Mother's Day Food Fest... a day early...

Carrot Cake Muffins sans Frosting

Apricot and Blueberry Preserve/ Cream Cheese  Danish... made with Homemade Challah, fortified with Flax

Fresh Homemade Hamburger buns... ready for the burgers for lunch today...

Cheater, Stealer, Bad Food Eater!!!!

Cheating...

Such an ugly word.  It conjures us visions of philandering spouses, moving one space more on a board game on the sly, and eating something we KNOW shouldn't be eaten.  But wait... is eating a bad food really CHEATING? Who is getting CHEATED?   Is it maybe STEALING?   I mean... Bernie Madoff... MADE OFF with billions of dollars of other people's money... that's called STEALING... but some say he CHEATED them out of it... yeah... they are probably right...

So... for eating's sake... CHEATING  and STEALING are the same thing... Agree or disagree?

We are grown ups.  WE can make choices for ourselves.  We know how to read.  We have mirrors.  We feel guilt.  We know the difference between right... and wrong.  We know that eating Twinkie is bad... and eating an apple is good.  We know we should be drinking water and green tea, and not Mountain Dew and Iced Caramel Frappacino's.

Sooooo... why do we do it?  Why... do we undermine ourselves?  WHY DO WE CHEAT AND STEAL from ourselves?  What?  How can I say such things as we are CHEATING AND STEALING from ourselves?

Simple. 

When we make bad food choices... for whatever reason... "I was at Bunco, and the only food there was junk food" or "All my friends wanted to go to lunch, and they were all having nachos... and I did too" or "My son ordered fried chicken fingers... and I just couldn't let them go to waste... and I only ate 3 fries... so I was "good"."
we are cheating ourselves of nourishment.  We are cheating ourselves of being able to wear that smaller size.  We are cheating ourselves of feeling good all the time.

When we make bad food choices... we are STEALING time from our lives.  We are making SURE that we won't live as long or as well as we possibly could.  THE WORST PART?  In my book... the absolute WORST thing we can do?... is MAKE BAD FOOD CHOICES AND SERVE THOSE CHOICES TO OUR KIDS... to me... that's CRIMINAL.  When we know better, and choose to serve the "convenience" foods anyway... we are STEALING and CHEATING our children of their lives too.  Once we know better... we need to DO better.

My kids are finally getting used to it... but in the last 9 months... I've sort of been a little "fanatical" about what goes into my kids mouths... After shopping for the Snack Shack initial food stores for the baseball season... and after READING the ingredients (science experiment) of the Nacho "cheese" box (that by the way... NEVER has to be refrigerated... hmmmmm)... I've become even MORE crazy controlling about the food they eat...

I've begun to see fast food and canned, boxed and processed food as poison... REAL POISON.  I liken that junk to Crack Cocaine... I really do.

At first... my kids balked...and kicked and screamed foul... but now... if they do happen to eat the junk... they get SUCH horrible stomach pains and indigestion.  They feel lethargic, and sleepy.  They have begun to FEEL their food, instead of just eating it... and when they CHEAT... and they do... they don't like it.  The CHEATING has been less frequent these days... their bodies have LOVED the fuel from fresh and homemade foods, and have begun rejecting and purging the bad food.  HALLEUJAH!!!

I have cooked homemade for them for the past 16 years... We eat IN waaaaaaaay more than we eat OUT... but I wasn't as vigilant about the types of food and drinks allowed in my home as I am now.  The Food Police on ANY show can come in my home and I wouldn't bat on eye...Bring it on! BBBBUT!... my kids are still rebeling a bit...

It's REALLY, REALLY hard to be a kid, and have been allowed to eat bad food in the past...and to completely change now... especially with the kids at school eating junk on a daily basis... BUT... it makes kids stronger in the end.  When my kids share their good food, especially to the kids making the most noise about "eating healthy"... and the kid LOVES the healthy food, and WANTS TO BUY IT OFF YOUR CHILD... it gets easier for my kids.

I preach to them that the food I pack for them is fuel for the day and for practice... Slim Jims, pizza, and soda ARE NOT fuel... it's drugs. Plain and simple. Doritos, Cheetos, Ding Dongs, Fruit Roll Ups, etc... ARE DRUGS...  Just like Pot and Crack and Alcohol.  They are addictive... and they are hard to quit (okay, not as hard as some... I'll grant you that)... but when the CDC says THIS generation is the FIRST generation that WILL NOT live longer than MY generation...WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM!!!  When kids are getting Type 2 Diabetes at 3 and 4... THERE IS A PROBLEM...

Just because kids are thin... DOES NOT mean they are healthy.  WE are the keepers of the food.  WE are responsible to feeding and caring for our kids... IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO STOP THE CYCLE OF processed, easy, boxed, squeeze cheese foods...

Let's not CHEAT our children out of the best health they can have.  Let's feed their bodies, minds and spirit... with an abundance of natural foods... I know, Mom, it'll take a little longer in the kitchen... and it'll INconvenience you... but aren't your kids worth it?

Crock Pot French Onion Soup... low fat version!

Okay...so I'm back, and my computer is fine... and I need to get back to writing this blog... it keeps me on track with my eating... and keeps me in the game... and when I can't post for whatever reason... I find myself NOT putting my best foot forward...whew...

Soooo... It's Crockpot Wednesday... and even though the weather is warming up... I'd like to share a favorite soup... with all it's curative properties, and it's great flavor... it's not TOO hot outside, and we still have cool evenings around here... so this may become a welcome cup of nourishment...

Crock Pot French Onion Soup

4 large sliced onions

4 cloves crushed or chopped garlic

1 cup dry white wine

6-8 cups beef broth

salt

pepper

bay leaf

 tiny pinch of dried thyme

Grated Romano or Parmigiano Cheese

Good, whole grain, crusty bread (for those that eat bread... my family... not me)

Saute ALL the onions in a skillet until wilted and soft.. not brown... or just dump them into the crock sliced and raw...

Add the broth, wine, salt to taste and pepper, bay leaf, and garlic...

Place the lid and cook on low for 8 hours or more...

At the very end... stir in a tiny amount of butter... real butter... maybe about 1 - 2 tsp only... to enrich the soup...

Toast the good french bread... with a brush of olive oil and a sprinkle of the grated cheese

Ladle the soup over the bread in a bowl, and top with more grated cheese if desired...

*Notice I stayed away from the soft, high fat, oily cheese traditionally used in the recipe...this is waaaay better for you...

Enjoy!!!

computer is down...will post when I get it back

Latin Inspired Rice

Quick Healthier Latin inspired Rice

I make this for my family all the time... I do not eat it, not because I don't love it... I do... but because I try not to eat rice very much... but I feel great serving it to my hubby and kids...

What you'll need...

2 packages Trader Joes Brown Rice OR 3 cups cooked brown rice

1 cup frozen corn

1 chopped onion

1 chopped red/green/or yellow bell pepper

1 cup sliced green onions

1 chopped zucchini or grated

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1-2 tsp cumin

salt

pepper

 3 cloves fresh chopped garlic or 1-2 tsp granulated or garlic powder

Heat up a large skillet screaming hot.  Add onion, pepper, zucchini, corn, salt and pepper and saute' until soft...
Add garlic, stir

Add cooked rice, stir to combine...

Add can of tomatoes, stir

Season again to taste

Sprinkle on cumin and chopped green onions...

stir to combine...

Heat Through...

To make this a meal, and a complete protein... add a large can of black beans to the mixture and make it a main dish... add a salad and some fresh avocado... and

yahooooo! Eat well... WITHOUT MEAT!

Brown Rice recipes...

Since I posted a long post about Rice... I thought I'd give some recipes for ya!!!

Brown Rice and Meat stuffed Cabbage

1 head cabbage

salt

3 cups cooked BROWN rice

1 lb ground beef, or turkey, or chicken

1 chopped onion

2 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

Seasonings of your choice, garlic, salt, pepper, dill, steak seasoning, coriander, ALL YOU WANT!

1 cup thawed frozen corn

2 cups black beans (or any bean you like)

Brown the meat and onion together in a skillet... drain fat completely...

add 1 can of  crushed tomatoes, seasonings, rice, corn and beans... and heat through...

Taste for seasoning... add till it tastes right to you... set aside

Boil some water in a large stock pot and add a couple of teaspoons of salt.

Tear off large leaves of cabbage, wash and place them into the boiling water for about 2 minutes... DO NOT OVER COOK...

Take them out with a strainer spoon, and place them on a cotton towel to cool

When they are easy to handle...

Take one, add some meat mixture (2-3 Tbs), roll it up like a burrito, and place into a shallow baking dish.

Continue to do this until all the meat is gone...

Make sauce with the other can of tomatoes... or just pour the can directly over all the cabbage burritos.. add a little salt and pepper on top...

and bake at 350 for 20 minutes...

Enjoy!!!

Rice... I'm a fan...

Rice isn't on my "eating plan".  The author of my book has decided that it's fattening, and should be avoided.  He is certainly entitled to his opinion... but I beg to differ...

I believe... in moderate quanities, BROWN rice is a wonderful alternative to breads and meats...

BROWN rice has fiber and minerals that our bodies require.  It's also a GREAT filling food.

In the past 9 months of my personal plan, I had pretty much followed to the letter, the LDL plan, with a few exceptions...

I eat dried fruit from time to time, I don't worry about eating only chicken breast (I love thighs), and I eat rice... when I eat sushi or want just a "little more" for breakfast.  Do I eat cups and cups of it? Heck no!  But I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sushi and Sashimi... and you just can't eat those things without rice... and I refuse to do it... It's another "deal breaker" for me.  So when the server asks me if I want a side of white or brown rice... I simply say... Yes, please... brown. 

I know I've been preaching and preaching about not buying things in "boxes" and off the shelves pre packaged... but there is ONE item I love... that I DO buy pre packaged... and that's  Trader Joes, precooked Brown Rice,in the frozen food section... in a green box. I LOVE THAT STUFF!  It has one ingredient... BROWN RICE... and it's the MOST convenient way to prepare it, when in a hurry... 3 packages for 3 bucks... and it's delish!

I don't know about you... but when I cook rice, it sometimes turns out mushy... I still eat it... but when I was lead to this product at TJ's... I was hooked...

No, I will not buy a rice cooker...we have hard water, and cleaning them takes more time than cooking the brown rice...

Don't get wrong... I don't use this ALL the time... just in a pinch... sometimes I need MORE rice than the box can handle...and making it myself is waaaaay cheaper... but... if you work full time, and want a great product.. get it.

Not all rices are equal.  My personal advice is to STAY AWAY from ANYTHING white.  White rice is like white bread... stripped of all goodness and nutrients... why eat it?

I also love a good WILD RICE... technically not a "rice" but a "grass seed" but still delish and healthy and filling. It's pictured above...

Another product I love, for my family, that isn't a rice... and takes VIRTUALLY no time to cook, is Cous Cous.  Actually a small pasta, it is a cinch to cook and it's an AWESOME alternative to rice... if you buy the Whole Wheat Cous Cous... MY FAVE??? Isreali Cous Cous from Trader Joes... {{Hello TJ's... I'm available for radio and TV spots for your fantastic store... call me!)

It's bigger, has a bunch of flavorful little tidbits of wheat berries and other wonderful grains... and cooked with a little chicken stock and some frozen peas and saute'd mushrooms.. and you have a GORGEOUS feast of a side dish.  It's pricier, but I only cook 1/2 a bag at a time for 4 people and it's plenty with leftovers too, so you can get 2 meals out of one bag...

So... just because some would say that Rice is not a good food...I look at it this way...

If I put a greasy, globulous cheeseburger in one hand... and a cup of brown rice with a little milk, and some raisins and tsp of brown sugar in the other...

Which one is better for me?

Exactly... now you see my point...

It's all about choices... and what time of day we are eating our food, and what we AREN'T eating at night before bed...

Rice...

If it's brown, or black, it's a wonderful food.

If it's white... put it back... feed your body... don't just fill it.