Posts by admin:
- 1 spaghtetti squash
- olive oil or olive oil spray
- salt and pepper
- 1 whole spaghetti squash, flesh removed carefully from squash shell. Keep skin intact if desired
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 Tbsp olive oil ( or 2 teaspoons olive oil to keep as an E-meal)
- 2 chicken breasts,
- salt and pepper
- cheese
- salsa
- Beans (optional) (E-meal if not using so much oil)
- sour cream or fat free sour cream
- guacamole (only for S-meal)
- lettuce
- any additional veggies (optional)
- 8 cups cauliflower florets
- 1 garlic clove
- 2/3 cups 0% greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 Tbsp xanthan gum
- 1 cup water, reserved from steamed cauliflower
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
The Tale of the Sleep-Deprived Mother #FoodForSleep
September 2nd, 2014
Thank goodness for a weekend that included one extra day for more rest. Usually these holiday weekends create excitement for this mommy because it means more time to catch up on important details that have been put on the back burner. Sometimes those are just thoughts that never come into fruition but I am sure you know what I mean, if you are a busy working mother.
Last night I feel asleep on the couch at 9:30pm, the earliest I have ever gone to bed in a LONG time, but it was obvious that my body was asking for it. After a whole day of catching up with cleaning, laundry and cooking it was only a matter of time for me to feel exhausted. Granted, I have to say it was my first time to feel like I could relax and give into my tired body. Usually I stay up until midnight working on writing, picture-editing and more but my husband and I have been talking about getting more sleep.
Food For Sleep. Are we aware of this term? As a child it was on occasion that I received a warm cup of milk before going to bed in order to have a more relaxed sleep. Sometimes this included honey or even garlic which ended up being medicinal as well! I recently was able to try Food for Sleep, a fast-acting, 2 1⁄2 ounce beverage made from foods that naturally promote sleep. It’s a safe and effective way to relax and sleep well once again and is safe, convenient and easy to take on the road or while traveling.
How can one small bottle encourage a relaxed sleep? Well, let me tell you that this little bottle of natural goodness did not let me do any more work after 30 minutes of ingesting it. My body relaxed and forced me to stop everything I was doing to only naturally go to put my body to rest for the evening.
The two active ingredients in Food for Sleep are a specific form of tart cherry juice from the Montmorency cherry and a whey protein that’s particularly rich in tryptophan. The scientific support for these ingredients is excellent (clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals). They have been shown to help people go to sleep naturally and wake us less during the night. In addition to tart cherry juice and whey protein, Food for Sleep only includes a few extra ingredients to make it drinkable – like water and natural flavors. All of these ingredients are recognized as safe by the FDA. Since these are just foods, there are none of the side effects often associated with drugs.
Let me share how it works. Our bodies naturally make serotonin and melatonin – two important hormones for sleep – using tryptophan. The problem is, our bodies do not make tryptophan, so we must get it from eating foods. Scientists believe that tart cherry juice helps “jumpstart” the normal processes that produce restful sleep, including enhancing our bodies’ use of tryptophan. This might create a dual effect: first, the cherry juice helps you fall asleep, and second, it works with the tryptophan (from the whey protein) to help you stay asleep. People tell us that they wake up in the morning with no lingering sleepiness or “hang-over” type effects.
So how did I see it work for me? I definitely felt the effects at night when I took it. I fell sleepy and very much more ready to fall asleep. Our goal was to go to sleep at 11:00 pm so we could get up at 5:30 am. Sleeping 6 hours was still not ideal for my body so I think my body naturally was tired in the morning because it was too soon, BUT last night I took it around 9:00 pm after a long day to see how it would affect me. I did not expect to go to sleep until 10:00 pm but I fell asleep at 9:30 pm on the couch, waiting for my husband to finish his work. I fell asleep for 8 hours on the couch and felt great in the morning. I believe that my body only needed this sleep and the cherry juice and whey protein aided in me relaxing and giving in to the sleep I needed.
Now is this safe for kids? No, unfortunately it is not recommending for people younger than 18 and you should check with your healthcare professional before providing it to children.
Here is how you can order it. Each bottle is $4.00 and really only costs as much as a latte and helps you go to sleep. Try and 6-pack bottle and start forcing yourself to go to sleep at night for a better day. The flavor is tangy and sweet at the same time with a hint of pomegranate. Start getting a better night’s rest!
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WORLDFOODS: Authentic Asian Products in Your Kitchen #MomsMeet
August 29th, 2014
It is a known fact that our family likes eating out and experiencing new local places and cuisines. Since my husband and I have been married I have introduced my husband to international flavors. Although they have not all been successful I press on trying to expand his palate.
I had a chance to do this with a line of new sauces called WORLDFOODS which are sauces that only use authentic herbs and spices along with 100-percent natural, fresh ingredients to create each of its unique flavors. It would be exactly the way I cook except I had a team of master chefs, nutritionists, market researchers, food tasters, and everyday ordinary users through WORLDFOODS to send me the perfect balance of quality and flavor in a bottle. I was thrilled to have a range of Asian sauces from Thailand, Malaysia, China and India in my kitchen, ready to use!
WORLDFOODS is a legendary pioneer in the Fusion and Asian food industry. For over twenty years they’ve been developing recipes using 100-percent natural ingredients. By combining traditional herbs and spices they create fusion flavors that fit perfectly in the kitchen of a culinary connoisseur on an everyday family.
While it is hard to convince my husband of these cuisines, I try and try to get him to experience them in different ways but with no convincing. Now the trick is to find a group of moms who want to come over and enjoy these very often for me to enjoy them. Sharing food with others is a lot more fun even though I enjoy them by myself for a lunch or on a night my husband is gone for dinner.
What did I love about WORLDFOODS sauces? They are quick, convenient, and PERFECT for this busy mom. Since I am not a meal planner I like looking in my pantry and fridge and putting things together for a quick meal. I had my own tasting party one afternoon and then prepared a meal for my husband using the sauce I thought he might enjoy the best.
My husband knows that I like making everything from scratch but since we are both working parents I am always in search for authentic and fresh ingredients and these sauces did not fail me. These sauces are perfect for individuals with dietary constraints. Each of their products are allergen and gluten free! They are also free of added oil, trans fat, artificial ingredients, preservatives, or food flavor enhancers. What a relief to find such clean products.
Even though I had a chance to try a few bottles, WORLDFOODS currently offers 65 different sauces, dips, and marinades for all types of meals. I really liked reading the back of each bottle because there were meal suggestions, recipes, and explanation of how each sauce should be paired. I liked that each sauce allowed me to create my own meal with my own side even if I did not want to each rice.
I used chicken and turkey to taste test each sauce and some of the meat was boneless while others were leg quarters.
Here are my impressions of the four sauces I received:
Thai Green Curry Sauce – There was a great balance of all flavors the chicken was super tasty in the coconut milk and chili sauce combination. It was not spicy at all but a tangy and lemony flavor followed each bite.
Tandoori Marinade and Stir-Fry Sauce – A lot of people might not agree with me but this sauce reminded me a lot of a mole’ sauce typical of Mexico.The dried chiles combined with the cinnamon, coriander and cumin was very reminiscent of a Southern Mexico mole’. I marinated chicken quarters for an hour and then pan fried them until fully cooked. It was super flavorful! I added it to my lunch salad with purple cabbage and mango for a satisfying international meal.
Thai Galangal Lemongrass Stir-Fry Sauce – Galangal is a close relative of ginger so this chile sauce combined with ginger, lemongrass and spices made for a explosion of flavors. I was glad that the coconut milk was included in all the sauce in order to reduce the heat factor in each bite. This sauce would be delicious for shrimp even though I cooked it using chicken. I loved how fresh the flavors tasted.
Malaysian-Style Rendang Curry– I definitely felt like I was being tested with all these flavors. My sister has been living in Malaysia for the past year and while I hope to visit her some time, I know that testing these flavors will prepare me for when I visit her. This sauce is definitely a lot more complex in flavor since it has 16 different herbs and spices. While it is recommended to use this sauce for meat because it is super delicious and tender after being cooked with it, I used chicken, which is also optional. It was very thick and savory and paired well cauliflower rice for those seeking a lower carb lifestyle.
I really hope to keep on trying more of these sauces in the future. The retail price for WORLDFOODS sauces varies based on retailer. To find a store near your visit online.
Want to try these sauces? Check out these awesome offers:
Giveaway: Enter for a chance to try WORLDFOODS sauces for yourself! Check out WORLDFOODS on Facebook and then enter to win a selection of WORLDFOODS sauces.
Check out the coupon where you get a special discount on your next purchase
from WORLDFOODS. Here is a $1 off coupon for you.
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NEW Chick-fil-A Breakfast Options for Families #CFALionville
August 27th, 2014
Breakfast is usually one of those meals that is overlooked by many people on a daily basis not knowing that it is the most important meal of the day. It either makes your day or causes your day to be a little more trying. Chick-fil-A has lots of protein-packed options along with side items to accompany, like fruit and hash browns.
Chick-fil-A Lionville has come out with a new breakfast options that are being served for a limited time. Each new breakfast item is only available in Middle Georgia, Inland Empire, CA, Greater Philadelphia, PA and Memphis, TN.
Last week, I enjoyed a nice breakfast with several women where we all had a chance to sample the new items. Our kiddos enjoyed the time while the moms sipped on juice, milk and even the newest specialty coffee from Thrive, which is, I learned, a supplier that shares revenue with farmers.
The coffee was definitely a change from the previous brew since it never was my favorite. In turn, the new brew was a good blend of nutty and sweet flavors, not too strong and not too weak.
We first tried the new Greek Yogurt Parfait where we either had an option to top with chocolate cookie crumbs and fruit, or fruit and granola. I opted to just have the strawberries and blueberries which were later confiscated by my girls.
This creamy honey vanilla Greek yogurt was a nice change to regular yogurt usually offered at local places. The texture was definitely tasty and a sure winner for the moms and kids.
My favorite and a surprise to some of the moms, was the Egg White Chicken Grill. I’ve never personally eaten egg whites on my diet until recent and realized that the protein punch for the sandwich was 29 grams! The sandwich consisted of a multigrain English muffin stacked with freshly grilled egg whites, grilled chicken and American cheese.
This breakfast sandwich was a definite change from the breaded chicken served with the biscuits. I definitely saw myself ordering this sandwich without the cheese for a balanced protein-packed meal of the morning. I was glad to hear other moms agree how delicious the combination of flavors came together.
Chicken and Waffle was the next surprise on our menu. If you like the combination of sweet and savory in the morning, then this option is for you. A breakfast portion of their signature breaded chicken is served alongside a warm Belgian-style waffle that is baked with maple syrup inside, creating a caramelized sugar crunch.
While I would not see myself ordering this particular option, I like that this Southern-like selection is available to those who would like the sweet and savory. The portion was definitely very generous and would make for a filling meal.
All in all, I was happy to see the variety and options being added, if only for a limited time, to those who like healthier options. While most of these selections are kept under 300 calories, the option to substitute ANY breakfast sandwich for egg whites is now an option to those who just want the protein.
The breakfast was a hit with the ladies and even more so having the kids taste test even mom’s food for further approval. They all went for the Greek yogurt parfait, but who wouldn’t. At least it is available even after breakfast is over so that is a big plus. What to check out the nutrition content? Check out each item here.
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Burrito in a Spaghetti Squash Bowl {Low-Carb,Gluten-Free}
August 26th, 2014
I am always looking for great substitutes for adding healthier veggies into our eating lifestyle. Spaghetti squash is just one non-starchy vegetable that I do not cook with as often and am finally happy that I have added it to our kitchen as a staple.
There would be many complaints that there is nothing that can substitute pasta or rice, but sometimes when there is a desire and need it is available and willing to be made possible. One morning I decided to roast my squash in the oven but then had an errand to run, leaving my husband to tend to the squash. I get a text back from him saying that he had removed the squash from the oven and that it looked super good. I was afraid he was going to eat it! No, not really, I was just happy that my husband was so interested in it.
I roasted two whole spaghetti squash that allowed me to make 2 meals. Last week I made a Spaghetti Squash Lasagna using the squash as the pasta base and added the meat and cheese as the topping. It was a hit with all of us. I definitely need to post that recipe soon.
Another favorite meal of ours are burrito bowls. We tend to go to Chipotle in a bind or when I just do not feel like cooking but sometimes I just create them at home. When I was creating the dish I was thinking of layering the squash with rice, and then beans and then all the fixings but then I just decided to make a Mexican rice using squash instead of rice.
Once you cook the squash in the oven for 50 minutes, I carefully removed the squash from the skin, so I could leave the squash half shell intact to serve my dish in the squash as a bowl.I stir-fried tomatoes and onions with olive oil and added the cooked squash with some garlic and cooked until the mixture was a little dry. I filled the squash half with the Mexican fried squash and layered with my favorite toppings.
While I could have added black beans, I already had my healthy fats in my squash, so I added grilled chicken, layered with grilled veggies, grated cheese, and topped with a dollop of sour cream. I meant to put guacamole on top but ran out of avocados. Shredded lettuce is also a good options.
While I was super full with HALF of the half squash bowl, I knew I filling my body with yummy foods. Next time I am going to layer some brown rice and cut back on the olive oil in my cooking. Enjoy the recipe!
Squash
Mexican-fried squash
Chicken
Toppings
Squash
Chicken
Mexican Fried Squash
Assembly
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Scalloped Cauliflower Casserole {Gluten-free ,Low-Carb}
August 25th, 2014
I apologize for not posting as much. I’ve been busy at home, in the kitchen, and with my family but with hopes of being able to post soon. I am sure you all know how that is. Trying to be consistent daily to keep a schedule has been a bit of a challenge since my husband and I have been trying to start our days at 5:30 a.m. This is extremely challenging to me especially if I have gone to bed late or if a child wakes up in the middle of the night, like last night, which hardly ever happens.
My husband has been very supportive because he sees the struggles I go through daily. I am sure no one knows about getting into ruts or vicious cycles of unbalanced eating.
