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.