Green Bean Salad
If you are from the south, odds are your grandma made some delicious green beans that would stew all day with all sorts of other tasty ingredients. I'm taking that inspiration to create a much healthier and simpler version of a green bean salad. My grandma may roll over in her grave if she knew I was blanching green beans for only 5 minutes, but this recipe is a showstopper, so I stand by it!
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INGREDIENTS
•2 lbs green beans
•1 pint grape tomatoes
•1 lb. bacon, cooked
•¼ cup red wine vinegar
•¼ cup sunflower seeds
•¼ cup tarragon
•Salt & pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Bake bacon or fry in frying pan until crispy. Bring water to boil, add green beans and blanch for 5 minutes. Strain green beans and place into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Cut cherry tomatoes into halves. Roughly chop tarragon and cooked bacon. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix.
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This side dish was a huge hit at my birthday dinner party. As summer comes to a close, this is perfect to share for those last few backyard cookouts with friends and family. Try this at home and take me in your recipe! Enjoy!
Bacon Wrapped Prunes
I am wondering if you are a fan of the sweet and savory combo? These Bacon Wrapped Prunes are changing my life - they're elegant enough for a fancy gathering or a fun birthday party and will absolutely pack a punch when it comes to flavor! Make plenty of these if you're entertaining, because I promise they will be gone in an instant!
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INGREDIENTS
•8 slices whole30 bacon
•8 prunes
•8 slices of water chestnut
•Sprouts
•Balsamic vinegar
INSTRUCTIONS
Roll prune and water chestnut tightly in each strip of bacon and lightly drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Baken in oven at 375 degrees for 13 minutes or until bacon is browned and crispy. Garnish with sprouts and finish with another drizzle of balsamic.
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Your guests will go crazy over this combination. It's so simple to make too! Enjoy!
Spicy Grilled Pork Chops
Pineapple may not go on pizza (or does it?), but it sure does go perfectly with Spicy Grilled Pork Chops. I love to throw the pineapple slices right on the grill with the pork chops to give them a caramelized flavor with a hint of smoke. Simple, satisfying and fit for any occasion.
INGREDIENTS
12 pork chops
1 pineapple
1 Tbsp onion powder
1Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp sumac
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp sea salt
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp dried parsley
INSTRUCTIONS
Season pork chops with Simon's special spice rub. Cut pineapple into slices. Grill pork chops and pinapple together on medium-high heat until golden brown. Plate with your favorite herbs or greens for a pop of color and serve warm or room temperature.
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This was the perfect main dish for my birthday dinner party. I even snagged an extra slice of pineapple to add to my dessert after dinner 😏 Enjoy!
Grilled Romaine Hearts
I am having some fun on the grill making some Grilled Romaine Hearts! Grilling lettuce? Weird? Not in my house! It’s incredibly delicious I promise. Romaine is a hearty lettuce that can stand up to a grill and can even get some beautiful grill marks. You will not believe how satisfying this dish is. Party guests (vegetarians and carnivores alike) will swoon over the unique smokiness. Impress your friends and treat them to a fun dish - the grill is working some magic over here!
INGREDIENTS
4 hearts of romaine
2 apples
4 lemons
½ cup cashews
¼ cup olive oil
Salt & pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Slice romaine lengthwise. Drizzle olive oil over romaine and season with salt and pepper. Grill romaine hearts until grill marks form. Top with sliced apples and cashews and finish with lemon juice and another drizzle of olive oil.
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Enjoy, my friends! Happy entertaining!
Watermelon Cake
Today I am wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We are having dessert first today because we all deserve it, right?? I am here to prove to you that it is possible to celebrate your birthday while on Whole30, especially with this Watermelon Cake! I was in the midst of Whole30 during my birthday a couple years ago and my sweet friends surprised me with a watermelon shaped as a cake. Such a healthy and fun idea! It was a huge hit at my birthday dinner party and I know your guests will love it just as much as mine did!
INGREDIENTS
1 watermelon
Assorted berries and fruit
INSTRUCTIONS
Carve watermelon so that there are two flat ends. Decorate with assorted berries and fruits. Top with your favorite candles!
Mini Cauliflower Frittatas
Anyone else obsessed with cauliflower lately? It seems to be all the rage and I completely understand why! If this take on the classic fritata doesn’t get you hooked on cauliflower then I don’t know what will. These little guys are light, fluffy and the perfect bite-size. Yet another hors d'oeuvre that will impress your dinner guests! You can also order these guys from my meal delivery service and have them delivered right to your door! Menu is available Sundays through Wednesdays.
MINI CAULIFLOWER FRITTATAS
1 head cauliflower
2 eggs
1 clove garlic
⅓ cup almond flour
2 tbsp. avocado oil
Salt & pepper to taste
Avocado oil spray
First, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rough chop cauliflower. Place cauliflower and garlic into food processor and blend finely -- but not too runny. Add your eggs into a food processor and whip. In a mixing bowl, combine blended eggs, cauliflower and garlic with almond flour. Combine together until you get a dough-like substance and set aside. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon the fritata mix onto baking sheet then pat into cake-shape. Bake until golden.
SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO
7 oz. sundried tomatO
⅓ cup pine nuts
1 bunch basil
1 cup olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in a food processor and blend together. Top cauliflower almond fritatas with pesto. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and chiffonade basil.
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PRO TIP: Make some extras as you prepare for your gathering. They are perfect for a little snack 😉
Enjoy!
Grilled Pork Sausages
I am about to tell you one of my biggest secrets… sometimes it’s okay to let the grocery store do all the work! Let’s be honest, we all love @wholefoods so I created this extremely simple recipe with that in mind. Grilled Pork Sausages with Pickles and Mustard will please anyone and everyone, and all you have to do is pick it up from the store! It may seem too easy, but I wanted to incorporate some recipes that don't require you to spend long hours in the kitchen. Whole30 entertaining doesn't have to always include extensive recipes. Keep it simple! Besides, I know we all miss a good charcuterie plate while on Whole30, but this platter always satisfies that craving for me.
INGREDIENTS
Whole Foods Andouille Sausage
Whole Foods Whole30 Approved Mustard
Pickles
INSTRUCTIONS
Grill sausages on medium-high heat. Next, simply place sausage on a charcuterie board and garnish with mustard and pickles.
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This recipe is perfect for a casual backyard cookout or even an elegant wedding (and everything in between!). Shoutout to @wholefoods for making life simple and clean! Enjoy!
Roasted Beet and Baby Carrot Salad
Beets are always a lifesaver for me while I am on Whole30 because they have the ability to brighten up any dish. When you add beets to what may seem like an ordinary salad, the entire dish transforms into something truly unique. Shoutout to @wholefoods (yet again) for doing all the work and providing us with beautiful pre-cut beets!
INGREDIENTS
•1 lb. baby carrots
•1 lb. roasted beets (pre-made at @wholefoods to keep it simple)
•2 lbs. arugula
•8 oz. sprouts (I love using Alfalfa)
•1 cup raisins
•1 cup pistachios
•1 handful basil
•Champagne vinaigrette (⅓ cup champagne vinegar, 1 cup olive oil, salt and pepper to taste)
INSTRUCTIONS
Roast baby carrots with olive oil, salt and pepper at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Chiffonade or simply chop basil. Place all ingredients on a bed of arugula. Drizzle with dressing. Serve cold or at room temperature.
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Tag me @simonhallprivatechef in your photos if you decide to make this recipe for your next gathering! I would love to see what you are able to create! Enjoy!