Proud Sister

     Tuesday is here and almost done now, seems like the week is flying by! Not always a bad thing especially when it seems to be going smoother than last week for me. Not so much for my husband who seems to be down and out today with either the flu or something along thost lines. Either way, not pretty at our household. I am keeping my distance.
    Tonight that distance involves Dad and I  heading over to St. Louis for an award ceremony for my brother Ben. He is a St. Louis Police Officer. Yes, I didn't only marry a police officer, my brother is one as well. They are everywhere! Anyway, he is being recognized tonight in regards to a scary incident he was involved in last fall. Even though Jeremy and I tease him about getting this award, I am very proud of him. I have always been kind of a mother hen and rather protective of my baby brother. Which is now funny that he is about 6 inches taller than me and much broader. But, I always have been that way with him.  It is funny for me to watch him all dressed up in uniform and doing his job as a St. Louis police officer. Guess I should be used to it by now, he's done it for almost two years, but I am not. Either way, as scary as it is for him to be a police officer in St. Louis City, I can't express really how proud I am of him. He won't ever let me get to gushy so I figured I could put some of it on here, because I doubt he reads it regularly. So, needless to say I may get a little emotional tonight, damn that big sister gene!!
     On other fronts, I realized last night I am kind of slacking in my personal cooking challenge. I have done some baking of new healthy desserts lately. I made some awesome cookie dough balls from the website ChocolateCoveredKatie.com. I recommend them if you are craving something sweet and  healthy! But, I haven't been COOKING much. I am trying to remedy that by buying a new cookbook off Amazon (I'm Jen and I am addicted to Amazon) and hopefully trying some new recipes out of that book. The cookbook I purchased is The Hungry Girl Cookbook. I get her daily emails so I decided to give her book a try! Will keep everyone posted on progress.
     I am still kind of struggling with the body image stuff as another pair of jeans didn't fit how I wanted this morning. But I have been emailing with my nutritionist and she keeps repeating to me that STRESS plays a big roll in this process and the more I stress the worse off I will be. Which I do realize but I am a worrier, a fusser, I stress. But for some reason her teling me pointe blank (for the 100th time) that the stress hormones can interfere with weight and such, it FINALLY hit me. Kind of another AHA moment so to speak. So I am really, really going to try to make an effort to CHILLAX about this. For goodness sake I have "Breathe" tattooed on my wrist, I put it there for a reason when I started this journey.It is supposed to be a daily reminderalthough I haven't been using it much lately. Time to stop ignoring it and get back to business.
     Well, it's off to Ben's ceremony in a short while. Taking the kleenex and the camera with me! Have a great Tuesdsay everyone.

I can cook!

     Or, well, I can make a mean pot of chicken tortilla soup in the crockpot! I tried a new recipe I found on what else, Pintrest ,for chicken tortilla soup and it turned out pretty darn good! Jeremy even agreed. I was quite pleased. I have always wanted to try this soup but never branched out, glad I did! Delicious and we have a TON leftover, thank goodness soup freezes well!
     Today was a pretty low key Saturday, just some lunch and shopping around town with Mom. I like those kind of Saturdays! The pups even got to go to grandma and grandpa's and visit with grandpa while Mom nd I  shopped. Although, I am pretty sure all they did was nap.
     Another exciting weekend night of vegging on the couch watching movies. Looking forward to trying out hot yoga in the morning! Wish me luck!

More New Recipes!

     Another Monday behind me! To perk up a regular ol' Monday I decided to try some new recipes tonight! On the menu was a broccoli-mushroom casserole from the website of the author of Operation Beautiful. It was relatively easy to put together, just broccoli, cheese, low fat cream of mushroom soup, brown rice and a little milk and egg. Here are the pictures of the casserole construction:

Mixing it all up

Done and Bubbly

Plated up with a side salad

      I enjoyed two good helpings and have a good amount to take to a co-worker to try tomorrow.  Jeremy tasted it too, again he decided it would be better with way more cheese and way more of REAL cream of mushroom soup. He clearly isn't getting this healthy recipe thing, but oh well. After dinner it was on to dessert.
     I found a couple new "dessert" recipes to try over the past couple days. Last night I found a recipe on a website called Chocolate Covered Katie for an "ice cream" made of almond milk, vanilla, sweetener and a pinch of salt. I made a vanilla version last night and it was pretty good over a Vita Top muffin top. I decided to make a second batch of this ice cream for tonight with some chocolate chips in it. Turned out ok, but I liked the vanilla better. If you know me, I am really a VANILLA ice cream girl at heart. Anyway, it wasn't a total loss because I put it on top of the new protein bars I made this evening. I found the recipe for these protein bars while messing around on a health website today. It was pretty easy to make, it consisted of cocoa powder, oat flour, egg whites, protein powder, baby food (yes really) and baking soda. They turned out a little spongy with a light chocolate flavor. Now, Jeremy wasn't a huge fan of these, I think he may have been dramatic and called them disgusting. I think they are pretty good for being protein bars! I put one in a bowl and topped it with my almond milk ice cream and it was a pretty tasty (and healthy) semi-chocolatey evening snack.
    I have to say I never thought it would happen but I actually DO like this cooking thing. I like trying the new recipes and sharing them with others. It is really weird to hear myself say (well type) that. I am also making a big effort this week to add more protein to my meals as suggested by my nutritionist. This whole eating healthier business is all easier when I don't fight it, hmph..who woulda thought (right Mom?)!

Another Step In the Right Direction

     Halfway through the week! Hooray! And I have taken another step forward in progress in getting rid of this disordered eating and the thoughts that go with it. Today, I had lunch out at a restaurant as opposed to eating in as I usually do. Now, to some this is no big deal, in fact they do it every day. But, for me, while I have been struggling with it has been a challenge.
     For some bizarre reason, I developed the thoughts that I couldn't have too MUCH for lunch. That if I DID eat out at a restaurant, I needed to stick with what I knew and what was safe. I had to check out the menu and nutrition facts before I went to be prepared. And when I did eat out at a restaurant for lunch I would restrict some at dinner. Clearly, this is not a normal way of approaching a simple lunch out.
     Today, I ate at a bar and grill. I did stick with something safe, a chef salad. But not because I felt I had too, but because I had tried it before and it was good. I had it and ate every bit and it was delicious. After, I did have to talk myself out of some negative thoughts, which I did quickly. Then, tonight dinner rolled around. When that time came, I didn't restrict. This is a pretty significant step forward. I had a good, balanced (and delicious) dinner of quinoa with chicken breast and veggies sprinkled with a few almonds recommended by my nutritionist (picture below!). It was delicious and I enjoyed it with a little bit of good Italian bread. I enjoyed every bite and didn't have any negative thoughts. Actually, I even had a snack of some of my healthified banana bread a bit later. All without negativity. A step in the right direction. Hooray.
     So, I am ready to veg out on the couch and enjoy the rest of the evening. Proud of myself for my steps forward. Keeps me motivated.

Delicious Dinner!

   

Everything Happens for a Reason

     I have long believed in the saying "everything happens for a reason", and this week I am trying (hard) to keep that belief and instill some of it in Jeremy.With his new and unexpected job changes our household has been a little down in the dumps. Jer is disappointed to be leaving the people he has worked well with for so long. I am bummed for him, and bummed I don't get to see some of my friends as often. The whole thing just came out of the blue, and change is hard, this I know, so all I can do is support Jeremy through his changes as he is helping me through mine.
     On a happier note, the banana bread that was cooking last night as I wrote my blog turned out pretty darn good (picture below!). Could have used a little more banana but I used all I had. It was mighty tasty though for having no white sugar and no eggs! Jeremy even tried and liked it. He likes his "naner" bread a little gooey , and this wasn't gooey at all, but he still enjoyed a big piece (with peanut butter) tonight. Another success with a new recipe which inspires me to keep trekking along in my personal cooking challenge. I think tomorrow night I am going to attempt a broccoli-mushroom casserole...dun dun dun.
     So now it's off to bed to rest my muscles from my good , but tough,  workout tonight with Susie. Also, to rest my mind from fretting about my bummed out husband. But, things will work out just the way they are supposed to, this I do have faith in. I have to keep believing the Big Man has a plan for all of us and that "everything happens for a reason."





MMM! So good warm outta the oven!!

     

Just Another Monday

     Today was another Monday, not a bad one, just a Monday. I had all intentions of trying a new recipe for dinner tonight, but on my way home I just felt pooped out and reconsidered. But, I forged through the laziness and tried not one, but two new recipes again tonight! I am proud of myself for branching out with this cooking thing again!
    Dinner was a peanut noodle recipe from my nutritionist Although Jeremy will argue he cooked most of it (he did cook the chicken, and helped watch the noodles) I did my share too. It turned out really good! Whole wheat noodles in a peanut sauce, chicken breast, mixed veggies and crushed peanuts on top. Here's what it looked like before I devoured the deliciousness:




YUM!



     After this tasty dinner I decided to try a recipe for a healthified vegan banana bread. It is in the oven as we speak and smells delicious. I will report tomorrow on how it actually tastes. But from what the batter tasted like, it should be good.

     So, turns out I really like trying these new recipes and food. I know none of it is anything wild, but trying these things are a far step from where I once was. I was once so scared of food I didn't "know" or couldn't calculate. Now, I realize it's about being healthy, fueling my body but still enjoying what I am eating. It's funny how it all comes together more and more as I go along. I figured it would  all start making sense but feels good to be making progress. I still have a ways to go, I can't say I don't still struggle at times and have to fight the negative thoughts. But it is getting a lot better, slowly.

     Well, the banana bread is near done and ready to be taken out of the oven so I better get to taste testing so I have something to blog about tomorrow!

Change is the Name of the Game this Year

     For not being a big fan of change, I am experiencing a lot of it so far this year. First with my choice to change and get healthier and now, as we found out this weekend, Jeremy's job is changing a bit. Nothing drastic, but he will be working a different schedule and with some new people. We weren't expecting this to happen, but it is and we figure now it is a new chapter in our lives. And like I like to say "Everything happens for a reason". Not to mention now we can attend Cardinals Opening Day! (Bonus!)
     Jeremy put me up to a bit of a baking challenge tonight. He wanted some chocolate cookies and wanted then to be similar to my mom's cookies which are his favorite. Her's are always a little thiner and soft and chewy. Mine are good but not as thin and chewy normally. I decided I would try my best  to make cookies identical to Mom's and they turned out pretty darn good may I say! In the past, I would never let myself sit down and enjoy a couple cookies, I would eat something "healthier" instead, ignoring what I really wanted. But tonight, when I was done baking I sat down and ate a couple cookies and enjoyed them.  I didn't even let myself think negative thoughts about it, and that, feels so good. I may even have some more later if I want because I can, because having a cookie is not a crime! I am finally learning, accepting and embracing that. Finally.
     So now onto the week ahead. I planned my meals out so I can try a couple new recipes. I am actually excited to cook! Never thought I would think that. So, here's to the start of another week and hoping it is a good one!




MMMMMM!!! Fresh out of the oven!

     

My First Casserole!

     Tonight, I dove head first into my personal cooking challenge of 2012 and tried TWO new recipes! First, for dinner, I made a vegetarian biscuit casserole. I was craving something sweet, so for dessert I whipped up chia seed peanut butter cookies. Both, I have to say, turned out well!
     I found the casserole recipe on the website of the author of "Operation Beautiful", Caitlin Boyle. The website is healthytippingpoint.com , check it out! Anyway, back to the food, here are the pictures of the concoction process:

Mixing it all up!

Ready for the oven, vegetables topped with biscuit mix

Hot out of the oven and ready to eat!

     The casserole was pretty tasty, but could have used a bit more flavor. I will spice it up a little more next time, maybe with some flavored hummus. Jeremy even tried it (which surprised me) AND HE LIKED IT! Well, he liked it OK, he said he would really like it if I added chicken . Which I said, I could do. Well, then, in true Jeremy fashion, he went FARTHER with his idea of what would make this SOO delicious. His idea is to that add HOMEMADE biscuit mix on top, top it with his dad's homemade sausage gravy and maybe some hash browns and then it would be a delicious breakfast dish. When I pointed out that by adding those things it would negate the HEALTH factor of it, he responded with a "So..it would be delicious". Welcome to my life of trying to incorporate healthy eating into the Dunham household!
          After cleaning up from dinner I embarked on the cookie baking! I found the recipe on Pintrest, one of my obsessions of the moment.  I prepped them while I waited for the casserole to cook.  It was a pretty easy prep and the dough...delicious! Here are the pictures of the cookie baking

MMM...the peanut buttery batter



Ready for the oven



Cooling and making the house smell AMAZEBALLS!!



      After letting them cool and cleaning up the baking mess, I tried two of these bad boys with some almond milk and it was a perfect end to all my hard work! I really liked them!! Soft, chewy, peanut buttery, with a little chocolate,mmm! The recipe made a bunch so I am taking some for my co-workers to try, saved a few for Jeremy, let the pups share one and saved some for Mom to try! I think everyone will enjoy, I know I did!
      So, I would call the first night of my personal cooking challenge of 2012 was a success!( I posted the recipes below in case anyone is interested) Funny how when I let some of my  distorted thoughts and fears of food go, I end up discovering some delicious healthy food! I am not even scared to screw the recipes up like I was before! That is saying something for a perfectionist like myself. So, onward with both the Cooking Challenge of 2012 and this week!

Biscuit Casserole: 1 cup frozen green peas; 1 cup frozen corn kernels; 1 can cannellini beans; 1/2 cup hummus; salt/pepper to taste; whole wheat biscuit mix (1 cup) and associated ingredients (on package)
Preheat oven to 400. In small bowl rinse and drain beans. Mix in peas and corn. Add hummus and mix well. Try to coat beans and veggies equally, mix is thick. Pour into greased loaf pan and pat down. Mix together the biscuit mix in another bowl. Separate mix into 8 small circles and flatten slightly between your palms. Place on top of veggie mix. Cover casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes (I baked mine for longer and lowered temperature, and took foil off too for biscuits to brown). 

Chia Seed Peanut Butter Cookies: 1 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 cup flour, 1 1/2 tbsp. chia seeds, 1/4 cup bitter at room temp, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup peanut butter, 2 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Preheat oven to 350. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, baking powder, flour and chia seeds. Set aside. In another bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy, add peanut butter, eggs and vanilla. Slowly stir in oat mixture and combine. Stir in chocolate chips. Place heaping tablespoons of dough onto cookie sheet. Press/form into balls with hands. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cool. My recipe made about 21 medium sized cookies. Original recipe says is make 12, I assume rather large, cookies.

New Recipe Attempt #1- Oatmeal Cookies

  On Friday night, I attempted my first new recipe of  my personal cooking challenge of 2012. I started off with something on the easy side and really it was baking rather than cooking a meal, but hey it was a NEW recipe. I made a recipe for Oatmeal-Raisin Breakfast cookies I found on Pintrest. I altered the recipe a bit, as it said I could, because I didn't have raisins. So where the recipe called for raisins I added a few tablespoons of chocolate chips. I figured replacing raisins with chocolate wasn't going to be BAD! So here are the pictures of the process and the recipe at the very end: 

The batter was tasty which was a good sign that the cookies would be as well

Right out of the oven

Cooling and smelled SOOO good

Final product!

        The recipe didn't make very many cookies, but they were delicious! I enjoyed  2 1/2 (the other 1/2 was shared with my dogs who were begging in their cute ways)  of these cookies with some almond milk. I am took the rest for my mom to test and she agreed they were delicious and wanted the recipe which I have pyt below! So, recipe numero uno was a success! Hooray! As I was making this recipe I planned out the other recipes to try in the coming week, so hopefully they are all as successful and tasty. We will find out!

Oatmeal-Raisin Breakfast Cookies
1/2 cup rolled oats
scant 1/2 cup applesauce or mashed over-ripe banana- I used the applesauce
1/4 cup nut butter- I used natural peanut butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3 tbsp. raisins (or other dried fruit, or chocolate chips)
pinch of salt
1 packet of stevia or 1 tbsp sugar- I used the sugar. If you want really sweet cookies you can use 1/4 cup sugar.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the applesauce (or mashed banana) with the nut butter, then add all other ingredients and mix until well combined. Shape into cookies (kind of sticky) and bake for around 14 minutes. Cool on wire rack. You also can pulverize the raisins(chocolate chips, dried fruit) and the oats before combining them in the applesauce (or banana) and nut butter mix. My recipe made about 9 small-medium size (odd shaped) cookies! Enjoy!!