Paleo Pumpkin Chicken Chili

This coming week, I'm trying to eat 100% Paleo just to see how I feel.  I will most likely find myself missing carbs and dairy, but I'm curious to see how it may change my digestion/weight.  This was super easy to put together, and the flavors came together deliciously.

Ingredients:

• 3lbs. chicken breasts, cubed
•  2 cups of red onion, diced
•  2 cups bell pepper, diced (color of choice)
• 1 can chopped green chili peppers
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup white wine (optional)
• 1, 28 ounce can diced tomatoes in their juices
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 3 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 whole cinnamon stick
•  3 cups canned pumpkin pure
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil

Instructions:

Heat coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Sauté onions until lightly browned, then add bell peppers, chili peppers, and garlic and sauté for another 5 minutes. 

Add in chicken, chicken stock, white wine, organic tomatoes, organic tomato paste, chili powder, pumpkin pie spice, coriander, salt, and cinnamon stick and simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in pumpkin and cocoa powder and cook for an additional 20 minutes. 

Sugar and Spice...

I love having something for breakfast to kick-start my day.  As tempted as you might be to reach for a pop-tart or a nutri-grain bar, why not try to make something that's sweet, but that will also fuel your morning?

I always say you cannot go wrong with oats in the morning.  I buy Old Fashioned Oats and make my breakfast the night before so they can soak up all the liquid and be extra flavorful and delicious in the morning.

Today's concoction:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 medium Gala apple, diced
• 1/4 cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Almond Milk (I used Almond Breeze)
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein (use what you like, but I use MRM All Natural Vanilla Whey...only 1g sugar)
• Lots of cinnamon!

Combine all ingredients in a tupperware, put the lid on, and shake vigorously to blend.  Store in the fridge overnight, and enjoy the next morning either cold or hot.