I’m now officially starting week 2 of my Lent Challenge and I have to say I am extremely excited.
As much as I was scared at first and didn’t really know what to eat, it seems like I am now getting tons of recipe ideas and wish that I could stay at home and cook all day for the next month and a half to try them all out.
Yesterday, I went grocery shopping and purchased a whole bunch of food, most of which was vegetables.
I came home with my hands so full of grocery bags, I had to ask my son for help.
Funny thing is he looked at all the bags and said:
Oh, I remember a time when you’d come home from the grocery store and I looked forward to foraging through the bags and discover all the good goodies that were hiding in there. There’s hardly ever anything interesting anymore…
Pfff… Kids!
I, on the other hand, felt like a kid on Christmas morning taking all my precious findings out of the bags.
I had so many veggies, I could hardly fit them all in my fridge.
Cabbage, turnip, eggplants, cucumbers, zucchinis, sweet potatoes, coconuts, avocados galore, TONS of mushrooms like shiitake, oyster, enoki and standard button too; collard greens, fresh mint, parsley, even CORIANDER!
Yes, I even bought coriander and fully intend to use it.
Then came the meat.
That would be the one part that feels really, really weird about all this.
I’m used to NOT eating meat AT ALL during Lent. This time, however, it represents my main source of protein, so I have to eat quite a great deal of it. Well, compared to what I’m used to eating, anyway. I usually get most of my protein from dairy (namely whey, Greek yogurt and cottage cheese) as well as egg whites and some meat, mostly skinless, boneless chicken breasts.
But for now, dairy is out. So is protein powder.
Hmpft.
I still don’t know how I feel about eating so much meat, but I’m taking this one day at a time. So far, I’m really loving the results…
One of the things that I did notice is that I feel a lot less hungry. I get to eat so much more food in volume, sometimes it almost feels like it’s way too much.
Like this plate here, for instance…
Just look at the size of it, and look at everything that’s on it!
Think I wasn’t full after that?
This fillet of fish was HUGE! Plus, I had 2 full cups of the coleslaw, half a giant bulb of fennel and a good cup of mâche.
I had a hard time finishing my plate, but it was so good and I felt so excited that I was finally getting somewhere and had been able to create a real decent meal that was Whole30 compliant. I’d been eating nothing but boring stuff like hard boiled eggs and dry carrot sticks until then.
At least, that’s what it felt like!
But the more I get into the spirit of this challenge, the more ideas I get and I’m almost starting to feel sad that it’s only 6 weeks… 
Oh, and by the way, in case you are wondering, I am feeling super fantastic!
A little bit tired and low on energy at times, and I’ve had occasional headaches as well as a few very minor cravings, but other than that, I’m really doing A-OK!
Let’s hope it stays that way!
I think the key to success is to get excited and think of all the new possibilities instead of focusing on all that you’ve left behind.
Plus, it’s only temporary… I sooo can do this!
What’s 6 weeks, out of a lifetime?
INGREDIENTS
- 1 large white fish fillet per person
- Pinch Himalayan or fine sea salt
- Few grinds freshly cracked black pepper
- The juice of half a lemon or lime
- ½ large fennel bulb per person
- Pinch Himalayan or fine sea salt
- Few grinds freshly cracked black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut off the stalks from the fennel bulbs and cut each bulb lengthwise into 6 thick slices.
- It’s important that you do not remove the core otherwise the slices will fall apart.
- Season each fennel slice with a little bit of salt and pepper.
- In a large heavy skillet, heat a little bit of olive oil or coconut oil over medium-high heat until your pan gets really hot. Add the fennel slices and cook until nice and brown, then flip the slices and cook the other side.
- Lower the heat, cover and continue cooking for about 6-8 minutes, until the fennel is good and tender.
- Pat the fish dry and season with a little bit of salt and pepper.
- Heat a little bit of olive or coconut oil in a medium non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat. When pan is hot enough, add fillets and cook until it starts to form a little bit of a brown crust and flesh turns almost completely opaque. Very delicately flip the fillets and continue cooking until fish is cooked all the way through and no longer translucent. This should take about 1½ to 2 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
- Sprinkle with lemon or lime juice and transfer to dinner plates
- Serve with braised fennel, loaded coleslaw and fresh greens.
INGREDIENTS
- ½ medium red cabbage, cored (about 500g)
- ½ large rutabaga, peeled (about 400g)
- ½ large head cauliflower, outer leaves removed (about 400g)
- 2 carrots, peel on, cleaned, ends removed
- ½ large chayote, peel on
- ¼ large red onion
- The juice of 1 lime
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 medium jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely chopped
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup pure coconut water
- 2 tbsp Pommery Meaux mustard*
- 3 tbsp fresh ginger, chopped
- ½ tsp Himalayan or fine sea salt
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- To make the salad, simply cut all of your vegetables into chunks of a size that is manageable by your food processor. Throw the veggies, one variety at a time, into the bowl of your food processor equipped with a standard “S” blade and process on pulse until they’ve reached the desired consistency. You’re looking for fine gravel or VERY coarse sand. (appetizing, I know!)
- Transfer all the veggies to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a small food processor, add all the ingredients for the vinaigrette and pour that slowly over the reserved salad. Delicately mix it in until well combined.
- Place the salad in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to allow for vegetables to wilt a little bit and flavors to fully develop.
- This salad will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
Notes
*You can also use Dijon, Whole Grain or any other type of mustard, just make sure it’s sugar, alcohol and sulfite free if you want to stay Whole30 compliant.
I’m doing a whole30 right now too! I’m on day 19 right now. It’s my second one and although they’re hard for me, I always trim way down and feel great!
Good to know Loretta! And one more blog to read for inspiration!
I get the feeling that I too, will be doing this more than once!
That is some gorgeous food Sonia! I knew your creativity would overcome the shock of eliminating dairy and grains!
Can’t wait to see what else you come up with in the next few weeks!
Well, for starters, I can’t wait to try your Tropical Turkey Chili with plantain in it. In my bags yesterday were two humongous plantains, one of which is reserved for that very purpose. I will have to do without the salsa verde, however, but I’m sure I’ll find a suitable substitution! Any suggestions?
Oh, and by the way… I am loving the coconut! I just want to add coconut to everything. Did you also get that?
Again…you have produced a stunner…a “gasp” prime example of what “Lenten Lusciousness” can be..SHOULD IT BE?..in its’ purest form. Deprivation?..Me thinkst not…This is dinner, ’nuff said.
Addendum…Pity!..I do not have the gorgeous red cabbage in the fridge..but a lonely “Chou Frisé”..dark green varietal..but NEXT time I’ll go for the superior color “pop” of the red chou. Thankfully..the fennel and fish are present and waiting…Thanks so much for the continuous ideas, even during Lent and all. You are truly amazing.
HAHA! Donna, I’m sure the chou frisé will very well do the trick. You just won’t get all the beautiful color contrasts… but hey, at least, you’ll get to see the red onion, which sort of got lost in my version!
Thanks again for your most kind words. You are simply the best!
This looks absolutely fabulous!!! I can’t wait to try it!! Perfect for Fridays in lent!
I’m starting my first Whole30 on March 3, and have been fretting a bit about how difficult it might be. So pleased that my sister (http://www.backallyblog.blogspot.ca/) referred me to your blog today. I’ve never thought to braise fennel before and have an obliging bulb in my fridge right now. Delicious!
I’m glad your sister sent you also!
Stay tuned because I have a lot of Whole30 compliant recipes coming this way, and lots of delicious ones too! And you’ll see that it’s not so hard as it seems. Once you get the hang of it and you realize all the wonderful additions that you can make to your diet instead of focusing on all the stuff that you can’t have, it actually becomes exciting. 
Good for you taking on the Whole30 Challenge! It really is a life-changing (or diet-changing?) experience which you will not regret!
Printed the recipe and it’s now posted on my fridge door. Ready for dinner preparation.
Awesome!
Enjoy!