Make at Home: Chipotle Burrito Bowls

If you love Chipotle, try making these at home.  It comes out to about $2 per person for a huge serving.  (Serves 6-8)



Ingredients:
1 cup 365 brand brown rice
1 jar 365 brand salsa verde
1 can 365 brand black beans
2 avocados
1 bunch cilantro
2-3 roma tomatoes
1 red onion
1 green pepper
1 bag 365 brand blue corn tortilla chips
Splash of lemon juice + Splash of lime juice
Sour cream (optional-- the meal is vegan without it)




Rice:
Boil 2 cups water with 1 cup brown rice, turn to simmer, cover til water is absorbed
Add a large handful of chopped cilantro to the rice
Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup salsa verde to the rice (to your taste)

Beans:
Rinse and drain black beans-- hat in microwave or stovetop for just a  couple minutes

Guac:
In medium bowl, mash avocados, splash of lime, pinch of salt, and about 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Pico de gallo:
In small bowl, put chopped tomatoes, another 2 tbsp chopped purple onion, 1 tbsp chopped cilantro and splash of lemon

Sautéed veggies:
Slice up purple onion (half) and entire green pepper, sauce on medium-high heat for about 8 minutes



Plate everything and add sour cream and salsa verde + chips-- ENJOY!

Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

This is such a simple side dish but so delicious.

Cut up as many potatoes as you want-- I usually do about 2/3 of a 5 lb bag of yellow potatoes.
Cut into medium cubes.
Throw in a bowl and toss with 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic, and freshly cut rosemary.  (All to taste).

Spread on baking sheet and bake at 400 for 30-40 mins depending on how crisp you like them.  We love to eat them alongside a chunky salad.

Enjoy!

Back to School Hacks: Getting Out the Door (and Back)

This is the second year I've used a LEAVING FOR SCHOOL/COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL sign in the hopes of instilling responsibility (and lessening mom + dad's)...

It works!  Is it foolproof?  No.  Do they try to skip over it (esp coming home)? Yes.

But that's okay-- it really is a huge help.  I have the older sib read it out loud to the younger as they put their shoes on (this sign is on the garage door).  The younger one yells "check!" if she's done it and "oops!" if she hasn't.

Want to make your own?  Follow this link and either print it as is, or use the second page to write in your own.

It's not quite like getting them to work the whole farm, but it's a step toward less work for you, right? 

Energy Bites

In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients first, then add wet:


1 cup 365 brand old fashioned rolled oats
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes (baking aisle at Whole Foods)
1/2 cup 365 creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup ground flax seed (bulk area of Whole Foods)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup 365 unsweetened organic applesauce
1 tsp vanilla

Chill 15 minutes
Roll into balls
Refrigerate
Keeps many days in fridge
Great for quick breakfast!

Back to School Tip: Snack Bin

I know, I know.
We all want to do these amazing things, but we are tired and overwhelmed!

If there is ONE thing you do before school starts, I suggest making a Snack Bin.  Somehow this makes you feel like you've got your shit together more than anything else.  Here is how I get into the frame of mind for this--- tell yourself you will devote 2-3 hours to this project before the first day of school and then just do it.  That includes shopping and everything start to finish.  You will feel so ON TOP of stuff if you do this one thing (and it might push you into a surge of organization)!

Load up on 365 Snacks, ziplock snack bags (which I reuse-- so find a container for putting the used bags when you unload lunch boxes-- I use reusable containers for wet stuff and only use ziplock for dry things so I can reuse).

For even more savings, when you go shopping at Whole Foods, buy in bulk for a 10% case discount. Ask at Customer Service before you start.  Most things are a "case" at 6 items.    It really is worth it-- and Back to School is when Whole Foods has the best deals on these items anyway-- so this really sets you up for a smooth first 2 months of school where you're not running out of stuff.  It's all sealed well, so you can even store extra in a clothes closet, doesn't matter.

Have your kids help!  My 9 year old knows this is totally her task now.  I set up the baggies and snacks and she fills til the bin is full.  You can also have them make Trail Mix (cranberries, nuts, cereal, banana chips)

If you do a Snack Bin, tag me @ilovewholefoods so I can see it!
You can also use #backtoschoolhacks

Good luck, and Happy Back to School!

Whole Foods Tips

I've had many messages this week from people who want to save money on their Whole Foods shopping trips but they don't have Instagram to follow me.

While I DO post all my recipes here on the blog, I do many more posts on Instagram-- but-- good news!  You do not have to be on Instagram to see those posts.  Since it's all public, you can just visit my Instagram feed here.  OR- you can always search the hashtags #wholefoodstips or #wholefoodsbargains which are two hashtags I use often and seem to be exclusively used by @ilovewholefoods (me)!

SaveSave

Homemade Pizza & Crust

I fall back on pizza a lot when I need a super cheap healthy meal.  Is it super quick?  No.

But it SOUNDS a lot longer than it takes.  I'd say starting with from-scratch dough til taking the last pizza out is about 45 minutes-- but you're not busy cooking the whole time-- each crust takes about 15 minutes total itself.  While one crust is baking, I prep the toppings-- the  when it goes in topped, I top the 2nd pizza.  Kids can really help with this one, too.  And it's nice because you can personalize different "regions" of the pizza to whatever each person will actually eat.

This meal costs about $9 total and is all from #wholefoodsmarket 

so we're talkin' organic #365cheese with no antibiotics, 

delicious organic #365marinara with no sugar (have you looked at the ingredients in some sauces?!), fresh olives 

from Whole Foods olive bar and homemade crust.

Homemade Pizza Crust:

The crust is so super easy-- it makes 2 crusts:
1 packet quick rise yeast
1 tsp cane sugar
2 tsp salt
4 cups flour
1.5 cups warm water
2 tbsp oil

In food processor using bread blade:  Blend all dry ingredients.  With it still running, add water and oil.  Process till it turns into a ball.  Remove onto a floured surface.  Knead for 1 minute, then divide into two and roll out on a floured stone or round tray.
Bake 12-14 minutes (depends on oven) and then you're ready to top it!
You can also freeze these dough balls before baking and they keep for 2-3 months-- defrost in fridge 24 hrs.



(Remember to bake each crust 12-14 minutes before topping)

Fast, easy, cheap pizza:

1 jar 365 marinara sauce
1 bag 365 mozzarella (I go very light on the cheese so 1 bag does 2 pies for me)
10 olives from Whole Foods olive bar-- that's 10 olives cut up pictured above
Basil if you have it (I have a plant out back)
Nutritional yeast

Use about 1/3 jar of marinara and spread evenly over 1 crust, same with 2nd crust
Sprinkle nutritional yeast over the pizza
Sprinkle half the cheese on each pizza
Cut olives and sprinkle on (you can see one of my kids requested 2 plain pieces-- so it's easy to take orders and adjust the pizzas)
Bake 5-7 minutes
Slice
Serve!

Vegan Israeli Pizza (amazing)

@whatjewwanna eat has created the perfect pizza for my family.  I have NEVER made a pizza all 5 members of my family have loved-- and I have made a lot of different pizzas trying, believe me.

This pizza is amazing... hummus, onions, roasted eggplant, avocado... amazing.
The only thing I added was I put a bit of balsamic on the eggplant before roasting.

Also-- if you make your own hummus (see my recipe here) and pizza crust  it's actually a really affordable dinner!

THIS PIZZA IS GOLD!

Check out the recipe here.

SaveSave