this post really started with a delicious slow cooker pulled chicken, and turned into a tutorial on homemade mexican food.  forgive me while i obsess over all things mexican!

divine.

clean, healthy, comforting, satisfying.

can you believe THAT plate is good for you?  well it is!

let’s start with the slow cooker pulled chicken.

i found this amazing recipe in my beloved “against all grain” cookbook, by danielle walker.  this is the first cookbook that really helped me eliminate gluten, grains and sugar from my diet, and still be very satisfied with cooking and baking. danielle walker did a fantastic job only putting healthy ingredients in this base for tacos, enchiladas, nachos, or just an all-protein meat fest, if that’s what you’re into.  ooh!  great with eggs ~ like huevos con pollo?  mmmm…

but i took it a couple steps further.  i don’t think she realized how AMAZING the sauce can be as a salsa.

i LOVE that color.

more on that later.

first i want to talk about how healthy mexican food can be if you make it at home.

1. black beans   i know black beans aren’t on everyone’s diet plan, but they are so CHEAP!  and full of fiber, and i love them.  i can’t ever give them up.  and if you ‘re one of those people who can think ahead and plan, make the dried ones.  they simply need to soak overnight.  my sister makes them all the time for her bean-eating family, and they simmer away all day in a slow cooker.  so comforting to know you have a healthy soup waiting for you at home, right?
2. fajita style veggies these are so easy to make and you can really get in a lot of veggies this way.  it can help you clean out your fridge too! no need for a recipe ~ just cut veggies into strips and toss with olive oil.  season with cumin, salt, chili powder and garlic powder (or a mexican seasoning mix) and throw in a hot frying pan.  done!
3. healthy options if you make mexican at home, you can avoid all the extra fat, lard and oils mexican restaurants use.  black beans can simply be mashed to make refried beans, you can avoid dairy if you need to, and you can even bake your own tortilla chips, rather than having them fried.  baking tortilla chips:  cut corn tortillas into triangles (cut in half, then in half again) and lay on sheet trays.  pop into a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes, or until brown.  sprinkle with lime juice and top with kosher salt.
4. homemade margaritas you can cut way down on your calories and sugar if you make homemade margaritas.  just use lots of fresh citrus. feel free to mix grapefruit with lemon with lime with orange.  it’s all good together.  use brown rice syrup or stevia as your sweetener.
5. and don’t forget the guacamole! get your healthy fat in!  and it’s so easy to make.  

there’s a pit still in there to keep the avocado green.

let’s get back to that pulled chicken.  i am really impressed with this recipe, especially with the added salsa element at the end…