Coconut Curry Chicken

Yesterday I did something I am quite proud of.  Actually a few things I am quite proud of.  First and foremost, I just up and made a meal without a recipe.  I am generally a pretty strict recipe follower, unless it's something I have made a million times and I have it fairly committed to memory.  Now, I do adjust recipes here and there and do my own thing, but generally speaking I am a recipe girl.  The second thing I did that I am proud of was I didn't plan on making this meal, I just looked in the cabinets and thought oh all of this randomness can make something.  I am quite proud of myself.  I know...it doesn't take much.  But voila, I ended up with a yummy recipe that was husband approved and thought I would share.

Try not to judge my picture taking abilities...this was with my phone...not so fabulous

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So here is the recipe give it a whirl if you'd like. 

Coconut Curry Chicken
1 lb chicken breasts cut into thin strips
2 cups broccoli
3/4 cup onion diced
3/4 cup green bell pepper diced
3/4 cup carrots diced
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
13.5 ounces of coconut milk
2 cloves of garlic minced or pressed
2 tbsp. of curry powder
1 tsp. turmeric
3 tbsp. coconut oil

1. Melt a tablespoon or two of the coconut oil in a pan.  I used my dutch oven.
2. Toss in those veggies and saute those puppies up.  I did the broccoli last so it wouldn't get too mushy. Then remove veggies to a separate bowl.
3. Melt up the rest of that coconut oil and toss in your chicken and cook thoroughly .
4.  Add your curry and turmeric to the chicken and stir until the chicken is coated.
5. Add your veggies back, coconut milk and tomatoes, 
6. Stir to combine and cook until heated all the way through.

** Note I am trying to not add salt to my food so this was pretty much saltless.  I added a little salt to the chicken.  A little salt would have probably helped. 

Enjoy bloggies!!

Diet, Life Change, Feed Your Face

So for a while now Ryan and I have been trying to get into better shape and really to eat differently and better.  We aren't horrible eaters, but maybe not the most attentive.  We are working hard at getting in exercise regularly and incorporating better eating.  We have tons of reasons for all of this.  There obvious weight reasons and wanting to stay in a healthy weight range.  We also have two small children and want to always be the best we can for them.  We have a responsibility to teach them good habits and how do we do that if we don't have those healthy habits.  I also feel like we have to be responsible with what God as given us, meaning we only get one body. 

We've been tossing around ideas on different eating changes.  Ryan is really pushing for a Paleo Diet.  If you are unfamiliar with this it pushes for a throwback to our Stone Age ancestors...more of a hunter gather mentality.  Well don't get carried away, these Paleo folks still shop at a store.  Not to say we are incapable, but I think we would starve to death if we had to go literally hunt and gather.  It's more of a whole food, stay close to the source kind of idea.  (If I understand right) Personally though, I have a tendency to struggle with meat.  I get grossed out sometimes and feel sad for the animals.  I think of their cute faces looking at me with sad eyes and think of their babies or the babies they always wanted.  Don't tell me they don't have feelings...I won't believe you.

See so cute...  (Source)

 In light of my meat issues, I would be more apt to toss animal products out the window and eat veggies and grains etc. Maybe more of a vegetarian or vegan idea?  My favorite blog right now to check out is Oh She Glows.  It's fabulously vegan and oh so appealing.  I look a the recipes and think "I could do that".  Maybe

But then again there is this whole grain issue.  The Paleo diet pushes how these are bad for us and we weren't really intended to be eating grains.  Also my mom has Celiacs Disease which is a gluten allergy.  This just happens to be a hereditary thing.  So maybe I would be better to give up grains now and be proactive in my health rather than push it until I possibly develop problems.

I do know these things...I love pasta, I love cheese, I love bread, I love to bake, I hate tomatoes....

What's a girl to do??? 

Maybe one day at a time, huh?  I think I can start slow on either option and decide as I go.  I think I will start with these goals:

** Drink more water
** Exercise 3-5 times a week (I think this give me room for the things that inevitably come up)
** Work on cutting wheat out...there are tons of replacement options if I am still craving a pasta

I will keep you all updated on how this is going.  One day at a time right?  I think it really does have to be a life change and change in the way I think.  I can't look at any of this as being deprived because as soon as I do that I know I will fail.  We need to do what is best for us and unfortunately all of the yummy overly processed food is truly killing us.  Even though at times it seems so appealing.  I think if we can get ourselves detoxed so to speak we won't want to go back.

What do you think?