Blackstrap Cherry Granola (Recipe)

I'm very bad at updating blogs.  I recognize this.  I just get so busy! 

Over on Twitter, @NickKelly and @StaciaKelly host a #healthcat each week. If you're on Twitter, you should be following these two lovely folks.  They're both amazing and talented folks, plus, they're just plain nice!

Anyway!  Nick had asked for tips for avoiding winter poundage and I stated about prepping up some gluten free snacks in advance (Type Os really should do this), then mentioned a blackstrap molasses granola recipe and, naturally, everyone wants it.

CAVEAT!  I don't like cherries, so I substituted blueberries for the cherries and took it with me to a 4-day gaming convention.  It was a hit--with everyone.  It's technically a breakfast cereal, but I like it as a healthy snack--and the dried fruits are perfect for winter (at least to me)!

Blackstrap Cherry Granola (NS*)

*Non-Secretor, if you're following a strict Type-O diet

4c. crispy rice cereal

1c. chopped walnuts

1c. chopped pecans

1/4c. whole flaxseeds

1/4c. blackstrap molasses

2tsp olive oil

1T agave

1/8tsp sea salt

1/4c. water

1c. halved dried cherries

1/2c. halved dried cranberries

Pre-heat oven to 350*F.

in a large bowl, combine rice, walnuts, pecans, and flaxseeds.

In a small sacuepan, warm molasses, olive oil, agave, and salt with water over medium heat for about 2 minutes, whisking to combine.

Pour the liquid over granola mixture, toss to coat and spread onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.  Bake 10 minutes.

Take granola out of the oven, toss, and place back in the oven, reducing the temperature to 300 degrees.

Bake an additional 25 minutes.

Toss granola with cherries and cranberries.

Serve warm or cool fully and store in an air-tight glass container for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to two months.

....but, really, this is so good, you'll be lucky to keep it for two weeks!  This recipe is from the Type O Diet Cookbook, part of Dr. D'Adamo's series.

Yikes! Update!

I need to be better about updating my blogs. >_<

So!

I started a cleanse today.  I'm thinking my system is so jacked up with junk right now, I can't lose the weight I want to lose.  So, doing an organic, 14-day cleanse.  It's all capsules and "clean" living.  So far, I've eaten fairly cleanly... but, not really.

I have no willpower, sometimes.  That, and I love food.

So!  For dinner tonight, I reheated the tomato-basil soup I made two weeks ago and made some delicious grilled cheese sandwiches to go with it.  Used ghee for buttering the bread, havarti cheese slices, and some bacon.  All I can say is.... YUM!

Aside from that, I'll likely be starting up a weekly fiction blog.  I need to get back into my creative writing and whereas talking about health and healthy eating is fun, it's not really my passion.  I share here so that others can see that what you eat really is important to your health.

Plus, I like sharing recipes. :-)

End of Month Review: New Findings

Aside from not posting much during July (okay, not posting at all), there are some things that I have discovered (some very recently).


Let me reiterate that I did not start up this diet for "healthy living" reasons alone.  I started up this diet because I have an intolerance to gluten and am not really interested in being tested for full-blown Celiacs.  I just don't want to know (this is primarily why the diet cannot be considered "for healthy living").


I sort of fell out of cooking for the past month or so.  We've eaten a lot of fast food, processed foods, and junk foods--and it's made a HUGE, negative, difference.  Just eating gluten free isn't enough to help with weight loss or maintaining weight.  At least not for me.  I actually gained a little weight and put on a couple of inches--NOT COOL!


Yesterday, I saw a blog post about gluten-free diets and the supplements needed to make them really work.  This blog entry talks about the importance of Vitamin D for a Celiac.  I know I don't know if I'm full blown celiac or not, but I do know I don't get enough Vitamin D...I'm a red head, I burn to a crisp in 15 minutes.  


That blog series, actually, has made me look at my health and nutrition in a new light.  I really do need to take better care of what I'm putting into my body.  I drink sodas infrequently--and usually, only as mixers.  I drink carbonated water (La Croix brand, usually) for my "bubbly" fix.  I need to get back to the Type O diet for health and weight loss.  ...and that's why I keep this blog--to keep myself accountable and to share the discoveries with those of you who may be considering the blood type diet or for those struggling with gluten-free living.

Month End Review - June

Aside from attempting to set my kitchen on fire whilst making lamb chops and then ripping the door knob off our front door, this month has been relatively uneventful in the kitchen.  Some great food and recipes made, naturally, but I've already shared those. :-)


It was fun at the chiropractor's yesterday.  My regular chiro is on vacation, so the "vacation doctor" was in.  I've been having issues recently with muscle cramps and knots (a life long problem that probably is fibromyalga, but I don't want that in my medical records) and after he adjusted my right knee, I got a charlie horse in the arch of my right foot.  Then my neck wouldn't adjust smoothly...  It was a very painful adjustment, let's just say.  Anyway, he asked how my diet was and for the first time in, well, ever, I was able to say, "It's amazing!"  He looked at me in somewhat of disbelief, then I told him about the Blood Type Diet. I said, "I'm Type O, so my diet is mostly protein and veggies.  I've been eating like that for about two months now.  Love it!"  He nodded and considered and then wrote something in my file.  I didn't bother to read it; I probably wouldn't have been able to decipher his writing, anyway.


At the end of this month, I can honestly say that I feel amazing.  Greasy foods no longer settle well in my stomach; I have fewer junk food cravings (my down fall will be potato chips); my water in take has increased exponentially; and my cooking skills have become incredible.  I work out at Curves (doing the circuit) 4 times a week and do Zumba on Saturdays (or, if Zumba's cancelled, I do the circuit) and I do yoga or bike ride or something 2 times a week.  My results have been pretty good--inches are melting away. :-)  I will post the weigh-in and measurement results when I get them next week.


Happy eats!

Spinach Feta Rice Recipe

I found this in the community area for the Blood Type Diet's main site, http://www.dadamo.com.  It's fairly simple and takes approximately 20 minutes to make.


I was going to make turkey sausage stuffed bell peppers for dinner and the turkey sausage was the same recipe as the wonderful sausage links I'd made before.  So, I wanted something lighter for the side dish.  The rice fit the bill.  Filling, creamy, it's a definite hit in the house...definitely making it again!  Thanks to Sue Phalen for posting it!

So yummy, we ate most of it!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
• 1 cup sliced portobello mushrooms (about 4 oz, or 4 big ones)
• 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup chicken broth [or vegetable broth]
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 package chopped frozen spinach, cooked then drained and pressed until most of water is gone. May use 6 cups shredded fresh spinach leaves instead.

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Combine rice, broth, and water in medium saucepan.
2. Bring water to boil.
3. Add rice, stir once.
4. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15-20 minutes (according to your package instructions) or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
5. Cook and stir onion, mushrooms, and garlic in large skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray until onion is tender.
6. Add cooked spinach, oregano leaves, salt, and lemon juice so that it, too, is warm.
7. Add entire mixture to rice (or vice versa).
8. Add feta cheese, stir well and it's ready to serve.

London Broil Slow-Cooker Recipe

After having been on this "diet" for a month, there comes a time when you simply must improvise.  In the one cookbook I have, I have two slow-cooker recipes for dinner.  One is for 12 oz of venison (that's not going to feed three of us) and the other is for 1lbs of chicken breast (which really isn't going to cut it, either).  So, knowing that we're pretty good about eating beef (even though we just had meatloaf last night), I picked up a london broil and used the venison recipe for the rest.


So, here's my slow cooker London Broil recipe for you!!


2.5lbs London Broil
1.5c. pearl onions (roughly, I just grabbed a couple handfulls)
1 medium parsnip, chopped
1c. beef broth
.5c. red wine
.5c. water
1tsp sea salt
.5tsp paprika
2tsp dried parsley
1tsp garlic powder
2-ish tsp olive oil


Chop up the parsnip into manageable pieces and halve or quarter or slice the pearl onions.  Use about a tsp of oil oil in a medium skillet and sauté the onions and parsnip for about 3-5 minutes, then put those in the slow cooker.  


Mix the spices together and rub it on the meat on both sides, then toss it into the same skillet from the veggies and brown it on both sides (about 2 minutes per side).  Add a little extra olive oil, if you need.  


Put the beef in the slow cooker.  Pour the water, broth, and wine into the skillet to deglaze it, then pour the mix over the beef.  Set the crock to low and enjoy after at least 5 hours!


I will be pairing this with a lovely rice dish from the Type O diet plan, as well, and maybe pick up another bottle of red wine to go along with the meal.

Exercising + Diet = Results

As a Type O person, according to Dr. D'Adamo, I would thrive with vigorous exercise--like aerobics or running, vertical climbing, ect.  I have found that if I do 30 minutes of vigorous exercise on a daily basis, I feel healthier, I feel stronger, more focused (which is to say my brain actually thinks of productive things rather than wondering why the sky is blue) and more energetic.  Basically, the breakdown of exercises by blood type are as follows:


Type O: challenging physical activity (aerobics, cardio-kickboxing, walking/running, biking, weight lifting, etc)
Type A: meditative exercises/breathing exercises (yoga, pilates, tai chi, etc)
Type B: mentally/physically challenging exercises (group classes, cycling, tennis, martial arts, etc)
Type AB: combo workouts--3 days of physically challenging exercise; 2 days of meditative exercise.


Exercise is important, not just for your muscles and weight loss, but also for helping to deal with stress.  The above concepts do not in any way mean that if you're a Type A, you can't do aerobics or if you're Type O, you can't do yoga.  Not true!  It simply means that these are the ideals for you to handle stress in your life.  When I am angry or frustrated, I really like to go for a jog (or, brisk walk, who am I kidding?!) to "cool off" so to speak.  But, I  love the centering aspect of yoga (which is perfect for when I have an injury and can't do my regular workouts--or I'm on vacation without a gym in sight).


With the Blood Type diet, the word "diet" isn't used in the way we use it.  Yes, weight loss will occur--it's what happens when you start eating properly--but, it's actually referring to your diet, or your nutrition and exercise.  If you want to see results, you have to put in the work.  It's not enough to just eat only certain foods; you have to add in the exercise to truly transform yourself into a better you.

Lifestyle Not Diet

In the past month, I've had more compliments on my skin and my (ever evolving) body composition.  Moreso than when I was a very slim 130lbs, fresh out of college.  I currently tip the scales at 165lbs (give or take, depending on time of day and time of month...bills always through me for a loop!), but I'm losing inches at an impressive rate.  In the last month, alone, I've lost nearly 7" from my body.  As a friend of mine says, "You can lose weight, or you can lose inches.  You can't do both at the same time."  I'll take the inches, thank you!


Back to the skin thing.  I sell Avon.  I use the products, too--specifically, the ANEW(R) Rejuvenate skin care line.  But, more than just a topical solution, I've changed what I put into my body.  I drink less coffee and more tea (black, with cream and stevia); I drink a lot of water; I drink very little soda--and usually only mixed with Rum or Vodka!  I work out 4-6 times a week for at least 30 minutes.  I try to burn 500 calories, daily.  I work hard so I can play harder.  It all pays off.  Yes, the Rejuvenate evened out my skin tone and eliminated a good deal of the acne problem I was having, but my lifestyle choices have helped with the rest.


I knew when I started the gluten-free thing, it was going to take adjusting and getting used to.  It wasn't a fad diet--it was a lifestyle change.  I was going to have to cut out things I loved and find alternatives to fill that void and I've been pretty successful.  There is a plethora of resources out there for gluten-free living.  One of my favorites was and still is Karina's Gluten-Free Goddess.  She has recipes and gives reasons for why some things work and some things don't.  There are other sites, but I always went to her first.


At the beginning of May, I went a step further and decided I wanted to make another lifestyle change and go for the Type O diet plan.  The biggest part of it was eliminating wheat gluten, so I was already mostly there.  A few further adjustments and, viola!  I feel wonderful because I'm putting good food into my body and my body is healing itself.  I still eat fast food, occasionally; I still devour marshmallows, en masse.  I still drink alcohol and beer--gluten free beer!  But it's the healthy life choices I've made that give me the confidence to walk around in belly shirts; it's the healthy life choices I've made that give me the luxury of not having to wear liquid foundation; it's the life choices I've made that empower me to be the best me I can be.


If you're looking to lose weight and, literally, transform your life then look into the genome diet.  If you just want a quick way to shed some pounds, look into the Master Cleanse.  I lost 20lbs in ten days on that thing.  Make a healthy choice--be happier, live better.

Sweet & Salty Brussels Recipe

Sweet & Salty Brussels

Sweet & Salty Brussels

1 tsp Ghee
2 tsp olive oil
2T finely diced shallots
4 strips turkey bacon, diced
4 cups quartered Brussels sprouts
1/3 c. golden raisins
1/2 c. Vegetable Stock
1 T. chopped parsley for garnish (I never use this)

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add ghee and olive oil. Sauté shallots and turkey bacon until bacon is crispy, about 4-5 minutes.

Add Brussels sprouts and continue to cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Add raisins and Vegetable stock and cook an additional 3 minutes so the raisins can become tender and the broth can help deglaze the bottom of the pan...and add moisture to the sprouts.

Sprouts are done when they can be pierced with a fork but still give moderate resistance, if they are overcooked and become mushy, they lose a lot of flavor. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

This is from the Type O Diet Cookbook, available as an e-book on Amazon.com. I highly recommend it!

End of Month Recap

At the end of the first month of the Blood Type Diet, I can honestly say I didn't do very well with the diet--as in, there are still salads in my fridge that I haven't touched.  I can honestly say, though, that I have eaten much better this month than I have in the past.  I very much enjoyed the foods designed for me--especially the blackstrap granola and the sweet & salty Brussels!

So, why do all this?  Why would I, a geeky girl, who's goal is to break the stereotypes of geeky girls and redefine beauty, diet and exercise as much as I do?  Well, first of all, I need to be beautiful to me; second of all, I need to be healthy; third of all...I actually enjoy working out, so I would do that anyway.

My idea of "beauty" isn't tied to a number on a scales.  I don't need to be 120lbs (in fact, I would look rather sickly at 120lbs).  My goals are tied to the numbers of my figure--40-28-38.  I've seen my body with a 28" waist and 36" hips before.  The 36" hips were too thin--you could actually see my pelvis.  Curves are what make a woman sexy--no matter your body type.  I happen to be an hourglass shape.  I have friends who are apples, pears, and rulers--embrace that body type and be you! :-)

Another reason for the diet & exercise--I do a lot of cosplaying.  Do I need to be rail-thin to do it?  No; but I would certainly like to rock the spandex and pull off some costumes like Catwoman or Bat Girl; Rogue or even Wonder Woman.  I don't need to be a size 2 to do it, either.  In my mind, I just need to look like I could actually save the world, and for me, that requires muscles.

Finally, everyone points to Marilyn Monroe wearing a size 14.  She did--and her measurements were smaller than mine and I wear a 10 or 12.  Beauty isn't tied to numbers.  It's what is in the heart--what's in your eyes--what comes out when you speak and how you treat others.  One of my favorite songs says, "She ain't pretty, she just looks that way."  It reminds me of what physical beauty can often be...just looks.

Week 4 - Status Update

So, sorry I haven't actually posted for a bit.  We had a gaming convention over the holiday weekend (those are always a great trial for diets!) and I'm just now getting caught up with things.  Plus, before that, it was non-stop sewing on costumes.  I'll post those later.

So, I'm down to 164-165lbs currently.  I attribute that to the diet plan and the three to four times per week workouts of varying intensity.  I absolutely love the combinations of veggies and protein this diet calls for and the fact it's an 80/20 diet.  As long as I follow it at least 80% of the time, it's going to work.  So, if I'm short on cash and/or really in the mood for tacos, I can go to Jack-in-the-Box and order some with no guilt.  I've found, too, that I'm not eating as many as I used to.  I used to eat between 6 and 8 tacos on my own.  Now, I top out around 4, if I'm really hungry.

Over the weekend, I prepared two different salads (Dandelion greens based and kale based) and some homemade granola.  I shared the granola with other gamers and there were two at a Pathfinder session that seemed to just mouth-gasm over it.  It's a great granola that's made with blackstrap molasses, dried fruit, and walnuts and pecans.  Plus flaxseeds.  And rice cereal.  It's really amazingly good.  So, while we're sitting around the table trying to decide how we're going to defeat the enemies, we're noshing on granola that's actually fairly low-cal and extremely healthy (and in my case, very beneficial to my body).

I feel much better when I stick to the foods in the diet.  We had green tea poached chicken the other night, which was good.  But our side dish was better.  Sweet & Salty brussels sprouts.  Oh, yeah...that's getting made again!  Once I hit my goal weight (145lbs), we'll see how I look and feel.  I'm hoping to hit that by mid-July.  We'll see.

Here are the pics from the weekend.

Indigo Lantern Tribe
(Sunday, May 27, 2012)

Madelyne Pryor
(Friday, May 25, 2012)

How I Got Here

In this day and age, everyone's looking to lose weight because society has ingrained in our brains that "thin = beautiful."  As a woman, it's unreal to see the constant inundations of "true beauty" on TV, in magazines, online, etc.  It's always some movie star who looks like a lollipop or an airbrushed supermodel.

Still, weight is a contributing factor to health--which is more beautiful, in my opinion, than rail thin.  And, for me, at least, health is a contributing factor to happiness.  If I feel unhealthy, I feel ugly.  And considering how many times I've felt that way about myself, I figured it was time to do something about it.

I moved to CA 9 years ago.  My goal was like all other pretty girls--to be in movies.  Harsh reality: I'm not now, nor was I then, nor will I ever be the "Hollywood ideal" when it comes to dress size.  I was a size 8 when I moved out here--and that was too fat for film.  What's worse is I didn't know then that I had a gluten allergy--so, the pounds packed on as I lived off of ramen, pasta, and sandwiches.  Thirty pounds, to be exact.  If I wasn't the ideal at size 8, I certainly wasn't the ideal at a very tight size 14!

I did the Master Cleanse and lost about 20lbs (naturally, you're just drinking lemonade for 10 days).  I felt great, I looked pretty good, and then I got back into solid foods....and BAM! The weight came back with a vengeance.  I have tried the South Beach Diet numerous occasions--I'd lose 15-20lbs during Phase I's two week period, then gain it all back within the first week of Phase II as I added back in breads and pastas.

I was going to the gym 5 days a week and pushing my body.  The scales wouldn't move.  Disheartened, I gave up.  I was sure I was doomed to be tipping the scales at 180lbs (by this point) and would forever be unhealthily overweight.

Then I found the book "Eating Right 4 Your Type."  I read the introduction about how this diet wasn't really a diet--it was a lifestyle change.  Instead of eating foods that would harm you, eat foods that would help you--based on your BLOOD TYPE.  I was intrigued and read further.  The book suggested that people with Type O blood have a tendency to be GLUTEN INTOLERANT or CELIACS.  So, I experimented.  I went gluten free for a month.  I lost 15lbs in two weeks, felt better, saw my skin clear up and a host of other things.  A year and a half later, I'm still doing wonderfully well without gluten.

So, I decided to give the rest of the diet a try.  I'm going to do my best to update this blog each week and give you progress updates.  Don't worry, the posts won't be this long.  This is the introduction to how I got to where I am right now.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy!