ON BREAK
Returning April 16


I'm taking a break for the next couple of weeks to rest up from all the cooking and eating !  While I will still be doing both, I want to encourage everyone to be sure to exercise!

I wanted to share the following image that was posted by someone on the THM Beginners Facebook group page.  Share your personal thoughts about the image in the comments.

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

SLOW FAJITAS (pg. 53)

Hi Everyone!

It has been ten days since I have posted about my Trim Healthy Mama endeavors (I try to post at least 2-3 times a week).  Much has happened since my last blog.  Life in general.  But, don't think for one moment that means I have abandoned those Trim Mamas!

I am happy to announce I have a Trim Mama pal within my neighborhood since my last post!  It has been so fun to share plates of flavor with her and watch with delight as she samples recipe after recipe.  As it turns out, the tables have turned and she comes to my house with goodies to try!  Must say, I certainly enjoy being on the receiving end of THM goodies!

I took a glance at my very first post with my list of recipes that I wanted to try and my grocery list to accompany it, and I quickly realized that I only have a few more recipes to try.  When complete, I must decide, do I continue this journey?  Or, embark onto a new one?  I will share my overall thoughts after I complete the remaining recipes I originally committed to completing when I started this journey.

For today, I would like to get back on track by sharing with you a review of the Slow Fajitas.  It is recommended to serve this over lettuce and to add cheese and tomatoes.  However, since I am always trying to increase my iron intake due to being susceptible to anemia, I served it over refried beans (LaPreferada Authentic has 20% iron per 1/2 cup serving).  Slow cooking the meat results in a tender meat, and the red and yellow peppers have a nice subtle flavor when combined with cumin, onions, chili powder, and garlic.  How could your taste buds not say, "Yes?" 

Slow Fajitas

The THMs do warn that this dish makes a lot of excess liquid and recommend using a slotted spoon as you serve as to avoid too much liquid on your plate.  The best part about that liquid, in my opinion, is it is perfect accompaniment to use over the Fotatoes (post 1/11/16) or any other dish that tastes especially good with gravy.

CONCLUSION:
Fajita night!  Whatever you do, don't let that extra liquid go to waste! Enjoy it somewhere else through the week to add extra flavor to another dish!

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

CHOCOLATE WAFFLES WITH STRAWBERRIES or bananas (pg. 265)
I have been eating THMs "Eggs & Avs" most mornings.  Avocados with my fried eggs instead of toast has been a happy surprise for me since I love avocados (see 2/9/16 post). I don't know why I never thought of that before.

However, I am finding myself bored at times with the same breakfast day in and day out.  Not to mention, my son doesn't like eggs and I really would like to find something for him to enjoy to start his day off.  He enjoys chocolate just as much as I do, so I thought I would try the chocolate waffles for a change.  All in the name of trying to get my boy to eat healthier.  Sounds like a game plan to me.

I love that the THMs use real cocoa instead of melting chocolate chips for chocolate flavoring.  I use my own baking blend that I have posted before, but am making revisions to since finding out I need to add a little bit more cocoa flour to it.  You can buy a baking blend on Trim Healthy Mama website if you would like to purchase their version of the baking blend rather than depend on mine or have to make your own.

These waffles were a delightful success!  My son enjoyed them enough to make them again, although I think I will make them just a tad bit sweeter to his taste.  But, the chocolate flavor was a nice sweet treat for me with the addition of banana slices on top.

Chocolate Waffles with Strawberries (or bananas)

Syrup (pg. 480)
What about syrup you ask?  Well, the THMs do have a version of syrup!  Did I use it? No.  Will I use it in the future?  Probably not.  Why not, do you ask?  I personally do not eat waffles enough mornings to deprive myself of the very natural syrup that gets tapped from actual Maple trees.

If you haven't ever tried 100% maple syrup I would recommend getting to the nearest Maple Syrup Festival and having yourself some (bearing in mind, it's probably not on plan).  A little bit goes a long way, but it will taste different than the impostors that most people are use to.  I believe it is a healthy natural treat that God desires to bless us with.  Why would I deprive my loving God from giving me a wonderful taste of heaven?  In case you can't get to a Maple Syrup festival, here's a little video you might enjoy watching:  Maple Syrup Process

However, since most store-bought syrups are completely artificial (it might have 3% actual maple syrup and the rest is all sugar) you might like to have this version of  syrup.

CONCLUSION:
Chocolate tastes good with everything.  If I can have it, I will.  Top them with your favorite fruit.

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :) 

CHICKEN POT PIE (pg. 137)
Comfort food.  I think we all have a favorite comfort food that makes us feel real good inside. 

Chicken pot pie is one of those comfort foods for me.  Usually, it's an occasional treat courtesy of Marie Callender from the frozen section of my local grocery store.  But, I always look forward to having one sitting in front of me as I gently pull the crust back a little with my fork to let the steam escape.

Would the Thin Healthy Mamas' (THMs') version of pot pie bring me the level of comfort I was looking forward to?  Let me just say, they know their way to my heart!  This was absolutely delish! My hubby actually said that this is probably the best dish I have made yet.

Chicken Pot Pie
 

I used my own homemade chicken broth and roasted chicken (January 13 post) that I froze from prior recipes, and I believe that really took this recipe up a notch (read about stocks and broths from my February 20 post).  However, I wouldn't hesitate to use canned chicken or store-bought broth if that's what I had on hand.  The vegetables are sautéed in butter and seasoned with salt, pepper, and, my favorite, thyme.

I have been fine-tuning my personal version of the baking blend and it still needs to be fine-tuned just a bit more.  I am finding that my baking blend needs just a bit more of the coconut flour.  So, I adjusted it for this recipe adding just enough coconut flour that it adds a subtle sweet flavor without the coconut taste.

CONCLUSION:
A comfort food I finally can splurge in without feeling guilty and better than any pot pie I have every had! 

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

CURRY IN A HURRY SOUP (pg. 112)
This dish is called "Curry in a Hurry," but I enjoyed it so much that I would call it, "Hurry with the Curry."

If you are a curry lover, try this for your next meal.  Some people just don't like curry and I can't fathom how they could not since I have a tendency to crave the stuff.

I followed the recipe exactly as is, except for adding frozen chicken that I had from when I made roasted chickens (pg. 168).  It was delicious!  It is a quick one so it makes for a good "go-to" recipe to make when you are crunched for time.

Curry in a Hurry

If you have any chicken broth left from the roasted chicken meal, it would be very beneficial to replace the water with broth to add a little more depth to the flavor that water doesn't provide.

If you follow the symbols in the book this is an "S" meal which means it is satisfying.  Today was a full day of THM eating to make up for many splurges from the weekend (my dad-in-law turned       72 -- Happy Birthday, Dad!).

CONCLUSION:
Yes, this is going to be a regular meal for me!  Quick, healthy, and flavorful.  Why would anyone ever want to eat canned soup?   Hurry with the curry, please!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)






 

ENCHILADA WONDER CASSEROLE (pg. 145) & WONDER WRAPS (pg. 204)

Wonder Wraps
I didn't feel like cooking yesterday, so I thought I would get the wonder wraps made in advance to save time on my meal the following day.  Little did I know I was getting myself into a major project.  It wasn't going to be a breeze like I thought.

I'm going to say at the start, be sure to use a non-stick pan.  I started with a cast iron, moved on to stainless steel, and ended up with my non-stick pan.  I used coconut spray for each one, including the non-stick pan.

Wonder Wraps

The THMs recommended watching their video online for instructions, but I couldn't find it.  But,  you can watch Indigo Nili's Review at youtube for an extra dose of encouragement and instruction (I almost gave up, but if she can do it, I can too!).  While you're on youtube, make sure you peruse through the wealth of videos others have made with regards to THM.  It is very helpful and interesting.

Ingredients for Wonder Wraps

I eventually finished my wraps and put them in the fridge for my meal the next day.

Enchilada Wonder
I found this meal was actually easy to put together as long as the wraps are done ahead of time.  If you don't want to make wraps you certainly can use "on-plan" tortilla shells.  And, it turns out, it is tasty.

Enchilada Wonder

CONCLUSION:
This meal turned out good despite the learning curve to making the wonder wraps.  I will make the wraps again since I now know how to make them and, I suspect, it will be much more easier and quicker.

It is recommended in the book to make the family-size version at the beginning of the week to use wraps with fillings such as avocados with tomatoes, meat, or other favorite fillings.

If I don't have time to make wraps that won't stop me from making the casserole with store-bought tortillas.  It is a worthwhile Mexican dish.

If you want to make the wraps, please plan on experimenting on a day where there is no pressure, you're not tired, and you are looking forward to spending a little extra time in the kitchen. 

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

ALL-DAY SIPPERS
Good Girl Moonshine, Pumpkin Pie Sip, Earth Milk Sip
I am quickly finding out that the all-day sippers are those go-to drinks that help keep your palette happy through the day and helps prevent grazing on snacks.  There are enough sippers to choose from to satisfy your own personal needs or if you're simply looking for a sipper that reflects the current season that you are enjoying.

I shared with a neighbor friend the "Shrinker," "Good Girl Moonshine," "Pumpkin Pie Sip," and the "Earth Milk Sip."  No two sippers will ever be the same.  These truly need to be adjusted to your own likes and needs and that is what the THMs mean by "owning it."  There are so many versions of each of these sippers.  Part of the fun among fellow Mamas is to share their own favorite version.

In a couple of my previous posts (on February 1 and 16) I shared my first experience with a sipper that is still one of my favorite all-day sippers and popular among fellow Mamas called the "Shrinker." I noticed immediately my sense of wanting to snack had changed and subsided a bit while sipping on this.  When I started to read more about the sippers I began to realize that was it's intended purpose to begin with.  Mission accomplished THMs!

Clockwise from top: Earth Milk Sip, Good Girl Moonshine, Pumpkin Sipper, and Shrinker

Another very popular sipper that you will hear about often is the "Good Girl Moonshine," often abbreviated, GGMS on the support pages for THM.  This sipper is power-packed with turmeric, and certainly does make you want to shout, "Eeee Ahhh!" as THMs suggests it would!

I was looking forward to trying the "Pumpkin Sipper," because even though we are past autumn and experiencing a very mild winter, I just can't miss out on the flavor of pumpkin and was craving it.  And, this sipper actually does have pumpkin in it.  You can sip on it hot or cold and it is a perfect fall/winter sipper.

The most interesting sipper, in my opinion, is the "Earth Milk Sip" which is filled with baby greens mixed with oolong tea and cinnamon.  It does include stevia extract, but I would encourage you to add truvia to taste.  My friend's husband enjoyed this one so much I left a quart jar filled for him.  He insisted that he would be able to finish it that evening.  That's a pretty strong vote for approval.

CONCLUSIONS:
Be prepared to adjust flavors to "own it."  Made with tasty ingredients that are known to increase thermodynamics and are packed full of flavor, these sippers will be your number one helpful tool to help curb any snack grazing you might want to do.

Be healthy and strong,
Chris :)

POPEYE'S POWER SOUP (pg. 104)
Stocks & Broths
This is a very green soup!  I think it's green enough to scare most of the people most of the time, except for Popeye and, let's face it, he's an animation!

Popeye's Power Soup

There are many plus sides to this soup.  It's spinach and if you like spinach you will love this recipe. It is a "Fuel Pull" (FP) soup with many the vitamins and minerals necessary to keep your energy high while still remaining low in fat and carbs.

If you like to be very purposeful about what you eat this soup can help you out.  For example, I am usually always seeking out iron, and if for some reason I feel like I need a major iron boost, I will very intentionally make this to encourage that boost to my system for it's iron-rich qualities.

Unlike the last two soups I blogged about, this one doesn't require a chicken broth or stock so it is a quick recipe.  Which leads me to the next subject I would like to divulge in a bit more.

Stocks & Broths
There are some additional things I would like to mention about stocks and broths for those of you who might be unfamiliar.

Broth
A good example of a broth is when you (or someone else) cooks a turkey for Thanksgiving.  After the turkey has been roasting and comes out of the oven there are lots of juices at the bottom of the pan.  If you drain those juices into a measuring cup, that is considered broth.  As the broth sets in the measuring cup you will see a slight surface building up that is darker in color.  That is fat separating from the juices and you can skim that off.  Broth is simply the juices from BOTH the meat and bones of the turkey (or meat, chicken, fish, etc.). In the case of turkey, I use those juices to make the best gravy ever! Or, you can save it and use it in soup recipes that call for stock/broth.

Stocks
After you remove most of the meat from the bones, the carcass (bones) is what remains.  Put the carcass in a crock pot or large pot with just enough water to cover the bones (and some vegetables and seasonings if you like) and about a 1/2 cup of vinegar.  Let it cook for up to 5 hours.  When it's done cooking you drain EVERYTHING from the juices using cheese cloth or a couple paper towels in a strainer.  Save the juices and that is considered stock because it's made with just the bones and not the meat.

If you put that stock/broth in the refrigerator you will find something interesting happens that doesn't happen to store-bought broths.  It starts to firm up in a similar way to which gelatin would firm up.  That is due to the collagen that is found in broth/stock that has been pulled from the cartilage in the bones (the vinegar helps with this process).  This is simply pure goodness and is highly desirable for it's health benefits and flavor.

"Liquid Gold"
As of today, I call my homemade stocks and broths "Liquid Gold." A term I borrowed from Bone Broth Diet book. It is a very interesting read if you want to know more about broth.  While I'm not personally endorsing any diet (including THM), I consider the information in both books very valuable.  Some of the benefits of bone broth according to Dr. Kellyann in the Bone Broth Diet book, is it's packed with collagen, detoxifies the body, is anti-inflammatory,  heals your gut and joints.

If you read "Serene Chats" for the "Purist Bone Stock" on pg. 495 of THMs' book, Serene says, "Hardly any work...cheap as dirt...better than any expensive health food supplement!"  If you like what she has to say about stock, be sure to turn to the next page (496) to read "Pearl Chats" and her perspective on stock.

After a little research, I did find you can purchase good-quality bone broth online with different seasoned flavors. Of course, anything you don't do yourself starts to come at a cost.  However, for those with the cash, but not the time, you may want to check out sites similar to Bare Bones Broth.  I personally will continue to make my own since it really doesn't take much effort, just planning.


CONCLUSIONS:
You do not need to make your own broth, I just wanted to make sure to emphasize the benefits in case you feel it's for you.  Some may consider broths and stocks a current trend, however, I would argue that if that's the case, it's the trend that Great Grandma started back when people still valued home-cooked meals.  If getting "back to basics" becomes trendy then it is one of those few trends that I hope has staying power for a very long time.

OOPSIES WORTH MENTIONING:
I am in denial and don't wear my reading glasses even when I probably should.  Instead of adding 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast, I accidentally added 3/4 cups (oooopsie).  It turned out to be a happy accident, but a bit more than the recipe asked for. :)

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

TRIM ZUPPA TUSCANA  (pg. 86)
OK, before I start this blog I just want to say:

SURVIVOR IS ON!  YAY!  DO I HAVE ANY SURVIVOR FRIENDS?

Now that we got that out of the way,

Olive Garden.  It's a phone number I have in my cell phone directory.  You just never know when you may need some soup and salad.  I LOVE THE ZUPPA!

I once posted on facebook that I knew I was spending too much time at Olive Garden when the employees started calling me by my first name and wanting to know, "What's up?"  After that post, a very kind friend shared the recipe with me.  Yes, I have made it plenty of times!  And, making your own food is a huge money saver.

.Trim Zuppa Tuscana

So, are the THMs going to do me right by this recipe?  THEY SURE ARE!  Love this and will be making it many times and over again!  Just go in knowing that you will be sacrificing the potatoes for cauliflower which, in my opinion, is not much of a sacrifice at all.

My friend has been helping me with reviewing the soups for this week and this was her response:

CONCLUSION:
I used my own broth and I believe it made a wonderful difference!  I used only half of the Kale required on the recipe.  This is a nice large serving to make for any party and everyone will love ya for it!  Tomorrow I will be talking more about broth. 

 I sense a Survivor party coming and this soup will be making an appearance!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

JUST LIKE CAMPBELL'S TOMATO SOUP (pg. 112)

"NO ZOUP FOR YOU!"
If you are a fan of the comedy sitcom, "Seinfeld" you will quickly recognize that quote from the show.  One of my absolute favorite episodes is with the notorious "Soup Nazi."

Me and my hubby were fortunate enough to visit New York City, without kids for one of our anniversaries.  I don't know if it was because we didn't have the kids, or if it was because of the New York atmosphere, or a little bit of both, but we had a blast!  I don't think we've been able to top that year's celebration to date.


My hubby in the "Soup Nazi's" line.

Yes, we did all the "touristy" things.  We went to see the Statue of Liberty, the Charging Bull on Wall Street, 30 Rock building, and Times Square. We experienced the subways, Macy's, Rockefeller Center, and so on and so forth.  However, one of my favorite parts of the visit was getting a on-hands experience of the "Soup Nazi" soup.  If I remember correctly, the serving bowls, or cups, said something on the order of, "The soup that made Seinfeld famous."  Too, funny!

 I must say, after our visit, I truly do love New York!

This week will be all about SOUP and I have enlisted one of my friendly neighbors to help in the reviews by sharing her thoughts.

The first soup this week is called, "Just like Campbell's Tomato Soup."  As the name suggests, it's suppose to taste like the long-standing and popular "Campbell's Tomato Soup."  Probably one of America's favorite comfort foods, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Just Like Campbell's Tomato Soup & The Shrinker

I didn't want to come out and tell my friend it's suppose to taste like Campbell's Soup, but with a little prodding I asked, "Does it remind you of any other soup?"  Her response was, "I have really only had canned tomato soup before, so it definitely didn't taste like that. It was really good."  She also said her daughter enjoyed it with some Parmesan sprinkled on top.  I added chicken to mine.

When I did tell her it was suppose to taste like Campbell's Soup she said it tasted similar, but there was a spice or something that made it a little different.  I did alter the ingredients very slightly since the THMs always encourage "owning it" by adding seasoning to your own personal taste.  So, I suggested perhaps if I left it alone it would have tasted the same.  My friend said it was much better than Campbell's since that version is usually a little bland.  So, perhaps, this would be better named, "Very much like Campbell's Soup, but even better."

BROTHS
This soup was made with homemade broth that I prepared in advance when I cooked up the "Super Prepared Roasted Chicken" recipe (see my post from January 2016) which is quite possibly why it tasted so good!  I will be talking a little bit more about broth in the next couple posts so you will want to be sure to check those out.

CONCLUSION:
It takes all of two minutes to gather your ingredients.  All of one minute to measure and dump ingredients into pan. And, then about 5-10 minutes to warm.  The three extra minutes it takes compared to preparing Campbell's Soup is time well spent with healthier benefits of being fresher and having less salt.  I will definitely be making this soup again (and with homemade broth whenever possible).

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

LAZY LASAGNA (pg. 140)
Today I had the pleasure of having a neighbor friend to share Lazy Lasagna and a chocolate fat-stripping frappa with (featured in my last post) .  Food is always just a little extra special when you have a friend(s) to share it with.

Lazy Lasagna & Chocolate fat-stripping Frappa

What makes this a "lazy" lasagna is, coincidentally, the very same thing that makes it a low-carb lasagna...no pasta to cook.  The substitute to the lasagna layer is a spinach layer.  Seasonings in this dish includes oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.  The cheesy flavor in this dish comes from cream cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan mixed with a couple eggs.  The combined flavors create a delicious and flavorful lasagna that will happily fill in as a healthy, low-carb version of lasagna that I can be happy with.

Lazy Lasagna

My friend and I enjoyed this version and were content in taking second helpings.  My friend's comments and my hubby's comments paralleled in that that both felt there was too much spinach and they would prefer a little less.  Since I fight an ongoing battle with anemia, I am happy to keep as much spinach on this as possible to increase my iron intake.

CONCLUSIONS:
I would make this dish again especially if I'm craving Italian.

If you decide to make this dish, just be sure that the spinach is fully defrosted and you squeeze as much water out of it as possible to avoid extra liquid in the dish.

I also would maintain my iron-rich spinach on one side of the pan and hold back some spinach for those who do not want too much spinach.

HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEKEND!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

CHOCOLATE FAT-STRIPPING FRAPPA (pg. 418)
Calling all sweet-tooth comrades and all the "sweeties" of the blogging world. Here is another drink to help curb your sweet tooth in the most delightful way that takes the form of a "frappa."

This chocolate fat-stripping frappa is much more chocolaty than it appears in the photo.  The THMs have included three other variations of the already-done-right-the-first-time blend in case you want to switch it up a bit.

CONCLUSION:
If you happen to be in the neighborhood, I will be more than happy to make one up for you. Delicious!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

EGGS & AVS (pg. 245)
READING GROUP
Ideally I like to post 2-3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).  When I am ahead of schedule things run smoothly.  Since today is Tuesday, that should be an indicator of my life running slightly behind.

It's my fault.  I began a book club and I put off reading the book until last minute.  As a result, I spent most of my Super Bowl weekend reading a book from cover to cover.  Mission accomplished!  The book is called "Reading Lolita in Tehran," and it was worth the weekend crunch imposed on myself.  In just a few hours I am going to meet with some nice ladies and discuss the book.

Eggs and Avs
I would like to mention the breakfast I have most mornings.  It is a pretty typical breakfast for many homes.  However, this has some slight differences that I have adapted since embracing the Thin Healthy Mama (THM) diet.

In the past, I would enjoy scrambled eggs with toast.  And, if I made fried eggs it usually would be with toast (with butter and jam).



Eggs and Avs

However, after trying fried eggs with avocado I ask myself, "Why didn't I think of this sooner?"  These are just plain ol' fried eggs, but when you drizzle them with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO -- an official term originated by Rachael Ray) and top with parmesan and nutritional yeast, which adds a nutty, cheese flavor, the avocado is just butter on the plate (a.k.a. icing on the cake).

CONCLUSIONS:
Please don't let me run out of avocados.  It's my breakfast most mornings now and it isn't the same without avocados.

Enjoy your week.

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

SINGING CANARY SHOT (pg. 399)
I didn't realize at the time, but "Singing Canary Shot" is a stronger version of "Singing Canary" that I didn't see until after the fact.  It is called a "shot" because it is a quick way to get your daily dose of turmeric. 

With that being said, if you are not accustomed to turmeric, tread with caution.  This baby is potent! In a good way.  I do like turmeric and like the idea of getting a quick dose of it for all it's benefits.  You can find many of the benefits posted on pinterest along with many recipes.  Here's one to get you started:  Turmeric. 

I made two versions of this (only because I didn't know it was met as a shot until it was too late).  The photo on the left is the Canary shot in all it's turmeric glory.  The photo on the right was my version after I "doctored-up" the recipe.  "Doctored-up"  is a term my mother-in-law use to use all the time and it simply meant she was adding her own personal touches to a recipe.

CONCLUSION:
I will make this again for a quick "shot" but I am looking forward to trying the original Singing Canary.

Have a nice weekend!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE SMOOTHIE (pg. 412)

ATTENTION SWEET TOOTH ENTHUSIASTS! Next time you are tempted by that cookie or brownie in your home this is the drink to go to.

First of all, DO NOT ALLOW cookies or brownies in your home.  And, if you can't do that, designate everyone in your house to take what sweets they want, hide it in a safe place, and threaten whatever sweets are left behind will be thrown away (or eaten, whichever one comes first).

I have an incredibly sweet tooth.  I love sweets!  I am tempted by sweets!  And, I do have rules about certain foods that are not allowed in the home (that doesn't mean they don't find their way in, it just means that if they do make there way into my home, it's usually not my doing).

A very huge no-no in my home is Oreos (and any other products comparable to Oreos).  Absolutely do not bring them around me. I tell myself I will just have a couple (and I am convinced I have enough self-control to accomplish this) and before I know it, I've scarfed a whole row.  When remorse kicks in I find myself pleading for forgiveness from myself and my Heavenly Father.

For the sake of this blog, and my love for sweet tooth comrades, I am going to begin a list of "Safe Sweets List" just for all the other "Sweeties" out in the "blog world."

"SAFE" SWEETS LIST

1. Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Now, as good as this list will be, it's not meant to be abused.  When something makes it to the "Safe" Sweets List" its main purpose is to help kill that sweet tooth.  It will be safer than a whole row of Oreo cookies, brownies, or chocolate chip cookies, or whatever you might be craving for that day.  And, it will be filling and satisfying.  I believe the Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie meets that criteria.

CONCLUSION:
Yum!

Stay healthy & strong,
Chris :)


BUTTAH CHICKEN (pg.49) & THE SHRINKER (pg.400)
CROCKPOT FRIENDLY
I am very wimpy when it comes to spicy flavor.  I can detect the most minute bit of heat and it will cause me to chug down my glass of water while, in between chugs, I turn to my companions and ask, "Oh, man. Is this spicy?  Oh, this is way spicy.  My tongue is burning.  Oh, man, now my lips are burning.  Is this too spicy for you, too?"   The typical response is puzzled looks on faces and shaking heads and sometimes laughter.  That is one of the reasons I enjoy making and having control over the extent of heat in a dish. 

Buttah Chicken
If you like the flavor of India, you will like this dish. This is a CROCKPOT FRIENDLY meal and the flavors blend very well together.  The garam masala is the wonderful star of this show and I make extra to store away for future use.

Buttah Chicken & The Shrinker

The Shrinker
This has potential to be a spicy drink.  You wouldn't think 1 - 2 pinches of cayenne could do much damage, but, be forewarned.  If you are wimpy, like me, less than one pinch should serve its purpose.  If you love kick, go for it!

This is THMs most popular beverage to help people lose weight.  THMs claim this drink has thermogenic-boosting ingredients.  It is intended to be sipped throughout the day to help resist unnecessary snacking.   I have to admit, the wonderful mix of oolong tea, cashew milk, and other flavors (like cinnamon and cayenne) make this a nice "go to" sipper for in-between meals. 

CONCLUSION:
Yes, to both!  The Buttah Chicken is wonderful, yummy, and delicious!  The Shrinker is helping to add variety to my beverages and is so satisfying you won't be thinking of snacking on something unhealthy.

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

WICKED WHITE CHILI (pg. 37)
CROCKPOT FRIENDLY

Wicked implies awesome in this case!  Pearl, one of the THM moms, so named this dish based on the reaction she consistently receives from her kids when she makes it.

In case I haven't mentioned, I have a home of a couple picky eaters.  One of them really enjoyed this dish and the other balked at the sight of tomatoes.  You see, any indication of tomatoes is enough for that picky eater to deem a dish unworthy to touch the tongue (even though the tomatoes can easily be pushed off to the side).


Wicked White Chili

This is a CROCKPOT FRIENDLY recipe.  When you approach your crockpot after 5-6 hours you will arrive to a beautiful-looking, aromatic, chicken-tender, white chili.  Because you are away from this dish for so long as it cooks, you might, for a moment, feel as if you have your own personal chef, even though you are probably the chef responsible for all the prep work.

Conclusion:
I love this recipe!  Easy to make and enough to feed more than your family!  I thought it needed more seasoning, but, left as is, to let everyone use salt and pepper to their own liking.

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

HOT CHOCOLATE TRIMMY (pg. 431)

We are fortunate enough to have many hills throughout our neighborhood so children, snow, and sledding is a winter celebration right in my own backyard every year.  So, as you can imagine, hot chocolate has a very important place in my home.  It is not a negotiable area in our life.

Our hot cocoa is prepared in a very large pot so as to have enough to share with other sledding companions.  The perfect pot consists of a wonderful blend of Hershey baking cocoa, sugar, milk, and a hint of vanilla extract (you can find the exact recipe on the container of Hershey Cocoa).  My pantry is also stocked with a variety of sprinkles, mostly because the homemade whip cream would not be complete without the festive dash of colors.

As you would probably suspect, anything called "Hot Chocolate Trimmy" is going to cause my eyes to roll behind my head.  I'm sorry.  I know that's rude.  And, I'm starting to sound like a food snob.  But, I am willing to try anything for health's sake (not really, but I felt slightly obligated to say that).  :)


"Hot Chocolate Trimmy"

My first sip of  "Hot Chocolate Trimmy" tasted very much like what I anticipated when you're using water as the main ingredient.  A "watered down" version of hot cocoa.  It wasn't my hot-cocoa good (or, rather, Hershey's), but it was actually pretty good.  I just couldn't accept it as hot cocoa.

So, I had my daughter try it without sharing my own personal feelings with her.  Knowing the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I knew I could trust her opinion.

Her first was response was, "It tastes like tea."  That's it! I couldn't put my finger on it, but she is right.  It's more reminisce of a tea than a hot cocoa.

Conclusion:
 I like tea and I especially like the idea of this "Hot Chocolate Trimmy" as a tea.  So, I will probably call it, "Hot Chocolate Tea" when I make it in the future.  I'm hoping "Cuddle Family Hot Chocolate" on page 435 might be a version more reflective of my version of hot cocoa I enjoy with my family.

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

SWEET CREAMY COLESLAW (pg. 230)
This is a lighter version of coleslaw and a sneaky way to disguise apple cider vinegar into your diet.  I enjoyed this alongside the absolutely delicious "Wipe Your Mouth BBQ" but my family was quicker to chow down the BBQ than I was to take a photo! 

Conclusion:
I will be making this again to reap the benefits of apple cider vinegar.  The only thing I would like to say about this recipe is to start with a smaller portion of apple cider vinegar and add to taste since the vinegar was just a little bit too strong for my taste.


Stay Healthy and strong,
Chris :)

CAKE FOR DINNER (pg. 311)
Cake for dinner.  Such a good idea.  Since I have an incredibly sweet tooth, I love the idea of "cake for dinner."  Is it possible to have my cake and eat it, too?

How can I explain this one without giving too much away?  I don't think I can.  So next time you are browsing through a bookstore, look for this recipe (EAT UP and SLIM DOWN version on pg. 311).  The ingredients are the most interesting to say the least.

While I would like to say, "I loved it!"  I can't, and that makes me very sad.  This is probably a good alternative for a lot of people trying to lose weight.  This isn't bad, and it certainly is healthy, but it's not something I would take the time to make again.

The THMs do recommend serving with their version of "Tummy Tucking Ice Cream" on page 363 in their book.   My hubby found some whip cream and he felt that did the trick.

I think I'm in a battle with myself with regards to "the best sweetener."  Some have calories.  Some don't.  Some have an aftertaste and others don't.  This is my personal biggest issue when it comes to me and my sweet tooth.  THMs rely on stevia extract and/or their personal blend of sweeteners which just don't taste natural to me. 

I would like to have a dialogue with anyone willing who may have tried this recipe and share their personal thoughts.  Also, if you live in my neighborhood and would be willing to be a guinea pig, please comment below and I will deliver a piece to your home.  The only obligation would to allow me to share your opinion on the subject of "Cake for Dinner."

Conclusion:
I would rather save the time and chop up an apple, bake it in the oven, and sprinkle it with cinnamon.  Sorry sweet-tooth comrades.



Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

SWISS BREAD & SWISS LOAF (pg. 196 & 198)

Hi, Everyone!  I had technical problems yesterday so I'm keeping it short today.

My family enjoys bread, but we probably don't enjoy bread to the same degree as a lot of families.  We enjoy it when it is served, but bread doesn't disappear very quickly in my home.  This tasty bread is no exception.  Everyone really did enjoy this bread, however, I still have some after a few days sitting on the counter.  I will probably slice it up today and see how well it freezes to pull out at a later occasion.

I enjoyed the "Swiss Bread" as a biscuit much more than the loaf and will probably make the muffins again in the future by quadrupling the recipe as the THMs recommend.  I did fill the empty muffin spots with water and that definitely made a nice difference in the texture of this bread.

Conclusion:
Very tasty and healthy version of bread.  If you are addicted to bread, you need to try some of this.  I will definitely be making the muffins again!

Stay healthy & strong!
Chris :)

SWEDISH MEATBALLS (pg 61)
Cookbook Benefits

Swedish Meatballs is a MUST to make for your family especially if they already like meatball meals.  My family GOBBLED it up!  I actually felt guilty eating this and then when I realized how healthy it was, I snapped out of it!  Will be making again, and again, and again.

What I like about this cookbook
Before THM, I have made intentional purchases of products that I have read that have some positive health benefits if incorporated into your diet.  For example, flaxseed.  I have purchased a bag of flaxseed with the intention of incorporating it into my diet and either forget about it or have just not been confident in my own ability to use it correctly.  My flaxseed pouch had been sitting in my pantry for quite awhile.  That has changed, however, since I am almost running out.

Moving forward, I just want to emphasis that many recipes can be made with no special ingredients (those recipes are indicated with initials "NSI").

With that being said, for the purpose of the blog and my own experimenting, I have purchased a few of their products from Trim Healthy Mama website and picked up the rest at a health store.  Please make reference to my very first blog, "Getting Started" dated January 6 for my personal grocery list which includes photos of my special purchases (My list is saving me from taking many trips to the grocery store). Some of the items you can even find at your local Wal-Mart, but since I was already at the health food store I picked up everything possible at that location to save time from running around.

The reason this cookbook, in particular caught my attention, is the sisters, Pearl and Serene have incorporated some really beneficial ingredients into their cooking.  For example, this recipe calls for THM product, Gluccie, from their website, and nutritional yeast, which can be found in health food store.

Gluccie is actually a nickname the THMs give glucomannan, which, according to their book is a natural thickener that won't add calories or carbs.  It is used to thicken gravies or soups.  I usually use flour as a thickener which adds both.  According to their book, it also helps regulate blood sugar and alkalize the body particularly if you are trying to lose weight. I like the sound of that!

Nutritional yeast is one I have never heard of and at first I thought it was more like baking yeast that you would use for the rising process in bread making.  It is actually an inactive dry yeast that can be sprinkled on practically everything you eat.  I taste all ingredients in their raw form before using and this one tasted exactly the way THMs said it would.  It has a nutty, cheesy flavor, which makes it perfect over popcorn (yes, I tried it).  It is one of those condiments you don't have to run out and buy, but it definitely is worth considering at some point in time.  I am finding myself putting it on everything.

CONCLUSION:

Need I say more?

Stay healthy & strong,

Chris :)

 

SUPER PREPARED ROASTED CHICKEN, pg. 168
Meet Kelly

I have a Chicagoland friend that I have known since I was a teenager.  We both grew up in south suburban, Lansing, IL.

Just a couple weeks ago she was facebook sharing her first-time efforts of making a turkey she received as a gift from her parents for Christmas.  We were corresponding back and forth as she completed her turkey. Starting out, she seemed a bit nervous, but in typical Chicagoan style it didn't take long for her to start getting a little "cocky" at her achievements.

So, when I approached this chicken recipe, my friend, Kelly came to mind.  I'm just going to let the photos speak for themselves.

I love making recipes like this because it has potential to be top-quality meal and a major time and money saver.  If you're going to make one, why wouldn't you take the time to make a couple more?  This is the meal you go to when you have a "pajama day" or a day where you just don't plan on leaving the home for a couple of hours.  A closet can be organized by the time your meal is done or you might want to pop in your favorite rom-com while it's cooking.  It's the perfect weekend meal for working moms, also, because it will provide for other meals throughout the week when there isn't much time to cook.  And, it's quite impressive to look at.  The family will think you've been in the kitchen all day. Shhhhh!  They don't need to know how easy this is.   It's between you and me.


Super Prepared Roasted Chicken

Super Prepared Roasted Chicken
For the most part it is effortless, but goes a long way.  Rub the seasoning on it and pop it in the oven for a couple of hours and  your meal is done.  The most time-consuming part is the cutting of the meat and even that is minimal.  Take what you want for immediate meals and store the rest in serving-size freezer bags to use for soup, salads, or future meals that need cooked chicken.  Save the bones and freeze so you can make a very healthy chicken broth for soups at a later time.


Conclusions:
How can you go wrong? Delicious. Save the juices to make best-tasting gravy.

By the way, Kelly, awesome job on the turkey! Next time, though, make sure I'm there, too! :)

Stay healthy & strong,
Chris :)

SUPER SALMON PATTIES (pg. 177)
Meet Foxy J

Foxy Girlfriends

I have a group of girlfriends that are like sisters to me and oftentimes you will hear me make reference to one of my "foxy friends."

Many have asked about the "foxy" reference in the past so I will share the story with you.

I met a group of girl's at Fox College (at the time located in Oak Lawn, IL). We just really hit it off and something "clicked" as some would say. We did everything together. Not always as a group. It's hard to get five girls together all the time. Back then, getting together happened more often then not and we had F-U-N.

My most memorable moment was when one of the classmates from Fox College knew some guys that had a very large boat and for a small price would be willing to take a large group of girls from Fox College out on Lake Michigan for an evening of partying (these guys obviously knew a good thing when they saw it).  Being the ever cautious individual that I have a tendency of being, I spent most of my evening wondering if the large waves during the storm was going to bring me to my death.  Somehow I still managed to have a lot of fun and I am sure it was because I was with my Foxy girlfriends.

So, that is how we got the nickname "foxy girls" That name has evolved. When we were having children we would call ourselves "Foxy Mamas." When I tell the story of how we got our nickname I usually like to teasingly add, "The fact that we all are foxy is purely coincidental."

This was a very fun recipe to do because I had one of my Foxy Girlfriends, Jessalyn, and her Fox Kids helping me taste test!

Salmon Patties:
As a person that struggles very severely with anemia (I will share more on that in future posts), I think I may start calling these "iron patties."  The THM shared in their book that their children like to call these "Crabby Patties" making reference to the Sponge Bob cartoon (even though they are made with salmon).

These started a little rough, but fortunately by the time we got through the middle of our batch we were really starting to get the hang of putting them together and knowing how long to let them cook.  We were very worried in the beginning. They just weren't working out and falling apart, which is good for Dobby, her cat, since we determined he would get the mistakes.

Conclusion:
What started out feeling like was going to be a failure taste test, ended up receiving four thumbs up from Jessalyn's family and I find myself craving these patties as I type.  These are actually a very quick meal once you know how to make them and the coconut oil you cook them in adds a very nice flavor to these patties.

TIPS:
1.   Be sure when drain the tuna you drain to the best of your ability, and even then you will have to push some liquid out with your hands when forming balls.

2. Form a tablespoon ball in your hand and then give a small gentle press. Doesn't have to be very flat.

3. Use the full 3 tablespoons of THM Baking Blend or use my version of the baking blend that was posted for Mama's Famous Meatloaf on 1/11/2015.

Stay healthy & strong,
Chris :)

MAMA'S FAMOUS MEATLOAF & MASHED FOTATOES

MAMA'S MEATLOAF (pg. 157) & MASHED FOTATOES (pg. 219)
So, this is my first meal attempt from "Trim healthy Mama Cookbook, EAT UP and SLIM DOWN." I am preparing for a family of picky eaters so this should be very interesting.  It has to be good in order to help warm my family up to future Trim Healthy Mama (THM) meals.

Meatloaf:
I made the meatloaf with the Trim Healthy Ketchup. It doesn't take long to make the ketchup and you avoid some of the sugar in the store-bought ketchup.  I used my own version of the Baking Blend (1/2 cup flaxseed, 1/2 cup coconut flour, 1/4 cup almond flour). This turned out good and my family enjoyed this as a meal.  My version of the ketchup looked and appeared different than the photograph in the book so I feel I may have overlooked something even thought I took care to follow the recipe carefully.

Mashed Fotatoes:
I wasn't too concerned about the meatloaf part. It's the "fotatoes" part I was worried about.  Essentially, it is "mashed cauliflower" filling in for "mashed potatoes."  When I approached this recipe I found myself wanting to debate reasons for not calling it what it really is.  Why the deception? Calling it "mashed fotatoes" instead of  "mashed cauliflower?"  It didn't take me very long to realize it's a losing debate. "Mashed Cauliflower" just doesn't have the same appeal as "Mashed Fotatoes." So Mashed Fotatoes it is.

While my family went into this meal knowing that they weren't eating actual mashed potatoes, they did comment it was o.k. as they worked to discern what they were eating.  My hubby correctly guessed cauliflower.

Conclusions:
I will be making "Mama's Famous Meatloaf" again, but the next time I make Mama's Meatloaf I will be serving it with a slightly improvised version of mashed cauliflower, er, uh, I mean fotatoes (I will try to thicken and add more flavor to it) or try making the THM Sweet Potato Fries.

Stay healthy & strong!
Chris :)

Getting Started on Trim Healthy Mama

I am cooking my way through "Trim Mama."

Think like the movie, "Julie & Julia" without the Julie and without the Julia part.  With much smaller amounts of butter, also. I do love butter.  The setting doesn't take place in New York or France, either.  And, all the "chefs" involved are still living. This isn't even close to French cooking.  Ok, so maybe not so much Julie and Julia.

You may or may not be familiar with Trim Healthy Mamas. I am becoming more familiar with these gals myself.  I am using their second book, Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook, Eat Up and Slim Down.

If you have heard about their book and are curious about the recipes, I will be sharing my experience with you.  I have been perusing the pages from the book for about a month after a friend piqued my curiosity and I feel ready to begin cooking up the recipes.  And, eating them!  And, sharing them!

I think getting started was the most time consuming part for me. I have chosen mostly "S" recipes which are rated as so for being "satisfying" so I hope that will translate into feeling full. My family and I like to eat and feel full afterwards.

I am not necessarily following the recipes for weight loss (although, admittedly, that would be a wonderful side effect).  I am just looking for ways to eat healthier and not miss out on good-tasting food. We will see if Trim Healthy Mamas meet my very simple criteria.  It's my experiment for myself with the hopes of sharing my results and opinions with you.

I have included the name of the meals, the shopping list for those meals, and any special purchases I made at the Trim Healthy Mama website.

I will share photos and opinions of the meals or any revisions I've made to recipes, so if you would like a review of a particular meal from the book please let me know and I'll give it a whirl!

Look for a new posting 2-3 times a week. :)


Stay healthy & strong!
Chris :)

Trim MaMa(TMM), Getting Started – The First Few Months

The Recipes I chose from “Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook, Eat Up & Slim Down:

   1. Wicked White Chili, pg. 37

2. Rich & Tender Stew, pg. 38

3. Wipe Your Mouth BBQ, pg. 43

4. Buttah Chicken, pg. 49

5. Slow Fajitas, pg. 53

6. Swedish Meatballs in Cream Sauce, pg. 61

7. Slim Sloppy Joes, pg. 63

8. Orange Chicken, pg. 72

9. Trim Zuppa Tuscanna, pg. 86

10. Tomato Chicken Bisque, pg. 93

11. Popeye's Power Soup, pg. 104

12. Curry in a Hurry Soup, pg. 112

13. Just Like Campbell's Tomato Soup, pg.112

14. Wise Shepherd's Pie, pg 134

15. Chicken Pot Pie, pg. 137

16. Lazy Lasagna, pg. 140

17. Enchilada Wonder Casserole, pg. 145

18. Mama's Famous Meatloaf, pg. 157

19. Super Prepared Roasted chicken, pg. 168

20. Super Salmon Patties, pg. 177

GROCERY LIST FOR “TRIM MAMA” -- THE FIRST FEW MONTHS:

Seasonings(most of these should already be in your pantry):

onion powder                                                  prepared mustard

mineral salt                                                     pepper

soy sauce                                                         cloves

cayenne pepper                                                rice vinegar

chili powder                                                    red pepper flakes

garlic powder                                                  toasted sesame oil

ground cumin                                                  MSG-free seasoning salt

dried oregano                                                   orange extract

apple cider vinegar                                           Worcestershire sauce

paprika                                                               curry powder

liquid smoke                                                      hot sauce

dried parsley                                                      turmeric

dried rosemary                                                   dried sage

dried thyme                                                        coriander

tahini                                                                  nutmeg

cardamom                                                         Italian Seasonings

agar powder(not flakes)??                                garam masala for Buttah chicken (recipe at end of list)

 

Canned Food

1 28oz. Crushed tomatoes petite-diced tomatoes (stock pantry with a mix of 14 1/2oz & 24 1/2oz.)

4 15oz. Great northern beans                         tomato paste (2 6oz. Cans)

3 ½ qts. Chicken broth                                   2 10oz cans Rotel-style tomatoes & chilies(heat you like)

2 cups beef broth                                            1 18oz tomato sauce

pineapple chunks                                            1 8oz. Tomato sauce

3 15oz. Cans wild pink salmon

Misc.

extra-virgin coconut oil spray (& bottle)**      salsa

Real Bacon crumbs (optional)                           2 12oz. Jars no-sugar-added pizza or spaghetti sauce*

Lemon Juice                                                      Ketchup

2 TBL. Minced pickled jalapeno (optional)     aluminum-free baking powder

nutritional yeast **                                           Stevia& stevia extract**

full-fat coconut milk                                         unsweetened cashew milk

blackstrap molasses**                                       golden flaxseed meal

coconut flour                                                     almond flour

oat flour                                                             sunflower lecithin**

unflavored gelatin

Beef & Chicken

2 lbs. Ground sausage meat (ex. Chorizo)

12 lbs. Ground beef (can change a couple lbs. to turkey if you like)

5 lbs. Boneless chicken thighs

5 lbs. Skinless chicken breasts

3 whole and thawed chickens

drained boneless beef or boneless chicken cut into strips

3 lbs. Beef for stew

2 ½ lbs. Ground Italian-style sausage

Fridge

butter (2-3 pkgs.)                                       1 14oz. Container 1% cottage cheese

Lrg.. Plain Greek 0% yogurt                      8 oz. Part-skim mozzarella cheese

eggs (2 dz.)                                                 8 oz. Sharp cheddar cheese

egg whites (I am using from eggs)             grated pecorino Romano or finely grated parmesan cheese(dairy-free mamas)

grated parmesan cheese                              8 oz. button mushrooms(replace with another vegi if you would like)
8oz. Pack ½ less fat cream cheese

Freezer

peas                                                                3 cups frozen corn

16oz. Or more cauliflower                             6 cups or more frozen okra

1 52oz.. Package frozen chopped spinach     Seasoning Blend (onion, celery, green pepper at Walmart)

Deli

onions (bag)                                                     2 lrg. Bell peppers (any color you like)

minced garlic                                                   lrg. Bag of celery (at least 15 stalks)\

1 16oz. Radishes                                              3 lrg. green bell peppers

fresh grated ginger                                           green onions

green cabbage or packaged coleslaw mix        lrg carrot

6 cups fresh kale or spinach                             bag of lemons

Special recipes that need additional attention are included already in the shopping list:

1 batch Fotatoes, pg. 219(shepherd's pie) 1 Tbl. Trim bouillon mix, pg. 49 (chicken pot-pie)

8oz. Hello Cheese, pg. 487(enchilada wonder) Wonder Wraps, pg. 204 (enchilada wonder)

Trim healthy Ketchup, pg. 482(mama's famous meatloaf)

Special Order from Trim Mama website if you want added health benefits (I bolded all the ones I purchased for this list):

Gluccie, $18.99(recipe #2, 6, 8, 15, 17, 18)

Super Sweet Blend, $9.99 16oz.(recipe #7, 8, 12, 13, 15, and trim bouillon mix, pg. 491, for chicken pot pie #10)

Integral Collagen, 16.99 16oz.(recipe #12)

Trim Healthy Baking Blend (making my own version using flaxseed meal, coconut flour, almond flour, oat flour)

(recipe #6,8,15,18)

Just Gelatin(recipe #10)

MCT oil(recipe #11,12,17)**

2 tsp. Whole-husk psyllium (recipe #17 – the Wonder Wraps for enchiladas)**

Trim Mama products from their website.

 

Garam Masala (for Buttah Chicken recipe) from Allrecipes.com:

1 TBL. ground cumin                             ½ tsp. ground cloves

1 ½ tsp. ground coriander                     ½ tsp. ground nutmeg

1 ½ tsp. ground cardamom                   1 ½ tsp. ground pepper

1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
Mix all ingredients together and store in airtight container.

This is so aromatic! Something that smells this good will make anything taste delicious!
 

 

 

* Walmart's Great Value Pizza Sauce as recommended by TMM.

** Can purchase at health food store (Vitamin Shoppe).

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR SIDES – add them to grocery list if you want to include them with your meals:

Swiss Bread Recipe, pg. 476 x3 (recipe #1 as blendtons, and #3, #7)

1 cup TMM baking blend (or your own version)

Super Sweet Blend

Coconut Oil Spray

Light& Lovely Coleslaw, pg. 231 x2 (recipe #3 and #7)

4-5 cups shredded cabbage

2 med. Carrots

Dijon mustard

white wine vinegar

EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil)

Cauli Rice, pg. 225 (recipe #4)

1 lrg. head cauliflower

2 16oz. Bags frozen cauliflower florets

Misc.:

Wasa crackers(#11)

brown rice(#5)

refried beans(#5)

spaghetti squash(#6)

angel hair cabbage (#8)

frozen bread sticks (#9), we are C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G!

Frozen peas (#18)

sweet potatoes (#18)

broccoli (#20)

applesauce (#20)