Coconut Chicken with Peach Salsa

So our air conditioner blew up. In South Florida and in August. I think that I am offically cursed with AC issues. This seems to happen shortly after every move and I have to admit I was actually just waiting for it to happen...but was hoping it would happen in October when the heat index was not 110 degrees. We got our air back and in the process I totally lost my appetite. All I wanted was cold salad and fruit. Nothing really exciting to report on a blog ;)

Since my yearning for food is finally back I was lurred by some amazing smelling peaches at the grocery store. Rather than just gobble them up I made a salsa and this dish was created. Enjoy!

Coconut Chicken with Peach Salsa over Cauliflower "rice"

Coconut Chicken-
4 medium sized organic chicken breasts
1/2 cup shredded unsweetended coconut
2 tsp coconut oil
salt and pepper

In a hot saute pan heat coconut oil and add chicken breasts. Cook until cooked thru about 8-10 minutes. you want a nice golden brown. Top with coconut and press the coconut down onto one side of the chicken. Pop under the broiler for about a minute..DO NOT take your eyes off the chicken. It can go from perfect to burnt in a matter of seconds. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Peach Salsa
3 large ripe peaches - peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1 fresh lime - squeezed
pepper

Combine all of the above and season to taste. This is such a versatile side and you could enjoy this as a snack alone or with seafood. Yumm!

Cauliflower Rice
1 large head of cauliflower - cut into large chunks
2 TBS coconut oil

In a food processor with the shredder blade feed the cauliflower thru the tube. The cauliflower will look like "rice". Heat a large saute pan and add coconut oil. Add cauliflower and saute for about 3-5 minutes. You don't want it mushy. It will have a slight opaque look when cooked the perfect length.

Layer on your plate - rice, chicken and then salsa!

Peach Salsa

Balsamic Chicken over "Mashed" Cauliflower

Comfort food. I think one of the hardest things about "dieting" is that we miss the foods that really fill us up and comfort us. For me that is mashed potatoes. I have a love for them that is up there with if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life they may be the winner. I found this amazing Balsamic Chicken recipe while pinning on Pinterest (if you have never been there...GO!)and used it as my jumping point for this recipe. I threw them in the crockpot at 2pm and were were eating dinner at 5:30 and the chicken was perfect! On to the mashed cauliflower..words cannot describe how good these were and I bet I could serve them to a dinner guest and they would think they were potatoes. Make this dish. PLEASE!

Balsamic Chicken
2 large organic chicken breasts
1 red bell pepper - sliced into rings
1 yellow bell pepper - sliced into rings
3 shallots - peeled and cut in half
3 cloves of garlic - peeled and cut in half
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 TBS high quality balsamic vinegar
2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients into crock pot and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.

Mashed Cauliflower
1 large head cauliflower - broken into small florets
2 TBS coconut oil
salt and pepper

Steam cauliflower till it is so tender it falls apart to the touch. Transfer to the food processor. Add coconut oil, salt and pepper. Process till silky and smooth.