Not Your Mama’s Tostones

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Tempeh Bacon Lettuce & Tomato Sammies

Let’s take a moment to celebrate the fact that #1 this isn’t another sweet potato recipe (although I’m going to do one later this week, so ha) and #2 I’m OFFICIALLY DONE WITH MY 21-DAY SUGAR DETOX!!!!

Okay so technically I finished on Monday but I’m really excited that I can eat my millet bread and PASTA. I can’t forget pasta. I did miss sourdough bread and the Challah of Easter Sunday but…I think I can hang without it. For most of the detox I was really hangry (hungry + angry) and really just wanted to say f*ck it, I’m done, this is stupid. But something inside of me gave me a huge push (besides the internal countdown). I realized this was not forever. A sugar detox is not a way to deprive myself. It’s a way to become more aware and mindful of every part of my body. And I dig that.

Wait, so my point was what?

This sugar purge really gave birth to some freakin’ amazing creativity. I pulled recipes out of my utility belt daily and really focused on creating balanced meals (not 100% sure what that is yet, maybe 80% sure and I’m about 80% ok with that).

And that is where this tostones (fried plantain) recipe came from.

AND for my level of this sugar detox (click here to learn more, in case you’re curious), I was allowed extra starchy veg. Sweet potato was already on my list and on the menu prettttttty much errday. So the plantain became my friend.

I’ve had plantains smashed, fried, molded into a sexy mofongo (look it up- it’s amazeballs), made into crunchy chips. I just never made them myself.

The KEY is to have a vibrant, tangy, citrus sauce to dunk these crispy thangs in.

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Sweet Potato Brekkie Bowl with Tahini Dressing

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Can you tell I’m just a wee bit obsessed with sweet potato?

Last week I was such a grump. Aside from the unfortunate combination of PMS and detoxing, I was freakin’ hangry as f*ck. I LOVE food so if I have to overly think and overly strategize my food it takes away from my fun and leads to an unhappy G.

So far I’m on day 11 of my sugar detox with just 10 days to go. And I’m feeling good today but last week I was not nice. And the only thing that really saved me besides an entire avocado every single day: sweet potato.

Sweet potato and I are boos. We go way back. I didn’t like them much as a child but now that I know how to roast them and even make a hash out of them, there is no going back.

Now this recipe came out of nowhere.

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Sweet Potato + Black Bean Casserole {Heaven in your mouth}

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I must really really love myself. I made the bold decision to do a 21-day sugar detox. But wait. “G, don’t you already treat your body so good and don’t eat many sweets or use sweeteners?” This is true. Really true. Still…sometimes our bodies just need a break and need us to switch things up a bit.

See now this is no ordinary detox. I’m not eating BREAD or grains or my favorite fruits. I AM THE QUEEN OF AVOCADO TOAST! And I love rice. So this is no ordinary cleanse and this also means no pineapple or berries but I can have sour/pungent fruits (grapefruit or green apples- this tricks yo brain into thinking you’re having a sweet treat and lays those desires for sweets to rest).

It’s a ton of juggling but really an opportunity for me to train my palate and give my body a nice break. And when the poops are good, and the energy feels good, it’s aalllll good man.

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AVO-HUMMUS: The Only Hummus Recipe You’ll Ever Need

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Tempeh Bacon Lettuce & Tomato Sammies

I feel like hummus is one of those things we see in the store and think, yea I can probably make that at home (for a fraction of the cost) but you just don’t make it.

Guilty as charged.

I LOVE hummus but sometimes I just want to save myself the effort (this is complete bs) and just buy the next best thing. Tribe is one of my favorites (their Everything bagel flavor- heaven) and when it’s on sale, it’s like heaven.

But when you’re lucky enough to have the basic ingredients for hummus in your pantry, why bother going to the store.

You just can’t beat the freshness. I tested this recipe on 3 dudes who are probably not hummus people but the sounds of “mmm” “crunch crunch crunch” and when they ask “wait this is hummus!?” reassures you that you’re doing something good with your life and culinary skills.

Okay, it doesn’t really take much culinary know how to throw some shit in a blender or food processor, but it sure does take some serious mental strength. You have to be like, “okay, I’m going to get up and make hummus. It is not that hard and it is going to be delicious because I made it.”

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Better than Reese’s Chocolate Nut Butter Squares

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Sometimes a candy bar seems like the cure for all of life’s woes. But seriously, sometimes there is immense comfort in the forbidden foods. This is why I don’t make foods taboo and I usually just find a way to make that pleasurable and decadent item WAY better.

A few weeks ago I had a client who noticed that when she was feeling stressed she would go straight for the Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. These were her drug of choice. The moment she bit into that chocolatey peanut buttery cup that melted as she savored each bite, she felt euphoric. It was like nothing else mattered because it was just her and that peanut butter chocolate orgasm.

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