Please don’t judge the color of my avocados. I live in the mountains, there is not an avocado tree in sight…
Okay kids….it’s cleanse time! Tomorrow, I embark on my 21 day “are you insane” cleanse. No caffeine, soy, dairy, wheat, sugar and anything else one would eat during the course of a day. I drink my breakfast, eat a “clean” lunch and drink my dinner. I am allowed to snack on organic apples and almond butter or maybe that awesome lentil hummus with organic carrot sticks. Herbal teas are okay! Green tea is as well, which is my saving grace during these 3 weeks as that is the only caffeine I am allowed. This the Clean cleanse by Alejandro Junger, M.D.
There are a trillion of cleanses out there and at first I was totally overwhelmed with not only how to begin a cleanse but which cleanse to choose. An acquaintance nonchalantly mentioned this cleanse and for some reason (although I am pretty sure the Universe had something to do with it) I bought the book without needing to hear another word about it. From the first chapter, this book resonated with me so completely I knew that I needed to look no further. There are lots of added supplements that they suggest you buy for this cleanse but I don’t. I am able to do this cleanse quite cheaply by adding the other supplements they suggest in the book such as milk thistle, oregano oil, maca, Super Seed by Garden of Life and multi-vitamins. So, my blender is in position on the counter, my hummus is made, my quinoa salad is made and I am looking forward to that balsamic chicken.
I have done this twice prior and both times I have felt so completely alive and “clean” and with such an abundance of energy, it is hard to explain. I know this is going to be hard because of my sugar addiction and my love of food but then again, I need this. My brain feels clouded, I feel slow, my body feels heavy and I feel tired most every day, all day long. I want that clarity back in my brain, the quickness and alertness I am use to. What makes this time a lot more thrilling, is that my best friend will be doing it as well. Although she lives in California, technology comes in handy. So if one or the other gets frustrated, or hungry or scared about coming off the cleanse too early, the other is prepared to support and lend suggestions and encouragement to remain and complete the 21 days. So here I am. I have decided to venture out and try some other “clean” recipes, such as this one I am posting. I feel like I need that. Yet, for the days that I am either too busy to prepare an extraordinary lunch or don’t feel like it, I have some organic chicken breasts I’ll just grill with some olive oil, fresh cracked pepper and sea salt.
This makes 2 portions. Happy cleansing peeps.
Ingredients
Relish
1/2 mango, diced
1/2 papaya, seeded and diced
1/2 avocado, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon sesame oil
pinch of salt
pinch of cayenne
Chicken
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
pinch of cayenne
2 organic chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
Preparation
- Mix all relish ingredients and let sit for at least one hour in the refrigerator.
- In a bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, cilantro and cayenne. Coat chicken and marinate it for one hour.
- Turn oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken with marinade on top and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes. Turn occasionally until ready.
- Serve chicken and place relish on top.
High Altitude Adjustment
- Decrease oven temperature to 325 degrees.
- Increase cooking time to 50-60 minutes.
Compost
- Mango pit and skin
- Papaya seeds and skin
- Avocado seed and skin
- Ginger, lime and cilantro trimmings
Recycle
- Any used spice container
Reuse
- Prepare relish by doubling recipe so as to use the whole amount of the mango, papaya and avocado and save for the following day.
- Plastic bags vegetables and fruit came in.
Naturally Green Cooking 