If You’re Gluten-Free, Here Are Some Ideas!

Good morning beauties!

How’d we sleep last night?

Monday

Breakfast

Yogurt mixed with chia seeds (first, in another bowl), then scooped inside of this wine glass piled high with a kiwi, sliced banana, and sprinkle of gluten free granola (maple/fruit from TJ’s). Yum!

After breakfast, I kept working, and then ran out to TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack. I didn’t find anything, and wasn’t particularly looking for anything. I was more so just killing time until the Husband woke up to go for a walk.

We went out for a walk, and the entire time debated back and forth whether or not paying off my car would be good for us. I have a new, 2011 Prius which I bought in late 2011. I had planned to pay it off fast when I bought it. Since we got together (early 2012) I had slowed down to just normal payments. I am happy to say, yesterday we decided to pay the last bit off! Her payments were small, and honestly, the difference in gas covered the payment 😉 but it’s still such an accomplishment. Zero payments left for the two of us 🙂

Lunch

Lunch was healthy, homemade nacho’s. Mmm-mmm good! Quinoa and black-bean chips, kidney beans (leftover from our taco salad), a sprinkle of mexican blend shredded cheese, green onions, and Dad’s fresh salsa. If you can see M’s plate, I made him regular-ol’-nacho’s, just how he likes ’em.

Mmm! So good. For those of you who have to eat gluten-free, this is g-free 🙂

In the afternoon, I spent some time cooking chicken villa and spanish rice. Chicken Villa is one of my most favorite dishes at Yolanda’s in Ventura (Mexican Food Restaurant). My Dad recreated the dish last week and it was incredible. I decided to re-create it myself when my friend Kayanna gave me (and the rest of our book group) Jalapeños to take home (recipe at the end of this post).

After some time in the kitchen cooking, I spent some time relaxing with my book, “Soul Keeping.” I have been so into reading lately, and actually reading through the entire book 😉

I relaxed a while, and then got up and ready. At 4:30, I met with my new bible study group to do a Beth Moore study, “Breaking Free.” This group is going to meet every other Monday throughout the study. I’ve always wanted to do “Breaking Free” so I’m really excited for it. Plus, it’s yet another great group of women.

Oh, and I had a handful of grapes while there 🙂

Dinner

Marco and I got home at the same time for dinner. I was at my group, he was out surfing 🙂

Since I had prepared everything early on in the day, dinner was easy to put together. I heated up the rice & chicken villa, and warmed two cans of TJ’s refried beans on the stove.

Want to know how to make this dinner? Let’s talk:

Chicken Villa: Over medium heat, warm  a tab of butter and minced garlic. While that’s warming, cut a few chicken breasts into a little larger than dice sized cubes. Throw the chicken in the pan with butter and garlic. Let that cook over medium heat while you slice: jalapeño (I use 1-3 jalapeños with seeds removed depending on how spicy I’m feeling!), mushrooms (I like a good handful!), and green onion. Add the veggies to the chicken and let it cook the rest of the way through until the veggies are tender. Finally, add some shredded jack cheese on top and let it melt (you can also stick it in the broiler for a few if you want)! YUM!

My “Spanish” Rice: I put quotes around Spanish rice, because I’m sure this is authentic, but it’s good! Pour some olive oil (a couple tablespoons) into a large pot. Stir in one cup of dry brown rice. Once the rice is slightly browned, add in one cup of homemade red salsa and one cup of chicken broth (that you just made from cooking your chicken). For rice that’s more moist, add a couple splashes of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce back to low. Let this cook all the way through and enjoy! 

Next: once the chicken villa and rice are done, you can heat up a couple cans of your favorite beans (or of course, make them yourself!). Serve all three together! Mmm-mmm good!

What is your favorite dining out food to re-create at home?

Share with me in the comments below!

Oh, and I realize that everything in this post is gluten-free. I am not gluten-free, but will be sharing more gluten-free options for a few weeks because I am dealing with some inflammation (I think) in my knees. They’ve been really, really sore lately and I know two foods to reduce when that happens are gluten & dairy. Step is also getting a break.

If you have any tips for healing joints naturally, please, feel free to share in the comments below with me!

Love,

Health Coaching | healthyhitsthespot@gmail.com

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