Blackened Chicken

oooooo spicey! I've only made this once and my husband loved it (cuz he loves spicey food!)... I'll have to try it again!

Ingredients:
2 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Mix spices
3. Dredge chicken in spices
4. Melt oil in large skillet over medium-high heat
5. Saute chicken for 3 minutes on each side
6. Transfer to shallow pan and cook 5-10 minutes or until cooked through.

Turkey Vegetable Meatballs

We love this Turkey Meatball recipe! It is easy, and although it seems like a lot of details, it is fairly fast. You can prepare the mixture ahead of time so that when you're ready for dinner, you just mix in the meat.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey or chicken
2 medium carrots (or a handful of baby carrots)

1 red or green bell pepper
1 handful of fresh parsley
1/2 yellow onion
1 clove garlic
2 tsp granulated garlic (garlic salt)
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Combine carrots, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and seasonings in a food processor and blend until well chopped.
3. Empty the food processor into a large bowl, add the ground turkey and mix together completely.
4. Form meatballs and place on a non-greased baking sheet (about 1 1/2" - 2" each).  Bake for about 25 minutes, or until completely cooked.

This usually makes about 25 meatballs so there's plenty left for lunch the next day!! These go great with brown rice, so if you make extra, it is perfect for the next day's lunch! I love when cleaning up from dinner means packing lunches!

Hawaiian Chicken Skewers

These Hawaiian skewers are really good and are a nice change from the "usual's"! Plus, the grilling is done outside so nothing is heating the kitchen!

Ingredients:
3 cups pineapple, cut into chunks
1 cup pineapple, diced for food processor

1 tbsp cilantro, minced
1 tbsp. ginger root, minced
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 whole lemon, juice
2 chicken breasts, cut in chunks

Directions:
1. Combine diced pineapple, olive oil, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl.
2. Puree mixture in a blender or food processor.
3. Pour back into small mixing bowl and stir in minced cilantro. Set aside to use as glaze during grilling.
4. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill as skewers can get sticky.
5. Skewer pieces of chicken and pineapple.
6. Brush with glaze periodically while grilling.

Add a salad or some brown rice and enjoy!

A little this, a little that...

I feel like that is all I do now... add a little this and a little that... and all those little things are adding up to a whole lotta goodness! We are one month into our new life now, and I have to say, we have never felt better! (I can speak for my hubby, too :) In cutting out all the "extras", we have so much more energy, clear thoughts, gooooood sleep, and have each lost about 18 pounds! I'd say we are doing pretty well!

Here's tonight's dinner... have you ever cooked with fennel? I had never even heard of it until today! It looks a tad bit crazy, but it sure added a good flavor!

             Fennel                                 Italian Braised Chicken w/ Fennel & Cannellini

 

As delicious as this "new" food is, and as great as it makes me feel, it is still difficult at times to stick with it. I don't really crave sugars and what not anymore, but when you find yourself somewhere surrounded by yummy desserts, you remember how tasty they are and it is tempting. And in that, I have found a strength and determination inside that is continually growing. Now I know, that might seem a little extreme when just talking about dessert, but it is a big deal! If I say, "Oh I can have just a little bit right now, I have done so well..." it will put me back 10 steps. Yes, down the road a ways, I will be able to enjoy those things on special occasions, but for the sake of what we are trying to accomplish, I am not willing to move backwards. For the sake of creating a healthy environment and someday being able to hold my baby in my arms, a sweet dessert becomes easy to say no to. And that is exactlty what I say when that temptation comes... would I rather have this or my baby? I have to be that extreme right now!

 

It gets tiring, very tiring, because I am learning. I know it won't be this "intense" forever, but for now, it's alot! But one thing the Lord always reminds me of when I get overwhelmed:

 

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,  and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:29-31

 

Those who hope in the Lord... that is what this whole adventure comes down to... our hope in the Lord. Our hope that He knows everything we have been through; our hope that He has a good plan for our future; our hope that He will take all of these pieces and thread them together to make one beautiful display of His love.

So Far So Good!

 

 



And our most favorite... milk in a glass jar!



Cleanin' Out the Cupboards

I guess it had been a while since cleaning my cupboards, but gosh, so much stuff! This was more than just a re-organization, however. Suited up with our lists in hand, Frank and I took a trip to Whole Foods in Sacramento to stock our shelves and refrigerator with the fresh foods that we would need to be successful in our new lifestyle. Yes, new lifestyle. Not diet. Lifestyle. Diets don't work. We are changing our mindset and being real about what we put into our bodies.

Out went the flour, sugar, crackers, chips, breads, canned goods, and Crystal Light! In went the coconut flour, almonds, sunflower seeds, Quinoa, Organic coconut flakes, vinegar, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, and more spices than I can count!



It took a few days to get used to the empty cupboards, but now, I hardly even open them, as I realize that most everything I need is fresh in the frig.... and I'm lovin' it.

                         

                                       
 


 

 oh.... and since I never finished updating my blog back in the chemo days (I know, I know, I'm so inconsistent!!).... I finished and I have checked out perfectly healthy ever since!!



The Countdown Begins......

10 more days and I will be DONE WITH CHEMOTHERAPY!!!! 10 days!!!!

It feels like just yesterday that I was in the hospital, healing from surgery, and learning and anticipating the "what ifs" of my medication. Countless times, as I was posted on my spot on the couch, we would say out loud, "ok... June, July, August, September, October...", as if saying the months might make time go faster. There were days when I felt like time was crawling, and days like today where I am stopped in my tracks thinking, "How in the world did this go so fast?!?" The pharmacy called the other day to ask if I was ready for a refill on my medication and I cannot even express the excitement as I got to say, "Oh thanks for calling but I won't be needing any more medication! My treatment will be complete on October 23rd." 

10 days...

40 pills...

I can sooooo do this!!!

Hebews 10:23 - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.