30 Days Allergen Free - Trim Healthy Mama Challenge

Hello friends! As you know (maybe?) I started a 30 day challenge on My Facebook Page last week... Today is Day 9!  My new friend Sherry from I Like Rice A Lot has done great changes towards a healthier life and I was totally inspired by the things she was doing... I already follow a great plan...  Trim Healthy Mama but due to some health issues (thyroid, etc) I am trying to adapt my plan for 30 days (just for 30 days) and see how I feel and I hope to learn some things in the process... One of the crucial things of this 30 Day Challenge (besides excluding grains, dairy and beans) is NOT weighing/measuring and even when at times it is hard and I want to at least measure myself I am staying strong!

Today I am going to share with you a very simple and yummy recipe....

Salmon Salad with Homemade mayo

The recipe will be at the end of this post... FIRST... I want to share with you some of the things I've been eating to hopefully inspire you to jump on the "health wagon" and realize that you don't have to "miss out"

- Cauliflower Rice and Shrimp

 - Eggroll in a Bowl

-Grilled chicken with this delicious side salad (avocado, cucumbers, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, fresh squeezed lime juice, salt and pepper)

- I've been having eggs for breakfast, I know there are other grain free, dairy free, legume free options somewhere but I am so happy with eggs that I don't even look for anything else I just get creative how I prepare them:

And lots of yummy stuff that doesn't even let me miss dairy (ok... I miss it a little) and grains! Some of the meals I am eating are considered crossovers on the Trim Healthy Mama plan, crossovers are definitely on plan they just don't promote weight loss by themselves... but since I am not using some ingredients I am allowing myself to introduce some s-helpers and crossovers to hopefully help with my thyroid issues... I also want to share with you what I ate on Sunday...  we went to a picnic from hubby's work and this is what I ate there:

I used the veggies for the hamburgers as a salad and then just ate 1 hamburger patty and some pulled pork (without bbq sauce), I also had a larabar (only 3 whole ingredients YEAH!) It does contain dates which are not THM approved... YOU don't have to use them, they are off plan and I don't intend on abusing these, but since for these 30 days I am not even using stevia I am allowing myself to have a little bit of dates on extreme circumstances.

Now... let me share with you the Salmon Salad with Homemade Mayo recipe

Mayonnaise Recipe:

Don't get intimidated by mayo! You can make it super quickly! It's delicious and you are in full control of the stuff that goes in it... (slightly adapted from: Whole30 Mayo Recipe, all mayo recipes are very similar)

Mayonnaise was first created by chef of the Duke de Richelieu in 1756 so... basically the original credits go to him :)

Ingredients (for the mayo only):

• 1 1/4 cup -divided- of your favorite (on plan) Extra Light Oil -or a combination of two light oils- (avoid strong flavored oils like avocado oil or EVOO, you can use a light olive oil)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. of salt (or to taste) 
• 1/2 tsp. Dry Mustard
• lime or lemon to taste (about 1/2 to 1)

 Instructions:

• Place the egg and 1/4 of a cup of oil, salt and mustard in a bowl of a standing mixer (if you don't have a standing mixer you can use a blender or even food processor but I used a standing mixer and the results are fantastic).- I love my KitchenAid Standing Mixer and my Ninja Blender -
• Run the mixer (or whatever you are using) on high and while after about 30 seconds into it (and while it's running) carefully and very, VERY slowly drizzle the remaining oil (do not let the oil touch the blades if your blender is uncovered or whisk attachment or it can get messy).
• When you've added all the oil and the mixture has emulsified/thickened add the lime or lemon juice and mix for 5 more seconds just to incorporate.

Transfer to a glass container with a tight lid and store in the fridge... To know how long you can keep this mayo just use the expiration date of the egg you used.

Enjoy your homemade mayo! All the good stuff, none of the bad! Make the delicious salmon salad from the first picture.... I used:

Ingredients:

• 1 can (6oz) of wild caught salmon (I use Bear and Wolf Pink Salmon ) for my salads because it doesn't have any bones or skin already.
• 1/2 medium tomato (chopped)
• 3 tbsp. white onions (chopped)
• 1 stalk of celery (chopped)
• 2 tbsp. (or to taste) of your delicious homemade mayo
• salt and pepper to taste (I use this Himalayan Salt) ... Himalayan salt is great for you (not indispensable for this recipe) but the health benefits due to the many minerals in this salt are amazing. Hopefully you will try it.

Mix it all together with a fork, enjoy with cucumber slices instead of crackers!

This salad is an "S" on Trim Healthy Mama. 

Enjoy!

© Paloma K.

 Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links, this means that you pay the same price, but I also receive a very small compensation. I recommend products I have tried and love.

Amazing... really amazing Potato Salad!

First of all! Don't forget our Coffee Friday party tomorrow! :) Just add some "coffee to your post", link back to us... and link it up! We'll have a very, very special Featured Blogger! A creative gal with a great blog with lots of personality! she'll bring some "Salsa" to our Blog... you'll see! ... I am actually writing this on Wednesday night because I just got home from a Meeting at Church, so if you've sent me an e-mail, tweet or left a comment, don't think I am ignoring you... it's just been very busy and I'll get to it... I promise!

Now... the recipe!

This Potato Salad Deserves 10 stars out of five! (I know... it doesn't make sense) but that's how GREAT it is!

Everywhere I take it is a big HIT! And people are always asking for more (and for the recipe too!)

I am a little zealous with the recipe, because even when it's originally from "All recipes" I made big changes, twists and some little tricks that I am willing (am I? I can't believe I am actually doing this) to share with you!

-sigh- Ok... here we go...

Potato and Bacon Salad
(Totally transformed recipe from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 4 slices bacon
• About 4 tablespoons yellow mustard (or to taste)
• 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 stalks celery, minced
• 5 big red potatoes potatoes peeled and cut to about a "big bite" size
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (divided)
• 1/2 red onion chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Place the potatoes in a pot with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until fork tender. As soon as they are ready drain and transfer them to a big baking tray or jelly roll pan and drizzle them with the apple cider vinegar and mustard, gently tossing so they are perfectly coated, season them with some salt and pepper, let cool (you can place them in the fridge).
2. Meanwhile, place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. When water is about to start boiling remove immediately from the heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 minutes. Never let the water boil (if the water boils with the eggs in it that causes the yolk to get gray and it's not pretty). Remove from hot water and peel as soon as the heat allows it, don't let them cool off completely or it will be harder to peel them and keep them nice.
3. Peel the eggs, cut them in quarters and set aside.
4. Cook bacon slices in the microwave for about 4 minutes until crisp, or fry in a skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the bacon slices and set aside (divided).
5. Once the potatoes have cooled off transfer to a big bowl, add the quartered eggs, mayonnaise, celery, onions, 3 tbsp. of parsley, half of the bacon crumbs and add a pinch of salt and pepper if necessary, gently fold all the ingredients together until evenly coated. Garnish with remaining bacon and parsley over the top. 

 This goes great with Rotissery Style Roasted Chicken (check the video at the end for my recipe)

Note: It is very important to coat the potatoes with the mustard and vinegar while they are still very, very hot because this will allow the potatoes to absorb the acidity and flavor of the mustard/vinegar and will make the potatoes flavorful all the way through not just "coated with flavor" but bland in the inside. Trust me, this will make for a PERFECT salad.

Enjoy!

And here is the video for the rotisserie chicken, trust me, you won't want to buy it again! Forget about dry chicken breast!


Linking up with: Simple Lives Thursday
and: Serenity Now

Paloma K.