I just finished my lunch. Nothing too exciting for lunch: grilled chicken salad with some grapes. I drank water and took my supplements I have to take at lunch. I did end up drinking the smoothie and it was yummy! Up until today I have never found a non-dairy milk replacement that I have liked. I hate soy milk, rice milk - any kind of milk that doesn't come from a cow. But today I had almond milk and it wasn't that bad. I don't think I will be able to drink it by itself but it is okay in stuff. So, I am glad for that as I was really concerned I wouldn't like it.
For my afternoon snack I get to enjoy a baggie filled with raw cashews, raw pumpkin seeds, and raw sunflower seeds. Raw means they have not been roasted or salted. To some reading this that probably sounds disgusting to them, but I personally love raw cashews over the roasted and salted counterparts. I love how cashews are kind of sweet and the raw ones are way sweet! Roasting and salting them takes away from that. I also enjoy the raw sunflower seeds as well because it takes me back to my childhood when I used to go with my sister and we would pull the seeds out of the big sunflowers and eat them. The raw pumpkin seeds also have a very Pumpkin taste to them and I love pumpkin! So my take on raw nuts and seeds - fabulously yummy!
At this point I have not decided what I am going to be eating for dinner, but right now I am leaning towards stuffed peppers with quinoa and pecans and cinnamon for dessert. Check back later for my report!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Day 1: Breakfast
Breakfast has always been a challenge for me since I have been out of college. I would rather sleep that extra ten minutes than get up and prepare breakfast. Needless to say my breakfasts are either really bad for me (stopping somewhere and getting fast food breakfast) or I just don't eat breakfast.
The most important thing in this diet I am on is to eat three meals a day and to have snacks if I get hungry between meals. So, I made sure I got up earlier this morning than I usually do so I could make breakfast. This posed another challenge for me as well -- what was I going to eat that would keep me full for more than a couple of hours? I have a job where I can't just get up and walk away and get something to eat whenever. So, this is one of the reasons breakfast has always been challenging. When I was younger and even in college I would just have cereal, but I could eat basically whenever I wanted, so it didn't bother me to only eat cereal. Cereal doesn't keep me full at all these days. I eat it and an hour later I am starving. I find I have to have a combination of carbs and protein for breakfast. If I just eat protein, I am starving in a couple of hours. This morning definitely presented a challenge for me. This is why I started preparing breakfast ideas last night.
I settled on a half of one of the chicken sausage links I bought this weekend, and some buckwheat cooked and mixed in with some homemade canned peaches. Buckwheat is very interesting. I am not sure if I cooked it right or what, but it has a nutty flavor to it and definitely has a hot cereal\oatmeal feel to it. I don't like plain oatmeal, so I wasn't sure I would like the buckwheat plain, so I mixed in some peaches with it and it made it palatable. The chicken sausage was very spicy, but I loved it! So after drinking a full glass of water with my supplements, my "protein" shake (which is not a meal replacement as I don't drink a lot of it), the sausage, and the buckwheat with peaches I was very full. I packed a banana\almond milk smoothie for my morning snack, but I am still very full and not feeling hungry at all.
I am feeling a little dizzy from the supplements, but I am sure I will adjust to that. As for the bad things - I had to have a Diet Pepsi because I can't work with those headaches. Starting tomorrow I will go caffeine free.
Here is the recipe for the buckwheat and fruit and banana smoothie.
Creamy Buckwheat With Fruit
1 1/2 cups of water
1/2 cup of buckwheat
Fresh fruit or canned fruit (if you use store bought, make sure it is no sugar added and in light syrup).
Add the buckwheat and water to a pan. Bring to a rolling boil and then continue to cook for 2-4 minutes until desired creamy consistency. Pour in a bowl and add the fruit and mix it together.
Almond Banana Milk Smoothie
1 Frozen Banana
1 cup of almond milk (unsweetened and unflavored)
Add banana and almond milk to blender or food processor and blend until mixed together.
Again, I will be researching how to cook buckwheat because I don't think I did it right because my cereal looked more like grape nuts than cream 'o' wheat. It was good, just different.
On the menu for lunch: Grilled chicken salad with sesame ginger dressing and grapes. And a baggie of cashews, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds for my afternoon snack. Check back later for the report on that!
The most important thing in this diet I am on is to eat three meals a day and to have snacks if I get hungry between meals. So, I made sure I got up earlier this morning than I usually do so I could make breakfast. This posed another challenge for me as well -- what was I going to eat that would keep me full for more than a couple of hours? I have a job where I can't just get up and walk away and get something to eat whenever. So, this is one of the reasons breakfast has always been challenging. When I was younger and even in college I would just have cereal, but I could eat basically whenever I wanted, so it didn't bother me to only eat cereal. Cereal doesn't keep me full at all these days. I eat it and an hour later I am starving. I find I have to have a combination of carbs and protein for breakfast. If I just eat protein, I am starving in a couple of hours. This morning definitely presented a challenge for me. This is why I started preparing breakfast ideas last night.
I settled on a half of one of the chicken sausage links I bought this weekend, and some buckwheat cooked and mixed in with some homemade canned peaches. Buckwheat is very interesting. I am not sure if I cooked it right or what, but it has a nutty flavor to it and definitely has a hot cereal\oatmeal feel to it. I don't like plain oatmeal, so I wasn't sure I would like the buckwheat plain, so I mixed in some peaches with it and it made it palatable. The chicken sausage was very spicy, but I loved it! So after drinking a full glass of water with my supplements, my "protein" shake (which is not a meal replacement as I don't drink a lot of it), the sausage, and the buckwheat with peaches I was very full. I packed a banana\almond milk smoothie for my morning snack, but I am still very full and not feeling hungry at all.
I am feeling a little dizzy from the supplements, but I am sure I will adjust to that. As for the bad things - I had to have a Diet Pepsi because I can't work with those headaches. Starting tomorrow I will go caffeine free.
Here is the recipe for the buckwheat and fruit and banana smoothie.
Creamy Buckwheat With Fruit
1 1/2 cups of water
1/2 cup of buckwheat
Fresh fruit or canned fruit (if you use store bought, make sure it is no sugar added and in light syrup).
Add the buckwheat and water to a pan. Bring to a rolling boil and then continue to cook for 2-4 minutes until desired creamy consistency. Pour in a bowl and add the fruit and mix it together.
Almond Banana Milk Smoothie
1 Frozen Banana
1 cup of almond milk (unsweetened and unflavored)
Add banana and almond milk to blender or food processor and blend until mixed together.
Again, I will be researching how to cook buckwheat because I don't think I did it right because my cereal looked more like grape nuts than cream 'o' wheat. It was good, just different.
On the menu for lunch: Grilled chicken salad with sesame ginger dressing and grapes. And a baggie of cashews, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds for my afternoon snack. Check back later for the report on that!
New Menus Ahead
So, I have really slacked in my blog as of late! I really don't have an excuse other than I just didn't feel like it. To be honest, I haven't felt like doing much of anything lately. For the last few months I have just felt icky and after I get home from work all I want to do is just be lazy and play with my iPod.
I have been going to the doctors a lot these past few months searching for answers because no one in their twenties should feel like they are a 100 years old! I found a chiropractic physician who seems to know what he is talking about, so I am going to give him a chance. As a result of this treatment, he has put me on a very strict diet. It is the anti-inflammatory diet, so there is a lot of things that I cannot eat.
So I am going to be using this blog to post the new recipes I am having to learn out of plain necessity. This strict diet will be lasting three weeks only. I started today.
Basically here is the run down of the diet. These are the foods I cannot eat: dairy, eggs, gluten, tomatoes, corn, peanuts, soy, beef, pork (in all of its forms), canned meat, coldcuts, rice, potatoes (except for sweet potatoes), shellfish, dried fruit, fruit juices (unless I make them from the fresh fruit myself and don't anything else to them) caffeine, soda, and sugar and other artificial sweeteners.
The foods I can eat are: Fresh fruits and veggies (except for tomatoes and soy), peas, legumes and beans of any kind (except edamame which is soy), raw nuts (except for peanuts), fish (except for shellfish), turkey, chicken, lamb, water, herbs, sweet potatoes, spices, herbal teas, buckwheat, quinoa, and almond milk.
So looking at the lists above it probably seems like there are more foods that I cannot eat than I can eat. I enjoy chicken and I like a lot of fruit and veggies, so I know I will be able to survive. There are a few things on the CAN EAT list that I have never had before, so I am looking at this as an opportunity to try new foods. And there is also a variety out there so I will be getting all of the nutrition my body needs, so if anyone was worried about that, I am good.
I addition to this diet, the doctor also has me on some supplements and a "protein" shake. So I will be getting the additional nutrients that I may not get from some of the foods I am permitted to eat. My biggest challenge is going to be no caffeine. I usually drink at least one 20 oz. Diet Pepsi at work every day. I know I can do it - I am just not looking forward to the headaches and withdrawals.
Now you know what I am being faced with for the next few weeks and in the months to come. I am thankful I can have turkey cause if not I don't know what I would do this coming Thanksgiving!
I have been going to the doctors a lot these past few months searching for answers because no one in their twenties should feel like they are a 100 years old! I found a chiropractic physician who seems to know what he is talking about, so I am going to give him a chance. As a result of this treatment, he has put me on a very strict diet. It is the anti-inflammatory diet, so there is a lot of things that I cannot eat.
So I am going to be using this blog to post the new recipes I am having to learn out of plain necessity. This strict diet will be lasting three weeks only. I started today.
Basically here is the run down of the diet. These are the foods I cannot eat: dairy, eggs, gluten, tomatoes, corn, peanuts, soy, beef, pork (in all of its forms), canned meat, coldcuts, rice, potatoes (except for sweet potatoes), shellfish, dried fruit, fruit juices (unless I make them from the fresh fruit myself and don't anything else to them) caffeine, soda, and sugar and other artificial sweeteners.
The foods I can eat are: Fresh fruits and veggies (except for tomatoes and soy), peas, legumes and beans of any kind (except edamame which is soy), raw nuts (except for peanuts), fish (except for shellfish), turkey, chicken, lamb, water, herbs, sweet potatoes, spices, herbal teas, buckwheat, quinoa, and almond milk.
So looking at the lists above it probably seems like there are more foods that I cannot eat than I can eat. I enjoy chicken and I like a lot of fruit and veggies, so I know I will be able to survive. There are a few things on the CAN EAT list that I have never had before, so I am looking at this as an opportunity to try new foods. And there is also a variety out there so I will be getting all of the nutrition my body needs, so if anyone was worried about that, I am good.
I addition to this diet, the doctor also has me on some supplements and a "protein" shake. So I will be getting the additional nutrients that I may not get from some of the foods I am permitted to eat. My biggest challenge is going to be no caffeine. I usually drink at least one 20 oz. Diet Pepsi at work every day. I know I can do it - I am just not looking forward to the headaches and withdrawals.
Now you know what I am being faced with for the next few weeks and in the months to come. I am thankful I can have turkey cause if not I don't know what I would do this coming Thanksgiving!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Harvest Time - Does It Get Better?
I maintain that my favorite season of the year is summer because it is warm and toasty and not a lot of snowflakes in site. I also enjoy all of the summer time fruits and veggies you can get. Probably my favorite vegetable in the summer is asparagus and strawberries are my favorite summer fruit!
This time of year is in a close second to the summer because I love all of the yummy foods that come on this time of year with two my all time favorites - apples and pumpkins! I am a huge Rachael Ray fan and I was thrilled that October's magazine is filled with apple and pumpkin recipes. Awesome!
I could live off of pumpkins and apples all through the autumn season and right into the holidays. I love just about anything with pumpkin in it - pie, cookies, cocoa, pasta; if a pumpkin is in it I will most likely eat or drink it. I also love apples as well. I love applesauce, juice, cider, pie, chutney, and my favorite guilty pleasure - caramel and candy apples! I love going to the fair and getting these! They are so yummy and I can justify eating it because it is "healthy."
I want to expand my baking skills as they are quite lacking (ask my sister or mom about the time I added too much salt to the cookies) and I found this decadent pumpkin recipe on Rachael Ray's website: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies! It is an Amish recipe and pumpkin - best of both worlds! And then I want to try and make my own caramel or candied apples. I love candied apples because it is like eating your favorite hard candy over an apple and the caramel apples are delicious because they are!
What are your favorite recipes that incorporate all of the yummy fall fruits and veggies?
Pumpkin Whoopie Pie:
Candied Apples:
This time of year is in a close second to the summer because I love all of the yummy foods that come on this time of year with two my all time favorites - apples and pumpkins! I am a huge Rachael Ray fan and I was thrilled that October's magazine is filled with apple and pumpkin recipes. Awesome!
I could live off of pumpkins and apples all through the autumn season and right into the holidays. I love just about anything with pumpkin in it - pie, cookies, cocoa, pasta; if a pumpkin is in it I will most likely eat or drink it. I also love apples as well. I love applesauce, juice, cider, pie, chutney, and my favorite guilty pleasure - caramel and candy apples! I love going to the fair and getting these! They are so yummy and I can justify eating it because it is "healthy."
I want to expand my baking skills as they are quite lacking (ask my sister or mom about the time I added too much salt to the cookies) and I found this decadent pumpkin recipe on Rachael Ray's website: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies! It is an Amish recipe and pumpkin - best of both worlds! And then I want to try and make my own caramel or candied apples. I love candied apples because it is like eating your favorite hard candy over an apple and the caramel apples are delicious because they are!
What are your favorite recipes that incorporate all of the yummy fall fruits and veggies?
Pumpkin Whoopie Pie:
Candied Apples:
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Oatmeal Awesomeness!
Sometime ago I cooked up some baked oatmeal as featured in the Amish cookbook called Amish Heritage Cookbook by Beverly Lewis (due to copyright, I cannot post the recipe, but you can buy the book or see if your library has it). The oatmeal was very simple to make -- it basically consisted of rolled oats, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and butter. I baked it and then served it up with some dried fruit and milk. This was so good!
I plan to make it again. I think next time I will try it with strawberries and bananas. I also liked this recipe because it freezes well and keeps well in the fridge. All you have to do is re-heat it and add it to some milk and you are good to go.
Because it has been so long since I made this, I don't really have anymore to say about this. But if you are looking for a new oatmeal recipe - this one is it! It doesn't take much longer to prepare than your standard instant oatmeal and it tastes way better!
Baked Oatmeal:
I plan to make it again. I think next time I will try it with strawberries and bananas. I also liked this recipe because it freezes well and keeps well in the fridge. All you have to do is re-heat it and add it to some milk and you are good to go.
Because it has been so long since I made this, I don't really have anymore to say about this. But if you are looking for a new oatmeal recipe - this one is it! It doesn't take much longer to prepare than your standard instant oatmeal and it tastes way better!
Baked Oatmeal:
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Ole! Squashamole!
I haven't blogged in forever, I know. What a busy summer it has been! Last night, though, I was finally able to do some cooking. Last night I made a dip called Squashamole. It is like guacamole but made with squash and zucchini instead of avocado.
This dip has very unique taste. The veggies are cooked before they are pureed so there is a little bit of sweetness but the garlic and salt and pepper even that out. The recipe said it makes five cups, but I would surmise there may be a little bit more than that.
This dip is awesome with tortilla chips, but as I was eating it last night I was thinking it would be really good with a quesadilla or taco. There is also walnuts and parmesan cheese in the dip, and those alone would make an awesome coating to some fish, chicken, or pork. But the walnuts and cheese do get pureed with the veggies, so except for the taste, there is no noticeable texture from the nuts. So if you have a nut allergy, the best thing to do would be to omit the nuts. I definitely think the dip can stand on its own without the nuts.
If I make this again, next time I will cut the veggies up a little bit more after they are cooked as it took a very long time to puree everything in the food processor. This dish is vegan friendly as there are no animal products in this, so this dish is crowd pleaser for all! Happy dipping!
Squashamole:
This dip has very unique taste. The veggies are cooked before they are pureed so there is a little bit of sweetness but the garlic and salt and pepper even that out. The recipe said it makes five cups, but I would surmise there may be a little bit more than that.
This dip is awesome with tortilla chips, but as I was eating it last night I was thinking it would be really good with a quesadilla or taco. There is also walnuts and parmesan cheese in the dip, and those alone would make an awesome coating to some fish, chicken, or pork. But the walnuts and cheese do get pureed with the veggies, so except for the taste, there is no noticeable texture from the nuts. So if you have a nut allergy, the best thing to do would be to omit the nuts. I definitely think the dip can stand on its own without the nuts.
If I make this again, next time I will cut the veggies up a little bit more after they are cooked as it took a very long time to puree everything in the food processor. This dish is vegan friendly as there are no animal products in this, so this dish is crowd pleaser for all! Happy dipping!
Squashamole:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I have not gone away!
Summers tend to be very busy for me and this summer has been no exception!
Just to recap what I have done so far: I have worked on my favorite TV show ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"), met a favorite author (James Rollins), gone to many parties, got a clean bill of health from the foot doc, and have done a lot of swimming and general playing.
So, as you can see, this has left very little time for cooking. But I plan to be cooking up a storm very soon. I am going to be incorporating a new element into my cooking, but that will be something for another day.
Just to recap what I have done so far: I have worked on my favorite TV show ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"), met a favorite author (James Rollins), gone to many parties, got a clean bill of health from the foot doc, and have done a lot of swimming and general playing.
So, as you can see, this has left very little time for cooking. But I plan to be cooking up a storm very soon. I am going to be incorporating a new element into my cooking, but that will be something for another day.
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