Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

This recipe comes from Savory Lotus!

The What's:

Sauce
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
2 cloves of garlic, minced
½ teaspoon fresh ground ginger
Salt and pepper to taste

Stir Fry

2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
4 medium carrots, cut into matchsticks
1 large bunch of broccoli, cut into florets
½ of a medium red onion, thinly sliced into half moons
1 cup raw cashews

The How's:

1. For the sauce: Combine chicken broth, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
2. Heat a large saucepan with 1 tablespoon coconut oil over medium heat until shimmering.
3. Add cubed chicken in a single layer. Cook for a few minutes until lightly browned and turn over each piece to finish cooking through.
4. Move chicken to a plate.
5. Roast cashews for a few minutes, watching carefully.  Just get them to toast.  
6. Melt the second tablespoon of coconut oil in the hot pan and add the carrots, broccoli, and red onion. Stir constantly for a few minutes, adding the meat back into the pan when the vegetables are tender-crisp and still vibrant in color.
7. Stir in the sauce and allow everything to get nice and hot.
8. Serve immediately and sprinkled with cashews. 

I really miss the crunch of Chinese noodles so the buttery cashews help satisfy the missing crunch!  

Why Whole 30?

You must be wondering why I am doing a Whole 30 Program.  I promise it is not because it is easy because so far, it is the exact opposite.

Sometimes people feel worse than they appear.  Sometimes people treat their ailments with prescription medication and that is fine.  Medication can be a necessary evil.

While I am fluffier than I'd like to be, or even realized, I want to feel better.  There are ailment's I suffer daily and I wonder if I challenge myself with a completely restrictive nutrition plan, if some of what I feel will be relieved.  That is what drives me.  It is a true sense of you are what you eat!

So, the forecast this week is below. 

 I promise to be just as friendly, but I probably will yawn during our conversation.  It's not that I am not listening rather, my body is evolving internally.  Ask whatever questions you want but you will not be preached to.  If you come for a visit, please save the wine and bring black coffee or some of that bulletproof coffee I have yet to try.

http://leafparade.com/2013/08/01/the-whole30-in-a-nutshell/

Ready. Set. Whole 30!

I like to experiment and have fun.  I also want to eat better not just for myself but also for others.

I have been researching more about not just clean eating but eating to really enable your body to work in an optimum state.  Clean Eating is great but I am going to begin a program called Whole 30.

Today as the children are home with a "Snow" Day I have created a 10 day meal plan so once I hit the store, I can begin this program.  Here is my meal plan, customized to what I think I can get away with serving all in my family.

Enriching Ego 10 Day of a Whole 30 Meal Plan

★ Day 1

○ Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs, 2 slices bacon, 1 Sweet Potato and mandarin orange

○ Lunch – Spinach Citrus Salad Citrus Chicken Strips with Orange Poppyseed Dressing

○ Dinner – Cashew Chicken vegetable stir-fry over Cauliflower “Rice”.

★ Day 2

○ Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs, 2 slices bacon, 1 sweet potato

○ Lunch – Spinach Citrus Salad with Citrus Marinaded Chicken and Orange Poppyseed Dressing (L)

○ Dinner – Paleo Mexican Chicken Soup with Argula Salad.

★ Day 3

○ Breakfast – Omelet with green onion, avocado, tomato and a bowl of blackberries, bananas,

caramelized coconut chips, and raw toasted cashews.

○ Lunch – Cashew Chicken Vegetable Stiry-Fry over Cauliflower Rice (L).

○ Dinner – Taco’s Wrapped in Lettuce, Guacamole served with sweet potato fries.

★ Day 4

○ Breakfast – Greens and Egg Frittata (blackberries, bananas, “caramelized” coconut chips, and raw

toasted cashews)

○ Lunch – Taco Salad (L), sliced avocado.

○ Dinner – Ranch Burgers (minus the cheddar), tomato cucumber salad with apple cider vinegar, and

sweet potato fries.

★ Day 5

○ Breakfast – Greens and Egg Frittata with sweet potato.

○ Lunch – Ranch Burger (L), salad.

○ Dinner – Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Avocado Salsa, Green Beans

★ Day 6

○ Breakfast – Baked Eggs with Spinach and Sweet Potato

○ Lunch – Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Avocado Salsa, Green Beans (L)

○ Dinner – Buffalo Ranch (Turkey) Meatballs, Sweet Potato Fries and Roasted Brussel Sprouts

★ Day 7

○ Breakfast – Baked Eggs with Spinach and Sweet Potato

○ Lunch – Buffalo Ranch (Turkey) Meatballs, Roasted Brussel Sprouts

○ Dinner – Spaghetti Squash with Tomato Sauce and Meatballs, Salad.

★ Day 8

○ Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs, 2 slices bacon, 1 Sweet Potato and mandarin orange

○ Lunch – Spaghetti squash and meatball leftovers, salad; roasted zucchini chips

○ Dinner – .Hamburger Soup (minus potatoes)

★ Day 9

○ Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs, 2 slices bacon, 1 sweet potato and mandarin orange

○ Lunch – Hamburger Soup (L) with

○ Dinner – Out to Dinner

★ Day 10

○ Breakfast – Omelet with green onion, Avocado, Tomato

○ Lunch – Buffalo Chicken Salad; grapes and apple

○ Dinner – Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps (chicken nuggets for kids) and Sweet Potato Fries