My Morning Smoothie

This past August, I began to make changes in my "diet". I had always been under the impression that I was a healthy eater. Lots of organics and homemade options to substitute  the store bought items. But it's not until I really began to look into it that I realized just how much I was eating. Little bites of the kids' snacks, an extra cookie or bowl of cereal while watching evening t.v. and just how often that $5 pizza was ending up on the dinner table. I chose a 17 day "diet" because it was part diet and part cleanse. After the first couple of difficult days, I was on my way. Now almost 25 pounds lighter, I'm happy to have created new habits that I will be practicing for many years to come. I decided to add this smoothie to my blog after being questioned by people, I run into, about what I had done to lose the weight. It's encouraging, of course, to hear that others are noticing, but just as encouraging to get them on their way down the path of healthier living.

Ingredients:

1 cup of water

2/3 cup of frozen berry blend

5 frozen strawberries

1 tsp of Stevia blend

1/2 cup of  1% or 2% cottage cheese 

1 scoop of Swanson's protein powder

hand full of fresh spinach (I buy the organic in the plastic container and store it directly in the freezer)

Here is the link for the protein powder I use

Swanson's Whey Protein Powder

Here is a link for the Stevia that I use 

Trim Healthy Mama Pure Stevia

Some of my health tips:

~I stuck to protein and fruits in the morning and then protein and vegies from 2pm on

~ No eating after dinner. Decaf is a good way to have something in the evening

~ Buy the small squares of good dark chocolate and enjoy one in the afternoon

~ Slowly try to get to where you enjoy your coffee with just a bit of cream or even black. If you're hooked to a flavored creamer, this may be very difficult... but surely worth the reward.

Lunch and snack ideas:

~ Celery or Apples with natural PB

~ Cucumber slices and cheese stick

~ Vegetable and feta frittata

~ Good quality deli meat wrapped with cheese

The good news is that when you've lost the weight you wanted, then whole grains and other good carbs can be added back in small amounts.

Be encouraged. Any change towards a healthier body is a good thing. One meal at a time.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

A winter blizzard, my cute kids running around playing and a cinnamon scent floating out from my oven... what could be better! This bread was perfect and beautiful. My sister-in-law passed this bread machine recipe along to me and it quickly became a family favorite! I made a few changes from the original recipe simply because it called for some ingredients I didn't have. It sliced perfectly, raised nicely and was soft and moist. For wheat bread, it was not heavy or dense at all. I have decided that, besides being this delicious sweet bread, it would also make a great all purpose sandwich bread simply by leaving out the raisins and backing down to 1/2 TBSP of cinnamon. I am looking forward to making it again!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup plus 2 TBSP hot-ish water (I know, not an official baking term!)

3/4 cup milk

1 TBSP yeast

3 TBSP brown sugar

2 cups unbleached flour

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 TBSP olive oil

1 1/2 TBSP cinnamon

2 tsp salt

1 cup raisins

Heat the water. You want it to be a bit hot to the touch because of the cold milk being added. The end liquid result should be a wamer luke-warm temperature. In a stand mixer, mix the water, milk, yeast and sugar for a few seconds. Add in the flour, oil, cinnamon and salt. Mix on medium/low for 5 minutes. Add in the raisins and mix for another 5 minutes. Grease a loaf pan. Remove from mixer and put directly into the pan. Press lightly to form it to the pan. Cover with a towel and raise, in a warmer area, for one hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-37 minutes. Allow to cool for a bit in the pan and then remove onto a cooling rack.

This made a larger standard looking bread loaf. For 2 small loaves, divide the dough in half and place in pan. Raise for 30 minutes or so and bake for 30 minutes.

If you don't have a stand mixer, just follow the steps in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Knead on a floured surface for the same amount of times. This will take some effort but it will give you a light end result. For a bread machine, choose the dough setting. Add in all the ingredients at once starting with the water and ending with the salt. Salt inhibits the yeast. When the dough setting is done, remove and put into loaf pan. Resume directions from that step.

Homemade Popcorn

I grew up with my mom making us this homemade popcorn. It filled our bellies with a warm salty snack and filled my memories with fun times. Now I make this for my family. The smell of popcorn throughout the house has brought my little guy out of his bed and down the stairs with his adorable little giddy smile convincing his way onto the couch and into the bowl! I'm telling you, it brings families together and creates special memories now for their childhood.

Ingredients:

olive oil

Orville Redenbacher popcorn kernels

sea salt

stainless steel pot

Cover the bottom of the pot with the olive oil until it just starts to go up the side of the pot. Sprinkle in 1/2 cup of kernels. Sprinkle with sea salt. Top with the lid, leaving it cracked and ajar. This is important. It lets the steam escape. Turn heat to medium high. Popcorn will slowly begin to pop violently. When you hear it slowing down. Remove from heat. Pour into bowl, sprinkle with a bit more salt and devour!  Parmesan cheese is another awesome topping to make it even more yummy!

Vegie Bagel

My most recent obsession! I've been enjoying this sandwich for years but every so often, it becomes an obsession and an everyday lunch! It's delicious, fresh, light and addictive. I'm confident you will love this as much as I do!

Ingredients:

Everything Bagels (I used the super thin bagels)

English cucumber (the ones wrapped in plastic)

Tomato

Sweet Onion

Guacamole

So simple. Toast the bagel. Spread with guacamole. Top with vegies. Devour!

Isn't she pretty?!





Pumpkin Muffins

A snowed in day. A busy oven.

These muffins are simple and delicious and perfect for a day tucked inside.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup of oil

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups pumpkin

2 cups of flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

Beat eggs with a mixer for several minutes until they get a bit fluffy. Add in the sugar and continue to mix on high while you stream in the oil and vanilla. Add in the flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Fold with spatula just until flour is incorporate. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. If you're having a chocloate day, add in half a bag of chocolate chips. The combination of pumpkin with chocolate is one of the best combos in baking.

Divide in half for 2 small loaves or into muffin pans. This will reduce the baking time. Check at 25 minutes of baking at 325. Done when toothpick comes out clean.

Creamy Chicken and Vegetables over Mashed Potatoes

These cold wintery days make for some warm and cozy mealtimes. This meal is simple but delicious and will fill your bodies with warmth and goodness. My family loved this meal and I hope yours does too!

Ingredients:

3 TBSP Olive Oil

3 TBSP flour

3 cups of chicken stock

3 chicken breasts

1 small bag of frozen vegetable mix (peas, beans, carrots)

salt and pepper

mashed potatoes

Boil the chicken in the stock for 10 minutes. Remove chicken and save broth in a large bowl. Dice chicken and set aside. In the same pot, heat the oil. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk the broth back into oil/flour paste. Heat on medium, wisking often, until it starts to bubble and thicken. Add the chicken and vegies into the gravy. Simmer for 10 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper if needed. Serve over mashed potatoes and eat on the couch while covered up with a blanket... hahaha.

Banana Bread with a Ginger Crumb Top

Ingredients:
3 bananas
1 cup of oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 TBSP cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp half and half
Ingredients for the crumb topping:
1/2 cup ground ginger snaps
1 TBSP sof butter
1 TBSP flour

Mix ingredients together. Top with the crumb topping. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. When the top is firm to touch, bread is done. Enjoy!