Recipe: Noodles and Peanut Sauce - THM S

Hello!

The other day, my mom and I were talking about food (as we often do) and we both suddenly remembered a favorite dish at a restaurant that no longer is open. It was a Chinese food restaurant and we went there all the time.  Specifically, we loved the cold noodles with peanut sauce. They were so good! 

Now that I'm on my Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle, I was determined to make this one day again using on-plan ingredients. 

Well, that "one day" was this past weekend.  I found this recipe and pinned it on Pinterest and used that as my guidance and just adapted it to my current dietary needs for THM.

So, really quick a little note about the use of Dream fields pasta - you can only retain the low glycemic impact of the carbs if you cook it according to the box AND you can never reheat it. Otherwise, it turns into regular pasta and the whole point of using it is gone. To be safe I always under cook mine to be extra safe :)  And, the great news about this recipe is you can eat these again the next day as cold noodles!  So go ahead and make a double recipe and have lunch for the next day!

Onto the recipe!  Again, this is not my recipe but I've adapted it for Trim Healthy Mama.  

This recipe would be an S - Satisfying dish.

Ingredients:

Dreamfields pasta - make as many servings of this as you need for your meal

1/2 Cup natural creamy peanut butter 

1-3 TBSP Braggs Liquid Aminos (you can also use soy sauce if you'd like)

1-2 packets of Truvia or on-plan sweetener of choice

2-3 cloves of garlic 

1-2 TSP of lime juice

1/2 TSP of red pepper flakes or more to your taste plus extra for topping

1/2 cup water 

1-2 TBSP of chopped peanuts to garnish 
Veggies - Note:  Add any veggies you have laying around. Tonight I only had carrots and green pepper in the house since this recipe was a last minute choice to make it - but green scallions, mushrooms or broccoli would be wonderful additions for next time! 

Directions:

1. Cook pasta per directions.

2. In blender or food processor combine all ingredients except water and the peanuts for topping and extra red pepper flakes. As you blend, slowly add water as it mixes or else it clumps a bit.

3. Steam or lightly sautée the veggie you'd like to use - I just sliced the carrots and pepper thin and left them raw for this recipe.

4. Drain pasta and scoop in mixed sauce and add veggies back into the pasta pot and mix and re-heat if desired.

5. Serve and garnish with peanuts, red pepper flakes and enjoy.

My THM-approved ingredients I chose to use for this recipe.

The only veggies I had - limit carrots for S meals!

Mixing it all up in the pot.

All the ingredients into the food processor.

Voila!  Dinner is served.  

It was sweet, crunchy, spicy and just delicious peanut-buttery goodness.  Yum! Oh yes,
I'm sooo making this again.

I'm also linked up at Gwen's Nest for THM Tuesday's!

~Carly

Motivate Me Monday - 1/27/2014

Happy Monday! 

Most people are not a big fan of Mondays but I see them as a fresh start to the week. While some mornings are rougher than others, I found this to be very true for where I am in life at this moment across the board.

Let's not be hard on ourselves and be OK knowing we want to change. 

~Carly

Pinterest Picks - 1/22/2014

Happy Wednesday! 

I found this and it really fits quite perfectly with the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle I'm following now.

I'm not deprived. I'm eating quality, whole foods, the right fats, veggies, fruits and lean proteins. 

I even eat homemade desserts and am able to enjoy pasta and pizza.  And, it's very true - I'm eating a bit more than I otherwise would and I'm losing weight.  Not by eating less, but by eating more of the right foods.   

~Carly

Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup - THM style

Hello!  I hope you had a lovely weekend and Monday!

	I've got a recipe that I THM-ed over this past weekend.  I used to make this soup about once a month or so. For the record, it's NOT my recipe - however it is adapted from Lu Lu The Baker's blog from her post called Cheesy Vegetable Chowder.
	When made per her instructions, it is completely deelish. Unfortunately, it's just does not fit the THM standards I am currently following. But have no fear.  I tweaked it a little so I could have one of my favorite soups.  For the recipe as written below, it would be an S recipe.
	Ingredients:
	2/3 C half and half or cream
	4 C chicken broth or stock
	1 C chopped celery
	2 C chopped broccoli
	1 C chopped carrots (use sparingly in an S meal)
	1/2 C chopped onion
	1 C chopped cauliflower (in place of white potato)
	1 TBSP minced garlic
	1/4 TSP Xantham gum (to thicken in place of flour)
	2 TBSP Butter
	2 C cheddar cheese (or more or less)
	Directions:
	1. Chop up all the onion, carrot and celery. At this time you may just want to chop the cauliflower and broccoli too in order to maximize your prep time chopping.
	2. In a large pot, melt the butter.
	3. Once butter is melted, add the chopped onion, carrot and celery. After about 5 minutes, add the garlic.
	4. Once simmering, add the cauliflower and chicken broth. Bring to boil.
	5. Add cream and turn down the stove to simmer.
	6. Add broccoli and continue to simmer.
	7. Add Xantham gum and stir well.
	8. Once all veggies are softened, add the cheddar cheese and stir until melted.

After chicken broth and cauliflower are added.

This time I used chopped frozen broccoli but have used fresh in the past.

The finished soup after cheddar cheese is added and melted.

Chow time!  Served with a sprinkle more of cheddar cheese and some homemade bread.

Mmmm - warm, cheesy and chock full of veggies.  I served this with a side of bread from the Trim Healthy Mama book - a recipe titled Golden Flat Bread found on page 270-271.  It's also an S recipe so I can easily pair this with the soup or maybe next time a small salad. 

I'm linked up for the first time over at Gwen's Nest for her weekly round up of THM Trim Healthy Tuesday's posts so head over to check it out!

~Carly

Pinterest Picks - 1/17/2014

I'm finding this to be very true in all aspects of life - kids, activities, exercise and especially food. 

My New Year's resolution (most years) has always related to weight loss or health. However, this year I want to be more organized. And that includes meal planning and preparation in addition to keeping our life, home and my car organized :) Oh, and to yell less at my kiddos. 

What is your resolution for this year?

~Carly

Trim Healthy Mama

Hello!

As I posted yesterday, I am following a new lifestyle/diet called Trim Healthy Mama.  Their website is currently going under some updating since it's become extremely popular over the last year or two.  Actually, they were JUST on TV the other day finally talking about their plan.  THM is from two sisters who have tried everything diet-wise (Hmmm, who else does that sound like? Oh yeah, me!) and were at the end of sanity trying to figure out a diet that works.  They created Trim Healthy Mama over the course of five years. The book is long - over 600 pages - but half is recipes. Delicious recipes.  However, instead of go into detail about the plan and all the intricacies, I'm going to get you started exactly how I did.

Image via Google Image Search

First, I "liked" them on Facebook. Then, I joined their private Facebook Group/Support page. Warning: Without reading the book first you will be quite confused.  There are four types of meals: S-Satisfying, E-Energizing, FP - Fuel Pull, C-Crossover.  I then bought the e-book and read like ca-ray-zay!

I also stumbled upon these blog posts which go over in detail and are so well-written that there's no need for me to reinvent the wheel.  Gwen's Nest has a great book review of THM and an amazing, amazing, ahhh-may-zing Quick Start Guide.  You can also follow me over on Pinterest for my own personal THM board where I have other interesting and helpful pins I've found to help me on this new journey to my health and wellness goals.

I officially started THM on December 12, 2013 and as of today I'm down 5.6 pounds.  Sayyy whhhat?! It took me two years to lose ten.  As you know, results will vary.  Everyone will lose at their own pace - however, just being around the pages and seeing the testimonials, there are thousands of ladies who are dropping lots of weight.  Some only 15 pounds and some are losing one hundred pounds.  All in the matter of weeks, to months to a year.  But, it's happening on this plan.  It's working for me.  I'm thrilled - hence the reason I've come back to my blog to let you all know about it!  I did participate in the 21 Day Sugar Detox prior to this plan and that did indeed help me with my cravings and alter my taste buds to THM.

So, where does that leave me now weight-wise?  Well, I'm just about 4 pounds away from my weight I was from getting pregnant with baby #2 (who is now four) and 14 pounds away from my true pre-pregnancy weight.  My pants are looser and my clothes I couldn't comfortable wear without feeling self-conscious are looking pretty OK again.

I still can't believe this is happening so easily for me on this plan.  I have to admit, I had huge doubts since, ya' know, I've tried everything before.  Remember?  Now I'm eating eggs, coconut oil, CHOCOLATE, chili, cheesecake, yummy drinks and I can even have red wine when I please.  There are very little restrictions as to what I can't have and there are many ways to tweak recipes to fit this lifestyle.  And if you're unsure about a recipe, guess what?  There are over 27,000+ members on the support page who can help me, guide me, encourage me and celebrate with me...and you, too.  

I should also mention I have known about THM for about a year now and I didn't look too much into it.  I'm KICKING myself in the butt for not having done this sooner!  Just start reading the links.  Read the testimonies and choose for yourself.  You may just become a smaller, healthier version of your self :)

Do you have any questions or want specifics?  Comment or email me - happy to chat about it!
~Carly

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad/Wrap THM

As you know, I have been struggling to lose the baby weight. Guess what? I think I've finally found the answer. I plan to write a longer post about THM - aka Trim Healthy Mama by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison.   

Today, I'm sharing my current favorite S dinner and/or lunch found from a member of the THM Facebook board a few weeks back that I've adapted to my own delicious concoction. 

Oh, and I've lost about 5 pounds since December 12, 2013 eating this recipe and many more delicious foods - including chocolate!  I promise another post on this very soon!

In the meantime...

Buffalo Chicken salads/wraps:

Ingredients:

2-3 Boneless chicken breasts (I encourage you to make extra pieces. You'll thank me later!)

1/2 cup Almond flour (or more depending on your level of breading you prefer)

1 Egg (beaten)

1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Wings Sauce (and keep the bottle out for more drizzle on top)

2 TBSP coconut oil for frying

Generous portions of salad greens - I suggest cucumbers, peppers, celery and tomatoes 

2-3 Joseph's brand low carb tortilla - if you prefer the wrap version 

1-2 TBSP of your favorite ranch or blue cheese dressing 

Optional items are crumbled bacon or shredded cheese of choice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

1. Take boneless chicken breasts and coat in egg then transfer to another bowl of the almond flour.  

2. Heat coconut oil in pan and fry chicken on each side until golden brown.  Approximately 3 minutes each side.

3. Remove from oil onto paper towel to get excess oil off. 

4. In a baking dish coat (or drizzle) chicken with Frank's Red Hot Wings Sauce.

5. Uncovered, bake in oven for about 15 minutes or so to ensure fully cooked through.

Serve over huge bed of greens with veggies you like.  As I mentioned I prefer to add tons of celery, cucumber, peppers and some tomato and drizzle more frank's red hot over the top of the salad and add blue cheese (or ranch) on top.  I make extra chicken and turn this into a wrap (see image) for the next day on a Joseph's tortilla and put lettuce or greens inside with a little more dressing and hot sauce.  

Deelish. 

For more information visit Trim Healthy Mama's web site. 

~Carly

Update and my 21 Day Sugar Detox Experience

Happy New Year!

Despite my lack of posting in 2013, I feel it was finally a decent, healthy year for me.  My youngest turned four in December and is really a preschooler at this point - however, my baby/toddler weight is still here.  I'm only about 8 pounds from where I was before I became pregnant for the second time and 18 pounds away from my ultimate goal from pre-pregnancy.

So, I'm not done yet!

As I had mentioned, I had been reading quite a few diet and lifestyle books last year.  I even tried Dr. Furhman's Eat To Live nutritarian diet for four months.  While I felt great I didn't lose any significant amount of weight from it.  And honestly, I really missed protein.  And eggs.  And cheese.  I'm glad I ate in that manner for the time I did because it really made me love salads and eat more vegetables. Bottom line, it wasn't really for me.

So, fast forward - err, I mean, rewind back to late October and November of  2013.  I had seen a lot of people trying Paleo diets and some other friends on social media had posted about something called The 21 Day Sugar Detox.  I looked into it and decided to try it and bought the e-book on November 3rd.  I joined the Facebook page and joined the challenge that started on November 4th. It definitely was hard avoiding sugar and gluten and wheat.  Some of the changes I made that have stuck since doing the 21DSD - as it's commonly referred to - are:

1. Drinking my coffee with cream or half and half only.  No stevia or any other sweetener.  (I use a small amount now since I'm on a new diet - more to come on that soon!)

2.  Constantly reading labels and not being tricked by food companies.

3. Eating more vegetables and using them in unique ways.  For example: Cauliflower can be used as "rice" or crust for pizza.

4.  Using more spices for flavor in lieu of sugar or salt. Many health advocates have been calling sugar the new salt for quite some time and I see why.  There is sugar in EVERYTHING.  Even places where sugar shouldn't need to be added!

5.  Trying new recipes and adding them into our regular weekly menus.

I had lost a few pounds on this program and felt my body changed shape a little bit.  I did not lose as much weight as I'd have liked (obviously) but was pleased with how it really altered my taste buds and made my cravings for bad carbs go away.  A lot of other people on the Facebook challenge group had some really great success.  I think the problem for me was I'm already eating pretty healthy foods and was really not consuming a ton of sugar before - maybe more so in the form of fruit sugars.  But sugar is still sugar.

Where does that leave me now?  Trying to find a program I can stick to long term.  I think I may have found it.  So stay tuned for my next update over the next week!
~Carly