Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Rock Climbing and Chicken Meatballs

     At this juncture in my new New York lifestyle I have not managed to get on Paleo and stay on Paleo, and the Holidays are coming up.  It all feels very hopeless.  However, I am actually attempting to eat like a normal person (meaning a non-food addicted person who can eat what they want and stop when they are satisfied).  Here is a little fact about New York, the grocery stores are ridiculously expensive, and Trader Joe's usually has a line wrapping around the entire store (if not twice), so this week I decided to order from one of those companies with the prepackaged meals to prepare yourself.  Basically they send you all the ingredients and the recipes to make 3 different meals a week.  The meals are not Paleo, but they are usually fairly healthy and organic.  So, this week I ordered a box super discounted because I was a first time customer, $34 for 6 meals for the week isn't bad, and honestly I made 3 servings out of what was supposed to be 2!  So, the first recipe I made was Chicken Meatballs and Gnocchi, but I want to share the recipe and make it Paleo, mostly because I want to save it for a future date for myself (or a future date with someone, you see what I did there?)  You may choose to buy some gnocchi, but next time I make it I will be making my own Sweet potato gnocchi using this recipe....

 
Yes, it will take more time, but nothing truly healthy is fast.  If you so choose to make this recipe the non-Paleo or Primal way feel free to use 1/2 C of parmesan cheese in lieu of nutritional yeast.  It should be added in the skillet after the spinach is wilted.

Chicken Meatballs and Gnocchi
Servings 4

Ingredients
18 oz. Gnocchi, fresh 
1/2 Sage, fresh
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1 lb Ground Chicken
2 Granny Smith Apple
2 Yellow Onion
10 oz. Baby Spinach
1 TBSP Nutritional Yeast
4 TBSP Butter/ghee/coconut oil
2 TBSP Oil
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Prep the ingredients: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 

Bring a large pot of water with a large pinch of salt to a boil. Finely chop the sage leaves. Halve, peel and grate half of the onion into a large bowl. Halve and core the apple. Grate half of the apple into the bowl with the grated onion. Thinly slice the remaining apple into 1⁄4-inch wedges. Thinly slice the remaining onion.

Bake the apple: Toss the apple wedges on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes until slightly softened.

Form the meatballs: Add the ground chicken to the bowl with the grated apple and onion. Stir to combine and season generously with salt and pepper. Form the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.

Cook the meatballs: Heat another drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs to the pan and cook, rotating occasionally, until cooked through and golden brown on all sides, for 8-10 minutes. Set aside.

Cook the gnocchi: While the meatballs cook, add the gnocchi to the boiling water and cook for 7-9 minutes, until tender. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
When the gnocchi float to the top of the water, they are probably done! 

Heat another drizzle of oil in the same pan you cooked the meatballs in over medium heat. Add the sliced onion to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the gnocchi to the pan along with the sage, spinach, butter, and a splash of pasta water if necessary.  Toss until the spinach wilts and the sauce thickens, for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the baked apple wedges, and chicken meatballs into the pan. Divide between bowls, sprinkle with nutritional yeast, and enjoy! 

Side note: I added the baked apples on the side.  I just don't love sweet added with my savory.  For instance, I think ham and pineapple pizza IS THE WORST!  My opinion.  My opinion isn't right, your's isn't wrong.


(I realize now that if I am going to start doing this... I need to be better at staging my food to look more appetizing, but it was truly delicious.)


In more amusing news: today was my first attempt at getting back into a fitness regimen since surgery.  I joined a gym over a week ago and hadn't been since.  (SHAME)  So, I scheduled a free session with a rock climbing instructor.  The session was an hour and I was exhausted about 10 minutes into it, but he didn't let me give up, which is exactly the kind of person I need in my life.  I tried bouldering first, and then he forced me to rope climb.  I flipped out when I climbed about 20 feet high, he made me rest, which consisted of me dangling in the air while the harness contorts my fat in very humbling ways...I told him as much.  I made it to the top of the 46' high wall, and then he wanted me to do it AGAIN!  My fingers and forearms were so tired and I was so hot and sweaty, which I did not expect.  I actually came with face and hair ready for an interview I had later.  When it was over my hair was drenched and my makeup splotchy, so I had to utilize the showers, but I didn't come prepared with makeup, extra underwear, and I completely forgot a real bra to change into.  That's right, I went to my interview commando and in a sweaty sports bra.  Also, after I showered and blew my hair dry with the awesome accoutrements the gym has to offer, I went to Sephora with my newly cleaned face and put on a full face of makeup for my interview.  Clever girl, if I do say so myself.  How long do you think I can get away with putting all my makeup on at Sephora?
(Shout out to Sephora for the interview makeup)

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