Posts

Crock Pot Paleo: Cilantro Chicken Curry

, , , ,

Now that the weather is getting cooler, I am so into crock pot cooking!

Here is one of my favorite crockin’ recipes, paleo style. Organic ingredients of course!

 

Cilantro Chicken Curry

1-1/2 lb. of chicken- legs, thighs, breast cut up as desired

1 cup of chopped carrots

1 cup of chopped celery

2/3 cup diced onion

5 cloves garlic minced

1 cup of chopped cilantro

1 cup of diced japanese sweet potato or yam

chicken broth cover the ingredients

2 tsp of curry

salt as needed

ghee for coating the bottom of the ceramic crock pot

 

Lightly coat the bottom of the ceramic crock pot with ghee or healthy oil such as avocado or coconut oil.

First add the chicken, then all of the veggies on top of the chicken. Pour chicken broth on top until you cover the ingredients.

Turn on the crock pot at high level, then down to low after 1 hour. Add curry and cilantro. Continue on low until the chicken falls off the bone!

Enjoy!

BTW- you can add alternative flours such as brown rice or quinoa 15 minutes before serving to thicken the sauce as desired!

/by

THEA DIXON: THE ORGANIC CHEF

organicprivatechef.com

We all know what eating healthy looks like. Get enough fruits and vegetables, eat lean proteins, stay away from trans fats, and keep the sugary foods to a minimum. For organic, private chef Thea Dixon however, eating healthy should be a multi-sensory experience that nourishes not only the body, but the mind and spirit, so that when you are finished with your meal you feel energized, satisfied, and rejuvenated.

Thea’s experience in the culinary arts is both tenured and multi-cultural. Having cooked with her grandmother and mother at the age of 6, she developed an appreciation for food early on. By the age of 15, her relationship with food matured and she began traveling, absorbing the cooking methods of different cultures, from Greece to Italy. Her fascination with biology, nutrition, and the synergistic relationship between food and the body provoked her to train as a pediatric nurse as well as travel to Sri Lanka to study Ayurvedic Principles for cooking nourishing, balanced meals.

To have traveled so many places, schooled in cooking methods both creative, unconventional and healthy, Thea brings a lot to the table. She can provide a quality 5-course meal that caters to anyone’s diet from vegan to gluten-free, and is highly focused on Wellness Cuisine. The best part about her talent? She shares it with the world by providing cooking classes at dinner parties. This August 27th I am hosting a cooking class at my house where we’ll all be able to learn a thing or two about preparing delicious, healthy meals quickly. I have never been more inspired by a chef and her passion for cooking—what a treat!

Find out how you can participate in one of her classes at  http://organicprivatechef.com

References:

http://organicprivatechef.com

 

 

 

 

/by

Organic Pizza at your Door From Pizza Fusion

There is no denying we all love a good slice of pizza, and occasionally, a slice or two will not be the death of us. You have to admit though, after ordering a pizza from your average Pizza Hut, it does not sit with us well for the rest of the day. Deep-dish crusts, sausage, bacon, and triple cheese are probably the most fat and carbohydrate-packed foods out there, so the reason we feel sluggish after a pizza is abundantly clear.  If you are looking to go the fresh,  healthier and organic route with your pizza, a franchise called Pizza Fusion is a great solution—and they also deliver! This place is my favorite pizza joint in Santa Monica, actually the only place I know of that serves gluten-free and dairy-free, organic pizzas that are super delicious!

Back in 2006, Michael Gordon and Vaughan Lazar recognized that there were not many dining out options for people interested in an organic lifestyle. They created Pizza Fusion to fufill the needs of like minded and health concious people. Providing not only organic pizza, brownies, and beer, Pizza Fusion is the epitome of environmentally friendly run businesses. Believing wholeheartedly that “social responsibility is just as important as profitability”, Gordon and Lazar set out to not only serve quality organic ingredients (listed on the menu in green), but to do what was best for the Planet. Everything from the construction of the building to the booths, the countertops, even the clothes on their employees’ backs are made from 100% recycled products. They even have hybrid delivery cars!

Recognized as one of the only pizza joints around with such a small carbon footprint, you cannot go wrong placing an order from them. Their menu also includes vegan and regular salads with many organic ingredients to choose from , along with meatball sliders and free range chicken sandwiches. So far, Pizza Fusion has locations in seven states across the United States, and even two in Saudi Arabia! Check out their website to find a location near you. Pizza never tasted so good and healthy!

BTW: just in case you want to know the exact ingredients in the Gluten-Free crust and Vegan Cheese:

Gluten Free Crust:

Filtered water, Better Batter gluten-free flour (white and brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato flour, xanthan gum, pectin), cane sugar, organic extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, instant dry yeast.

Vegan Soy Mozzarella by Follow Your Heart:

Filtered water, canola oil, tofu, soy protein, inulin, agar, sea salt, natural flavor, carrageenan, calcium lactate and lactic acid (both vegan)

Pizza Fusion

Santa Monica Location

2901 Ocean Park Blvd. Ste 123

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Phone: 310-581-2901

For other locations:

www.pizzafusion.com

/by

Huckleberry Friday

Finding restaurants in Los Angeles that use Farmer’s Market produce and high quality ingredients can be difficult. Luckily, there’s a great place in Santa Monica that serves fresh meals from local farmers that do not use pesticides or fertilizers. At Huckleberry Café, you will not be disappointed!

Run by husband and wife duo Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb, the Huckleberry Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a generous assortment of gluten and dairy free meals you can order as sit-down meals or to go. A quaint, casual cafe located on Wilshire Boulevard, Huckleberry’s is one of the best in town for organic, locally grown produce. All meals are cooked in-house using seasonal vegetables and ingredients.

Since opening its doors the cafe has reached citywide fame with mentions in LA Weekly, and visits from actors like Reese Witherspoon, and even our governor! I personally eat there about twice a week. I just can’t get enough of their butternut squash with cauliflower salad, or their Neiman’s Ranch chopped chicken. Just as savory is their Kale salad with balsamic vinegar–a lunch must-have if you’re in the area!

On most days though, I order the carrot and avocado salad and chicken veggie soup. Since they are usually pretty busy, the best way to get your meal quickly is to call and order ahead of time, and they’ll have it ready by the time you arrive. The valet service in the back parking lot is an added bonus!

References

http://www.huckleberrycafe.com/

/by