends of the towel with the cauliflower rice in the middle.  Start squeezing all the liquid out of the cauliflower rice, twisting the towel while the cauliflower rice is bunched in the middle.  Make sure you get as much liquid out as possible.
- Add the now-dried cauliflower rice to a bowl with the egg, cheese, salt, and pepper.  Mix well using a wooden spoon or your hands.
- Spray large muffin tins with cooking spray and pat the cauliflower crust mixture into the tins.  Make sure it's evenly spread along the bottom and sides, creating a shell to hold the filling.
- Bake for 20 minutes or so until the shells are lightly browned and the center is no longer squishy
- While the shells are baking, heat a skillet and saute the onions until translucent.  Add the chicken broth, almond milk, peas & carrots, onion powder, and salt/pepper.
- Stir and cover to steam the frozen veggies, about 5-8 minutes or until the veggies are soft
- While the filling is cooking, mix the cornstarch with the water to create a "slurry".  Add this to the sauce filling, along with the cooked chicken. 
- Remove the cauliflower shells from the oven, and use a fork or knife to remove them gently from each muffin tin.  Use a large spoon to dish the filling into each shell. 
- Serve and enjoy!

Hearty & Healthy Beef and Veggie Soup

There's nothing better on a COLD Minnesota winter evening than hot soup.  Bonus if it's healthy and can fit into one of my meal plans!  I love tossing random things into a crock pot, and coming home to a hot dinner and house that smells wonderful.

Last week my soup was beef & veggie.  I've been using tons of veggies in my soups this winter to make it a little more interesting and to bump up our nutrient intake.  There is SO much illness going around that extra nutrients can't hurt. 

Ingredients:
- Stew Beef (1 packet of it, all pre-cut from Hy Vee)
- 1 container low sodium beef broth (not stock)
- 1/4 a container of low sodium chicken broth (if you're not cooking it for longer than 6 hours you probably don't need this.  Mine cooked for 10 hours, and I was afraid of the liquid getting too low and burning)
- 1/2 C barley, dry
- 2 C chopped green beans
- 3 stalks of celery, dimed
- 5 carrots, peeled and dimed
- 1/2 a purple onion, diced
- 1/2 C frozen sweet corn (bonus if you have some that you froze yourself from this summer!)
- seasonings of your choice (I used one that was Maple Bacon, another that was Chipotle Garlic, and then just some extra garlic powder (not salt)).

Directions:
- Add all the ingredients to a large crock pot
- Stir to ensure everything is mixed well
- Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours
- Eat and enjoy!!

Note: this heats up well.  We always have enough for 2+ meals, and the "cooked" picture is from our leftovers later in the week. 

80 Day Obsession Meal Planning Made Simple!

Who's excited for the newest Beachbody program from Autumn Calabrese, called 80 Day Obsession?  I'm beyond pumped for a new program from my favorite trainer.  Plus, having a BRAND NEW WORKOUT every day for 80 days guarantees I won't get bored and my body will continue to be challenged.  No plateaus here!

To be honest, I was more than a little intimidated when I heard about this whole timed-eating thing.  The nutrition part of each fitness program is where I struggle, so adding specific blocks of eating time to that?  Add to that timed plans that didn't align with my hectic working-mom life.  Oh man, my heart about stopped.

But I'm a spreadsheets & planning gal, and sat down and broke it out in a way that makes sense for me.  I'm still focused on eating as closely to Autumn's plan as possible, because I want to see those results!  Yet I know that in order to make it work FOR ME I need to adjust it.  My 5 am works still need to happen, since I have to be at work and have kids to get to school in the morning.  And on the days where I have an early meeting?  Well I needed an evening plan too.

I'll be following Eating Plan A for my calorie needs.  This template is built for that eating plan.  It should be pretty easy to update based on YOUR eating plan though too!  It includes plans for an early morning workout, an evening workout, and your rest day.  Note: this does NOT include plans for the Phase 2 Refeed Day.  When we get closer I'll build that out and share it.

Check out the template on my front page, down on the right side or by using this link.  Good luck and reach out if you need equipment, support, or want to join us on the 80 Day Obsession!

Ready to join us now?  Check it out here and save $10 through 1/14/18!! 

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