I made this recipe a few weeks ago, and it was one of those dinners that found four kids standing over my shoulder.
“Mom! When’s it gonna be done?!”
“Mom! That smells so good!”
“Mom! What is it? That looks amazing!”
Let me here now confirm to you that this never happens in my home. Despite the fact that I am a certified foodie for everyone from Disney to Good Cook, YourTango to Yuri Elkaim, I was still gifted with the sort of children that believe Kraft Mac & Cheese is an ideal breakfast, and ramen is an ideal dinner.
So, when me standing at the stove actually draws the children forward rather than repulses them, I know I’m onto something special.
And this quick dish really is delish. It’s one of those crazy-simple recipes. From start to finish, I bet it took me 7 minutes flat. That’s not even enough time to get four children to set the dinner table. But then again, getting children to set the dinner table prolly takes more time than I ever have.
We served this dish alongside a pan of Dragon Noodles. Pulled out chopsticks. Sipped sake from tiny cups.
Wait.
That part was just me.
Then, I shouted at the kids to clean up the dinner table they hadn’t set in the first place. To which they responded with the same timely manner in which they do all cleaning. Let’s just say cleanup wasn’t as fast as the cooking… ;)
GOING GLUTEN-FREE
As you’re whipping up this quick dish, you’re going to love the flavors. But you can rejoice that it’s gluten-free and fabulous. Cutting white-flour carbs has been a key part of me healing myself from adrenal fatigue. It’s also meant evenings without bloating and gas.
And, lord almighty, while I know popping the term “gas” on a food blog is like breaking wind during yoga, I haveta drop it because. Guys. Girls. If you hit the end of the day, and your body is bloaty…your body is begging for help. I can’t count of the number of nights (for years on end) when my post-dinner gut led to all-evening fumadoring. And not in the sexy smoking jacket kind of way. I was just plum stanky. And I couldn’t figure it out.
Until I started dropping gluten. Cutting noodles. Quitting cupcakes. I always thought food allergies were for those crazy overbearing mothers who pull peanuts out of the hands of little children, and read romance novels while wearing sweatpants. I didn’t have rashes or itches. I wasn’t dealing with debilitating pain or stomachaching. But, obsessed with diets as I am, I decided to try the paleo approach, and started noticing a huge difference.
No more bloating (unless I sneak eat).
No more gas (unless I cheat).
Flat, happy belly (unless I cupcake).
Of course, changing our daily recipe repertoire hasn’t always been easy. The kids want spaghetti and pizza and ramen and kraftmac. Those foods are simple to prepare, and cheap as all get out. But, we’re finding our way around foods we all like to eat. You’ll keep seeing more and more of those here. Triple Threat Eats, as I like to call them: quick, cheap, healthy.
And in the meantime, consider this today’s PSA. If you’re dealing with the food blues at night, it’s probably not your body–it’s your food. Cut the flour, beans & rice stuffs for a week, eat good stuff (like this Cheater Chow Mein), and see if you don’t feel a change.
Then come on back here and tell us about it. Going grain-free was never on my list of life plans, but I’m feeling quite glad about it all these days.
So is my bellygut.
CHEATER CHOW MEIN
INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon garlic-ginger puree
1 chicken breast, cut into very thin strips
2 cups bean sprouts
3 green onion (scallions) stalks, cut into 2” pieces
3 tablespoons tamari (or Braggs aminos)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Grab a wok
2. Melt coconut oil in wok, over medium-high heat.
3. Add garlic-ginger puree and chicken breast to the woke.
4. Cook until no longer pink.
5. Toss in bean sprouts and green onions.
6. Sautee until softened, about 1-2 minutes
7. Sprinkle tamari, stir.
8. Serve and enjoy!
Makes 2 servings.