Mango Habanero Salsa & Fried Plantains

“Live life with a little spice.” -Unknown
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We celebrated Cinco de Mayo with this sweet and spicy Mango Habanero Salsa which paired perfectly with some salty “fried” plantains. While this appetizer was especially festive today, it can definitively be enjoyed any day of the year!
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(Serves 4)
For salsa (combine all ingredients):
-3 small mangos, peeled and chopped
-1/4 red onion, chopped
-2 T cilantro, finely chopped
-juice from 1/2 lime
-1 habanero, finely chopped
-salt, to taste
For Plantains:
-3 plantains, thinly sliced, drizzled in avocado oil, seasoned with ancho chili powder, garlic granules, Himalayan sea salt, & a pinch of cayenne cooked on medium-high heat until browned (flipping occasionally)

Mexican Mini-Meatballs with Avocado Crema (Paleo & Whole30)

“The party has begun.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald
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These spicy Mexican Mini-Meatballs with Avocado Crema (paleo and whole30 approved) are sure to be a hit at your next gathering. Serve these flavorful, bite-sized beauties on a platter and watch them disappear! We made ground beef and ground turkey bites, and while both had great flavor, we loved the texture of the ground turkey best, so that is the recipe we will provide... but feel free to use any ground meat of your choice.
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Ingredients (makes 24 mini-meatballs)
-1lb ground turkey
-1½ -2 T seasoning of your choice (we used a blend of chili, onion & garlic powders, paprika, cayenne, cumin and salt)
-1 egg
-2 T almond flour
-2 T cilantro, finely chopped
-2 T onion, minced
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in large bowl (we used our hands, because we’re not afraid to get dirty 😜.) Chill mixture for thirty minutes, and preheat oven to 375°. Roll into 24 mini-meatballs and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. We used a melon baller for this part and it helped us make each meatball the same size. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping meatballs halfway through. Broil for an additional 2-4 minutes to crisp them up if you so desire. All we did for the crema was combine some avocado, lime juice, cilantro, and paleo mayo in a bowl using a spoon (or you could use an immersion blender.) Add toppings of your choice to the meatballs using a bamboo pick, and place on avocado crema. You end up with a healthy and scrumptious appetizer that no one will be able to resist. Pairs perfectly with our GT’S Watermelon Margarita... we know from experience 😉

Paleo Chocolate Energy Bites

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” -Sean Patrick Flanery
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These paleo chocolate energy bites are SO GOOD. The cacao and dates give them a chocolate-y and sweet flavor similar to brownies, but instead of weighing you down, they give you the energy you need to get through the day. I love grabbing a couple as a snack before my daily workout.
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All you need to do is combine these ingredients in a large bowl (makes 8 bites)
•8 pitted dates, cut into tiny pieces
•1/4 cup cashews & 1/4 cup almonds (crushed)
•1 T cacao powder
•1 T almond butter
•1/2 T unsweetened almond milk
•1/4 tsp salt &
•1/4 tsp vanilla
Roll into 1 T bites, and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
*Note: You could make it easier on yourself and use a food processor for this, but personally I like the bigger chunks of dates, cashews, and almonds in each bite.
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While these take some time to prep, they last five days in the fridge, so you have an instant, healthy snack ready to go throughout the workweek... and plus, they may be the most delectable thing you’ve ever tasted.