St. Paddy's Day Dinner

I love traditional foods.  Let me rephrase: I love ethnic and ethnically traditional foods.  I do understand that corned beef is not traditionally Irish (they usually eat pork), but I also know that the Irish don't wear green on St. Patrick's Day, either, so I don't care.

Since I've switched my diet to a Paleo/Primal lifestyle, I have found cooking to be so much more enjoyable.  I enjoy the scents, the flavors, the experimentation...  It's all fun for me.

Last weekend at our local farmers' market, the husbeast and I scored a grass-fed, 1.24lb buffalo brisket for about $20.  We decided to use this meat for our corned beef and cabbage dish for St. Patrick's Day.  

It was an amazing choice.  Using the recipe at Paleo Effect, this brisket was, hands down, amazaballs good.  The veggies weren't bad either, but the meat was amazing.  I may try to find a venison brisket next year.

 Browning the brisket....

 Cover with beef broth & water--at least 2" over the meat to make sure it doesn't dry out.  Add in the spices....

 Bring to a boil!

 Add the veggies!!!!  (Not pictured, the mutant parsnips)

 Beginnings of  paleo Irish Soda Bread....

 The buffalo brisket....aka, CORNED BUFF'LO!

 The lovely, lovely veggies....parsnips, carrots, onions, and cabbage....

 This is an Irish Car Bomb.  Sorta.  It's actually nothing like a car bomb, and everything you should see if you consider using chilled, 2-year-old Bailey's....  It's definitely a bomb, though...

 The final spread.... clockwise:

Paleo Irish Soda Bread
Cabbage, parsnips, carrots, & onions
Corned buff'lo brisket.













I think tonight's dinner was hugely successful.  I have a dessert I want to make, but...not tonight.  The Jameson's will have to wait to be mixed into icing....for Black Velvet cup cakes....

Weekend Cooking - Fritatta Recipe

Since my discovery that I can have pineapple, I'm making sure to keep up with my Paleo lifestyle.  Pineapple is delicious and I will have it as much as I can.  I need to make up for 35 years of not being able to!

March 3 was also my spiritual birthday!  Just like my tattoo says, March 3, 1982.  I was 4.  Best decision, EVER!

(this is freshly done)

Sunday had an epic meal plan for dinner: Bacon-crusted meatloaf; creamy, spicy collards; and pineapple upside down cake.  My husband was impressed with my pineapple upside down cake, even though I used the wrong pan.  It was an awesome first attempt.

Now!  Breakfast Saturday was fun.  I wanted to make something tasty that would be filling and feed all three of us...so, I made a fritatta.  Usually, I follow strict recipes on making fritattas, but no one seems to ever want to use tomatillos in anything other than puree sauces with avocado (which sounds amazing, don't get me wrong).  Here's what I did.

Ingredients
4 tomatillos (sm/med), large dice
3 strips of thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, diced
1/2 onion
2T minced garlic
1/4c coconut milk
6 eggs
bunch cilantro, chopped (optional)
1/4c feta cheese (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400* and make sure you use an oven-safe skillet.

Start by dicing your onion and sauteing it in the oil of your choice (olive or coconut...I used olive oil).  This will take approximately 7 minutes; during this time, dice your tomatillos. Once the onions are mostly translucent, toss in your garlic and saute until aromatic (so, about 30 seconds).  Add the tomatillos and saute for a few minutes.

In a mixing bowl, combine the diced bacon, coconut milk, and eggs.  Whisk to a smooth, satiny texture, then poor the mixture over your veggies.  Let the mixture cook on the stove top for about 5 minutes, or until eggs set up.  Sprinkle the feta (if using) on top and stick in the oven.  After 20 minutes, take the mix out and sprinkle with cilantro.  Put it back in for another 5 minutes.  Remove from oven, crank to broil, and stick it under the broiler for about 1 minute.  Cut into your preferred serving size and enjoy!  Use some salsa for a little bit of an added kick.

Please note: cooking times vary and a lot of this is approximation.  When I create recipes, I don't tend to measure...just eyeball it.  I'm terrible, I know.

Day 27 - The Whole30 Program

Today was pretty painful on the muscles.  I loved it!  I already posted my gym update for the day, so this is really about the food intake.

Doesn't help that I'm coming down with a cold or pollen-related allergies or both.  Regardless, I hate not being able to breathe.  Especially when breathing becomes integral to working out.  Sleep would have been nice, too.  I managed to snag about 15 minutes this afternoon.  It helped.  I blame the drugs.

So, here's my recap of food for the day!

RECAP

Breakfast: half a tray of Fresh & Easy rotisserie chicken breast;

2nd Breakfast: the other half of said tray;

Lunch: buffalo chicken salad, but only about half of it; 

Dinner: Piña colada cicken & confetti f'rice.  This was an experiment in allergies.  I have a pineapple allergy.  The Whole30 has had testimonials of folks who've kicked various allergies--food and otherwise--so, I figured, hey, why not!  It was TOTALLY WORTH any hives I may break out with later.

Day 22 - The Whole30 Program

Zoiks!  What a wild ride this week!  I totally spaced out yesterday, but that's alright.  Food was not on my brain, but I managed to eat breakfast (egg and a half with some bacon and 2 clementines), and a snack of an apple and 2T of peanut butter.  Dinner was steak, swiss chard, and sweet potatoes.  So yum!  I had a gin and tonic that lasted me from about 8pm til about midnight, just because I needed some sort of flavor.

I'm not drinking enough water.  I know this.

My ankle's doing much better from last week.  Given that the hotel still has a hold on my account (I paid for incidentals in cash) and that hold has now caused my account to have an overdraft fee...and I have a ton of work to do for work plus knitting projects to finish and list, I have yet to make it to the gym this week.  My plan is to go running on Saturday.

Still, all in all, I'm pretty happy with my progress thus far.  I'm also excited because I now have a new cosplay goal!  I'm supposed to be Zatanna, Mystique (as Emma Frost), and Sister Psyche over Memorial Day weekend (who knows, maybe I'll throw in a female Captain America, just for kicks!) and I'm totally stoked!  I know I can pull off the looks and not have to worry that someone's thinking I'm too fat (even if that someone's me).

So, to recap food today...

RECAP

Breakfast: 1 mollet egg & copious amounts of coffee

Lunch: I was bad and skipped it...

Dinner: Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad.  It's very tasty....very tasty.

Back to knitting my epic pet sweater!!

Day 16 - The Whole30

Today started out beautifully.  I slept in, I felt refreshed, and I had a list of things and a schedule and I knew everything was going to be great!

Went to the bank and deposited my check, taking out some cash; went to the post office to pick up the Valentine's gifts for Ken and Dave...and this is sorta where the day fell apart.

You see, I have no depth perception.  Well, I have about 17% depth perception, but that really doesn't help me.  Most of the time, I function very well and know one would know...then there are the days I fall off the sidewalk because I don't realize I'm at the curb.

Like today.

What felt like eternity, I sat on the ground uncertain if I'd actually managed to break my ankle this time.  I'm sure it was only about 5 minutes, but I had several people offering to call an ambulance for me.  Why?  It's just a sprain--and even if it's broke, the car is right there.  Save the ambulance for real emergencies.

Finally decided nothing was broken, so I got up and limped over to the car and climbed in.  We went home, got some ice packs, then went on to the rest of our errands--which seemed to double in time.  What was supposed to take 20 to 30 minutes took us 120 minutes.  And my ankle was throbbing.

Needless to say, today has not been a good eating day.

RECAP

Breakfast/Lunch: 3oz steak, 2 strips bacon, 2 eggs

Dinner: Kung Pao Chicken

It's after midnight and I'm still cooking epic food for the weekend.  This weekend is Orccon2013, the first of three cons for Strategicon.  Ken is on staff (Quartermaster) and I am on staff (Assistant-soon-to-be-Marketing Director).  We stay at the hotel for the convention to, basically, make sure everything runs smoothly.  Our hotel room has no microwave or fridge, and the restaurant is too expensive to eat at for all meals.  SO!  I'm making food.

So far, we have the base of chili, bacon cups for salads (or whatever will stay in them)...and on tap, tarragon chicken salad, and scotch eggs.  We have plans to pick up more salad stuff near the hotel, as well as a pork roast for a great slow-cooker recipe (which, we're taking both of ours).  I figure, if Dave ends up making it down for the weekend, we will have plenty of healthy food to nom on and make the rest of the con jealous of our epic nutrition!  I don't know how much recapping I'll be able to do there, but I'll do my best to let you know!  May have a "Tales from the Con" section...we'll see. :) 

Day 15 - The Whole30

"I feel fantastic! And I never felt as good as how I do right now--Except for maybe when I think of how I felt that day When I felt the way that I do right now, right now, right now!"

That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling after 15 days of clean eating.  I feel fantastic!  I'm still very groggy in the mornings, but I'm sleeping at night and, mostly, restfully.  The only time I'm hungry during the day is when I realize I've missed a meal (like today), and, in general, I like to think that my outlook on life has improved somewhat.  It's much more difficult to gauge and, given that I'm a girl, subject to change with the lunar cycles.  Or something.  SCIENCE!

*ahem*  Anyway...

As you may have read earlier, I hit a personal milestone today.  When I started my lifting program, I decided that I wanted to squat 200#.  In a "When I ... Then I..." statement, I asserted I would get myself a "Miss Fit" t-shirt.  I'm happy to say...I have to wait til after the weekend's gaming convention in order to design it, but it's in the works!

...and this fills me with glee...

So, lemme recap my day of semi-awesome eating...

RECAP

Breakfast: 1 egg, 3oz of steak

Second Breakfast: 2 eggs, 1 sorta blood orange, coffee

Lunch: ...water...  I worked through it by accident.

Dinner:  My husband so very sweetly opted to make the dinner I had suggested for the evening so I could KNIT LIKE A MAD WOMAN.  I'd wanted "comfort food," and this was the perfect night for it.  So, off to The Clothes Make the Girl for recipes.  We went with the Cottage-Flower Pie, but used turnips instead.  Probably will make it again tomorrow night with sweet potatoes.  I dunno yet.  Tomorrow is a very busy day... food prep for 4 days away from home.... for 4 people....

If I learned nothing else from this evening, I learned this: Ken very much loves the immersion blender.  My shake tonight was strawberry, apple, coconut milk, and the lemon-flavored magnesium powder.

PS: Last night's concoction decided to erupt after about 45 minutes under my bed lamp.  It was awesomely fun...but, y'know.  SCIENCE! (It really does work!) 

Halfway on The Whole30 Program

I suppose, mathematically speaking, tomorrow would be the actual half way point of the Whole30 Challenge, but, y'know what?  It's been two weeks since I started and that is just awesome.  So, how's the last two weeks been?  Here's a bit of a recap of things.

Things I'm not supposed to know...
I've lost 10 pounds.  I started with 172 (I listed it as 170, because that's what I'd say to people) and I'm at 162.  I've also lost inches.  I always pull the tape tightly because I *hate* those numbers, but lets be realistic--I'm only hurting myself when I do that.  My numbers to start were 38-33-40 and the abdomen (2" from navel) was at 38, as well.  Today, my measurements were 38-31.5-38 and 36 at the abdomen.  I admit it.  I squeed.

Things I have learned...
When they say no alcohol for 30 days, they mean it.  I had a total of 4 vodka tonics in the last 14 days.  The first two didn't do much other than taste icky; the second two plastered me and made me sick to my stomach.  Enough for me to say I'm not doing that again in the next 2 weeks.  Don't care.  Not worth that pain.

I've also learned I need to eat before my workouts.  If I don't, I just can't push the weight (HA! punny!).  I also really need to pay attention to time and eat.  Three times a day is not that difficult.  Protein! Protein! Protein!

Things that have improved...
MY SLEEP! Mostly.  I still have off nights, but for the most part, I'm falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up semi-refreshed.

So, what did I nom on today during one of the most emotionally stressful days of my last few weeks?

RECAP
Breakfast: Chicken livers and coffee.

Lunch: The salad from last night....yum!

Dinner: Spaghetti squash spaghetti with meatballs from last night, chicken, and black olives.  I finished off the meatballs....SO YUM!

Now, I'm getting my magnesium (the powder, coconut milk, a banana and a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder), knitting this sweater for the weekend (you can read about that kinda stuff here), and watching a movie before passing out so I can go to the gym tomorrow and be SHE-RA! 

Days 12 & 13 - The Whole30

I didn't log yesterday.  Obviously. So here's a recap from yesterday.

RECAP
Breakfast - Mollet egg, bacon (2 slices), and sautéd Nappa cabbage.

Lunch - I think I skipped it.  I was having a very bad emotional day.

Dinner - Chili.  It was awesome.  The recipe is here.

I had 2 vodka tonics last night and pretty much instantly regretted them.  I was kinda nauseated and in pain.  I think the coconut milk that went with my banana and magnesium powder curdled or something.  Who knows.  

Today... I at least ate 3 times.  I'm proud of me!  But, it was also a training day...so, I should have eaten 4 times.  Oh, well.

I don't have any epic stories from the training room today, so you get this one post.

RECAP
Breakfast - Chicken breast tenderloin & half a sweet potato

Second Breakfast - 2 eggs, and 4 strips of really bad bacon and about 2 cups of coffee

Dinner - SO MUCH FOOD!  We made this great salad, these awesome roasted carrots, and these amazing meatballs.   This was a masterpiece of taste sensations!  And we have a ton of leftover salad (YAY LUNCH TOMORROW).  

Drinking water today.  

Overall, I'm feeling pretty amazing and I'm starting to see how some foods negatively impact my system.  This makes me happy, too.  Not thrilled that I need to rid myself of Vodka (unless I can drink the more expensive gluten free vodka), but maybe I'll be able to drink my wine.  I do like a dry white.

Day 11 - The Whole30 Program

I totally forgot to do my recap from yesterday, so I shall do that below.  I will chalk the forgetfulness up to the pinched finger and the bruises on my rib cage.  It is always easier to blame injuries than to just admit to failure.

Results, not excuses!

...and I'm getting results.  Seriously.  I know I said I wasn't going to weigh in, but I have no willpower, like, at all, when it comes to the scale.  So, I weighed in yesterday.

164.2lbs.

That's almost 10lbs in less than 2 weeks.  This is inspiring to me, so I'm glad I did it.  I'd like to lose another 10lbs by the end of this challenge.  That would put me right around 150-155lbs which, I think, would be a very good weight for me.  Realistic goal.  Now, that doesn't mean that I won't try to lose more fat and see if I can drop that number to 140, but the more I work out and get stronger, the more I realize my once-set-in-stone goal of 130lbs is unrealistic for me.  I'd love to LOOK 130lbs, but, really... no.  Too thin, given what I lift.

So...

RECAP

Breakfast: Sweet potato, 2 scrambled eggs

Lunch: 4 egg omelette with peppers, diced ham, salsa, and avocados, and hashbrowns (we went to a restaurant...and I'm sure there was butter in the hashbrowns because...intestinal distress.  All I'm gonna say)

Dinner: Crispy Spiced Chicken Livers and squash with bacon.  This is what it looked like: 

Hungry yet?  GO EAT!

Day 9 - The Whole30 Program

If you read my earlier post today, then you already know about my gym experience today.  My first thought as I lay there, pinned under my barbell was, "I have got to start eating before my workout..."

Which means...I have to get up earlier...which...has been the problem, in the first place.  I'm still waking up tired, though my sleep quality seems to be improving.  I'm hoping it continues to improve.

Anyway!  Recap of today's fooding...

RECAP

Breakfast: 2 chicken breast tenderloins, 2 eggs, and 1 sweet potato with mint chutney

Lunch: 3oz chicken, 1 banana

Dinner: Moroccan salmon with curried frice and an apple.

Epic food was epic for dinner; but I think I just need to eat more during the day.  

Magnesium shake with coconut milk and strawberries rounds out my day.  My husband is making dinner tomorrow night.  I am excited for what he comes up with!  He's been hugely supportive in my Whole30 program and I'm very thankful. 

Day 7 - The Whole 30

It's been a week.   The last couple days have been eating challenges, but, I've done okay.  Just really craving a soda or a vodka tonic or even margarita right now.

It was an emotional day...as was yesterday.  In short, eating wasn't high on my priority list.  If you read my "Tales from the Gym" from today, you probably have an idea of how my day was going.  It didn't get better.

Plus, new chiro today.  Unexpected paperwork and exam with X-Rays accompanied by a new diagnosis and treatment that I don't like. He said I had a compressed disc in my low back... I'll believe him, but I still don't like the treatment.

Anyway.  I only ate twice today...I know, bad.  I wasn't expecting dinner to be at 9:45pm, either, but that came with the unexpected exam and paperwork.

RECAP
Breakfast: Sautéd Napa cabbage, a chicken hot sausage, and 3 mollet eggs

Dinner: Sautéd yellow and green squash with peppered bacon and chicken breast.  I had an extra serving of this to double as a lunch/dinner thing.  I gave it five minutes in between, so it was totally two meals, right?

I will definitely take that coconut milk+Magnesium+fruit concoction tonight before bed.  I desperately need the stress relief. 

Tales from the Gym - The Realizations...

My day started as it should--I woke up, kinda, rolled out of bed into my workout gear, rooted around for a pair (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) of socks, and the flattest sneakers I own.  Grabbed my phone and my tablet, my towel, water bottle... I was ready to crush my workout today.

Set it all up in my tablet app (LiftBook, for those interested): StrongLifts 5x5, Workout B, 180# squats, 60# OHPs, and 180# Deadlifts.  I was feeling powerful (except for those OHPs...they are my nemesis).  My squats sets went well.  I was feeling confident and on top of the world.  My OHPs were surprisingly good today...until the 4th set.  That's when I realized there were a lot of guys staring at me...and they weren't staring at my weight.  I looked down and thought, "Oh, geeze...if there is ever an exercise to make feel even *more* chesty... it's this one.  DOUBLE Ds COMIN' AT YA..."  Threw me off, because now I was focused on the fact I have boobs and my workouts are just making them bigger and everyone in the gym is noticing.  Set 4 gave me 3 reps, set 5 gave me 4.

I happily moved to my Deadlifts.  My warm up sets were great, but I only did 2 at 160# instead of my normal 3.  I think I should have done 3 because I only managed to get 3 reps at 180#. This made me very sad.  I like PRs every time I lift.  It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something.  I don't know how to handle it when I don't hit those PRs.  Then it makes me worry that I'm losing strength while doing the Whole30 program and I start to freak out.

Of course, apparently, I base my sense of self/self-worth on my lifts.  Oh, THAT is a bad idea (Yes, I know this already)!  When I couldn't do my 5 reps at 180# on the deads, my tapes started blaring in my head.  I tried to drown them out by saying, "Oh, yeah?  I got 3 reps at 180#...and competitive dead lifters only do ONE rep at their weights! So...shut up!"  But, it just got louder.  Apparently, it is better at intimidation than I am.  :(

"So?  You have to get to those weights, first!  You can't even get to 200lbs, let alone 315lbs!  Everything everyone has ever said about you, ever, is true--you worthless excuse for a waste of air!"

Thanks, brain.  So, I went home and consoled myself with an epic Paleo breakfast (which you'll get to read about tonight).  All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not cooking tonight.  I'd burn the kitchen down in all likelihood.

Day 6 - The Whole30

Woke up tired, again, today.  Also had a bit of a headache on and off today.  But, I enjoyed walking about 2 miles in the warm, California sun.  Why, yes...I do believe I'm rubbing that in.

Not a good eating day, however.  I woke up about 9:15--well, I got out of bed at 9:15, I'd been waking up for several hours--and left to go to my now former (D:) chiropractor's office to help her with some things.  Some things I didn't think would take a long time.  So, around 2pm, I finally started for home.  I hadn't eaten breakfast and I was pretty much starving, so, breakfast and lunch came within 20 minutes of each other.

Here's the recap...

RECAP:

Breakfast - Brussels sprouts, cabbage, bacon, and about 3oz of chicken

Lunch - half an avocado with some bacon stuffed in the center

Dinner - Lime-ginger baked tilapia with coconut-almond green beans.

Late night snack during gaming - 6-ish oz of steak and a baby cucumber.

Skipping the shake tonight because it's late and I'm comfy in my bed (and I'm not sending my poor husband back to the kitchen, though, trust me, the irony of that sentence is not lost on me).

Day 5 - The Whole30

Superbowl Sunday.  Probably if I did the research, I could substantiate my claim that it's one of the biggest junk-food days during the year.  And, naturally, I'm on the Whole30 Program.  I picked a challenging month.

No, seriously!  I did!  Look:

February:
2 - Groundhog Day
3 - Superbowl Sunday
14 - Valentine's Day
15-18 - Gaming Convention

I'm sure there are other holidays in there, too, that I could celebrate, but those are the biggies--especially the gaming convention.  Four days of non-stop gaming and not many Paleo-friendly options.  Fortunately, I have some ideas for breakfasts and lunches.  Not so sure on dinners.

But, today, I slept in a bit and woke up feeling rested and refreshed and, *gasp* HAPPY!  I donned my workout gear and proceeded to have a craptacular workout because of the idiot men at the gym, but came home to a mostly-made breakfast.  This made me really happy.  I was a bit bad, though, so here's the recap.

RECAP:

Breakfast: 2 eggs with home-made pico de gallo and a baked sweet potato

Lunch: ....what's this?  I did not haz...mostly because I was preparing for....

Dinner:  'Tandoori' Chicken with curried frice and mint pesto (totally stollen from Miss Melicious).  It was amazingly good...in fact, here's a picture!

I, also, have drunk 3L of water at this point in my day and it's only 8:30pm.  I anticipate more water to come!  I will also have another epic shake like last night's...

Speaking of last night...I was bad, again!  I hadn't eaten much yesterday; wasn't feeling it and wasn't hungry...until about midnight, at which point I devoured an orange bell pepper and about 5oz of chicken.  It was the best midnight snack EVER!

Day 3 - The Whole30

Today seemed much better on the eating front.  Though, waking up is still *extremely* difficult.  In fact, I took a protein shake last night with my magnesium powder and fell asleep fine....but, woke up frequently....and did not dream peacefully.

I woke up just as tired as when I went to bed and barely remember the first part of the morning.  I remember certain things, but not in any sort of sequence or duration.  At least I can sleep in a bit tomorrow before my workout.

In general, though, I'm feeling pretty good, though I'm definitely craving a vodka drink.  Nothing sweet, really, just a vodka tonic.  Or a caesar. Anyway....

RECAP!

Breakfast: 2 jumbo brown eggs and 3oz of steak (+2 cups black coffee)

Lunch: Brussels sprouts/cabbage and bacon sauté with 3oz of chicken

Dinner: That fabulous cucumber salad, again, and about 6oz of beef roast from the crock pot.

Naturally, water to drink.

I am considering whip---oh, wait, I forgot to get more bananas.  Won't be making the banana "ice cream" tonight!  But, I will take my protein shake later, likely with my last banana, again.  It's very good and my feet didn't cramp at all in the night! 

Day 2 - Food Recap

Today was a workout day.

These days always throw me off. I also realized that I need to (at least at the start of this) do something not entirely Whole30 approved--I need a protein shake at night because it's how I drink my magnesium.  I need the magnesium (for now) to help me sleep so I don't have days like today...

6:00am - Alarm goes off.  Killed it.

6:45am - Second alarm goes off.  Killed it.

7:15am - Husband stumbles in to search for a towel...I notice the time and immediately....curl back up and groan.  Despite sleeping the night through, and sleeping soundly, I did not sleep well or restfully.

At this point, I crawled out of bed and got into my workout gear and got ready to leave.  I remember being at the gym and doing my bodyweight squats.  I remember crying about my pathetic OHPs, and I remember empowering myself with 175# dead lifts.  I don't remember driving home.  I remember making breakfast (which I'll share in a sec) and knitting...and the nap I ended up taking...and from there, I remember pretty well.

So. 

RECAP
Breakfast: 3 eggs and 3oz grilled steak
Lunch: I almost missed this and it wasn't balanced at all.  It was simply 3 oz of grilled steak.
Dinner: From The Clothes Make the Girl, I made the Moroccan Pork Chops with cucumber salad.  My husband (who has no interest in being Paleo) loved this meal and was sad there was not more (Note to self: Make large batch of salad).  Despite it being a training day, I haven't really been all that hungry.  Just lethargic.  I'm going to have a banana to cleanse my palate and then have a protein shake later for the magnesium powder.  Probably use 2 scoops of the protein powder, coconut milk, and another banana.  Have a lot of muscle cramps and knots...magnesium and potassium for the win! 

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.

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.

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!