Hello again, folks, and welcome to a new month!! Did February sneak up on anyone else, or was it just me? (hence the tardiness of this post...)
If you remember, last month I set 4 small intentions to help me refocus after the crazy-busy holiday season. Those intentions were to improve my diet and decrease my incidents of sickness by cutting out dairy, improve my sleep by setting a bedtime routine and exercising more, and to improve my anxiety by meditating and doing more yoga.
I'm happy to report that I was successful at *most* of this. I'd say 80% successful, which fits perfectly into the 80/20 rule. I cut out dairy completely (I miss my dirty chai lattes). I feel quite a bit better, and I've saved some money....BONUS! I also started drinking herbal tea and reading before bed, and I've noticed some improvement in my sleep. However, I didn't really start meditating more until right at the end of the month, but I did *finally* get my spare bedroom converted to a yoga/meditation studio in January, so at least now everything is more accessible and my excuses are no longer valid. Additionally, work was particularly stressful in January, so my anxiety level actually increased pretty significantly, but that's a story for another time. :)
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Now let's talk about a few intentions for this month. I've been reading a book called "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less", and as a result, I want to take some time and look at ways I can reduce a few nonessential things in my life. Now, this goes beyond "stuff". Any of you who know me well know that I've pretty seriously cut back on "stuff". No, what I'm thinking here is more along the lines of nonessentials in terms of my lifestyle.
Let's take a look at the ways I would like to reduce the nonessentials:
Social media: Yup, I said it. The Facebook junkie of all Facebook junkies who is Alexis would like to cut back on social media. Hear me out: I know that when I'm anxious or uncomfortable with the emotions or thoughts I'm having, I pull out my phone and head straight for Facebook to scroll mindlessly, reading quips and watching drool-worthy cooking shorts. I think a lot of us are probably guilty of this behavior. It's a great distraction. But what are we distracting ourselves from? This behavior keeps us from having to be uncomfortable with our own thoughts and emotions. And for me lately, given the current political climate - the arguing, the bickering, the name-calling, the closed-mindedness - Facebook is actually stressing me out more! And I don't want to be stressed, nor do I want to be distracted from my own emotions and thoughts (I support self-awareness). So I'll be logging out of Facebook on my phone and tablet. I will remove the icon from my home screens and replace it instead with an app called Meditation Studio. There...less Facebook, more meditation. Win win!
Waste: I'm already at a point where I produce less than one full trash each week, and I compost everything I can. But I produce a huge bin of recycling...my guess is food packaging...which is odd because I don't eat a lot of processed food. So, this month, I'm going to pay closer attention. I'm going to attempt to shop more from bulk bins (reusing the paper bags for Hyvee bulk bins and taking my own containers to Food Fantasies (which I've already verified both will allow). I will also try to take my own containers to the meat and deli counters at Hyvee, which I have experimented with in the past and had no issues.
Consumption: I kind of already started this after the holidays. I felt like there was so much "stuff" coming into the house that I cut back on purchasing of all types last month. I also realized I was buying a week's worth of groceries every week when I have an upright freezer in the basement and kitchen cabinets that are full of food! So, I'm going to continue to try to make do with what we have...food included (except for fresh produce, of course).
Negativity: Oh the negativity!!! As I mentioned above, work has been particularly stressful lately (though it's easing up this week), but with it has come a fair amount of negativity. My personal life has also been pretty wrought with negativity, partially due to the fact that I set some boundaries and expressed of my feelings. And while I can't control the outside forces or the words or behaviors of others, I can control my reactions to those things. So, the self-doubt will be eliminated first and foremost. Guilt over expressing my feelings (when done respectfully, of course) will be next. And general complaining will also be on the chopping block. I think we find ourselves more relatable to others if we complain and speak or act in a self-deprecating manner. And if you think like I do, the opposite can feel so self-indulgent, but I'm gonna give it a shot! And maybe a gratitude journal...
That's my list, folks! What areas in your life could use some editing in an attempt at reduction?
2.02.2017
1.21.2017
Sausage Gravy
For years, I've been hunting for a restaurant with absolutely killer biscuits and gravy, and while I've found a few that come close, there's just something missing. I decided to create my own. I had a craving for it today, so I made it and decided I absolutely had to share it with you. Here it is (typed while eating an extra biscuit smothered in butter and honey and drinking coffee!!)
(makes 4-6 servings)
1 lb mild breakfast sausage (or make your own)
1/4 c flour
4 c whole milk
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
In a large saucepan or dutch oven, brown the breakfast sausage until no longer pink, breaking it into smaller chunks as it cooks.
Without draining the fat, sprinkle the cooked sausage with the flour and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes, or until all the flour has cooked into the meat and the drippings.
Slowly pour in the milk, stirring constantly while scraping the bottom of the pan to remove all the bits of cooked sausage. Add the pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper.
Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the gravy thickens enough to coat a spoon...about 2 minutes.
Remove the gravy from the heat and serve. I prefer this served over a biscuit with a few scrambled eggs, but you do you. Put it on an omelet. Eat with a spoon. But please enjoy it nonetheless.
Side note: because I'm avoiding dairy at the moment, I made this with unsweetened almond milk this morning. And while the flavor was still on point, the thickness left a bit to be desired. So if you decide to make this with something other than whole milk, please note that you may need to use more flour or even a cornstarch slurry to achieve your desired thickness.
(makes 4-6 servings)
1 lb mild breakfast sausage (or make your own)
1/4 c flour
4 c whole milk
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
In a large saucepan or dutch oven, brown the breakfast sausage until no longer pink, breaking it into smaller chunks as it cooks.
Without draining the fat, sprinkle the cooked sausage with the flour and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes, or until all the flour has cooked into the meat and the drippings.
Slowly pour in the milk, stirring constantly while scraping the bottom of the pan to remove all the bits of cooked sausage. Add the pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper.
Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the gravy thickens enough to coat a spoon...about 2 minutes.
Remove the gravy from the heat and serve. I prefer this served over a biscuit with a few scrambled eggs, but you do you. Put it on an omelet. Eat with a spoon. But please enjoy it nonetheless.
Side note: because I'm avoiding dairy at the moment, I made this with unsweetened almond milk this morning. And while the flavor was still on point, the thickness left a bit to be desired. So if you decide to make this with something other than whole milk, please note that you may need to use more flour or even a cornstarch slurry to achieve your desired thickness.
1.15.2017
Chicken and Vegetable Soup
I mentioned in my last post that I'd made a pot of soup to be eaten when I wasn't in the mood to put something together. This soup is delicious, easy, and made with whole food ingredients, and it can be made on the stove, in a Crock Pot, or in an Instant Pot, if you've jumped on that bandwagon (I own two!). If you want to simplify the recipe even more, use a rotisserie chicken.
(makes 8 servings)
1 lb chicken, grilled and shredded
(makes 8 servings)
1 lb chicken, grilled and shredded
2 tbsp. lard (or other whole, clean cooking fat)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small zucchini, sliced
3 medium carrots, sliced
2 celery ribs, sliced
1 can diced tomatoes
4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
1 handful fresh parsley, finely chopped
8 cups chicken stock
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
In a large stockpot, melt the cooking fat over a medium heat, and gently cook the onion, garlic, and chicken for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is nice and tender.
Add the rest of the vegetables, bay leaves, thyme sprigs, and parsley, and cover it all with the chicken stock.
Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Adapted from paleoleap.com.
Everything Doesn't Have to Be Perfect
In a recent post, we talked about some of the changes we've been through in the past few years. Hopefully we've all learned some good lessons in that time. For me, there's one that stands out the most...
Everything doesn't have to be perfect.
Say it with me now: Everything doesn't have to be perfect.
Ahhh...doesn't that feel good? The previous version of myself tried. Yep, I tried...really hard. I tried so hard to make everything PERFECT...the food, the house, the child, the marriage...the perception...all of it. It was exhausting.
And last fall, it broke me. I had to be rescued from my car in the parking lot behind my office where I had become paralyzed by a panic attack unlike any other I'd ever known to that point. This was the beginning of a lot of things:
Everything doesn't have to be perfect.
Say it with me now: Everything doesn't have to be perfect.
Ahhh...doesn't that feel good? The previous version of myself tried. Yep, I tried...really hard. I tried so hard to make everything PERFECT...the food, the house, the child, the marriage...the perception...all of it. It was exhausting.
And last fall, it broke me. I had to be rescued from my car in the parking lot behind my office where I had become paralyzed by a panic attack unlike any other I'd ever known to that point. This was the beginning of a lot of things:
- I got serious about being more intentional with my thoughts, my feelings, my words, my actions, and even the things and people I chose to have in my life
- I learned how to let go of an unrealistic idea of perfection
- I learned how to let myself be and do "good enough"
- I stopped competing to be the busiest person I knew
I recently shared this revelation (and this blog post) with my psychologist. As I read it, I cried. And so did she. (Just so you know, she's kind of amazing.) Having this realization and saying it out loud, let alone sharing it with the world as a blog post, is huge for me. YUGE! So, we had our little emotional moment in the tiny therapy room, and afterward I began to think of a few of the many changes I've implemented to allow my life to be a lot less perfect and a lot more simple. Here are a few I'd like to share with you:
- Self-care: I do a LOT of this these days. It feels so indulgent...to the point that I often refer to it as "radical self care".
- I've actually learned to physically relax. I can sit on the couch now without berating myself for not being more productive with my time. I've learned that allowing my body to relax *is* productive...and healing...and necessary for me.
- I started meditating...training my brain to relax a bit, learning to let the (millions of) thoughts roll by without giving them my attention. It's glorious, and it's something I hope to eventually make an integral part of my daily routine.
- And finally, because my skin hates winter to the point that it tries to fall off of my body, I've begun implementing an ayurvedic practice called abhyanga. It is a head-to-toe warm oil self-massage. If that doesn't sound indulgent and **radical**, I don't know what does!! :)
- Fitness: I'm going to the gym a lot these days since The Boyfriend started working out of state last week, but I'm still trying to keep it pretty simple.
- I like to lift heavy things. I considered creating my own lifting schedule, but in the interest of keeping it simple, I decided to sign up for some classes and let the coaches figure out the programming. Now, I can just show up three days a week, lift some stuff, get really sweaty, and go home. (Think CrossFit.) I love it. And The Munchkin loves the child care that's included in my membership, so I have ZERO "mom guilt" about going to the gym. How many wins is that in one sentence?!
- I miss running. I used to run 6-7 miles a few times a week. So, I'm using the Couch to 5k app on my phone and trying to get back to that point. Progress is slow, but it's progress nonetheless. And I'm not aiming for perfection.
- Yoga...my trusty stand-by. I'm in the process of creating a yoga studio for The Munchkin and myself (complete with a dedicated meditation spot...I'm actually kinda pumped about it).
- Food: I'm a habitual menu planner, and while I will likely share that here at some point, with The Boyfriend out of town, I'm really just trying to eat simple whole foods (still no dairy) and pare down the stockpile of food in the freezer and cabinets. I did make a big pot of soup this week to have on hand for those times that I just don't feel like putting something together. I'll share that soon.
- The house: I've purged so much "stuff" from my life that I rarely spend time anymore tending to the remaining "stuff", I bought myself a new dishwasher, which I so desperately needed, and I bought a robot vacuum. The vacuum is scheduled to run daily at a scheduled time, and I no longer have to think past emptying its bin every day. Incredible. Now I just need to give The Munchkin a lesson on cleaning the bathroom and maybe I can pay her to do my laundry once she's done with hers...this might just work ;-)
So, there you have it. I'm not perfect, by any means, and neither is my life. I don't meditate every day and sometimes I'm holding down the couch while eating takeout with The Munchkin, watching the robot vacuum clean up the crumbs, and listening to the dishwasher tend to the dishes. Screw it! I enjoy it, and I'm done with perfect.
12.31.2016
January Intention: Refocus
I don't know about you guys, but December has completely drained me. I've struggled multiple times with being sick, I haven't been sleeping well, my diet has been terrible (thanks holidays), and my anxiety level has been through the roof (can I blame the holidays for this too?!). The long and short of it: I simply haven't been taking care of myself.
This happens to me nearly every year, and I find that taking some time to refocus usually helps. I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, so let's just skip that discussion altogether. I am, however, a huge proponent of stopping for a moment to gather my thoughts and re-center myself. The new year just happens to coincide with the time when I most need this type of attention.
Time for some radical self-care! Let's take a moment to go through the steps I plan to take to set my intention:
Sickness: It's always my sinuses. Always. In December alone, they flared up pretty badly at least twice. As some of you may know from previous posts here, I have a sensitivity to dairy that creates a lot of inflammation in my sinuses and feels like a constant sinus infection. Well, I've been eating my fair share of dairy lately, and I think it's caught up to me! (Cheesecake, anyone?) I think it might be time to take a break from it to see if I can start feeling better. The downside: no more dirty chai lattes. I checked, and the mix they use contains dairy *sad trombones*
Sleep: I'm guessing that this is being affected by everything else that's been out of whack, but I still have some simple ideas to help address the issue. First, my bedtime routine is nearly non-existent these days. I think it's time to return to the days of a nice cup of tea and maybe a few pages of reading or journaling (or blogging). Second, I haven't been going to the gym as much lately. Regular exercise *always* helps me sleep better. So...back to the gym I go.
Diet: Now that the holidays are over, this should be so much easier to accomplish! As I stated above, I'm going to remove dairy from my diet. I think this is enough of a step for now. I don't want to overwhelm myself with the time and energy investment of playing with a completely new way of eating like paleo, ketogenic, or Whole30 (all of which I have considered for various reasons). I'd rather use this time to refocus on what I know will work...not experimenting with new things. Keep it simple, stupid.
Anxiety: While I'm sure all of the steps listed above will have a huge impact on this area of my life, I also realize that I've gradually lost touch with my daily yoga and meditation practices. I don't feel like I need any extravagant rituals. I intend to spend at least 20 minutes each morning on my yoga mat...10 minutes meditating, and 10 minutes moving and stretching my body...with lots of focus on my breathing. I know this works wonders for my anxiety levels, so it's time to return to it.
What intentions do you have for January? And what steps can you take to get you there?
This happens to me nearly every year, and I find that taking some time to refocus usually helps. I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, so let's just skip that discussion altogether. I am, however, a huge proponent of stopping for a moment to gather my thoughts and re-center myself. The new year just happens to coincide with the time when I most need this type of attention.
Time for some radical self-care! Let's take a moment to go through the steps I plan to take to set my intention:
Sickness: It's always my sinuses. Always. In December alone, they flared up pretty badly at least twice. As some of you may know from previous posts here, I have a sensitivity to dairy that creates a lot of inflammation in my sinuses and feels like a constant sinus infection. Well, I've been eating my fair share of dairy lately, and I think it's caught up to me! (Cheesecake, anyone?) I think it might be time to take a break from it to see if I can start feeling better. The downside: no more dirty chai lattes. I checked, and the mix they use contains dairy *sad trombones*
Sleep: I'm guessing that this is being affected by everything else that's been out of whack, but I still have some simple ideas to help address the issue. First, my bedtime routine is nearly non-existent these days. I think it's time to return to the days of a nice cup of tea and maybe a few pages of reading or journaling (or blogging). Second, I haven't been going to the gym as much lately. Regular exercise *always* helps me sleep better. So...back to the gym I go.
Diet: Now that the holidays are over, this should be so much easier to accomplish! As I stated above, I'm going to remove dairy from my diet. I think this is enough of a step for now. I don't want to overwhelm myself with the time and energy investment of playing with a completely new way of eating like paleo, ketogenic, or Whole30 (all of which I have considered for various reasons). I'd rather use this time to refocus on what I know will work...not experimenting with new things. Keep it simple, stupid.
Anxiety: While I'm sure all of the steps listed above will have a huge impact on this area of my life, I also realize that I've gradually lost touch with my daily yoga and meditation practices. I don't feel like I need any extravagant rituals. I intend to spend at least 20 minutes each morning on my yoga mat...10 minutes meditating, and 10 minutes moving and stretching my body...with lots of focus on my breathing. I know this works wonders for my anxiety levels, so it's time to return to it.
What intentions do you have for January? And what steps can you take to get you there?
12.29.2016
Guess Who's Back?!
Hey all! It's been a while, and during my time away, life has changed quite a bit. There's been a divorce, a move, a job change, a new haircut, a few new tattoos and piercings, lots of lifestyle changes, a ton of self-discovery, an even more ornery child than before, and a new boyfriend and bonus daughter. Whew! It's a lot to think about, isn't it? And while the ride has definitely been bumpy, there have been some amazing high points, and it's all been for the best. Now that I've had some time to refocus, let's get reacquainted.
If you've been here before, you're likely accustomed to reading about my adventures with food. While I still love sharing and discussing food and recipes and will continue to do so, my life these days has refocused on being more intentional. I'd like to invite you to join me as I continue on this journey.
Since moving all of my worldly possessions to a different house two years ago, I've slowly and methodically evaluated each item to determine it's value in my life. I've rid my life of so much physical "stuff", and with it, so much emotional and mental "stuff" as well. I call this my pursuit of minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living...and it's definitely a pursuit. Some may enter my home and see barren walls and sparse furnishings...I see it as a work in progress. I see myself the same way.
You see, in the last two years, I've been struggling with anxiety. It ranges from what most of us know as "nerves" to full-blown fear of leaving my house. The best part: this varies from day to day, so it's...um...exciting, to say the least. I've got a great support team, though, and with their help, I'm learning to cope, manage, and heal.
*exhale* So that's that. Would you care to share what's new with you?
If you've been here before, you're likely accustomed to reading about my adventures with food. While I still love sharing and discussing food and recipes and will continue to do so, my life these days has refocused on being more intentional. I'd like to invite you to join me as I continue on this journey.
Since moving all of my worldly possessions to a different house two years ago, I've slowly and methodically evaluated each item to determine it's value in my life. I've rid my life of so much physical "stuff", and with it, so much emotional and mental "stuff" as well. I call this my pursuit of minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living...and it's definitely a pursuit. Some may enter my home and see barren walls and sparse furnishings...I see it as a work in progress. I see myself the same way.
You see, in the last two years, I've been struggling with anxiety. It ranges from what most of us know as "nerves" to full-blown fear of leaving my house. The best part: this varies from day to day, so it's...um...exciting, to say the least. I've got a great support team, though, and with their help, I'm learning to cope, manage, and heal.
*exhale* So that's that. Would you care to share what's new with you?
3.09.2014
Breakfast Sausage
For some reason we don't eat much pork in this house, but when we do, it's usually in the form of sausage or bacon...well, mostly bacon. But we do enjoy sausage with pancakes and on pizza. The problem: store-bought sausage is loaded with ingredients with which I'm not to thrilled, so I make our sausage myself.
I know, I know...it's another crazy thing I make myself, but to me it's worth it to avoid MSG and other nasties. And it's really quite easy!
When I can get my hands on good, pastured pork, I'll buy a pork butt and run it through the meat grinder (long version), or I'll buy ground pork (short version) and mix in this seasoning. I usually make several pounds at a time and freeze it in portions.
The beauty of this seasoning: you can tailor it to your taste! I urge you to give it a try!
(makes 4 pounds)
4 teaspoons sea salt
3 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
3 teaspoons rubbed sage
3 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
3 teaspoons rubbed sage
3 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Combine all ingredients and mix with 4 pounds of ground pork and freeze or cook as desired.
Enjoy!
2.12.2014
Amazingly Easy Pizza Crust
This is our favorite pizza crust recipe, found on allrecipes.com. We like it baked in the oven or even on the grill. I've modified the recipe to use all purpose flour instead of bread flour, simply because I don't keep bread flour on hand anymore, but the crust still comes out wonderful!
We like our pizza fairly thin, and we only use half the dough for one dinner, so you may need to adjust cooking times if you like your pizza with a thicker crust or if you use all the dough for a larger pizza. I freeze the remaining dough in a bag and thaw it in the fridge when I'm ready to use it.
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
Stir in flour, salt and oil until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
Turn 1/2 the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round about 1/4" thick (this makes a very thin 10" pizza). Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal.
Top as you prefer and bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
10.17.2013
The 21-Day Sugar Detox (Week 2)
It's a little late, but here's my recap of Week 2 of The 21-Day Sugar Detox.
Just two weeks ago, I thought I was dying from this sugar detox. I had some serious withdrawal symptoms: shaking, dizziness, nausea, headache, exhaustion...you name it! Thankfully, it was only one day. I survived it. Cut to...today: Day 19. I. Feel. Great!
As I write this, I'm munching on carrots - they've been a pretty standard snack for me throughout this detox, mostly because they're easy to prep, and I can eat them no matter where I am. Also, you'll notice in my food journal below that pecans and raw milk cheddar are staples. But the rest of my diet has been pretty varied. As I mentioned in my 21DSD Week 1 post, I have viewed this detox as a culinary challenge...a chance to try some new dishes and get the dinner menu out of the boring rut in which we'd been stuck. And I think I've done a pretty good job. I've even got The Man eating some of my creations, though I don't think Mr. Cherry Pepsi will ever tackle a sugar detox! LOL
If you had told me a year ago that I would attempt a technically low-carb/Paleo diet, I would have laughed in your face. I've never been a fan of the Atkins-type low-carb diet, simply because there's so much emphasis on "0 carb" processed foods and less emphasis on whole foods and healthy carbs.
And the Paleo diet bugged me because it eliminated entire food groups (dairy & grains). Granted, these food groups are very irritating to some, myself included, but that doesn't make it a "one size fits all" solution. I typically do fine with grains (though I think the shrinking size of my belly might prove otherwise), and as long as the dairy I consume is *not* pasteurized, it doesn't bother me at all. So, at least for myself, I don't think it's necessary to follow the Paleo plan in its entirety.
But, the 21-Day Detox is a bit of a combination of both low-carb and Paleo, and I've loved (mostly) every minute of it. Day 3 was the big exception! But do I think I could do it long-term? Probably not. I'm tiring of eggs for breakfast...I miss my Quinoa Breakfast Porridge. And I miss fruit...mostly because of it's convenience and ease...the original fast food! And quite honestly, I kind of want a PB&J...and Hawaiian BBQ...and probably a bunch of other things I can't think of right now! But most importantly, I've learned that I can have these things in moderation, and I don't *need* sugar in order to survive. Nor do I need to swear it off completely. It's all about balance, kids...yep! I believe that's the key!
So, here's what I ate last week...interesting, I know. :)
Day 8:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffee
Lunch - spaghetti squash with meatballs and marinara
Dinner - Almond-crusted cajun chicken, cauliflower rice, grilled asparagus
Snacks - carrot sticks, raw milk cheddar, pecans
Day 9:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffee
Lunch - leftover almond-crusted cajun chicken, cauliflower rice, green beans
Dinner - grass-fed hamburger with raw milk cheddar on a bed of lettuce with homemade pickles, homemade mayo, tomato, and onion
Snacks - carrot sticks with almond butter
Day 10:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffee
Lunch - Chicken salad in lettuce cups, avocado, snap peas
Dinner - Steak with balsamic reduction, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and browned butter
Snacks - carrot sticks, raw milk cheddar, pecans, sugar snap peas
Day 11:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffee
Lunch - Taco Salad
Dinner - meatballs and marinara
Snacks - carrot sticks
Day 12:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, black coffee
Lunch - Chipotle salad
Dinner - second half of Chipotle salad
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, cauliflower, carrots, sugar snap peas, cucumber slices, a few salami cubes
Day 13:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, black coffee
Lunch - Turkey Cranberry Waldrof salad from Cafe Moxo (minus the cranberries and with balsamic dressing)
Dinner - Krabby Patties from NomNomPaleo, grilled asparagus in lemon butter
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, raw veggies
Day 14:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, black coffee
Lunch - Chipotle salad
Dinner - eggs, bacon
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, pecans
So, there ya have it. I feel like I did really well last week, I began feeling fantastic, and the food was delicious!
Stay tuned for week 3, my end results, and my maintenance plan (if I have one)! :)
Just two weeks ago, I thought I was dying from this sugar detox. I had some serious withdrawal symptoms: shaking, dizziness, nausea, headache, exhaustion...you name it! Thankfully, it was only one day. I survived it. Cut to...today: Day 19. I. Feel. Great!
As I write this, I'm munching on carrots - they've been a pretty standard snack for me throughout this detox, mostly because they're easy to prep, and I can eat them no matter where I am. Also, you'll notice in my food journal below that pecans and raw milk cheddar are staples. But the rest of my diet has been pretty varied. As I mentioned in my 21DSD Week 1 post, I have viewed this detox as a culinary challenge...a chance to try some new dishes and get the dinner menu out of the boring rut in which we'd been stuck. And I think I've done a pretty good job. I've even got The Man eating some of my creations, though I don't think Mr. Cherry Pepsi will ever tackle a sugar detox! LOL
If you had told me a year ago that I would attempt a technically low-carb/Paleo diet, I would have laughed in your face. I've never been a fan of the Atkins-type low-carb diet, simply because there's so much emphasis on "0 carb" processed foods and less emphasis on whole foods and healthy carbs.
And the Paleo diet bugged me because it eliminated entire food groups (dairy & grains). Granted, these food groups are very irritating to some, myself included, but that doesn't make it a "one size fits all" solution. I typically do fine with grains (though I think the shrinking size of my belly might prove otherwise), and as long as the dairy I consume is *not* pasteurized, it doesn't bother me at all. So, at least for myself, I don't think it's necessary to follow the Paleo plan in its entirety.
But, the 21-Day Detox is a bit of a combination of both low-carb and Paleo, and I've loved (mostly) every minute of it. Day 3 was the big exception! But do I think I could do it long-term? Probably not. I'm tiring of eggs for breakfast...I miss my Quinoa Breakfast Porridge. And I miss fruit...mostly because of it's convenience and ease...the original fast food! And quite honestly, I kind of want a PB&J...and Hawaiian BBQ...and probably a bunch of other things I can't think of right now! But most importantly, I've learned that I can have these things in moderation, and I don't *need* sugar in order to survive. Nor do I need to swear it off completely. It's all about balance, kids...yep! I believe that's the key!
So, here's what I ate last week...interesting, I know. :)
Day 8:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffeeLunch - spaghetti squash with meatballs and marinara
Dinner - Almond-crusted cajun chicken, cauliflower rice, grilled asparagus
Snacks - carrot sticks, raw milk cheddar, pecans
Day 9:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffeeLunch - leftover almond-crusted cajun chicken, cauliflower rice, green beans
Dinner - grass-fed hamburger with raw milk cheddar on a bed of lettuce with homemade pickles, homemade mayo, tomato, and onion
Snacks - carrot sticks with almond butter
Day 10:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffeeLunch - Chicken salad in lettuce cups, avocado, snap peas
Dinner - Steak with balsamic reduction, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and browned butter
Snacks - carrot sticks, raw milk cheddar, pecans, sugar snap peas
Day 11:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffeeLunch - Taco Salad
Dinner - meatballs and marinara
Snacks - carrot sticks
Day 12:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, black coffee
Lunch - Chipotle salad
Dinner - second half of Chipotle salad
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, cauliflower, carrots, sugar snap peas, cucumber slices, a few salami cubes
Day 13:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, black coffeeLunch - Turkey Cranberry Waldrof salad from Cafe Moxo (minus the cranberries and with balsamic dressing)
Dinner - Krabby Patties from NomNomPaleo, grilled asparagus in lemon butter
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, raw veggies
Day 14:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, black coffeeLunch - Chipotle salad
Dinner - eggs, bacon
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, pecans
So, there ya have it. I feel like I did really well last week, I began feeling fantastic, and the food was delicious!
Stay tuned for week 3, my end results, and my maintenance plan (if I have one)! :)
10.07.2013
The 21-Day Sugar Detox (Week 1)
A week ago, I decided to advance my diet transformation one more step...a sugar detox. I mentioned this the week before while having lunch with a friend, to which he replied, "You're always changing your diet to something else." It bothered me a bit, so I'd like to take a moment, before diving into the detox details, to provide some history of what I refer to as my diet transformation.
Several years ago, The Man and I ran into trouble trying to get pregnant...I was eventually diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (which was basically screwing with my fertility and also linked to insulin resistance), and put on meds to help us conceive. After a few rounds of the meds, I realized I wasn't comfortable with them, so The Man and I decided I would stop taking them. At that point, I took a long hard look at my diet, and all the crap I was putting in, on, and around my body. I did LOTS of research and discovered that many chemicals, including pesticides and ingredients in processed foods, cleaning products, and even body care and cosmetics can disrupt hormones and cause all sorts of problems. It was at this point that I eliminated many processed foods from my diet and began seeking out organic produce.
After 3 1/2 years of trying, The Man and I finally got pregnant!! Once I started thinking about The Munchkin's arrival, I decided I wanted to make her baby food to try to spare her the same kind of heartache we had experienced while trying to get her here. It was then that I became a religious farmers' market shopper. Seriously, the first day of the market is like opening day of baseball for me. I. MUST. ATTEND. It was at the market where I discovered a number of local farmers growing delicious, beautiful, organic produce, and I began buying the bulk of our groceries there...mostly organic.
Sometime last year, I asked my doctor if there were any tests I needed to have done now that I'd reached the ripe old age of...*GASP*...thirty. He noted my family history of high cholesterol and suggested a lipid panel. Much to my dismay, the results were not great. Three months after not following the prescribed changes (diet, exercise, supplements), my test results were even worse. So, I decided to heed the doctors advice and cut back on my dietary cholesterol. This led to experimentation with vegetarianism, which I quickly realized I couldn't maintain. I missed steak...and burgers...and BACON! So, I did some more research and discovered cholesterol's role in the body (read "The Great Cholesterol Myth" for this enlightening information), and I changed my diet, yet again...and drastically. I began eating grass-fed beef, pastured pork and chicken, and eggs from those chickens (two of them a day!). My research taught me that these animals, as opposed to conventionally-raised "feedlot" animals, were healthier, packing more nutrients into the same amount of food...nutrients my body needed...all because they were allowed to soak up the sun all day and eat their natural diets. And I got to eat bacon again. :) As of June, my cholesterol had dropped 54 points! Woohoo!
Then, in December, I discovered a dairy intolerance...casein, to be exact. It's a protein that my body can't digest, so it creates killer headaches and miserable sinus congestion instead. It's not very awesome. So, I cut out dairy...all of it. I read labels more than ever, asked waiters for details about dishes before I ordered...I irritated myself. Annoyed, I researched again. I found that pasteurized dairy is very problematic for many because pasteurization kills all the enzymes that aid digestion. (But pasteurization is necessary and raw milk is dangerous, right? Wrong. Google it.) Then, I remembered some cheese I had joyously eaten before I got pregnant. It was Ropp Raw Milk Cheddar, and it was phenomenal! I decided to experiment, so I bought some, ate a little bit, and waited to see how I felt. And then nothing happened. I felt fine. Now it was time to find sources of raw milk to try! (It's worth noting that, in Illinois, one must purchase raw milk directly from the farm and supply the containers. These laws vary from state to state.) I found out that, twenty minutes from my house, there is a couple who sells raw milk. Phone call. Visit. Purchase. Wow, I missed milk! And this milk didn't make me feel awful. And The Man and The Munchkin like it too. Jackpot!
Fast forward to today and the sugar detox. You might ask yourself why. And so did I. For months, I've toyed with the idea of doing this. Even though my overall cholesterol is better, my triglycerides aren't, and, come to find out, that's linked to sugar consumption. My PCOS and insulin resistance is also linked to sugar consumption. And my sugar cravings after meals are so intense, I honestly don't have any self-control. This sugar detox is an attempt to curb some of those issues. I fully understand they may not be completely resolved, but who knows...maybe they will. Here are the very basic details of the detox (more details can be found at The 21-Day Sugar Detox:
Day 1:
Breakfast - Egg cup & black coffee
Lunch - Salad w/ steak, 1/2 avocado, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, lime juice, olive oil
Dinner - Chicken kabobs with bell peppers and onions, rutabaga (yuck)
Snacks - carrot sticks, iced tea, raw almonds
Feelings:
- Immediately after breakfast, I found myself having an intense chocolate craving. I ignored it.
- Around 10 am, I began yawning, feeling tired, and had difficulty maintaining focus.
- Immediately after lunch, I was craving chocolate again, so I went for a short walk to help wake me up and distract me. I walked to Walgreens to pickup a prescription and get a bottle of tea to drink, and I survived - walking out with no sugary items!
- 2:30 pm - ME. WANT. COOKIES!!! (I ate almonds instead.)
- Got a headache on the way home from work, but eating dinner seemed to fixed it.
- No one died. Yay!
Day 2:
Breakfast - 1/2 egg cup, black coffee
Lunch - Leftover chicken kebobs, 1/2 avocado, pecans
Dinner - hamburger with raw milk cheddar on a bed of mixed greens with homemade lacto dill pickles, tomatoes, and onions
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, carrots, egg fried in bacon grease
Feelings:
- I wasn't falling asleep at my desk this morning.
- I probably didn't pack enough lunch...it's 1pm, and I'm still hungry.
- I'm resisting the temptation to eat the remainder of The Munchkin's banana from this morning..."Not Gonn' Do It"...based on principle alone...
- I got another headache on the way home from work...I think I was just hungry.
Day 3:
Breakfast - egg cup, pecans, black coffee
Lunch - egg salad in endive boats, 1/2 avocado, carrot sticks
Dinner - baked lemon-garlic tilapia, cauliflower "rice", brussels sprouts w/ butter and bacon
Snacks - meatballs (I had to do QA!)
Feelings:
- soooooo tired this morning...slightly dizzy...can't focus...feel disoriented.
- late morning/lunch time: began feeling really awful...headache, dizzy, nauseated, lack of appetite...just want to lay down
- got a second wind that at least allowed me to cook dinner and prep for Day 4
- I LOVED the cauliflower "rice"...all this experimenting is a lot of fun, and I'm trying new foods I wouldn't have otherwise thought to try
Day 4:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffee
Lunch - leftover tilapia, cauliflower "rice", brussels sprouts
Dinner - meatballs in marinara, steamed veggies
Snacks - carrots, pecans, raw milk cheddar
Feelings:
- I slept terribly last night! After The Munchkin came in around 1:30, I could not go back to sleep...
- still having some sugar cravings after meals, but I'm noticing they aren't immediate...they're delayed by about an hour
- even on 3 hours of sleep, I functioned pretty well all day, through The Munchkin's swim lessons and all the way home, but as soon as I sat on the couch, it sucked all the energy from my body. I went to bed at 8:45pm.
Day 5:
Breakfast - quinoa cooked w/ granny smith apple, cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts, black coffee
Lunch - Chipotle Salad with very small scoop of black beans, extra veggies, chicken, mild tomato salsa and guac - YUM!
Dinner - Roast, roasted veggies
Snacks - pecans, carrots, raw milk cheddar
Feelings:
- I'm beginning to feel human again!
- I have a decent amount of energy this evening, though I'm mentally exhausted from my day.
Day 6:
Breakfast - scrambled eggs, bacon, black coffee
Lunch - Salad w/ steak, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, balsamic vinegar, olive oil
Dinner - Taco salad with mixed greens, taco meat, raw milk cheddar, garden tomato, green onions, and an avocado
Snacks - chocolate chia pudding (FAIL!), pecans
Feelings:
- Feeling as human as ever
- seemed to have more stamina to tackle things in the kitchen and around the house
- no more grogginess, dizziness, midday headaches, etc
Day 7:
Breakfast - quinoa cooked w/ granny smith apple, cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts, black coffee
Lunch - Spaghetti squash with meatballs and marinara
Dinner - Fried eggs and bacon
Snacks - pecans, salted sunflower and pumpkin seeds, raw milk cheddar
Feelings:
- It was a lazy Sunday, but I didn't feel lethargic or unmotivated
- I'm sleeping a TON better...as in, all night!
- drinking less and less coffee each day...not on purpose, but I've noticed I'm dumping out more each day once it's cold
There you have it! That's everything I've eaten in the last seven days. No chocolate. No honey. No popcorn. No ice cream. No cookies. No lemon buttermilk pound cake. *DROOL*
Do I miss those things? Yes. Have I realized I can survive without them? YES! I'm proud of myself. The Man told me tonight that he can tell how proud I am...he said he sees it on my face when I talk about it.
Also, this detox has given me the opportunity to try foods I probably wouldn't have otherwise tried like rutabaga, cauliflower "rice", spaghetti squash, and chocolate chia pudding (which I hated, by the way, and did not eat). It's also been fun, as a foodie, to get creative with our household dinner menu again. And I must give big kudos to The Man for at least trying a bite of each new thing I've prepared, even though I've made "regular food" for him and The Munchkin. He even admitted tonight that he likes the cauliflower rice, and he could eat it regularly! :)
Stay tuned for week 2!
Several years ago, The Man and I ran into trouble trying to get pregnant...I was eventually diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (which was basically screwing with my fertility and also linked to insulin resistance), and put on meds to help us conceive. After a few rounds of the meds, I realized I wasn't comfortable with them, so The Man and I decided I would stop taking them. At that point, I took a long hard look at my diet, and all the crap I was putting in, on, and around my body. I did LOTS of research and discovered that many chemicals, including pesticides and ingredients in processed foods, cleaning products, and even body care and cosmetics can disrupt hormones and cause all sorts of problems. It was at this point that I eliminated many processed foods from my diet and began seeking out organic produce.
After 3 1/2 years of trying, The Man and I finally got pregnant!! Once I started thinking about The Munchkin's arrival, I decided I wanted to make her baby food to try to spare her the same kind of heartache we had experienced while trying to get her here. It was then that I became a religious farmers' market shopper. Seriously, the first day of the market is like opening day of baseball for me. I. MUST. ATTEND. It was at the market where I discovered a number of local farmers growing delicious, beautiful, organic produce, and I began buying the bulk of our groceries there...mostly organic.
Sometime last year, I asked my doctor if there were any tests I needed to have done now that I'd reached the ripe old age of...*GASP*...thirty. He noted my family history of high cholesterol and suggested a lipid panel. Much to my dismay, the results were not great. Three months after not following the prescribed changes (diet, exercise, supplements), my test results were even worse. So, I decided to heed the doctors advice and cut back on my dietary cholesterol. This led to experimentation with vegetarianism, which I quickly realized I couldn't maintain. I missed steak...and burgers...and BACON! So, I did some more research and discovered cholesterol's role in the body (read "The Great Cholesterol Myth" for this enlightening information), and I changed my diet, yet again...and drastically. I began eating grass-fed beef, pastured pork and chicken, and eggs from those chickens (two of them a day!). My research taught me that these animals, as opposed to conventionally-raised "feedlot" animals, were healthier, packing more nutrients into the same amount of food...nutrients my body needed...all because they were allowed to soak up the sun all day and eat their natural diets. And I got to eat bacon again. :) As of June, my cholesterol had dropped 54 points! Woohoo!
Then, in December, I discovered a dairy intolerance...casein, to be exact. It's a protein that my body can't digest, so it creates killer headaches and miserable sinus congestion instead. It's not very awesome. So, I cut out dairy...all of it. I read labels more than ever, asked waiters for details about dishes before I ordered...I irritated myself. Annoyed, I researched again. I found that pasteurized dairy is very problematic for many because pasteurization kills all the enzymes that aid digestion. (But pasteurization is necessary and raw milk is dangerous, right? Wrong. Google it.) Then, I remembered some cheese I had joyously eaten before I got pregnant. It was Ropp Raw Milk Cheddar, and it was phenomenal! I decided to experiment, so I bought some, ate a little bit, and waited to see how I felt. And then nothing happened. I felt fine. Now it was time to find sources of raw milk to try! (It's worth noting that, in Illinois, one must purchase raw milk directly from the farm and supply the containers. These laws vary from state to state.) I found out that, twenty minutes from my house, there is a couple who sells raw milk. Phone call. Visit. Purchase. Wow, I missed milk! And this milk didn't make me feel awful. And The Man and The Munchkin like it too. Jackpot!
Fast forward to today and the sugar detox. You might ask yourself why. And so did I. For months, I've toyed with the idea of doing this. Even though my overall cholesterol is better, my triglycerides aren't, and, come to find out, that's linked to sugar consumption. My PCOS and insulin resistance is also linked to sugar consumption. And my sugar cravings after meals are so intense, I honestly don't have any self-control. This sugar detox is an attempt to curb some of those issues. I fully understand they may not be completely resolved, but who knows...maybe they will. Here are the very basic details of the detox (more details can be found at The 21-Day Sugar Detox:
- 21 days
- No sugar
- No artificial sweeteners
- No grains (bread, pasta, etc)
- No white or sweet potatoes
- No winter squash (I know...this is a bad time to live without pumpkin!)
- No fruit (except either a green apple or green-tipped banana per day)
Sounds fun, right? No? I didn't think so either. And it's been rough at times. REALLY ROUGH! But I have survived those moments, and I'm beginning to feel better. Here's my journal of meals and "feelings" as I've tracked them throughout the past week.
Day 1:
Lunch - Salad w/ steak, 1/2 avocado, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, lime juice, olive oil
Dinner - Chicken kabobs with bell peppers and onions, rutabaga (yuck)
Snacks - carrot sticks, iced tea, raw almonds
Feelings:
- Immediately after breakfast, I found myself having an intense chocolate craving. I ignored it.
- Around 10 am, I began yawning, feeling tired, and had difficulty maintaining focus.
- Immediately after lunch, I was craving chocolate again, so I went for a short walk to help wake me up and distract me. I walked to Walgreens to pickup a prescription and get a bottle of tea to drink, and I survived - walking out with no sugary items!
- 2:30 pm - ME. WANT. COOKIES!!! (I ate almonds instead.)
- Got a headache on the way home from work, but eating dinner seemed to fixed it.
- No one died. Yay!
Day 2:
Lunch - Leftover chicken kebobs, 1/2 avocado, pecans
Dinner - hamburger with raw milk cheddar on a bed of mixed greens with homemade lacto dill pickles, tomatoes, and onions
Snacks - raw milk cheddar, carrots, egg fried in bacon grease
Feelings:
- I wasn't falling asleep at my desk this morning.
- I probably didn't pack enough lunch...it's 1pm, and I'm still hungry.
- I'm resisting the temptation to eat the remainder of The Munchkin's banana from this morning..."Not Gonn' Do It"...based on principle alone...
- I got another headache on the way home from work...I think I was just hungry.
Day 3:
Lunch - egg salad in endive boats, 1/2 avocado, carrot sticks
Dinner - baked lemon-garlic tilapia, cauliflower "rice", brussels sprouts w/ butter and bacon
Snacks - meatballs (I had to do QA!)
Feelings:
- soooooo tired this morning...slightly dizzy...can't focus...feel disoriented.
- late morning/lunch time: began feeling really awful...headache, dizzy, nauseated, lack of appetite...just want to lay down
- got a second wind that at least allowed me to cook dinner and prep for Day 4
- I LOVED the cauliflower "rice"...all this experimenting is a lot of fun, and I'm trying new foods I wouldn't have otherwise thought to try
Day 4:
Lunch - leftover tilapia, cauliflower "rice", brussels sprouts
Dinner - meatballs in marinara, steamed veggies
Snacks - carrots, pecans, raw milk cheddar
Feelings:
- I slept terribly last night! After The Munchkin came in around 1:30, I could not go back to sleep...
- still having some sugar cravings after meals, but I'm noticing they aren't immediate...they're delayed by about an hour
- even on 3 hours of sleep, I functioned pretty well all day, through The Munchkin's swim lessons and all the way home, but as soon as I sat on the couch, it sucked all the energy from my body. I went to bed at 8:45pm.
Day 5:
Lunch - Chipotle Salad with very small scoop of black beans, extra veggies, chicken, mild tomato salsa and guac - YUM!
Dinner - Roast, roasted veggies
Snacks - pecans, carrots, raw milk cheddar
Feelings:
- I'm beginning to feel human again!
- I have a decent amount of energy this evening, though I'm mentally exhausted from my day.
Day 6:
Lunch - Salad w/ steak, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, balsamic vinegar, olive oil
Dinner - Taco salad with mixed greens, taco meat, raw milk cheddar, garden tomato, green onions, and an avocado
Snacks - chocolate chia pudding (FAIL!), pecans
Feelings:
- Feeling as human as ever
- seemed to have more stamina to tackle things in the kitchen and around the house
- no more grogginess, dizziness, midday headaches, etc
Day 7:
Lunch - Spaghetti squash with meatballs and marinara
Dinner - Fried eggs and bacon
Snacks - pecans, salted sunflower and pumpkin seeds, raw milk cheddar
Feelings:
- It was a lazy Sunday, but I didn't feel lethargic or unmotivated
- I'm sleeping a TON better...as in, all night!
- drinking less and less coffee each day...not on purpose, but I've noticed I'm dumping out more each day once it's cold
There you have it! That's everything I've eaten in the last seven days. No chocolate. No honey. No popcorn. No ice cream. No cookies. No lemon buttermilk pound cake. *DROOL*
Do I miss those things? Yes. Have I realized I can survive without them? YES! I'm proud of myself. The Man told me tonight that he can tell how proud I am...he said he sees it on my face when I talk about it.
Also, this detox has given me the opportunity to try foods I probably wouldn't have otherwise tried like rutabaga, cauliflower "rice", spaghetti squash, and chocolate chia pudding (which I hated, by the way, and did not eat). It's also been fun, as a foodie, to get creative with our household dinner menu again. And I must give big kudos to The Man for at least trying a bite of each new thing I've prepared, even though I've made "regular food" for him and The Munchkin. He even admitted tonight that he likes the cauliflower rice, and he could eat it regularly! :)
Stay tuned for week 2!
5.25.2013
Meatsourcing
I'd like to preface this post by saying that I am not an expert on high-quality, pastured meats or where to find them in central Illinois. And I have not, by any means, researched all the options and pricing, so I encourage you to do so.
Surprisingly, I am frequently asked where we purchase our meat and eggs. My goal with this post is to share the names of the farms where we have recently purchased locally-raised, organic, and pastured meats and eggs.
So, here it is...
Beef
Our most recent purchase of 1/4 beef came from R & K Beef. They are located in Pike County, IL, and their products are grass-fed and free of hormones and antibiotics. So far, we've sampled the sirloin, ribeye, t-bone, and burger. Each cut has been extremely tender, and the difference in taste over grocery store beef is phenomenal. It's how beef is supposed to taste! You can find out more at the R & K Beef website or find R & K Beef on Facebook.
Pork
R & K Beef also sells pork products, but we haven't tried them yet. Currently, we get our pork products from Oak Tree Organics in Ashland, IL. They frequently finish their pigs on apples, which gives the meat a wonderful flavor. They have a year-round online market with convenient weekly delivery locations in Jacksonville and Springfield. For more information and to sign up for the online market, you can find Oak Tree Organics on Facebook.
Chicken
Recently, Oak Tree Organics began raising broilers as a trial run. We haven't yet received our order, but we should be getting it in the next week or so. Prior to placing our order with Oak Tree Organics, we purchased chickens from Bear Creek Farm & Ranch. They're located in Palmer, IL, their prices are very competitive, and their chickens can be purchased fresh, frozen, cut up, whole, or by individual cut, depending on availability. You can find Bear Creek Farm & Ranch on Facebook.
Eggs
We buy wonderfully orange-yolked, delicious eggs from either Oak Tree Organics or Bear Creek Farm & Ranch. See the links above for more information.
Do you have any farms to add to list? How about sources of other meat products?
Mangia bene!
Surprisingly, I am frequently asked where we purchase our meat and eggs. My goal with this post is to share the names of the farms where we have recently purchased locally-raised, organic, and pastured meats and eggs.
So, here it is...
Beef
Our most recent purchase of 1/4 beef came from R & K Beef. They are located in Pike County, IL, and their products are grass-fed and free of hormones and antibiotics. So far, we've sampled the sirloin, ribeye, t-bone, and burger. Each cut has been extremely tender, and the difference in taste over grocery store beef is phenomenal. It's how beef is supposed to taste! You can find out more at the R & K Beef website or find R & K Beef on Facebook.
Pork
R & K Beef also sells pork products, but we haven't tried them yet. Currently, we get our pork products from Oak Tree Organics in Ashland, IL. They frequently finish their pigs on apples, which gives the meat a wonderful flavor. They have a year-round online market with convenient weekly delivery locations in Jacksonville and Springfield. For more information and to sign up for the online market, you can find Oak Tree Organics on Facebook.
Chicken
Recently, Oak Tree Organics began raising broilers as a trial run. We haven't yet received our order, but we should be getting it in the next week or so. Prior to placing our order with Oak Tree Organics, we purchased chickens from Bear Creek Farm & Ranch. They're located in Palmer, IL, their prices are very competitive, and their chickens can be purchased fresh, frozen, cut up, whole, or by individual cut, depending on availability. You can find Bear Creek Farm & Ranch on Facebook.
Eggs
We buy wonderfully orange-yolked, delicious eggs from either Oak Tree Organics or Bear Creek Farm & Ranch. See the links above for more information.
Do you have any farms to add to list? How about sources of other meat products?
Mangia bene!
5.13.2013
My Daily Struggle - ADHD
Warning: This is not a fluffy, happy-go-lucky food post. Instead, I felt compelled to share something completely different with you...a snapshot of my daily struggle with ADHD. Today is a bad day...
Sometimes my stubbornness and unwillingness to take medication for my ADHD come back to bite me, and today, I got bitten badly.
I woke up to an overwhelming, almost suffocating anxiety about things most people manage easily - without a second thought. Day by day, I feel like I'm doing fine, then one day something draws my attention to a crack in my world, something important I've forgotten to do. As soon as I acknowledge the crack, the whole thing explodes, my world comes crashing down around me, and I struggle to keep myself from slipping into a depression.
I woke up to an overwhelming, almost suffocating anxiety about things most people manage easily - without a second thought. Day by day, I feel like I'm doing fine, then one day something draws my attention to a crack in my world, something important I've forgotten to do. As soon as I acknowledge the crack, the whole thing explodes, my world comes crashing down around me, and I struggle to keep myself from slipping into a depression.
In the midst of all of this, I'm trying to pick up my exploded-world-shrapnel, make sense of each piece, figure out where things went awry, and make a plan to forge onward. I try really hard not to stay in that place of anxiety and depression. I know where that road leads, and it is not fun. I can't go there...I have a family to care for and a household to maintain. So I put my world back together with whatever "glue" I can find, and I hope with every fiber of my being that this time it will hold together.
I took what I call a "mental health day" today...I marked myself out at work, took The Munchkin to my mom's like I normally would on a Monday, and I came home and made a list. I make lists...lots of them. But the post-explosion list is always different. For me, it feels like a matter of life and death. You see, my ADHD life is a series of piles, and most days I'm just shuffling the piles around from here to there, dutifully rearranging them in a way that makes sense to me but probably seems crazy to everyone else. Today, all my piles fell over on me (like they do every so often), and I felt like I was drowning in them. So the post-explosion list is a detailed, step-by-step instruction manual for digging my way out of the piles. And it's exhausting!
I got started on my list this morning, and nearly everything is done. I'm going to ask The Man for help with the rest when he gets home from work. But it's just small stuff, and the highest priority items are finished. I could definitely add more to the list - there's always more to be done - but I know I've reached my limit, and it's time to rest so I have the energy, motivation, and brain power to make dinner and enjoy some time with The Man and The Munchkin this evening.
I took what I call a "mental health day" today...I marked myself out at work, took The Munchkin to my mom's like I normally would on a Monday, and I came home and made a list. I make lists...lots of them. But the post-explosion list is always different. For me, it feels like a matter of life and death. You see, my ADHD life is a series of piles, and most days I'm just shuffling the piles around from here to there, dutifully rearranging them in a way that makes sense to me but probably seems crazy to everyone else. Today, all my piles fell over on me (like they do every so often), and I felt like I was drowning in them. So the post-explosion list is a detailed, step-by-step instruction manual for digging my way out of the piles. And it's exhausting!
I got started on my list this morning, and nearly everything is done. I'm going to ask The Man for help with the rest when he gets home from work. But it's just small stuff, and the highest priority items are finished. I could definitely add more to the list - there's always more to be done - but I know I've reached my limit, and it's time to rest so I have the energy, motivation, and brain power to make dinner and enjoy some time with The Man and The Munchkin this evening.
I'm sure you're thinking this would all just be easier with meds, and I won't lie, it is...sort of. But the meds come with their own demons for me...the "medicated me" isn't really me at all. It feels like a hologram of me, going through the motions of life the way the world thinks I should. There is no enjoyment, no creativity, no passion, no laugh-til-I-cry moments. To me, that's not a life. To quote Eddie Izzard, it's very "Einz zwei, einz zwei".
So I stay on this rollercoaster...because when it's going well, it's an absolute blast! And when it goes through the scary loop-de-loops and dramatic drops, I am lucky to have people around me to keep me focused on the thrilling times and get me back on track.
3.23.2013
My Dietary Depression...and Complete Recovery
It's been a while since I've written. To be honest, I haven't exactly felt like celebrating food lately. Upon discovering I could no longer eat dairy a few months ago, I had to completely rethink how I ate. Most of the meals I prepared in the kitchen involved some sort of diary...mostly cheese. We like cheese. But life without cheese?! Well, let's just say I had a really hard time coming to terms with this, and cooking has been more like homework than the exciting adventure it used to be...
Now that I've adjusted to a dairy-free life, I've noticed that I'm still experiencing headaches quite frequently. They're not the same as the sinus headaches caused by dairy...these are more of a piercing pain, but just as miserable. As a result, about 3 weeks ago, I removed gluten from diet. Talk about adding insult to injury! But...No More Headaches! (Did I mention that I've also lost over 8 pounds in those 3 weeks?! Hooray for unintended consequences!)
So now, no dairy and no gluten. What's a girl to do? You can see how it might be a bit difficult to get excited about food! My diet over the last few weeks has been very focused on fresh produce (salads, whole fruits and veggies, homemade guacamole, and lots of Mexican and Asian foods when dining out). It's also very easy to fall into a processed food trap when your diet gets flipped on its head with restrictions, and I'll admit, I've splurged on some GFDF junk food, simply so I can have a convenient little indulgence every now and then. But I've already grown tired of those things. The packaged items don't really taste that great, though I've found a few, and my food philosophy keeps me away from processed foods the majority of the time. I had reached an impasse...
Then, yesterday, I found myself staring at 3 overripe bananas. Traditional me instantly thought to make banana bread, but GF me cringed at the thought. I wanted to make something I could eat, but I've avoided GF baking because it has been so overwhelming with all of the foreign ingredients - things like "guar gum"...it sounds like something Harry Potter would chew if Orbit wasn't available at Hogwarts! (Yes, I just made a HP reference...The Man is proud!)
Luckily, a few weeks ago, I picked up a few pounds of GF all-purpose flour from the bulk bins at Food Fantasies - the "hippie", allergen-friendly grocery store in Springfield. Last night, my determination set in and the Googling began...I knew I wanted a banana bread recipe that didn't call for all the weirdness...just simple, GF all-purpose flour. Lo and behold, I found one from Taste of Home, of all places. And this morning, after The Man woke up and could help entertain The Munchkin, the kitchen destruction began. With my fingers and toes crossed, I embarked on my maiden GF baking voyage.
About an hour and a half later, I had what I hoped would resemble banana bread. It *looked* like banana bread, and it *smelled* like banana bread, but would it *taste* like banana bread?!
I let the bread cool slightly, then I uncrossed my fingers so I could wield a knife and tentatively sliced a few pieces. It really was bread! I got excited, and my mouth watered. I did what anyone in their right mind would do and grabbed the butter...well, DF butter. LOL Then the samples were circulated. The Man and The Munchkin both approved, so I went for a taste. To my surprise, it was quite possibly the best banana bread I've ever eaten! Hooray! I wanted to bake more! But what?!
Last night, The Man mentioned having chocolate cravings. Cue Google again...this time for brownies. King Arthur Flour came to my rescue, and instead of crossing my fingers and toes, I actually felt a spark of excitement...the same excitement I used to have about trying a new, tasty recipe. I even had enough confidence to tinker with the recipe a bit, though nothing major. I simply cut back the cocoa powder a bit.
After a very anxious hour, the brownies were done. I (kinda) let them cool before I dug in for a taste. The Man got the first piece, and after the second bite, expressed his approval. So, I cut a small piece for myself. This was a fabulous brownie! Then, The Man came to the pan and cut out the rest of the row I had started, put it on a plate, and sprinkled it with powdered sugar. Then it got quiet. A few minutes later, he exclaimed "Approved!" as he set down an empty plate! Hooray! There is hope after all! I had achieved success! :)
I wanted to bake more, but alas, I am out of eggs! :( I guess I'll take a nap now and hope a group of kitchen gnomes will clean up the mess before I wake up. :)
Now that I've adjusted to a dairy-free life, I've noticed that I'm still experiencing headaches quite frequently. They're not the same as the sinus headaches caused by dairy...these are more of a piercing pain, but just as miserable. As a result, about 3 weeks ago, I removed gluten from diet. Talk about adding insult to injury! But...No More Headaches! (Did I mention that I've also lost over 8 pounds in those 3 weeks?! Hooray for unintended consequences!)
So now, no dairy and no gluten. What's a girl to do? You can see how it might be a bit difficult to get excited about food! My diet over the last few weeks has been very focused on fresh produce (salads, whole fruits and veggies, homemade guacamole, and lots of Mexican and Asian foods when dining out). It's also very easy to fall into a processed food trap when your diet gets flipped on its head with restrictions, and I'll admit, I've splurged on some GFDF junk food, simply so I can have a convenient little indulgence every now and then. But I've already grown tired of those things. The packaged items don't really taste that great, though I've found a few, and my food philosophy keeps me away from processed foods the majority of the time. I had reached an impasse...
Then, yesterday, I found myself staring at 3 overripe bananas. Traditional me instantly thought to make banana bread, but GF me cringed at the thought. I wanted to make something I could eat, but I've avoided GF baking because it has been so overwhelming with all of the foreign ingredients - things like "guar gum"...it sounds like something Harry Potter would chew if Orbit wasn't available at Hogwarts! (Yes, I just made a HP reference...The Man is proud!)
Luckily, a few weeks ago, I picked up a few pounds of GF all-purpose flour from the bulk bins at Food Fantasies - the "hippie", allergen-friendly grocery store in Springfield. Last night, my determination set in and the Googling began...I knew I wanted a banana bread recipe that didn't call for all the weirdness...just simple, GF all-purpose flour. Lo and behold, I found one from Taste of Home, of all places. And this morning, after The Man woke up and could help entertain The Munchkin, the kitchen destruction began. With my fingers and toes crossed, I embarked on my maiden GF baking voyage.
About an hour and a half later, I had what I hoped would resemble banana bread. It *looked* like banana bread, and it *smelled* like banana bread, but would it *taste* like banana bread?!
 |
| See? It certainly looks like bread! |
Last night, The Man mentioned having chocolate cravings. Cue Google again...this time for brownies. King Arthur Flour came to my rescue, and instead of crossing my fingers and toes, I actually felt a spark of excitement...the same excitement I used to have about trying a new, tasty recipe. I even had enough confidence to tinker with the recipe a bit, though nothing major. I simply cut back the cocoa powder a bit.
After a very anxious hour, the brownies were done. I (kinda) let them cool before I dug in for a taste. The Man got the first piece, and after the second bite, expressed his approval. So, I cut a small piece for myself. This was a fabulous brownie! Then, The Man came to the pan and cut out the rest of the row I had started, put it on a plate, and sprinkled it with powdered sugar. Then it got quiet. A few minutes later, he exclaimed "Approved!" as he set down an empty plate! Hooray! There is hope after all! I had achieved success! :)
I wanted to bake more, but alas, I am out of eggs! :( I guess I'll take a nap now and hope a group of kitchen gnomes will clean up the mess before I wake up. :)
Gluten-Free Brownies
(makes 9 brownies)
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c butter
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 c cocoa
3 eggs
3/4 c gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
1 t baking powder
Place the sugar, butter, and salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and blend in the vanilla and cocoa. Add the eggs and mix well.
Blend in the flour and the baking powder.
Pour the batter into a greased 9x9" baking dish.
Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool for about 15 minutes before cutting.
Notes: I made one modification to the original recipe from King Arthur Flour - I cut back the cocoa by 1/4 c, but I think next time, I will cream the butter and sugar instead of melting them, and I may increase the baking powder by 1/2 t with the hope of having a more cake-like result.
1/2 c butter
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 c cocoa
3 eggs
3/4 c gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
1 t baking powder
Place the sugar, butter, and salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and blend in the vanilla and cocoa. Add the eggs and mix well.
Blend in the flour and the baking powder.
Pour the batter into a greased 9x9" baking dish.
Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool for about 15 minutes before cutting.
Notes: I made one modification to the original recipe from King Arthur Flour - I cut back the cocoa by 1/4 c, but I think next time, I will cream the butter and sugar instead of melting them, and I may increase the baking powder by 1/2 t with the hope of having a more cake-like result.
Gluten-Free Banana Bread
(makes 2 loaves)
2 c gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
4 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 c sugar
1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
1/3 c oil
1 t vanilla extract
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, bananas, sugar, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Transfer to two greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans
Bake at 350° for 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
This recipe was modified from Taste of Home.
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
4 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 c sugar
1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
1/3 c oil
1 t vanilla extract
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, bananas, sugar, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Transfer to two greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans
Bake at 350° for 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
This recipe was modified from Taste of Home.
12.16.2012
The Ice Cream Incident
As I wrote in my last post, I've been experimenting with my diet in order to alleviate my chronic sinus issues. This experiment began two weeks ago by eliminating gluten from diet. It was challenging and frustrating...dining out at lunch entailed research, cooking dinner was like doing grad school homework, and snacking, well, snacking resulted in lots of potato chips. :)
For most of the first week, I ate Quinoa Breakfast Porridge for breakfast, lunches consisted of leftover fajita filling from dinner earlier in the week, a rice noodle dish from one of my favorite Asian restaurants in town, and a veggie bowl from Chipotle, and dinner consisted of whatever I could throw together - mostly GF pasta, chili, or a hamburger with no bun. I did venture away from gluten-free one time and ate pizza, and as I wrote earlier, the result was not a pleasant one. Aside from that, I had been feeling great.
As week two arrived, I vowed to stick with the gluten-free diet, convinced that it was the problem. Then on Wednesday, I made a terrible mistake. I had an intense craving for Coldstone after I ate my bowl of chili at work, so I ventured out on a mission for ice cream. I made sure to select a gluten-free flavor (FYI Coldstone's "cake batter" flavors are not gluten-free) and mix-ins. The staff at Coldstone was careful to get clean equipment to mix my delightful treat, wish was a pleasant surprise to this GF newbie, and the result was a "Like It"-sized coffee ice cream with white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, and almonds. It. Was. Divine! And I returned to work a very happy girl.
Fast forward about an hour and a half when I realized I had a nauseating headache, and I was horribly dizzy. As time passed, the roof of my mouth began to hurt, my ears felt like they were going to explode, my nasal passages felt horribly swollen, and breathing was difficult. I muddled through it and the remainder of my work day, wondering where the gluten had snuck in. Later that evening, still confused by how I felt and the lack of correlation to my diet throughout the day, I posted to Facebook about it and mentioned that I was sure I hadn't eaten any gluten.
After several comments from friends questioning the Coldstone, it hit me. I realized, for the previous week and a half, I had inadvertently cut my dairy consumption as well as cutting out gluten. Milk has always caused digestive issues for me, so for over a year now, I've been using soy milk in my morning coffee, which is the majority of my "dairy" consumption. And over the course of my GF diet, I had eaten a little cheese on my chili, and my fajitas were served with cheese and sour cream (after which I felt a little crappy, but I blamed it on the chips at lunch). And of course, there was cheese on the pizza that made me feel so crummy the week before.
And now, the ice cream. The pieces were beginning to form a clear picture. Maybe gluten isn't my issue...but maybe dairy is? So, with the help of some awesome friends on Facebook, I decided I would let myself recover from "The Ice Cream Incident", then I would experiment with adding gluten back to my diet. I vowed that today would be the day. I felt great yesterday, and if I ate gluten today, I would at least be at home with my bed nearby to endure the misery.
Then I made a terrible mistake. The other day, before "The Ice Cream Incident", I bought some gouda. I LOVE gouda, and it was calling my name last night. I tried to resist, but I finally gave in to the temptation and ate a small amount thinking it wouldn't hurt too badly. Boy was I wrong! I went to bed last night in complete misery, and I woke up this morning feeling only slight relief. I'm just now, at 2pm, beginning to feel better.
So, the decision has been made. No. More. Dairy. Tonight at dinner, in the hopes of ruling out the gluten issue, I will eat something fabulously glutinous (yet dairy-free)...I just have to decide what it will be. Once that's done, and I know how it makes me feel, I'll know whether my problem is just dairy, or if gluten is also playing a role.
On Tuesday, I go back to the allergist, and I would really like to be able to tell her that I have solved the case of the mysterious sinus problems! And I really hope to return my diet to its new normal very soon...no more dairy and no more experiments! (Except for the pesky high cholesterol issue that's gotten worse since the last time I mentioned it here! But that's another blog post! LOL)
Enjoy your Sunday Funday, folks! :)
For most of the first week, I ate Quinoa Breakfast Porridge for breakfast, lunches consisted of leftover fajita filling from dinner earlier in the week, a rice noodle dish from one of my favorite Asian restaurants in town, and a veggie bowl from Chipotle, and dinner consisted of whatever I could throw together - mostly GF pasta, chili, or a hamburger with no bun. I did venture away from gluten-free one time and ate pizza, and as I wrote earlier, the result was not a pleasant one. Aside from that, I had been feeling great.
As week two arrived, I vowed to stick with the gluten-free diet, convinced that it was the problem. Then on Wednesday, I made a terrible mistake. I had an intense craving for Coldstone after I ate my bowl of chili at work, so I ventured out on a mission for ice cream. I made sure to select a gluten-free flavor (FYI Coldstone's "cake batter" flavors are not gluten-free) and mix-ins. The staff at Coldstone was careful to get clean equipment to mix my delightful treat, wish was a pleasant surprise to this GF newbie, and the result was a "Like It"-sized coffee ice cream with white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, and almonds. It. Was. Divine! And I returned to work a very happy girl.
Fast forward about an hour and a half when I realized I had a nauseating headache, and I was horribly dizzy. As time passed, the roof of my mouth began to hurt, my ears felt like they were going to explode, my nasal passages felt horribly swollen, and breathing was difficult. I muddled through it and the remainder of my work day, wondering where the gluten had snuck in. Later that evening, still confused by how I felt and the lack of correlation to my diet throughout the day, I posted to Facebook about it and mentioned that I was sure I hadn't eaten any gluten.
After several comments from friends questioning the Coldstone, it hit me. I realized, for the previous week and a half, I had inadvertently cut my dairy consumption as well as cutting out gluten. Milk has always caused digestive issues for me, so for over a year now, I've been using soy milk in my morning coffee, which is the majority of my "dairy" consumption. And over the course of my GF diet, I had eaten a little cheese on my chili, and my fajitas were served with cheese and sour cream (after which I felt a little crappy, but I blamed it on the chips at lunch). And of course, there was cheese on the pizza that made me feel so crummy the week before.
And now, the ice cream. The pieces were beginning to form a clear picture. Maybe gluten isn't my issue...but maybe dairy is? So, with the help of some awesome friends on Facebook, I decided I would let myself recover from "The Ice Cream Incident", then I would experiment with adding gluten back to my diet. I vowed that today would be the day. I felt great yesterday, and if I ate gluten today, I would at least be at home with my bed nearby to endure the misery.
Then I made a terrible mistake. The other day, before "The Ice Cream Incident", I bought some gouda. I LOVE gouda, and it was calling my name last night. I tried to resist, but I finally gave in to the temptation and ate a small amount thinking it wouldn't hurt too badly. Boy was I wrong! I went to bed last night in complete misery, and I woke up this morning feeling only slight relief. I'm just now, at 2pm, beginning to feel better.
So, the decision has been made. No. More. Dairy. Tonight at dinner, in the hopes of ruling out the gluten issue, I will eat something fabulously glutinous (yet dairy-free)...I just have to decide what it will be. Once that's done, and I know how it makes me feel, I'll know whether my problem is just dairy, or if gluten is also playing a role.
On Tuesday, I go back to the allergist, and I would really like to be able to tell her that I have solved the case of the mysterious sinus problems! And I really hope to return my diet to its new normal very soon...no more dairy and no more experiments! (Except for the pesky high cholesterol issue that's gotten worse since the last time I mentioned it here! But that's another blog post! LOL)
Enjoy your Sunday Funday, folks! :)
12.10.2012
Quinoa Breakfast Porridge
A few months ago when I found out my cholesterol was a whopping 256, I decided to try to eat a vegan breakfast, vegetarian lunch, and omnivorous dinner. It only lasted a few weeks, but one thing stuck...quinoa. I love it! And while most people I know eat it as a savory side dish, I (of course) went straight for a sweet dish for breakfast. When it comes to hot breakfast cereals, I cannot stand the pasty texture of oatmeal, but this dish makes a nice substitute.
Quinoa has a texture more like rice or cous-cous (cue The Man saying "food so nice they named it twice"), and for me, this is much more tolerable. Quinoa's mild, nutty flavor lends itself to a multitude of dishes, and it's considerably healthier than other packaged hot cereals: it's a complete protein and very high in fiber, magnesium, iron, and calcium. Vegetarians and vegans rejoice!
Every weekend, I make a pot of this wonderful hot breakfast and reheat a portion of it each morning. (It's a great dish for reheating!) It's simple, relatively quick-cooking, and it's a delightfully cozy dish as the weather gets colder. It's become a staple for me, and now that I'm eliminating gluten from my diet, this is a welcome mainstay in my diet.
Quinoa Breakfast Porridge
(serves 4)
1 c quinoa, rinsed
1 c water
1 c milk (use a dairy-free milk if it suits you)
2 T flax seed meal
1-2 T raw honey, to taste
cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
dried fruit pieces
nuts, chopped
In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa, water, milk, flax seed meal, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and keep covered until the liquid is completely absorbed, about 10 more minutes. Fluff with a fork.
Serve topped with your choice of chopped fruit and nuts (and I add another tablespoon or two more of milk for extra creaminess).
Enjoy!
Quinoa has a texture more like rice or cous-cous (cue The Man saying "food so nice they named it twice"), and for me, this is much more tolerable. Quinoa's mild, nutty flavor lends itself to a multitude of dishes, and it's considerably healthier than other packaged hot cereals: it's a complete protein and very high in fiber, magnesium, iron, and calcium. Vegetarians and vegans rejoice!
Quinoa Breakfast Porridge
(serves 4)
1 c quinoa, rinsed
1 c water
1 c milk (use a dairy-free milk if it suits you)
2 T flax seed meal
1-2 T raw honey, to taste
cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
dried fruit pieces
nuts, chopped
In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa, water, milk, flax seed meal, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and keep covered until the liquid is completely absorbed, about 10 more minutes. Fluff with a fork.
Serve topped with your choice of chopped fruit and nuts (and I add another tablespoon or two more of milk for extra creaminess).
Enjoy!
12.08.2012
Going Gluten-Free...And The Challenges Ahead
Yes, I know...it's been a while. I guess you could say I've been going through a bit of an identity crisis...or maybe an early mid-life crisis? (I have always been mature for my age, and I did give away my entire wardrobe...then I bought a new one! LOL) And now my life is drastically changing again...I'm going gluten-free. No, I'm not trying to be trendy. I actually have a pretty valid reason for this dietary experiment.
You see, for the past few months, I haven't felt well physically. Those of you who know me personally probably know that I struggle horribly with recurring sinus infections and migraines. On a daily basis, I deal with mild to moderate sinus pain and pressure and a low-grade headache. It's not fun by any means, but sadly, I've grown accustomed to it. I try to keep a positive outlook, but some days my body declares war. It's exhausting, and it's taken its toll on me over the last few months.
A few months ago, I had a CT scan of my sinuses, and then paid a visit to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor who sent me home with antibiotics and scheduled a follow-up appointment. Six weeks later, when I went for my appointment, there was no difference in the way I felt, and my sinuses were still terribly inflamed, so he referred me to an allergist. She did a skin test for 126 allergens (yes, that's 126 holes in my back and arms) and sent me away with yet another antibiotic and a slew of other prescriptions. Now here I am, three weeks after all of that, and I don't feel any better...and I have an official diagnosis of chronic sinorhinitis. Sounds fun, huh?
So, last weekend, I made a decision to take matters into my own hands. I cut out gluten...completely. (Are you giving me the same strange look everyone else gave me?! Well, stop it because by Wednesday evening, I felt better than I have felt in years. Yes, I said years...lots of them.) After riding high for a few days of feeling better but still not fully convinced that gluten was a devilish beast, I got a little lazy last night and didn't really feel like cooking. Instead, I threw a frozen pizza in the oven...and proceeded to eat almost half of it. Yes, half...don't judge! :) I was hungry, and it tasted so good. And I figured the damage wouldn't be that bad...until I woke up this morning and felt like I'd been hit by a train. It was full-on body aches, a horrible headache, and a head so full of congestion and swelling that I got dizzy when I got out of bed. Happy freakin' Saturday! OK, I learned my lesson. It was a painful lesson, but I've learned. No. More. Gluten...Ever.
And now my life will never be the same. Lil Ol' Me, who loves to bake delicious, glutinous treats like breads, muffins, cakes, and cookies can no longer eat these things?! Seriously?! It's the end of the world as I know it. I've slowly come to this realization. Like the lesson I learned this morning, it's been a fairly painful realization. I've cried. More than once.
Luckily, the Internet is overflowing with bloggers who are faithfully posting gluten-free recipes with which I can experiment. Though I don't necessarily intend to join them as gluten-free bloggers, I'm not really sure where this journey is going to take me and this blog, but I hope you'll still stop by occasionally to visit. Your support means a lot to me.
The only thing I know at this point is that, after looking at gluten-free recipes I've found online, there are a ton of ingredients listed that I've never heard of. I have no idea what they do, why they're needed, or where to get them. Looking at these recipes, I'm lost. I have to learn to bake all over again. It's daunting, and to be honest, I'm a bit scared. But I refuse to live my life without baked goods and pasta...or with only store-bought, processed garbage.
Please join me as I wade through what feels like Jell-O on the path to gluten-free enlightenment. Advice is welcome, support is appreciated, and recipes and tips are always welcome. :)
Thanks for listening. Mangia Bene (and gluten-free)!
You see, for the past few months, I haven't felt well physically. Those of you who know me personally probably know that I struggle horribly with recurring sinus infections and migraines. On a daily basis, I deal with mild to moderate sinus pain and pressure and a low-grade headache. It's not fun by any means, but sadly, I've grown accustomed to it. I try to keep a positive outlook, but some days my body declares war. It's exhausting, and it's taken its toll on me over the last few months.
A few months ago, I had a CT scan of my sinuses, and then paid a visit to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor who sent me home with antibiotics and scheduled a follow-up appointment. Six weeks later, when I went for my appointment, there was no difference in the way I felt, and my sinuses were still terribly inflamed, so he referred me to an allergist. She did a skin test for 126 allergens (yes, that's 126 holes in my back and arms) and sent me away with yet another antibiotic and a slew of other prescriptions. Now here I am, three weeks after all of that, and I don't feel any better...and I have an official diagnosis of chronic sinorhinitis. Sounds fun, huh?
So, last weekend, I made a decision to take matters into my own hands. I cut out gluten...completely. (Are you giving me the same strange look everyone else gave me?! Well, stop it because by Wednesday evening, I felt better than I have felt in years. Yes, I said years...lots of them.) After riding high for a few days of feeling better but still not fully convinced that gluten was a devilish beast, I got a little lazy last night and didn't really feel like cooking. Instead, I threw a frozen pizza in the oven...and proceeded to eat almost half of it. Yes, half...don't judge! :) I was hungry, and it tasted so good. And I figured the damage wouldn't be that bad...until I woke up this morning and felt like I'd been hit by a train. It was full-on body aches, a horrible headache, and a head so full of congestion and swelling that I got dizzy when I got out of bed. Happy freakin' Saturday! OK, I learned my lesson. It was a painful lesson, but I've learned. No. More. Gluten...Ever.
And now my life will never be the same. Lil Ol' Me, who loves to bake delicious, glutinous treats like breads, muffins, cakes, and cookies can no longer eat these things?! Seriously?! It's the end of the world as I know it. I've slowly come to this realization. Like the lesson I learned this morning, it's been a fairly painful realization. I've cried. More than once.
Luckily, the Internet is overflowing with bloggers who are faithfully posting gluten-free recipes with which I can experiment. Though I don't necessarily intend to join them as gluten-free bloggers, I'm not really sure where this journey is going to take me and this blog, but I hope you'll still stop by occasionally to visit. Your support means a lot to me.
The only thing I know at this point is that, after looking at gluten-free recipes I've found online, there are a ton of ingredients listed that I've never heard of. I have no idea what they do, why they're needed, or where to get them. Looking at these recipes, I'm lost. I have to learn to bake all over again. It's daunting, and to be honest, I'm a bit scared. But I refuse to live my life without baked goods and pasta...or with only store-bought, processed garbage.
Please join me as I wade through what feels like Jell-O on the path to gluten-free enlightenment. Advice is welcome, support is appreciated, and recipes and tips are always welcome. :)
Thanks for listening. Mangia Bene (and gluten-free)!
9.24.2012
Crock Pot Pear Butter (Awesome Sauce)
This weekend, we were invited over to a friend's house to pick pears - I love free produce! I was busy with The Munchkin, so The Man went. When he left, I told him it would be great to have a couple shopping bags of pears...I said, "Maybe two bags." Lo and behold, The Man came home, backed his car up to the front porch, and unloaded four shopping bags and an outdoor trash bag...all stuffed full of pears!! I was immediately overwhelmed, and I began searching the Interwebs for recipes and ideas.
It was already dinner time, and I knew I didn't have anywhere near enough jars to make anything and get it canned before bed, so I settled on a recipe I found for Pear Butter. The recipe was a crock pot recipe and suggested at least 24 hours of cooking. It also didn't require peeling the pears, so I knew I could get a batch in the crock pot, let it cook overnight and while I was at work today, and it would be ready after dinner tonight. So away I went, washing, coring, and chopping pears.
The end result is fabulous, so I wanted to share it with you. The recipe I used comes from "Hey What's For Dinner Mom?", a blog I follow. It's a very simple recipe, using whole, fresh ingredients (which we all know I love)! :) Even if you don't usually keep whole nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla beans on a regular basis, they're worth having for this recipe. Find a friend with these items or splurge a little and buy your own - trust me, you won't regret it!
(makes about 7 half-pint jars)
10 pounds pears, cored & roughly chopped
1/2 t freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 t freshly ground cinnamon
2 vanilla beans, split & scraped (throw the bean in the pot as well)
1/4 c water
sugar (to taste - only necessary if your pears aren't quite ripe and sweet)
Place all ingredients in a large oval crock pot. Cook on low overnight.
Wake up to the fabulous smell of autumn, and joyously get out of bed to quickly mash the pears with a potato masher. Resist the urge to sit down and eat the entire batch...go to work. :)
Come home from work and have dinner with your family...resist the urge to serve this for dinner!
If you prefer a smooth pear butter, run the pears through a food mill, food processor, or hit them with an immersion blender (I used a food mill with the fine milling disk). If you like the chunkier texture, just mash the pears with a potato masher.
If you're canning: Transfer the mixture to hot, sterilized jars. Process in boiling water for 10 minutes.
If you want to eat it now: Skip the jars and grab a spoon!
Enjoy!
The end result is fabulous, so I wanted to share it with you. The recipe I used comes from "Hey What's For Dinner Mom?", a blog I follow. It's a very simple recipe, using whole, fresh ingredients (which we all know I love)! :) Even if you don't usually keep whole nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla beans on a regular basis, they're worth having for this recipe. Find a friend with these items or splurge a little and buy your own - trust me, you won't regret it!
(makes about 7 half-pint jars)
10 pounds pears, cored & roughly chopped
1/2 t freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 t freshly ground cinnamon
2 vanilla beans, split & scraped (throw the bean in the pot as well)
1/4 c water
sugar (to taste - only necessary if your pears aren't quite ripe and sweet)
Place all ingredients in a large oval crock pot. Cook on low overnight.
Come home from work and have dinner with your family...resist the urge to serve this for dinner!
If you prefer a smooth pear butter, run the pears through a food mill, food processor, or hit them with an immersion blender (I used a food mill with the fine milling disk). If you like the chunkier texture, just mash the pears with a potato masher.
If you want to eat it now: Skip the jars and grab a spoon!
Enjoy!
9.03.2012
Chewy Granola Bars
I've been testing granola recipes for years, and many times, the granola is baked, resulting in a crunchy, sometimes too crunchy, texture. This is fine for me, but The Man likes chewy granola bars...particularly, those made by a popular cereal company. However, I think they're terribly overpriced, nutritionally lacking, and stuffed full of mystery ingredients. So, when I came across a recipe on Pinterest lately for a chewy granola bar, I just had to try it out!
So I did just that, with a few modifications of my own, of course. Take a look at the original Pinterest version of the recipe.
This recipe is extremely easy...even your kids can help make it with some supervision...and you'll know exactly what's in it!
This recipe is extremely easy...even your kids can help make it with some supervision...and you'll know exactly what's in it!
Note: When I make things like this (to replace a junk product The Man likes), I *must* get his approval, or he'll never eat it. Luckily, with this, I got almost instant approval!
(makes 10 granola bars)
1/4 c butter
1/4 c honey
1/3 c brown sugar, packed
1/8 t Kosher salt
1/2 t vanilla2 c quick cooking oats (not rolled oats)
1 c crispy rice cereal
2 T flax seed meal
1 T wheat germ
1 T wheat bran
2 T mini chocolate chips
Before beginning, line a small baking pan/dish with parchment paper, leaving enough length to be able to lift the parchment from the pan after the bars are set. (I have found, with some experimentation, that my square corner 9x5" loaf pans work perfectly for this recipe.) Set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine butter, honey, brown sugar, and salt. Heat until just boiling, stirring occasionally (be careful not to let it boil over). Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, combine oats, rice cereal, flax seed, wheat germ, and wheat bran.
Add butter and sugar mixture to the oat mixture and stir until well-combined.
Spread the mixture evenly in the lined pan, and use another pan to pack the granola together as evenly as possible. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips. Let cool completely before removing from the pan and cutting.
Store in an airtight container.
Variations
I've made a cranberry almond version for myself. I started by soaking 1/2 c dried cranberries in warm water for about 15 minutes. Then I drained them, prepared the granola as directed above, omitting the chocolate chips. Before I pressed the granola in the pan, I stirred in the dried cranberries and 1/4 c sliced almonds.
I've got a few other variations in mind that I hope to post later. What flavors would you like to try?
Enjoy!
1/4 c honey
1/3 c brown sugar, packed
1/8 t Kosher salt
1/2 t vanilla2 c quick cooking oats (not rolled oats)
1 c crispy rice cereal
2 T flax seed meal
1 T wheat germ
1 T wheat bran
2 T mini chocolate chips
Before beginning, line a small baking pan/dish with parchment paper, leaving enough length to be able to lift the parchment from the pan after the bars are set. (I have found, with some experimentation, that my square corner 9x5" loaf pans work perfectly for this recipe.) Set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine butter, honey, brown sugar, and salt. Heat until just boiling, stirring occasionally (be careful not to let it boil over). Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, combine oats, rice cereal, flax seed, wheat germ, and wheat bran.
Add butter and sugar mixture to the oat mixture and stir until well-combined.
Spread the mixture evenly in the lined pan, and use another pan to pack the granola together as evenly as possible. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips. Let cool completely before removing from the pan and cutting.
Store in an airtight container.
Variations
I've made a cranberry almond version for myself. I started by soaking 1/2 c dried cranberries in warm water for about 15 minutes. Then I drained them, prepared the granola as directed above, omitting the chocolate chips. Before I pressed the granola in the pan, I stirred in the dried cranberries and 1/4 c sliced almonds.
I've got a few other variations in mind that I hope to post later. What flavors would you like to try?
Enjoy!
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