Chicken Salad

This recipe is a hard one for me to share exact measurements. It really depends on the amount of cooked chicken you have and how much mayo you like.

ingredients:

• cooked and chopped chicken

• 3 celery sticks chopped

• 1/2 cup of mayo (more or less depending on how much chicken you have)

• 2 tbs of seed or dijon mustard

• cornichons - I like A LOT - chop them up

• salt and pepper to taste

directions:

After everything is chopped, mix it all together. Sometimes I like to add some cornichon juice. A tablespoon or so. Remember that the amount everything you put is personal preference, Start off small and you can always add more if it looks too dry. I like to add in a lot of celery and cornichons because I like the crunch!

Ground Taco Meat

This meat can be stuffed into a taco shell with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and cheese OR deconstructed in a lunch with a side of tortilla chips, side of tomatoes, and a side of cheese!

ingredients:

• 1lb ground beef or turkey

• Taco seasoning I use siete mild taco seasoning. You could also make your own.  I also like to add in taco sauce Red Duck mild taco sauce or enchilada sauce so that it’s not so dry.

Instructions

Chop half an onion and sauté with avocado or olive oil until translucent. 

Add in ground beef or turkey and spices. Cook down and break up the meat. If you are using the taco sauce add in after the meat is almost fully cooked. Cook down a bit more.

Date & Nut Bar

This bar received “20 thumbs up” from Griffin.

Whenever I make these they always come out a little different- but always good. It depends how much of nuts/seeds I add compared to the amount of dates. If you find that the mixture isn’t holding as well as you wish add more dates. I think it will be a win!

Gluten and dairy free nut & date bars:

Ingredients:
8-10 pitted softened dates
2tsp Vanilla extract
Cinnamon

1 - 1.5 cups in total of:
•coconut flakes
•pepitas
•almond slivers
•hemp hearts
•flax seeds

Directions:
If needed, soften dates in water by zapping for 30 seconds. Put all ingredients in a blender and mix. I used a handheld blender.

Oven set to 350. Grab a baking sheet and cover it with parchment paper. Gather the date and nut mixture and firmly press into the lined baking sheet.

Bake for about 12ish minutes or until slightly golden brown. Let it completely cool. Cut into squares. I stored mine in the fridge wrapped in wax paper just to prevent it from sticking.

Power Protein Balls

These are great for a snack. Filled with protein sweetened with dates. Feel free to mix up your ads ins! Throw in some pumpkin seeds or extra chocolate chips. 

Ingredients:

•1/4 cup dried fruit chopped (I used dried cherries chopped )

•1/3 cup chocolate chips (you can also use mini chocolate chips)

• pinch of sea salt 

•8-10 medjool dates pitted

• 2-3 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter or your choice of nut butter 

•1 cup of oats (ground up), or you can use 1 cup of instant oats

•3 tablespoons of chia seeds, hemp hearts or flax seeds (optional)

Instructions:

Blend oats - If you have instant oats you don’t need to blend as much. Place the oats in a bowl with dried fruit and chocolate chips. 

Pit the dates and place them in water just covering them. Microwave for 1 minute. Remove dates from the water along with 3 tablespoons of the “date water” and blend them. I used a mini food processor- the same thing I used to blend the oats. Add in your PB and blend again creating a sticky paste, fully blended. You may need to scrape down the sides and blend more.

Mix date/PB paste with oats and dried fruit/chocolate/chia seeds. Create small balls and roll in some shredded coconut or hemp hearts. 

You can store it in the fridge.