Onion Rings

So I cleaned my house this morning from top to bottom.  In tidying up the kitchen, I realized that I have an insane amount of onions.  Not that this is a bad thing - onions are one of my favorite foods.  But what does one do with a pile of onions? 

One Googles 'Onion recipes' of course.  

The recipe at the top of the list was for Onion Rings.

Like most Americans, I have a genetic love for fried foods.  I won't pretend for a moment that grease is healthy, or something to indulge in regularly, but I just couldn't resist. 

The recipe I chose was super easy - but needed a bit of tweaking.  the first batch didn't turn out so well.  Couldn't get the batter to stick.  (they still tasted great, I mean, they're onions, they always taste great)

The Second batch went much better, and by the time I had fried up an en entire onion, I pretty much had it down to a science. Adapted from allrecipes.com  

Heat 2 - 3 cups oil in a deep-ish frying pan or wok. (the recipe says to heat to 365° F, but I don't have a thermometer, so I have no idea how hot it really was)




 Mix 1 cup white whole wheat flour with 1/4 cup of seasoned salt (I didn't have seasoned salt, so I used my own blend of garlic salt, celery salt, Garlic powder, and Mrs. Dash Table Blend)  Add 1 cup of milk, and mix until smooth.  Add more Milk if necessary until the batter is like a thick soup. 

Slice 1 large red onion in 1/3" slices and separate the rings.  Dip the rings into the batter and drop them into the hot oil six or seven at a time.  In retrospect, I should have taken note of the length of time that I fried these darling little treats, but it didn't occur to me as I was busy trying not to drool on them)  I'm guessing each wok-full fried for about 4 minutes, maybe 5.  I turned the onions with a pair of tongs a couple of times. 

Dry on a paper towel.  Sprinkle with Sea Salt.

I love onion rings.  Who knew making onion rings could be so easy? 

I hope your new year is filled with good food and incredible health!
Happy New Year,
JamiK

Holiday Musings

Here I am. . . . . at the end of my first year without sugar.  I realize that I did not live entirely without sugar.  July August & September were pretty shady months.  Not that I was running around snorting pixie sticks, but I was not paying that much attention.  The little things slipped through the cracks.  As I look to 2011, I am anticipating another year without the inGREEDient.  More planning, better knowledge, more resources . . . . maybe these things will help me to do better. 

I know that I have not even begun to scratch the surface of truly healthy living.  I wish I could choose only organic products - I wish I could grow all of my own vegetables - I wish I could raise my own grass-fed beef. . . . etc. etc. etc.  It is not to be - at least not at this juncture in my life.  Unless someone wants to turn my blog into a movie, these things are just to far outside of my budget. 

While home with my family for Christmas, I read Dr. Mercola's Total Health Cookbook & Program.  I don't know if I buy into the 'Eat for your body type' philosophy, but I am quite thrilled that it contains 150 grain free recipes.  Dr Mercola's philosophy includes the conversion to a completely organic lifestyle with an emphasis on animal products and vegetables with a minimum of grains, starches, and fruits.  I struggle the most with the lack of fruit in this particular prescription.  

I have tried some of the fad diets - Atkins, South Beach, I think I even tried the cabbage soup diet for a short time.  Any diet can help you lose weight.  Simply by eliminating a food group, or by halving one's calories it follows that weight loss would be the result.  

I have noticed lately that I have often dwelt on and expounded upon the weight loss aspect of my decision to give up sugar.  Don't get me wrong, after more than a decade of struggling with my weight, I am thrilled to have lost weight.  What's even better is that it takes very little effort on my part to maintain my new weight.  More importantly, though, my health has been transformed.  I do feel vital.  I wake up every day with a new plan to conquer the universe.  No matter how overstated a cliche, it is so true that only a change in lifestyle, not just a temporary fast or binge, is what enables us to change the course of our health.  

Yes, I do wish for a Pepsi now and again.  I wish for the simplicity of boxed dinners that only require adding water to make them 'food'.   I wish that dark chocolate bars didn't contain sugar.  Wishing doesn't make things happen.  Action makes things happen.  So I am going to act in such a way that my health continues to progress from that of an average person to the point where people start wondering if I'm really a super-hero.

I have two major goals for the first quarter of 2011: 

1. No more Vitamin Water (or similar beverages).  I have been telling myself that these drinks are acceptable because they are sweetened with a stevia product.  The problem is, I suspect that the sweetener used is far more processed than mere ground stevia leaf.  It's back to water and unsweetened tea for me.
2. I am going to drastically cut back on the amount of pasta I eat despite the fact that I adore pasta.  OK.  Here's the truth.  I detest whole wheat pasta.  I can never seem to cook it properly.  Either I don't cook it enough, and it is tough, or I cook it too much and it becomes mush.  Either way, I just don't like it.  So I have continued to eat regular pasta.  White flour, however is generally considered as unhealthy as sugar itself - having had all the nutrition refined out of it.  An anti-nutrient, if you will. 

Right now I have no idea how to fill in the pasta gap, but I'm sure I'll manage.  Your suggestions are always welcome.  More experimentation with strange foods I've never tried before?  Probably.  Will they all turn out perfectly?  Probably not.  Such is life - trial and error.  No one gets it right all the time.  Success rarely presents itself without a fight.  I shall leave you tonight with a quote. 

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Teddy Roosevelt

Strive Valiantly!
Dare Greatly!
Avoid Sugar!

JamiK

Spicing Up An Old Favorite

I woke up this morning with a hankering for flavor.  I'd been planning on meatloaf, but somehow it didn't seem all that exciting.  However, since I had all the ingredients, I didn't want to put it off.  So here is my meatloaf recipe with a few changes to what I would normally make.  I don't believe I've ever actually referred to a recipe when making meatloaf.  As usual, I make things in large quantities, so this may be more than you want to make at once.  

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups chunky salsa (I used medium)
2 eggs
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375°
• Saute the chopped onions and minced garlic for about 2 to 3 minutes
• Combine ground beef, onions & garlic, oats, salsa, eggs, crushed red pepper & black pepper in a mixing bowl.
• Shape into a loaf in a large baking dish

• Bake for 45 minutes
• Pour 3/4 cup salsa over the top of the loaf 
• Replace meatloaf in the oven for an additional 45 minutes

My original recipe uses tomato sauce instead of the salsa, and does not contain the crushed red pepper.   Most of my oven time was covered, but I removed the cover on the baking dish about 10 minutes before it was done. 

Serve with vegetables, or whatever side you like.  

I have to say I think my imagination paid off this time.  The meatloaf was done to perfection - fully cooked, but not dried out.  The salsa and the crushed red pepper add the perfect ZING to a traditional dish.  I am quite delighted that I don't have to worry about lunch for the next few days

Add Spice to your life!

Enjoy your leftovers - avoid sugar!

JamiK

Ahhhh. . . . The Weekend.

I'm not quite sure how the week got away from me.  Wasn't it just Sunday?  I haven't tried any new recipes this week.  Leftover Chili, and a batch of pasta salad have been all I've had time for.  In a previous life, my friend Martin & I used to joke about finding a way to breach the time-space continuum - I wish that was a possibility.  

Tomorrow, I will be cooking.  Recipes to come.  

Do what you can to avoid the insanity.
Keep it together - avoid sugar.

JamiK

Sometimes You Have to Wait for It. Sometimes You Have to Work at It.



Sure, I'd like to make a wish and bring back the 70° weather we enjoyed here for most of October and part of November, but I'm pretty sure that I will have to wait until Spring.  Of course I'd love to be able to be able to pop a pill and magically have legs like Vera Ellen, but it's just not gonna happen. 

When the weather gets colder and I spend more time indoors listening to the radio or watching television, I am reminded of the insanity of our fast paced lives.  Sometimes I wonder if we all realize how much we have come to expect an 'easy button' for every aspect of our lives. 

Heard on the radio today:

"Remember the days of 'X' wonder drug?" (yeah, you know, that drug that is no longer on the market due to whatever tripped out side effects it caused)  "Wasn't it great how the pounds would just melt away and you could eat whatever you wanted?" (yeah, because it's so intuitive that results should appear out of nowhere) "Well now we would like to offer you a free trial of our new 'XX' wonder drug!"  It works even better than 'X', and the best part is, it doesn't have any of the old side effects!" (yeah, because it has new side effects that are probably worse than the old ones, but no one has noticed them yet).  I fell for the scheme when I was in college.  The only thing those pills ever did for me was give me case of the shakes that wouldn't go away for about six years.


I get so irritated with all the get rich quick and lose weight fast gimmicks out there.  We know they don't work. . . . if they did we would all be thin and rich.  Oooo, Oooo!!  I have an idea!  Maybe congress can legislate us some weight loss next year! 

What ever happened to good old fashioned determination and elbow grease?   You get what you pay for.  Garbage in, garbage out.  Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.  There are a host of sayings that speak to the probability that grit and perseverance are the best way to get something done. 

Oh, wait!  What about the 'my pain pill is better than your pain pill commercial'?  This is Jill, who took two 'Q' pills in the morning, two more with lunch, two with dinner, and another two pills before bed.  (insert breach of time-space continuum returning to the morning) This is Jill, who took two 'Z' pills in the morning and enjoyed the rest of her day. 

Now I realize that I am not what many would consider 'in the mainstream'; but really?  Who goes through life in constant pain and does nothing but pop over-the-counter pain pills to alleviate the agony?  Change your diet, exercise, see a chiropractor, see a doctor.  Get help.  Good grief people get a grip!  Treating symptoms is no way to cure a disease.  The key to happiness does not lie in a pain pill, a weight loss pill, or a get rich quick scheme.  For more inspiration, please see my post from 01/01/10 .

Don't give up on life if it isn't perfect, start working towards what you want.  Make a change, even if it is difficult.  Believe me, I realize that Vera Ellen's legs are a pretty lofty goal, but I am going to keep working towards them. 

There is no easy button for life.

Work Hard - Avoid Sugar

JamiK


p.s. I made a big ol' batch of chili yesterday - the perfect food to warm me back up after shovelling the driveway and walking the dog.  Chili Recipe here

I Wish I Had A Bigger Kitchen . . . . . And A Gas Range.

I am going to be doing dishes for the next three days . . . . . . . and eating pancakes for the rest of the week based on the fact that I spent nearly a weeks worth of my grocery budget on dinner tonight.  I wouldn't say it is my best dish, but with a little practice this recipe could make another appearance or two. 

Asparagus, Artichoke and Shiitake Risotto
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

8 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1 pound thin to medium asparagus,
        trimmed and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices, leaving tips 1 1/2 inches long
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
3/4 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms,
        stems discarded and caps cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
2 large fresh artichoke hearts,
       cut into 1/4 inch thick slices, prepared*
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 

• To prepare the artichokes, remove all the outer leaves, choke and stem of a whole artichoke, leaving just the heart.
• Cut the heart into 1/4 inch slices and toss it with lemon juice
• In a small pot, boil water with a slug or two of white wine, a splash of white vinegar and a smashed garlic clove
• Drop in the artichoke hearts with all of their lemon juice, and simmer them for about 20 minutes, or longer if needed for them to become tender.
• Drain and set them aside.
• Heat broth and water over high heat until it boils 
• Add asparagus and cook, uncovered for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove asparagus from the broth.
• Keep broth at a bare simmer, covered.
• Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat , saute mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 4 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a bowl.
• Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add wine and cook, stirring, until absorbed, 1 minute-ish
• Add 1 cup simmering broth and cook at a strong simmer, stirring, until absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Continue simmering and adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until absorbed before adding more, until rice is just tender and looks creamy, 25 to 30 minutes. (Save leftover broth for thinning.)
• Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese, remaining butter, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in asparagus, artichokes and mushrooms, then cover pan and let stand 1 minute.
• If desired, thin risotto with some of remaining broth.
• Serve immediately with remaining cheese on the side

The flavor of this dish is AMAZING.  Somehow, I didn't quite get the artichokes done right. . . . and had to put several pieces on the side of my plate . . . . . I am going to have to research artichokes.  Pictures of this dish from Smitten Kitchen are beautiful. . . . mine kind of look like mud.  I am going to blame the electric range for that.  It's so hard to get the temperature right on an electric range. 

Truth be told, I have no idea if there is any sugar in white wine.  I used a cheap chardonnay.  Does anyone know if there is sugar added to wine?  My thought is that wine is supposed to be just grapes. . . . . . anyone out there able to clarify?

Well, I had better go get to work on the dishes. 

Enjoy food - Avoid sugar.
JamiK

Whoa. . . . slow down there. . . .

I'm eating leftovers tonight.  And I'll probably be eating leftovers tomorrow as well.  I'm hoping to share another new recipe on Thursday. 
For now, though, please enjoy my sister's chicken dip recipe!

JulieK's Chicken Dip

2 pkgs cream cheese

¾ cup mayonnaise (Spectrum Canola Mayonnaise does not have sugar)

1 – 2 chicken breasts  cooked & shredded

16 oz shredded cheese (cheddar, colbyjack, etc)

1 jar mild or medium salsa

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 tbsp chicken bullion

Put it all in a crock pot and heat it up.


JamiK

You don't like what??

Most people gasp in astonishment when I say that I don't particularly like peanut butter.  It's not the taste, but the texture. . . . . It's not that I'm un-American, I just don't like the way it sticks to the roof of my mouth.  But, in breaking with 'life as usual' I bought a jar of peanut butter and made these tasty snack bars.

Recipe courtesy of my sister-in-law SamanthaK:)

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter (I used Smuckers Natural)
1 egg
½ cup honey
2 cups oatmeal oats
½ cup or as much as you would like of berries (dried cranberries, raisins, etc)
½ cup or as much as you would like of nuts (peanuts, sliced walnuts, etc)

Baking:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350*

2. Mix ingredients together in a bowl

3. Compress and mold into 3” x 1” and roughly ½” thick bars onto ungreased cookie sheet

4. Bake for 8 minutes or until brown (10 minutes is too long)
     **(Mine were a little thick - so I actually did bake them for 10 min)
5. Let cool, if bars do not cool all of the way they will fall apart. Once cool they stay together.
6. Makes about 15 bars.
7. Enjoy!

These peanut butter bars are actually quite yummy - they don't stick to the roof of my mouth!  They are sweet enough, too, that I do not even vaguely resent the gingerbread house I made over the weekend with some friends and their kids.  

It's a good thing I don't plan on eating this epic feat of art - it's about the only holiday-ish decoration I have in the house.

Have a fabulous evening!

Be American - Eat Peanut Butter!

Avoid Sugar!

JamiK

Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cider Reduction

I just made one of the most delightful dishes. 
It's amazing what one discovers when new things are attempted.

My sister-in-law HeatherK suggested the recipe for today's adventure

Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cider Reduction

(Courtesy of Aida Mollenkamp)

2 (1-lb) Pork Tenderloins cut in half (crosswise)

*** I substituted pork chops I had in my freezer in an attempt to use what I had on hand

Vegetable Oil

Salt

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

1/2 cups Apple Cider
1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

1/4 cup Pure Maple Syrup

Directions:

• Arrange an oven rack in the upper 1/3 of oven. Heat oven to 500 degrees F.
• Pat Pork Tenderloins dry with paper towel, brush with oil, and season well with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large frying pan over medium high heat and brown tenderloins on all sides.
•   Place Tenderloins on a baking sheet and place in oven about 15 minutes (10 min for pork chops)    

• Meanwhile, place frying pan over high heat and add cider and vinegar. Stir this until mixture is reduced by about 2/3.
• Reduce heat to medium, stir in maple syrup and remove from heat until pork is cooked.
• Warm sauce over medium-high heat, add pork and any accumulated juices and spoon sauce over meat to completely coat.

• When Pork is warm, remove it to the cutting board and slice thinly.
• Spoon pan sauce over the pork and serve

Total Prep time, cook time and cleanup time for this dish was about an hour. 

I think I have found a recipe worthy of being added to my favorites.  Yum Yum!!

Eat Well - Avoid Sugar!

JamiK

Crock-Pot Lasagna

OK . . . . . this is what I am prepping tonight to cook tomorrow.
My sister in law loves this recipe and has made it several times.


Crock-Pot Lasagna Recipe
(Courtesy of Jessica Seinfeld)
Ingredients

• 1 can (14.4 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 3 cloves garlic , finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 containers (15 ounces each) fresh ricotta
• 2 cups (8 ounces) grated mozzarella
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 12 lasagna noodles (about three-quarters of a 1-pound box)
• 5 ounces (about 6 cups) baby spinach

Directions

• In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, oregano, salt, red pepper and black pepper. In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, 1 cup of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
• In the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, spread a thin layer of the sauce. Top with 3 of the noodles (breaking to fit as necessary).
• Spread about 1 cup of the sauce over the noodles and layer with 2 cups of the spinach and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese mixture.
• Repeat twice more with the noodles, sauce, spinach and cheese mixture.
• Top with the remaining 3 noodles, sauce and 1 cup mozzarella.
• Cook on low, covered, until the noodles are tender—especially in the center of the lasagna—about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

Servings: Serves 6

***Update***
I couldn't wait until Friday . . . . . so I just ate dinner really late last night. 
Crock-Pot Lasagna = Awesome

My crock-pot has a four settings:  2 hr, 4 hr, 6 hr, & 8 hr.  I cooked my on the 6 hr setting for 3 1/2 hrs.

I do have to admit that I used regular pasta instead of whole wheat. . . . We'll try it with the whole wheat pasta next time.  This will probably entail a longer cook time.

Giving Up Greed - The Challenge

So the Holidays have begun. For most of us this means big meals, lots of sweets, and very little energy to care that it might not be that healthy. Because most of my family lives without or with very little sugar, I nearly made it through Thanksgiving without a hitch. We did,  however, have a run in with some 'real' chocolate chip cookies. I ate two of them.

Because I do my best to avoid sugar, I don't particularly worry about putting on holiday weight, but it might be something that you are worried about. In an effort to bulk up my recipe catalog and provide some helpful information to folks trying to give up the white stuff I have asked all my GREED-free friends and relatives for recipes. I will be trying a new recipe every other day for the next 3 weeks (ish) and posting them along with random commentary / observations for your reading enjoyment. I hope you will play along with me and see what you can do to give up the inGREEDient between now and Christmas.

Since I am still back home in Indiana for the next couple of days, MomK will be starting us off tomorrow with her amazing chicken noodle soup.  This has been one of my favorites since childhood.  It always tastes wonderful, there are always leftovers, and it is one of the most perfect 'cold weather' recipes one could find. (Post Thanksgiving, this can easily become Turkey Noodle Soup)


Ingredients:
1 whole or half chicken
3 - 4 large carrots, washed, sliced
3 - 4 celery stalks, washed, sliced
Optional veggies - frozen corn & green beans
1 large onion, cut in quarters or eighths
2 cloves of Garlic - minced
1 bag 'Reames' frozen Egg noodles
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp Parsley

Directions:
Boil chicken until cooked through
Remove chicken from broth, let cool, and pick the meat off the bones.
Add carrots, celery, onion, corn, green beans (or any veggies you wish) & garlic and resume boil.  Add 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, and 2 Tbsp parsley.
Add Reames noodles and continue boiling until noodles are cooked. 
Add Chicken

Eat well - but avoid sugar
JamiK

Garlic is Good

I have the unfortunate habit of getting into food ruts. If I like it . . . . I make it over and over again until I realize that I'm growing bored. Thanks to all my friends who responded to the request for recipes! I'll be sharing many of them with you over the next few weeks. Right now my house smells like garlic - and I love it.

At the suggestion of my friend Joscelynn, I made the most delicious chicken for dinner.

40 Cloves and a Chicken

(courtesy of Alton Brown)

1 whole chicken (broiler/fryer) cut into 8 pieces

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

10 sprigs fresh thyme

40 peeled cloves of Garlic

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 350° F

Season the chicken with salt & pepper

Toss with 2 Tbsp olive oil and brown on both sides in a frying pay on high heat.

Place into a baking dish with oil, thyme & garlic

Cover and bake for 1 1/2 hrs

The chicken is delicious. What made it perfect was the garlic toast that accompanied it.

I toasted two slices of whole grain bread, smeared it with the garlic that had cooked with the chicken, and then sprinkled it with a bit of Parmesan.

Jos - you are a genius.

Don't get bored with your food

Avoid Sugar.

JamiK

A Clean Conscience

How many times in my life have I experienced food guilt? There are probably not enough fingers and toes in the state of Iowa to count.

When I was a teenager, I was a dedicated dancer at my ballet school. I danced as a student for eight to ten hours per week, taught pre-ballet and fundamentals classes for eight to ten hours per week, and during performance seasons, I rehearsed for eight to ten hours per week. Despite this, I constantly struggled to manage my weight, developed allergies, and fought strep throat on a regular basis. I told myself that it was just my body type, I had a sluggish thyroid, I wasn't meant to be a ballerina. . . . . . . but I knew, deep down that I was lying to myself.

You see, just a block away from the ballet school was the candy store - a daily stop on my way to class, or after rehearsal, or between dancing and teaching. Gummy bears, fruit slices, strawberry Cokes, and chocolate milkshakes were my particular weaknesses. They also made a killer grilled cheese sandwich - processed cheese product on white bread. Guilt, guilt, guilt. These things do not make up the diet of champions; or prima ballerinas for that matter.

In college, it was doughnuts, iced sugary coffee drinks and the vending machine. Guilt, guilt, guilt. Post college, it was fruity drinks and lemon drops, coffee loaded with sugar and flavored creamer, and lots of soda. Guilt, guilt, guilt, and more guilt.

What gets me the most about my guilt years, is that there was no ignorance involved. It's not as if I didn't know everything I ate was loaded with sugar. It's not as if I was under the impression that these 'foods' were healthy and/or good for me. I just wanted to pretend that eating and drinking the white death was OK, and that there must be something else that was to blame for my deteriorating health and constant weight gain.

Well, it's taken me nearly 20 years to get from one end of a sugar addiction to the other. I won't pretend for a minute that I'm 'cured'. I still crave sweets. . . . but I no longer lie to myself and say that it's not the sugar that affects my health and weight. I don't find myself looking around to see who is watching when I eat. My conscience is clean - the food guilt is gone.

My new favorite night of the week is Tuesday night - I watch my favorite TV shows, and enjoy homemade chocolate ice cream sans guilt.

JamiK's Chocolate Ice Cream
(adapted from MomK's ice cream recipe which I found too icy and not enough creamy)
Blend:
1 quart half & half
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup of local honey
2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa

Pour it into an ice cream maker and churn away. Every machine is different. . . . . about 40 minutes gets me soft serve quality ice cream. I usually put it in the freezer for another half hour to make it a bit more frozen. Enjoy!

Keep your conscience clean,
Avoid Sugar!

JamiK

Common Sense Vs. 'The Idiot'

Yes. . . . . that would be me - The Idiot.

Let me explain . . . . no, there is too much. Let me sum up. My mother and my chiropractor have the same irritating habit of always being right. I could present you with a cornucopia of examples, but for the sake of brevity, I shall stick to the two that are currently relevant to my healthy lifestyle.

Example 1: MomK tells me I should give up sugar if I want to achieve the weight loss I've been wishing for since I was 16. Do I follow that advice? Well . . . not for a year and a half after she starts telling me. Even in the face of her amazing success with the GREED-free lifestyle I think that somehow it just 'isn't for me'. Now. . . . as I look back at my own success (not just with weight loss but with the Total Health Makeover I experienced as a result of choosing to live GREED-free) I realize that I should probably just throw in the towel and follow her lead regardless of whether or not I think she's crazy. She's pretty much always right.

Example 2: DrK knows that I detest exercise. But, as it is his responsibility to look out for my health, he frequently tells me that the condition of my hip and back would improve much more quickly if I would just walk (And the man doesn't give up . . . . he's been telling me for four years now). No need to run, climb stairs, or lift weights, just walk. Do I listen? Well . . . . no . . . . not until I started dog sitting a couple of months ago.

Honey is my new room mate. She is a 9-year old shepherd mix that walks me around the neighborhood several times per day. It took me about 3 days to get used to walking; my shins and calves were not thrilled with me at the outset of this change to my daily routine. However, by the end of week one, I realized that the usual aches and pains that I notice were all but gone!

Six weeks into walking the dog, I went to see DrK for my usual Thursday adjustment, and the thermal scan revealed NOTHING wrong my spine, and therefore NO need for an adjustment. I don't usually have a good grip on slang or pop-cultural vernacular, but I believe the present-day term for this sort of occasion would be 'WOOT WOOT!'.

Soooo . . . . . This week's advice is: Don't ignore common sense!

Healthy living is not rocket science. Have you ever noticed that every day in this country brings us another report or study on health, nutrition, weight loss, exercise, or medicine? Despite all the 'knowledge' we are developing; as a society, we are growing fatter, weaker, and sicker and we lean more and more towards dependence on drugs and surgery just to stay functional? There is something wrong with this situation.

Don’t ignore common sense!
Avoid Sugar.

JamiK

Perfectly Palatable Pasta Salad

Mix:
4 cups cooked pasta (I like penne, bow-tie or rotini)
3 cups of chopped fresh vegetables
-(carrots, celery, onion, peppers, tomatoes)
1 cup of Italian Salad Dressing
- I just found Newman's Own 'Light Italian' & 'Olive Oil & Vinegar'

4 Tbsp McCormick Salad Supreme
Refrigerate

This is one of the easiest recipes - I love it that the Salad Supreme has all the seasonings and NO SUGAR! I'm sure that anyone can add their own twist to this and it will be just as good. I think next time I might add some shredded cheese.

Enough Already! - Back to Business.

When I posted in August, I committed to being back on track with my GREED-free lifestyle. Well . . . . I didn't succeed in living up to that commitment. I continued to allow special occasions and exceptions clutter up my meals because I just didn't feel like summoning the resolve to say no to foods that I enjoy despite the fact that I know how they will impact my health. The past couple of weeks have strengthened my resolve, and I can confidently say that I am back on track again . . . . for real this time.

What has strengthened my resolve?

1) Mother Nature kicked my derrière this month. I haven't had cramps like that since April.

2) My face looks like a war zone. I had almost forgotten about acne until one day last week when I woke up to a mine field on my chin. Not only does it ruin the aesthetic appeal of my face, it hurts like the dickens too.

3) I am finding it increasingly difficult to get out of bed in the morning - and when I do get up, I have very little motivation to get going.

4) I started gaining some of my weight back . . . made it all the way back up to 170 by the end of September.

I finished cleaning out my refrigerator and cupboards this morning to make sure that I eliminated anything that might cause me to stumble in a weak moment. As it stands, my greatest hurdle for the week will be coming up with ideas for dinner. I admit that I am not the most creative individual in the kitchen. Suggestions are welcome.

As I look back at the past couple of months and consider the things that kept me from my August commitment I realize that my greatest stumbling blocks have been my own lethargic willpower, and peer pressure.

Every time I was met with the decision 'to eat it, or not to eat it?' I found myself facing the age old internal arguments: 'Just a little bit wont hurt', 'My friends eat sugar and they are fit and healthy', 'I'll really get serious tomorrow'. Adding to that, the voices of my friends and acquaintances: 'As long as you eat it in moderation there is nothing wrong with eating sugar', and 'There isn't any reason to be so extreme'.

I allowed my resolve to be swayed by the voices in my head. No more. I'm done.

Now - off to make some sugar free pasta salad.
I'll share the recipe once I make sure the idea in my head is actually palatable.

JamiK

More Results & Analysis

Hello Again!
Some of these notes and stories are a bit disjointed as I am having issues organizing my thoughts today. I hope they make sense.

I still struggle to believe that I have see such a change in my weight, size & health by merely eliminating one ingredient from my diet.




In June, my 'Working in the Yard Jeans' got sent to the Goodwill store. 36 x 32 Wranglers. I struggle to believe these used to fit me.





My Size 14 'Skinny Jeans' became my 'Working in the Yard Jeans'








I am now a Size 10.
A snug size 10, but a 10 nonetheless.















Now, if only I had budgeted to replace my whole wardrobe. It's going to be a while before I can downsize everything.

A month after I had my prescription changed for my left eye, I started getting headaches again. (See post from 03/05/10) I went back to see the optometrist. My regular Dr. was out on vacation, so the Dr. that examined my eyes spent 20 minutes lecturing me on the ignorance of believing my improved eyesight to be the result of my sugar free lifestyle. . . . . after which he gave me a prescription that was one step better than the previously prescribed contact.

I understand that it might not be easy to believe that one can improve one's eyesight by giving up sugar, but I can't ignore the possibility of this outcome. Especially considering the fact that MomK had the same experience when she gave up the inGREEDient.

Some symptoms of ill health that I no longer notice in my life:
1) Difficulty Losing Weight
2) Chronic Bone/Joint pain
3) Cold Hands/Feet
4) Dry Eyes
6) Athlete's Foot
7) Blood Sugar Disturbances
8) Fatigue/Sleepiness after Eating
9) PMS
10) Bloating after meals
11) Tendency to become dehydrated

It wasn't until I allowed sugar back into my diet that I realized how much I don't miss these symptoms. While living without the 'white death', I ate all the time. I would venture to say that I even 'over ate' on a regular basis. Despite this bad habit, I NEVER felt bloated after eating. I don't lose time at work to the 'after lunch sleepies', and I am on cloud nine with the realization that Mother Nature is not nearly as nasty as I once knew her to be.

At the request of several people, I am going to try to post more recipes.

JamiK's Tomato Rosmarina
(I usually make things in large quantities so you may like to half this recipe)

Bring to a boil:
4 quarts Chicken Broth/Stock
(I prefer the homemade kind, but a sugar free variety like Kitchen Basics will do)
1 Tbsp sea salt (only if you use homemade broth)
1 lb baby carrots cut in halves or thirds
3 large stalks of celery chopped
1 large onion chopped
1 Tbsp basil
1 Tbsp Oregano

Once the soup comes to a boil and the vegetables are beginning to soften, add 2 cups of vegetable orzo pasta (the non vegetable variety usually just turns to mush . . . . )

Continue to boil until the vegies and pasta are cooked,
Reduce heat to simmer and add 2 16oz cans of Tomato Sauce

Serve hot.

Thanks for reading along. . . . .I shall post more as I organize the rest of my thoughts:)
I'm having leftover Greed-free Berry Chocolate ice cream tonight.

JamiK

P.S. I would love to hear your thoughts / ideas / recipes

Drum Roll, Please!!

Okay, okay, okay . . . . I'm a slacker. I have many things to share due to my long absence from bloggerland, so this is going to come in a couple of installments.

I shall begin this post with a confession. Since the beginning of July, I have not been particularly vigilant about the 'GREED' content of my food. July 2010 was literally the busiest month of my life to date. . . .

5 day Trip to Milwaukee to visit a friend. (one of these days was spent on a boat consuming pre-made sandwiches from the grocery store deli, chips & dip, and Summer Shandy followed by an amazing pizza on shore between the sun bathing and the fireworks)
7 day vacation / camping trip in Central Wisconsin (all the usual - hot dogs, brats, baked beans, pasta salad, breakfast bars, granola bars, and who knows what else)
Family reunion in Chicago (fried chicken, pasta salad, and lots of other fixins not prepared in a sugar-free restaurant)
3 wedding weekends (8 days counting travel and additional time at the various locales) . . . . one in Iowa, one in Wisconsin, and one in Indiana. (I can't even remember all the 'terrible' (aka yummy) foods I ate)

For a total of 23 days on vacation . . . . . . . I could get used to this. . . . . .

Now that the confession is out of the way . . . . . . At the end of June, I noted several things regarding my physical condition and then couldn't find my original notes to compare with. Thankfully, the notebook has been found!

-------------------01/03/10----------07/01/10--------Difference

Weight:--------------185-----------------162------------23 lbs
Pants size:------------16----------------10/12
T-shirt size:---------Large--------------Medium
Shirt Size:-------------14----------------10/12
Shoe Size:-------------9.5------------------9
Ring Size: I haven't gotten around to actually measuring this, but the size 7 CZ ring I used to wear as an engagement ring to scare off the crazies on the dance floor is now loose on my middle finger.
Measurements
Bust:-----------------42"------------------40"--------------2"
Waist:----------------34"------------------31"--------------3"
Panty line:-----------38.5"----------------36.5"-------------2"
Butt:-----------------44"------------------40"--------------4"
R Thigh:--------------28"------------------25"--------------3"
L Thigh:--------------28"-----------------24.5"-------------3.5"
R Knee:---------------20"-----------------19"---------------1"
L Knee:--------------20.5"----------------19"--------------1.5"
R Arm:---------------14"-----------------12.75"------------1.25"
L Arm:---------------14"------------------12.5"-------------1.5"

I'm feeling pretty darn good about myself right now. (despite the fact that you all now know how big my butt is)

I shall end this post with a committment: I am back to life sans sugar. As of Today, I am once again living inGREEDient-free. I even made some Greed-free ice cream tonight to kick off my return to a better lifestyle. (I totally made this recipe up, so I'm not sure how well the rest of the world might enjoy it)

Blend 1 quart Bolthouse Farms 'Purely Chocolate' Soymilk, and 2 cups of frozen mixed berries. Pour the mixture into the waiting ice cream maker, and churn away for approximately 30 min. Spoon it into a bowl, and place in the freezer for another half hour.

I call it "Berry Chocolate".

Sleep Well folks! I'll have more to share tomorrow:)

JamiK

Short Blurb . . . .

The results are in . . . . . . but I can't find my notebook with all of my pre-experiment notes. . . . . . I'm feverishly cleaning my house this weekend to locate it. . . . . . more to come soon!!

JamiK

As long as I can have cheesecake, I'll be ok.

Dear Greed-Free Friends,

So sorry for my absence. Life always gets hectic for me as the travel increases, and I've recently felt a bit like a chicken running around without its head. I came off of nearly a month straight on the road just in time to prep for my parents and siblings (well, 7 of them anyway) to come visit me for the holiday last weekend. My Mother's side of the family had a sort of reunion over the holiday weekend, and the following hilarious conversation took place:

Uncle: Wow JamiK, you look great - what are you doing?
JamiK: I gave up sugar, just like MomK
Uncle: I need to do that too . . . . but no, there's no way. I need cheesecake.
MomK: Well, then you just have to learn to make cheesecake without sugar.
Uncle: And I suppose you have a recipe for sugar-free cheesecake?
MomK: Actually we do.
Uncle: Well then maybe I will do that. . . . as long as I can have cheesecake, I'll be OK.

Most of us have our excuses for not eating healthy, not exercising, not doing something beneficial due to some personal predjudice that we have. The key to overcoming is to find what we CAN tolerate; start there, then push the tolerance. I detest excercise . . . but I have to mow the lawn and shovel the driveway and weed the garden to maintain my home. . . that is where I started. Now, I am allowing my sister to persuade me to go for bike rides. We'll start small.

My uncle may need to eat a piece of cheesecake everyday for the first week or two of life without sugar. . . . but it's a place to start. Pick a place to start. Start. Then keep going.



JessiK's No Sugar Added Cheesecake Recipe:
This is a very vague recipe. . . . . my sister doesn't usually worry about things like measurments

Preheat oven to 350

Crust: Crumbled Graham Crackers (no sugar added variety) & butter - crumble the graham crackers and mix in melted butter until consistency is good to line a pan with.

Filling: whip one to two packages of softened cream cheese in a medium sized bowl, beat in 1/3 cup honey, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla until blended well. Pour the filling into graham cracker crust lined pan and bake for 12 - 15 minutes . . . . ish.

Top with fruit or no sugar added fruit spread if you like. Refrigerate until cold. Enjoy:)

Hopefully I'll be back sooner rather than later this time:)

JamiK