Taco Chili

With the colder temperatures, my tummy and body have been craving warmer and heartier foods. I had these ingredients in my pantry and fridge, tossed them together and was very pleasantly surprised. I've made it two more times since. The leftovers heat up great!

Ingredients:

1 lb grass fed organic ground beef

1 tbsp of coconut oil (or your preferred cooking oil)

i sweet onion, chopped

1 tbsp minced garlic

Dash of red pepper flakes (optional)

1 sweet potato, peeled and diced into bite size pieces

2 zucchini, halved and diced

1 15oz organic can of 3 bean medley (kidney, pinto, black)

1 packet of organic natural taco seasoning (you are welcome to make your own but I was being super quick/lazy)

Salt and pepper to taste

- Heat coconut oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat

- Add onions, garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir frequenty

- Once onions start to be come softer, add the sweet potato and mix well. Turn up heat of stove to medium

- Put zucchini in pan and combine all ingredients well. Next place pan lid on top and let veggies cook

- Meanwhile, in a separate pan, brown the ground beef

- When beef is done and veggies are cooked through, mix beef into veggie pan

- Add beans and taco seasoning, mix well. Place lid on top and let simmer for 2-5 minutes stirring as needed

Easy-peasy, healthy AND delicious! Enjoy!

"Fancy" Frittata

Ingredients:

Olive oil

5 eggs

4 egg whites

1 medium to large sweet potato, chopped into small cubes

1 clove chopped garlic

Sprinkle of crushed red pepper

Optional: 1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese

Swig of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

- Set oven to 400 degrees

- Heat a large, oven-safe skillet to medium heat

- Add a swig of olive oil, add garlic and crushed red pepper. Stir until fragrant

- Add cubed sweet potato to pan with olive oil and stir on and off for about 10 minutes or potato is cooked through

- Beat eggs and egg whites together well. Add salt and pepper to taste

- Layer cooked potatoes evenly on bottom of pan. Pour eggs on top of potatoes in pan and sprinkle goat cheese evenly

- Turn heat down and let egg mixture cook for 6-8 minutes until edges have hardened/browned slightly. Check frequently to avoid over cooking

- Place pan in oven for 10 minutes or until eggs are cooked through

Sweet Potato and Quinoa Cakes

My next door neighbor (the one with the chickens that I've told a lot of you all about,) Sarah, came up with this wonderful recipe and was kind enough to share it with me. Thanks Sarah!!

Ingredients:

1 cup dried quinoa

2 cups Vegetable (beef, chicken, etc) broth

1 sweet potato grated

1 cup Italian flavor bread crumbs (gluten free if you’d like)

3 eggs

1 small onion diced fine

3 cloves garlic pressed

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 tablespoons stone ground mustard

Cayenne pepper to taste

Salt and black pepper to taste

- Combine dried quinoa and broth in microwave safe container and microwave for 3 minutes loosely covered.

- Stir and return to microwave for 3 additional minutes or until it starts "spiraling". Drain remaining liquid.

- Combine cooked quinoa with all other ingredients in large bowl.

- Heat skillet to medium high with enough olive oil to liberally coat pan.

- Using 1/2 cup measure scoop quinoa mixture into pan and use spatula to flatten into patties. Cook approximately 3 minutes on each side, longer for more crisp patty.

- Enjoy with Greek yogurt and a sprig of fresh sweet basil or with honey mustard to dip.