Julia & Child

MEAL PLAN January 14th

January 11, 2019 by juliaandchild Leave a Comment

Woohoo! I’m on day 10 of #Whole30 and feeling so great. Not that I have’t had a couple of cravings for a glass of vino or some chocolate at the end of the day (cinnamon tea take the wheel!) but overall my energy has been so steady and my sleep restful. Good health is so easy to take for granted until you find yourself or someone you love not well. Making good habits and decisions today as well as learning to tune in to your body are what make the difference 5, 10, 20+ years from now. I am also aware how the choices I make not only effect me but also my daughter as she learns how to make decisions and listen to her own body. These are both very motivating factors to me sticking with the program. And as Melissa says its only 30 days 🙂 Cheers to a new week of wellness!

MONDAY: Chicken Piccata with Artichokes & Spinach

This recipe is from Danielle Walkers newest cookbook Eat What You Love and it’s one recipe my husband requested!

TUESDAY: Whole30 Chilaquiles with Carnitas Sweet Potatoes

Ok, so we can’t have tacos so we might as well make something close! Sweet Potato Carnitas Chilaquiles! Yum

THURSDAY: Salmon Burgers

I absolutely adore these Salmon Burgers from Teri at No Crumbs Left. They make a great breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can also make a “bun” with lettuce or portobello mushrooms.

FRIDAY: Shepherd’s Pie

I’ve had a couple of friends make shepherd’s pie this past week so I had to make this comfort food classic. I might swap the ground beef for lamb because I love lamb.

MEAL PLAN January 7th

January 7, 2019 by juliaandchild Leave a Comment

Happy 2019! If you’ve been following along on Instagram you know that I started Whole30 this past week. This is my fourth year of doing a Whole30 in January and I really think it’s a fantastic way to start the year. There is something about slowing down, eating with more intention and focusing on simple whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, healthy fats and healthy animal protein that lays a foundation for the days, weeks and months ahead. If this is your first Whole30 or you are interested in trying it I would highly recommend reading Melissa Hartwig’s book It Starts With Food. This will give you the tools, science and personal stories of why and how this approach can promote optimal health body, mind and spirit.

MONDAY: Sesame Meatball & Cauliflower Rice Bowl

These meatballs looks so delicious! I am going to swap out the Worcestershire sauce for Fish Sauce in this recipe to keep it compliant. You could use chicken, pork, turkey or beef for these. This recipe could easily be doubled as well.

TUESDAY: Chipotle Fish Taco Bowls

This is a favorite recipe of mine to make and if you are not following Alex @thedefineddish change that stat! These can be made with your favorite fish or even shrimp.

THURSDAY: Thai Yellow Curry with Prawns

I love a good shrimp curry and Danielle’s recipe is delicious and packed with lots of veggies.

FRIDAY: Butternut Squash Noodles with Sausage & Peppers

I love this dish so much! You can use whatever sausage you enjoy.

MEAL PLAN week of October 29th

October 29, 2018 by juliaandchild Leave a Comment

It’s been forever since I’ve added meal plans to the blog but after taking a poll the majority of you guys wanted them back so here we go! I’ve been on a winter squash kick as of late and this week I’ve added a couple more. Winter squashes are hearty, flavorful and very nutritious. Butternut squash and delicata are my top favs for their versatility but there are so many varieties available now to get creative with. It’s also Halloween week and Nova could is so ready to live out her Princess Elsa dreams on Wednesday. If she had it her way she’d be decked out on the daily, blonde wig included! When it comes to trick or treat candy the past couple of years she has been under the impression that the candy disappears the next day, or she’s just completely forgot that she collected a bag of sugar the night before. I have no idea how I’ve been so lucky the past two years. Either way I’ll let her eat as much as she wants on Wednesday and if she remembers on Thursday morning then we will ration out her favorite 10 pieces and the rest goes in the trash. Wish me luck!

MONDAY: Instant Pot Dal with Split Peas

I’m making this with a side of cauliflower rice but you can use white rice as well.

TUESDAY: Butternut Squash, Kale & Pepitas Tacos

These are so good! Just remember to soak the cashews in advance.

THURSDAY: Butternut Squash Noodles With Sausage & Peppers

I absolutely love this recipe! Feel free to leave out the sausage for a plant based meal and add mushrooms instead.

FRIDAY: Instant Pot Korean Short Ribs

This is also a favorite recipe! Serve with cauliflower rice or white rice and a side of kimchi.

Chai Spice Muffins With Vanilla Glaze

October 11, 2018 by juliaandchild Leave a Comment

It’s officially sweater weather over here which means comfort foods and warming spices are back on my mind. Chai Tea is one of those cozy beverages that I love for it’s rich blend of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and black peppercorns. I was super excited when Dona Chai reached out to sample their award winning Masala Chai concentrate! Small batched in Brooklyn and sourced with quality ingredients and sustainability in mind this concentrate is delicious to drink as it is to make tasty treats. I created these gluten and dairy free Chai Spice Muffins With Vanilla Glaze and Nova could barely keep her little hands off of them so we could take this pic! Dona Chai is offering 15% off their site with code JULIAANDCHAI so you can also enjoy a cozy beverage and make a batch of these muffins. Enjoy!

Chai Spice Muffins With Vanilla Glaze

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Chai, Gluten Free, Muffins

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 17 minutes

Total Time 27 minutes

Servings 12

Ingredients

2 cups Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour
1 tsp guar gum or xanthan gum
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup Dona Chai Concentrate
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 eggs
2 tbsp coconut oil melted

Vanilla Glaze (optional)

2 tbsp coconut milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a standard 12 muffin pan or fill with muffin liners.
Whisk together the gluten free all purpose flour, guar gum, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.
In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, maple syrup, Dona Chai Consentrate, coconut milk and melted coconut oil until smooth.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet until smooth.
Fill the muffin cups about half way with the batter and bake for 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
Whisk together the ingredients for the glaze if using until smooth adding more sugar as needed to thicken to desired consistency. Drizzle on top and enjoy!
Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.

MEAL PLAN July 9th

July 6, 2018 by juliaandchild 2 Comments

Hey guys! It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted a meal plan and I’m ready to get back in the swing of things. Between, wedding planning and summer travel I’ve been a little distracted. I also plan on starting a Whole30 because I’m getting married in 36 days and I want to feel my best going into August. I typically do one Whole30 a year and in January but after coming back from vacation I am ready for a reset. Everyone has different experiences and reasons for doing a Whole30 and mine are increased energy, mental clarity, great sleep and I notice better digestion overall. I tend to loose maybe five pounds so this isn’t about weight loss for myself but truly taking more time to be aware of what and how food and beverages effect my whole being. I’m also excited to focus on all the beautiful produce that is available this time of year vs the winter season and get grilling! This whole week is brought to you by the June/July Grilling Bon Appetit magazine because there are tons of compliant tasty looking recipes to choose from!

See you in the kitchen!

WMP 7918

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