Roasted Veggies & Sausage

Wow -- this meal was awesome!!! My husband always seems to take my bland recipes and turn them into something delicious :-)

We started with the roasted veggie recipe from one of my Hashimoto's Facebook posts; we added a little garlic and onion to give it more flavor.  Aside from that, there is just a little spaghetti sauce and some sausage. You'll love it!!

Ingredients:
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
3 carrot sticks, peeled and diced
1 yellow squash, sliced
1 ciabatta squash, sliced
1/4 yellow onion, diced
1 garlic clove, diced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp McCormick's Grill Mate Montreal Steak Seasoning
1 link of Pederson's Uncured, Smoked Kielbasa, sliced
1 cup Dave's Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce

Note:  all of the ingredients are organic, gluten- and dairy-free.

Place all of the veggies in a roasting dish; cover with extra virgin olive oil and McCormick's seasoning -- blend. Add the kielbasa and spaghetti sauce.  Cover.  Cook ~ 45 minutes at 350*.

That's it -- simple, right?!! 

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."  Revelation 3:20

Quick N'Easy Yellow Rice Medley

This is one of my favorite dishes to make after I get home from work -- quick and easy!!! The yellow rice is full of flavor so you don't have to add any other spices.

Ingredients:
1 package Mahatma Saffron Yellow Rice
3 carrots, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced
1 cup rotisserie chicken, optional
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups water


See -- simple, right??!

Coat the bottom of your rice cooker with the olive oil; add ingredients.  Use enough water to cover everything.  Turn on your rice cooker and you have a nice meal in about 40 minutes.

I use organic vegetables and chicken.  I usually pick up an organic rotisserie chicken at the whole food store.  Walmart sells organic veggies and the Mahatma rice.

*Click on the link to view the Mahatma rice ingredients and allergy information.  This particular flavor is gluten and dairy free.

"A land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey."  Deuteronomy 8:8

Strawberry Milkshake (NOT!)

My husband said that the smoothie I made today tasted just like a strawberry milkshake!!!  It's actually dairy-free but very rich and smooth... you'll love it!

I use a lot of different protein products but you can actually double up on whatever protein powder you use.  I definitely recommend that you use a scoop of JJ's all-in-one because it adds extra vanilla flavor.

Ingredients
2 frozen bananas
2 frozen strawberries, large
6 frozen cherries
1 cup So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk
1 scoop JJ Virgin's Vanilla All-In-One Shake (paleo)
1 Tbsp Great Lakes Gelatin (kosher beef)
1 Tbsp Great Lakes (porcine gelatin)  
1 cup ice cubes

I mix this in the blender -- twice -- to make it really smooth.  

Tips:
a) 2 frozen bananas make a big difference as opposed to a single banana
b) I buy organic frozen fruit in the 2 lb bags (Walmart)
c) The ice cubes are going to make this taste like a milkshake -- don't leave it out!


"Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!"  Proverbs 9:17

I'm Okay With It

Yesterday was day #11 and I can honestly say that my symptoms were no better than before I started the 30-day challenge.  That's not to say I don't recommend that you try it... I'm just saying I don't think it was right for me.

Prior to day #1, I had been gluten and dairy free for over two years. I attribute those two changes to the health improvements I have had since I was diagnosed in 2013.  My thyroid antibodies dropped from 890 to 150 and I'm still working on <35.  Last month, I took a break from red wine, nuts, chocolate, eggs and bacon; it definitely improved my digestive symptoms.  

At this point, I think it's safe to say that I've eliminated anything that might be upsetting my system.  And quite honestly, my life is too busy to eat like a caveman! Like I said before, breakfast and lunch aren't difficult to keep up with but the dinner meal is a whole other story.  Food is social. My life is busy. 

So, I'm not throwing-in the towel -- just reanalyzing. I'm convinced that if all I eat from now on is very bland, unseasoned and completely natural food, I would still have digestive issues.  It is what it is.  And I'm okay with where I'm at now. Life is good :-)

Challenge Day #7

So, I'm just adding turmeric to everything now...  it doesn't really have any flavor and it's supposed to be good for inflammation.  I've ordered some of the unflavored protein powder so I can make some of those turmeric gummie bears.  I'll let you know when I make them.

Breakfast: Sweet Potato Hash
[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon - love this stuff!]

Lunch: Beef Fajita Meat 
[That's all I had -- with some grilled onion.  I'm so glad Dr. Myers' challenge includes onion -- they're so sweet when they're cooked].

Snack: Protein Shake & Coconut Bar
[Shake: 1/2 cup water, 1 banana & 5 cherries (all frozen), spinach, 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, 1 tbsp protein powder, and ice.

Coconut Bar Recipe: 3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes, large; 2 tbsp protein powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tbsp coconut butter, 5 medjool dates, 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup coconut flour. Mix all ingredients in a food processor. Place in mini-loaf pan (8 bins) and refrigerate overnight].

Dinner: Grilled Chicken & Veggies 
[We ate leftover grilled chicken with some fresh roasted vegetables.  My husband grilled the chicken -- delicious! I made a pot of zucchini, yellow squash and carrots; added 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil, turmeric, sea salt and pepper and he grilled that, too.]


"Bear one another's burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Gal 6:4

Challenge Day #6

Busy, busy day!!! I have a scout troop that meets on Saturdays so not much time to think about cooking.  Luckily, I wasn't very hungry today.

Breakfast: Protein Shake & Hashimoto's Kitchen Coconut Bar
[Shake: 1/2 cup water, collard greens, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 3 strawberries (all frozen), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, 1 tbsp protein powder, and ice.

The coconut bar was a little more formed this morning after refrigeration all night. Still working on how to bind it together but it's still delicious!].

Lunch: Leftover Grilled Chicken & Zucchini
[I told you -- I love leftovers!!]

Snack: Hashimoto's Kitchen Coconut Bar

Dinner: Grilled Steak
[My husband spoils me... he grilled steak for dinner!  That's all I had -- not very hungry].


"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Phil 4:13

Challenge Day #5

TGIF...  

Breakfast: Protein Shake
[1/2 cup water, 1 tbsp protein powder, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 3 strawberries (all frozen), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, collard greens and ice].

Snack: Sweet Potato Hash
[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon]

Lunch: Chicken and Veggies
[Leftover chicken and veggies (zucchini and yellow squash) from last night's dinner].

Snack: Homemade Applesauce
[Best applesauce you will ever eat! So simple to make. Peel and dice ~5 of your favorite apples; place in a microwave bowl. Coat with 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil and cinnamon. Cover bowl with plate, leaving an opening for steam. Cook on high for 8-10 minutes. Blend the finished apples to the desired consistency].

Dinner: Grilled Chicken & Zucchini
[I'm so blessed that my husband loves to grill! Not sure how he prepped the chicken but he knows what I can't have.  It was all delicious].

Snack: Hashimoto's Non-chocolate Coconut Bar
[I was craving coconut since I used to have my Hashimoto's Coconut Bars all the time. Since they included dark chocolate and pure maple syrup, I couldn't eat them during the challenge. So tonight I modified the recipe a bit.  They tasted delicious but didn't bind great. I'll figure that part out later.

Recipe: 3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes, large; 2 tbsp protein powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tbsp coconut butter, 5 medjool dates, 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup coconut flour. Mix all ingredients in a food processor. Place in mini-loaf pan (8 bins) and refrigerate for 1 hour].


"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Proverbs 16:24

Challenge Day #4

Whew!!! Eating right means planning, shopping, cooking... sometimes not necessarily in that order lol.  I'm doing well with breakfast and lunch; most of that is done the night before; dinner still needs a little work.  No wonder drive-thru windows have always been so appealing to me :-)


Breakfast: Protein Shake
[1/2 cup of water, 1 tbsp protein powder, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 2 strawberries (all frozen), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, collard greens, and ice].

Snack: Sweet Potato Hash
[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon]

Lunch: Meatballs & Veggies
[Dr. Myers' meatball recipe with roasted carrots and yellow squash]

Snack: Tuna Salad
[Soy-free tuna with avocado, celery and extra virgin olive oil.  Not as exciting without my usual honey mustard and sweet pickles but it was good - enough].

Dinner: Organic Chicken with Steamed Veggies & Homemade Applesauce
[So, dinner was about 2 hours later than usual tonight... had to run to the grocery store and then cook my food! 

I actually steamed my veggies in the rice cooker - minus the rice.  Just chopped the veggies and place them in the rice cooker bowl.  Add 1/8 cup safflower oil, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper; add water until veggies covered. I let the veggies steam for about 25 minutes and turned it off.  I just topped the rotisserie chicken with the steamed veggies; it was actually really good. 

The applesauce is easy-peasy. Peel and dice your favorite apples (~ 5), place them in a microwave bowl; add 1/2 cup water, 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with cinnamon. Stir. Cover the bowl with a plate leaving a small opening for steam. Cook for 10 minutes.  Spoon into a blender for about 30 seconds; add remaining juice from bowl to desired consistency]. 

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise."
Jeremiah 17:14

Challenge Day #3

Are you guys taking the challenge?  Please share your favorite recipes! 

Breakfast: Protein Shake

[1/2 cup water, 1 tbsp protein powder, 1 banana & 5 cherries (all frozen), slice of melon, 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, collard greens, and ice].

Snack: Sweet Potato Hash

[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon - love this stuff!]

Lunch: Salad
[Forgot to get organic chicken so my lunch was very dull lol. Lettuce, cucumbers, dried cranberries and olive oil.  Definitely not a satiating meal].

Snack: Brisket

Dinner: Meatballs & Roasted Veggies
[Dr. Myers' meatball recipe with pesto sauce. Roasted some carrots and yellow squash with a little seasoning].


"Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."
John 6:35