Sweet potato and beef stew

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb beef chuck or other stewing cut, cut
   into 1-inch cubes;
• 3 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cut
   into 1-inch cubes;
• 2 garlic cloves, minced;
• A pinch of allspice;
• 1 bay leaf;
• 1 cinnamon stick;
• 1 large onion, cut into chunks;
• 1 can (28 oz) tomatoes;
• 8 dried apricots, cut in half (optional);
• Chopped parsley for garnishing;
• Cooking fat;
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
   to taste;
* optional - add other favorite veggies. Hold back on the softer veggies, like peas and green beans until it's almost finished cooking.


PREPARATION

1 Heat a skillet over a medium heat, season the
beef cubes to taste with salt and pepper and
brown them on all sides with some cooking fat
in the hot skillet.

2 Place the browned beef, sweet potatoes, garlic,
cinnamon stick, onion, tomatoes, garlic and allspice in a crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours,
until the beef is fork tender.

3 Add the dried apricots, if using, and cook, covered, for another 20 minutes, until the apricots
are soft.

4 Remove the bay leave and the cinnamon stick
and serve, sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Holiday fruit smoothie

I got a Vitamix for Christmas and I'm LOVING it so far!  I think I'll use it even more in the summer time.  I came across this recipe and made it back in December.  I made it again today and adapted it to make it whole 30.  It turned out great!

1 apple, cored
1 pear, cored
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup whole cranberries(fresh or frozen)
2 dates, pitted
1 cup coconut milk ice cubes
1/4 t pumpkin pie spice
1/4 t cinnamon
a splash of water