Well, this one is just an all-around winner for MANY reasons! Let’s start with the FLAVOR…OH YES! So much flavor happening here! Tangy Garlicy & Slightly Sweet. It’s just SO GOOD.
Secondly, these ingredients are all pretty basic and rather affordable which helps SO much with meal prepping and/or feeding a family on a budget!
And FINALLY, you probably have almost all of the ingredients you need for this carrot recipe on hand which makes this one so easy to keep in your meal prep rotation!
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
To Make Ahead. Chop your chicken and carrots up to 1 day in advance and store them (separately) in the refrigerator.
To Store once cooked and prepared. Separate into single-serving portions. Keep your meals in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Reheat. Gently rewarm in a large skillet on the stove over medium-low heat until hot. You can also rewarm them in the microwave.
To Freeze. Store leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
6 servings
Ingredients:
2 Tbsps olive oil or avocado oil, divided
1-1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into small thin strips
16 oz mini carrots or baby carrots, quartered lengthwise
Sesame sauce:
1/3 cup coconut aminos, tamari, Braggs liquid aminos, or low sodium soy sauce
3 Tbsps raw honey
2 Tbsps apple cider vinegar
3 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 fresh garlic cloves, minced
1.5” knob fresh ginger, minced
1 Tbsp cornstarch or Arrowroot powder
2 tsps toasted sesame seeds, or to taste
To serve:
3 cups cooked brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
Instructions:
Heat 1 Tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken in a few separate smaller batches and cook until golden-brown and cooked through. Cooking in smaller batches helps to get your chicken to that nice golden brown.
Remove cooked chicken from the pan and set it aside.
In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of oil and sauté carrots until tender-crisp, stirring constantly. About 4 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk all the sesame sauce ingredients together really well.
While your skillet is still on the heat with the carrots, add in all the cooked chicken and pour in your sesame sauce.
Simmer everything over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Once your sauce has thickened a bit and carrots are tender, then it’s ready!
Divide your chicken & carrots equally and serve each portion over 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.
Enjoy while hot!
🧡Rachel
UPDATE: Susan Has Lost 45 Pounds with CleanFoodCrush!
Susan first shared her story with us in December, and she’s back to tell us about her continued (and inspiring!) results as she’s been following the CleanFoodCrush Challenge Plan.
“I have been following Rachel on Facebook for 8 months — I watched the main Facebook page for a couple of months before I signed up for the 30-Day Challenge at the beginning of November 2021.
I have been following the Challenge Plan since I started my first 30-Day Clean Eating Challenge in November. The basic challenge has become a way of life I hope to continue indefinitely!
I’ve lost 45 pounds since I started five-and-a-half months ago. In my first month, I had lost 17 pounds. (That was my first testimonial.) I’m so much happier and more energetic!
At my last visit, my doctor told me I was no longer pre-diabetic!
My Two Favorite Things:
The recipes are delicious and easy — no need to buy weird, exotic foods or any special products like so many “health food” diets.
The constant support of the Facebook group and the admins there — it’s easy to “immerse” myself in healthy practices, nutrition, recovery of my health, learning what my body needs and wants.
I stay motivated because I want to stay healthy as I age! When I entered my 60s, I was gaining weight, sluggish, developing diabetes, had tried all kinds of “diets” and gimmicks and never lost (or kept off) weight. I had lost hope of ever being a healthy size again. I’m motivated now by how good I feel!
Two of my best friends just signed up for the 30-Day Clean Eating Challenge and started this week! We’re planning a CFC Easter dinner together.
I have learned that food matters! You’ll only be as healthy as the stuff you put in your body. If you give your body the high-quality foods it needs — and avoid the typical American diet of fried food, sugar and poor-quality proteins and oils — you can avoid all kinds of problems in the future. And you’ll be so much happier!
– Susan
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
These crispy babies will be the highlight of your weekend! Is there anything better than a crispy potato? I think not!
Oh for the love of potatoes! Yes, we do adore potatoes at our house! Spring through early Summer ‘NEW’ potatoes are available at most local Markets. Be sure to grab yourself some when you see them!
New potatoes are a bit smaller than mature potatoes, with softer, thinner skins (perfect for eating!) and a crisp texture. They are also lower in starch than mature potatoes. New potatoes usually retain their shape when cooked, which makes them an excellent choice for making these crispy smashed potatoes.
Potatoes are a REAL FOOD and a very nutrient-dense meal option, especially for active people requiring higher carbs for energy!
These Crispy Smashed Potatoes are an awesome side dish idea for your kids & growing teens! I have 6 of ’em at home and I gotta tell ya that potatoes sure stretch the family food budget with our large crew!
Did you know that potatoes are filled with more potassium than bananas, and they also contain fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, plus a little bit of iron and calcium?
💪 Bonus Points: Eat the potato skin to capture all of the potato’s nutrition. The potato skin has more nutrients than the inside of the potato. It has lots of fiber, about half of a medium potato’s fiber is from the skin.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees f. and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes, or until just fork tender (but not mushy!), then drain well.
Transfer the potatoes to your prepared baking sheet and using a potato masher or the base of a small bowl, gently smash each to a 1/2-inch thickness.
Season with garlic salt, and chili flakes, and lightly spritz evenly with oil.
Roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and enjoy immediately!
❤️Rachel
Uses and Benefits of Lemon Water
Lemons are a zesty, acidic fruit that have become a staple flavor in many desserts and foods. They provide an assortment of nutrients and have significant health benefits and an enjoyable taste that can give your food or drink a fun kick!
A quick, easy, and effective way to reap the benefits of lemons is by adding the juice to your daily water intake. It may seem simple, but drinking lemon water daily has many benefits that may be precisely what your body needs this season!
🍋 Aids in Digestion
Acids help break down food (hence all the acids in your stomach!). Because lemons are so acidic, ingesting them regularly can help keep your food digesting correctly, helping prevent reflux or an upset stomach. Plus, that can leave more room for a fun, lemon-flavored dessert, like our raspberry lemon cheesecake or these sweet meyer lemon coconut macaroon cookies!
🍋 Keeps You Hydrated
We all know that staying hydrated is essential for staying healthy! Getting that daily water intake can be a breeze for some, but for others, remembering to drink enough water can be hard… or even boring.
So why not add a little something to your drink? Squeezing half a lemon into your water can give it a refreshing kick and help you want to drink more water – a win-win!
🍋 Aids in Weight Loss
Lemons may seem like an unassuming fruit, but they pack a significant punch in more ways than one.
Some studies have theorized that the plant compounds in lemons can aid in weight loss, as well as their soluble pectin fibers, which can help expand the stomach, leaving you feeling fuller longer.
🍋 Prevents Oxidation Stress
Like all produce, lemons contain phytonutrients, which protect your body against disease due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. These can help prevent cell damage from oxidation, the same process that causes rust.
Simply put, lemons can keep your body healthy and strong from the inside out.
🍋 Provides Vitamin C
Vitamin C is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. Vitamin C can help our bodies form collagen, absorb iron, keep the immune system functioning correctly, and help heal wounds.
By eating one lemon a day (or alternately drinking its juice), you can get 31 mg of vitamin C, which is 51% of the reference daily intake (RDI).
🍋 Gives a Potassium Boost
Potassium is a necessary mineral for all tissues in the body. It can help with nerve-muscle communication, transporting nutrients and waste, and regulating blood pressure. While lemons don’t have a large amount of potassium, they do yield enough that making them a part of your daily routine can help keep your potassium levels well-balanced.
🍋 Prevents Kidney Stones
Ever had a kidney stone and would do anything to prevent another one? Lemons may be your answer! The citric acid can increase your urine volume and pH levels, creating a less favorable environment for kidney stone formation.
Plus, drinking lemon water helps you stay more hydrated, which can aid in preventing kidney stones from forming.
As you can see, adding some lemon juice to your water is a super easy and fun way to get LOTS of nutrients and benefits that your body may be craving right now. And while lemon water is a great way to stay hydrated, you can also squeeze lemon juice into your favorite tea to get its numerous benefits! Or, try something new, fun, and refreshing like refreshing homemade blueberry lemonade or this watermelon lemonade.
All in all, lemons are a great resource to have on hand for your food and drinks and can help you stay healthy for the long run.
Mustard Tarragon Chicken Skillet 🍋🌱
A Bright, Tangy, & Vibrant Springtime Chicken Dish to make and ENJOY this weekend!
Tarragon adds a fresh, spring taste and a bit of beautiful fresh liveliness to this recipe.
I love chicken recipes that are simple, yet taste like something you’d order at a nice restaurant. This is definitely one of those recipes!
➡️ What to serve with your mustard tarragon chicken:
I like to pound my chicken with a mallet in the thicker areas to get each of them to an even, uniform size so that they cook up really nicely.
Here’s how:
Place your boneless chicken cutlets between two pieces of waxed paper, plastic wrap, parchment paper, or in a resealable plastic bag. Starting in the center and working out to the edges, pound very lightly, and gently with the flat side of a meat mallet, or heavy skillet, until they are even in thickness.
This method typically produces juicier chicken because there is no need to overcook your meat to get those middle thicker parts cooked through.
Refrigerate up to 3-4 days. This chicken is AWESOME for meal prep bowls.
2 Tbsps Arrowroot powder, gluten-free flour, or cornstarch
1 cup of chicken bone broth
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 handful of fresh tarragon, chopped
Instructions:
Lightly pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness and season on all sides with sea salt, and pepper.
Melt the butter and add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken until golden and cooked through, then set aside. About 4 minutes per side depending on the thickness of your chicken.
Set chicken aside on a plate.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk the Arrowroot and bone broth together until smooth.
In the same preheated skillet add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Stir in your broth slurry, dijon mustard, and fresh tarragon. Allow your sauce to simmer for a couple of minutes to thicken up.
Return your chicken back into the pan and spoon some sauce over the top. Simmer into the sauce for 1-2 minutes, or until hot.
Enjoy!
💚Rachel
Meet Noelle, Who Lost Over 11 Pounds and 7 Inches in 30 Days!
Hi, my name is Noelle and I’m 49 years old. I have 3 boys (Ryan – 17 years old, Gavin- 15 years old, and Henry – 12 years old). I am an Account Manager for a TPA who administers health care benefits to Automotive suppliers. I have amazing and supportive family and friends. I really enjoy working out, running, and playing basketball. Being part of a very athletic family was so helpful for me to stay active all the time. It also helped to have 3 brothers who helped to keep me competitive. Being active has always been in my blood. I played college basketball and also became a personal trainer shortly after college. I am a half marathon runner and enjoy competing in races. I took up golf last year thanks to my dear Dad and I absolutely love it.
Since having children, my body has never been the same so it’s always been a struggle and I have also been an emotional eater since my divorce in 2013. BUT, the struggle became even more real when COVID hit. I am engaged to an amazing Welshman and we have been together for 5 years. However, during the pandemic, we were not able to see each other for 2 ½ years. It was extremely difficult on our relationship at times, but I was also dealing with my Dad being diagnosed with cancer in June 2020. The cancer was so aggressive that it took him in 4 months. Part of my heart died with him on November 1, 2020. So these last 2 years have taken a real toll on me mentally, physically and spiritually.
I was introduced to this group in early February by my dear friend. So I finally decided to “get with the program” and started my journey with CleanFoodCrush Clean Eating Challenge on February 22, 2022. I purchased the month and was able to get two months for the price of one.
In the first 30 days, I lost 11.4 pounds, 2 inches in my hips, 3 inches in my waist, and 2 ½ inches in my thighs. I have lost even more weight going into the next month.
I definitely have come a long way and my Dad would be really proud of what I have done. My fiancé is also very proud of what I’ve accomplished in such a short period of time. We are planning on getting married next year.
I have finally found a plan that turned the lightbulb on for me.
I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to figure out how to really enjoy food.
➡️ I now have more energy.
➡️ I sleep so much better.
➡️ Even my workouts feel differently.
Now, I am very conscious of what I’m putting in my body and realize what I have been doing wrong all these years. I know that this is NOT A DIET, but a way of life.
Planning ahead is key to eating the right foods each week. This is a complete lifestyle change for me. I realize that I can still enjoy some of the foods that I like, but in moderation and maybe even looking at ways to make a healthier version.
The support from the group has been incredible. I have managed to make some delicious recipes and find out new things that I wasn’t aware of before. I’m truly blessed that I’m part of this amazing group.
I have enjoyed a lot of the recipes that have been shared so far. Two of my favorite meals are: Garlic Butter Beef Steak Bites and Baked Mushroom Chicken. I’m really looking forward to making more of the CFC recipes that Rachel has provided. They are delicious and I like the variety of recipes that are available to us.
If you are thinking of joining this group – JUST DO IT!!!! You will be happy you did. If you are serious about making a lifestyle change once and for all, this is the plan you want to follow.
I have done other weight loss programs, etc over many years and nothing compares. This is by far the BEST plan I have ever followed. You’re not depriving yourself at all. There are so many delicious options.
I have not felt this good in a very long time.
I have a goal of wearing a two-piece bikini that I purchased for our family trip in August and I’m well on my way thanks to the CleanFoodCrush 30 Day Challenge.
You will get endless support from Rachel and the other members. Rachel’s encouragement helps to motivate you to keep going. Thank you!!!!!
– Noelle
Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs
THE most BEAUTIFUL and creative Deviled Eggs EVER! Make these for your spring gatherings and parties & you’ll receive lots of compliments!
• Leftovers?
Leftover deviled eggs can be refrigerated for one to two days but are best enjoyed immediately.
• Serving Size?
Each serving size is equal to three deviled eggs.
• Consider Adding More Flavor:
Add paprika, cayenne, or chili flakes.
• Additional Topping Ideas!
Green onions, pickles, microgreens, chives, or bacon.
• No Piping Bag?
Use a teaspoon to transfer the yolk mixture back into the eggs. Or snip the corner off of a Ziplock type baggie.
• Can these be made ahead?
The eggs can sit in the brine and be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Slive them and make the filling right before serving though for best results.
Remove the beets out of the brine and use them for another recipe. We don’t need the actual beets for these deviled eggs – just the beautiful brine.
In an airtight container or jar add the brine and your eggs that have been hard-boiled and peeled. Make sure the brine is covering the eggs completely. Let them marinate in the fridge for eight hours or overnight.
Take the eggs out of the brine and dry them with a paper towel.
Slice them in half.
Remove the yolks then add the yolks to a bowl. Add in the mayonnaise, mustard, and apple cider vinegar. With a hand blender or a fork blend until very smooth. Season with sea salt to taste.
Place your yolk mixture in a piping bag with a star or plain piping tip. Pipe the yolk mixture nicely back into the eggs.
Sprinkle your deviled eggs with fresh dill and garnish with radish slices.
Enjoy!
❤️Rachel
Skillet Zucchini Mini Pizzas 🍕 ♥️
Here’s a SUPER SUPER SIMPLE idea for your weekend ahead! These little snacks really help satisfy those pizza cravings & they are pretty fun to make too!
Try getting the kids in the kitchen with you to help make these! Kids are more likely to try something new when they help make it!
➡️ Rachel’s Tips:
If you have issues with soggy zucchini, you can sprinkle your zucchini slices with a little salt. Let them sit for about 10 minutes, then blot moisture with paper towels. This can help prevent sogginess.
Be sure to use YOUR favorite marinara sauce or good quality crushed tomatoes, because that’s where these lil’ guys get a lot of their flavor!
When shopping for store-bought sauce:
I like to make sure the marinara has no added sugar (tomatoes naturally contain sugar, but there shouldn’t be sugar on the ingredients list.)
A good marinara sauce should contain only a few simple ingredients such as tomatoes, garlic, and herbs.
