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

Challenge Day #2

My husband says that I find something I like and I can have it everyday lol... actually, I'm a lazy cook.  The kitchen has never been my favorite place so I l-o-v-e leftovers!!!

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

Snack: Sweet Breakfast Sausage, Turkey
[Dr. Myers recipe, pg 256]

Lunch: Pseudo Waldorf Chicken Salad & Roasted Veggies
[So, the 'pseudo' part is without the raisins or nuts... otherwise, my Waldorf salad!

Veggies:  zucchini squash, yellow squash, carrots and butternut squash]

Snack: Cinnamon Apple Crisp
[Dr. Myers recipe pg 265]

Dinner: Beef
[Yes... basically, just some cooked ground beef! We had to run an errand after work and got caught in traffic so we stopped for a bite to eat.  That's all I could find on the menu.]

Snack:  Banana

Challenge Day #1

Today marks the first day of my 30-day Myers Way challenge!! Since I have already given up my comfort foods (dark chocolate, nuts, red wine), it wasn't bad at all.  Here's what I ate:

Breakfast:  Sweet Potato Hash
[Started with an upset stomach from eating-out over the weekend; no protein shake this morning.  I decided to just cook sweet potato cubes in coconut oil & sprinkled them with cinnamon.]

Snack: Cinnamon Apple Crisp
[This is one of Dr. Myers' recipes; page 265. It's delicious -- I feel guilty eating it!]

Lunch: Sweet Apple Breakfast Sausage, Turkey
[This is one of Dr. Myers' recipes; page 256. Make it the night before; eat it cold or hot]

Snack: Leftover Roasted Vegetables

Dinner:  Gluten-Free Turkey Sausage, 1/2 Sweet Potato & Protein Shake
[This is weird, right?! It's an easy meal night.  And yes - Dr. Myers does allow sausage on this diet as long as it's gluten-free. I bought it at the whole food store and my husband grilled it.  

Sweet potato dressed with 1 tsp coconut oil & cinnamon.  

Protein shake made of 1/2 cup water, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 3 strawberries (all frozen), 1 tbsp protein powder, 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, 1/2 cup ice and some spinach; super delicious!]

The name of the book is called, 'The Autoimmune Solution' by Amy Myers, MD.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
John 10:27

What Are YOU Eating??!

I've been testing out some recipes before I start my 30-day challenge... I've actually been pleasantly surprised how much I like them! Here's what I ate today:

Breakfast: Smoothie
One of my favorites... 1/2 cup water, dash of protein powder, 1 frozen banana, 4 frozen cherries, a small slice of melon, spinach, 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla and some ice. (This smoothie is usually shared with 2 other people).

Snack: Sweet Potato Crinkles
I buy these in small bags from a local grocery store.  They're organic and pre-sliced.  It takes 5 minutes to cook them over the stove.  Use 1 tablespoon coconut oil, flip them occasionally, sprinkle with cinnamon right before you take them out.  

Lunch: Tuna Salad with Avocado
I know, I know... mercury.  I'm trying to get away from it but it's so easy and convenient. There's no need to prep the night before.  It takes about 5 minutes before I leave the house.

Snack: Baked Apples
This is easy, delicious and it satisfies my sweet tooth! Just peel a few apples, cut them in small pieces, add a little olive oil and cinnamon.  Put them in the microwave for 8-10 minutes with a little water in the bottom of the bowl.  Drain.

Dinner: Brisket & Acorn Squash
The brisket was leftover; I just heated it up. The acorn squash was from Dr. Myer's book.  I think I'll cook it a little longer next time and allow it to cook longer with the coconut oil and cinnamon.

I can definitely feel a difference since I gave up so many inflammatory foods & drinks!


"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Hebrews 13:8

Tropical Smoothie

Tropical Smoothie... it even sounds good, doesn't it?!  It stirs up images of sunny skies, sandy beaches and tiny umbrella drinks.  Okay, so this doesn't look like one of those drinks but it tastes just like a pina colada.  Not only that, it's super simple to make!  Place the following ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth:

Ingredients:

1-2 cups water
1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 cups greens 
1/4 cup pineapple
1/4 cup mango
1 banana, frozen
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/2 cup ice
1 tablespoon protein powder, optional

Use your favorite leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, chard, collard greens, etc) for the '2 cups greens.'  They're chock-full of protein so the protein powder is an optional ingredient. If you're new to green smoothies, I recommend spinach for your first shake; it has very little flavor.

The chia seeds and frozen banana are what makes the smoothie thicker.  I usually start out with 1 1/2 cups of water and add more as it's blending if it's too thick.  

You're gonna love this smoothie!

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

Almondless Joy Bar

Do you like Almond Joy bars??  These bars taste just like the famous candy bar except without the almonds.  This is good and bad... they're delicious but my family has discovered my yummy hashi treat now, too!  So we make a bigger batch :-)

These are super simple to make.  You just throw all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend them together.  Here are the ingredients:

3 cups large coconut flakes
1 tsp protein powder
1/4 tsp salt
5 medjool dates
2 tbsp maple syrup
3-4 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp dark chocolate powder
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 packs stevia

Spray a mini-loaf baking pan with extra virgin olive oil.  Add 2 tablespoons of the mix to each well; press mixture to fit mold.  Refrigerate for one hour before serving.  Keep unused bars in refrigerator until ready to be served.

Like always, use organic products.  If you're new to eating organic, these ingredients can all be found at your local whole foods store.  The maple syrup is pure -- not the kind in the cereal aisle next to the pancake mix!  The label should indicate 'maple syrup' as the sole ingredient.  Choose a dark chocolate that is 85-90% dark chocolate as well as soy and dairy-free.  The maple syrup and dates will sweeten the bars.

By the way, I would add the almonds but nuts are on my inflammatory foods list.  

"My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste."  Proverbs 24:13

Hummus

Do you miss ranch dressing on your veggies?!  If you're dairy and soy-free like me, you probably miss that creamy dip that usually accompanies the veggie platter, right?  Raw vegetables just don't seem to have quite the same level of appeal without it.  But I'm on a quest to eat more vegetables. So when the veggie platter is passed around the table, having a hashi-friendly dip makes them much more palatable for me.  So I decided to try some hummus.



So what exactly is hummus, you ask?

Here's how Wikipedia defines it:  "Hummus or houmous is a Levantine food dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic."  One tablespoon contains about 2 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber; and one serving is only 25 calories.  
Tonight, I tried the product pictured above:  Tribe.  And guess what?  I ate some vegetables!  Check out the product descriptions on their website; they are gluten, soy and dairy free.  Plus, they have an organic product line and 17 different flavors.  Let me know which one is your favorite.

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

A Full Day of Meals

Veggies, veggies, veggies… are you getting enough in your diet?!!  I struggle with it every day.  For me, the most difficult part of eating healthy isn't giving up bread or dessert; it’s eating my vegetables.  I'm making progress though.  I'm guessing I'm not the only one with Hashimoto’s disease that’s having trouble inviting leafy green things to dinner.  So I thought I would share a full day of meals with you and hopefully give you some new ideas.

Breakfast:

Scrambled eggs and ham.  Simple, high in protein and keeps my sugar level steady.  And yes, bacon too if you like it!

Lunch:

Smoothie: Blend 2 cups of greens, ¼ of a medium cucumber, 2 tablespoons of pure protein, and 2 cups of water.  After that is blended, add 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, 1 frozen banana, 2 frozen cherries, and 6 frozen strawberries (I've been perfecting this recipe for a while and I can tell you that it’s a bit sour without the 2 cherries).  This recipe makes two 16 ounce drinks or four 8 ounce drinks.

Tuna Salad:  Mix sliced celery and pickles, one avocado.  Drain a can of soy-free tuna in water; add it to the veggie mix and pour 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over it.  Then add some organic honey mustard and blend it all together.

Dinner:

Quinoa:  cook quinoa in a rice cooker; substitute one cup of water with 8 ounces of organic chicken broth.  Season to taste.

Squash and Zucchini:  grill or sauté these veggies in some extra virgin olive oil; chop up in bite-sized pieces.  Season to taste.

Chicken:  organic rotisserie chicken chopped up, heated and mixed with quinoa and veggies.

I hope this helps you add at least one thing to your meals that you enjoy. 

Eat well Hashi’s!

“The Lord’s name is a strong tower; the righteous run to him, and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10

Marinara Chicken & Quinoa

OK... so, I have to confess that I didn't actually cook the chicken in this recipe!  I bought an organic rotisserie chicken from the whole food store.  But you could grill some chicken and flavor it up the way you like.  My husband usually cooks on the grill but the weather hasn't been bbq friendly lately.  If you're pressed for time or don't own a grill, the rotisserie choice is the best option anyway.

Ingredients:

Small rotisserie chicken, plain

1 jar marinara sauce, organic

1 cup quinoa

1 oz chicken broth, organic

1 tsp italian seasoning

1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

Optional:

vegetables (peas, carrots, zucchini)

Directions:  

1. Prepare quinoa as directed on the package; however, replace 1 oz of water with 1 oz of organic chicken broth.  Add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.  

2. Dice the boneless, skinless chicken into bite size pieces.  Place in a large casserole dish.

3. Add the cooked quinoa to the casserole dish.

4. Pour in the marinara sauce and the italian seasoning.

5. Add vegetables as desired.

6. Cook in covered dish for 25 minutes at 350*.

This really turned out good; my husband thinks the kids would even like it with a little parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.  

Remember, quinoa is a seed that's high in protein -- it's not a grain.  It cooks up just like rice; the box I bought even has directions to cook it in a rice cooker.  During the warm months, we'll set it outside in a rice cooker and cook the chicken on the grill!  

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1

Quinoa

Pronounced "keen-wah."  

Did you know that the United Nations proclaimed 2013 as the 'International Year of Quinoa'? That alone makes you wonder what all the fuss is about this little gem, doesn't it?  Here's what I've learned about it so far... it contains all of the amino acids (protein); it's a good source of iron, magnesium, vitamin E, potassium and fiber; it cooks and tastes a lot like rice; it's gluten-free, easy to store; and you can use it as a part of any meal.

I actually have a recipe on the blog already with quinoa -- the spaghetti and meatballs recipe. I didn't realize that it was such a powerhouse of a food source at the time though -- I just stumbled on it when I was shopping for some gluten-free pasta options.  My husband recently made some regular quinoa with kale as a side dish... I was pleasantly surprised how much I actually liked it!  Just put some extra virgin olive oil on it with a little salt & pepper.  

I'm going to try out some quinoa breakfast recipes.  I'd really like to find something that I can make the night before so it's ready in the morning!  If I find it, I'll post it for you. If you find it, please share it with us!!

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy."  Col 1:11

My First Year

A little over one year ago, a friend of mine suggested that I read a book that was authored by a pharmacist with Hashimoto’s Disease.  The book is called, “Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis:  Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause” by Izabella Wentz, PharmD.  This book was the beginning of my nutritional quest for wellness.  It was the first time since my diagnosis in 2009 that I realized so many of my symptoms were caused by what I ate.  In fact, not a single medical person ever mentioned a correlation between food and autoimmune disease in the six years of constant blood draws and doctors’ appointments.  The assessment was always the same; I was obviously noncompliant with my T4 medication.

So about 15 months ago, my husband and I decided to give Dr. Wentz’ advice a try and start an elimination diet to see if it made any difference in my symptoms (he doesn't have an autoimmune disease – he’s just my rock… he did it with me for moral support!).  Now before you decide to try it yourself, you should know that the first few days were pure misery… we were hungry, unhappy and highly irritable! But -- we were determined.  What finally got us through that first week turned out to be a really good blender!  We discovered smoothies and from that week on, that delicious liquid meal became a staple in our house.

Eventually we figured out how and what to eat.  And I have to tell you that within one week of being gluten-free, that bloated feeling in my tummy had disappeared; and without any dairy in my diet, the aches and pains in my hands were gone.  My antibody level went from 890 to 240 that year (before I started on a natural hormone).  Yes, I know that number’s still a significant indicator of an autoimmune disease, but it’s definitely clear that we were headed in the right direction… for that, I was very thankful.

Have we figured everything out?  No, but we learn something new every day!  In fact, my blood glucose levels have been abnormally low with my last two lab results.  My practitioner explained that even though I was eating healthy, I had too much fruit (sugar) in my diet.  I had no idea that simply eating a piece of fruit with each meal would drop my sugar levels to that degree… so, less fruit – more vegetables from now on.  But even with that small setback, I realize what an amazing difference the right food has had on my wellbeing – both mentally and physically.  I still don't know the names of all the vegetables in the fresh food aisle, but I’m learning.  And with your help, I hope to learn new recipes and share them on this blog so that everybody on this journey can enjoy them!

Eat well Hashi’s.

Mashed Cauliflower

Holiday dinner just isn't the same without mashed potatoes, right?  I have a Hashimoto's solution for you -- mashed cauliflower.  I know, I know... cauliflower was never in my grocery cart before either! But if I like it, I think you'll like it too. It really is delicious. Hey -- Ruby Tuesdays has it on their menu so obviously I'm not the only one that thinks it's good!

Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower 

2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt & pepper

It's super easy to make (no peeling required). Cut up a head of cauliflower. Bring water to a simmer (enough to cover it) and place cauliflower in pot; cover and cook for 12-15 minutes. Drain water but reserve 1/4 cooking liquid. Place cauliflower in food processor or mash with potato masher to desired consistency.  Add small portions of olive oil and reserved cooking liquid until you like the consistency.  Add pinch of salt & pepper. Serve. 

How easy is that?!  Give it a try. 

"With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all."  Acts 4:33