Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata + 80 Days of Dinner

80 Days!? Apparently it's been quite a bit of time since I pulled a blog post together. I've continued trying to figure out a good plan for dinnertime as the kids have become busier and busier in the evenings. I've got a better handle on it now, and it includes a lot of soup, chili, and other slow cooker meals like this stew. Plus, leftovers are life. We're also nearing the end of our January Whole30, so I'll have a whole new slate of compliant meals up shortly. But this stew is one of them! I like to double this recipe (it still fits in my slow cooker when doubled) and freeze half of it. Don't skimp on the gremolata -- it adds a nice bright note and is a refreshing touch of citrus to the middle of winter meals. Everyone loves it and it gets better and better as you let it, well, stew.

Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata
(merged + adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen and Melissa Joulwan)

Stew: 

Ingredients: 

- 1-2 tbsp olive oil 

- 1 onion, diced 

- 2 lbs trimmed beef stew meat, cut roughly into bite-sized pieces 

- 1 cup beef stock

- 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes with juice 

- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

 - 1 jar kalamata olives, roughly chopped 

- 1/2 cup garlic cloves, roughly chopped 

- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley 

- 1 small jar capers, drained 

- fresh ground salt and black pepper to taste

- walnuts for serving (optional)

Directions: 

1. Heat small amount of olive oil in a skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook diced onions about 5 minutes, until starting to brown. Add onions to the slow cooker.

2. Add a little more oil, then add beef in batches, cooking until browned on all sides -- about 10-15 minutes. Don't overcrowd the pan -- you want the beef to brown nicely on all sides. Add the beef to the slow cooker. 

3. Add 1 cup of beef stock to the pan and simmer a few minutes until slightly reduced, scraping up brown bits. Then add that stock to the slow cooker. 

4. Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker (except walnuts) and stir to combine well. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Season to taste and serve with walnuts and gremolata (below). 

Gremolata: 

- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, finely minced (about 2 tbsp)

- zest from 1 orange (about 2 tbsp)

- 2 cloves garlic, minced 

Mix all in a small bowl and sprinkle over stew before serving. 

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Day 1 (W) - Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce
Day 2 (Th) - leftovers
Day 3 (F) - dinner out
Day 4 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 5 (Sun) - Paleo BBQ Chicken Casserole; roasted cauliflower

Day 6 (M) - Za'atar Lamb Chops (although I used pork chops); Feta Chopped Salad; breakfast potatoes
Day 7 (T) - Healthy Turkey Chili 
Day 8 (W) - Plated Miso Salmon and Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Cucumber Salad, and Sriracha Mayo
Day 9 (Th) - leftovers
Day 10 (F) - Thyme Roasted Chicken with Grapes and Burrata
Day 11 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 12 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 13 (M) - Basil Pomodoro Shrimp with Polenta; roasted broccoli
Day 14 (T) - Slow Cooker Tacos Al Pastor
Day 15 (W) - brinner
Day 16 (Th) - Kane's birthday dinner: filet mignon; baked potatoes; Caesar salad
Day 17 (F) - leftovers
Day 18 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 19 (Sun) - Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Potatoes; salad

Day 20 (M) - Greek Fish Tacos
Day 21 (T) - brinner
Day 22 (W) - Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri; sweet potato fries
Day 23 (Th) - Salmon; roasted cauliflower; salad
Day 24 (F) - dinner out
Day 25 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 26 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 27 (M) - Easy Italian Chicken Skillet; spaghetti squash
Day 28 (T) - Grilled Steak and Onion Salad; mashed sweet potatoes; salad
Day 29 (W) - dinner out
Day 30 (Th) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup; roasted broccoli
Day 31 (F) - Cider Apple and Sage Roasted Pork Chops; polenta; broccoli
Day 32 (Sat) - All American Chili
Day 33 (Sun) - 10-Minute Lemon Thyme Scallops; mashed sweet potatoes; green beans

Day 34 (M) - Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce
Day 35 (T) - Slow Cooker Maple and Dijon Pot Roast; baked potatoes; salad
Day 36 (W) - brinner
Day 37 (Th) - leftovers
Day 38 (F) - Plated Smoked Salmon Pizza with Whipped Goat Cheese, Capers, and Tomato; salad
Day 39 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 40 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 41 (M) - dinner out
Day 42 (T) - Smoky Paleo Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken; sweet potatoes; green beans
Day 43 (W) - Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata
Day 44 (Th) - All American Chili
Day 45 (F) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce; roasted cauliflower
Day 46 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 47 (Sun) - Honey Garlic Pork Chops; cauliflower gnocchi; green beans

Day 48 (M) - leftovers
Day 49 (T) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup; salad
Day 50 (W) - dinner out
Day 51 (Th) - Thanksgiving!! For apps we had shrimp cocktail, charcuterie plate, and Caviar Waffle Bites. For din we had Maple Bourbon Glazed Turkey Breast, Caramelized Onion + Bacon Gravy, Grapefruit-Apricot Cranberry Relish with Rosemary, Sausage + Fennel Stuffing, Boxed Stuffing (for Joel!), Creamy Spinach Bake, Roasted Beets + Charred Green Beans, Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes, Ultra Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and rolls. And my in-laws brought a bunch of pies for dessert!
Day 52 (F) - leftovers
Day 53 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 54 (Sun) - leftovers

Day 55 (M) - dinner out
Day 56 (T) - One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet; cauliflower
Day 57 (W) - Blue Apron One-Pan Chicken and "Dumplings" with Carrots + Thyme
Day 58 (Th) - dinner out
Day 59 (F) - Blue Apron Seared Chicken and Sour Cherry Sauce
Day 60 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 61 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 62 (M) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce; Easy Greek Pasta Salad
Day 63 (T) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup
Day 64 (W) - Blue Apron Seared Steaks with Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Day 65 (Th) - dinner out
Day 66 (F) - dinner out
Day 67 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 68 (Sun) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup and latkes

Day 69 (M) - Blue Apron Za'atar-Spiced Chicken Pitas with Tzatziki & Pickled Peppers
Day 70 (T) - All American Chili
Day 71 (W) - Garlic-Basil Shrimp and Grits with Cherry Tomato Sauce
Day 72 (Th) - Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce
Day 73 (F) - dinner out
Day 74 (Sat) - Plated Sesame Beef Bowls with Snap Peas and Spinach
Day 75 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 76 (M) - dinner out
Day 77 (T) - Cool Ranch Shredded Chicken Tacos
Day 78 (W) - Plated Blue Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, and Brussels Sprouts
Day 79 (Th) - Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili
Day 80 (F) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce

Slow Cooker Barbacoa + 30 Days of Dinner!!

I've made a lot of different versions of slow cooker taco proteins, but lately I've been making this Barbacoa almost once a week. It's SO flavorful and the entire family loves it. And you can make it far ahead of time in an old school crock pot and it comes out delicious. It's perfect for anyone doing a Whole30 and we're smack in the middle of another round, so ....

Slow Cooker Barbacoa 

(slightly adapted from Gimme Some Oven's Instant Pot recipe)

Ingredients
- 2/3 cup beer, water, or beef broth (for Whole30, make sure you're using water or compliant broth)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2-4 chipotles in adobo sauce (depending on level of spice desired)
- 1 small white onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1, 4-ounce can chopped green chiles
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 lb beef chuck roast, fat trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
- 3 bay leaves

Directions 
1. Combine ingredients from broth through cloves into a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth.

2. Heat oil in a cast iron pan and sear pieces of chuck roast in batches, until beef is seared on all sides.

3. Add beef, pureed sauce, and bay leaves to slow cooker. Cook on slow for 8 hours. You can make this work on high for 4-6 hours, but it won't be as tender. When finished cooking, shred with two forks.

I like to serve this over cauliflower rice or Siete grain-free tortillas and with Whole30-compliant toppings. My kiddos like them in flour tortillas.

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Day 1 (W) -- Spicy Honey Salmon in Foil, oven-baked french fries, salad
Day 2 (Th) -- Burgers, green beans, sweet potato fries
Day 3 (F) -- dinner out
Day 4 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 5 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 6 (M) -- Seared Scallops with Caper Salsa Verde, salad
Day 7 (T) -- Grilled Chicken Tacos, sweet potato fries
Day 8 (W) -- Whole30 Grilled Lamb Loin Chops + Fingerling Potatoes with Arugula Pesto, sautéed greens beans and tomatoes
Day 9 (Th) -- Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa, cauliflower rice
Day 10 (F) --  Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri, fries, salad
Day 1 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 11 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 12 (M) -- Moroccan Meatballs, green beans
Day 13 (T) -- Grilled Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken, salad, smashed garlic and herb potatoes
Day 14 (W) -- Sheet Pan Sausage with Veggies
Day 15 (Th) -- Honey Dijon Grilled Salmon, sweet potatoes fries, roasted cauliflower + broccoli
Day 16 (F) -- dinner out
Day 17 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 18 (Sun) -- Grilled Tuscan Chicken, sautéed green beans, TJ's cauliflower gnocchi

Day 19 (M) -- Brinner: crab + egg scrambles, sausage, oven fries, salad
Day 20 (T) -- dinner out
Day 21 (W) -- Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, green beans
Day 22 (Th) -- leftovers
Day 23 (F) -- Slow Cooker Barbacoa, cauliflower rice
Day 24 (Sat) -- Balsamic-Marinated Grilled Chicken (basically followed this but left strawberries out), salad
Day 25 (Sun) -- Seared scallops, roasted cauliflower + broccoli

Day 26 (M) -- Cilantro Lime Flank Steak, green beans with red onions and golden beets
Day 27 (T) -- Slow Cooker Barbacoa, cauliflower rice, salad
Day 28 (W) -- Grilled Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce, roasted vegetables
Day 29 (Th) -- Brinner: sweet potato fries, poached eggs, sausage, salad
Day 30 (F) -- One-Skillet Porch Chops with Apples, baked potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts

Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon and Vegetables + 30 Days of Dinner!!

We just finished our first successful Whole30 in a looooong time and I feel great! And, as I've done in the past, I've decided to just keep going for another 30 days. It's become routine by now and so much easier for me to continue on at this point. So all the meals this 30 days are Whole30 compliant. I tried a lot of new dishes, but have plenty of standbys sprinkled in. And we only dined out three times this entire month, which is a pretty amazing feat for our family.

I am not a big fan of cooking fish at home, but this Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon and Vegetables was so easy and so tasty that I picked it to share. Great for a weeknight meal!

Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon + Vegetables 

(from Just Jessie B)

Ingredients
- 1 to 1 1/2 lb salmon filet
- 1 white onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced (you can really use whatever veg you want -- I used up some cherry tomatoes I had in place of the pepper)
- 2 to 3 cups brocoli florets
- 2 to 3 cups green beans
- avocado oil, for drizzling (olive oil works too)
- salt and pepper

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add the vegetables to the lined baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, season with salt + pepper, and lightly toss to coat the veggies. Arrange them flat on the baking sheet and transfer to oven.
3. Roast the vegetables for 10 minutes.
4. While the veggies roast, combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Continue to cook, stirring often, allowing the sauce to reduce and thicken. Turn the heat off once it reaches a consistency you prefer.
5. When the vegetables finish, move them to the sides of the pan to make room for the salmon. Drizzle the salmon with oil and a sprinkle of salt + pepper.
6. Place the baking sheet back in the oven, and roast for 15 minutes longer or until salmon is cooked through. Once finished, drizzle the entire dish with teriyaki sauce.

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Day 1 (M) - Dijon Chicken Skillet (basically followed this recipe, but left out honey and sherry); cauliflower rice; salad 
Day 2 (T) - Crockpot Beef Chili (leave out maple syrup); green beans
Day 3 (W) - One Pan Pork Chops with Apples and Onions; Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon; roasted potatoes 
Day 4 (Th) - Beef Ragu (no gnocchi); baked potatoes; green beans 
Day 5 (F) - Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Carnitas (no tortillas); sweet potato fries 
Day 6 (Sat) - dinner out (steak, baked potato, brussels sprouts -- all plain)
Day 7 (Sun) - Dijon Chicken Skillet (same as above); baked potato; green beans 

Day 8 (M) - Slow-Cooker Kalua Pig; cabbage and kale mix; roasted sweet potatoes 
Day 9 (T) - brinner (poached eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, salad)
Day 10 (W) - Beef Enchilada Bake; cauliflower rice 
Day 11 (Th) - Garlic Lover Stew with Olives, Capers + Tomatoes; cauliflower rice; salad 
Day 12 (F) - grilled burgers; sweet potato fries; salad
Day 13 (Sat) - Pan-Seared Steaks with Chimichurri Brussels Sprouts (from Whole30 Fast & Easy Cookbook but see similar here -- use ghee or oil instead of butter); baked potato; salad 
Day 14 (Sun) - Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili; green beans 

Day 15 (M) - Trader Joe's frozen burgers (no one liked these, but they did the trick in a pinch); roasted carrots; potatoes 
Day 16 (T) - Creamy + Smoky Chipotle Pork Chops (I didn't have time to make the sauce and the chops needed it); leftover potatoes; salad
Day 17 (W) - Paleo Beef Barbacoa; cauliflower rice; sautéed shaved brussels sprouts 
Day 18 (Th) - dinner out at CAVA (got all totally Whole30-compliant din, but my stomach still didn't feel exactly right after)
Day 19 (F) - Beef and Plantain Skillet (a runner-up for the featured recipe!); sweet potato fries 
Day 20 (Sat) - grilled steak; Twice Baked Potatoes; Cauliflower + Carrot Puree 
Day 21 (Sun) - leftovers 

Day 22 (M) - Spicy Beanless Chili (I wasn't a fan of this -- the heat was overpowering); salad
Day 23 (T) - Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Pesto and Shrimp (I usually don't like zoodles, but the pesto made this dish delicious!); salad
Day 24 (W) - grilled flank steak (with this marinade - SO good); omelets; and sweet potato fries 
Day 25 (Th) - Slow Cooker Brisket and Onions (I prefer this slow cooked in the oven); brussels sprouts; potatoes 
Day 26 (F) - leftovers 
Day 27 (Sat) - Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon + Vegetables 
Day 28 (Sun) - dinner out (steak, carrots, and potatoes -- all plain)

Day 29 (M) - sautéed chicken; sweet potato hash; avocado 
Day 30 (T) - Fennel Crusted Pork Chops with Potatoes + Shallots; roasted green beans + broccoli 

Hawaiian Pork Bowl and 30 Days of Dinner!!

I just wrote a nice long intro to this month's 30 Days of Dinner and then lost it. I'm at the beach, so I'm not inclined to rewrite the whole thing. The gist is that it's summer for us, we're not on much of a schedule, and our dinners are all over the place. Plus, I tried Plated this month and am still deciding whether I want to continue with that a few nights a week. Some really tasty new recipes in the mix though, including this Hawaiian Pork Bowl that everyone loved! Happy summer, all!!

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Day 1 (Th) - BBQ Salmon Burgers
Day 2 (F) - dinner out
Day 3 - (Sat) - Slow-Cooker Orange Chicken with Potatoes; green beans
Day 4 (Sun) - dinner out at friends

Day 5 (M) - One-Skillet Steak and Spring Veg with Spicy Mustard; brown rice
Day 6 (T) - Grilled Scallops with Creamed Corn 
Day 7 (W) - Chicken Spiedie Skewers with Italian Dressing
Day 8 (Th) - dinner out
Day 9 (F) - Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Day 10 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 11 (Sun) - dinner out at friends

Day 12 (M) - Salmon Citrus Salad with Avocado 
Day 13 (T) - BBQ'd burgers at the pool
Day 14 (W) - dinner out at Nat's game
Day 15 (Th) - Skillet Pizza Chicken
Day 16 (F) - Chicken Meatballs with pasta
Day 17 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 18 (Sun) - Massaged Kale Salad with Cherries, Pistachios, and Grilled Steak 

Day 19 (M) - Halibut with Spicy Sausage, Tomatoes, and Rosemary; green beans; roasted potatoes
Day 20 (T) - dinner out
Day 21 (W) - BBQ at swim meet
Day 22 (Th) - Grilled Chicken Breasts with Grapefruit Glaze; Southwestern Brown Rice Salad
Day 23 (F) - Grilled Skirt Steak Salad with Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce; sweet potato fries
Day 24 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 25 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 26 (M) - Hawaiian Pork Bowl
Day 27 (T) - Plated Green Chile Chicken Tacos
Day 28 (W) - dinner out
Day 29 (Th) - Plated Seared Steak with Cherry Tomato Viniagrette
Day 30 (F) - Grilled Chicken and salad

Greek Chicken and Potatoes (One Pan) + 30 Days of Dinner!!

This set of dinners is basically us getting on and back off the Whole30 train (and like a whole week of eating out after the first night of Passover). I mentioned a few weeks ago that I've been having a hard time sticking with it this go around. So I decided to switch gears a little bit. I love eating Paleo and the Whole30 reset, but lately I just felt like I was vacillating between eating all the things and eating nothing.

If you've ever met anyone in our family, you know moderation isn't really our thing. Even with things that are good for you. We're a kind of all or nothing bunch. And that's one reason I love Whole30 so much -- I don't really have to deal with trying to eat certain things in moderation. I just can't have them. And what I can eat, the portions are not super strict (there are guidelines, but ....) But I'm trying to be an actual adult, so I decided to try eating mostly clean but with more strict portion control. So you'll continue seeing lots of Paleo-friendly recipes around here, but more just all-around healthy eats too. We'll see how it goes!!

My favorite recipe from this 30 days was easily adapted to Whole30, but even more delicious (and still healthy!) with the cheese. It's really bright, flavorful, and super easy for weeknights.

Greek Chicken and Potatoes (One Pan)

(slightly adapted from Cafe Delites) 

Ingredients
Marinade:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 2 tsp salt
- cracked pepper to taste
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast

Tray Bake:
- 17 1/2 ounces potatoes, diced into 1-inch pieces (about 2 medium potatoes)
- 1 red onion, cut into wedges
- 1 lemon, halved
- 4 tbsp pitted Kalamata olives
- 4 tbsp cubed Feta cheese

Directions
1. Combine marinade ingredients together and pour over chicken into a gallon bag. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, up to over night.
2. Preheat oven to 430 F. Spray a baking pan with cooking oil spray. Arrange chicken, potatoes, and onions on the pan. Drizzle the potatoes and onion with a small amount of olive oil and juice from half of the lemon. Season everything with a bit more of salt and pepper to taste. Toss the potatoes and onion in the oil to evenly coat. Slice the remaining lemon half into slices and arrange over the chicken.
3. Bake until the potatoes are golden/crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the chicken is completely cooked through (about 30-35 minutes). Change oven setting to broil and cook another 5 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown. Add olives and cheese before serving (or leave cheese off for Whole30).

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Day 1 (Sun) -- dinner out 

Day 2 (M) -- Grilled Chicken Tacos, cauliflower rice, salad 

Day 3 (T) -- Cuban Style Steak and Avocado Rice with Pineapple Chimichurri 

Day 4 (W) -- brinner -- eggs, roasted sweet potatoes, salad 

Day 5 (Th) -- Balsamic Mustard Roast Beef (this was DELICIOUS!), green beans 

Day 6 (F) -- dinner out 

Day 7 (Sat) -- Slow Cooker Chili Chicken Verde 

Day 8 (Sun) -- dinner out 

Day 9 (M) -- Passover: Slow Cooker Brisket and Onions (I made a huge brisket, so I did half in the slow cooker and half in the oven -- the oven batch was far better), Apple Walnut Charoset, Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Pesto, Pan Seared Brussels Sprouts
Day 10 (T) -- dinner out
Day 11 (W) -- dinner out
Day 12 (Th) -- brinner
Day 13 (F) -- dinner out
Day 14 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 15 (Sun) -- Greek Chicken and Potatoes (One Pan)

Day 16 (M) -- Crockpot Paleo Chicken
Day 17 (T) -- Apple and Bacon Smothered Pork Chops
Day 18 (W) -- brinner
Day 19 (Th) -- Chicken Fajita Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (a family fave this month)
Day 20 (F) -- One Skillet Mediterranean Chicken 
Day 21 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 22 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 23 (M) -- Slow Cooker Short Rib Chili 
Day 24 (T) -- Grilled Chicken, Burst Tomato, and Artichoke Skewers with Goat Cheese Dip (no dip for Whole30), riced cauliflower
Day 25 (W) -- Carne Asada, Green Beans and Beets with Balsamic Reduction (no cheese for Whole30), Crispy Lemon Oven-Roasted Potatoes
Day 26 (Th) -- leftovers
Day 27 (F) -- dinner out
Day 28 (Sat) -- brinner
Day 29 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 30 (M) -- One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet (I used half ground turkey, half ground beef. Leave off the cheese for Whole30)

Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops with Potatoes and Shallots + 30 Days of Dinner!!

Woohoo!! We just wrapped up our Whole60 a little over a week ago and it turned out to be a fabulous way to start the new year. We have completely reset the way that we eat. So that even though we've re-introduced some things (a bit of dairy (cheese!!), alcohol, and the occasional sweet), we still continue to eat super close to a Whole30 diet with no problem at all. I plan to loosen up a bit on a few upcoming trips, but I hope we can really stick with it long term.

This last month was pretty busy, so I have lots of basic meals in our dinners below. But the pork chops recipe definitely stuck out -- it's super easy and just a nice change from red meat and chicken. It's a perfect weeknight meal!

Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops with Potatoes and Shallots 

(slightly adapted from Bon Apetit) 

Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp fennel seeds
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 1 tsp hot smoked Spanish paprika
- 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 2, 1-inch-thick bone-in pork loin chops (about 1 1/4 lbs total)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lb small Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered
- 2 large shallots, cut into quarters with some root attached
- 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 2 tsp red wine vinegar

Directions1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Toast fennel seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, tossing often, until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Let cool.

2. Combine fennel seeds, garlic, paprika, and 2 tbsp oil in a small bowl. Season pork with salt and pepper and place in a resealable plastic bag. Add spice mixture; seal bag and turn to coat. Let sit at least 30 minutes.

3. Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in a large ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat. Cook pork chops until golden brown on 1 side, about 4 minutes; turn. Add potatoes and shallots to skillet; season with salt and pepper and toss to coat in pan drippings. Cook, tossing potatoes and shallots occasionally, until pork is golden brown on second side, about 4 minutes.

4. Transfer to oven and roast until potatoes are tender. If potatoes need more time, transfer chops to plate and continue to roast until tender; transfer chops back to skillet when potatoes are done. Remove skillet from oven and mix in parsley and vinegar. Let pork chops rest 5 minutes in skillet.

5. Transfer chops to a cutting board; cut meat from bones and slice against the grain. Serve with potatoes, shallots, and any pan juices.

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30 Days of Dinner

Day 1 (W) -- brinner/leftovers 

Day 2 (Th) -- Slow Cooker Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chili 
Day 3 (F) -- Paleo Brocoli Salad with Bacon, eggs, potato hash 
Day 4 (Sat) -- dinner out 
Day 5 (Sun) -- SuperBowl dinner! Salad, two kinds of wings (Paleo Buffalo Wings and Crispy Chicken Wings), and kids had nachos too. 

Day 6 (M) -- burgers, Sweet Potato Fries (LOVE this recipe), salad 
Day 7 (T) -- Ginger Garlic Steak Tacos with Pineapple Pico de Gallo; cauliflower rice 
Day 8 (W) -- Lemon and Garlic Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes (leave out wine and sugar, and sub gluten-free flour); zoodles and kids had pasta
Day 9 (Th) --  Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops with Potatoes and Shallots; brussels sprouts 
Day 10 (F) -- Asian Turkey Burgers with Spicy Lime Mayo (I LOVE How Sweet It Is, but found these disappointing); salad 
Day 11 (Sat) -- dinner out 
Day 12 (Sun) -- Crockpot Pulled Pork Chili 

Day 13 (M) -- dinner out 
Day 14 (T) -- Valentine's Day! Steak and Baked Potato with Crab, Jalapeño, and Mint (leave out dairy if Whole30)
Day 15 (W) -- Roasted Chicken with Potatoes + Arugula (leave out dairy); green beans 
Day 16 (Th) -- Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole (everyone loved this!)
Day 17 (F) -- dinner out 
Day 18 (Sat) -- dinner out 
Day 19 (Sun) -- dinner out 

Day 20 (M) -- brinner: scrambled eggs, salmon pastrami, hash browns 
Day 21 (T) -- Grilled Rosemary and Balsamic Chicken (leave out sugar); salad; potatoes 
Day 22 (W) -- Slow Cooker Brisket; mashed potatoes; salad 
Day 23 (Th) -- Greek Lamb Burgers (no dairy); sweet potato fries; green beans
Day 24 (F) -- dinner out 
Day 25 (Sat) --  leftovers 
Day 26 (Sun) -- dinner out 

Day 27 (M) -- Paleo Beef Barbacoa (still love this); cauliflower rice 
Day 28 (T) -- Loaded Taco Soup (I thought this was delish -- the rest of the family seemed annoyed that it was soup instead of chili, and sort of ate it like chili. So next time I might let it simmer and thicken longer). 
Day 29 (W) -- brinner 
Day 30 (Th) -- dinner out
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Slow Cooker Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili

As I mentioned in our last Friday Five, we just finished up our January Whole30 and I feel a gazillion times better than I did coming out of the holidays. So much so that I decided to extend it through February for a Whole60. I did one about a year and a half ago and loved it. And at this point, it's easier for me to keep plowing along.

This month's favorite recipe was definitely Slow Cooker Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili. We all loved the spice (just enough to help us keep our sinuses clear without turning off the kiddies) and I liked the mix of chicken and beef. Plus it just could not be easier to make -- you literally just throw it all in the slow cooker and let it go. I made it once with sweet potatoes and the second time with yellow potatoes and both were delicious. Try either!

All recipes below are Whole30 or easily adapted. I tried to note where I made changes, but if I didn't, assume I always sub olive oil for cooking oil and leave out any dairy, legumes, grain, alcohol, or sugar. I often make a super easy vegetable to go with our main dish and I often forget to write that down. But rest assured, we didn't just eat plates of protein for dinner.

Slow Cooker Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili

(slightly adapted from Julie Bauer's recipe on SkinnyTaste) 

Ingredients
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 jalapeños, seeds removed and diced
- 1 large sweet potato or 3 small gold potatoes, diced
- 1 lb 93% lean ground chicken
- 1 lb 95% lean ground beef
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1, 14 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
- chopped scallions, for garnish
- sliced avocado, for garnish

Directions 
Place all ingredients up to scallions and avocado in the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours (or high for 6 hours). When done, break up the ground meat with a spoon. Serve garnished with scallions and avocado on top. 

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30 Days of Dinner

Day 1 (M) -- Grilled Chilean Beef Skewers with Smokey Chimichurri; spaghetti squash 

Day 2 (T) -- Lemony Chicken Stir Fry; cauliflower rice 
Day 3 (W) -- Garlic Lover's Crockpot Beef Stew with Olives, Capers, and Tomatoes; mashed potatoes; green beans 
Day 4 (Th) -- Brinner: eggs, hash browns, sausage, and salad. 
Day 5 (F) -- Paleo Taco Skillet; spaghetti squash (kids had brown rice)
Day 6 (Sat) -- dinner out 
Day 7 (Sun) -- dinner out 

Day 8 (M) -- Greek Lamb Burgers (I used 1/2 lamb, 1/2 ground beef and left off all dairy and no bun); Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Potatoes 
Day 9 (T) -- Slow Cooker Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili; salad 
Day 10 (W) -- Rosemary Balsamic Sheet Pan Chicken with Bacon and Apples
Day 11 (Th) -- Burgers, green beans, My Favorite Roasted Potatoes 
Day 12 (F) -- Cranberry Pot Roast; mashed potatoes; carrots 
Day 13 (Sat) -- dinner out 
Day 14 (Sun) -- Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad; Greek Roasted Potatoes 

Day 15 (M) -- Grilled Flank Steak with Cilantro Chimichurri
Day 16 (T) -- Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, and Sautéed Apples
Day 17 (W) -- leftovers/brinner 
Day 18 (Th) -- Slow Cooker Paleo Turkey Meatballs; Zoodles (and noodles for kids)
Day 19 (F) -- Roast Chicken with Kimchi Smashed Potatoes; green beans 
Day 20 (Sat) -- Weeknight Porchetta; brussels sprouts
Day 21 (Sun) -- Paleo Beef Barbacoa (everyone LOVED this and I doubled it so that I got a ton of leftovers from it); cauliflower rice (brown rice for kiddos)

Day 22 (M) -- Lamb Sliders; Paleo Broccoli Salad with Bacon (I am kind of obsessed with this salad, but the second time I made it, I ate half of the bowl. So I might need to lay off that one for a while!) 
Day 23 (T) -- Brinner: eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, sausage, and fruit (kids also had pancakes) 
Day 24 (W) -- Charred Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Oranges (this was a BIG family fav! I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts and it was still incredibly juicy)
Day 25 (Th) -- Paleo Taco Salad 
Day 26 (F) -- Slow Cooker Fajita Salsa Chicken; cauliflower rice (kids had brown rice)
Day 27 (Sat) -- dinner out 
Day 28 (Sun) -- Grilled Steak Salad with Beets and Scallions (I used cooked beets in this and it was yummy); green beans; kids also had pasta 

Day 29 (M) -- Paleo Roasted Chicken with Figs and Olives; potatoes; salad 
Day 30 (T) -- Crock Pot Picadillo; we had ours over spaghetti squash; kids had brown rice and corn 

Chicken Shawarma Naan Salad with Sweet Potato Fries + 30 Days of Dinner!!

Chicken Shawarma is a regular fave of our whole family, so I love trying out new recipes. And this one was a HUGE hit. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that even though it's a salad, it has sweet potato fries sprinkled all over it. But, whatever. The kids ate a ton of it, including the veggies. So I'll count that as a win!

Slow Cooked Carnitas with Peach and Tomato Salsa + 30 Days of Dinner!!

I know that peach season is long gone, but everyone so loved these Slow Cooked Carnitas with Peach + Tomato Salsa, that I'd make them again and again and just leave out the peaches. It was so easy for so much flavor! And I doubled the recipe so we used the leftovers in multiple dishes (brinner, tacos, etc.), which always adds up to a huge win in my book.

Lamb Meatballs with Feta, Olives, and Lemon + 30 Days of Dinner!

I can hardly believe I waited so long to work lamb in to our dinner rotation at home. Everyone was completely gaga over these meatballs from Smitten Kitchen—Cam asks for them at nearly every meal (no matter where we are). They are absolutely delish, so I get it. Next time I'll be making a double batch!

The rest of these 30 Days are also a mix of clean and not-exactly-clean eating. I was about 12 days in to my Whole 30 when the storm from hell hit and required a bunch of work at home. Hence, pizza and beer. Plus since we're on vacation it just seemed silly to try another stint before we're back. So, everything here is still healthy, just not 100% clean. I'm psyched for all we have planned for August, but also looking forward to getting the kids back in school and everyone on a more consistent schedule. Till then!!

Lamb Meatballs with Feta, Olives, and Lemon

(slightly adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 8 tbsp water
- 2 lbs ground lamb
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- zest of half a lemon
- 2 tbsp olive oil

Sauce:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- a few slugs of red wine
- 1 28-ounce can of crushed or pureed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- zest of half a lemon
- 3/4 to 1 tsp table salt
- pinches of red pepper flakes (to taste)
- 1/3 cup pitted, chopped kalamata olives
- 1 tbsp thinly sliced mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 2 tbsp roughly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
- juice of one lemon
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta, for garnish

Directions
1. Make meatballs: in a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients except oil. Using wet hands, form mixture into small meatballs (1 1/2 - 2-inch diameter).

2. Brown meatballs: heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and heat it through. Evenly space meatballs in pan and very carefully turn and roll them so that all sides become brown. Don't worry if they don't stay perfectly round or if some pieces stick to the pain. Drain meatballs on a paper towel-lined plate.

3. Make sauce and finish cooking meatballs: pour all but 1 tablespoon fat out from skillet and return to medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add wine and scape up any bits stuck to the pan. Cook until the liquid almost disappears. Add tomatoes, oregano, lemon zest, salt, pepper flakes, olives, mint, and parsley. Bring mixture to a simmer and return meatballs to the pan. Cover with a lid and cook at the lowest simmer for 20 - 24 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through. Squeeze lemon juice over meatballs and sauce.

Sprinkle with additional olives, feta, and herbs. We had ours over orzo pasta.

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30 Days of Dinner

Day 1 (W) -- Brinner of omelets, bacon, and our new favorite Breakfast Potatoes.
Day 2 (Th) -- dinner out
Day 3 (F) -- grilled barbecue chicken on strawberry salad.
Day 4 (Sat) -- leftovers/kids pizza 

Day 5 (Sun) -- dinner out 

Day 6 (M) -- Chicken Fajita Cheeseburgers; sweet potato french fries
Day 7 (T) -- Paleo Buffalo Chicken Casserole 
Day 8 (W) -- post storm pizza + beer night
Day 9 (Th) -- grilled flank steak, Breakfast Potatoes, salad
Day 10 (F) -- Lemon Chicken with Red Onion; cauliflower rice
Day 11 (Sat) -- dinner out at a friends -- we brought this Chinatown Sling cocktail and ordered in Chinese food

Day 12 (Sun) -- BBQ at friends -- we brought this deeelish Classic Potato Salad and Pineapple Sangria 

Day 13 (M) -- Nectarine Mustard Glazed Salmon with Grilled Stone Fruit; Easy Lemon Roasted Potatoes; green beans
Day 14 (T) -- Moroccan Pita Sandwiches; leftover potatoes
Day 15 (W) -- leftovers 

Day 16 (Th) -- Lamb Meatballs with Feta, Olives + Lemon; orzo pasta
Day 17 (F) -- dinner out
Day 18 (Sat) -- dinner out 

Day 19 (Sun) -- Paleo Crockpot Chili (STILL a huge fam favorite) 

Day 20 (M) -- Roasted Chicken with Citrus, Dates, and Olives 
Day 21 (T) -- Grilled burgers and Crispy Baked French Fries 
Day 22 (W) -- Brazilian Grilled Steak; Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Cilantro Pesto 
Day 23 (Th) -- Honey Sriracha Coconut Grilled Chicken Fingers; grilled squash; Coconut Rice 
Day 24 (F) --  brinner 

Day 25 (Sat) -- Brisket Barbacoa Beef; Cilantro Rice; and Corn Salad

Day 26 (Sun) -- BBQ at friends

Day 27 (M) -- Lemon Chicken with Red Onion (also added spinach -- cleaning out fridge before vacaye!); leftover breakfast potatoes; green beans
Day 28 (T) -- brinner 

Day 29 (W) -- dinner out while traveling
Day 30 (Th) -- dinner out tonight in Scotland!! 

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