Taco Night

Normally, taco’s aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when contemplating clean eating. Probably because the Taco Bell “flavor-blast-your-face-off” Doritos version is anything but. What has happened to this world?!? With a few fresh, simple ingredients, tacos can be a quick, easy weeknight meal.
*some assembly required

Tacos really don’t need a recipe, and that’s always the type of food I gravitate to. Add anything you like and it just gets better! Hot sauce? Pickled jalapeños? Roasted Red peppers?Homemade corn salsa? Go for it!

I love doing a taco night because I can clean out the fridge AND stuff a bunch of fresh veggies in, not the least of which is this baby:

I would eat avocados pretty much every day, if they weren’t so expensive! (Side note, I think I did while I was pregnant). I normally would make guacamole, but I wanted something quick and didn’t involve adding more items to the grocery list (cilantro, jalapeño, tomato). So, I opted for a quick cheat that has the same impact: Avocado crema.

Tacos
Warning: This recipe contains no taco seasoning packets or nacho cheese. You’ll have to go elsewhere for that “food.”

Ingredients:
Tortillas (flour or corn, but it’s hard to find organic, non-GMO corn)
1 chicken breast, grilled and thinly sliced (I had leftovers!)
1 avocado
1 lime
1 heart of romaine lettuce, washed and chopped thinly
1/2 red onion, sliced thinly
1 can of black beans, drained (Eden organic brand has BPA-free lining!)
Handful of black olives, sliced
Shredded aged cheddar cheese
Salsa Verde
Sour Cream (I go full fat on all my dairy)
Garlic powder
Cumin
Smoked paprika

Procedure:

First, make avocado crema.

(can you spy the baby monitor??)

Chop avocado into cubes and place in bowl. Squeeze juice of one lime over top and mash. Mix in 2 Tbsp. sour cream and mash to combine. Stir in salt, pepper, and spices to taste (the smoked paprika is really the secret ingredient here.)

Begin assembling your tacos! Add a little or a lot of whatever you like.

Fold it up, and enjoy!

Real Food

This is the old me, before my life changed completely:

Well, let’s back up. This is really the old me.

Ah, I remember her well! She was quite pretty when she had the time to put on makeup and style her hair…

My life was pretty effortless. I went to my job teaching 2nd grade, got out at a reasonable hour, strolled leisurely through the grocery aisles, and cooked dinners that took hours. It was naively blissful.

This is my life today:

My little girl keeps me infinitely busy. I had to find a new way to eat. One that meant little time, but did not sacrifice what was most important to me: real food that tastes good. So that is what I am here to share. How I continue to cook clean food, with the demands of a 9 month old and my gourmet pallet always on my mind. I hope you find it useful and maybe even a bit amusing. Bon Appetite!

P.S. my life is infinitely better now. That other girl doesn’t know what she’s missing!