Maria's Malt-OH-Meal to the rescue!

I'm so sick of eggs.

If I don't eat eggs for breakfast again for a long time, well...it won't be long enough.

Even when our eggs are this beautiful... (sorry, couldn't help posting this photo - we really do have beautiful eggs, even if I am sick of eating them!) :o)

Ok, I might be "eggs"-aggerating a little bit - but I really am sick of eggs for breakfast.

I've been reaching for my protein shakes often (and I do love their ease of use and simplicity!) - but this morning I really wanted a hot breakfast.

March in MN is evil this year and right now, it seems as though winter will never end.

I know it will, but oh my word, this winter seems loooong.

Any-who.....back to breakfast. :o)

This morning I made Maria's Malt-OH-Meal. A healthy, warm, filling twist on the hot cereal you may have grown up with. And I have to say....it was really good! Of course, I gave it my own twists, tweeking it to my liking.

So, in case you are ever in a "eggs for breakfast" rut like I have been, here's another great option for a hot breakfast....and it doesn't include eggs!

Malt-OH-Meal

3/4 c. to 1 c. almond milk (or coconut milk), heated for 1 1/2 minutes in the microwave
(depending on how thick you like your cereal)
2 Tbs. ground flaxseeds (freshly ground is best, if you have a grinder. I do not.)
1/4 c. Vanilla Jay Robb Whey Protein
1 dropperful stevia glycerite (I like my cereal sweet - the original recipe calls for only one drop of stevia glycerite - use according to your personal taste)
Sprinkle of sea salt (this is my addition - a little salt brings out the sweetness and adds necessary flavor)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla or maple extract (optional)
1 tsp. Psyllium Husk powder (optional, but I find is necessary for the appropriate thickness)

Other Options:
You could add nuts, or use a different protein powder flavor such a chocolate or strawberry

Directions:
Combine hot almond milk with all the remaining ingredients. Stir until mixed well and let sit for a few minutes or overnight (I've never tried the overnight method) until the cereal thickens.
(if you grind your flaxseed fresh, it will thicken and it will have tons of Omega 3's!)

Enjoy!!

Oh do you know the muffin man?

I CERTAINLY do lately!!!

 His name is Mr. Cinnamon Rhubarb Walnut Muffin, and he is OH SO amazing!!

Since I am a VERY busy mama of 5, I need EASY in my life!
These tasty muffins have been my "GO TOO" morning breakfast for on the go, or for a "ME TIME" coffee break.

 They are packed with "protein and pooping power!":) I figured it was alright to be REAL on our site....since we all have to poo!:)

I've been having a BLAST re-creating recipes into the LOW CARB, LOW SUGAR way!

I think I have found my NEW PASSION!

If this is going to be my LIFE LONG way of eating....BY GEORGE, the food I eat is going to taste like my MAMA cooked/baked it! After all, she IS the best cook/baker in the WORLD!:)

OK....the moment you all have been waiting for....without any further ado....I give you....

CINNAMON RHUBARB WALNUT MUFFIN THE MAGNIFICENT!

YIELDS 18 muffins

1 1/2 cup rhubarb stalks, peeled and diced (if frozen, de-thaw and make sure you strain off excess   juice)

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk or almond milk ( I used coconut milk)

4 eggs, beaten

5 tbls. Xylitol or other equivalent sweeteners of your choice

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. sea salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil (these are SAFE, healthy fats to eat)

3 cups blanched almond flour    ( I LOVE Honeyville almond flour! You can purchase it on Amazon in a 5 lb bag for a great price!)

1/2 cup ground flax meal    ( Did you know that your body CAN NOT absorb flax seed unless it is GROUND?) This is my "Pooping Power...PACKED with many healthy benefits!

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

*Blend together eggs, sweetener, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, butter or coconut oil, and almond flour. Mix in rhubarb and walnuts. Add baking soda. Scoop by 1/4 cup full into paper-lined muffin tins.

STREUSEL TOPPING:

1 cup blanched almond flour

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tbls. xylitol sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

- mix well and use your fingers to make mixture into a "crumble type mixture."

 Top muffins and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Stores in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. These freeze WONDERFULLY!

I just take one or two out of the freezer each morning, microwave for 45 seconds, and they are PERFECT!!!

*recipe adapted from gnowfglins.com

Got Chocolate??

What woman can live happily without chocolate??

I can tell you...I am not one of them!

But what's a low-carber to do???

Enter: Trader Joes "Simply Lite" chocolate bars! They come in milk chocolate or dark chocolate and let me tell you....they are a LIFESAVER for those chocolate cravings. As a matter of fact, I'm enjoying a piece right now!

Mmmmm......

If you often find yourself in desperate need of a chocolate fix, like I do, be sure to visit your friendly neighborhood Trader Joes and stock up! At only $1.99 a bar, I always have a small pile on hand.

It's true.

And at only 1-2 grams net carbs, I can again enjoy chocolate with no guilt!

(Can you hear that?? It's the sound of angels singing.)

33 days and counting.....

As I reflex back on the last 10 years of my life....I describe myself as being trapped in a "fat suit."

Sure, it has been lovely for the most part! Sometimes I didn't mind as much as other time.... but what REALLY got me to that point?

Stress, four births, ups and downs of life, emotional eating, dare I say gluttony???

I have tried just about every diet on the market....losing 10-15 lbs and then gave up.

Each time praying God would give me strength to " DO THIS!"

With the age of 35 approaching, and lurking health issues, I thought it HIGH TIME to figure out a SOLUTION to my MADNESS!

SO.....wanting to TOTALLY change our families eating habits for some time now....
I took the BIG PLUNGE and went FULL STEAM AHEAD!
*yes, I said "Totally" again!:)

NO WHITE SUGAR? NO FLOUR? NO BROWN SUGAR?

How was I to bake again? 
These were my ponders as I considered what I was getting myself and family into.

Then there was the lists of "WEIRD" new ingredients that I had to find and use to be successful at this new journey!

Xanthan gum, psyllim husk powder???? They sound like something I should be applying to my body as an ointment powders! LOL

I LOVE how God uses others to bring about GOOD CHANGE in our lives.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
                                                                                   Hebrews 10:24

Thanking God today for many friends who have encouraged and pointed me and my family in the right direction.

 The direction of healthy eating.

Maria Emmerich as been my solution.

She doesn't offer any new shake mix you drink all day to get skinny....or a quick and easy pill.
What she does offer is....IN MY EYES.....is...
A lifestyle change of no processed foods, eating real foods that will bring about REAL results of healing, energy, freedom from aliments, clarity of the mind, and a new found enjoyment for ENJOYING the foods you eat.

Seeing the results is just an added bonus.:)

This journey may be long....but I am enjoying the experience.

So today....just some random thoughts on this new road to a NEW ME!

* Guess I will have to find a new home for my many "PETS!" hee hee hee.

BEST Creamy Pesto Dressing

I admit it.

I'm a salad dressing snob. And I have this dressing to blame for it.

In fact, this dressing has turned even my extremely NOT picky husband into a salad dressing snob!

True story.

The beauty of this dressing (originally found from the lovely people at Copykat here ) is that it's super easy to whip up. The downside of this dressing is that you have to exude the patience of Job to refrain from eating it while it chills for at least 3-4 hours...(overnight is best).

And versatility! This heaven-sent sauce is a fabulous marinade for chicken or pork. It's a to-die-for accompaniment slathered on a grilled bun and paired with grilled chicken; sharp cheddar; crispy, salty bacon and cool, crisp lettuce - you could even add some sliced avocado for some additional healthy fats!
(guess what I had for lunch today?) :o)

And, obviously, it takes the average-joe salad and transforms it into heavenly goodness.

Ok, are you sick of me talking about it now?

I guess you're looking for the recipe so you can RUN - not walk - to your kitchen to make this marriage of flavors happen!

Alright....here it is. Prepare to want to eat salad every day for the rest of your life!

Creamy Pesto Dressing

(found at The Old Spaghetti Factory)

Note: I have slightly modified this recipe to better suit my tastes - (remember you can find the original here )

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup light olive oil
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup buttermilk *
• *(this also works with unsweetened, plain almond milk - just don't use vanilla. Ask me how I know.)
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons crushed dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced (when I'm in a hurry, I will use 1 tsp of garlic powder - works just fine and gives a slightly milder flavor vs. fresh. Go with whatever works for you.)
• 5-6 dashes hot pepper sauce (I use Tabasco)

Instructions

Whisk together oil and mayonnaise. Add buttermilk, cheese, basil, salt, garlic and hot pepper sauce to taste. Mix thoroughly. Cover and let flavors meld overnight in refrigerator. Decant into a pretty recycled glass bottle and serve! (All those pretty balsamic vinegar and olive oil bottles?? Don't throw them away - they're perfect for this!)

"Porkin' Out" Italian Meatball Subs

Pork, it's what's for suppa.

We recently filled our second freezer with 140 plus lbs. of pork fresh from our local organic supplier! Bless them for providing families with SAFE alternatives to what is offered in the grocery stores.

So....remember to THANK your local suppliers for ALL THEY DO! It is NOT an easy task these days to stay fully organic in their farming practices.

 The kiddos and I  even got the privilege of meeting our little piggy back in October. How cool is that? All cute and running around joyously with the rest of the little piggies....not knowing they would go to market.:) Oh... and this little piggy SO WENT TO MARKET!!!!

Well, today I thought it was high time I try my hand at making something with our pork!:)

Thus, the idea for a DELISH Italian Style Meatball Sub!!!

Since I am on a low carb, no sugar "lifestyle change." I thought this recipe could totally work for our family!

 Yes, I did say "totally"!!!  I am an 80's child!:) 

I got out a one pound package of ground pork. In a large mixing bowl I combined 1 1/2 cups unbleached almond flour, 1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning, a few sprigs of fresh cilantro, 1 tsp. oregano, 1 tsp. basil, fresh ground black pepper, a pinch of Celtic sea salt, and probably 3 tbsp of garlic powder. Really, I NEVER measure anything...I guess my mama trained me well!!! In the future, I will try to take note of these things! I guess I get all wrapped up in the moment of "COOKING SPLENDOR!"

mixed it up....

rolled it into little piggy balls...

since butter and coconut oil are "safe fats," I fried their little butter balls in butter....

can I get a SIZZLE?

meanwhile.... I "buttered my buns" with you guessed it...MORE BUTTER and a happy sprinkling of garlic powder.

 If you noticed all ready....a few of the buns are darker in color. Those are my "healthified" buns compliments of Maria Emmerich's Sub bread recipe. She has saved all of us Low Carb, No Sugar kinda people who would be LOST without our bread!

Then came the assembly......

topped the buns with a low sugar spaghetti sauce I had on hand, then the browned meatballs, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Something I recently learned from Maria Emmerich..... never buy pre-shredded cheese! Notice how the cheese never clumps together in the bag? That is because the cheese is treated with chemicals. Always buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself.

Popped these babies in the oven on 350 for 10 minutes...AND....
 It was a "Pig Out party!"

*kid tested....mother on a healthier journey approved!*

Easy Peasy Cucumber Salad

I miss chips.

I'll be honest...there's something so satisfying about a nice crunch to accompany a meal.

Since chips are another "off limits" item on our newfound way of eating, I had to find something to satisfy my need for that crunch factor.

Enter...The Cucumber.

The Cucumber is a veggie I used to always overlook. It seemed bland, uninteresting. boring.

I was wrong.

Although this time of year, the cukes in the stores leave much to be desired, this salad still turns out to be a fabulous find! I can only imagine how amazing it will be when I can go out to my garden in the summer heat and pick a truly FRESH cuke, right from our own vines!Until that glorious day, I will appease my appetite with this delicious salad.

This is one of my very *favorite* sides right now. Quick and easy to throw together, the fresh crunch and perfect combo of tangy vinegar, creamy mayo and the slight sweetness of xylitol or stevia is the ideal combination for most any meal.

So easy! Here goes...

Peel and slice cucumber to your desired thickness. (Nevermind the much-loved,
oft-used cutting board there...)  :o)



Then mix 1-2 Tbs. Mayonnaise (I like Spectrum organic brand, but use any you like)
A splash of apple cider vinegar, maybe 1 Tbs-or to make it to your desired thickness. This is really all about what you like! ;-)
A pinch of xylitol or stevia
Black pepper to taste



Now toss in your sliced cuke...



Stir til evenly coated with your tangy, creamy sauce. Mmmmm.....



And of course, taste to make sure it is divine!



Hope this simple side is one you will enjoy whenever you need some crunch with your meal.

*of course you could also add some thinly sliced onion --- I usually do, but have been refraining since I'm pretty sure my little nursing baby wouldn't enjoy that. ;-)

Brown Sugar Maple Sausage

I adore brown sugar/ maple sausage.

The perfect marriage of savory and sweet flavors has always held an undeniably special place in my heart. Paired with a stack of pancakes, waffles, or - my favorite - the classic breakfast sandwich with egg and cheese layered between an english muffin! Alas, in this new low-carb lifestyle, things with sugar or maple syrup are big no-no's.

What's a sweet sausage lover to do??

Get CREATIVE!

Here's what I came up with...and I love it!

Take a pound or two of thawed breakfast sausage and press it evenly into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. (Using one pound will give you really thin sausage patties - two pounds will, obviously, give you thicker patties.)

Once your sausage is patted out (I actually use a fork to do mine - I don't like raw-meat fingers. Blech!), take about a tablespoon - I just used my fingers here and grabbed a big pinch - and sprinkle Just Like Brown Sugar over the top.

Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes or until done to your liking.

Once cool, slice into 12 squares (these are your patties)! Voi'la!

You are now set for brown sugar/ maple sausage patties! I immediately enjoyed one of mine on a delicious, protein filled, low carb breakfast sandwich...even though it was lunch time. :o) (recipe for the "bread" to be posted another day!) Let's be honest a perfect breakfast sandwich is welcome any time of day!

Are you a sweet sausage lover or do you prefer yours completely savory? 
Just for the record, I've never met a sausage I didn't like...

We're pretty new to this blogging thing. I'll *try* to take photos of the things I post next time!