Trim and Healthy Chocolate Muffins- E style

 

Eating Healthy can be costly to your pocket book.  I have a monthly budget for our groceries each month. But with the holidays, I went over! Yicks!   So for January.. I need to cut back and get it under control.

I like to plan a menu out for each month, it helps me stay within my budget.  As I was planning January’s menu, I ran across this recipe for Chocolate muffins on the THM facebook group. This recipe has everything a frugal mom (working on a smaller budget) wants.   Thank you Melissa for letting me share this recipe!

Chocolate Muffins – E Style

1 3/4 c oats

3 egg whites or 1/4 cup of egg whites from the carton

3/4 c unsweetened cocoa

1/2 c unsweetened applesauce

1 t vanilla extract

1/2 c plain Greek yogurt

1/2 t cream of tartar

1 1/2 t baking powder

1 1/2 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1 c hot water

1 c erythritol

2 servings of Kal Stevia (optional.. its for added sweetness)

 

Pour your oats into a  blender and blend until it’s a powder. Now you have oat flour.  Remove from blender into a bowel and add the remaining ingredients.. or if your like me just add the rest of the ingredients to your blender and blend until combined.  Place in lined muffin tins.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes are until done. 

*I was able to make a dozen and a half.*

 

These are very moist muffins.  They are so yummy you can serve them for dessert after an E dinner!

 

Enjoy!

Shelby

Trim and Healthy Simple Menu Ideas

 

These are simple meals that I do with my family… Some are in the THM  book and some are not.  If you have any questions just ask.  I never measure anything when I cook unless I am giving it to some one.  I will be posting some of my own recipes on the blog soon… so look for them!

Breakfast

Egg Omelets with cheese and bacon, sausage, or ham

Muffin in a Mug from: http://justrightporridge.com/category/basic-coconut-flour-baking-mix/

(she has lots of options to choose from.. I have even made these into waffles and drizzled a little Sugar free low cal syrup on them.)

S breakfast tacos : scramble one egg with cooked turkey sausage with fajita veggies on a low carb tortilla with cheese (cook with butter or coconut oil)

E breakfast tacos: use egg whites and do the same as above.. use coconut cooking spray!

Oatmeal: you can do the recipe from the book or (if your like me.. just use almond milk and cook like you have before, but use stevia to sweeten)

Stacy makes cents over night oatmeal

Breakfast Cobbler from Stacymakescents.com (S)

0% Greek yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit , with a dash of vanilla and stevia to sweeten ( I use ½ cup of yogurt and ¼ cup of fruit)… I do this for a quick breakfast when needed… but not to often.

Lunch

Chicken salad wraps (my recipe)

Chicken quesadilla on low carb tortilla

Taco salads with lavish chips and real cheese for S ( use only a half of lavish bread to stay with in S territory)

Chef Salads with plan approved dressing

Left overs from dinner

Sandwiches on plan approved pita bread

Dinner

Hamburger- Broccoli Alfredo Casserole from Linda’s low carb menus and recipes  – S meal

Baked whole chicken seasoned to your liking… mashed cauliflower, with S frozen green beans (cooked with real bacon and onions, seasoned with garlic powder and salt) or any non starchy veggie of your choice.

Cheeseburger pie( THM Book)

Gwen’s Nest- Beef Stroganoff recipe E style

Beef and Broccoli Alfredo ( THM book)

Stove top grilled chicken breast with Mrs. Dash seasonings (cooked with coconut oil spray) served with non starchy veggies… or E veggies for an E meal ( I like to have a serving of sweet potato with it… great E meal)

Chicken Spaghetti Squash – My recipe … coming soon

Mock Potato soup from Linda’s Low Carb menus and recipes

Chicken Jambalaya (my tweaked THM recipe) E meal

Broiled bone in Chicken (my husband’s favorite) S meal- season chicken breast with salt and Tony’s Cajun seasonings… bake at 415 for 30 to 45 mins… until done… if the skin of the chicken is not crispy turn broiler on and crisp it… serve with non starchy veggies.  (S meal)

S Chili

Lavish bread pizza (great lunch idea too)

 

These are just a few of the items we eat at our house.  I hope they help some of you ladies beginning with THM.

Shelby

Caldo~ Mexican Style Chicken Veggie Soup

The weather out here has been yucky!

Rainy, cold weather calls for

Soup in my book.

Here is my recipe for Caldo.

A quick note to the THM out there:

*This recipe contains carrots. To stay within the S category you need to limit the amount you eat in a serving. *

Now for you NON THM’s you can add 3 potatoes cubed big to this recipe.

---

Caldo
4 chicken thighs
3 boneless chicken breast
6 to 8 cups water
5 stalks of celery chunked
Half cabbage sliced
4 to 5 carrots sliced in big chucks
3 zucchini chunked
Handful of cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Place chicken , celery and water in a huge soup pot.. bring to a boil and simmer until chicken is cooked. Add your salt and pepper to taste. Remove the chicken thighs so they can cool . Debone them and add them back in. While your thighs are cooling add the rest of your veggies all except your cilantro. Continue to cook until veggies are done. Add the cilantro right before the veggies are cooked . Simmer a few more minutes. When cilantro is wilted and cooked… your ready to serve.

Enjoy!

Shelby

Are you Ready?

For Christmas that is!

Well lets see…

• Christmas shopping complete….. check!
• gifts wrapped….. (oh, wait I have two left to wrap)
• Christmas Eve menu made and bought for….check!
• Christmas breakfast  … yap I know what that’s going to be
• Christmas lunch menu… check!
• THM goodies list made

Goody making scheduled for Monday…

Yes, I think I’m ready!

Are YOU?

 

Merry Christmas

from our family to yours!

Sugar Free Caramel Peanut Clusters

 

I have been craving Peanut Clusters. You have to have some of your favorite treats during the holidays.  Well for me  that is.. I just “need” to keep some of my favorite treats handy.

I set out to create my own yummy caramel recipe… but did you know that when you use erythritol in a caramel recipe, it will harden instead of that creamy, gooey  yumminess.

That’s what I found out!  IT tasted great, but once I let it cool for  awhile.. it was hard as a rock!

I would not have know it if I did not try it!

I don’t know if anyone else learned this little tidbit of information, but I which I would have read this post from All Day I dream about food first.  It would have saved me some of my precious erythritol!

Don’t tell my that I am the only Trim Healthy Mama out there that  hoards all of those precious items that keep us on plan.

Now fess up!  You know you do it too… I’m not the only one…

RIGHT?

Now, I need to try these babies out!  Don’t they look delish!

Yes, my tongue is just hanging out drooling over these bad boys…

but they need some tweaks to be THM!

 

Here is the recipe with my tweaks.

 

Salted Peanut Caramel Clusters
1/2 cup granulated erythritol
1/2 tablespoon molasses
1/2 tablespoon water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup salted peanuts
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Combine the erythritol, molasses, and water  in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until all of the erythritol has dissolved. Continue cooking until mixture becomes a dark amber color. It will take about 6-10 minutes.   You don't have to time it, just stay close to the stove!  Just don't over cook it.. (don't ask.. I am speaking from experience.)

 

 

Remove from heat, and add the heavy cream and vanilla. Mixture will bubble vigorously. Stir until smooth.
Return to heat and boil 1 minute more. Stir in peanuts and let cool for 3 minutes.   Drop on wax paper or parchment paper.  I put mine in the freezer to speed up the cooling process, but you don't have to.

Now for the chocolate coating!

Melt 4 ozs. of unsweetened chocolate, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, powdered erythirtol or stevia (to taste), 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla, and a dash of heavy cream.

Dip them or drizzle them.... then I put them back in the freezer to harden... these are so yummy!

 

These are a great S treat for the Holidays.

 

Tell me...

 

What is your favorite holiday candy?

 

 

 

A Remake of the Family Favorite

 

My family loves Gumbo! Especially in this cold weather.  I love Gumbo too.. my only problem.. its not on my eating plan.

 My daughter made the statement “there are some things that you cannot THM (trim healthy mama)”.  Well, I set out to prove her wrong!

 

YOU CAN TURN JUST ABOUT ANY FAMILY FAVORITE RECIPE INTO A TRIM AND HEALTHY ONE!

I made a trim healthy version of the family recipe,  Gumbo. 

I have to say a great big thanks to my friend Jennifer.. she posted her gumbo on Facebook.  I asked her a few questions about  the type of flour she used for her roux. I took it from there.

When I make gumbo I usually  make enough for two meals.  Gumbo is best the next day!  This recipe is for two full meals for my family.  I make it in a big 12 quart soup pot. 

                           My families Gumbo:

For the Roux:

1/2 cup of almond flour

1 cup of melted coconut oil

cook on low to med heat  until it’s a nice dark brown  color (the color of  a penny)

While your roux is cooking… chop 2 medium onions very small, 2 bell pepper small, and  the center stalks of celery.. or you can do what I do and puree them in the blender with water. ( My family does not like to see the veggies!)

3 to 5  lbs of chicken breast, chopped into large chunks

1 lbs of beef sausage, sliced

10 to 12 cups of chicken broth

Cajun seasoning ( I use Tony’s brand seasonings)

salt

gumbo file’ seasoning

Gluccie  (optional)

 

After your roux is a nice brown, copper color add your veggies, chicken, and broth.  Add your Cajun seasoning and salt.  Now let it cook. I cook for an hour or more.. the longer it cooks the better it taste. The longer it cooks the oils will come to the top of the pot and you can skim it off.

After awhile add your sausage.. continue to cook until chicken is tender or until  you decide it has enough.

Right before serving add gumbo file’ to taste.  Add some gluccie to it if you like your gumbo thicker.

I served it over brown rice for a crossover for my family.  I ate it without rice for a yummy S meal.

I also served it with potato salad for the family… I made myself “fotato “ salad!

 

Shelby

 

My journey to become a Healthier Me!

 

Back in May, I blogged about becoming a Healthier me.

I can not believe how unhealthy I really was! I thought that if I just lost some weight, I would feel better and that would be the end of it.

That my friend was before I read a book called

TRIM HEALTHY MAMA

THIS IS A PICTUE OF ME  TAKEN IN JANUARY.

I really don’t like it.. really I hate this picture.  I never seen myself as big as I really was.

I had a friend post on Facebook the success she was having with THM (trim healthy mama).  I thought to myself I need to read this book and see what its all about!

So I broke down and paid a whopping $35.00 plus shipping for it. ( I have never in my life paid that much for a book before.. but it has been money well spent and worth every penny.)

I decided to read it and try to put into practice the principals taught by this two wonderful sisters.

In the beginning, I did have moments of doubt.  I thought how can I eat chocolate candy, cheese, butter, rice, beans, and a whole lot of other things be good for me.. and help me loose weight?

I learned that it is how I eat them that helps you loose weight and become healthy.  To be honest, I thought most of the food I ate was healthy.. I learned that some were and some were not… my combinations had to change.

In Trim Healthy Mama, you are taught to eat what are called S meals, E meals, and Full Pull meals.  The principals work!

(I really can go into deep details about the book, but it would be too long of a post for your reading.. believe me there is a ton of information that would make your mind spin.)

As my friend says… “The proof is in the pudding!”

This journey has not been easy.. I had to learn (and still am) how to rethink my food prep, cooking it, and my meals all together.

I started slow, doing one meal at a time.. and before I knew it, I was just shedding the pounds.

Next thing I knew, my aches and pains where gone.  I could see my ankles, walk without pain, and just function like a normal person again.

After almost 9 months, I can say I am a healthier me!  This journey has been fun!  I am not completely where I want to be with my weight yet.. but I have completed the goal I set for myself for this year.

I told myself beginning this, that I wanted to loose 56 pounds before December 31, 2013… I DID IT!

If you think that you can’t lose weight or get healthy…..

you really should take a look at Trim Healthy Mama.

You may just be surprised… I was!

 

Here’s to your Health!

Shelby

 

 

 

I'm Back!

Wow! I can not believe I have not blogged since June... I really have wanted to but, life has just gotten in the way.

So what's been going on in our life in these last few months... hummmm lets see....


We started our 6th year of homeschooling! Wow how time has flown! 


Back in April, I started my own weight loss journey.  I wanted to become healthy... well after 9 months.. I am down 56lbs!    In the beginning my goal was to lose 56lbs by December 31... well I did it!

                                       (this picture was taken in when I had lost 54 lbs)

I am so thrilled by this new way of life for me and my family.  My oldest has lost 20 lbs, my husband lost 25 lbs.  We are getting healthy and loving it!
I hope to share some recipes with you soon.


Back to homeschooling....

I have found that even after 6 yrs of doing this.. there is always something new to learn.  Our journey has been interesting this year.  The girls are doing well in their studies. 

Look for new post in the next few weeks... I promise I am back to blogging and I have some great post ideas I would love to share with you.

 

  Shelby