A Healthier Way To Snack

Hello again. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve posted. There has been a lot going on. My Mother-In-Law came to stay with us for a month, and my husband had gone into a prolonged crises with his health. We managed to keep him out of the hospital, but barely. He has started going to an Integrative medicine practice, which I credit for the major turnaround I am seeing in his health now.
I am now a huge believer in integrative medicine. They treat the whole you. Body, mind and spirit. The office where we go has many innovative therapies that a conventional MD just doesn’t use. Highly recommended.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you a few of the snacks we’ve discovered. My husband is now on a gluten free diet ( just to throw another wrench in an already severely limited diet) so we are always looking high and low for appropriate snacks. This our gluten free challenge: The food must contain no more than 1g of fiber, and contain no nuts or seeds. This is next to impossible. This is how most companies make gluton free products taste good. Well, we found these two products at Fresh Market:

We have little Almond Nut crackers, gluten free ( 1g fiber, so they work), and Snickerdoodle Rabbit Cookies. Now, most grown men probably wouldn’t eat little rabbit cookies, but hey….sometimes you really want a cookie. You will eat the rabbits.

I’m still juicing. I usually make green juice, but there is more out there than green. Sometimes a pretty red juice is in order!

This juice is made from 1/2 of a large organic beet, 2 stalks of organic celery, 1 plum, 1 kiwi, 1 nub of fresh Ginger, and one large handful of spinach. I also threw in some of the beet greens. Very yummy!

A snack for myself that I really love is kale chips. I roast my own. These are very easy to make. You just wash, dry and add about 1 tbs of olive oil to the kale and spread on a parchment lined cookie sheet. It looks like this:

Roast in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and you have light, crunchy salty snacks! I love them!

These are just a few ideas. I recently went to Trader Joe’s down in Sarasota. They have tons of gluton free items at great prices. I found organic brown rice pasta for only $1.99. I bought chicken and tofu stir fry that was GP friendly (1g fiber woot!) for about $4.00. Their organic produce was real nice, and very well priced. I’m definately going back there to shop on a regular basis.

Now that life has settled down a bit, I hope to be posting more often. Oh, I almost forgot. My husband is now on a special “steak & lobster” diet prescribed by the doctor which has literally saved him!

p.s. He’s just faking himself out about steak & lobster hahaha!

A Different Kind Of Chicken Noodle Soup

Last night I decided to make a different kind of chicken noodle soup; one with a little more substance to it. I made Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. It is yummy! I got the recipe off of Pinterest. The author of the recipe is Ellie Krieger of http://laurassweetspot.com. My husband wasn’t feeling well, and it was a perfect soup for him. Good for anyone, but also very GP friendly with a few minor modifications. This is how to make it:

You take two small boneless chicken breasts, salted and cut up into small pieces, and sauté them in 2 tsp. of olive oil for about 5 minutes just until done.

Remove the chicken and set aside. Add 2 more tsp. of olive oil to the pot and add 2 diced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, and one diced onion. I puréed mine to make the veggies more palatable for my husband.

Sauté the veggies for about five minutes until tender. Then add five cups of stock. Bring to a boil. Add one cup of orzo and simmer for 8 minutes.

Now, while the orzo is cooking, pour an additional cup of stock in a small saucepan and heat it, but not to boiling. While it is heating, whisk two large eggs in a bowl. Whisk three tbs. of fresh lemon juice into the eggs very slowly. Whisk the hot cup of broth into the egg mixture very slowly. This is your mixture when you are finished.

Now, stir the egg mixture into the soup until it is thick. Add the chicken, and you are done! You have yourself a wonderful warm, nourishing meal!

Enjoy the soup. It has become a favorite in my home.

List of ingredients:

4 tsp. olive oil
2 small chicken breasts
6 cups of stock (chicken or vegetable)
1 cup orzo pasta
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 medium, diced
2 large eggs
3 tbs. fresh squeezed lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Getting Ready For A Big Birthday

I’m going to be turning fifty- five in a few weeks. It doesn’t upset me, really. I’ve already survived so much that I feel truly blessed to reach fifty- five. However, I’ve been sitting here tonight reminiscing a bit, going through some old photos, and just looking back at the past a bit.

Here I am at eight years old. I’m the one second from the left in yellow. It was my first dance recital. I was going to be a sunflower. I was so excited!

Here I am at nine, at Easter. I’m second from the right. My sister Debbie is the tall girl behind me, and my brother Tom is standing beside me. My grandmother used to do heirloom sewing, and every Easter my sister and I would receive beautiful hand smocked dresses and matching coats.

Here I am at nineteen. The year was 1977. I look like it was 1977 haha. I had just met my husband and we were out having a photo op. I was such a goof.

Here I am with my first daughter Michelle. She is twenty-eight now, and has a child of her own, and is expecting another one. She was beautiful then, and she still is. My grandbaby Maddie is absolutely adorable!

Here is me and my sister Debbie. I’m thirty-one here. You can tell we’re Jersey girls for sure! Check out that hair!

I’ve never minded the process of aging. I’m not interested in any sort of nip and tuck procedures. I believe in aging gracefully. Just take care of yourself. Be proud of who you are. Don’t tell yourself you’re old all the time. That will eventually translate into how you look, feel and act. Stay active in your body and mind. Be happy. Be useful. Above all, don’t be afraid of getting old. As long as you’re on the right side of the grass, you’re doing just fine!

My New Favorite Cleaning Products…Some Products Are Not New Though Haha

Borax and Bon Ami

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day

In my quest for a better environment for my family, I am constantly checking out new products.  I usually will buy one product from a line to try to see if I like it.  I’m going with more green items these days.  I like the idea of not so many chemicals in my home, especially with pets.  My dog Skono has skin allergies, and I feel the less chemicals in the house, the better it will be for her.  So, without further ado, here is a list of my new favorite cleaning products, so far:

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Aromatherapeutic Household Cleaners.  These have naturally derived ingredients and essential oils.  They smell amazing with outdoorsy scents like basil, lemon verbena and rosemary, and they work! The dish soap lasts about a month, as well as the laundry soap.

Bon Ami Cleaning Powder. This has been around forever, but I’ve never tried it, always preferring the bleach cleaners. This is an all natural cleaner. There are no chemicals in it. It shines up the chrome faucets beautifully and removes mildews easily. I’m going to definately stick with this product.

Borax Laundry Booster. This product does what it says. It works beautifully in the laundry. It also kills fleas in your home. I had found a few fleas on Sophie about a week ago. I ran to the vet, and got the flea tablets that I had run out of, and gave them to her and Skono right away. I was worried that there were fleas in the house, even though I had not seen any. I asked the vet tech what I could use in the house that would be safe for the puppies and help with any fleas until the exterminator could come, which was five days away. She said Borax. Just sprinkle it around the house, wait a few minutes and vacuum it up. No problem.

I stopped at the Winn Dixie on the way home and bought two boxes worth. At $4.00 a box, it’s a bargain. I came home and boraxed everything. My couch. My area rugs. The pillows that couldn’t go in the washer. Everything that wasn’t nailed down went in the washer. I looked around, and it looked like someone threw beach sand all over the apartment. It was a mess. I decided to wait an hour before I vacuumed. After an hour, the real fun began. Keep in mind I had to move all the furniture around.

I started in the living room. I did the area rug. I found out that borax doesn’t vacuum up easily. So I got out my Dirt Devil and started going around the edges of the rug. After about two passes around, I had to empty the filter. Apparently I didn’t put it back together right, because when I started again, the Dirt Devil fell apart and landed on my big toe. It immediately turned purple, and I though I had broken it. I was not very happy with this program at this point. I finally got the rug done, and took the vacuum and started on the couch. I thought it would be easier. Well, the vacuum overheated, and stopped. I had to wait 30 minutes for it to cool down and start again. It took about three hours in all to vacuum up all of borax. It worked very well, but what a project it was. Lesson learned. Keep up on the flea meds.

If you’re looking to go green in your home, these products are great! Try them out!

A New Way Of Eating – Not A Diet, But a Lifestyle Change

Juicer & Veggies

Juicing with the Omega

I mentioned in a previous post that my husband was diagnosed with gastroparesis back in November 2012. This has been a rough road for him. He had lost a ton of weight, and was in a lot of belly pain. He had to go back in the hospital in January, and was in for eighteen days, on IV nutrition, called TPN, since, at 6’2”, his weight plummeted to 138lbs., and he was very ill.

Gastroparesis can be devastating. It is a stomach emtying disease. Your diet is very limited. He can have no fiber, no fresh fruits or vegetables. He can’t tolerate any dairy or yogurt, so that is out. Red meat sets off flares, so we don’t eat that anymore. He cannot eat any legumes. Needless to say, it has been a challenge to find food to cook. Luckily, he can eat eggs, pasta, bread, chicken, turkey, gourds like pumpkin, spaghetti, squash, etc. I have found some good ideas on Pinterest. We are real careful with his diet. I’ve also started juicing.

Now, juicing can be expensive to start. First of all, juicers aren’t cheap; at least the good ones aren’t. One thing I believe, is that when it comes to kitchen equipment, don’t buy cheap. Buy the best you can afford. And research, research, research before you buy. Don’t jump on the brand name bandwagon. It’s important to look at your individual needs, and buy your equipment accordingly. Be picky! It’s your body, your health.

Okay, let’s talk about the juicing a bit more, since this has been so important to my husband’s health. I bought an Omega 8006 Nutrition Center for several reasons. First of all, after researching juicers, I discovered that it’s a masticating juicer, which means that it literally chews up the veggies and fruits to extract all of the juice, and leaves all of the fiber behind. Some people think that you need the fiber in the juice to receive all of the benefits; if you do or not I don’t know. What I do know is that my husband cannot have fiber, and this juicer works best for us. I also know that all of the vitamins and the enzymes (the enzymes help your stomach process your food better, which is super important for GPers) are in the juice. This juicer will also make a fruit sorbet which is so awesomely good. It makes nut butters, and will extrude fresh homemade pasta. AND it has a 15 warranty. I have to say, this juicer, after using it for two weeks now, is awesome. For my household, it has definately been the right choice. I will also add that my husband is now able to eat better, the belly pain is completely gone, and his energy level is increasing by the day with the green juice drinks I make him every day. My standard juice recipe is 4 carrots, a handful of parsley, one kiwi, 2 stalks of celery, and a handful of spinach. It’s better than you may think. If I don’t have kiwi, I use an apple. The parsley is optional. Sometimes I throw in a cucumber.

I can’t vouch for how this would work for other GP patients. I only know what is working for my husband. I will add that I checked with his doctors and the dieticians at the hospital before I purchased a juicer. They all agreed that juicing would definately be a good idea. For those of you that do not have GP. If you feel that you need more fiber in your diet, this may not be the machine for you. Of course, you can always get your fiber in other ways. Like I said before, research.

I want to tell you about my new regimen. I have been concentrating on a high protein diet, since I have found that the protein fills me up, the way carbs used to, and I feel more satisfied. Odwalla makes yummy shakes, which they conveniently sell in the hospital cafeteria, along with Odwalla protein bars. I want to point out that there are carbs in Odwalls’s shakes and bars. They are not carb free. This is my breakfast and mid-morning snack. This sure beats the sausage and biscuits I was eating! For lunch, I either have a boneless skinless chicken breast over lettuce with tomato and light dressing, or a scoop of tuna over spinach, no dressing. I also drink plenty of water throughout the day. I have given up soda and iced tea (gulp). Bonus: I discovered staying well hydrated has taken care of my migraines! Who knew (probably everyone but me ha!). For dinner, I make chicken, fish, pasta, soup, or turkey, with either potatoes, noodles or couscous for us. On my days off from work, I make myself a yogurt smoothie for breakfast. Lunches so far are hit or miss. No good system there yet. I have also given up refined sugar (this one has been hard), and dairy (also hard). I’ve lost five pounds so far over two weeks. This is not a quick weight loss, but I’m satisfied with it. I’m losing, and I’m happy!

I’ll be writing more about our new culinary adventures. I’m still discovering new foods as I go along, and there are some new recipies I want to try. I have so much to learn. Any suggestions are welcome.

Have a great day everyone!

It’s Easter Time, Even If It Still Looks Like Winter

Easter Time

Easter – that time of year when the forsythias bloom, and the air smells sweet. The little girls go to church in their beautiful pastel dresses and patent white leather shoes. The little boys have fresh haircuts and new little suits, and look like miniature versions of their fathers.

The sky is so blue, and the leaves are that beautiful shade of new green. Easter is early this year. March 31. With the weather most of the country is experiencing, most likely we will have crisp white snow with little flowers poking their heads up, and the first daffodils showing their fresh spring colors.

I love Easter, and Spring. I love the whole idea of renewal. The earth is renewed each year, and the grass and flowers all come alive again. Everything smells fresh and new.

I love what Easter celebrates – Jesus has made us new creations through his sacrifice on the cross. Celebrate Easter well. Spend time with children, if you can. They are so awesome, and their spirit on Easter will infect you with such joy.

Happy Easter, everyone.

The Plain & Fancy Store – Can You Say Pinterest?

Plain & Fancy Vintage Market

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I love to go to Plain & Fancy. It looks like Pinterest exploded inside and outside of it – at least for DIYers, and collectors, and sewers, and cooks, etc. You could browse in this store for hours, and not see everything. And it’s only a block from my apartment, which is great, and dangerous at the same time, ha! I went there today, because I was looking for some old buttons for a project I’m working on (to be revealed later), which I found. The slide show above shows a few of the things I found.

I fell in love with the tiny blue dolphin chair. I think it would look adorable outside my front door!

And those two matching tiny adirondak chairs are too cute! One for each side with a plant on them for the front would be awesome, if I don’t get the blue chair.

Now, that pic of the DIY corner has a ton of possibilities! Just look at that sled! Seriously, that is the first sled I’ve seen in Florida, but it would be so cool at Christmas. I just may have to go back and purchase that. My imagination runs wild every time I come here.

I included a pic of the inside of the store. I’m sorry it’s not crystal clear. I was sneaking it, because I didn’t know if the saleswoman would approve of me taking pics or not. I was too shy to ask her. Playing a little secret spy was fun though!

Plain & Fancy also specializes in home interiors. They do custom window treatments, upholstery, and custom bedding and headboards. Their speciality is coastal, aka shabby chic. Their fabrics are absolutely beautiful, from names such as Kravet, Stout Textiles and Trimmings, Vervain, Lane Venture, and Robert Allen, among others. I asked the saleswoman if they would sell me their fabric scraps, and they said they would. She wrote down my name and number. I’m very excited about that!
Notice I’ll ask for scraps but not if I can take pictures. I keep telling you, very weird.

This is just a fun place to go and browse around. There are a few things I will definately be purchasing in the near future. Do you have a favorite store in your home town?