Day 29

Day 29

Meal 1: Scrambled eggs, salsa, avocado, sauteed zucchini and yellow squash (olive oil, Italian Seasoning)

Meal 2: Chicken-Apple Sausage, carrots, cucumbers, mustard

Meal 3: Crockpot Beef Stew

I made this based on my favorite beef stew recipe. I Whole30-fied it. I will post both recipes because I think they are both great and both are healthy.

Whole30 Beef Stew

-32 oz (4 cups) compliant Beef Stock

-1.5-1 lbs. stew meat

-1 can stewed tomatoes

-1/2 white sweet potato (mine were huge, you could do a full potato if yours are smaller), diced

-1/2 regular sweet potato (again, it was huge, use a full one if yours is smaller), diced

-1 yellow onion, chopped

-3 large carrots, chopped

-2 garlic cloves, crushed in garlic press

-4 small celery stalks or 2-3 large stalks, chopped

-1/2 t salt

-1/2 t pepper

-1 t paprika

-1 bay leaf

-2 T balsamic vinegar

Sometimes I brown the meat, sometimes I don't. I didn't today and it was great still. Place everything in your crockpot (except the balsamic vinegar). Low for 10-12 hours or high for 6-8. When the soup is done, remove the bay leaf and stir in the balsamic vinegar. This adds an awesome rich flavor and depth to the stew. This stew is broth-ier than my original version but the broth is excellent and tastes amazing.

Beef and Barley Crockpot Stew (this is NOT Whole30 compliant)

-32 oz (4 cups) Beef Stock

-1.5-1 lbs. stew meat

-1 can stewed tomatoes

-1-2 russet potatoes or 3-4 small red potatoes, (or a mixture of both), diced

-1 yellow onion, chopped

-3 large carrots, chopped

-2 garlic cloves, crushed in garlic press

-4 small celery stalks or 2-3 large stalks, chopped

-1/2-3/4 cup pearled barley

-1/2 t salt

-1/2 t pepper

-1 t paprika

-1 bay leaf

-2 T balsamic vinegar

Place everything in the slow cooker (minus the balsamic vinegar). High 6-8 hours or low 10-12 hours. When soup is done, remove bay leaf and stir in balsamic vinegar. If you have never had beef and barley stew, try this one. It is awesome. I LOVE barley in my stew (and the Handsome hubs prefers it). 

Thoughts on today: I really enjoyed adapting one of my own recipes to make it whole30 compliant. I will most likely be making my Whole30 recipe again, after whole30, but adding back in the pearled barley (by husband's request). I enjoyed the sweet potatoes in the stew. They were a mild flavor and really this stew is full of yummy, comforting flavor and so very healthy for you.

TOMORROW is my last day and I am excited/nervous/anxious but so ready to start reintroduction.