Can't get your kids to eat veggies? Try this yummy drink! (THM)

Do you have a hard time getting your little ones to eat enough veggies? If you're anything like this southern mama then the answer would be yes. Even though I try as I might I'm just not a lover of veggies and neither are my kids. We eat them but there's no love going on there most of the time. We definitely don't get enough fresh vegetables every day, especially during the winter months.

God revealed a recipe in my Trim Healthy Mama book to me recently. "Earth Milk,' page 425.

I had glanced over it before while I was reading but was in no way ready to blend up some vanilla salad. O.O

When God touches your heart, He touches it my friends. And that is exactly what He recently did to mine. I prayed and He answered.

The above picture is my two year old daughter enjoying some 'Earth Milk.'

And below is my 4, almost 5 year old drinking some. The love this stuff!

 

For those of you Trim Healthy Mama's, THM's recipe is on page 425. I recently made myself some and was shocked at how yummy it was! So of course I had my littles try some and all but one loved it! I even saw my 12 year old drinking a little before bed yesterday.

I made mine a Fuel Pull so I could drink it with whatever meal type I would be eating. When I saw how much my girls loved it I decided to make them their own S batch using a little organic sugar and stevia. As Serene stated, I didn't use tea in theirs either. In mine I used Oolong.

Oh my... talk about happy kiddos and a happy mama! I have been praying to God to figure out how to get more vegetables into my little one year old. She was my main focus. I can tell the others to eat their vegetables and enforce it but have you ever tried making a one year old eat something they don't like? Oy...

Then after having my Trim Healthy Mama book for almost a year God led me to the 'Earth Milk' recipe and BOOM ... life-changing.

My one year old drinks it with great enthusiasm! 10 points for Mom!!! And even more thanks to Serene!!

If you are needing a way to get veggies into your little ones without them fighting you or gagging, this may be a blessing for you too! It has a creamy, vanilla milk flavor. I don't quite know how it happens but it does. You can smell the greens but once you take a sip you won't even notice. You'll be too busy getting excited about not having to eat a salad with lunch (or dinner) everyday. That last part may just be me. lol

Oh... and one more plus! My veggie disliking hubby tasted this drink and said he could drink it everyday to get his veggies. Praise God!!!!

'Earth Milk," by Serene Allison. It's kid approved and hubby approved!

 

 

 

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup shake (Can be made an S or FP)

I love, love, love Reese's peanut butter eggs, tree, pumpkins, you name it!
 (please excuse the spelling on the picture. I was in a hurry to drink it! lol)

So when some brilliant woman on the THM FB group posted this I tried it immediately and whoa is me. This girl almost didn't know what to do. It was incredible! The funny thing was that the woman who posted the recipe didn't remember who the original recipe creator was and was trying to thank her.

Long story short, I don't remember who she was but she humbly came forth laughing. She had no idea her little creation would make a ridiculous amount of women happy and boy did it!

This treat of a drink can be made as an S or a FP... you choose. It's terrific both ways!

S Version:

• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein (I use Swanson's like Pearl and Serene suggest. I too love it!)
• 4 tsp. Truvia
• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• a few sprinkles of pure white stevia
• dash of salt
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened creamy peanut butter (I use Adams)
• 1 Tbsp. Cocoa (I heap mine, just sayin ;)
• 1/4 cup boiling water

*Add all ingredients before hot water and ice into blender and start. Add hot water (this will melt the coconut oil ;) and then ice. Add as much ice as you desire.*

Now.. if you're in no mood to do the whole water boiling thing and I'll admit it, sometimes I'm def. not in the mood and neither are my kiddos. They want mama now and mama wants her drink. So oftentimes this mom will do the Fuel Pull version. Praise God for Peanut Flour from Netrition.com! Gosh I love that stuff!

FP Version:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (if you really want to lower your calories you can use half water and half almond milk)
• 1 scoop SF vanilla whey protein powder
• 4 tsp. Truvia
• a few sprinkles (to taste) of pure white stevia
• dash of salt
• 2 Tbsp. Peanut Flour
• 1 heaping Tbsp. cocoa

Mix all ingredients into your blender and give it a go! Add your ice and soon you will be in chocolate peanut butter heaven!

*Mama warning* If you let your kiddos try this be prepared, they will not sip a little to try it. They will guzzle it down!

Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni THM Style (S)

I was blessed to grow up in a home where my mom cooked homemade Cajun meals from scratch. Even still it was inevitable that at some point in my life I would be introduced to the world of Hamburger Helpers. My favorite was the one with the potatoes. (or at least that's what they were supposed to be) I have yet to figure out how to make that THM since I don't eat white potatoes. I do have a friend on FB that recently made a version of it with cauliflower that I might just have to try. That night hubby will have a homemade burger or something. The man gags at the thought of cauliflower. It's a bummer but we have an understanding. lol

Cheeseburger Macaroni was my second favorite and if you're like me and you kind of miss that weirdo box stuff every now and then, you will love this recipe!

• 2 lbs. ground meat (I use ground turkey but you can use beef if you prefer)
• 2 Tbsp. Homemade Taco Seasoning (recipe below)
• 16 oz. package of Dreamfield's pasta of your choice
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Seasonings of choice (normally I will use Tony Cachere, a little salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Now that my littlest is eating with us I omit the Tony Cachere due to the spiciness)
• 1/4- 1/2 cup Unsweetened almond milk

1. Boil pasta.
2. While boiling pasta brown meat. Drain. Return to pan and add the taco seasoning. Mix well.
3. When the pasta is done drain it and then add the meat, cheddar cheese, and add just enough almond milk to make a sauce. You could also use water instead of the almond milk. Stir gently until the cheddar is melted. Add your seasonings of choice while you are stirring.

Homemade Taco Seasoning:
(I did not create this recipe. I found it on the internet years ago and have used it ever since. It's wonderful!)

• 1/2 cup chili powder
• 1/4 cup onion powder
• 1/8 cup ground cumin
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. paprika
• 1 Tbsp. salt

Mix and store.

*Three Tbsp. homemade taco seasoning equals one 4 oz. package of taco seasoning mix.*

SF Peanut Butter Cheesecake (THM S)

The other night we were in need of a quick dessert and this mama wanted to try something different. I stumbled upon a recipe for peanut butter cheesecake and thought I'd give it a try. After all, it looked yummy and was really easy to make. I can't find the website where I got it so I can't share the website where I got it with you. Just know, it wasn't this mama who created this rich dessert. IT's just this mama who is sharing another mom's recipe so that you too can share in her creation.

Each serving I split into two since it was so rich. If you're trying to lose stubborn pounds you might want to do that too If not, more power to you. Get ready, this little dessert will have you feeling like you had real New York style cheesecake peanut butter style. It's rich I tell you!

• 3 Tbsp. 1/3 less fat cream cheese
• 2 Tbsp. No sugar peanut butter (I use Adams)
• pure white stevia to taste
• sugar free chocolate chips to top (optional) For the girls I used mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, not sugar free

*Update* Fast fwd. a day and you'll find me wanting a snack. It's nap time, the house is quiet and I don't want to make much noise. So... I decided to try to make this little treat even better for me. Low and behold it's even yummier than when I first had it. Here's what I used. :)

• 2 Tbsp. no sugar peanut butter
• 2 Tbsp. 1/3 less fat cream cheese
• 1/2 scoop Swanson's vanilla SF whey protein
• pure white stevia (to taste)
• just a little unsweetened almond milk (this will make your protein snack really nice and creamy. I didn't use much because I wanted to keep the cheesecake feel.)

Yummo!!

Next time I think I will replace 1 Tbsp. peanut butter with peanut flour and add a little more almond milk for less calories. Yummy... yummy... yummy.

 

Mix together well in a bowl and enjoy.

SF, LC Moist, Protein Packed Vanilla Cake (THM Friendly)

Typically I'm a chocolate girl. The more chocolate the better, but one day last week I really wanted white cake. A nice, happy piece of moist white cake. This posed a problem for me since I know of no recipe that doesn't include beans. At least not as of yet.

It was the afternoon and I was starving! If you're a stay at home mom I'm sure you know that time of the day. It's right before the kids get up from their nap and before you know it you will need to start dinner. Somehow you spent yet another afternoon working around the house losing track of the time while you made the most of 'quiet time'. Suddenly you realize you need to stop and eat a snack. This was me! Hubby was home and I had no snacks pre-made.

Sometimes I make my Mama's Little Secret Energy Drink which I love! This day though I was starving!!! My mind began to mentally go over recipes I knew from my THM book and I remembered their Muffin in a Bowl page 258.

I prayed as my stomach growled and I changed up their recipe to make myself a protein packed mini-white cake.

*THM Mama's: I'm not sure whether this would be a light S because of the one scoop of coconut flour or not. To be on the safe side, I eat it as an S.*

Praise God, it was delicious!! I just made another one for my girlies to snack on together.

• 3 Tbsp. Oat Fiber
• 1 Tbsp. Coconut Flour
• 1/4 scoop Swanson's Vanilla Protein powder
• 3/4 tsp. Glucomannan
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 4 tsp. Truvia
• 1/3 cup of carton egg whites
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 Tbsp. water

Mix all dry ingredients together well in bowl of your choice. I use a small Pyrex one. Add your wet ingredients and stir well. Microwave for one minute. I topped mine with some yummy FP vanilla pudding and a little FF Ready Whip.

It was delicious!!!

I-Hop who? THM Pancakes S... yep, I said S! (Sugar Free and Low Carb)

Gosh, I don't even know where to begin with this post. If it weren't nap time and I wasn't on day 3 of a Ttapp bootcamp I might actually be inclined to stand up and do a happy dance. That is how happy I am to be writing this post.

Seriously!

So, I love THM. What I didn't love was losing pancakes from our Saturday morning brunch. My hubby is a brunch man. And when I say that, I mean it. It's kind of a go big or go home thing with him. Well, maybe not go home... more like go cranky or to I-Hop. *snickers*

*note* I'm just going to post pictures off and on as I type so you can swoon and get excited!

If you're like us and you've missed pancakes with your scrambled eggs and bacon then you are about to experience something to make you fall in love with life all over again. Or at least your THM Saturday brunch!

I won't lie, I was a wee bit nervous about trying this recipe which isn't unusual for me when replacing something typically made with white flour. It tends to weird me out at first. I'm a southern girl. What can I say? lol My people use a lot of flour. They also die from heart disease and type two diabetes, sadly.

Moving on to happy land again! :)

A single batch of these gives you 3 good size pancakes. Not I-Hop huge pancakes, but good size. I can eat and these were perfect for me!

Look how pretty.

One thing the recipe creator tells you is that these are delicate and must be treated as such. You will not want to flip them until they have cooked some.

The waiting process is no different than making pancakes with flour. I was careful when I flipped them and had no issues.

Just take a whiff... I mean look. lol

Just looking at the pictures has me getting excited about Monday! Hubby will be off after a 7 day work week.

Are you hungry yet? I am. lol

I had what some southerners refer to as a 'hankerin' for maple syrup on mine. I made some sugar free mixed berry syrup last night but my morning had maple syrup written all over it.

This is what I used. It is made with xylitol and tastes the most like real maple syrup. I'm weird about most sugar free syrups using stevia. I haven't found one that I liked just yet. This syrup however is super yummy!!

So now the time had drawn near for me to top my beautiful breakfast. I heated my syrup and drizzled some over my 3 mouth watering pancakes. Then I added a little butter. I sat back and watched it melt in awe.

I had to ask myself. Those pancakes seriously couldn't taste half as good as they were looking.

Or could they?

Yes, yes dear friends.... they sooo could!

Now let's see if I can get this link right. lol

Hop on over to Glen's Nest for the recipe.  Low Carb Pancake Recipe THM S

Enjoy!!

Fire Cider! The newest member of my cold and flu arsenal. (THM friendly)

I first saw this recipe floating around the web last year. I made it and threw it away once it was done. I admit it. Fear got the best of me. That and a person's negativity. Ugh... I'm not a fan of being wasteful, or fearful for that matter. It was a sad time for me.

This year I did some more research and was determined to try it again. The negative person is no longer in my life and I knew what I had to do. I had to squish fear where it hurts and I'm so glad I did!

This stuff is awesome!

 It does take weeks to reach its proper potency but when it's done, in the words and inflection of my 7 year old, "It's awesooooome!" lol

I have kicked one sickness already this week by taking this every hour for a day and a couple times the next two days. Praise God for a break from all that garlic cutting!!

And... it's THM Friendly!! You can even drizzle it on a yummy salad as a dressing.

Here's the recipe...

• 1/2 cup grated Horseradish
• 1/2 cup fresh grated Ginger
• 1 medium Onion, chopped
• 2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (I love me some cayenne, cher. For those of you wondering what I just said, I'm Cajun French and cher is a French people term of endearment ;) It translates to "dear.")
• Zest and juice (or juice only) from one lemon
• 1 Tbsp. Turmeric powder
• Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar

1. Cut it all up and place in two large jars. Fill bottles with Apple Cider Vinegar. Use wax paper to keep contents from touching the metal lid.
2. Shake daily. Store 4-6 weeks.

*You can also add honey to yours when its done. I didn't and we all love it! (well, not hubby, but I never thought he would. lol) My 2 and 4 year old beg for it! They love the kick it gives you. lol

The Best Sugar Free Brownie ever! (THM S)

As a lover of chocolate and a Trim Healthy Mama I have tried a lot of THM friendly brownies. None of which I liked.

None.

Sorry, I just can't hang with the Secret Agent bean brownies.  I wish I could. I know lots of women like them and more power to them. When I made them the consistency just wasn't brownie-like to me. I also didn't like the idea of having bean brownies. Maybe it was a mind over matter sort of thing.

Either way, I walked away from those brownies and the others I tried, sad and discouraged.

And then, as if the heavens opened up I stumbled upon a brownie recipe from Stacy Makes Cents on Pinterest.

Oh my...

I knew as I stirred the chocolate and the butter together that Stacy was a genius and boy was I right! These were so darn good that we had them 3 times within one week. My girls were all hootin and hollerin.

These are little girls, mind you. Chocolate loving, sugar lovin girls that can't be fooled by bean brownies.

If you're looking for a yummy, sugar-free brownie recipe, God has just smiled upon you. Take a walk over to Stacy Makes Cents and make her recipe. It will curb any chocolate craving you might be having.

Stacy Makes Cents Brownie Recipe

Sugar Cookie Delight (THM FP)

Starbucks who? That's what I think every time I make a sugar-free drink that tastes better than what they serve. Don't get me wrong, I still love their Decaf. Mocha's but probably only because I haven't figured out how to make those just yet. lol

This new drink surpassed all of my expectations. It was like an afternoon dessert.

I kid you not!

Hubby bought me some Celestial Seasonings 'Sugar Cookie' tea. It seemed festive and I thought, "Awesome!"

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Truvia
• 2 Sugar Cookie tea bags
• FF Ready Whip

1. Heat water and milk
2. Add tea bags and steep for 4 minutes.
3. Remove bags and add Truvia.
4. Taste. Mmmmm..
5. Now add FF Ready Whip if you're sugar tooth is really hankering for something good and sweet.

Prepared to dazzle your taste buds with sugary goodness without the sugar!

*The above serving I made is shareable. Unless of course you're having a particularly rough day and are in need of a serious comfort drink and a long book. In that case, enjoy it all without the guilt.*

December DETOX time :)

It's the first Monday after Thanksgiving and although I didn't eat as bad as I did growing up, I did ingest some things that weren't the best for my body.

I know that Spring is typically the time when people start thinking about detoxing. They've had a long winter full of treats and it's the time coats come off and the result of those treats show through your clothes.

For me, I think differently than some. You see, my parents weren't very healthy. On his death bed my earthly father had heart disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney failure. He even had gangrene on one of his feet from the high levels of sugar and the fact his body just couldn't function well anymore. Years of eating bad had taken its toll on him and it had finally come to take his life. As I held my fathers hand when the Lord took him home I knew I never wanted to end up like him. I was 26.

My mother was and is no better. She suffers from heart disease, type two diabetes and has been on dialysis for a couple of years now. She can't hardly walk anymore and her quality of life is poor.

I don't want to end up like them and if I don't take care of my body I will.

So here we are today. I don't like to go with the flow of society. It annoys me. Typically they are moving in the complete opposite direction that I am looking to go. Detoxing in December is no different. :)

So let's have at it... Here's what I'm doing to give my body a nice cleanse.

Last night I started with a warm Bentonite Clay bath . Bentonite Clay is a very popular detoxifier. If you Google it you will find tons of info on it.

"Bentonite Clay s a unique clay due to its ability to produce an “electrical charge” when hydrated. Upon contact with fluid, its electrical components change, giving it the ability to absorb toxins. Bentonite is known for its ability to absorb and remove toxins, heavy metals, impurities, and chemicals."

*taken from a blog post by Wellness Mama*

When I was done with my bath I let the water drain and then went to look at the clay. It was dark. Yikes! That shows that it was pulling out toxins and heavy metals from my body. I barely used any last night )maybe 2Tbsp. Next time I will use 3oz)

Good start to my Monday before it even started.

This morning I woke up and took 2 Bentonite Clay capsules that I encapsulated myself yesterday. You can buy everything you need to encapsulate from Bulk Herb Store. Then I drank 15 oz. of water. I did this on an empty stomach. I will take another 2 this afternoon and repeat this for 3 days.

Today and tomorrow I will be removing all glucose from my body. That will include all simple sugars as well as grains. Then on the third day I will begin reintroducing complex carbs that are good for my body in small amounts. Simple sugars will not be making a comeback. Instead I will be using pure white stevia, Xylitol for our Southern Sweet Tea and Truvia.

 

I am a Trim Healthy Mama.

If you're interested in purchasing the THM book you can link to it in my Amazon store. It offers a wealth of health information!

 

 

Another must in my books when you're wanting to cleanse your body is incorporating both fresh lemon juice and Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) I use Braggs.

Serene Allison, one of the authors of Trim Healthy Mama created this yummy drink and it blew up! Now there are as many variations as some women have shoes I think, lol, but I am sticking to the original. At least maybe until summer comes. ;)

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Ginger
• Water
• whole small or half large lemon
• pure-white stevia
• ice

This drink is awesome! One of my friends at church even recently told me that her hubby loves this drink and asks his daughter to make it for him. My hubby however, wouldn't touch it. LOL To each his own I guess.

Other than making sure I drink enough water and concentrating on fueling my body with healthy foods, I have one more thing in my Detox arsenal. This one is something that I won't stop after detoxing since it is terrific for my body. Theresa Tapp developed an exercise that also helps those with adrenal fatigue and it is a proven detoxifier.

 

Here are some benefits stated by Wellness Mama

 

“Is the fastest weight loss workout we’ve ever seen

Detoxifies the body

Increases insulin sensitivity, which promotes loss of excess weight

Reduces stress

Skyrockets energy levels and mental clarity

Boosts metabolism

Improves cardiovascular function

Helps the brain gain better control over the body (builds neurokinetic function)

Takes just 15 minutes”

 

I love Ttapp and have been doing it off and on since May of 2013. I lost a total of 20 inches and 17 lbs in only a few weeks doing Ttapp and THM. My skin cleared up and I felt great! My husband lost 30 lbs doing Ttapp and THM with me. He didn't Ttapp as much as I did either.

 

Since then life has happened and I haven't solely stuck to both. I am super excited to get back on the bandwagon.

 

 I had never felt better in my life!

As someone who loves food I have learned much in my life and after seeing how the wrong foods can hurt your body I refuse to let food own me. It may be Christmas time but that doesn't mean that I have to gorge myself with goodies and blame it on the lack of warmth outside.

Will I eat unhealthy this month. Oh yeah I will. I just won't go crazy. And you can bet that for the most part I will be eating well. When January comes I will do a second detox just in the name of homemade sugar cookies and fudge. ;) Just sayin....

*Side Note*

I am writing this post on my Father's Birthday. I so wish I would have had access to the health information I do now while he was still alive. He is who taught me about my Savior, not through words but instead by his self sacrifice for Jesus. I knew that Jesus had to be someone so very special when I watched my father suffer for him. As my fathers' body was beginning to fail he would still kneel every night and pray. He was so weak and his knees would give out. He would struggle to stand back up. This spoke volumes to me. The church we attended spoke of Jesus, yet never in all my years of attending did I see the kind of love for Jesus in that church that I saw in my father.

Happy Birthday to my Daddy! I hope you're having fun celebrating with Jesus. I sure do miss you!

Mama's Little Secret Energy Drink (THM FP)

 

 

I am so excited to be sharing this information with you. I have learned so much from Pearl and Serene (authors of Trim Healthy Mama) which is where I first heard the word Matcha. Serene makes a pudding with it.

 

I read a little about it and was instantly interested. It is a wee bit pricey but beings a serving is as little as 1/4 tsp. that made the price much more appealing.

 

Now, I have to tell you just how much I love this stuff!!

 

It is amazing!

 

I don't know about you but in my house as we approach dinner time I tend to get more tired and my kiddos seem to have found some hidden energy without sharing with their mama.

So not fair I tell you. lol

 

Each day the dinner yawns would approach and I begin to daydream about Costco pizza and chocolate cake, both of which are uber-yummy and I wouldn't have to prepare; both of which I do not need.

 

Then I began making this drink that I'm going to share with you.

 

It is life-changing!

 

 

 Within an hour of drinking it I have energy and lots of it. Not the kind of jittery energy that caffeine can give. I'm actually so sensitive to caffeine in coffee that I don't drink it.

 

Mama's Little Secret Energy Drink not only gives me energy for hours, but it (bizarrely enough) provides a sense of calm when I need it most. It is the oddest thing I tell you!

 

It has a light creamy vanilla flavor with just a hint of green tea flavor. It's unbelievably yummy and so good for you!!

 

And here are some of the wonderful things about it...

(courtesy of http://www.matchasource.com)

 

Boosts metabolism and burns calories

Detoxifies effectively and naturally

Calms and relaxes

Enhances mood and aids in concentration

Provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium

Fights against viruses and bacteria

Is rich in fiber

Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

Does not raise insulin levels

Oh, and did I mention that if you're a Trim Healthy Mama plan follower it's a Fuel Pull?! Oh yeah!!!

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1/4 tsp. Matcha powder (I heap mine)
• 1/2 Scoop Swanson Unsweetened Vanilla Protein Powder
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• a dash of pure salt
• pure white Stevia (to taste)

1. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend for a couple of seconds. I then add a couple of ice cubes, just enough to cool the drink to perfection.
2. Now drink and feel the difference!

*This drink is so awesome that I double the recipe and share with my hubby. (aka Mr. Meat and Potatoes, Sweet Tea and nothing green) He loves it!!!

"Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breasts" (FP)

This wonderful dinner is not my personal creation. Sadly I cannot take credit for it, but I can vouch for it's deliciousness. And, the above picture is mine. I believe the original recipe comes from bestfoodpins.com Their picture looks like they use some sort of bread crumbs which I don't understand. ?? Either way, this recipe is amazing!

This is super easy and unbelievably yummy! You will not believe that you are eating a FP. Seriously! It's that good! (for you non THMers, 'FP' means Fuel Pull. To find out more, check out my Amazon shop and take a look at the Trim Healthy Mama book)


Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breast

• 1/2 c Parmesan cheese (I use Kraft)
• 1 cup 0% Fat Greek yogurt
• seasoning of choice (I use Tony Cachere but you can use just salt, or salt and pepper, garlic powder., whatever :)

1. Season chicken
2. Mix yogurt and parmesean
3. Spread mix over chicken breasts
4.  Bake at 375 45 mins

It's literally that simple!

Enchilada Chicken over Rice (E) Slow Cooker Meal

I've said it before on my old blog 'Raising Godly Daughters,' and I believe it bares repeating. I struggle with E meals. There I said it again.

E meals just aren't as fun for me for some reason. Maybe it's because my husband has no interest in them. hmmm I might be on to something. LOL Anywho,  I took some time and tried to figure out how to take some of our family meals and turn them into E meals for me and crossovers for everyone else.

Thus my 'Enchilada Chicken over Rice,' was born. It's ridiculously easy and perfect for someone who either has no time to cook or has a job and is exhausted when they come home from work. It's also perfect for homeschooling mama's like me who are just plain tired some days.

• 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 lg. can of Enchilada sauce (or you can make your own. If you do I'd love the recipe!)
• Cooked brown rice
• Shredded cheddar
• 0% Fat Greek Yogurt (or sour cream if you're not a THMer)
• black olives (optional)
• Salt and pepper or my favorite, Tony Cachere seasoning

K, here's the nitty gritty of the recipe. Are you ready?

1. Season chicken and put in slow cooker (smile. You're almost done for now)
2. Open can of enchilada sauce and pour over chicken. (tired yet? lol)
3. Close slow cooker, put it on high for 6 hours or low for 10 (you will have crazy tender chicken)

When it's done, serve on 3/4 cup brown rice. Add just a wee sprinkle of cheese. (not too much or it will be a cross over) or a couple of olive slices. This is also super yummy with a dollop of 0% fat Greek Yogurt.

Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Granola (E)

I'm always keepin my eyes open for good Trim Healthy Mama E meals so when I saw this easy treat I jumped on it. Well not literally, that could have been bad.

You can see the original recipe here Fir and Cypress. She has detailed pictures for us to check out. I don't know if she created it, but it's her who I'm givin my shout out to. Thanks girl! It was yummy!!



Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Ezekiel 4:9 cereal (original only)
• 1/2 cup 0% Greek Yogurt (I, like  Dakota at Fir & Cypress like Chobani)
• 1/2 an Apple (I used organic Gala)
• 1/2 tsp Maple Flavoring
• 2 tsp Truvia (or a few sprinkles of stevia to taste)
• Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

1.  Add 1/2 cup Ezekiel cereal to a bowl
2. Top with 1 tsp. of Truvia and some yummy cinnamon 
3. In a separate bowl mix 1 tsp. Truvia and 1/2 tsp. maple flavoring in your Greek yogurt. Stir. :)
4. Dice half an apple.
5. Add yogurt to your cereal and top with your pretty apple.
6. Eat and enjoy! Oh and stop by and tell Dakota it was yummy!

SF Pumpkin Spice Kicker THM (FP)

Hello, my name is Kristy and I am a Starbucks addict. Okay, well maybe not an addict, but I have gained weight from drinking one too many Decaf Café Mocha's from there which has brought it to my attention that I either drink too many, or that they're not really good for my body. *gasp* I know, right. How can that be when they're so tasty?

I have one thing to say to that. My scale doesn't lie.

Real quick, before I give y'all the yummy weight loss drink recipe that will knock the socks off your taste buds, all the while warming you to your core AND shrinking your bum, I would like to bring something to your attention. It (sadly enough) was something I never put much thought into until recently.

If you're a fellow Starbucks drinker like myself (the employee knows my drink when I walk in *sighs*) have you ever really paid attention to the picture on their cups?

A couple of weeks ago I asked my Starbucks Drink Diva (she really does make great drinks) what that odd woman-mer-thing was. She told me that it is the "Siren." I had no clue what she was talking about so I asked and she kindly explained to the best of her knowledge, she too finding it a bizarre choice for a logo.
If you're like I was and don't know exactly what a Siren is, here's a definition for you.

si·ren
/ˈsaɪrən/ Show Spelled [sahy-ruhn]  

noun

1.

Classical Mythology . one of several sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, who lure mariners to destruction by their seductive singing.

 

I say: O.O

 

Taken from Starbucks own website about their Siren:

 

Starbucks: "She means something different to every one who sees her, who knows her. For me she’s kind of the final say on the spirit of everything I write and everything we do. Even as I’m writing this, I wonder what she thinks. (She likes it, by the way.)"

 

Me: hmmm...

Starbucks: "After all, who can resist her?

Not me."

 

Wanna read that from their site directly?  http://www.starbucks.com/blog/so-who-is-the-siren

 

Anywho...

 

Moving on :D I believe that it's just about time I share with you the recipe for this tasty drink. Only one more thing first. I want to share with you how I came up with it. I happened upon this recipe for Spicy Hot Chocolate Tea but sadly didn't have the needed ingredients. I had just put my kiddos down for a nap and wanted a Starbucks-ish drink so off to my kitchen I went and out I came with this!!

 

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (I used Silk unsweetened vanilla)
• 1 cup water
• 2 bags of Oolong Tea
• 1 Tbsp. Cocoa
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Truvia (or sweetener of choice)
• 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Spice
• A sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper
• FF Ready Whip
• A Cinnamon Stick (optional, but sooo good!)

 

 

1. Heat Almond Milk and water to a boil (or almost)
2. While heating, mix Cocoa, Truvia, Pumpkin Spice, & Cayenne together in a small bowl.
3. When almond milk & water are heated add Oolong tea bags and steep for 5 minutes.
4. Take tea bags out and mix in spices.
5. Add a little FF Ready Whip.
6. Sprinkle a little Nutmeg on top and add your Cinnamon Stick.
   
   Now sit back, drink, enjoy and help your body burn those calories! It's even hubby approved!!

Happy Autumn drinking!

P.S.
This is the actual size of the drink.

 

 

SF Raspberry Vanilla Jam (THM FP)

 

I love jams. Heck, I love sugar, well maybe the taste, that is. I sure don't like some other things that go along with eating too much sugar like weight gain, diabetes and even heart disease, all of which run in my family.

 

If you're looking for a cost effective, tasty sugar-free jam, this recipe is for you. :)

 

It's so easy to make that you'll be thrilled!

 

What you'll need.

 

1. Raspberries (I used 1 1/2 small bags from Fred Meyer. I didn't use 2 because I didn't have two full bags left LOL :) You can use strawberries, black berries, or mixed berries as well. These would all keep it as a FP. Using blueberries would make it an E if you ate over a certain amt. I'm too tired mentally at this point to figure out how much that would be so for me I still to FP berries ;)
2. Truvia and Pure White Stevia (or sugar alternative of choice)
3. Glucomannan (For convenience purposes I have some gluccie in a shaker which is so handy when thickening jams or gravies)
4. Vanilla extract
5. Water 

 

All you do is put the frozen (you can use fresh if you prefer) berries in your pot and add some water until it comes up about halfway, maybe a little less. It doesn't really matter. The more water only means the more yummy jam you'll have.

Turn burner up to med/high and don't leave it. You will want to stir it gently during this process.

Add a dash of pure vanilla extract.

Add 2 tsp. Truvia and a sprinkle of pure white stevia. (to taste)

Sprinkle gluccie as your stirring. How much you use will depend on you and how thick you will want it. It took me maybe 5 minutes to get mine to where I wanted it. As I was stirring I tasted it to make sure it was the right sweetness.

*warning* If you have littles in your home like I do since I homeschool, you will most likely need to have spoons ready so that your wee ones can have a taste at what is making their home smell so good. Just sayin...   :)

Happy sugar free-jam eatin!

Low Carb Chicken Enchilada's (THM Friendly S)

*Hey y'all. Just so you know, I will no longer be blogging at Little Country cabin. I will be leaving the Blog up for now though since I can't change the webpage on all the past pins. Come say hi at my new webpage at www.kristyquinn.net! While you're there take advantage of my FREE e-book LIVING SIMPLE! See you there!*

As a busy homeschooling mom, it's important to me to be able to feed my crew cheaply, and make it not only tasty, but lately, also a wee bit more healthier than I would normally go for. This meal fits that description perfectly and it's slow cooker friendly too!

You will need:

• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, seasoned
• 1/2 cup water or chicken broth (to cook it in)
• Mission low carb tortilla's (I use the small ones so I can have a couple of enchilada's minus the guilt)
• 1 lg can Enchilada sauce (or homemade. I have a new baby, hence canned ;)
• low fat mozzarella or cheddar cheese (shredded)

1. Cook chicken in broth or water on high for 6 hrs or 8 hrs on low (shred when done)
2. Layer cheese and chicken in tortilla's. Roll and place in 9x13in. baking dish.
3. Pour enchilada sauce over enchilada's
4. Sprinkle your choice of cheese and bake at 350F for 20 minutes, or until cheese melted and the enchilada's are heated.

Serve with a side of lettuce, tomato, & a dollop of FF Greek Yogurt.

*If you aren't looking to loose weight, you can use your imagination and play with these.  Enjoy!*